염증은 신체 특정 조직의 감염 및 손상에 관한 생체 반응이며, 매개하는 주요 대상은 면역세포이다. 염증은 급성과 만성 염증으로 나뉘며 신체 조직의 감염 및 손상부위의 규모에 따라 구분 할 수 있다. 염증의 범위가 크게 발현되거나 급성염증 형태로 진행되지 않을 때 만성 염증으로 진행되며 대표적인 만성 염증 질환인 장 질환(Inflammatory bowel disease)의 일종인 크론병 (Crohn’s disease)이나 관절질환인 류머티스성 관절염(Rheumatoid arthritis)으로 나타난다. 낮은 수준이기는 하나 비만 역시 염증성 질환으로 분류할 수 있다. 연리초속 식물이 고래에 신장염을 치료하는 민간처방으로 주로 사용됐기에 이에 착안하여 털연리초(Lathyrus palustris)를 이용하여 세포독성과 항염증 활성 효과를 평가하였다. 대식세포인 RAW 264.7 세포에서 염증 유발 인자인 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)로 자극 후 NO와 PGE2 같은 염증 매개 물질들의 억제 효과를 확인하였다. 털연리초 에탄올 추출물을 처리한 후 염증 매개 물질의 저해율(%)을 측정했을 때 NO 및 PGE2 생성을 농도 의존적으로 현저하게 억제하는 농도는 40 ㎍/mL이었으며 특이적으로 PGE2 발현을 74% 이상 강력히 억제함을 확인하였다. 따라서 본 연구결과는 털연리초의 에탄올 추출물이 유의성 있는 항염증 효과를 나타내었고 이러한 생리활성 효과는 예방의학적 소재로서의 가능성을 충분히 제시할 수 있기에 염증 질환의 예방 및 비만 억제를 위한 기능성 건강식품의 개발로 이어질 것으로 기대된다. 또한 염증 과 관련된 사이토카인 물질인 IL-4, IL-13 및 염증 지표 단백질 인 iNOS, COX-2의 억제 메커니즘과 항염증 활성을 나타내는 핵심 성분의 추가적인 연구가 차후 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

Coriandrum sativum L., an annual herbaceous plant of Apiaceae family. The present study evaluated the anti-oxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts of C. sativum. The anti-oxidant activities of C. sativum were measured by total contents of polyphenol, flavonoid, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging and reducing power activity. And anti-inflammatory effects of C. sativum were measured by LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The results showed that the contents of total polyphenol and flavonoid were 76.03 ± 1.36 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g and 182.23 ± 4.32 mg of rutin equivalents/g at concentration 1 mg/ mL of C. sativum. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be 52.8% at 500 μg/mL. The ABTS radical scavenging activity was shown in 58.3% after exposure to 1,000 μg/mL. Reducing power activity was found to be 66.8% at 2,000 μg/mL. The inhibitory effect of NO production was found to be 65% concentration 500 μg/mL. In the generation quantity of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β in cell culture medium, the expression levels of inflammatory proteins in cells were showed decrease with the increase of concentration. Therefore, we suggest that the C. sativum should be a potential source of alternative anti-inflammatory drug with good anti-inflammatory effects.

본 연구는 하라케케(Harakeke)로 불리는 신서란(Phormium tenax)를 화장품 및 의약품산업의 기능성 소재로서의 이용 가능 성을 확인하기 위하여 신서란 잎을 대상으로 70% 에탄올 추출물과 용매 분획물을 제조하여, 이것들의 항염증 및 항아토피의 효과를 조사하였다. LPS로 유도된 RAW 264.7 세포에서 신서란 에탄올 추출물과 용매 분획물의 항염증 효과를 조사한 결과, methylene chloride와 ethyl acetate 분획물에서 NO와 PGE2 생성 억제 활성이 가장 높게 나타났으며, 농도 의존적으로 NO와 PGE2 생성 억제 활성을 보였다. 또한, 이들 분획물에서는 iNOS 및 COX-2 발현 억제 활성을 보였다. 신서란 잎 조추출물과 용매 분획물에 의한 NO, PGE2 생성 억제 활성이 NOS 및 COX-2 발현 억제에 의한 것임을 제시한다. 더불어, hIFN-γ로 자극된 HaCaT 세포에 용매 분획물을 처리하여 MDC 및 TRAC 생성억제 효과를 조사한 바, methylene chloride 분획물은 MDC 및 TATC의 생성을 각각 65%, 52% 생성억제 시켰으며, ethyl acetate 분획물은 MDC 및 TATC의 생성을 각각 93%, 84% 억제 효과를 보였다. 이상의 결과는 신서란 잎 조추출물과 용매 분획물을 이용한 항염증 및 항아토피 효능을 갖는 유효성분 분리 및 활용화 연구에 중요한 기초자료가 될 것이며, 기능성 화장품, 의약외품 및 의약품 소재 개발에 적용 가능성이 높다고 사료 된다.

