• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.287-297
• /
• 2021

Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc. is traditionally used as an edible and medicinal plant in many countries in East Asia. Previous studies have shown the pharmacological potential of extracts and components of C. officinalis, but comparative analysis of the composition of the leaf, stem, and fruit extracts has been insufficient to date. In the present study, the content of active antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients was verified in different C. officinalis parts (under-ripe sansuyu, ripe sansuyu, seed, leaf, stem, and dried sansuyu). One active component, morroniside, was high in fruit (under-ripe and ripe sansuyu), while loganin was high in fruit (under-ripe sansuyu) and cornin was high in seeds. Total polyphenol contents were highest in fruit (ripe sansuyu) and flavonoids were highest in leaves. DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest in leaves, followed by seeds and then ripe sansuyu extract. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of leaf extracts of C. officinalis (LCO) was further investigated by measuring their effects on levels of nitric oxide (NO) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of LCO effectively decreased the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of inducible NO synthase, resulting in decreased NO production. LCO also significantly suppressed LPS-induced production and expression of IL-1β and IL-6. Taken together, the present findings suggest that C. officinalis leaves have potential as natural materials for the development of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.82-88
• /
• 2006

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench(Sorghum, su-su) extracts on mouse immune cell activation. As ex vivo experiment, different concentrations(0, 50, 500mg/kg B.W.) of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts were orally administrated into mouse every other day for four weeks. The proliferation of mouse splenocytes, the number of plaque forming cells(PFC) and the cytokine IL-1β production by activated macrophage were used as indices for immunocompetence. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced in mouse orally administrated with 50mg/kg B.W./day concentration compared to that of control group. Especially, the highest proliferation of spleoncyte was seen in the mouse orally administrated at the concentration of 50mg/kg B.W./day. The number of plaque forming cells(PFC) to SRBC were significantly enhanced when compared with control group. Also, the mouse of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts 50mg/kg B.W./day supplementation group with LPS stimulation enhanced level of IL-1$\beta$ cytokine production. This study suggest that supplementation of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation, increasing the number of PFC and enhancing the cytokine production by activated macrophage.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1371-1377
• /
• 2019

Oxidative stress induced by the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain is the most common cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of flavonoids and their glycosides, namely kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, quercetin, and quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in the C6 glial cells. The H₂O₂-treated glial cells exhibited decreased cell viability and increased ROS production when compared with normal cells. However, cells treated with each of the four flavonoids/glycosides demonstrated significantly increased viability and suppressed ROS production when compared with the H₂O₂-treated control group. These results indicate that flavonoids/glycosides attenuate oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ in C6 glial cells. To confirm the protective molecular mechanisms, we measured pro-inflammatory factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-1β. H₂O₂ treatment was seen to elevate these factors and decrease IκB-α in the C6 glial cells, while the flavonoids/glycosides induced a down-regulation of the pro-inflammatory factors and increased IκB-α, indicating a neuroprotective effects through attenuation of the inflammation. In particular, quercetin and its glycoside showed a higher neuroprotective effect than the kaempferol treatments. These results suggest that these flavonoids and their glycosides could be promising therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases via the attenuation of oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.222-231
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to confirm the possibility of being used as a cosmetic material material through the verification of the whitening and anti-inflammatory activities of an ethyl acetate fraction from Glechoma hederacea var. longituba (GHEA). The observed electron donating and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging abilities of GHEA were 89.6% and 88.7%, respectively, at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration, with a tyrosinase inhibitory effect of 22.3% at the same concentration. For cell viability, a rate of 80% or more was observed in all concentrations that treated GHEA on melanoma and macrophage cells. Protein and mRNA expression inhibition was measured by Western blot and RT-PCR for 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/ ml concentrations, and it was confirmed that expression decreases in a concentration-dependent manner as GHEA concentration increases. The inhibition of the whitening-related factors MITF and TRP-2 were superior following GHEA treatment than those of the control group treated with kojic acid of 100 ㎍/ml concentration. For tyrosinase, the lowest mRNA expression rate was 29.1% at 100 ㎍/ml which confirmed excellent inhibition. In analyzing the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α on protein and mRNA expression, IL-6 and TNF-α showed high protein and mRNA inhibition compared to a vitamin C control group. Based on these experimental results, GHEA could be applied as a natural cosmetic material.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.40-59
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos in vitro, which has been frequently used in inflammatory diseases. Methods: In this experiment, the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos were evaluated by checking the following substances of LPS-activated Raw264.7 cell: Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), Nitric oxide (NO), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible Nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Interlukine-1β (IL-1β), Interlukine-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Inhibitor of kappa B-α (IκBα), Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). And additionally measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals to check the antioxidant effect of ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos which affect inflammatory responses. Results: As a result of measuring anti-inflammatory efficacy, PGE2, NO, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α production amounts were reduced in the ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos groups compared with the control group, and decreased the amount of COX-2 mRNA, iNOS mRNA gene expression. Expression of MAPK (ERK, JNK, p38) pathway was decreased. Expression of IκBα was increased and NF-κB was decreased. It is demonstrated that ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos, by reducing NF-κB, regulate the expression of the inflammatory genes and reduce the inflammatory mediators. Ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos also decreased ROS production and free radicals, which shown to have antioxidant efficacy and influence anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions: These data suggest that ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos can be used to treat various inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.242-249
• /
• 2016

