본 연구는 편백나무 잎 분획물의 항염증 기능성 소재로서의 활용 가능성을 평가하기 위해 99% 에탄올로 추출한 편백잎 추출물 (CO99EL)을 헥산 (CO99EL-H), 클로로포름 (CO99EL-C), 에틸 아세테이트 (CO99EL-E), 부탄올 (CO99EL-B)과 증류수 (CO99EL-W) 순서대로 분획하였다. 각각의 분획물의 항염증 효과는 LPS로 유도된 RAW264.7 마우스 대식세포를 이용하여 수행하였다. 세포독성은 CO99EL-H와 CO99EL-C에서 가장 높았으며 CO99EL-W에서 가장 낮음을 확인하였다. 흥미롭게도, LPS로 유도된 iNOS의 발현과 NO의 생산은 CO99EL-H와 CO99EL-E에 의해 현저하게 감소하였고, COX-2의 발현은 CO99EL-B와 CO99EL-W에 의해 현저하게 감소하였다. 또한, LPS에 의해 증가된 염증성 사이토카인인 interleukin(IL)-1β는 CO99EL-C, CO99EL-E, CO99EL-B와 CO99EL-W에 의 해 현저하게 감소하였고, IL-6는 CO99EL-B와 CO99EL-W에 의해 현저하게 감소하였다. 그뿐만 아니 라, LPS에 의해 활성화된 janus kinase (JAK)/signaling transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 신호 전달 경로는 CO99EL-H와 CO99EL-C에 의해 상당히 감소하였고, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)은 CO99EL-C에 의해 약간 감소하였다. 하지만, nuclear factor (NF)-κB의 활 성은 어떤 분획물도 감소시키지 못했다. 본 연구의 결과를 통해, CO99EL의 분획물들은 분획에 사용되 는 용매에 따라 항염증 작용기전이 다름을 확인하였다.

A 2-year-old, spayed male Bengal cat was referred to our clinic due to a mass lesion on the upper lip, as well as lower lip swelling and redness. Furthermore, well-circumscribed, raised, pink lesions were found in the oral cavity. Complete blood counts (CBC) and serum biochemistry profiles revealed no remarkable findings. Bacterial and fungal cultures of the lesion in the oral cavity were negative. Fine needle aspiration of the lesions revealed numerous eosinophils. Based on both clinical examination and cytological evaluation, the cat was diagnosed with feline eosinophilic granuloma. As an initial treatment, oral prednisolone (PDS) with cyclosporine was administered. However, the cyclosporine caused the cat to vomit. The lesion was markedly improved after 2 weeks of PDS-only therapy; this was subsequently tapered for 2 months and discontinued. However, one month later, the lesion had relapsed. The cat was then treated for one month using tacrolimus with PDS, and the clinical signs of eosinophilic granuloma gradually improved. The tacrolimus was gradually tapered for 1 month, and the PDS was gradually tapered for 4 months. There is no standard protocol for the investigation and treatment of feline eosinophilic granuloma. The cat in this report was administered immunosuppressive therapies to treat eosinophilic granuloma. This case report provides evidence the combination of PDS and tacrolimus is effective for reducing relapse in feline eosinophilic granuloma.