• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.107-117
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• 2007

Objective : Kumsoouyukkun-joen extract(KSE) has been used treating asthma for a long time in korea. In the present study, I examined the effects of KSE on the ovalbumin(OVA)-induced airway hyper-reactivity(AHR). Methods : To examine the effects of KSE on asthma, mice were sensitized with $100{\mu}g$ of OVA and 1 mg of aluminum potassium sulfate(Alum; Sigma)intraperitoneally on day 0 and 7. On day 14, mice were challenged on 3 consecutive days with 5% OVA and AHR was assessed 24 hrs after the last challenge. To examine severity of AHR, I examined eosinophil population and cytokine production in bronchoaveloar lavage fluid(BALF) and stained with hematoxylin and eosin in lung and also measured enhanced pause(Penh) in AHR from mice. Results and Conclusion : KSE potently inhibited the development of Penh and also reduced the number of eosinophil during OVA-induced AHR. KSE also inhibited cytokines production such as IL-4, IL-5 in BALF. Furthermore, KSE inhibited percentage of eosinophil in BALF. These results suggest that KSE may be beneficial oriental medicine for AHR.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2012

The feature of asthma are airway inflammation (AI), reversible airway obstruction, and an increased sensitivity to bronchoconstricting agents, elevated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), excess production of Th2 cytokines, and eosinophil accumulation in the lungs. This study was performed to investigate if oral administration of $Scutellaria$ $baicalensis$ Georgi water extracts (SBG) have the antiasthmatic potential for the treatment of asthma. Asthmatic HI and AHR were induced by systemic sensitization to ovalbumin (OVA) with intratracheal instillation with 0.1 mg/mL of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) suspension once a week for 10 weeks in BALB/c mice. SBG was orally administered with the concentraion of 200 mg/kg 5 days a week for 10 weeks. Long-term SBG treatment suppressed the eosinophil infiltration into airways from blood, the asthmatic AI and AHR by attenuating the production of cytokine IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, histamine and OVA-specific IgE. Our data suggest that SBG has inhibitory effects on AI and AHR in a mouse model of asthma, may act as a potential Th2 cytokine antagonist, and may have a therapeutic effect on allergic asthma.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.380-388
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• 2005

In this study, the immunological effect of a traditional Korea herbal medicine, Sochungyong-tang (SCRT) that has been widely used for the treatment of various immunological disorders including allergic asthma in Korea, was examined in vitro. In our previous study demonstrated that SCRT decreases the expression of IL-4 mRNA, that plays pivotal role in Th2 cell development, while increases $IFN-{\gamma}{\tilde{a}}expression$, which is one of the key cytokines for Th1 lineage development in Th0 condition. That study strongly implies that SCRT can correct Th2 dominant condition directly affecting to the CD4+ T cell development. Present study designated to further evaluate the SCRT on helper T cell development by monitoring Th1/Th2 specific cytokine secretion patterns in artificially induced Th1 or Th2 polarized condition. The results demonstrated that Th2 cells were dramatically under-populated in Th2 driven condition with SCRT treatment, while Th1 cells were not altered in Th1 skewed condition. Furthermore, under Th2-skewed conditions the levels of and IL-4 were considerably decreased with SCRT treatment. However, the expression of GATA-3, a transcription factor that plays pivotal role in Th2 lineage programming, was not changed with SCRT, suggesting that the suppression of Th2 cell development by SCRT was not mediated by GATA-3. Present study implies that the effect on CD4+ T cell may be the one of key pharmacological effect point for treating IgE medicated allergic asthma by SCRT. These results also suggest that SCRT might be desirable agent for the correction of Th2 dominant pathological disorders.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.123-129
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• 2012

Objectives : Allergy has been described as an inflammatory with hypersensitivity resulting from seasonal or perennial responses to specific allergens. The root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.(Platycodi Radix; Campanulaceae) has been traditionally used to treat chronic diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation and hyperlipidemia. In this study, we examined the effect of 70% ethanol extract of Platycodi Radix (PR-E) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized and challenged by OVA inhalation to induced chronic airway inflammation, and then were intragastrically administered PR-E extract at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg/day from days 21 to 30 consecutively. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and cytokines such as IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histological change of lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : PR-E extract significantly decreased the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and Th2 cytokine, IL-4 compared with those in the OVA-induced group. PE-E extract significantly increased the serum level of Th1 cytokine, IFN-${\gamma}$. Based on lung histopathological studies, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were inhibited by PE-E extract administration compared to that in the OVA-induced group. Conclusions : These findings indicate that PE-E extract may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 1998

It has been reported that 50~70% of child asthma, bronchial asthma in adult, and allergic rhinitis are caused by house dust mite. The antigen extracted from house dust mite has been used for effective treatment against allergic diseases and for clinical test. This house dust mite antigen has been entirely imported from abroad. However, the composition and content of all the antigen imported vary from a brand to other brand. Thus, we need to standardize the composition and content of the antigen by developing it domestically. We proceeded pre-clinically general pharmacological test and toxicological test that are required for the eventual human use by utilizing the house dust mite cultured in Korea. In order to obtain information on general pharmacological tests such as its toxic signs in tissues or organs which are mainly affected, we examined the effect of house dust mite on the tensions of the isolated tissues and heart rates of cardiac muscle by recording with force displacement transducer of polygragh (Glass Model 7). We determined lethality of antigen extracted from house dust mite in mice and guinea pigs. We examined acute and subacute toxicity by administrating house dust mite extract of 500, 100, 20 times of the expected clinical dose. In male and female mice and guinea pigs, given a sigle intraperitoneal dose of antigen, $LD_{50}$ values were over 5.0 $\textrm{m}{\ell}$/kg, respectively. In animals administrated with house dust mite, there were no significant change of clinical symptom, body weight, food consumption, water consumption, eye examinations, urinalysis, blood biochemistry, and histopathological examinations in any animals tested. We found no toxic effect of this house dust mite. These results show that the house dust mite cultured by us could be used in the development of medicine against allergic diseases caused by the antigen of house dust mite.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1397-1403
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• 2004

