• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Objective : This study investigated the inflammatory reaction is characterized by over production of inflammatory mediators due to an up-regulation of inflammatory pathways.Methods : We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of water extracts fromLonicera japonicaandScutellaria baicalensisin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated U937 cells. Each extract suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-1${\beta}$, TNF-${\beta}$, and PGE₂) and the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS- stimulated U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner.Results : These suggest that the suppression effects were synergistically increased by their combination. Their combination extract also inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA complex of NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity and translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus.Conclusions : Our study suggest that the combination of water-extractable components ofL. japonicaandS. baicalensismay be useful for therapeutic drugs against inflammatory immune diseases, probably by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.873-886
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• 1996

For better understanding the interrelationship of hemorrhage and aggregation mechanism, cyclopiazonic acid(CPA) known as promoting the aggregation of platelet, aflatoxin $B_1(AFB_1)$ inhibiting platelet aggregation were used as toxic mycotoxins in these studies. In order to investigate the potential role of prostaglandin metabolism on the platelet aggregation, a variety of prostaglandin metabolites such as $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$, $PGE_2$ and $TXB_2$ were measured in homogenized rabbit platelets by TLC and LSC. And the role of $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ on the platelet aggregation was investigated by flow cytometer. Finally, the morphological effects of mycotoxins on platelet were determined by transmission electron microscope. The results and conclusions obtained from these studies are: 1) CPA induced no changes but $AFB_1$ increased $PGE_2$ and $TXB_2$. 2) CPA promoted ADP, collagen, thrombin, A.A., and PAF-induced $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ release. $AFB_1$, however, decreased $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ level except collagen-induced $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ release. When the calcium blocker, verapamil, was used, CPA decreased thrombin-induced $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ release and increased collagen, ADP, PAF and A.A.-induced $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ release. $AFB_1$ in contrast decreased the all factors induced $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ release. 3) $AFB_1$ did not induce any ultrastructural changes except large vacuole formation in a few platelets. And CPA also did not induce any changes except moderate shape change, indicator of platelet activation. In conclusion, CPA promoted platelet aggregation by the increases of $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ release but had no changes in A.A. metabolites. Antiaggregating effects of $AFB_1$ may be due to decreases of $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ release and increases of $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ formation. These data provide the basis for the future study of mobilization and function of $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ in platelet aggregation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.491-500
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• 2022

HK shiitake mushroom mycelium (HKSMM), containing 14% β-glucan, is a health functional food ingredient individually approved by the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for liver health. The anti-inflammatory effect of a 50% aqueous ethanol extract of HKSMM (designated HKSMM50) was studied in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). An active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) was used as a positive control. LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells were treated with HKSMM50 and AHCC (0, 20, 100, 500 ㎍/ml) and cultured for 24 hr. Inflammation-related elements in the supernatant were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins in the cells was analyzed by Western blotting. The HKSMM50 lowered iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) contents in a concentration-dependent manner as compared to LPS treatment. Similarly, the HKSMM50 lowered the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) contents and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The efficacy of the AHCC treatment was similar to that of the HKSSM50 treatments. These results indicate that HKSMM50 showed an anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells by down-regulation of NF-κB signaling and suggest that HKSMM could be used as a health functional food ingredient to help improve immune function.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2021

Lentinus edodes contains functional metabolites such as polysaccharopeptides, lectins, and secondary metabolites. Fermented soybean paste is representative fermented materials in Korea, and is gradually increasing due to various biological activities. In the present study, ethanol extracts of fermented products with/without L. edodes were designated as SPL and SP, and prepared to develop safer and therapeutic functional foods with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities for treatment of inflammatory disorders. SP and SPL extracts exhibited antioxidant effects via inhibiting radical activities. Inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation were down-regulated by two extracts. SPL extract more strongly enhanced the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities than SP extract. Its' activities shown more longer fermentation period and more strong inhibitory effects. Taken together, our results suggested that fermented product with medicinal plant has synergic effect and SPL can be a potential candidate for treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1397-1403
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• 2013

Fructus Sophorae, the dried ripe fruit of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.), is an herbal ingredient used in traditional Oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Fructus Sophorae extracts (FSE) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and tumor necrotic $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were evaluated. Our data revealed that FSE increased the macrophage activation and the production of $PGE_2$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$, which was consistently correlated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. On comparative cytokine protein array, FSE significantly increased several cytokines, which was associated with phosphorylation of mitogen- activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Akt in RAW 264.7 cells. However, each inhibitor of these molecules attenuated the FSE-induced $PGE_2$ production. These results indicate that FSE activated macrophages through the activation of MAPKs and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that FSE may provide a promising source of an immunoenhancing agent.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.366-372
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• 2020

