• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제50권4호
• /
• pp.301-308
• /
• 2012

In fascioliasis, T-helper 2 (Th2) responses predominate, while little is known regarding early immune phenomenon. We herein analyzed early immunophenotype changes of BALB/c, C57BL/6, and C3H/He mice experimentally infected with 5 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae. A remarkable expansion of $CD19^+$ B cells was observed as early as week 1 post-infection while $CD4^+/CD8^+$ T cells were down-regulated. Accumulation of $Mac1^+$ cells with time after infection correlated well with splenomegaly of all mice strains tested. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ mRNA in splenocytes significantly decreased while that of IL-4 up-regulated. IL-$1{\beta}$ expression was down-modulated in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, but not in C3H/He. Serum levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ were considerably elevated in all mice during 3 weeks of infection period. These collective results suggest that experimental murine fascioliasis might derive immune suppression with elevated levels of TGF-${\beta}$ and IL-4 during the early stages of infection.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• 제28권6호
• /
• pp.95-100
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate antiaging and antioxidant effects on cultured human skin fibroblast with supercritical fluid extracts of Dendropanax morbifera, Corni fructus and Lycii Fructus. Methods : Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technique was applied to extract from three medicinal plants including stem of Dendropanax morbifera, Corni fructus and Lycii Fructus. 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 supercritical fluid extracts of complex herbal medicine showed low cytotoxicity as more than 100% cell viability in 100ppm/ml concentration. HS68 fibroblasts were survived 70% at $120mJ/cm^2$ UVB irradiation and treated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. The levels of aging factors and cytotoxicity were decreased by supercritical fluid extract of complex herbal medicine. Conclusions : These results suggest that supercritical fluid extracts may have value as the potential antioxidant and antiaging medicinal plant.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제30권1호
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2006

In the browning reaction of Korean ginseng, it appears that enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning reaction occurred In initial stage of steaming fresh ginseng at low temperature, and then non-enzymatic browning reaction followed in the drying period after steaming. Browning reaction of red ginseng occurred between $60{\sim}90$ min of steaming at $100^{\circ}C$, and browning pigments of red ginseng were mostly water soluble substances. The structural characteristics of water soluble browning reaction products(WS-BRPs) isolated from Korean red ginseng were showed the presence of hydroxyl, amide carbonyl and aliphatic methane groups. From sugar analysis it was identified that L and S-1, melanoidins isolated from red ginseng, contained two kinds of sugars, glucose and xylose, and the other melanoidin S-2 contained the previous and fructose. In order to find out pertinent methods for the acceleration of browning during ginseng processing, various treatment were made on fresh ginseng with sugars, amino acids and inorganic nitrogenous compounds and the extent of browning was measured. Among sugar tested, maltose resulted in the greatest acceleration of browning followed in decreasing order by glucose and lactose, whereas pentoses, fructose, sucrose and raffinose had negligible effect. A marked browning occurred in ginseng treated with basic amino acids, while the extent of browning was not greatly increased when ginseng was treated with aliphatic amino acids, hydroxyl amino acids, or acidic amino acids. The brown color intensity gradually increased with an increase of glucose concentration far up to 0.5M. L, S-1, and S-2 were found to have an ability to donate hydrogen to DPPH, and also they had anti-oxidative activity in the experiments of hydrogen peroxide scavenging, inhibitory activity in the formation of MDA from linoleic acid, auto oxidation of ok-brain homogenates, lipid peroxidation by the enzymatic and non-enzymatic system in liver microsome fraction, and mitochondrial fraction etc. The amounts of acidic polysaccharide(AP) in red ginseng were higher than those of wild and cultured Panax quinquefolius, Panax notoginseng as well as white ginseng (Panax ginseng). In white ginseng, the AP amount is no difference in root ages or sizes, also, the AP amount of ginseng body was similar to that of rhizome, but was higher than that of leaf and epidermis. Addition of red ginseng acidic polysaccharide(RGAP) increased production of nitric oxide(NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ in the rodent macrophage cultures, and treatment of RGAP in vivo stimulated tumoricidal activities of natural killer (NK) cells.

• Mycobiology
• /
• 제40권4호
• /
• pp.236-243
• /
• 2012

Pleurotus nebrodensis is an edible and commercially available mushroom in Korea. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the anticancer and immunopotentiating activities of crude polysaccharides, extracted in methanol, neutral saline, and hot water (hereafter referred to as Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW, respectively) from the fruiting bodies of P. nebrodensis. ${\beta}$-Glucan and protein contents in Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW extracts of P. nebrodensis ranged from 23.79~36.63 g/100 g and 4.45~6.12 g/100 g, respectively. Crude polysaccharides were not cytotoxic against sarcoma 180, HT-29, NIH3T3, and RAW 264.7 cell lines at a range of $10{\sim}2,000{\mu}g/mL$. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides resulted in a life prolongation effect of 11.76~27.06% in mice previously inoculated with sarcoma 180. Treatment with Fr. NaCl resulted in an increase in the numbers of spleen cells by 1.49 fold at the concentration of $50{\mu}g/mL$, compared with control. Fr. HW improved the immuno-potentiating activity of B lymphocytes through an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity by 1.65 fold, compared with control at $200{\mu}g/mL$. Maximum production of nitric oxide ($14.3{\mu}M$) was recorded in the Fr. NaCl fraction at $200{\mu}g/mL$. Production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly higher, compared to control, and IL-6 production was highest, in contrast to TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and positive control, concanavalin at the tested concentration of the various fractions. Results of the current study suggest that polysaccharides extracted from P. nebrodensis have a strong anticancer effect and may be useful as an ingredient of biopharmaceutical products for treatment of cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제41권11호
• /
• pp.1521-1527
• /
• 2012

Medicinal herbs have long been used as a remedy for diverse diseases in Asia owing to their various pharmacological effect. In this study, the immuno-enhancing activity of medicinal herbs was investigated using macrophage cell lines. Specifically, we examined the effects of extracts of twelve medicinal herbs on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells, and selected five that were highly effective (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica gigas, Platycodon grandflorum, and Actinidia polygama) for further immune related studies. The effects of extracts from five theses medicinal herbs, which were mainly composed of polysaccharides and proteins on the production of immune-related cytokines in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and the Molt-4 T cell line were investigated. The extracts of all investigated medicinal herbs increased the production of NO and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Additionally, they slightly increased the proliferation of T-cells when compared to the control. Overall, the result of this study suggests that the five medicinal herb extracts investigated herein are useful natural immune enhancing agents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제41권12호
• /
• pp.1671-1676
• /
• 2012

In this study, the immuno-enhancing activity of seed extracts were studied on the macrophage cell lines. We examined the effect of nine seed extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells and selected four highly-effective seed candidates (Fagopyrum esculentum, Taraxacum platycarpum, Impatiens balsamina, Helianthus annuus) for further immune-related studies. The effects of the four seed extracts on the production of immune-related cytokines in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and proliferation of Molt-4 as a T cell line were investigated. The secretion of NO from the RAW 264.7 cells was increased up to 39 ${\mu}M$ by adding the seed extracts (25 ${\mu}g/mL$) compared to the control. Also, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) was also increased up to 32 times by adding the seed extracts (25 ${\mu}g/mL$). Secretion of cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) was also increased and induced the proliferation of T cells compared to the control. In conclusion, these results suggest that four seed extracts provide beneficial immuno-enhancing effects for human health.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• 제17권1호
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory effect of Pulsatilla koreana (PK) methanol extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory. Methods: There were five groups. They were control group, LPS-exposed PK methanol extract group ($0{\mu}g/ml$, $10{\mu}g/ml$, $30{\mu}g/ml$, $100{\mu}g/ml$). To measure out cytotoxicity of PK, we performed the MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of PK, we examined the inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin $[IL]-1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ [$TNF-{\alpha}$], IL-10). Results: 1. The extract of PK (${\sim}100{\mu}g/ml$) itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. 2. The concentration of plasma NO and PGE2 in PK methanol extract group showed a lower values than those of control group. 3. The concentration of plasma $IL-1{\beta}$, plasma IL-6, and plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ in PK methanol extract group showed a lower values than those of control group. 4. The concentration of Plasma IL-10 in PK methanol extract groups showed higher than control group; however, these values showed no significantly different. Conclusions: According to this study, the extract of PK could be used as a protective agent against inflammation.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.207-217
• /
• 2011

Objectives : In a previous study, we have shown that Gagam-Gongjin-Dan(GGD) has an inhibitory effect on the ovalbumin-induced immune responses and a hepatoprotective effect on actaminophen-induced liver injury in Balb/c Mice. However, the possible anti-inflammatory effect of GGD extract for inflammatory mediators was not reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate an inhibitory effects of GGD extract against lipopolysaccharides(LPS) induced inflammatory mediators in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Methods : GGD extract was prepared by extracting with methanol for 7 days. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through vacuum distillation system. Accumulated nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide(NO), was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) were measured by Western blot analysis. Results : GGD extract (50-$400\;{\mu}g$/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. GGD extract dose-dependently reduced NO, $PGE_2$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ production and COX-2 activity caused by stimulation of LPS. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions were markedly suppressed by the treatment with GGD extract in a dose dependent manner. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGD extract has an anti-inflammatory effect against LPS-induced inflammatory mediators in peritoneal macrophages, these properties may contribute to inflammation disease care.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.148-154
• /
• 2015

Onion (Allium cepa) is one of the flavonoids-rich materials in human diet and onion peel, which is the onion by-products, contains over 20 times more quercetin than the flesh. In this study, to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of onion peel hot water extract (OPHWE), the cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interluekin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and IL-$1{\beta}$, were measured using the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells. The Balb/c mice were used for an in vivo acute toxicity test and ICR mice were used for measurement of inhibition effects of croton oil-induced mouse ear edema. As a result, NO levels decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The production of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ was suppressed by 38%, 41%, and 34% respectively, compared with that of the LPS only group, without any cytotoxicity. The edema formation in the ICR mouse ear was also reduced compared to that in control. Moreover, there were no mortalities occurred in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of OPHWE. These results suggest that OPHWE has considerable anti-inflammatory activities and can be regarded as a potent candidate material to treat inflammatory diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.70-74
• /
• 2013

L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is one of the well-known antiviral agents, especially to influenza virus. Since the in vivo antiviral effect is still controversial, we investigated whether vitamin C could regulate influenza virus infection in vivo by using Gulo (-/-) mice, which cannot synthesize vitamin C like humans. First, we found that vitamin C-insufficient Gulo (-/-) mice expired within 1 week after intranasal inoculation of influenza virus (H3N2/Hongkong). Viral titers in the lung of vitamin C-insufficient Gulo (-/-) mice were definitely increased but production of anti-viral cytokine, interferon (IFN)-${\alpha}/{\beta}$, was decreased. On the contrary, the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lung and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-${\alpha}/{\beta}$, were increased in the lung. Taken together, vitamin C shows in vivo antiviral immune responses at the early time of infection, especially against influenza virus, through increased production of IFN-${\alpha}/{\beta}$.