• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.11
• /
• pp.1612-1620
• /
• 2015

Inflammation is a complex process involving a variety of immune cells, which defend the body from harmful stimuli. However, pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators can also exacerbate diseases such as cancer. Onion peel contains several phenolic compounds, including quercetin at an amount 20 times greater in peel than edible flesh. Therefore, in this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of onion peel ethanol extract (OPEE) were investigated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response. In our results, NO production decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Secretion of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ was suppressed by 44%, 53%, and 60% respectively, at $100{\mu}g/mL$. Moreover, OPEE also suppressed expression of COX-2, iNOS, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and MAPKs in a dose-dependent manner. Formation of mice ear edema was reduced at the highest dose tested compared to the control, and reduction of ear thickness was observed in the histological analysis as well. In the acute toxicity test, no morality was observed in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of OPEE over a 2-week observation period. These results suggest that OPEE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and be a potential anti-inflammatory material.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.854-860
• /
• 2019

This study investigated the optimum pH conditions for efficient extraction of protein from defatted Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae. We examined the anti-inflammatory effect of protein derived from defatted TM larvae obtained by an alkaline extraction method. Six extraction pH values (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) and three precipitation pH values (2, 4, and 6) were used. The protein content, browning degree, and recovery yield of the protein obtained under each pH condition were determined. For efficient extraction of protein from defatted TM larvae, a combination of an extraction pH of 9 and precipitation pH of 4 resulted in a 32.4% recovery yield based on the extraction value and degree of browning. To determine whether the protein ameliorated inflammation by inhibition of macrophage activation by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), we measured nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in LPS-stimulated raw 264.7 macrophage cells. The protein markedly inhibited the production of NO without cytotoxicity and reduced the expression level of COX-2 and iNOS protein through the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) signaling. These results suggested that protein derived from TM larvae could have potential applications in anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents and protein supplements.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.315-323
• /
• 2024

This study aims to confirm the anti-inflammatory activities of acemannan and aloesin, which have been studied for various efficacies at various mixed sample ratios. The mixed samples were mixed at a ratio of 1:1 (AA-1), 1:2 (AA-2), 1:3 (AA-3), 2:1 (AA-4), and 3:1 (AA-5). Seven samples were evaluated for their cytotoxic ability on macrophages, and the results showed that all cell viability was over 90% at a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL. First, due to the NO production inhibitory activity, a better inhibitory effect was achieved when using a mixed sample rather than a single material. Afterward, the activity of inhibiting the production of PGE₂, TNF-α, and IL-6 was confirmed using a mixed sample. It was confirmed that AA-2 had the best inhibitory activity on producing PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6 rather than AA-1, AA-3, AA-4, and AA-5. For this reason, experiments were conducted using AA-2 to determine the protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2, which are inflammation-related proteins. It was confirmed that AA-2 inhibited iNOS and COX-2 protein expression by 25.01% and 27.27%, respectively, compared to the LPS-alone treatment group. In conclusion, the mixed sample of acemannan and aloesin is judged to have anti-inflammatory activity and can potentially to be used as a functional material.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.255-261
• /
• 2012

The skin is continuously exposed to environmental stresses. One of the most important stress factor is UV radiation. UV radiation causes a variety of biological effects on the skin, including inflammation, pigmentation, photoaging and cancer. Therefore in this study, we tried to search for skin-protective antioxidant materials from marine natural products (Porphyra Thalli, Laminariae japonicae thallus, Ostreae Concha, Sargassum Thallus, Undaria thallus, Haliotidis Concha, Agar, Codium thalli, Hizikia fusiforme thalli; HFE, Thalli) which exhibit protective activities against UVB-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative cell death and antiaging effects. As a results, UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were effectively suppressed by treatment of Sargassum Thallus, Agar, Haliotidis Concha, Codium thalli, Thalli ethanol extracts. UVB-induced cell death was mediated by intracellular accumulation or ROS, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with marine natural products extracts. Also, The protective effect of these marine natural products seemed to be mediated by increased expression of type I collagen and Type I procollagen. These results suggest that marine natural products may have anti-aging effects new functional materials against oxidative stress-mediated skin damages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.226-231
• /
• 2018

Chijabaegpi-tang (CHG) is an oriental herbal medicine that has been used for its various pharmacological effects, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immunoregulation activities. In the present study, we investigated which skin inflammations are involved in the $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced HaCaT cells. We investigated the suppressive effect of CHG on $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced HaCaT cell production of the following chemokines: macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC)/CCL22; regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES)/CCL5; and interleukin-8 (IL-8); thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)/CCL17. The pre-treatment of HaCaT cells with CHG suppressed $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced nuclear transcription factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$). In addition, CHG inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38. $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$ suppressed the expression of skin barrier proteins, including filaggrin (FLG), Involucrin (IVL) and loricrin (LOR). By contrast, CHG restored the expression of FLG, IVL and LOR. Taken together, our findings suggest that CHG could be a therapeutic agent for prevention of skin disease, including atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.1278-1284
• /
• 2007

Solanum Iyratum Thunb (Solanaceae) has multiple applications in korean traditional medicine because of its cytotoxic, immunological and anti-inflammatory activities. However, no study on the anti-arthritic activity of Solanum Iyratum Thunb has been reported in vivo. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which ultimately leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Cytokine production were assessed during CIA(collagen-induced arthritis) model mice in lymph node (LN), in knee joint and spleen, using ELISA. DBA/1j mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen. After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with Solanum Iyratum Thunb (SLT) orally at 400, 200 mg/kg once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. SLT significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in serum and spleen cell culture supernatant. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with SLT. In conclusion, our results demonstrates that SLT significantly suppressed the progression of CIA. This action was characterized by suppression of arthritis index, cartilage erosion and synovial cell infiltration and the decreased production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, CD4+, CD19+, CD3+/CD69+ cells (in lymph node), CD11b+/Gr-1 + (in knee joint).

