• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

Objective : This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba (AC) in reflux esophagitis (RE) rats. Methods : The AC was measured antioxidant activity through in vitro experiments, such as total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. Base on the results, we had conducted in vivo experiments. Rats were divided normal, control, AC treatment 50 mg/kg BW (AC50), and AC treatment 100 mg/kg BW (AC100) groups. AC were orally administered 2 h before the induction of RE. RE was induced by tie the pylorus and the transitional junction between the forestomach and the corpus in Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were sacrificed 5 h after the surgery. We analyzed the expression of inflammatory related markers by western blot and observed the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hematoxylin-eosin staining, Results : The $IC_{50}$ of AC for DPPH and ABTS were showed 12.60 and $33.32{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ respectively. In the RE rat, AC decreased inflammatory related markers, such as phosphorylated inhibitor of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$, nuclear factor-kappa B, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Also, AC reduced the increased reactive oxygen species in serum. The anti-inflammatory effect of AC appeared to be partially mediated through the inhibition of ROS. Also, AC markedly ameliorated esophageal mucosa damage via the inhibition of protein expression related to inflammation. Conclusions : Therefore, these results suggest that AC would be used as a therapeutic material in protection and/or treatment for reflux esophagitis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2019

The mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of bioconversion on different components of the mulberry tree, and determined changes in the physiological activities. Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions of five different segments (fruit, Mori Fructus; leaf, Mori Folium; twig, Mori Ramulus; root, Mori Cortex; and mistletoe, Loranthi Ramulus) of the mulberry tree show enhanced anti-oxidant effects in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylvenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, after being treated with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus kawachii, in the following order of activity: Mori Folium>Mori Cortex>Mori Ramulus>Mori Fructus>Loranthi Ramulus. Ethyl acetate- soluble fraction of mulberry leaves (Mori Folium) that underwent bioconversion was most effective, and was devoid of any cytotoxicity. The fraction was also effective against mRNA expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6. In addition, the fraction was effective in LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and IKK, and $I{\kappa}B$ degradation, followed by translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Thus, bioconversion increased the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of the mulberry leaf.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2013

Ginsenoside Rd is a primary constituent of the ginseng rhizome and has been shown to participate in the regulation of diabetes and in tumor formation. Reports also show that ginsenoside Rd exerts anti-oxidative effects by activating anti-oxidant enzymes. Treatment with ginsenoside Rd decreased nitric oxide and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-challenged RAW264.7 cells and in ICR mouse livers (5 mg/kg LPS; LPS + ginsenoside Rd [2, 10, and 50 mg/kg]). Furthermore, these decreases were associated with the down-regulations of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and of nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ activity in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that ginsenoside Rd treatment decreases; 1) nitric oxide production (40% inhibition); 2) $PGE_2$ synthesis (69% to 93% inhibition); 3) NF-${\kappa}B$ activity; and 4) the NF-${\kappa}B$-regulated expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Taken together, our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of ginsenoside Rd are due to the down-regulation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and the consequent expressional suppressions of iNOS and COX-2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng (PG), is used widely as a herbal medicine to prevent and treat various diseases. Panax ginseng has pharmacological effects on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of PG and its possible neuroprotective mechanisms in advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced AD in a rat model. Methods: Advanced glycation end products were injected bilaterally into the CA3 region of the rats' brains. The Morris water maze test and step-down type passive avoidance test were performed to evaluate their memory and cognitive abilities. The oxidation indexes in the hippocampus were detected. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to visualize the receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-${\kappa}B$). Results: Behavioral results showed that PG (1 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 0.25 g/kg) significantly shortened the escape latency, remarkably increased the number of crossing times, significantly decreased the number of errors, and prolonged the latency in rats with AGE-induced AD. Panax ginseng also significantly reduced the malondialdehyde level, increased the glutathione content, and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the hippocampus. Panax ginseng significantly decreased the expression of RAGE and NF-${\kappa}B$. The blockade of anti-RAGE antibody could significantly reduce AGE-induced impairments and regulate these expressions. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that PG significantly inhibits AGE-induced memory impairment and attenuates Alzheimer-like pathophysiological changes. These neuroprotective effects of PG may be associated with the RAGE/NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Our results provided the experimental basis for applying PG in preventing and treating AD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.297-303
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• 2019

Corticosteroids are commonly used for pain control in rotator cuff tear. Deregulated $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation is a hallmark of chronic inflammatory diseases and has been responsible for the pathogenesis of rotator cuff tear. The Dexamethasone(DEXA) is a synthetic corticosteroid. The purpose of this study was to examine the exact effect of dexamethasone on $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling in rotator cuff tear. We measured $NF-{\kappa}B$ expression in four groups: control, $TNF-{\alpha}$-treated, DEXA-treated, and combined treatment with $TNF-{\alpha}$ and DEXA. Tenocytes were isolated from patients with rotator cuff tears and pre-incubated with $TNF-{\alpha}$ (10 ng/ml), DEXA ($1{\mu}M$), or both of them for 10 min, 1 h, and 2 h. Expression of p65, p50, and p52 in the nuclei and cytosol was analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence imaging using confocal microscopy. We also evaluated nucleus/cytosol (N/C) ratios of p65, p50, and p52. In our study, the combined treatment with DEXA and $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed increased N/C ratios of p65, p50, and p52 compared with those in the $TNF-{\alpha}$ group at all time points. Additionally, in the DEXA group, N/C ratios of p65, p50, and p52 gradually increased from 10 min to 2 h. In conclusion, DEXA promoted the nuclear localization of p65, p50, and p52, but was not effective in inhibiting the inflammatory response of $TNF-{\alpha}$-stimulated rotator cuff tear.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 2016

Background: Ginseng extracts are known to have angiogenic effects. However, to date, only limited information is available on the molecular mechanism underlying the angiogenic effects and the main components of ginseng that exert these effects. Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are used as an in vitro model for screening therapeutic agents that promote angiogenesis and wound healing. We recently isolated gintonin, a novel ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, from ginseng. LPA plays a key role in angiogenesis and wound healing. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of gintonin on proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs, which express endogenous LPA1/3 receptors. Results: Gintonin stimulated proliferation and migration of HUVECs. The LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425, short interfering RNA against LPA1 or LPA3 receptor, and the Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, significantly decreased the gintonin-induced proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs, which indicates the involvement of LPA receptors and Rho kinase activation. Further, gintonin increased the release of vascular endothelial growth factors from HUVECs. The cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS-398, nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor BAY11-7085, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 blocked the gintonin-induced migration, which shows the involvement of cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor kappa B, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling. Conclusion: The gintonin-mediated proliferation, migration, and vascular-endothelial-growth-factor release in HUVECs via LPA-receptor activation may be one of in vitro mechanisms underlying ginsenginduced angiogenic and wound-healing effects.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2014

This study was orchestrated with the purpose of uncovering new nutraceutical resources possessing biological activities in the plant kingdom. To fulfill our objective, we analyzed several Chinese plants and selected three possessing powerful anti-oxidative activities. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects these three Chinese plants, Malus hupehensis, Ophiorrhiza cantonensis, and Psychotria rubra ethanol extracts were then evaluated. First of all, they possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, similar with that of ascorbic acid, used as a positive control. Moreover, they inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species, in a dose-dependent manner, in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, they induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2. Furthermore, they suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The suppression of NO and iNOS by the three extracts might be the result of modulation by the upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1. Taken together, these results indicate that these three Chinese plants possess potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, they might be utilized as promising materials in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2277-2281
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• 2015

Objectives: To explore the expression of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) in cervical cancer and analyze its correlation with microvascular density (MVD), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kB p65) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical MaxVision method was adopted to detect the expression level of AEG-1, NF-kB p65 and VEGF in 45 samples of invading cervical cancer and 12 samples of cervicitis from The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Tumor microvascular endothelial marker CD34 combined with Weidner was used to determine the MVD in cervical cancer tissue. The positive expression and staining conditions of AEG-1, NF-kB p65 and VEGF in cervical cancer tissues were observed under a light microscope. Correlations between expression of AEG-1 protein and those of NF-Kb p65 and VEGF, as well as MVD, were analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results: The expression levels of AEG-1 were $0.186{\pm}0.043$ in cervical cancer and $0.051{\pm}0.002$ in chronic cervicitis (p<0.01). Moreover, expression of AEG-1 was related to vascular invasion and lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer (p<0.01), but not with age of the patients, differentiation degree, tumour size, pathological type and parametrial infiltration (p>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression of AEG-1 was linked with NF-kB p65 (r=0.501, p=0.000), VEGF (r=0.718, p=0.000) as well as MVD in cervical cancer tissue (r=0.815, p=0.000). Conclusions: AEG-1 is highly expressed in cervical cancer and promotes angiogenesis, which might be related to the fact that AEG-1 activating the signal pathway of NF-kB could up-regulate the level of VEGF expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.509-516
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• 2017

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts (PFS) is a plant of the labiatae family. The purpose of this work was to assess the preventive effects of PFS ethanolic extracts (PFSEs) on cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage. Cytokines, which are released by the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the pancreatic islets, are involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The combination of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-1), interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accumulation of intracellular ROS led to ${\beta}$-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. PFSEs possess antioxidant activity and thus lead to downregulation of ROS generation. Cytokines decrease cell viability, stimulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and induce the production of nitric oxide (NO). PFSEs prevented cytokine-induced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with PFSE resulted in significant reduction in cytokine-induced NO production that correlated with reduced levels of the iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Furthermore, PFSE significantly decreased the activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) by inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation in RINm5F cells. In summary, our results suggest that the protective effects of PFSE might serve to counteract cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell destruction. Findings indicate that consumption of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts alleviates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage and thus has beneficial anti-diabetic effects.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2020

Glutaredoxin 1 (GLRX1) has been recognized as an important regulator of redox signaling. Although GLRX1 plays an essential role in cell survival as an antioxidant protein, the function of GLRX1 protein in inflammatory response is still under investigation. Therefore, we wanted to know whether transduced PEP-1-GLRX1 protein inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation. In LPS-exposed Raw 264.7 cells, PEP-1-GLRX1 inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), activation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) expression levels. In a TPA-induced mouse-ear edema model, topically applied PEP-1-GLRX1 transduced into ear tissues and significantly ameliorated ear edema. Our data reveal that PEP-1-GLRX1 attenuates inflammation in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that PEP-1-GLRX1 may be a potential therapeutic protein for inflammatory diseases.