• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2021

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is widely used in cancer and lymphoma treatments and as an immunosuppressant drug. CP is a DNA alkylating agent that metabolizes into 4-hydrocyclophosphamide (4H-CYP) and aldophosphamide in hepatocytes. However, its metabolites cause DNA synthesis disorder, leading to apoptosis and toxic side effects. The development of technology to minimize this side effect is essential to improve CP's clinical application. Various bioactive compounds have been reported to have anti-cancer and antioxidant functions and preventive or therapeutic roles in metabolic diseases. Many researchers have attempted to minimize the side effects and improve the efficacy of these drugs together with the use of bioactive compounds. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance has been used for the treatment of edema, mastitis, stomach pain, tumors, cystitis, and other inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate at the histological level the protective function of U. macrocarpa Hance against CP's side effects and any potential toxic effect of U. macrocarpa Hance in the liver and kidney. Water extracts of U. macrocarpa Hance reduced CP-induced toxicity and did not induce any histological damage in the liver and kidney. Therefore, U. macrocarpa Hance would be applicable in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.191-203
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• 2021

Objectives : In this study, we investigate the anti-allergic effects of Ullmus macrocarpa Hance (Ulmus) on RBL-2H3 mast cell (basophilic leukemia cell line), which are mediated by FcεRIs. Methods : We evaluated the effect of the ethanol extract of Ulmus on the allergic inflammatory response in IgE-antigen-mediated RBL-2H3 cells. Cell toxicity was determined by MTT assay and the markers of degranulation such as beta-hexosaminidase, histamine, PGD2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 production of inflammatory mediators and FcεRI-mediated protein expression by western blot. Results : Ulmus inhibited degranulation and production of allergic mediators (e.g., TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-6) in them. Ulmus reduced histamine levels, expression of FcεRI signaling-related genes such as Lyn, Syk, and Fyn, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation in mast cells. Also, Ulmus reduced PGD2 release and cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and cytosolic phospholipase A2 phosphorylation in FcεRI-mediated RBL-2H3 mast cells. Conclusions : These results indicate that Ulmus exhibits anti-allergic activity through inhibition of degranulation and inflammatory mediators and cytokine release. These findings suggest that Ulmus may have potential as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for the treatment of various allergic diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used to treat many diseases, such as inflammation, infections, and even cancer. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a Chinese elm species, is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The stem bark is widely employed in Korean traditional medicine to treat dermatitis, mastitis, and edema. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water extract of U. macrocarpa Hance bark (Ulmus cortex) has a immune-modulating function in a mouse model. Three different concentrations (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of Ulmus cortex water extract (UCWE) were orally administered to mice for 14 days, and their immune responses were analyzed. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$, increased in the blood of UCWE-fed groups when compared with a control group. In contrast, the IL-4 level did not change in any of the UCWE-fed groups Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was also assayed using lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK). LAK showed greater cytotoxicity in the UCWE-fed groups than LAK in the control group. Internal organ indices, such as liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus, were similar in all the groups, including the control group, indicating that UCWE may have been nontoxic in the experimental animals. These data suggest that UCWE has an immune-modulating function in a mouse model.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.542-549
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• 2020

A previous study reported that Ulmus macrocarpa Hance water extract (UME) can improve hyperlipid metabolism and the involvement of suppressed lipid synthesis through adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway regulation was suggested. Further exploration of the lipid metabolism between liver and peripheral tissue was necessary to confirm that work, and so this study aimed to extend the possibility that UME can regulate serum lipids. After a 6-week in vivo trial of oral administration of UME to rats with induced hyperlipidemia, serum levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were seen to decrease while HDL cholesterol increased. The UME administrations also decreased the TC and TG levels from the control in liver analysis. However, the suggestion that UME regulates the AMPK pathway to improve hyperlipid states through the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis seems to be only one part of the extract's effect. Indeed, serum concentrations of apolipoproteins A and B were returned to baseline levels of the control group in response to UME administration whilst the liver lipid content was much reduced; this cannot occur through the suggested suppression of hepatic lipogenesis alone. Therefore, a possible mechanism of UME could be that it improves blood circulation by modulating serum lipid levels through both the prior stimulation of lipid oxidation and the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Objects : This study aimed to identify the origin species of Ulmi Cortex and Ulmi Semen Pasta. Methods : I searched for different types of 'Yu(楡)' from Zhong Xiu Zheng Huo Jing Shi Zheng Lei Bei Yong Ben Cao (重修政和經史證類備用本草) of the Song Dynasty, then compared the descriptions of Yu with real life species. Items that were inconsistent were sequentially deleted to finally find the original species that satisfies all conditions. Results : There were five types of Yu : Jiyu(地楡), Jayu(刺楡), Langyu(郞楡), Goyu(姑楡), and Baekyu(白楡). Jiyu was Sanguisorba officinalis or Sanguisorba officinalis var. longifolia which was a herb. Jayu was Hemiptelea davidii (Hance) Planch. which had thorns on its branches. Ulmus laciniata had leaves that split into three branches. Langyu was Ulmus parvifolia which beared fruit in the fall. For these reasons, the four items above were ruled out. The fruit of Goyu was Ulmi Semen Pasta, which was the largest among fruits and was therefore Ulmus macrocarpa. The fruit of Baekyu was Yuhyup(楡莢) and the ancient coin Yuhyupjeon(楡莢錢) was resembled Yuhyup. The normal pulse of the lung resembled the appearance of falling Yuhyup. The peel of Baekyu was Yubaekpi(楡白皮), and when it was removed from coarse bark, contained an abundance of white sap; the place where this sap overflowed on the stem bark was white, therefore Baekyu was identified as Ulmus pumila. Conclusions : From the results above, the origin species of Ulmi cortex was Ulmus pumila and the origin species of Ulmi Semen Pasta was Ulmus macrocarpa.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

