Background : Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJ) is a perennial herb with a wide distribution in East Asia including Korea, China, and Japan, and it is mainly used as a medicinal plant. In Korea, AJ has been widely used to control pain and improve symptoms in OA patients. AJ contains several important phytochemicals such as saponins, inokosterone, ecdysterone, and oleanolic acid bisdesmoside. Methods and Results : The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of fermented and ethanol extracts of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJ). The extracts showed strong reductive power and nitrite scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, and DNA damage prevention activities. Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with AJ inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO secretion and iNOS expression without affecting cell viability. AJ also inhibited cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression, leading to the suppression of COX-2-derived prostaglandin E2 production. These inhibitory effects of AJ were accompanied by reduced production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukins (IL)-1β, -6, and -10. Furthermore, AJ suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38. Moreover, AJ inhibited malondialdehyde production and myeloperoxidase activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : The antioxidant activity of plants is closely related to their medicinal properties and is widely used as a parameter to determine the bioavailability of medicinal plants. The antioxidant and biological activities of AJ extracts might be due to the synergistic actions of multiple bioactive compounds. It can be concluded that AJ extracts are a potential source of biologically important drug candidates.

Background : ROS produced by oxidative stress damaged endothelial cells, and cause a variety of vascular complications. In diabetic hyperglycemia state, ROS increase. The polyol pathway occur in diabetic complications, the excess glucose is absorbed into the polyol pathway when aldose reductase increased, NADPH changes it to sorbitol. Glutathione (GSH) removes ROS. GSH level is reduced by glutathione reductase, using NADPH as an electron donor. Activation of the polyol pathway decrease NADPH, and GSH also reduced. As a result, ROS is increased. In diabetic hyperglycemia state, Glycolysis increases. Effects of increased glycolysis, protein kinase C (PKC) is increased. NAD(P)H oxidase, stimulated by PKC-dependent pathway, increases ROS in the cell. In this study, we measured the ROS scavenging activity of 5 natural products (Lycii fructus, Astragalus membranaceus, Cassia Tora, Polygonatum odoratum, Rubus Coreanus), to confirm the efficacy as diabetic antioxidants. Methods and Results : We extracted 5 natural product by distilled water and ethanol. DPPH radical scavenging activity was significantly higher in Lycii fructus, Rubus coreanus. ABTS radical scavenging activity was better Rubus coreanus, Lycii fructus, Cassia Tora. In addition to, Rubus coreanus, Cassia Tora, Lycii fructus was comparatively higher reducing power activity than other natural products. And total phenolic and flavonoid contents were much higher in Rubus coreanus compared with other extracts. Conclusion : These results suggest that Lycii fructus, Rubus coreanus can be applied as diabetic antioxidant that prevent vascular complications caused by ROS.

Background : Dioscorea quinqueloba(DQ) is a medicinal herb that is used as an alternative therapy for cardiovascular disease and various medical conditions. The objective of this study was to characterize the antioxidant activities of DQ. Methods and Results : The samples were extracted with Distilled water and analyzed for total flavonoid contents, polyphenol contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and ABTS radical scavenging activity. H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells were subjected to H2O2, to study the protective effect of DQ on cell viability, and ROS production. The total amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids, which indicate the antioxidant capabillity of water extracts from DQ were 27.21mg/g and 22.95mg/g, respectively. The DQ water extract showed highest antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities. The DQ water extract was protected cells against H₂O₂-induced cell death without any cytotoxicity, as determined by the MTT assay. The DQ water extract also was inhibiting production of intracellular ROS. Conclusion : These observations suggest that DQ can use potentially good natural antioxidant in daily life for possible health benefits.

Background : Osteoclasts as multinucleated cells originate from hematopoietic monocyte/ macrophage precursor cell, shows the bone absorption through the commitment, differentiation, fusion, and bone resorption stages by regulation of M-CSF and RANKL. It has been reported a significant negative correlation between the increase of oxidative stress and the bone density, and when RANKL reaction to the osteoclasts precursor cells is mainly generated ROS is due to increased activity of NADPH oxidase1 (NOX1), and these ROS act as a factor which promotes osteoclasts differentiation. Thus, RANKL signaling process is important that excessive osteoclast formation and differentiation inhibited through the regulation of each step. Methods and Results : F3570 ethanol extract showed relatively high activity at in-vitro antioxidant activity. F3570 water extract inhibited ROS generation in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with H2O2 and RANKL, even at low concentrations. The inhibitory effect of osteoclast differentiation on F3570 water extract was confirmed that shown through NF-κB pathway, MAPK pathway including ERK and JNK. F3570 ethanol extract is considered to be regulated by the p38 MAPK and the other signaling pathway. Also, F3570 both water and ethanol extract were significantly reduced gene expression such as TRAP, calcitonin receptors and integrin β3 of RANKL-induced mature osteoclast in the bone resorption stage. Conclusion : Through this study, F3570 extract revealed an outstanding inhibitory effect and signaling mechanisms in osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. These results suggest that F3570 is bone diseases associated with aging or osteoporosis caused by menopause in an aging society is expected to be a superior candidate for the treatment or the prevention

This study was conducted to determine the antioxidative activity of Hericium erinaceus (HE) and we investigated that HE extract contributes to cell proliferation and to anti-LPS-induced inflammation. HE extract showed high DPPH free radical scavenging activity. However, the reducing power activity slightly increased in compare with control. Nitrite scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, SOD-like activity of HE were elevated in dose-dependent. The level of total phenolic and flavonoid showed 30.06 mg/100 g and 33.86 mg/100 g, respectively. Linoleic acid oxidation inhibition had reached a maximum level on the fourth day and started to drop from the fifth day. HE extract contributes to cell proliferation on the RAW 264.7 cell. Our finding demonstrated that water extracts of HE possess significant antioxidant activities and may be suggested a new potential source of anti-inflammatory medicines.

The antioxidative activity of various enzymatic extracts from Sarcodon aspratus (S. aspratus) was evaluated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and alkyl radical scavenging activity using an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. For this study, the S. aspratus were enzymatically hydrolyzed by seven carbohydrases (Viscozyme, Celluclast, Dextrozyme, AMG, Promozyme, Maltogenase, and Termamyl) and eight proteases (α-chymotrypsin, Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Neutrase, papain, pepsin, Protamax, and trypsin). The DPPH radical scavenging activities of Viscozyme and pepsin extracts were the highest, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were 0.896 and 0.734mg/mL, respectively. The Celluclast and trypsin extracts showed the highest scavenging activities on alkyl radical, and their IC50 values were 0.278 and 0.575mg/mL, respectively. The Celluclast extracts was decreased cell apoptosis in PC-12 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage. The findings of the present study suggest that enzymatic extracts of S. aspratus exhibit antioxidative activity against oxidative stress on PC-12 cells.

This study was conducted to investigate anti-oxidative and inflammatory inhibition effects of green tea and dietary fiber mixture on liver of high fat diet-induced obese rats. 21 male rats were divided into 3 dietary groups and control group (A), high fat diet-induced group (B), and high fat (HF) diet-induced + EQ diet-S® diet group (C). Immunoblotting and RT-PCR analysis revealed protein expression, and anti-oxidant analysis revealed MDA (malondialdehyde), GSH (glutathione), and free DPPH radical. As a results, Body weight and food consumption were not significantly different between groups. The levels of MDA and GSH were lower in HF + EQS® group than in HF group. Also, the EQS® demonstrated to be more effective than HF group for a DPPH radicals scavenging activities. In addition, protein and mRNA level of TNF-α in HF + EQS® group showed relatively more potent pro-inflammatory activity inhibition compared to HF group. These results suggest that green tea mixture (EQ diet-S®) provide positive effects on anti-oxidative and inflammatory inhibition effects on obese animal model or obesity related diseases.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts on immunomodulators and prevention in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes rat model. A total of 28 male rats were divided into four dietary groups and fed a commercial diet (A), commercial diet plus induced diabetes by a streptozotocin (STZ) injection (B), induced diabetes by STZ plus medicinal crop extracts(I&H®) diet (C), and medicinal crop extracts (I&H®) diet (D). Immunoblotting analyses revealed cytokine expression, and ELISA analyses revealed immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production. As a results, the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as a inflammatory cytokine were decreased. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) cytokine related in diabetes expression through JAK/STAT3 pathway were also decreased. Furthermore, immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production were decreased in the serum and lens, respectively. These results suggest that Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts provide positive effects on immunomodulators and prevention in diabetes and eye disease complications.

Inonotus obliquus is one of the immune-regulatory substances and is recognized to play the role in the metabolic process of inflammation, allergy and immuntiy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of Inonotus obliquus (IOW) on the liver lymphocyte immune function in the Sprague-Dawley male rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) to induce liver damage. Rats were fed with each experimental diet and water for 4 weeks. We found that effects of IOW on interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (pSTAT1) and GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) were decrease in vivo. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), STAT6, pSTAT6 and T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) decreased significantly lower in CCl4+IOW group than the CCl4 group. Our data indicated that cytokine protein production were increased in CCl4 group and CCl4+IOW group. As a result of this study, we assume that IOW fed could regulate the immuno-modulating functions through regulate the cytokine production capacity activated by liver damage.

GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) and T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) are now considered as master transcription factors involving Th cell differentiation, but the roles of these factors are still uncertain in vivo. This study was conducted to investigate the expression of these transcription factors in the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. In this study, liver damage were induced with Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi water extracts (SBW) and followed for 4 weeks. The expression of GATA-3 and T-bet protein in liver damage induced by CCl4 and the serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgE were studied after 4 weeks of treatment. We found that effect of SBW on IFN-γ, STAT1, pSTAT1 and T-bet was decreased in vivo. Several genes were demonstrated to be IL-4 inducible prior to the discovery of STAT6. CCl4+SBW group was significantly lower than CCl4 group in IL-4, STAT6, pSTAT6 and GATA-3. Our data indicate that cytokine protein production were increased in CCl4 group and CCl4+SBW group. From these results, water extracts obtained from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi may have an immunoregulatory effect in the liver induced by CCl4 of rats.

The purpose of this study evaluated the immunoregulatory effect of phellinus linteus ethanol (PLE) extracts on liver damage on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced in rats. Four-week old Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the three experimental groups randomly; Control group, CCl4 group, CCl4 + PLE group. We found that effect of PLE on IFN-γ, STAT1 and pSTAT1 was decrease in vivo. Several genes were demonstrated to be IL-4 inducible prior to the discovery of STAT6. IL-4, STAT6 and pSTAT6 decreased significantly lower in CCl4 + PLE than the CCl4 group. Our data indicated that cytokine protein production were increased in CCl4 group with CCl4 + PLE group. In our data indicate that IgA levels in MLN lymphocytes were low, while IgE was high in CCl4 + PLE group compared with CCl4 group. Therefore, the results of this study show that PLE can be proposed to protect the liver against CCl4-induced immunoregulatory activity in rats.

The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activities of Phellinus linteus (PL) and Phellinus linteus Grow in Germinated Brown Rice (BRPL). In order to effectively screen for anti-inflammatory agents, we first examined the extracts' inhibitory effects on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines activated with lipopolysaccharide. Moreover, we examined the inhibitory effects of the PL and BRPL extracts on pro-inflammatory factors such as NO, iNOS, TNF-α and IFN-γ in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. NO production and iNOS expression was significantly augmented in LPS treated cell, the production of NO and iNOS was greater in the BRPL than in the PL group. In addition, protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in BRPL showed relatively more potent pro-inflammatory-activity inhibition compared to that of PL. These results suggest that BRPL may have significant effects on inflammatory factors, and may be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic materials.