• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.402-417
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• 2023

Objective: Liver fibrosis is a highly conserved wound-healing response and the final common pathway of chronic inflammatory injury. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-fibrotic effect of the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma water extract (RW) and silymarin in a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis model. Methods: The liver fibrosis mouse model was established through the intraperitoneal injection of TAA (1 week 100 mg/kg, 2-3 weeks 200 mg/kg, 4-8 weeks 400 mg/kg) three times per week for eight weeks. Animal experiments were conducted in five groups; Normal, Control (TAA-induced liver fibrosis mice), Sily (silymarin 50 mg/kg), RSL (RW 50 mg/kg+silymarin 50 mg/kg), and RSH (RW 100 mg/kg+silymarin 50 mg/kg). Biochemical analyses were measured in serum, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ammonia levels. Liver inflammatory cytokines and fibrous biomarkers were measured by Western blot analysis, and liver histopathology was evaluated through tissue staining. Results: A significant decrease in the liver function markers AST and ALT and a reduction in ammonia and total bilirubin were observed in the group treated with RSL and RSH. Measurement of reactive oxygen species and MDA revealed a significant decrease in the RSL and RSH administration group compared to the TAA induction group. The expression of extracellular matrix-related proteins, such as transforming growth factor β1, α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen type I alpha 1, was likewise significantly decreased. All drug-administered groups had increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 but a decreasing tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1. RSL and RSH exerted a significant upregulation of NADPH oxidase 2, p22^phox, and p47^phox, which are oxidative stress-related factors. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory proteins such as cyclooxygenase 2 and interleukin-1β were markedly suppressed through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B activation. Conclusions: The administration of RW and silymarin suppressed the NADPH oxidase factor protein level and showed a tendency to reduce inflammation-related enzymes. These results suggest that the combined administration of RW and silymarin improves acute liver injury induced by TAA.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.615-628
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• 2023

국내 미세먼지의 증가는 만성 호흡기 질환과 피부 염증 및 노화를 유발하여 국민 전체의 건강을 위협하는 심각한 문제로 대두되었다. 본 연구는 미세먼지 유발 피부 염증과 노화에 대해 식용곤충인 쌍별귀뚜라미 70% 에탄올 추출물 (AE-GBE)의 미세먼지에 대한 활성산소 소거능, 세포내 β-galactosidase 효소 활성, MMP-1 발현, 콜라겐 생성, 그리고 염증성 반응에 대해 알아보았다. AE-GBE는 HDF 세포에서 ERM-CZ100에 의해 유도될 수 있는 활성산소종, DNA 단편화 수준 및 β-galactosidase 활성을 유의하게 감소시켰다. 또한 IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α와 같은 전염증성 사이토카인의 생성과 이들 사이토카인에 의해 발현되는 것으로 알려진 COX2 단백질의 발현을 현저히 감소시켰으며, MMP-1을 억제하여 콜라겐 분해를 막았다. 따라서 본 연구결과는 쌍별귀뚜라미 추출물이 미세먼지 유발 피부 염증에 대한 잠재적인 치료 표적이 될 수 있으며 더 나아가 피부 노화를 늦추는 데 긍정적인 효과를 가질 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 한국식품저장유통학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.502-513
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• 2023

본 연구에서는 영지버섯 균사체 발효 꾸지뽕 잔가지 추출물의 지방세포 분화 억제 및 염증 억제 효과를 확인하고자 하였다. 세포독성을 확인한 결과, 최대 1,000 ㎍/mL 농도까지 세포에 처리하여도 세포 생존율이 감소하지 않음을 확인되었다. 분화과정 동안 발효 꾸지뽕 잔가지 추출물을 처리하였을 때, 세포 내 지방 축적이 감소되었다. 분화과정에 관여하는 대표적인 adipokine인 leptin과 adiponectin의 생성량을 확인한 결과, 발효 꾸지뽕나무 잔가지 추출물에 의해 adiponectin의 생성 증가와 leptin의 생성 감소를 확인하였다. 지방세포 분화 관련 유전자의 발현은 분화 유도인자만 처리한 군에 비해 발효 꾸지뽕나무 잔가지 추출물이 함께 처리된 군에서 추출물의 농도가 높아질수록 지방분화 전사인자인 PPARγ와 C/EBPα의 발현량이 감소하는 것을 확인하였다. 분화된 3T3-L1 세포에서 LPS에 의해 분비되는 염증성 사이토카인(TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1)의 생성량 변화를 측정한 결과, LPS 처리로 증가된 염증성 사이토카인의 생성을 억제하였으며 염증 관련 유전자인 iNOS, COX-2의 발현도 감소되었다. 또한, 발효 꾸지뽕나무 잔가지 추출물과 발효되지 않은 꾸지뽕나무 잔가지 추출물을 비교하였을 때, 발효 꾸지뽕나무 잔가지 추출물이 지방세포 분화 및 염증 억제 효과에서 더 높은 활성을 보였으며, 이들 결과를 종합적으로 볼 때, 영지버섯 균사체를 이용한 발효가 꾸지뽕나무 잔가지의 활성 증가에 기여하는 것으로 보인다. 따라서 발효 꾸지뽕나무 잔가지 추출물은 항비만, 항염증 소재로서 비만뿐만 아니라 대사성 질환 개선을 위한 기능성 소재로서 활용이 가능할 것으로 판단되며, 향후 발효 꾸지뽕나무 추출물의 명확한 항비만, 항염증 효능을 확인하기 위해서는 유용 물질 분리 및 작용기전 등 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2004

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly the highly selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been shown to decrease the growth of tumor, in part, by inhibition of neovascularization. Recently, besides mature endothelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to contribute neovascularization in angiogenic tissues. In this study, we addressed a question whether nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, could affect differentiation of EPCs into adhesive endothelial cells in vitro. Total mononuclear cells were isolated from cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were incubated with nimesulide or vehicle control for 7 days. The number of adherent and spindle-shaped cells decreased by nimesulide treatment in a concentration-dependent fashion at a concentration range of 5 - 200 ${\mu}M$. Moreover, the adherent cells double positive for DiI-ac-LDL uptake and lectin binding significantly decreased upon nimesulide treatment. There was no change of expression of CD31 between treatment and control groups, whereas slight reduction was detected upon treatment in expression of VE-cadherin, ICAM-1, vWF, ${\alpha}v$, and ${\alpha}5$. Nimesulide also reduced cell viability during first 3 days' culture and induced apoptosis in adherent EPCs, resulting in increased annexin-V-positive and propidium iodide-negative cells. Taken together, these results suggest that nimesulide could be applied for the inhibition of new vessel formation, in part, by inhibiting differentiation and survival of EPCs.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.354-359
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• 2012

We examined that the protective effects of ANX1 on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced skin inflammation in animal models using a Tat-ANX1 protein. Topical application of the Tat-ANX1 protein markedly inhibited TPA-induced ear edema and expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$). Also, application of Tat-ANX1 protein significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in TPA-treated mice ears. The results indicate that Tat-ANX1 protein inhibits the inflammatory response by blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK activation in TPA-induced mice ears. Therefore, the Tat-ANX1 protein may be useful as a therapeutic agent against inflammatory skin diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.77-84
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• 1998

Ureteral obstruction causes increase in renal blood flow (RBF) and partial impairment of the autoregulation of RBF. Although increased renal prostaglandin production is responsible for the former, it is not clear whether or not it is also responsible for the latter. Therefore, we investigated the role which prostaglandins play in the autoregulation of RBF during an ureteral pressure elevation (40 $cmH_2O$). Since the major mechanism of RBF autoregulation is the tubuloglomerular feedback, studying the interaction between ureteral pressure and RBF autoregulation may reveal the role of prostaglandin in tubuloglomerular feedback. To pursue the purpose, six anesthetized dogs were prepared for the measurements of RBF, mean sytemic and renal arterial pressure (RAP) and the manipulation of ureteral pressure. The autoregulation curves were determined during both control and elevation of the ureteral pressure, before and after the pretreatment with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. The desired ureteral pressure was achieved by vertically elevating the water-filled reservoir connected to the ureteral catheter to 40 cm above the kidney level. In response to the elevation of the ureteral pressure, RBF increased from $170{\pm}8 ml{\cdot}min^{-1}\;to\;189{\pm}8$, and the systemic arterial pressure didn't change significantly. During spontaneous urine flow, RBF autoregulation was abolished when RAP was reduced to $59{\pm}3$ mmHg. On the other hand, during the ureteral pressure elevation, the autoregulation curves shifted upward and rightward from control, and the pressure when RBF autoregulation was abolished was $74{\pm}3$ mmHg. The pretreatment of the dogs with indomethacin failed to affect the lower limit of RBF autoregulaion during both control ($63{\pm}5$ mmHg) and the elevated ureteral pressure ($77{\pm}5$ mmHg). Since RBF failed to increase in response to the elevated ureteral pressure, RBF autoregulation curves obtained during the elevated ureteral pressure shifted only rightward from indomethacin control. The results indicate that the increased intrarenal level of prostaglandin or prostaglandin-induced vasodilation does not appear to bear any relation to the reduction in the autoregulatory capacity during partial ureteral obstruction. It seems that the partial impairment of the autoregulation during acute ureteral obstruction is due to the consumption of tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism at spontaneous RAP and that prostaglandin is neither mediator nor effector of tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of present study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of Scutellariae Radix (SR) and Scutellariae Radix EtOH-heated at 200℃ (SR200) using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated intestine of mice.Methods : Extract of SR and SR200 were orally administrated. Their effects were compared with vehicletreated LPS and normal groups. Subsequently, we measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide in the serum and western blotting in the intestine.Results : The average weight in LPS treated (Vehicle) group was lowered significantly compare to that in non-treated normal group and this weight loss in the vehicle group was effectively prevented by the administration of SR and SR200 respectively. The increased oxidative stress biomarker levels such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in the serum was markedly decreased by treated with SR200. The decreased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) induced by LPS injection were significantly restored by both SR and SR200 treatment. Moreover, increased inflammatory mediators and cytokines such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the LPS treated vehicle mice were significantly decreased through down-regulation c-JUN through reduction of oxidative stress.Conclusions : SR and SR200 could have benefit effect through down-regulation of abnormal oxidative stress in LPS induced intestine injury mice. Moreover, The anti-inflammatory activity of SR200 extract was better than SR extract in the LPS induced intestine injury mice.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권7호
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• pp.484-489
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• 2011

