• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.651-656
• /
• 2006

Activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ is known to be a trigger of various cellular disorders including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Numerous approaches are ongoing within laboratories to identify potential therapeutic agents which inhibit the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. In this study, we have tested the inhibitory effects of five traditional medicines on the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ by NIK. Among three medicines which exhibited inhibitory effect on the expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ repoter plasmid, we investigated further the inhibitory mechanism of Dichroa febrifuga in connection with IKKY activity. Wild type $IKK{\gamma}$ inhibited the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation by NIK but the C-terminal deletion mutant of IKKY did not show the inhibitory effect, indicating that the C-terminal leucine zipper domain of $NF-{\kappa}B$ is important for the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. The water extract of Dichroa febrifuga(DFE) also strongly inhibited the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation by NIK. The inhibitory activity of DFE appeared to be independent of the expression of $IKK{\gamma}$, suggesting that the pathways of inhibition by Dichroa febrifuga and $IKK{\gamma}$ are different. Our results suggest that Dichroa febrifuga can be used as a medicine for inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in a wide range of cells without relation to the expression of $IKK{\gamma}$.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.159-166
• /
• 2013

In order to develop new skin whitening agents, we prepared the EtOAc layer (AJE) after enzyme treatment of 75% EtOH extract of the Alnus Japonica Steud. We measured their tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16-F1 melanoma cells. They did not show inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase but showed melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay, AJE suppressed melanin production up to 52% at a concentration of $40{\mu}g/mL$. To elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of AJE on melanogenesis, we measured expression of melanogenesis-related proteins by the western blot assay. As a result, AJE suppressed the expression of tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1) and microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF). Moreover, AJE increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK). These results conclude that ERK activation by AJE reduces melanin synthesis via MITF downregulation and is subsequent to the inhibition of TRP-1 expression. Therefore, we suggest that AJE could be used as active ingredients for skin whitening.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.799-804
• /
• 2006

Ingestion of green tea has been shown to decrease prostaglandin $E_2$ levels in human colorectum, suggesting that tea constituents modulate arachidonic acid metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of four purified green tea catechins, (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), on the catalytic activity of cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$ ($cPLA_2$) and release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites from intact cells. At $50\;{\mu}M$, EGCG and ECG inhibited $cPLA_2$ activity by 19 and 37%, respectively, whereas EC and EGC were less effective. The inhibitory effects of these catechins on arachidonic acid metabolism in intact cells were much more pronounced. At $10\;{\mu}M$, EGCG and ECG inhibited the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites by 50-70% in human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) and human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells (KYSE-190 and 450). EGCG and ECG also inhibited arachidonic acid release induced by A23187, a calcium ionophore, in both HT-29 and KYSE-450 cell lines by 30-50%. The inhibitory effects of green tea catechins on $cPLA_2$ and arachidonic acid release may provide a possible mechanism for the prevention of human gastrointestinal inflammation and cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.2607-2610
• /
• 2013

Malignant glioma, also known as brain cancer, is the most common intracranial tumor, having an extremely high mortality and recurrence rate. The survival rate of the affected patients is very low and treatment is difficult. Hence, growth inhibition of glioma has become a hot topic in the study of brain cancer treatment. Among the various isothiocyanate compounds, it has been confirmed that benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) can inhibit the growth of a variety of tumors, including leukemia, glioma and lung cancer, both inside and outside the body. This study explored inhibitory effects of BITC on human glioma U87MG cells, as well as potential mechanisms. It was found that BITC could inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and arrest cell cycling of U87MG cells. In addition, it inhibited the expression of SOD and GSH, and caused oxidative stress to tumor cells. Therefore, it is believed that BITC can inhibit the growth of U87MG cells outside the body. Its mechanism may be related to the fact that BITC can cause oxidative stress to tumor cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.205-215
• /
• 2004

In the early host defense system, effector function of natural killer (NK) cells results in natural killing against target cells such as microbe-infected, malignant, and certain allogenic cells without prior stimulation. NK cell cytotoxicity is selectively regulated by homeostatic prevalence between a repertoire of both activating and inhibitory receptors, and the discrimination of untransformed cells is achieved by recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles through inhibitory signals. Although it is well known that the bipotential T/NK progenitors are derived from the common precusor, functional mechanisms in terms of the development of NK cells remain to be further investigated. NK cells are mainly involved in innate immunity, but recent studies have been reported that they also play a critical role in adaptive immune responses through interaction with dendritic cells (DC). This interaction will provide effector functions and development of NK cells, and elucidation of its precise mechanism may lead to therapeutic strategies for effective treatment of several immune diseases.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.97-101
• /
• 1994

Platelets play a very important role in nomal hemostasis and their functions are more enhanced in various pathogenic states than in normal state. Especially it has been postulated that abnormal platelet and endothelium function might be major factors of microcirculatory disturbance in diabetes mellitus. Hydroxybrazilin, a phenolic constituent of Hematoxylon campechianum has been examined for its inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. Its antiaggregatory effect might be mediated through the decrease of ATP release from dense granule and those of thromboxane $A_2$ production in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The present study was undertaken to gain insight into the mechanism that hydroxybrazilin inhibited thromboxane $A_2$ production in platelets. Thus we measured the effect of hydroxybrazilin on phospholipase $A_2$, a rate limiting step of thromboxane $A_2$ production, in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Hydroxybrazilin significantly inhibited the platelet phospholipase $A_2$ activity in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.59-70
• /
• 2004

Objectives : Previous studies showed that treatment with Chungganhaeju-tang prevents hepatic inflammation and apoptosis in alcoholic liver disease. The purpose of our study is to determine if any relations exsists between the transcription factor $NF{\kappa}B$, an orchestrating expression of a large number of genes and inhibitory effects of Chungganhaeju-tang on ethanol induced apoptosis. Materials and Methods : To assess the role of $NF{\kappa}B$, we blocked NFkB activation by delivering to the kupffer cells $I{\kappa}B{\Delta}N$, a dominant negative $NF{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, and investigated if Chungganhaeju-tang still prevented apoptosis. Results : When $NF{\kappa}B$ activation was blocked, there was no inhibitory effect of Chungganhaeju-tang on ethanol induced apoptosis of kupffer cells. Conclusion : This result suggests that Chungganhaeju-tang protects the liver from ethanol induced apoptosis by activating the $NF{\kappa}B$ that plays a key role in porotecting mechanism and reducing inflammatory cytokine gene expression.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 2004

Citrus unshiu (Rutaceae) has long been known as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of CUWE (Citus unshiu water extract) on the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and tryptase was examined. In addition, a possible mechanism for the inhibition of trypsin-stimulated human leukemic mast cell-1 (HMC- 1 ) activation was determined. To do so, $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from the HMC-1 cells that were stimulated by trypsin (100 nM) in the presence or absence of CUWE $(10,\;100,\;and\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-PCR. The tryptase production was evaluated by reverse transcription-PCR. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation was analyzed by Western blot. Trypsin activity was measured by using Bz-DL-Arg-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) as substrate. Results showed that the CUWE inhibited production of both $TNF-{\alpha}$ and tryptase from the trypsin-stimulated HMC-1 in a dose-dependent manner. The CUWE a1so inhibited the ERK phosphorylation and trysin activity. These results indicate that the CUWE had an inhibitory effect on $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the tryptase productions by blocking the ERK phosphorylation and trypsin activity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.1035-1048
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Gardenia jasminoides extract (GJ) on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in vitro. Methods: To investigate the effect of GJ on osteoclast differentiation, the mouse leukemic myeloid cell line RAW 264.7 was stimulated by RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand). Osteoclast differentiation was measured by counting TRAP (+) MNC in the presence of RANKL. To elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of GJ on osteoclast differentiation, gene expression of TRAP, Cathepsin K, MMP-9, NFATc1, c-Fos, MITF, DC-STAMP, CTR, OC-STAMP and Atp6v0d2 was measured using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Bone resorption was measured using the bone pit formation assay. Results: GJ decreased the number of TRAP (+) MNCs in the presence of RANKL. GJ inhibited the expression of cathepsin K, MMP-9, TRAP, MITF, NFATc1, c-Fos, iNON, OC-STAMP, Atp6v0d2, and DC-STAMP in the osteoclast, and inhibited bone pit formation in vitro. Conclusions: The results suggest that GJ has inhibitory effects on bone resorption resulting from inhibition of osteoclast differentiation and gene expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.10
• /
• pp.1585-1590
• /
• 2007

Although a number of melanogenesis inhibitors have recently been reported and used as cosmetic additives, none is completely satisfactory, leaving a need for novel skin-depigmenting agents. Thus, to develop a novel skin depigmenting agent from natural sources, the inhibition of melanogenesis by Chinese plants was evaluated. A methanolic extract of Nigella glandulifera Freyn was found to inhibit the melanin synthesis of murine B16F10 melanoma cells by 43.7% and exhibited a low cytotoxicity (8.1%) at a concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Thus, to identify the melanogenesis-inhibiting mechanism, the inhibitory activity towards tyrosinase, the key enzyme of melanogenesis, was further evaluated, and the results showed inhibitory effects on the activity of intracellular tyrosinase yet not on mushroom tyrosinase. Finally, to isolate the compounds with a hypopigmenting capability, activity-guided isolation was performed, and Dioctyl phthalate identified as inhibiting melanogenesis.