• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitor effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens on the hepatic and renal side effects of chemotherapy by using B16-BL6 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Methods : In this study, the effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens, on the side effects of chemotherapy were studied using B16 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Results : Sophora flavescen has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Sophora flavescen recovered the reduction of WBC and RBC during cisplatin chemotherapy. Water extract of Sophora flavescens significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced increase of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) which is a good indicator of renal toxicity. Sophora flavescens extract does not decrease the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin showing that it can selectively inhibit side effects of anticancer drugs preserving beneficial effort. Conclusion : Theses results suggest a possibility that Sophora flavescens extract can be used for cancer patients for the reduction of the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.437-443
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• 2016

Background: Previous phytochemical studies of whole Vernonia cinerea L. plants have identified sesquiterpene lactones, sterols, and triterpenes, which possess anticancer, antifeedant, and antimalarial activities. However, there are no reports of other types of bioactive metabolites. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify phenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory activity in the aerial parts of the plant. Methods and Results: Compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of V. cinerea using a silica and C-18 gel columns and semi-preparative HPLC instrument, and the structures of the compounds were determined using one- and two- dimension nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. The chloroform soluble extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory potential based on their ability to inhibit nitric oxide production and $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity. Conclusions: Phytochemical study of the aerial parts of V. cinerea led to the isolation of six phenolic compounds. Compound 1 was a major metabolite, and to the best of our knowledge, compounds 2 - 6 were isolated from V.cinerea for the first time. Among the isolates, compounds 1 and 3 exhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity with $IC_{50}$ values of 7.5 and 11.5 M, respectively, and the inhibitory activity of phenyl propanoid compound 3 on $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ was evaluated for the first time.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 1999

We have synthesized novel platinum (II) coordination complex containing cis-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) as a carrier ligand and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) as leaving group. Furthermore, nitrate was added to improve the water-solubility. A new series of [Pt(cis-DACH)(DPPE)] $2NO_3(PC)$ was evaluated its antitumor activity on various MKN-45 human gastric adenocarcinoma cell-lines and normal primary cultured kidney cells. The new platinum complex demonstrated high efficacy in the cytotoxicity on MKN-45 cell-lines as well as adriamycin-resistant (MKN-45/ADR) and cisplatin-resistant (MKN-45/CDDP) cells. The cytotoxicities of PC were found quite less than those of cisplatin in rabbit proximal renal tubular cells, human renal cortical cells and human renal cortical tissues using MTT assay, $[^3H]-thymidine$ uptake and glucose consumption tests. Based on these results, this novel platinum (II) coordination complex, was considered as better a valuable lead for improving antitumor activities with low nephrotoxicities in the development of a new clinically available anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.687-694
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• 2017

Plumbagin, a hydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinone compound from plant metabolites, exhibits anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities via modulating various signaling molecules. However, its effects on vascular functions are rarely studied except in pulmonary and coronary arteries where NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibition was suggested as a mechanism. Here we investigate the effects of plumbagin on the contractility of skeletal artery (deep femoral artery, DFA), mesenteric artery (MA) and renal artery (RA) in rats. Although plumbagin alone had no effect on the isometric tone of DFA, $1{\mu}M$ phenylephrine (PhE)-induced partial contraction was largely augmented by plumbagin (${\Delta}T_{Plum}$, 125% of 80 mM KCl-induced contraction at $1{\mu}M$). With relatively higher concentrations (>$5{\mu}M$), plumbagin induced a transient contraction followed by tonic relaxation of DFA. Similar biphasic augmentation of the PhE-induced contraction was observed in MA and RA. VAS2870 and GKT137831, specific NOX4 inhibitors, neither mimicked nor inhibited ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ in DFA. Also, pretreatment with tiron or catalase did not affect ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ of DFA. Under the inhibition of PhE-contraction with L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker (nifedipine, $1{\mu}M$), plumbagin still induced tonic contraction, suggesting $Ca^{2+}$-sensitization mechanism of smooth muscle. Although ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ was consistently observed under pretreatment with Rho A-kinase inhibitor (Y27632, $1{\mu}M$), a PKC inhibitor (GF 109203X, $10{\mu}M$) largely suppressed ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$. Taken together, it is suggested that plumbagin facilitates the PKC activation in the presence of vasoactive agonists in skeletal arteries. The biphasic contractile effects on the systemic arteries should be considered in the pharmacological studies of plumbagin and 1,4-naphthoquinones.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2015

Background: Korean ginseng is an ethnopharmacologically valuable herbal plant with various biological properties including anticancer, antiatherosclerosis, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Since there is currently no drug or therapeutic remedy derived from Korean ginseng, we developed a ginsenoside-enriched fraction (AP-SF) for prevention of various inflammatory symptoms. Methods: The anti-inflammatory efficacy of AP-SF was tested under in vitro inflammatory conditions including nitric oxide (NO) production and inflammatory gene expression. The molecular events of inflammatory responses were explored by immunoblot analysis. Results: AP-SF led to a significant suppression of NO production compared with a conventional Korean ginseng saponin fraction, induced by both lipopolysaccharide and zymosan A. Interestingly, AP-SF strongly downregulated the mRNA levels of genes for inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and cyclooxygenase) without affecting cell viability. In agreement with these observations, AP-SF blocked the nuclear translocation of c-Jun at 2 h and also reduced phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and TAK-1, all of which are important for c-Jun translocation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AP-SF inhibits activation of c-Jun-dependent inflammatory events. Thus, AP-SF may be useful as a novel anti-inflammatory remedy.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.8-8
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• 2018

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Many conditions are associated with muscle atrophy, such as aging, denervation, disuse, starvation, severe injury and inflammation, prolonged bed rest, glucocorticoid treatment, sepsis, cancer, and other cachectic diseases. On the other hand, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and is wide spread in the elderly population and is characterized by erosion of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. The cytokine network plays an important role in the development and progression of OA with the inflammatory cytokine. Schisandrae Fructus (SF) derived from the ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Magnoliaceae) has been extensively used in traditional herbal medicines in Asia. It was originally used as a tonic and has been traditionally used for the treatment of many uncomfortable symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, dysentery, insomnia, and amnesia for a long time. Previous reports have shown that SF and its related compounds possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-microbial, antiseptic, anti-aging, hepatoprotective and immunostimulating effects. However, the therapeutic effects of SF on muscle atrophy and OA has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether extracts of SF, the dried fruit of S. chinensis, mitigates the development of muscle atrophy and OA.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1769-1774
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• 2004

Jun/Fos, a crucial factor in transmitting the tumor-promoting signal from the extracellular environment to the nuclear transcription machinery, has a dimerization interface possessing several coiled structural properties. Jun and Fos can interact with the DNA regulatory region, AP-1 (Activator Protein-1), which is composed of 5'-TGAC/GTCA-3'.$^1$ Curcumin is a well-known anticancer and anti-inflammatory compound.$^{2,3}$ It also acts as an inhibitor of the Jun-Fos function. c-Fos and c-Jun with a bZIP region are overexpressed in BL21 E. coli and purified with an $Ni^{2+}$ affinity column. The inhibitors of Fos-Jun-AP-1 complex formation were searched through the EMSA (electrophoresis mobility shift assay) experiment, and new curcuminoids were synthesized and investigated as to their inhibitory effect on the same system. Two curcuminoids showed a stronger inhibitory effect than curcumin. This inhibitory activity was quantified with EMSA. 1,7-bis(4-methyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione (BJC003) and 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-nitrophenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione (BJC005) showed remarkably high inhibitory activities. $IC_{50}$ of 1,7-bis(4-methyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione (BJC003) and 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-nitrophenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione (BJC005) are 8.98 ${\mu}M$ and 5.40 ${\mu}M$, respectively. However, 1,7-bis(4-methyl-3-nitrophenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione (BJC004) did not show inhibitory activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.370-378
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng has been the subject of many experimental and clinical studies to uncover the diverse biological activities of its constituent compounds. It is a traditional medicine that has been used for its immunostimulatory, antithrombotic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Ginseng may interact with concomitant medications and alter metabolism and/or drug transport, which may alter the known efficacy and safety of a drug; thus, the role of ginseng may be controversial when taken with other medications. Methods: We extensively assessed the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in rats on the expression of enzymes responsible for drug metabolism [cytochrome p450 (CYP)] and transporters [multiple drug resistance (MDR) and organic anion transporter (OAT)] in vitro and on the pharmacokinetics of two probe drugs, midazolam and fexofenadine, after a 2-wk repeated administration of KRG at different doses. Results: The results showed that 30 mg/kg KRG significantly increased the expression level of CYP3A11 protein in the liver and 100 mg/kg KRG increased both the mRNA and protein expression of OAT1 in the kidney. Additionally, KRG significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of OAT1, OAT3, and MDR1 in the liver. Although there were no significant changes in the metabolism of midazolam to its major metabolite, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, KRG significantly decreased the systemic exposure of fexofenadine in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Because KRG is used as a health supplement, there is a risk of KRG overdose; thus, a clinical trial of high doses would be useful. The use of KRG in combination with P-glycoprotein substrate drugs should also be carefully monitored.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.228-234
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• 2009

Topoisomerase I (Topo I) participates in the DNA replication, transcription, and repair. Binding of Topo I inhibitor to the Topo I-DNA cleavage complex forms stabilized ternary complex which blocks DNA religation and ultimately causes cell death. Camptothecin (CPT) and its derivatives have been among the most effective anticancer drugs by inhibition of topo I. However, efforts to synthesize non-CPT drugs have been actively going on because the CPT derivatives have several limitations such as poor solubility, short half-life, and side effects. As an indenoisoquinoline, NSC314622 is not as potent as CPT, but its chemical stability and slower reversibility of the cleavage complex made it a good lead compound. Recently, a series of indenoisoquinoline analogues were synthesized with substituted dimethoxy or methylenedioxy on the aromatic ring and alkylamino on the lactam nitrogen. Some of them showed quite good Topo I inhibitory activity. Using the computer docking program, Surflex-Dock, indenoisoquinoline analogues were docked into the human Topo I-DNA cleavable complex. The docking results showed that the compounds with activity better than NSC314622 intercalated between the -1 and +1 base pairs at the cleavage site, but those with little or no activities did not appear to intercalate. These results could be useful to design new Topo I inhibitors improved than CPT.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.243-249
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng (KRG), the steamed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has a variety of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects. Aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) produced by the Aspergillus spp. causes acute hepatotoxicity by lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage, and induces liver carcinoma in humans and laboratory animals. This study was performed to examine the protective effects of KRG against hepatotoxicity induced by $AFB_1$ using liver-specific serum marker analysis, histopathology, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. In addition, to elucidate the possible mechanism of hepatoprotective effects, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde were analyzed. Rats were treated with 250 mg/kg of KRG (KRG group) or saline ($AFB_1$ group) for 4 weeks and then received 150 ${\mu}g/kg$ of $AFB_1$ intraperitoneally for 3 days. Rats were sacrificed at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, or 1 wk after $AFB_1$ treatment. In the KRG pre-treatment group, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde levels were low, but superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were high as compared to the $AFB_1$ alone group. Histopathologically, $AFB_1$ treatment induced necrosis and apoptosis in hepatocytes, and led to inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver. KRG pre-treatment ameliorated these changes. These results indicate that KRG may have protective effects against hepatotoxicity induced by $AFB_1$ that involve the antioxidant properties of KRG.