• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.438-442
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• 1997

Antisense oligonucleotide represents an interesting tool for selective inhibition of gene expression. However, their low efficiency of introduction within intact cells remains to be overcome. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (25 mer) and antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (18 mer) were used to study the cellular transport and biological function of antisense oligonucleotide in vitro. Since TGF and TNF play on important role in regulating the nitric oxide production from macrophages, the action of the above antisense oligonucleotides was easily monitored by the determination of nitrite. Poly-L-lysine, benzalkonium chloride and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride were used as polycations, which neutralize the negative charge of antisense oligonucleotide. The production of nitric oxide mediated by .gamma.-IFN in mouse peritoneal macrophage was increased by antisense-TGF.betha. in a dose-dependent manner. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ reduced the nitric oxide release from activated RAW 264.7 cells. Significant enhancement in the nitric oxide production was investigated by the cotreatment of poly-L-lysine with antisense-$TGF{\beta}$On the meanwhile, inhibition effect of antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ is not changed by the addition of poly-L-lysine. These results demonstrate that control of expression of $TGF{\beta}$ and TNF.alpha. gene is achieved using antisense technology and the cellular uptake of antisense oligonucleotide could be enhanced by ion-pairing.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2009

석곡은 난초과의 여러해살이풀 Dendrobium moniliforme의 지상부를 건조한 것으로 예로부터 양위생진(養胃生津), 자음제열(滋陰除熱) 등의 효능이 있어 해열, 진통의 작용과 위액분비 촉진, 혈압강하의 작용이 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 석곡의 항염증 작용 기전을 알아보기 위하여 석곡 열수추출물을 대식세포주에 처리하여 NO 및 IL-$1{\beta}$의 생성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. LPS로 자극된 대식세포주 RAW264.7 세포에서 석곡은 NO 및 IL-$1{\beta}$ 생성과 iNOS 단백질 발현을 저해하였으며, LPS에 의해서 활성화되는 ERK, p38, JNK 효소의 활성을 현저히 억제하였다. 이 결과들로 보아 석곡의 항염증 작용이 MAPK 활성 저해로 인한 NO 및 IL-$1{\beta}$ 생성의 억제 때문인 것으로 사료된다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.2787-2790
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• 2014

Quercetin is a major dietary flavonoid found in onions, apples, tea, and red wine, and potentially has beneficial effects on disease prevention. We carried out this study to investigate the effect of quercetin on UVB-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells and to further understand the mechanisms of its action. The anti-inflammatory activity of quercetin was investigated and quercetin significantly suppressed the NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Post treatment of quercetin decreased UV irradiation-induced phosphorylation of JNK, p38 MAPK, and ERK by 91%, 21%, and 17%, respectively. MMP-1 is mainly responsible for the degradation of dermal collagen during the aging process of human skin and quercetin suppressed the UVB-induced MMP-1 by 94%. Binding studies revealed that quercetin binds to p38 with high binding affinity ($1.85{\times}10^6M^{-1}$). The binding model showed that the 4'-hydroxy groups of the B-ring of quercetin participated in hydrogen bonding interactions with the side chains of Lys53, Glu71, and Asp168 and the 5-hydroxy group of the A-ring formed a hydrogen bond with the backbone amide of Met109. The major finding of this study shows that quercetin inhibits phosphorylation of JNK, p38 MAPK, and ERK pathway leading to the prevention of MMP-1 expression in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Therefore, our findings suggested the potentials of quercetin as a skin anti-photoaging agent.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.239-243
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• 2017

This study aims to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of proinflammatory cytokines by using Frankinsense. The present data was designed to determine the production of the frankincence on pro-inflammatory factors such as $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ in lipopolysaccharide(LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages cell. The cell toxicity was identified by CellTiter 96 AQueous One solution cell proliferation assay. To evaluate of anti-inflammatory effect of frankincence, pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. As a result, the frankincence reduced NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production without cytotoxicity. As a result, Francincense was not cytotoxic at 10 ug / ml-1000 ug / ml and significantly inhibited the proinflammatory cytokines $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$. The secretion inhibition effect of proinflammatory cytokine is believed to be applicable to various physiological activity data and functional materials to demonstrate the anti - inflammatory properties of frankincense.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.293-298
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• 2009

Korean mistletoe lectin (KML) is the major component found in Viscum album var. (coloratum), displaying anti-cancer and immunostimulating activities. Even though it has been shown to boost host immune defense mechanisms, the regulatory roles of KML on the functional activation of macrophages have not been fully elucidated. In this study, regulatory mechanism of KML on macrophage-mediated immune responses was examined in terms of KML-mediated signaling event. KML clearly induced mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phagocytic uptake in RAW264.7 cells. All of these events were strongly suppressed by U0126, whereas TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA was not diminished by SB203580 and SP600125, indicating ERK as a central enzyme managing KML-induced up-regulation of macrophage functions. Indeed, KML strongly induced the phosphorylation of ERK in a time-dependent manner without altering its total level. Therefore, these data suggest that ERK may be a major signaling enzyme with regulatory property toward various KML-mediated macrophage responses.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2010

