• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.38.1-38.6
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• 2012

The present study aimed to determine the possible mechanisms of the peripheral antinociception of the aqueous extracts of Dicranopteris linearis (AEDL), Melastoma malabathricum (AEMM) and Bauhinia purpurea (AEBP) leaves in mice. Briefly, the antinociceptive profile of each extract (300, 500, and 1000 mg/kg; subcutaneous (s.c.)), was established using the abdominal constriction test. A single dose (500 mg/kg) of each extract (s.c.) was pre-challenged for 10 min with various pain receptors' antagonists or pain mediators' blockers and 30 min later subjected to the antinociceptive assay to determine the possible mechanism(s) involved. Based on the results obtained, all extracts exerted significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity with dose-dependent activity observed only with the AEMM. Furthermore, the antinociception of AEDL was attenuated by naloxone, atropine, yohimbine and theophylline; AEMM was reversed by yohimbine, theophylline, thioperamide, pindolol, reserpine, and 4-chloro-DL-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride; and of AEBP was inhibited by naloxone, haloperidol, yohimbine and reserpine. In conclusion, the antinociceptive activity of those extracts possibly involved the activation of several pain receptors (i.e. opioids, muscarinic, ${\alpha}_2$-adrenergic and adenosine receptors, adenosine, H3-histaminergic and $5HT_{1A}$, dopaminergic receptors).

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.219-231
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• 1995

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP) and ${\beta}-adrenergic$ agonists have immunomodultory effects on the peripheral blood T-lymphocytes of rat through their own receptors. Both of them utilize the same signal transduction pathway. That is, the stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein(G protein) mediates the receptor-adenylyl cyclase coupling, producing intracellular increase of cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP). In the previous experiment, propranolol, a ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor blocker, inhibited the VIP-induced protein phosphorylation in lymphocytes. However, propranolol could not block the effect induced by forskolin. Therefore, this study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory action of propranolol on the effects of VIP. Using peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats, the effect of propranolol on the receptor binding characteristics of VIP was observed. And the effects of propranolol were compared to the effects of timolol on the cAMP increase induced by isoproterenol, VIP or forskolin. The results obtained are as follows. 1) Receptor binding study showed no significant differences in the affinity or density of VIP receptor between the control and propranolol-pretreated groups. 2) VIP-induced increase of cAMP was inhibited by propranolol, but not by timolol. 3) Both propranolol and timolol suppressed the isoproterenol-induced cAMP increase. 4) Propranolol also inhibited the histamine-induced cAMP increase. 5) Propranolol did not inhibit the increase of cAMP stimulated by forskolin. 6) Lidocaine did not block the VIP-induced cAMP increase. These results show that the inhibitory mechanism of propranolol is not related to ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor or its membrane stabilizing effect, and it is suggested that propranolol can block the effects of VIP by inhibiting the intermediate step between the VIP receptor and adenylyl cyclase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.363-375
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• 1989

It has been well known that peripheral infusion of angiotensin II results in an increase of blood pressure, and an elevation of aldosterone secretion, and an inhibition of renin relase. However, the direct effect of angiotensin II on renal function has not been clearly established. In the present study, to investigate the effect of angiotensin II on renal function and renin release, angiotensin II (0.3, 3 and 10 ng/kg/min) was infused into a unilateral renal artery of the unanesthetized rabbit and changes in renal function and active and inactive renin secretion rate (ARSR, IRSR) were measured. In addition, to determine the relationship between the renal effect of angiotensin II and adenosine, the angiotensin II effect was evaluated in the presence of simultaneously infused 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT, 30 nmole/min), adenosine A 1 receptor antagonist. Angiotensin II infusion at dose less than 10 ng/kg/min decreased urine flow, clearances of para-amino-hippuric acid and creatinine, and urinary excretion of electrolytes in dose-dependent manner. The changes in urine flow and sodium excretion were significantly correlated with the change in renal hemodynamics. Infusion of angiotensin II at 10 ng/kg/min also decreased ARSR, but it has no significant effect on IRSR. The change in ARSR was inversely correlated with the change in IRSR. The plasma concentration of catecholamine was not altered by an intarenal infusion of angiotensin II. In the presence of 8-PT in the infusate, the effect of angiotensin II on renal function was significantly attenuated, but that on renin secretion was not modified. These results suggest that the reduction in urine flow and Na excretion during intrarenal infusion of angiotensin II was not due to direct inhibitions of renal tubular transport systems, but to alterations of renal hemodynamics which may partly be mediated by the adenosine receptor.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.387-395
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• 2022

PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) is a DNA-derived polymer that promotes self-renewal of damaged cells and tissues as a tissue regeneration active material. PDRN is a DNA fragment cut into small sizes by various physical or chemical methods. When administered to the body, PDRN binds and stimulates the adenosine A2A receptor on the surface of tissue cells to promote cell regeneration, accelerate wound healing, and reduce pain. Although PDRN is prepared from testis or semen of fish in most cass, PDRN extraction from various plants species was performed in the present study. Among 7 tested plant species, the highest DNA yield and purity was obtained form mugwort (Chrysanthemum coronarium, C.c), followed by broccoli (Brassica oleracea, B.o). Then, we evaluated the in vitro wound healing capacity of PDRNs prepared from these two selected plants. PDRN from C.c and B.o. significantly stimulated the wound healing process at ㎍/ml range. The present study suggests that PDRN from plant species can be an effective alternative to PDRN from marine organism.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.276-286
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• 2020

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with multiple metabolic disorders. The medicinal plant Curcuma longa L. is widely distributed in Asia and has been used to treat a spectrum diseases in clinical practice. To date, there are inadequate reports of the effects of C. longa 50% EtOH extract (CE) on NAFLD. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the CE on an NAFLD animal and elucidate the mechanism of action. Methods and Results: C57BL/6J mice fed a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) were treated with CE or milk thistle, and changes in inflammation and stetosis were assessed. Experimental animals were divided into six group (n = 10); Normal, MCD, MCD + CE 50 mg/kg/day (CE 50), MCD + CE 100 mg/kg/day (CE 100), MCD + CE 150 mg/kg/day (CE 150), and the Control, MCD + Milk thistle 150 mg/kg/day (MT 150). Body weight, liver weight, liver function, and histological changes were assessed in experimental animals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed on samples collected after 4 weeks of treatment. We observed that CE administration improved MCD-diet-induced lipid accumulation, and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in serum. Treatment with CE also decreased hepatic lipogenesis through modulation of the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expresion. In addition, the use of CE increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and inhibited the up-regulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 signaling and the production of inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: In this report, we observed that CE regulated lipid accumulation in an MCD dietinduced NAFLD model by decreasing lipogenesis. These data suggeste that CE could effectively protect mice against MCD-induced NAFLD, by inhibiting the TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling cascades.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.552-557
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• 2014

The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R) dysfunction induced vascular hyperpermeability. Transwell system analysis showed that M3R inhibition by selective antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) and small interfering RNA both increased endothelial permeability. Using coimmunoprecipitation and Western blot assay, we found that M3R inhibition increased VE-cadherin and ${\beta}$-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation without affecting their expression. Using PTP1B siRNA, we found that PTP1B was required for maintaining VE-cadherin and ${\beta}$-catenin protein dephosphorylation. In addition, 4-DAMP suppressed PTP1B activity by reducing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), but not protein kinase $C{\alpha}$ ($PKC{\alpha}$). These data indicate that M3R preserves the endothelial barrier function through a mechanism potentially maintaining PTP1B activity, keeping the adherens junction proteins (AJPs) dephosphorylation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2020

