• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.306-310
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• 2011

Elastic fibers are found in the skin, lungs, arteries, veins and other structures. Elastases destroy the elastic fibers and cause the emphysema and pulmonary hypertension. Oxidative stress is needed for these pathologic changes. Accordingly, present study was designed to investigate the effect of Albizziae Cortex extracts (ACE) on elastase activity and anti-oxidative effects of ACE. The in vitro inhibitory effects on elastase and di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) free radical scavenging activities of ACE were measured. The elastase activity was significantly inhibited by ACE. DPPH and NO free radicals were significantly scavenged as well. ACE showed the elastase-inhibiting effects and anti-oxidative activities in vitro. These results suggest that ACE may have potential roles in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary hypertension.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.13-18
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• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate anti-inflammation of Leonurus sibiricus methanol extract against UVB-damage in fibroblast. The skin is continuously exposed to damage from environmental stresses. UV radiation causes a variety of biological effects especially on the skin, including inflammation and photoaging. Methods : In this study, we tried to search for Leonurus sibiricus which exhibit protective activities against UVB-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative cell death, NO and $PGE_2$ production. HS68 cells were exposed to UVB ($120mJ/cm^2$) and treated with various concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, $8mg/m{\ell}$) of Leonurus sibiricus methanol extract for additional 24 h. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels generated by UV radiation were detected using a spectrofluorometer after DCF-DA staining. Also, HS68 cells were irradiated with UVB and then treated with Leonurus sibiricus methanol extract for 12 h. The lipid peroxidation was assayed by measuring the levels of 8-isoprostane secreted into the culture medium. Results : UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were effectively suppressed by treatment of Leonurus sibiricus aqueous methanol extracts. Oxidative cell damage was mediated $PGE_2$ in UVB-induced HS68 fibroblast cell, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with Leonurus sibiricus extracts. Also, the protective effect of these extract seemed to be mediated by inhibited intracellular ROS generation and lipid peroxidation in dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that Leonurus sibiricus aqueous methanol extracts may have anti-aging effects new functional materials against oxidative UVB stress-mediated skin damages.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.335-344
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• 2019

Obesity causes inflammation and impairs thermogenic functions in brown adipose tissue (BAT). The adipokine lipocalin 2 (LCN2) has been implicated in inflammation and obesity. Herein, we investigated the protective effects of caloric restriction (CR) on LCN2-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress in the BAT of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Mice were fed a HFD for 20 weeks and then either continued on the HFD or subjected to CR for the next 12 weeks. CR led to the browning of the white fat-like phenotype in HFD-fed mice. Increased expressions of LCN2 and its receptor in the BAT of HFD-fed mice were significantly attenuated by CR. Additionally, HFD+CR-fed mice had fewer neutrophils and macrophages expressing LCN2 and iron-positive cells than HFD-fed mice. Further, oxidative stress and mitochondrial fission induced by a HFD were also significantly attenuated by CR. Our findings indicate that the protective effects of CR on inflammation and oxidative stress in the BAT of obese mice may be associated with regulation of LCN2.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2017

Sleep deprivation is an extremely common event in today's society. It has caused learning cognitive skill deterioration and poor concentration, increased disease such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, sexual function decrease, infertility increase, depression and autonomic nervous system disorder. Sleep deprivation-induced stress caused NADPH oxidase and oxidative stress. And this oxidative stress induces apoptosis. Lilii bulbus and Nelumbins semen are known to mental and physical relaxation effects. In this study, we induced sleep deprivation(SD) in Sprague-Dawley rats in water for 5 days and thereafter administered orally L. bulbus and N. semen for 5 days. Brain tissues were observed by histochemical, immunohistochemical and tunel staining. The immunoreactives of Tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$, Neuronal nitric oxide synthases, Phospho-SAPK/JNK and gp91-phox of the L. bulbus administered group and N. semen administered group were weaker than those of sleep deprivation group. In the L. bulbus administered group and N. semen administered group, apoptosis was decreased than that of sleep deprivation group. Proapoptotic p53, Bax, Cleaved caspase 3 immunoreactives of the administered group were weaker than those of sleep deprivation group, whereas anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 immunoreactity was stronger in the L. bulbus administered group and N. semen administered group. Antioxidant mechanism such as DJ-1, superoxide dismutase 1, Nuclear factor-like 2 immunoreactives of the L. bulbus and N. semen administered group were stronger than those of sleep deprivation group. These results demonstrate that L. bulbus, N. semen had the neuroprotective effects on the sleep deprivation-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.1 s.144
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• pp.16-20
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• 2006

The protective effects of the aqueous MeOH extracts of stem and root Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai against oxidative stress were investigated. Anti-oxidant activity of the stem extract of A. koreanum was observed in the DPPH free radical scavenging $(IC_{50}=58.7\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and the SOD test $(IC_{50}=17.52\;{\mu}g/ml)$. According to data analysis of cell survival ratio of normal fibroblasts, the skin irritation by both extracts from A. koreanum was concerned. However, in the skin primary parch test, both extracts obtained Grade I, which means that there was no skin irritation. After induction of oxidative irritation, cell survival ratio of normal fibroblasts was also monitored and it turned out that stress-inducing group with both extracts had more increased cell survival ratio. The cell extension of the stress-inducing group treated with the stem extract was most dominant in morphological study. Based on these results, the stem extract of A. koreanum showed the protective effect against oxidative stress on normal fibroblast.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2009

