• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.554-561
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• 2009

Soyangin-Hyeongbangpaedok-san(SHBPDS) is a herbal formula used for the common cold or upper respiratory illness. In order to investigate the effect of SHBPDS, mice were orally administered with SHBPDS alcohol extract for 7 days followed by intravenous anti-CD3 injection. In addition, splenocytes and CD4 T cells were cultured with SHBPDS in response to anti-CD3 in vitro and cytokines and transcription factors were evaluated. In vivo treatment with SHBPDS significantly augmented the expressions of the percentage of CD4 T cells and CD 69, an indicator of early T cell activation. Serum levels of IL-4 were significantly increased but those of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-2 did not reach statistical significance. The expressions of IFN-${\gamma}$ and T-bet mRNA were significantly downregulated in SHBPDS treated mice while those of IL-4 and C-Maf were significantly upregulated. In vitro stimulation of splenocytes and CD4 T cells by SHBPDS resulted in a reduction in IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion and STAT4 activity. The IL-4 releases from both cells were slightly reduced, but STAT6 activity was rather increased. In conclusion, SHBPDS exerted an inhibition in the expression of IFN-${\gamma}$, T-bet and STAT4 while IL-4, C-Maf and STAT6 were increased. Further studies are required to examine its pharmacological effects using more appropriate animal experiments.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.381-392
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• 2004

Arsenic trioxide($As_2O_3$) was introduced into the treatment of refractory or relapsed acute promyelocytic Ieukemia. Some investigators have reported that arsenic trioxide had induced apoptosis in a variety of solid human tumor cell lines, including non-small cell lung cancer. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) are powerful chemopreventive agents for gastrointestinal cancers and the growth of established tumors are reduced by inducing apoptosis. It's also reported that NSAIDs enhanced tumor response to chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation. In this study, we aimed to determine whether combination of arsenic trioxide with sulindac augmented its apoptotic potential in NCI-H157 human lung cancer cells. The human lung cancer cell line NCI-H157 was treated with arsenic trioxide and sulindac. Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay. Apoptosis was measured by nuclear staining and flow cytometric analysis. The catalytic activity of the caspase families were measured by the fluorogenic cleavage of biosubstrates. The western blotting were also performed to define the mechanical basis of apoptosis. Combination treatment of arsenic trioxide and sulindac decreased the viability of NCI-H157 human lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The catalytic activity of caspase-3, 8 and 9 proteases were increased after combination treatment. Consistently PARP was cleaved from 116kDa to 85kDa fragments, and the expression of ICAD was decreased by time-dependent manner. Also combination treatment increased the expression of Fas and Fas/L. Combination therapy of arsenic trioxide with sulindac augments cell death and induces apoptosis via the activation of caspase cascade in NCI-H157 human lung carcinoma cells.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.147-151
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• 2007

We have investigated the half-metallicity and magnetism for the Heusler ferromagnet $Co_2$ZrSi interfaced with semiconductor ZnTe along the (001) plane by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method. We considered low types of possible interfaces: ZrSi/Zn, ZrSi/Te, Co/Zn, and Co/Te, respectively. From the calculated density of states, it was found that the half-metallicity was lost at all the interfaces, however for the Co/Te system the value of minority spin density of states was close to zero at the Fermi level. These facts are due to the interface states, appeared in the minority spin gap in bulk $Co_2$ZrSi, caused by the changes of the coordination and symmetry and the hybridizations between the interface atoms. At the Co/Te interface, the magnetic moments of Co atoms are 0.68 and $0.78{\mu}_B$ for the "bridge" and "antibridge" sites, respectively, which are much reduced with respect to that ($1.15{\mu}_B$) of the bulk $Co_2$ZrSi. In the case of Co/Zn, Co atoms at the "bridge" and "antibridge" sites have magnetic moments of 1.16 and $0.93{\mu}_B$, respectively, which are almost same or slightly decreased compared to that of the bulk $Co_2$ZrSi. On the other hand, for the ZrSi/Zn and ZrSi/Te systems, the magnetic moments of Co atoms at the sub-interface layers are in the range of $1.13{\sim}1.30\;{\mu}_B$, which are almost same or slightly increased than that of the bulk $Co_2$ZrSi.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2015

