• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.175-185
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• 2009

Petiolus Nelumbinis, branches of lotus leaf or lotus flower is a traditional oriental herbal medicine widely used for treating a superheat or disorder of qi flow. Although there are many clinical results and literature study, it has been rarely conducted to evaluate the immuno-biological activity. The present study was conducted to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of PNM (Petiolus Nelumbinis MeOH extract) in vitro. To determine cytotoxic concentration of PNM, the cells were treated with PNM for 24 h after LPS addition, and the cell viability was tested by MTT assay. Both of dosages (30 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$) of PNM had no cytotoxicity. In these concentrations, PNM significantly reduced the elevated levels of NO and $PGE_2$ by LPS. These inhibitory effects of PNM were due to the reduced expressions of iNOS and COX-2 protein. TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ and IL-6 are frequently encountered pro-inflammatory cytokines, and LPS plays a key role in inducing to the massive production of these cytokines. Thus, we next determined the levels of these cytokines. Although PNM had no significant inhibitory effect on the production of TNF-$\alpha$, the elevated levels of IL-1$\beta$ and IL-6 by LPS were dose-dependently reduced in PNM-treated groups. These results demonstrate that PNM has anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines, NO and $PGE_2$ in LPS-activated macrophage. Moreover, the reduction of NO and $PGE_2$ levels was due to the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 protein expression by PNM.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.95-105
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• 2016

Objectives : Allergic diseases have a various symptoms of hyperresponsiveness and recently hyperresponsive reaction in the chronic phase is reported as the important mechanisms. Cheonggisan(CGS) is used in oriental clinics for curing various skin diseases due to effect of controlling of pruritus. There have been studies on the anti-allergic effect and anti-inflammatory effect of CGS, but there had no study of anti-allergic effects in allergic late inflammation of CGS, so we aimed to find out the effects of CGS in allergic late inflammation in our study.Methods : To investigate the anti-allergy effect and anti-inflammatory effect of CGS, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and CSG water-extracts were used. Cytotoxic effect of CSG was examined by MTT assay, an oxidative product of NO was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reagent assay. The level of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) was measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay. Cytokine(PGE2, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) was measured by Bio-Plex suspension assay system and quantitative multiplexed cytokine/chemokine assay.Results : We investigated that there was no cytotoxic effect of CGS water-extract at any levels of concentration on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by MTT assay. CGS water-extracts significantly suppressed the levels of the inflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2, cytokine of IL-1β, TNF-α at the level of 400 ㎍/㎖ CGS concentration. But there was no significant effect on IL-6 production suppression.Conclusions : These results suggest that CSG water-extract has and anti-inflammatory effects in allergic reaction. These properties may contribute to the allergic diseases and inflammatory related disease care.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.115-128
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• 2003

Bojungikgitang is the water extracts prepared from Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Angelicae gigantis Radix, Astractylodis Rhizoma alba, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Bupleuri Radix, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, which has been used for the treatment of indigestion, and immunological disease in oriental countries. In this study, the effects of Bojungikgitang on the productions of nitiric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were examined using RAW 264.7 macrophages activated with $interferon-{\gamma}\;(IFN-{\gamma})$ plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Bojungikgitang (10-400 ${\mu}$g/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in unstimulated macrophages, but this compound dose-dependently reduced the release of NO and $PGE_2$ caused by stimulation of $LPS/IFN-{\gamma}$. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein were markedly suppressed by the treatment with Bojungikgitang in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, Bojungikgitang also attenuated the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (1L)-1${\beta}$ and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results suggest that Bojungikgitang decreases the NO and $PGE_2$ production in macrophages by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression and these properties may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of Bojungikgitang.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 1996

