• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2022

Agar, a heterogeneous polymer of galactose, is the main component of the cell wall of marine red algae. It is well established as a safe, non-digestible carbohydrate in oriental countries. Neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs) prepared by hydrolyzing agar by microbial β-agarase have been reported to show safety. However, their immunological effects have not been reported yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate immune enhancing effects of neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs) from marine red algae Gelidium elegans in mice by performing ex vivo experiments. Six-week-old mice were fed ad libitum. NAOs were orally administrated at three different concentrations (100, 500, and 2,500 mg/kg B.W./day) twice a week for four weeks. The group fed with NAOs at 2,500 mg/kg showed the highest proliferation of splenocytes and production levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in the ex vivo experiment. In conclusion, NAOs can enhance immune function, increase proliferation of splenocytes, and increase cytokine production by activating macrophages in mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The immunomodulatory effect of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) has been reported, but studies on its mechanism are still lacking. This study was undertaken to confirm whether the hydrolyzed and fermented PG extract (HFPGE) obtained by adding hydrolysis and fermentation to the extraction process has an immune-enhancing effect in the in vivo system. MATERIALS/METHODS: Five-week-old BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control group (NOR), control group (CON), 150 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day HFPGE-treated group (T150), and 300 mg/kg BW/day HFPGE-treated group (T300). The mice were administered HFPGE for 4 weeks and intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide (CPA, 80 mg/kg BW/day) on day 6, 7, and 8, respectively, to induce immunosuppression. The levels of immunoglobulins (Igs) and cytokines were measured in the serum. In splenocytes, proliferation and cytokine levels were measured. RESULTS: Serum IgA, IgG, and IgM levels were observed to decrease after CPA treatment, which was recovered by HFPGE administration. The levels of serum interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-8, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were also decreased after exposure to CPA but increased after HFPGE administration. Decreased splenocyte proliferation was seen in CPA-treated mice, but was observed to increase in the T150 and T300 groups as compared to the NOR group. Compared to the CON group, splenocyte proliferation stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the HFPGE-treated groups was significantly increased. The cytokines secreted by ConA-stimulated splenocytes (IL-2, IL-12, interferon-γ, TNF-α) were increased in the T150 and T300 groups, and cytokines secreted by LPS-stimulated splenocytes (IL-4, IL-8, TGF-β) were also increased by HFPGE administration. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HFPGE stimulates the immunity in immunosuppressed conditions, thereby enhancing the immune response. Therefore, it is expected that HFPGE has the potential to be used as functional food and medicine for immune recovery in various immunocompromised situations.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 1992

The objectives of this sutdy were to investigate the effects of 8-fluorociprofloxacin(8-FCP) on the central nervous system (CNS) and to compare with those of ciprofloxacin(CP). The $LD_{50}$ values of intravenous 8-FCP were similar or slightly lower in rat (M;203.6mg/kg, F;186.1mg/kg)and markedly lower in mice (M;126.5mg/kg, F;163.1mg/kg), as compared to those of CP. However, no recognizable differences in the clinical signs and recovery were found between 8-FCP and CP in both species. In combination with fenbufen, the convulsive liability of 8-FCP was higher than that of CP. At an intravenous dose of 10mg/kg, 8-FCP provoked convulsive signs and subsequent death in mice, whereas CP produced convulsion at a dose of 40mg/kg. The hexobabital -induced sleeping time was markedly lengthened by the oral administration of 8-FCP, but slightly increased by CP. In addition, the two quinolone derivatives had analgesic effects. The analgesic activity of 8-FCP was approximately two times higher than that at CP. However, both 8-FCP and CP had little effects of pentylenetetrazole-or strychnine-induced convulsion and muscle relaxation. Our finding that 8-FCP had more remarkable CNS effects than CP strongly suggests that there should be differences in the pharmacokinetic characteristics and/or in the binding affinity for specific biologic targets, or receptors, in the CNS.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3293-3298
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo anticancer activity of two novel mononuclear ruthenium(II) compounds, namely Ru(1,10-phenanthroline)$_2$(2-nitro phenyl thiosemicarbazone)$Cl_2$(Compound $R_1$) and Ru (1,10-phenanthroline)$_2$(2-hydroxy phenyl thiosemicarbazone)$Cl_2$(Compound $R_2$) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) mice and in vitro cytotoxic activity against IEC-6 (small intestine) cell lines and Artemia salina nauplii using MTT [(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide)] and BLT [brine shrimp lethality] assays respectively. The tested ruthenium compounds at the doses 2 and 4 mg/kg body weight showed promising biological activity especially in decreasing the tumor volume, viable ascites cell counts and body weights. These compounds prolonged the life span (% ILS), mean survival time (MST) of mice bearing-EAC tumor. The results for in vitro cytotoxicity against IEC-6 cells showed the ruthenium compound $R_2$ to have significant cytotoxic activity with a $IC_{50}$ value of $20.0{\mu}g/mL$ than $R_1$ ($IC_{50}=78.8{\mu}g/mL$) in the MTT assay and the $LC_{50}$ values of $R_1$ and $R_2$ compounds were found to be 38.3 and $43.8{\mu}g/mL$ respectively in the BLT assay. The biochemical and histopathological results revealed that there was no significant hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with the ruthenium administration to mice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2004

Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as amphetamines increases locomotor activity in rodents. These drugs, including methamphetamine, enhance dopaminergic neurotransmission and result in hyper-locomotion and behavioral sensitization. It is well known that the existence of a complex balance between the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems in the central nervous system. Thus, behavioral sensitization by methamphetamine may be related to the expression of the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors gene. The present study investigated the changes of M1R mRNA in hyperlocomotor activity and behavioral sensitization by methamphetamine (2 mg/kg) in mice. Our results showed that M1R mRNA expression was increased in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus region (the CA2 region) in the acute methamphetamine administered group compared to the saline administered group. In the chronic group, M1R mRNA expression was increased in the frontal cortex ill1d the hippocampus regions (CA2 and DG regions) in melt1amphetamine administered group compared to saline control group. These results indicate that acute or chronic treatment of mathamphetamine leads to the region-specific changes in mRNA expression levels of M1R. Therefore, Therefore, the present result suggests that M1R may play a role in modulating of methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in mice.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.66-78
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• 2010

Acute (24 h) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on the ethanol extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum Leguminosae (L.) seeds were carried out. Acute dosages were 0.5, 1.0 and 3 g/kg while chronic dosage was 100 mg/kg per day of the extract. All morphological, biochemical, haematological and spermatogenic changes, in addition to mortality, body weight changes and any change in vital organs were recorded. Histopathological investigations were done on vital organs. Growth arrest in the treated animals was observed. The treated mice gained no significant weight during chronic treatment while there was a significant gain in body weight of the control group mice. Biochemical studies revealed a significant decrease in blood sugar levels of fenugreek treatment groups while haematological parameters remained comparable to the control. In the treatment, male group there was a significant decrease in weight of testes as compared to the control. There was a marginal weight gain in kidney weight of mice after chronic treatment as compared to the control. Fenugreek chronic treatment caused a highly significant spermatotoxic effects in male mice.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.241-252
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• 2011

The study was carried out to evaluate the anticancer effects in Korean soybean paste(doenjang) added with sun-dried salt(S-D), roasted salt(R-D), bamboo salt roasted once(B1-D) or bamboo salt roasted nine times(B9-D). In MTT assay, S-D, R-D, B1-D and B9-D exhibited a significant inhibitory activity(64-87% and 68-92%) against the proliferation of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells by adding 0.05% and 0.1% of methanol extract. Among Balb/c mice injected with sarcoma-180 cells, the bodies, livers, spleens, kidneys and heart weight of the mice administered with 4 kinds of doenjang extracts were heavier than the non-administered ones of the group. However, no difference was found between the control and doenjang administered groups. Four kinds of doenjang inhibited significantly the tumor growth, especially R-D and B1-D showing an inhibition of tumor cell growth up to 97% by the administration of 1.0 mg/kg methanol extracts of doenjang. The activity of natural killer(NK) cells was relatively high in mice administered with four kinds of doenjang. Particularly, mice administered with R-D methanol extract showed a stronger activity of 88.2%. The activity of glutathione S-transferase(GST) in mice administered with four kinds of doenjang was higher than that of the non-administered group. In particular, the GST activity was the strongest in the group with B1-D. As these results indicate the various kinds of salt have different effects on the anticancer activity of doenjang.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2010

