• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 2007

Objective : Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae) (SM), an eminent herbal plant, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of vascular diseases such as hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine whether SM inhibits production of nitrite, an index of NO, and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. And this study investigated whether or not SM could reduce tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-induced inflammatory response in human vascular aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) and umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Methods : Cytotoxic activity of SM on RAW 264.7 cells was using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxy phenyJ)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. We measured the NO production using Griess Reagent System. Production of Proliflammatory cytokines was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results : Our results indicated that SM significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO production accompanied by an attenuation of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 formation in macrophages. SM decreased TNF-${\alpha}$-induced IL-8, IL-6 production, and intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression. Conclusion : These results indicate that SM has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.45-49
• /
• 2005

Background: Inflammation in the brain has known to be associated with the development of a various neurological diseases. The hallmark of neuro-inflammation is the activation of microglia, brain macrophage. Pro-inflammatory compounds including nitric oxide (NO) are the main cause of neuro-degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) which is resulted in cell death. Among those pro-inflammatory compounds, NO contributes to the cell death by directly or indirectly. Methods: In the study, we examined whether ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a non-toxic hydrophilic bile acid, inhibits the NO production by a direct method using Griess reagent and by RT-PCR in the gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In signal transduction, we also examined the NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65/p50), IKK, and I ${\kappa}B$, which are associated with the expression of iNOS gene using western blots. Results: In the present study, we found that UDCA effectively inhibited NO production in BV-2 microglial cell, and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was reduced by suppressing IKK gene expression and by increasing the I${\kappa}B$ in cytosol comparing those to the positive control LPS. Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggested that UDCA may playa crucial role in inhibiting the NO production and the results imply that UDCA suppresses a cue signal of the microglial activation via stimulators, such as ${\beta}$-amyloid peptides which are known to stimulate microglia in AD pathogenesis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study aims at examining the effect of the fermentative extract of root of Sophorae Radix on the immuno-modulating activity. Methods : Cell viabilities were measured by MTT assay. Effect of SFS on nitric oxide(NO), hydrogen peroxide production from RAW 264.7 cells was accessed by Griess reagent assay. Effect of SFS on productions of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells was accessed by a multiplex bead array assay based on xMAP technology. Results : The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. As a result of carrying out MTT assay to check the cellular toxicity of the fermentative extract of Sophorae Radix. There was not any excessive toxicity to the macrophage when the fermentative extract of root of Sophorae Radix was treated in different concentrations. 2. The fermentative extract of Sophorae Radix increased the generation of hydrogen peroxide in the macrophage and significantly restored the suppression of the generation of the hydrogen peroxide in the macrophage induced by LPS. 3. The fermentative extract of Sophorae Radix reduced the generation of NO in the macrophage and significantly suppressed the increase of the generation of NO in the macrophage induced by LPS. 4. The fermentative extract of Sophorae Radix significantly decreased the amount of TNF-${\alpha}$ generated in the macrophage induced by LPS when it was $25{\mu}g/mL$ or higher. Conclusion : These results suggest that SFS has anti-inflammatory moiety related with its inhibition of NO, hydrogen peroxide, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, in macrophage led by LPS.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.52-58
• /
• 2017

This study was aimed to examine relaxing effects of Acanthopanacis cortex(AC) through nitric oxide(NO) production and phosphodiesterase type 5(PDE-5) inhibition in corpus cavernosum. In order to define the relaxation effects of AC extract, rabbit corpus cavernous tissues were prepared in $2{\times}2{\times}8mm$ sized strip. AC extract ($0.01-3.0mg/m{\ell}$) were treated in contracted strips induced by phenylephrine(PE) and $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) was treated before AC extract-treated. And calcium chloride($Ca^{2+}$) 1 mM was infused into precontracted strips after pretreatment of AC extract in $Ca^{2+}-free$ krebs-ringer solution. When AC extract was applied to human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC), cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and NO concentration was measured by Griess reagent system. Ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers and eNOS, PDE-5 positive reaction were measured by histochemical and immunohistochemical process on mice corpus cavernosum. AC extract significantly affected relaxion of the cavernous strips, and the pretreatment of L-NNA inhibited AC extract-induced relaxation. Contraction induced by the addition of $Ca^{2+}$ was inhibited by treatment with the AC extract in $Ca^{2+}-free$ solution. In AC group, NO concentration, ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers, and eNOS positive reaction were increased, PDE-5 positive reaction was decreased compared to PE group. As a result of the above experiment, it was thought that AC extract inhibits the inflow of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ by activating cGMP through the increase of eNOS / NO and the decrease of PDE-5 which inhibits cGMP activity, in the corpus cavernosum.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Fermented Houttuyniae Herba Water Extract (HL) on production of proinflammatory mediators in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : Cell viabilities were measured by MTT assay. Effect of HL on nitric oxide (NO) production from RAW 264.7 cells was accessed by Griess reagent assay. Effect of HL on productions of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukine (IL)-17, Interferon $\gamma$-inducible protein (IP)-10, Eotaxin, IL-5, Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-3 (MCP-3), and IL-13 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells was accessed by a multiplex bead array assay based on xMAP technology. Results : The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. Incubation with HL for 24 hours showed significant increase in cell viability of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages (P < 0.05). 2. HL showed to inhibit NO production from RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25 and 50 ug/mL significantly (P < 0.05). 3. HL inhibited significantly NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ug/mL (P < 0.05). 4. HL inhibited significantly IL-17, IP-10 and Eotaxin in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ug/mL (P < 0.05). Conclusions : These results suggest that HL has anti-inflammatory moiety related with its inhibition of NO, IL-17, IP-10, and Eotaxin in macrophages.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.846-856
• /
• 2010

Objective : Allergic disease, a very common chronic illness that affects all ages of patients, has been well characterized as an IgE-dependent immunologic response. Recently, interest has grown about the late inflammatory reaction as well as the early one characterized by IgE and mast cells in allergic disease. The purpose of this study was to find the anti-inflammatory effect of Taeeumjowui-tang (Taiyintiaowei-tang) in allergic reaction. Methods : The experiment was performed using Raw 264.7 cells pretreated with Taeeumjowui-tang contents extracts. The results were measured for different concentrations of Taeeumjowui-tang extracts (100, 200, $300{\mu}g$/ml): the toxicity and proliferation of cells by MTT analysis, LPS-induced NO production using Griess reagent and IL-6/ TNF-${\alpha}$ production, which is a significant criteria for diagnosing allergic reaction. Results : No toxicity of Taeeumjowui-tang (100, 200, $300{\mu}g$/ml) on Raw 264.7 cells was found after 24 hours incubation. LPS-induced NO production was reduced after treatment with Taeeumjowui-tang (100, 200, $300{\mu}g$/ml)(P<0.001). IL-6 decreased only at $100{\mu}g$/ml(P<0.05). TNF-${\alpha}$ production decreased only at $300{\mu}g$/ml, but still statistically insignificant. There was no relationship between any components of Taeeumjowui-tang alone and inhibition of NO production. Conclusions : These data suggest that Taeeumjowui-tang has anti-inflammatory effects in allergic reaction.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.393-401
• /
• 2009

We isolated and identified a microorganism which was excellent for ammonia oxidation in the biological control of ammonia gas in odor producing materials from organic composting. The isolated strain was tested for growth characteristics and ammonia elimination efficiency under various conditions of temperature, pH, carbon concentration and ammonia concentration. The strain was isolated from a culture broth used in a $NO_2$ producing test with Griess-Ilosvay reagent. The results of 16S rRNA sequence from the isolated strain by using BLANST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) and confirming RDP (Ribosomal Database Project II) and ERRD (The European Ribosomal RNA Database) indicate that the strain is related to Delftia sp. UV-Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, UVmini-1240) was used as a microbial growth test by measuring turbidity on OD660nm and ammonia concentration was measured by Spectrophotometer (HACH, DR-4000). The optimum growth culture conditions of the ammonia oxidizer Delftia sp. were $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, glucose concentration 1.00% and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ 0.5 g/l. Ammonia elimination efficiency was over 94% under the same conditions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive intake of simple sugars induces obesity and increases the risk of inflammation. Thus, interest in alternative sweeteners as a sugar substitute is increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of saccharin on inflammation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated into adipocytes. The adipocytes were treated with saccharin (0, 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL) for 24 h. Inflammation was induced by exposure of treated adipocytes to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 18 h and cell proliferation was measured. The concentration of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by using Griess reagent. Protein expressions of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inhibitor κB (IκB) were determined by western blot analysis. The mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the amount of NO and the mRNA expression of iNOS in the LPS-treated group were increased by about 17.6% and 46.9%, respectively, (P < 0.05), and those parameter levels were significantly decreased by saccharin treatment (P < 0.05). Protein expression of NF-κB was decreased and that of IκB was increased by saccharin treatment (P < 0.05). Saccharin decreased the mRNA expression of COX-2 and the inflammation cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that saccharin can inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory responses in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via the NF-κB pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.730-737
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate vasorelaxant effect of Epimedium koreanum(EK) extract on rabbit carotid artery. In this study, to determine vasorelaxant effect of EK extract on rabbit carotid artery, arterial rings with intact or damaged endothelium were used for experiment using organ bath, and were contracted by norepinephrine(NE). After being contracted, arterial rings were treated with EK extract in a dose-dependent manner To study its mechanism, the contracted arterial rings induced by NE were pretreated with indomethacin(IM), $N_{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA), methylene blue(MB) or tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA) and 0.1 $mg/m{\ell}$ EK extract was added. To analyze the effect of the EK extract on influx of extracellular calcium chloride($Ca^{2+}$) in rabbit carotid artery, in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution, krebs solution containing 1 mM $Ca^{2+}$ was infused into the contracted arterial ring by NE after pretreatment of EK extract. To measure the cytotoxicity of the EK extract, cell viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) was measured by MTT assay, and nitric oxide(NO) was measured by Griess reagent. The EK extract significantly was relaxed the arterial ring with intact endothelium contracted by NE, but the vasorelaxant effect of the EK extract was inhibited in the arterial rings with damaged endothelium. The vasorelaxant effect of the EK extract was not different between the IM-pretreatedand and non-treated arterial rings. The vasorelaxant effect of EK extract were significantly inhibited, when arterial rings were pretreated with L-NNA, TEA, MB. And in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution, increasing of arterial contraction by $Ca^{2+}$ addition were also inhibited by the treatment of EK, but not significant. The treatment of EK extract was increased NO concentration in HUVEC. This study suggested that the vasorelaxant effect of EK extract would be related with EDHF and NO production and increasing of cyclic GMP.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.437-445
• /
• 2013

This study was investigated to evaluate the vasorelaxant effect of Rubus coreanus(RC) extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery and its mechanism. To study the effect of RC extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, arterial strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for experiment using organ bath. The pre-contracted arterial strips with norepinephrine(NE) or potassium chloride(KCl) was treated with various concentrations of an extract of RC(0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 $mg/m{\ell}$). To determine the mechanisms of RC-induced vasorelaxant, RC extract was infused into contracted arterial rings which had been pretreated by indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue(MB). And calcium chloride(Ca) 1 mM was infused into precontracted arterial ring induced by NE or KCl after treatment of RC extract in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution. Cytotoxic activity of RC extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) was measured by MTT assay, and nitric oxide(NO) prodution was measured by Griess reagent. RC extract revealed significant relaxation on NE-induced arterial contraction, but didn't relax on KCl-induced arterial contraction. RC extract also had an effective relaxation to the intact endothelium arterial ring, but not the damaged endothelium arterial ring. Treatment of IM, TEA, L-NNA, MB reduced the relaxation of RC extract. Pretreatment of RC extract inhibited the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by NE, but it didn't work the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by KCl in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution. RC extract increased nitric oxide production on HUVEC. This study indicated that the relaxation effect of RC extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery is related with NO-cGMP pathway, EDHF, prostacyclin.