• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.20 no.2 s.33
• /
• pp.10-35
• /
• 2007

Objectives : To investigate the effects of Ohbaesangami (OBSGM) on mucosa and skin diseases, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory tests were performed using several in vitro test models. Results : In anti-microbial test, OBSGM showed the slight inhibitory effect against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In anti-oxidant test, OBSGM showed the potent radical scavenging activity. In anti-inflammatory test, OBSGM weakly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide(NO) release from the RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. OBSGM also inhibited the LPS-induced $interleukin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$ and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions. The inhibitory effects of OBSGM on macrophage activation was via the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$, evidenced by transient transfection assay. Furthermore, OBSGM markedly inhibited the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase in RAW 264.7 cells. In skin wrinkle formation assay, OBSGM strongly inhibited collagnease and elastase, whose activities are tightly related with the wrinkle formation. In addition, OBSGM inhibited the activities of MMP-1, MMP-2 on the mRNA levels in RAW 264.7 cells. However, OBSGM did not show an inhibitory potential on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis, indicating that it could not be applicable for skin whitening. Conclusion : These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of OBSGM may be due to its inhibitory potentials on the macrophage activation. And, the anti-wrinkle effects of OBSGM may be due to its inhibitory potential on the collagnease and elastase activities. Therefore, OBSGM could be applicable for the treatment of mucosa and skin diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.435-441
• /
• 2013

Emodin, a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative isolated from Polygoni cuspidati radix, has several beneficial pharmacologic effects, which include anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, the authors examined the effect of emodin on the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6, in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus the calcium ionophore A23187. To investigate the mechanism responsible for the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production by emodin, the authors assessed its effects on the activations of transcriptional factor nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Emodin attenuated the nuclear translocation of (NF)-${\kappa}B$ p65 and its DNA-binding activity by reducing the phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase B (IKK). Furthermore, emodin dose-dependently attenuated the phosphorylations of MAPKs, such as, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAP kinase, and the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK)/c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of emodin on PMA plus A23187-stimulated BMMCs are mediated via the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and of the MAPK pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.457-463
• /
• 2018

In this study, we analyzed the protective effects of the vitamin C in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced apoptosis using the SH-SY5Y, a neuroblastoma cell line. The cells were pretreated with the vitamin C ($100{\mu}g$) for 30 min, followed by the 24-hr treatment with the 2.5-mM STZ. The cell-viability assay using the Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 revealed the cell-survival rate increased by 15% following the vitamin-C pretreatment compared to the STZ-only treatment. Moreover, we conducted the western-blot analysis to determine the protective effect of the vitamin C regarding the apoptosis. Compared to those in the STZ-only-treatment group, the p-ERK and Bcl-2 expressions increased in the vitamin-C-pretreatment group, whereas the p-JNK and Bax expressions decreased. The vitamin-C pretreatment increased the expression of the SOD-1, an antioxidant enzyme, by more than 30%, indicating its protective role in the STZ-induced oxidative stress. Also, we found both the intrinsic- and extrinsic-pathway mechanisms of the STZ-induced apoptosis. The results of this study $s{\mu}ggest$ vitamin C may help prevent the neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.241-246
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Aloe-emodin (AE), an ingredient of aloe, is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms of its inflammatory modulatory activity in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of AE using $Pam_3CSK_4$-stimulated macrophages. Methods: RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with AE (0~20 mM) for 1 h, followed by treatment with $Pam_3CSK_4$ for 1 h. After incubation, mRNA expression levels of cytokines were measured. The effect of AE on TLR2-related molecules was also investigated in $Pam_3CSK_4$-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Results: AE attenuated $Pam_3CSK_4$-stimulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Two concentrations of AE ($10{\mu}M$ and $20{\mu}M$) effectively reduced mRNA expression of TLR2 by 41.18% and 54.43%, respectively, compared to that in control cells (p < 0.05). AE also decreased nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) activation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK were markedly reduced by $20{\mu}M$ AE. In particular, AE decreased phosphorylation of ERK in a dose-dependent manner in $Pam_3CSK_4$-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Conclusion: Our data indicate that AE exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing TLR2-mediated activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK signaling pathways in macrophages.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.598-604
• /
• 2014

Fatty acids, important components of a normal diet, have been reported to play a role in bone metabolism. Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing cells that are responsible for many bone-destructive diseases such as osteoporosis. In this study, we investigated the impact of a medium-chain fatty acid, capric acid, on the osteoclast differentiation, function, and survival induced by receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Capric acid inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow-derived macrophages and suppressed RANKL-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation, p65 nuclear translocation, and NF-${\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity. Capric acid further blocked the RANKL-stimulated activation of ERK without affecting JNK or p38. The induction of NFATc1 in response to RANKL was also attenuated by capric acid. In addition, capric acid abrogated M-CSF and RANKL-mediated cytoskeleton reorganization, which is crucial for the efficient bone resorption of osteoclasts. Capric acid also increased apoptosis in mature osteoclasts through the induction of Bim expression and the suppression of ERK activation by M-CSF. Together, our results reveal that capric acid has inhibitory effects on osteoclast development. We therefore suggest that capric acid may have potential therapeutic implications for the treatment of bone resorption-associated disorders.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2016

