• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.591-604
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• 2020

The objectives of this study were to find out the best condition of extracting methods of limonene from citron and to determine effects of limonene on immune modulation activity by measuring cytokine secretion using RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. When distilled water was used as a solvent instead of organic solvents to extract limonene from citron, addition of refluxing process to simultaneous steam distillation extraction method was found to be much effective in extracting limonene. However, it required longer extraction time than using other organic solvents. Limonene extracts showed increased IL-β and IL-6 but decreased the TNF-α gene expression in limonene concentration dependant manner. However oral administration of limonene extracts to mice did not influence significantly compared to control in in vivo experiment. It might be due to that the mice were kept in well controlled and complete environment. Limonene, a natural material from citron has been approved to have a immune-modulation activity in the present study and have a potential as a feed additive that is environmentally friendly and no harmful. Further study with protected limonene, for example, for the protection of limonene from oxidation or bypass the ruminal degradation in order consequently to increase immune-modulation activity might be useful as a further research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2019

Fat accumulation in adipocytes occurs through the process of adipogenesis in which preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes. Obesity is a metabolic disorder caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the body, which increases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and various cancers. Recently, inhibition of adipocyte differentiation was shown to be a potential antiobesity strategy. In this study, the inhibitory effect of dichloromethane fractions from Illicium verum Hooker fil. water extract on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes was investigated. Dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation when applied during the adipocyte differentiation process, as assessed by measuring fat accumulation using Oil-red O staining. In addition, dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. reduced important adipogenic transcription factors, such as CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). The expression of FAS and LPL, which are terminal differentiation markers of mature adipocytes, was also reduced in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. In addition, the treatment significantly inhibited mitotic clonal expansion, which is essential for adipocyte differentiation, by arresting the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Taken together, these results suggest that dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. may be a natural material with antiobesity effects.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.58-76
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• 2019

Objectives : This study was designed to examine the effects of Daecheonglyong-tang(DCL) on atopic dermatitis induced by DNCB in mice Methods : The Nc/Nga mice were divided into 5 groups, and four groups excluding the normal group were applied by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB), to cause AD and were orally administered with distilled water(negative control), dexamethasone(positive control), and DCL 200 or 400mg/kg once a day for 4 weeks respectively. The visual changes on skin, changes in skin tissue thickness and eosinophil infiltration were observed. IgE, Histamine, Cytokines, immune cells and the amount of gene expression of filaggrin, VEGF, $TGF-{\beta}1$, EGF were measured. Results : Dermatitis score showed a gross improvement on all DCL groups, similar to or better than positive control. All DCL groups showed no significant change in the basophils, while neutrophils and eosinophils decreased. In only DCL 400 mg/kg groups, white blood cells and mononuclear cells were decreased and lymphocytes were increased. In particular, neutrophils had similar or better effects than the positive control. In all DCL groups, IgE, Histamine, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were decreased and IL-2 was increased. In only DCL 400 mg/kg groups, IL-10 decreased and $IFN-{\gamma}$ increased. In particular, $IL-1{\beta}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ showed a similar rate of increase and decrease comparing positive control in DCL 400 mg/kg. $TGF-{\beta}$1 was increased in all DCL groups, filaggrin and VEGF were increased in only DCL 400 mg/kg groups. EGF did not make any changes. Epidermis, dermis thickness and eosinophil infiltration were also decreased in all DCL groups. Conclusions : By increasing Th1 cytokine and decreasing Th2 cytokine, DCL extracts appear to be effective in controlling immune response imbalances, anti-inflammatory and skin regeneration and are likely to be available as a treatment for AD.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2019

In this study Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated for the extract of Prunus pendula for. ascendens (Makino) Ohwi by monitoring nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. The P. pendula ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed to decrease the NO synthesis by 76.3% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. The inhibition occurred in a dose-dependent manner without causing cell toxicity. The EtOAc fraction also inhibited the production of $PGE_2$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and expression of iNOS, COX-2 protein in dose-dependent manner. From the phytochemical study to isolate the active constituents, five known compounds were identified, which are ursolic acid (1), prunasin (2), methyl p-coumarate (3), kaempferol (4), astragalin (5). All of the compounds 1 - 5 were isolated for the first time from the P. pendula. Among the isolates, the flavonoids 4 and 5 were verified to inhibit NO production with high efficiency. These results suggested that extract of P. pendula leaves could be useful as anti-inflammatory agents in pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2018

The starfish, Asterina pectinifera Muller and Troschel (Asterinidae) is an indigenous species commonly found in all coasts of Korea causes damages to shellfish farms. In order to exterminate A. pectinifera, they are dried and used as fertilizer. Although various studies have been conducted to create high added value from the retrieved A. pectinifera, their actual utilization is relatively low. Accordingly, this study aimed to find new practical uses of starfish by identifying useful ingredients for skin anti-aging. Two polyhydroxysteroids and one asterosaponin were isolated from the A. pectinifera. The structures of these compounds were identified as $5{\alpha}$-cholestane-$3{\beta},6{\alpha},7{\alpha},8,15{\alpha},16{\beta},26$-heptol, $5{\alpha}$-cholestane-$3{\beta},4{\beta},6{\alpha},7{\alpha},8,15{\beta},16{\beta},2$6-octol, and asterosaponin $P_1$ on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic analysis. Among these compounds, we have found that asterosaponin $P_1$ increased epidermal stem cell proliferation and the expression of hyaluronan synthase-2 and hyaluronan synthase-3 gene, which are enzymes that synthesize water-binding matrix hyaluronic acids in keratinocytes. In addition, asterosaponin $P_1$ increased synthesis of pro-collagen type I, a major dermal collagen in fibroblasts. As a result, asterosaponin $P_1$ isolated from A. pectinifera could be used as a useful cosmetic ingredient that improves skin symptoms accompanying skin aging.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2019

The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 9): group I-normal group, group II-DSS control group, group III-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg), group IV-DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg), group V-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Radish Extract mixture (30 mg /kg) (SRE). DSS-treated mice developed symptoms similar to those of human UC, such as severe bloody diarrhea and weight loss. SRE supplementation, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, SRE treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules through suppression both MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) signaling pathways, and prevented the apoptosis of colon. Moreover, SRE administration significantly led to the up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzyme including SOD and Catalase. This is the first report that Radish extract mixture combined with sulfasalazine protects against experimental UC via the inhibition of both inflammation and apoptosis, very similar to the standard-of-care sulfasalazin.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.317-328
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• 2018

Cognitive impairment responses are important research topics in the study of degenerative brain diseases as well as in understanding of human mental activities. To compare response to scopolamine (SPL)-induced cognitive impairment, we measured altered parameters for learning and memory ability, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, cholinergic dysfunction and neuronal cell damages, in Korl:ICR stock and two commercial breeder stocks (A:ICR and B:ICR) after relevant SPL exposure. In the water maze test, Korl:ICR showed no significant difference in SPL-induced learning and memory impairment compared to the two different ICRs, although escape latency was increased after SPL exposure. Although behavioral assessment using the manual avoidance test revealed reduced latency in all ICR mice after SPL treatment as compared to Vehicle, no differences were observed between the three ICR stocks. To determine cholinergic dysfunction induction by SPL exposure, activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assessed in the three ICR stocks revealed no difference of acetylcholinesterase activity. Furthermore, low levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and high levels of inflammatory cytokines in SPL-treated group were maintained in all three ICR stocks, although some variations were observed between the SPL-treated groups. Neuronal cell damages induced by SPL showed similar response in all three ICR stocks, as assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, Nissl staining analysis and expression analyses of apoptosis-related proteins. Thus, the results of this study provide strong evidence that Korl:ICR is similar to the other two ICR. Stocks in response to learning and memory capacity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2021

Objectives : This study investigated cellular-protective effects of Nardotidis seu Sulculii Concha water extract (NSCE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA)+iron or tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP). Methods : In vitro, MTT assay was assessed for cell viability, and immunoblotting analysis was performed to detect expression of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway and autophagy related proteins. In vivo, mice were orally administrated with the aqueous extract of NSCE of 500 mg/kg for 3 days, and then injected with CCl₄ 0.5 mg/kg body weight to induce acute damage. The level of liver damage was measured by serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) analysis. Results : Treatment with NSCE inhibited cell death induced by AA+iron and tBHP. NSCE induced the phosphorylation of AMPK, and this compound also induced the phosphorylation of LKB1, an upstream kinase of AMPK, and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a primary downstream target of AMPK. NSCE increased the protein levels of autophagic markers (LC3II and beclin-1) and decreased the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and simultaneously increased the phosphorylation of unc-51-like kinase-1 (ULK-1) in time-dependent manner. Conclusions : NSCE has the ability 1) to protect cells against oxidative stress induced by AA+iron or tBHP. NSCE 2) to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and 3) to regulate autophagy, an important regulator in cell survival.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2021

Objectives : Forsythiae Fructus has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in many diseases, and Corydalis Tuber has been used as a pain suppressor in Eastern Asia. However, the protective effects of individual water extract of Forsythiae Fructus (FF) and Corydalis Tuber (CT) and the mixture of FF and CT (FC) on chronic pancreatitis (CP) were not well-investigated. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of FF, CT, and FC on CP in mice. Methods : To induce CP, cerulein was injected 6 times a day, 4 times a week for 3 weeks. 1 h before the every cerulein injection, 200 mg/kg of FF, CT, or FC was intraperitoneally injected to mice. Histological analysis of pancreas was examined by hematoxylin and eosin stain and collagen deposition was examined by Masson's trichrome stain. Fibrogenic parameters such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and fibrotic cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were also analyzed by immunofluorescence stain and real-time PCR. Results : Histological damages in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of FF or FC but not CT. α-SMA and ECM in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of CT or FC but not FF. Moreover, the expression of TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas were inhibited by FF, CT or FC. Conclusions : Our results suggest that FC have protective effect on CP in mice through inhibition of α-SMA, ECM, TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas, and these findings could suggest new clinical strategy for CP.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.183-190
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• 2020

This study evaluated the possibility of Hoangtonogak Plus extracts as a bioactive ingredients for cosmetic products. Methanol(MN) and hot-water(WN) extracts were analysed by DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging activity, FRAP value for anti-oxidant activity, MTT assay for cell viability, inhibition of NO production and iNOS protein expression for anti-inflammatory effect, paper disc diffusion method for anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli.. The contents of total polyphenol of MN and WN extracts were 2.92±0.01 mgGAE/g and 1.67±0.02 mgGAE/g, respectively. DPPH, ABTS and FRAP values of MN extracts were higher than WN at each concentration. No significant cytotoxicity was observed in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, NO production of MN and WN at 1 mg/mL concentration was measured as 11.69 μM, 20.4 μM, respectively. In addition, MN extracts showed anti-microbial effect only on S. epidermidis. Also MN extracts suppressed iNOS protein level in a concentration-dependent manner. According to our results, the MN extracts demonstrated its potential as a natural source of antioxidant with anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.