By recently study, GM (Gamipaemo-tang) treatment have worked well on the allergic asthma. The purpose of this study was effect of GM extract on helper T cell, major regulator of immune system. Splenic cells from 8-week BALB/c mice were cultured in GM containing media without activation for 48 hours. The MTS assay and flow cytometry study revealed that lymphocyte treated with GM were not effective on CD4+ T cells. Subsequently CD4+ T cells were isolated and cultured in GM containing media. Either GM were not effective on CD4+ T cell without APCs. By FACS scan analysis, the expression of INF-γ, IL-4 were down-regulated in the condition skewed Th1 and Th2 cells respectively, Using ELISA analysis, the expression of INF-γ is up-regulated and IL-4 is down-regulated in the condition skewed Th1, Th2 cells respectively. With RT-PCR analysis, the expression of mRNA for INF-γ is down-regulated and IL-4 is down-regulated in the condition skewed Th1 and Th2 cells respectively. The result suggests that GM inhibited the differetiation of Th2 cells significantly and indicates GM could enhance anti-allergic immune system.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.662-674
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• 2018

Purpose: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic disease. However, the effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) on ILCs remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of ILC subsets in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients in response to house dust mite (HDM)-specific immunotherapy. Methods: We enrolled 37 AR patients undergoing AIT (16 responders and 11 non-responders) for 2 years, 35 HDM AR patients and 28 healthy subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry to identify ILC subsets. Stimulation of ILC2s with recombinant allergen-specific protein was used to determine ILC2's activation (CD69 expression). Results: Responder AIT patients and healthy subjects had a decreased frequency of circulating ILC2s compared to non-responder AIT and AR patients. Conversely, ILC1s from responder AIT patients and healthy subjects showed increased frequency compared to non-responder AIT and AR patients. The frequency of ILC3s natural cytotoxicity receptor $(NCR)^+$ and $NCR^-$ in responder AIT patients was significantly lower compared to AR patients and healthy subjects. The ILC1: ILC2 proportion in responder AIT patients was similar to that of healthy subjects. PBMCs from patients who were responders to AIT had a significantly lower expression of the activation marker CD69 on ILC2s in response to allergen re-stimulation compared to AR patients, but no difference compared to non-responder AIT patients and healthy subjects. Conclusions: We propose that AIT might affect ILC responses. The activation of ILC2s was reduced in AR patients treated with AIT. Our results indicate that a relative ILC1/ILC2 skewed response is a possible key to successful AIT.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Objectives : The objective of present study is to evaluate anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of Perilla(Perilla frutescens; Labiatae, PF), the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum(PP) and the root of Scutellaria baicalensis(SB) in vitro and anti-asthmatic effects of mixture of PF, PP and SB(PS) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in BALB/c mice. Methods : Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects were observed on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS) treated RAW 264.7 cells through Nitric Oxide(NO) production and RBL-2H3 cells through ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase. Anti-asthmatic effects were observed on the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and the level of IgE in serum on OVA-induced BALB/c mice. Results : The treatment of PF, PP and SB(12.5, 25, 50, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) resulted in a significant inhibition of NO production in RAW 264.7 cells and mast cell degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells. Oral administration of PS(400mg/kg/day) resulted in a significant reduction in the numbers of eosinophils in BALF and level of IgE in serum. Conclusion : The oral administration of PS is effective in ameliorating the eosinophilic infiltration in vivo and thus can be a good therapeutic candidate for allergic asthma.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.138-142
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• 2001

During the course of searching for anti-allergic substances from unexplored plant sources, an inhibitor of leukotriene $D_4$-induced tracheal contraction was isolated from Euphoribia helioscopia. This isolated polyphenol compound, known as helioscopinin-A, showed a certain inhibitory activity on capillary permeability in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis responses of rats and also on antigen-induced bronchial constriction in an experimental asthma model of guinea pigs. The compound at a high concentration weakly inhibited histamine release from isolated mast cells of rats. It is suggested that this compound is an anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic which exerts its activity through antagonism on leukotrene $D_4$-induced responses. A partial inhibition of allergic mediator relase may also bee involved.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.123-130
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• 1996

This study was designed to investigate clinical features, allergy-inducing substances as well as foods, and nutritional behavior of allergic patients. Sixty-eight adult male and 78 adult female patients were surveyed by using the self-developed questionnairs. The results were as follows: 1. The common target organs of allergic symptoms included bronchus, skin and nose. 2. 37.7% of the subjects did not recognize their allergy inducing substances. Among the known substances, house-dust mite, food, temperature and weather change, pollens, smoke, air pollution materials, drugs and even stress provoked symptoms. 3. As for the food allergy, a number of foods were found to be implicated in allergic reactions. These foods included pork, chicken, seafoods such as mackerel, crab & shrimp, milk, egg, peanut, apple and pupa. Symptoms and signs of food reactions included urticaria, asthma, and rhinitis. 4. The nutrition adequacy ratio (NAR) of energy was below 0.75 for male patients and about 0.80 for female patients. And 24.0% of the subjects were regarded as excellent, 31.5% as fair, and 44.5% as poor in food related behavior evaluation.