• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.31-47
• /
• 2010

Objectives: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory rat model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups; LPS control (n=6), LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV4 (n=6), LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV17 (n=6), and LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at Ex-HN1 (n=6). Pharmacopuncture (0.1 ml) was given every two days for 4 weeks followed by inflammation induction by peritoneal LPS injection (5 mg/kg). Blood, liver tissue, and peritoneal lavage fluid were taken and proinflammatory cytokines and other related factors were analysed. Results: Compared with the control group, CV4 and Ex-HN1 pharmacopuncture groups significantly attenuated plasma IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ increase at 2h and 5h after LPS injection (P<0.05). A significant difference from control group emerged at 5 h for plasma IL10 (P<0.05). For liver cytokines analyzed at 5 h after LPS injection, only CV4 pharmacopuncture group showed significant difference in TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-10 (P<0.05). Blood CD4/CD8 ratio and the phagocytic activities of polymorphonuclear neutrophils were not different from those of control group in all pharmacopuncture groups (P>0.05). CV4 pharmacopuncture significantly attenuated increase of plasma ${NO_3}^-/{NO_2}^-$, Intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) compared with the control group (P<0.05). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, $PGE_2$, and CINC-1 level of CV4 pharmacopuncture group was significantly different from those from the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results indicate that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV4 may have a potent anti-inflammatory effect in an LPS-induced inflammatory rat model.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.696-702
• /
• 2017

Metabolic syndrome, including obesity, glucose intolerance and elevated blood pressure, is related to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have reported the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects of purple corn extract. We investigated the efficacy of purple corn extract (PC) against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and glucose intolerance, and examined the underlying mechanisms by analyzing expression of proteins and genes involved in glucose regulation and macrophage infiltration. C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal chow diet (ND), or HFD treated with distilled water (DW, control) or PC, for 10 weeks. Although body weights were similar in the HFD-fed groups, we observed a decrease in the liver and epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) weights, and enhanced glucose tolerance test (GTT) results in the PC group, as compared with DW group. Liver showed increased Akt phosphorylation in the PC-treated mice; however, no changes were observed in the EAT, for all groups. In PC-treated mice, decreased macrophage infiltration was seen in the EAT, with a reduced expression of macrophage marker genes. Finally, proinflammatory cytokine gene expressions were decreased by PC in the EAT, and a modest trend for downregulation was observed in the liver. Hence, we conclude that PC may decrease glucose intolerance by increasing the phosphorylation of Akt and reducing the macrophage infiltration into the EAT.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.591-603
• /
• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Unregulated inflammatory responses caused by hyperglycemia may induce diabetes complications. Hesperetin, a bioflavonoid, is a glycoside in citrus fruits and is known to have antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. However, the effect of inflammation on the diabetic environment has not been reported to date. In this study, we investigated the effect of hesperetin on proinflammatory cytokine secretion and its underlying mechanistic regulation in THP-1 macrophages with co-treatment LPS and hyperglycemic conditions. MATERIALS/METHODS: THP-1 cells differentiated by PMA (1 µM) were cultured for 48 h in the presence or absence of hesperetin under normoglycemic (5.5 mM/L glucose) or hyperglycemic (25 mM/L glucose) conditions and then treated with LPS (100 ng/mL) for 6 h before harvesting. Inflammation-related proteins and mRNA levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. RESULTS: Hesperetin (0-100 µM, 48 h) treatment did not affect cell viability. The tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels increased in cells co-treated with LPS under hyperglycemic conditions compared to normoglycemic conditions, and these increases were decreased by hesperetin treatment. The TLR2/4 and MyD88 activity levels increased in cells co-treated with LPS under hyperglycemic conditions compared to normoglycemic conditions; however, hesperetin treatment inhibited the TLR2/4 and MyD88 activity increases. In addition, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Acetyl-NF-κB levels increased in response to treatment with LPS under hyperglycemic conditions compared to normoglycemic conditions, but those levels were decreased when treated with hesperetin. SIRT3 and SIRT6 expressions were increased by hesperetin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hesperetin may be a potential agent for suppressing inflammation in diabetes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.125-133
• /
• 2021

