• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2017

HemoHIM, herbal preparation has designed for immune system recovery. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of HemoHIM on cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mouse model. To induce COPD, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to CS for 1 h per day (eight cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks and intranasally received LPS on day 26. HemoHIM was administrated to mice at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg 1h before CS exposure. HemoHIM reduced the inflammatory cell count and levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) induced by CS+LPS exposure. HemoHIM decreased the inflammatory cell infiltration in the airway and inhibited the expression of iNOS and MMP-9 and phosphorylation of Erk in lung tissue exposed to CS+LPS. In summary, our results indicate that HemoHIM inhibited a reduction in the lung inflammatory response on CS and LPS induced lung inflammation via the Erk pathway. Therefore, we suggest that HemoHIM has the potential to treat pulmonary inflammatory disease such as COPD.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Objectives: Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder, which is characterized by proteinuria, edema (swelling), and hyperlipidemia. Maydis Stigma (Corn silk) has been widely used in Asia as a traditional medicine and is known to have a diuretic effect and is used for the treatment of edema and indigestion. Methods: The aim of this study is to investigate the improvement effect of Maydis Stigma in treating nephrotic syndrome induced by puromycin aminonucleoside. Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenously injected with 75 mg/kg/day puromycin aminonucleoside, then treated with either Losartan or 200 mg/kg/day Maydis Stigma for seven days. Results: Maydis Stigma significantly decreased ascites and proteinuria level. Plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine reduced significantly by Maydis Stigma. In addition, treatment with Maydis Stigma attenuated histological damage. Treatment with Maydis Stigma also restored podocin expression and reduced inflammation markers such as intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Conclusions: Maydis Stigma ameliorates kidney injury in nephrotic syndrome rat models. Maydis Stigma exerts a renoprotective effect owing to its anti-inflammatory effects and reductions of ascites and proteinuria. Thus, these results indicate that Maydis Stigma is likely to be a promising agent in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.12-29
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• 2021

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Cheongpochukeo-tang (CCT) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model. Methods: RAW 264.7 cells were pre-treated with CCT and incubated with LPS (500 ng/ml) after 1 hour. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay to figure out cytotoxicity of CCT. The production of nitric oxide and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine were measured. And the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were examined to figure out molecular mechanisms of CCT's anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, mice survival rate and cytokine levels of serum were observed after treated with CCT. And mice liver tissues were observed and their cytokines levels in liver tissue were measured. Results: CCT did not have cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. It inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, but showed an increase in NO by itself at 2 mg/ml concentration. CCT inhibited mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in a dose dependant and the activaton of MAPKs and NF-κB. In addition, CCT reduced mortality in the LPS-induced mouse model and inhibited production of cytokines in mouse serum and liver tissue. Conclusion: The results suggest that CCT could reduce LPS-induced inflammation by inhibiting MAPKs and NF-κB activaton, NO production, and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. Thereby, CCT could be effective medicine for the inflammatory disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.220-226
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• 2021

The role of particulate matter (PM) in health problems including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and pneumonia is becoming increasingly clear. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, major components of PM, bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhRs) and promote the expression of CYP1A1 through the AhR pathway in keratinocytes. Activation of AhRs in skin cells is associated with cell differentiation in keratinocytes and inflammation, resulting in dermatological lesions. Oleanolic acid, a natural component of L. lucidum, also has anti-inflammation, anticancer, and antioxidant characteristics. Previously, we found that PM10 induced the AhR signaling pathway and autophagy process in keratinocytes. Here, we investigated the effects of oleanolic acid on PM10-induced skin aging. We observed that oleanolic acid inhibits PM10-induced CYP1A1 and decreases the increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 induced by PM10. A supernatant derived from keratinocytes cotreated with oleanolic acid and PM10 inhibited the release of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in dermal fibroblasts. Also, the AhR-mediated autophagy disruption was recovered by oleanolic acid. Thus, oleanolic acid may be a potential treatment for addressing PM10-induced skin aging.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2021

