• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.3 s.70
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• pp.344-351
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• 2005

Nitric oxide (NO) and calcium-binding proteins occur in various types of cells in the central nervous system. They are important signaling and calcium buffering molecules, respectively. In the present study, using immunocytochemistry we examined the distribution and the co-localization pattern of neurons containing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and parvalbumin in the visual cortex of hamster. The overall number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons was 17 times higher than that of the nNOS-IR neurons in the hamster visual cortex. The highest differences were found in layer V, where parvalbumin-IR neurons were 54.7 times more abundant than nNOS-IR neurons. Many nNOS- and parvalbumin-IR neurons were similar in size, shape, and manner of distribution in the visual cortex. However, two-color immunofluorescence revealed that no neurons in the hamster visual cortex expressed both nNOS and parvalbumin. The present results indicate that there are subtle species differences in the co-localization pattern between nNOS and calcium-binding proteins. The present results also suggest not only the heterogeneity and functional diversity of nNOS-IRneurons in the visual cortex, but also the importance of understanding animal diversity

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2003

본 연구는 환경호르몬(endocrine disruptors)으로 분류되었으며, 에스트로젠 화합물의 특성을 지닌 4-Nonylphenol (NP)이 설치류 Pituitary 세포 중 성장호르몬을 분비하는 GH3 세포의 Nitric oxide(NO)을 증가시키는 작용기전을 규명코자 수행되었다 먼저 GH3세포에 NP처리 농도에 따른 NO의 생성을 측정한 결과 NP처리농도 의존적으로 증가시켰다. 이러한 NO의 증가가 genomic action인지를 확인하기 위해 GH3세포의 NO를 증가시키는 효소인 neuronal oxide synthase의 단백질량을 측정한 결과 GH3세포에서 NP에 의한 nNOS의 단백질의 변화는 없었다. 에스트로젠 화합물인 NP가 에스트로젠 리셉터 (ER)와의 관계를 조사하기 위해 ER억제제(ICI 168,780)클 처리한 경우 NP에 의해 증가한 NO가 감소하였다. 또한 유전자 전사억제제인 actinomycin D 및 단백질 발현 억제제인 cycloheximide을 처리한 경우는 NP에 의한 NO 증가억제효과가 없었다. 이러한 결과를 종합해 볼 때 GH3 세포에서 NP는 ER을 매개한 non-genomic action에 의해 NO를 증가키는 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 1999

During the screening for inhibitors of nitric oxide production in LPS-activated macrophage, RAW 264.7 cells. Five coumarins were isolated from chloroform extract of the root of Peucedanum japonicum. They were identified as praeruptorin A (1), xanthotoxin (2), psoralen (3), isopimpinellin (4), bergapten (5) on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The $IC_{50}$ values for nitrite production by activated macrophages were about $1.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ (1), $0.3\;{\mu}g/ml$ (2), $1.0\;{\mu}g/ml$ (3), $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ (4), $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ (5), respectively. However, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was not inhibited by treatment with these compounds. Their inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production was resulted from the supperssion of iNOS expression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.262-273
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Coptidis Rhizoma steamed with rice wine (CR) against gastroduodenal mucosal injury through inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activation. Methods: In in vitro experiment, LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with CR(0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 mg/ml) and iNOS mRNA expression and nitric oxide (NO) production were measured. In in vivo experiment normal group mice were treated with neither ethanol nor CR. Both control and sample group mice were orally administrated with ethanol. Five hours after ethanol administration control group mice were orally administrated with distilled water, sample group mice were orally administrated with CR. After three days administration, gastroduodenal mucosa of mice was observed histopathologically and iNOS, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation were observed immunohistochemically. Results: In in vitro experiment iNOS mRNA expression and NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were decreased by CR dose-dependently. In in vivo experiment, gastroduodenal mucosal injury was repaired by CR and iNOS, NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in gastroduodenal mucosa were decreased by CR. Conclusions: Coptidis Rhizoma steamed with rice wine has a protective effect against gastroduodenal mucosal injury through inhibiting iNOS activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 1999

Growing evidence indicates that enhanced generation or actions of nitric oxide (NO) are implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats and diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We investigated whether inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in STZ-induced diabetic rats is responsible for the alterations of vascular reactivity. Diabetic state was confirmed 28 days after injection of STZ (i.p) in rats by measuring blood glucose. In order to evaluate whether short term (4 weeks) diabetic state is related with altered vascular reactivity caused by iNOS expression, isometric tension experiments were performed. In addition, plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels and expression of iNOS in the lung and aorta of control and STZ-treated rats were compared by using Griess reagent and Western analysis, respectively. Results indicated that STZ-treated rats increased the maximal contractile response of the aorta to phenylephrine (PE), and high $K^+,$ while the sensitivity remained unaltered. Endothelium-dependent relaxation, but not SNP-mediated relaxation, was reduced in STZ-treated rats. Plasma nitrite/nitrates are significantly increased in STZ-treated rats compared to controls. The malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of liver, serum, and aorta of diabetic rats were also significantly increased. Furthermore, nitrotyrosine, a specific foot print of peroxynitrite, was significantly increased in endothelial cells and smooth muscle layers in STZ-induced diabetic aorta. Taken together, the present findings indicate that enhanced release of NO by iNOS along with increased lipid peroxidation in diabetic conditions may be responsible, at least in part, for the augmented contractility, possibly through the modification of endothelial integrity or ecNOS activity of endothelium in STZ-diabetic rat aorta.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2014