Objectives : Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica (H.Hara) is a member of the genus Thymus of perennial aromatic herb, and it's designated as a natural monument of South Korea. It has traditionally been known to have protective or therapeutic effects on various human disease including cerebrovascular and neurological disease. Recently it was suggested that essential oil extracted from thyme has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effect. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-inflammatory effect of Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica in Raw 264.7 macrophage cell line. Methods : The cytotoxic effects of water and 70% ethanol extracts from Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica, was tested using MTT assay. Inhibitory effects of the extracts to nitric oxide production and mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines were examined by RT-PCR. Also, MitoSOX-red assay and JC-1 assay were performed to determine if the extracts can inhibit mitochondrial ROS accumulation and maintain mitochondrial membrane potential. Results : In LPS-induced inflammatory response, the extracts efficiently reduced nitric oxide NO production through inhibiting mRNA expression of iNOS enzyme. In addition, expression of the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1𝛽 and IL-6, was also down-regulated by the extract treatments. Excessive accumulation of mitochondrial ROS induced by LPS was inhibited in the extract treated cells, which finally protected mitochondrial membrane potential. Conclusions : These results showed that water and 70% ethanol extracts from Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica have anti-inflammatory effect through down regulation of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and iNOS, and also have antioxidative effect against mitochondrial ROS accumulation that promote inflammatory response.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.54 no.10
• /
• pp.528-533
• /
• 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disorder that can result in the loss of articular cartilage. No effective treatment against OA is currently available. Thus, interest in natural health products to relieve OA symptoms is increasing. However, their qualities such as efficacy, toxicity, and mechanism are poorly understood. In this study, we determined the efficacy of avenanthramide (Avn)-C extracted from oats as a promising candidate to prevent OA progression and its mechanism of action to prevent the expression of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) in OA pathogenesis. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine as a main causing factor of cartilage destruction, was used to induce OA-like condition of chondrocytes in vitro. Avn-C restrained IL-1β-mediated expression and activity of MMPs, such as MMP-3, -12, and -13 in mouse articular chondrocytes. Moreover, Avn-C alleviated cartilage destruction in experimental OA mouse model induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. However, Avn-C did not affect the expression of inflammatory mediators (Ptgs2 and Nos) or anabolic factors (Col2a1, Aggrecan, and Sox9), although expression levels of these genes were upregulated or downregulated by IL-1β, respectively. The inhibition of MMP expression by Avn-C in articular chondrocytes was mediated by p38 kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, but not by ERK or NF-κB. Interestingly, Avn-C added with SB203580 and SP600125 as specific inhibitors of p38 kinase and JNK, respectively, enhanced its inhibitory effect on the expression of MMPs in IL-1β treated chondrocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that Avn-C is an effective candidate to prevent OA progression and a natural health product to relieve OA pathogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.439-448
• /
• 2021