Here, we investigated the prebiotic and antioxidant effects of Actinidia arguta sprout water extract (AASWE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive deficit mice. AASWE increased viable cell count, titratable acidity, and acetic acid production in Lactobacillus reuteri strain and showed a cytoprotective effect on LPS-induced inflammation in HT-29 cells. We assessed the behavior of LPS-induced cognitive deficit mice using Y-maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests and found that administration of AASWE significantly improved learning and memory function. The AASWE group showed antioxidant activity through downregulation of malondialdehyde levels and upregulation of superoxide dismutase levels in brain tissue. In addition, the AASWE group exhibited activation of the cholinergic system with decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in brain tissue. Furthermore, AASWE effectively downregulated inflammatory mediators such as phosphorylated-JNK, phosphorylated-NF-κB, TNF-α and interleukin-6. The major bioactive compounds of AASWE were identified as quercetin-3-O-arabinopyranosyl(1→2)-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-glucopyranose, quercetin-3-O-apiosyl(1 → 2)-galactoside, rutin, and 3-caffeoylquinic acid. Based on these results, we suggest that AASWE not only increases the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, but also shows an ameliorating effect on LPS-induced cognitive impairment.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1221-1234
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• 2021

Objective: Weaning is an important stage in the life of young mammals, which is associated with intestinal inflammation, gut microbiota disorders, and even death. β-Carotene displays anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which can prevent the development of inflammatory diseases. However, whether β-carotene can affect intestinal microbiota remains unclear. Methods: Twenty-four piglets were distributed into four groups: the normal suckling group (Con), the weaning group (WG), the weaning+β-carotene (40 mg/kg) group (LCBC), and the weaning+β-carotene (80 mg/kg) group (HCBC). The serum, jejunum, colon, and faeces were collected separately from each group. The effects of β-carotene on the phenotype, overall structure, and composition of gut microbiota were assessed in weaning piglets. Results: The results showed that β-carotene improved the growth performance, intestinal morphology and relieved inflammation. Furthermore, β-carotene significantly decreased the species from phyla Bacteroidetes and the genus Prevotella, and Blautia, and increased the species from the phyla Firmicutes and the genera p-75-a5, and Parabacteroides compared to the WG group. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that Prevotella and Blautia were positively correlated, and Parabacteroides and Synergistes were negatively correlated with the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), while p-75-a5 showed negative correlation with IL-6 in serum samples from piglets. Conclusion: These findings indicate that β-carotene could alleviate weaning-induced intestinal inflammation by modulating gut microbiota in piglets. Prevotella may be a potential target of β-carotene in alleviating the weaning-induced intestinal inflammation in piglets.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2021

Objectives: Depression is a mood disorder showing low energy, loss of interest, anhedonia, and anxiety. It affects a patients' daily life. This disease is considered a social problem because the patient may commit suicide in extreme cases. JSB is composed of 12 Korean medicinal herbs. It has been prescribed to patients with depression. The objective of this study is to investigate anti-depressive effects of JSB on restraint stress-induced depression in a mouse model. Methods: Depression was induced by restraint stress. Mice were orally administered JSB at 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg for 14 days. Forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT) were performed. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA level was measured by real time-PCR. Plasma levels of corticosterone and serotonin were measured by ELISA. Blood levels of AST and ALS were measured using a biochemical analyzer. Results: JSB treatment significantly reduced the immobility time in FST. BDNF mRNA level was increased by JSB treatment in the hippocampi of mice. Although the expression of TNF-α was also increased by JSB, such increase was not statistically significant. The increase of corticosterone level in plasma induced by restraint stress was significantly down-regulated by JSB. JSB reduced blood level of AST, but not ALT. Conclusions: JSB has a potential to manage depression, setting a foundation for clinical application of Korean medicine with safety.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2021

5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) is a standard therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate forms of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) whereas more severe forms involve the use of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan that has shown epithelium protective effects in experimental colitis recently. In this study, both 5-ASA (30 mg/kg) and HA (15 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg) were administered rectally and investigated for their potential complementary therapeutic effects in moderate or severe murine colitis models. Intrarectal treatment of moderate and severe colitis with 5-ASA alone or HA alone at a dose of 30 mg/kg led to a significant decrease in clinical activity and histology scores, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in colitis mice compared to untreated animals. The combination of HA (30 mg/kg) and 5-ASA in severe colitis led to a significant improvement of colitis compared to 5-ASA alone. Combined rectal therapy with HA and 5-ASA could be a treatment alternative for severe cases of IBD as it was the only treatment tested that was not significantly different from the healthy control group. This study further underlines the benefit of searching for yet unexplored drug combinations that show therapeutic potential in IBD without the need of designing completely new drug entities.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.557-564
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• 2021

Macrophages play a key role in chronic inflammation, and are the most abundant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. We investigated whether an interaction between inflamed prostate cancer cells stimulated with Trichomonas vaginalis and macrophages stimulates the proliferation of the cancer cells. Conditioned medium was prepared from T. vaginalis-infected (TCM) and uninfected (CM) mouse prostate cancer (PCa) cell line (TRAMP-C2 cells). Thereafter conditioned medium was prepared from macrophages (J774A.1 cell line) after incubation with CM (MCM) or TCM (MTCM). When TRAMP-C2 cells were stimulated with T. vaginalis, protein and mRNA levels of CXCL1 and CCL2 increased, and migration of macrophages toward TCM was more extensive than towards CM. Macrophages stimulated with TCM produced higher levels of CCL2, IL-6, TNF-α, their mRNAs than macrophages stimulated with CM. MTCM stimulated the proliferation and invasiveness of TRAMP-C2 cells as well as the expression of cytokine receptors (CCR2, GP130, CXCR2). Importantly, blocking of each cytokine receptors with anti-cytokine receptor antibody significantly reduced the proliferation and invasiveness of TRAMP-C2 cells. We conclude that inflammatory mediators released by TRAMP-C2 cells in response to infection by T. vaginalis stimulate the migration and activation of macrophages and the activated macrophages stimulate the proliferation and invasiveness of the TRAMP-C2 cells via cytokine-cytokine receptor binding. Our results therefore suggested that macrophages contribute to the exacerbation of PCa due to inflammation of prostate cancer cells reacted with T. vaginalis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2018

Objective : The immune enhance is the main focus of current society that to increase resistance to invasion by pathogenic species of bacteria in body, stimulate the immune system and possibly protect against cancer or inflammatory disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Gentianae Radix extract on immune regulation in a LPS-induced mice model of acute inflammation. Methods : Gentianae Radix extract was administered orally at doses of 200 mg/kg/day or 400 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks before a intraperitoneally injection of LPS (1 mg/kg of 0.9% saline). After LPS-intraperitoneal injection 3 hours, blood was collected by cardiac puncture under ether anaesthesia from all animals, for the immune regulate efficacy verification based on blood or serum biomarkers (i.e., immune cells, cytokine, $PGE_2$, ROS, and $LTB_4$) analysis. Results : Compared to the control mice, the Gentianae Radix extract treatments significantly increased the count of immune cells (i.e., wite blood cell, neutrophils, and monocyte), and significantly reduced the lymphocyte. In addition, the Gentianae Radix extract treatments significantly decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokine (i.e., $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$), and significantly increased IL-10 of anti-inflammatory cytokine. Furthermore, the Gentianae Radix extracts treatments significantly increased the levels of $PGE_2$ and significantly decreased the levels of ROS, and $LTB_4$. Conclusions : The results indicate that Gentianae Radix extract alleviated acute inflammatory reaction though regulation of immune meditor. Thus, Gentianae Radix extract may raw material of development a health food and medicine option for the immune enhance.