• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.19-28
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• 2024

Objectives : Ephedrae Herba has been used in the East Asian traditional medicine, for treatment of asthma, cold and influenza. Silymarin is an effective antioxidant and its anti-fibrogenic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties have been reported. This study was performed to explore an anti-fibrogenic potential of Ephedrae Herba extract (EHE) + silymarin on immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2 cells. Methods : We studied the anti-fibrogenic effects of EHE + silymarin on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway in LX-2 cells. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. TGF-β1 signaling-related proteins expression were detected by Western blot. Results : Silymarin 30 ㎍/mL and EHE 100 ㎍/mL showed cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Therefore, the concentrations of silymarin and EHE were studied at 10 ㎍/mL, respectively. Silymarin significantly reduced PAI-1 protein expression, Smad binding element (SBE) luciferase activity, and mRNA (PAI-1, MMP2 and 9) expression compared to TGF-β1. EHE significantly reduced SBE luciferase activity and mRNA (PAI-1, MMP2 and 9) expression compared to TGF-β1. More importantly, EHE + silymarin significantly reduced all parameters compared to TGF-β1, and also significantly reduced compared to EHE alone and silymarin alone. Conclusion : The results indicate that EHE + silymarin has anti-fibrogenic effect in LX-2 cells induced by TGF-β1. Additionally, EHE + silymarin shows more effective anti-fibrogenic effect than EHE alone and silymarin alone.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.1563-1573
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• 2019

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid glycoside, has been reported to have several pharmacological effects; however, the anti-inflammatory effects of ICA against AP require further study. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of ICA on cerulein-induced AP. In the present study, AP was induced by intraperitoneally administering a supramaximal concentration of cerulein (50 ㎍/kg/h) for 6 h. ICA was also administered intraperitoneally, and mice were sacrificed 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Blood samples were collected to determine serum amylase and lipase levels. The pancreas and lung were rapidly removed for histological examination, and the analysis of myeloperoxidase activity. In addition, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was conducted to analyze the expression of inflammatory cytokines in pancreatic tissues. Our results revealed that the administration of ICA prevented an increase in the pancreas weight/body weight ratio of mice and serum digestive enzyme levels. ICA treatment also inhibited cerulein-induced histological injury and neutrophil infiltration of the pancreas and lung. In addition, ICA suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the pancreas. Furthermore, ICA administration was observed to inhibit p38 activation during cerulein-induced AP. Inhibition of p38 activation resulted in alleviated pancreatitis. Collectively, our results suggested that ICA exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in cerulein-induced AP via the inhibition of p38.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-153
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• 2024

Objective : Ephedrae Herba (Ephedra) has been frequently used in the East Asian traditional medicine including Korea, China and Japan in the clinical treatment of asthma, cold and influenza etc. This study was performed to explore an anti-fibrogenic potential of Ephedra Herba water extract (EHE) using immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2 cells. Methods : We examined the anti-fibrogenic effects of EHE on canonical pathway of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling in LX-2 cells. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Proteins expression were detected by Western blot. Results : Treatment of EHE 30 ㎍/ml did not show any cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Pre-treatment of EHE (30 ㎍/mL) significantly inhibited α-smooth muscle actin expression induced by TGF-β1. Additionally, EHE significantly decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 expression by TGF-β1. Furthermore, increases of matrix metalloproteinases 2 genes by TGF-β1 was also attenuated by EHE treatment. Conclusion : These results suggest that EHE has an ability to suppress fibrogenic process in activated HSC via inhibition of TGF-β1-TGFBR mediated canonical (Smad dependent) pathway.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.469-476
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• 2014

The aims of this study were to explore the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-naïve and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and to examine whether these effects affect the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) production, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) activation. Trans-10, cis-12(t10c12)-CLA increased the production of ROS, as well as TNF-${\alpha}$ in LPS-naïve RAW 264.7 cells. The CLA-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ production was suppressed by treatment of diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), a NADPH oxidase inhibitor. In addition, CLA enhanced the activities of NF-${\kappa}B$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ in LPS-naïve RAW 264.7 cells, and this effect was abolished with DPI treatment. LPS treatment increased ROS production, whereas CLA reduced LPS-induced ROS production. LPS increased both TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activity, whereas t10c12-CLA reduced TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. DPI treatment suppressed LPS-induced ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activity. Moreover, DPI enhanced the inhibitory effects of t10c12-CLA on TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. However, neither t10c12-CLA nor DPI affected $PPAR{\gamma}$ activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, these data indicate that t10c12-CLA induces TNF-${\alpha}$ production by increasing ROS production in LPS-naïve RAW 264.7 cells, which is mediated by the enhancement of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity via $PPAR{\gamma}$ activation. By contrast, t10c12-CLA suppresses TNF-${\alpha}$ production by inhibiting ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation via a $PPAR{\gamma}$-independent pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that t10c12-CLA can modulate TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation through formation of ROS in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.355-366
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• 2014

Fucoxanthin is known to be an effective cell proliferation inhibitor with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activities. However, there is a lack of data regarding the biological effects of cis isomers of fucoxanthin. To assess the potential therapeutic properties of 9'-cis-(6'R) fucoxanthin (FcA), and 13-cis and 13'-cis-(6'R) fucoxanthin complex (FcB) isolated from Sarggassum siliquastrum, we investigated their inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells. FcA and FcB reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein and mRNA levels, as well as the migration of these cells, in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, FcA and FcB increased levels of MMPs inhibition factors such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. FcA and FcB significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and by inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Our results demonstrate that suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$, JNK, and p38 signaling pathways may inhibit PMA-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Therefore, FcA and FcB may be useful in noninvasive therapeutic strategies against fibrosarcoma metastasis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.192-200
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• 2002