Veronica persica (V. persica) is a perennial plant that is broadly distributed in Europe, Asia and so on. V. persica is used for pain about the lower abdomen and low back. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory effects of V. persica ethanol extract in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. To evaluate the anti-oxidant activity, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, and reducing power activity were carried out. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity were evaluated as 72.0% and 73.0% at the concentrations of 200 and 500 μg/mL, respectively. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of V. persica extracts were measured as 65.22 mg/g and 43.82 mg/g at the concentration of 1 mg/mL. The reducing power activity measurement showed 53.0% activity at 1 mg/mL. The anti-inflammatory effects of the V. persica extract were evaluated in LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. In the evaluation of cell viability by proliferation ＆ cytotoxicity assay kit, the cytotoxicity of the extract was not confirmed at 0~800 μg/mL concentration. And the V. persica significantly inhibited NO production in a concentration dependent manner. The inhibition effects of NO in cell medium of V. persica was over 80% at 800 μg/mL. The V. persica also suppressed the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and phosphorylation of NF-κB and IkB-α proteins. These results indicate that the V. persica has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by modulating NF-κB signaling pathways and can be used as natural functional materials.

In this study, the anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts of different parts of Hovenia dulcis such as leaves, stems, and roots were investigated. Among them, the roots extract (RE) showed the most potent suppressive effect against pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cells. RE induced dose-dependent reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and concomitantly reduced the production of NO and PGE2. Additionally, pre-treatment with RE significantly suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, as well as mRNA levels. Moreover, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) were also strongly attenuated by RE in RAW264.7 cell. Furthermore, RE induced HO-1 expression through nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and increase HO-1 activity in RAW264.7 macrophages. Therefore, these results indicate that RE strongly inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory responses by blocking NF-kB activation, inhibiting MAPKs phosphorylation, and enhancing HO-1 expression in macrophages, suggesting that RE of H. dulicis and a major component, 27-O-protocatechuoylbetulinic acid could be applied as a valuable natural anti-inflammatory material.

Background: Atractylodes radix is a well-known medicinal crop having many physiological effects. This study was conducted to select useful Atractylodes japonica × Atractylodes macrocephala (AJM) cultivars by comparing anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory efficacies. Methods and Results: Seven extracts from AJM cultivars were used to treat lipopolysacchride (LPS)-treated BV2 cells, and the effects on cell viability and inhibition on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production were analyzed. In vitro scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxynitrite (NOO−) radicals were also investigated. Contents of total phenol, atractylenolide I, and atractylenolide III in the AJM extracts were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or spectrophotometry. The experiments show that none of the seven extracts was cytotoxic above 89.2% at 20 - 250㎍/㎖. Extracts of Gowon, Dawon, Sangchul, and Huchul inhibited ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner, and Sangchul extract showed the highest inhibition on ROS production. All the AJM extracts showed effective inhibitory activity after on NO release in the LPS-treated BV2 cells, and Sangchul extract showed the highest activity. Sangchul extract had the most potent scavenging activities for NOO− and had some DPPH radical scavenging effect. Sangchul extract also had the highest content at total phenol and atractylenolide I content. Atractylenolide III was not detected in the AJM extracts. Conclusions: The results suggested that Sangchul was the most useful anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory resource among the AJM cultivars.

Background : Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau belonging to the mulberry family has attracted much attention as a nutrition ingredient many times as many as the mulberry tree. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effect of hot water extract of Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau fruits (CT-F) on inflammation and inflammatory diseases such as diabetes and gastiritis in cell-level experiments and animal models using mice. Methods and Results : The inhibitory effect of CT-F was investigated in LPS_stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Treatment with CT-F significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators such as NO, IL-6 and TNF-a. The inhibitory effect of CT-F was shown to be related to inhibition of NF-kB activation in LPS-stimulated macrophages. In in vivo diabetic models using mice, treatment of CT-F lowered the level of blood glucose in alloxan-induce type-1 diabetic model as well as db/db type-2 mice model. CT-F also dramatically inhibited gastiritis induced by EtOH/HCl in mice. Conclusion : Hot water extract of Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau fruits was effective for inhibition of inflammation, diabetes and gastirits. Therefore, CT-F is thought to be a beneficial candidate for development of functional foods to prevent inflammation-associated diseases.

Background : It is known that Platycodon grandiflorum has anti-inflammatory activity and inhibits the production of nitric oxide (NO) in inflammatory macrophages. But the change of bioactivity of platycodon grandiflorum according to steaming is not well known. In this study, We investigated the effects of steaming on anti-inflammatory activity of 70% ethanol extracts of platycodon grandiflorum. Methods and Result : The cytotoxicity of RAW264.7 cells treated with platycodon grandiflorum extracts was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the concentration of NO in culture supernatants were determined using nitric oxide (NO) assay. And western blotting was performed to quantify the expression of iNOS, a protein related to NO production. As a results, it was confirmed that no cytotoxicity was observed at 25, 50 and 100 ㎍/㎖ platycodon grandiflorum extracts in RAW264.7 cells. The production of NO and the expression of iNOS were induced by LPS and suppressed by all platycodon grandiflorum extracts in proportion to the number of steaming in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion : These results suggest that a steaming process can increase anti-inflammatory activity of platycodon grandiflorum extracts.

Background : Domestic use of cosmetics has largely been dependent on imports for the opening of cosmetics raw materials, but research has been progressing actively on natural ingredients to develop new materials. Methods and Results : The extracts of hot–water and ethanol extracts from Stachys sieboldii were tested cytotoxicity, inhibition of melanin biosynthesis and NO production activity. The cytotoxicity of the hot water extract of S. sieboldii were 98.4, 95.0, 93.9 and 90.6%, respectively, when treated with 10, 50, 100, 500 ㎍/㎖. Cytotoxicity of S. sieboldii ethanol extract was 97.1, 95.3, 94.6 and 94.4%, respectively, at the concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and 500 ㎍/㎖. Melanin biosynthesis inhibitory effect of α-MSH at 100 μM increased to 118.1% in melanin, but decreased to 92.3% in S. sieboldii ethanol extract. NO production inhibition increased to 109.2% when treated with LPS and was 103.3% at 500 ㎍/㎖ of hot water extract and 105.9% at 500 ㎍/㎖ of ethanol extract of S. sieboldii. Conclusion : The ethanol extract of S. sieboldii did not showed the cytotoxicity, and reduce NO production. Therefore, ethanol extract of S. sieboldii had an potentials for developing whitening cosmetics.

In this study, a preliminary evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the Ficus erecta var. sieboldii (Miq.) King (FES) leaf extract has been performed to assess its potential as a natural resource for food and medicinal materials. FES was extracted using 70% EtOH and then fractionated sequentially using n-hexane, CH2Cl2, EtOAc, and n-BuOH. To screen for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents effectively, the inhibitory effect of the FES extracts on the production of oxidant stresses (DPPH, xanthine oxidase, and superoxide) and pro-inflammatory factors (NO, iNOS, COX-2, PGE2, IL-6, and IL-β) in the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was examined. Among the sequential solvent fractions of FES, the CH2Cl2 and EtOAc fractions showed decreased production of oxidant stresses (DPPH, xanthine oxidase and superoxide), and the hexane and CH2Cl2 fractions of FES inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory factors (NO, iNOS, COX-2, and PGE2). The CH2Cl2 fraction also inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β). These results suggest that FES has a significant effects on the production of oxidant stresses and pro-inflammatory factors and may be used a natural resource for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

This study was conducted to compare anti-inflammatory effect of Robinia pseudoacacia L. using different extraction methods (water extraction, ethanol extraction and high temperature extraction). We investigated anti-inflammatory effect of Robinia pseudoacacia L. extract (RP1, water extract; RP2, ethanol extract; RP3, high temperature extract) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammation using Raw 264.7 cell. Cells were treated with various concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100 or 200 ㎍/㎖) of water extract, ethanol extract and high temperature extract. Cytotoxicity was not observed on Raw 264.7 cells, LPS-stimulated production of NO (nitric oxide), PGE2 (prostaglandin E2) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) was reduced by RP3 treatment more than RP1 and RP2. In conclusion, these results indicated that inflammation on Raw 264.7 cells was improved by RP3. Treatment of RP3 could be used to natural medicine for improving inflammatory response. However, further experiment is required to observe how the high temperature extraction at 500℃ for 48 h influences on alteration of active ingredient in Robinia pseudoacacia L., and conducts the inflammation signal pathway on Raw 264.7 cells.

