• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2021

Background: This study sought to determine whether the antioxidant effects of astaxanthin (AST) could have an anti-inflammatory effect to reduce inflammation caused by atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: Using a mouse model of AD induced by phtalic acid (PA), the levels of inflammation, inflammatory agents, and evidence of antioxidant activity were examined in PA treated mice (n = 3), PA-AST treated mice (n = 3), and a control group of mice (n = 3). This included measurements of ear thickness, levels of mast cells, IgE, inflammatory cytokine, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide, HO-1, and GPx-1. Results: AST treatment significantly prevented inflammation as measured by ear thickness (p < 0.05), mast cell count (p < 0.001), and IgE concentration in the blood (p < 0.001). Levels of TNF-α (p < 0.001), IL-1β (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and MDA (p < 0.05) were also significantly lower. In addition, GSH levels increased significantly (p < 0.001), and the level of hydrogen peroxide significantly reduced (p < 0.01). The expression of HO-1, GPx-1 increased. Conclusion: In this small experimental study, AST acted on inflammatory mechanisms that induced AD, through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, and is a candidate of interest in the clinical treatment of AD.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.74-74
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• 2020

Skin is continuously exposed to a variety of environmental stresses, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UVB is an inherent component of sunlight that crosses the epidermis and reaches the upper dermis, leading to increased oxidative stress, activation of inflammatory response and accumulation of DNA damage among other effects. In the present study, the anti-wrinkle mechanism of Acorus gramineus callus culture supernatant (GB-AGS-PSC) was elucidated in UVB treated HaCaT keratinocytes. GB-AGS-PSC prevented the matrix metalloprotease 1 (MMP-1), elastin, and pro-collagen product and cytotoxicity and SOD inhibition. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that GB-AGS-PSC-treated cells displayed dose-dependent increase in messenger RNA expression levels of Aquaporin 3 (AQP3), Keratin 1(KRT1), fillagrin, and hyaluronan synthase-2 (HAS 2) and decreased expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3, -9, and -13 in UVB treated HaCaT keratinocytes. Additionally, GB-AGS-PSC suppressed TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 product for inflammatory responses in UVB treated HaCaT keratinocytes. Therefore, GB-AGS-PSC may be useful as an anti-photoaging resource for the skin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1614-1625
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• 2020

A number of species of the genus Trichilia (Meliaceae) exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of Trichilia martiana C. DC. (TM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation has not, to the best of our knowledge, yet been determined. Therefore, in the present study, the antiinflammatory effect of TM on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages was evaluated. The ethanol extract of TM (TMEE) significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin 2 (PGE₂), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). TMEE also reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. The upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation was revealed to be downregulated following TMEE pretreatment. Furthermore, TMEE was indicated to lead to the nucleus translocation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In H292 airway epithelial cells, the pretreatment of TMEE significantly downregulated the production of LPS-stimulated IL-1β, and TMEE was indicated to increase the expression of HO-1. In animal models exhibiting LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), treatment with TMEE reduced the levels of macrophages influx and TNF-α production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ALI mice. Additionally, TMEE significantly downregulated the activation of ERK, JNK and IκB, and upregulated the expression of HO-1 in the lungs of ALI mice. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that TMEE could exert a regulatory role in the prevention or treatment of the endotoxin-mediated inflammatory response.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the hypothesis that a highly pure linear ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan produced by Agrobacterium sp. R259 enhances human natural killer (NK) cell activity and suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In an eight-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 83 healthy adults with white blood cell counts of $4,000-8,000cells/{\mu}L$ were participated and randomly assigned to take two capsules per day containing either 350 mg ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan or placebo. Six participants withdrew their study consent or were excluded due to NK cell activity levels outside the normal range. NK cell activity and serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were measured. RESULTS: NK cell activity and the serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher from baseline to week 8 in the ${\beta}$-glucan group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.048, P = 0.029). Consumption of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan also significantly increased NK cell activity compared with placebo after adjusting for smoking and stress status (P = 0.009). In particular, the effect of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants with severe stress than in those experiencing mild stress. However, the administration ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan did not significantly modulate the levels of IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IgG compared with the placebo. CONCLUSION: The results showed that supplementation with bacterial ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan significantly increased NK cell activity without causing any adverse effects. Additionally, the beneficial effect of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants experiencing severe stress.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.137-147
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• 2004

In order to evaluate the antitumor activity and immunomodulatory effects of Seoleosojong-tang(SST), studies were done. We measured the cytotoxic activity for various kinds of cancer cells, inhibitory effect on activity of DNA topoisomerase I, cell adhesion to complex extracellular matrix, survival time in ICR bearing S-180, pulmonary colonization and histological changes of lung in C57BL/6 injected i.v. with B16-F10, CAM assay, expression of CD4/sup +/, CD8/sup +/, B220/sup +/, cytokine gene in spleen cell. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In cytotoxicity against A549, HT1080, 816-F10, NCL-H661 was showed cytotoxicity as compared with control. 2. The inhibitory effect on adhesion of A549, 816-F10 to complex extracellular matrix was over 40% at 100 ㎍/㎖ of SST. 3. In DNA topoisomerase I assay, SST has inhibitory effect. 4. The T/C% was 120.8 in SST treated group in S-180 bearing ICR mice. 5. In pulmonary colonization assay, a number of colonies were decreased significantly and histological changes were showed that infiltration area of cancer cells were inhibited effectively in SST treated group. 6. In CAM Assay, SST has antiangiogenic effect. 7. On the expression of positive cell to CD4/sup +/, CD8/sup +/ and 8220/sup +/ in spleen cells, CD4/sup +/ cells were increased significantly in SST treated group. 8. Effect of SST on IL-1β gene expression in splenic cell was significantly increased as function of whole concentration. 9. The gene expression of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α were increased in SST treated group. From above results SST could be usefully applied for antitumor activity and immunomodulatory effects, but further research of SST should be required.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.436-444
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• 2023

