• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1146-1153
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• 2022

Many probiotic species have been used as a fermentation starter for manufacturing functional food materials. We have isolated Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LDTM 8102 from the feces of infants as a novel strain for fermentation. While Glycine max has been known to display various bioactivities including anti-oxidant, anti-skin aging, and anti-cancer effects, the immune-modulatory effect of Glycine max has not been reported. In the current study, we have discovered that the extract of Glycine max fermented with B. animalis subsp. lactis LDTM 8102 (GFB 8102), could exert immuno-modulatory properties. GFB 8102 treatment increased the production of immune-stimulatory cytokines in RAW264.7 macrophages without any noticeable cytotoxicity. Analysis of the molecular mechanism revealed that GFB 8102 could upregulate MAPK2K and MAPK signaling pathways including ERK, p38, and JNK. GFB 8102 also increased the proliferation rate of splenocytes isolated from mice. In an animal study, administration of GFB 8102 partially recovered cyclophosphamide-mediated reduction in thymus and spleen weight. Moreover, splenocytes from the GFB 8102-treated group exhibited increased TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β production. Based on these findings, GFB 8102 could be a promising functional food material for enhancing immune function.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.167-172
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• 1997

Effect of combined preparation (DWP715) containing Alaska pollack extract, maltol, ascorbic acid and nicotinamide on decreasing of blood alcohol was evaluated in human blood. Treatment of DWP715 prior to administration of 25% alcohol (100 mL) decreased alcohol concentration in blood and showed significant difference after 2 hours. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), $C_{max},\;T_{max}\;and\;T_{1/2}$ were also decreased and delayed when compared with control values. Effects of DWP715 on anti-fatigue and anti-oxidation activities were also studied in the restraint stress model using various parameters (GOT, GPT, LDH values and organ weights) on mild condition and examined through the content of lipid peroxide induced by 2% $CCl_4$ in mouse livers. While GPT level, thymus and adrenal weight were not influenced by DWP715 dosing, LDH, GOT level and spleen weight used as a parameter against fatigue and stress states were recovered almost to the nomal level. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation due to $CCl_4$ was significantly inhibited by DWP715 treatment. These results suggest that DWP715 seems to metabolize the blood alcohol rapidly and to restore the damaged liver and fatigue conditions which was caused by alcohol metabolism to normal condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2004

In the present study, the protective effects of Artemisia capillaris (AC) on the DNA damage induced by $^{60}$ Co ${\gamma}$-rays were evaluated using alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE, comet assay) in the mouse peripheral lymphocytes and micronuclei (MN) formation test in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We also investigated the effect of AC on 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) formation in the mouse liver and thymus exposed to ${\gamma}$-ray, The tail moment and the frequency of MN, which were markers of DNA damage in the SCGE and MN formation test, were decreased in the groups treated with AC extract before exposure to 200 cGy of ${\gamma}$-ray. We also observed its activities, lowering 8-OHdG level, an index of oxidative DNA damage, in the groups treated with AC extract before whole body ${\gamma}$-irradiation (800 cGy). It is plausible that scavenging of free radicals by AC may have played an important role in providing the protection against the radiation-induced damage to the DNA. These results indicated that AC protects the DNA damage induced by ${\gamma}$-rays and might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic product.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.134-149
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• 2016

Objectives : Gal-Geun-Tang (GT) has been described from SANGHAN in Korean traditional medicine and known to act against cold, fever, hypertension, and nasal catarrh. However, little has yet been learned about the effect of GT on immune function. In the current study, in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory activity of GT (water extract) was investigated.Methods : Water extract of GT induced in vitro proliferation of spleen cells and significantly increased their proliferative responses during anti-CD3 activation. Using purified splenic T and B cells, it was revealed that GT has a mitogenic activity to B cells and promotes their proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide, whereas T cell proliferation was not triggered and GT was rather inhibitory to T cell activation caused by anti-CD3 antibody. In the presence of antigen presenting cells (APC), GT addition resulted in a significant increase of IFNγ and IL-4, but not IL-2, production. However, addition of high concentration (1,000㎍/㎖) of GT led to a marked reduction in T cell cytokine production and under such condition, GT facilitated apoptosis of T cells when examined by flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining.Results : In vivo immunomdulation of GT was also investigated using a mouse model. Following keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) immunization, GT (1 ㎎/day) was orally administered for 9 days. Cell numbers in thymus, spleen and peripheral blood were not altered by GT administration, indicating that such dose is not immunotoxic. Cell numbers in draining lymph nodes (LN) and ex vivo Ag-specific proliferation of LN cells were significantly elevated by GT administration. However, any preferential stimulation of T or B and CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cell subpopulations was not observed in a flow cytometric analysis of LN cells. This result shows that GT does not promote in vivo B cell proliferation while GT enhances Ag-specific proliferation of LN cells, unlike what was observed in vitro.Conclusions : For a further understanding of in vivo immunomodulatory activity of GT, ex vivo cytokine production of LN cells obtained from KLH-immunized mice was evaluated. Ag-specific IFNγ production was significantly higher in GT-treated mice when compared to PBS-treated control mice. In contrast, IL-4 production in GT-treated group was comparable to control group unlike to in vitro data. In addition, GT administration did not result in any significant differences in serum levels of Ig (IgM, IgG1 and IgG2a) between GT-treated and control groups. Taken together, these data strongly support that GT promotes immune response, more profoundly type 1 helper T cell (Th1) activity and GT may be applicable for treatment of intracellular parasite infection such as viral diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.298-305
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic benefits of Aronia melanocarpa (AM) and Moringa oleifera seed extract (MO) on experimental atopic dermatitis. We examined the effects of AM or MO and their combination on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice as well as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}-stimulated$ HaCaT keratinocytes. Mice were orally treated with extract during repeated application of DNCB to shaved dorsal skin. Our results show that treatment with AM and MO in combination reduced histological manifestations such as epidermal hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, it significantly decreased skin thickness and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level compared to the AM or MO alone treated group. Combined extract of AM and MO suppressed expression of $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}-induced$ T helper 2 (Th2) chemokines such as thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and macrophage-derived chemokine. To sum up, combination of AM and MO suppressed the inflammatory response and serum IgE as an indicator of several allergic diseases in DNCB-induced experimental atopic dermatitis and Th2 chemokine expression in HaCaT cells. This result suggests that combination of AM and MO could be a valuable strategy to improve atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used to treat many diseases, such as inflammation, infections, and even cancer. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a Chinese elm species, is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The stem bark is widely employed in Korean traditional medicine to treat dermatitis, mastitis, and edema. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water extract of U. macrocarpa Hance bark (Ulmus cortex) has a immune-modulating function in a mouse model. Three different concentrations (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of Ulmus cortex water extract (UCWE) were orally administered to mice for 14 days, and their immune responses were analyzed. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$, increased in the blood of UCWE-fed groups when compared with a control group. In contrast, the IL-4 level did not change in any of the UCWE-fed groups Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was also assayed using lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK). LAK showed greater cytotoxicity in the UCWE-fed groups than LAK in the control group. Internal organ indices, such as liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus, were similar in all the groups, including the control group, indicating that UCWE may have been nontoxic in the experimental animals. These data suggest that UCWE has an immune-modulating function in a mouse model.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.871-876
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• 2010