Diabetes mellitus affects the colonic motility developing gastrointestinal symptoms, such as constipation. The aim of the study was to examine the role of intracellular signaling pathways contributing to colonic dysmotility in diabetes mellitus. To generate diabetes mellitus, the rats were injected by a single high dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The proximal colons from both normal and diabetic rats were contracted by applying an electrical field stimulation with pulse voltage of 40 V in amplitude and pulse duration of 1 ms at frequencies of 1, 2, 4, and 6 Hz. The muscle strips from both normal rats and rats with diabetes mellitus were pretreated with different antagonists and inhibitors. Rats with diabetes mellitus had lower motility than the control group. There were significant differences in the percentage of inhibition of contraction between normal rats and rats with diabetes mellitus after the incubation of tetrodotoxin (neuronal blocker), atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), prazosin (α₁ adrenergic receptor antagonist), DPCPX (adenosine A1 receptor antagonist), verapamil (L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker), U73122 (PLC inhibitor), ML-9 (MLCK inhibitor), udenafil (PDE₅ inhibitor), and methylene blue (guanylate cyclase inhibitor). The protein expression of p-MLC and PDE₅ were decreased in the diabetic group compared to the normal group. These results showed that the reduced colonic contractility resulted from the impaired neuronal conduction and decreased muscarinic receptor sensitivity, which resulted in decreased phosphorylation of MLC via MLCK, and cGMP activity through PDE₅.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2021

During blood vessel damage, an essential step in the hemostatic process is platelet activation. However, it is important to properly control platelet activation, as various cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction, are also caused by excessive platelet activation. Found primarily in the roots of plants of the genus Artemisia or Scopolia, isoscopoletin has been studied to demonstrate its potential pharmacological effects against Alzheimer's disease and anticancer, but the mechanisms and roles involved in thrombus formation and platelet aggregation are insufficient. This study investigated the effect of isoscopoletin on U46619-induced human platelet activation. As a result, isoscopoletin significantly increased the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) dose-dependently. In addition, isoscopoletin significantly phosphorylated inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphprotein (VASP), which are known substrates for cAMP-dependent kinases and cGMP-dependent kinases. Phosphorylated IP3R by isoscopoletin inhibited Ca2+ mobilization from the dense tubular system Ca2+ channels to cytosol, and phosphorylated VASP was involved in the inhibition of fibrinogen binding through αIIb/β3 inactivation in the platelet membrane. Isoscopoletin finally reduced thrombin-induced fibrin clotting production. Therefore, this study suggests that isoscopoletin has a potent antiplatelet effect and may be helpful for platelet-related thrombotic diseases.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2020

An essential component of the hemostatic process during vascular damage is platelet activation. However, many cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction, can develop due to excessive platelet activation. Isoscopoletin, found primarily in plant roots of the genus Artemisia or Scopolia, has been studied to demonstrate potential pharmacological effects on Alzheimer's disease and anticancer, but its mechanisms and role in relation to thrombus formation and platelet aggregation have not yet been discovered. This research investigated the effect of isoscopoletin on collagen-induced human platelet activation. As a result, isoscopoletin strongly increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, isoscopoletin greatly phosphorylated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP₃R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), known substrates of cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP dependent kinase. Phosphorylation of IP₃R by isoscopoletin induced Ca²⁺ inhibition from the dense tubular system Ca²⁺ channels, and VASP phosphorylation was involved in fibrinogen binding inhibition by inactivating αIIb/β₃ in the platelet membrane. Isoscopoletin finally reduced thrombin-induced fibrin clot production and finally reduced thrombus formation. Therefore, this research suggests that isoscopoletin has strong antiplatelet effects and is likely to be helpful for thrombotic diseases involving platelets by acting as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

Objectives: Tanshinone I is a bioactive constituent in Salvia miltiorrhiza. At present, the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of tanshinone I are not fully understood. Here we investigated the effect of tanshinone I on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and zebrafish. Methods: Lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. The expression and phosphorylation levels of adipogenic/lipogenic proteins in 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated by Western blotting. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adipogenic/lipogenic markers and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lipid accumulation in zebrafish was assessed by LipidGreen2 staining. Results: Tanshinone I at 5 μM largely blocked lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, tanshinone I decreased the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, tanshinone I increased the phosphorylation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) while decreased the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content with no change in the phosphorylation and expression of liver kinase-B1 in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Importantly, tanshinone I also reduced the extent of lipid deposit formation in developing zebrafish. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that tanshinone I has strong anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and reduces adiposity in zebrafish, and these anti-adipogenic effect in 3T3-L1 cells are mediated through control of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, STAT-3, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, and AMPK.