Since, side effects of antibiotics are frequently emphasized these days, their use is gradually diminishing, and alternative drugs are being developed. We have sought to reintroduce them as raw materials for human health as conventional 'weapons' that have been retired after their historical duties. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of lincomycin (LIN), on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Our findings show that LIN potently inhibited production of LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), without cytotoxicity. Consistent with these findings, LIN strongly decreased protein expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Furthermore, LIN reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β. To further elucidate the mechanisms of these inhibitory effects of LIN, we studied LPS-induced IκB-α degradation, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. LIN suppressed downregulation of inhibitory κB (IκB-α) degradation, and the phosphorylation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Based on these results, we suggest that LIN may be considered a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory cosmetic or a medicine for human health.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.528-533
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• 2021

The microalga, Tetrathelmis tetrathele, is used in the development of products for the aquaculture, food, and nutraceutical industries. In the present study, we investigated whether the T. tetrathele ethanolic extract (TTE), which has anti-inflammatory properties, can confer protection against alopecia and improve scalp health, influence the proliferation of human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells, and human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), or inhibit 5α-reductase activity. We found that TTE inhibited the production of the inflammatory mediator, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) without cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, TTE encouraged the proliferation of HaCaT cells and HFDPC. Our results showed that TTE had anti-inflammatory activities, proliferated HaCaT cells and HFDPC, and inhibited 5α-reductase activity. Therefore, we suggest that T. tetrathele could be a potent therapeutic agent for alopecia prevention and scalp improvement.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.565-573
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• 2022

Gingival inflammation is one of the main causes that can be related to various periodontal diseases. Human gingival fibroblast (HGF) is the major constituent in periodontal connective tissue and secretes various inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation. This study is aimed at investigating the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of Lotus Root extract (LRE) in Porphyromonas gingivalis derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS-PG)-stimulated HGF-1 cells. The concentration of NO and PGE₂, as well as their responsible enzymes, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), was analyzed by Griess reaction, ELISA, and western blot analysis. LPS-PG sharply elevated the production and protein expression of inflammatory mediators, which were significantly attenuated by LRE treatment in a dose-dependent manner. LRE treatment also suppressed activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in LPS-PG-stimulated HGF-1 cells. In addition, one of phase II enzyme, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase (NQO)-1, and its transcription factor, Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), were significantly induced by LRE treatment. Consequently, these results suggest that LRE ameliorates LPS-PG-induced inflammatory responses by attenuating TLR4/MyD88-mediated NF-κB, and activating NQO-1/Nrf2 antioxidant response element signaling pathways in HGF-1 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1110-1119
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages could be promoted by particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) stimulation. To this end, the levels of inflammatory parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation-regulating genes were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with PM_2.5 in the presence or absence of LPS. Our results showed that the production levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂) and cytokines (interleukin-6 and -1β) were significantly increased by PM_2.5 stimulation in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, which was correlated with increased expression genes involved in their production. In addition, when LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to PM_2.5, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) expression was further increased in the nucleus, and the expression of inhibitor of NF-κB as well as NF-κB in the cytoplasm was decreased. These results suggest that the co-treatment of PM_2.5 and LPS further increases the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway compared to each treatment alone, thereby contributing to the promotion of transcriptional activity of inflammatory genes. Furthermore, although the generation of ROS was greatly increased by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, the NF-κB inhibitor did not reduce the generation of ROS. In addition, when the generation of ROS was artificially suppressed, the production of inflammatory mediators and the activation of NF-κB were both abolished. Therefore, our results suggest that the increase in the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response induced by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages was a ROS generation-dependent phenomenon.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.489-495
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• 2022

Background: Although ginsenosides and saponins in Korea red ginseng (KRG) shows various pharmacological roles, their roles in the inflammatory response are little known. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory role of ginsenosides identified from KRG saponin fraction (RGSF) and the potential mechanism in macrophages. Methods: The ginsenoside composition of RGSF was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. An anti-inflammatory effect of RGSF and its mechanisms were studied using nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production assays, mRNA expression analyses of inflammatory genes and cytokines, luciferase reporter gene assays of transcription factors, and Western blot analyses of inflammatory signaling pathways using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells. Results: HPLC analysis identified the types and amounts of various panaxadiol ginsenosides in RGSF. RGSF reduced the generation of inflammatory molecules and mRNA levels of inflammatory enzymes and cytokines in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, RGSF inhibited the signaling pathways of NF-κB and AP-1 by suppressing both transcriptional factors and signaling molecules in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion: RGSF contains ginsenosides that have anti-inflammatory action via restraining the NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways in macrophages during inflammatory responses.