The conservation project to protect an endangered fish, Gobiobotia naktongensis was executed against declining the gene diversity of the fish after the construction of Youngju Dam in a sand-bed stream (Naeseongcheon Stream). We tried to move the populations of G. naktongensis from submerged planned sites to alternative habitats, bred artificially and augmented the juveniles to optimal habitat, and monitored the results of the restoration implementation. No entity of G. naktongensis was confirmed at the planned submerged sites despite attempting to capture more than 8 times and eventually the movement to alternative habitat could not be implemented. About 40 individuals of G. naktongensis were captured in the Naeseongcheon Stream and a total of 5,000 individuals were artificially spawned up. The population of juvenile inherited the genetic diversity from the brood stock. The bred juveniles were discharged at the selected optimal site that had a habit condition what was similar to their natural habitat. The micro-dispersion around the discharging area was found at the early stages of the augmentation. The re-capturing rate of discharged juveniles was reduced as time passed. The discharged juveniles seemed to adapt to the natural environment of Naeseongcheon Stream. The observation of their high abdominal distension and excrement demonstrated that the juveniles fed successfully in the discharging area. Therefore, securement of genetic homogeneity and enhancement of restoration population of G. naktongensis in upstream and downstream of Youngju Dam site from the artificial seed producing seemed to be primarily successful and long-term monitoring and analysis of the effect was expected to be necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.273-282
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• 2006

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of R-(-)-2,10,11-trihydroxy-N-propylnoraporphine [R-(-)-TNPA], a selective agonist of dopaminergic $D_2$ receptor and S(-)-raclopride, a selective antagonist of dopaminergic $D_2$ receptor, on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by cholinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization in the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland, and also to establish its mechanism of action. R-(-)-TNPA $(10{\sim}100\;{\mu}M)$ perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (56 mM), DMPP $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and McN-A-343 $(100\;{\mu}M)$. R-(-)-TNPA itself did also fail to affect basal CA output. Also, in adrenal glands loaded with R-(-)-TNPA $(30\;{\mu}M)$, the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 $(10\;{\mu}M)$, an activator of L-type $Ca^2+$ channels and cyclopiazonic acid $(10\;{\mu}M)$, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ were also inhibited. However, S(-)-raclopride $(1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$, given into an adrenal vein for 60 min, enhanced the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP and McN-A-343 only for the first period (4 min), although it alone has weak effect on CA secretion. Moreover, S(-)-raclopride $(3.0\;{\mu}M)$ in to an adrenal vein for 60 min also augmented the CA release evoked by BAY-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid only for the first period (4 min). However, after simultaneous perfusion of R-(-)-TNP A $(30\;{\mu}M)$ and S(-)-raclopride $(3.0\;{\mu}M)$, the inhibitory responses of R(-)-TNPA $(30\;{\mu}M)$ on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644, and cyclopiazonic acid were significantly reduced. Taken together, these experimental results suggest that R-(-)-TNPA greatly inhibits the CA secretion from the perfused rat adrenal medulla evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) and membrane depolarization, but S(-)-raclopride rather enhances the CA release by them. It seems that this inhibitory of R-(-)-TNPA may be mediated by stimulation of inhibitory dopaminergic $D_2$ receptors located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, while the facilitatory effect of S(-)-raclopride is due to the blockade of dopaminergic $D_2$ receptors, which are relevant to extra- and intracellular calcium mobilization. Therefore, it is thought that dopaminergic $D_2$ receptors may be involved in regulation of CA release in the rat adrenal medulla.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.179-183
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• 2010

This study is to characterize the postulated anti-inflammatory effect of the hot water extracts from the Phellinus baumii. RAW264.7, macrophage cell line, was activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and, further, treated with Phellinus baumii's aqueous extract. When the cultured macrophage cells were treated with LPS, they show typical signs of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and an increment in secretion of inflammatory cytokine compared to the non-treated control: The expression of glucose-regulated protein78 (Grp78), Grp94, and C/EBP homologous protein/GADD 153 (CHOP) increased along with augmented secretion of interlukin-6. Cellular nitric oxide content also significantly went up in comparison to the non-LPS treatment. When the LPS-treated RAW264.7 was treated with the aqueous Phellinus baumii extracts, however, the expression of ERS markers markedly reduced and the release of nitric oxide declined. Also, the expression of induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) notably diminished similarly as the NO content. In conclusion, this study strongly indicated that aqueous Phellinus baumii extract can be utilized directly as anti-inflammation agent and serves as a source of functional ingredient to lessen the inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.131-135
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• 2008

The electronic structures, magnetism, and half-metallicity of the full-Heusler $Co_2TiSn$(001) surfaces have been investigated by using the all-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the generalized gradient approximation. We have considered both of the Co atoms terminated(Co-term) and the TiSn atoms terminated(TiSn-term) surfaces. From the calculated density of states, we found that the half-metallicity was destroyed at the surface of the Co-term, while the half-metallicity was retained at the TiSn-term. For the surface of the Co-term, due to the reduced coordination number the occupied minority d-states were shifted to high energy regions and that cross the Fermi level, thus destroy the surface half-metallicity. On the other hand the surface states at the surface of the TiSn-term were located just below the Fermi level, which reduces the minority spin-gap with respect to that of the center layer. The calculated magnetic moment of the surface Co atom for the Co-term was increased by 10 % to 1.16 ${\mu}_B$ with respect to that of the inner-layers, while the magnetic moment of the subsurface Co atom in the TiSn-term has almost same value of the innerlayers(1.03 ${\mu}_B$).

