• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.475-479
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• 2002

Capsaicin, a major pungent constituent of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) possesses a vast variety of pharmacologic and physiologic activities. Despite its irritant properties, the compound exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects. Previous studies from this laboratory revealed that capsaicin, when topically applied onto dorsal skin of female ICR mice, strongly attenuated activation of NF-kB and AP-1 induced by the typical tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which may account for its anti-tumor promoting activity in mouse skin. In the present work, we have found that capsaicin suppresses TPA-stimulated activation of NF-kB through inhibition of $IkB{\alpha}$ degradation and blockade of subsequent nuclear translocation of p65 in human pro myelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Methylation of the phenolic hydroxyl group of capsaicin abolished its inhibitory effect on NF-kB DNA binding. Likewise, TPA-induced activation of AP-1 was mitigated by capsaicin treatment.

• 한국유가공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.1-9
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• 2005

The ubiquitous presence of lactoferrin (LF) receptor in human as reported by the research group of Prof, Bo Lonnerdal, Univ. California, encouraged us to search for the unknown physiological roles of LF. Under the collaboration with Prof. Etsumori Harada, Tottori Univ., and his research group, we have found two novel biological activities of LF as the control of the lipid metabolism and the effect on the central nervous system. Relating to the lipid metabolism, LF could, in animal experiments, reduce triglyceride and total cholesterol both in blood and liver. LF increased plasma HDL-C and lowered LDL-C. In the central nervous system, LF showed anti-nociceptive activity mediated by ${\mu}$-opioid receptor in the rat spinal cord. LF enhanced analgesic action of morphine synergistically via nitric oxide synthesis. LF showed opioid-mediated suppressive effect on distress induced by maternal separation in rat pups.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2008

The effect of alcoholic extracts of Costus specious (Family: Zingiberaceae) was evaluated in experimental models of pain and inflammation. Oral administration of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of C. specious extracts were used for the above study. Crude extracts of C. specious (300 mg/kg dose) showed maximum time needed for the response against thermal stimuli ($7.242\;{\pm}\;0.532\;s$) which is comparable to diclofenac sodium ($8.471\;{\pm}\;0.25\;s$) in the hot plate test. The MPH (Maximum Possible Analgesia) has been found to be 14.285 for 300 mg/kg dose of the crude extract while the MPH for diclofenac was 15.857 after 60 min of administration in the hot tail-flick method. The crude extract at 300 and 200 mg/kg doses showed significant reduction in acetic acid induced writhings in mice with a maximum effect of 59.661% reduction at 300 mg/kg dose which is comparable to standard diclofenac sodium (73.4%). Alcoholic extract of C. specious showed significant inhibition in serotonin and egg albumin induced hind paw oedema in rats at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of the crude extracts respectively (Serotonin induced edema 44.22; 53.75; 58.51%; egg albumin induced edema - 41.317; 53.892; 59.880% inhibition after 4 h respectively). The antiinflammatory effects showed by the extract were comparable to that of standard indomethacin 5 mg/kg (Serotonin induced edema 77.56%; egg albumin induced edema 77.844% inhibition after 4 h). These results suggest that the extract possesses both the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity on mice and rat model.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2023

Methamphetamine (METH) is a powerful neurotoxic psychostimulant affecting dopamine transporter (DAT) activity and leading to continuous excess extracellular dopamine levels. Despite recent advances in the knowledge on neurobiological mechanisms underlying METH abuse, there are few effective pharmacotherapies to prevent METH abuse leading to brain damage and neuropsychiatric deficits. α-Pinene (APN) is one of the major monoterpenes derived from pine essential oils and has diverse biological properties including anti-nociceptive, anti-anxiolytic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of APN in a METH abuse mice model. METH (1 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was injected into C57BL/6 mice for four alternative days, and a conditioned place preference (CPP) test was performed. The METH-administered group exhibited increased sensitivity to place preference and significantly decreased levels of dopamine-related markers such as dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) and tyrosine hydroxylase in the striatum of the mice. Moreover, METH caused apoptotic cell death by induction of inflammation and oxidative stress. Conversely, APN treatment (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced METH-mediated place preference and restored the levels of D2R and tyrosine hydroxylase in the striatum. APN increased the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 to pro-apoptotic Bax ratio and decreased the expression of inflammatory protein Iba-1. METH-induced lipid peroxidation was effectively mitigated by APN by up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes such as manganese-superoxide dismutase and glutamylcysteine synthase via activation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2. These results suggest that APN may have protective potential and be considered as a promising therapeutic agent for METH-induced drug addiction and neuronal damage.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.591-599
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• 2015

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by the progressive degradation of joint cartilage and is accompanied by secondary inflammation of synovial membranes. The purpose of this study describes a preliminary evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity on test material of Litsea japonica. fruit (LJTM) Also, this study was to evaluate the effects of LJTM on the joint cartilage of rat with OA induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). To study for anti-inflammatory agents effectively, we first examined the inhibitory effect of the LJTM on the production of pro-inflammatory factors and cytokines stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. We identified anti-nociceptive effects of the LJTM by using in vivo peripheral and central nervous pain models. In addition, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on mRNA expression of MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, -13, TIMP-1 and –2 in cartilage of OA. In the LJTM inhibited production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO and PGE₂) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). In cartilage, Expression of MMPs and TIMPs mRNA was suppressed in LJTM treatment group than in the control group. This study suggests that LJTM are potential candidates as anti-inflammation and anti-osteoarthritis agents (painkillers) for the treatment of OA.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.418-422
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• 2022

α-pinene is a natural volatile organic compound secreted by coniferous trees to protect themselves from attacks by insects, microorganisms, and viruses. Recently, studies have reported that α-pinene possesses pharmacological effects on various biological reactions such as anxiolytic, sleep-enhancing, anti-nociceptive, and inflammatory activity. Thus, forest bathing has recently received great attention as a novel therapy for treating severe diseases as well as psychological issues. However, appropriate places and timings for effective therapies are still veiled, because on-site monitoring of α-pinene gas in forests is barely possible. Although portable chemosensors could allow real-time analysis of α-pinene gas in forests, the α-pinene sensing properties of chemosensors have never been reported thus far. Herein, we report for the first time, the α-pinene sensing properties of an oxide semiconductor gas sensor based on rhombohedral In₂O₃ (h-In₂O₃) nanoparticles prepared by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction. The h-In₂O₃ nanoparticle sensor showed a high response to α-pinene gas at ppm levels, even under humid conditions (for example, relative humidity of 50 %). The purpose of this research is to identify the potential of oxide semiconductor gas sensors for implementing portable devices that can detect α-pinene gas in forests in real-time.