• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.204-211
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• 2005

We hypothesize that bear's gall may have a certain role in anti-inflammation through a preventive effect of pro-inflammatory potentials. Secondly, we tried to connect the experimental results to Alzheimer's disease (AD), which chronic inflammation is a main cause of the disease. For this theme, we designed to elucidate the efficacy of bear's gall in suppressing the pro-inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ in rat microglia. From the study, we concluded that bear's gall plays a positive role in suppressing such pro-inflammatory repertoire from rat microglia comparing to normal and positive control, such as culture media and cyclosporine. Interestingly, bear's gall showed a prolonged effect of anti-inflammation comparing with cyclosporine when time goes by up to 48h with a significant suppression at $1.2\;mg/m{\ell}$. Therefore, we can consider that bear's gall in part can be applied to AD therapy in that it suppresses the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators as well as its continued effect.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1079-1087
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• 2021

Gentisic acid (GA), a benzoic acid derivative present in various food ingredients, has been shown to have diverse pharmaceutical activities such as anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we used a co-culture system to investigate the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic effects of GA on macrophages and adipocytes, respectively, as well as its effect on obesity-related chronic inflammation. We found that GA effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory responses by controlling the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulating inflammation-related protein pathways. GA treatment also inhibited lipid accumulation in adipocytes by modulating the expression of major adipogenic transcription factors and their upstream protein pathways. Furthermore, in the macrophage-adipocyte co-culture system, GA decreased the production of obesity-related cytokines. These results indicate that GA possesses effective anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic activities and may be used in developing treatments for the management of obesity-related chronic inflammatory diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

Objectives : Portulaca oleracea (PO) have been used as a traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases in Korea. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of PO ethanol extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation is not well-known. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory effect of PO on LPS induced inflammatory.Methods : Identification of PO was conducted by comparison with purified standards by HPLC. To measure out the cytotoxicity of PO, author performed the MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of PO, author examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin, (IL)-1β and IL-6) on RAW 264.7 cells. Author also examined molecular mechanisms such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-B (NF-κB) activation by western blot.Results : Three major components (peaks 1, 2, 3) were detected in both varieties and peak 1 was characterized as caffeic acid, peak 2 as p-coumaric acid, and peak 3 as ferulic acid by comparison of chromatographic properties with authentic standards. Extract from PO itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. PO inhibited LPS-induced productions of inflammatory mediators such as NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7cells. In addition, PO inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB activation in RAW 264.7 cells.Conclusions : Above experiment data can be an important indicator for the identification of PO and this study suggest that treatment of PO could reduce the LPS-induced inflammation. Thereby, PO could be used as a protective agent against inflammation.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2018

Objectives : Coronary and cerebrovascular disease with high mortality is a major factor in arteriosclerosis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines damage vascular endothelial cells, leading to vascular inflammation. These vascular inflammation can build up cholesterol and thrombus to cause atherosclerosis. Methods : In this study, we researched the effect of ChungHyul-Plus for vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$). Change in mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (CCL5, CXCL8, CX3CL1, and MCP-1), cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1), and anti-inflammation modulators (KLF2 and eNOS) were quantified by qRT-PCR. Results : ChungHyul-Plus decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules and increased anti-inflammation modulators expression in $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulated HUVECs. Conclusions : These results suggest that ChungHyul-Plus can be used in the treatment and prevention of vascular inflammation and arteriosclerosis.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2006

Sophorae Radix (SFR) is known as a therapeutic drug that has been used in Oriental traditional medicine for the treatment of skin and mucosal ulcers, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diarrhea, inflammation and arrhythmia. In the present study, we examined the effects of the aqueous extract of SFR on anti-inflammation, anti-allergic and anti-oxidant effect in various cell lines; they include mouse lung fibroblast cells (hFCs), human mast cells (HMC-1), human monocytic cells (THP-1), and RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment with SFR extract at a concentration of 250 ${\mu}g$/ml for 24h showed no significant decrease in the survival rate of the hFCs. SFR decreased the mRNA expression of IL-8, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-6 in HMC-1 cells. SFR extract treatment significantly inhi-bited the protein expression of IL-6 and, IL-8 induced by mite in THP-1 cells and it also did MCP-1 expression. We examined the alternation of histamine release in HMC-1 cells for investigating anti-allergic effect of SFR. Histamine secretion decreased after the treatment with SFR. In addition, SFR extract treatment at a concentration of 10 ${\mu}g$/ml, 100 ${\mu}g$ /ml, and 200 ${\mu}g$/ml lowered the $\beta$-hexosaminidase to 10.3%, 21.7%, and 50.8%, respectively. IC50 of SFR extract in RBL-2H3 cells was 196.85 ${\mu}g$/ml. Both activity of NF-$\kappa$B promoter in RBL-2H3 cells significantly diminished after the dose-dependent treatment of SFR. Therefore, our results indicate that SFR has anti-inflammatory and it may be useful for treating allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2011

Objective : This study was performed to compare anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-bacterial effects of Cuscutae Semen(CS) extracted with two kinds of solvents, ethanol and distilled water. Methods : Two kinds of CS extractions were prepared 20, 50, 100 ${\mu}l/mg$. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-inflammation effect was measured by inhibitory efficacy of NO Production in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-oxidation effect was measured by DPPH Radical scavenging ability in HaCaT cell. The anti-bacterial effect was measured by inhibition zone diameter on Propionibacterium acnes. Results : 1. Two kinds(100 ${\mu}l/mg$) of CS extraction groups had 50% cytotoxicity in Raw 264.7 cell. 2. All of CS extraction groups were not showed significantly inhibitory effect on NO production. 3. All of CS extracted with ethanol only showed dose-dependently significantly scavenging effect of DPPH radicals. 4. Two kinds of CS extractions did not have a inhibitory effect on Propionibactrium acnes. Conclusion : Two kinds(100 ${\mu}l/mg$) of CS extraction groups have 50% cytotoxicity. Two kinds of CS extractions have not the inhibitory effect on NO production and Propionibactrium acnes. CS groups extracted with ethanol only have a significantly scavenging ability of DPPH radicals. This study suggests that CS extracted with ethanol was effective in anti-oxidation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.957-965
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• 2006

This study was peformed to evaluate antithrombotic activities and anti-inflammatory effects of Kami-BoyangHwanoh-Tang(KBHT). The major findings were summarized as follows. In experiment of anti-thrombotic effect; KBHT inhibited human platelet aggregation induced by ADP and epinephrine as compared with the control group and inhibited pulmonary embolism induced by collagen and epinephrine (inhibitory rate is 50 %). KBHT increased platelet number significantly and also KBHT shortened PT and APTT significantly as compared with the control group in thrombus model induced by dextran. In experiment of anti-inflammatory effect; KBHT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA expression as compared with the control group in a concentration-dependent degree, and inhibited NO production significantly at 50, $100\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$, and also inhibited ROS production in a concentration-dependent degree as compared with the control group in RAW 264.7 cell line. KBHT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production significantly in serum of acute inflammation-induced mice, and decreased $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in spleen tissue, and also decreased IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in liver tissue, but increased $IL-1{\beta}$ production in liver tissue of acute inflammation-induced mice. KBHT increased survival rate at 3rd day in mice with lethal endotoxemia induced by LPS. These results suggest that KBHT can be useful in treating diverse female diseases caused by thrombosis and inflammation such as endometrosis, myoma, pelvic congestion, chronic cervicitis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and so on.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.41-45
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• 2013

Objective: The root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. Japonica (Ulmi Radicis cortex, URC) is a medicinal herb used for promoting diuresis and treating dampness. In Korea, URC has long been used as an efficacious therapy for inflammation, burns, frostbite and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Methods: In the present study, we used 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact dermatitis (CD) mouse model to investigate the anti-allergic and the anti-inflammatory effects of URC on skin lesion, histopathological changes and specific antibody production. Results: URC treatment, 10 mg/mL, effectively inhibited skin lesions induced by repeated paintings with DNFB. In the histopathological observation, topical application of URC inhibited spongiosis. In addition, URC lowered the production levels of total immunoglobulin and IgG2a in serum. Conclusion: These data indicate that URC has an anti-inflammatory effect that produces an improvement of skin lesions in CD mice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.635-640
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• 2011

Betulae Cortex of Betula platyphylla Suk. var. japonica Hara (Betulaceae) has long been used for treatment of various inflammation, fever and cough in Eastern Asia. In order to investigate antibacterial activity of the Betulae Cortex against Streptococcus mutans or Porphyromonas gingivalis, MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and pH were checked, and for anti-inflammation activity, the experiments about trypsin-induced paw edema, vascular permeability and myeloperoxidase activity in rat's hind-paw tissue, were carried out with various extracts of Betulae Cortex (BCXs) respectively. The BCXs showed significant antibacterial activity, and at the dose of over 50 mg/kg, BCX showed significant inhibition on the paw edema, vascular permeability and myeloperoxidase activity. These results indicate that BCXs have antibacterial activity against oral cariogenic bacteria and anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2024

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic fat accumulation, while nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of NAFLD characterized by hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and liver injury, resulting in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given the evidence that ginseng and its major bioactive components, ginsenosides, have potent anti-adipogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-fibrogenic effects, the pharmacological effect of ginseng and ginsenosides on NAFLD and NASH is noteworthy. Furthermore, numerous studies have successfully demonstrated the protective effect of ginseng on these diseases, as well as the underlying mechanisms in animal disease models and cells, such as hepatocytes and macrophages. This review discusses recent studies that explore the pharmacological roles of ginseng and ginsenosides in NAFLD and NASH and highlights their potential as agents to prevent and treat NAFLD, NASH, and liver diseases caused by hepatic steatosis and inflammation.