• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2000

The water extract of Seongpungtang(SPT) has commonly been used for treatment of ischemic brain damage in Oriental traditional medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of SPT rescues brain cells from ischemic damage. To elucidate the protective mechanism of ischemic induced cytotoxicity, the regulation of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and PMA (phobol-12-myristate-13-acetate) induced iNOS expression in microglial cells was investigated. LPS and PMA treatment for 48 hr in microglial cells markedly induced nitric oxide (NO), but treatment of the cells with the water extract of SPT decreased nitrite formation. In addition, LPS and PMA treatment for 48 hr induced severe cell death in microglial cells. However treatment of the cells with the water extract of SPT did not induce significant changes compared to the control cells. Furthermore, NO production was markedly decreased by treatment of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-kB) inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC). According to the above results, it is suggested that the protective effects of the water extract of SPT against ischemic brain damage may be mediated by regulation of iNOS during ischemic condition.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2008

In traditional oriental medicine, Gentianae Radix has been used clinically for clearing away 'heat', removing dampness and purging fire in the liver and gall bladder. However, there has been a lack of studies regarding the effects of Gentianae Radix on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Gentianae Radix on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide(NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of Gentianae Radix MeOH extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS was determined by immunoblot analysis, and the content of levels of cytokines in media was analyzed by ELISA kit. Results provided evidence that Gentianae Radix inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-l{\beta}$ $(IL-l{\beta})$ and IL-6, and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($p-I {\kappa}B{\alpha}$) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These findings suggest that Gentianae Radix can make anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.577-588
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Poorly regulated inflammation is believed to be the most predominant factor that can result in a wide scope of diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD). Despite many studies on the effect of pear pomace in obesity-related disorders including dysregulated gut microbiota, the protective effect of pear pomace in AD is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pear pomace ethanol extract (PPE) on AD by inhibiting inflammation. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the in vivo experiment, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was applied to NC/Nga mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. After the induction, PPE was administered daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. The clinical severity score, serum IgE levels, spleen weight, histological changes in dorsal skin, and inflammation-related proteins were measured. In the cell study, RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with PPE before stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Nitrite oxide (NO) production and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-𝛋B) protein expression were detected. RESULTS: Compared to the AD control (AD-C) group, IgE levels were dramatically decreased via PPE treatment. PPE significantly reduced scratching behavior, improved skin symptoms, and decreased ear thickness compared to the AD-C group. In addition, PPE inhibited the DNCB-induced expression of inducible nitrite oxide synthase (iNOS), the receptor for advanced glycation end products, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and NF-𝛋B. PPE inhibited the LPS-induced overproduction of NO and the enhanced expression of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and NF-𝛋B in RAW 264.7 cells was suppressed by PPE. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PPE could be explored as a therapeutic agent to prevent AD.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2017

Inflammation is a pathophysiological process that is known to be involved in numerous diseases. Microbial infection or tissue injury activates inflammatory responses, resulting in the induction of proinflammatory proteins including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Aster yomena is used in traditional Korean remedies. Here, we investigated the effects of ethanol extracts of Aster yomena (EAY) on the expression of iNOS induced by ovalbumin (OVA), one of the major egg allergens, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist. EAY inhibited OVA- or LPS-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. EAY also suppressed OVA- or LPS-induced iNOS expression and nitrite production. These results suggest that EAY has the specific mechanism for anti-inflammatory responses and the potential to be developed as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drug.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.2 s.33
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• pp.36-46
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• 2007

Objective : In this study, the effect of Atractylodes japonica against LPS induced inflammation in mouse microglia BV2 cells was investigated. Method : Microglia BV2 Cells viability was determined using the MTT assay. We used water, ethanol extract from Atractylodes japonica and studied on the anti-inflammatory effect of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot, and nitric oxide detection on mouse microglia BV2 cells. Result : The MTT assay revealed that it's extract has no significant cytotoxicity in the microglia BV2 cell. Various solvent extract from Atractylodes japonica inhibited nitrite production, iNOS protein and mRNA expression levels. And also it's extracts significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced COX-2 activation in RT-PCR and western blot in lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia BV2 cells Conclusion : In this study, it's extracts was shown to suppress NO production by inhibiting iNOS expression and COX-2 activity. With this effects of anti-inflammation, we suggests that, it's extracts may be a useful candidate for the development of a drug on the related inflammatory diseases in brain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 1997

