• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2002

Inflammation is a disease that continues to afflict large numbers of people and may cause other diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, colon cancer, etc. prostaglandins(PGs), one of arachidonic acid metabolites, are major chemical mediators in the process of inflammation. In traditional herbal medicine, many kinds of herbal drugs have been widely used for the treatment of inflammation. So, we analyzed many publications until 2001 which worked on inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with herbs and herb oriented single compounds. And then we tried to make interpretations of herbal traditional prescriptions for inflammation. There are significant correlations between herbal medicine prescribed and inhibitions of COX-2 activity. From our efforts and further researches, we expect to develop new-inflammatory herbal drugs which have more efficacy and fewer side effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.670-677
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• 2007

We analyzed antioxidant and physiological activities to investigate the functional effects of ethanol extracts of Anomala albopilosa imago and A. albopilosa larva. In order to effectively screen for anti-inflammatory agents, we first investigated the antioxidant activities such as DPPH radical scavenging capacity, superoxide radical scavenging capacity, xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, and nitric oxide scavenging capacity of the A. albopilosa extracts. By the screening system, we found that A. albopilosa extracts had antioxidant activity which increased with increments of the extract concentration. Moreover, we examined the inhibitory effect of the A. albopilosa extracts on the production of anti-inflammatory factors that the nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ production activated with LPS ($1{\mu}g/mL$) in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. A. albopilosa extracts potentially inhibited the iNOS and COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of iNOS activity was correlated with the decrease in nitrite levels. Additionally, the $PEG_2$ production is markedly inhibited after a treatment with the A. albopilosa extracts.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.378-383
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• 2016

The glasswort is an edible halophyte demonstrating various physiological effects including anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, the effects of glasswort extracts on inflammatory events and interactions of THP-1 monocytes with intestinal epithelial cells were investigated. Five solvent fractions, including the ethylether fraction (Fr.E), were prepared from a 70% methanol extract of glasswort. THP-1 monocytes underwent differentiation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment and were then activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. None of the glasswort fractions tested alone induced COX-2 in differentiated THP-1 cells. Fr.E, however, enhanced LPS-induced COX-2 expression in differentiated THP-1 cells. Culture media of THP-1 cells treated with each fraction stimulated the growth of normal intestinal INT-407 cells more prominently than that of HT-29 colon cancer cells. COX-2 expression in HT-29 cells was inhibited when the cells were exposed to the THP-1 culture medium treated with Fr.E. Thus, glasswort could modulate the interaction between immune cells and intestinal cells.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.113-126
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• 2021

In the present study, the halophyte C. falcatum extract and its solvent fractions (n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol, n-butanol, and water) were evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Antioxidative ability was measured by DPPH radical, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite scavenging, DNA oxidation inhibition, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). For DPPH radical and peroxynitrite scavenging, DNA oxidation inhibition, and FRAP, 85% aq.MeOH and n-BuOH fractions showed significant scavenging activity. For production of intracellular ROS in HT-1080 cells, 85% aq.MeOH fraction showed the highest scavenging activity. In addition, anti-inflammatory activity was also assessed by measuring the inhibitory effect against mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors (NO, IL-1β, IL-6 and COX-2) in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 macrophages. For NO production, crude extract exhibited a strong inhibitory effect at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml. For mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2), n-BuOH greatly suppressed expression levels of IL-1β and IL-6 at 100 ㎍/ml concentration while 85% aq. MeOH fraction significantly inhibited that of COX-2 even at 100 ㎍/ml. These results suggest that C. falcatum may be used as a potential source for the development of a natural antioxidant or anti-inflammatory agent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.569-578
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermentation can increase functional compounds in fermented soybean products, thereby improving antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory activities. We investigated the changes in the contents of phenolics and isoflavones, antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity of Doenjang during fermentation and aging. MATERIALS/METHODS: Doenjang was made by inoculating Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus licheniformis in soybeans, fermenting and aging for 1, 3, 6, 8, and 12 months (D1, D3, D6, D8, and D12). Doenjang was extracted using ethanol, and sequentially fractioned by hexane, dichloromethane (DM), ethylacetate (EA), n-butanol, and water. The contents of total phenolics, flavonoids and isoflavones, 2,2-diphenyl-1 picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured. Anti-inflammatory effects in terms of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin (PG) E2 and pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expressions were also measured using LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed a gradual increase during fermentation and 6 months of aging and were sustained thereafter. DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP were increased by fermentation. FRAP was further increased by aging, but DPPH radical scavenging activity was not. Total isoflavone and glycoside contents decreased during fermentation and the aging process, while aglycone content and its proportion increased up to 3 or 6 months of aging and then showed a slow decrease. DM and EA fractions of Doenjang showed much higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and DPPH radical scavenging activity than the others. At $100{\mu}g/mL$, DM and EA fractions of D12 showed strongly suppressed NO production to 55.6% and 52.5% of control, respectively, and PGE2 production to 25.0% and 28.3% of control with inhibition of iNOS or COX-2 protein expression in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve month-aged Doenjang has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with high levels of phenolics and isoflavone aglycones, and can be used as a beneficial food for human health.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1396-1402
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• 2009

Hizikia fusiforme is a kind of edible brown seaweed that grows mainly in the northwest Pacific including Korea, Japan and China, and has been widely used as food in Korea. Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production is thought to have beneficial immunomodulatory effects in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated the effects of extracts of H. fusiforme on the expression of COX-2 and production of $PGE_2$ in U937 human pre-monocytic cell models. In U937 cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to mimic inflammation, methanol extract of H. fusiforme (MEHF) and ethanol extract of H. fusiforme (EEHF), but not water extract of H. fusiforme (WEHF), inhibited PMA-induced expression of both COX-2 protein and mRNA, which was associated with inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. To investigate the mechanism by which MEHF and EEHF inhibit COX-2 gene expression and $PGE_2$ production, we examined the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-$\kappa$B) in U937 cells. Pre-treatment with MEHF and EEHF significantly attenuated the PMA-induced IkappaB degradation and prevented nuclear translocation of NF-$\kappa$B. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of H. fusiforme.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.884-890
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• 2008

Genistein, an isoflavone in soybean products, is a potential chemopreventive agent against various types of cancer. There are several studies documenting molecular alterations leading to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induction of apoptosis; however, its mechanism of action and its molecular targets on the prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production and telomere length regulation in human cancer remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of genistein on the levels of cyclooxygenases (COXs) and telomere regulatory components of several human cancer cell lines (T24, human bladder carcinoma cells; U937, human leukemic cells; AGS, human stomach adenocarcinoma cells and SK-MEL-2, human skin melanoma cells). Genistein treatment resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. It was found that genistein treatment markedly decreased the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in $PGE_2$ synthesis. Genistein treatment also partly inhibited the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as well as human telomerase RNA (hTR) and telomerase-associated protein (TEP)-1, and the activity of telomerase. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of genistein.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.290-297
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• 2010

Objectives : This study evaluated the effect of Dioscoreae Rhizoma on antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro. Methods : In vitro experiments were made on antioxidant by DPPH radical scavenging activity, enzyme activity of SOD, protective effect about $H_2O_2$ and DNA fragmentation in RAW264.7 cells, as well as antimicrobial by Cox-2 expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Results : 1. Dioscoreae Rhizoma's antioxidant ability was improved by DPPH radical scavenging activity. 2. Antioxidant ability of Dioscoreae Rhizoma produced good results at more than 0.025 mg/$m{\ell}$. 3. On protective effect of Dioscoreae Rhizoma about $H_2O_2$ on RAW264.7 cells, with addition of Dioscoreae Rhizoma extract the cells' survival increased compared to adding $H_2O_2$ only. 4. About revelation-control of Cox-2 at RAW264.7 cells which induce by LPS, when Dioscoreae Rhizoma's concentration was higher from 0.0125 mg/$m{\ell}$ to 1 mg/$m{\ell}$, its control activity was stronger. Thus we found Dioscoreae Rhizoma has antimicrobial activity. 5. The power of DNA fragmentation control of Dioscoreae Rhizoma was time-independent. Conclusions : From this study we conclude that Dioscoreae Rhizoma has effects on antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. However, considerable work still needs to be done studying antioxidants by concentration, as well as a variety of experiments about antimicrobial activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.388-395
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• 2010

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is generally known as an inducible enzyme, and it produces arachidonic acid to prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), which has been demonstrated to play a critical role in inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the extracts of fermented beans including soybean (FS), black agabean (FBA) and yellow agabean (FYA), on the expression of COXs and production of $PGE_2$ in U937 human promonocytic cells. Treatment of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) significantly induced pro-inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production, whereas the levels of COX-1 remained unchanged. However, pre-treatment with FS, FBA and FYA significantly decreased PMA-induced COX-2 protein as well as mRNA, which is associated with inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. Moreover, FS, FBA and FYA markedly prevented the increase of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65 by PMA. Our data indicate that the extracts of fermented beans exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes through the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.235-240
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• 2006

We investigated the antioxidant activities such as DPPH radical scavenging capacity, xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, and superoxide radical scavenging capacity of the aqueous EtOH extract and its solvent fractions of Artemisia scoparia. The ethyl acetate fraction showed high antioxidant activity, compared to positive controls such as ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), trolox, and allopurinol in these assay systems. Moreover, we examined the inhibitory effect of solvent fractions of A. scoparia on the production of pro-inflammatory factors that the nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 $(PGE_2)$ production activated with LPS $(1{\mu}g/ml)$ in murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. The amounts of protein levels were determined by immunoblottting. Tn the sequential fractions of hexane and dichloromethane inhibited the NO and $PGE_2$ production and the protein level of iNOS and COX-2. These results suggest that A. scoparia may have anti-inflammatory activity through the antioxidant activity and inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors.