• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2003

This study investigated the effects of high amylose starch (HAS) consumption on gut functions in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental animals were fed an diet containing HAS for 4 weeks (0, 125, 250, 500 g/kg diet). Stool weights, transit time, the pH of cecum, Bifidobacterium growth, short chain fatty acid production, and prostaglandin E$_2$production in colon mucus were measured. HAS intake did not affect body weight gain or food efficiency ratio during experimental period. There were no significant differences in kidney weight, epididymal fat pad weights or spleen weights, but the weights of the liver and thymus were significantly lower in the HAS100 group. The length of the large intestine, the weights of the cecum wall and cecum contents, and stool weights significantly increased through HAS intake. But transit time was not affected by the experimental diet. Although Bifidobacterium growth in the cecum increased through the HAS intake dose dependently, there were significant differences in the HAS50 and HAS100 groups. HAS intake increased the production of short chain fatty acid in the cecum contents. In particular, acetate and butyrate concentrations grew significantly. And the production of prostaglandin E$_2$in the colon mucus significantly decreased through HAS intake. These results demonstrate that high amylose starch intake significantly improves gut function.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.143-149
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) ethanolic extract fractions (CFEFs). Butanol fraction had the strongest antioxidant activity, and all CFEFs, except for chloroform fraction, partly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in RAW 264.7 cells. In the cell-free system, hexane and butanol fractions chemically quenched nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the iNOS mRNA transcription was suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effect of CFEFs on NO production from LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, might be due to both the chemical NO quenching activity and the suppression of iNOS mRNA transcription partially. The synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was potently inhibited by ethanol extract to below basal label, and the transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involving in $PGE_2$ synthesis, was partially suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction. Based on these results, CFEFs may be useful as an alternative medicine for the relief and retardation of immunological inflammatory responses through the reduction of inflammatory mediators, including NO and $PGE_2$ production.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.343-347
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• 2002

In the present study, effects of essential oils isolated from various plants have been evaluated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E$_2$(PGE$_2$) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-$\alpha$) by the macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Among the tested essential oils, essential oil of Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis (LF-oil) significantly inhibited the LPS-induced generation of NO, PGE$_2$ and TNF-$\alpha$ in Raw 264.7 cells. Consistent with these observations, the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzyme was inhibited by LF-oil in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, this study suggests that inhibition of release of iNOS, COX-2 expression, and TNF-$\alpha$ by the essential oil of Ligularia fischer may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of this medicinal plant.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1289-1293
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• 2007

Persicaside has been isolated as a new alkaloid natural compound from a methanol (EtOA)-soluble extract of Prunus persica seed. It was purified by a combination of chromatographic techniques and recrystallization. The structure of Persicaside was determined by extensive NMR experiments and mass ppectroscopic data. It inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production via suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2 expression in rat osteoblast sarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8) in concentration-dependent manner whereas it spares the COX-1 enzyme activity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect of Potentilla chinensis (PC) on Raw264.7 macrophage cells. Ethanol extract of PC decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Ethanol extract was fractioned by n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water and each fraction was tested for inhibitory effects on inflammation. Among the sequential solvent fractions, PC chloroform extracts (50, 100, 300, and 500 ${\mu}g/mL$) significantly suppressed LPS-stimulated production of NO. During the entire experimental period, 200 and 300 ${\mu}g/mL$ of PC chloroform extracts had no cytotoxicity. LPS-induced NO and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production were inhibited by PC chloroform extracts up to 50% and 90% of these productions, respectively. PC chloroform extracts reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 gene. These results suggest that PC chloroform extracts exhibit strong effects of anti-inflammation and can be a potential candidate in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2005

Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (AR) has been widely used for the treatment of various diseases in Oriental medicine. To investigate whether AR possesses anti-inflammatory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in the BV2 microglial cells, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) assay, and nitric oxide (NO) detection assay were performed. From the present results, AR was shown to suppress PGE2 synthesis and NO production by inhibiting the LPS-stimulated enhancement of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in BV2 microglial cells. These results suggest that AR may offer a valuable means of therapy in the treatment of inflammatory diseases by attenuating LPS-induced PGE2 synthesis and NO production.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1272-1278
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kyung Hee Allergic Disease Herbal Formula (KAHF) on atopic dermatitis (AD) and its mode of action. Our clinical study showed KAHF reduced Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) indexes and subjective symptom scores. In parallel, the decreased levels of interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ and interleukin (IL)-5 in serum, which contributed to its AD-mitigating effect was observed. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of KAHF in AD, its anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced responses in RAW 264.7 cells was examined. KAHF was found to significantly inhibit the productions of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and IL-$1{\beta}$ in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Consistently, KAHF potently inhibited protein and mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Furthermore, KAHF inhibited LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor (NF)-$\kappa}B$. Taken together, our data suggest that KAHF has a beneficial effect on several eicosanoid-related skin inflammations, such as atopic dermatitis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2021

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is likely to metastasize to other organs, and is often resistant to conventional chemotherapies. Thymoquinone (TQ), a phytochemical derived from the seeds of Nigella sativa, has been shown to inhibit migration and metastasis in various cancers. In this study, we assessed the effect of TQ on the migratory activity of human RCC Caki-1 cells. We found that treatment with TQ reduced the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Caki-1 cells. TQ significantly repressed prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, its EP2 receptor expression as well as the activation of Akt and p38, the wellknown upstream signal proteins of MMP-9. In addition, treatment with butaprost, a PGE2 agonist, also induced MMP-9 activity and migration/invasion in Caki-1 cells. Moreover, pharmacological inhibitors of PI3K/Akt and p38 remarkably attenuated butaprost-induced Caki-1 cell migration and invasion, implying that activation of PI3K/Akt and p38 is a bridge between the PGE2-EP2 axis and MMP-9-dependent migration and invasion. Taken together, these data suggest that TQ is a promising anti-metastatic drug to treat advanced and metastatic RCC.

• 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2014

Curcumin is naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in turmeric and has many pharmacological activities. The present study was undertaken to evaluate anti-allergic inflammatory activity of curcumin, and to investigate its inhibitory mechanisms in immunoglobulin E (IgE)/Ag-induced mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and in a mouse model of IgE/Ag-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA). Curcumin inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) dependent prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) dependent leukotriene $C_4$ ($LTC_4$) generation dose-dependently in BMMCs. To probe the mechanism involved, we assessed the effects of curcumin on the phosphorylation of Syk and its downstream signal molecules. Curcumin inhibited intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx via phospholipase $C{\gamma}1$ ($PLC{\gamma}1$) activation and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) pathway. Furthermore, the oral administration of curcumin significantly attenuated IgE/Ag-induced PSA, as determined by serum $LTC_4$, $PGD_2$, and histamine levels. Taken together, this study shows that curcumin offers a basis for drug development for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases.