• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.662-669
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• 2017

Rubia cordifolia has been used to treat diseases for many years in China and India. Although the biological properties and major compounds of R. cordifolia have been extensively studied, the underlying mechanisms of its biological effects remain elusive. In terms of immunological effects, anti-inflammation effect of macrophage (Raw 264.7) simply has been reported. In this study, R. cordifolia was extracted in 70% ethanol and the extract did not affect to macrophage (Raw 264.7) pro-inflammation and T cell (Molt-4). However, in mast cell (RBL-2H3), it showed inhibition of degranulation. The inducing inhibitory effect on degranulation was related to concentration dependent variation in phosphorylation of ERK-1/2 and upregulating the JNK phosphorylation in RBL-2H3 cells. Based on these data, we concluded that R. cordifolia newly have anti-allergenic effects in RBL-2H3 and might be used as a therapeutic agent to treat or prevent allergic diseases such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1671-1676
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• 2012

In this study, the immuno-enhancing activity of seed extracts were studied on the macrophage cell lines. We examined the effect of nine seed extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells and selected four highly-effective seed candidates (Fagopyrum esculentum, Taraxacum platycarpum, Impatiens balsamina, Helianthus annuus) for further immune-related studies. The effects of the four seed extracts on the production of immune-related cytokines in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and proliferation of Molt-4 as a T cell line were investigated. The secretion of NO from the RAW 264.7 cells was increased up to 39 ${\mu}M$ by adding the seed extracts (25 ${\mu}g/mL$) compared to the control. Also, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) was also increased up to 32 times by adding the seed extracts (25 ${\mu}g/mL$). Secretion of cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) was also increased and induced the proliferation of T cells compared to the control. In conclusion, these results suggest that four seed extracts provide beneficial immuno-enhancing effects for human health.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1521-1527
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• 2012

Medicinal herbs have long been used as a remedy for diverse diseases in Asia owing to their various pharmacological effect. In this study, the immuno-enhancing activity of medicinal herbs was investigated using macrophage cell lines. Specifically, we examined the effects of extracts of twelve medicinal herbs on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells, and selected five that were highly effective (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica gigas, Platycodon grandflorum, and Actinidia polygama) for further immune related studies. The effects of extracts from five theses medicinal herbs, which were mainly composed of polysaccharides and proteins on the production of immune-related cytokines in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and the Molt-4 T cell line were investigated. The extracts of all investigated medicinal herbs increased the production of NO and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Additionally, they slightly increased the proliferation of T-cells when compared to the control. Overall, the result of this study suggests that the five medicinal herb extracts investigated herein are useful natural immune enhancing agents.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.953-958
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• 2008

The object of this study was to investigate the immune-enhancing effects of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on a deteriorated immune function by a protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diet. Unicellular algae, CV were used as a biological response modifier. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 15 days with standard diet or a PEM diet, which is associated with decreased host immune defense. After 8 days, mice in the PEM diet group were orally administered by 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 g/kg body weight of CV or distilled water. Nutritional parameters, and interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ levels were significantly increased in the blood serum of the CV (0.15 g/kg)-treated group (29.6$\pm$2.8 pg/mL) compared to the non-treated PEM group (4.1$\pm$0.4 pg/mL, p<0.05). In addition, cell proliferation and production of cytokines were investigated via a CV (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL) treatment using a human T cell line MOLT-4 cell. The CV treatment (1 mg/mL) significantly increased the production of both IFN-$\gamma$ and interleukin (IL)-2 (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 285.9$\pm$18.8 pg/mL, respectively) compared to the control (51.3$\pm$3.4 and 442.6$\pm$14.3 pg/mL, respectively), but did not affect the production of IL-4. These results suggest that CV may be useful in improving the immune function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1441-1447
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• 2003

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of Chungjokupye-tang(CJKPT) on the anti-carcinogenic action. The cell viability of mouse spienocytes and thymocytes were enhanced by the addition of CJKPT. CJKPT were increased of splenic and thymic T lymphocytes, such as T/sub H/ cells were markedly increased by the treatment of CJKPT in vivo. CJKPT treatment induced the apoptotic cell death of Jurkat and HL60 leukemia cells. CJKPT reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential and increased the expression of ICE, c-myc and p53 gene in Molt-4cells dose dependant manner. These results suggest that CJKPT have an anti-carcinogenic action via immunoregulatory mechanism.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.3571-3575
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• 2014

Proteasome, a multicatalytic protease complex, has been validated as a promising therapeutic target in oncology. Carfilzomib (Kyprolis$^{(R)}$), a tetrapeptide epoxyketone, irreversibly inhibits the chymotrypsin-like (CT-L) activity of the proteasome and has been recently approved for multiple myeloma treatment by FDA. A chemistry effort was initiated to discover the compounds that are reversibly inhibit the proteasome by replacing the epoxyketone moiety of carfilzomib with a variety of ketones as reversible and covalent warheads at the C-terminus. The newly synthesized compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activity against CT-L activity of the human 20S proteasome. When the compounds were tested for cancer cell viability, 14-8 was found to be most potent in inhibiting Molt-4 acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line with a $GI_{50}$ of $4.4{\mu}M$. Cytotoxic effects of 14-8 were further evaluated by cell cycle analysis and Western blotting, demonstrating activation of apoptotic pathways.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2003

We investigated the immune enhancement effects of JaSaengHwan (JSH). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. We found that JSH (0.1 mg/ml) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. Also, we investigated the effect of JSH on the proliferation of T cell and production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages. JSH (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the cell proliferation by $46.78{\pm}6.41%$ (p<0.05) and also significantly increased the interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ production compared with media control (about 2-fold for IL-2, 3-fold for IL-4 and 1.5-fold for $IFN-{\gamma}$, p<0.05) at 24 h. In addition, JSH increased the production of IL-12 on the mouse peritoneal macrophages (by 3.6-fold for IL-12, p<0.05). In conclusion, these data indicate that JSH may have an immune-enhancement effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.261-277
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• 1998

The purpose of this research was to investigate cytotoxicity of DangkwiYonghoe-Hwan(DYH) and the constitutive crude drugs on several cancer cell-lines, thymocytes, splenocytes and 3T3 cells. The DYH consists of Coptidis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Phellodendri Cortex, Gardeniae Fructus, Gentianae scabrae Radix, Indigo pulverata Levis, Aloe, Rhei Rhizoma, Moschus, Saussureae Radix and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. The cytotoxicity was determined by MTT method. The DYH inhibited the proliferation of MOLT-4, K562, HL-60, Jurkat, L1210, P815, S180 and Yac-1, thymocyte, splenocyte and 3T3 cells. The cytotoxicity of Coptidis Rhizoma on the cancer cell-lines was the most potent in the constitutive crude drugs. The proliferation of cancer cell-lines was partly inhibition and partly increase by the treatment of Scutellariae Radix, Gardeniae Fructus, Gentianae scabrae Radix, Indigo pulverata Levis, Aloe, Rhei Rhizoma, Moschus and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. Phellodendri Cortex and Saussureae Radix had a poor cytotoxicity on cancer cell-lines. Coptidis Rhizoma and Phellodendri Cortex inhibited the proliferation of thymocyte, splenocyte and 3T3 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.932-937
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• 2002

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of Yonggak-san (YGS) on the immune reaction and apoptosis of leukemia cells. Administration of YGS(500 mg/kg) enhanced proliferation of splenocytes, thymocytes and mesenteric lymph node cells, and also YGS accelerated subpopulation of splenic Band T, thymic T and mesenteric lymph node-T lymphocytes, especially significantly increased CD4+-TH cells in BALB/c mice. YGS accelerated phagocytic activity and production of nitric oxide in peritoneal macrophages. YGS induced apoptosis of transplanted-L1210 cells in vivo, increased apoptotic cell death of cultured-L1210 and/or Molt4 human leukemia cells, decreased of mitochondrial transmembrane potential of both cells in vitro. These results suggest that YGS have an immune-regulatory effect and anti-cancer property.