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collective term for positional and geometric isomers of octadecadienoic acid in which the double bonds are conjugated. CLA has anticancer activity in a variety of animal cancer models, and cis-9, trans-11 (c9t11) and trans-10, cis-12(t10c12) CLA are the most predominant isomers present in the synthetic preparations utilized in these animal studies. To compare the ability of c9t11, t10c12 and an isomeric mixture of CLA to inhibit TSU-Prl cell growth, cells were incubated in a serum-free medium with various concentrations of these fatty acids. The isomeric mixture inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner (1-3 $\mu$M) with a 41 $\pm$ 1% inhibition observed at 3 $\mu$M concentration after 48 hours. T10c12 also inhibited cell proliferation in a dote-dependent manner, However, the efficacy and potency of this isomer was much greater than that of the isomeric mixture with a 49 $\pm$ 2% inhibition observed at 0.3 $\mu$M concentration after 48 hours. By contrast, c9t11 slightly increased cell proliferation. To determine whether the growth-inhibiting effect of CLA is related to the changes in production of insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) by these cells, serum-free conditioned media were collected. Immunoblot analysis of conditioned media using a monoclonal anti-IGF-II antibody showed that both the isomeric mixture and t10c12 inhibited secretion of both mature 7,500 Mr and higher Mr forms of pro IGF-II, whereas c9t11 had no effect. Ligand blot analysis with 125I-IGF-II revealed the presence of two types of IGFBPs : 24,000 Mr IGFBP-4 and 30,000 Mr IGFBP-6. The production of IGFBP-4 slightly decreased at the highest concentrations of the isomeric mixture and t10c12. These results indicate that CLA inhibits human prostate cancer cell growth, an effect largely due to the action of t10c12. The growth inhibition may result, at least in part, from decreased production of IGF-II and IGFBP-4 by these cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2007

Objective : Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae) has long been used for treatment of infectious diseases in oriental countries. The aim of this study was to investigative the effect by which the aqueous extract from flower of L. japonica (LJFAE) inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory mediators in murine macrophages, RAW 264.7 cells Methods : The dried flowers of L. japonica were extracted with distilled water at $100^{\circ}C$ for 7 h. The extract was filtered through 0.45 ${\mu}m$ filter, freeze-dried. The dried extract was dissolved in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and filtered through 0.22 ${\mu}m$ filter before use. Accumulated nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide (NO), was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), interleukin-1$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$), and IL-6 production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. Results: LJFAE (10-400 ${\mu}g$/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in unstimulated macrophages, but LJFAE concentration-dependently reduced NO, PGE2, TNF-, IL-l, and IL-6 production and COX-2 activity caused by stimulation of LPS. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions were markedly suppressed by the treatment with LJFAE in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusions : These results suggest that LJFAE suppress the NO and PGE2production in macrophages by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression and these properties may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of Lonicera japonica.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.613-618
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• 2016

1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-${\beta}$-D-glucose (PGG) is a gallotannin isolated from various plants such as Galla Rhois. In a previous study, it was reported that PGG has anti-allergic effects by inhibiting interleukin (IL)-4 signaling in B cells. However, the effect of PGG on basophilic cells remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of PGG on mitogen and calcium ionophore-induced allergic responses. PGG had no effect on proliferation and cytotoxicity of RBL-2H3 cells. PGG significantly suppressed cell degranulation (histamine and ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$) as well as inflammatory cytokine production such as IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. The underlying mechanism of PGG on these anti-allergic actions was correlated with inhibition on translocation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ from the cytosol to nucleus. These data suggest that PGG is a potentially effective functional compound for prevention of allergic diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1458-1466
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• 2020

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), classified as condensed tannins, have significant antioxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects. This study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of OPCs and the mechanism underlying these effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). Real-time PCR and ELISA assays indicated that OPC treatment at 1, 3 and 5 ㎍/ml significantly reduced the mRNA and protein, respectively, of oxidant indicators cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (p < 0.05) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (p < 0.01) as well as inflammation cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.01), IL-1β (p < 0.01) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p < 0.05) in LPS-induced MAC-T cells. Moreover, OPCs downregulated LPS-induced phosphorylation of p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) (IκB) in the NF-κB signaling pathway (p < 0.01), and they inhibited p65 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus as revealed by immunofluorescence test and western blot. Additionally, OPCs decreased phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal regulated kinase and c-jun NH₂-terminal kinase in the MAPK signaling pathway (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of OPCs involve NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, thus inhibiting expression of pro-inflammatory factors and oxidation indicators. These findings provide novel experimental evidence for the further practical application of OPCs in prevention and treatment of bovine mastitis.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.253-263
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• 2018

Textile fashion industry is a core foundation industry, having the majority of companies with 10 or more workers, in Northern Gyeonggi Province. however the industry is mostly comprised of small unit-stream enterprises, orders are greatly reduced due to lately accelerated overseas expansion of medium/large-sized vendors and the growth-inhibiting vicious circle has being set in, as this situation causes the reduction of investment. For resolving the problems, this study proposes required political factors and concrete policy proposals by designing AHP research model(4 layers and 36 elements), based on grasp of the transitional aspect of industrial scale and business environment through analysis of various industrial statistics, preceding research such as related literature search and (industrial/academic/R&D/government) specialist opinion investigation, and then calculating relative importance and priority of each factor(element) within each layer. And for raising usefulness and availability of the research result by concretely suggesting the vision, strategies, core tasks and detailed projects in which the research model and deduced result are reflected.