DA-9601 is an extract obtained from Artemisia asiatica, which has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects on gastrointestinal lesions; however, its possible anti-inflammatory effects on the small intestine have not been studied yet. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the protective effects of DA-9601 against the ACF-induced small intestinal inflammation. Inflammation of the small intestine was confirmed by histological studies and the changes in the CD4⁺ T cell fraction induced by the inflammation-related cytokines, and the inflammatory reactions were analyzed. Multifocal discrete small necrotic ulcers with intervening normal mucosa were frequently observed after treatment with ACF. The expression of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α genes was increased in the ACF group; however, it was found to have been significantly decreased in the DA-9601 treated group. In addition, DA-9601 significantly decreased the levels of proinflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, and TNF-α; the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, on the other hand, was observed to have increased. It is known that inflammatory mediators related to T cell imbalance and dysfunction continuously activate the inflammatory response, causing chronic tissue damage. The fractions of IFN-γ⁺ Th1 cells, IL-4⁺ Th2 cells, IL-9⁺ Th9 cells, IL-17⁺ Th17 cells, and Foxp3⁺ Treg cells were significantly decreased upon DA-9601 treatment. These data suggest that the inflammatory response induced by ACF is reduced by DA-9601 via lowering of the expression of genes encoding the inflammatory cytokines and the concentration of inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, DA-9601 inhibited the acute inflammatory response mediated by T cells, resulting in an improvement in ACF-induced enteritis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.337-346
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a form of arteriosclerosis that occurs in the extremities and involves ischemia. Previous studies have reported that patients with periodontitis are at high risk for PAD. However, the relationship between these 2 diseases has not yet been fully elucidated. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated this relationship by comparing patients with PAD to those with arrhythmia (ARR) as a control group. Methods: A large-scale survey was conducted of patients with cardiovascular disease who visited Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. We investigated their oral condition and dental clinical measurements, including probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level, and number of missing teeth; we also collected salivary and subgingival plaque samples and peripheral blood samples. All patients with PAD were extracted from the whole population (n=25), and a matching number of patients with ARR were extracted (n=25). Simultaneously, ARR patients were matched to PAD patients in terms of age, gender, prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and the smoking rate (n=25 in both groups). Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the bacterial counts, while the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure anti-bacterial antibody titers and proinflammatory cytokine levels in serum. Results: PAD patients had more missing teeth ($18.4{\pm}2.0$) and higher serum levels of C-reactive protein ($1.57{\pm}0.85mg/dL$) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($70.3{\pm}5.7pg/mL$) than ARR patients ($12.0{\pm}1.7$, $0.38{\pm}0.21mg/dL$, and $39.3{\pm}4.5pg/mL$, respectively). Meanwhile, no statistically significant differences were found in other dental clinical measurements, bacterial antibody titers, or bacterial counts between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that PAD patients had poorer oral and periodontal state with enhanced systemic inflammation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.389-395
• /
• 2019

This study investigated the pharmaceutical extraction and the functional health food extraction, which have a beneficial effect on the human body and which can be used safely for a long period of time without adverse side effects and also have excellent effects of protecting liver and improving liver function. As the results, the cabbage extract does not show cytotoxicity, and thus can be used safely. In an experiment performed on an animal model with liver injury induced by a drug (APAP), it could be seen that the cabbage extract exhibited the effects of protecting liver and improving liver function by effectively reducing AST and ALT which are liver injury markers, indicating that the cabbage extract is effective as a pharmaceutical extraction for preventing or treating liver disease. In particular, the cabbage extract was effective in treating inflammation of the liver by reducing the expression of the inflammatory mediators iNOS and COX-2 and the proinflammatory cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$, which are involved in acute inflammatory reactions accompanying liver injury. In the results, an extract of cabbage heat-treated at a temperature of 100 to $150^{\circ}C$ had a better liver function-improving effect or anti-inflammatory effect than an extract of raw cabbage.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.397-404
• /
• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the heat-treated broccoli extraction which have a beneficial effect on the human body and which can be used safely for a long period of time without adverse side effects and also have excellent effects of protecting liver and improving liver function. The heat-treated broccoli extract does not show cytotoxicity, and thus can be used safely. In an experiment performed on an animal model with liver injury induced by a drug (APAP), it could be seen that the heat-treated cabbage extract exhibited the effects of protecting liver and improving liver function by effectively reducing AST and ALT which are liver injury markers, indicating that the heat-treated brocoli extract is effective as a pharmaceutical extraction for preventing or treating liver disease. In particular, the heat-treated broccoli extract was effective in treating inflammation of the liver by reducing the expression of the inflammatory mediators iNOS and COX-2 and the proinflammatory cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$, which are involved in acute inflammatory reactions accompanying liver injury.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.295-300
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Celeriac Extract on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Inflammation is caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and mediators such as free radicals. We investigated the effect of Celeriac Extract (1ug/mL, 10ug/mL, 100ug/mL) on the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and NO by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These results demonstrated that Celeriac Extract inhibited the production of TNF-α, IL-6 and NO, without cytotoxicity significantly. Therefore, these findings suggest that Celeriac Extract may attenuate inflammatory responses via inhibition of production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO.