• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.837-840
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• 2004

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of Eunkyo-San(EKS) on the immune system. Administration of EKS(500 mg/kg) enhanced viability of splenocytes and thymocytes in BALB/c mice, and also EKS increased of splenic B, T lymphocytes and thymic T lymphocytes, significantly increased CD4 positive TH cells. EKS markedly enhanced the production of -interferon in mice serum. EKS accelerated the production of nitric oxide in peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that EKS have an immune-enhancing activity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.45-45
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• 2023

Autophagy contributes to enhancing the immune system (innate and adaptive immune system) against foreign pathogens. Autophagy of macrophages is used as a major indicator for developing vaccine adjuvants to increase the adaptive immune response. In this study, RAL increased the production of immunostimulatory mediators and phagocytotic activity in RAW264.7 cells. RAL increased p62/SQSTM1 expression. Inhibition of TLR4, JNK, and PI3K/AKT blocked RAL-mediated increase of p62/SQSTM1. RAL activated JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling. RAL-mediated activation of JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling was reversed by TLR4 inhibition. Taken together, it is believed that RAL-mediated autophagy may be dependent on activating via TLR4-dependent activation of JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling in macrophages.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2016

Probiotics that are able to provide beneficial effects on animal health have become important ingredients of dog foods. This study was conducted to characterize the probiotic potentials of two strains, Lactobacillus reuteri BCLR-42 and Lactobacillus plantarum BCLP-51, that were derived from feces of healthy dogs and evaluated based on tolerance to low pH and bile acid, antimicrobial activities, enzyme profiles, sensitivity to antibiotics, and innate immune enhancing potentials. Both strains showed survival of more than 90% at pH 3 and 0.2% bile acid and exhibited broad antimicrobial activities against indicator bacteria. Moreover, both strains showed high sensitivity to antibiotics, except vancomycin, metronidazole, and gentamicin. The alkaline phosphatase was negligible (score 0), whereas they showed strong beta galactosidase activity (score range 5 or 3, respectively). The phagocytosis and oxidative burst activities of canine granulocytes were significantly enhanced in response to both strains. These results show that both strains have the capability to act as probiotics and the potential for application as ingredients in dog foods.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.12-22
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate immune enhancing effect of Houttuyniae Herba water extract(HW) on RAW 264.7 cell of mouse macrophages. Methods: Effects of HW on productions of nitric oxide(NO) and hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages were measured. Effect of HW on production of cytokines such as interleukin(IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ in RAW 264.7 cells was accessed by a multiplex bead array assay based on xMAP technology. All of results were represented P<0.05 compared to the normal. Results: 1. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly NO production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 2. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly hydrogen peroxide production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 3. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly IL-$1{\beta}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 4. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly IL-6 production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 5. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly TNF-${\alpha}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. Conclusions: These results suggest that HW has immune enhancing activity related with its increasement of NO, hydrogen peroxide, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in macrophages.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2010

We describe the immune stimulatory effects of compounds determined by means of activity-monitored extraction and isolation techniques. As a result, 4-carboethoxy-6-methoxy-2-quinolone (1) and 4-carboethoxy-6-hydroxy-2-quinolone (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the Oryza sativa cv. Heugnambyeo bran, and were determined to exert significant inhibitory effects in macrophage cell line (murine RAW 264.7) and murine splenocytes. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, particularly the results obtained via hetero nuclear multiple-bond connectivity and high-resolution MS spectroscopy. Up to date, compound (1) was isolated as natural sources for the first time.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1248-1254
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• 2019

Identification of novel probiotic strains is of great interest in the field of functional foods. Specific strains of heat-killed bacteria have been reported to exert immunomodulatory effects. Herein, we investigated the immune-stimulatory function of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 13314BP (LBP). Treatment with LBP significantly increased the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 by macrophages. More importantly, LBP was able to enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages against bacterial particles. Activation of p38, JNK, ERK, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and STAT3 was involved in the immunomodulatory function of LBP. LBP treatment significantly increased production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ by bone marrow-derived macrophages and splenocytes, further confirming the immunostimulatory effect of LBP in primary immune cells. Interestingly, the immunomodulatory effects of LBP were much stronger than those of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a well-known probiotic strain. These results indicate that LBP can be a promising immune-enhancing functional food agent.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.87-87
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• 2022

