• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제16권11호
• /
• pp.1784-1790
• /
• 2006

Bacillus anthracis is a causative agent of anthrax. Anthrax toxins are composed of a protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF), in which the PA is a central mediator for the delivery of the two enzymatic moieties LF and EF. Therefore, the PA has been an attractive target in the prevention and vaccinization for anthrax toxin. Recently, it has been reported that the molecule consisting of multiple copies of PA-binding peptide, covalently linked to a flexible polymer backbone, blocked intoxification of anthrax toxin in an animal model. In the present study, we have screened novel diverse peptides that bind to PA with a high affinity (picomolar range) from an M13 peptide display library and characterized the binding regions of the peptides. Our works provide a basis to develop novel potent inhibitors or diagnostic probes with a diverse polyvalence.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제32권4호
• /
• pp.259-265
• /
• 2002

Piroxicam is one of the NSAID, which is used in the systemic and topical treatment of a variety of inflammatory conditions. Conventionally, for topical use, the drug is formulated in gel. We designed an phonophoretic drug delivery system to investigate the piroxicam permeability and the influence of ultrasound application (continuous mode, pulsed mode), frequency (1.0 MHz, 3.0 MHz) and intensity $(1.0\;w/cm^2,\;1.5\;w/cm^2,\;2.0\;w/cm^2)$ with 0.5% piroxicam gel. Per cutaneous absorption studies were performed in vitro models to determine the rate of drug absorption via the skin. Permeation study using hairless mouse skin was performed at $37^{\circ}C$ using buffered saline (pH 7.4, 10% propylene glycol solution) as the receptor solution. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined using carrageenan-induced foot edema model in rat. A pronounced effect of ultrasound on the skin absorption of the piroxicam was observed at all ultrasound energy level studied. Ultrasound was carried out for 10 hr. The highest permeation was observed at intensity of $2.0\;w/cm^2$, frequency of 1.0 MHz and continuous output. The inclusion of phonophoresis was found to improve significantly the skin permeation in vitro and the anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.192-200
• /
• 2020

Natural products have received revived interest via traditional remedies or alternative medicine used for the treatment of various diseases. Zanthoxylum piperitum (ZP) has been utilized in traditional medicine for various medicinal purposes. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether ZP modulates allergic inflammation both in vivo and in vitro. We examined the pharmacological effects of ZP on 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms in mice. Additionally, in order to clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ZP, we elucidate the effect of ZP on the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1). The results demonstrated that ZP attenuated AD clinical symptoms such as erythema, edema and dryness as well as histamine and IgE serum levels in DNCB-induced AD model mice. Additionally, ZP suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and activation of NF-κB in AD-like skin lesions and stimulated HMC-1. These results provide experimental evidence that ZP may be useful candidate for treating allergic inflammation including AD.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제20권4호
• /
• pp.301-305
• /
• 2014

The aim of our study is to investigate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of an ethanol extract of the leaf and stem of Aralia cordata. Writhing responses induced by acetic acid, tail immersion test, and formalin-induced paw pain response for nociception and formalin-induced paw edema for inflammation were evaluated in mice. A. cordata (50 - 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and ibuprofen (100 mg/kg, p.o.), a positive non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response, but they did not protect the thermal nociception in tail immersion test. However, morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) used as positive opioid control alleviated both the acetic acid-induced writhing response and thermal nociception in tail immersion test. In the formalin test, A. cordata (50 - 200mg/kg) and ibuprofen (200mg/kg) inhibited the second phase response (peripheral inflammatory response), but not the first phase response (central response), whereas morphine inhibited both phase pain responses. Both A. cordata (100 mg/kg) and ibuprofen (200 mg/kg) significantly alleviated the formalin-induced increase of paw thickness, the index of inflammation. These results show for the first time that the leaf and stem of A. cordata has a significant anti-nociceptive effect that seems to be peripheral, but not central. A. cordata also displays an anti-inflammatory activity in an acute inflammation model. The present study supports a possible use of the leaf and stem of A. cordata to treat pain and inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2006

Melittin-induced pain model has been known to be very useful for the study of pain mechanism. Melittin-induced nociceptive responses are reported to be modulated by the changes in the activity of excitatory amino acid receptor, calcium channel, spinal serotonin receptor and extracellular signaling-regulated kinase. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in the melittin-induced nociception. Changes in mechanical threshold, flinchings and paw thickness were measured before and after intraplantar injection of melittin in the rat hind paw. Also studied were the effects of intraperitonealy administered diclofenac (25 mg & 50 mg/kg), piroxicam (10 mg & 20 mg/kg) and meloxicam (10 mg & 20 mg/kg) on the melittin-induced nociceptions. Intraplantar injection of melittin caused marked reduction of mechanical threshold that was dose-dependently attenuated by non-selective COX inhibitor (diclofenac) and selective COX-1 inhibitor (piroxicam), but not by COX-2 inhibitor (meloxicam). Melittin-induced flinchings were strongly suppressed by non-selective COX and COX-1 inhibitor, but not by COX-2 inhibitor. None of the COX inhibitors had inhibitory effects on melittin-induced increase of paw thickness (edema). These experimental findings suggest that COX-1 plays an important role in the melittin-induced nociceptive responses.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• 제16권6호
• /
• pp.988-993
• /
• 2007

