• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) is used to flavor food, in cosmetics, as an antioxidant, and to treat microbial, diabetic and common inflammation. No study to date, however, has assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of fennel in experimental models of inflammation. The aims of this study were to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of fennel in model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury. Mice were randomly assigned to seven groups (n=7~10). In five groups, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 1% Tween 80-saline (vehicle), fennel (125, 250, $500{\mu}l/kg$), or dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), followed 1 h later by intratracheal instillation of LPS (1.5 mg/kg). In two groups, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle or fennel ($250{\mu}l/kg$), followed 1 h later by intratracheal instillation of sterile saline. Mice were sacrificed 4 h later, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were obtained. Fennel significantly and dose-dependently reduced LDH activity and immune cell numbers in LPS treated mice. In addition fennel effectively suppressed the LPS-induced increases in the production of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, with $500{\mu}l/kg$ fennel showing maximal reduction. Fennel also significantly and dose-dependently reduced the activity of the proinflammatory mediator matrix metalloproteinase 9 and the immune modulator nitric oxide (NO). Assessments of the involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway showed that fennel significantly decreased the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK. Fennel effectively blocked the inflammatory processes induced by LPS, by regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine production, transcription factors, and NO.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 2012

The fruits of Foeniculum vulgare (Foeniculi Fructus) have been widely used in Chinese medicine as an antiemetic, ameliorating stomach ailments and as an analgesic. In order to establish its potential for antiallergic use, inhibitory actions of the fruit on 5-lipoxgenase (5-LOX) and ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release were evaluated. The 70% ethanol extract of this plant material (FR) considerably inhibited 5-LOX-catalyzed leukotriene production from A23187-induced rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-1 cells. The $IC_{50}$ was $3.2{\mu}g/ml$. From this extract, 12 major compounds including sabinene, fenchone, ${\gamma}$-terpinene, ${\alpha}$-pinene, limonene, p-anisylacetone, panisylaldehyde, estragole (4-allylanisole), trans-anethole, scopoletin, bergapten and umbelliferone were isolated. And it was found that several terpene derivatives including ${\gamma}$-terpinene and fenchone as well as phenylpropanoid, trans-anethole, showed considerable inhibitory action of 5-LOX. In particular, the $IC_{50}$ of trans-anethole was $51.6{\mu}M$. In contrast, FR and the isolated compounds did not show considerable inhibitory activity on the degranulation reaction of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release from antigen-treated RBL-2H3 cells. Against arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in mice, FR and trans-anethole showed significant inhibition by oral administration at doses of 100-400 mg/kg. In conclusion, FR and several major constituents are 5-LOX inhibitors and they may have potential for treating 5-LOX-related disorders.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of Foeniculum Vulgare(FV) extract on the anti-inflammatory of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) exposed rats. Methods : We divided LPS exposed Sprague-Dawley rats into 4 groups. They were control group, feed with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg FV groups. They were administered for 6 weeks. We measured the concentration of plasma interleukin-1${\beta}$(IL-1${\beta}$), plasma interleukin-6(IL-6), plasma tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), plasma interleukin-10(IL-10), the concentration of liver IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10. Results : 1. Plasma IL-1${\beta}$, plasma IL-6 and plasma TNF-${\alpha}$ concentration increased rapidly at 2hours after LPS injection and maintained high levels at 5hours after LPS injection. The concentration of these cytokines in the FV extract groups showed lower values than control group(P<0.05). 2. The concentration of Plasma IL-10 in FV extract groups showed higher values than control group at all times(P<0.05). 3. The concentration of liver IL-1${\beta}$ and IL-6 in FV extract groups showed lower values than control group(P<0.05). The concentration of liver TNF-${\alpha}$ in FV extract groups showed a tendency to decrease and that of liver IL-10 in FV extract groups showed a tendency to increase; however, these values showed no significantly different. Conclusions : In inflammatory response by LPS derivation, the FV gives positive effect.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effect of Aromatherapy using Foeniculum vulgare Mill(Fennel) for decrease in the appetite of female obese patients. Methods : We analyzed 32 obese patients who had been hospitalized in Kirin Oriental Hospital from October 1, 2004 to January 30, 2005. The patient were classified in two groups, aroma inhalation group(IH group), and non-inhalation group(NIH group). Test was applied 2 times a week(Inhalation and Non-inhalation test) for 4 weeks. The effect of both groups was analyzed by using VAS scores about appetite. The scores were checked before inhalation, and 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes after inhalation. Results : The VAS appetite scores decreased more significantly in inhalation group than non-inhalation group on every checked time(15, 30, 45, 60 minutes after inhalation)(p<0.05). And VAS scores of aroma inhalation group decreased more significantly on every checked time(0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes after inhalation) than pre-inhalation(p<0.05), and morbid obesity group is more sensitive than obesity group shortly after the inhalation(0 minute after inhalation)(p<0.05). Conclusions : In this study, we can conclude that aromatherapy using Foeniculum vulgare Mill(Fennel) has an effect on decreasing appetite of female obese patients.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.211-216
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• 2011

Herbal medicines are widely used in many countries for the treatment of many diseases. Although the use of herb extracts as alternative medicine is growing, their toxicological properties have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we have investigated the effects of water and ethanol extracts of 18 herbs on the hepatic lipid metabolism and steatogenic hepatotoxicity. Ethanol extracts of Cirsium japonicum, Carthamus tinctorius, Rehmanniae glutinosa (preparata), Polygala tenuifolia, Foeniculum vulgare, Polygonum multiflorum, and Acorus gramineus and water extracts of Polygonum multiflorum and Rehmanniae glutinosa induced lipid accumulation in Sk-hep1 human hepatoma cells as determined by Nile red staining. These extracts increased the luciferase activity of sterol regulatory element (SRE) and decreased that of peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE), indicating the possibilities of enhanced fatty acid synthesis and decreased fatty acid oxidation. To identify the components responsible for the fat accumulation, we tested 50 chemicals isolated from the nine herbs. Apigenin, luteolin, pectolinarin and lupeol from Cirsium japonicum, 8-methoxypsoralen and umbelliferone from Foeniculum vulgare and pomonic acid and jiocerebroside from Rehmanniae glutinosa significantly increased the accumulation of lipid droplets. These results suggest that ethanol extracts of Cirsium japonicum, Carthamus tinctorius, Rehmanniae glutinosa (preparata), Polygala tenuifolia, Foeniculum vulgare, Polygonum multiflorum, and Acorus gramineus and water extracts of Polygonum multiflorum and Rehmanniae glutinosa can cause fatty liver disease by decreasing ${\beta}$-oxidation of fatty acid and increasing lipogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.880-888
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare (FV) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it is usually known as an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely used as a carminative, digestive, lactogogue, and diuretic, and for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The skin barrier protects against the invasion of pathogens, fends off chemical and physical assaults, and protects against extensive water loss. In this study, the effects of solvent-fractionated FV fruits on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining moisture, as well as their antifungal activity, were investigated in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The expression of involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, hyaluronic acid synthase, human β defensin, and cathelicidin genes and proteins was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The production of hyaluronic acid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The butanol fraction increased the expression of involucrin and filaggrin. Both the ethyl acetate and the butanol fractions increased hyaluronic acid production by promoting the expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1. Although the antimicrobial peptides were increased by FV crude extract and its fractions, the samples did not show a significant effect compared to the normal group. These results suggest that the butanol fraction of FV could be very useful in cosmetics for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.981-987
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• 2014

Foeniculum vulgare has long been prescribed in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of the fruits of F. vulgare on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells under non-cytotoxic ($100{\mu}g/ml$) conditions. The 80% methanol extract was subsequently partitioned successively with hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, and the fractions so obtained were also examined for their anti-inflammatory effects. Among them, the hexane, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate fractions inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. The methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions also suppressed the productions of interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 by down-regulating their mRNA levels in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction strongly suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ at the protein and mRNA levels in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These observations suggest that the anti-inflammatory actions of F. vulgare are due to inhibitions of the productions of NO, PGE2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.73-73
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food and Cookery Science Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.133-133
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• 2005

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.9
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• pp.115-125
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• 1991

The medicinal plants of 33 species with symptoms of mosaic, necrosis, line pattern, malformation (fine leaf), stripe, and ring spot infected by cucumber mosaic virus spontaneously, were collected in Korea and Japan. Among them, 2 mosaic diseases of portulaca oleracea L. and Celocia argentea L., 2 necrotic mosaic diseases of Aristolochia debilis Sieb. and Tetragonia exponsa Murr., 6 mottle diseases of Cassia torosa Cav., Bupleurum falcantum L., Angelica acutioloba Kitagawa, A. keiskei Koidz., Peucedanum japonicum Thunb., and Foeniculum vulgare Mill., and ringspot disease of Basella rubra L., were named newly in these studies.