• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2013

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by eczematous inflammtion of the skin. The chestnut inner shell extracts (CI) has been used as a cosmetic material for a long time in Korea. However, the precise anti-allergy effects of CI have yet to be clearly elucidated. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of CI on mast cell-mediated allergy inflammation. Methods : To find the anti-allergy and inflammatory effect of CI, we investigated the inhibitory effect of CI on the production of inflammatory mediators using by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore (A23187) stimulated-human mast cell (HMC-1). Results : In this study, we found that CI did not show cytotoxic effect at up to 10 ug/ml on HMC-1. CI inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in stimulated HMC-1. Maximal rate of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 inhibition by CI (10 ug/ml) were about 47.6%, 44.1% and 22.5% respectively. In addition, we showed that Fr.3 isolated from n-Butyl alcohol layer of CI attenuated the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 in HMC-1. Conclusion : Taken together, the findings of this study provide us with a novel insight action of CI as a potential molecule for use in the treatment of allergic inflammation diseases.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.31-46
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• 2014

Objectives Forsythiae Fructus treatment has been used for inflammatory and allergic diseases in Korean Medicine. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action and the cellular targets are not understood well. The pathogenesis of allergic diseases are associated with Th2 cytokines such as IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$, IL-13, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, which are secreted by the mast cells. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Forsythiae Fructus extracts (FF) on Th2 cytokines expression and signal transduction in MC/9 mast cells. Methods In the study, MC/9 mast cells were stimulated with DNP-IgE for 24 hours and then treated separately with CsA $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and varying doses of FF for one hour. MC/9 mast cells stimulated with DNP-IgE was the control group, a treatment with CsA was the positive control group and a treatment with varying doses FF was the experimental groups. The mRNA levels of IL-13, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 were analyzed with Real-time PCR. The levels of IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA). NFAT, AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results 1. FF were observed to suppress the mRNA expression of IL-13, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 in comparison to DNP-IgE control group. 2. FF also has inhibited the IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ production significantly in comparison to DNP-IgE control group. 3. Western blot analysis of transduction factors involving Th2 cytokines expression has revealed a prominent decrease of the mast cell specific transduction factors including NFAT-1, NFAT-2, c-Jun, and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 but c-Fos. Conclusions In conclusion, the anti-allergenic activities of FF may be strongly related to the regulation of transcription factors NFAT-1, NFAT-2, c-Jun, and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 causing inhibition of Th2 cytokines in mast cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.3-8
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• 2000

1. Definition : Bee-venom therapy does not involve actual bee-stings: it is a treatment method with acquired bee-venom extract through the electric stimulus on the bee, It is injected subcutaneusly on the acupuncture point after refining, according to the diagnosis of constitution and disease. 2. History : Around 2000 B.C., records that Bee-venom was used for therapy were written in the medical book of Babylonia and Papirus of ancient Egypt. Hippocrates, who is called the father of Medicine, said that Bee-venom is Arcanum, which means mysteric medicine. In Oriental medicine, B.C. 200, there was a clinical record that the meat suspended in front of the bee house on the tree in order to get bee-venom, was attached on the lesion. 3. Mechanism of Action : There are two aspects: 1) The effect of stimulating acupunture point It is similar to the chemical moxa. I think that there are several methods of stimulating the acupuncture point： For example, a simple needle is a mechanical stimulus, Moxa is a heating stimulus and electric and Raser acupunture etc. And another stimulus: in the ancient orient, a chemical stimulus called Chungu(Tianjiu), is attached to the lesions by using grinded insects (ex. Mylaris phalerate PALL.) which have toxin. So Bee venom therapy is similar to this. 2) The effect of biochemical ingredients Bee venom consists of 40 kinds of ingredients. For example, me Iii tin, Apamin, Pospholipase A2, MCD peptide, Adolapin and so on. They have effects which have been proven through experimentation l) tonifying mechanism of the body through increasing hormon secretion 2) tonifying immune system through proliferation of WBC, lymphocytes, macrophage 3) anti-inflammatory reaction Therefore Bee venom therapy is the representative 3rd Medicine, which combined East & West medicine. 4. Application of disease : L.B.P and HIVD, O.A, R.A, degenerative arthritis, shoulder pain and other pain diseases. 5. Therapic methods : According to constitution and disease, proper concentration of bee venom is injected on acupunture point, 2 times a week. Generally one term is consisted of 15times. 6. Contraindication : Heart disease, TBc, DM, kidney disease(nephritis), pregnancy, woman in menstruation 3-4 persons per 100,000 persons may have severe allergic reaction.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.183-210
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• 1998

Cheonggisan(CGS) is well known for its effect on such allergic disease as urticaria and atopic dermatitis. Gagamcheonggisan(GCGS) was formulated by subtracting several herbs from CGS and adding several herbs to CGS. Even though it is being used frequently in the clinicai medicine for the treatment of above hypersensitivity diseases, basic study to make sure the mechanism of its action is rare. In this study the author tried to know the effect of CGS and GCGS on the vascular permeability, contact dermatitis, granular secretion from mast cells and function of macrophages. The results obtained in this study are as follows : 1. Administration of CGS and GCGS decreased the vascular permeability induced by serotonin and histamine. The decrease by serotonin is more typical and dose-dependent. 2. Administration of CGS and GCGS inhibited foot-pad and ear swelling responses induced by sheep red blood cells and picryl chloride respectively, the inhibition of foot-pad swelling responses is bigger than that of ear swelling responses and both of them are not dependent on the dose3. Treatment of peritoneal mast cells with CGS and GCGS water extract decreased the histamine release triggered by compound 48／80 in a dose dependent fashion 4. Administration of CGS and GCGS increased the phagocvtic activity of peritoneal macrophages and treatment of peritoneal macrophages with CGS activated phagocytic function in a dose dependent fashion. 5. Administration of CGS and GCGS enhanced such reactive oxygen intermediates(ROIs) as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production from peritoneal macrophages. 6. Treatment of CGS and GCGS activated peritoneal macrophages for the production of ROIs. The above results show that CGS and GCGS decreased the hypersensitivity reactions by inhibiting non-specific inflammatory mediator release and vascular permeability without affecting general immune responsiveness.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.580-585
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• 2004

