• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.171-175
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• 2008

In the recently, increased concern has been focused on the pharmacology and clinical utility of herbal extracts and derivatives as a drug or adjunct to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Here we investigated the effect of the water extract of Loranthi Ramulus (LR) in production of inflammatory mediators and expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, CD14 from peritoneal macrophage. We assayed the effect of LR water extract in cell proliferation in vitro and Th1/Th2 cytokine level in vivo. In peritoneal macrophages, water extract of LR water extract increased the production of Nitric oxide (NO) and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Also, LR water extract increased Con A-induced cell proliferation and IgG1, IgG2a level in serum. However, i.p. injection of water extract of LR water extract did not affect the level of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 in serum of mice. These studies indicate that LR water extract induces macrophage activation and suggest the possible use of LR water extract in macrophage-based immunotherapies.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.340-345
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• 2008

Extract of Acanthopanax senticosus has recently been demonstrated to possess significant antidiabetic potential, in accordance with the traditional use of this plant as an antidiabetic natural health product. The present study evaluated the effects of fermented extract (FE) of this plant on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose uptake, and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model. A 3 h pretreatment with FE prevented $IL-1{\beta}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ toxicity in isolated rat islets. However, it did not affect insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. In addition, pretreatment of mice with FE blocked the destruction of streptozotocin-induced islets and the development of type 1 diabetes. FE reduced blood glucose level, increased insulin secretion, and improved glucose tolerance in streptozotocin-treated mice, whereas nonfermented extract (NFE) had moderate effects. Immunohistochemical staining for insulin clearly showed that pretreatment with FE blocked the STZ-induced islets destruction and restored the number of islet cells that secreted insulin to the level of the control. Although the active principles and their mechanisms of action remain to be identified, FE may nevertheless represent a novel complementary therapy and a source of novel therapeutic agents against type 1 diabetes mellitus.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 2008

Prodigiosin was isolated from marine bacteria Hahella chejuensis which has been recently discovered from Marado, Cheju Island, Republic of Korea. Immunosuppressive properties have been reported for prodigiosin members such as undecylprodigiosin, metacycloprodigiosin, prodigiosin, and its synthetic analogue PNU156804 (PNU). However, the effect of this agent on the function of macrophage and splenocyte has not been characterized in detail. In the present study, we examined the effects of prodigiosin for its ability to alter the function of murine macrophage and NK cell, and the proliferation of splenocytes. When thioglycollate-elicited macrophages pre-exposed to prodigiosin (1-50 ng/ml) were stimulated with LPS/IFN-$\gamma$, pretreatment with prodigiosin resulted in the inhibition of tumoricidal activity of macrophage in a concentration-dependent manner. Tumoricidal activity of NK cell was also inhibited by prodigiosin. Moreover, we found that prodigiosin was able to cause a dose-dependent inhibition of murine lymphocyte responsiveness to Con A and LPS although T-mitogenic response was the more sensitive one. Taken together, the present results point out that prodigiosin has a suppressive effect on the mitogen-induced proliferation of murine lymphocytes and the function of macrophage and NK cell.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1316-1321
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• 2009

Multiple beneficial properties of Opuntia ficus indica (OPF) are well established. In the present study, we have investigated the immunological role of OPF extract (OPFE) on murine splenocytes. OPFE dose- and time-dependently enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes without cytotoxicity. Our results also showed that the number of $CD4^+$ helper T cells and CD45R/$B220^+$ pan B cells increased markedly, but not $CD8^+$ cytotoxic T cells or $CD11b^+$ granulocytes/macrophages. In addition, OPFE significantly decreased the production levels of T helper (Th) 1 type cytokines, interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, although had no significantly differences in those of interleukin (IL)-4, a Th2 type cytokine in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated blastogenic cells. Furthermore, OPFE alone strongly increased IL-4 production and decreased TNF-$\alpha$ production even in the absence of Con A. On the basis of these results, this study suggests that OPFE enhances immunity by regulating the pro- and anti-inflammatory response, indicating that this extract exerts a marked immunomodulatory effect, confirming its usefulness as therapy for immune-related diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2010

Cisplatin(cis-diamminedichloroplatium) is one of the most effective anti-cancer drugs being clinically used in the treatment of solid tumors. Despite its therapeutic benefits, its use in clinical practice is often limited because of dose related toxicity. It is known that yeast cell wall beta-glucans possess immuno-modulating properties, which allows for their application in antitumor therapy. IS2 is a kind of beta-glucan derived from the cell wall of mutated Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which exhibits anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. The present study explored the possibility of combination therapy of IS2 with cisplatin. In experimental metastasis of colon26-M3.1 cells, prophylactic intravenous administration of IS-2 in combination with cisplatin effectively inhibited tumor metastasis compared with cisplatin alone or IS-2 treatment in vivo. IS-2 effectively enhanced Th1 type cytokines including IFN-$\gamma$, IL-2, IL-12 and GM-CSF. Simultaneously, this combined treatment inhibited production of Th2 type cytokines compared with control. These results suggested that IS-2 can be applied in combination therapy with anti-cancer drugs to minimize their side effects.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.225-241
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• 2002

