• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.143-147
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• 2006

In the present study, in order to investigate the anti-proliferative phenomenon of PLME, the effects of mycelial extract of Phellinus linteus (PLME) on the growth of human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was examined. We studied on the effects of PLME on the release of nitric oxide (NO) in mouse macrophage Raw 264.7 cells. Treatment of PLME to A549 cells resulted in the growth inhibition, morphological change and induction of apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay. We found that PLME stimulated a dose-dependent increase in NO production. These findings suggest that PLME enhances the anti-tumoral activity of macrophage and may be a potential therapeutic agent for the control of human lung carcinoma cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2005

Naturally occurring flavonoids are known to modulate various inflammatory and immune processes. Based on structural property, in this study, molecular mechanism of flavonoids in modulating nitric oxide (NO) production and its signaling pathway were investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. Although flavonol-typed flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin) more potently scavenged reactivity of nitric oxide ($\cdot$NO) as well as peroxynitrite (ONOO$\kappa$) than isoflavones (genistein and genistin), kaempferol, quercetin and genistein showed a little difference in inhibition of both inducible NO synthase expression and NO production, with IC$_{50}$ values of 13.9, 20.1 and 26.8 $\mu$M. However, there was a striking pattern related to structural feature in modulation of LPS-mediated signaling pathways. Thus, flavonols only inhibited transcription factor AP-1 activation, whereas isoflavones suppressed the DNA binding activation of NF-$\kappa$B and C/EBP$\beta$. Therefore, these data suggest that structural feature may be linked to decide drugs target molecule in LPS-mediated signaling pathways, rather than its potency.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.375-382
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• 2003

Effects of ginsenosides on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide plus TNF-$\alpha$ (LNT) were examined in C6 rat glioma cells. Among several ginsenosides, ginsenoside Rd showed a complete inhibition against LNT-induced NO production. Ginsenoside Rd attenuated LNT-induced increased phosphorylation of ERK. Among several immediate early gene products, only Jun Band Fra-1 protein levels were increased by LNT, and ginsenoside Rd attenuated Jun Band Fra-1 protein levels induced by LNT. Furthermore, LNT increased AP-1 DNA binding activities, which were partially inhibited by ginsenoside Rd. Our results suggest that ginsenoside Rd exerts an inhibitory action against NO production via blocking phosphorylation of ERK, in turn, suppressing immediate early gene products such as Jun Band Fra-1 in C6 glioma cells.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2009

Albizia julibrissin (AJ) has been used widely as a traditional medicine. In macrophages nitric oxide (NO) is released as an inflammatory mediator and has been proposed to be an important modulator of many pathophysiological conditions including inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this study we have examined the NO inhibition effect of 85% methanol extracts of AJ in mouse macrophage. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported to induce production of NO. Extracts of AJ (1, 10, $100{\mu}g/ml$) suppressed nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated ($100{\mu}g/ml$) mouse (C57BL/6) macrophages and analyzed by ELISA. In addition, it also attenuated the expression of inflammatory products like Interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible NOS (iNOS) as assessed by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. These results suggest that 85% methanol extracts of AJ would be useful in inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2006

The effects of Korean and Japanese radishes on inflammatory reaction that involves arachidonic acid cascades were investigated in human epithelial gastric cell. The activities of type I (porcine pancreas) and type II (Crotalus atrox) phospholipase $A_2(PLA_2$) were inhibited by radish. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity was significantly suppressed by radish (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.005). The nitric oxide production was also inhibited by radish. The Korean radish was more effective in inhibition of $PLA_2$ and COX-2 activities and nitric oxide production than Japanease radish. These results indicate that radish has a protective effect on gastric epithelial cell inflammation by suppressing the activities of $PLA_2$ and COX-2 activities and nitric oxide production from gastric epithelial cell.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1295-1302
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• 2006

Our preliminary aim is to elucidate the pharmacokinetic features of the PNS(Panax notoginseng Buck F.H. Chen. (Arialiaceae) root). First, we assessed the prevention of neurtrophil functions. A Panax notoginseng inhibited neutrophil functions, including degranulation, superoxide generation, and leukotriene B4 production, without any effect on 5-lipoxygenase activity. This Panax notoginseng reduced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 production in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, whereas no influence on the activity of inducible NO synthase, cyclo-oxygenase-2 or cyclo-oxygenase-1 was observed. Panax notoginseng significantly reduced mouse paw oedema induced by carrageenan. The results indicate that Panax notoginseng exerts anti-inflammatory effects related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions and of NO and prostaglandin E2 production, which could be due to a decreased expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclo-oxygenase-2.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.230-235
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• 2002

Gold sodium thiomalate (GST, gold compound) is a widely used anti-arthritic, anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory drug that is considered a good alternative to sodium salicylate (NaSA) for individuals who cannot tolerate salicylates. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated as a mediator of inflammation. Recent evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory effect of NaSA lies in the inhibition of iNOS, but nothing has been reported about the direct effect of iNOS expression by GST. The present study was designed to elucidate sequentially the action mechanisms of GST and NaSA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) induced iNOS expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Both GST and NaSA inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression in a dose dependent manner. GST inhibited iNOS mRNA expression induced by LPS plus IFN-$\gamma$, whereas NaSA did not. These findings suggest that GST may exert anti-arthritic, anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting iNOS expression induced by LPS plus IFN-$\gamma$ at transcriptional level, whereas NaSA exert its effect by inhibiting iNOS expression at the translational or posttranslational level.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2009

Objectives : In this study, the effect of Dipsaci Radix(DR, Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng et T. M. Ai) water extract on LPS-induced inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells were investigated. Methods : Dried roots of DR was extracted with water for 3 h(DR-W extract). RAW264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage line, were incubated with different concentrations of DR-W extract for 30 min and then stimulated with LPS at indicated times. Cell toxicity was determined by MTT assay. The concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) were measured by Griess assay and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) and cyclooxyganase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Results : DR-W extract was significantly inhibited LPS-induced productions of NO and PGE2 in RAW264.7 cells. DR-W extract was not suppressed the expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions : This study suggests that DR-W extract can attenuate inflammatory response via inhibition of the NO and PGE2 production in activated macrophages.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1340-1347
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• 2024

Ehretia asperula is a medicinal plant of the Ehretiaceae family used to treat inflammatory disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. The anti-inflammatory potential was determined based on enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition, which showed that the 95% ethanol extract (95ECH) was most effective with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 34.09 ㎍/mL. The effects of 95ECH on phagocytosis, NO production, gene, and protein expression of the cyclooxygenase 2/prostaglandin E2 (COX-2/PGE2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase/ nitric oxide (iNOS/NO) pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells were examined using the neutral red uptake and Griess assays, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results showed that 95ECH suppressed phagocytosis and the NO production in activated macrophage cells (p < 0.01). Conversely, 95ECH regulated the expression levels of mRNAs for cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) as well as the corresponding proteins. In addition, PGE2 production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by 95ECH, and the expression of iNOS and COX-2 mRNAs was decreased in activated macrophage cells, as expected. Therefore, 95ECH from E. asperula leaves contains potentially valuable compounds for use in inflammation management.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2007

Objectives : Licorice has been commonly used as a detoxification agent. We previously reported that licorice and its component, liquiritigenin, exhibits cytoprotective activity against Pb-induced toxicity. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of liquiritigenin on the lead-induced cytotoxicity in PC-12 cells. Methods : PC-12 cells were pre-treated with liquiritigenin, and further incubated with lead 100 ${\mu}M$ for $12^{\sim}48$ hours. The viability of PC-12 cells was measured by MTT assay, and the levels of proteins were analysed by western blot. Results : Severe cytotoxicity was induced and nitric oxide (NO) production was augmented by the exposure of lead. Liquiritigenin protected cells from lead-induced cytoxicity and reduced NO production in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of NO production was due to the suppression of iNOS protein via the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation, determined by western blot analysis. Conclusions : These results suggest that liquiritigenin may exert cytoprotective effect against lead toxicity by inhibiting NO production.