• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.331-342
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• 2020

The suppression of neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells can be considered a key target for improving the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). Asparagus cochinchinensis has traditionally been used as a medicine to treat fever, cough, kidney disease, breast cancer, inflammatory diseases, and brain diseases. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of an aqueous extract from A. cochinchinensis root (AEAC), particularly its anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglial cells. BV-2 cells were treated with four different concentrations of AEAC. No significant toxicity was detected in BV-2 cells treated with AEAC. Nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels were 21% lower in the AEAC+LPS group than in the Vehicle+LPS group. Lower proinflammatory (TNF-α and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and IL-10) levels were also detected in the AEAC+LPS group than in the Vehicle+LPS group, albeit at varying rates. Moreover, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members after LPS treatment was significantly recovered in the AEAC-pretreated group compared to the Vehicle+LPS group, enhancement of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members after LPS treatment was significantly recovered in the AEAC-pretreated group, while cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase caused by LPS treatment was less severe in the AEAC+LPS group. The increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by LPS treatment was also lower in the AEAC-pretreated group than in the Vehicle+LPS group. This is the first study to show that AEAC exerts anti-neuroinflammatory activity against LPS stimulation by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, the cell cycle, and ROS production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2014

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) plays a central role in cell signaling and leads to cell proliferation, survival, motility, exocytosis, and cytoskeletal rearrangements, as well as specialized cell responses, superoxide production, and cardiac myocyte growth. PI3K is divided into three classes; type I PI3K is preferentially expressed in leukocytes and activated by ${\beta}{\gamma}$ subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins. In this study, the cDNAs encoding the $PI3K{\gamma}$ gene were isolated from a brain cDNA library constructed using the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The sequence of the isolated $PI3K{\gamma}$ was 1341 bp, encoding 447 amino acids. The nucleotide sequence of the $PI3K{\gamma}$ gene was analyzed with that of other species, including Oreochromis niloticus and Danio rerio, and it turned out to be well conserved during evolution. The $PI3K{\gamma}$ gene was subcloned into the expression vector pET-44a(+), and expressed in the E. coli BL21 (DE3) codon plus cell. The resulting protein was expressed as a fusion protein of approximately 49 kDa containing a C-terminal six-histidine extension that was derived from the expression vector. The expressed protein was purified to homogeneity by His-tag affinity chromatography and showed enzymatic activity corresponding to $PI3K{\gamma}$. The binding of wortmannin to $PI3K{\gamma}$, as detected by anti-wortmannin antisera, closely followed the inhibition of the kinase activities. The results obtained from this study will provide a wider base of knowledge on the primary structure and characterization of the $PI3K{\gamma}$ at the molecular level.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.351-360
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to predict visual-spatial working memory performance through the characteristics of an electroencephalogram (EEG) in the resting state. The 31 study participants, middle school students with various to academic performance, were underwent visual-spatial working memory test in the Comprehensive Attention Test (CAT) on December in 2014. Each 7 and 6 participants were divided into an Excellent Working Memory (EWM) group and Poor Working Memory (PWM) group depending on the forward/backward working memory scores. The EEG measurements and analysis of the data from a Brain Function Tester were performed by the two groups. A Mann-Whitney Test was used to examine the statistical differences between them. The activation of high beta (${\beta}H$) at the Fp1 and Fp2 sites in the left and right hemisphere, and that of the low beta (${\beta}L$) in the right hemisphere in the EWM group was significantly higher than that in the PWM group. In conclusion, there is a correlation between the visual-spatial working memory performance and the activation of ${\beta}H$ and ${\beta}L$ in the resting state and a close correlation that of ${\beta}L$ in the right hemisphere in terms of mental activity and faculty. Therefore, the visual-spatial working memory performance can be predicted by the activation of ${\beta}H$ and ${\beta}L$ in the resting state. The activation of EEG can be applied as an assessment tool and provide basis data for visual-spatial working memory performance.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.550-558
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• 2017

The effect of Artemisia argyi H. under liquid-state fermentation by Monascus purpureus (AAFM) on cognitive impairments has been studied in a mice model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline induced by streptozotocin (STZ). C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks of age, male) were separated into four groups: a normal control, STZ-induced diabetic mouse group (STZ group), Artemisia argyi H. (AA) 10 group (diabetic mouse+AA 10 mg/kg/day), AAFM 10 group (diabetic mouse+AAFM 10 mg/kg/day). Administration of AA and AAFM significantly improved glucose tolerance, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and ameliorated cognitive deficit, as shown by the behavioral tests including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and Y-maze tests. After behavioral tests, the cholinergic system was examined by assessment of the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and the antioxidant system was also assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and liver.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-96
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• 1973

In order to elucidate the effects of copper on Corassius carassius, the following were studied: 1) lactate dehydrogenase isozyme patterns by cellulose acetate electrophoresis, 2) LDH activity and copper effect on LDH enzyme system y spectrophotometry, 3) esterase isozyme patterns by agar thin layer electrophoresis, 4) hemoglobin patterns by starch gel electrophoresis, and 5) histological study. 1. There were two bands of LDH isozymes (LDH-3 and LDH-5) in the gill, three bands (LDH-2, LDH-4, and LDH-5) in the liver, and two bands (LDH-3 and LDH-4) in the muscle of the normal fish. The LDH-1 bond was not found in the above three tissues. When the fish were exposed to copper, LDH-3 appeared in the liver, LDH-5 in the muscle, but no new LDH band appeared in the gill. 2. The sepcific activities of the LDH were lowest in the gill and highest in the muscle of the normal fish, and they were gradually decreassed in the gill and highest in the muscle of the normal fish, and they were gradually decreased in the liver and mucle except in the gill from 1-day to 10-day exposure to copper. It indicates that LDH activities in the liver and muscle of the fish were inhibited by copper. 3. Through in vitro experiment, it is clear that the decrease of the LDH activities of the liver and muscle of the fish exposed to copper is mainly caused by the inhibition on the M-LDH in the fish. 4. The numbers of the esterase isozyme bands of the gill, liver, muscle, blood, brain, and kidney of the normal fish were 3, 6, 2, 2, 2, and 2 respectively, and these numbers were the same as those exposed to copper. The relative mobilities of the esterase bands in the gill, liver, blood, and kidney of the exposed group were different from those of the control. 5. There was one hemoglobin band on the anode in the normal fish. It seems that the nobility of hemoglobin band of the fish exposed to copper was slightly faster than that of the normal fish. 6. The normal gill lamellae of the fish consisted of centrally located pillar cells and a number of mucus cells. When the fish were exposed to copper, the epithelial layer was divorced first, disintegrated, and then destroyed completely. 7. The liver of the normal fish had prominent central veins, cords of hepatic cells, and sinusoids. When the fish were exposed to copper, numerous droplets of fat appeared in the cells around the central vein of the liver. It is assumed that the fatty droplets were accumulated by the lesion due to fatty metamorphosis of the liver caused by copper. 8. There was no histological difference between the muscle of the normal fish and that of the fish exposed to copper. 9. In the normal fish, the tubules of the kidney were surrounded by hemopoetic tissues. However, the kidney tissue of the fish exposed to copper received some damage on the proximal tubules. Since the tubule cells were reduced in height, the lumens of the tubules were enlarged. Consequently many proximal tubules exhibited some pink-stained granular casts and various stages of degeneration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1208-1214
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• 2011

Caffeine, a psychoactive stimulant, has been implicated in the modulation of learning and memory functions due to its action as a non-selective adenosine receptors antagonist. On the contrary, some side effects of caffeine have been reported, such as an increased energy loss and metabolic rate, decrease DNA synthesis in the spleen, and increased oxidative damage to exerted on LDL particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a safe stimulant from natural plants mixture (Aralia elata, Acori graminei Rhizoma, Chrysanthemum, Dandleion, Guarana, Shepherd's purse) that can be used as a substitute for caffeine. Thirty SD rats were divided into three groups; control group, caffeine group (15.0 mg/kg, i.p.), and natural plants mixture group (NP, 1 mL/kg, p.o.). The effect of NP extract on stimulant activity was evaluated with open-field test (OFT) and plus maze test for measurement of behavioral profiles. Plasma lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation in LDL (conjugated dienes), total antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and DNA damage in white blood, liver, and brain cells were measured. In the OFT, immobility time was increased significantly by acute (once) and chronic (3 weeks) supplementation of NP and showed a similar effect to caffeine treatment. Three weeks of caffeine treatment caused plasma lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in liver cells, whereas there were no changes in the NP group. NP group showed a higher plasma HDL cholesterol concentration compared to the caffeine group. The results indicate that the natural plants mixture had a stimulant effect without inducing oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.95-113
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• 2009

Objectives : Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) is a hair care product which is composed of ten plant extracts used in oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) on hair regrowth and cytokine changes in a shaving model of C57BL/6 mice. Materials and Methods : Five-week-old mice were acclimated for 1 week at a temperature between $21-23^{\circ}C$, 40-60% relative humidity, and 12h of a light/dark cycle before beginning of the experiment. There were three experimental groups including 50% ethanol (EtOH, control), a positive control of 3% Minoxidil, and 30% Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) in 50% ethanol in 18 female mice. The test compounds were topically treated once a day over 12 days. The hair regrowth was photographically and histologically determined during the experimental period of 12 days. Revelation of EGF, $TGF-{\beta}1$ and IL-6 in hair follicle were also determined using immunohistochemistry. In addition to that, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in skin tissue were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results : Hair regrowth in 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups was promoted earlier and faster than the control group. Concentrations of hairs and thick-hair ratio in 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups were promoted than the control group. EGF was moderately positive in hair follicle of 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups, but negative in the control group. $TGF-{\beta}1$ was not significantly difference between the groups. IL-6 in hair follicle of Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) group was negative, but weakly positive in 3% Minoxidil and control group. IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ in skin tissue were significantly decreased in Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) group, but there was not significantly decreased in 3% Minoxidil and control group. $TNF-{\alpha}$ in skin tissue was significantly decreased in 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) has hair growth promoting activity and it can be used for treatment of alopecia. And these effects relate to EGF revelation of hair follicle and a decrease IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in skin tissue.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1986

