• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.385-389
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• 2023

Background: Ginseng has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of many diseases and for general health maintenance. Previously, we showed that ginseng did not demonstrate estrogenic property in ovariectomized mouse model. However, it is still possible that disruption of steroidogenesis leading to indirect hormonal activity. Methods: The hormonal activities were examined in compliance with OECD guidelines for detecting endocrine disrupting chemicals: test guideline (TG) No. 456 (an in vitro assay method for detecting steroidogenesis property) and TG No. 440 (an in vivo short-term screening method for chemicals with uterotrophic property). Results: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) and ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 did not interfere with estrogen and testosterone hormone synthesis as examined in H295 cells according to TG 456. KRG treatment to ovariectomized mice did not show a significant change in uterine weight. In addition, serum estrogen and testosterone levels were not change by KRG intake. Conclusion: These results clearly demonstrate that there is no steroidogenic activity associated with KRG and no disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by KRG. Additional tests will be performed in pursuit of cellular molecular targets of ginseng to manifest mode of action.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.17-35
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• 2008

Purpose: It is the purpose of this study to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of water extract from Gagamsoyosan(GGSYS) on the peritoneal macrophage. Methods: To evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of GGSYS. inflammatory cytokines were measured in lipopolysaccharide(LPS) -stimulated macrophages. Furthermore. the western blot has been done to look into the molecular mechanism. Results: GGSYS did not have any cytotoxicity in the peritoneal macrophages and suppressed production of LPS-induced NO. tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$). interleukin(IL)-1$\beta$. IL-6. IL-12. GGSYS inhibited the activation of extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2). c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK), p38 kinase and the degradation of inhibitory kappa B-alpha($I_{k}B-\alpha$) in the LPS-stimulated peritoneal macro phages. GGSYS inhibited LPS-induced endotoxin shock and the production of TNF-$\alpha$. IL-l$\beta$. IL-6 in serum from LPS-stimulated mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that GGSYS may have the anti-inflammatory effect which can inhibit the production of NO and inflammatory cytokines. GGSYS is expected to protect against inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.860-868
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• 2007

The purpose of this research was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Kamibokwontonggi-san(KBTS) which has been medicated the patient such as mastitis, mammary tuberculosis. KBTS in RAW264.7 cell inhibited IL-1 ${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA genes expression in a concentration-dependent manner. KBTS inhibited NO production significantly at 100, 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and ROS production in a concentration-dependent manner. KBTS inhibited IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production significantly in serum of acute anti-inflammation-induced mice and the survival rate at the 3rd day on LPS-induced lethal endotoxemia. These results suggest that Kamibokwonntonggi-san (KBTS) can be useful in treating a lot of women diseases caused by inflammation such as mastitis, mammary tuberculosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and pelvic tuberculosis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2008

Allergic asthma is a worldwide public health problem and a major socioeconomic burden disease. It is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by airway eosinophilia and goblet cell hyperplasia with mucus hypersecretion. Mouse models have proven as a valuable tool for studying human asthma. In the present report we describe a comparison of mouse asthma models. The experiments were designed as follows: Group I was injected with ovalbumin (OVA, i.p.) on day 1 and challenged with 1% OVA (aerosol exposure) on days $14{\sim}21$. Group II was injected on day 1, 14 and aerosol-immunized on days $14{\sim}21$. Group III was injected on day 1, 14 and immunized by 1% OVA aerosol on days $18{\sim}21$. We assessed asthma induction by determining the total number of white blood cells (WBC) and eosinophils as well as by measuring cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, we evaluated the histopathological changes of the lungs and determined the concentration of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum. Total WBC, eosinophils, Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13) and IgE were significantly increased in group I relative to the other groups. Moreover, histopathological studies show that group I mice show an increase in the infiltration of inflammatory cell-in peribronchial and perivascular areas as well as an overall increase in the number of mucus-containing goblet cells relative to other groups. These data suggest that group I can be a useful model for the study of human asthma pathobiology and the evaluation of existing and novel therapeutic agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2017

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the most important modalities in cancer treatment; however, normal tissue damage is a serious concern. Drug development for the protection or reduction of normal tissue damage is therefore a clinical issue. Herein, we evaluated the protective properties of Panax ginseng Meyer and its corresponding mechanisms. Methods: C56BL/6 mice were orally pretreated with P. ginseng water extract (PGE; 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg) or intraperitoneally injected melatonin (20 mg/kg) for 4 d consecutively, then exposed to 15-Gy X-ray radiation 1 h after the last administration. After 10 d of irradiation, the biological properties of hematoxicity, fat accumulation, histopathology, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis signals were examined in the hepatic tissue. Results: The irradiation markedly induced myelosuppression as determined by hematological analysis of the peripheral blood. Steatohepatitis was induced by X-ray irradiations, whereas pretreatment with PGE significantly attenuated it. Oxidative stress was drastically increased, whereas antioxidant components were depleted by irradiation. Irradiation also notably increased serum liver enzymes and hepatic protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Those alterations were markedly normalized by pretreatment with PGE. The degree of irradiation-induced hepatic tissue apoptosis was also attenuated by pretreatment with PGE, which was evidenced by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick-end labeling assay, western blotting, and gene expressions analysis, particularly of apoptotic molecules. Conclusion: We suggest that PGE could be applicable for use against radiation-induced liver injury, and its corresponding mechanisms involve the modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.518-523
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• 2002