Objective : This study was carried out to investigate protective effects of Pharmacopuncture Solutions (PSs) made by Carthmi Flos (CF), Cnidii Rhizoma (CR) and Astragali Radix (AR) on C6 glioma cells Methods : We investigated the effects of PSs on proliferation rates and types of C6 cells, and also investigated the effects on LDH release. In addition, protective effects of PSs on oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide and SOD-like activities were also investigated. Results : PSs made by CF, CR and AR did not show cytotoxicity in various concentrations. CF-PS and AR-PS elevated levels of proliferation rates significantly. Treatment with CF-PS lowered level of LDH release in C6 cells. In addition, CF-PS and CR-PS showed protective effects on cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide respectively. Finally, CF-PS group showed high level of SOD-like activity compared to that in CR-PS group. Conclusion : These results suggest that CF-PS can accelerate proliferation of neuroglial cells, and has protective action against oxidative stress, which was involved in anti-oxidative effects such as SODlike activities. In addition, CR has protective effects against oxidative stress, and AR can accelerate proliferation of neuroglial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.464-470
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• 2018

All the parts of the Cedrela sinensis A. Juss., including the seeds, roots, and leaves, have been known to exert medicinal effects. The C. sinensis and its major compound, quercetin, were previously reported to exhibit the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, the hepatoprotective effects of the C. sinensis leaves against the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the HepG2 cells have not been studied. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities and analyzed the flavonoid contents of the C. sinensis-leaf extract (CE). The total flavonoid contents of the CE is 1,874.5 mg/100 g dry weight (DW), while the total quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (quercitrin) contents, which was identified as the major flavonol in the CE, is 1,456.0 mg/100 g DW. In the ethanol-stimulated HepG2 cells, the CE effectively prevented the cytotoxic effect and increased the gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes, such as the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the glutathion peroxide (GPx). The level of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was significantly decreased in the CE-treated HepG2 cells. In conclusion, the C. sinensis extract suppressed the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the HepG2 cells via the induced GPx and HO-1 gene expressions. It is expected the CE positive effects will likely be attributed to the flavonoids, like the quercetin, within the CE.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.772-781
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• 2016

Dung beetle (Catharsius molossus, CA) is a well-known group of insects thanks to their exploitation of animal feces, a behavioral trait with a global impact on earth′s ecosystems. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of CA extract on a high-fat diet in SD rats. Male rats were divided into 5 groups. Animals were fed on a high-fat diet for seven weeks before and dung beetle extract for a month during the administration. Weight gain was decreased in ethanol extract from CA group. Administration of CA extract reduced the organ weight of testis and kidney, and adipose tissue weight. Lipid oxidative stress was evaluated measuring malondialdehyde level in liver. There were no significant differences in groups. Protein oxidative stress was evaluated measuring protein carbonyl content in blood. The protein carbonyl in blood was significantly decreased in ethanol and acetone extracted dung beetle groups (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the protein carbonyl in hepatocyte was not significant among the groups. Fibronectin and laminin by using D-HUVEC cell in vitro were measured by ELISA assay. There was significance in CA extract. The level of IL-10, IL-1β, VEGF, eNOS was evaluated by ELISA. There was significance in IL-10 compared to control (p<0.05). SOD and GPx tended to increase by CA extract. Furthermore, CAT was increased significantly by CA extract (p<0.05). After administration of CA extracts the composition of saturated fatty acid in adipose tissue tend to decrease, while unsaturated fatty acid increases. In conclusion, dung beetle had anti-hyperglycemia effects of oxidative stress and antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.115-128
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• 2012

Objectives : To evaluate the in vitro scavenging activity, inhibitory effect of LDL oxidation of pro-oxidant reactive species, anti-platelet aggregative effects and anti-thrombosis effects in response to treatment with SA using various screening methods including biological and non-biological oxidants. Methods : The antioxidant activity concerning extract from SA was studied with in vitro methods by measuring the antioxidant activity by TEAC, measuring the scavenging effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) [superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical] and on reactive nitrogen species (RNS) [nitric oxide and peroxynitrite] as well as measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human LDL oxidation and the inhibitory effect on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Results : SA extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity regarding oxidative stress as well as an inhibitory effect towards LDL oxidation, platelet aggregation, and thrombosis. Conclusions : The SA extracts have anti-oxidative and anti-atherosclerotic effects in vitro system, which can be used for developing pharmaceutical drugs against oxidative stress and atherosclerosis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 2012

Siegesbeckia Herba is known to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-tumor. The objective of this study is to explore the neuroprotective effect of Siegesbeckia Herba against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Siegesbeckia Herba 70% ethanol extract and solvent fractions have the potent neroprotective effects on glutamate-induced nerotoxicity by induced the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in the mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Especially, ethyl acetate fraction showed higher protective effect. In HT22 cell, Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction makes the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. Further, we found that treatment with c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor (SP600125) reduced Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction induced HO-1 expression and Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction also increased JNK phosphorylation. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of 70% ethanol extract of Siegesbeckia Herba significantly protect glutamate-induced oxidative damage by induction of HO-1 via Nrf2 and JNK pathway in mouse hippocampal HT22. Taken together these finding suggest that Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction good source for taking active compounds and may be a potential therapeutic for brain disorder by targeting the oxidative stress of neuronal cell.