• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.290-298
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• 2013

This study examined the effects of calcium (Ca) gluconate on collagen-induced DBA mouse rheumatoid arthritis (CIA). A single daily dose of 200, 100 or 50 mg/kg Ca gluconate was administered orally to male DBA/1J mice for 40 days after initial collagen immunization. To ascertain the effects administering the collagen booster, CIA-related features (including body weight, poly-arthritis, knee and paw thickness, and paw weight increase) were measured from histopathological changes in the spleen, left popliteal lymph node, third digit and the knee joint regions. CIA-related bone and cartilage damage improved significantly in the Ca gluconate-administered CIA mice. Additionally, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the paw were reduced in Ca gluconate-treated CIA mice compared to CIA control groups. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the Ca gluconate group. Finally, the production of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, involved in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, were suppressed by treatment with Ca gluconate. Taken together, these results suggest that Ca gluconate is a promising candidate anti-rheumatoid arthritis agent, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunomodulatory effects in CIA mice.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2005

The hyaluronic acid (HA) with excellent biocompatibility can be combined with the monomer polylactide with good biodegradability to produce biocompatible materials which can control the period of degradation in a human body. By freeze drying method, HA and the lactic acid, monomer of polylactide, or lactide, the ester dimer of polylactide, were crosslinked with crosslinking agent, l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide. The analysis of infrared spectroscopy showed that the ester linkage was formed and the analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed that the ester linkage was due to the reaction of lactic acid and HA. The conversion (6∼32%) and degree of crosslinking (4∼19%) increased but the selectivity was almost constant at 62% as the mole ratio of LA to HA increased from 1 to 10 in the crosslinking reaction. The brittleness became more pronounced and the rate of degradation became faster with more addition of lactic acid resulting from the higher ratio of LA to HA, and the swelling ratio was in the range of 500 to 2000%.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.367-376
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The blue honeysuckle berry (Lonicera caerulea var. edulis L.) is a small deciduous shrub belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family that is native to Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. The berry of this shrub is edible, sweet and juicy and is commonly known as the blue honeyberry (BHB). This study examined the anti-diabetic potential of BHB on high-fat-diet-induced mild diabetic mice. The hypoglycemic, and nephroprotective effects of the 12-week oral administration of blue honeyberry extract were analyzed. MATERIALS/METHODS: The hypoglycemic effects were based on the observed changes in insulin, blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Furthermore, the changes in the weight of the pancreas, including its histopathology and immunohistochemical investigation were also performed. Moreover, the nephroprotective effects were analyzed by observing the changes in kidney weight, its histopathology, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine levels. RESULTS: The results showed that the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced control mice showed a noticeable increase in blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, BUN, and creatinine levels. Furthermore, growth was observed in lipid droplet deposition related to the degenerative lesions in the vacuolated renal tubules with the evident enlargement and hyperplasia of the pancreatic islets. In addition, in the endocrine pancreas, there was an increase in the insulin-and glucagon-producing cells, as well as in the insulin/glucagon cell ratios. On the other hand, compared to the HFD-treated mice group, all these diabetic and related complications were ameliorated significantly in a dose-dependent manner after 84 days of the continuous oral administration of BHBe at 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg, and a dramatic resettlement in the hepatic glucose-regulating enzyme activities was observed. CONCLUSIONS: By assessing the key parameters for T2DM, the present study showed that the BHBe could act as a potential herbal agent to cure diabetes (type II) and associated ailments in HFD-induced mice.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.805-809
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• 2004