BJYGC is often clinically used as a treatment of allergic rhinitis. This study was aimed to find out the effect BJYGC would have on the helper T cell, and how it can promote the subsets of helper T cells to regain their balance that they lost due to immunological diseases. Splenocytes were prepared from BALB/c mice was cultured without stimulation in the presence of BJYGC for 48 hr. The viability of CD4 T cells from Balb/c mouse were measured at various concentrations of BJYGC using the MTS assay. It was somewhat increased up to concentration of 400 ㎍/ml, but did not show any significant difference. Proliferation was measured using the MTS assay, CD4 Th cells were stimulated with anti-CD3/28 in the presence of BJYGC for 48 hr. As evidence for rapid T cell activation, CD25 expression by flow cytometry was evaluated at 10, 50, 100 and 200 ㎍/㎖ of BJYGC. Th cell differentiation experiments were performed to examine whether BJYGC can affect the Th polarization process. CD4 T cells were activated in culture under neutral, Th1-polarized or Th2-polarized conditions in the presence of BJYGC at 10, 100 and 200 ㎍/㎖. Cytokine production was measured by ELISA. This experiment proved that BJYGC could inhibit the secretion of both IL-4 and IFN-γ in neutral condition and polarized condition, too. Considering that BJYGC shows an excellent effect on treating allergies, the author can conclude that its pharmacological action may be associated with decreased IL-4 and, it may also regulate IFN-γ depending the host's need. Also, it was discovered that Th1 cell was pathologic in chronic inflammatory tissue specific diseases, such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, RA, and uveitis. We are counting on the BJYGC to be able to control the tendency of Th1 cell predominancy in an immune reaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2017

1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-${\beta}$-D-glucose (PGG) is a gallotannin isolated from Galla Rhois. In a previous study, PGG was shown to suppress the allergic response by attenuating immunoglobulin E production both in vitro and in vivo. However, the effect of PGG on bacteria-induced inflammation at physiological concentration remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PGG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. PGG inhibited release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ by alleviating protein expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, PGG suppressed the release of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ induced by LPS. Further study indicated that PGG blocked translocation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ from the cytosol into the nucleus, which is one of the underlying mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory action of PGG. Collectively, these data suggest that PGG might be useful for the treatment of inflammatory disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1109-1117
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• 2013

Induction of G1 Arrest by Methanol Extract of Lycopus lucidus in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells Lycopus lucidus, a herbaceous perennial, is used as a traditional remedy in East Asia, including China and Korea. It has been reported that L. lucidus has anti-allergic effects, inhibitory effects on cholesterol acyltransferase in high glucose-induced vascular inflammation, and anti-proliferative effects in human breast cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of L. lucidus have not yet been fully determined. In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effect and the mechanism of action of L. lucidus in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells using methanol extracts of L. lucidus (MELL). MELL treatment showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner and induced G1 arrest in A549 cells. The induction of G1 arrest by MELL was associated with the up-regulation of phospho-CHK2 and the down-regulation of Cdc25A phosphatase. In addition, MELL treatment induced decreased expression of G1/S transition-related proteins, including CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1 and cyclin E. MELL also regulated the mRNA expression of CDK2 and cyclin E. On the other hand, the expression of p53 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was not induced by MELL. Collectively, these results suggest that MELL may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through the ATM/CHK2/Cdc25A/CDK2 pathway in A549 cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was carried out for the purpose of knowing the effect from anti-arthma action of the abstraction from a extract of Paridis Rhizoma(EPR). In order to know what the effect of controlling an abstraction from Paridis Rhizoma. and about the expression of B cells and Ig E cells, mast cells it was necessary for it to be activated by ovalbumin. Methods : In order to know what the effect was on the organization of cytokine gene expression from The increase and divorce of the B cells and allergic acting by EPR, we found it necessary to examine the BALF. At the same time, as we examined the histamine release by ELISA method, we also examined the effect of EPR. Results : EPR at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, the highest concentration examined did not have any cytotoxic effects on mLFCs. In FACS analysis, number of granulocyte/lymphocyte, $CD3e^+/CCR3^+,\;CD4^+\;and\;CD23^+/B220^+$ in asthma-induced lung cells were significantly decreased by EPR treatment compared to the control group. In RT-PCR analysis, mRNA expression for CCR3, eotaxin and histamine in asthma-induced lung cells, which was induced by rIL-3 plus rmIL-5 treatments, was significantly decreased by EPR treatment. In ELISA analysis, production levels of IL-4, IL-13 and histamine in asthma-induced lung cells, which were induced by rIL-3 plus rmIL-5 co-treatment, were significantly decreased by EPR treatment. EPR treatments significantly inhibited the proliferation of eosinohils prepared from asthma-induced mouse lung tissues compared to the non-EPR treated control cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that EPR treatment significantly decreased the levels of eosipnphil activation compared to non-treated cells. Conclusion : The present data suggested that Paridis Rhizoma may have an effects on the inhibition of parameters associated with asthma responses in eosinpophils, and thus implicate the possibility for the clinical application of Paridis Rhizoma.