To obtain the best yield of the beneficial ingredients in green tea, such as catechins, green tea powder is most often prepared by ethyl alcohol extraction. However, the taste, cost and composition of ethyl alcohol extract is different from aqueous spray-dried green tea extract (aq-GTE). Specifically, aq-GTE has a better flavor, lower production costs and higher purity when compared to ethyl alcohol extract. In this study, we elucidated the effect of aq-GTE on diet-induced obesity in male C57BL/6J mice following dose-dependent oral administration of aq-GTE. After eight weeks, the body weight was reduced by 13-17% in mice fed 200 mg/kg bw aq-GTE ($12.468{\pm}0.45\;g$; p<0.05) and 20-25% in mice fed 400 mg/kg bw aq-GTE ($11.259{\pm}0.61\;g$; p<0.05) when compared with the high-fat diet (HFD) control group mice ($14.714{\pm}0.95\;g$; p<0.05). The correlation between epididymal fat accumulation and body weight also decreased by approximately 26.6% (p<0.05) in mice fed a HFD with aq-GTE 400 mg/kg bw. Finally, serum parameters such as the triglyceride, glucose and cholesterol levels in the HFD groups were reduced by the aq-GTE 400 mg/kg bw diet. Analysis on glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen and development of hepatic steatosis revealed no histologic evidence of hepatotoxicity in HFD mice fed aq-GTE. Overall, our results imply that aq-GTE is able to regulate body weight and fat accumulation in mice.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2022

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the large intestine disease that results in chronic inflammation and ulcers in the colon. Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) is known for its pharmacological activities. Persicaria tinctoria (PT) is also used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the attenuating effects of Rg3-RGE with PT on oxazolone (OXA)-induced UC in mice. Methods: A total of six groups of mice including control group, OXA (as model group, 1.5%) group, sulfasalazine (75 mg/kg) group, Rg3-RGE (20 mg/kg) group, PT (300 mg/kg) group, and Rg3-RGE (10 mg/kg) with PT (150 mg/kg) group. Data on the colon length, body weight, disease activity index (DAI), histological changes, nitric oxide (NO) assay, Real-time PCR of inflammatory factors, ELISA of inflammatory factors, Western blot, and flow cytometry analysis were obtained. Results: Overall, the combination treatment of Rg3-RGE and PT significantly improved the colon length and body weight and decreased the DAI in mice compared with the treatment with OXA. Additionally, the histological injury was also reduced by the combination treatment. Moreover, the NO production level and inflammatory mediators and cytokines were significantly downregulated in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the model group. Also, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-𝛋B) were suppressed in the combination treatment group compared with the OXA group. Furthermore, the number of immune cell subtypes of CD4⁺ T-helper cells, CD19⁺ B-cells, and CD4⁺ and CD25⁺ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) was improved in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the OXA group. Conclusion: Overall, the mixture of Rg3-RGE and PT is an effective therapeutic treatment for UC.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.665-671
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) on papain induced arthritis in C57BL/10 mice. The C57BL/10 mice were injected with papain and oral administration of Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) at different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) once a day for 42 days and compared with untreated mice. Histological examination and the measurement of inflammatory cytokine release were performed. The results showed that comparing with untreated mice, the treatment with Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) decreased the pathological changes of knee joint tissue. The level of inflammatory cytokine secreted from the tissues, such as IL-$1{\beta}$ (interleukin-$1{\beta}$), IL-6 (interleukin-6), TNF-${\alpha}$ (Tumor Necrosis Factor-${\alpha}$), were decreased. These results were confirmed by the quantification of cartilage volume using micro CT scanning. Consequently, Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) has a therapeutic potential in inflammatory joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.