• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2010

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a major cause of photodamages to human skin and the immediate responses of the skin to UV include the erythema and edema. In an attempt to find effective UV-protecting agents to be used in cosmetics, a number of plant extracts were screened in the cell-based assays. Among the total of 38 plant extracts tested, 3 plant extracts derived from Sasa quelpaertensis, Althaea rosea, and Dryopteris crassirhizoma attenuated the UVB-induced cytotoxicity as well as melanin synthesis in cultured human epidermal melanocytes. The anti-inflammatory effects of these plant extracts were further examined in animal models. A control or test cream containing 1% of a plant extract was topically applied to ears of a C57BL/6 mouse or the dorsal skin of a SKH-1 hafirless mouse before and after the exposure to UVB. The change in ear thickness or dorsal skin redness due to UVB exposure was determined to monitor edema and erythema, respectively. All three test creams exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in both experiments. The creams containing Sasa quelpaertensis, Althaea rosea or Dryopteris crassirhizoma extract alleviated the UVB-induced edema response on day 4 by 53.8 %, 56.4 % and 31.1 %, respectively. They also inhibited the erythema formation on day 2 by 45.7 %, 34.1 % and 20.5 %, respectively. This study suggests that the selected plant extracts formulated in cosmetics may attenuate skin inflammation caused by overexposure to UV.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.157-166
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• 2007

This experiment was performed to evaluate the ultrastructural responses of the absorptive cells in the appendix of the mouse, inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma cells in the inguinal area, following administration of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin). Healthy adult ICR mice weighing 25 gm each were divided into normal and experimental groups (experimental control group and BCG treated group). In the experimental groups, each mouse was inoculated with $1{\time}10^7$ Ehrlich carcinoma cells subcutaneously in the inguinal area. From next day after inoculations, 0.5mL of saline or BCG (0.5 mL/25gm B.W.: $0.03{\times}10^8{\sim}0.32{\times}10^8CFU$) were injected subcutaneously to the animals every other day. The day following the last injection, each mouse was sacrificed. Pieces of the tissue were taken from the appendix, prefixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solution, followed by post-fixation with 1% osmium tetroxide solution. The ultrathin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. In the normal control, experimental control and BCG treated mice, general morphology of the absorptive cells of appendix were similar. But myelin figures and intramitochondrial dense granules were more frequently observed in the absorptive cells of BCG treated mice than normal control ones. Above results show that BCG did show slight ultrastructural alterations in the absorptive cell of the appendix. These results that BCG may slightly suppress function of the absorptive cells of the appendix.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.51-51
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• 2001

Cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a satiety factor that is regulated by leptin. It was reported that the mice intracerebroventricularly injected with CART showed behavioral changes resembled with the typical behavioral alterations found in the mice carrying disorders in the brain serotonergic (5-HT) system. Hence, this study was conducted to find out the relationships between CART and 5-HT. We first examined the mRNA levels of CART after the injections of para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA, 300 mg/kg i.p., single injection or daily for three consecutive days) in the rat brains by in situ hybridization using the mouse CART cDNA probe cloned in our laboratory. Systemic administrations of pCPA, a potent inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme of 5-HT biosynthesis, acutely depletes the brain 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), which reuptakes terminal 5-HT. Results indicated that the mRNA level of CART significantly decreased in the arcuate nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and lateral hypothalamic nucleus by three days of daily injection with pCPA with no noticeable change detected 24 hrs after the single injection. The message levels of 5-HTT in DRN decreased in both single and three days of injections. Secondly, to investigate whether CART affect to 5-HT, mouse genomic CART gene, which is consist of 3 exons and 2 introns and mouse neurofilament light (NF-L) chain promoter were cloned. Then, we constructed neuron specific expression vector, which was transfected into HeLa cell using lipid-mediated transfection system. Expression of GFP and CART linked to NF-L-chain promoter in the transfected HeLa cell were detected by using fluorescent microscope and RT-PCR. These results confirmed normal expression of DNA constructs in vitro. Then, to increase brain specific expression of CART in vivo transgenic mice carrying CART gene controlled the deleted NF-L-chain promoter were generated by the DNA microinjection into pronuclei of fertilized embryos. Transgenic mice were detected by Southern blot. Further study is necessary to examine CART expression and 5-HTT in these transgenic mice. Therefore, these results suggest that there maybe a positive molecular correlation between CART and 5-HT in responding to the stimuli.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.205-218
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of anti-cancer and changes In immune response of Lonicerge Flos Herbal-acupuncture. Methods Experimental studies were evaluated through the anti-cancer and immune response activities such as, cell viability, BNA fragmentation, Apoptosis, survival time, pulmonary colonization, and productivity of interleukins & $interferon-{\gamma}$. In order to study the effects of anti-cancer and changes in immune response of Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture, the groups were divided into five groups ; Normal group(non treated group), Control A group(0.2ml Normal saline for oral administration), Control B group(administration of intramuscular injection with 0.2ml Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture solution), Acupuncture group(AT, administration of acupuncture at Chungbu(L1)), and Herbal-Acupuncture group(HAT, administration of Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture at Chungbu(L1)). Results : 1. Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture(>300mg/ml) could lead cancer cell to cell death. 2. Lonicerae Flos Herbal - acupuncture (40mg/ml) caused DNA cleavage. 3. Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture(400mg/ml) caused apoptosis in the cancer cell line. 4. In mouse survival time, all of experimental groups didn't show any significant compared to the control group. 5. In pulmonary colonization assay, Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture group was less than Control A group at 7 days after induction of cancer. 6. In comparison Control A group, there was significant decrease of Interleukin-2 level in Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture group. 7. In comparison Control group, there was decrease of Interleukin-4 level in the Acupuncture group. 8. In comparison Control group, there was decrease of Interleukin-10 level in the Acupuncture group. 9. In comparison Control group, there was significant increase of Interleukin-12 level in Acupuncture group and Lonicerae Flos Herbal-acupuncture group. 10. In comparison Control group, there was significant increase of $Interferon-{\gamma}$ level in Acupuncture group. Conclusion : According to above mentioned results, Lonicerae Flos Herbal- acupuncture is expected to be effective for anticancer and improvement in immune response.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.454-462
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• 1999

Corticosteroids have long been used for anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatoid and other purposes in hospital. These effects may be due to inhibit immune reaction. So the animal given corticosteroids was more susceptible to infection because of immunosuppressive effect of corticosteroids. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prednisolone on the lymphocyte subset in the spleen, immunoglobulin in serum, spleen weight, thymus weight and total WBC in peripheral blood. Mice were randomized into 3 groups. Each group has 24 mice. The small dosage group were given by 4 mg/kg/day of prednisolone for 4 days and the large dosage group were given by 8 mg/kg/day respectively. Prednisolone was suspended in saline and orally administered. Mice in control group were given saline alone. Eight mice in each group were sacrificed every week after administration of predisolone. The weight of thymus and spleen were mesured immediately. Lymphocytes were taken from spleen and these cells were analysed by flow cytometry. Also the concentration of total immunoglobulins in serum were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). T cell, T-helper cell and T-cytotoxic cell were all significantly (P<0.05) decreased at 1 week after administration of predisolone and at 2 weeks they recovered similarly to that of control. Population of B cell showed various distribution. The concentration of total immunoglobulins in serum was not changed significantly. The weight ratio of spleen to body decreased significantly (P＜0.05) during predisolone administration but increased at 1 week later, Eventually the weight ratio was recovered to that of control at 2 weeks. The weight ratio of thymus to body decreased significantly (P<0.05) by prednisolone and recovered gradually up to normal ratio 2 weeks later.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.806-813
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• 1994

These experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Cervi cornu extract on lymphocyte blastogenesis in spleen, thymus, lymph node, born marrow cells of Balb/c mouse, haemagglutination reaction against sheep red blood cell (SRBC), plaque forming cell (PFC) assay against SRBC and IL-2 production. Lymphocyte blastogenesis was determined by $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation. According to the lymphcoyte blastogenesis test on the immune cell. Ceriv cornu extrat was showed a potent mitogenic activity on the spleen and lymph node cells, but had mild mitogenic activity on the thymus and born marrow cells. Mitogenic active component of Crevi cornu extract was identified to be materials where molecular weights are higher than 5,000 by membrane filteration method. Cervi cornu extrat was shown to increase mitogenic effect on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated spleen cells significantly, but decrease mitogenic effect on the Con A stimulated spleen cell at the concentration 0.3%, 1% and 3%. Ceriv cornu extract didn't show to be haemagglutination reaction and showed to inhibit the Con A-induced haemagglutination reaction against SREC. Result of SRBC-PEC test. Ceriv cornu extract significantly increase the number of PEC at the concentration of 0.1% and 1%. When IL-2 or IL-4 production was determined by proliferation of CTLL-2 cells. Ceriv cornu extract was not shown to stimulate the production of IL-2. From the above results, it is shown that Ceriv cornu extract increased antibody production by B cells, but nor IL-2 production by helper T cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2018

