• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2008

The current study aimed to assess some novel pharmacological activities of vanillin. Vanillin inhibited the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis. Vanillin had anti-inflammatory activity using the acetic acid-induced permeability model in mice. Anti-nociceptive activity of vanillin was shown using the acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. Vanillin inhibited production of nitric oxide (NO) and induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) but not cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophages. Vanillin decreased the level of iNOS mRNA in the LPS-activated macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that vanillin can have anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities in ICR Mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Armillaria mellea extract (AME) on immune modulation focused on anti-cancer activity. Methods : To prove the effects of AME, we performed NO assay, NK cytotoxicity assay and RT-PCR of cytokine related with macrophage and NK cell activity. Results : AME increased NO production produced by macrophages in part. AME also enhanced the NK cell activities in destroying target cells (YAC-1 cells). AME up-regulated gene expression of IL-l, iNOS, TNF-a in RAW 264.7 cells and IL-l, IL-2, IFN-(equation omitted), TNF-a in splenocytes, respectively. Conclusion : From the above results, we assumed that AME is a potential drug for anti-cancer by activation of the macrophages and NK cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.780-785
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• 2004

Recently many investigators have initiated searches for immunomodulating substances from natural food sources. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many traditional preparations since the ancient time. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts of the plant were orally administrated into mice, and isolated splenocytes and macrophages were used as experimental model. In order to identify its ex vivo effect six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet and water extracts of ginger were orally administrated every other day for two weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT assay. The result of ex vivo study showed that the highest proliferation of splenocytes and macrophage activatation was seen in the mice orally administrated at the concentration of 500 mg/kg b. w. of ginger water extracts. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts nay enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and cytokine prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.645-646
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• 2015

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or neurotransmitters in the bone marrow microenvironment has been known to regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) functions such as self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. However, the specific role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in this process remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated that NPY deficient mice have significantly reduced HSC numbers and impaired bone marrow regeneration due to apoptotic destruction of SNS fibers and/or endothelial cells. Moreover, NPY treatment prevented bone marrow impairments in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced SNS injury, while conditional knockout mice lacking the Y1 receptor in macrophages did not restore bone marrow dysfunction in spite of NPY injection. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) secreted by NPY-mediated Y1 receptor stimulation in macrophages plays a key role in neuroprotection and HSC survival in the bone marrow. Therefore, this study reveals a new role of NPY in bone marrow HSC microenvironment, and provides an insight into the therapeutic application of this neuropeptide.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.257-262
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• 2010

The aim of work was to investigate changes of 7-ketocholesterol synthesis in alveolar macrophages in the dynamic of lung mechanical ventilation with injurious parameters. The goal of in vitro part of work was to observe influence of 7-ketocholesterol on iNOS and MIP1 $\beta$ production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells. We used 17 healthy domestic pigs randomly assigned into two treatment groups: group I with mechanical ventilation with physiological parameters; group II underwent injurious ventilation with high volume tidal (VT) and low positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP). Cells were analyzed for CYP27A1 protein and gene expression levels, 7-ketocholesterol production. In alveolar macrophages of group II, we obtained increase of production of CYP27A1 protein and 7-ketocholesterol, as well as the expression of the CYP27A1 gene at the 2nd hour of ventilation. In the in vitro experiments we show dose-dependent increase of MIP1 $\beta$ and decrease of CYP27A1, iNOS protein production after 7-ketocholesterol treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Job's Tears(Yul-Moo) is a grass crop long-used as a traditional medicine; it is also a nourishing food. There are reports of its anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antiallergic activity, and antispastic effects and Job's Tears has been used in China to treat rheumatism, and neuralgia although its warts, rheumanism remains unclear. Thus, the present study was performed to investigate the in vitro effect of Job's Tears extracts on immune function. Here mouse splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production$(IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ by peritoneal macrophages cultured with ethanol and water extracts of Job's Tears were examined. splenocytes proliferation increased with Job's Tears water extracts supplement at concentrations investigated The cytokine production$(IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ by ELISA using a cytokine kit And $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production increased water extracts supplementation. This in vitro study suggests that supplementation with Job's Tears water extracts may enhance immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and enhancing cytokine production of activated macrophages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.311-315
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• 2002

Cellular death by apoptosis is an active process, depending on gene transcription and protein synthesis. It was reported that nitric oxide can induce apoptosis in several cancer cell-lines. We studied effects of Phytolacca esculentum van Houtt (Phytolaccaceae) Radix water extract (PRE) on the proliferation of transplanted-L1210 cells in mice. When PRE (500 mg/kg) was administered orally once a day for 7 days after transplantation of L1210 cells to mice, DNA fragmentation of transplanted-L1210 cells was induced and mitochondrial transmembrane potential of those cells was reduced. Additionally, DNA fragmentation of L1210 cells was induced by the treatment of PRE in vitro. Also, DNA fragmentation of L1210 cells was enhanced by co-culture with the peritoneal macrophages obtained from PRE-administered mice and was partly inhibited by L-NMMA in vitro. PRE enhanced the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α from peritoneal rnacrophages. These results suggest that PRE induces apoptosis of transplanted-L1210 cells via directive action on L1210 cells and stimulation of nitric oxide and tumor neaosis factor-α from macrophages.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.13-24
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• 1997

This study was done to know the effects of the water extracts of Gyogamdan(GGD) on the function of macrophages, the most important cells of the innate immune system, and the rosette forming ability of splenocytes in the mouse under stress. The effects of GGD on the immunosuppression induced by noise stress are as follows. 1. Administration of GGD water extracts normalized the bo요 weight which might be decreased by noise stress. 2. Administration of GGD water extracts increased the production of the such reactive oxygen intermediates as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from macrophsges in vivo & in vitro which were decreased by noise stress. 3. Administration of GGS water extracts did not affect the production of reactive nitrogen intermediates. 4. Administration of GGD water extracts increased the rosette forming ability of splenocytes which was decreased by noise stress. The above effects of GGD might be useful for the treatment of stress-induced infections diseases which could be caused by the suppression of immune responeses which are initiated by the functions of macrophages of the innate immune system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.830-836
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• 2011

The leaf of mulberry (Morus alba L) has long been used in Oriental medicine for the prevention or treatment of several diseases. However, little is known about the inhibitory effects of a single compound isolated from the mulberry leaves on inflammatory response. We are isolate a single compound of quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) and astragalin (kaempferol-3-O-glucopyranoside) from the mulberry leaves, and then investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin, astragalin or quercetin plus astragalin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages. Each compound suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators (NO, $PGE_2$ and IL-6) in LPS-stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Especially, the cotreatment of quercetin (2.5 ${\mu}M$) and astragalin (2.5 ${\mu}M$) markedly suppressed the production and the expression of inflammatory mediators. These suppressive effects were synergistically increased by their combination. These results suggest that the combination of quercetin and astragalin from the mulberry leaves may be useful for therapeutic drugs against inflammatory immune diseases, probably by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1297-1302
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• 2007

Uncaria sinensis(OIi.) Havil (USH) is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat inflammation such as amebic dysentery. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of USH. The water extract of USH significantly inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6and IL-12 productions in murine peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, USH selectively inhibited activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but not of p38 MAPK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ $(NF-{\kappa}B)$. In murine model, we found that administration of USH reduced serum levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-12 productions in LPS-treated mice. Our results suggest that USH exerts ant-inflammatory effects in macrophages via inhibition of ERK activation and may be a useful therapeutic approach to inflammatory diseases.