• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.134-148
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• 2021

Background: Lung cancer has a high incidence worldwide, and most lung cancer-associated deaths are attributable to cancer metastasis. Although several medicinal properties of Panax ginseng Meyer have been reported, the effect of ginsenosides Rk1 and Rg5 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) stimulated by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and self-renewal in A549 cells is relatively unknown. Methods: We treated TGF-β1 or alternatively Rk1 and Rg5 in A549 cells. We used western blot analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), wound healing assay, Matrigel invasion assay, and anoikis assays to determine the effect of Rk1 and Rg5 on TGF-mediated EMT in lung cancer cell. In addition, we performed tumorsphere formation assays and real-time PCR to evaluate the stem-like properties. Results: EMT is induced by TGF-β1 in A549 cells causing the development of cancer stem-like features. Expression of E-cadherin, an epithelial marker, decreased and an increase in vimentin expression was noted. Cell mobility, invasiveness, and anoikis resistance were enhanced with TGF-β1 treatment. In addition, the expression of stem cell markers, CD44, and CD133, was also increased. Treatment with Rk1 and Rg5 suppressed EMT by TGF-β1 and the development of stemness in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, Rk1 and Rg5 markedly suppressed TGF-β1-induced metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP2/9) activity, and activation of Smad2/3 and nuclear factor kappa B/extra-cellular signal regulated kinases (NF-kB/ERK) pathways in lung cancer cells. Conclusions: Rk1 and Rg5 regulate the EMT inducing TGF-β1 by suppressing the Smad and NF-κB/ERK pathways (non-Smad pathway).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2008

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were investigated from the portions of shoots and roots in accordance with developmental stage and in response to environmental stress and antioxidants using Rhodiola-seedlings. The rates of SOD activities were revealed highly at the portion of roots and its tip of seedlings in the latter stages rather than the initial stages. SOD activities of seedlings in the initial stages treated with sodium chloride and cadmium as environmental stressors showed the decrease by 15 and 30% with respect to the control, respectively. However, in spite of stressor-treatments, the activities in the roots were increased according to the growth period showing a maximum rate of up to 45%. Also, SOD activities of the seedling treated with ascorbic acid as a antioxidant were increased by 46% of control value, but this was similar to the rate revealed in the presence of stressors. These results suggest that SOD activities in Rhodiola-seedlings may be related with the important defence-system against injurious environments.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.45-55
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• 2003

This study investigates the fractional composition and the leaching characteristics of heavy metals in polluted soils due to mining activities. The fractionated composition of heavy metals is classified into five fractions; adsorbed, carbonate, reducible, organic and residual fraction. The status of humic substances in mine wastes of most sites are polyhumic except tailing from Sangdong mine. According to the sequential extraction procedures (SEPs), leaching probabilities of Cd in coal wastes and tailing are relatively low due to high percentage of residual fraction. 46.4% of Ni in tailings from Sangdong mine is probably leached under oxidized environment, and 39.4% of Cu in these tailings is readily extracted under strongly oxidized environment by organic fraction. According to leaching condition of pH 3.0 and pH 5.6, the amount of heavy metals leached out of coal wastes and tailing increases to 1/2 hours. At pH 3.0 and pH 5.6, concentration of Ni in tailing increases up three times of the initial value. Heavy metals released from coal wastes and tailing were not influenced significantly by leaching time.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1140-1146
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the comparison of immunomodualtory effects of water-extracted Ginseng Radix(GR), Pilose Asia-bell(PA), Astragali Radix(AR), Astractylodes Rhizoma alba(AA) and Dioscoreae Rhizoma (DR). The parameter examined to assess apparent immunomodulatory effect of the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR included the regulation of Nitric oxide (NO), the expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokine, the change of B cell phenotype. The water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression, the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR induced IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression. Therefore, it seems that the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR have a inducing effect of Th1 type cytokines. In the Flow cytometry analysis, the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR did not change B cell phenotype (CD45R/B220). The water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR have a reducing effect of immune suppression cause by Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR may be, in part, associated with the inducing IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression in and regulation of NO production in macrophage cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.354-360
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• 2011

