• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.9
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• 2023

Lespedeza cuneata (LC) is a perennial plant used in herbal medicine to treat numerous diseases, including prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes, early atherosclerosis, and hematuria. Reference collections of bioactive compounds of LC are crucial for the determination of their pharmacological properties. However, little is known regarding its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. This study examined whether LC can inhibit reactive oxygen species and Coal fly ash (CFA) induced inflammation in MH-S cells. The anti-oxidative effects of LC were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, anti-inflammatory effects were examined using nitric oxide (NO) assay, and cytotoxicity was analyzed using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The expression of inflammatory cytokine genes was assessed through a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Our results revealed that LC exhibited high radical scavenging activity and a dose-dependent (7.8-1,000 ㎍/mL) inhibition of oxidation as compared to ascorbic acid and Trolox. It also inhibited CFA-induced NO production in MH-S cells. Moreover, it suppressed the CFA exposure-mediated expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. These results suggest that LC is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that can be useful as a nutraceutical product.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2018

Background: Danggwisusan is a herbal medicine which is used to treat bruises, static blood, external injuries, and somatalgia in Korean medicine. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether Danggwisusan hot aqueous extract had an inhibitory effect upon inflammatory cytokine production and oxidation. Methods: Cytotoxic activity of Danggwisusan extract was examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The amount of nitric oxide produced was measured using Griess reagent. Prostaglandin E2 production was measured using an enzyme immunoassay. Inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The anti-oxidative effect of Danggwisusan was measured by the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl method. The amount of polyphenol and flavonoid contents were measured by Folin and Ciocalteauea phenol reagent and aluminum nitrate. Results: Danggwisusan hot aqueous extracts did not show significant toxicity at 10, 20, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$. At a dose of $100{\mu}g/mL$, Danggwisusan hot aqueous extract significantly inhibited nitric oxide and $PGE_2$ production, and significantly reduced $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production. At a dose of $100{\mu}g/mL$, 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical scavenging capability was over 50%. Conclusion: This study showed that Danggwisusan hot aqueous extract may have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects on macrophages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.685-696
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a heme precursor, on inflammatory and oxidative stress activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages by estimating nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cytokines, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also evaluated the molecular mechanisms through analysis of the expression of their regulatory genes, and further evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy of ALA against LPS in the zebrafish model. Our results indicated that ALA treatment significantly attenuated the LPS-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators including NO and PGE2, which was associated with decreased inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. ALA also inhibited the LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, reducing their extracellular secretion. Additionally, ALA abolished ROS generation, improved the mitochondrial mass, and enhanced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the activation of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. However, zinc protoporphyrin, a specific inhibitor of HO-1, reversed the ALA-mediated inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines production and activation of mitochondrial function in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, ALA significantly abolished the expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and showed strong protective effects against NO and ROS production in zebrafish larvae. In conclusion, our findings suggest that ALA exerts LPS-induced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by upregulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, and that ALA can be a potential functional agent to prevent inflammatory and oxidative damage.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.19-29
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• 2021

Objective : This study was designed to investigate anti-oxidative, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory activities of Zingiber officinale Roscoe water (ZD) and 50% ethanol extracts (ZE). Method : The antioxidant capacity of ZD or ZE was analyzed by DPPH, ABTS scavenging activities and reducing power, respectively. The anti-aging efficacy was performed with tyrosinase and collagenase inhibition activities. The anti-inflammatory activities were confirmed through inhibition of nitric oxide production and TNF-�� expression in LPS-treated Raw 264.7 cells. Result : As a result of measuring DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, both ZD and ZE extracts increased in concentration-dependent manners. The ABTS radical scavenging activities of water and 50% ethanol extract were similar to that of positive control at high concentration. On reducing power, both ZD and ZE showed higher activities than the positive control at high concentration. On inhibition activities of tyrosinase and collagenase both ZD and ZE showed the large inhibition rates at low concentration. Also, the inhibitory efficacy of ZD on NO and TNF-�� production was better than ZE in RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : These results suggest that ZD and ZE have anti-oxidative, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Especially, ZD was more effective than ZE. Thus, Ginger extract is considered to be highly useful as a cosmetic or food material with anti-oxidative, anti-aging (prevention of whitening and wrinkle) and anti-inflammatory effects. Also these effects may vary depending on the extraction solvent.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the various effects of individual or combined extract of GamiSaengmaeksan (GSS) on cell viability, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activityMethods : In order to evaluate cytotoxicity, MTT assay was performed. We investigated the levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 and interleukin (IL)-1β, and nitric oxide(NO) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells to check the effects on anti-inflammatory activity. The level of NO production in RAW 264.7 cells was measured by using Griess reagent. The levels of cytokines and ROS were measured by Luminex and Flow cytometry, respectively.Results : At concentration of 200 ㎍/㎖ GSS, cytotoxicity was observed in RAW 264.7 cells. However, at concentration less than 100 ㎍/㎖ of both combine and individual GSS, cytotoxicity was not observed in Raw 264.7 cells. However, the level of ROS in RAW 264.7 cells were decreased at both extract of 100 ㎍/㎖ GSS. Also, the level of NO in RAW 264.7 cells were decreased from extraction of concentration of 100 ug/ml in GSS and individual-extraction of Liriopis Tuber, White Ginseng and Glycyrrhizae Radix. In addition, productions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells were decreased from extraction of concentration of 10 and 100 (㎍/㎖) in GSS and individual-extraction of Liriopis Tuber.Conclusions : It is concluded that combined extract of GSS appears to be more effective in anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory effect than those in individual-extraction of GSS. These results may be developed as a raw material for new therapeutics to ease the symptoms related with inflammatory and oxidative stress.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.99-111
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• 2022