The antimite activities of cumin seed oil-derived cuminaldehyde and eleven commercial components of Cuminum cyminum oil were examined against Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus adults and compared with those of benzyl benzoate and N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide. Responses varied according to dose and mite species. On the basis of $LD_{50}$ values, the compound most toxic to D. farinae adults was cuminaldehyde ($2.40\mug/cm^2$) followed by benzyl benzoate ($9.32\mug/cm^2$), thymol ($9.43\mug/cm^2$), DEET ($36.84\mug/cm^2$), and 3-carene ($42.11\mug/cm^2$). Against D. pteronyssinus adults, cuminaldehyde ($1.94\mug/cm^2$) was much more effective than benzyl benzoate ($6.50\mug/cm^2$) thymol ($6.92\mug/cm^2$), DEET ($17.79\mug/cm^2$), and 3-carene ($39.85\mug/cm^2$). These results indicate that the antimite activity of cumin seed oil could be caused by cuminaldehyde. Cuminaldehyde was about 3.9 and 3.4 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate against D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus adults, respectively. Therefore, further study is needed to confirm the findings of this study and the possibility of cuminaldehyde as a house dust mite control agent or a lead compound.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.158-161
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• 2004

Scenedesmus spp. were cultured for 51 days in newly developed medium, KEP I (Kim and Ecopeace: initials of corresponding author and environmental company) made with Bacterio-Mineral-Water (3%, v/v) that had been bio-reacted with swine urine medium to 10% (v/v) Bold's Basal medium, and investigated for cancer chemopreventive potential by measuring the induction of quinone reductase (QR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH), and inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 activity. The activitives of QR and GST of Scenedesmus spp. cultured in KEP I medium were increased by 3.0-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. However, Scenedesmus spp. cultured in control medium (CT) increased the activitives of QR and GST by 1.8-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively. Scenedesmus spp. in KEP I medium strongly inhibited CYP 1Al activity. These results show that Scenedesmus spp. in KEP I medium has cancer chemopreventive potential and may be a candidate for further development as a chemopreventive agent.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.348-355
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• 2020

Cyclophosphamide, a cytotoxic anticancer agent, induces immunosuppression and has several adverse effects. N-acetylcysteine alleviates oxidative stress, liver injury, and intestinal tissue damage. The present study examined whether N-acetylcysteine modulates the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide in pigs. Miniature pigs (n = 15) were used as an experimental model to evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine treatment on immune reactions, liver injury, and oxidative stress after cyclophosphamide challenge. Corn-soybean meal based dietary treatments were as follows: control diet with either saline injection, cyclophosphamide injection, or 0.5% N-acetylcysteine and cyclophosphamide injection. N-acetylcysteine increased the number of immune cells and decreased TNF-α production after cyclophosphamide injection and decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ, NF-κB, and IL-8 expression and increased IL-10 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Serum levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased, superoxide dismutase activity increased, and malondialdehyde activity decreased following N-acetylcysteine treatment after cyclophosphamide injection. N-acetylcysteine decreases immunosuppression, liver injury, and oxidative stress in cyclophosphamide-challenged miniature pigs. The present study suggests that N-acetylcysteine has therapeutic application in livestock for modulating immune reactions, liver injury, and oxidative stress.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat a wide range of neurological disorders (e.g., paralysis and stroke) and skin problems (e.g., atopic dermatitis and eczema) in oriental medicine. This study was designed to investigate whether GEB extract inhibits melanogenesis activity in murine B16F10 melanoma. MATERIALS/METHOD: Murine B16F10 cells were treated with 0-5 mg/mL of GEB extract or $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin (a positive control) for 72 h after treatment with/without 200 nM alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) for 24 h. Melanin concentration, tyrosinase activity, mRNA levels, and protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (Trp)1, and Trp2 were analyzed in ${\alpha}$-MSH-untreated and ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells. RESULTS: Treatment with 200 nM ${\alpha}$-MSH induced almost 2-fold melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity along with increased mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1 and Trp2. Irrespective of ${\alpha}$-MSH stimulation, GEB extract at doses of 0.5-5 mg/mL inhibited all these markers for skin whitening in a dose-dependent manner. While lower doses (0.5-1 mg/mL) of GEB extract generally had a tendency to decrease melanogenesis, tyrosinase activity, and mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2, higher doses (2-5 mg/mL) significantly inhibited all these markers in ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects of the GEB extract at higher concentrations were similar to those of $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin, a well-known depigmenting agent. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GEB displays dose-dependent inhibition of melanin synthesis through the suppression of tyrosinase activity as well as molecular levels of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2 in murine B16F10 melanoma. Therefore, GEB may be an effective and natural skin-whitening agent for application in the cosmetic industry.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2014

