• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.673-680
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• 2015

In this study, the immune-enhancing effects of purified polysaccharides from ascidian (Halocynthia roretzi) tunic were investigated. Crude polysaccharides (AP) were isolated by enzyme extraction (neutrase, $60^{\circ}C$, 15h), ethanol precipitation, and lyophilization. In addition, crude polysaccharides were further fractionated into unabsorbed fractions (APF-I, fraction No. 11~17) and absorbed fractions (APF-II, fraction No. 22~37) by DEAE-sepharose CL-6B column chromatography in order to isolate immune regulating polysaccharide. The major constituents in APF-I and APF-II were total sugar (66.62% and 27.03%), uronic acid (47.53% and 15.87%), hexosamine (16.62% and 46.79%), and protein (2.43% and 4.94%), respectively. APF-I increased production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin (IL)-6 in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthetase, cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-6 were markedly increased as determined by polymerase chain reaction analysis. The above data led us to conclude that macrophage activation of purified polysaccharides was higher than that of crude polysaccharides. The polysaccharides isolated from ascidian tunic investigated herein are useful as natural immune enhancing agents.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2011

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes producing nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs) in immune cells. This process is mediated by the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$). In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory characteristics of Codium fragile ethanolic extract (CFE) mediated by the regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) using LPS-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. CFE significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO and $PGE_2$ production in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with no cytotoxicity. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, were significantly reduced by treatment of CFE in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. CFE inhibited the promoter activity of (NF)-${\kappa}B$ in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Treatment with CFE suppressed translocation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 subunit by preventing proteolytic degradation of inhibitor of ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. These results indicate that the CFE-mediated inhibition of NO and $PGE_2$ production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells is mediated through the NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent transcriptional downregulation of iNOS and COX-2, suggesting the potential of CFE as a nutraceutical with anti-inflammatory activity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.304-320
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• 2007

Objective : To evaluate the effect of Astragalus Membranaceus Extrac (AME) on myelosuppression, activity and immune modulation in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treated mice. Method : We carried out complete blood count, histological analysis of bone marrow, and cell colony forming assay for hematopoietic progenitor to evaluate the effect of AME on myelosuppression and conducted swimming test, survival rate, nitric oxide (NO) assay, 51Cr release assay in natural killer cell, mRNA expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, $TNF-{\alpht}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TGF-{\beta}$ and GM-CSF in spleen cells to evaluate the effect of AME on quality of life (QOL). Results : AME improved 5-FU induced myelosuppression and peripheral blood count was recovered effectively, had significant efficacy to protect against chemotherapy induced marrow-destruction and on hematopoiesis compared with the control group, improved increase survival rate and the swimming time, had a stimulatory effect on macrophage activation and NK cell activity, and up-regulated cytokine gene transcription (IL-2, IL-6, $IFN-{\gamma}$) in murine immunologic system. Conclusion : We can conclude that AM is an effective herbal agent for improvement of myelosuppression and QOL in 5-FU treated mice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2014

Bone homeostasis is maintained by balance between bone resorbing-osteoclasts and bone forming-osteoblasts. Excessive osteoclastic bone resorption plays a critical role in bone destruction in pathological bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal disease. Many compounds derived from natural products have pharmacological applications and have therapeutic value for treating or preventing several bone diseases characterized by excessive bone resorption. To discover new compounds that can act as anti-resorptive agents, we screened for natural compounds that regulate osteclast differentiation, and found that water extract of Ziziphus Jujuba Mill (WEZJ) has inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation. In this study, WEZJ clearly inhibits the osteoclast differentiation in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor kB (RANKL), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) without cytoxicity by blocking activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1, and c-Fos. In signaling pathway, the phosphorylation of Akt, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and the expression of osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphates (TRAP), Integrin av, Integrin b3, Cathepsin K are suppressed, too. These result suggest that WEZJ may have therapeutic value for treating or preventing several bone diseases characterized by excessive bone destruction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1034-1040
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• 2012

Synovium is the soft tissue that lines the non-cartilaginous surfaces within joints. It has been reported that synovial cells are activated during the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we quantitate and compare the cellular composition of synovia derived from individuals with non-inflammatory osteoarthritis (OA) and those with inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synovia from OA (n=8) and RA (n=5) patients were used for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. A light microscopic examination has shown that RA synovia were morphologically thickened and hypertrophied as compared to OA synovia. We also performed an immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis to classify cell types in the synovia using CD68, CD90, or PGP9.5 markers. As a result, we obtained quantitative data regarding the cell populations, which are macrophages in the lining layer and FLSs in the subintimal layer of the synovium. Further Photoshop analyses of the H&E images could allow the counting of the number and layer of the cells in the synovium. The number and layers of the macrophage cells were increased in the lining layer of the RA synovia as compared to the OA synovia. FLS cells also were increased in the subintimal layer of RA synovia. Therefore, quantification of the H&E stained images via Photoshop is a possible analysis protocol for synovium study. This quantitation also supports the idea that the increases in cell number and cell activation are important processes for RA pathogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1357-1368
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity and anti-inflammation effect of the cheonggukjang (a soybean paste fermented for only a few days) in diet induced obesity mice. Weight gain was significantly decreased in the mice fed cheonggukjang compared High Fat Diets (HFD). The HFD plus cheonggukjang (CGJ) were also effective in improving the lipid metabolism. The levels of plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, ALT, AST, leptin, glucose, and insulin were significantly lower in CGJ than HFD group (p<0.05). The adiponectin level of CGJ group was significantly increased compared to the HFD group (p<0.05). In the CGJ group, the mRNA expression of adipogenic genes in the liver and adipose tissues, which are transcription factors crucial for adipogenesis, were significantly suppressed (p<0.05). The number of $CD11b^+F4/80^+$ T cells, $Gr-1^{int}CD11b^{high}$ cells, and $Gr-1^{int}CD11b^{high}$ cells were significantly higher in HFD group than CGJ group (p<0.05). The size of adipocyte was significantly reduced in CGJ group compared to HFD group. In addition, the contents of liver lipid droplets were significantly downregulated in the CGJ mice than HFD mice (p<0.05). Collectively, these data suggest the novel function of cheonggukjang in modulating adipogenesis through an immune function-alteration involving downregulation of adipogenic transcription factors and macrophage activation.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.195-205
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• 2011

