title: Opuntia humifusa ameliorated cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Opuntia humifusa (OH) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute pancreatitis was induced via intraperitoneal injection of cholecystokinin analog cerulein (50 μg/kg). In the OH pretreatment group, OH was administered intraperitoneally (100, 250, or 500 mg/kg) 1 hour before first cerulein injection. In the posttreatment group, OH was administered intraperitoneally (500 mg/kg) 1 hour after the first cerulein injection. Furthermore, we isolated the pancreatic acinar cells using collagenase method, then investigated the acinar cell viability, cytokine productions, and the regulating mechanisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The both pretreatment and posttreatment of OH treatment attenuated the severity of AP, as shown by the histology of the pancreas and lung, and inhibited neutrophil infiltration; serum amylase and lipase activities; proinflammatory cytokine expression such as interleukin 1, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α; and cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. Furthermore, OH inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that OH reduces the severity of AP by inhibiting acinar cell death through c-Jun N-terminal kinases.
authors: From the *Department of Herbology, School of Oriental Medicine, †BK21 plus team, Professional graduate school of Oriental medicine, ‡Hanbang Body-fluid Research Center, §College of Pharmacy, and Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, and ∥College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk; ¶ChungBuk Technopark Bio Center, Jecheon, #Foundation of industry-academy cooperation, Semyung University, ChungBuk; and **Department of Medicinal Herb, Gyeongju University, Gyeongbuk, South Korea.
authors: Sun Bok
authors: SB
authors: Choi
authors: Gi-Sang
authors: GS
authors: Bae
authors: Kyoung-Chel
authors: KC
authors: Park
authors: Il-Joo
authors: IJ
authors: Jo
authors: Seung-Hee
authors: SH
authors: Seo
authors: Kyung
authors: K
authors: Song
authors: Dong-Sung
authors: DS
authors: Lee
authors: Hyuncheol
authors: H
authors: Oh
authors: Youn-Chul
authors: YC
authors: Kim
authors: Jong-Jin
authors: JJ
authors: Kim
authors: Yong Kook
authors: YK
authors: Shin
authors: Jin-Han
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: Min-Jun
authors: MJ
authors: Seo
authors: Ho-Joon
authors: HJ
authors: Song
authors: Sung-Joo
authors: SJ
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000208:Acute Disease; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002108:Ceruletide; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002108:Ceruletide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases