• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.25-36
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• 2020

Objective : Reflux esophagitis is a disease caused by the reflux of gastric acid and inflammation due to unstable gastroesophageal sphincter. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of Phellodendri Cortex (PC) on chronic reflux esophagitis (CRE) in rats. Methods : The anti-oxidant activity of PC was measured by total polyphenol, total flavonoid contents, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2, 2'-azinobis-3-ethyl-enzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. A CRE was established surgically in SD rats. And then CRE rats were treated with water or PC 200 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. Besides, the anti-oxidant and inflammatory protein levels were evaluated using western blotting. Results : PC reduced esophagus tissues injury. The total polyphenol (36.05 ± 0.25 mg/g) and total flavonoid (72.90 ± 0.61 mg/g) of PC showed a high content. PC strongly reduced radical scavenging activities (DPPH IC₅₀ 43.58 ± 1.54 ㎍/㎖; ABTS IC₅₀ 36.75 ± 0.35 ㎍/㎖). Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) levels in serum, the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) were significantly reduced. In addition, the protein expression of NADPH oxidases related to oxidative stress were significantly reduced in PC compared to CRE control. PC effectively reduced inflammatory factors including, TNF-α, and IL-6 via NF-κBp65 inactivation through the inhibition of p-IκBα and increased anti-oxidant enzyme such as HO-1, SOD, catalase, and GPx-1/2 via Nrf2 activation. Conclusions : Taken together, these results show that PC can alleviate the esophageal mucosal ulcer though the inhibition of NF-κB inflammatory and the enhancement of Nrf2 anti-oxidant pathway.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.260-267
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• 2016

Amino acids in the plant were intermediate metabolites which produced by uptake and assimilation of nitrogen and these extracts which gained by bio-chemical digestion from protein of plant or animal were a source of functional fertilizer. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of keratin amino acid fertilizer (KAF) gained from animal hair or hoof on changes of turfgrass quality and growth by investigating turf color index, chlorophyll index, shoot number, clipping yield, and nutrient content in the turfgrass tissue. Treatments were designed as follows; non-fertilizer (NF), compound fertilizer (CF), keratin amino acid fertilizer treatments [CF + KAF $0.26ml\;m^{-2}$ (CKF), CF + KAF $0.52ml\;m^{-2}$ (2CKF)], and only keratin amino acid fertilizer treatment (KF). Shoot number, clipping yield, and nitrogen uptake of KF were higher than those of CF. As compared with CF, soil chemical properties, turf color index, chlorophyll index and clipping yield of keratin amino acid fertilizer were not significant, but shoot number and uptake of N and K were increased significantly. These results show that the application of keratin amino acid fertilizer increased shoot number and growth by increased uptake of nitrogen and potassium.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.321-333
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• 2021

Purpose: Reflux esophagitis is a disease caused by the reflux of stomach contents and stomach acid etc. into the esophagus due to defect in the lower esophageal sphincter and is currently increasing worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a mixture of Citrus Reticulata and Scutellariae Radix (CS) extract on acute reflux esophagitis in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups for examination: normal group (Normal, n = 8), water-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Control, n = 8), tocopherol 30 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Toco, n = 8), CS 100 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS100, n = 8), CS 200 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS200, n = 8). The experimental groups were administrated of each treatment compounds and after 90 min, acute reflux esophagitis was induced through surgery. Rats were sacrificed 5 h after surgery. We measured the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in serum and analyzed the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, inflammatory, and tight junction-related proteins by western blot in the esophageal tissues. Results: CS administration significantly protected the esophageal mucosal damage due to reflux esophagitis, and the level of ROS in the serum was significantly reduced with CS administration as compared to Control. In addition, CS administration significantly suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways and increased protein expressions of tight junction protein. Conclusion: These results suggest that the CS not only regulates the expression of inflammatory proteins by inhibiting oxidative stress, but also reduces damage to the esophageal mucosa by inhibiting the expression of tight junction proteins.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.83-92
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• 2013