Seven native and four introduced herbs namely $Thymus$ $quinquecostatus$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, $Rosmarinus$ $officinalis$, etc. were selected for analysis of the DPPH radical scavenging and anti-microbial activity of their extracts. These perennial herbs are classified as $Labiatae$ and $Compositae$ except for $Saururus$ $chinensis$ and can be propagated through seedling and cuttage. These edible herbs are used as medicinal as well as ornamental plants. Their extract has electron donating ability which ranges from 69.7 to 78.7% for native herbs and 67.4 to 75.4% for introduced herbs. Native herbs have higher (3.54%) average DPPH radical scavenging than introduced herbs. In native herbs, maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed in $Agastache$ $rugosa$ (78.7%) followed by $Saururus$ $chinensis$ while $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$ showed highest activity among the introduced herbs. Many herbs viz. $Saururus$ $chinensis$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$ and $Solidago$ $virga-aurea$ var. $gigantean$ showed excellent anti-microbial activity against gram positive $Enterococcus$ $faecalis$, maximum (80.0%) by $Saururus$ $chinensis$. Other herbs viz. $Solidago$ $virga-aurea$ var. $gigantea$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, $Salvia$Salvia $plebeia$, $Chrysanthemum$ $indicum$, $Rosmarinus$ $officinalis$, $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$ and $Lavandula$ $stoechas$ showed anti-microbial activity against gram negative $Citrobacter$ $freundii$. Especially, the inhibition of colony growth of $Citrobacter$ $freundii$ was highest in the extract of $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, and $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of antler velvet (EAV) on common serum chemistry panels and histopathological change in rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Administration of TCDD ($50{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) induced significant decrease in platelet count (p<0.01), creatine phosphokinase (CPK, p<0.01), lactatate dehydrogenase (LDH, p<0.05) and glucose (p<0.05) levels and increase in hemoglobin (p<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p<0.01), alanine amino transferase (ALT, p<0.05) and lipase activities (p<0.05), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN, p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.01) and low density lipoptotein cholesterol (LDL-C, p<0.05) levels. However, pretreatment of EAV at daily dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. from 1 wk before TCDD exposure for 5 wks attenuated the abnormality of the overall serum chemistry panels but statistical difference between TE and TA groups was observed only in testicular weight (p<0.01), LDH activity (p<0.05), glucose (p<0.05) and lipase activity (p<0.01). In addition, TCDD induced significant histopathological changes including swelling, fatty metamorphosis, and vacuolar degeneration in liver; edema in proximal and distal convoluted tubules, and glomerulus in kidney; severe atrophy of red purple and appearance of significant number of macrophage in spleen; prominent atrophy and decrease in immune cells in thymus. On the other hand, administration of EAV attenuated histopathological damage induced by TCDD. These results further suggest that administration of EAV attenuates TCDD induced testicular, liver, pancreatic, hematopoietic and nephrotic toxicities in rats.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

The roots of Achyranthes japonica Nakai were extracted with 100% aqueous and concentrated subfraction was separated with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-based activity profiling. Three compounds were isolated from the subfraction 5 through the repeated prep- high performance liquid chromatography column chromatography. According to the results of physico-chemical and spectroscopic data including NMR and MS, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as ecdysterone (1), 25S-inokosterone (2), and 25R-inokosterone (3). Three phytoecdysones were showed weak inhibitory activity for thymus and activation-regulated chemokine expression levels in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ plus IFN-${\gamma}$ induced HaCaT cells, respectively. However, those compounds 1-3 were exhibited the most potent inhibition (80-95% at $200{\mu}g/mL$) against TNF-${\alpha}$ expression levels in A23187 plus phorbol-myrisrate acetate-induced RBL-2H3 cells. As result, 100% aqueous extract of A. japonica has an excellent anti-atopy activity. It could be used to a large range of functional anti-atopy cosmetics.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU ($10mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.p), or AHCC ($360mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, $CD^{8+}$, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of $CD^{4+}$/$CD^{8+}$ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.