• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2004

In this study, an immunoactivity of panaxtriol ginsenosides Re and Rg1 against infection due to Candida albicans was investigated. The ginsenosides were extracted from Red Ginseng with 85% ethanol and heat-treatment and were analyzed by HPLC on water-acetonitrile as a mobile phase. The HPLC analysis revealed that the extract contained ginsenosides Re and Rg1, which were eluted as a combined peak. By agar diffusion susceptibility, the mixture of Re and Rg1 had no growth-inhibitory activity on C. albicans yeast cells. However, in animal tests BALB/c mice given the mixture of Re and Rg1 intraperitoneally (Lp.) before intravenous (Lv.) infection with live C. albicans yeast cells had longer mean survival times (MST) than MST of control mice groups that received only buffer solution instead of Re and Rg1. In experiments 60% of the ginsenosides-treated mice survived the entire duration of the 50-day observation. The Re and Rg1 mixture induced production of nitric oxide when interacted with RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. In addition, the mixture caused morphological change of the macrophages. These data indicate that immunostimulation by the Re and Rg1 may be responsible for the protection of mice against disseminated candidiasis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.208-213
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the biological activities of grass clippings from turfgrass including Zoysia japonica (TG-1), Zoysia matella (TG-2), Agrostis palustris (TG-3), and Poa pratensis (TG-4). The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was relatively higher in TG-1 and -2. Especially, TG-1 exerted the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging effect, showing 90.40% at the concentration of 100 μg/ml. In addition, TG-1 inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Helicobactor pylori. TG-1 also showed the highest inhibitory effect of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cell growth and nitric oxide production against lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In conclusion, among the TG extracts, TG-1 has anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effect, indicating that TG-1 may be the potential source of functional food.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 2007

We isolated a lignan, kobusin from Geranium thunbergii and studied its effect on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene in a monocyte/macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 cells. Kobusin inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production and the expression of iNOS in a concentration-dependent manner. To identify the mechanistic basis for its inhibition of iNOS induction, we examined the effect of kobusin on both the luciferase reporter activity using $NF-{\kappa}B$ minimal promoter and the nuclear translocation of p65. Kobusin suppressed the reporter gene activity and the LPS-induced movement of p65 in to nucleus. $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation is controlled by the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and in the present study, we found that $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation was also inhibited by kobusin. Our findings indicate that kobusin may provide a developmental basis for an agent against inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2005

Antiallergic and antipsoriatic effects of korean Red Ginseng (KRG, steamed root of panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Family Araliaceae) were measured. Orally administered KRG water extract potently inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). KRG water extract also showed the potent inhibition in oxazolone-induced mouse dermatitis, and suppressed mouse ear swelling by $39\%$ at 16 days at a dose of $0.1\%$. KRG water extract reduced the levels of mRNA of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, $IL-1\beta$, $TNF-\alpha$ and $INF-\gamma$ increased in oxazolone-applied mouse ears, however, did not inhibit that of IL-4. KRG water extract also inhibited iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression level of RAW264.7 cell induced by lipopolysaccharide. Based on these findings, we suggest that KRG can improve atopic and contact dermatitis by the regulation of $ IL-1\beta$ and $TNF-\alpha$ produced by macrophage cells and $interferon-\gamma$ produced by Th1 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.442-447
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• 2020

The non-viral delivery of genes into macrophages, known as hard-to-transfect cells, is a challenge. In this study, the microporation of a CpG-free and small plasmid (pCGfd-GFP) showed high transfection efficiency, sustainable transgene expression, and good cell viability in the transfections of Raw 264.7 and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages. The non-viral method using the pCGfd vector encoding anti-EGFR single-chain Fv fused with Fc (scFv-Fc) generated the macrophages secreting anti-EGFR scFv-Fc. These macrophages effectively phagocytized tumor cells expressing EGFR through the antibody-dependent mechanism, as was proved by experiments using EGFR-knockout tumor cells. Finally, peri-tumoral injections of anti-EGFR scFv-Fc-secreting macrophages were shown to inhibit tumor growth in the xenograft mouse model.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1124-1131
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• 2009

Acanthopanax senticosus has been used in East Asia as a traditional medicine. The purpose of this study is the investigation of an extraction method for A. senticosus var subinermis (ASvS) leaves to improve their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Six extracts were prepared: extracted with water (W), ethanol (Eth), water or ethanol after ultra high pressure (WP, EthP), and water or ethanol after an extrusion process (WEx, EthEx). Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing ability showed that all extracts had a significant antioxidant activity. In anti-inflammatory activities, Eth and EthEx significantly inhibited the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ independent of cell viability in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein was significantly decreased by EthEx. These findings present that Eth and EthEx extracts of ASvS leaves have anti-inflammatory activities, and EthEx extract suppresses LPS-induced NO through the down-regulation of iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1404-1408
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• 2009

Methanol extracts of Rubus Coreanus Miquel (RCM) were found to exhibit apoptosis induction of U937 human histiocytic leukemia cells. Treatment of RCM exerted strong cytotoxicity against U937 human leukemia cells. RCM induced apoptosis of U937 leukemia cells in a dose dependent manner. Nitric oxide (NO) production was increased in RCM-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line. RCM increased the p53 and $NF{\kappa}B$ gene and decreased the $I{\kappa}B$ gene expression in U937 cells. RCM also increased the $NF{\kappa}B$ protein expression, but decreased the PCNA and BcL-xL protein expression in cultured U937 cells. These data suggest that RCM are effective on the apoptosis induction of human leukemia cells and anti-cancer properties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1617-1627
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• 2017

Dietary approaches using structured lipids, including medium-chain fatty acids and diacylglycerols, have been adopted for the prevention of obesity-induced chronic inflammation. In an extension to previous studies, medium-chain fatty acid-diacylglycerol enriched dietary oil (MCDG) was prepared by interesterification of canola oil and medium-chain fatty acid-triacylglycerols. The consequent MCDG product was applied to RAW264.7 macrophages followed by the assessment of multiple inflammatory responses. Compared with conventionally used canola and olive oil controls, MCDG suppressed macrophage phagocytosis, as assessed by the uptake of microsphere beads. Furthermore, the production of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$, transcription of COX-2 and iNOS, and expression of CD80 on cell surfaces were downregulated by MCDG in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Subsequently, differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated for proinflammatory cytokine production and lipid accumulation. IL-6 production was marginally affected and lipid accumulation was inhibited by MCDG. Taken together, these results suggest that MCDG has potential as an alternative oil for cooking in order to prevent obesity-induced inflammation.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1285-1288
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to characterize and investigate the immune activity of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) from Bifidobacterium longum. Bacterial CpG motifs have attracted considerable interests because of their immunomodulatory activities. Genomic DNA from B. longum was prepared and amplified for 4 different 180-188-mer double-stranded ODNs (BLODN1-BLODN4). When immune cells (RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and JAWS II dendritic cells) with these ODNs were treated, BLODN4 induced the highest immune activity. To assess the effectiveness of the CpG sequences within BLODN4, single-stranded 40-mer ODNs containing CpG sequences (sBLODN4-1, sBLODN4-2) were synthesized. sBLODN4-1 induced higher level of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ by macrophage and IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ by dendritic cells than did sBLODN4-2. The results suggest that CpG ODNs-enriched components of B. longum might be useful as an immunomodulatory functional food ingredient.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1079-1087
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• 2021

Gentisic acid (GA), a benzoic acid derivative present in various food ingredients, has been shown to have diverse pharmaceutical activities such as anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we used a co-culture system to investigate the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic effects of GA on macrophages and adipocytes, respectively, as well as its effect on obesity-related chronic inflammation. We found that GA effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory responses by controlling the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulating inflammation-related protein pathways. GA treatment also inhibited lipid accumulation in adipocytes by modulating the expression of major adipogenic transcription factors and their upstream protein pathways. Furthermore, in the macrophage-adipocyte co-culture system, GA decreased the production of obesity-related cytokines. These results indicate that GA possesses effective anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic activities and may be used in developing treatments for the management of obesity-related chronic inflammatory diseases.