• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-40
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• 2013

Objectives: The object of this study was to observe the in vitro antibacterial effects of five single(Pulsatillae Radix, Patrinae Radix, Sanguisorbae Radix, Sophorae Flos, and Sophorae Radix) aqueous herbal extracts, traditionally used for treating various gynecological diseases including mastitis in Korea, against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus of aqueous extracts of Pulsatillae Radix, PatrinaeRadix, Sanguisorbae Radix, Sophorae Flos, and Sophorae Radix were detected using standard agar microdilution methods. In addition, the effects on the bacterial growth curve were also monitored at Minimal Incubation Concentration(MIC) and $MIC{\times}2$ levels. The effects on the intracellular killing and bacterial invasion of individual test materials were also observed using murine macrophage(Raw 264.7) and human mammary gland carcinoma cell(MCF-7). Results: MIC of aqueous extracts of Pulsatillae Radix, Patrinae Radix, Sanguisorbae Radix, Sophorae Flos, and Sophorae Radix against Staphylococcus aureus were detected as $0.215{\pm}0.107$ mg/ml, $0.273{\pm}0.107$ mg/ml, $0.469{\pm}0.297$ mg/ml, $11.850{\pm}8.406$ mg/ml, and $0.664{\pm}0.546$ mg/ml, respectively. MIC of Ciprofloxacin was detected as $0.469{\pm}0.297{\mu}g/ml$ at same conditions. In addition, all five single aqueous herbal extracts were also showed marked dosage-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth. The effects of intracellular killing with Raw 264.7 and inhibition of bacterial invasion with MCF-7 cells were detected, in the order of Sophorae Flos, Pulsatillae Radix, Patrinae Radix, Sanguisorbae Radix and Sophorae Radix aqueous extracts in the present study. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study suggest that all five single aqueous herbal extracts showed antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and they also showed dosage-dependent inhibitory effects on the bacterial growth. They showed the significant intracellular killing and inhibition of bacterial invasion effects. It means, all five single aqueous herbal extracts may show potent anti-infectious effects against Staphylococcus aureus for mastitis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2014

The anti-inflammatory effect of Sargassum micracanthum water extract (SMWE) was investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in this study. The murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells were used and MTT assay was performed to measure the cell proliferation ability. The secretion of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-$1{\beta}$ was measured in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells by ELISA. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B p65 protein was studied by immunoblotting. The Balb/c mice were used for an acute toxicity test, and imprinting control region mice were purchased to evaluate a croton oil-induced ear edema. As a result, there was no cytotoxicity in the macrophage proliferation treated with SMWE compared to the control. NO levels decreased with increasing concentration of SMWE and were inhibited over 50%. Moreover, the secretion of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner, especially, IL-$1{\beta}$ inhibition activity was over 50% at 50 ${mu}g$/mL. The formation of ear edema of mice was reduced at the highest dose tested compared to that in the control. Moreover, in acute toxicity test, no moralities occurred in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of SMWE over 2 weeks observation period. These results suggested that SMWE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and be potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic materials.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.268-274
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immuno-stimulatory activity of the high-molecular-weight fraction (HMWF) of Cynanchum wilfordii (CW) extracts obtained by ultrafiltration in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and to assess its immuno-stimulatory effect in mice. Ultrafiltration was performed with polyethersulfone membranes (30 kDa cutoff) in a cross-flow filtration system to obtain the HMWF of CW. The results showed that the HMWF increased the production of various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide in dose-ependent manners. In addition, HMWF treatment increased the relative spleen weight as well as splenocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A or bacterial lipopolysaccharide in mice. Natural killer (NK) cell activity in the HMWF-treated group was significantly increased compared to that in the control group. These results suggest that the HMWF of CW can support the immune system through secretion of macrophage cytokines, thereby enhancing NK cell activity and murine splenocyte proliferation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.138-146
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• 2009

Background: The MHC region of the chromosome contains a lot of genes involved in immune responses. Here we have investigated the mouse NG29/Cd320 gene in the centrometrically extended MHC region of chromosome 17. Methods: We cloned the NG29 gene by RT-PCR and confirmed the tissue distribution of its gene expression by northern blot hybridization. We generated the NG29 gene expression constructs and polyclonal antibody against the NG29 protein to perform the immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometric analysis. Results: The murine NG29 gene and its human homologue, the CD320/8D6 gene, were similar in the gene structure and tissue expression patterns. We cloned the NG29 gene and confirmed its expression in plasma membrane and intracellular compartments by transfecting its expresssion constructs into HEK 293T cells. The immunoprecipitation studies with rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against the NG29-NusA fusion protein indicated that NG29 protein was a glycoprotein of about 45 kDa size. A flow cytometric analysis also showed the NG29 expression on the surface of Raw 264.7 macrophage cell line. Conclusion: These findings suggested that NG29 gene in mouse extended MHC class II region was the orthologue of human CD320 gene even though human CD320/8D6 gene was located in non-MHC region, chromosome 19p13.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2015

Our study investigated the fibrinolytic, thrombin inhibitory, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of the water extract and solvent fractions isolated from Pleurotus ferulea. Fibrinolytic activity was investigated using the fibrin plate method. Thrombin inhibitory activity was used to analyze thrombin inhibitor assay. The DPPH assay was used to estimate anti-oxidative activity. Inhibition of NO production was measured for anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-activated murine RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. An MTS assay was used to evaluate the effects of the water extract and solvent fractions isolated from Pleurotus ferulea on cell viability. Our results showed the fibrinolytic activity to be strong in the ethyl acetate fraction at 1.33 plasmin units. The ethyl acetate fraction also showed high thrombin inhibitory activity at 94.45%. The anti-oxidative activity of the water extract was 37.01% and the anti-inflammatory activity of the chloroform fraction was 98.13%. These findings suggest that Pleurotus ferulea's extract and fractions could be applicable in the development of functional foods for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.31-37
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• 2011

Objectives : Chrysanthemum boreale flower is widely distributed in Korea, Japan, China, and Eastern countries. C. boreale flower is also one of the herbs used for the treatment of various inflammatory disease in Korean Medicine. So, this research was designed to study anti-inflammatory effect of C. boreale flower and its mechanism. Methods : We investigated nitro oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production by ELISA. And expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ P50/65 (NF-${\kappa}B$ P50, NF-${\kappa}B$ P65) were measured in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells induced by LPS. Results : MeOH ex., EtOAc fr., $CHCl_3$ fr. and Water fr. of C. boreale flower showed anti-inflammatory effect through inhibition of NO and PGE expression respectively. Among them, EtOAc fr. and $CHCl_3$ fr. inhibited production of NO and $PGE_2$ through inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression. And MeOH ex., EtOAc fr. and $CHCl_3$ fr. inhibited translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ P65, NF-${\kappa}B$ P50 by inhibiting phosphrylation of $I{\kappa}B$. Conclusions : MeOH ex. EtOAc fr, $CHCl_3$ fr., and Water fr. of the C. boreale flower have anti-inflammatory activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 2011

Water Fermented and Ethanol Fermented Extracts from Rhei Radix et Rhizoma exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity with an unknown mechanism. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of W-FR and E-FR on pharmacological and biochemical actions in inflammation, we examined the effect of W-FR and E-FR on pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. The investigation focused on whether FR inhibited nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the expressions of iNOS, COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. We found that FR inhibited LPS-induced NO, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 productions as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2. These results suggest that W-FR and E-FR have inhibitory effects on LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$, NO, and IL-6 production, as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the murine macrophage.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.343-348
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• 2014

In the present studies, we examined effect of chamomile flowers extract (CH-Ex), which has traditionally been used as antiphlogistics in Europe for many centuries, against Candida albicans-caused septic arthritis. Candida albicans is a major etiological agent among fungal septic arthritis. This effect was investigated in a murine model of the septic arthritis. That is, mice that were given an emulsion form of C. albicans cell wall (CACW) via footpad route were treated intraperitoneally with the CH-Ex for 3 times every 3 days. Degrees of the footpad-swellings were measured with dial gauger. Data showed that the CH-Ex resulted in the reduction of swelling. For instance, at Day 9 when swelling reached the highest peak, there was up to app. 60% reduction of edema in mice injected with the CH-Ex, compared to that of the control mice that received no treatment (P<0.05). This therapeutic anti-arthritic activity appeared to be mediated by inhibitions of NO (nitric oxide) production from activated RAW264.7 macrophages and proliferation of Con A-treated T lymphocytes. Analysis by HPLC revealed that the CH-Ex contained eight polyphenolic compounds including chlorogenic acid (CRA) and rutin. We have reported the CRA and rutin respectively have the anti-arthritic activity. This correlation implicates that CRA and rutin in the CH-Ex may be responsible for the activity. Combined all together, the CH-Ex has anti-arthritic activity against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis, possibly by inhibiting NO production and proliferation of T cells. This activity seems to be contributed by, at least, CRA and rutin among the compounds in the CH-Ex.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1092-1099
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• 2018

This study was orchestrated with the purpose of uncovering new nutraceutical resources possessing biological activities in the plant kingdom. To fulfill our objective, we analyzed several plant extracts and selected five species possessing powerful anti-oxidative activity. The anti-oxidative effect of these five plants, Apios fortunei Maxim., Colubrina arborescens Sarg., Croton caudatus Geiseler, Osmanthus matsumuranus Hayata and Schima noronhae Reinw. ethanol extracts were then evaluated by using in vitro assay, cell model system, and Western blot analysis of target proteins. As the results, all of them possessed the potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), similar with that of ascorbic acid, used as a common positive control. Moreover, they strongly inhibited hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), in a dose-dependent manner, in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Furthermore, they induced the protein expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Taken together, these results indicate that these five plants possess potent anti-oxidative activity and thus appear to be useful sources as potential anti-oxidant agents. Therefore, they might be utilized as promising materials in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.206-212
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• 2011

Makgeolli is Korean traditional alcoholic beverage that has historically been brewed. In this study, we analyzed the profile of organic acids in makgeolli and also evaluated its physiological characteristics. Makgeolli contained excess lactic acid, which is produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Anti-obesity effects of makgeolli were investigated in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Compared to the negative control, makgeolli inhibited the differentiation of preadipocyte as quantified by Oil red O dye. In particular, $100{\mu}g/mL$ makgeolli reduced 40 to 70% of differentiation. To evaluate the anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of makgeolli, we performed chorioallantoic membrane assay and measured nitric oxide production from lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. Most makgeolli interrupted the formation of neo-vasculature and significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these findings suggest that commercial makgeolli has inhibitory activities against adipogenesis, neo-vascularization, and inflammation, and also they are influenced by second metabolites from nuruk microflora containing fungi and LAB.