Objectives : Lespedeza Cuneata has been used to treat leukorrhea, asthma, stomach pain, diarrhea, acute mastitis, in Korean traditional medicine. According to recent studies, Lespedeza Cuneata has antioxidation, hypoglycemia, cell protective, insulin secretion, whitening, corpora cavernosa smooth muscle relaxation and antimicrobial activities, but it has been rarely conducted to evaluate the immuno-biological activity. The present study was examined to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the Lespedeza Cuneata MeOH extract (LCE) in vivo and in vitro. Methods : In vitro, inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, nitric oxide and prostaglandin $E_2$ were detected after the addition of LPS with or without LCE in Raw 264.7 macrophage cell line. In vivo, anti-edema effect of LCE was determined in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. Results : In vitro assay, LCE decreased release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) via suppression of iNOS and COX-2 expression. LCE inhibited the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ indicating the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. In vivo assay, LCE significantly inhibited the formation of paw edema induced by carrageenan injection in rats. LCE effectively inhibited increases of hind paw skin thickness and inflammatory cell infilterations. Conclusion : These findings demonstrate that LCE has inhibitory effect on inflammatory mediators in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells and on paw edema in carrageenan-stimulated rats, showing the possibility of anti-inflammatory use of Lespedeza Cuneata.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.59-67
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• 2018

Objectives : Ojeoksan, originally recorded in an ancient Korean medicinal book named "Donguibogam" and has been used for the treatment of circulation disorder of blood which was called blood accumulation (血積) in Korean medicine. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the beneficial effect of OJS on vascular inflammation in HUVECs. Methods : We evaluated the effect of OJS on the expression of cell adhesion molecules and protective role in HUVEC stimulated by TNF-${\alpha}$ by using Western blot. Results : Pretreatment with OJS decreased the adhesion of HL-60 cells to TNF-${\alpha}$-induced HUVEC. OJS suppressed TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression level of cell adhesion molecules such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), and endothelial cell selectin (E-selectin). Moreover, OJS significantly decreased TNF-${\alpha}$-induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS); and inhibited the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ in the cytoplasm compared to the experimental group. Pretreatment with OJS inhibited the trans-location of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 to the nucleus. OJS also inhibited phosphorylation of MAPKs compared to the experimental group. OJS significantly increased the protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. Conclusions : Ojeoksan has a protective effect on vascular inflammation, and might be a potential therapeutic agent for early atherosclerosis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate whether the extract of Coptidis Rhizoma inhibits inflammation in chronic cold stress (CCS)-exposed mice or not. Methods : Coptidis Rhizoma extract (CRE) was made by reflux with distilled water. Male ICR mice (7 weeks old) were divided randomly into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) CCS, (3) CCS+CRE 100 mg/kg, (4) CCS+CRE 300 mg/kg, (5) CCS+CRE 1,000 mg/kg groups. Mice were orally administered once a day for 14 days starting from 1 day before CCS. Group (2)-(5) were exposed to CCS conditions that maintained at $4^{\circ}C$ for 2 h once a day for 14 days. The levels of serum cortisol and hypothalamic prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and PGE2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The expression levels of several pro-inflammatory factors like heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), c-fos, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) were measured by western blot analysis in mouse hypothalamus. Results : Oral administration of CRE 1,000 mg/kg significantly suppressed the increase of serum cortisol levels in mice exposed to CCS. CCS-exposed mice had significantly increased the expression of HSP70, c-fos, and NF-kB in hypothalamus, while CRE treatment significantly attenuated the elevation of these pro-inflammatory factors. The ratio of PGE2/PGE1 was also higher in CCS-exposed mice than control group. CRE treatment significantly reduced the increase of PGE2/PGE1 ratio induced by CCS. Conclusion : These findings suggest that Coptidis Rhizoma may work as a potential agent to modulate inflammatory responses under the condition of cold adaptation formed by CCS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.9-18
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• 2022

Objectives This study was conducted to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of Naetakbaekryeom-san (NTB), and whether it could be another treatment for inflammatory diseases. Methods The NTB water extract was extracted with hot water at 100℃ for 2 hours, concentrated at 80℃ under reduced pressure, and used. After 2 hours of pretreatment with NTB and positive control Bay11-7082, nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1𝛽, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-𝛼) were measured in RAW264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) 500 ng/mL. After 2 hours of pretreatment with NTB, the anti-inflammatory effect of NTB was evaluated by measuring nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-𝜅B) in RAW264.7 cells and 293T cells activated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetic acid (PMA) 30 ng/mL. Results In RAW264.7 cells activated with LPS, NTB at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/mL showed no cytotoxicity, significantly inhibited NO production and inhibition of iNOS expression. TNF-𝛼 cytokine levels was not regulated, but NTB at each concentration inhibited the production of IL-1𝛽 and IL-6, and the effect was higher than that of the positive control Bay11-7082 (20 𝜇M). In PMA-activated RAW264.7 cells and 293T cells, each concentration of NBT decreased the NF-𝜅B transcriptional activity, with the greatest decrease at 1 mg/mL. Conclusions These results demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of NTB water extracts, but further studies such as comparison of anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant effects by NTB component, comparison of effects according to extraction solvents, and clinical studies are needed.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.83-91
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• 2023

