• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.245-255
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• 2019

Objective : Herbal processing is one of the traditional techniques used in Korean medicine to increase the effectiveness of herbs or reduce their toxicity. In this study, Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice and alcohol was prepared to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. Methods : The processing of Gardeniae Fructus was performed by adding 40 % ginger juice or 10% alcohol to the total weight of Gardeniae Fructus and then roasting at 150℃ for 5 minutes. Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. To detect nitric oxide (NO) production, culture media were mixed with Griess reagent and measured the absorbance at 540 nm. Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot was applied to monitor protein expression levels. Results : LPS-induced NO, PGE₂ and inflammatory cytokines were decreased by the treatment of normal or processed Gardeniae Fructus ethanol extracts (GFE). Compared to normal GFE, the processed GFE showed a stronger inhibitory effect on the production of NO and PGE₂. These inhibitory effect of GFE was due to the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mediated from the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Furthermore, processed GFE showed more suppressive effects on the expression of iNOS, COX-2 and IκBα proteins than normal GFE. Conclusion : From these results, it was concluded that GFE had an improved anti-inflammatory effect compared to normal GFE. These results provide an objective evidences for the use of herbal processing in Korean medicine.

• 생약학회지
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.242-250
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• 2021

Artemisia frigida Willd (AW, Fringed sagewort), which is widespread in Mongolia, is a well-known medicinal plant as a member of the Compositae family. This study aims to explore the gastroprotective effect of water extract of AW on 150 mM HCl/60% ethanol-induced acute gastritis in 5 week old male ICR mice. Total polyphenols, total flavonoid contents, and anti-oxidant activity in vitro in AW were evaluated. First, the gross area of gastric mucosal damage was measured. Then western blot analysis was conducted to determine the possible mechanisms of action underlying the effects of AW. AW administration decreased gastric mucosal damage. Moreover, the group with AW treatment effectively inhibited nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase expression associated with oxidative stress. AW treatment enhanced an anti-oxidant effect through the increase of anti-oxidant proteins. Besides, the increased expressions of inflammatory cytokines induced by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation are alleviated through AW treatment. Taken together, AW exerted a gastroprotective effect against gastric mucosal damage. These results indicate that AW could have the potential used as a natural therapeutic drug for the treatment of acute gastritis.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.145-155
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• 2021

With the recent rapid improvement in the standards of life and westernization of dietary lifestyles, the consumption of high-calorie diets such as high-fat and high-protein red meat and instant foods has increased, while less vegetables containing dietary fiber are consumed. In addition to that, stress, erroneous dietary behaviors, and contaminated environments are linked to the risk of developing ulcerative colitis, which is on the rise. Another cause of ulcerative colitis is that involve laxative abuse, including repeated, frequent use of laxatives, and include such conditions as deteriorated bowel function, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, etc. The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 9): group I-normal group, group II-DSS control group, group III-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg), group IV-DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg), group V-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Radish Extract mixture (30 mg /kg) (SRE). DSS-treated mice developed symptoms similar to those of human UC, such as severe bloody diarrhea and weight loss. SRE supplementation, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, SRE treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules through suppression both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways, and prevented the apoptosis of colon. Moreover, SRE administration significantly led to the up-regulation of antioxidant enzyme including SOD and Catalase. This is the first report that Radish extract mixture combined with sulfasalazine protects against experimental UC via the inhibition of both inflammation and apoptosis, very similar to the standard-of-care sulfasalazine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.323-332
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• 2024

Background: Studies have reported that the combination of two or more therapeutic compounds at certain ratios has more noticeable pharmaceutical properties than single compounds and requires reduced dosage of each agent. Red ginseng and velvet antler have been extensively used in boosting immunity and physical strength and preventing diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to elucidate the skin-protective potentials of red ginseng extract (RGE) and velvet antler extract (VAE) alone or in combination on ultraviolet (UVB)-irradiated human keratinocytes and SKH-1 hairless mice. Methods: HaCaT cells were preincubated with RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 2 h before UVB (30 mJ/cm²) irradiation. SKH-1 mice were orally given RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 15 days before exposure to single dose of UVB (600 mJ/cm²). Treated cells and treated skin tissues were collected and subjected to subsequent experiments. Results: RGE/VAE pretreatment alone or in combination significantly prevented UVB-induced cell death, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species production, and DNA damage in keratinocytes and SKH-1 mouse skins by downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinases/activator protein 1/nuclear factor kappa B and caspase signaling pathways. These extracts also strengthened the antioxidant defense systems and skin barriers in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells and SKH-1 mouse skins. Furthermore, RGE/VAE co-administration appeared to be more effective in preventing UVB-caused skin injury than these extracts used alone. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that the consumption of RGE/VAE, especially in combination, offers a protective ability against UVB-caused skin injury by preventing inflammation and apoptosis and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권8호
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• pp.1221-1229
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• 2010

정상세포뿐 만 아니라 형질 전환된 세포의 증식조절에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려진 COX-2는 전사조절인자인 NF-${\kappa}B$에 의해서 조절되며, 염증반응에 있어서 중요한 역할을 하는 PGE2의 생성에 관여하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 U937 인체혈구세포에서 염증유발인자인 PMA에 의해서 유발되는 염증반응에 있어서 중요한 역할을 하는 COX-2 및 COX-2의 산물인 PGE2와 COX-2의 발현에 영향을 미치는 전사조절인자인 NF-${\kappa}B$의 발현에 협죽도 잎 및 줄기의 에탄올 추출물인 ENIL 및 ENIS가 어떠한 영향을 미치는 지를 조사하였다. PMA가 처리된 U937 세포에서 COX-1의 발현에는 아무런 영향을 미치지 못하였지만 COX-2의 발현 증가가 유도되었고 이에 따른 PGE2의 생성이 증가되었다. PMA에 의해서 증가된 COX-2의 발현이 ENIS 선처리에 의하여 거의 완벽하게 억제되었고 그에 따른 PGE2의 생성도 현저하게 감소되었다. ENIS에 의한 COX-2의 발현 및 PGE2의 생성억제가 전사조절인자인 NF-${\kappa}B$와 상관성이 있는지를 조사한 결과, 핵 내로의 NF-${\kappa}B$ 이동이 ENIS 선처리에 의하여 억제되는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 ENIS가 NF-${\kappa}B$의 활성 억제를 통하여 COX-2의 발현 및 PGE2의 생성을 효과적으로 억제함으로서 항염증 효능을 가진다는 것을 의미하는 결과이다. 하지만 ENIL의 경우에는 이상에서와 같은 이러한 변화들이 매우 약하게 나타나는 것으로 조사되어 ENIS와 비교해서 항염증 효능이 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과는 협죽도의 항염증기전에 대한 생화학적 해석 및 이를 활용한 향후 지속적인 연구를 위한 귀중한 자료가 될 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.555-563
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• 2018