This study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Prunellae Herba(PH). The generation of superoxide anion radical (․O₂-), nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and Prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂) were measured in the H₂O₂-Treated renal epithelial cells(LLC-PK1 cell) of mouse. And the effects of Prunellae Spica on the expression of NF-κB (p50, p65), IKK-α, phospho-IκB-α and inflammation-related proteins, COX-2, iNOS, IL-1β and VCAM-1, were examined by western blot. The fluorescent probes, 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihyldrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used to estimate the scavenging effect of Prunellae Spica on ․O₂-, NO, ONOO-. Western blot was conducted to assess the protein expression levels of NF-κB (p50, p65), IKK-α, phospho-IκB-α, inflammation-related proteins, COX-2, iNOS, IL-1β, VCAM-1. PH inhibited H₂O₂-treated cell death dose-dependently. It reduced the generation of ·O₂-, NO, ONOO- and PGE₂ in the H₂O₂-treated renal epitheial cells(LLC-PK₁ cell) of mouse in vitro. PH reduced the expression of NF-κB, IKK-α, phospho-IκB-α, COX-2, iNOS, IL-1β and VCAM-1 genes through means of decreasing activation of NF-κB signaling as well. According to these results, PH has an antioxidative activity and anti-inflammatory effect by regulating the NF-κB pathway. This suggest that PH is expected to be used to regulating inflammatory process and treating inflammation-related disease.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.160-169
• /
• 2024

In this study, Abies nephrolepis MAX. was divided into A. nephrolepis MAX. stem (AS) extract and A. nephrolepis MAX. leaf (AL) extract. Their anti-inflammatory abilities and applicability as cosmetic materials were determined. Tests of the cell survival rate measured using RAW 264.7 cells and extracts of AS and AL showed 97.8% and 95.6% cell viability at a 500 ㎍/ml concentration. To determine anti-inflammatory activity, we examined the inhibitory effects on the production of LPS-induced NO in RAW 264.7 cells by Griess assay. The results showed that the AS and AL extracts presented a concentration-dependent inhibition of NO production. The protein expression inhibitory effects of AS and AL extracts were measured by western blot at 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/ml concentrations. β-actin was used as a positive control. The results of western blot of extracts from AS showed that the expression inhibition rate of the iNOS protein was decreased by 50.1% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration. Additionally, the results of western blot of AL extracts showed that the expression inhibition rate of COX-2 and iNOS protein was decreased by 66% and 8.2% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration. The mRNA inhibitory effect was measured by RT-PCR at 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/ml concentrations. GAPDH was used as a positive control. Consequently, the iNOS mRNA expression effect by RT-PCR of AS extract demonstrated by RT-PCR decreased by 27.9% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration, and the iNOS and IL-6 mRNA expression effect of AL extract measured by RT-PCR decreased by 48.6% and 48.7% at the 100 ㎍/ml concentration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.211-219
• /
• 2021

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs. However, the action mechanisms of MA on the stimulation of anagen signaling in DPCs is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MA on anagen-activating signaling pathways in DPCs. MA significantly increased DPC proliferation and stimulated the G2/M phase, accompanied by increasing cyclin A, Cdc2, and cyclin B1. To elucidate the mechanism by which MA promotes DPC proliferation, we evaluated the effect of MA on autophagy and intracellular pathways. MA induced autophagosome formation by decreasing the levels of the phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR) and increasing autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3II (LC3II). MA also increased the phosphorylation levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as GSK3β (Ser9) and β-catenin (Ser552 and Ser675). Treatment with XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, attenuated the MA-induced increase in β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, XAV939 reduced MA-induced effects on cell cycle progression, autophagy, and DPC proliferation. On the other hand, MA increased the levels of phospho (Thr202/Tyr204)-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK). MA-induced ERK phosphorylation led to changes in the expression levels of Cdc2, Atg7 and LC3II, as well as DPC proliferation. Our results suggest that MA promotes anagen signaling via autophagy and cell cycle progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and ERK pathways in DPCs.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.7
• /
• pp.515-522
• /
• 2017

CD133, a pentaspan transmembrane glycoprotein, is generally used as a cancer stem cell marker in various human malignancies, but its biological function in cancer cells, especially in glioma cells, is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that forced expression of CD133 increases the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ and its downstream chemokines, namely, CCL3, CXCL3 and CXCL5, in U87MG glioma cells. Although there were no apparent changes in cell growth and sphere formation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, in vitro trans-well studies and in vivo tumor xenograft assays showed that neutrophil recruitment was markedly increased by the ectopic expression of CD133. In addition, the clinical relevance between CD133 expression and IL-$1{\beta}$ gene signature was established in patients with malignant gliomas. Thus, these results imply that glioma cells expressing CD133 are capable of modulating tumor microenvironment through the IL-$1{\beta}$ signaling pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.1987-1992
• /
• 2015

The aim of this research was to investigate the possible association between gastric carcinoma (GC) and polymorphisms of the IL-$1{\beta}$ gene in the Kashmiri population using peripheral blood DNA from 150 gastric carcinoma cases and 250 population controls with detailed data for clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. Two SNPs in the IL-$1{\beta}$ gene were selected for this study. Expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ was studied in 50 gastric carcinoma cases using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR and then correlated with genotype. The frequency of the IL-$1{\beta}$-511 C allele was significantly higher in the GC case group (53.3%) than in controls (45.4%) with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.73 and a P value of 0.03. Multivariate regression analysis showed associations of gastric carcinoma with mutant form of IL-$1{\beta}$-511 TT (OR 0.309; P value <0.001) and the CC genotype of IL-$1{\beta}$-31 (OR 0.313; P value of 0.002). Haplotype analysis of IL-$1{\beta}$-31 and IL-$1{\beta}$-511 showed decreased association of IL-$1{\beta}$-31 T with IL-$1{\beta}$-511 C with gastric carcinoma (OR 0.728; P value 0.03). Expression study of 50 samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-PCR showed association with grade III and stage III+IV. After correlating the expression with polymorphism no association was found.