Annexin-1 (ANX1) is an anti-inflammatory protein as well as an important modulator in inflammation. However, the precise action of ANX1 remains unclear. To elucidate the protective effects of ANX1 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage Raw 264.7 cells, we constructed a cell-permeable Tat-ANX1 protein. The transduced Tat-ANX1 protein markedly inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2, production of prostaglandin $E_2$, and generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the cells. Furthermore, transduced Tat-ANX1 protein caused a significant reduction in the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The results indicate that Tat-ANX1 inhibits the production of inflammatory response cytokines and enzymes by blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK. Therefore, Tat-ANX1 protein may be useful as a therapeutic agent against various inflammatory diseases.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.385-408
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• 1998

Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) has been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for respiratory disease. The effect of Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) on tracheal smooth muscle is not known. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) on histamine and acetylcholine induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats and guinea pigs. Guinea pig (500 g, male) and Sprague Dawley rats (200 g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10 mm) of the thoracic trachea from each rat and guinea pig was cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5 g loading tension. The dose of histamine (His) and acetylcholine (Ach) which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine and acetylcholine $(10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M)$. Contractions evoked by His $(ED_{50})$ and Ach $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly by Pyeongpaesan (平肺散). In guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was 13.5% (p<0.05) after $10{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散), $64.6\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散), and $92.8\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散). In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction was $60.9\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散), and $91.2\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散). Also, in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $104.8\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) and $142.3\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散). In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was $63.7\(p<0.01)\;after\;30{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散), and $107.5\(p<0.01)\;after\;100{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散). Propranolol $(10^{-7}M)$ slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Pyeongpaesan (平肺散). Following treatment with propranolol, the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) fell to 15.7% (p<0.05) in guinea pig induced by acetylcholine contraction and the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) fell to 22.3% (p<0.05) in guinea pig induced by histamine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) fell to 28.7% (p<0.01) in rat induced by histamine contraction. Indomethacin and methylene blue $(10^{-7}\;M)$ did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Pyeongpaesan (平肺散). Also, I could find the effects of Pyeongpaesan (平肺散) and Pyeongpaesanga (平肺散加) morphine on the tracheal smooth muscle in guinea pig and rat did not change significantly. These results indicate that Pyeongpaesan. (平肺散) can relax histamine and acetylcholine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves sympathetic effects and the release of cyclooxygenase products.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.11-19
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• 2020

Objective : The genus Glycyrrhiza has been used in food and traditional herbal medicine. Glycyrrhiza new varieties Wongam and Sinwongam have been developed by Korea Rural Development Administration and investigated to register on Korean Pharmacopoeia of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The aim of this study is to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of Wongam and Sinwongam comparing with listed Glycyrrhiza species (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer and G. glabra Linne) for evaluations about pharmacological effect of Glycyrrhiza new varieties. Methods : We studied the immunomodulatory effect of Wongam and Sinwongam compared with G. uralensis and G. glabra using THP-1 cell in vitro model. The cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for differentiation and stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce immune activation. We analyzed and compared the effects Glycyrrhiza new varieties and listed Glycyrrhiza species using nitric oxide (NO) assay, western blot, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. 1) Results : Wongam and Sinwongam showed no cytotoxicity in THP-1 cells. Wongam and Sinwongam, and listed Glycyrrhiza species increased NO production, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression with or without LPS in differentiated THP-1 macrophages. Furthermore, Wongam and Sinwongam and listed Glycyrrhiza species upregulated the mRNA expressions of T helper type 1 (Th 1)-associated cytokines in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. Conclusion : These results indicated that Wongam and Sinwongam would have effect of enhancing immune response through the increase of NO and COX-2 expression, and activate Th1-associated cytokines. The findings of this study suggest the wide applicability of Glycyrrhiza new varieties.