• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.736-744
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• 2021

Artemisia princeps Pampanini is an herbal medicine widely used to immune function-related diseases, such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agents. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of AP extract and underlying mechanisms were evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells. The effects of AP extract were also studied in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation mouse model. In RAW 264.7 cells, AP extracts significantly inhibited the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. The LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB was also significantly blocked by AP extract in RAW 264.7 cells. Oral administration of AP extract suppressed the increase in mouse paw edema and spleen index compared to CFA-treated mice group. Histologically, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was increased in cartilage and synovium in the CFA-treated mouse group, whereas it was suppressed in the AP extract-administered group. Furthermore, AP extract treatment significantly reduced the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α, levels in CFA and LPS-treated mouse. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis effect of AP extract was confirmed in both in vitro and in vivo models, suggesting that Artemisia princeps Pampanini may be a candidate material for arthritis treatment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2022

Purpose: Natural medicinal plant extracts have recently attracted attention as health beneficial foods and potential therapeutic agents for prevention of various diseases. This study was undertaken to measure the anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanol-water fraction obtained from the above-ground portion of Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora, a wild-growing plant in Korea. The final fraction used in this study was the H₂O-EtOH (40:60) fraction (SP60), which had the highest antioxidant activity, as determined in previous studies. Methods: The amounts of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β production were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells exposed to SP60. Western blot was performed to measure the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Results: SP60 exerted no cytotoxicity up to concentrations of 125 ㎍/mL. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as NO, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, were significantly decreased in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells exposed to SP60. In addition, the expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, and phosphorylated p65 showed a concentration-dependent decrease subsequent to SP60 treatment. These results indicate that SP60 inhibits the LPS-induced production of inflammatory cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2, by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB, which is responsible for the expression of inflammatory mediators. Conclusion: The results presented in this study indicate that the H₂O-EtOH (40:60) fraction (SP60) extracted from the above-ground portion of Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora has the potential to be developed as a medicine or healthcare food and functional material possessing anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is necessary to first confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of SP60 in in vivo models.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.203-208
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• 2005

Scoparone is a major component of the shoot of Artemisia capillaris (Compositae), which has been used for the treatment of hepatitis and biliary tract infection in oriental countries. In the present study we observed that, scorparone exhibited no cytotoxic effect in unstimulated macrophages, but reduced the release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ upon stimulation by IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS or LPS. The inhibitory effects were found to be in conjuction with the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, scoparone also attenuated the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that scoparone decreases the production of the inflammatory mediators such as NO and $PGE_2$ in macrophages by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression.

• Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.92-102
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• 2018

The objectives of this study were to find out the plant to enhance immune activity among 42 kinds of foods frequently consumed by the Korean elderly consisting of 5 food groups and 5 wild plants. Each sample was assessed the immunoactive effect by measuring $NF-{\kappa}B/AP1$ gene expression, nitric oxide and cytokine production in $RAW-Blue^{TM}$ cell. Soybean sprouts of 47 plants showed the highest $NF-{\kappa}B/AP1$ gene expression at the level of $1.13{\pm}0.03$ (O.D. 650 nm) and Soritae, sweet potato, banana, apple, garlic, crown daisy, cabbage and Ailanthus altissima also had high activity of $NF-{\kappa}B/AP1$ gene in $RAW-Blue^{TM}$ cell stimulated by LPS. NO production of Ailanthus altissima was significantly higher than that of other plants and 16 plants of glutinous sorghum, black rice, Seoritae, Heuktae, sweet potato, banana, apple, garlic, mungbean sprouts, spinach, crown daisy, young pumpkin, cabbage, soybean sprouts, Actinidia arguta and Aster scaber were the next best activity. The above results selected 17 out of 47 plant samples. Moreover, soybean sprouts was significantly shown to increase $TNF-{\alpha}$ ($1,509.55{\pm}1.38pg/mL$) and $IL-1{\beta}$ ($54.56{\pm}1.08pg/mL$) cytokines in comparison with RAW-Blue cell stimulated by LPS. According to the results of in vitro evaluation, the ethanol extract of soybean sprout increased the production of immune-enhancing cytokines by proliferation of macrophages. In addition, $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcription factor activity and NO production ability were excellent, and it was selected as a material having excellent immunological activity.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

This article highlights the part of Chijongjinam that was not examined by previous relevant studies. Findings are summarized as follows. First, king was the main reader of the Yubang that was the raw material of Chijongbibang. This means that Yubang was a kind of document that was reported to the central government. It is likely that the Yubang was written when lm-Eonguk was affiliated to Chijongcheong. Second, lm-Eonguk developed a body of innovative medical techniques based on acupunctural skills that had been learnt from an old Buddhist monk. The newly developed techniques was possible because he combined altogether the medical experiences of his own and a band of veterinary knowledge and techniques that was then disregarded. Third, Chijongbibang indicates that the origin of unique features in Korean medicine can be traced up to before the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, though it is generally accepted that Sauigyeongheombang contained on a full scale unique features of the Korean medicine that was initiated by laypersons and later formed the mainstream of Korean medicine. What should be particularly noted here is that the personal medicine of lm-Eonguk being based on laypersons' medical experiences was employed by central government; the government circulated the medical knowledge and skills for the grass-roots; and eventually the medicine influenced Chinese medicine. And last but not least, lm-Eonguk set the historic occasion of using medicinal materials that can be found on the road and used readily, which is virtually a distinctive case that is unlikely to be found anywhere except Korean medical books.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.163-171
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• 2021

Various records on health, food and treatment are written in ancient documents of Korea such as old recipe books, Korean medical books and history books, through these records, the principle of Sikchi can be discovered. Sikchi includes the meaning of medicine and food work on the same principle, and it is not only as traditional knowledge but also affecting modern food culture. Based on this principle of Sikchi, this study tried to lay a foundation that can be used as a modern health food material through scientific verification of foods recorded in the ancient literature. For this purpose, Omigalsu, a traditional drink made from omija, soybean, and honey, which is related to blood glucose control, which is one of the representative metabolic diseases of modern people, was selected as the subject of this study. In order to compensate for the agglomeration of beverages caused by honey or the rise in postprandial blood glucose, which occurs when the traditional Omigalsu recorded in the ancient literature is reproduced, the raw material that can be substituted for honey was discovered. The health promotion and quality improvement effects of newly prepared Omigalsu using honey substitutive raw material were confirmed through a comparative test with traditional Omigalsu. Based on this study, through scientific research using the principle of Sikchi, we intend to lay a foundation that can be used as various contents in the medical and food fields such as food bio and healthcare in modern society.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2018

Traditional medicines (TM) in Korea, China, and Japan share most of the theories and therapeutic tools, but there are also differences due to their unique histories and cultures. Here, we aim to identify the differences in the utilization of TM theory between three countries by analyzing herb usage data in terms of the related traditional theories. Herb usage data of each country was collected from "Investigation of Korean medicine use and herbal medicine consumption survey" (Korea), "Analytical report on circulation of key Chinese medicinal materials" (China), and "Survey report on raw material crude drug usage" (Japan). Fifty five herbs with sixty features belonging to five theoretical categories (four properties, five tastes, targeting meridians, treatment strategies, and herbal parts) were selected and analyzed. Weight Sum Model (WSM) and Network-Based Group Features (NBGF) were used to compare the theoretical characteristics of TM between three countries. For the statistical evaluation, we developed and applied Herb Set Enrichment Analysis (HSEA) for WSM and NBGF results. HSEA for WSM results revealed the kidney meridian were targeted more in Korea than Japan, while the spleen meridian were targeted more in Japan than Korea. Herbs with sour taste were used more in Japan than China. HSEA for NBGF results found that NBGF including warm, neutral, sweet, and tonifying features were more dominant in Korea and than Japan, while NBGF including cold, bitter, heat-clearing features were more dominant in Japan than the others. These results suggest that TM in Korea, China, and Japan have unique aspects of practice patterns and theoretical utilization.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.306-312
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• 2018

In a previous study, we have demonstrated that S-methylmethionine sulfonium (SMMS) confers wound-healing and photoprotective effects on the skin, suggesting that SMMS can be used as a cosmetic raw material. However, it has an unpleasant odor. Therefore, in the present study, we synthesized odor-free SMMS derivatives by eliminating dimethyl sulfide, which is the cause of the unpleasant odor and identified two derivatives that exhibited skin-protective effects: one derivative comprised (2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)-2-phenylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and the other comprised (2S,4R)-, (2S,4S)-, (2R,4R)-, and (2R,4S)-2-phenyl-1,3-thiazinane-4-carboxylic acid. We performed in vitro proliferation assays using human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) and an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The two SMMS derivatives were shown to increase hDF and HaCaT cell proliferation as well as improve their survival by protecting against ultraviolet exposure. Moreover, the derivatives regulated the expression of collagen type I and MMP mRNAs against ultraviolet exposure in hDFs, suggesting that these derivatives can be developed as cosmetic raw materials.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.671-680
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Haeyeol-tang on infectious disease of respiratory system. Methods : Haeyeol-tang was used by cold storage after dilution with 1, 10 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of PBS, from dried material as extracted material with extraction with 50% ethanol. Statistical significance was examined through measuring TNF-$\alpha$, RT-PCR, DPPH, nitric oxide(NO), and MTT of Raw264.7 cells activated with LPS. Results : For the toxicity experiment of Haeyeol-tang, almost no toxicity was shown on cells in the concentration ranges of 1, 10 and $100{\mu}g/ml$. For the effect of NO production, Haeyeol-tang showed significant (p<0.001) decrease of NO production, according to its concentration. For the effect on the eliminating activity of DPPH radical, Haeyeol-tang showed increasing tendency of eliminating activity of DPPH radical, according to its concentration. For the effect on revelation of NOS2 enzyme, Haeyeol-tang showed inhibiting tendency against the revelation of NOS2, according to its concentration. For the effect on the TNF-$\alpha$ production, Haeyeol-tang showed significant (p<0.001) decrease of TNF-$\alpha$ production. Conclusions : This result means that Haeyeol-tang is effective for anti-inflammation, as well as excellent effect for anti-oxidation and anti-aging.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.185-199
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the inhibitive effect of a combined-herb prescription of Dansam-san (DSS) on formation of foam cells and cytokine. Methods : Experimental formation of foam cells was induced on macrophage RAW 264.7 with ox-LDL. The effect of DSS extract was observed by measuring the changes of CD36, $PPAR-{\Gamma}$, MMP-9, iNOS expression and changes of formation level of foam cells after treating experimentally induced foam cells with DSS extract. Then the antioxidative effect of DSS extract was compared with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Result and Conclusions : Results obtained are as follows: 1. DSS extract showed significant antioxidative effect at 8 mg/ml or more. 2. DSS extract inhibited the formation of foam cells. 3. DSS extract inhibited the creation and revelation of conversion-related material about foam cells. 4. DSS extract prohibited the increase of smooth muscle of vessels.