손바닥 선인장인 백년초와 천년초 열매의 75% 에탄올 추출물을 대상으로 무기물, 총 페놀 화합물 및 플라보노이드 함량을 조사하고, 항산화, 항염증 효과를 비교함으로써 손바닥 선인장에 대한 과학적 자료를 확보하고 기능성 원료소재로의 이용 가능성을 타진하고자 진행되었다. 총 무기물 함량은 백년초 열매 추출물이 천년초 열매 추출물에 비해 약 2배 정도 높았으며, 무기물 중에는 칼륨의 함량이 가장 높았다. 총 페놀 화합물과 플라보노이드 함량 모두 백년초 열매 추출물에서 더 높았고 항산화 활성 평가를 위한 DPPH와 ABTS 라디칼 소거능 역시 백년초 추출물이 천년초 추출물보다 더 우수하였다. 세포 독성을 확인하기 위해 대식세포에서 MTT assay를 수행한 결과, 800 μg/mL의 이하 농도까지는 세포의 생존율에 영향을 미치지 않는 것을 확인하였다. LPS로 염증반응을 유도시킨 세포에서 2종 추출물 모두 농도 의존적으로 NO 생성을 억제하였으나, ROS 생성 억제 효과는 백년초 열매 추출물에서만 유의성 있는 결과가 도출되었다. 또한 세포내에서 염증 유발과 직접적으로 관련이 있는 염증성 cytokine 3종(TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6)의 발현을 확인한 결과 백년초 열매 추출물은 LPS 처리에 의해 증가된 cytokine 중 TNF-α를 제외한 IL-1과 IL-6의 발현량을 유의성 있게 감소시켰다. 이상의 실험 결과들을 종합해 볼 때 천년초 열매 추출물에 비해 백년초 열매 추출물이 더 높은 항산화 및 항염증 활성을 가지는 것으로 확인되었으며, 추후 유효성분 추출을 통한 항염증 물질의 작용기전 연구와 염증 억제 성분의 분리 연구에 기초 자료가 될 것으로 사료된다.

본 연구의 목적은 토종다래의 용매별 추출물에 따른 약리활성에 대한 검증 및 효능 평가로서 토종다래의 항산화, 항염증에 대한 효과를 확인하였다. 염증 반응은 자극이 가해지면 histamine, serotonin, prostaglandin과 같은 혈관 활성물질에 의해 혈관 투과성이 증대되어 염증을 유발하고 cytokine, free radical, lysosomal enzyme 등 다양한 매개 인자가 관여한다. 자극에 의한 macrophage cell의 염증반응은 tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1β(IL-1β)와 같은 pro-inflammatory cytokine의 발현이 유도되고, inducible nitric oxide synthase(i-NOS)와cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)에 영향을 받는 유전자의 발현을 자극하게 되어 nitric oxide(NO) 등의 염증 인자가 생성된다. 이에 따라 토종다래 추출물의 항염증에 대한 연구를 위해 이에 영향을 주는 인자인 i-NOS, COX-2의 단백질 발현억제 작용을 확인하였다. 그 결과, HKE > HKA > HKW 순서로 높은 효능을 확인 할 수 있었다. 가장 효과가 좋은 HKE 처리군에서 다양한 염증성 인자의 mRNA 발현량을 확인하였다. 측정 결과, HKE(2,000 μg/mL)는 i–NOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α mRNA 발현이 각각 93.2%, 27.9%, 96.4%, 89.4%, 73.9% 억제되는 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, HKE의 nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) 단백질 발현에 농도의존적으로 유의미한 결과를 확인하였으며, 이에 토종다래의 항염증효과는 LPS에 의한 TLR4의 자극에서 NF-κB 경로의 완화로 나타는 것임을 검증하였다. 결론적으로 토종다래는 70% ethanol 추출물(HKE)의 항염증 효과가 가장 높았으며, HKE는 대식세포에서 NF-κB 염증관련 경로의 억제로 세포 내 mRNA 및 단백질 수준에서의 염증인자들의 생성을 저해하여 항염증 효과가 명백히 확인되었다. 향후 본 연구팀은 토종다래의 항염증과 관련된 유효성분의 분리정제 및 구조분석을 진행할 예정이다.

본 논문은 가축의 면역 증진을 위한 천연 첨가제로서 좀민들레의 활용 가능성을 검토하고자 항산화 및 항염증 활성 평가를 실시하였다. 총 폴리페놀 및 플라보노이드 함량은 94.95, 86.33 mg/g으로 나타났고 DPPH, ABTS radical 소거능은 각각 100, 200 μg/mL의 농도에서 50%의 억제율을 보였으며, 1000 μg/mL에서 50%의 환원력을 나타냈다. LPS와 함께 처리한 Raw 264.7 cell에서는 좀민들레에 의한 세포 독성이 나타나지 않았으며 염증 매개 인자 NO와 염증성 사이도카인 IL-1β의 생성량을 유의하게 감소시켰다. 또한 염증성 단백질 발현량을 측정하기 위해 western blotting을 통해 확인한 결과, 400 μg/mL으로 처리하였을 때 LPS 처리구에 비해 염증성 단백질 발현 수준을 유의하게 감소시킨 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구 결과, 좀민들레 추출물은 세포에 대한 독성이 없이 유의한 항산화 활성과 항염증 활성을 나타냄으로써 가축의 질병예방을 위한 면역 증진 및 생산성 향상에 기여할 수 있는 안전한 대체 천연 첨가제로 이용될 수 있다고 생각된다.