Higenamine was widely used as traditional remedy for the treatment of rhumatoid arthritis. Nitric oxide(NO) may be a critical mediator in this inflammatory disease. Synovial tissue from humans with inflammatory arthritis expresses NOS2(iNOS) mRNA and protein, and generates NO in vitro. We therefore, investigated the effect of higenamine on the induction of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) promoted by lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Prophylactic application of higenamine selectively prevented LPS-primed initiation of L-arginine-induced relaxation and restored rhenylephrine(PE)-induced contraction in rat aorta. LPS-stimulated nitrite production in the incubation medium was reduced by higenamine. Furthermore, RT-PCR and Northern analysis indicated that higenamine reduced iNOS expression primed by LPS in rat aorta. These results suggest that higenamine prevents LPS-promoted induction of NOS in vascular smooth muscle.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.143-149
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) ethanolic extract fractions (CFEFs). Butanol fraction had the strongest antioxidant activity, and all CFEFs, except for chloroform fraction, partly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in RAW 264.7 cells. In the cell-free system, hexane and butanol fractions chemically quenched nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the iNOS mRNA transcription was suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effect of CFEFs on NO production from LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, might be due to both the chemical NO quenching activity and the suppression of iNOS mRNA transcription partially. The synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was potently inhibited by ethanol extract to below basal label, and the transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involving in $PGE_2$ synthesis, was partially suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction. Based on these results, CFEFs may be useful as an alternative medicine for the relief and retardation of immunological inflammatory responses through the reduction of inflammatory mediators, including NO and $PGE_2$ production.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 1999

During the screening for inhibitors of nitric oxide production in LPS-activated macrophage, RAW 264.7 cells. Five coumarins were isolated from chloroform extract of the root of Peucedanum japonicum. They were identified as praeruptorin A (1), xanthotoxin (2), psoralen (3), isopimpinellin (4), bergapten (5) on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The $IC_{50}$ values for nitrite production by activated macrophages were about $1.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ (1), $0.3\;{\mu}g/ml$ (2), $1.0\;{\mu}g/ml$ (3), $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ (4), $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ (5), respectively. However, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was not inhibited by treatment with these compounds. Their inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production was resulted from the supperssion of iNOS expression.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2004

Chelidonii Herba (CHE, Baek-gul-chae in Korean), which has its original description in Gu-Hwang-Bon-Cho, a classic book of oriental Herbal book, is widely used in the treatment of stomach cancer, jaundice, gasrtic ulcer, edema and stomach pain, in Korea, Japan and China. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of CHE on the nitric oxide (NO) production, iNOS and COX-2 expression in lipopolysaccharide - activated Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of CHE, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium, cell viability was measured by MIT assay. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by lmmunoblot analysis. The production of nitric oxide was significantly inhibited by pretreatment (1h) with CHE (0.1-0.3 mg／ml) on LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) protein were up-regulated by LPS, but the increased levels of iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by pretreatment of CHE (0.1-0.3 mg／ml), respectively. Thus, the present data suggest that CHE may play an important role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2008

Antioxidant and anti-rheumatoid activities of Cirsium japonicum leaf extract (CJLE) were investigated in this study. CJLE had similar DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power to ascorbic acid and several flavonoids. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory tissue-destructive disease, partly related with functions of hyaluronidases (HAases) and collgenases. CJLE ($1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$) had approximately 60.7 and 31.9% inhibition of HAase and collagenase activity, respectively. Also, CJLE inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in a dose-dependent manner, and CJLE ($1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$) suppressed approximately 70% of LPS-induced nitrite production effectively in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. CJLE had inhibitory effects on the adherence of monocytic THP-1 to human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers to the basal level. Inhibitory effect of CJLE on the adhesion was caused by suppression of tumor necrosis factor-a-upregulated expression of vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin. We expect that CJLE may alleviate the inflammatory process in rheumatoid synovium, and these findings will raise the possibility of the usage of C. japonicum as a traditional pharmaceutical of anti-rheumatoid arthritis.