To produce an intestinal immunomodulatory beverage containing Centella asiatica extract (CAE), three types of CAE-added beverage prototypes were prepared, and their immunomodulatory activities and marker compounds were analyzed. As a result of the cytotoxicity assessment, all the beverages did not show significant toxicity compared to the control group. Next, the immunomodulatory activities of the beverage prototype were evaluated using the inflammatory model of IL-1β-induced intestinal epithelial cell line. All the samples significantly reduced the production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 in a CAE concentration-dependent manner. In addition, CAE-added beverages inhibited NO, IL-6, and IL-12 production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. When the major triterpenoids, as marker compounds for the production of CAE-added beverages, were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, only asiaticoside was detected beyond the limit of quantification, while madecassoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid were not detected. The amounts of asiaticoside in CAE-added beverage prototypes were confirmed in No. 1 (19.39 ㎍/mL), 2 (19.25 ㎍/mL), and 3 (19.98 ㎍/mL). In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that CAE-added beverage prototypes induced immunomodulatory effects in the intestinal inflammatory cell line models and asiaticoside could be used as a marker compound for CAE-added beverage production.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1924-1929
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• 2013

Hizikia fusiforme (seaweed fusiforme) has long been used as a food source mainly in Korea and Japan. This study was performed to evaluate the immunomodulative effects of Hizikia fusiforme in mice. Hizikia fusiforme water extracts (0, 50, and 500 mg/kg b.w.) were orally administrated into the mice every other day, for four weeks. The proliferation of splenocytes, as well as the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$) secreted by activated macrophages were measured. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced in the experimental groups compared to that of the control group. Also, the mice with Hizikia fusiforme water extracts supplementation in both concentrations showed increased levels of cytokine production by activated peritoneal macrophages compared to those in the control group. The highest levels of cytokine (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) production were observed in the 50 mg/kg b.w. supplementation group stimulated by LPS for all three cytokines. The results of this study showed that the supplementation of Hizikia fusiforme water extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and the cytokine production by activated macrophages. Further studies are needed to identify the stimulative and immunomodulating components of Hizikia fusiforme.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.476-482
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• 2020

In rice agriculture, Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi (olbanggae) is a target for herbicidal intervention as a problem weed although it has also long been used clinically as a traditional medicine for jaundice, fever, and blood flow. E. kuroguwai has been evaluated in many clinical trials, but its molecular biological advantages are still unknown. Here, we investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of E. kuroguwai 80% ethanol extracts by screening NO production in LPS-induced macrophage activation. To find the most effective fractions, we partitioned five sub-fractions using HP20 column chromatography, namely 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. Of these, the 60% and 80% sub-fractions were found to significantly inhibit NO production; there were no toxicological effects at any concentration. In addition, the 80% sub-fraction inhibited significantly the iNOS and the mRNA of the pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β by inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK pathways associated with MAPKs signaling. Our results suggest that the 80% E. kuroguwai sub-fraction has the most significant anti-inflammatory effects of inhibiting iNOS and pro-inflammatory mediators and suppressing the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK. Therefore, the 80% sub-fraction of E. kuroguwai extract may be a therapeutic candidate for inflammatory diseases associated with the overexpression of MAPKs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.346-351
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• 2003

The current studies investigated the therapeutic effects of Ephedra sinica Stapf (ES) herb-acupuncture on the inflammatory responses of rat arthritic joint, which was induced by the intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis emulsified in squalene to the base of the tail. The measurements of body weight and articular index were exploited as the assessment methods addressing arthritic symptoms, and the expression profiles of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the rat joint were analyzed using RT-PCR. The articular indexes of arthritic rats were significantly restored after the treatment with ES herb-acupuncture. Although the clinical symptoms of arthritic rats were apparently alleviated by the ES treatments, their body weights were not recovered. It maybe due to the weight-loss and energy enhancement effects of ES extracts. The expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 genes, which were highly stimulated in the knee joints of arthritic rats, were restored to the levels of normal rats after the ES treatment. The therapeutic effect of ES herb-acupuncture was not observed in ES-treated, non-acupoint arthritic group as a sham control. The ES herb-acupuncture into an acupoint ST36 was found to be effective in alleviating the arthritic symptoms in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats as regards the body weight, joint appearance and the expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Schizonepeta Spica water extract (SS) on the OVA-induced BLAB/c mice allergic rhinitis model.Methods : Thirty two BALB/c mice were equally assigned to 4 groups; the sham group, the control group, the cetirizine hydrochloride (Cet) treatment group, and the SS treatment group. Sham group was sensitized and challenged with saline, and the other groups were sensitized and challenged with OVA. The dosage of SS was 7.6 mg /kg·day, and Cet was 10 mg/kg·day. Nasal rubbing and sneezing were measured by the behavior observation. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α and MIP-2 in the sera of allergic rhinitis model were measured by mouse cytokine/chemokine magnetic bead panel kits. Total IgE and OVA-specific IgE were measured by ELISA method. Epithelial thickness and eosinophil infiltration of nasal septum was investigated by histological examination.Results : The clinical symptoms that increased in control group were significantly reduced in SS-treated group. Serum total IgE and OVA-specific IgE in the SS-treated group were significantly reduced compared to the control group. The concentration of IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α and MIP-2 in SS-treated group showed a significant reduction compared to the control group. The infiltration of eosinophil into nasal tissues of SS-treated group decreased markedly compared to control group, and thickness of nasal septum in nasal mucosa showed a significant reduction compared to control group.Conclusions : According to the above result, it is suggested that SS may inhibit the early and late phase of allergic rhinitis reaction.