• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), one of the major active compounds in Panax ginseng, has already been shown to reduce inflammation in various diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA) has traditionally been considered a degenerative disease with degradation of joint articular cartilage. However, recent studies have shown the association of inflammation with OA. In the present study, we investigated whether Rb1 had an antiinflammatory effect on monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA in ovariectomized rats as a model of postmenopausal arthritis. Methods: G-Rb1 at a dosage of 3 and 10 ㎍/kg body weight was administered every 3 days intraarticularly for a period of 4 weeks to observe antiarthritic effects. Diclofenac (10 mg/kg) served as a positive control. Results: The administration of Rb1 significantly ameliorated OA inflammatory symptoms and reduced serum levels of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, G-Rb1 administration considerably enhanced the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and collagen 2A and reduced the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-13 genes, indicating a chondroprotective effect of G-Rb1. G-Rb1 also significantly reduced the expression of several inflammatory cytokines/chemokines (interferon gamma (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)/CCL-2, interleukin [IL]-1β, and IL-6). Histological analysis demonstrated that G-Rb1 significantly attenuated the pathological changes in MIA-induced OA in ovariectomized rats. Safranin O and toluidine blue staining further demonstrated that G-Rb1 effectively prevented the degradation of cartilage and glycosaminoglycans, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest that G-Rb1 exerts cartilage protective effect on MIA-induced ovariectomized OA rats, by inhibiting inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1/CCL-2, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE2). These results shed a light on possible therapeutic application of G-Rb1 in OA.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.369-376
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• 2022

Background: Nonobstetric surgery is sometimes required during pregnancy, and neck abscess or facial bone fracture surgery cannot be postponed in pregnant women. However, dental surgery can be stressful and can cause inflammation, and the inflammatory response is a well-known major cause of preterm labor. Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic commonly used for general anesthesia and sedation. Studies investigating the effect of propofol on human amnion are rare. The current study investigated the effects of propofol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in human amnion-derived WISH cells. Methods: WISH cells were exposed to LPS for 24 h and co-treated with various concentrations of propofol (0.01-1 ㎍/ml). Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production was analyzed using a microassay based on the Griess reaction. The protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2), p38, and phospho-p38 was analyzed using western blotting. Results: Propofol did not affect the viability and NO production of WISH cells. Co-treatment with LPS and propofol reduced COX-2 and PGE₂ protein expression and inhibited p38 phosphorylation in WISH cells. Conclusion: Propofol does not affect the viability of WISH cells and inhibits LPS-induced expression of inflammatory factors. The inhibitory effect of propofol on inflammatory factor expression is likely mediated by the inhibition of p38 activation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2023

Purpose : The fruit of Actinidia polygama has been used in oriental medicine for the treatment of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammation. Though A. polygama exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, the exact mechanism for anti-inflammation was not evaluated yet. In this study, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of A. polygama ethanol extract (APEE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : WST-1 assay was applied to analyze the cytotoxic effect of APEE in RAW 264.7 cells. The productions of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) E₂ were analyzed by the Griess reaction and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) assay, respectively. In addition, protein expressions for inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were measured by Western blot analysis. The activated status of an inflammatory transcription factor, NF-κ B, and its upstream signaling molecules, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), was also evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results : As a result, APEE treatment did not exhibit any cytotoxicity until the concentration of 200 ㎍/㎖. APEE treatment significantly inhibited NO and PGE₂ productions as well as their enzymes, iNOS and COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. The inflammatory transcription factor, NF-κ B, was also attenuated by APEE treatment. In addition, the phosphorylated status of MAPKs such as extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2 kinase (JNK), and p38, were significantly diminished by APEE treatment in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : Consequently, APEE treatment significantly attenuated the production of inflammatory mediators and their enzyme expressions in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The inflammatory transcription factor, NF-κ B, and upstream signaling molecules, MAPKs, were also significantly attenuated by APEE treatment in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that APEE might be a candidate to be utilized as a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.67-74
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• 2015

Objectives : TheHaedokgumhwa-sanwater extract (HDKHS) is used in Korea, Japan and China as a traditional therapeutic agent to cure an infectious disease. But its study is not enough. Therefore, the present study focused on the elucidation of HDKHS to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and to established the possible mechanisms involved in its action on LPS-stimulated immune response in murine macrophages.Methods : Inflammatory status was induced by LPS and measured by increasement of inflammatory mediators. LPS induced secretions of NO and PGE₂in RAW 264.7 cells were measured using griess reagent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit respectively. production of IL-6 was examined using ELISA kit and expression of IL-6 mRNA was measured by RT-PCR method. To investigate the effects of HDKHS on inflammatory mediators, such as iNOS, COX-2 and MAPKs, western blot and RT-PCR were performed.Results : HDKHS significantly reduced production of NO and PGE2 which were induced by LPS. Also, activation of IL-6 was reduced both protein and mRNA levels. The expressions of inflammatory mediator include iNOS and COX-2 were decreased by pretreatment with HDKHS. futhermore The result showed HDKHS down-regulate the LPS induced phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, one of the MAPK family, which is considered as a main regulator of transmission from pathogens to nucleus of immune cells.Conclusions : Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of HDKHS may stem from the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators via suppression of initiation of inflammatory response by inhibiting MAPKs signaling pathways.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2020

Propolis is a sticky resinous substance that is formed by the combination of honeybee secretions and resin of plants, which serves to protect from bacteria and viruses. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of propolis extract from Korea (KPE), China (CPE), and Brazil (BPE) through antioxidant, antibacterial, whitening, and anti-inflammatory tests, and to examine their potential as cosmetic materials. KPE, CPE, and BPE showed significant antioxidant activities on flavonoid/polyphenol content and free radical scavenging activity. The antibacterial effect of propolis on skin flora was determined by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). KPE showed better antibacterial efficacy than CPE and BPE in C. acnes (KPE, CPE, and BPE: (62.5, 250, and 500) ㎍/mL, respectively). Furthermore, KPE inhibited the melanin synthesis in human epidermal melanocytes and production of nitric oxide and PGE₂ induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse macrophages, which showed better than did CPE or BPE. Taken together, the propolis extracts can be applied to antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory ingredient for cosmetics, while KPE showed superior potential in antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and whitening efficacies.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.429-437
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is for checking anti-inflammatory effects of Syzygium aromaticum ethanol extract. For this, we investigated biological active evaluation about anti-inflammatory effects by Syzygium aromaticum ethanol extract. Syzygium aromaticum was extracted with 70% ethanol. This extract was tested for the cell viability on RAW 264.7 cell line by MTT assay, nitric oxide inhibitory activity and expression of inflammatory mediators. The extract showed low cytotoxicity as more than 90% cell viability in under 25 ㎍/ml concentration. On LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell line, nitric oxide inhibition activity result showed that the extract reduced NO productions in a concentration-dependent manner. Expression of inflammatory cytokines as PGE₂, TNF-α and IL-1β decreased in a concentration-dependent manner and iNOS and COX-2 proteins expression were decreased significantly in western blot analysis. We confirmed that the Syzygium aromaticum ethanol extract has excellent anti-inflammatory effect. This results suggested that extract of Syzygium aromaticum may have value as the cosmetic materials.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, whitening, moisturizing, wound-healing, cell proliferation and cell protective effects of 70% EtOH and hot water extract from Scutellaria baicalensis. For the anti-oxidative test, the 70% EtOH and hot water extract showed DPPH radical scavenging activities. In the anti-inflammatory tests, 70% EtOH and hot water extract inhibited the production of NO, pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and prostaglandin (PGE₂). In addition, it was confirmed that the 70% EtOH and hot water extract inhibited the melanin production, and increased production of hyaluronic acid (HA), a moisturizing factor. As a result of cell migration and proliferation assay, 70% EtOH extract promoted the cell growth in HaCaT cell. Additionally, 70% EtOH and hot water extract showed cell protective effects against UVB, and 70% EtOH extract also showed cell protective effects agianst blue light. Based on these results, it is concluded that the 70% EtOH and hot water extract from Scutellaria baicalensis could be potentially applicable as anti-oxdiative, anti-inflammation, whitening, moisturizing, wound-healing, cell proliferation and cell protective effects in cosmetic natural materials.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2024

This study is to propose Lagerstroemia indica flower as an anti-acne cosmetic material, and confirmed the sebum control, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects using Lagerstroemia indica flower extract (LIFE) . As a result of evaluating the sebum control effectiveness, it was confirmed that LIFE inhibited the production of sebum excessively induced with palmitic acid up to 65%. Subsequently, it was confirmed that LIFE has an antibacterial effect and the ability to inhibit lipase activity against Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), which mainly appears in acne lesions, and can also reduce the inflammatory response caused by virulence factors secreted by C. acnes. It was also confirmed that LIFE inhibited the secretion of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which are inflammatory mediators induced by LPS in macrophages, by 75% and 54%, respectively, and that it also had a high DPPH radical scavenging ability similar to that of ascorbic acid. These results suggest that LIFE, a natural extract, can be used as an anti-acne material to relieve and treat acne, a complex disease, by controlling sebum production and having antibacterial and lipase activity inhibiting against C. acnes, and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1454-1463
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• 2023

Evaluating the antioxidant efficacy using Potentillae Chinensis Herba extract, the anti-inflammatory efficacy was tested in respiratory mucosal epithelium, RAW264.7 cells, and zebrafish. As a result, antioxidant activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner in DPPH free radical scavenging and ABTS+ cation radical activities. As a result of MTT assay for cell experiments, the survival rate of NCI-H292 cells was reduced to less than 70% when treated at each concentration of 100 ㎍/ml, subsequent experiments were conducted at 50 ㎍/ml. Anti-inflammatory efficacy evaluation, NO production, TNF-𝛼, IL-1𝛽, and PGE₂ decreased, and COX-2 also decreased significantly at 50 ㎍/ml. The mucin protein expression of Potentillae Chinensis Herba extract and bioconverted extract, it was observed that MUC5AC expression was significantly reduced. In the zebrafish toxicity evaluation, concentrations below 50 ㎍/ml did not show embryotoxicity and showed anti-inflammatory efficacy by reducing NO production due to LPS. The above results are valid to be valuable for use as a functional material that suppresses inflammation by helping the expression of Potentillae Chinensis Herba's respiratory mucus proteins.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.395-401
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• 2021

Extended inflammation and cytokine production pathogenically contribute to a number of inflammatory disorders. Formosanin C (FC) is the major diosgenin saponin found in herb Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae), which has been shown to exert anti-cancer and immunomodulatory functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of FC and the underlying molecular mechanism. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pretreated with FC prior to being stimulated with LPS. Thereafter, the macrophages were subjected to analysis of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, as well as two relevant enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The analysis revealed that FC administration blunted LPS-induced production of NO and PGE in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at both mRNA and protein levels was inhibited in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with FC. Moreover, LPS stimulation upregulated mRNA expression and medium release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas this effect was blocked upon FC pre-administration. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibitory effects of FC on LPS-induced inflammation were associated with a downregulation of IκB kinase, IκB, and p65/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that FC possesses an inflammation-suppressing activity, thus being a potential agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.