• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2005

Objectives : Scrophulariae Radix (SRE) is commonly used in combination with other herbs as a nutrient and health strengthening agent, and to remove 'heat' and replenish vital essence. The water-based extract of this herb can lower blood pressure in both anesthetized and concious animals, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory activity. But, there is lack of studies regarding the effects of SRE on the immunological activities in molecular levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SRE on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264.7 cells. Method : After the treatment of Scrophulariae Radix methanol extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by Immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results : Results provided evidence that SRE inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}\;(p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha})$ in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conclusion : These findings suggest that Scrophulariae Radix can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although the antioxidative effects of lycopene are generally known, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of lycopene are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to examine the role and mechanism of lycopene as an inhibitor of inflammation. METHODS/MATERIALS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated SW 480 human colorectal cancer cells were treated with 0, 10, 20, and $30{\mu}M$ lycopene. The MTT assay was performed to determine the effects of lycopene on cell proliferation. Western blotting was performed to observe the expression of inflammation-related proteins, including nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), inhibitor kappa B ($I{\kappa}B$), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 (p38 MAP kinase). Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to investigate the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: In cells treated with lycopene and LPS, the mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 were decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The concentrations of $PGE_2$ and NO decreased according to the lycopene concentration (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and JNK were decreased significantly according to lycopene concertation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene restrains $NF-{\kappa}B$ and JNK activation, which causes inflammation, and suppresses the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS in SW480 human colorectal cancer cells.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.27-46
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• 1999

This study was done in order to investigate the object and the method of animal e xperimental thesis on diabetes. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Rat, mouse, kk mouse and rabbit were used for experimental Diabetes single or combine. 2. Alloxan, streptozotocin, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, epinephrine, ethanol and KK mouse were used for inducement of Diabetes. 3. Blood glucose, insulin, body weight, drinking water, urinary volume and the chan ge of Langerhan's islet tissue were first observational items on Diabetes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.271-274
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• 2013

Brain insults, including neurotrauma, infection, and perinatal injuries such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, generate inflammation in the brain. These inflammatory cascades induce a wide spectrum of cytokines, which can cause neuron degeneration, have neurotoxic effects on brain tissue, and lead to the development of seizures, even if they are subclinical and occur at birth. Cytokines are secreted by the glial cells of the central nervous system and they function as immune system mediators. Cytokines can be proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-8 are proinflammatory cytokines that activate additional cytokine cascades and increase seizure susceptibility and organ damage, whereas IL-1 receptor antagonist and IL-10 act as anti-inflammatory cytokines that have protective and anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, the immune system and its associated inflammatory reactions appear to play an important role in brain damage. Whether cytokine release is relevant for the processes of epileptogenesis and antiepileptogenesis, and whether epileptogenesis could be prevented by immunomodulatory treatment should be addressed in future clinical studies. Furthermore, early detection of brain damage and early intervention are essential for the prevention of disease progression and further neurological complications. Therefore, cytokines might be useful as biomarkers for earlier detection of brain damage in high-risk infants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.96-96
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• 2003

Previously, wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) was found to suppress proinflammatory enzyme expression including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), contributing to in vivo anti-inflammatory activity against skin inflammation. However, the detailed effect on each skin cell type has not been understood. Therefore, present investigation was carried out to find the effect of wogonin on inflammation-associated gene expression from skin fibroblasts in culture using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. As a result, it was found that wogonin (10 - 100 ${\mu}$M) clearly down-regulated COX -2 expression from NIH/3T3 cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, interleukin-1${\beta}$ or tumor necrosis factor-a. But, the expression levels of COX-1, interleukin-1${\beta}$ and fibronectin were not significantly affected. This finding was well correlated with significant reduction of prostaglandin E$_2$(PGE$_2$) production by wogonin. As a comparison, NS-398 (selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) did not suppress COX -2 expression and other gene levels, while PGE$_2$production was potently reduced at 0.1 - 10 ${\mu}$M. All these results suggest that COX -2 down-regulation of skin fibroblasts may be, at least in part, one of anti-inflammatory mechanisms of wogonin against skin inflammation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2019