This study investigate growth responses of Chinese cabbage and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) to application of fermented organic fertilizer produced from domestic organic resources for developing alternative materials instead of imported castor oil meal. Two types of fermented fertilizers (Fermented Organic Fertilizer A (OFA) and Fermented Organic Fertilizer B (OFB)) were produced by mixing distillers dried grains 30%, sesame cake 30%, rice bran 20% and fish meal 20% under different fermentation conditions. Treatment consisted of OFA is fermented for 21 days on plastic greenhouse, OFB is fermented for 5 days on 40℃, and MOF (Mixed Organic Fertilizer) is a fertilizer made with castor bean as the main ingredient. OFA, OFB and MOF were applied at the rate of 320 kg N/ha. Chinese cabbages were cultivated from Aug. to Nov. in 2022. Growth and yield of Chinese cabbage were no significant differences among all treatments except control (non-fertilized, NF). However, NUE of Chinese cabbage was higher the fermented fertilizer treatment (OFB: 81.4%, OFA: 79.1%) than the MOF (65.3%). It was observed that urease activity in the fermented fertilizer treatment was significantly higher than the MOF. This result confirmed that fermented fertilizers have similar effect on growth and yield with the MOF and could improve the NUE of crop.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.899-916
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is a fundamental neurodegenerative disease trigger that damages and decimates nerve cells. Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic central nervous system disorders that progress and result from neuronal degradation and loss. Recent studies have extensively focused on neurodegenerative disease treatment and prevention using dietary compounds. Heseperetin is an aglycone hesperidin form with various physiological activities, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and antitumor. However, few studies have considered hesperetin's neuroprotective effects and mechanisms; thus, our study investigated this in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated SH-SY5Y cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells were treated with H₂O₂ (400 µM) in hesperetin absence or presence (10-40 µM) for 24 h. Three-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assays detected cell viability, and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining allowed us to observe nuclear morphology changes such as chromatin condensation and apoptotic nuclei. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection assays measured intracellular ROS production; Griess reaction assays assessed nitric oxide (NO) production. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reactions quantified corresponding mRNA and proteins. RESULTS: Subsequent experiments utilized various non-toxic hesperetin concentrations, establishing that hesperetin notably decreased intracellular ROS and NO production in H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, hesperetin inhibited H₂O₂-induced inflammation-related gene expression, including interluekin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 activation. In addition, hesperetin inhibited NF-κB translocation into H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cell nuclei and suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase protein expression, an essential apoptotic cell death regulator. Various apoptosis hallmarks, including shrinkage and nuclear condensation in H₂O₂-treated cells, were suppressed dose-dependently. Additionally, hesperetin treatment down-regulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratios and activated AMP-activated protein kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin autophagy pathways. CONCLUSION: These results substantiate that hesperetin activates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis and inflammation. Hesperetin is a potentially potent dietary agent that reduces neurodegenerative disease onset, progression, and prevention.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.863-870
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• 2012

Though hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) causes a deleterious effect to cells with its reactive oxygen species resulting in cell death, S-allyl cysteine (SAC, a bioactive organosulfur compound of aged garlic extract) has been known to have a cytoprotective effect. Few reported profiles of gene expression of $H_2O_2$ and SAC treated human cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). This study revealed changes in the profile of twenty-one genes grouped by oxidative stress, antioxidant, cell death, anti-apoptosis and anti-aging by quantitative real time PCR. A concentration of $100{\mu}M$ of SAC or $50{\mu}M$ of $H_2O_2$ was applied to MSC which show moderate growth and apoptosis pattern. $H_2O_2$ treatment enhanced expression of eleven genes out of twenty-one genes compared with that of control group, on the contrary SAC suppressed expression of eighteen genes out of twenty-one genes except C ros oncogene. SAC decreased expression of oxidative stress genes such as SOD1, CAT and GPX. These results seemed consistent with reports which elucidated over-expression of NF-${\kappa}$B by $H_2O_2$, and suppression of it by SAC. This study will confer basic information for further experiments regarding the effects of SAC on gene levels.