• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2018.10a
• /
• pp.97-97
• /
• 2018

Honey used as conventional medicine has various pharmacological properties. In the honey and anti-inflammatory effect, Gelam honey and Manuka honey has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activity. However, the anti-inflammatory effect and potential mechanisms of acacia honey (AH) are not well understood. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of action of AH in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. AH attenuated NO production through inhibition of iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. AH also decreased the expressions of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ as pro-inflammatory cytokines, and MCP-1 expression as a pro-inflammatory chemokine. In the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, AH decreased LPS-mediated $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation and subsequent nuclear accumulation of p65, which resulted in the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in RAW264.7 cells. AH dose-dependently suppressed LPS-mediated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, AH significantly inhibited ATF2 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of ATF2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that AH has an anti-inflammatory effect, inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$ and MCP-1 via interruption of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK/ATF2 signaling pathways.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2011

The immune system is finely balanced by the activities of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators or cytokines. Unregulated activities of these mediators can lead to the development of various inflammatory diseases. A variety of safe and effective anti-inflammatory agents are available with many more drugs under development. Of the natural compounds, the sesquiterpenes (nootkatone, ${\alpha}$-cyperone, valencene and ${\alpha}$-selinene) isolated from C. rotundus L. have received much attention because of their potential antiinflammatory effects. However, limited studies have been reported regarding the influence of sesquiterpene structure on anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory potential of four structurally divergent sesquiterpenes was evaluated in lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, murine macrophages. Among the four sesquiterpenes, ${\alpha}$-cyperone and nootkatone, showed stronger anti-inflammatory and a potent NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitory effect on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Molecular analysis revealed that various inflammatory enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) were reduced significantly and this correlated with downregulation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Additionally, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) elucidated that nootkatone and ${\alpha}$-cyperone dramatically suppressed LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA binding activity using 32Plabeled NF-${\kappa}B$ probe. Hence, our data suggest that ${\alpha}$-cyperone and nootkatone are potential therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2016

Inflammation plays an important role in host defense against external stimuli such as infection by pathogen, endotoxin or chemical exposure by the production of the inflammatory mediators that produced by macrophage. Anti-inflammatory factor is important to treat the dangers of chronic inflammation associated with chronic disease. This research aims to analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of Garcinia mangostana L. peel extract (GMPE), ${\alpha}$-mangostin, and ${\gamma}$-mangostin in LPS-induced murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. The cytotoxic assay of G. mangostana L. extract, ${\alpha}$-mangostin, and ${\gamma}$-mangostin were performed by MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) to determine the safe and non-toxic concentration in RAW 264.7 for the further assay. The concentration of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, IL-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$) were measured by the ELISA-based assay and NO by the nitrate/nitrite colorimetric assay in treated LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory activity was determined by the reducing concentration of inflammatory mediators in treated LPS-induced RAW 264.7 over the untreated cells. This research revealed that GMPE, ${\alpha}$-mangostin, and ${\gamma}$-mangostin possess the anti-inflammatory effect by reducing COX-2, IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and NO production in LPS-induces RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.977-981
• /
• 2005

Most inflammatory disorders are usually treated using anti-inflammatory drugs including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAID). In a prolonged use, however, they may frequently produce adverse side-effects. Thus, it is necessarily required to develop a new anti-inflammatory drug with little side-effects. Nephrite has been widely used by traditional oriental medicine to cure the various chronic diseases. In order to verify the anti-inflammatory activity of nephrite, the TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-acetate) or the croton oil-induced edema was developed in the mouse ears and the nephrite powder suspension or the nephrite water was directly applied to the ear edema. It was found that nephrite could significantly reduce the ear swelling implying its strong potential as an active anti-inflammatory agent when comparing to indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2016

Objective : Nypa fruticans Wurmb. Fruit (NF) has been used as a conventional medicine to treat inflammatory peridontal diseases in Myanmar and Eastern Asia. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of NF aqueous extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses was not well-investigated. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of NF on LPS-induced inflammatory responses on RAW 264.7 cells.Methods : To induce inflammation on the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells were treated with 500 ng/mL of LPS. Water extracts of NF was treated 1 h prior to treatment of LPS. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Production of nitrite was measured with Griess assay and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukine (IL)-1β and IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, we examined the inhibitory mechanisms of NF by western blot and immunocytochemistry.Result : Water Extract from NF itself did not have any cytotoxic effect at the concentration of 200 ㎍/ml in RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment of NF inhibited the production of nitrite, and pro-inflammatory cytokines inlcuding IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in a dose dependant. In addition, NF treatment inhibited the LPS-induced activation and translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB.Conclusion : In summary, our result suggest that treatment of NF could reduce the LPS-induced inflammatory responses via deactivation of NF-κB. This study could suggest that NF could be a beneficial drug or agent to prevent inflammation.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.287-293
• /
• 2012

Lycopene, found in tomatoes and tomato products, has antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. High-mobility-group box 1 (HMGB1) mediates the pro-inflammatory responses in several inflammatory diseases. In this study, the potential roles of lycopene in the HMGB1-mediated pro-inflammatory gene expressions in the primary human-umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated. The data showed that HMGB1 upregulated the expressions of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2)-IIA, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Lycopene pre-incubation for 6 h decreased the HMGB1-mediated induction of MCP-1, IL-6, sPLA2-IIA, and PGE2. Further study revealed that the inhibitory effects of lycopene on the HMGB-1 induced expression of pro-inflammatory genes were mediated by the inhibition of two important inflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$. These results suggest that HMGB1 upregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and lycopene inhibited HMGB-1-induced pro-inflammatory genes by inhibiting TNF-${\alpha}$ and NF-${\kappa}B$. This finding will serve as an important evidence in the development of a new medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.155-161
• /
• 2015

Background: Korean ginseng is an ethnopharmacologically valuable herbal plant with various biological properties including anticancer, antiatherosclerosis, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Since there is currently no drug or therapeutic remedy derived from Korean ginseng, we developed a ginsenoside-enriched fraction (AP-SF) for prevention of various inflammatory symptoms. Methods: The anti-inflammatory efficacy of AP-SF was tested under in vitro inflammatory conditions including nitric oxide (NO) production and inflammatory gene expression. The molecular events of inflammatory responses were explored by immunoblot analysis. Results: AP-SF led to a significant suppression of NO production compared with a conventional Korean ginseng saponin fraction, induced by both lipopolysaccharide and zymosan A. Interestingly, AP-SF strongly downregulated the mRNA levels of genes for inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and cyclooxygenase) without affecting cell viability. In agreement with these observations, AP-SF blocked the nuclear translocation of c-Jun at 2 h and also reduced phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and TAK-1, all of which are important for c-Jun translocation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AP-SF inhibits activation of c-Jun-dependent inflammatory events. Thus, AP-SF may be useful as a novel anti-inflammatory remedy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.496-503
• /
• 2018

Background: Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) plays an anti-inflammatory role in a variety of inflammatory diseases such as gastritis, hepatitis, and colitis. However, inflammation-regulatory activity of the calyx of the P. ginseng berry has not been thoroughly evaluated. To understand whether the calyx portion of the P. ginseng berry is able to ameliorate inflammatory processes, an ethanolic extract of P. ginseng berry calyx (Pg-C-EE) was prepared, and lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages and HEK293 cells transfected with inflammation-regulatory proteins were used to test the anti-inflammatory action of Pg-C-EE. Methods: The ginsenoside contents of Pg-C-EE were analyzed by HPLC. Suppressive activity of Pg-C-EE on NO production, inflammatory gene expression, transcriptional activation, and inflammation signaling events were examined using the Griess assay, reverse transcription-polymerization chain reaction, luciferase activity reporter gene assay, and immunoblotting analysis. Results: Pg-C-EE reduced NO production and diminished mRNA expression of inflammatory genes such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible NO synthase, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in a dose-dependent manner. This extract suppressed luciferase activity induced only by nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. Interestingly, immunoblotting analysis results demonstrated that Pg-C-EE reduced the activities of protein kinase B (AKT)1 and AKT2. Conclusion: These results suggest that Pg-C-EE may have nuclear-factor-${\kappa}B$-targeted anti-inflammatory properties through suppression of AKT. The calyx of the P. ginseng berry is an underused part of the ginseng plant, and development of calyx-derived extracts may be useful for treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.181-187
• /
• 2006

Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is a mixture of protopanaxadiol type saponins with a dammarane skeleton, from Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer; Araliaceae). Korean ginseng is well-known herb to treat almost all kinds of diseases in Oriental medicine. This herb was particularly prescribed for treatment various inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus, for centuries. To understand the efficacy of ginseng against inflammatory diseases, we aimed to show anti-inflammatory activities of the PPD in murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 cells using nitric oxide (NO) production assay and the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and IL-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). We found that PPD saponin significantly blocked LPS ($1{\mu}g/ml$)-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PPD abrogated the expressions of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and MCP-1. Moreover, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, a critical enzyme to produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), was significantly inhibited by PPD in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that anti-inflammatory efficacy of Korean red ginseng on inflammatory diseases is, at least, due to the NO inhibitory activity and the inhibition of the expressional level of inflammatory cytokines and/or mediators.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.612-621
• /
• 2018

Honey used as conventional medicine has various pharmacological properties. In the honey and anti-inflammatory effect, Gelam honey and Manuka honey has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activity. However, the anti-inflammatory effect and potential mechanisms of acacia honey (AH) are not well understood. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of action of AH in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. AH attenuated NO production through inhibition of iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. AH also decreased the expressions of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ as pro-inflammatory cytokines, and MCP-1 expression as a pro-inflammatory chemokine. In the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, AH decreased LPS-mediated $I{\kappa}B$-${\alpha}$ degradation and subsequent nuclear accumulation of p65, which resulted in the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in RAW264.7 cells. AH dose-dependently suppressed LPS-mediated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, AH significantly inhibited ATF2 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of ATF2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that AH has an anti-inflammatory effect, inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$ and MCP-1 via interruption of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK/ATF2 signaling pathways.