• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.305-312
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• 2016

This study examined the effects of trifoliate orange extract (TOE) on inflammatory reactions at the time of an LPS shock by performing experiments on rats injected with trifoliate orange extract and in Raw 264.7 cell cultures, with the aim of developing a new anti-inflammatory medicine. The IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α concentrations were lower in all of the groups treated with TOE than in the control group after 5 h of LPS treatment. The IL-10 concentration was higher in the 300-㎎/㎏ TOE group than in the control group after 2 h and 5 h of LPS treatment. The liver concentrations of cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 decreased more in the groups treated with TOE than in the control group and the IL-6 concentration did not differ significantly between the 100-㎎/㎏ TOE group than in the control group. The TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations did not differ significantly between the TOE groups and the control group. In the experiments involving Raw 264.7 macrophage cultures subjected to LPS shock, the productions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α decreased in all of the groups treated with TOE compared to the control group. The IL-10 concentration did not differ significantly between the groups treated with TOE and the control group. Together the findings of this study suggest that TOE contains functional substances that can influence inflammatory reactions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

The 2019 coronavirus outbreak poses a threat to scientific, societal, financial, and health resources. The complex pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus centers on the unpredictable clinical progression of the disease, which may evolve abruptly and result in critical and life-threatening clinical complications. Effective clinical laboratory biomarkers that can classify patients according to risk are essential for ensuring timely treatment, and an analysis of recently published studies found cytokine storm and coagulation disorders were leading factors of severe COVID-19 complications. The following inflammatory, biochemical, and hematology biomarkers markers have been identified in COVID-19 patients; neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, c-reactive protein, procalcitonin, urea, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, serum amyloid A, cytokines, d-dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, troponin, creatinine kinase, and lymphocyte, leukocyte, and platelet counts. These factors are predictors of disease severity and some are involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. CRP is an acute-phase, non-specific serological biomarker of inflammation and infection and is related to disease severities and outcomes. In the present study, CRP levels were found to rise dramatically among COVID-19 patients, and our findings suggest CRP could be utilized clinically to predict COVID-19 prognosis and severity even before disease progression and the manifestation of clinical symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.391-398
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• 2022

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a typical inflammatory colon disorder. Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is known to exert various beneficial effects including anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial properties and improvements in liver function. However, the improving effect and mechanism of PG on intestinal inflammation are not fully understood. The present research was designed to investigate the effect of PG on the clinical signs of DSS-induced colitis in mice. The ameliorative effects of PG on inflammatory cytokine expression and the activation of hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF)-1α in DSS-treated colon tissue were also determined. Our results showed that mice treated with DSS displayed the main clinical symptoms of colitis, including weight loss, bloody stools, decrease in colon length and diarrhea and PG treatment significantly improved the clinical features induced by DSS in mice. PG inhibited the increase in the levels of inflammatory cytokines caused by DSS in colon tissues. We also showed that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of PG involved suppressing the activation of HIF-1α in DSS-treated colon tissues. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate the prospect of developing new drugs from PG for UC treatment.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.513-519
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• 2012

Aged garlic extract (AGE) is known to have a protective effect against immune system, endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammation. We examined the effects of exercise with and without aged garlic extract administration on body weight, lipid profiles, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress marker in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a HFD (HFD, n = 40) or a normal diet (ND, n = 5) for 6 weeks and thereafter randomized into ND (n = 5), HFD (n = 10), HFD with AGE (n = 10), HFD with Exercise (n = 10), or HFD with Exercise+AGE (n = 10) for 4 weeks. AGE groups were administered at a dose of 2.86 g/kg body weight, orally. Exercise consisted of running 15-60 min 5 days/week with gradually increasing intensity. AGE (P<0.01), Exercise, and Exercise+AGE (P<0.001) attenuated body weight gain and food efficiency ratio compared to HFD. Visceral fat and liver weight gain were attenuated (P<0.05) with all three interventions with a greater effect on visceral fat in the Exercise+AGE than AGE (P<0.001). In reducing visceral fat (P<0.001), epididymal fat (P<0.01) and liver weight (P<0.001), Exercise+AGE was effective, but exercise showed a stronger suppressive effect than AGE. Exercise+AGE showed further additive effects on reducing visceral fat and liver weight (P<0.001). AGE significantly attenuated the increase in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with HFD (P<0.05). Exercise+AGE attenuated the increase in triglycerides compared with HFD (P<0.05). Exercise group significantly decrease in C-reactive protein (P<0.001). These results suggest that AGE supplementation and exercise alone have anti-obesity, cholesterol lowering, and anti-inflammatory effects, but the combined intervention is more effective in reducing weight gain and triglycerides levels than either intervention alone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1576-1584
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• 2013

