• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.277-282
• /
• 2014

To develop a composition for enhancing immunity, based on alcohol extracts of the bumblebee as an active ingredient, bumblebee ethanol extracts were evaluated for their protective effect in chronic models of inflammation, adjuvant induced rat arthritis. B. terrestris worker extract (SDIEX) and, B. hypocrita sapporoensis lava and pupa extract (SPDYBEX), significantly decreased paw edema in arthritic rats, at a dose 100 mg/kg, respectively. The cytokine levels related inflammation of COX-2, $sPLA_2$, VEGF, and TNF-${\alpha}$, were decreased, compared to positive control, indomethacin (5 mg/kg). Histopathological data demonstrated decreases inflammatory activity, hind paw edema, and repaired hyaline articular cartilage in DRG over a 2 wk administration. HPLC and GC-MS analysis of SDIEX and SPDYBEX revealed the presence of cantharidin.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국자원식물학회 2022년도 추계학술대회
• /
• pp.93-93
• /
• 2022

Hovenia dulcis, one of the traditional medicinal plants, is currently being used as a functional ingredient for the development of health functional foods that protects the liver from alcohol damage in Korea. A variety of pharmacological effects of Hovenia dulcis have been reported so far, but studies on immune-enhancing activity are insufficient. Thus, in this study, we report that Hovenia dulcis branches (HDB) induce the activation of macrophages. HDB increased the production of immunostimulatory factors and phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. TLR4 inhibition blocked HDB-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors. In addition, the JNK inhibition reduced the HDB-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors, and the HDB-mediated JNK activation was blocked by the TLR4 inhibition. HDB increased the level of LC3-II and p62/SQSTM1. TLR4 inhibition blocked HDB-mediated increase in the level of LC3-II and p62/SQSTM1. These findings indicate that HDB may induce TLR4/JNK-dependent macrophage activation and TLR4-dependent macrophage autophagy.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.445-451
• /
• 2016

본 연구는 고사리 및 취나물과 같은 산채가 첨가된 된장 및 일반 된장의 면역 활성을 비교하기 위하여 선천면역계의 대표적인 세포인 대식세포와 적응면역계에서 중추적인 역할을 수행하는 비장세포에 각각 산채첨가 된장 추출물(WPDJ) 및 일반 된장(DJ) 추출물을 처리하여 각각의 면역세포의 세포증식률과 사이토카인 분비능에 미치는 영향에 관하여 측정하여 보았다. 대식세포 및 비장세포에 WPDJ 및 DJ를 125, 250 및 $500{\mu}g/mL$의 농도로 처리하였을 때 두 추출물 모두 대식세포 및 비장세포에 대한 세포독성을 유발하지 않았으며, 농도 의존적으로 세포증식률을 증가시키는 것으로 관찰되었다. 대식세포의 사이토카인의 분비능에 관하여 알아본 결과 WPDJ 처리구에서 더 높게 증가하는 것으로 관찰되었다. 또한 마우스 비장에서 유리된 비장세포에 WPDJ 및 DJ를 125, 250 및 $500{\mu}g/mL$의 농도로 처리하였을 때 Th1 type의 사이토카인인 IL-2와 IFN-${\gamma}$의 분비능은 유의적으로 증가한 반면, 알레르기를 유도하는 것으로 알려진 Th2 type의 사이토카인인 IL-4의 생성에는 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 관찰되었다. 따라서 산채를 첨가하여 제조한 된장은 일반 된장보다 면역 활성을 더 높게 증가시키는 것으로 생각한다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제25권10호
• /
• pp.1156-1163
• /
• 2015

고량강(Alpinia officinarum), 산초(Zanthoxylum schinifolium), 황금(Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), 왕느릅나무(Ulmus macrocarpa Hance), 네 종류의 식물성 한방 약재의 면역증강효능을 cyclophosphamide를 처리한 동물모델을 이용하여 조사하였다. 실험은 cyclophosphamide로 면역억제를 유도한 후 네 종류의 한방 약재를 식이하여 cyclophosphamide에 의해 억제된 면역인자의 회복 여부를 조사하였다. 네 종류의 한방 약재를 동일한 방법으로 열수 추출한 후 동일한 농도로 마우스에 처리하였다. 이 중 왕느릅나무 열수 추출물(DEU-7)이 cyclophosphamide의 영향으로 면역 억제된 마우스에서 면역인자 혈중 농도를 정상치 준하는 또는 가깝게 유지하는 것으로 나타내었다. DEU-7에 의해 비장의 무게와 비장세포수는 증가하였으나 간과 흉선과 같은 다른 장기에는 통계적으로 유의한 변화가 없었다. Ex vivo 조건에서 DEU-7은 비장세포의 사멸을 지연시키는 것으로 나타났다. 중요한 면역인자인 IL-2와 IL-4 cytokine은 면역억제로 농도가 감소되었으나 DEU-7이 약 2배와 3배 향상시키는 것으로 나타났으며, 이는 정상치의 약 1/2 수준이었다. IgM과 IgG의 농도는 cyclophosphamide 처리로 정상치의 약 1/2로 떨어졌으나, DEU-7에 의해서 정상치와 동일한 농도로 증가하였다. IL-2와 IL-4 결과에서 DEU-7은 T 림프구에 영향을 줄 수 있다고 생각되며, 또한 IgM과 IgG의 결과로서 B 림프구에 영향을 줄 수 있다고 생각된다. 선천성 면역에 중요한 면역인자인 TNF-α, IL-12과 IFN-γ 역시 cyclophosphamide에 의해 농도가 감소되었으나 DEU-7에 의해 정상치에 가깝게 회복되었다. 따라서, DEU-7은 면역 억제 또는 감소된 상태를 정상 상태로 회복 또는 유지하는 기능이 있는 것으로 생각된다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.121-126
• /
• 2009

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been used as an important medicinal plant in the Orient for a long time. It has been claimed that ginseng has many beneficial bioactive effects on human health, such as antitumor, antistress, antiaging and enhancing immune functions. Red ginseng possibly have new ingredients converted during steaming and dry process from fresh ginseng. In this study, pharmacological efficacy and ingredient conversion of ginseng by 9 repetitive steaming and drying process were investigated measuring conversion efficiency of acidic-polysaccharide, phenolic compounds and inhibition of peroxide lipides. It was found that acidic-polysaccarides were increased by heat treatment. In addition, maltol of phenolic compounds, strong antioxidant, produced during the process of red ginseng by Maillard reaction. Acidic-polysaccarides and maltol were increased after the 1st and 3rd steaming and drying treatments, but they were decreased gradually after 5th, 7th, and 9th treatments. Antioxidant activity was increased as increasing treatment times of steaming and drying without significance. Effect of red ginseng extract on inhibition of peroxide was increased gradually until after the 7th treatment, but remarkably decreased after the 9th treatment.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.95-109
• /
• 2003

Inflammatory lung diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. The sources of the increased oxidative stress in patients with chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) derive from the increased burden of inhaled oxidants, and from the increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by several inflammatory, immune and various structural cells of the airways. Increased levels of ROS produced in the airways is reflected by increased markers of oxidative stress in the airspaces, sputum, breath, lungs and blood in patients with lung diseases. ROS, either directly or via the formation of lipid peroxidation products such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal may play a role in enhancing the inflammation through the activation of stress kinases (JNK, MAPK, p38) and redox sensitive transcription factors such as NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1. Recent evidences have indicated that oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators can alter nuclear histone acetylation/deacetylation allowing access for transcription factor DNA binding leading to enhanced pro-inflammatory gene expression in various lung cells. Understanding of the mechanisms of redox signaling, NF-${\kappa}B$/AP-1 regulation, the balance between histone acetylation and deacetylation and the release and expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators may lead to the development of novel therapies based on the pharmacological manipulation of antioxidants in lung inflammation and injury. Antioxidants that have effective wide spectrum activity and good bioavailability, thiols or molecules which have dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, may be potential therapeutic agents which not only protect against the direct injurious effects of oxidants, but may fundamentally alter the underlying inflammatory processes which play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory lung diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.96-103
• /
• 2012