In order to screen new allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture (allo-MLR) inhibitor which is expected to be immunomodulating drug lead, we have investigated allo-MLR inhibitory activity on the marine-derived symbiotic microorganisms (1,895 strains) from the marine algae. The potent inhibitory activities (over 45% inhibition of proliferation at 10 and 2 ${\mu}g/ml$) without cytotoxicity were observed in the extracts of 46 strains. While, the significant stimulating activities (over 100% proliferation at 10 and 2 ${\mu}g/ml$) without cytotoxicity were observed in the extracts of 5 strains. In the second assay using 46 bioactive strains, 14 strains exhibited again significant allo-MLR inhibitory activity. Finally, 11 strains among the 14 strains inhibited proliferation and IFN-${\gamma}$ production of CD4+ T cells during the stimulation with specific antigen in the third assay. On the basis of above results, the marine algae is nice source for isolation of immunomodulating microorganism, and the marine algae-associated microorganism is also nice target for development of the new immunomodulating drug lead.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the heavy metal contents in commercial herbal medicines in Korea. Methods: Monitoring of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury was carried out on 116 samples of eleven types of herbal medicines. Among the total samples, 71 samples were domestic and 45 were imported. The samples were digested using the microwave method. The heavy metal contents were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and a mercury analyzer. ICP-AES was used to analyze lead, arsenic cadmium. Mercury was analyzed by the amalgamation method. Results: The mean values of the heavy metal contents in the herbal medicines were Pb 0.64mg/kg, As 0.26mg/kg, Cd 0.07mg/kg and Hg 0.004mg/kg. Of the total samples, one violated the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) regulatory guidance on heavy metals in herbal medicines. Lead was detected at more than 5mg/kg in one sample. The measured values of arsenic, cadmium and mercury in the herbal medicines showed levels lower than the recommended levels for herbal medicines in MFDS regulatory guidance. In the comparison of domestic samples with imported herbal medicines, it was found that one domestic sample surpassed the maximum residue limits for lead. Conclusion: These results will be used to establish the regulation and control of heavy metal contents in herbal medicines. In addition, continuous monitoring is needed to ensure confidence in and the safety of these herbal medicines.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2014

The potential ability of Button mushroom compost (BMC) to solubilize heavy metals was estimated with metal contaminated soils collected from abandoned mines of Boryeong area in South Korea. The bacterial strains in BMC were isolated for investigating the mobilization of metals in soil or plant by the strains and identified according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. When metal solubilization potential of BMC was assessed in a batch experiment, the BMC was found to be capable of solubilizing metals in the presence of metals (Co, Pb and Zn) and the results showed that inoculation of BMC could increase the concentrations of water soluble Co, Pb and Cd by 35, 25 and 45% respectively, than those of non-inoculated soils. BMC-assisted growth promotion and metal uptake in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was also evaluated in a pot experiment. In comparison with non-inoculated seedlings, the inoculation led to increase the growth of H. annuus by 27, 25 and 28% respectively in Co, Pb and Zn contaminated soils. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Zn in the shoot and root systems was observed in inoculated plants, where metal translocation from root to the above-ground tissues was also found to be enhanced by the BMC. The apparent results suggested that the BMC could effectively be employed in enhancing phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Zn from contaminated soils.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the content of foreign mineral materials and heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg) contained in commercial herbal medicines (1504 samples) classified by parts used, and the effect of removing heavy metals by washing treatment (take 50 g of the sample and put 1000 ml of distilled water, shake it gentle by hand for 1 min). The 5% trimmed means of acid-insoluble ash value (%) were as follows; above ground parts (0.76) and underground parts (0.52). Those of the total amount of individual heavy metals value (mg/kg) were as follows; caulis (1.33), flos (1.23), herba (0.91), cortex (0.76), rhizoma (0.73), radix (0.67), semen (0.44) and fructus (0.39). Acid-insoluble ash content was correlated with Pb in herbal medicines of underground parts (r=0.446) (p<0.01). After washing, the removal rate of heavy metals contained in 6 radix herbal medicines shows 33-13% respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered an alternative source of neuronal lineage cells, which are difficult to isolate from brain and expand in vitro. Previous studies have reported that MSCs expressing Nestin ($Nestin^+$ MSCs), a neuronal stem/progenitor cell marker, exhibit increased transcriptional levels of neural development-related genes, indicating that $Nestin^+$ MSCs may exert potential with neurogenic differentiation. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of the presence of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in bone-marrow-derived primary cells (BMPCs) on enhanced neurogenic differentiation of BMPCs by identifying the presence of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in uncultured and cultured BMPCs. The percentage of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in BMPCs was measured per passage by double staining with Nestin and CD90, an MSC marker. The efficiency of neurogenic differentiation was compared among passages, revealing the highest and lowest yields of $Nestin^+$ MSCs. The presence of $Nestin^+$ MSCs was identified in BMPCs before in vitro culture, and the highest and lowest percentages of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in BMPCs was observed at the third (P3) and fifth passages (P5). Moreover, significantly the higher efficiency of differentiation into neurons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells and astrocytes was detected in BMPCs at P3, compared with P5. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that neurogenic differentiation can be enhanced by increasing the proportion of $Nestin^+$ MSCs in cultured BMPCs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2010

Recently a number of media facade buildings making beautiful cityscape landmark has been increased in Seoul. However, indiscreet adaptation of media facade cause problems such as light pollution and poor city image. This paper was to investigate luminous characteristics of media facade building. Five representative media facade buildings in Seoul have been selected. The CS-100 and ProMetric-1400 were used to measure the luminance and color temperature of the facades. The measurement points were located at the opposite spot of the building. The results showed that maximum media facade luminance of such buildings exceed Seoul design guideline. Also, color temperature with over 5,500[K] that exceed the design guideline were mostly used in all the facades.