• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.326-331
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• 2008

To search for immunoactive natural products exerting anti-inflammatory activity, we have evaluated the effects on the water extracts of Artemisia princeps Pampanini (APP) on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production by RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Our data indicate that this extract is a potent inhibitor of NO production and it also significantly decreased PGE2 and TNF-$\alpha$ production. Consistent with these results, the protein and mRNA expression level of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was inhibited by water extracts of APP in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that APP may exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects possibly by suppressing the inducible NO synthase and COX-2 expressions.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2011

Lipid metabolites involved in cellular regulation as signaling mediators. Prostaglandins (PGs), metabolites of lipid are involved to pregnancy at the time of implantation but the functional roles of PGs on embryo development are still controversy and largely unknown. In previous report, the levels of $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2a}$ at embryos of morula stage and blastocyst stage were explored (Cheon et al., 1998). In this study, the previous suggestion was confirmed and the possible downstream mediator of prostaglandin $E_2$ and prostaglandin $F_{2a}$ on the expansion and hatching of mouse embryo was examined. As expected, developmental rate of the blastocyst to expanded stage was a concentration-response curve that showed the highest expansion rate at 10 ${\mu}M$ $PGE_2$, but at 100 ${\mu}M$ $PGE_2$, the rate was decreased. In contrast to the $PGE_2$, $PGF_{2a}$ stimulated expansion without toxicity at highest concentration. Cotreatment of PGs with indomethacin overcame the inhibitory effects of indomethacin in expansion. Exogenous PGs also improved the development of expanded embryos to the hatching stage. Besides, PGs receptors' transcripts detected at blastocyst. $PGE_2$ was caused of calcium fluctuation in the blastocyst but $PGF_{2a}$ did not. The changes of intracellular calcium concentration were different between indomethacin pretreated embryos and non-treated embryos. Based on these results it is suggested that PGs work as paracrine and/or autocrine factors through calcium and the others which were not identified in this study.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2009

Objectives : In this study, the effect of Dipsaci Radix(DR, Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng et T. M. Ai) water extract on LPS-induced inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells were investigated. Methods : Dried roots of DR was extracted with water for 3 h(DR-W extract). RAW264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage line, were incubated with different concentrations of DR-W extract for 30 min and then stimulated with LPS at indicated times. Cell toxicity was determined by MTT assay. The concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) were measured by Griess assay and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) and cyclooxyganase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Results : DR-W extract was significantly inhibited LPS-induced productions of NO and PGE2 in RAW264.7 cells. DR-W extract was not suppressed the expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions : This study suggests that DR-W extract can attenuate inflammatory response via inhibition of the NO and PGE2 production in activated macrophages.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to study the different long term effects of consumption of dietary oil sources with varying omega-6/omega-3 (${\omega}-6/{\omega}-3$) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ratios on bone marrow fatty acid level, ex vivo prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) release, and mineral content of bone in rabbits. MATERIALS/METHODS: For this purpose, weaning and female New Zealand white rabbits were purchased and randomly divided into five groups and offered ad libitum diets containing 70 g/kg of added oil for 100 days. The dietary lipid treatments were formulated to provide the following ratios of ${\omega}-6/{\omega}-3$ fatty acids: 8.68 soy bean oil (SBO control), 21.75 sesame oil (SO), 0.39 fish oil (FO), 0.63 algae oil (DHA), and 0.68 algae oils (DHA/ARA). DHA and ARA are two types of marine microalgae of the genus Crypthecodinium cohnii. RESULTS: The dietary treatments had significant effects on the bone marrow fatty acids of rabbits. Rabbits fed the FO diet, containing the highest ${\omega}-3$ PUFA concentration, and those fed the SBO diet showed the highest ${\omega}-6$ PUFA. On the other hand, a positive correlation was observed between Ex vivo $PGE_2$ level and the ${\omega}-6/{\omega}-3$ dietary ratio. Significant effects of dietary treatment on femur Ca, P, Mg, and Zn contents were observed in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the current study clearly demonstrated that dietary PUFA, particularly ${\omega}-6/{\omega}-3$ and ARA/EPA ratios are important factors in determining bone marrow fatty acid profile, and this in turn determines the capacity of bone for synthesis of $PGE_2$, thereby reducing bone resorption and improving bone mass during growth.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2008

Differentiation of blastocyst is critical step for implantation and is under the control of regulation factors originated from embryo or reproductive tracts. The sequential communication with those factors is suspected as critical events for differentiation. It has been suggested that intracellular signaling pathways activated by calcium is essential in differentiation of blastocyst. Previously, it was known that concanavalin A (Con A) increase the levels of free calcium in blastocyst stage. However, Con A can not accelerate the hatching, although heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a modulator of calcium level, accelerate the hatching of blastocyst. In this study, it was investigated whether Con A or prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) can modulate the differentiation of blastocyst. Con A accelerated the expansion of blastocyst in both 1 hr pulse treatment group and continuous treatment group. However, Con A significantly suppressed the hatching in both groups. The inhibition was significantly strong in continuous treatment group compared with 1 hr pulse treatment group. On the other hand, $PGE_2$ induced the increase the free calcium level, but did not accelerate the expansion. In addition $10{\mu}m\;PGE_2$ inhibited hatching. However, $PGE_2$ could accelerate hatching in Con A pretreated blastocyst. $PGE_2$ also caused the increase of free calcium level in Con A pretreated blastocyst. From these results, it is suggested that changes of the free calcium level induce a different calcium-mediated signaling pathways. In addition, sequential stimulation by signal molecules may triggers the cellular mechanisms for the differentiation of blastocyst.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2006