This study is carried out to assess the relative effects of different doses of dietary glucose or fructose on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic metaflammation in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes. KK/HlJ male mice were fed experimental diets as follows: 1) control (CON), 2) moderate glucose (MG, 30% of total calories as glucose), 3) high glucose (HG, 60% of total calories as glucose), 4) moderate fructose (MF, 30% of total calories as fructose), and 5) high fructose (HF, 60% of total calories as fructose) for three weeks. Food intake was not affected by treatments. Compared with HF, HG not only increased serum fasting glucose and area under the curve during oral glucose tolerance test, but also decreased the levels of serum insulin and adiponectin. It indicated that glucose control was complicated via high glucose intake. High fructose treatment led to increased triglyceride in the serum and liver. In comparison to HG, high fructose diet activated NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome consisting of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), NLRP3 and caspase 1, which increases interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ maturation and secretion. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was accompanied by increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and IL-6. However, the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and pro-inflammatory cytokines did not differ between CON and HG. These data suggested that dietary fructose triggers hepatic metaflammation accompanied by NLRP3 inflammasome activation and has deleterious effects on NAFLD.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.482-489
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• 2012

Effect of Trichosanthes kirilowii extract on the inflammatory responsse was investigated in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated broiler chickens. Plasma ceruloplasmin and ${\alpha}$-acidic protein concentrations of all the experiment groups were increased at 3, 9 and 24h after LPS treatment. Plasma ceruloplasmin and ${\alpha}$-acidic protein concentrations of Trichosanthes kirilowii extract groups were lower than those of control group. Plasma nitrogen oxide concentration of all the experiment groups was rapidly increased at 3h after LPS treatment. However, plasma nitrogen oxide concentration was decreased at 3 and 9h after LPS treatment with increasing amount of Trichosanthes kirilowii extract added. Liver IL-2 mRNA concentration of all the experiment groups was rapidly increased at 2h after LPS treatment, and then gradually decreased to the level similar to that before LPS treatment at 9h after LPS treatment. Liver IL-2 mRNA concentration of Trichosanthes kirilowii extract groups were lower than that of control group. Spleen IL-2 mRNA concentration was the highest at 4h after LPS treatment in all the experiment groups. Spleen IL-2 mRNA concentration of 0.2 and 0.3% Trichosanthes kirilowii extract groups were higher than that of 0.1% Trichosanthes kirilowii extract group and control group at 3 and 4h after LPS treatment. Liver and spleen IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA concentrations were increased at 2 and 3h after LPS treatment, decreased at 4h after LPS treatment, and then reached to the level similar to that before LPS treatment at 9h after LPS treatment. Liver and spleen IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA concentrations of Trichosanthes kirilowii extract group were lower than those of control group at 2h and 3h after LPS treatment. Liver and spleen iNOS mRNA concentrations were the highest at 3h after LPS treatment, and then decreased to the level similar to that before LPS treatment at 9h after LPS treatment. Liver and spleen iNOS mRNA concentrations of Trichosanthes kirilowii extract groups were lower than those of control group at 2, 3 and 4h after LPS treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1156-1163
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• 2015