Ulmi cortex is the elm bark or root bark of Ulmus macrocarpa Hance and has been used as an ingredient of traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-cancer and wound healing on both the East and the West. This study investigated whether the Ulmus macrocarpa Hance Water extract (UMWE) has the in vivo and in vitro immune activating effect. Animals were orally administrated for 14 days as follows: no treat group with distilled water, cyclophosphamide (CY) group with 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 100+CY group with 100 mg/kg of UMWE and 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 200+CY group with 200 mg/kg of UMWE and 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 100 group with 100 mg/kg of UMWE and UMWE 200 group with 200 mg/kg of UMWE. The immunosuppressive drug CY was intraperitoneally injected to induce immune suppression. Spleen indices showed small changes in CY injected groups but splenocyte indices showed greater decrease in the same groups. However, UMWE appeared to relieve CY’s immunosuppression. UMWE also delayed in vitro splenocyte death increasing its longevity. These data obtained by MTT assay and 7-amino-actinomycin D which stains preferentially dead than live cells. UMWE alone did not show cytotoxicity based on its apoptototic effect on splenocytes in vitro and in vivo. Splenic NK cell activity was maintained by UMWE under the presence of CY in vitro. The data indicated that UMWE protects splenocytes from the immunosuppressive drug CY under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1156-1163
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• 2015

The present study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of four different medicinal plants in a cyclophosphamide-treated Balb/c mouse model. One of the four plants, Ulmus macrocarpa, showed partial resistance against immune suppression induced by cyclophosphamide. The bark of U. macrocarpa, commonly known as the Chinese elm, has been used as a pharmaceutical material in Korean traditional medicine to treat bacterial inflammation and induce wound healing. In this study, water extract of U. macrocarpa, named DEU-7, was used for its immunomodulating functional activity. DEU-7 increased the weight of the spleen and the number of splenocytes but did not significantly affect the liver, kidney, and thymus in vivo. A splenocyte viability assay confirmed that DEU-7 influenced ex vivo splenocyte survival. DEU-7 also increased the levels of cytokines, such as IL-2 and IL-4, and immunoglobulins, such as IgM, IgG, and IgA. These results indicated that DEU-7 is involved in the activation of T and B lymphocytes. In addition, DEU-7 was able to maintain the production of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ, in the condition of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression, suggesting that DEU-7 activated innate immune cells, even under immune suppression. We concluded that DEU-7 aids immunological homeostasis, thereby preventing immune suppression, and aids both innate and adaptive immune response by maintaining the levels of various cytokines and immunoglobulins. Consequently, it is worth investigating the potential of DEU-7 as a supplemental source for immune-enhancing agents.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2014

Background: The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3)is constitutively activated in many human cancers. It promotes tumor cell proliferation,inhibits apoptosis, induces angiogenesis and metastasis, and suppresses antitumor hostimmune responses. Therefore, Stat3 has emerged as a promising molecular target for cancertherapies. In this study, we evaluated the Stat3-suppressive activity of 38 herbal medicinestraditionally used in Korea.Methods: Medicinal herb extracts in 70% ethanol were screened for their ability to suppressStat3 in the A549 human lung cancer cell line. A Stat3-responsive reporter assay system wasused to detect intracellular Stat3 activity in extract-treated cells, and Western blot analyseswere performed to measure the expression profiles of Stat3-regulated proteins.Results: Fifty percent of the 38 extracts possessed at least mild Stat3-suppressive activities(i.e., activity less than 75% of the vehicle control). Ethanol extracts of Bupleurum falcatumL., Taraxacum officinale Weber, Solanum nigrum L., Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, Euonymus alatusSieb., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., and Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill inhibited up to 75% of thevehicle control Stat3 activity level. A549 cells treated with these extracts also had reducedBcl-xL, Survivin, c-Myc, and Mcl-1 expression.Conclusion: Many medicinal herbs traditionally used in Korea contain Stat3 activity-suppressing substances. Because of the therapeutic impact of Stat3 inhibition, these resultscould be useful when developing novel cancer therapeutics from medicinal herbs.