It has been well documented that the peripheral autonomic nervous system plays an important role in exocrine pancreatic secretion. However, the role of the central nervous system in pancreatic function is still obscure even though the central nervous system has been known to control gastrointestinal functions through the autonomic nervous system. Since the reticular formation in the mesencephalone seems to integrate the autonomic function, the present study was undertaken to investigate a possible influence of the reticular formation upon the exocrine pancreatic secretion. Twenty·two albino rats fasted for 24 hours were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of urethane in a dose of 1 g/kg, The pancreatic duct was cannulated to collect pancreatic juice and bile juice was diverted to the jejunum. The gastroduodenal junction was ligated to Prevent passage of gastic juice into the duodenum. A pair of electrodes were bilaterally inserted in the reticualr formation of the mesencephalone with aid of a stereotaxic apparatus. When the volume of pancreatic juice secreted for 10 min became constant, the reticular formation was electrically stimulated for 10 min. Parameters of the electical stimulation was 1.3V, 40 Hz and 2 msec. When the pancreatic secretion returned to the level before the electrical stimulation, cervical vagotomy (11 rats) or administration of propranolol (11 rats) in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg through the jugular vein was carried out. Ten minutes after the treatment, the electrical stimulation of the reticular formation was repeated. The brain was fixed by perfusion of 10% formaline solution through the heart, and then placement of the electrode tip was examined histologically. Protein concentration and amylase activity in samples of Pancreatic secretion were measured. The electrical stimulation of the reticular formation significantly increased in volume $({\mu}l/10\;min)$, Protein output $({\mu}g/10\;min)$ and amylase output (U/10 min) in the pancreatic secretion. The stimulatroy effects were not affected by the cervical vagotomy but completely abolished by propranolol. Meantime, it was also observed that both vagotomy and propranolol significantly reduced the pancreatic secretory function. These results indicate that the reticular formation in the mesencephalone may exert a stimulatory effect upon the Pancreatic secretory function not through the vagus nerve but through the sympathetic pathway in anesthetized rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1185-1193
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• 2006

This study investigated the effects of green tea on the disorders of lipid metabolism, oxidative system and hepatic functions induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), using adult male rats (SD) for 3 weeks. These 36 animals were divided into four groups. TCDD ($50{\mu}g/kg$ BW) was intraperitoneally injected at the beginning of experiment. Green tea powder was added 1% or 3% levels in basal diets respectively. Relative weights of thymus were decreased about one-third of control group, but those of liver, brain and testis were significantly increased in rats treated TCDD. Neutrophill% and lymphocyte% by TCDD treatment was improved by green tea diets. In liver functional enzyme, elevation of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities due to TCDD treatment was lowered by green tea diets. The concentrations of serum and liver lipids were significantly increased by TCDD treatment, however, those of serum and liver triglyceride tended to decrease by green tea diets. Fecal lipid excretion was increased in rats fed green tea diets. Especially, fecal total cholesterol level was significantly elevated by 3% green tea diets. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased in rats fed 3% green tea diets. Increment of benzphetamine N-demethylase (BPND) activity by TCDD treatment was declined by 1% green tea diets. These results indicate that green tea can exert improving effects on liver lipid accumulation and unfavorable hepatic functions, and elevate antioxidation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.743-748
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• 2008

Amyloid $\beta$ peptide ($A{\beta}$) is known to increase oxidative stress in nerve cells, leading to apoptosis that is characterized by free radical formation and lipid peroxidation. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are characterized by large deposits of $A{\beta}$ in the brain. In our study, neuronal protective effects of green tea, along with water activity (0.813), and leaf storage periods (fresh leaf, or leaf stored for up to 4 weeks) were investigated. We measured protective effects against $A{\beta}$-induced cytotoxicity in neuron-like PC12 cells. Powdered green tea was extracted with distilled water at $70^{\circ}C$ for 5 min, and this extract was freeze-dried and stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ until use. In cell viability assays using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), the fresh extract, and that obtained after 1 week of leaf storage, showed the best protective effects against $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity. As oxidative stress causes membrane breakdown, the protective effect of green tea extracts was investigated using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and trypan blue exclusion assays. LDH release into the medium was inhibited (by 20-25%) in all tests. In addition, all green tea extracts (fresh, or stored before extraction for up to 4 weeks) showed better cell protective effects ($93.3{\pm}1.8-96.2{\pm}2.4$) than did vitamin C ($91.0{\pm}1.6$), used as a positive control. The results suggest that effectiveness of green tea extracts falls with prolonged leaf storage.