Cancer preventive activities of green tea and its main constituent, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been extensively studied by scientists all over the world. Since 1983, we have studied the cancer chemopreventive effects of EGCG as well as green tea extract and underlying molecular mechanisms. The first part of this review summarizes groundbreaking topics with EGCG and green tea extract: 1) Delayed cancer onset as revealed by a 10-year prospective cohort study, 2) Prevention of colorectal adenoma recurrence by a double-blind randomized clinical phase II trial, 3) Inhibition of metastasis of B16 melanoma cells to the lungs of mice, 4) Increase in the average value of Young's moduli, i.e., cell stiffness, for human lung cancer cell lines and inhibition of cell motility and 5) Synergistic enhancement of anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines with the combination of EGCG and anticancer compounds. In the second part, we became interested in cancer stem cells (CSCs). 1) Cancer stem cells in mouse skin carcinogenesis by way of introduction, after which we discuss two subjects from our review on human CSCs reported by other investigators gathered from a search of PubMed, 2) Expression of stemness markers of human CSCs compared with their parental cells, and 3) EGCG decreases or increases the expression of mRNA and protein in human CSCs. On this point, EGCG inhibited self-renewal and expression of pluripotency-maintaining transcription factors in human CSCs. Human CSCs are thus a target for cancer prevention and treatment with EGCG and green tea catechins.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2011

In order to investigate the potential of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) oil as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics, we prepared N. sativa oil. We measured its inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity, cellular tyrosinase activity, and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16 melanoma cells. N. sativa oil and its components showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase and melanin synthesis. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay using mouse B16-F10 melanoma cell, it reduced melanin production up to 86 % at a concentration of 10 mg/mL without cytotoxicity. In the study on the melanogenic protein expressions by using RT-PCR and Western blot, N. sativa oil and its components inhibited expression of tyrosinase protein, which is a well-known key protein on melanogenesis, and tyrosinase expression was gradually decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, this result suggests that N. sativa oil could be used as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2003

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which Chelidonium majus (CM) regulates nitric oxide (NO) production. Methods : Using mouse peritoneal macrophages, the mechanism by which CM regulates NO or tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$ production was examined. NO release was measured by the Griess method. $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was measured by the ELISA method. The protein extracts were prepared and samples were analyzed for the inducible NOS(iNOS) expression and nuclear factor kappa $B(NF-{\kappa}B)$ activation by Western blotting. Results : When CM was used in combination with recombinant $interferon-{\gamma}{\;}(rIFN-{\gamma})$, there was a marked cooperative induction of NO production. CM had an effect on NO production by itself. The expression of the iNOS gene was increased in $rIFN-{\gamma}$ plus CM-stimulated peritoneal macrophages and almost completely inhibited by pre-treatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of $NF-{\kappa}B$. The $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation was increased in rIFN-{\gamma} plus CM-induced peritoneal macrophages. The increased production of NO from $rIFN-{\gamma}$ plus CM-stimulated peritoneal rnacrophages was decreased by the treatment with $N^{G}-monomethyl-{_L}-arginine{\;}(N^{G}MMA){\;}N^{\alpha}-Tosyl-Phe$ chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) , and was almost completely inhibited by pre-treatment with PDTC. Furthermore, treatment with CM alone or rIFN-{\gamma} plus CM in peritoneal macrophages caused a significant increase in $TNF-{\alpha}$ production. PDTC decreased CM-induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ production significantly. After CM treatment in HT-29 or AGS cells, cell viability decreased. Conclusions : These findings demonstrate that CM increases the production of NO and $TNF-{\alpha}{\;}by{\;}rIFN-{\gamma}-primed$ macrophages and suggest that NF-B plays a critical role in mediating these effects of CM.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2016

Lichens have been known to possess multiple biological activities, including anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Hence, VCAM-1 is a possible therapeutic target in the treatment of the inflammatory disease. However, the effect of lobaric acid on VCAM-1 has not yet been investigated and characterized. For this study, we examined the effect of lobaric acid on the inhibition of VCAM-1 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated mouse vascular smooth muscle cells. Western blot and ELISA showed that the increased expression of VCAM-1 by TNF-${\alpha}$ was significantly suppressed by the pre-treatment of lobaric acid ($0.1-10{\mu}g/ml$) for 2 h. Lobaric acid abrogated TNF-${\alpha}$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity through preventing the degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), and p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase. Lobaric acid also inhibited the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ receptor 1 (TNF-R1). Overall, our results suggest that lobaric acid inhibited VCAM-1 expression through the inhibition of p38, ERK, JNK and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathways, and downregulation of TNF-R1 expression. Therefore, it is implicated that lobaric acid may suppress inflammation by altering the physiology of the atherosclerotic lesion.