• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.181-186
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• 2006

A pharmacological inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rats produces vasoconstriction, renal dysfunction, and hypertension. The present study was aimed at investigating whether the methanol extract of Serous commixta cortex (MSC) ameliorates $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) induced hypertension in rats. Treatment of rats with L-NAME (10 mg/kg/day in drinking water, 5 weeks) caused a sustained increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP). Administration of MSC (100 or 200 mg/kg/day, p.o) significantly lowered the SBP in the L-NAME-treated rats and this effect was maintained throughout the whole experimental period. Moreover, ecNOS expression in aorta and kidney tissue from L-NAME treated rats was significantly restored dy administration of MSC. Furthermore, the impairment of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation of aortic rings in the L-NAME treated rats was reversed dy administering of MSC. The renal functional parameters including urinary volume, sodium excretion, and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were also restored by administering MSC. Taken together, the present study suggeststhat MSC prevents the increase in SBP in rats with L-NAME-induced hypertension, which may result from the up-regulation of the vascular and renal ecNOS/No system.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권7호
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• pp.769-775
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• 2004

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (l/R) predisposes the liver to secondary stresses such as endotoxemia, possibly via dysregulation of the hepatic microcirculation secondary to an imbalanced regulation of the vascular stress genes. In this study, the effect of hepatic I/R on the hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression in response to endotoxin was determined. Rats were subjected to 90 min of hepatic ischemia and 6 h of reperfusion. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally after reperfusion. Plasma and liver samples were obtained 6 h after reperfusion for serum aminotransferase assays and RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA for the genes of interest： endothelin-1 (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A$ and $ET_B$, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), cyciooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-${\alpha}$). The activities of serum aminotransferases were significantly increased in the I/R group. This increase was markedly potentiated by LPS treatment. The ET-1 mRNA was increased by LPS alone, and this increase was significantly greater in both the I/R alone and I/R ＋ LPS groups compared to the sham. There were no significant differences in ETA receptor mRNA levels among any of the experimental groups. $ET_B$ mRNA was increased by both LPS alone and I/R alone, with no significant difference between the I/R alone and I/R ＋ LPS groups. The eN OS and HO-1 transcripts were increased by I/R alone and further increased by I/R ＋ LPS. The iNOS mRNA levels were increased by I/R alone, but increased significantly more by both LPS alone and I/R ＋ LPS compared to I/R alone. The TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA levels showed no change with I/R alone, but were increased by both LPS alone and I/R ＋ LPS. The COX-2 expression was increased significantly by I/R alone and significantly more by I/R ＋ LPS. Taken collectively, significantly greater induction of the vasodilator genes over the constriction forces was observed with I/R ＋ LPS. These results may partly explain the increased susceptibility of ischemic livers to injury as a result of endotoxemia.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.20-32
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• 2022

Objectives: Kyungok-go (KOG) is a traditional multi-herbal medicine commonly used for enforcing weakened immunity for long time. Recently, there are several reports that KOG has anti-inflammatory and immuno-stimulatory activities in many experimental models. However, the protective effects of KOG on neuronal inflammation are still undiscovered. Thus, we investigated the neuro-protective activity of KOG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse microglia cells. To find out KOG's anti-neuroinflammatory effects on microglial cells, we examined the production of nitrite using griess assay, and mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α using real time RT-PCR. In addition, to examine the regulating mechanisms of KOG, we investigated the protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and Iκ-Bα by western blot. KOG inhibited the elevation of nitrite, iNOS and COX-2 on LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Also, KOG significantly inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Moreover, KOG inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), P38 and degradation of Iκ-Bα but not the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. These results showed KOG has the anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition on nitrite, iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α via the deactivation of JNK, p38 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Thereby, KOG could offer the new and promising treatment for neurodegenerative disease related to neuroinflammation.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.27-35
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• 2013

