• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2020

Noni has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 2,000 years in South Pacific Polynesia, China and India, and has been heavily ingested as an extract for its excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, a recent study found that the noni extract causes digestive disorders, kidney problems, and liver diseases, which made it necessary to use it for other purposes than as an extract. In this study, we want to evaluate the potential of noni as an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkling agent. Methods: Noni was freeze-dried, extracted in water, and concentrated. Skin cells were treated with the noni extract for 24 hrs and then were exposed to UVB (55 mJ/cm²). After 48 hrs of incubation, pro-inflammatory cytokine, elastase, MMP-1 and type-1 procollagen levels were measured by ELISA. Results: To find out the antioxidant effect of the noni extract, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity experiments were conducted and the noni extract showed 97.0 % and 92.0 % antioxidant efficacy at 200 ㎍/mL respectively. The noni extract (50 and 100 ㎍/mL) decreased IL-6 and TNF-α in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS in a concentration-dependent manner. In the RT-PCR experiment involving NO production, the noni extract (50 and 100 ㎍/mL) inhibited NO production by strongly inhibiting iNOS mRNA expression, and also inhibited the elevation of MMP-1 and elastases caused by UVB irradiation by 25.0 % and 7.0 % respectively. In addition, type-1 procollagen was elevated by 20.0 % by the noni extract treatment in HaCaT cells. Conclusion: The noni extract has photoprotective ability by reducing proinflammatory mediators, elastase and MMP-1 production, and elevation of collagen synthesis. Our findings suggest that the noni extract might be a good natural substance to protect against UVB-induced premature skin aging.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.138-148
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• 2018

Objective: Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), common contaminants in the feed of farm animals, cause immune function impairment and organ inflammation. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to elucidate DON and ZEN effects on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other immune related genes in the kidneys of piglets. Methods: Fifteen 6-week-old piglets were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments for 4 weeks: control diet, and diets contaminated with either 8 mg DON/kg feed or 0.8 mg ZEN/kg feed. Kidney samples were collected after treatment, and RNA-seq was used to investigate the effects on immune-related genes and gene networks. Results: A total of 186 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened (120 upregulated and 66 downregulated). Gene ontology analysis revealed that the immune response, and cellular and metabolic processes were significantly controlled by these DEGs. The inflammatory stimulation might be an effect of the following enriched Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis found related to immune and disease responses: cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tuberculosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and chemical carcinogenesis. The effects of DON and ZEN on genome-wide expression were assessed, and it was found that the DEGs associated with inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 10 receptor, beta, chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 9, CXCL10, chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 4), proliferation (insulin like growth factor binding protein 4, IgG heavy chain, receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase C, cytochrome P450 1A1, ATP-binding cassette sub-family 8), and other immune response networks (lysozyme, complement component 4 binding protein alpha, oligoadenylate synthetase 2, signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-9, ${\alpha}$-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, Ig lambda chain c region, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 4, carboxylesterase 1), were suppressed by DON and ZEN. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that high concentrations of DON and ZEN suppress the inflammatory response in kidneys, leading to potential effects on immune homeostasis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.162-171
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• 2024

Objectives: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been demonstrated to aid stroke recovery. However, few investigations have focused on identifying the potent molecular targets of EA by comparing EA stimulation between naïve and disease models. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify the potent molecular therapeutic mechanisms underlying EA stimulation in ischemic stroke through a comparison of mRNA sequencing data obtained from EA-treated naïve control and ischemic stroke mouse models. Methods: Using both naïve control and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse models, EA stimulation was administered at two acupoints, Baihui (GV20) and Dazhui (GV14), at a frequency of 2 Hz. Comprehensive assessments were conducted, including behavioral evaluations, RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and quantitative real-time PCR. Results: EA stimulation ameliorated the ischemic insult-induced motor dysfunction in mice with ischemic stroke. Comparative analysis between control vs. MCAO, control vs. control + EA, and MCAO vs. MCAO + EA revealed 4,407, 101, and 82 DEGs, respectively. Of these, 30, 7, and 1 were common across the respective groups. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed upregulated DEGs associated with the regulation of inflammatory immune response in the MCAO vs. MCAO + EA comparison. Conversely, downregulated DEGs in the control vs. control + EA comparison were linked to neuronal development. PPI analysis revealed major clustering related to the regulation of cytokines, such as Cxcl9, Pcp2, Ccl11, and Cxcl13, in the common DEGs of MCAO vs. MCAO + EA, with Esp8l1 identified as the only common downregulated DEG in both EA-treated naïve and ischemic models. Conclusion: These findings underscore the diverse potent mechanisms of EA stimulation between naïve and ischemic stroke mice, albeit with few overlaps. However, the potent mechanisms underlying EA treatment in ischemic stroke models were associated with the regulation of inflammatory processes involving cytokines.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2015

Background: Antiallergic effect of 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT), an intestinal metabolite of ginseng saponins, was investigated in guinea pig lung mast cells and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells activated by a specific antigen/antibody reaction. Methods: Increasing concentrations of PPT were pretreated 5 min prior to antigen stimulation, and various inflammatory mediator releases and their relevant cellular signaling events were measured in those cells. Results: PPT dose-dependently reduced the release of histamine and leukotrienes in both types of mast cells. Especially, in activated bone marrow-derived mast cells, PPT inhibited the expression of Syk protein, cytokine mRNA, cyclooxygenase-1/2, and phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), as well as the activities of various protein kinase C isoforms, mitogen-activated protein kinases, $PLA_2$, and transcription factors (nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1). Conclusion: PPT reduces the release of inflammatory mediators via inhibiting multiple cellular signaling pathways comprising the $Ca^{2+}$ influx, protein kinase C, and $PLA_2$, which are propagated by Syk activation upon allergic stimulation of mast cells.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.21-28
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• 2007

Aim This study was done to investigate whether SPP has inhibitory effects on the activation of RAW 264.7 cells. Method In tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a)/ interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and IL-6, the mRNA expression of molecular indicators related to inflammatory changes of the Reumatoid Arthritis (RA) were examined using quantitative real-time PCR. Results The treatment of SPP significantly suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 compared with the control. The expression of NOS-II was considerably reduced, which was accompanied by a reduction in the production of nitric oxide (NO). It also reduced the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in serum of Balb/c mice compared with control group. Conclusion SPP is an effective herbal material for suppressing the inflammation related cytokines of RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.279-288
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• 2002

This research investigates the effect of the Crataegus pinnatifida BGE. var. major N.E. BR(CPVM) on Alzheimer's disease. The CPVM extract suppressed the expression of IL-1 β, IL-6, APP, AChE mRNA in PC-12 cells treated with CT105. The CPVM extract suppressed the AChE activity, and the production of APP significantly in PC-12 cells treated with CT105. The CPVM extract group showed a significant inhibitory effect on the memory deficit for the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by CT105 in the Morris water maze experiment. The CPVM extract suppressed the over-expression of IL-1 β, TNF- α and ROS in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by CT105. This study suggests that CPVM may be effective for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.146-151
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• 2005

We investigated the effect of Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill (SCB) on allergy in mice. We conformed compound 48/80-induced mesenteric mast cell degranulation, active systemic anaphylatic shock and histamine release. Also observed acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. SCB inhibited mesenteric mast cell degranulation and active systemic anaphylatic shock induced by compound 48/80 dose-dependently. When SCB was pretreated by intra-peritoneal injection, the plasma histamine levels were reduced. SCB also significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and anti-DNP IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. In addition, SCB reduced IL-10 mRNA expression of the lung on ovalbumin-induced allergy. These results indicate that SCB inhibits allergy.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of fupenjic acid (FA) isolated from the Potentilla discolor in both RAW 264.7 and mouse primary peritoneal macrophage cells. FA pretreatment significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ productions in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 and mouse primary peritoneal macrophage cells. Consistent with these observations, Western blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that FA inhibited the LPS-induced expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at the protein and mRNA levels. In addition, FA reduced the release of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These results suggest that the down regulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression and TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 production by fupenjic acid are responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2010

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by systemic inflammation through production of inflammatory mediators and signaling abnormalities between T- and B- cells, leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. This study was investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) attenuates development of lupus systemic inflammation in the early stage in pristane-induced lupus mice. The pristane-induced lupus mice were administrated with BC 0.5 ml/kg or PBS and healthy mice with PBS orally once a day for 14 days. Our results showed that BC remarkably attenuated levels of serum TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$, $PGE_2$, and VEGF, production of macrophages IL-6 and $PGE_2$ and expression of macrophages IL-6 and COX-2 mRNA in the presence or absence of LPS in pristane-induced lupus mice. Also, BC remarkably reduced expression of CD40L on the splenic T cells and CD80 on the splenic B cells and upregulated the reduced apoptosis of splenic T cells and CD4+ T cells in pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, these findings suggest that BC may attenuate early development of lupus systemic inflammation via downregulation of inflammatory mediators and amelioration of abnormal signaling between T cells and B cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2000

To assess the relationship between the changes of cellular components and the production of Th 1 cytokine in the immune tissue, inbred C57BL/6 mice were orally infected with 40 cysts of 76K strain of Toxoplosma gondii. The sequential change of cell differentials and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of splenocytes were analyzed by Diff-Quik stain and RT-PCR. There were no significant proportional changes of cellular components of splenocytes until day 4 postinfection (Pl) as compared to those of day 0, and the relative percentage of macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased significantly (p<0.01) thereafter. The expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA of $CD3^{-}$ cells was observed from day 1 Pl at a low level. However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of $CD3^{+}$ cells increased significantly from day 4 Pl (p<0.01) which progressively increased thereafter. These findings provide the relative percentages of granulocytes and macrophages were increased in conjunction with increase of total number of splenocytes after oral infection with T. gondii in the susceptible murine hosts, and lymphocytes were the major cellular components and the important source of $IFN-{\gamma}$.