• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2021

In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of an extract of the fruiting body of the Tuber himalayense (TH) truffle collected from oak growing areas in Korea was investigated. The extract was not cytotoxic at concentrations below 100 ㎍/mL in an experiment evaluating inflammation inhibitory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) production was inhibited by the extract in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot assay results indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of TH extract was likely caused by the reduced production of NO and PGE₂ via suppression of induced NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression. In addition, TH extract effectively inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 by macrophages. Thus, TH extract effectively inhibits the overexpression of various inflammatory mediators and could be valuable in formulating anti-inflammatory foods and medicines that target these components.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.686-702
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Schisandrae Fructus, the fruit of Schisandra chinensis Baill., has traditionally been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases, and has proven its various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Schisandrae Fructus ethanol extract (SF) on inflammatory and oxidative stress in particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of SF in PM2.5-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, the levels of pro-inflammatory mediator such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of SF, the expression of genes involved in the generation of inflammatory factors was also investigated. We further evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy of SF against PM2.5 in the zebrafish model. RESULTS: The results indicated that SF treatment significantly inhibited the PM2.5-induced release of NO and PGE₂, which was associated with decreased inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. SF also attenuated the PM2.5-induced expression of IL-6 and IL-1β, reducing their extracellular secretion. Moreover, SF suppressed the PM2.5-mediated translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) from the cytosol into nuclei and the degradation of inhibitor IκB-α, indicating that SF exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, SF abolished PM2.5-induced generation of ROS, similar to the pretreatment of a ROS scavenger, but not by an inhibitor of NF-κB activity. Furthermore, SF showed strong protective effects against NO and ROS production in PM2.5-treated zebrafish larvae. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that SF exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects against PM2.5 through ROS-dependent down-regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, and that SF can be a potential functional substance to prevent PM2.5-mediated inflammatory and oxidative damage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.745-754
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• 2021

Deterioration of the immune function weakens the body's resistance to various infections, leading to a series of diseases. Immunomodulatory biomaterials have been used to reduce the side effects of immunosuppressants or to enhance immunity. Agarwood is the aromatic resinous portion of Aquilaria trees that has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases. Although previous studies have shown that agarwood can improve the body's immunity, evidence for this claim is still lacking. In this study, the immune-enhancing effects of the agarwood methanol extracts of Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk were evaluated in a RAW 264.7 macrophage model. Based on the results, the agarwood extracts markedly enhanced phagocytosis in the absence of cytotoxicity. The agarwood extract-treated RAW 264.7 cells exhibited the typical morphology of activated macrophages, which are spindle-shaped with elongated filopodia. Agarwood extract also significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase. Moreover, the secretion and expression levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, were increased by agarwood treatment. Notably, these are also associated with a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings provide scientific evidence that agarwood has potential immune-enhancing effects in vitro.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2022

In this study, Cyperus rotundus (C. rotundus) was fractionated into ethyl acetate to identify α-cyperone, a representative indicator, and its ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated to confirm the possibilityas a functional cosmetic ingredient. As a result of HPLC analysis, it was confirmed that the content of α-cyperone was 5.243%. In order to verify the inflammatory relief effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from C. rotundus (EAFC) and α-cyperone, it was confirmed that nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory ability in RAW 264.7 macrophages induced an inflammatory reaction with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Real-time qPCR analysis confirmed inhibition of mRNA expression level of inflammatory factors, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2 and iNOS. As a results of conducting a clinical study using a simple cosmetic formulation containing EAFC, it was confirmed that the skin irritation stimulated by sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was calming and relieving itching. Through these results, it is believed that the C. rotundus can be used as a natural cosmetic ingredient that has the effect of inhibiting inflammation and relieving itching.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.899-907
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• 2022

Quercetin is one of bio-flavonoids which are abundant in fruits and vegetables and has been reported to have various pharmacological potentials such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-virus effects. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects and its working molecular mecha- nism of quercetin were investigated in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Quercetin significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cell viability and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, quercetin decreased phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK, and inhibited phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 protein and its inhibitor IκBα indicating that quercetin has the anti-inflammatory effects via regulation of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathway. We also detected expression changes of four kinds of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (CSF2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) with quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that quercetin decreased the expression of four pro-inflammatory genes in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Overall, our results showed that quercetin effectively suppressed inflammation responses induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells via regulating MAPK and NF-κB pathway and down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.119-127
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• 2013