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.619-627
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Colitis is a serious health problem, and chronic obesity is associated with the progression of colitis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of natural raw meal (NRM) on high-fat diet (HFD, 45%) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS, 2% w/v)-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Body weight, colon length, and colon weight-to-length ratio, were measured directly. Serum levels of obesity-related biomarkers, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were determined using commercial kits. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 were detected using a commercial ELISA kit. Histological study was performed using a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining assay. Colonic mRNA expressions of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined by RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: Body weight and obesity-related biomarkers (TG, TC, LDL, HDL, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin) were regulated and obesity was prevented in NRM treated mice. NRM significantly suppressed colon shortening and reduced colon weight-to-length ratio in HFD+DSS induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice (P < 0.05). Histological observations suggested that NRM reduced edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of crypts induced by HFD and DSS. In addition, NRM decreased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 and inhibited the mRNA expressions of these cytokines, and iNOS and COX-2 in colon mucosa (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that NRM has an anti-inflammatory effect against HFD and DSS-induced colitis in mice, and that these effects are due to the amelioration of HFD and/or DSS-induced inflammatory reactions.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.8
• /
• pp.1276-1280
• /
• 2010

Berberine has shown a number of beneficial effects, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and vasodilatory effects. In this work we investigated the effects of berberine on the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in mice. The supernatants of cultured splenocytes exposed with berberine or berberine plus LPS were harvested to assay TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6. The sera from the mice injected with berberine or berberine plus LPS were then isolated to assay these cytokines. The TNF-$\alpha$ production in mice splenocyte cultures exposed to berberine was inhibited compared to the PBS control. The sera from LPS plus berberine injected mice showed lower levels of TNF-$\alpha$ compared to those of LPS only injected mice. The IL-$1{\beta}$ production in mice splenocyte cultures exposed to berberine was inhibited at a high dose (3.0 ${\mu}g/ml$) compared to the PBS control. Also, the increase of IL-$1{\beta}$ by LPS exposure in splenocyte cultures was inhibited by a high dose of berberine. The IL-6 in splenocyte culture supernatants showed lower levels after berberine compared to the PBS control. Also, production of IL-6 after LPS exposure in splenocyte cultures was inhibited by a low dose of berberine (0.3 ${\mu}g/ml$). These findings suggest the probability that berberine down-regulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.206-216
• /
• 2014

To investigate the anti-photoaging effect of fermented Red Ginseng(RG) in SKH-1 mice. We examined the effects of extracts of non-fermented RG(NRG group), fermented RG(FRG group) and fortified fermented RG(FFRG group) on skin wrinkles formation, histological changes related to the number of epidermal cell layers, epidermal thickness, neutrophil infiltration into dermis, degradation of collagen fibers, and the number of mast cells, and immunohistochemical changes related to cytokines and enzymes in photoaging skin caused by UVB irradiation of SKH-1 mice. The oral administration(300 mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical application($100{\mu}{\ell}/mouse/day$) of extracts of NRG, FRG and FFRG inhibited increases in epidermal thickness and wrinkle formation compared to control group in dorsal skin induced by UVB irradiation. We observed more increased stainability of acid fuschin and aniline blue in dermis of FFRG group than those of other groups. Furthermore, NRG, FRG and FFRG prevented the disruption of collagen fibers within papillary layer of dermis, and decreased number of mast cells in the dorsal skins induced by UVB irradiation. We observed fine wrinkle formation in FFRG group. Treatment with NRG, FRG and FFRG decreased immunohistochemical density of myeloperoxidase related to inflammation in the photoaging skin. We observed more decreased immunohistochemical density of myeloperoxidase in FFRG group than those of other groups. Immunohistochemical density of PCNA and Ki-67 in FFRG group was more decreased than those of other groups. Our study suggests that fermented red ginseng extracts participates in inhibitory effects in the morphological processes related to photoaging skin on UVB irradiated SKH-1 mice.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.11
• /
• pp.1235-1243
• /
• 2015

Hwangheuk-san (HHS) is a Korean multi-herb formula comprising four medicinal herbs. HHS, which was recorded in “Dongeuibogam,” has been used to treat patients with inflammation syndromes and digestive tract cancer for hundreds of years. However, little is known about its anti-tumor efficacy. The present study investigated the pro-apoptotic effect and mode of action of HHS against AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. HHS inhibited the cell growth of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and an accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. HHS-induced apoptotic cell death was associated with the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression, down-regulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol. The treatment of AGS cells with HHS significantly elevated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of HHS induced the activation of both caspase-9 and -8, initiator caspases of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic and death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathways, respectively, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase. However, ROS scavenger and pan-caspases inhibitor significantly blocked HHS-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that HHS induces apoptosis through ROS- and caspase-dependent mechanisms and that HHS may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human gastric cancer.