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

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.233-239
• /
• 1998

Stimulated alveolar macrophages and neutrophils produce nitric oxide, a free radical by an inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), which reacts with superoxide anion to form peroxynitrite, a more highly reactive toxic species. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate acute inflammatory lung injury and to determine iNOS mRNA induction and nitric oxide production by rat broncho-alveolar lavage cells following intratracheal treatment of silica. After 4 h exposure to silica, differential counts of broncho-alveolar lavage cells and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity as well as total protein in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid were determined. Broncho-alveolar lavage cells were also assayed for iNOS mRNA and the productions of nitrite and nitrate measured in the cells cultured. Differential analysis of broncho-alveolar lavage cells showed that the number of alveolar macrophages slightly decreased following silica treatment; however, red blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils significantly were increased by 9-, 14-, and 119-fold following silica treatment, respectively, compared with the saline control. It was also found significant increases in the LDH activity and total protein in the lavage fluid obtained from silica-treated rats, indicating silica-induced acute lung injury. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the steady state levels of iNOS mRNA in broncho-alveolar lavage cells were increased following silica treatment. The productions of nitrite and nitrate in the cultured cells were significantly increased by 2-fold following silica treatment, respectively, which were attenuated by the NOS inhibitor $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine-methyl$ ester(L-NAME) and partially reversed by L-arginine. These findings suggest that nitric oxide production in alveolar macrophages and recruited neutrophils is increased in response to silica. Nitric oxide may contribute in part to acute inflammatory lung injury.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 2005

Objectives : Scrophulariae Radix (SRE) is commonly used in combination with other herbs as a nutrient and health strengthening agent, and to remove 'heat' and replenish vital essence. The water-based extract of this herb can lower blood pressure in both anesthetized and concious animals, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory activity. But, there is lack of studies regarding the effects of SRE on the immunological activities in molecular levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SRE on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264.7 cells. Method : After the treatment of Scrophulariae Radix methanol extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by Immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results : Results provided evidence that SRE inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (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). Conclusion : These findings suggest that Scrophulariae Radix can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.721-727
• /
• 2007

Scorpion (SCP) has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, clearing away toxins, resolving hard masses and removing obstruction in the collaterals to relieve pain. Recent studies showed that scorpion toxins that affect the activating mechanism of sodium channels and indian black scorpion venom induced anti-proliferative and apoptogenic activity against human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of SCP on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SCP on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of SCP MeOH extract dissolved in media for 1 h prior to the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 1 ${\mu}$g/ml), cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. As results, SCP inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), iNOS and p-$I_KB_{\alpha}$ protein, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml) and interleukin-6 (1.0mg/ml) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that SCP can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.371-376
• /
• 2002

To determine the effect of picolinic acid on NOㆍ production, murine macrophages were incubated with either medium, various concentrations of picolinic acid, or IFN-${\gamma}$ plus picolinic acid for 48 hr. Picolinic acid does not induce NOㆍ production by itself, it acted synergistically with INF-${\gamma}$ for the induction of reactive nitrogen intermediate production in murine macrophages. Thymidine incorporation appeared to be reciprocally related to nitrite levels, suggesting that IFN-${\gamma}$ plus picolinic acid induced NOㆍ synthesis exerted antiproliferative effects.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.327-331
• /
• 2006

Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) have long been used for food sources in Korea. The present study was performed to investigate the ex vivo effect of Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme on NO production in macrophage of mice. Seven to eight week old mices(Balb/c) were fed chew diet ad libitum and water extract of Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme was administrated orally at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). every other day for two or four weeks NO(nitric oxide) production by activated macrophage was assessed by measuring nitrite, the stable NO metabolite, using Griess reaction assay. NO production were significantly enhanced in Zingiber officinale group at 500 mg/kg B.W. and in Hizikia fusiforme group at 50 mg/kg B.W. compared to the coresponding control groups. In conclusion, this study may suggest that Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) extracts enhance the immune function by regulating NO production in macrophages of mice.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.251-260
• /
• 1994