The protective effect of the water extract of Fraxinus rhynchophylla leaves (FLE) was determined using an animal model of acetaminophen (AAP)-induced nephrotoxicity. The BALB/c male mice used in this study were divided into 3 groups; the normal, AAP-administered, and FLE-pretreated AAP groups. A single dose of AAP induced necrosis of renal tubules and congestion along with edema to a remarkable degree as observed by hematoxylin and eosin stain, and also increased the numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive renal tubular epithelial cells. Blood urea nitrogen and plasma creatinine levels were determined to be significantly higher in the AAP group than in the normal group. However, FLE pretreatment resulted in an attenuation of renal tubule necrosis. Regeneration and dilatation of renal tubules were noted, and the numbers of TUNEL-positive cells were reduced in the FLE-pretreated groups. In an effort to detect the bioactive compounds exerting protective effects in FLE, the analysis of phenolic compounds via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were performed, and identified esculetin and esculin. The present study indicates that these compounds may exert a protective effect against AAP-induced nephrotoxicity.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.53-70
• /
• 1993

These experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of Taklee Hwangki Tang(THT) on inflammation. THT extract did not affected on the leakage of evans blue into peritoneal cavity and mouse paw edema induced by histamine, but decreased the cottom pellet granuloma formation. Using proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblast cell line as an in vitro model of granulation tissue formation, the ability of THT to stumulate cellular proliferation of fibroblast cells was investigated. When the cells were seeded at $1{\times}10^4$ cells/well, balb/c 3T3 cells are reached to the late expponential phase at 3rd day. Under the conditions established above, THT increased the proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 cells at concentration of $10^-,\;10^{-6}\;and\;10^{-5}g/ml$. The treatment of $10^{-6}g/ml$ of THT did not influence onthe NDA syntesis and proteinsynthesis of the cells. The $10\%$ serum from THT treated mice(500mg/kg/day for 4 days) increased the proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblast markedly, but decreased the DNA synthesis and protein sythesis of the cells. The results suggest that THT may be of practical therapeutic use at the period of the last in. flammation.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.16-25
• /
• 2008

Background & Objectives : Rhinitis is an inflammation of nasal mucosa. The major symtoms are watery rhinorrhea, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal obstruction. Allergic rhinitis is an immune reaction by allergen. So, we aimed to determine therapeutic effects of Acorus gramineus by observing changes in IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and the nasal mucosal tissue. Materials and Methods : Fifteen BALC/c mice were divided into three groups : m group(which ate low concentrated herbal medicine ), M group(which ate high concentrated herbal medicine) and control group. Control and experimental group were induced allergic rhinitis by Ovalbumin as the method of Levin and Vaz. Experimental group was orally administered the Acorus gramineus extract for 28days. We observed changes in IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and trans aminase(AST, ALT) in blood and nasal mucosa and submucosa. Results : There were no significant changes statistically in IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in blood(p<0.05). And there were no hepatotoxicity with Acorus gramineus extract. Histologically, almost no inflammatory response in treatment group(m,M) against that there were inflammatory response(increased goblet cells, dilated vessels, edema of bowman's glands and injured olfactory hairs) in control group. Conclusion : According to above results, it is supposed that Acorus gramineus has no immunological effects on allergic rhinitis.

• Mycobiology
• /
• 제44권4호
• /
• pp.291-301
• /
• 2016

Culinary mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius has been popular in Asian countries. In this study, the anti-oxidant, cholinesterase, and inflammation inhibitory activities of methanol extract (ME) of fruiting bodies of P. pulmonarius were evaluted. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazy free radical scavenging activity of ME at 2.0 mg/mL was comparable to that of butylated hydroxytoluene, the standard reference. The ME exhibited significantly higher hydroxyl radical scavenging activity than butylated hydroxytoluene. ME showed slightly lower but moderate inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase than galantamine, a standard AChE inhibitor. It also exhibited protective effect against cytotoxicity to PC-12 cells induced by glutamate ($10{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$), inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and carrageenan-induced paw edema in a rat model. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the ME of P. pulmonarius contained at least 10 phenolic compounds and some of them were identified by the comparison with known standard phenolics. Taken together, our results demonstrate that fruiting bodies of P. pulmonarius possess antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, and inflammation inhibitory activities.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2019

Inula helenium L. is rich source of eudesmane-type sesquiterpene lactones, mainly alantolactone and isoalantolactone, which have the various pharmacological functions. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of nitric oxide (NO) production of hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions from I. helenium and investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of hexane fraction of I. helenium (HFIH) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Quantification of alantolactone and isoalantolactone from HFIH was carried out for the standardization by multiple reaction monitoring using triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. HFIH significantly inhibited inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein as well as their downstream products NO and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, HFIH suppressed $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity by decreasing the translocation of p65 to the nucleus. The in vivo study further confirmed that HFIH attenuated the paw edema induced by carrageenan in an acute inflammation model. These findings suggest that HFIH may be useful as a promising phytomedicine for inflammatory-associated diseases.