• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2020

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory potential of an ethanol extract of Carpomitra costata (EECC) (Stackhouse) Batters, a brown alga, against neuroinflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia. Our results showed that EECC significantly suppressed the LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂, with no significant cytotoxic effects. EECC also inhibited the LPS-induced expression of their regulatory enzymes, such as inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, EECC downregulated the LPS-induced expression and production of the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. In the mechanistic assessment of the antineuroinflammatory effects, EECC was found to inhibit the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by disrupting the degradation of the κB-α inhibitor in the cytoplasm. Moreover, EECC effectively suppressed the enhanced expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88, as well as the binding of LPS to TLR4 in LPS-treated BV2 cells. Furthermore, EECC markedly reduced the LPS-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), demonstrating a strong antioxidative effect. Collectively, these results suggest that EECC repressed LPS-mediated inflammatory action in the BV2 microglia through the inactivation of NF-κB signaling by antagonizing TLR4 and/or preventing ROS accumulation. While further studies are needed to fully understand the anti-inflammatory effects associated with the antioxidant activity of EECC, the current findings suggest that EECC has a potential advantage in inhibiting the onset and treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.195-202
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• 2015

Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion is used as a tonic agent in traditional oriental medicine. However, the molecular mechanism of mast cell-mediated anti-inflammatory modulation has not been fully understood. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effects of Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as to elucidate its mechanism of action in the human mast cell line (HMC-1). Cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 in the presence or absence of Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction. Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction significantly inhibited the PMA plus A23187-induction of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. Moreover, EtOAc fraction attenuated cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. In activated HMC-1 cells, phosphorylation of extra-signal response kinase (ERK) 1/2 decreased after treatment with EtOAc fraction. Moreover EtOAc fraction inhibited PMA plus A23187-induced nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ activation, $I{\kappa}B$ degradation. EtOAc fraction suppressed the expression of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-8 through a decrease in the ERK 1/2, as well as activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. These results indicated that Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion EtOAc fraction exerted a regulatory effect on inflammatory reactions mediated by mast cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.357-364
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is closely related with inflammation and development of many diseases. Black soybean seed coat contains high amount of anthocyanins, which are well-known for free radical scavenging activities. This study investigated inflammatory response and action mechanism of black soybean anthocyanins with regard to antioxidant activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: RAW 264.7 cells were treated with anthocyanins extracted from black soybean seed coats in a concentration range of 12.5 to $100{\mu}g/mL$. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and the signaling in the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway were examined. RESULTS: Black soybean anthocyanins significantly decreased LPS-stimulated production of ROS, inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6, in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity (P < 0.001). Black soybean anthocyanins downregulated the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (P < 0.001). Moreover, black soybean anthocyanins inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of MAPKs, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that black soybean anthocyanins exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting ROS generation and subsequent MAPKs signaling, thereby inhibiting inflammatory responses.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.26-36
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• 2005

Objective : Many traditional herbal remedies exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-inflammation. Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb (EA), known as Gui jun woo in Korea, has long been used in folk medicine to regulate Qi (bodily energy) and blood circulation, relieve pain, eliminate stagnant blood, and treat dysmenorrhea in oriental countries. The exact mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb (EA), however, has not been determined. Methods: Since there is increasing evidence that nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, this study was undertaken to address whether the methanol (MeOH) extract and its fractions of the bark of EA could modulate the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages and murine macrophage cell line, RA W264.7 cells. Results: Stimulation of the peritoneal macrophages and RAW264.7 cells with $interferon-\gamma\;(IFN-\gamma)$ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in increased production of NO in the medium. However, the butanol (BuOH) fraction of the MeOH extract of EA barks showed marked inhibition of NO synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of NO synthesis was reflected in the decreased amount of iNOS protein, as determined by Western blotting. The BuOH fraction did not affect the viability of RA W264.7 cells, as assessed by methylthiazol-2-yl-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay; rather, it reduced endogenous NO-induced apoptotic cell death via inhibition of NO synthesis in RAW264.7 cells. On the other hand, the MeOH and BuOH fraction showed no inhibitory effect on the synthesis of NO by RAW264.7 cells, when iNOS was already expressed by the stimulation with $IFN-\gamma$ and LPS. Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate that the MeOH and BuOH fraction inhibits NO synthesis by inhibition of the induction of iNOS in murine macrophages.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.542-556
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• 1996