Objectives : ${\beta}$-Asarone (BAS) is an active ingredient in Acori Rhizoma. This study investigated anti-neuroinflammatory and memory ameliorating effects of BAS in systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Methods : BAS was administered orally at doses of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg for 3 days prior to LPS (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) injection. Pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-ㅍ), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6, was measured in hippocampus tissue using real-time polymerase chain reaction at 4 h after the LPS injection. An ameliorating effect of 30 mg/kg BAS on learning and memory impairment in the LPS-treated mice was verified using the Morris water maze test. Results : BAS significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 mRNA in hippocampus tissue of the LPS-treated mice. In acquisition training test, BAS improved learning performance of the LPS-treated mice with a significant decrease of escape latency to the platform. In memory retention test, BAS also ameliorated memory impairment of the LPS-treated mice with a significant increase of swimming time in zones neighboring to the platform, number of target heading, and memory score. Conclusion : The results suggest that inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus by BAS could be one of the mechanisms for BAS-mediated ameliorating effect on learning and memory impairment in LPS-treated mice.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.935-941
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the activity of ginsenoside metabolites and the intestinal immunity antioxidant activity were remarkably improved by lactic acid bacteria fermentation by adding a small amount of ginsenoside to the complex extracts of fruits and vegetables. It was confirmed that the increase in intestinal immunity antioxidant activity due to synergistic effect was observed in the fruit-vegetable extract containing ginsenoside compared to the ginsenoside-only extract or the fruit-vegetable extract. Then, by adding ginsenosides by content, the concentration of ginsenosides that can obtain a synergistic effect according to the fermentation of lactic acid bacteria was determined. As a result, it was confirmed that a synergistic effect was exhibited when lactic acid bacteria were fermented and extracted by mixing ginsenosides in a mass ratio of 3 to 10% with respect to the mass of the fruit-vegetable mixture. As a result, when treated at a concentration of 200 ㎍/ml, the fruit-vegetable complex extract containing ginsenoside metabolites inhibited the generation of NO by about 60% compared to the complex extract containing no ginsenoside, The expression of IL-1β was suppressed by 63%, the expression of IL-6 by 69%, and the expression of TNF-α by 76%, confirming that the intestinal immune antioxidant properties were significantly improved.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 2003

Background: $\beta$-1,3-glucans are well known to enhance the immune reactions, resulting in antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulatory and wound healing activities. $\beta$-1, 3-glucans have various activities depending on molecular weight, degree of branching, conformation, water-solubility and intermolecular association. However, the $\beta$-1,3-glucan linked backbone structure is essential and $\beta$-D-glucopyranosyl units are required for immuno-potentiating activities. Result: In this study, we tested the immunophamacological activities of soluble $\beta$-1,3-glucans and confirmed the following activities: (1) $IFN-{\gamma}$ production in PBMCs in the presence or the absence of PHA, LPS, or IL-18; (2) induction of various cytokines in the spleen and thymus; (3) adjuvant effect on the antibody production; (4) nitrogen oxide synthesis in macrophages; (5) the cytotoxic and antitumor effects on cell lines and ICR mice. Conclusion: These results strongly suggested that $\beta$-1,3-glucans possessed various immuno-pharmacological activities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2021

Gryllus bimaculatus extract (GbE) have reported that anti-inflammatory activity by suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the effects of fermented Gryllus bimaculatus extract (FGbE) have not yet been investigated. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle effect of the fermented Gryllus bimaculatus extracts using Bacillus subtilis (JB PMB-18) in RAW264.7 cells. Both GbE and FGbE exerted no cytotoxic effects until 1000 ㎍/mL concentration. FGbE decreased NO production and decreased iNOS and COX-2 mRNA levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the protein production of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was effectively reduced compared to the GbE. Inhibitory activities of elastase and collagenase associated with skin wrinkle improvement were measured to be 45% and 69%, respectively, at a concentration of 500 ㎍/mL in FGbE. From these results, FGbE can be used as a health functional food and skin functional cosmetic materials for preventing inflammatory diseases because it has excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle effects.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2021

Lentinus edodes contains functional metabolites such as polysaccharopeptides, lectins, and secondary metabolites. Fermented soybean paste is representative fermented materials in Korea, and is gradually increasing due to various biological activities. In the present study, ethanol extracts of fermented products with/without L. edodes were designated as SPL and SP, and prepared to develop safer and therapeutic functional foods with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities for treatment of inflammatory disorders. SP and SPL extracts exhibited antioxidant effects via inhibiting radical activities. Inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation were down-regulated by two extracts. SPL extract more strongly enhanced the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities than SP extract. Its' activities shown more longer fermentation period and more strong inhibitory effects. Taken together, our results suggested that fermented product with medicinal plant has synergic effect and SPL can be a potential candidate for treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.