The inhibitory effects of Injinseulki including extracts of melanian snail plus phytomedicinal plants on $CCl_4$-induced fibrosis, $IFN-{\gamma}$ plus LPS-induced production of NO, PMA-stimulated production $O_2$, and tacrine-induced hepatic injury were investigated in rats, RAW 264.7 or HepG2 cells. The ethanol extracts of melanian snail significantly inhibited tarcrine-induced inury of HepG2 cells. Injinseulki inhibited the production of NO and $O_2$ in a dose-dependent manner in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Injinseulki significantly inhibited chemical-induced fibrosis in Rats. These results show that Injinseulki including extracts of melanian snail plus phytomedicinal plants may explain some known biological activities of Injinseulki including their anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effect, and is of considerable benefit in the treatment for live diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigative the effects of Gagambojungikgi-tang (GBT), a Korean herbal medicine, on the immune mediators, T cell proliferation and wound healing in the recombinant Sj26 (rSj26) antigen induced atopic dermatitis(AD) model mice. Methods : GBT is the water extracts prepared from mixture of Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Angelicae gigantis Radix, Atractylodes Rhizoma alba, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Artemisia iwayomogi Herba, Scutellaria Radix, Lonicera japonica Flos. This is a modified prescription of Bojungikgi-tang, which has been used for the treatment of indigestion, and immunological disease in east-asian countries. GBT was orally administered or externally applied at difference doses. The levels of immune mediators [(IgE, IgG1, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Th1/Th2 cytokines], T cell proliferation, and wound healing in the rSj26 or chemical antigen induced AD model BALB/c were investigated. Results : GBT dose-dependently suppressed the release of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ (Th1 cytokines), IL-4, IL-10 (Th2 cytokines), PGE2 (inflammatory mediators) and T cell proliferation. But GBT increased the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ (Th1 cytokine). Furthermore, A wound healing effect of GBT was similar to external application of dexamethasone. Conclusions : These results suggest that GBT suppresses the inflammatory mediators and regulates the Thl/Th2 cytokines, and promotes the wound healing. Therefore, these properties may contribute to the strong anti-AD effect of GBT.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.531-538
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• 2004

Ginsan, a polysaccharide isolated from Panax ginseng, has been shown to be a potent immunomodulator, producing a variety of cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1$\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and GM-CSF, and stimulating lymphoid cells to proliferate. In the present study, we analyzed some immune functions 1$^{st}$-5$^{th}$ days after ginsan i.p. injection, including the level of non-protein thiols (NPSH) as antioxidants, heme oxygenase (HO) activity as a marker of oxidative stress, zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time and level of hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) as indices of drug metabolism system, and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and albumin level as indicators of hepatotoxicity. Ginsan in the dose of 100 mg/kg caused marked elevation (1.7-2 fold) of HO activity, decrease of total CYP450 level (by 20-34%), and prolongation of zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time (by 65-70%), and showed some differences between male and female mice. Ginsan treatment did not seem to cause hepatic injury, since serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities and levels of total bilirubin and albumin were not changed.d.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.691-696
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• 2002

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an active and broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent. Increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and/or activity have been reported in several human tumors. While the relationship between DOX treatment and the enzymatic activity of endothelial NOS has been well characterized, little is known about the effects of DOX on the expression of iNOS in human cancer cells. In the present study, we characterized the effects of DOX on the nitric oxide (NO) production by colorectal cancer cells, DLD-1. IFN-${\gamma}$/IL-1$\beta$ (CM) increased the production of NO, whereas pretreatment of DOX inhibited the production of NO in response to CM in a dose dependent manner. The increased expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein by CM were completely blocked by DOX without affecting the iNOS mRNA stability. However, DOX activated nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) in response to CM. Furthermore, the expression of inhibitor kB$\alpha$ was reduced by DOX in a dose dependent manner. Collectively, DOX inhibited the production of NO by DLD-1 cells, which is not linked to well known transcription factor, NF-kB. Therefore, further studies on the possible mechanisms of inhibitory effects of NO production by DOX would be worth pursuing.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2003

Eleutherococcus senticosus is a typical oriental folk medicinal herb. It has been used clinically as a anti-rheumatic disease, anti-stress, ischemic heart disease and gastric ulcer. In the present study, we examined the adjuvant activity of the crude polysaccharides fraction from Eleutherococcus senticosus, EN-3, on the induction of humoral and cellular immune responses against bovine serum albumin (BSA) or ovalbumin (OVA). The thioglycollate-induced macrophages and silica-induced dendritic-like cells cultured with BSA and EN-3 synergistically increased the production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-12. When mice were subcutaneously immunized with BSA + EN-3, the antibody titer against BSA was showed significantly higher than those immunized with BSA alone. In addition, when mice were immunized with OVA + FIA + EN-3, the antibody titer was showed similar patterns with the FCA. The assay for determining subisotype of antibody revealed that EN-3 augmented OVA-specific antibody titer of IgG1 and IgG2b. The culture supernatant obtained from splenocytes of mice treated with OVA + FIA + EN-3 also showed a higher level of both OVA-specific Th1-type (IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$ and GM-CSF) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10). In vitro analysis of T cell proliferation to OVA on 8 weeks, the splenocytes of mice treated with OVA + EN-3 showed a significantly higher proliferating activity than those treated with OVA alone. These results suggest that EN-3 may possess adjuvant activities to potentially to enhance humoral as well as cellular immune response.