• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.274-279
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• 2005

Pharmacological inhibition of interleukin-12 (IL-12) production may be a therapeutic strategy for preventing the development and progression of disease in experimental models of autoimmunity. In this study, the effects of myricetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid present in fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs, on the production of IL-12 were investigated in mouse macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Myricetin significantly inhibited the LPS­induced IL-12 production from both primary macrophages and the RAW264.7 monocytic cell-line in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of myricetin on IL-12 gene promoter activation was analyzed by transfecting RAW264.7 cells with IL-12 gene promoter/luciferase constructs. The repressive effect was mapped to a region in the IL-12 gene promoter containing a binding site for NF-${\kappa}B$. Furthermore, activation of macrophages by LPS resulted in markedly enhanced binding activity to the NF-${\kappa}B$ site, which significantly decreased upon addition of myricetin, indicating that myricetin inhibited IL-12 production in LPS-activated macrophages via the down­regulation of NF-KB binding activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.573-581
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• 2005

Flavonoids, a group of low molecular weight phenylbenzopyrones, have various pharmacological properties including antioxidant activity, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects. In the present study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/phytohemagglutinin (PMA/PHA) were used as stimulants for RAW 264.7 macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-2 productions were measured. In addition, flavonoids were examined for their effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results showed that all compounds were not strongly cytotoxic at the tested concentrations on hPBMC and RAW 264.7 macrophages. On immunomodulatory properties, catechin, epigallocatechin (EGC), naringenin, and fisetin repressed NO production and TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion. Furthermore, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin (EC), luteolin, chrysin, quercetin, and galangin increased IL-2 secretion while EGC, apigenin, and fisetin inhibited the secretion. These results indicated that flavonoids have the capacity to modulate the immune response and have a potential anti-inflammatory activity. There was no obvious structure-activity relationship regard to the chemical composition of the flavonoids and their cell biological effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.363-368
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• 2010

Allergies are immediate hypersensitive responses to antigens and interleukin (IL)-4 is involved in the initiation and development of allergic responses. $Rb_1$ has been known to have a variety of biological activities including anti-inflammatory activity, but the effect of $Rb_1$ on allergic responses is not known yet. The present study was undertaken to examine whether $Rb_1$ has an inhibitory effect on allergic response in mouse model. In allergic mouse model, our results showed that topical application of $Rb_1$ on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions improved skin condition and inhibited starching behaviors. In addition, $Rb_1$ application not only suppressed mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-10, but also prevented the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 transcription. Moreover, $Rb_1$ application suppressed IL-4's secretion. Taken together, these results suggest that $Rb_1$ has a potent inhibitory effect in AD-related T cell cytokine production and may be a candidate for therapeutic agent in allergy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2006

Objective : To investigate the effects of Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture on lowering lipid and contents of serum tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ $(TNF-{\alpha})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in hyperlipidemic rats. Methods : Triglyceride, total cholesterol, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6 levels in Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture groups were compared with those in the control group. Results : Concentration of triglyceride and total cholesterol in plasma was decreased in the Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture groups. In Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncre groups, plasma LDL-cholesterol showed a lower value and HDL-cholesterol showed a higher value than those of the control group. Contents of $TNF-{\alpha}$ was decreased in the Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture groups. Contents of IL-6, however, were not significantly different. Conclusions : The results suggest that Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture may have an impact on lipid metabolism to potentially prevent development of diabetes mellitus and accompanying cerebrovascular diseases.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.189-209
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• 2007

Objectives : In order to study the effect of Dangkwiyughwangtang and Okbyoungpoongsangamibang on the immune response induced by methotrexate in mice. Method : Delayed type of hypersensitivity, hemagglutinin titer, hemolysin titer, rosette forming cells, phagocytic activity for immune response, lymphocyte transformation, and productivity of Interleukin-2 were measured. Results : Body weight decreasing was significantly inhibited as compared with control group in both the Dangkwiyughwangtang and Okbyoungpoongsangamibang groups. Delayed type of hypersensitivity was significantly increased as compared with control group in both groups Hemagglutinin titer was significantly increased as compared with control group in both groups. Hemolysin titer was significantly increased as compared with control group in the Okbyoungpoongsangamibang group. Rosette forming cells were significantly increased as compared with control group in both groups. Phagocytic activity for immune response was slightly decreased in the Dangkwiyughwangtang group and slightly increased in the Okbyoungpoongsangamibang group insignificantly as compared with the control group. Lymphocyte transformation was significantly increased as compared with the control group in both the Dangkwiyughwangtang and Okbyoungpoongsangamibang groups. Productivity of Interleukin-2 was significantly increased as compared with the control group in both the Dangkwiyughwangtang and Okbyoungpoongsangamibang groups. Conclusion : Both the Dangkwiyughwangtang and Okbyoungpoongsangamibang groups enhance immunity in mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.413-420
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• 2015

Dexmedetomidine is a sedative and analgesic agent that exerts its effects by selectively agonizing ${\alpha}2$ adrenoceptor. Histamine is a pathophysiological amine that activates G protein-coupled receptors, to induce $Ca^{2+}$ release and subsequent mediate or progress inflammation. Dexmedetomidine has been reported to exert inhibitory effect on inflammation both in vitro and in vivo studies. However, it is unclear that dexmedetomidine modulates histamine-induced signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. This study was carried out to assess how dexmedetomidine modulates histamine-induced $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes encoding interleukin (IL)-6 and -8. To elucidate the regulatory role of dexmedetomidine on histamine signaling, HeLa cells and human salivary gland cells which are endogenously expressed histamine 1 receptor were used. Dexmedetomidine itself did not trigger $Ca^{2+}$ peak or increase in the presence or absence of external $Ca^{2+}$. When cells were stimulated with histamine after pretreatment with various concentrations of dexmedetomidine, we observed inhibited histamine-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ signal in both cell types. Histamine stimulated IL-6 mRNA expression not IL-8 mRNA within 2 hrs, however this effect was attenuated by dexmedetomidine. Collectively, these findings suggest that dexmedetomidine modulates histamine-induced $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and IL-6 expression and will be useful for understanding the antagonistic properties of dexmedetomidine on histamine-induced signaling beyond its sedative effect.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.21-30
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• 1998

Ginseng root has been considered to prevent neuronal degeneration associated with brain ischemia, but experimental proof in support of this speculation is limited. Moreover, few studies have compared the neuroprotective actions of ginseng ingredients with those of peptide growth factors and cytokines isf vivo. Using a gerbil forebrain ischemia model, we demonstrated that the oral administration of red ginseng powder before an ischemic insult prevents delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CAI field and that a neuroprotective molecule within red ginseng powder is ginsenoside Rbl. The neurotrophic effect of ginsenoside Rbl, when examined in the gerbil ischemia model and in neuronal cultures was as potent as or more potent than the effects of epidermal growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, erythropoietin, prosaposin, interleukin-6 and interleukin-3. Besides the protection of hippocampal CAI neurons against brain ischemia/repercussion injuries, ginsenoside Rbl was shown to prevent place navigation disability, cortical infarction and secondary thalamic degeneration in stroke-prone spontaneous hypertensive rats with permanent occlusion of the unilateral middle cerebral artery distal to the striate branches. These findings may validate the empirical use of ginseng root for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2002

This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Acanthopanacis cortex on Cytokine-inducing and and immune response in Mice. In order to investigate the effect of Acanthopanacis cortex, the following was performed; Cytotoxicity, in vitro, the fraction of $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $B220^+$ in splenic cell, gene expression of IL-12(p35), IL-12(p40), IFN-${\gamma}$, and splenic cell proliferation by Acanthopanacis cortex. Analysis of cytokine gene expression was carried out by RT-PCR amplification. Amplified PCR products were electrophoresed on 1.2% agarose gel, and the analysis (Ht) was used to 1D-density program. The results were obtained as follows. Acanthpanacis cortex showed didn't have cell toxicity under $12{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group on mouse lung fibroblast cells. In an in vitro model using mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), extract of Acanthpanacis cortex induced multiple cytokine, including interleukin-12 (p35), interleukin-12 (p40), interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$). The extract also enhanced the percentages of the $CD4^+$, and $CD8^+$ in the untreated control were $22.1{\pm}3.3$ to $38.4{\pm}2.1$, and $5.0{\pm}0.4$ to $10.7{\pm}0.3%$, respectively. From above findings, it is suggested that Acanthopanacis cortex is able to anti-cancer and activate immune response system.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2018

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and diarrhea. Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) has been used for the treatment of various diseases including neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory disease. However, there has been no information on whether GE regulates intestinal inflammation. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether GE can protect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model. The colitis mice were induced by drinking water containing 5% DSS for 7 days. Body weight, colon length and clinical score were assessed to determine the effects on colitis. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6 in colitis tissue were also measured. The results showed that mice administrated with DSS showed clinical signs including weight loss and reduced colon length. GE inhibited the DSS-induced loss of body weight and shortening of colon and increased Disease activity index score. Additionally, we observed that GE suppressed the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in DSS-treated colon tissues. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence that GE might be a useful therapeutic agent for patients with UC.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.557-564
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• 2001

To determine effects of zinc on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and Iymphokines in tumor-bearing ICR mice, this study has been investigated. Zinc chloride (Zn) at doses of 1 mg/kg was administered orally 30 minutes before i.p. injection of LPS (8 mg/kg) 5 times for 7 days. LPS greatly increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-1$\beta$, in both serum and splenic supernatants compared with those in controls. However Zn strongly decreased LPS-increased production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$ in spleenic supernatants compared with those in controls and insignificantly also reduced in serum. LPS insignificantly decreased IL-2 levels in spleenic supernatants compared with those in controls but significantly increased interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ levels. Zn didn't affect IL-2 production in splenic supernatants compared to controls but significantly enhanced the LPS-decreased production of IL-2. Zn significantly increased IFN-${\gamma}$ levels in splenic supernatants compared to controls and did not affect the LPS-increased production of IFN-${\gamma}$. These findings suggest that Zn may strongly attenuate the LPS-induced pathogenesis of proinflammatory cytokines in tumor-bearing state and significantly up-regulate the LPS-induced function of T cells to produce IL-2 with maintaining normally the LPS- increased levels of IFN-${\gamma}$.