Cheongpyesagan-tang (CP) is one of the traditional medicinal prescription to treat Taeumin (太陰人)'s disease. It has been commonly used for the treatment of stroke, arthritis, diabetes and obesity. In this study, we investigated an anti-inflammatory potential of CP water extract. We examined the effects of CP on the lipopolysarccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). We also examined the levels of protein or mRNA of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and proinflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells. CP inhibited NO and $PGE_2$ production in a dose dependent manner and decreased the protein and mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2. Also, CP decreased the mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$). These results suggest that CP has potential as anti-inflammatory therapeutic medicine.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of essential oil extracted from the wood of Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc. Endl. (Cupressaceae). The essential oil was extracted from the wood of C. obtusa by hydrodistillation method, and conducted the analysis on the chemical composition of the extracted C. obtusa wood oil through GC-MS. The major constituents of the oil were found to be: ${\alpha}-pinene$ (11.4%), cadinene (5.4%), ${\delta}-cadiene$ (9.0%), ${\tau}-muurolol$ (22.2%), ${\alpha}-cadinol$ (20.8%) etc. We attempted to identify the anti-inflammatory activities of the oil when it is injected in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells, along with its effects on the secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13), ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$. According to the cell viability analysis conducted by MTT assay, the oil in $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}%$concentration showed no effect on the cell viability. After RBL-2H3 cells treated by LPS stimulation were exposed to $10^{-7}%$ concentration of C. obtusa wood oil, the expression levels of IL-4, IL-13 within the cell were observed to remarkably decrease. Also, it was attenuated the release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ from mast cells to a significantly meaningful level. These results suggest that C. obtusa wood oil exerts the anti-inflammatory effect, by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which is a valuable feature to be highly utilized as the functional materials in the future.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2017

Sulfated polysaccharides are known to be immune-stimulators in mammals and can be used as food additives to enhance immunity. In this study, the immune-stimulating activity of water-soluble anionic macromolecules F₂ fractionation isolated from Codium fragile using ion-exchange chromatography was tested in olive flounder, Paralichythys olivaceus, in vitro and in vivo. The gene expression of interleukin (IL)-1β was adopted to check the immune-affection. As a result, in vitro study revealed that the expression of IL-1β was significantly upregulated in head kidney cells by 1 and 5 ㎍/ml of polysaccharides 4 h and by 5 ㎍/ml of polysaccharides at 24 h. In vivo, IL-1β gene expression in head kidney was significantly upregulated by 20 and 100 ㎍ of the polysaccharides at day 1 post-i.p. injection, while downregulated at day 3 but not significant. Meanwhile, in peritoneal cells, it was upregulated by 20 ㎍ of the polysaccharides at day 1 but the upregulation was sustained until day 3 though it was not significant. These results indicate that the sulfated polysaccharides from C. fragile are an immune-stimulator and might be potential feed additives for olive flounder.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.341-345
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• 2010

Introduction: Skeletal homeostasis is normally maintained by the stability between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. However, the correlation between the inflammatory reaction and osteoblastic differentiation of cultured osteoprogenitor cells has not been fully investigated. This study examined the effects of inflammatory cytokines on the osteoblastic differentiation of cultured human periosteal-derived cells. Materials and Methods: Periosteal-derived cells were obtained from the mandibular periosteum and introduced into the cell culture. After passage 3, the periosteal-derived cells were further cultured in an osteogenic induction Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) medium containing dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and $\beta$-glycerophosphate. In this culture medium, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ with different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10 ng/mL) or interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ with different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and 1 ng/mL) were added. Results: Both TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ stimulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression in the periosteal-derived cells. TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ increased the level of ALP expression in a dose-dependent manner. Both TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ also increased the level of alizarin red S staining in a dose-dependent manner during osteoblastic differentiation of cultured human periosteal-derived cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that inflammatory cytokines TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ can stimulate the osteoblastic activity of cultured human periosteal-derived cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.417-423
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• 2018

Extracellular interleukin 1 alpha (IL-$1{\alpha}$) released from keratinocytes is one of the endpoints for in vitro assessments of skin irritancy. Although cells dying via primary skin irritation undergo apoptosis as well as necrosis, IL-$1{\alpha}$ is not released in apoptotic cells. On the other hand, active secretion has been identified in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), which was discovered to be a common, upregulated, differentially-expressed gene in a microarray analysis performed with keratinocytes treated using cytotoxic doses of chemicals. This study examined whether and how IL-1ra, particularly extracellularly released IL-1ra, was involved in chemically-induced keratinocyte cytotoxicity and skin irritation. Primary cultured normal adult skin keratinocytes were treated with cytotoxic doses of chemicals (hydroquinone, retinoic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, or urshiol) with or without recombinant IL-1ra treatment. Mouse skin was administered irritant concentrations of hydroquinone or retinoic acid. IL-1ra (mRNA and/or intracellular/extracellularly released protein) levels increased in the chemically treated cultured keratinocytes with IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNAs and in the chemically exposed epidermis of the mouse skin. Recombinant IL-1ra treatment significantly reduced the chemically-induced apoptotic death and intracellular/extracellularly released IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in keratinocytes. Collectively, extracellular IL-1ra released from keratinocytes could be a compensatory mechanism to reduce the chemically-induced keratinocyte apoptosis by antagonism to IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, suggesting potential applications to predict skin irritation.