• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2003

Objectives : Peroxynitrite($ONOO^-$), formed from the reaction of $O2^-$ and NO, is a cytotoxic species that can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. It has been involved in the aging process and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate scavenging activities of $ONOO^-$ and its precursors, NO and $O_{2^-}$ and its scavenging mechanism of Zingiberis Rhizoma (ZR). Methods : To investigate scavenging activities of $ONOO^-,\;NO,\;O_{2^-}$ and its scavenging mechanism, we used fluorescent probes like DCFDA, DAF-2 and DHR 123. The $ONOO^-$ scavenging activity on ZR was assayed by measuring oxidized dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) by fluorometry. The scavenging efficacy was expressed as IC50, showing the concentration of each sample that is required to cause 50% inhibition of DHR 123 oxidation. In a separate study, the protective effect of ZR on $ONOO^-$-induced nitration of bovine serum albumin was investigated through immuno-assay with a monoclonal anti-nitryrosine antibody, and a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody from sheep. Results : ZR markedly scavenged authentic $ONOO^-,\;O_{2^-}$ and NO. It also inhibited $ONOO^-$ induced by $O_{2^-}$ and NO which are derived from SIN-1. The data demonstrated that ZR led to decreased $ONOO^-$ mediated nitration of tyrosine through electron donation. It also inhibited the nitration of bovine serum albumin induced by $ONOO^-$ in a dose-dependent manner. Furtheremore, it blocked LPS-induced ROS and RNS generation. Conclusions : These results suggest that ZR can be developed as an effective $ONOO^-$ scavenger for the prevention of aging process and age-related diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.786-791
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• 1996

Systemic sclerosis is a multisystemic disease of unknown origin charicterized by degenerative fibrotic and inflammatory changes in the skin, vessels, joints, muscles, and visceral organs. Involvement of the lung in systemic sclerosis is common, but pleural effusion is rare. Although vasculitis commonly accompanies many connective tissue disorders, it has been rarely reported in systemic sclerosis. A 43-year-old woman, with a 10-year history of Raynaud's phenomenon, was admitted due to right chest pain. Her hands showed diffuse thickening and swelling of skin. Chest X-ray showed pleural effusions and esophageal manometry showed hypotonic peristalsis and low lower esophageal sphincter tone compatible with scleroderma esophagus. Antinuclear antibodies were present (titer>1 : 160) with a speckled pattern. She was positive for rheumatoid factor, anti scl-70 and RNP antibodies, but negative for anti-Ro, La, and Sm antibodies. Histology of the pleura revealed the presence of leukocytoclastic vasculiti. After adminisrration of prednisolone 30 mg/day, her chest symptom was improved. We report a case of systemic sclerosis with pleural effusions due to leukocytoclastic vasculitis with review of the literatures.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.181-187
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• 2006

Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is a mixture of protopanaxadiol type saponins with a dammarane skeleton, from Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer; Araliaceae). Korean ginseng is well-known herb to treat almost all kinds of diseases in Oriental medicine. This herb was particularly prescribed for treatment various inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus, for centuries. To understand the efficacy of ginseng against inflammatory diseases, we aimed to show anti-inflammatory activities of the PPD in murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 cells using nitric oxide (NO) production assay and the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and IL-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). We found that PPD saponin significantly blocked LPS ($1{\mu}g/ml$)-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PPD abrogated the expressions of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and MCP-1. Moreover, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, a critical enzyme to produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), was significantly inhibited by PPD in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that anti-inflammatory efficacy of Korean red ginseng on inflammatory diseases is, at least, due to the NO inhibitory activity and the inhibition of the expressional level of inflammatory cytokines and/or mediators.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.414-422
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• 2020

Fangchinoline (FAN) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid that is widely known for its anti-tumor properties. The goal of this study is to examine the effects of FAN on arthritis and the possible pathways it acts on. Human fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS), carrageenan/kaolin arthritis rat model (C/K), and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model were used to establish the efficiency of FAN in arthritis. Human FLS cells were treated with FAN (1, 2.5, 5, 10 µM) 1 h before IL-1β (10 ng/mL) stimulation. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species measurement, and western blot analysis of inflammatory mediators and the MAPK and NF-κB pathways were performed. In the animal models, after induction of arthritis, the rodents were given 10 and 30 mg/kg of FAN orally 1 h before conducting behavioral experiments such as weight distribution ratio, knee thickness measurement, squeaking score, body weight measurement, paw volume measurement, and arthritis index measurement. Rodent knee joints were also analyzed histologically through H&E staining and safranin staining. FAN decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines and ROS in human FLS cells as well as the phosphorylation of the MAPK pathway and NF-κB pathway in human FLS cells. The behavioral parameters in the C/K rat model and CIA mouse model and inflammatory signs in the histological analysis were found to be ameliorated in FAN-treated groups. Cartilage degradation in CIA mice knee joints were shown to have been suppressed by FAN. These findings suggest that fangchinoline has the potential to be a therapeutic source for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.575-582
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• 2021

Background: In ginseng, there exists a glycolipoprotein complex with a special form of lipid LPAs called Gintonin. The purpose of this study is to show that Gintonin has a therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis through LPA2 receptors. Methods: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were treated with Gintonin and stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β. The antioxidant effect of Gintonin was measured using MitoSOX and H₂DCFDA experiments. The anti-arthritic efficacy of Gintonin was examined by analyzing the expression levels of inflammatory mediators, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 into the nucleus through western blot. Next, after treatment with LPAR2 antagonist, western blot analysis was performed to measure inflammatory mediator expression levels, and NF-κB signaling pathway. Carrageenan/kaolin-induced arthritis rat model was used. Rats were orally administered with Gintonin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) every day for 6 days. The knee joint thickness, squeaking score, and weight distribution ratio (WDR) were measured as the behavioral parameters. After sacrifice, H&E staining was performed for histological analysis. Results: Gintonin significantly inhibited the expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2. Gintonin prevented NF-κB/p65 from moving into the nucleus through the JNK and ERK MAPK phosphorylation in FLS cells. However, pretreatment with an LPA2 antagonist significantly reversed these effects of Gintonin. In the arthritis rat model, Gintonin suppressed all parameters that were measured. Conclusion: This study suggests that LPA2 receptor plays a key role in mediating the anti-arthritic effects of Gintonin by modulating inflammatory mediators, the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2024

Crocin is a major carotenoid of the Gardenia jasminoides fruit and Crocus sativus stigma (saffron), which are used in various cuisines as flavoring and coloring agents, as well as in phytomedicine for the treatment of several disorders, including headache, fever, edema, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, respiratory disease, menstruation disorders, insomnia, and hypertension. Crocin (C₄₄H₆₄O₂₄) is a chemical diester composed of the dicarboxylic acid crocetin and disaccharide gentiobiose. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted about the biological and pharmacological function and toxicity of crocin. Crocin has been revealed to have no genotoxicity and pathological manifestation. Crocin acts as an antioxidant, anti-cancer, memory enhancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, anti-atherosclerotic, cardioprotector, and hepatoprotector. Here, an inclusive review of crocin is introduced based on previously explored studies referred to in the literature. Different studies have confirmed the protective role of crocin in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, gastritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. It is surmised that crocin suppresses inflammatory, antioxidant, and apoptotic processes through multiple mechanisms. Crocin is considered a safe and effective therapeutic choice for patients with inflammatory conditions, although more research investigating its mechanisms and results acquired in clinical trials are needed.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.271-275
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• 2007

Naturally occurring substances are important biomedical resources with low toxicity and ethnopharmacology-based efficacy. Four out of 45 extracts (Celastrus orbiculatus, Cercis chinensis, Stephanadra incisa, and Weigela subsessilis) prepared from the bark of Korea Forest plants exhibited more than 50% of inhibition on $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells at $100\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. In particular, potential inhibitory components of 4 extracts showed more than 50% inhibition seemed to be concentrated in methylene chloride (MC) fraction from C. orbiculatus, in ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction from C. chinensis and in hexane (Hx) fraction from S. incisa, whereas inhibitory activities of W. subssilis were broadly seen in non-polar solvent fractions such as Hx, MC and EtOAc. Therefore, our results suggest that extracts from C. orbiculatus, C. chinensis, S. incisa and W. subsessilis may be developed as a therapeutic remedy against $TNF-{\alpha}-mediated$ diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or further fractionated to isolate active components having $antiTNF-{\alpha}$ inhibitory activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2016

Variable systemic diseases affect larynx and vocal fold and result in voice change. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease make increase of intra-abdomimal pressure followed by reflux of gastric acid, which stimulate vagal-bronchopulomary reflex aggravating cough and respiratory disturbance. Fungal laryngitis in the general population is extremely rare, but can occur in immunocompromised AIDS patients. Although, initially, empirical antifungal therapy for candidiasis is often given without biopsy, diagnostic direct laryngoscopy and biopsy is imperative if a substantial clinical response is not rapidly achieved. In the highly active anti-retroviral therapy era, HIV-positive patients are living longer and are at higher risk for developing non-AIDS-defining malignancies. The incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) which is related with human papilloma virus infection has increased. The survival is significantly lower among the AIDS-HNC patients with CD4 counts ${\leq}200cells/{\mu}L$. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cause voice disturbance by developing cricoarytenoid joints fixation or nodule on vocal fold. Post-menopausal voice disorder (PMVD) is caused by decreased secretion of estrogen-progesterone resulting in decrease of fundamental frequency (F0). Hormonal replacement therapy is helpful to reduce F0 decrease. RA and PMVD result in slight voice change, but it could crucial in professional voice user.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2001

Background: Sodium salicylate (SS) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the treatment of neuralgia or pain from rheumatoid arthritis. When abused or used in excess, SS can induce cytotoxicity. The present study examined whether SS has a neurotoxic effect. Methods: Cell viability was examined by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2,5-dipheny ltetrazolium bromide] assay and Sulforhodamine (SRB) assay after cultivating dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons derived from neonatal mouse. These cells were treated with various concentrations of SS for 24 hours. In addition, the amount of protein synthesis against SS was measured in these cultures. Results: Cell viability (20, $40{\mu}g/ml$ SS) significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, SS inhibited protein synthesis after the exposure of cultured mouse DRG neurons to $30{\mu}g/ml$ of SS for 24 hours. Conclusions: The present study suggests that SS is toxic in cultured DRG neurons derived from neonatal mouse by decreasing cell viability and the amount of protein synthesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.235-239
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• 2007

In order to evaluate the improvement effects of head of Panax ginseng on chronic arthritis, we have investigated the activity of butanol fraction (BuOH fraction) in vitro and in vivo system. BuOH fraction showed significant inhibition on the elastase activity. Anti-arthritic activity of BuOH fraction was also examined on type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice. Mice were immunized with injection of type II collagen emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant, followed by a booster injection 21 days later. BuOH fraction(BHPG) was administered at an oral dose of 500mg/kg for 2 weeks from the 1st day boost. The hind paw edema was significantly decreased in the group of treatment with BuOH fraction compared to control. In collagen-induced DBA/1J mice, BuOH fraction did not affected the collagen antibody titer but significantly inhibited the tumor necrosis factoralpha(TNF-${\alpha}$) activity. These results were confirmed with histological evaluation of joint tissues. This study may raise the possibility that the usage of BuOH fraction of head of Panax ginseng as alternative medicine for the relief and prevention of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.