• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1683-1688
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• 2008

Lactobacillus casei 3260 (L. casei 3260) was evaluated in relation to the inflammatory response mediated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in Raw264.7 macrophage cells. The treatment of Raw264.7 cells with L. casei 3260 significantly inhibited the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and prostaglandins $E_{2}\;(PGE_{2})$, followed by suppression of COX-2. To clarify the molecular mechanism, the inhibitory effect of L. casei 3260 on the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway was examined based on the luciferase reporter activity. Although the treatment of Raw264.7 cells with L. casei 3260 did not affect the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, it did inhibit NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, as determined by the cytosolic p65 release and degradation of I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Therefore, these findings suggest that the suppression of COX-2 through inhibiting the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by LPS may be associated with the antiinflammatory effects of L. casei 3260 on Raw264.7 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1572-1578
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• 2008

In previous report, Seungmagalgeun-tang (SGT) could exert its anti-inflammatory actions in the BV-2 microglial cells. However, study on the anti-inflammatory effect of SGT in mast cells has not been identified. Therefore, we examined on the anti-inflammatory effect of SGT on the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187-induced rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. SGT inhibited the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and secretion and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-4 on RBL-2H3 cells, without affecting cell viability. The protein expression level of nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ (p65) was decreased in the nucleus by SGT. In addition, SGT suppressed the degradation of inhibitory protein $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ protein, the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein level in RBL-2H3 cells. These results suggest that SGT could be involved anti-allergic effect by control of NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) translocation into the nucleus through inhibition of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation and suppression of COX-2 expression.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.82-82
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• 2001

Previously, several prenylated flavonoids having a C-8 lavandulyl moiety were found to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and sophoraflavanone G was the most potent inhibitor against these eicosanoid generating enzymes among the prenylated flavonoids tested. In this investigation, effects of sophoraflavanone G on COX-2 induction from RAW 264.7 cells and in vivo inflammatory response were studied. Sophoraflavanone G inhibited prostaglandin E$_2$(PGE$_2$) production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW cells by COX-2 down-regulation without significantly affecting COX-2 activity at 1 50 $\mu$M. Other prenylated flavonoids including kuraridin and sanggenon D also down-regulated COX-2 induction at 10-25 $\mu$M, lirhile kurarinone and echinoisoflavanone did not. In addition, sophoraflavanone G shelved in vivo anti-inflammatory activity against mouse croton oil-induced ear edema and rat carrageenan paw edema via oral (2-250mg/kg) or topical administration (10 - 250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ear). Although the potencies of inhibition were far less than that of a reference drug, prednisolone, this compound showed higher anti-inflammato교 activity when applied topically, suggesting a potential use for several eicosanoid-related skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1048-1054
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• 2002

Silsosangami(SSG) is a formula of oriental medicines as an effective biological response modifier for augmenting host homeostasis of body circulation. Also SSG has been known to have an anti-diabetic activity and anti-platelet aggregation activity. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of a new SSG on murine macrophage and human neutrophil functions as well as on several enzymes relevant to the inflammatory process. The results of the present study indicate that SSG exerts anti-inflammatory effects related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions and of PGE2 production, which could be due to a decreased expression of and COX-2.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.124-135
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• 2007

Backgrounds : Scutellaria baicalensis has been used as a medicinal plant to treat various disease conditions accompanying inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis against inflammatory, pain and edema Methods : In vitro, the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation were investigated in mouse BV2 microglial cells. In vivo, the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis on acetic acid-induced writhing response, carrageenan-induced edema and the plantar test (nociceptive thermal stimulation) were investigated using rats and mice. Results : The present results showed that pre-treatment with the aqueous extract of Scutellaria baicalensis suppressed the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expressions in mouse BV2 microglial cells. The aqueous extract of Scutellaria baicalensis inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal pain in mice and also reduced thermal pain in rats. However, no significant inhibition on carrageenan-induced edema in rats. Conclusions : The present study showed that Scutellaria baicalensis possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.425-430
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• 2011

In this study, we found that Forsythiae fructus (FF) and one of its main compounds, arctigenin, significantly inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Arctigenin also suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, and inhibited the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38. Moreover, it also reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin $1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ and prostaglandin E2, and inhibited neuronal death in LPS-treated organotypic hippocampal cultures. Therefore, we suggest that arctigenin may confer a neuroprotective effect via the inhibition of neuroinflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2009

4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, a phenolic compound found in a variety of natural sources, was previously shown to contain anti-inflammatory and related anti-angiogenic and anti-nociceptive activities. The present work was designed to assess some pharmacological activities of 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (DHD), an analogue of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. DHD exhibited a significant inhibition in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis, and its $IC_{50}$ value was $2.4\;{\mu}g/egg$. DHD also contained in vivo anti-inflammatory activity using acetic acid-induced permeability and carrageenan-induced air pouch models in mice. In the air pouch model, DHD showed significant suppression in exudate volume, number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and nitrite content. DHD showed an anti-nociceptive activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. It also suppressed enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) and elevated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. It was able to slightly decrease the level of reactive oxygen species in the stimulated macrophages. DHD at the used concentrations couldn't modulate the viabilities of RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, like 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, DHD contains anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.180-186
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• 2008

In this study, we examined the effects of the fermented soybeans by Bacillus subtilis (FSB) and the novel three-step fermented soybeans (TFS) on the expression and activity of COX-2 in human leukemic U937 cell model. Treatment of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) significantly induced pro-inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 expression and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ production, whereas the levels of COX-1 remained unchanged. However, pre-treatment with FSB and TFS significantly attenuated the PMA-induced COX-2 protein as well as mRNA, which was associated with inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. Moreover, TFS exerts a much better inhibitory activity than FSB against PMA-induced activation of COX-2 and production of $PGE_2$ in U937 cells. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of FSB and TFS.

• 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.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.75-88
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• 2007

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : We investigated the Type II collagen-induced arthritis test, vascular permeability test, phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test, hot plate test, carbon clearance test, determination of prostaglandin $E_2$ content and cyclooxygenase-2 activity test. Results : Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture suppressed Type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice and vascular permeability with 10.2% inhibition in ICR mice. We see the phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test and the hot plate test in the analgesic activity test. In the phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test, Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture showed that it increased its analgesic effect more than the control(test?) by 85.5%. In the hot plate test, it was also shown that the analgesic effect increased more than the control(test) by 32.1%. In the carbon clearance test, the immuno-stimulatory effect showed more than the control(test) by 8.0%. The formation of prostaglandin $E_2$ was also reduced more than the control(test) by 10.1%. Finally, cyclooxygenase-2 activity was inhibitedwith 36.3%. Conclusions : Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture may be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis after injection.