Cardiovascular disease is the prime cause of morbidity and mortality and the population ages that may contribute to increase in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. Arginase upregulation is associated with impaired endothelial function in aged vascular system and thus may contribute to cardiovascular disease. According to recent research, Korean Red Ginseng water extract (KRGE) may reduce cardiovascular disease risk by improving vascular system health. The purpose of this study was to examine mechanisms contributing to age-related vascular endothelial dysfunction and to determine whether KRGE improves these functions in aged mice. Young ($10{\pm}3$ weeks) and aged ($55{\pm}5$ weeks) male mice (C57BL/6J) were orally administered 0, 10, or 20 mg/mouse/day of KRGE for 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed and the aortas were removed. Endothelial arginase activity, nitric oxide (NO) generation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) coupling, vascular tension, and plasma peroxynitrite production were measured. KRGE attenuated arginase activity, restored nitric oxide (NO) generation, reduced ROS production, and enhanced eNOS coupling in aged mice. KRGE also improved vascular tension in aged vessels, as indicated by increased acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation and improved phenylephrine-stimulated vasoconstriction. Furthermore, KRGE prevented plasma peroxynitrite formation in aged mice, indicating reduced lipid peroxidation. These results suggest KRGE exerts vasoprotective effects by inhibiting arginase activity and augmenting NO signaling and may be a useful treatment for age-dependent vascular diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2009

A variety of herbs and plants have been traditionally used in oriental folk medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In our attempt to search for anti-inflammatory agents from natural products, we investigated 64 methanol extracts from 42 medicinal plants belonging to 10 families which were evaluated for inhibitory activities of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Among them, 16 extracts exhibited inhibitory activities of NO production ($IC_{50}$ values ranging from 59.6 to 94.7 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Only the extract from aerial parts of Hosta lancifolia (H. lancifolia) did not exert cytotoxic effects at the concentrations tested. The extract from H. lancifolia decreased the mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in activated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that the extract may contain bioactive compounds that suppress expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may prove beneficial with regard to the development of natural agents for prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2017

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate candidate materials as anti-inflammation agent from extracts of various Korean Compositae herbs in Hwaak mountain. Among Korea medicinal herbs, Ainsliaea acerifolia (AA) belongs to the Compositae family, has been used for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis. However, AA has not been previously reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of AA and its underlying molecular mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Methods : Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Nitric oxide (NO) was measured with Griess reagent and pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and p65 subunit of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) were determined by Western blot analysis. Results : Among 8 extracts of Korean Compositae herbs tested, AA showed the inhibition of NO production without cytotoxicity. Consistent with the observation, AA reduced the expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in LPS-simulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in dose-dependent manner. In addition, AA inhibited the productions of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in LPS-simulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. However, AA did not inhibit activation of p65 $NF-{\kappa}B$ in LPS-simulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Conclusion : These results suggest that down-regulation of iNOS, COX-2 protein expression and $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production by AA are responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2019

This research was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory constituent from the herb of Lycorus lucidus (Lamiaceae). The MeOH extract of this plant material and its two fractions, the lipophilic- ($CHCl_3$ fraction) and the hydrophilic fraction (BuOH fraction), were prepared to test anti-inflammatory activity. For this purpose, the inhibition rate on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity was assessed by determining nitric oxide (NO) formation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage 264.7 cells. The $CHCl_3$ fraction that greatly inhibited nitric NO formation was chromatographed to lead the isolation of ursolic acid. Since ursolic acid inhibited NO formation dose dependently in this study, this compound was considered as one of the active constituent responsible for anti-inflammation. However, the activity of rosmarinic acid isolated from the BuOH fraction was weak.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.389-398
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• 2000

The fallowing are the results of the experimental studies of Cordyceps militaris (CM) on the penile nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and the level of blood testosterone in hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats. CM was tested for the effects on activity of xanthine oxidase and lipid peroxidation in penis of hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats. In vitro, CM didn't effect the levels of lipid peroxide and the activity of NOS. In the penis of hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats, lipid peroxide, the activities and ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase were increased but activity of NOS and content of nitrite were decreased. In vivo, after administration of CM to hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats, levels of lipid peroxide in penis was decreased. Also, the activities and ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase were decreased, too. The body weight and concentration of testosterone in the blood were increased. The effects of Cordyceps militalis Broth did better than the effects of Cordyceps militalls Mycelia, These results suggest that CM decrease the activities of free radical generating enzymes such as xanthine oxidase which form lipid peroxide and increase the penile NOS activity and the level of blood testosterone in hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats. Conclusively, CM is capable of improving of sexual ability in hydrocortisone acetate-treated rats.