Objectives: Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (RRP) has been used as a traditional remedy to treat gynecology and endocrine diseases. Recently, studies on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of RRP have been reported, so it was judged that RRP extracts would have an anti-depressive effect. Methods: We investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-depressive effect of RRP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression and LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. RRP inhibited the LPS-stimulated excessive release of nitrite in the BV2 cells. RRP also significantly inhibited the inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Results: RRP significantly suppressed the LPS-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and nuclear factor (NF)-𝜅B activation. In addition, administration of RRP not only inhibited the immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST) but also increased the total travel distance in the open field test (OFT). Also, RRP inhibited the elevation of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in brain of LPS-injected mice. Conclusions: Considering the overall results, our study showed that RRP exhibited the anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-depressive activities via deactivation of MAPKs and NF-𝜅B.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.659-677
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• 2020

Leonurus japonicus (L. japonicus) Houtt., a biennial plant in the Lamiaceae family is broadly distributed in Asia such as Korea, China, Japan. The aerial part of L. japonicus is used as a traditional medicine to treat uterine disease including dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, sterility. In this study, we examined the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of L. japonicus ethanol extracts. The antioxidant activity of L. japonicus was measured by total polyphenol and flavonoid content, and DPPH, ABTS scavenging, reducing power activity, and intracellular ROS expression assay. The anti-inflammatory effects were measured by nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) production and inflammatory protein expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content of L. japonicus were 51.40 ± 0.47 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g and 73.28 ± 0.10 mg of rutin equivalents/g respectively. DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity tended to increase concentration-dependent and treatment L. japonicus with 400 ㎍/mL reduced ROS production by 69.5%. Furthermore, L. japonicus inhibited NO, TNF-α and IL-1β production in a concentration-dependant manner and reduced the expression levels of inflammatory proteins via regulating NF-κB, MAPK pathway. Therefore, we suggest that L. japonicus could be a natural antioxidants and medicinal source to treat oxidative stress and inflammation-related disease.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.190-199
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the hot water extract from buckwheat (WEB) in RAW-264.7 macrophage cells against lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In these experiments, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of WEB by measuring MTT assay, nitric oxide (NO), inducible NOS (iNOS) production, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by Western blotting. The extracts showed a protective effect by increasing cell viability on LPS in RAW264.7 cells. WEB (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/mL) significantly suppressed LPS-stimulated production of NO. Also, WEB reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins. The present results show that WEB has potent anti-inflammatory effects on RAW264.7 cells. In addition, WEB has various antioxidant effects as a result of 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) which possess a radical scavenging activity. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the WEB were $13.22{\pm}3.69mg\;GAE/g$ extract and $38.53{\pm}5.20mg\;CE/g$ extract respectively. The present results give the understanding of biological activities of buckwheat and encourage their application for supplements.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2022

Background: Cupressus arizonica Greene is a coniferous tree with great importance in fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. Essential oils from C. arizonica (EC) have shown potential antioxidant, and anti-microbial activities. This study aimed at investigating the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects/mechanisms of EC. Methods: The EC was evaluated for anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities on male Wistar rats using a formalin test and carrageenan-induced paw edema, respectively. Also, we pre-treated some of the animals with naloxone and flumazenil in the formalin test to find out the possible contributions of opioid and benzodiazepine receptors to EC anti-nociceptive effects. Finally, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was used to identify the EC's constituents. Results: EC in intraperitoneal doses of 0.5 and 1 g/kg significantly decrease the nociceptive responses in both early and late phases of the formalin test. From a mechanistic point of view, flumazenil administration 20 minutes before the most effective dose of EC (1 g/kg) showed a meaningful reduction in the associated anti-nociceptive responses during the early and late phases of the formalin test. Naloxone also reduced the anti-nociceptive role of EC in the late phase. Furthermore, EC at the doses of 1, 0.5, and 0.25 g/kg significantly reduced paw edema from 0.5 hours after carrageenan injection to 4 hours. GC/MS analysis showed that isolated EC is a monoterpene-rich oil with the major presence of α-pinene (71.92%), myrcene (6.37%), δ-3-carene (4.68%), β-pinene (3.71%), and limonene (3.34%). Conclusions: EC showed potent anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities with the relative involvement of opioid and benzodiazepine receptors.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.55-63
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• 2012

Objectives : The solvent extracts of Pruni persicae Flos were investigated for the activities of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to apply as a functional ingredient for cosmetic products. Methods : In this study, the fractions of P. persicae Flos were extracted with 70.0% acetone and purified using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. As a result, eight fractions were isolated. We performed MTT assay, total polyphenol contents, DPPH free radical scavenging assay, SOD-like activity, xanthine oxidase inhibition assay, astringent activity assay, hyaluronidase inhibition assay and the production of nitric oxide. Results : For anti-oxidant effects, the electron donating ability of fraction (Fr.) 2-5, Fr.-8 isolated from P. persicae Flos was above 90.0% at 100 ppm respectively. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) - like activity of Fr.-5 isolated from P. persicae Flos was 92.1% at 1,000 ppm. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of Fr.-6 isolated from P. persicae Flos was about 83.3% at 1,000 ppm. Hyaluronidase inhibition activity related to the anti-inflammation effect was 94.0% for Fr.-4 isolated from P. persicae Flos at 500 ppm. In the anti-inflammation effect, the Fr.-4 isolated from P. persicae Flos inhibited the generation of nitric oxide. Conclusions : All these findings suggested that the fractions of P. persicae Flos has a great potential as a cosmeceutical ingredient with a anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.