Rooting agents and shading treatments were tested in two different experiments to determine their effects on the establishment success of hardwood cuttings of three highbush blueberry varieties 'Bluecrop', 'Duke' and 'Sunrise'. For the experiment with rooting agents, one-cm long bases of the cuttings were dipped into solutions of IBA or NAA for 5 s, both at 0, 500 and $1000mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in 50% ethanol, and were also treated with Rootone$^{(R)}$ powder. Determined 90 days after cutting, the percent rooting and root weight were increased by NAA at $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in 'Bluecrop' and 'Sunrise', while in 'Duke' IBA at $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ was effective. These auxin treatments were found to work better than a commercial product Rootone$^{(R)}$. The rooting agent-induced increases in root development resulted in better shoot growth of the cuttings in all three varieties, as determined after 90 days of further growth in individual containers. In the experiment with shading treatments, different levels of the shading treatment (30 to 90%) were imposed over the cutting bed under no mist. In all three varieties, 30% shading increased the percent rooting and root and shoot growth, compared to no shading control. However, shading levels higher than 50% shading were found to be inhibitory for hardwood cuttings of highbush blueberries, especially under the environmental conditions with no mist system.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2006

Two hundred bacterial strains were isolated from the soil around healthy tomato plants in a polyvinyl house, where most of the other plants showed bacterial wilt symptoms. The strains were screened in vitro for their antibacterial activity. Among them, a strain, KPB3 showed strong bactericidal activity against bacterial wilt pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum. The strain KPB3 was identified using physiological and biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA analyses. Based on these tests, the strain was found to be closer to genus Paenibacillus. To control the bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacearum, greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the Paenibacillus strain KPB3. Drench application of this strain ($4{\times}10^8$ CFU $mL^{-1}$) into the pots containing tomato plants, post-inoculated with the pathogen, R. solanacearum could drastically reduce the disease severity, compared to the non-treated plants. To evaluate effectiveness of this strain under field conditions, experiments were carried out in polyvinyl houses infested with R. solanacearum, during spring and autumn of the year 2006. It was observed that, during spring, bacterial wilt was more prevalent compared to the autumn. During spring, 50.9% disease incidences occurred in non-treated controls, while, Paenibacillus strain KPB3 treated plants showed 24.6% disease incidences. Similarly, during autumn, around 17.2% plants were infected with bacterial wilt in non- treated polyvinyl houses, compared to the Paenibacillus strain KPB3 treated plants, which showed 7.0% disease incidences. These results demonstrated that, Paenibacillus strain KPB3 is a potential biological control agent against bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacearum, effective under greenhouse as well as field conditions. This is the first report showing biocontrol of R. solanacearum using a Paenibacillus spp. under field conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.380-387
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• 2016

This study was performed to select potentially available biological control agent from soil bacteria for prevention of ginseng damping off. More than five hundred strains were isolated from ginseng rhizosphere soil. By testing antifungal activity, we have selected three soil bacteria strains and their ability to produce antibiotics and lytic enzymes such as cellulase, protease and pectate lyase was examined. Also, the presence of genes for biosynthesis of lipopeptide such as fengycin, bacillomycin D, surfactin, iturin A, and zwittermicin A was investigated in selected strains. All three strains produced cellulase, protease, and xylanase. Moreover, these strains had gene for biosynthesis of bacillomycin D, surfactin, and iturin A. ES1 and ES3 strains were identified Bacillus methylotrophucus and ES2 was confirmed Bacillus amyloliquefaciens using phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. In field test, control value of ES1, ES2 and ES3 treatment was 32.4%, 46.8% and 36.7%, respectively. This results indicate that antagonistic microbes with high ability of antifungal and lytic enzyme activity can be used as a useful biological control agent to control ginseng damping off.