Stevia rebaudiana (SR) is an herb used traditionally as a sweetener in Paraguay and Brazil, whose use is spreading to other countries, such as Japan, Korea and China. In addition to its low calorie sweet taste, SR appears to have other beneficial properties, such as hypotensive capabilities and inflammation reduction. To identify the bioactive natural constituents exerting anti-inflammatory activities, we examined the EtOAc fraction of SR. In the inflammatory mediator inhibitory assay from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages, the EtOAc fraction significantly, and dose dependently, inhibited the enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. We also found that treatment of cells with the EtOAc fraction significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) reporter gene expression. Such inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ was closely associated with the inhibition of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Therefore, we suggest that SR has the potential for development as a functional food for the treatment of immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2013

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant efficacies between extracts of Prunus yedoensis(PY) and Betulae platyphyllae var. japonica(BP). HPLC pattern was different between barks and extract solvents. Content of total phenolic compound was the highest in ethanol extract of BP(382.201 mg/g ext.) and its content was 1.9 times higher than that from the water extract of PY. Total antioxidant efficacy also was the highest in ethanol extract of BP (292 copper reducing equivalents). Nitric oxide scavenging activity was almost 70% in ethanol extract of BP treated 200 ug/ml and it was higher than positive control(ascorbic acid). DPPH radical scavenging ability was up by 80% in all samples. ABTS cation decolorization from each barks was activated over 85% in all samples at 100 ug/ml concentration, especially, the activity was the highest (94.4%) in ethanol extract of BP. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities were also highest (45%) in ethanol extract of BP at 200 ug/ml concentration and were as high as positive control. Stimulation of the macrophages RAW 264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased intracellular ROS levels and ethanol extract of BP at 200 ug/ml concentration reduced ROS levels up to 41 %. The results indicated that the barks of PY and BP has potent antioxidant activities and ethanol extract of BP of them has the highest antioxidant activities.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.333-340
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• 2018

Gamiguibi-tang (GGBT) is a traditional herbal medicine generally used to treat anemia, insomnia, anxiety, and nervousness. GGBT is being commercially produced in the form of extract granule and the quality control methods are specified in the Korean Herbal Pharmacopeia (KHP). However, there is no method to simultaneously analyze compound preparations. In this study, a HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of marker compounds in GGBT. And the contents of marker components and biological activities of the commercial GGBT extract granules (GGBT-2 and GGBT-3) were compared with those of the GGBT decoction (GGBT-1). We confirmed the robustness of simultaneous analytical method by monitoring the contents of the commercial GGBT products and carrying out validation. The marker components of GGBT were geniposide ($8.03{\sim}12.70{\mu}g/mL$), paeoniflorin ($2.79{\sim}4.25{\mu}g/mL$) and glycyrrhizic acid ($5.06{\sim}6.30{\mu}g/mL$). DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were 47.34~63.17% and 21.52~33.61% in the GGBT products concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The GGBT products significantly decreased NO, iNOS and COX-2 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. The GGBT-2 had higher contents of marker components and biological activities than GGBT-1 and GGBT-3. The research suggest that be used in developing quality control methods for enhancing the quality of herbal medicines.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2006

Opuntia humifusa is a member of the Cactaceae family. In the present study, the antioxidant, nitric oxide(NO) inhibitory activities and potential irritation response of the fermented Opuntia humifusa cladodes(FOH) were investigated for cosmetic use. Antioxidant activities were tested using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and xanthine oxidase assay, we found that FOH could scavenge DPPH free radicals and inhibit xanthine oxidase activity in a dose dependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ of 2599.46${\mu}g/ml$ and 721.38${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. To investigate the possible anti-inflammatory effects of FOH, RAW 264.7 macrophages were pretreated with FOH($0{\sim}400{\mu}g/ml$) for 30 min and then treated with LPS for 24 h. We found that cell number did not vary significantly with the treatment of FOH, and FOH did not show any inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production. After application of FOH to rabbits for skin and eye irritation test, the experimental sites did not show any response compared to the control. FOH were considered to be a non-irritant to the skin and eye. Based on the above information, we suggest that FOH can be considered to be a non-irritant base cosmetic material for safely use.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.728-733
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• 2007

Bamboo grass, Sasa quelpaertensis, is a native plant to Jeju Island, Korea. The leaves of Sasa plants are widely used in traditional Korean medicine to treat inflammation-related diseases. We investigated the effect of hot water extract from Sasa quelpaertensis leaves (HWE-SQ) on nitric oxide (NO) production and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B\;(NF-{\kappa}B)$ activation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. HWE-SQ inhibited LPS-induced NO production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Reporter gene assays indicated that HWE-SQ decreases LPS-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional activation. However, HWE-SQ did not affect the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory ${\kappa}B{\alpha}\;(1{\kappa}B{\alpha})$. HWE-SQ also directly inhibited iNOS enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that HWE-SQ suppresses NO synthesis in macrophages by attenuating $NF-{\kappa}B-mediated$ iNOS protein expression and inhibiting iNOS enzymatic activity, thereby implicating a mechanism by which HWE-SQ is able to ameliorate inflammation-related diseases by limiting excessive or prolonged NO production in pathological events.