• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.65-81
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• 2016

Objectives : Haedoksamul-tang (HSTE), a water extract from a mixture of Phellodendri Cortex, Coptidis, Scutellariae Radix, Gardeniae Fructus, Angelica acutiloba Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix, has been traditionally used for allergic skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis in oriental countries. However, little is known about the effects of aqueous extract of HSTE on trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in a mouse model. Methods : In this study, we investigate the pharmacological effects of HSTE on TMA-induced CHS in Balb/c mice. Contact hypersensitivity was induced in mice by topically sensitizing and challenging with TMA in flank skin and ears during oral administration (for 17 days) and topical treatment (30 min before challenge) with HSTE. We examined the effects of HSTE on IgE and IgG1 levels, inflammatory parameters in ear tissues, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, cytokine and chemokine production in sera, tissues, and immune cells from TMA-sensitized mice.Results : Oral and topical administration with HSTE reduced, in a dose dependent manner, thickness and leukocyte infiltration of ear tissues and IgE levels in serum from mice sensitized with TMA. In addition, auricula lymph node cells isolated from TMA-sensitized mice significantly elevated the expression ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ as well as increased the production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ by ex vivo stimulation with antibodies against CD3 and CD28, and these inflammatory indexes, except for IFN-γ, were significantly suppressed by orally and topically administration of HSTE. Furthermore, stimulation of auricula lymph node cells from TMA-sensitized mice with antibodies against CD3 and CD28 increased the production of MCP-1/CCL2 and MIP-1α/CCL3, and these effects were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner in cells from mice treated with HSTE. Conclusions : These results suggest that HSTE can be used for treating contact hypersensitivity by inhibiting leukocyte infiltration as well as production of serum IgE and chemokine/Th2 cytokine in an animal model.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2003

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of the Lycii Fructus water extracts (LFE) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanism underlying these protective effects in the rats. The pretreatment of LFE has shown to possess a significant protective effect by lowering the serum alanine and aspartate aminoteansferase (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). This hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation, In addition, the pretreatment of LFE prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity in the liver of CC1₄-injected rats. The LFE also displayed hydroxide radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 83.6 μg/ml), as assayed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Moreover, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was significantly decreased in the liver of LFE-pretreated rats when compared with that in the liver of control group. Based on these results, it was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of the LFE may be related to antioxidant effects and regulation of CYP2E1 gene expression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.61-77
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• 2016

목적: 본 연구에서는 TJ 열수추출물이 아토피 피부염에 미치는 효과를 확인하고자 하였다. 방법: 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzen (DNCB)으로 BALB/c 마우스에 1차 감작 후 3주간 2차 감작을 시행하여 아토피 유사 피부병변을 나타내는 접촉성 피부염을 유발한 뒤 동결건조 처리된 TJ 분말을 (PBS/EtOH/Cremophor=6:1:3)에 용해시켜 쥐의 등 피부에 10, 50 mg/ml 농도로 3주간 도포하였다. 결과: TJ 열수추출물은 아토피 피부 병변의 염증세포 침윤을 억제하였고 (10, 50 mg/ml ) 표피와 진피 두께를 회복시켰으며 (10, 50 mg/ml ), 혈청에서 히스타민 방출을 억제하였다 (00 mg/ml ). 또한 Th2 세포와 관련된 cytokine인 interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13과 thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)의 mRNA 발현 양을 감소시켰고 (10, 50 mg/ml ), Th2 chemokine인 thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC or CCL17)의 mRNA의 발현 양을 감소시켰다 (10, 50 mg/ml ). 결론: TJ 열수추출물을 BALB/c 마우스에 외용하였을 때 항아토피 효과가 있음을 확인하였으며 따라서 TJ가 아토피 피부염 치료의 외용제로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2013

Objectives: Galgeun-tang (GGT, gegen-tang, kakkon-to), an herbal formula, is used to treat the common cold, fevers, headaches, hangovers and neck and upper back stiffness. The drugs currently used to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) are limited by the significant adverse effects associated with their long-term usage. The need to efficiently manage the AD response while reducing side effects has led to the development of alternative remedies. Methods: To assess the effects of GGT on AD, the anti-inflammatory and anti-AD properties of GGT were evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Results: Nitric oxide (NO) and histamine production on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells and phorbol-12 myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/A23187-treated MC/9 cells, respectively, were inhibited by GGT. GGT reduced thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) release on TNF-${\alpha}$/IFN-${\gamma}$ stimulated HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner. GGT reduced both plasma levels of IgE and histamine and the dermatitis score in house dust mite induced atopic dermatitis-like lesions on NC/Nga mice. However, there were no significant histopathological differences observed between the GGT group and the AD-induced group, such as AD-like lesions in the dorsal skin or ear or mast cell infiltration in the dorsal skin. Conclusions: These results indicate that GGT inhibits chemokine production by keratinocytes and the atopic dermatitis response in NC/Nga mice, suggesting that GGT may be useful as a therapeutic remedy for treating AD and allergic inflammation-related diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.269-281
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• 2017

Background: Small particles increase airway inflammation upon reaching the alveoli. Here, we investigated the protective or therapeutic effects of Salvia plebeia R. Br. (SP_R) extracts on airway inflammation. Methods and Results: To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of SP_R extracts, we measured their inhibitory effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression of inflammatory mediators, and immune cell infiltration in MH-S alveolar macrophage cells and in the ambient particulate matter (APM)-exposed airway inflammation mice model. The SP_R extracts inhibited the production of ROS and expression of IL-4, IL-10, IL-15, and IL-17A mRNA in APM-stimulated MH-S cells. Oral administration of SP_R extracts suppressed APM-induced inflammatory symptoms, such as high alveolar wall thickness, excess collagen fibers, decreased mRNA expression of chemokines (Ccr9, Ccl5, Ccr3), inflammatory cytokines (IL-15, TNF-${\alpha}$), and IL-4 Th2 cytokine in the lung. The SP_R extracts also inhibited ROS production, granulocyte ($CD11b^+Gr-1^+$) infiltration, IL-17A, TNF-${\alpha}$, macrophage inflammatory protein (Mip-2), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (Cxcl-1) production in the airway. The specific compounds in the SR-R extracts that mediate the anti-inflammatory effects were identified. Conclusions: In this study, SP_R extracts effectively inhibited airway inflammatory responses, such as ROS production and granulocyte infiltration into the airway, by regulating the expression of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2002

To elucidate the effect of microsphere coinjection on the administration of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), we have investigated biodistribution of ［S-35］-labeled antisense ODN targeted to cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) RI-$\alpha$ subunit in nude mice xenografted with WiDr (human colon cancer, ATCC CCL218). The strategy of using microsphere has been proposed for cancer treatment as a carrier of therapeutic ODN so that it could offer an advantage with respect to maintaining constant ODN levels in blood and obtaining higher therapeutic ODN concentration at tumor sites. Comparative biodistribution studies were performed in nude mice (female, 20 g of body weight, n = 4-6) xenografted with WiDr cancer cells, when 0.1 $\mu$Ci (specific activity, 2.94 mCi/$\mu$mole) of ［S-35］-labeled RI-$\alpha$ antisense ODN was injected alone or with microsphere (PLG-18, polylactic copolymer with cationic surfactant DDAB18). Peak tumor uptake of ［S-35］-labeled ODN was significantly increased from 17.7% (at 6 h) of injected dose per gram of tissue (ID/g) to 42.5% (at 24 h) ID/g when microsphere was coinjected with ODN. The different biodistribution in the kidney accumulation (e.g., 100.2% ID/g for ODN alone and 54.9%/ID/g for microshpere coinjection) may contribute to higher blood concentration (e.g., 21.5%ID/$m\ell$ for ODN alone and 37.5%ID/$m\ell$ for microsphere coinjection) of radiolabeled ODN. Of importance is the fact that the whole body retention of radioactivity increased with microsphere coinjection from 50.8%ID/g to 68.0%ID/g after 24-h of injection. This decreased kidney accumulation and increased whole body retention of ［S-35］-labeled ODN resulted in a significant improvement of ODN targeting to the tumor site. In conclusion, the coinjection of microsphere appears to be an important carrier system in vehiculation of antisense oligonucleotide to the tumor tissue in vivo.