Administration of hot water extracts from Acanthopanax senticosus (GF-2) prophylactically and therapeutically inhibited the systemic anaphylactic shock induced by compound 48/80 in mouse. GF-2 significantly inhibited the production of histamine and eosinophyl in mouse serum through the injection of compound 48/80 in a dose-dependent manner. GF-2 inhibited dose dependently $TNF-{\alpha}$ production of peritoneal exudative cells activated by lipopolysaccharide. Intraperitoneal injection of GF-2 suppressed the production of IgG1 and IgE antibodies in mice immunized with a mixture of ovalbumin and aluminium hydroxide. These results suggest that GF-2 may be beneficial for the treatment of nonspecific and specific anaphylactic reactions and can be potentially applied to the treatment of allergic diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2016

Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic pathogen that causes toxoplasmosis, which has very few therapeutic treatment options. The most effective therapy is a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine; however, their utility is limited because of drug toxicity and serious side effects. For these reasons, new drugs with lower toxicity are urgently needed. In this study, the compound, (Z)-1-[(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methyleneamino]-imidazolidine-2,4-dione (nitrofurantoin), showed anti-T. gondii effects in vitro and in vivo. In HeLa cells, the selectivity of nitrofurantoin was 2.3, which was greater than that of pyrimethamine (0.9). In T. gondii-infected female ICR mice, the inhibition rate of T. gondii growth in the peritoneal cavity was 44.7% compared to the negative control group after 4-day treatment with 100 mg/kg of nitrofurantoin. In addition, hematology indicators showed that T. gondii infection-induced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, biochemical parameters involved in liver injury, were reduced by nitrofurantoin significantly. Moreover, nitrofurantoin exerted significant effects on the index of antioxidant status, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). The nitrofurantoin-treated group inhibited the T. gondii-induced MDA levels while alleviating the decrease in GSH levels. Thus, nitrofurantoin is a potential anti-T. gondii candidate for clinical application.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2020

The effect of mulberry leaves and yacon tuber extracts (MYE) on antioxidant was tested in this study. The present study investigated the in vivo effects of the anti-oxidative effect of MYE on catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The seven-day acclimation of the mice was divided into six groups: Normal diet group (NOR), high fat diet group (HFD), high fat diet with 0.5% hydroxycitric acid group diet group for positive group (HHCA), high fat diet with 1% mulberry leaf and 1% yacon diet group (MYE-1), high fat diet with 3% mulberry leaf and 3% yacon group (MYE-3) and high fat diet with 5% mulberry leaf and 5% yacon group (MYE-5). The effect of serum antioxidant in the catalase of MYE-1, MYE-3, and HHCA comparing to HFD by 31.0%, 27.7% and 45.2%, respectively (P<0.05~0.01). The effect on hepatic antioxidant in the catalase of HFD was significantly increased 3.7 (77.3%) times than that of NOR (P<0.01). But, the activities of catalase were decreased significantly in MYE-1, MYE-3, MYE-5 and HHCA by 21.7%, 24.2%, 24.9%, and 28.8% compared to HFD, respectively. GSH-Px was significantly decreased in MYE-1, MYE-3, MYE-5 and HHCA by 15.5%, 37.1%, 23.4%, and 23.7% compared to HFD, respectively (P<0.05). The activities of CAT, SOD, GST, GSH-Px, and TBARS were more significantly decreased in MYE-1 and MYE-3 than those of HFD and HHCA. MYE have shown significant effects on anti-oxidative function against high fat diet.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2012

Allergic skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by edema and infiltration with various inflammatory cells such as mast cells, basophils, eosinophils and T cells. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is produced mainly by epidermal keratinocytes, as well as dermal fibroblasts and mast cells in the skin lesions of AD. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil can reduce inflammation in allergic patients. Fermentation has a tremendous capacity to transform chemical structures. The antiinflammatory effects of fish oil have been described in many diseases, but the beneficial effects by which fermented olive flounder oil (FOF) modulates the allergic response is poorly understood. In this study, we produced FOF and tested its ability to suppress the various allergic inflammatory responses. The ability of FOF to modulate the immune system was investigated using a mouse model of AD. The FOF-treated group showed significantly decreased immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine in serum. Also, the increased TSLP expression was significantly inhibited in the FOF group; the FOF-treated group was not appreciably different from the hydrocort cream treatment group. In addition, FOF treatment resulted in a smaller spleen size with reduced the thickness and length compared to the induction group. Splenocytes from mice treated with FOF produced significantly less IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, T-box transcription factor (T-bet) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression compared with the induction group. These results suggest that FOF may be effective in treating the allergic symptoms of AD. 5.