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2019

Prostate cancer(PrCa) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in man. Medicinal plants are exploited for many drugs to treat various ailments. The drugs derived from the plants promote health, augmented the resistance of the body against disease. Pueraia lobata(wild) Ohwi(P. Lobata), kudzu, which is a twining perennial woody herb native to China, Korea, Japan, India, and the United States. Plants such as Moringa oleifera, have hypoglycemic properties and other beneficial properties. The objective of the study was to analyze the effects of kadzu and moringa, natural plant products on antioxidant activity and proliferation of the hormone-sensitive prostate cancer LNCaP cells. MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis were employed to investigate the anticancer mechanism and DPPH assay was determined to the antioxidant activity to scavenge free radicals in extract of these. All two extracts showed significantly antioxidant activity at 10 and 50mg/ml of concentration. kadzu and moringa reduced LNCaP cell viability in a dose dependent manner. Specially moringa extract was more potent cytotoxic than kadzu extract. Statistical analyses revealed kadzu and moringa exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity in LNCaP. The finding of this study provides a scientific basis for using kadzu and moringa in future development of chemotherapeutic drugs against hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.215-226
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• 2024

Aralia continentalis is widely distributed in Far East Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Japan. A. continentalis has traditionally been used as an herbal remedy for various conditions, including analgesia, headache, inflammation, lameness, lumbago, rheumatism, and dental diseases in Korea. Previously, epi-continentalic acid, continentalic acid, and kaurenoic acid as major active biological compounds belonging to the diterpenoid class were identified. To synthesize diterpenoid derivatives with enhanced bioavailability, Fusarium fujikuroi was employed to biotransform diterpenoids due to its known antibacterial activity. This yielded two derivatives of kaurenoic acid, namely 16α-hydroxyent-kauran-2-on-19-oic acid and 2β, 16α-dihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid, with their chemical structures elucidated via NMR analysis. These derivatives exhibited increased polarity compared to kaur- enoic acid, as evidenced by their retention time on preparative HPLC using the ODS-A column and structural modifications. Evaluation of their antidiabetic activity targeting PTP1B, a negative regulator of the insulin signaling pathway, revealed inhibitory activities of 30.8% and 27.6%, respectively, at a concentration of 4 ㎍/ml. Additionally, both derivatives demonstrated low cytotoxicity, with an IC50 value 18 times higher than kaurenoic acid. Therefore, the augmented water solubility and reduced toxicity of 16α-hydroxy-ent-kauran-2-on-19-oic acid and 2β, 16α-dihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid, resulting from biotransformation by F. fujikuroi, render them promising candidates for industrial applications.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.211-216
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• 2005

Purpose: It has been reported that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can inhibit glioma growing in vitro. However, clinical trials with ATRA alone in gliomas revealed modest results. ATRA has been shown to increase radiosensitivity in other tumor types, so combining radiation and ATRA would be one of alternatives to increase therapeutic efficacy in malignant gliomas. Thus, we intended to know the role of catalase, which is induced by ATRA, for radiosensitivity if radiation-reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) is removed by catalase, the effect of radiation will be reduced. Materials and Methods: A rat glioma cell line (36B10) was used for this study. The change of catalase activity and radiosensitivity by ATRA, with or without 3-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole (ATZ), a chemical inhibitor of catalase were measured. Catalase activity was measured by the decomposition of $H_2O_2$ spectrophotometrically Radiosensitivity was measured with clonogenic assay. Also ROS was measured using a 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate spectrophotometrically. Results: When 36B10 cells were exposed to 10, 25 and $50{\mu}M$ of ATRA for 48 h, the expression of catalase activity were increased with increasing concentration and incubation time of ATRA. Catalase activity was decreased with increasing the concentration of AT (1, $10{\mu}M$) dose-dependently. ROS was increased with ATRA and it was augmented with the combination of ATRA and radiation. ATZ decreased ROS production and increased cell survival in combination of ATRA and radiation despite the reduction of catalase. Conclusion: The increase of ROS is one of the reasons for the increased radiosensitivity in combination with ATRA. The catalase that is induced by ATRA doesn't decrease ROS production and radiosensitivity.