보리는 높은 비율로 식이섬유를 함유하고 있어, 일반적으로 영양학적으로는 전곡 형태로의 섭취가 추천되고 있지만, 조직감과 소화율을 고려하여 발효물 형태의 소비가 바람직한 것으로 판단되고 있다. 본 연구는 효소당화 후, 효모 및 유산균 발효를 거쳐 조제한 보리발효물로부터 조다당 BF-CP를 분리하고, 대식세포에 대한 면역증강 효과 및 세포 내 신호전달을 규명하여 기능성 소재로의 이용방안을 모색하기 위해 계획되었다. BF-CP 획분의 일반화학적 특성을 분석한 결과 70.7% 글루코스 11.4% 자일로스 및 9.0% 아라비노스를 포함하여 91.1%의 중성당으로 이루어진 중성다당이었다. BF-CP는 RAW 264.7 대식세포주에서 농도의존적으로 IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$와 같은 사이토카인 및 NO의 생산능을 유도하는 등 높은 대식세포 활성능을 나타냈다. 또한 qPCR 분석을 통해, BF-CP 획분을 대식세포주에 처리하였을 때, 처리 농도에 비례하여 IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ 및 iNOS의 mRNA 유전자 발현을 증가시킴을 확인할 수 있었다. 한편 Western blot을 활용한 신호전달 단백질 추적실험에서 BF-CP 획분을 대식세포주에 처리하였을 때, JNK, ERK 및 p38과 같은 MAPK 경로와 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 경로의 관련 단백질을 인산화시킴이 확인되었으며 그 활성은 BF-CP 농도에 의존적이었다. 이상의 결과로부터 보리발효물 유래 다당 BF-CP는 MAPK와 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 경로를 통해 대식세포를 활성화시키며, 이를 통하여 NO, IL-6 및 $TNF-{\alpha}$와 같은 면역활성화 관련 물질의 생산을 높은 비율로 유도시킨다는 것을 최종 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권11호
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• pp.1614-1625
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• 2020

A number of species of the genus Trichilia (Meliaceae) exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of Trichilia martiana C. DC. (TM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation has not, to the best of our knowledge, yet been determined. Therefore, in the present study, the antiinflammatory effect of TM on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages was evaluated. The ethanol extract of TM (TMEE) significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin 2 (PGE₂), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). TMEE also reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. The upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation was revealed to be downregulated following TMEE pretreatment. Furthermore, TMEE was indicated to lead to the nucleus translocation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In H292 airway epithelial cells, the pretreatment of TMEE significantly downregulated the production of LPS-stimulated IL-1β, and TMEE was indicated to increase the expression of HO-1. In animal models exhibiting LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), treatment with TMEE reduced the levels of macrophages influx and TNF-α production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ALI mice. Additionally, TMEE significantly downregulated the activation of ERK, JNK and IκB, and upregulated the expression of HO-1 in the lungs of ALI mice. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that TMEE could exert a regulatory role in the prevention or treatment of the endotoxin-mediated inflammatory response.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제61권2호
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• pp.205-211
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• 2018

리바우디오사이드 A는 Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni에서 분리된 천연감미료로 널리 알려진 스테비올배당체 중 하나이다. 최근 연구에서 LPS 자극에 의해 활성화된 RAW264.7 마우스 대식 세포에서 리바우디오사이드 A가 인터루킨-$1{\alpha}/1{\beta}$ 같은 염증성 사이토카인 분비를 억제하는 기능이 확인되었다. 그러나 LPS처리 시 리바우디오사이드 A의 항염 활성에 대한염증 억제기작은 정확히 제시하지 못하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 리바우디오사이드 A의 LPS 신호전달 메카니즘에서의 항염증 효능을 단백질 수준에서 규명하고자 하였다. NO 생성에 관여하는 iNOS 단백질 발현양을 분석한 결과 리바우디오사이드 A의 $250{\mu}M$ 처리군에서 농도 의존적으로 단백질 발현이 감소하는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 염증 신호에 의한 대표적 핵 전사 인자인 $NF{\kappa}B$의 mRNA 발현량 분석 결과에서도 LPS 처리군에 비해 그 발현양이 감소하였다. 또한 세포질에 존재하는 $NF-{\kappa}B$와 $I-{\kappa}B$ 복합체는 LPS신호에 의한 $I-{\kappa}B$의 인산화 및 ubiquitination로 인해 $NF-{\kappa}B$가 이탈되기 때문에, 리바우디오사이드 A에 의한 $pNF-{\kappa}B$, $pI-{\kappa}B$의 단백질 발현을 비교 분석한 결과 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 단백질의 인산화가 농도 의존적으로 감소하였고, $I-{\kappa}B$의 인산화 또한 저해되는 것을 확인 하였다. 최종적으로 리바우디오사이드 A는 LPS처리 조건에서 MAPK중 특이적으로 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2)의 인산화를 농도 의존 방식으로 감소시킴으로써 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 조절 기작에 관여함을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 본 연구 결과들을 통해 우리는 리바우디오사이드 A가 RAW264.7 세포에서 LPS에 의해 활성화 되는 MAPK 및 $NF{\kappa}B$의 발현 억제를 통해 염증이 억제될 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.509-516
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• 2017

들깨(Perilla frutescents (L.) Britton var.) 새싹은 꿀풀과에 속하는 1년생 초본이다. 본 연구의 목적은 들깨 새싹 에탄올 추출물이 사이토카인으로 유도된 췌장 베타 세포 손상에 대한 예방 효과를 평가하기 위함이다. 췌장 소도 주위에 염증 세포 침습으로 의해 분비되는 사이토카인은 1형 당뇨병의 발병원인에 해당된다. 인터루킨-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), 인터페론-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), 종양괴사인자-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) 등의 사이토카인은 활성산소 형성을 유도한다. 세포 내 활성산소 축적은 췌장 베타 세포 기능장애와 세포사멸을 이끈다. 들깨 새싹 추출물은 항산화 효과를 증가 시켰으며 활성산소 생성을 억제하였다. 사이토카인은 세포생존율을 감소시켰고, iNOS와 COX-2의 발현을 증가시키고 산화질소 생성을 유도하였다. 들깨 새싹 추출물은 사이토카인으로 유도된 세포생존을 농도 의존적으로 예방하였다. 또한, 사이토카인에 의한 산화질소 생성과 iNOS와 COX-2의 단백질 발현 증가를 억제하였다. 더 나아가 들깨 새싹 추출물은 췌장 베타 세포주(RIN-m5F)에서 $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ 인산화 억제를 통해서 NF-${\kappa}B$의 활성화를 상당히 감소시켰다. 요약하자면, 본 연구 결과는 들깨 새싹 추출물이 사이토카인으로 유도된 췌장 베타 세포 손상에 대한 보호 효과를 가지고 있다는 것이 확인되었다. 결과적으로 들깨 새싹은 혈당 증가에 의한 산화 스트레스와 염증성 사이토카인에 의한 베타 세포 손상을 완화하여 당뇨에 유익할 것으로 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.323-328
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• 2020

Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), a calcium-dependent zinccontaining collagenase, is involved in the initial degradation of native fibrillar collagen. Tissue necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is rapidly produced by dermal fibroblasts, monocytes/macrophages, and keratinocytes and regulates inflammation and damaged-tissue remodeling. MMP-1 is induced by TNFα and plays a critical role in tissue remodeling and skin aging processes. However, the regulation of the MMP1 gene by TNFα is not fully understood. We aimed to find additional cis-acting elements involved in the regulation of TNFα-induced MMP1 gene transcription in addition to the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP1) sites. Assessments of the 5'-regulatory region of the MMP1 gene, using a series of deletion constructs, revealed the requirement of the early growth response protein 1 (EGR-1)-binding sequence (EBS) in the proximal region for proper transcription by TNFα. Ectopic expression of EGR-1, a zinc-finger transcription factor that binds to G-C rich sequences, stimulated MMP1 promoter activity. The silencing of EGR-1 by RNA interference reduced TNFα-induced MMP-1 expression. EGR-1 directly binds to the proximal region and transactivates the MMP1 gene promoter. Mutation of the EBS within the MMP1 promoter abolished EGR-1-mediated MMP-1 promoter activation. These data suggest that EGR-1 is required for TNFα-induced MMP1 transcriptional activation. In addition, we found that all three MAPKs, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 kinase, mediate TNFα-induced MMP-1 expression via EGR-1 upregulation. These results suggest that EGR-1 may represent a good target for the development of pharmaceutical agents to reduce inflammation-induced MMP-1 expression.