• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.328-337
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• 2012

In order to investigate anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-obesity activities of Samchulkunbi-tang (SCT; Shen zhu jian pi-tang) water and 70% ethanol (EtOH) extracts, in vitro inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ $PGE_2$), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and regulated on activation of normal T-cell-expressed and -secreted (RANTES/CCL5) production in TNF-${\alpha}$/interferon-${\gamma}$-stimulated HaCaT and BEAS-2B cells as well as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and leptin production in 3T3-L1 cells were determined. A HPLC was used for quantification of the seven marker components (albiflorin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, naringin, hesperidin, poncirin and glycyrrhizin) of SCT water and 70% EtOH extracts. SCT showed inhibitory effects against MDC and RANTES production in HaCaT cells, as well as RANTES production in BEAS-2B cells. In addition, SCT reduced not only NO, $PGE_2$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells, but also GPDH activity and leptin production in 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, the biological activities and the contents of six compounds (except paeoniflorin) were higher in 70% EtOH extract than water extract. These results suggest that SCT has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-obesity activities. These efficacies of 70% EtOH extract are relatively higher than that of water extract.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1090-1098
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• 2016

The anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract from Grateloupia crispata (GCEE) were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages. Anti-inflammatory effects were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. There was no cytotoxic effect on proliferation of macrophages treated with GCEE compared to the control. GCEE significantly inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$] as well as nitric oxide in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, GCEE suppressed expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ in a dose-dependent manner. GCEE significantly reduced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. In the in vivo test, evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of GCEE was performed using croton oil-induced ear edema in ICR mice. Oral administration of 10 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg of GCEE significantly reduced ear edema in a dose-dependent manner compared to croton oil-induced mice. Moreover, GCEE reduced ear thickness and the number of mast cells compared to croton oil-induced mice in the histological analysis. These data suggest that GCEE could be used as a potential source for anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.664-670
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• 2014

In the present study, we investigate the role of V. vulnificus in promoting the inflammation of mouse ileal ephitelium and its related signaling pathways. ICR mice were infected orally with V. vulnificus ($1{\times}10^9CFU$) for 16 h as a representative model of food-borne infection. To find the major portal of entry of V. vulnificus in mouse intestine, we have measured the levels of bacterial colonization in small intestine, colon, spleen, and liver. V. vulnificus appeared to colonize in intestine and colon in the order of ileum >> jejunum> colon, but lack in the duodenum, spleen, and liver. V. vulnificus in ileum caused severe necrotizing enteritis and showed shortened villi heights accompanied by an expanded width and inflammation, compared with the control mice. V. vulnificus induced ileal epithelium inflammation by activating phosphorylation of PKC and membrane translocation of $PKC{\alpha}$. V. vulnificus induced the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, but did not affect p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Notably, V. vulnificus stimulated the I-${\kappa}B$-dependent phosphorylation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in mouse ileal epithelium. Finally, the ileal infection of V. vulnificus resulted in a significant increase in expression of proinflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptors, respectively, compared to the control. Collectively, our results indicate that V. vulnificus induces ileal epithelium inflammation by increasing NF-${\kappa}B$ phosphorylation via activation of PKC, ERK, and JNK, which is critical for host defense mechanism in food-borne infection by V. vulnificus.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.231-238
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• 2015

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of lycopene on hepatic metabolic- and immune-related gene expression in laying hens. A total of 48 25-week-old White Leghorn hens were randomly allocated into four groups consisting of four replicates of three birds: control (basal diet), T1 (basal diet + 10 mg/kg of tomato powder-containing lycopene), T2 (basal diet + 10 mg/kg of micelles of tomato powder-containing lycopene), and T3 (basal diet + 10 mg/kg of purified lycopene). Chickens were fed ad libitum for 5 weeks, and then total RNA was extracted from the livers for quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$) expression was decreased in the liver of chickens after lycopene supplementation (P<0.05). Micellar lycopene supplementation decreased the expression of PPAR${\gamma}$ target genes including fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and fatty acids synthase (FASN) in the T2 group (P<0.05). Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and C/EBP-${\alpha}$ were also downregulated in hens fed with micellar lycopene (P<0.05). Glucose transporter 8 (GLUT-8) was upregulated in the T2 and T3 groups (P<0.05). However, the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1) was not changed by lycopene supplementation. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were downregulated by lycopene supplementation (P<0.05). These data suggest that the type of lycopene supplementation is critical and that micelles of tomato powder-containing lycopene may play an important role in the modulation of lipid metabolism and immunity in chickens.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate antiaging and antioxidant effects on cultured human skin fibroblast with 80% ethanol extracts of plants including of stem of Dendropanax morbifera, Corni fructus and Lycii Fructus. Methods : An ethanol extract of three medicinal plants including stem of Dendropanax morbifera, Corni fructus and Lycii Fructus. Extracts were assessed to determine the mechanism of antioxidant and antiaging activities. Antioxidant activity of extract was evaluated by two different assays as 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and super oxide dismutase (SOD) like activities. These extracts were tested for cell viability on HS68 skin fibroblast by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. We investigated the effects of Ultraviolet-B irradiation on cytotoxicity, type 1 collagen, elastin level and oxidative damage in cultured human skin fibroblast (HS68). Recently, many studies have reported that elastin is also involved in inhibiting or repairing wrinkle formation, although collagen is a major factor in the skin wrinkle formation. Results : The extracts obtained dose-dependently increased the scavenging activity on DPPH radical scavenging activity and SOD like activity. The extracts of complex herbal medicine showed low cytotoxicity as more than 100% cell viability in 100ppm/ml concentration. HS68 fibroblasts were survived 70% at 120 $mJ/cm^2$ UVB irradiation and treated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. The levels of aging factors and cytotoxicity were decreased by ethanol extract of complex herbal medicine. Conclusions : These results suggest that ethanol extracts of complex medicinal plants of including of stem of Dendropanax morbifera, Corni fructus and Lycii Fructus may have value as the potential antioxidant and antiaging medicinal plant.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.336-344
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• 2004

Background : Immunotherapy for cancer has not been successful because of several obstacles in tumor and its environment. Inappropriate secretions of cytokines and growth factors by tumors cause substantial changes in the immune responses against tumors, affording the tumors some degree of protection from immune attack. Uteroglobin (UG, Clara cell secretory protein) has been known to have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities. However, in lung cancer cells, UG expression is decreased. This study investigated the role of UG in the immunomodulation of lung cancer. Methods : The UG protein was overexpressed by Adenovirus(Ad)-UG transduction in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. The concentration of Prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was measured by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from whole blood were prepared with Ficoll. PBMC were cultured in RPMI 1640, supernatant of A549, or A549 with UG or NS-398. Concentration of Th 1 type and Th 2 type cytokines from PBMC were measured by ELISA. Results : UG suppressed $PGE_2$, Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) product. Both Th1 type such as Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) and Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and Th2 type cytokines such as IL-10 and Tumor growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) were increased when PBMC were cultured with supernatant of non small lung cancer cells. UG and COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398 induced normal immune response of PBMC. Although Th 1 type cytokines were increased, Th 2 type cytokines were reduced by UG. Conclusion : UG suppressed PGE2, COX-2 product. Supernatant of NSCLC induced imbalance of immune response of PBMC. However, UG reversed this imbalance. These results suggest that UG may be used in the development of immunotherapy for lung cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.529-535
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• 2016

Atopic dermatitis (AD) results from gene and environment interactions that lead to a range of immunological abnormalities and breakdown of the skin barrier. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) belongs to a family of G-protein coupled receptors and is expressed in suprabasal layers of the epidermis. PAR2 is activated by both trypsin and a specific agonist peptide, SLIGKV-$NH_2$ and is involved in both epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis and epithelial inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of lobaric acid on inflammation, keratinocyte differentiation, and recovery of the skin barrier in hairless mice. Lobaric acid blocked trypsin-induced and SLIGKV-$NH_2$-induced PAR2 activation resulting in decreased mobilization of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in HaCaT keratinocytes. Lobaric acid reduced expression of interleukin-8 induced by SLIGKV-$NH_2$ and thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) induced by tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-${\alpha}$) and IFN-${\gamma}$ in HaCaT keratinocytes. Lobaric acid also blocked SLIGKV-$NH_2$-induced activation of ERK, which is a downstream signal of PAR2 in normal human keratinocytes (NHEKs). Treatment with SLIGKV-$NH_2$ downregulated expression of involucrin, a differentiation marker protein in HaCaT keratinocytes, and upregulated expression of involucrin, transglutamase1 and filaggrin in NHEKs. However, lobaric acid antagonized the effect of SLIGKV-$NH_2$ in HaCaT keratinocytes and NHEKs. Topical application of lobaric acid accelerated barrier recovery kinetics in a SKH-1 hairless mouse model. These results suggested that lobaric acid is a PAR2 antagonist and could be a possible therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.537-544
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• 2016

Barley (Hardeum vulgare L.) sprout has received much attention in recent years as a functional food in many countries, especially in Korea and Japan. It has been reported that barley sprouts are comprised of 52.6% polysaccharides, 34.1% proteins, and 4.97% fats, along with a variety of vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol extracts of barley sprouts. We examined the inhibitory effect of barley sprout extracts (BSE) on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, and nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. BSE contains high amounts of phenolics and flavonoids and exhibits potent anti-oxidative activity, as depicted by the DPPH radical-scavenging experiment. The concentration of total phenols was 17.55 μg/ml, and flavonoids, 13.98 μg/ml. We also investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of BSE in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and PGE₂ production, which had increased as a result of treatment with LPS, were significantly inhibited by BSE in a dose-dependent manner. BSE also significantly suppressed LPS-induced production of NO, and this was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of the iNOS and COX-2 proteins. These results indicate that barley sprouts may be a highly valuable natural product owing to its high-quality functional components as well as its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.283-296
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• 2012

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory skin disease and regarded as a prototype of T-cell mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (PGA) is a biodegradable polymer that is produced by Bacillus subtilis. This study was performed to assess the effects of PGA in a canine model of ACD. ACD was induced on the back of dogs induced by sensitization and repeated application by 2,4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene (DNCB). Topical treatment of PGA was applied once a day for 12 days and skin biophysical parameters including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, skin pH, skin thickness and erythema index, were measured every two days during experimental periods. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the antiinflammatory effect. In skin biophysical parameters, TEWL, skin hydration, skin thickness and erythema index were significantly increased, with a maximum increase appeared on day 2 (p < 0.05). On the other hand, skin pH was significantly decreased, with a maximum decrease appeared on day 2 (p < 0.01). After the completion of PGA treatment, skin biophysical parameters were significantly reached those of baseline in a time-dependent manner (p < 0.05). In histopathology, marked increases of epidermal thicknesses were induced after DNCB challenge with numerous inflammatory cell infiltrations and edematous changes, decreases of connective tissue occupied regions in dermis. In addition, marked increases of cytokine - tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$)-immunoreactivities in the dermis and of apoptotic markers - caspase-3 and PARP-immunoreactivities in the epidermis were observed in DNCB-PBS control as compared with intact control, respectively (p < 0.01). It means, the ACD and related apoptotic changes were induced by DNCB in the present study. However, these ACD induced by DNCB and related apoptosis in epidermis were significantly inhibited by treatment of PGA treated skin, the decreases of infiltrated inflammatory cells and related decreases of pro-inflammatory cytokine immunoreactivities were also observed (p < 0.01). Based on these findings, PGA may have anti-inflammatory and alleviatory effects in the allergic contact dermatitis.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.27-44
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• 1993

This study was performed to investigate the changes of mandibular condyle by low calcium diet and the effects of irradiation on the bone in osteoporotic state. In order to carry out this experiment, 80 seven-week old Sprague-Dawley strain rats weighing about 150 gm were selected and equally divided into one experimental group of 40 rats and one control group with the remainder. The experimental group and the control group were then subdivided into two group and exposed to irradiation. The two irradiation groups received a single dose of 20 Gy on the jaw area only and irradiated with a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. The rats in the control and experimental groups were serially terminated by fours on the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th, and the 21st day after irradiation. After termination, both sides of the dead rats mandibular condyle were removed and fixed with 10% neutral formalin. The bone mineral density of mandibular condyle was measured by use of dual energy X-ray bone densitometer(model DDX-alpha, Lunn Corp., U. S. A.). The mandibular condyle was radiographed with Hitex HA-80(Hitex Co., Japan). Thereafter, the obtained radiographs were observed, and the mandibular condyle was further decalcified and embedded in paraffin as the general method. The specimen sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, PAS and Rabbit Anti-Human Tumor Necrosis Factor-a observed by a light microscope. The obtained results were as follows: 1. In the non-irradiated group with the low calcium diet, the bone mineral density of the condyle was markedly decreased after 14 days, and decrease the number of trabeculae of the condyle and resorption of the calcified cartilaginous zone were observed after 3 days. On microscopic observations, the number nd size of trabeculae were decreased after 7 days of experiment. 2. In the irradiated group with the low calcium diet, the bone mineral density of the condyle was markedly decreased after 14 days and resorption of the calcified cartilaginous zone and decrease the number and coarse of the trabeculae of the condyle were observed. These findings were extended rather than in non-irradiated group with low calcium diet. On microscopic observations, many osteoclasts were detected and the number and size of trabeculae were somewhat decreased after 7 days. Also there was degenerative changes of tissues of bone marrow on the 14th day but that condition was restored on the 21st day of experiment. 3. In the irradiated group with normal diet, the bone mineral density of the condyle was somewhat decreased with times and degree of decrease of the number of trabeculae was somewhat larger than in the non-irradiated group with normal diet. On microscopic observations, the tissues of bone marrow were atrophic and degenerative changes but that condition was restored on the 21st day of experiment. 4. In immunocytochemical findings, in the irradiated and non-irradiated groups with low calcium diet, negative or partial positive response to TNF was observed, but positive response in the normal diet groups.