Hyun-Sam Lee

Lithospermi radix Extract Inhibits Histamine Release and Production of Inflammatory Cytokine in Mast Cells

Lithospermi radix (LR, Borraginaceae, the root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold. et Zuccarinii) is used in herbal medicine to treat such conditions as eczema, skin burns and frostbite. This study investigates the effects of LR on the anti-allergy mechanism. LR inhibited the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80 in a dose-dependent manner. LR orally administered at 6.59 mg/100 g also inhibited the anti-DNP IgE-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction. LR inhibited the PMA plus A23187-induced increase in IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α expression in HMC-1 cells. In addition, LR also inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and IκB-α degradation. These results show that LR had an inhibitory effect on the atopic allergic reaction. Furthermore, the in vivo and in vitro anti-allergic effect of LR suggests possible therapeutic applications of this agent for inflammatory allergic diseases.

Protective Effects of Cinnamomum cassia Blume in the Fibrogenesis of Activated HSC-T6 Cells and Dimethylnitrosamine-Induced Acute Liver Injury in SD Rats

Cinnamomum cassia Blume (CC) is one of the world’s oldest natural spices, and is commonly used in traditional oriental medicine. We investigated the protective effect of ethanol extract from Cinnamomum cassia Blume (CCE) on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In addition, we examined the effects of CC powder in Sprague-Dawley rats with acute liver injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). In vitro, HSC-T6 cells exhibit an activated phenotype, as reflected in their fibroblast-like morphology. CCE significantly reduced the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). In vivo, the results were significantly protected by CC powder in the serum total protein, albumin, total-bilirubin, direct-bilirubin, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). We suggest that CC inhibits fibrogenesis, followed by HSC-T6 cell activation and increased restoration of liver function, ultimately resulting in acute liver injury.

Angelicae Gigantis Radix regulates mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro.

Angelicae Gigantis (AG) Radix, commonly used medicinal food, has been reported as a promising candidate for inflammatory diseases. However, the anti-allergic effects of AG and its molecular mechanisms have yet to be clarified. The present study investigated the anti-allergy effects of ethanol extracts of AG on mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro. The finding of this study demonstrated that AG reduced anti-dinitrophenyl IgE antibody-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, compound 48/80-induced histamine release, 2,4-dinitrofluoro benzene-induced contact hypersensitivity. In addition, AG inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, as well as the activation of Jun N-terminal kinase and nuclear factor-κB in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated human mast cells. In conclusion, our results provide a novel insight into the pharmacological actions of AG as a potential candidate for use in allergic inflammatory diseases.

Effect of Chungpaesagan-tang on ischemic damage induced by MCAO in spontaneously hypertensive rats

SUMMARY Chungpaesagan-tang (CPSGT) is most frequently used to treat ischemic brain injury in tradition Koreanmedicine. Clinically, cerebral ischemia is likely to be accompanied by preexisting or complicatingdisease. However, animal models used to examine the effects of herbal medicines on cerebral ischemiahave not given this issue sufficient consideration. The present study was undertaken to determine theeffects of CPSGT on focal cerebral ischemia in normal and SHR rats subjected to transient middlecerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Animals were divided into four groups: Normal (Sprague-Dawley)rats subjected to MACO (the NC+MCAO group), normal rats subjected to MCAO and thenadministered CPSGT (NC + MCAO + CP), SHR rats subjected to MCAO (SHR + MCAO), and SHR ratssubjected to MCAO and then administered CPSGT (SHR + MCAO + CP). MCAO was performed usingthe intraluminal method. CPSGT was administrated orally twice (1 and 4 h) after MCAO. All animalswere sacrificed at 24 h postoperatively. Brain tissues were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, to examinethe effect of CPSGT on ischemic brain tissues. In addition, changes in TNF- α expression in ischemic areaswere examined by immunostaining. CPSGT was found to significantly reduce infarction areas in normaland SHR rats and infarction volumes in SHR rats. Similarly, CPGST markedly increased neuronnumbers and sizes in all treated groups, except cell sizes in SHRs. Furthermore, CPSGT reduced TNF-αexpression in MCAO administered SHR rats. The findings of the present study suggest that CPSGTeffectively ameliorates neuron damage caused by MACO-induced cerebral ischemia, and that it has asignificant neuroprotective effect after cerebral ischemia in SHR.Keywords: Middle cerebral artery occlusion; Spontaneously hypertensive rats; TNF-α;Chungpaesagan-tang