The present study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of four different medicinal plants in a cyclophosphamide-treated Balb/c mouse model. One of the four plants, Ulmus macrocarpa, showed partial resistance against immune suppression induced by cyclophosphamide. The bark of U. macrocarpa, commonly known as the Chinese elm, has been used as a pharmaceutical material in Korean traditional medicine to treat bacterial inflammation and induce wound healing. In this study, water extract of U. macrocarpa, named DEU-7, was used for its immunomodulating functional activity. DEU-7 increased the weight of the spleen and the number of splenocytes but did not significantly affect the liver, kidney, and thymus in vivo. A splenocyte viability assay confirmed that DEU-7 influenced ex vivo splenocyte survival. DEU-7 also increased the levels of cytokines, such as IL-2 and IL-4, and immunoglobulins, such as IgM, IgG, and IgA. These results indicated that DEU-7 is involved in the activation of T and B lymphocytes. In addition, DEU-7 was able to maintain the production of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ, in the condition of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression, suggesting that DEU-7 activated innate immune cells, even under immune suppression. We concluded that DEU-7 aids immunological homeostasis, thereby preventing immune suppression, and aids both innate and adaptive immune response by maintaining the levels of various cytokines and immunoglobulins. Consequently, it is worth investigating the potential of DEU-7 as a supplemental source for immune-enhancing agents.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of stocking density and strain on the performance and physiological adaptive responses including the plasma corticosterone content and the level of mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant enzymes in broiler chicks. A total of 300 birds of two strains (150 Ross strain vs. 150 Cobb strain) aged 3-d old were allotted into two stocking densities (standard stocking density,$0.046m^2/bird$ vs. high stocking density, $0.023m^2/bird$) in battery cages by $2{\times}2$ factorial designs with ten replicates until 35 d of age. There was no significant strain effect on body weight, feed intakes and feed to gain ratio and the relative organ weights. However body weight, feed intakes and relative organ weight were found to be significantly (P<0.05) affected by the effect of stocking density. Plasma corticosterone level was not affected by both stocking density and strain effects. Hepatic mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, IL-18 and interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) was not significantly changed by the effects of strain and stocking density. However, the mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was affected by strain, showing that Ross strain decreased (P<0.05) the GPX expression. With respect to the effect of stocking density, there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and GPX mRNA expression in the liver from high stocking density group. Splenic pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was not also affected by stocking density and strain, except that IL-18 mRNA significantly (P<0.05) decreased in Cobb strain under high stocking density. The mRNA expression of SOD and CAT was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the effects of stocking density and strain. In conclusion, growth performance was not affected by strain but stocking density. Although mRNA expression of major pro-inflammatory cytokines was not changed by stocking density and strain, antioxidant enzyme was significantly affected by stocking density, strain or even organ in birds under summer conditions. More detailed studies still needed to be explored to elucidate the effects of environmental conditions and genetic background on physiological responses in birds.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2002

The immune activation activities of ethanol, ethanol : water(1 : 1,v/v) and water extracts from Dendropanax morbifera Lev. were compared. The crude extracts showed relatively low cytotoxicity as less than 26% by using human normal liver cell(WRL-68). For example, the ethanol extract inhibited. in MCF7 and Hep3B cells in adding 1.0 mg/mL ethanol extracts. The growth of human immune T and B cells was enhanced up to $1.22{\sim}1.27$ times by adding the crude extracts. These are a trend of increasing secretion of $cytokines(IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ from human B/T cell for 6 day cultivation. It was found that the immune activation activities of the crude extracts seemed to be higher than those obtained by using other solvents.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.15-35
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• 2015

Objectives This study was performed to investigate the effects of Bujasasim-tang ethanol extract (BST) on oxidative stress, inflammation and osteoarthritic rat model. Methods To ensure safety of BST, heavy metal levels were measured and cytotoxicity test was done. In vitro, To evaluate antioxidative effects of BST, total phenolic contents, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Also, to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of BST treated group, total nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) levels were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo, We injected MIA $50{\mu}l$ (60 mg/ml) into knee joints of rats to induce osteoarthritis. Rats were divided into total 3 groups (normal, control, BST treated group, each n=7). Normal group was not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis and taken normal diet. Control group was induced osteoarthritis by MIA and taken with 2 ml of distilled water once a day for 4 weeks. BST treated group was induced osteoarthritis by MIA and taken BST 2 ml (200 mg/kg/mouse) once a day for 4 weeks. We evaluated dynamic weight bearing with the Incapacitance Test Meter. At the end of experiment, the rats were sacrificed to observe the functions of liver and kidney, changes of WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte levels in blood, to evaluate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tissue inhibitor of metallopreteinases-1 (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), leukotriene $B_4$ ($LTB_4$) within serum. We observed change of articular structures by Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E), safranin-O staining method and measured amount of cartilage by micro CT-arthrography. Statistical analysis was done by unpaired student's t-test with significance level at p<0.05 in SPSS 11.0 for windows. Results 1. Safety of the BST was identified. 2. AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine levels of BST treated group were within normal limit. In vitro, 1. DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities of BST showed dose-dependent increase. 2. ROS production were significantly decreased. 3. Total nitric oxide (NO) and IL-$1{\beta}$ production were decreased. 4. IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production were significantly decreased. In vivo, 1. Weight bearing ability was significantly increased. 2. WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte levels in blood were decreased. 3. IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels in serum were significantly decreased. and the IL-6 level was decreased. 4. TIMP-1, MMP-9, $LTB_4$, $PGE_2$ levels in serum were significantly decreased. 5. Cartilage volume of BST treated group was significantly increased. Also changes of cartilage, synovial membrane, fibrous tissue were suppressed. Conclusions The results obtained in this study Bujasasim-tang have effects of antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, relieve pain and protection of cartilage. Therefore we expect that Bujasasim-tang is effective treatment for osteoarthritis.