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in immune enhancement and anti-obesity is increasing. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether Kadsura japonica fruits (KJF) exhibits immunostimulatory activity and anti-obesity activity. KJF increased the production of immunostimulatory factors and phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. Inhibition of TLR2 and TLR4 blocked KJF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the inhibition of MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway reduced KJF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors, and the activation of MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by KJF suppressed the inhibition of TLR2/4. KJF attenuated the lipid accumulation and the protein expression such as CEBPα, PPARγ, perilipin-1, adiponectin, and FABP4 related to the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, KJF inhibited excessive proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells and protein expressions such as β-catenin and cyclin D1 related to cell growth. These findings indicate that KJF may have immunostimulatory activity and anti-obesity activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.282-286
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• 1998

To determine the immune effect of kimchi extracts in mice, 0.5mg/day of the extracts from kimchis, which were prepared with conventionally (general kimchi)and organically(organic kimchi) cultivated ingredients, were treated orally to male BALB/c mice. Following 1, 3 and 5 weeks of treatment , the Interleukin-2(IL-2) production in the presence (con-A-stimulated )or the absence(spontaneous)of con A 95 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and the natural killer cell (NK) activity of the splenocytes were measured. The IL-2 production in most of treatments with methanol extract from general kimchi were significantly higher than those of control(p<0.05).And at the 3 weeks of treatment, the spontaneous or con A-stimulated IL-2 productions from splenocytes of mice treated with it increased more than those of control group, by 2.8 and 2.2 times, respectively. However, the longer the treatment with methanol extracts from organic kimchi showed the higher the enhancing effect on the IL-2 production. The spontaneous or con A-stimulatdIL-2 productions form splenocytes of mice treated with dicholoromethyane fraction from general kimchi also increased at 5 weeks of treatment compared to those of control group, by 2.7 and 2.5 times, respectively. The natural killer cell activity of splenocytes from mice treated with methano lextracts from general kimchi for 1 ~5 weeks significantly higher than that of control goup (p<0.01). The effect of methano extracts from general kimchi was the highest at 3 weeks of treatment, as same as in the IL-2 production. The enhancing effect of methano extracts from organic kimchi on the NK cell activity was the highest at 5 weeks of treatment . The NK cell activity of splenocytes from mice treated with dichloromethane fraction from general kimchi for 5 weeks was significantly higher than those in control and 3 weeks of treatment. These results showed that the effects of kimchi extracts on the IL-2 production and the NK cell activity in mice were profound in long term of treatment (3 and 5 weeks than 1 week) . We suggest that kimchi extracts might have an immune effect in part due to its enhancing action on the IL-2 production and the NK cell activity.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.940-948
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the immune activity of Ailantias altissima as an active ingredient on the immune enhancement by mixing ethanol extract with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The activity of $NF-{\kappa}B/AP1$ transcription factor increased by $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity when mixed with LAB samples rather than with the extract alone. Nitric oxide (NO) production was similar in ethanol extract alone group and LPS treatment group. Mixing Ailantias altissima extract and lactic acid bacteria led to low NO production. The cytokine productivity of $TNF-{\alpha}$ significantly increased in Ailantias altissima extract when treated with LPS, and increased even more when mixed with lactic acid bacteria. The $IL-1{\beta}$ cytokine production was high when the Ailantias altissima extract were treated alone, but no $IL-1{\beta}$ cytokine was produced in the mixtures with isolates. The combination of the ethanol extract of the Ailantias altissima and the lactic acid bacteria was found to be effective in the immune function. Consequently, the ingredient to combine Ailantias altissima extract and lactic acid bacteria can be effectively used for development of the health functional food on the prevention and treatment of hypoimmunities.