Objectives : Nardostachys jatamansi (NJ) is a medicinal herb that has been reported in various traditional systems of medicine for its use in antispasmodic, a digestive stimulant, skin diseases. Previous studies have already reported that NJ effectively protects against inflammation. However, the active compound in NJ is unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed effects of a compound, 8α-hydroxy pinoresinol (HP), isolated from NJ against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells.Methods : To examine the anti-inflammatory effect of HP against LPS, intraperitoneally pre-treat the HP (100, 200, 500 and 1,000 nM) 1 h prior to LPS challenges. LPS was stimulated with 500 ng/ml in RAW 264.7 cells. To identify the anti-inflammatory effect of HP, we measured inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and its derivative nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Also we evaluated molecular mechanisms including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation by western blot.Results : The HP inhibited production of inflammatory mediators, such as iNOS and its derivative NO, COX-2 and PGE2 in LPS- induced inflammationin RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, HP also inhibited activation of p38 pathway signaling but not extracellularsignal-regulatedkinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and NF-κB.Conclusion : Our results suggest that HP has anti-inflammatory functions through the dephosphorylation of p38 and HP can provide beneficial strategy for prevention and therapy of inflammation.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2018.04a
• /
• pp.91-91
• /
• 2018

Poncirus Fructus (PF) is obtained by drying the trifoliate orange fruit belonging to the Rutaceae family. In our country of medicine, PF has been used as a treatment of indigestion, allergy and inflammation. But Mechanism and medical data for PF is insignificant. Recently, the effect of the study PF of biological activity was reported, such as anti- thrombosis, anti-bacteria, anti-virus, anti- allergic. We investigated that the effect of PF on anti-inflammatory in murine macrophage-like cell line Raw264.7 cells. Our results show that the expression level of Nitric Oxide (NO) and Matrix-metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) significantly decreased. Moreover, to determine the expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the phosphorylation pattern of signaling molecules of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, we performed ELISA and westren blot in Raw264.7 cells. In addition, nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway was confirmed. PF extract inhibited the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6. The extract suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 in activated cells. Our results suggest that PF can be used as a potential therapeutic agent or functional food to relieve inflammation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.1315-1320
• /
• 2006

The root and rhizomes of Nardostachys chinensis belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been used for medicinal therapy in Korean traditional medicine. The parts have been especially used to elicit stomachic and sedative effects. Our previous studies reported that the water extract of N. chinensis has induced granulocytic differentiation inhuman promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. The Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are serine/threonine kinases involved in the regulation of various cellular responses, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the signaling pathways on the HL-60 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) increased time-dependently in differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by N. chinersis. Activation of p38 increased slightly at 24 h after N. chinensis treatment, but activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was unaffected. Inhibitor of ERK (PD98059) significantly reduced NBT reduction activity induced by N. chinensis in HL-60 cells. In contrast, p38 inhibitor (SB203580) did not inhibit the cell differentiation. These results indicated that activaiton of ERK may De involved in HL-60 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.299-305
• /
• 2012

Endochondral bone formation is the process by which mesenchymal cells condense to become chondrocytes, which ultimately form new bone. The process of chondrogenic differentiation and hypertrophy is critical for bone formation and as such is regulated by many factors. In this study, we aimed to indentify novel factors that regulate chondrogenesis. We investigated the possible role of isopsoralen in induction of chondrogenic differentiation in clonal mouse chondrogenic ATDC5 cells. Isopsoralen treatment stimulated the accumulation of cartilage nodules in a dose-dependent manner. Further, ATDC5 cells treated with isopsoralen were stained more intensely with Alcian blue than control cells, suggesting that isopsoralen increases the synthesis of matrix proteoglycans. Similarly, isopsoralen markedly induced the activation of alkaline phosphatase activity compared with control cells. Isopsoralen enhanced the expressions of chondrogenic marker genes such as collagen II, collagen X, OCN, Smad4 and Sox9 in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, isopsoralen induced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAP kinase, but not that of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Isopsoralen significantly enhanced the protein expression of BMP-2 in a time-dependent manner. PD98059 and SB 203580, inhibitors of ERK and p38 MAPK, respectively, decreased the number of stained cells treated with isopsoralen. Taken together, these results suggest that isopsoralen mediates a chondromodulating effect by BMP-2 or MAPK signaling pathways, and is therefore a possible therapeutic agent for bone growth disorders.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2019.10a
• /
• pp.66-66
• /
• 2019

Heracleum moellendorffii roots (HM-R) have been long treated for inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, backache and fever. However, an anti-inflammatory effect and the specific mechanism of HM-R were not yet clear. In this study, we for the first time explored the anti-inflammatory of HM-R. Results: HM-R dose-dependently blocked LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production. In addition, HM-R inhibited LPS-induced overexpression of iNOS, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells. HM-R inhibited LPS-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling activation through blocking $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation and p65 nuclear accumulation. Furthermore, HM-R inhibited MAPK signaling activation by attenuating the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK. HM-R increased nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. However, NAC reduced the increased nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and HO-1 expression by HM-R. In HPLC analysis, falcarinol was detected from HM-R as an anti-inflammatory compound. These results indicate that HM-R may exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK signaling, and activating ROS/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. From these findings, HM-R may have potential to be a candidate for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.