• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2017

The anti-inflammatory effect of Sargassum patens C. Agardh ethanol extract (SPEE) was examined based on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in this study. SPEE treatment was not cytotoxic to macrophages compared to the control. The production of NO was suppressed by SPEE by approximately 28% at $100{\mu}g/ml$, and levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ decreased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ was suppressed by SPEE treatment. In vivo, croton oil-induced mouse ear edema was attenuated by SPEE and the infiltration of mast cells into the tissue decreased. Based on these results, SPEE inhibits the release of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, suggesting that SPEE is a potential agent for anti-inflammatory therapies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.640-645
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• 2017

Clerodendrum trichotomum (CT) leaves and stems have been used in folk medicine for their anti-hypertension, arthritis, rheumatism, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was performed to evaluate the potential of CT as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. CT leaves were extracted using 70% ethanol (EtOH). Then, using this extract, a hexane, chloroform ($CHCl_3$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (BuOH) fraction was prepared. The polyphenol contents were higher in the EtOAc fraction ($78.08{\mu}g/mg$) and BuOH fraction ($77.54{\mu}g/mg$) compared to the other fractions. Also, these two fractions exhibited strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities were higher in the $CHCl_3$ fraction ($IC_{50}=4.43{\mu}g/ml$) and EtOAc fraction ($IC_{50}=5.69{\mu}g/ml$). Moreover, the EtOAc fraction effectively inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells ($IC_{50}=18.87{\mu}g/ml$). Thus, we investigated the effects of the EtOAc fraction on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The treatment of the EtOAc fraction ($100{\mu}g/ml$) effectively decreased the levels of the tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). These results suggest the potential for CT extract and fractions as promising anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.273-281
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• 2011

Rice bran is byproducts of the hulling of rice, an important food resource in Korea. Various studies have been reported immune-enhancing effects of rice bran cultured with Lentinus edodes. In particular black rice bran contains anthocyanin, and the effects of antioxidant have been reported. The objective of the this study was to investigate the possible immune-enhancing effects of black rice bran substance extracted from a submerged culture of Lentinus edodes with black rice bran (crude fermentation-polysaccharide, CFP) and products(crude fermentation-polysaccharide-S. cerevisiae CFP-S, crude fermentation-polysaccharide-L. gasseri, CFP-L) which are of secondary fermentation of by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus gasseri in the Blab/c male mice. We found that supplementation of CFP, CFP-S and CFP-L enhanced macrophage and splenocyte proliferation compared to the control group(NC) in mice. Also, we measured the concentration of cytokines(IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6) secreted by activated macrophage and splenocyte. The results of the experiment are that supplementation of CFP and CFP-S increased the macrophage and splenocyte proliferation compared to the control group but supplementation of CFP-L decreased the splenoyte proliferation compared to the control group(without mitogen and treated with LPS). When macrophage and splenocyte were stimulated by CFP and CFP-S supplementation, it was increased IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 concentration compared with the control group. These results suggest that the capacity of CFP and CFP-S seem to act as a potent immune modulator causing augmentation of immune cell activity, and enhance the immue function through regulating cytokine production capacity by activated macrophage and splenocyte in mice.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of commonly consumed vegetables in Korea on lipid accumulation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines related to obesity/metabolic syndrome. Using KNHANES (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) raw data ($1^{st}$; 1998, $5^{th}$; 2010, 2011) and a literature search, we selected vegetables for study. Edible portions of samples were prepared, ethanol-extracted, and then freeze-dried. 3T3-L1 adipocytes and HepG2 hepatocytes cells were used as in vitro models. Lipid accumulation determined by Oil-red O staining showed that all samples except bracken had inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Especially, crown daisy and mugwort effectively reduced accumulation of lipids, and their inhibition rates were more than 60% of the control group. Young pumpkin, leeks, crown daisy, and mugwort showed significantly decreased MCP-1 levels compared to the control group. However, adiponectin protein level did not increase in the vegetables experimental group. In HepG2 hepatocytes, all samples showed inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation at one of the two concentrations. Although adiponectin protein levels did not increase, MCP-1 protein levels decreased in adipocytes. Further, lipid accumulation in adipocytes and hepatocytes decreased. In conclusion, all samples showed one or more improved obesity/metabolic syndrome indicators. Among them, young pumpkin, leeks, crown daisy, and mugwort were selected as the most effective portions of vegetables based on improvement of obesity/metabolic syndrome-related indicators.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2011

