• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2020

Bee (Apis mellifera L.) venom is used for the treatment of various human diseases due to its known anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This study investigated the effect of purified bee venom (PBV) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. There was no cytotoxicity while cells were treated with PBV by various concentrations. In the PBV treated cells increases in fat storage were inhibited and also confirmed by oil red o staining. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level were examined on the expression of the genes involved in adipogenesis by using real-time PCR. In this cell model, the mRNA level of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARγ) and CAAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha(C/EBPα) were decreased by PAE treatment, comparing with those of control group. Theses results suggest that PBV inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and can be used as an efficient natural substance to manage anti-obesity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2021

It is very important to control the inflammation of the skin because it can develop into diseases such as atopy as well as scarring and aging. In this work, we recently identified the in vitro synthesis of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) known to control inflammation in the human body and the applicability of cosmetics. Using recombinant protein of lipoxygenase from Glycine max, we succeeded to prepare mixtures of mono- or di-hydroxy DHA named as S-SPMs and used them for in vitro efficacy test. To investigate anti-inflammatory effect of S-SPMs, mRNA level of TNF-α and IL-6 were analyzed. Under UVB exposed condition, expression of both were decreased by S-SPMs treatment. And we observed reduced production of nitric oxide (NO) by S-SPMs application under the condition with diesel particulate matter (DPM). At the same experimental condition, malondialdehyde (MDA) production was decreased by S-SPMs, indicating the inhibitory effect of S-SPMs in lipid peroxidation. In addition, S-SPMs treatment resulted in reduction of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) expression and elevation of procollagen type I synthesis. Together with this, mRNA level of filaggrin and loricrin were increased by S-SPMs, indicating enhancement of skin barrier function. These results demonstrate that S-SPMs is a good candidate to develop as a cosmetic ingredient for anti-inflammation, anti-wrinkle, and improvement of skin barrier function.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.412-421
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• 2021

Purpose: Thioacetamide (TAA) produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver, and the generated ROS induces liver injury through inflammatory reactions. The current study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba water extract (AC), imparted via its antioxidant activity, in an animal model of TAA-induced liver injury. Methods: Animal experiments were conducted in 5 groups: normal, control (TAA 200 mg/kg), SM (TAA 200 mg/kg + silymarin 100 mg/kg), ACL (TAA 200 mg/kg + AC 100 mg/kg), ACH (TAA 200 mg/kg + AC 200mg/kg). TAA (intraperitoneal) and treatment compounds (per oral) were administered for 3 days. Serum levels of ammonia concentration and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were subsequently measured. Liver tissues were subjected to western blot analysis for measuring the oxidative stress (NADPH oxidase), anti-oxidative activity (Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase, and GPx-1/2), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) protein expressions. Results: Serum ammonia levels and MPO activity were significantly increased in the TAA-induced control group, whereas groups administered AC treatment showed markedly reduced levels. Western blot analysis revealed significantly increased NOX2 and p22^phox expressions, (oxidative stress-related factors) in the TAA-induced control group. These levels were determined to be significantly decreased after AC exposure. Moreover, antioxidant-related factors including Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, catalase, and GPx-1/2 were significantly decreased in the control group and increased in the AC treated groups. In addition, MMP expressions were significantly suppressed in the AC treatment group due to increased levels of TIMP-1. Conclusion: Taken together, these data indicate that exposure to AC reduces the oxidative stress by inhibiting the expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX2 and p22^phox) through the Nrf2 signaling pathway. We therefore propose the potential of AC for the prevention and treatment of TAA-induced liver injury.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.595-602
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• 2021

Human intestinal microbiota play an important role in the regulation of the host's metabolism. There is a close pathological and physiological interaction between dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora and obesity and metabolic syndrome. Akkermansia muciniphila, which was recently isolated from human feces, accounts for about 1-4% of the intestinal microbiota population. The use of A. muciniphila- derived external membrane protein Amuc_1100 and extracellular vesicles (EVs) could be a new strategy for the treatment of obesity. A. muciniphila is considered a next-generation probiotic (NGP) for the treatment of metabolic disorders, such as obesity. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii accounts for about 5% of the intestinal microbiota population in healthy adults and is an indicator of gut health. F. prausnitzii is a butyrate-producing bacterium, with anti-inflammatory effects, and is considered an NGP for the treatment of immune diseases and diabetes. Postbiotics are complex mixtures of metabolites contained in the cell supernatant secreted by probiotics. Parabiotics are microbial cells in which probiotics are inactivated. Paraprobiotics and postbiotics have many advantages over probiotics, such as clear chemical structures, safe dose parameters, and a long shelf life. Thus, they have the potential to replace probiotics. The most natural strategy to restore the imbalance of the intestinal ecosystem normally is to use NGPs among commensal bacteria in the gut. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new foods or drugs such as parabiotics and postbiotics using NGPs.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.187-195
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• 2021

