• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2005

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors were specifically developed to reduce the risks of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with other NSAID drugs. However, the APPROVe (Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on VIOXX) trials revealed that rofecoxib sometimes exerts prothrombotic effects. Meanwhile, cancer patients, who also carry a risk of thrombosis due to a variety of mechanisms, are often treated with COX-2 selective inhibitors, due to their relative gastrointestinal safety. This report concerns the case of a 46-year old woman with advanced cervical cancer, who had been treated with opioids and a COX-2 selective inhibitor (celecoxib) for 2 months, for the relief of pain associated with her cancer. The patient was admitted due to swelling of the left leg, which was also accompanied by pain. A computerized tomography scan revealed deep vein thrombosis occurring in multiple veins of both legs. After the administration of low-molecular weight heparin and oral warfarin, the patient's symptoms were relieved initially. However, her prothrombin time was found to be prolonged, necessitating the discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy. The patient's dyspnea worsened, ultimately resulting in her death. In conclusion, the administration of cox-2 selective inhibitors should be carefully considered in patients with a number of different risk factors, and assessed on a case-by-case basis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2018

Background: Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed neuropsychiatric diseases, but the underlying mechanism and medicine are not well-known. Although Panax ginseng has been reported to exert protective effects in various neurological studies, little information is available regarding its antidepressant effects. Methods: Here, we examined the antidepressant effect and underlying mechanism of P. ginseng extract (PGE) in a chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depression model in mice. Results: Oral administration of PGE for 14 d decreased immobility (depression-like behaviors) time in forced swim and tail suspended tests after CRS induction, which corresponded with attenuation of the levels of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone, as well as attenuated c-Fos expression in the amygdala. PGE enhanced messenger RNA expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor but ameliorated microglial activation and neuroinflammation (the level of messenger RNA and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase) in the amygdala of mice after CRS induction. Interestingly, 14-d treatment with celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and $N_{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated depression-like behaviors after CRS induction. Additionally, PGE inhibited the upregulation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 pathways. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that PGE exerts antidepressant-like effect of CRS-induced depression by antineuroinflammatory and antioxidant (nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 activation) activities by inhibiting the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis mechanism. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of components of P. ginseng as an alternative treatment of depression, including clinical trial evaluation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.114-121
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• 2023

Selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibition is a novel strategy to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects caused by conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, some selective COX-2 inhibitors have become apparent to increase the risk of severe cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of rosemary extract (RE) and confirm the safety of cardiovascular side effects. Inhibition of COX enzyme activity was assessed, and the levels of COX-2 and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and COX-1 and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The 40% RE group showed increased COX-2 inhibition activity in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the 50% RE group only exhibited at 100 ㎍/mL. In a cell-based study, COX-2 mRNA expression was similar in both RE groups and PGE₂ levels tended to decrease in the 40% RE group compared to the LPS group in the LPS pretreatment condition. In the LPS posttreatment condition, the COX-2 mRNA expression decreased in the 40% RE group, and PGE₂ levels were increased in the 40 and 50% RE groups. In both conditions, there was no significant difference in COX-1 and TXB₂ levels. In conclusion, 40 and 50% RE showed significant COX-2 inhibition, similar to the positive control group. It was confirmed that the inhibition of the COX-2 expression, but the effect did not affect the balance between prostacyclin and TXB₂. These results indicate that rosemary showed COX-2 inhibition activity with a low risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.535-542
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• 2018

The current study investigated the beneficial effects of 15 essential oils isolated from tree branches, leaves, and flowers. Among these oils, clove bud and Illicium anisatum oils showed the most potent anti-oxidant effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'azinbis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activities. Next, we evaluated the antibacterial effects of 15 essential oils on Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, and Streptococcus mutans. Clove bud significantly decreased growth of 5 bacterial strains. In addition, clove bud, Magnolia kobus, Picea abies and Chamaecyparis obtuse significantly reduced growth of the fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum. Additionally, clove bud also remarkably reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 cells. These results indicate that essential oils isolated from trees, which exhibit antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, may be potentially useful in the development of cosmetic ingredients.