• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 1987

To detect the effect of ginseng saponin on the immune response, mice were immunized with a protein antigen (gamma-globulin of chick). Blood was then drawn from them twice, after 10 days of the first immunization and after 10 days of the second immunization respectively, and measurements were made by ELISA method of the antibody titer in antiserum. In addition, mice that has been immunized with the same antigen were treated with immunosuppressor to suppress the immune system of the mice. After the immune system was suppressed, the effect of ginseng saponin on the recovery of immune response was measured by the same method. The experimental groups those were given ginseng saponin (10 mg/kg/day) showed a little variance between-individuals, however showed much higher antibody titer than the control groups those were given the saline solution. Moreover, there was a little recovery from the immune suppression. Although the mechanism of the effect of ginseng saponin on immune response was not well loom, it is believed that ginseng saponin has the effect of increasing the synthesis of serum protein together with its action as one of the immunostimulators.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.390-395
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• 1996

To investigate whether $AT_{1}$ receptor antagonists are acting by increasing endothelium-de-pendent and -independent relaxation of aortas in normotensive rats, $AT_{1}$ receptor antagonists, losartan and KR-30988, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, were orally administered for two weeks (50 mg/kg, b.i.d.). THe blood pressure, heart rate and body weight were not significantly changed by losartan, KR-30988 and captopril compared to the control group. In aortic preparations, the $pD_{2}$ of KR-30988 for ACh-induced relaxation was 8.33 $\pm$ 0.16, significantly (p <0.05) lower than that of control group $(7.71 \pm 0.15)$. ACh-induced relaxation was significantly increased on losartan-treated group (p<0.01) at $10^{-6}$ M of ACh, and in captopril-treated group (p<0.05) at the range of $10^{-7}$ -$10^{-5}$ M of ACh. The $pD_{2}$ values for histamine-induced relaxatio of losartan, KR-30988 and captopril were 5.57 $\pm$ 0.10, 5.85 $\pm$ 0.21 and 5.60 $\pm$ 0.01, respectively, with significant differences in all groups (p<0.01) compared to that of control group (5.13 $\pm$ 0.09). ACh-induced relaxations of aortic preparations were not changed by pretreatment of indomethacin ($10_{-5}$ M), and completely bolcked by pretreatment of L-NAME $(10_{-5}M)$ in all groups. Sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxations were not significantly changed by all drugs tested in this experiments. These results suggest that $AT_{1}$ receptor antagonists, losartan and KR-30988, enhance the endothelium-dependent relaxatio on aortic preparations through the release of, or increase sensitivity, to nitric oxide in nor-motensive rats.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare serum amyloid A (SAA) protein levels with high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels as markers of systemic inflammation in patients with chronic periodontitis. The association of serum titers of antibodies to periodontal microbiota and SAA/hs-CRP levels in periodontitis patients was also studied. Methods: A total of 110 individuals were included in this study. Patients were assessed for levels of hs-CRP and SAA. Nonfasting blood samples were collected from participants at the time of clinical examination. The diagnosis of adipose tissue disorders was made according to previously defined criteria. To determine SAA levels, a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized. Paper points were transferred to a sterile tube to obtain a pool of samples for polymerase chain reaction processing and the identification of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Tannerella forsythia. The serum level of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies to P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and T. forsythia was also determined. Results: SAA and hs-CRP levels were higher in periodontitis patients than in controls (P<0.05). In bivariate analysis, high levels of hs-CRP (>3 mg/L) and SAA (>10 mg/L) were significantly associated with chronic periodontitis (P=0.004). The Spearman correlation analysis between acute-phase proteins showed that SAA positively correlated with hs-CRP (r=0.218, P=0.02). In the adjusted model, chronic periodontitis was associated with high levels of SAA (odds ratio [OR], 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-18.2; P=0.005) and elevated hs-CRP levels (OR, 6.1, 95% CI, 1.6-23.6; P=0.008). Increased levels of serum IgG2 antibodies to P. gingivalis were associated with high levels of SAA (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.4-8.5; P=0.005) and high concentrations of hs-CRP (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.9-9.8; P<0.001). Conclusions: SAA and hs-CRP concentrations in patients with chronic periodontitis are comparably elevated. High serum titers of antibodies to P. gingivalis and the presence of periodontal disease are independently related to high SAA and hs-CRP levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.158-161
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• 2005

We have isolated fractions from Cordyceps militaris and Paecilomyces japonica and investigated their effects on the activity of rat liver cytosolic glucokinase, a key metabolic enzyme involved in carbohydrate metabolism. The dried powder of the C. militaris and P. japonica were successively extracted with ethanol and with 70% ethanol. The residue was exhaustively extracted with hot water. The extract was dialyzed against water, and to the non-dialyzable solution was added 2 volumes of ethanol. The precipitate was collected by centrifugation dispered in water, and lyophilized to afford fraction A. The residue after hot-water extraction was suspended in 5% sodium carbonate. The final residue was suspended in 5% NaOH. The alkaline suspension was purified in a similar manner as described above to afford fraction B. Hepatic glucokinase activities of the fraction A extracted from C. militaris and P. japonica were 371.4 and 379%, respectively. The fraction B was 314.2 and 147.4%. The activity of fraction B of C. militaris extracts was higher than that of P. japonica. Liver cytosolic glucokinase activity of rats fed normal diet supplemented with 0.1% C. militaris was 1316%. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that C. militaris extracts were able to prevent sudden postprandial peaks in blood glucose as a result of a marked increase in the liver cytosolic glucokinase activities.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of soybean peptide on antioxidant enzymes, cortisol hormone and inflammatory cytokine levels. 19 high school male judo athletes participated in the experiments. They were randomly divided into two groups, one group took soybean peptide (S-peptide, n=10) 4 g a day for 4 weeks and the other group placebo (placebo group, n=9) for the same time. Blood samples were collected before intake, after 2 weeks intake and 4 weeks intake and these were analyzed for total antioxidant status (TAS), catalase (CAT), levels of cortisol hormone, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). As a result, the S-peptide group was significantly increased in TAS and CAT (P<0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels showed decrease after soybean peptide intake but there was no significant difference. In the levels of plasma cortisol which reflect stress status, there was significantly decreased in the S-peptide and placebo group after 4 weeks (P<0.05). There were significant decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 after 4 weeks in S-peptide group (P<0.05). These results suggest that the intake of soybean peptide can activate antioxidant defenses and decrease exercise-induced oxidative stress.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.154-164
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• 1991

These experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract(GR) on histamine synthesis, lymphocyte blastogenesis in C57BL/6J mice splenocytes, IL-1 production, $Ca^{2+}$ uptake by macrophage-like P388D$_{1}$ cells and plaque forming cell assay against SRBC. Histamine contents, lymphocyte blastogenesis, IL-1 activity, $Ca^{2+}$ uptake and plaque forming cell were determined by enzyme isotope method, [$^{3}$H]-thymidine incorporation, C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes proliferation, the addition of 5 $\mu$Ci/ml $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ to P388D$_{1}$ cell suspension and assay to sheep red blood cell, respectively. Cytotoxicity, which was expressed as 50% mortality, was occurred by the addition of GR(10$^{-3}$g/ml). Histamine production in mouse spleen cell culture was significantly increased by 48 hour incubation added 0.25$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of Con A. Con A-dependent T-lymphocyte proliferation was also enhanced by the addition of 0.25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of Con A. GR depressed histamine contents at 10$^{-9}$~10$^{-4}$g/ml. and Con A (0.25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) dependent T-lymphocyte proliferation at 10$^{-5}$~10$^{-4}$g/ml. IL-1 activity was significantly decreased by 10$^{-8}$~10$^{-4}$g/ml of GR. $Ca^{2+}$ uptake was not changed by GR, but antibody production markedly increased at 10.0~50.0 mg/kg of GR. From the above results, it is suggested that GR have immuno-regulatory action; GR decreased cell-mediated immune response and increased antibody production by B lymphocyte at high doses.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.238-247
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• 2011

The aim of this study was designed to evaluate the effects of natural functional mixture(FM) on plasma BUN and lipid levels, hepatic lipid levels, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities and plama aminotransferase activity in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabe1ic rats. Total cholesterol (TC) level in the diabe1ic rats supplemented with FM(70.69 mg/dL) was reduced comparing to groups without FM(87.12 mg/dL). This results caused the increase of the ratio of HDL-cholesterol to TC (42.60 to 51.49 %). However, superoxide dismutase (SOD), cytosol catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), GSH and lipoperoxide (LPO) activities were not significantly changed, which indicated the supplementation with FM could not reduce the oxidative stress in diabetic rats. In addition, asperate aminotransferase (AST) activity in FM-diabetic rat was lower than that in diabetic group. This results showed supplementation with FM in rats could improve the hepatic function damaged by STZ-induced diabetes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2009

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is a medical problem occurring as damage to the myocardium following blood flow restoration after a critical period of coronary occlusion. Oxygen free radicals (OFR) are implicated in reperfusion injury after myocardial ischemia. The antioxidant enzyme, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD, also called SOD1) is one of the major means by which cells counteract the deleterious effects of OFR after ischemia. Recently, we reported that a PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein was efficiently delivered into cultured cells and isolated rat hearts with ischemia-reperfusion injury. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of the PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein after ischemic insult. Immunofluorescecnce analysis revealed that the expressed and purified PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein injected into rat tail veins was efficiently transduced into the myocardium with its native protein structure intact. When injected into Sprague-Dawley rat tail veins, the PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein significantly attenuated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion damage; characterized by improving cardiac function of the left ventricle, decreasing infarct size, reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), decreasing the release of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and relieving cardiomyocyte apoptosis. These results suggest that the biologically active intact forms of PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein will provide an efficient strategy for therapeutic delivery in various diseases related to SOD1 or to OFR.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2011

Objectives : Angelicae Gigantis Radix has been known traditional medicine with antimicrobial activities and it has been widely used for treatment of blood and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, some studies examined anti-inflammation effects of Angelicae Gigantis Radix but they usually were performed by ethanol extracted Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture. So We investigated the inhibitory effects of Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by hot water and ethanol extract on Nitric oxide(NO) and Prostaglandin $E_2$($PGE_2$) production in lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced macrophage cell. Methods : Angelicae Gigantis Radix was extracted by ethanol and hot water. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To evaluate anti-inflammation effects of Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture, we examined NO and $PGE_2$ production in LPS induced macrophages. The concentrations of NO and $PGE_2$ were measured by Griess assay and Enzyme Immuno-Assay. Results : 1) The MTT assay demonstrated that cytotoxic effect of Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by hot water extract and ethanol extract in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were not appeared. 2) Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by ethanol extract and hot water extract inhibited NO production in LPS induced macrophages significantly. 3) Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by ethanol extract tended to inhibiting $PGE_2$ production in LPS induced macrophages. And Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by hot water extract inhibited LPS induced production of $PGE_2$ in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells significantly. Conclusions : This study suggests that Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture may have an anti-inflammatory property through the inhibition of NO and $PGE_2$ production in LPS induced macrophages. It may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.