Purpose: Several factors including prolonged inflammatory response are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The clinical findings can be explained by an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$ ). We investigated the relationship between susceptibility to BPD and TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms to identify genetic factors of the disease. Methods: Thirty-eight preterm infants who had developed BPD and 55 controlled infants with a birth weight <1,500 g were analyzed for TNF-$\alpha$ genotypes. The alleles of five promoter sites (-1031/-863/-857/-308/-238) of TNF-$\alpha$ gene were determined using $Taqman^{(R)}$-based allelic discrimination assays. Results: Gestational age ($27^{+5}{\pm}2^{+0}$ wk vs. $29^{+2}{\pm}1^{+4}$ wk, P<0.0001) and birth weight (990${\pm}$270 g vs. 1,220${\pm}$230 g, P<0.0001) were lower in the BPD group compared to the control group. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (71.1% vs. 49.1%, P=0.035) and patent ductus arteriosus (71.1% vs. 50.9%, P=0.052) was higher in the BPD group compared to the control group. The frequencies of the alleles and genotypes of five promoter sites (-1031/-863/-857/-308/-238) of TNF-$\alpha$ gene did not show differences between the BPD group and the control group. Conclusion: TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms are not associated with susceptibility to BPD in Korean preterm infants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.331-342
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• 2020

The suppression of neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells can be considered a key target for improving the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). Asparagus cochinchinensis has traditionally been used as a medicine to treat fever, cough, kidney disease, breast cancer, inflammatory diseases, and brain diseases. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of an aqueous extract from A. cochinchinensis root (AEAC), particularly its anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglial cells. BV-2 cells were treated with four different concentrations of AEAC. No significant toxicity was detected in BV-2 cells treated with AEAC. Nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels were 21% lower in the AEAC+LPS group than in the Vehicle+LPS group. Lower proinflammatory (TNF-α and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and IL-10) levels were also detected in the AEAC+LPS group than in the Vehicle+LPS group, albeit at varying rates. Moreover, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members after LPS treatment was significantly recovered in the AEAC-pretreated group compared to the Vehicle+LPS group, enhancement of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members after LPS treatment was significantly recovered in the AEAC-pretreated group, while cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase caused by LPS treatment was less severe in the AEAC+LPS group. The increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by LPS treatment was also lower in the AEAC-pretreated group than in the Vehicle+LPS group. This is the first study to show that AEAC exerts anti-neuroinflammatory activity against LPS stimulation by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, the cell cycle, and ROS production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1315-1323
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• 2017

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa (CL)) of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. A yellow-pigmented fraction isolated from the rhizomes of CL contains curcuminoids belonging to the dicinnamoyl methane group. Curcumin is an important active ingredient responsible for the biological activity of CL. However, CL is not usually used as a food source due to its bitter taste. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the CL fermented by Rhizopus oryzae (FCL) on pro-inflammatory factors such as nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cell line. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of FCL 80% EtOH extracts, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by ELISA kit. Also, the amount of $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured using the $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ detection kit and the iNOS/COX-2 expression was measured by Western blotting. The results showed that the FCL reduced NO, $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that FCL extracts may be a developed the functional food related to anti-inflammation due to the significant effects on inflammatory factors.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.530-535
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• 2005

Background and Aims : Cigarette smoking induces an inflammatory response in the airways, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the cytokines that plays an important role in inducing bronchial inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine if the level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-6, is increased when the bronchial epithelial cells are exposed to a cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and an extract from stop smoking-aiding cigarettes, and examined the safety of these commercially available stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Method : Bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to CSE from cigarette and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes for 24 hours. ELISA was used to measure the IL-6 levels in the supernatant from each condition. The IL-6 mRNA levels were measured by Taqman Real time RT-PCR. N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC) was added to each condition to determine if NAC can inhibit the release of IL-6 from the bronchial epithelial cells when they are exposed to CSE from cigarette and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Result : When bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to a CSE from cigarettes and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes, each type of CSE stimulated IL-6 production from the bronchial epithelial cells. The IL-6 mRNA level in the Bronchial epithelial cells was also elevated and NAC was found to inhibit the release of IL-6 from bronchial epithelial cells when they were exposed to the CSE from cigarettes and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Conclusion : Commercially available stop smoking-aiding cigarette can induce bronchial inflammation and can be harmful to smokers. Therefore, the safety of these cigarettes for smoking cessation should be evaluated.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.876-882
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• 2016

