• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.319-327
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• 2009

Follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol (FF-MAS) has been suggested as a positive factor which could improve the oocyte quality and subsequent embryo development after in vitro fertilization. However, FF-MAS is a highly lipophilic substance and is hard to detect in studying the relationship between MAS and quality of oocyte maturation. The present study focused on the expression of lanosterol 14${\alpha}$-demethylase (LDM), a key enzyme that converts lanosterol to FF-MAS, on mouse oocyte maturation and its potency on development. LDM expression was strong in gonadotropin-primed germinal vesicle stage oocytes, weak after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), and then strong in MII stage oocytes. The LDM-specific inhibitor azalanstat significantly inhibited oocyte fertilization (from 79.4% to 68.3%, p<0.05). Also, azalanstat (5 to 50 ${\mu}M$) decreased the percentage of blastocyst development dosedependently (from 78.7% to 23.4%, p<0.05). The specific inhibition of sterol ${\Delta}14$-reductase and ${\Delta}7$-reductase by AY9944 accumulates FF-MAS and could increase blastocyst development rates. Additionally, in the AY9944 group, the rate of inner cell mass (ICM)/ total cells was similar to that of in vivo development, but the rate was significantly decreased in azalanstat treatment. In conclusion, LDM, the key enzyme of FF-MAS production, may play an important role in fertilization and early development of the mouse embryo, especially in vitro.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.730-739
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• 2022

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes severe infections and poses a global healthcare challenge. The utilization of novel molecules which confer synergistical effects to existing MRSA-directed antibiotics is one of the well-accepted strategies in lieu of de novo development of new antibiotics. Thymol is a key component of the essential oil of plants in the Thymus and Origanum genera. Despite the absence of antimicrobial potency, thymol is known to inhibit MRSA biofilm formation. However, the anti-MRSA activity of thymol analogs is not well characterized. Here, we assessed the antimicrobial activity of several thymol derivatives and found that 4-chloro-2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol (chlorothymol) has antimicrobial activity against MRSA and in addition it also prevents biofilm formation. Chlorothymol inhibited staphyloxanthin production, slowed MRSA motility, and altered bacterial cell density and size. This compound also showed a synergistic antimicrobial activity with oxacillin against highly resistant S. aureus clinical isolates and biofilms associated with these isolates. Our results demonstrate that chlorinated thymol derivatives should be considered as a new lead compound in anti-MRSA therapeutics.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2011

The family of bile acids belongs to a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar biological characteristics. They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways and secreted into small intestine for the participation in the digestion and absorption of fat. The bile acids are mostly confined to the territories of the so-called enterohepatic circulation, which includes the liver, the biliary tree, the intestine and the portal blood with which bile acids are returned to the liver. In patients with bile acid malabsorption, the amount of primary bile acids in the colon is increased compared to healthy controls. Although the increase in the secondary bile acids including deoxycholic acid, is reported to have the potency to affect tumorigenesis in gastrointestinal tracts, there is no firm evidence that clinically relevant concentrations of the bile acids induce cancer. The list of their physiological roles, as well as that of the pathological processes is long and still not complete. There is no doubt that many new concepts, pharmaceutical tools and pharmacological uses of bile acids and their derivatives will emerge in the near future.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.219-225
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• 2005

We studied the anticancer, antioxidative, ACE inhibitory, antithrombic, and cerebral ischemia inhibitory activities, of low molecular weight substances fractionated from the seasoned and smoked products of skipjack tuna (Euthynus pelamis). Low molecular weight substances fractionated from the liquid extract of seasoned and smoked skipjack tuna powder showed 7 peaks on gel permeation chromatography. Anticancer activity was the highest at Peak 3 $(54.23%)$ followed by Peak 4 $(41.58\%)$. The potency order of antioxidative activity was the highest at Peak 3 $(94.14\%)$ followed by Peak 2 $(82.07\%)$ and Peak 5 $(81.24\%)$. ACE inhibitory activity was the highest at Peak 3 $(67.27\%)$ followed by Peak 5 $(45.62\%)$. But there was weak anti thrombotic effect (PT and APTT) in the low molecular weight substances of the seasoned and smoked products of skipjack tuna. Cerebral ischemia inhibitory activity was the highest at Peak 3 $(80.0\%)$ followed by Peak 5 $(40.0\%)$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.201-205
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• 2011

Although various biological activities of resveratrol have been extensively studied, most reports have focused on trans-resveratrol and little attention has been paid to the cis-isomer. In this study, the effect of cis-resveratrol on platelet activity was examined and compared with that of the trans-isomer. Treatment with cis-resveratrol resulted in inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, collagen or ADP, which are representative aggregation-inducing agents, and the trans-isomer elicited the same effects. These effects were concentration-dependent in the range of 1-100 ${\mu}M$. However, the potency of the cis-isomer was much lower than that of the trans-isomer; the $IC_{50}$ values for the cis-isomer versus the trans-isomer were $31{\pm}12$ vs $151{\pm}3$, $161{\pm}3$ vs $91{\pm}4$, and $601{\pm}15$ vs $251{\pm}6\;{\mu}M$ for thrombin-, collagen- and ADP-induced aggregation, respectively. These results indicate that cis-resveratrol has a less potent anti-platelet activity, compared with the trans-isomer, and raise the possibility that the biological activities of the cis-isomer may be different from those of the trans-isomer. It will be necessary to evaluate the activity of cis-resveratrol independently of the trans-isomer.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.91-98
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• 2011

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) have been applied for two decades in the development of relationships between physicochemical properties of chemical substances and their biological activities to obtain a reliable statistical model for prediction of the activities of new chemical entities. The fundamental principle underlying the QSAR is that the structural difference is responsible for the variations in biological activities of the compounds. In this work, we developed 3D-QSAR model for a series of 5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors, utilizing comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and Topomer CoMFA methodologies. Our developed models addressed superiority of Topomer CoMFA over CoMFA. The CoMFA model was obtained with $q^2$=0.593, $r^2$=0.939, $Q^2$=0.334 with 6 optimum number of components (ONC). Higher statistical results were obtained with the Topomer CoMFA model ($q^2$=0.819, $r^2$=0.947, ONC=5). Further robustness of developed models was checked with the ANOVA test and it shows F=113 for CoMFA and F=162.4 for Topomer CoMFA model. Contour map analysis indicated that the more requirement of electrostatic parameter for improved potency.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제64권4호
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• pp.391-397
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• 2021

Four compounds were isolated from Salvia plebeia aerial parts. Silica gel open column chromatography with a gradient elution system was used to isolate and purify these compounds. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy were used for structural elucidation and identification, while electronic circular dichroism was used to confirm the absolute configuration. The structures were determined to be 𝛽-sitosterol (1), (-)-1S,5S,8S,10R-1-acetoxy-8-hydroxy-2-oxoeudesman-3,7(11)-dien-8,12-olide (2), ursolic acid (3), and N-methylhydroxylamine (4). Compounds 2 and 4 were isolated for the first time from this plant. Compound 2 was quantitatively analyzed via HPLC/UV. The results showed that the methanol extract of S. plebeia had a higher content of compound 2 (1.20 mg/g) than the ethanol extract (0.55 mg/g). This study could be used as a preliminary step in conducting HPLC/UV analysis of sesquiterpenoids in S. plebeia extract to assess their bioavailability and potency.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2
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• pp.329.2-330
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• 2002

This study was intended to establish test methods equivalent to those of "Interferon alfa-2 concentrated solution" monograph in European Pharmacophoeia(EP). Two recombinant interferon alfa concentrated solutions manufactured in Korea were tested according to the monograph of EP. Tests of identification(biological activity. isoelectric focusing. SDS-PAGE under reducing condition, peptide mapping). related proteins. impurities of moducular masses differing from that of interferon alfa-2(SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing condition). bacterial endotoxin, protein, potency, host-cell-derrved proteins. and host-cell-derived DNA were performed in the laboratories of manufacrues and division of biotechnology. KFDA. The results of this study showed that specitications of interfenon alfa concentrated solutions manufactured in Korea were within the aceptance criteria of EP. Based on the study. specitications and test methods for interferon alfa concentrated solution can be established according to the monograph of EP suggesting the revision of Minimum requirements for biological products

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2019

Parasitic infections have remained a significant burden on human and animal health. In part, this is due to lack of clinically-approved, novel antimicrobials and a lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry. An alternative approach is to modify existing clinically-approved drugs for efficient delivery formulations to ensure minimum inhibitory concentration is achieved at the target site. Nanotechnology offers the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs through modification of nanoparticles with ligands. Amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole are clinically available drugs in the treatment of amoebal and fungal infections. These drugs were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. To characterize these gold-conjugated drug, atomic force microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. These drugs and their gold nanoconjugates were examined for antimicrobial activity against the protist pathogen, Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Moreover, host cell cytotoxicity assays were accomplished. Cytotoxicity of these drugs and drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles was also determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Gold nanoparticles conjugation resulted in enhanced bioactivity of all three drugs with amphotericin B producing the most significant effects against Acanthamoeba castellanii (p < 0.05). In contrast, bare gold nanoparticles did not exhibit antimicrobial potency. Furthermore, amoebae treated with drugs-conjugated gold nanoparticles showed reduced cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. In this report, we demonstrated the use of nanotechnology to modify existing clinically-approved drugs and enhance their efficacy against pathogenic amoebae. Given the lack of development of novel drugs, this is a viable approach in the treatment of neglected diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.355-364
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• 2008

Mushrooms are regarded as one of the well-known foods and biopharmaceutical materials with a great deal of interest. ${\beta}$-Glucan is the major component of mushrooms that displays various biological activities such as antidiabetic, anticancer, and antihyperlipidemic effects. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanism of its immunostimulatory potency in immune responses of macrophages, using exopolysaccharides prepared from liquid culture of Lentinus edodes. We found that fraction II (F-II), with large molecular weight protein polysaccharides, is able to strongly upregulate the phenotypic functions of macrophages such as phagocytic uptake, ROS/NO production, cytokine expression, and morphological changes. F-II triggered the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and activated its upstream signaling cascades such as PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways, as assessed by their phosphorylation levels. The function-blocking antibodies to dectin-1 and TLR-2, but not CR3, markedly suppressed F-II-mediated NO production. Therefore, our data suggest that mushroom-derived ${\beta}$-glucan may exert its immunostimulating potency via activation of multiple signaling pathways.