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of Mugi-hwan (MGH) Water Extract. Methods Cells were treated with 2 ug/ml of LPS 1 hour prior to the addition of MGH. Cell viability was measured by MTS assay. The production of NO was determined by reacting cultured medium with Griess reagent. The expression of COX-2, iNOS and MAPKs was investigated by Western blot, RT-PCR. The content of level of cytokines ($PGE_2$, IL-6, in media from LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells was analyed by ELISA kit. Results MGH inhibited the production of NO, $PGE_2$, IL-6 as well as the expressions of iNOS, COX-2 in the murine macrophage, RAW 264.7 cells. MGH also had suppression effects of LPS induced MAPKs activation. Conclusions These results suggest that MGH has an anti-inflammatory therapeutic potential, which may result from inhibition of MAPK phosphorylation, thereby decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory genes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.93-98
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• 2001

The precise mechanism of set-point regulation in hypothalamus was not elucidated. Nitric oxide synthases(NOS) were detected in hypothalamus, however, the roles of NO in hypothalamus was not fully studied. So, we tested the effects of NO on body temperature because preoptic-anterior hypothalamus was known as the presumptive primary fever-producing site. NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 4 nmol, i.c.v.) elicited marked febrile response, and this febrile response was completely blocked by indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor). But, ODQ (selective guanylate cyclase inhibitor, $50\;{\mu}g,$ i.c.v.) did not inhibit fever induced by SNP. The cyclic GMP analogue dibutyryl-cGMP $(100\;{\mu}g,\;i.c.v.)$ induced significant pyreses, which is blocked by indomethacin. $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester (L-NAME, non selective NOS inhibitor) inhibited fever induced by $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\bata},\;10\;ng,\;i.c.v.),$ one of endogenous pyrogens. These results indicate that NO may have an important role, not related to stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase, in the signal pathway of thermoregulation in hypothalamus.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.227-237
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• 2021

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a cardioprotectant and potential cardiovascular therapeutic agent. Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) are important determinants of myocardial structure and function. Large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel is a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether CO modulates BK channels and the signaling pathways in HCFs using whole-cell mode patch-clamp recordings. CO-releasing molecules (CORMs; CORM-2 and CORM-3) significantly increased the amplitudes of BK currents (IBK). The CO-induced stimulating effects on IBK were blocked by pre-treatment with specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blockers (L-NG-monomethyl arginine citrate and L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester). 8-bromo-cyclic GMP increased IBK. KT5823 (inhibits PKG) or ODQ (inhibits soluble guanylate cyclase) blocked the CO-stimulating effect on IBK. Moreover, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP also increased IBK, and pre-treatment with KT5720 (inhibits PKA) or SQ22536 (inhibits adenylate cyclase) blocked the CO effect. Pre-treatment with N-ethylmaleimide (a thiol-alkylating reagent) also blocked the CO effect on IBK, and DL-dithiothreitol (a reducing agent) reversed the CO effect. These data suggest that CO activates IBK through NO via the NOS and through the PKG, PKA, and S-nitrosylation pathways.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.187-193
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• 2017

본 연구에서는 염생식물을 이용한 생리활성 소재 개발 연구의 일환으로 가는갯능쟁이의 용매 추출물 및 분획물을 제조하여 LPS로 염증을 유도한 마우스 유래 macrophages에서의 NO 생성 및 염증관련인자의 발현에 미치는 영향을 검토하여 가는갯능쟁이의 항염증 소재로서의 이용 가능성을 검토하였다. 가는갯능쟁이는 methylene chloride와 methanol을 이용하여 제조한 조추출물(crude extract, 48.3 mg)을 용매극성에 따라 단계적으로 분획하여 n-hexane 층(11.5 mg), 85% aqueous methanol 수용액층(85% aq. MeOH, 11.3 mg), n-butanol 층(n-BuOH, 11.2 mg)과 water 층(12.3 mg)을 얻었다. 가는갯능쟁이의 조추출물 및 분획물의 RAW264.7 대식세포에 대한 독성 여부를 측정하여 세포에 대한 독성이 나타나지 않는 처리 농도에서 추출물 및 분획물의 항염증 활성을 확인하였다. 조추출물은 LPS로 유도된 NO 생성을 유의적으로 억제하는 효과를 나타내었으며, 주요 염증 유발인자인 iNOS와 COX-2의 발현 또한 효과적으로 억제하였다. 분획물의 NO 생성 억제효과는 85% aq. MeOH> n-BuOH >n-hexane > $H_2O$의 순으로 나타났으며, 세포내 전사수준에서 염증관련 유전자의 발현 억제율은 $H_2O$ 분획 처리군에 비해 85% aq. MeOH, n-BuOH 및 n-hexane 분획 처리군에서 높게 나타났다. 이상의 결과로부터 항염증 활성이 가장 높게 나타난 85% aq. MeOH 분획층으로 부터 염증억제 효과가 있는 유효 성분의 분리가 기대된다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.307-315
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• 2022

중년 이후 많은 환자들이 배뇨 후 요실금을 앓고 있지만 아직 적절한 치료가 이뤄지지 않고 있다. 몇 가지 병태생리학적 기전이 제안되었지만 우리가 주목한 기전은 구해면체근과 해면체 조직의 위축으로 인한 요도의 확장이었다. 본 연구의 목적은 해면체와 요도의 해부학적 변화를 관찰하여 배뇨 후 요실금의 기전을 규명하는 것으로 8주령의 SD 수컷 랫드 그룹과 24개월 이상 된 SD 수컷 랫드 그룹으로 나누었다. 전체 음경에 대한 구부요도 및 해면체 면적의 비율은 두 그룹 간 통계적으로 유의하였다(P<0.05). 평활근 함량과 배뇨 후 요실금의 기전(nNOS, α-SMA)과 관련된 매개변수는 두 그룹 간 유의한 차이가 있었으며(P<0.05), 본 연구의 결과는 배뇨 후 요실금 연구에 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.169-178
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• 2009

Objectives : In this study, the effects of ethylacetate extract of Ostericum koreanum on inflammation in RAW264.7 cells were investigated. Methods : Dried roots of Ostericum koreanum was extracted with 80% methanol for 24 h, and then fractionated with n-butanol, n-hexan and ethylacetate. RAW264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage line were incubated with different concentrations of the extract for 30 min and then stimulated with LPS at indicated times. Cell toxicity was determined by MTT assay. The concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) were measured by Griess assay and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) and cyclooxyganase (COX) -2 mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results : The methanol extract of Ostericum koreanuman and its fractions were significantly inhibited the NO and PGE2 productions in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Among the fractions of Ostericum koreanuman the ethylacetate fraction was more strongly inhibited NO and $PGE_2$ productions compared with other fractions. The ethylacetate fraction was also suppressed LPS-induced mRNA expressions of iNOS and its protein levels in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions : This study suggests that the ethylacetate fraction of Ostericum koreanum may have an anti-inflammatory property through suppressing inflammatory mediator productions in activated macrophages, suggesting have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.117-127
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• 2002

Saururus chinensis Baill has been used in Korean folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as edema, Jaundice, and furuncle. The components of this plant were extracted into four fraction. Among the four fraction, hexane and ethyl acetate fraction were highly toxic to 3T3 mouse embryo fibroblast and Raw 264.7 mouse macrophage, but n-butanol and residue fraction did not show any toxic effect to those cell lines. n-Butanol and residue fraction exhibited antioxidant effects on hydro-gen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion directly in vitro and in the 3T3 fibroblasts. All the four fractions inhibited lipid peroxidation measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation. In addition, n-butanol and residue fraction showed inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production, and also down-regulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA transcription 6 h after LPS stimulation in Raw 204.7 cells. Only n-butanol fraction, which mainly consists of flavonoids, inhibited NF-kB activation by decreasing IkBa degradation 90 min after LPS stimulation. horn the results, it is suggested that this plant could be a good candidate material for drug development based on its antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory constituents.