• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2004

Medicinal plants are of great importance in providing healthcare to a large portion of the population in Korea. A number of plants are described in Dong-Ui-Bo-Gam for use in the treatment of allergic disorders, namely psoriasis, eczema, bronchial asthma, etc. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AllerQ, which is multi-complexes of various plants extracts such like Mori folium, Scutellaria baicallensis, Glycyrrhiza uralnsis, Mentha sacharinensis and Poncirus trifoliata on compound 48/80 induced anaphylactic shock, ovalbumin induced asthma in vivo and anti-IgE antibody induced hypersensitivity in vitro. We found antianaphylactic or antiallergic properties of AllerQ when given orally. AllerQ for prophylactic treatment for anaphylactic shocks have produced good results. AllerQ may modulate various aspects of immune function and allergic inflammation. In the present study, we analyse the effects of AllerQ on mast cell degranulation, mortality, cAMP/cGMP, O₂, H₂O₂ level, cyokine production and on the elicitation of IgE-mediated mast cell-dependent allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro. We have established that AllerQ inhibited histamine release, cAMP/cGMP, O₂, H₂O₂ level, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and IL-6 production without having any significant physical change. These effects have been observed in mast cell(in vitro) and serum(in vivo) derived from three different origins that were activated by either immunological or non-immunological stimuli. These results suggest that the antianaphylactic and antiasthma tic action of AllerQ may be associated with an increase in the intracellular inhibition of the cAMP phosphodiesterase. Furthermore, AllerQ identified as potent inhibitors on O₂, H₂O₂ and cytokine activity. these data suggest that AllerQ may have an inhibitory role in mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation, and thus might be considered as an useful functional food.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.132-137
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• 2011

Bee venom acupuncture (BVA), as a kind of herbal acupuncture, involved injecting diluted bee venom into acupoints and is used for pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients. BVA is growing in popularity, especially in Korea, and is used primarily for pain relief in many kinds of diseases. However, the effect of bee venom anti-inflammatory related action in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced chondrocyte stress have not been reported yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bee venom of cell viability and inflammatory cytokine in rat articular chondrocyte cultures stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Inflammation was induced in rat chondrocytes by treatment with $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ LPS. The change of cell viability were decreased in chondrocytes after treatment with lipopolysaccharide. The cell viability revealed that BV exerted no significant cytotoxicity in the rat chondrocyte. Bee venom inhibited decreased cell viability in the presence of lipopolysaccharide ($10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) in a dose dependent manner(0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and $5.0{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) at bee venom(p<0.05). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ production in the presence of lipopolysaccharide($1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) was also inhibited in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05 from bee venom $0.1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Interleukin (IL)-6 production in the presence of lipopolysaccharide ($10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) was inhibited as well (p<0.05 at bee venom 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and $5.0{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively). Our results demonstrate that bee venom was a anti-inflammatory agent of chondrocytes. Bee venom may exert its anti inflammatory effects through inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 synthesis, and may then pain relief and reduce the articular destruction.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2017

Capsicum annuum L. (CA) is reported to be the most widely cultivated species of the Capsicum throughout the world. Its fruit and the seeds have been used as spice after drying and grinding. It is reported that the fruit and seeds contain capsaicinoid such as capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, carotenoid such as capsanthin and ${\beta}$-carotene with its anti-tumor effect, anti-obesity effect, anti-diabetic action. Present study, we isolated two lignans, icariside $E_5$ and vanilloyl icariside $E_5$ from the seed of CA and validation and content determination were confirmed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). As a result, the contents of the lignans, icariside $E_5$ and vanilloyl icariside $E_5$ were 0.28%, 0.085%, respectively in the extract.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.389-397
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• 2005

This experimental Study was designed to investigate the effects of Acanthopanacis Cortex Extract(ACE) on the immunity, anti-cancer and obesity in mice. The results were as follows; ACE was significantly increased in the proliferation of thymocytes and splenocytes, and NO production from peritoneal macrophages in normal mice. ACE was significantly increased in the proliferation of thymocytes and splenocytes, and NO production from peritoneal macrophages in L1210 cells transplanted mice. ACE was significantly decreased in the proliferation of L1210 cells in L1210 cells transplanted mice. ACE was significantly inhibited body weight and tumor weight in S-180 cells transplanted mice. ACE was significantly increased in the mean survival days in S-180 cells transplanted mice. ACE was significantly decreased in the body weight in rats fed high fat diet. ACE was significantly decreased in the serum total cholesterol level, free fatty acid level, total lipid level, phospholipid level in rats fed high fat diet. According to above results, the authors suggest that ACE is able to be used for the herb of physiological-action.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2021

7-Hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (7H-4MC) inhibits hyaluronan production in multiple cell lines and tissue types both in vitro and in vivo. It is a commercially available drug approved for human use, called hymecromone, in European and Asian countries to prevent biliary spasms. Nevertheless, as the pharmacological efficacy of 7H-4MC has not yet been reported in macrophages, this study investigated its anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of action using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells were treated with various concentrations of 7H-4MC (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 μM). The application of 7H-4MC significantly reduced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂ production without cytotoxic effects. Additionally, 7H-4MC strongly decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase. Furthermore, 7H-4MC reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Finally, 7H-4MC exerted its potent anti-inflammatory actions via the upregulation of IκB-α production, which led to the inhibition of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity. These results, obtained in macrophage cell lines, suggest that 7H-4MC prevents inflammatory diseases via the NF-κB signaling pathway and that its use could be beneficial for human health. Ultimately, this is the first report describing the anti-inflammatory activity of 7H-4MC in a macrophage cell line.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2018

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine compound that has recently emerged with anti-aging properties and suppresses inflammation and oxidation. However, its mechanisms of action on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the potential of spermidine for reducing pro-inflammatory and oxidative effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and zebrafish was explored. Our data indicate that spermidine significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and cytokines including tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ in RAW 264.7 macrophages without any significant cytotoxicity. The protective effects of spermidine accompanied by a marked suppression in their regulatory gene expression at the transcription levels. Spermidine also attenuated the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and reduced LPS-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, spermidine prevented the LPS-induced NO production and ROS accumulation in zebrafish larvae and was found to be associated with a diminished recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Although more work is needed to fully understand the critical role of spermidine on the inhibition of inflammation-associated migration of immune cells, our findings clearly demonstrate that spermidine may be a potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.1226-1234
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• 2012

3,4,3',5'-Tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene (piceatannol) is a derivative of resveratrol with a variety of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-cancer activities. We assessed the mechanisms by which piceatannol inhibits inflammatory responses using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated Raw264.7 murine macrophages. Piceatannol (0~10 ${\mu}mol/L$) decreased LPS-induced release of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and inhibited LPS-induced protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$), activator protein (AP)-1, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) are crucial steps during an inflammatory response. Piceatannol prevented LPS-induced degradation of inhibitor of ${\kappa}B$ ($I{\kappa}B$), translocation of p65 to the nucleus, and phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK). Additionally, piceatannol inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 and IL-6-induced translocation of STAT3 to the nucleus. Furthermore, piceatannol increased the protein and mRNA levels of hemeoxygenase (HO)-1, the rate-limiting enzyme of heme catabolism that plays a critical role in mediating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Piceatannol further induced antioxidant response elements (ARE)-driven luciferase activity in Raw264.7 cells transfected with an ARE-luciferase reporter construct containing the enhancer 2 and minimal promoter region of HO-1. These results suggest that piceatannol exerts anti-inflammatory effects via the down-regulation of iNOS expression and up-regulation of HO-1 expression.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 1999

We investigated whether an aqueous extract of Rehmannia glutinosa steamed root (RGAE) inhibits secretion of inflammatory cytolanes from primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. RGAE dose-dependently inhibited the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with substance P (SP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore also investigated whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion from primary astrocytes by RGAE. Treatment of RGAE to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion to the level observed with LPS alone. Moreover, incubation of astrocytes with IL-1 antibody abolished the synergistic cooperative effect of LPS and SP. These results suggest that RGAE has an antiinflammatory activity on the central nervous system curing some pathological disease states.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.233-237
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• 2009

Lindera obtusiloba has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine in Korea and recently known to have an anti-fibrotic effect. In this report, we investigated the effect of hot water extract from L. obtusiloba (WELB) on the mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation and studied its possible mechanisms of action. WELB inhibited phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-induced histamine release in HMC-1 human mast cells. WELB reduced PMACI-induced gene expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8. The inhibitory effect of WELB on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines was c-jun N-terminal kinase and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ dependent. These results indicate that WELB may be beneficial in the treatment of mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 2015

6-Gingerol exerts anti-tumor effects in various cancer cell models. We evaluated the effect of 6-gingerol on the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and MCF-10A breast epithelial cells to determine whether any growth-inhibitory effects found were attributable to apoptosis, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action. 6-Gingerol inhibited the viability of both cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner; however, the degree of inhibition was greater in MCF-7 than MCF-10A cells. By flow cytometry, induction of dose- and time-dependent apoptosis was found, and the magnitude of apoptosis was also markedly greater in MCF-7 than MCF-10A cells. Expression of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was observed in MCF-7 cells treated with 6-gingerol, and further cleavage of PARP occurred in these cells. We suggest that 6-gingerol induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells mainly by promoting caspase-3 expression and subsequent degradation of PARP.