This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of immune function and inflammatory changes for elderly women, by having them to participate in line dance program. For this purpose, 18 elderly women in their 60s to 70s, living in Y city were selected, and 9 of the participants were randomly assigned to participate in the line dance program for 12-weeks (line dance exercise group), while the other 9 participants were assigned to carry out their daily lives without participating in certain physical activity (control group) for the same period. The subjects' immune function and inflammation were measured using SPSS 24.0 for datafication, and the average and two-way ANOVA analysis were conducted. The result indicates the immunoglobulin, IgA, has increased, but not dramatically. The level of IgG(p<.05), and IgM(p<.05) increase were detected from the line dance exercise group, but not so much from the control group. Inflammation indicator, the CRP(p<.05), were significantly reduced from the line dance exercise group, but not much for the control group. According to the collected data, line dance for the elderly women can be considered as an effective exercise program, and the result shows that inflammation is reduced and immune function is improved. It also implies the needs of active physical activity arbitration to keep the elderly women's health and to prevent the chronic disease in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.427-438
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• 2022

Pyroptosis, a form of cell death associated with inflammation, is known to be involved in diabetic nephropathy (DN), and discoid domain receptor 1 (DDR1), an inflammatory regulatory protein, is reported to be associated with diabetes. However, the mechanism underlying DDR1 regulation and pyroptosis in DN remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the effect of DDR1 on renal tubular epithelial cell pyroptosis and the mechanism underlying DN. In this study, we used high glucose (HG)-treated HK-2 cells and rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin as DN models. Subsequently, the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins (cleaved caspase-1, GSDMD-N, Interleukin-1β [IL-1β], and interleukin-18 [IL-18]), DDR1, phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB), and NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes were determined through Western blotting. IL-1β and IL-18 levels were determined using ELISA. The rate of pyroptosis was assessed by propidium iodide (PI) staining. The results revealed upregulated expression of pyroptosisrelated proteins and increased concentration of IL-1β and IL-18, accompanied by DDR1, p-NF-κB, and NLRP3 upregulation in DN rat kidney tissues and HG-treated HK-2 cells. Moreover, DDR1 knockdown in the background of HG treatment resulted in inhibited expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and attenuation of IL-1β and IL-18 production and PI-positive cell frequency via the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in HK-2 cells. However, NLRP3 overexpression reversed the effect of DDR1 knockdown on pyroptosis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that DDR1 may be associated with pyroptosis, and DDR1 knockdown inhibited HG-induced renal tubular epithelial cell pyroptosis. The NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway is probably involved in the underlying mechanism of these findings.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Objectives : Atractylodis rhizoma Alba has been traditionally used as a medicinal resource that is used for enhancing Qi (氣) in traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan. This study investigated the protective effects of Atractylodis rhizoma Alba extract (ARE) against trimethyltin (TMT), a neurotoxin that causes selective hippocampal injury, using both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods : We investigated the effects of ARE on TMT- (5mM) induced cytotoxicity in primary cultures of mouse hippocampal cells (7 days in vitro ) and on hippocampal injury in C57BL/6 mice injected with TMT (2.6 mg/kg). Results : We observed that ARE treatment (0 - 50 ㎍/mL) significantly reduced TMT-induced cytotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons in a dose-dependent manner, based on results of lactate dehydrogenase and 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Additionally, this study showed that orally administered ARE (5 mg/kg; between -6 and 0 days before TMT injection) significantly attenuated seizures in adult mice. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of allograft inflammatory factor-1 (Iba-1)- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)- positive cells showed significantly reduced levels of Iba-1- and GFAP-positive cell bodies in the dentate gyrus of mice treated with ARE prior to TMT injection. These findings indicate the significant protective effects of ARE against the TMT-induced massive activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus. Conclusions : We conclude that ARE minimizes the detrimental effects of TMT-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity, both in vitro and in vivo . Our findings may serve as useful guidelines to support ARE administration as a promising pharmacotherapeutic approach to hippocampal degeneration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1154-1167
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the anti-amnesic effect of Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) bark extract (KRPBE) against amyloid beta_1-42 (Aβ_1-42)-induced neurotoxicity. We found that treatment with KRPBE improved the behavioral function in Aβ-induced mice, and also boosted the antioxidant system in mice by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and reducing glutathione (GSH) levels. In addition, KRPBE improved the cholinergic system by suppressing reduced acetylcholine (ACh) content while also activating acetylcholinesterase (AChE), regulating the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), and synaptophysin. KRPBE also showed an ameliorating effect on cerebral mitochondrial deficit by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP levels. Moreover, KRPBE modulated the expression levels of neurotoxicity indicators Aβ and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, p-IκB-α, and IL-1β. Furthermore, we found that KRPBE improved the expression levels of neuronal apoptosis-related markers BAX and BCl-2 and increased the expression levels of BDNF and p-CREB. Therefore, this study suggests that KRPBE treatment has an anti-amnestic effect by modulating cholinergic system dysfunction and neuroinflammation in Aβ_1-42-induced cognitive impairment in mice.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.15-23
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• 2019

Objective : Reflux esophagitis (RE) is a disease that caused gastric acid reflux and inflammation due to unstable gastroesophageal sphincter, as increasing worldwide respectively. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Evodiae Fructus (EF) extract on chronic reflux esophagitis in rats. Methods : The EF was measured antioxidant activity, such as total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-azinobis-3-ethyl-enzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. Rats were divided into 3 groups; Nor (normal group), Con (chronic acid reflux esophagitis rats treatment with water), EF (chronic acid reflux esophagitis rat treatment with EF 200 mg/kg body weight group). A surgically-induced chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE) model was established in SD rats, and treated with water or EF 200 mg/kg body weight for 14 consecutive days. Results : Administration of EF to rats of induction of chronic acid reflux esophagitis was found to reduce esophagus tissues injury. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and produces peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$) levels of esophagus tissues were significantly decreased in EF compared to Con group. As results of esophagus protein analyses, EF effectively reduce inflammatory-related factors ($NF-{\kappa}Bp65$, $p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, iNOS, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6), and increase anti-oxidant enzyme (Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, catalase, GPx-1/2). Conclusions : These results suggest that EF administration comfirmed that decreased esophagus tissues injury, oxidantive stress, anti-inflammation effect, and increased anti-oxidant effect. Therefore, EF was the potential to be used as a natural therapeutic drug.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.19-28
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• 2018

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Flaxseed oil and Chrysanthemi Indici Flos 50% ethanol extract in an HCl/ethanol induced acute gastritis model. Methods : ICR mice were divided into 6 groups; normal mice (Nor), gastritic mice with distilled water (Veh), gastritic mice with 10 mg/kg sucralfate (SC), gastritic mice with 16 g/㎏ Flaxseed oil (FO), gastritic mice with FO + 50 mg/kg Chrysanthemi Indici Flos (FCL), and gastritic mice with FO + 100 mg/kg Chrysanthemi Indici Flos (FCH). Then, mice were orally administered with 150 mM HCl/60% ethanol and caused acute gastritis. After 1 hr, mice were sacrificed, and blood and stomach tissue were collected. Results : Administration of FCL and FCH to mice prior to the induction of gastritis was found to reduce gastric injury. reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxy nitrite ($ONOO^-$) levels of stomach tissues were significantly decreased in FO, FCL, and FCH compared to Veh group. As results of stomach protein analyses, FCL and FCH effectively reduce inflammatory-related factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) in gastric lesion mice. In addition, nuclear factor kappa B p65 ($NF-{\kappa}B$ p65) and phosphorylation inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa $B{\alpha}(p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha})$ were down-regulated in FCL and FCH administrated gastric lesion mice. Conclusions : These results suggest that FCL and FCH has an inhibitory effect against gastric injury. Therefore, FCL and FCH has the potential to be used as a natural therapeutic drug.