Nitrification potential bioassay and terpenoid analyses were performed to determine the roles of terpenoid as an inhibitor of nitrification in the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests. The effect of terpenoids in the forest floor was also tested by adding $10{\mu}g/ml$ of four terpenoids(${\alpha}-pinene,{\beta}-pinene,{\gamma}-terpinene, and terpinolene) to mineral soils. The amount of terpenoids in the litter was higher than that in the soil and varied over time, but the amount of terpenoids in the soils was relatively constant. The correlation between the amount of terpenoids in the litter and ammonium oxidation was in inverse proportion to that in the mineral layers $(r^2=0.678)$. Inhibition of ammonium oxidation by terpenoids in the litter was always higher than in the mineral layer, but nitrite oxidation was different from the ammonium oxidation. The fact that there was greater nitrate production from ammonium in the mineral layer than in the forest floor layer seems to be due to the less amounts of terpenoids in the mineral layer. The result of the experiment in which four terpenoids were added to the mineral layer suggests that, after some lag time, the four terpenoids were effective in inhibiting ammonium oxidation. However, nitrite oxidation did not appear to be affected by the four terpenoids. Accordingly, all of our results suggested that terpenoids in Douglas fir forests apparently would act as a part of the inhibitors of nitrification.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 1998.10a
• /
• pp.229-232
• /
• 1998

Recently it has become general to use the inhibitor with a view to protecting corrosion of rebars in concrete. As the inhibitors used in construction works are almost made in America or Japan, we immediately need to begin home production of inhibitors. In this paper, to estimate the domestic anodic inhibitor of nitrite in comparison with foreign made inhibitor we made some fundamental experiments of setting time, slump and compressive strength. Besides, we analysed the effect of corrosion protection of inhibitor on the ground of corrosion current, resistance to chloride penetration and diffusion of chloride ingress in concrete.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.245-251
• /
• 2006

Nitric oxide(nitrogen monoxide, NO) plays important physiological roles, but excessive generation can be toxic. NO is present in cigarette smoke at up to 1,000 ppm, and probably represents one of the greatest exogenous sources of NO to which humans are exposed. We investigated whether cigarette smoking reduces the production of endogenous NO and whether it influences the action of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) to induce nitric oxide synthase activity in mouse brain. Mice(C57BL6/J) were exposed to cigarette smoke for 8 weeks. LPS was injected intraperitoneally in single or combination with the exposure to cigarette smoke. Six hours after the injection of LPS, mice were sacrificed and sera and brains were collected. Serum concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were not charged by 4-week smoke exposure, but were significantly increased by 6 and 8 weeks of smoke exposure. Interestingly, cigarette smoke reduced the elevation in serum nitrate and nitrite concentrations produced by LPS after 4-week smoking exposure. NO synthase(NOS) activity in brain was upregulated by LPS-administration. However, cigarette smoke exposure remarkably and consistently decreased the LPS-induced activity in mouse brain. This result suggests that cigarette smoking may affect against overproduction of the endogenous NO by LPS through the inhibition of NOS activity induced by LPS in brain or by modulation of the LPS action for the induction of NOS activity. We also suggest the possibility that the exogenous NO evolved in cigarette smoke enables feedback inhibition of NOS activity or other possibility that it attenuates the toxicity of endotoxin LPS in vivo by unknown mechanisms, which should be further studied.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.85-93
• /
• 2017

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of acid whey and freeze-dried cranberries on the physicochemical characteristics, lipid oxidation and fatty acid composition of nitrite-free fermented sausage made from deer meat and pork fat. Antioxidant interactions between acid whey and cranberry compounds were also explored. Methods: Four formulations of fermented venison sausage were prepared: F1 (control), F2 (with 5% liquid acid whey), F3 (with 0.06% of freeze-dried cranberries), and F4 (with 5% liquid acid whey and 0.06% of freeze-dried cranberries). Each sample was analyzed for pH, water activity ($a_w$), heme iron content, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value and conjugated dienes at the end of the manufacturing process and at 30 and 90 days of refrigerated storage. Fatty acid composition was measured once at the end of the manufacturing process. Results: At the end of ripening, all samples presented statistically different values for a pH range of 4.47 to pH 4.59. The sum of the unsaturated fatty acids was higher, while the conjugated diene and the TBARS values were lower in sausages with freeze-dried cranberries as compared to the control sausage. The highest content of heme iron (21.52 mg/kg) at day 90 was found in the sausage formulation with the addition of freeze-dried cranberries, which suggests that the addition of cranberries stabilized the porphyrin ring of the heme molecule during storage and thereby reduced the release of iron. The use of liquid acid whey in combination with cranberries appears to not be justified in view of the oxidative stability of the obtained products. Conclusion: The results suggest that the application of freeze-dried cranberries can lower the intensity of oxidative changes during the storage of nitrite-free fermented sausage made