Obesity-induced disorders contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, fatty liver diseases, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we evaluated whether the Aloe QDM complex could improve metabolic disorders related to blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Male C57BL/6 obese mice fed a high-fat diet for 54 days received a supplement of Aloe QDM complex or pioglitazone (PGZ) or metformin (Met) and were compared with unsupplemented controls (high-fat diet; HFD) or mice fed a regular diet (RD). RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to quantify the expression of obesity-induced inflammation. Dietary Aloe QDM complex lowered body weight, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, and leptin levels, and markedly reduced the impairment of glucose tolerance in obese mice. Also, Aloe QDM complex significantly enhanced plasma adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity via AMPK activity in muscles. At the same time, Aloe QDM decreased the mRNA and protein of $PPAR{\gamma}/LXR{\alpha}$ and scavenger receptors in white adipose tissue (WAT). Dietary Aloe QDM complex reduces obesity-induced glucose tolerance not only by suppressing $PPAR{\gamma}/LXR{\alpha}$ but also by enhancing AMPK activity in the WAT and muscles, both of which are important peripheral tissues affecting insulin resistance. The Aloe QDM complex could be used as a nutritional intervention against T2D.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제10권4호
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2010

Background: Cordyceps militarys water extract (CME) has been reported to exert antitumor and immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. However, the therapeutic mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of CME on the antigen presenting function of antigen presenting cells (APCs). Methods: Dendritic cells (DCs) were cultured in the presence of CME, and then allowed to phagocytose microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA). After washing and fixing the efficacy of OVA, peptide presentation by DCs were evaluated using CD8 and CD4 T cells. Also, we confirmed the protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through western blot analysis. Results: CME enhanced both MHC class I and class II-restricted presentation of OVA in DCs. In addition, the expression of both MHC class I and II molecules was enhanced, but there was no changes in the phagocytic activity of exogenous OVA. Furthermore, CME induced the protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, proinflammatory cytokines, and nuclear p65 in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by western blot. Conclusion: These results provide an understanding of the mechanism of the immuno-enhancing activity of CME on the induction of MHC-restricted antigen presentation in relation to their actions on APCs.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.780-786
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to know the immunity responses of the Spatholubus suberectus Dunn(hereinafter referred to STSD) to the synovial cells isolated from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Various experiments were performed in vitro to analyse the immunity effects of STSD. Gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2 were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA kit. And also the binding activity of NF-kB and AP-1 were measured by Electromobility shift assay (EMSA) and the production of ROS was measured by flow cytometry. The results were obtained as follows 1. The gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α were reduced significantly. 2. The gene expression of iNOS and COX-2 were reduced. 3. The binding activity of NF-kB and AP-1 were inhibited. 4. The production of ROS in human synovial cells was reduced significantly. Comparison of the results for this study showed that STSD had immunomodulatory effects of suppressing or enhancing. So we expect that STSD should be used as a effective drugs for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also another auto-immune disease. Therefore we have to survey continuously in looking for the effective substance and mechanism in the future.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제19권4호
• /
• pp.303-310
• /
• 2013

Velvet deer antler (VDA) is well known oriental medicine claimed to have tonic activities as improving bone mineral density (BMD), immune-enhancing, rejuvenating and many other medicinal activities. Ossified deer antler (ODA) is bony product produced by over-calcification of deer antler due to late harvesting. The extraction efficiency of ODA by conventional boiling in water must be very poor due to bony nature, hence the reputations for the medicinal efficacies of ODA has been highly under-evaluated compared to that of VDA without any experimental evidences. Employing our new efficient water extraction process ($135^{\circ}C$), the extracts of ODA and VDA were analysed to compare the contents of bioactive components and the potencies of pharmacological activities. The results showed that; 1) The $135^{\circ}C$ extraction (autoclaving) of ODA gave highly increased amount of biomass, 120% more than the conventional extraction by 100-boiling, whereas the same treatment for VDA showed only 15% increased amount of biomass. 2) Feeding the ODA- or VDA-extracts to oophorectomized rats showed very potent BMD-recovering activity. 3) During the ossification of deer antler, the total collagen content was found to be increased by addition of type-1 to pre-existing type-2 collagen, but not replacement of type-2 to type-1 collagen. High titer of peptide hormones like growth hormone and IGF-1 were detected in the ODA- and VDA-extracts and also in the serum of ODA- or VDA-treated oophorectomized animals dose-dependently. Present experimental data will give a conclusion that folkloric poor reputations on ODA must be concerned only with poor extraction efficiency of conventional $100^{\circ}C$ water extraction and not based on the composition of bioactive substances of ODA.