• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2020

Snakebite is a severe medical, economic, and social problem across the world, mostly in the tropical and subtropical area. These regions of the globe have typical of the world's venomous snakes present where access to prompt treatment is limited or not available. Snake venom is a complex mixture of toxin proteins like neurotoxin and cardiotoxin, and other enzymes like phospholipase A2 (PLA2), haemorrhaging, transaminase, hyaluronidase, phosphodiesterase, acetylcholinesterase, cytolytic and necrotic toxins. Snake venom shows a wide range of biological effects like anticoagulation or platelet aggregation, hemolysis, hypotension and edema. Phospholipase A2 is the principal constituent of snake venom; it catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 position of membrane glycerophospholipids to liberate arachidonic acid, which is the precursor of eicosanoids including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The information regarding the structure and function of the phospholipase A2 enzyme may help in treating the snakebite victims. This review article constitutes a brief description of the structure, types, mechanism occurrence, and tests of phospholipase A2 and role of components of medicinal plants used to inhibit phospholipase A2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.354-365
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• 2024

Panax species include Panax ginseng Meyer, Panax quinquefolium L., Panax notoginseng, Panax japonicum, Panax trifolium, and Panax pseudoginseng, which contain bioactive components (BCs) such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides. Recently, growing evidence has revealed the pharmacological effects of Panax species and their BCs on allergic airway diseases (AADs), including allergic asthma (AA) and allergic rhinitis (AR). AADs are characterized by damaged epithelium, sustained acquired immune responses with enforced Th2 responses, allergenspecific IgE production, and enhanced production of histamine and leukotrienes by activated mast cells and basophils. In this review, we summarize how Panax species and their BCs modulate acquired immune responses involving interactions between dendritic cells and T cells, reduce the pro-inflammatory responses of epithelial cells, and reduce allergenic responses from basophils and mast cells in vitro. In addition, we highlight the current understanding of the alleviative effects of Panax species and their BCs against AA and AR in vivo. Moreover, we discuss the unmet needs of research and considerations for the treatment of patients to provide basic scientific knowledge for the treatment of AADs using Panax species and their BCs.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.109-117
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• 2003

Arachidonic acid(AA), which is stored in membrane glycerophospholipids, is liberated by phospholipase $A_2(PLA_2)$ enzymes and is sequentially converted to cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) then to various bioactive prostaglandins (PGs,) and leukotrienes (LTs). In order to find the specific inhibitors of AA metabolism enzymes such as $PLA_2$, COX-2, 5-LO and lyso PAF acetyltransferase. 195 Korean indigenous plant extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on $PGD_2,\;LTC_4$ production from cytokine-induced mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) and arachidonic acid released from phospholipid and PAF production from lyso PAF. From this screening procedure, methanol extract of eight plants such as Saururus chinensis, Aster tataricus, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, Reynoutria japonica, Disocorea nipponica, Epimedium koreanum, impatiens textori, Veronica rotunda var. subintegra were found to inhibit production of inflammatory mediators in vitro assay system.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.91-94
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• 2002

Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) containing twenty carbon atoms with four double bonds. The family of w-6 PUFA, including arachidonic acid as well as r-linoleic acid, was served as intermediates in the formation of several key prostaglandin and leukotrienes. Several fungal strains of the genus Mortierella accumulate high amounts of arachidonic acid. In this study experiments were carried out to optimize the culture conditions for the mass production of fungus Mortierella alpina DSA -12 and lipid production with high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid. The batch culture was carried out in 500 L fermenter containing 50 g/L glucose, 18 g/L corn-steep powder and 100 mg/L MnS04 under $25^{\circ}C$, aeration rate of 0.5 vvm and agitation speed of 200 rpm without pH control. As a result, we could be obtained 22 g/L of cell mass with high contents of lipid 12.1 g/L) and arachidonic acid (5.1 g/L) The intermittent fed-batch culture was performed in the medium containing 20 g/L glucose and 10 g/L corn-steep powder. The final glucose concentration was 170 g/L and pH was maintained at 5.5 ${\sim}$ 6.0 by adding 14% ammonia solution. It was shown relatively high cell concentration (70.5 g/L) with high contents of lipid (45.8 g/L) and arachidonic acid 08.3 g/L). Therefore, when compared to batch cultures, the high concentration of arachidonic acid could be obtained by fed-batch culture using M. alpina DSA -12. These results imply that the fed-batch culture of M. alpina DSA -12 was feasible in industrial purpose and could be employed in the commercial production of arachidonic acid.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.196-201
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• 2006

Electroacupuncture(EA) is commonly used in various diseases. In the present study, the effect of EA in the allergic mouse model was examined. Allergy is generated via immunological mechanism and non-immunological mechanism. Mast cells activated dy those mechanisms get to release various substances such as histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandin, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-4, IL-6, etc. which induce allergic reactions and the following inflammatory responses. To evaluate the anti-allergic effects of EA, mortality, ear swelling response, vascular permeability and cytokine secretion were investigated in EA group and non-EA group of which mice were compound 48/80-induced allergy model or PCA model. Compound 48/80 induces allergic reaction via non-immunological mechanism and PCA model is generated through the same mechanism with immediate-type(Type1) allergic reaction, one of immunological allergic reactions. EA inhibited compound 48/80-induced ear swelling response but did not inhibit the systemic anaphylaxis. EA also inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis(PCA) activated dy anti-dinitrophenol IgE. In addition, EA inhibited IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ secretion from 48 h PCA in mice. These results indicate that EA may be used for the treatment of mast cell-mediated allergic diseases, especially immediate-type(Type 1) allergy and non-immunologically mediated allergy.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.193-201
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• 2000

Prostaglandins (PGs) and Leukotrienes (LTs) have been implicated in the genesis of pulpal and periapical inflammation. In this study, the relationships among $PGE_2$, 6-keto-PG $F_1{\alpha}$ (a stable metabolite of $PGI_2$) and $LTB_4$ concentrations in inflamed pulp and periapical lesions were discussed. Pulp tissue were obtained in routine endodontic treatment and periapical lesions in periapical surgery after clinical diagnoses were made. These specimens were divided into four groups as normal pulp group (Control group), acute pulpitis group, chronic pulpitis group, and periapical lesion group. Pulp tissue and periapical lesions were stored in liquid nitrogen. The concentration of $PGE_2$, $PGI_2$ and $LTB_4$ were measured with ELISA. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Significantly higher levels of $PGE_2$, 6-keto-PG $F_1{\alpha}$ a and $LTB_4$ were found in acute pulpitis group than chronic pulpitis group and periapical lesion group(p<0.05). Periapical lesion group showed significantly higher mean concentrations of $PGE_2$ and $LTB_4$ than chronic pulpitis group. In control and chronic pulpitis group, significant higher levels of $PGI_2$ than $PGE_2$ and $LTB_4$ were found. These results suggested that the high levels of $PGE_2$ and $LTB_4$ in periapical lesions may be due to rich endothelium., fibroblast and lymphocyte known as the main producers of $PGE_2$ and $LTB_4$. $PGI_2$ may be thought to one of the most abundant PGs in normal pulp tissue.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.293-297
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• 2006

The fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth (Rutaceae) has long been used for inflammatory disorders and some anti-inflammatory actions of its constituents such as dehydroevodiamine, evodiamine and rutaecarpine were previously reported. Since the pharmacological data is not sufficient to clearly establish the scientific rationale of anti-inflammatory medicinal use of this plant material and the search for its active principles is limited so far, three major constituents (evodiamine, rutaecarpine, goshuyuamide II) were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory cellular action mechanisms in the present study. From the results, evodiamine and rutaecarpine were found to strongly inhibit prostaglandin $E_2$ synthesis from lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells at $1-10{\mu}M$. Evodiamine inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 induction and NF-kB activation, while rutaecarpine did not. On the other hand, goshuyuamide II inhibited 5-lipoxygenase from RBL-1 cells $(IC_{50}=6.6{\mu}M)$, resulting in the reduced synthesis of leukotrienes. However, these three compounds were not inhibitory against inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated nitric oxide production from RAW cells up to $50{\mu}M$. These pharmacological properties may provide the additional scientific rationale for anti-inflammatory use of the fruits of E. rutaecarpa.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2019

Background: Brennan's rodent paw incision model has been extensively used for understanding mechanisms underlying postoperative pain in humans. However, alterations of physiological parameters like blood pressure and heart rate, or even feeding and drinking patterns after the incision have not been documented as yet. Moreover, though eicosanoids like prostaglandins and leukotrienes contribute to inflammation, tissue levels of these inflammatory mediators have never been studied. This work further investigates the antinociceptive effect of protein C after intra-wound administration. Methods: Separate groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were used for quantitation of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and leukotriene B4 level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as well as estimation of cardiovascular parameters and feeding and drinking behavior after paw incision. In the next part, rats were subjected to incision and $10{\mu}g$ of protein C was locally administered by a micropipette. Both evoked and non-evoked pain parameters were then estimated. Results: COX, particularly COX-2 activity and leukotriene B4 levels increased after incision. Hemodynamic parameters were normal. Feeding and drinking were affected on days 1 and 3, and on day 1, respectively. Protein C attenuated non-evoked pain behavior alone up to day 2. Conclusions: Based upon current observations, Brennan's rodent paw incision model appears to exhibit a prolonged period of nociception similar to that after surgery, with minimal interference of physiological parameters. Protein C, which is likely converted to activated protein C in the wound, attenuated the guarding score, which probably represents pain at rest after surgery in humans.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.893-899
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• 2021

BLT2 is a low-affinity receptor for leukotriene B₄, a potent lipid mediator of inflammation generated from arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BLT2 plays any role in sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection. A murine model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis was used to evaluate the role of BLT2 in septic inflammation. In the present study, we observed that the levels of ligands for BLT2 (LTB₄ [leukotriene B₄] and 12(S)-HETE [12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid]) were significantly increased in the peritoneal lavage fluid and serum from mice with CLP-induced sepsis. We also observed that the levels of BLT2 as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and 12-LO, which are synthesizing enzymes for LTB₄ and 12(S)-HETE, were significantly increased in lung and liver tissues in the CLP mouse model. Blockade of BLT2 markedly suppressed the production of sepsis-associated cytokines (IL-6 [interleukin-6], TNF-α [tumor necrosis factor alpha], and IL-1β [interleukin-β] as well as IL-17 [interleukin-17]) and alleviated lung inflammation in the CLP group. Taken together, our results suggest that BLT2 cascade contributes to lung inflammation in CLP-induced sepsis by mediating the production of inflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that BLT2 may be a potential therapeutic target for sepsis patients.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.601-610
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• 2003

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin used as a skin conditioning agent and promotes the formation of intercellular lipid layers through increased lipid synthesis, which improves the skin's natural barrier function. The anti-inflammatory effects of biotin have been investigated using in vitro assay models, such as MTT assay, measurements of concentrations of nitric oxide(NO), prostaglandin E2(PGE$_2$), and inhibition rate of 5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX). In comparison with biotin, other plant extracts were tested at the same time which were kudzu vine extract, sage extract, paeonia extract, and dipotassium glycyrrhetinate. Nitric oxide is a signal molecule with functions such as neurotransmission, local vascular relaxation, and anti-inflammation in many physiological and pathological processes. NO can cause apoptosis and necrosis of target cells such as keratinocytes and is generated from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Prostanoids, including prostaglandins and thromboxanes, are generated by the phospholipase $A_2$/cyclooxygenase(COX) pathway, and leukotrienes are generated by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway from arachidonic acid. Prostaglandin E2 recently have been shown to be beneficial in the resolution of tissue injury and inflammation, also has been implicated as an immunosuppressive agent and plasma levels of PGE$_2$ are elevated in patients sustaining thermal injury. Lipoxygenase metabolites from arachidonic acid have been implicated in inflammation, anti-inflammatory activity of the raw materials was evaluated in vitro by the offered inhibition of lipoxygenase.