• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.253-262
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• 2013

In this study, we analyzed the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of seven medicinal herbs. All extracts of the tested herbs, Euryale ferox Salisbury, Echinops setifer Iljin, Amomum cardamomum Linne, Tetrapanax papyriferus, Illicium verum Hook. f., Typha orientalis Presl, and Piper longum Linne, exhibited potent anti-oxidative activity as confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging capacity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production, in the RAW 264.7 cell line, was also ameliorated by all extracts' treatments in a dose dependent manner. NO suppressive activity originated from the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression by the extracts. Three extracts, E. ferox S., I. verum Hook. f., and P. longum L., possessed suppressive activity against, not only iNOS, but also cycloxygenase 2 (COX-2) protein expression. These three extracts may then serve as potential candidates for non steroidal analgesic inflammation drugs (NSAIDs). Furthermore, all extracts induced anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, protein expression. Taken together, these results provide an important new insight into the fact that various medicinal herbs possess potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities and might be utilized as promising agents in the field of health products. Further studies for the identification of the active compounds from medicinal herbs are clearly needed.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.114-119
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• 2002

This research was performed to investigate the immnomodulative effects of ploysaccharides extracted from the fruiting body of Agarcus blazei cultivated with the media which are fermented with sugar cane bagasse containing Pueraria thunbergiana in open-air storage. In MTT test, methanol extracts from the fruiting body of A. blazei cultivated with P. thunbergiana media showed in colon carcinoma line(HT29) by 1.5∼3.5 fold and human heptoma cell line (HepG2) by 1.3 ∼2.4 fold antitumor activites compared to two types media (rice straw plus sugar cane bagasse, rice straw only) often used in the fauns. To clarify the antimutagenic principles, three extracts, Ab-l, Ab-2 and Ab-3, were separated by the solvent fractionations such as hot water, cold & hot sodium hydroxide respectively, and their antimutagenic effects was determined against N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-cnitrso-guanidine(MNNG) using Salmonella typhymurium. There was no significant differencies of inhibition levels among the used media, but Ab-3 tractions still showed a high antimutagenicity in the Ames test regardless of cultivating areas or media. To prove the cell immunofunction, nitric oxide (NO) produced from Raw 264.7 matrophage cultured with three fractions (Ab-l, Ab-2, Ab-3) was measured, and showed generally increase about 45 ∼58 percent compared to another two media (rice straw plus sugar cane bagasse, rice straw only), in the fraction of hot alklai extracts of the fruiting body cultivated with P. thunbergiana, which means that the media selection could be very important factors for improving medicinal effects in agaricus blazei fruiting body.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2012

This study was designed to explore new nutraceutical and cosmetic resources possessing biological activities from the plant kingdom. To fulfill this purpose, we analyzed the anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Zanthoxylum schinifolium extract (ZSE) and its solvent fractions using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. Three kinds of ZSE treated with methanol, ethanol, and water exhibited potent anti-oxidative activities through DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and inhibited in vitro DOPA oxidation. Furthermore, Z. schinifolium methanol extract (ZSME) inhibited the ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone, which induces melanin contents in B16F10 cells. Its anti-melanogenic activity originates from the inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity and melanogenesis related protein expression. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in the RAW 264.7 cell line was also ameliorated by ZSME treatment in a dose dependent manner. Among the four solvent fractions of ZSME treated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water, three fractions, except water, showed significant anti-melanogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into Z. schinifolium, indicating that it possesses numerous biological activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it may well serve as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2018

The imports of Centella asiatica L. Urban are increasing year-by-year due to the fact that its extract is a raw material used for skin wounds and in cosmetics. However, studies on the cultivation and identification of native C. asiatica species in Korea have been extremely rare. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to investigate the physiological and functional activity of Korean native C. asiatica plant cultivated in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. As a result, the highest antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities were examined with methanol extract while skin-whitening and wrinkle improvement were examined with water extract. Seven bacterium and one fungus were treated with 50% methanol extracts of C. asiatica and most of the bacterium showed similar or low levels of antibacterial activity compared to the control group of Omiza (Schisandra chinensis) extract, except for Streptococcus pyogenes, which showed higher antimicrobial activity than that of Omiza extract. However, neither C. asiatica and Omiza extracts showed antimicrobial activity against the fungus, C. albicans. The results of anti-inflammatory effect analyses with Raw 264.7 cells confirmed that the treatment of methanol extract reduced the level of NO by 50% or more compared to the control group. In addition, the water extract showed the highest reduction of melanin content of up to 20% more than the control group when examined with B16F10 cell line, indicating a significant skin-whitening effect. Furthermore, we were able to show the significant skin wrinkle improvement caused by C. asiatica extract with NHDF cell as an indicator, but strong cytotoxicity was also observed, suggesting that further studies are necessary.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2020

Macrophages are the cells of the first-line defense system, which protect the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria. However, Gram-negative bacteria have always been the major challenge for macrophages due to the presence of lipopolysaccharides on their outer cell membrane. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of phloretin, a flavonoid commonly found in apple, on the protection of macrophages from Escherichia coli infection. RAW 264.7 cells infected with standard E. coli, or virulent E. coli K1 strain were treated with phloretin in a dose-dependent manner to examine its efficacy in protection of macrophages. Our results revealed that phloretin treatment reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and generation of reactive oxygen species along with reducing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines induced by the E. coli and E. coli K1 strains in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, treatment of phloretin downregulated the expression of E. coli-induced major inflammatory markers i.e. cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the TLR4-mediated NF-κB pathway was activated in E. coli-infected macrophages but was potentially downregulated by phloretin at the transcriptional and translational levels. Collectively, our data suggest that phloretin treatment protects macrophages from infection of virulent E. coli K1 strain by downregulating the TLR4-mediated signaling pathway and inhibiting NO and cytokine production, eventually protecting macrophages from E. coli-induced inflammation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2007

Cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) is known to be associated with angiogenesis. In the present study we investigated the possible role of CREB in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by mouse macrophages. Over-expression of CREB increased VEGF secretion by cells of the RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cell line. It also increased the promoter activity of a mouse reporter driven by the VEGF promoter, while a dominant negative CREB (DN-CREB) abrogated the activity, suggesting that CREB mediates VEGF transcription. Forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, stimulated VEGF transcription, and the PKA inhibitor H89 abolished this effect. IFN-${\gamma}$, a potent cytokine, stimulated VEGF expression only in part through the PKA-CREB pathway. These results indicate that PKA phosphorylates CREB and so induces VEGF gene expression. An analysis of mutant promoters revealed that one of the putative CREB responsive elements (CREs), at -399 ~ -388 in the promoter, is critical for CREB-mediated VEGF promoter activity, and the significance of this CRE was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.235-240
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• 2006

We investigated the antioxidant activities such as DPPH radical scavenging capacity, xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, and superoxide radical scavenging capacity of the aqueous EtOH extract and its solvent fractions of Artemisia scoparia. The ethyl acetate fraction showed high antioxidant activity, compared to positive controls such as ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), trolox, and allopurinol in these assay systems. Moreover, we examined the inhibitory effect of solvent fractions of A. scoparia on the production of pro-inflammatory factors that the nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 $(PGE_2)$ production activated with LPS $(1{\mu}g/ml)$ in murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. The amounts of protein levels were determined by immunoblottting. Tn the sequential fractions of hexane and dichloromethane inhibited the NO and $PGE_2$ production and the protein level of iNOS and COX-2. These results suggest that A. scoparia may have anti-inflammatory activity through the antioxidant activity and inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2011

Traditionally, the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis LAM. (GS) have been used for the treatment of various types of cancer and heart, skin, vascular and inflammatory diseases. However, there have been no reports on the antinociceptive or antiinflammatory properties of the thorn of GS. The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the ethanolic extract of GS (EEGS) and its sub-fractions. The administration of EEGS (500 mg/kg) or its butanolic fraction (50 and 100 mg/kg) reduced the frequency of the acetic acid-induced writhing reflex in mice. In addition, the administration of the butanolic fraction of EEGS (50 and 100 mg/kg) prolonged the latency of reaction at the hot plate in mice. The butanolic fraction of EEGS also inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide, prostaglandin $E_2$, and tumor necrosis factor-$\acute{a}$ production in the RAW 264.7 cell line. These results suggest that EEGS has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and is a potential therapeutic for inflammation and nociception.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.97-111
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• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate anti-thrombotic activities and anti-inflammatory effects of ChungyeolHaedogHwaeoTang water extract(CHHT). The results were summarized as follows. In experiment of anti-thrombotic effect; 1. CHHT inhibited human platelet aggregation induced by ADP and epinephrine as compared with the control group, and inhibited pulmonary embolism induced by collagen and epinephrine (inhibitory rate is 37.5%). 2. CHHT increased platelet number significantly, and also CHHT shortened PT and APTT significantly as compared with the control group in thrombus model induced by dextran. In experiment of anti-inflammatory effect; 3. CHHT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA expression as compared with the control group in a concentration-dependent degree, and inhibited NO production significantly at 50, 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, and also inhibited ROS production in a concentration-dependent degree as compared with the control of group in RAW 264.7 cell line. 4. CHHT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production significantly in serum of acute inflammation-induced mice, and decreased $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in spleen tissue, and also decreased $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 production in liver tissue, but increased TNF-${\alpha}$ production in liver tissue of acute inflammation-induced Balb/c mice. 5. CHHT increased survival rate from the 3rd day in ICR mice with lethal endotoxemia induced by LPS. These results suggest that CHHT can be useful in treating diverse female diseases caused by thrombosis and inflammation such as menstrual pain, menstrual disorder, leukorrhea, vaginitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease and so on.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.101-101
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• 2003

Prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible cyclooygenase (COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), respectively, have been implicated as important mediators in the process of inflammation and carcinogenesis. On this line, the potential COX-2 or iNOS inhibitors have been considered as anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents. In our continuing efforts of searching for novel cancer chemopreventive agents from natural products, we isolated natural sesquiterpenoids as potential COX-2 and iNOS inhibitors in cultured lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Alantolactone, a natural eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, exhibited a potent inhibition of COX-2 (IC50 = 0.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) and iNOS activity (IC50 = 0.08 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) in the assay system determined by PGE2 and NO accumulation, respectively. The inhibitory potential of alantolactone on the PGE2 and NO production was well coincided with the suppression of COX-2 and iNOS protein and mRNA expression in LPS-induced macrophages. Furthermore, alantolactone inhibited NF-kB but not AP-l binding activity on nuclear extracts evoked by LPS-stimulated macrophage cells, suggesting the possible involvement of NF-kB in the regulation of COX-2 and iNOS expression. In further study with COX-2-expressing human colon HT-29 cells, alantolactone inhibited the cell proliferation, down-regulated COX-2, and inhibited the ERK phosphorylation in the early time. These results suggest that a natural sesquiterpenoid alantolactone might be a potential lead candidate for further developing COX-2 or iNOS inhibitor possessing cancer chemopreventive or anti-inflammatory activity