Previous studies have shown that Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts were showed on the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action, in vitro. The purpose of this study was to evaluate on the effect of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts containing dentifrice in gingivitis. 70 subjects with gingivitis were divided into an experimental group which performed normal oral hygiene procedure with Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts containing dentifrice and a control group which also performed normal oral hygiene procedure with the same dentifrice without the natural extracts and completed a doubleblind, cross-over study. At baseline and 3 weeks, subjects were assayed for clinical study by plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, GCF rate, and microbiological study by subgingival dental plaque bacterial morphotypes by phase contrast microscopy, total anaerobes, total aerobes, Black pigmented bacteroides, A.actionomycetemcomitans, A.viscosus, C.rectus, Ssenguis; P.gingivalis, P.intennedia by bacterial culture and immunofluorescence microscopy. After 3 weeks using their respective dentifrices, reductions in the clinical indices of subjects were similar between the experimental dentifrice group and a control dentifrice group except for statistically significant much reductions in PI, GI, and GCF rate in the experimental dentifrice group as compared to control dentifrice group. Also statistically significant reductions in the motile rods and Spirochetes were found in both experimental group to compare with control group, however statistically much reduction in total anaerobes, Black pigmented bacteroides, and P.gingivalis, P.intennedia were found in the experimental dentifrice group as compared to control dentifrice group. This results indicates that Magnoliae cortex and Ginkgo biloba extracts containing dentifrice might be useful for elimination of gingival inflammation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1051-1056
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• 2006

Rehmanniae radix preparata is the root of Rehmanniae glutinosa Liboschitz var. purpurea Makino which has been classified into Scrophulariaceae. Rehmanniae radix preparata has been used for the treatment of diabetes, for the relief of the pain, and for the anti-oxidative action. In this study, the effect of the aqueous extract of Rehmanniae radix preparata on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation was investigated by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, prostaglandin E2 immunoassay, and nitric oxide (NO) detection in mouse BV2 microglial cells. In the present results, the aqueous extract of Rehmanniae radix preparata suppressed prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and nitric oxide production by inhibiting the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein in mouse BV2 cells. These results show that Rehmanniae radix preparata exerts anti-inflammatory effect probably by suppressing of COX-2 and iNOS expressions.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2002

Tests of stability and toxicity, and clinical evaluation of anti-acne activity suggest that cryptotanshinone, a constituent of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is an effective active ingredient for acne vulgaris treatments. Acne vulgaris, called acne or pimples, is the most common disease of the pilosebaceous follicle unit of the skin. It affects nearly 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30. Approximately 30% of teenagers have acne of sufficient severity to require medical treatment. Acne is a follicular disorder of the skin. It occurs in specialized pilosebaceous units on the face and body. Acne develops when these specialized follicles undergo pathologic alterations that result in the formation of non-inflammatory lesions (comedones) and inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules and nodules). An abnormality of keratinizing epithelium of these follicles, thought to be due to the action of sebum synthesized and secreted by the androgen-sensitive sebaceous glands, leads to inflammation induced by the follicular bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Therapy involves treatments that modify these pathogenic factors and includes drugs with antikeratinizing, antibacterial and antiseborrheic actions. Acne vulgaris is a very frequent disease, seen primarily in adolescents, involving the sebaceous follicles. Acne vulgaris is characterized by a great variety of clinical inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions: comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts and scars. Acne vulgaris is a multi-factorial disease. Although its pathogenicity is unclear, extensive studies have shown that hyperseborrhea, superinfection by P. acnes and endocrinologic androgenic changes play a role in the development of acne vulgaris.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.540-545
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• 2022