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid that have been used to reduce the incidence, growth and metastasis of breast, colon, prostate and gastric cancer in animals. CLA could reduce tumor growth by altering angiogenesis; a process requiring associated angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, we determined whether CLA could modulate the expression of VEGF in murine mammary tumor cells and adipocytes. The c9, t11-CLA isomer reduced VEGF transcripts and protein when mammary tumor cells were stimulated with PMA. That isomer also reduced VEGF expression in un stimulated mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Since VEGF can be regulated by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), we determined whether CLA could alter COX-2 enzyme expression and $PGE_2$ production. The c9, t11-CLA isomer reduced not only COX-2 enzyme expression but also $PGE_2$ production. Thus, c9, t11-CLA could modulate neovascularization by alteration of VEGF expression from mammary tumor cells and adipocytes by reducing COX-2 metabolites.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.194.2-194.2
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• 2003

The inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis and nitric oxide production by corresponding inducible isozyme have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents. In our continuous search for cancer chemopreventive agents from natural products, we have evaluated the inhibitory potential of PGE$_2$ and NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. As a result, pinosylvin (3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a stilbenoid, mainly found from the heartwood and leaves of the Pinus sylvestris, showed potential inhibitory activity of LPS-induced PGE$_2$ and NO production in a dose-dependent manner. (omitted)

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2017

Objectives: Study of the mechanisms involved in cancer progression suggests that cyclooxygenase enzymes play an important role in the induction of inflammation, tumor formation, and metastasis of cancer cells. Thus, cyclooxygenase enzymes could be considered for cancer chemotherapy. Among these enzymes, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is associated with liver carcinogenesis. Various COX-2 inhibitors cause growth inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, but many of them act in the COX-2 independent mechanism. Thus, the introduction of selective COX-2 inhibitors is necessary to achieve a clear result. The present study was aimed to determine the growth-inhibitory effects of new analogues of chalcone epoxide as selective COX-2 inhibitors on the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line. Methods: Estimation of both cell growth and the amount of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production were used to study the effect of selective COX-2 inhibitors on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell. Cell growth determination has done by MTT assay in 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, and PGE2 production has estimated by using ELYSA kit in 48 h and 72 h. Results: The results showed growth inhibition of the HepG2 cell line in a concentration and time-dependent manner, as well as a reduction in the formation of PGE2 as a product of COX-2 activity. Among the compounds those analogues with methoxy and hydrogen group showed more inhibitory effect than others. Conclusion: The current in-vitro study indicates that the observed significant growth-inhibitory effect of chalcone-epoxide analogues on the HepG2 cell line may involve COX-dependent mechanisms and the PGE2 pathway parallel to the effect of celecoxib. It can be said that these analogues might be efficient compounds in chemotherapy of COX-2 dependent carcinoma specially preventing and treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.335-343
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• 2020

Background: Zhongyi paste is a traditional Chinese medicine herbal paste that is externally applied to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Methods: An acute foot swelling inflammation model in C57BL/6J mice was established by carrageenan-induced pathogenesis. Zhongyi paste raised the pain threshold and also reduced the degree of swelling in mice with carrageenan-induced foot swelling. Results: Analysis indicated that serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) cytokine levels and PGE₂ levels in the paw tissue of the mice were decreased by Zhongyi paste treatment. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot results showed that Zhongyi paste downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and also downregulated the mRNA expression of PGE₂. At the same time, the Zhongyi paste exerted a stronger effect as an external drug than that of indomethacin, which is an oral drug, and voltaren, which is an externally applied drug. Conclusions: Our results indicated that Zhongyi paste is a very effective drug to reduce inflammatory swelling of the foot, and its mechanism of action is related to regulation of the ERK1/2-COX-2-PGE₂ pathway.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.509-517
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• 2008

Gyejijakyakjimo-tang is a multi-herbal formula that is composed of nine medicinal herbs. Gyejijakyakjimo-tang has been reported to have antipyretic and analgesic effects. Gyejijakyakjimo-tang has traditionally been used for goat and rheumatoid arthritis. However, analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of Gyejijakyakjimo-tang has not been clarified yet. In this study, we investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous extract of Gyejijakyakjimo-tang. We evaluated the aqueous extract of Gyejijakyakjimo-tang on Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in murine raw 264.7 macrophage cells. For this study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) immunoassay, and nitric oxide (NO) detection were performed. Gyejijakyakjimo-tang suppressed $PGE_2$ synthesis and NO production by inhibiting the LPS-induced expressions of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in murine raw 264.7 macrophage cells. These results show that Gyejijakyakjimo-tang has the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect by mostly suppressing COX-2 and iNOS expressions, and resulting in the inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis and NO production.