• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.877-885
• /
• 2000

Objective : The NOS inhibitors exhibit antinociceptive activity in rat model of neuropathic pain. NOS activity increases in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG) in neurop-athic pain. However, NOS activity decreases in the dorsal horn of spinal cord in the nerve injury models of neuropathic pain. To investigate whether the mechanism of decrease of NOS expression in the dorsal horn is related to a secondary effect resulting from increased NO production and likewise in the spinal DRG in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain. Methods : We conducted behavioral tests for neuropathic pain, and nNOS immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry after tight ligation of the 5th lumbar(L5) and 6th lumbar(L6) spinal nerves and L5 dorsal rhizotomy. Results : Typical neuropathic pain behaviors occurred 7 days after post-ligation in the neuropathic surgery group, but neuropathic pain behaviors in the dorsal rhizotomy group were absent or weak 7 days after post-operation. There was a decrease in the number of nNOS immunoreactive dorsal horn neurons on the both side(especially ipsilateral side) 7 days after post-ligation. The number of nNOS immunoreactive neurons in both side of the dorsal horn was not decreased 7 days after L5 dorsal rhizotomy. Conclusion : These data indicate that the changes in the injured DRG is essential for development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and mechanism of decrease of nNOS expression in the dorsal horn is a secondary effect against the changes in the DRG including increased NO production in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2 s.66
• /
• pp.232-243
• /
• 2006

Objectives : Albizzia Julibrissin was formulated to contain various natural products known to cure erectile dysfunction. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Albizzia Julibrissin on the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, nitrite level, antioxidation and erectile responses induced by ethanol in corpus cavernosum penis of rats. Methods : The crushed Albizzia Julibrissin was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 45.3 g. Albizzia Julibrissin extract was oral-administered 100 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 20 days, while the normal group was administered only with a saline. The efficacy of Albizzia Julibrissin against erectile function was examined as described in the text. Results : The level of urethral NOS activity and nitrite were increased by Albizzia Julibrissin. The level of lipid peroxide was decreased by Albizzia Julibrissin. The level of urethral lipid peroxide in the ethanol-Albizzia Julibrissin double administered rats was decreased as low as in the norma! group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was increased. The level of urethral nitrite, NOS activity, glutathione and serum testosterone in the ethanol-Albizzia Julibrissin double administered rats were as high as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. The erectile response to cavernous nerve stimulation in the ethanol-Albizzia Julibrissin double administered rats increased as high as in the normal group while the one in the ethanol-treated group decreased. Conclusions : Albizzia Julibrissin was shown to be effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction induced by ethanol in rats.

• 대한한약학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.173-174
• /
• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2002.07a
• /
• pp.200-200
• /
• 2002

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.331-337
• /
• 2017

To evaluate the antioxidant activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions obtained from Agastache rugosa extract, we measured the total polyphenol levels, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and reducing power. The ethyl acetate fraction of A. rugosa (AREA) displayed high phenolic levels, potent DPPH radical scavenging effect, and powerful reducing power. In addition, we examined the ability of AREA to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglia. AREA suppressed NO production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and downregulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA level in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia. Furthermore, we detected rosmarinic acid in AREA by HPLC, which suggested that rosmarinic acid could be one of the bioactive materials responsible for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of AREA. These results suggested that AREA may be a good source of functional foods with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.201-206
• /
• 1996

Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to be a second messenger involved in secretion. Upon stimulating pancreatic acinar cells with cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ), NO formation has been shown to be associated with increased levels of cGMP (Seo et al., 1995). To elucidate the signaling pathway of VIP-induced enzyme secretion, we investigated the NO and cGMP synthesis steps as potential steps where two signal pathways triggered by CCK-PZ and VIP interact. The results obtained in this work provide evidence that increase in pancreatic enzyme secretion by treatment with VIP has no relationship with NOS activity and cGMP level. This conclusion was derived from the following findings that VIP treatment of rat pancreatic tissue increased amylase release as well as protein output in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas NOS activity and cGMP synthesis were not affected by VIP treatment as monitored by NOS activity assay and determining cGMP level, which was further confirmed by a NOS-inhibitor study. Consequently, CCK-PZ or VIP increases enzyme secretion in rat pancreatic tissue, but the two hormones are different in their mode of action. Together the results suggest that signaling pathway of VIP-induced enzyme secretion might either bypass the NO and cGMP synthesis steps or lie on a distinct pathway from CCK-PZ-induced pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.273-277
• /
• 2011

Nitric oxide (NO) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may induce vascular relaxation by increasing the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), an important mediator of vascular tone during sepsis. This study aimed to determine whether regulation of NO and the ANP system is altered in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced kidney injury. LPS (10 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) was injected in the tail veins of male Sprague-Dawley rats; 12 hours later, the kidneys were removed. Protein expression of NO synthase (NOS) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) was determined by semiquantitative immuno-blotting. As an index of synthesis of NO, its stable metabolites (nitrite/nitrate, NOx) were measured using colorimetric assays. mRNA expression of the ANP system was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. To determine the activity of guanylyl cyclase (GC), the amount of cGMP generated in response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and ANP was calculated. Creatinine clearance decreased and fractional excretion of sodium increased in LPS-treated rats compared with the controls. Inducible NOS protein expression increased in LPS-treated rats, while that of endothelial NOS, neuronal NOS, and NEP remained unchanged. Additionally, urinary and plasma NOx levels increased in LPS-treated rats. SNP-stimulated GC activity remained unchanged in the glomerulus and papilla in the LPS-treated rats. mRNA expression of natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-C decreased in LPS-treated rats, while that of ANP and NPR-A did not change. ANP-stimulated GC activity reduced in the glomerulus and papilla. In conclusion, enhancement of the NO/cGMP pathway and decrease in ANP clearance were found play a role in the pathogenesis of LPS-induced kidney injury.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.14-29
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The extract of Sagunja-tang has been traditionally used for restorative treatment of constitutional weakness, vascular and immune disorder, and nervous disease in Oriental country. This study investigated the regulatory effects of Sagunja-tang on the expression, production, and activity of immune mediators.Methods : In this study, the extract of Sagunja-tang was prepared by extracting with distilled water at 100$^{\circ}C$ for 2.5h. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through 0.45${{\mu}m}$ filter. The extract was dissolved in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and filtered again through 0.45${{\mu}m}$ filter before use. The level of nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide(NO) was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂), Th1 cytokines (IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2) and Th2 cytokines(IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were determined by Western blot analysis. Also examined the effects of the extract on T-cell proliferation and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells.Results : In this investigation, Production levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) was inhibited in a dose dependent manner by treatment with the extract. I also found that the extract increased T-cell proliferation and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells in a dose-dependent manner.Conculsions : These results suggest that the water extract of Sagunja-tang may be useful for a therapeutic drug against a sickly constitution and immune diseases, probably by regulating the production of immune mediators.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.11
• /
• pp.1507-1511
• /
• 2011

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of Erigeron annuus L. flower (EAF) methanol extract. We examined the involvement of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the inhibitory activities of EAF methanol extract on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Cell viability and NO assays were performed. In addition, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and HO-1 expressions were detected by Western blotting and blocking HO-1 activity on NO production. EAF methanol extract (25, 50, 100, 200 ${\mu}g$/mL) significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO production (p<0.05; 12.82, 9.61, 6.83, 2.52 ${\mu}m$) in a concentration-dependent manner. EAF methanol extract also reduced the expression of iNOS protein. The EAF methanol extract induced the expression of HO-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Blockage of HO-1 activity by zinc protoporphyrin suppressed EAF methanol extract-induced reductions in the production of NO. The present results suggest that EAF methanol extract has a potent anti-inflammatory effect in RAW264.7 macrophages through the induction of HO-1.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.730-735
• /
• 2012

Existing pharmaceutical studies show that Magnolia biondii is effective in treating rhinitis and in reducing cholesterol, given its endogenous, volatile ingredients. The study herein seeks to assess the cosmeceutical activities and anti-inflammatory activities of Magnolia biondii extracts for possible application as cosmetic ingredients. The cosmeceutical and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) inhibition, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by Western blotting. Magnolia biondii extracts were identified to have antioxidant activities in hydroxyl free radical scavenging, SOD-like activity, and XO inhibition. In testing the anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts, NO production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, in a dose-dependent manner, the Magnolia biondii extracts were able to suppress iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. From these results, Magnolia biondii showed adequate potential for application in cosmetic production and related industries as well as a functional material.