Betulin is a triterpenoid natural product contained in several medicinal plants including Betulae Cortex. These medicinal plants have been used for controlling diverse inflammatory diseases in folk medicine and betulin showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer activities. In this study, we tried to examine whether betulin exerts a regulative effect on the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin under the status simulating a pulmonary inflammation, in human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with betulin for 30 min and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h or the indicated periods. The MUC5AC mucin mRNA expression and mucin glycoprotein production were measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. To elucidate the action mechanism of betulin, effect of betulin on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also investigated by western blot analysis. The results were as follows: 1) Betulin significantly suppressed the production of MUC5AC mucin glycoprotein and down-regulated MUC5AC mRNA expression induced by PMA in NCI-H292 cells. 2) Betulin inhibited NF-κB activation stimulated by PMA. Suppression of inhibitory kappa B kinase (IKK) by betulin led to the inhibition of the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα), and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. This, in turn, led to the down-regulation of MUC5AC glycoprotein production in NCI-H292 cells. These results suggest betulin inhibits the gene expression of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human airway epithelial cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1070-1083
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS) has various medicinal effects, including anti-inflammation and anticancer activities. Despite the extensive research on SS, its molecular mechanisms of action on lung cancer are unclear. This study examined the impact of an SS alcohol extract (SAE) on lung cancer using in vitro and in vivo models. MATERIALS/METHODS: Different concentrations of SAE were used to culture lung cancer cells (A549 and H1650). A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect the survival ability of A549 and H1650 cells. A scratch assay and transwell cell invasion assay were used to detect the migration rate and invasive ability of SAE. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl2-associated X (Bax), cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3). Lung cancer xenograft mice were used to detect the inhibiting ability of SAE in vivo. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the effect of SAE on the structural changes to the tumor and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cyclin D1, CDK4, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in lung cancer xenograft mice. RESULTS: SAE could inhibit lung cancer proliferation significantly in vitro and in vivo without cytotoxicity. SAE suppressed the viability, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. The SAE treatment significantly decreased the proapoptotic Bcl-2/Bax ratio and the expression of pro-proliferative proteins Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, SAE also inhibited STAT3 expression. CONCLUSIONS: SAE reduced the cell viability and suppressed cell migration and invasion in human lung cancer cells. Moreover, SAE also exhibited anti-proliferation effects in vivo. Therefore, SAE may have benefits in cancer therapy.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.606-615
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate anti-thrombogenic, anti-inflammatory effects of n-BuOH (B) and $CH_2Cl_2$ (MC) fractions extracted from Sancho (Zanthoxylum. schinifolium) leaves in rats fed high fat diets. The experimental animal groups were consisted of eight including one 5% fat (N) and one 20% fat (H) without the test materials in diets and six H groups of feeding three levels (50, 100 and 150 mg/day) of the B and the MC fractions from Z. schinifolium, respectively. Plasma activated partial thromboplastin times and thrombin times of H group were decreased compared to the N group, but they were increased by feeding the MC fraction of 50 mg and over. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte 5#-lipo-xygenase activities and leukotriene $B_4$ contents of the H group were significantly increased compared to the N group, but they were decreased in the 100 mg and 150 mg of B fraction or the 150 mg of MC fraction fed groups. Liver cytochrome $P_{450}$, $O_2^-$, $H_2O_2$ and GSSG contents were increased by the high fat diet but decreased by feeding the B fraction or the MC fraction, while GSH content and glutathione S-transferase activity lowered by high fat diet were increased by feeding the two solvent fractions. The effects of the solvent fractions were evident at the level of 100 mg/day and over. The present results confirmed that two solvent fractions from the leaves of Z, schinifolium have enhancing effects on anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammation partly by antioxidant action and partly by direct modulation of the respective processeds. In conclusion, the n-BuOH and $CH_2Cl_2$ fractions from leaves of Z, schinifolium can be utilized as the proper ingredients of functional foods for preventing chronic degenerative disease.