Objectives : Ecklonia cava is brown alga(Laminariaceae) which grows is sea, it has antioxidant, diarrhea and anticoagulant effect. In this study, the effect of ethanol extract of Ecklonia cava (EC) on peptidoglycan(PGN) -induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells was investigated. Methods : In the present study, IL-6 production was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), prostaglandin $\E_2$($\PGE_2$) production was measured using the EIA kit, and inducible NO synthase(iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) activation, as determined by western blot analysis and reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : EC inhibited PGN-induced NO and IL-6 production. Consistent with these observations, the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by EC. Moreover, EC suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) 1/2 in PGN-induced RAW 264.7. Conclusions : These results suggest that EC has inhibitory effects on PGN-induced $\PGE_2$, NO, and IL-6 production, as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the murine macrophage. These inhibitory effects occur through blockades on the MAPKs phosphorylation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2018

Rubiae radix is root of Runia akane Nakai, it has been used to hemostasis and blood stasis in Korean and China. This study investigated that anti-oxidant and anti-colorectal cancer effect of ERA (ethanol extract of Rubiae radix) and WRA (water extract of Rubiae radix) using RAW 264.7 (murine macrophage from blood) and HCT-116 cells (human colorectal cancer cell line). ERA contained polyphenol ($45.77{\pm}2.03mg/g$) and flavonoid ($22.82{\pm}1.33mg/g$). $500{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation was diminished by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ERA treatment in RAW 264.7 cells, but not WRA (125, 250, and $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Moreover, caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation increased by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ERA treatment during apoptotic cell death in HCT-116. Results demonstrated that anti-cancer effect of ERA against human colorectal cancer cells is mediated apoptotic cell death and DNA fragmentation through caspase-3 activation. However, further study is required to what active ingredient of ERA are important for anti-oxidant and anti-colorectal cancer effect in vivo.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.596-603
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate traditional medicinal plants (TMP) 1 and 2, two different multi-herbal mixtures consisting of 24 herbs. Regarding the contents of flavonoid compounds, the ethanol extract (EE) of TMP2 yielded the highest content of flavonoid compounds (40.981 mg/g), followed by EE of TMP1 (28.23 mg/g), hot water extract of TMP2 (WE, 10.046 mg/g), and WE of TMP1 (6.59 mg/g). Antioxidant activities of EE and WE of TMP1 and TMP2 were measured based on DPPH radical scavenging activity. At 1 mg/ml, the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was shown in EE of TMP2 (96%), followed by EE of TMP1 (94%). Nitric oxide (NO) production by RAW264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was reduced to 82, 77, 86, and 47% by addition of $500\;{\mu}g/ml$ of EE and WE of TMP1 and TMP2, respectively. These results were not due to the cytotoxicity of the extracts. NO synthesis was increased by 2.3, 3.6, 3.0, and 1.8 fold by addition of $500\;{\mu}g/ml$ of EE and WE of TMP1 and TMP2, respectively. These results show that medicinal plants play a significant role in antioxidative activity and activation of the immune system in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, and different mixtures of the medicinal plants showed different effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2000

Objective: The presence of the various cytokines in human peritoneal fluid has been evaluated incompletely. Changes in cytokine levels may be related to activation of peritoneal macrophage and T-lymphocyte, development of endometriosis, and infertility. This study assesses peritoneal fluid levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) in infertile women with endometriosis and normal women without endometriosis. Design: Prospective and case-control study in university hospital. Materials and Methods: Cytokine levels in peritoneal fluid obtained during laparotomy or laparoscopy from 21 patients in infertile patients with endometriosis and 24 controls undergoing laparotomy or laparoscopy with no evidence of pelvic endometriosis were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean levels of interleukin-6 in infertile patients with endometriosis and controls were $72.7{\pm}23.7$ pg/ml and $18.5{\pm}9.7$ pg/ml respectively (p=0.02). Similarly, the mean levels of interleukin-8 in infertile patients with endometriosis was significantly higher than that of controls ($445.0{\pm}89.6$, vs $45.1{\pm}48.4$, p=0.04). The mean concentration of interleukin-10 in infertile patients with endometriosis was significantly lower than that of controls ($1.09{\pm}0.04$ vs $2.19{\pm}0.03$, p=0.03). The level of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ was not significantly different between the two study groups. Conclusions: Increased IL-6 and IL-8 and decreased IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid may be related to pathogenesis in the endometriosis and infertility, suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in infertili women with endometriosis.