This study was designed to determine the effect of newly synthesized antiulcer agent, 5-pyrrolyl-6-halo-2-(pyridyl-2-methylthio)benzimidazole derivatives (IY-81233), on various experimental ulcers and on the secretion of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ into the gastric lumen of rat. IY-81233 was previously reported to have a strong inhibitory effect on $H^+/K^$-ATPase and on gastric acid secretion in rats. Oral administration of IY-81233 at concentrations of 0.2, 2.0, and 20 mg/kg inhibited gastric lesions and duodenal ulcer induced by indomethacin, HCI-ethanol, water-immersion stress, cysteamine, and acetic acid in a dose dependent manner. Their IC$IC_{50}$ values were 3.4, 1.4, 0.8, 1.3, and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively. These results indicate that IY-81233 is a potent antiulcer agent although it is slightly less potent than omeprazole in healing of gastritis and ulcers. The secretion of $PGE_2$ into gastric lumen was also investigated in relation to the cytoprotective effect by IY-81233 in rats. The $PGE_2$ level was not changed significantly by an oral administration of IY-81233, suggesting that IY-81233 has little effect on the gastric protection. Therefore, it can be concluded that IY-81233 exerts prominent antiulcer activity by suppressing gastric acid secretion via an inhibition of a proton pump and not by protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa against various ulcerative stimuli.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.39-47
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• 2009

Objectives : Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (Huanglian Jiedu Tang; HHT) has been widely used for purging' 'fire' and lessening virulence of any pathogenic organism. However it has been rarely conducted to evaluate the immuno-biological activity. In this study, we evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of HHT in LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells. Methods : Cells were treated with $1\;{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS 1 h prior to the addition of HHT. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The production of NO was determined by reacting cultured medium with Griess reagent. PGE2 and proinflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA. Expression of iNOS, COX-2, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and NF-${\kappa}B$ were analyzed by immunoblot analysis. Results : All three doses of HHT (0.03, 0.10 and 0.30 mg/ml) had no significant cytotoxicity during the entire experimental period. The levels of NO and PGE2 were dramatically augmented by LPS compared to control. However, HHT extract dose-dependently reduced these increases. Expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein were also decreased by treatment with HHT extract. Furthermore, HHT extract significantly reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ which is critical in regulating inflammation through transcription of iNOS and COX-2. In addition, HHT extract reduced the elevated production of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. Conclusions : The results in this study demonstrate that HHT extract exerts anti-inflammatory activities through the inhibition of NO, PGE2 and proinflammatory cytokines production via the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.180-186
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• 2008

In this study, we examined the effects of the fermented soybeans by Bacillus subtilis (FSB) and the novel three-step fermented soybeans (TFS) on the expression and activity of COX-2 in human leukemic U937 cell model. Treatment of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) significantly induced pro-inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 expression and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ production, whereas the levels of COX-1 remained unchanged. However, pre-treatment with FSB and TFS significantly attenuated the PMA-induced COX-2 protein as well as mRNA, which was associated with inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. Moreover, TFS exerts a much better inhibitory activity than FSB against PMA-induced activation of COX-2 and production of $PGE_2$ in U937 cells. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of FSB and TFS.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2003

Background: Celecoxib, a COX-2 specific inhibitor, has recently been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of celecoxib against RA inflammation remain to be defined. To elucidate the action mechanism of celecoxib on inflammatory cells, we investigated the effect of celecoxib on the production of two important mediators of inflammation, nitric oxide and PGE2 Methods: RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with LPS were preincubated with various concentrations of celecoxib (from $10^{-8}$ to $10^{-5}$ M) and $10{\mu}M$ hydrocortisone, respectively. The production of NO and PGE2, the end products of iNOS and COX-2 genes, were estimated in culture supernatants by Greiss method and EIA, respectively. The expression of iNOS gene, COX-2 gene, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and $I-{\kappa}B$ were determined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Results: Celecoxib and hydrocortisone inhibited the production of NO and PGE2 in dose dependent manner, when RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS. The expression of iNOS was also down-regulated by celecoxib and hydrocortisone. Interestingly, COX-2 gene differentially expressed according to the dose of celecoxib, a decrease with lower dose ($10^{-8}$ M) but an increase with higher dose ($10^{-5}$ M). $NF-{\kappa}B$ binding activity was decreased by lower dose of celecoxib, whereas was not affected by higher dose of it. The expression of $I-{\kappa}B$ was suppressed by higher dose of celecoxib. Conclusion: The celecoxib strongly suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The decrease of NO seems to be linked to the inhibition of iNOS by celecoxib. The lower and higher dose of celecoxib differentially regulated the COX-2 expression and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.568-575
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• 1999

Two different digestion procedures for the simultaneous determination of major and platinum-group element(PGE) in spent automobile catalysts containing PGE and silicates by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES) are compared. Combinations of mixed aids using HF, $HNO_3$, HCl, $HClO_4$, $H_2O_2$, and $H_3BO_3$ are utilized for the hot plate dissolution method and the closed-vessel microwave digestion method, The latter method has been shown to be relatively superior in terms of recovery, analysis time, and amount of aqua regia (3 parts HCl + part $HNO_3$ required to dissolve PGE in comparison with conventional open vessel hot-plate dissolution. The best results were drawn from the following conditions: In closed Teflon PFA vessels under microwave heating with temperature/pressure regulation, a 0.25 g portion of sample was digested in 2 mL of HF, 2 mL of $HNO_3$ and 6mL of HCl under the pressure of 200 psi(13.79 bar) at $180^{\circ}C$ for 1hr, followed by a second digestion stage with 16 mL of 5%(w/v) boric acid under the pressure of 20 psi(1.38 bar) at $100^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. After the microwave heating, the sample was post-treated with 10 mL of aqua regia twice by hot-plate heating. This condition gives the PGE recovery within 85~110% and the relative standard deviations within 2%. The method developed can therefore be regarded as an alternative method for routine analysis of spent automobile catalysts.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2007

Background: It is well established that cross talk between natural killer (NK) cells and myeloid dendritic cells (DC) leads to NK cell activation and DC maturation. In the present study, we investigated whether type 1-polarized DC (DC1) matured in the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$ and type 2-polarized DC (DC2) matured in the presence of PGE2 can differentially activate NK cells. Methods: In order to generate DC, plastic adherent monocytes were cultured in RPMI 1640 containing GM-CSF and IL-4. At day 6, maturation was induced by culturing the cells for 2 days with cytokines or PGE2 in the presence or absence of LPS. Each population of DC was cocultured with NK cells for 24 h. The antigen expression on DC was analyzed by flow cytometry and cytokine production in culture supernatant was measured by ELISA or a bioassay for TNF-${\alpha}$ determination. NK cell-mediated lysis was determined using a standard 4h chromium release assay. Results: DC2, unlike DC1, had weak, if any, ability to induce NK cell activation as measured by IFN-${\gamma}$ production and cytolytic activity. DC2 were weakly stimulated by activated NK cells compared to DC1. In addition, IFN-${\gamma}$-primed mature DC appeared to be most resistant to active NK cell-mediated lysis even at a high NK cell/DC ratio. On the other hand, PGE2-primed DC were less resistant to feedback regulation by NK cells than IFN-${\gamma}$-primed mature DC. Finally, we showed that the differential effect of two types of DC population on NK cell activity is not due to differences in their ability to form conjugates with NK cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that different combinations of inflammatory mediators differentially affect the effector function of DC and, as a result, the function of NK cells, eventually leading to distinct levels of activation in adaptive immunity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1689-1697
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect of Persicaria thunbergii (P. thunbergii) on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of P. thunbergii was determined by measuring expression of the LPS-induced inflammatory proteins, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). Methanol extract of P. thunbergii decreased the expression of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-${\kappa}B$, and increased the expression of HO-1 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Methanol extract was fractioned by n-butanol, hexane and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and each fraction was tested for inhibitory effects on inflammation. Among the sequential solvent fractions, the EtOAc soluble fraction was investigated by the expression of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and showed decreasing form to the dose-dependent manner. EtOAc extract showed the most effective inhibitory activity of the expression of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-${\kappa}B$, and the production of NO. The study showed that P. thunbergii has anti-inflammatory activity through the decrease of NO and inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, $PGE_2$ and NF-${\kappa}B$ expression, and by the increase of HO-1 enzyme. This study needs for more investigation to find out the most effective single compound with anti-inflammatory activity.