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Corni fructus extracts (CEF, EtOAc extraction; CBF, buthanol extraction; CWF, water extraction) were investigated. The total phenolics of CEF (173.3 mg TAE/g) were significantly higher than those of CWF (26.7 mg TAE/g) and CBF (94.8 mg TAE/g). DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity of CEF (DPPH: $RH_{50}$; $25.1{\mu}g/mL$, ABTS: $RC_{50}$; $36.1{\mu}g/mL$) showed even higher than that of BHA and ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ used as positive control. All three Corni fructus extracts in the concentration of $1{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$ were effective inhibitors of NO and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). NO production was inhibited 71.3~92.2% by CEF, 76.8~85.5% by CBF and 74.4~96.9% by CWF, respectively. CEF, CBF and CWF ($1{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$) inhibited also pro-inflammatory cytokines like $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 very effectively. $TNF-{\alpha}$ was inhibited up to 51.2% by CWF and $IL-1{\beta}$ was inhibited up to 67.1% by CEF. IL-6 was best inhibited by CEF up to 58.9%. This study suggested the potential of Corni fructus for use as an excellent antioxidant substance and inflammatory inhibiting mediators. Therefore CEF, CBF and CWF Corni fructus extracts may be used for therapeutic approach to various inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.56-77
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate effects of Boyanghwano-Tang on the development of experimentally-induced endometriosis in rats. Methods: Endometriosis was induced in rats by autotransplanting uterine tissue to the peritoneum and divided them into three groups: (1) sham-operated group(n=8), (2) surgically induced endometriosis and untreated control group (n=8), (3) surgically induced endometriosis and Boyanghwano-Tang treated group. Boyanghwano-Tang was orally administrated for 15 days after operation. Then we measured the body weight, the volume of endometriotic implants, the weight of uterus and ovary, and investigated the concentration of cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6) in peritoneal fluids. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry for COX-2 and VEGF, and histochemistry for mast cell in transplanted uterine tissue were performed. Results: - The volume($mm^3$) of endometriotic implants in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group ($122.3{\pm}45.0$) was significantly decreased(p<0.05) compared with control group($222.1{\pm}109.1$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of MCP-1 in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($1026.3{\pm}196.5$) was significantly decreased(p<0.05) compared with control group($1412.5{\pm}345.7$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of TNF-$\alpha$ in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($936.5{\pm}94.3$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($1126.2{\pm}139.9$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of IL-$1{\beta}$ in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($78.5{\pm}13.3$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($105.3{\pm}17.6$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of IL-6 in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($107.4{\pm}15.8$) was decreased compared with control group($122.8{\pm}19.3$). - Histopathologically, proliferation of endometriotic epithelia, infiltration of inflammatory cells and angiogenesis in transplanted uterine tissue of Boyanghwano-Tang treated group were weakly observed than those of control group. - The percentage of positive epithelial layers for COX-2 in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($51.5{\pm}14.1$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($75.1{\pm}16.3$). - The VEGF expression of endometriotic epithelia, neovascular endothelia and stromal cells in transplanted uterine tissue of Boyanghwano-Tang treated group were weakly observed than those of control group. - The number of mast cells in adjacent tissue of transplanted uterine tissue in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($75.9{\pm}13.1$) was decreased compared with control group($91.0{\pm}28.3$). Conclusion: On the basis of these results, we concluded that Boyanghwano-Tang have inhibiting effects on the development of transplanted uterine tissue. And these effects may be related with decreased production of MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and decreased expression of COX-2 and VEGF by administration of Boyanghwano-Tang.