• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2006

The rabbit pyrogen test and Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay have been used to detect endotoxins present in vaccines. Currently, the rabbit pyrogen test is used to detect endotoxins in hepatitis B (HB) vaccines, even though the HB surface protein, which is the active ingredient, is overexpressed in and purified from eukaryotic cells that lack these endotoxins. Although the LAL clot assay is sensitive and reliable and can be used to replace the rabbit pyrogen test, its reaction is limited by the lack of responsiveness to the Gram-positive bacterial components. Furthermore, aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccine can interfere with the LAL assay. In contrast, macrophages can detect the endotoxin as well as other pyrogens, and secrete $TNF-{\alpha}$. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine the possibility of replacing the animal tests with a more efficient $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion assay. With this in mind, we determined if aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccines affects the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion assay. HB vaccines and the HB protein solutions spiked with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced the same level of dose-dependent $TNF{\alpha}$ secretion and temperature increase in rabbits, indicating that aluminum hydroxide in the HB vaccine does not interfere with the pyrogenic response in rabbits, nor does it interfere with $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion. In addition, the $TNF-{\alpha}$ assay was found to be more sensitive than the LAL assay, and correlated well with the pyrogen test and the LAL assay. These results suggest that the $TNF-{\alpha}$ assay in RAW264.7 cells is a good substitute for the current pyrogen assays that are used for detecting LPS in HB vaccines as well as in other vaccines containing aluminum.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.250-255
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• 2011

The immune system is finely balanced by the activities of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators or cytokines. Unregulated activities of these mediators can lead to the development of various inflammatory diseases. A variety of safe and effective anti-inflammatory agents are available with many more drugs under development. Of the natural compounds, the sesquiterpenes (nootkatone, ${\alpha}$-cyperone, valencene and ${\alpha}$-selinene) isolated from C. rotundus L. have received much attention because of their potential antiinflammatory effects. However, limited studies have been reported regarding the influence of sesquiterpene structure on anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory potential of four structurally divergent sesquiterpenes was evaluated in lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, murine macrophages. Among the four sesquiterpenes, ${\alpha}$-cyperone and nootkatone, showed stronger anti-inflammatory and a potent NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitory effect on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Molecular analysis revealed that various inflammatory enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) were reduced significantly and this correlated with downregulation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Additionally, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) elucidated that nootkatone and ${\alpha}$-cyperone dramatically suppressed LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA binding activity using 32Plabeled NF-${\kappa}B$ probe. Hence, our data suggest that ${\alpha}$-cyperone and nootkatone are potential therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2016

Inflammation plays an important role in host defense against external stimuli such as infection by pathogen, endotoxin or chemical exposure by the production of the inflammatory mediators that produced by macrophage. Anti-inflammatory factor is important to treat the dangers of chronic inflammation associated with chronic disease. This research aims to analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of Garcinia mangostana L. peel extract (GMPE), ${\alpha}$-mangostin, and ${\gamma}$-mangostin in LPS-induced murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. The cytotoxic assay of G. mangostana L. extract, ${\alpha}$-mangostin, and ${\gamma}$-mangostin were performed by MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) to determine the safe and non-toxic concentration in RAW 264.7 for the further assay. The concentration of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, IL-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$) were measured by the ELISA-based assay and NO by the nitrate/nitrite colorimetric assay in treated LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory activity was determined by the reducing concentration of inflammatory mediators in treated LPS-induced RAW 264.7 over the untreated cells. This research revealed that GMPE, ${\alpha}$-mangostin, and ${\gamma}$-mangostin possess the anti-inflammatory effect by reducing COX-2, IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and NO production in LPS-induces RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1405-1410
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• 2005

Asthma is recognized today as an inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by acute non-specific airway hypersensitiveness in association with chronic pulmonary inflammation. Gamijihwang-tang(GJT), a fortified prescription of YMJHT, is applied for the treatments of chronic coughing and asthma, and post-delivery coughing and asthma in the gynecology. Also in the clinical practice, GJT is known to be very effective for controlling coughing and asthma as a cold sequoia. In this study, we investigated the effects of GJT on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production, and on the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. We found that GJT inhibited LPS-induced NO and $PGE_2$ production in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, GJT inhibited the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 protein and mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Treatment with GJT of RAW 264.7 cells transfected with a reporter construct indicated a reduced level of LPS-induced nuclear factor-KB (NF-kB) activity and effectively lowered NF-kB binding as measured by transient transfection assay. These results suggest that the main inhibitory mechanism of the GJT may be the reduction of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression through blocking of NF-kB activation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1399-1404
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• 2005

In oriental medicine, Cheongpyehwadam-tang (CHT) has long been used for the cure of inflammatory diseases in the lung and bronchus such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia and tuberculosis. It's use is currently further extended for the treatment of allergic asthma. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of CHT, we investigated the effects of CHT on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$) production, and on the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and proinflammatory cytokines expression in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. CHT alone did not affect NO or pro-inflammatory cytokines production. In contrast, CHT inhibited LPS-induced NO and proinflammatory cytokines and the levels of LPS-induced iNOS and proinflarnmatory cytokine mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. CHT also inhibited the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) activation. Taken together, these results suggested that CHT inhibits the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells through blockade of NF-kB activation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.385-393
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• 2008

As an attempt to search for bioactive natural products exerting anti-inflammatory activity, we evaluated the effects of the methanol extract of Polytrichum commune Hedw (PCM) (Polytrichaceae) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines release in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. PCM potently inhibits the production of NO, $PGE_2$, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-6. Consistent with these results, PCM also concentration-dependently inhibited LPS-induced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygase (COX)-2 at the protein levels, and iNOS, COX-2, TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 at the mRNA levels without an appreciable cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 macrophag cells. Furthermore, PCM inhibited LPS-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-$\kappa$B) activation as determined by NF-$\kappa$B reporter gene assay, and this inhibition was associated with a decrease in the nuclear translocation of p65 and p50 NF-$\kappa$B. Taken together, these results suggest that PCM may play an anti-inflammatory role in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages through the inhibitory regulation of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 via NF-$\kappa$B inactivation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2013

We previously reported that the extract from cuttlebone (CB) has wound healing effect in burned lesion of rat. In present study, the main component of CB extract was analyzed and its wound healing activity was evaluated by using in vitro acute inflammation model. The extract of CB stimulated macrophages to increase the production of TNF-${\alpha}$. The extract also enhanced the production of TGF-${\beta}$ and VEGF, which were involved in angiogenesis and fibroblast activation. The treatment with CB extract enhanced proliferation of murine fibroblast. CB extract also induced the activation of fibroblast to increase the secretion of matrix metalloproteases 1 (MMP1). The constituent of CB extract which has wound healing activity was identified as chitin by HPLC analysis. The mechanism that the CB extract helps to promote healing of burned lesion is associated with that chitin in CB extracts stimulated wound skins to induce acute inflammation and to promoted cell proliferation and MMP expression in fibroblast. Our results suggest that CB or chitin can be a new candidate material for the treatment of skin wound such as ulcer and burn.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 2003

In order to study the clinical usefulness of crude polysaccharides fractionated from Eleutherococcus senticosus, EN-3, in eliminating tumors, we have investigated the effect of combination therapy on the murine tumor metastasis and growth models. In experimental metastasis of colon26-M3.1 cells, prophylactic intravenous (i.v.) administration of EN-3 (0.5, 5, and 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse) inhibited tumor metastasis compared with tumor control group in 33.6, 66.8, and 81.8％ respectively. The administration of EN-3 (50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse) also exhibited a 66.1％ therapeutic effect on lung tumor metastasis. Although EN-3 induced no toxic effect on both tumor cell and normal splenocyte in the concentration below 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mι in in vitro, it induced significant proliferating activity on normal splenocyte in the concentration-dependent manner. In an analysis of NK-cell activity, i.v. administration of EN-3 (4∼100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse) significantly augmented NK cytotoxicity to YAC-1 tumor cells. The combination treatments of cisplatin (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$) and EN-3 (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$) induced synergistic effect on the inhibition of tumor metastasis in experimental tumor metastasis model produced by colon26-M3.1 cells. In addition, the combination treatments also exhibited prolongation of lifespan in S∼180 tumor bearing mouse for over the 60 days. Even though cisplatin (2.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mι) exhibited cytotoxicity to tumor cells and inhibited tumor growth over 95％ in in vitro, combination treatment with EN-3 (20 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mι) was induced splenocyte proliferation and produced cytokines, such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1 and IL-12, from the macrophages. These results suggested that EN-3 stimulate immune system non-specifically and apply to the biological response modifiers (BRM) in chemo-immunotherapy for tumor prevention.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2014

Background: In previous work, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng saponin fraction (RGSF) showed anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The present study investigated the radioprotective properties of RGSF by examining its effects on ionizing radiation (IR)-enhanced and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses in murine macrophage cells. Results: RGSF induced strong downregulation of IR-enhanced and LPS-induced proinflammatory responses such as nitric oxide (NO) production (Inhibitory Concentration $50(IC_{50})=5.1{\pm}0.8{\mu}M$) and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ levels. RGSF was found to exert its radioprotective effects by inhibition of a signaling cascade that activated checkpoint kinase 2enuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. In addition, RGSF strongly inhibited IR-enhanced LPS-induced expression of hemoxyganase-1, implying that the latter may be a potential target of RGSF. Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest that RGSF can be considered and developed for use as an effective radioprotective agent with minimal adverse effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.513-523
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• 2017

Background: Korean Red Ginseng extracts (RGE) have been suggested as effective immune modulators, and we reported that ginsenosides possess anti-inflammasome properties. However, the properties of nonsaponin components of RGE have not been well studied. Methods: To assess the roles of nonsaponin fractions (NS) in NLRP3 inflammasome activation, we treated murine macrophages with or without first or second inflammasome activation signals with RGE, NS, or saponin fractions (SF). The first signal was nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$)-mediated transcription of pro-interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and NLRP3 while the second signal triggered assembly of inflammasome components, leading to IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation. In addition, we examined the role of NS in IL-6 production and IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation in mice. Results: NS induced IL-$1{\beta}$ and NLRP3 transcription via toll-like receptor 4 signaling, whereas SF blocked expression. During the second signal, SF attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation while NS did not. Further, NS-injected mice presented increased IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation and IL-6 production. Conclusion: SF and NS of RGE play differential roles in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Hence, RGE can be suggested as an NLRP3 inflammasome modulator.