• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2016

Cryptotanshinone (CPT) is a natural compound isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. In the present study, the regulatory effect and potential mechanisms of CPT on tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) induced lectin-like receptor for oxidized low density lipoprotein (LOX-1) were investigated. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on LOX-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels was determined by Real-time PCR and Western blotting respectively. The formation of intracellular ROS was determined with fluorescence probe $CM-DCFH_2-DA$. The endothelial ox-LDL uptake was evaluated with DiI-ox-LDL. The effect of CPT on LOX-1 expression was also evaluated with SD rats. $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced LOX-1 expression in a dose- and time- dependent manner in endothelial cells. $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced ROS formation, phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and ERK, and LOX-1 expression, which were suppressed by rotenone, DPI, NAC, and CPT. $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor BAY11-7082 and ERK inhibitor PD98059 inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ LOX-1 expression. CPT and NAC suppressed $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ LOX-1 expression and phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and ERK in rat aorta. These data suggested that $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced LOX-1 expression via ROS activated $NF-{\kappa}B/ERK$ pathway, which could be inhibited by CPT. This study provides new insights for the anti-atherosclerotic effect of CPT.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2021

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of ethanol extract of Lonicera japonica flower buds (EELJ) on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mouse hippocampus-derived neuronal HT22 cells. Methods : After analyzing the cytoprotective effect of EELJ on glutamate in HT22 cells, the inhibitory effect of apoptosis was studied using flow cytometry. In order to analyze the antioxidant efficacy of EELJ, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) were investigated, and the effects on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also analyzed. Furthermore, the effect of EELJ on the expression of apoptosis regulators such as Bax and Bcl-2 in glutamate-treated HT22 cells was investigated. Results : According the current results, pretreatment with EELJ significantly reduced glutamate-induced loss of cell viability and release of lactate dehydrogenase. EELJ also markedly attenuated glutamate-induced generation of intracellular ROS, which was associated with increased levels of GSH, and activity of SOD and CAT in glutamate-stimulated HT22 cells. In addition, EELJ was strikingly inhibited glutamate-induced apoptosis in HT22 cells. Furthermore, the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax was increased and the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was decreased in glutamate-treated HT22 cells, while in the presence of EELJ, their expressions were maintained at the control levels. Conclusions : These findings indicate that EELJ protects glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 hippocampal neurons through antioxidant activity. Therefore, although identification of biologically active substances of EELJ and re-evaluation through animal experiments is necessary, this natural substance is a promising candidate for further research in preventing and treating oxidative stress-mediated neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.513-520
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cheonggukjang pills with aronia and blueberries on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. There have been several reports that Cheonggukjang is effective for intestinal health, but the efficacy of Cheonggukjang containing fruits has not yet been reported. In this study, we showed the effect of cheonggukjang pills with blueberries and aronia (CPBA) on DSS-induced colitis in BALB/c mice. CPBA was obtained from Soonchang Moonokae foods and orally administered once a day for 2 weeks before DSS treatment. Colitis was induced in mice by feeding 5% (w/v) DSS drinking water for 7 days. The results showed that CPBA treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced disease activity index associated with a decrease in colon length. CPBA improved DSS-induced histological changes and intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in mice colon. In addition, CPBA administration significantly reduced the levels of DSS-mediated interferon-γ and interleukin-6 in serum and tumor necrosis factor-α in colon tissue. Moreover, the gene expression of COX-2 and iNOS, which are factors involved in inflammatory signaling, was significantly reduced by CPBA treatment. These results suggest that CPBA have a protective effect against DSS-induced mice colitis and may be a candidate for colitis treatment.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.144-154
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Neural stem cells (NSCs) remain in the mammalian brain throughout life and provide a novel therapeutic strategy for central nervous system (CNS) injury. Bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) had shown a protective effect in different types of cells. However, the role of BMP-6 in NSCs is largely unclear. The present study was aimed to investigate whether BMP-6 could protect human NSCs (hNSCs) against the oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced cell death. Methods and Results: Upon challenge with OGD treatment, cell viability was significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner, as indicated by the CCK-8 assay. BMP-6 could attenuate the OGD-induced cell injury in a dose-dependent manner and decrease the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Moreover, BMP-6 markedly weakened the OGD-induced alterations in the expression of procaspase-8/9/3 and reversed the expression of cleaved-caspase-3. Interestingly, noggin protein (the BMP-6 inhibitor) attenuated the neuroprotective effect of BMP-6 in cultured hNSCs. Furthermore, the p38 MAPK signaling pathway was activated by OGD treatment and BMP-6 markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with noggin abolished the effect of BMP-6 on p38 activation. SB239063, a selective p38 inhibitor, exerted similar effects with BMP-6 in protecting hNSCs against the OGD-induced apoptosis. These results indicated that blocking the phosphorylation of p38 might contribute to the neuroprotective effect of BMP-6 against the OGD-induced injury in hNSCs. Conclusions: These findings suggested that BMP-6 might be a therapeutic target in the OGD-induced cell death, which provides a novel therapeutic strategy for enhancing host and graft NSCs survival in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2008

To clerify the antioxidant effect of Crataegi Fructus (CF) extract on reactive oxygen species (ROS), The C6 glioma cells were treated with various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$). The $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity was measured by XTT assay for the cell viability. For the protective effect of CF extract on the cytotoxicity induced by $H_2O_2$, cell viability, lactate dehydroganase (LDH) activity, and the inhibitive activity of lipid peroxidation of CF extract were performed. In this study, $H_2O_2$ decreased cell viability dose- and time-dependent manners and increased LDH activity compared with the control. In the protective effect on $H_2O_2$, CF extract increased cell viability and decreased LDH activity on $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation by FTC assay. From these results, It is suggested that $H_2O_2$ was highly toxic on cultured C6 glioma cells, and also, CF extract showed the protective effect on $H_2O_2$-mediated cytotoxicity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.147-155
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• 1997

This study was undertaken to determine whether Salviae-radix (SVR) exraction exerts benefical effect against oxidant-induced inhibition of tetraethylammonium (TEA) uptake which is actively secreted by renal proximal tubules. TEA uptake increased as function of incubation time to 60 min. When renal cortical slices were exposed to 50 mM $H_2O_2$, TEA uptake was significantly inhibited. The inhibition was significantly protected by addition of 0.5% SVR extraction. The benefical effect of SVR was dose-dependent over the concentration range of 0.1-1%; $H_2O_2$ (50 mM)-induced inhibition of TEA uptake was completely protected by 0.5-1% SVR extraction. $H_2O_2$ increased LDH release which was accompanied by an increase in lipid peroxidation in renal cortical slices. These changes were prevented by 0.5% SVR. These results suggest that SVR exerts benefical effect against oxidant-induced impairment of membrane transport function, this effect may be due to by an antioxidant action.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.1 s.22
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• pp.121-135
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to examine protective effect of wild ginseng extract on HepG2 human hepatoma cell line against tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage. Methods : To evaluate protective effect of wild ginseng extract against t-BHP induced cytotoxicity, LDH level and activity of glutathione peroxidase and reductase were measured. Gene expression was also measured using DNA microarray. Results : Wild ginseng extract showed a significant protective effect against t-BHP-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell line. It is not, however, related with the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Analysis of gene expression using DNA chip, demonstrated that 28 genes were up-regulated in t-BHP only group. Five genes - selenoprotein P, glutathione peroxidase 3, sirtuin 2, peroxiredoxin 2, serfiredoxin 1 homolog - may be related with the protective effect of wild ginseng extract. Conclusions : Based on the results, a protective effect of wild ginseng extract against t-BHP-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cell line is not associated with the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, but with the expression of selenoprotein P, glutathione peroxidase 3, sirtuin 2, peroxiredoxin 2, and serfiredoxin 1 homolog.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.190-195
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• 2000

In the previous reports, we selected 80% MeOH extract of 7 herbs including Scutellariae Radix(SR), Paeoniae Radix Rubra(PRR), Moutan Cortex(MC), Angelicae Gigantis Radix(AGR), Crataegi Fructus(CF), Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam(BCT) and Cinnamomi Ramulus(CR), which exhibited the inhibitory effect on HMG-CoA reductase and DPPH free radical scavenging effect in vitro, and antihyperlipidemic effects on antihyperlipidemic rats induced by Triton WR 1339 in vivo. Among them, SR, MC, AGR and BCT showed significant suppression of elevated serum LDL-cholesterol level, and AGR and CF showed significant liver weight increase on high cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemic mice. And, SR, PRR, AGR, BCT and CR significantly suppressed the elevated serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels on corn oil induced hyperlipidemic rats. Then, in order to research new antihyperlipidemic agents from the oriental medicinal herbs, we chose SR, AGR, CR and BCT which have the antihyperlipidemic effect in vitro and in vivo, and those herbs were systematically fractionated with organic solvent. EtOAc fraction of SR, hexane fraction of BCT, AGR and chloroform fraction of CR exhibited remarkably inhibitory effect on HMG-CoA reductase activity.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.821-828
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• 2012

In an attempt to identify the neuroprotective effect of Cudrania tricuspidata (CT) leaves against ROS (reactive oxygen species)-induced oxidative stress in neuronal cells, the extracts from CT leaves were investigated using PC12 cells and N18-RE-105 cells. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts from CT were denoted as CTM (Cudrania tricuspidata Leaves methanolic extracts) and CTE (Cudrania tricuspidata Leaves ethanolic extracts), respectively. The neuroprotective effects of the extracts were measured by DCF-DA assay, MTT reduction assay, and LDH release assay. The PC12 cells exposed to $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and the N18-RE-105 cells exposed to glutamate-induced oxidative stress were treated with various concentrations of CTM and CTE. The results, CTM treatments resulted in the induction of a dose-dependent protective effect in PC12 cells and N18-RE-105 cells. Interestingly, CTE also showed neuroprotective effect in PC12 cells and N18-RE-105 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that CTM and CTE could be a new potential candidate as neuroprotective agents against ROS-induced oxidative stress in neuronal cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1022-1026
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• 2005

To clarify the toxic effect on cultured neonatal mouse cerebral neurons damaged by ischemia, we examined the cytotoxicity induced by ischemia and the protective effect of antioxidant and AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist against ischemia-induced cytotoxicity on cultured cerebral neurons. For this study, mice were administrated with 20ug/kg cyclothiazide or 50U/kg vitamin E via intraperitoneal injection for 2 hours before ischemic induction. After cell culture for 7 days, cell viability, amount of neurofilament and protein kinase C activity were examined. Ischemia decreased significantly cell viability, amount of neurofilament and the increase of protein kinase C activity in these cultures. In the protective effect, vitamin I showed remarkably the increase of cell viability and amount of neurofilament, and the decrease of protein kinase C activity but, cyclothiazide did not showed any protective effect on ischemia-induced cytotoxicity. From these results, it is suggested that vitamin I is effective in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by ischemia, but cyclothiazide as a AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist is not.