• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2015

Lindera obtusiloba has been widely used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of lots of diseases, including abdominal pain, bruise, and hepatocirrhosis. Here in this study, we elucidated the lifespan-extending effect of methanolic extract of Lindera obtusiloba (MLO) using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. We found that MLO has potent lifespan extension activities under normal culture condition. Then, we determined the protective effects of MLO on the stress conditions such as osmotic, thermal and oxidative stress. To reveal possible mechanism of MLO-mediated lifespan, we further investigated the effect of MLO on the antioxidant enzyme activities and intracellular ROS levels. Our results demonstrated that superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly up-regulated by MLO treatment, resulted in reduced intracellular ROS levels. In this work, we also tested whether MLO-mediated longevity activity was associated with aging-related factors such as food intake and growth. Our data revealed that both of pharyngeal pumping rate and body length were significantly shifted by MLO treatment, indicating these factors were involved in MLO's lifespan-extension effects. Although MLO induces reduction in food intake, the body movement of MLO-fed aged worms was not decreased, compared to untreated control worms, indicating MLO might extend lifespan without affecting healthspan.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2014

After harvesting the medicinal parts of Curcuma longa, the remaining underground parts were discarded. From the remaining underground parts of Curcuma longa quercetin-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q37) was isolated. The antioxidant activities in vitro and lifespan-extension effect of Q37 were elucidated using the Caenorhabditis elegans. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of Q37 showed similar potent activities in comparison with vitamin C. Q37 also showed potent superoxide quenching activities as measured by the riboflavin- and xanthine-originated superoxide quenching activity tests. Q37 prolonged lifespan of worms under normal culture condition. In terms of protective effect of Q37 on the stress conditions such as thermal and oxidative stresses, Q37-treated worms exhibited enhanced survival rate, as compared to control worms. To know the possible mechanism of Q37-mediated increased lifespan and stress resistance of worms, we examined the activities of Q37on superoxide dismutase (SOD), and invested intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The results revealed that Q37 was able to elevate SOD activity of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.582-589
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• 2015

Several theories emphasize that aging is closely related to oxidative stress and disease. The formation of excess ROS can lead to DNA damage and the acceleration of aging. Vigna angularis is one of the important medicinal plants in Korea. We isolated vitexin from V. angularis and elucidated the lifespan-extending effect of vitexin using the Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Vitexin showed potent lifespan extensive activity and it elevated the survival rates of nematodes against the stressful environments including heat and oxidative conditions. In addition, our results showed that vitexin was able to elevate antioxidant enzyme activities of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. These studies demonstrated that the increased stress tolerance of vitexin-mediated nematode could be attributed to increased expressions of stress resistance proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) and heat shock protein (HSP-16.2). In this work, we also studied whether vitexin-mediated longevity activity was associated with aging-related factors such as progeny, food intake, growth and movement. The data revealed that these factors were not affected by vitexin treatment except movement. Vitexin treatment improved the body movement of aged nematode, suggesting vitexin affects healthspan as well as lifespan of nematode. These results suggest that vitexin might be a probable candidate which could extend the human lifespan.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1105-1108
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• 2014

We investigated whether Bacillus spp., newly isolated from Korean traditional food resources, influence the resistance of hosts to foodborne pathogens, by using Caenorhabditis elegans as a surrogate host model. Initially, we selected 20 Bacillus spp. that possess antimicrobial activity against various foodborne pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus. Among the selected strains, six strains of Bacillus spp. used in preconditioning significantly prolonged the survival of nematodes exposed to S. aureus. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, all six strains were identified as B. licheniformis. Our findings suggest that preconditioning with B. licheniformis may modulate the host defense response against S. aureus.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.442-446
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• 2013

Here in this study, we isolated 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-${\beta}$-D-glucose (PGG) from Curcuma longa L. and elucidated the lifespan-extending effect of PGG using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. In the present study, PGG demonstrated potent lifespan extension of worms under normal culture condition. Then, we determined the protective effects of PGG on the stress conditions such as thermal and oxidative stress. In the case of heat stress, PGG-treated worms exhibited enhanced survival rate, compared to control worms. In addition, PGG-fed worms lived longer than control worms under oxidative stress induced by paraquat. To verify the possible mechanism of PGG-mediated increased lifespan and stress resistance of worms, we investigated whether PGG might alter superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and intracellular ROS levels. Our results showed that PGG was able to elevate SOD activities of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2015

The present study was conducted to screen candidate probiotic strains for anti-inflammatory activity. Initially, a nitric oxide (NO) assay was used to test selected candidate probiotic strains for anti-inflammatory activity in cultures of the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. Then, the in vitro probiotic properties of the strains, including bile tolerance, acid resistance, and growth in skim milk media, were investigated. We also performed an in vitro hydrophobicity test and an intestinal adhesion assay using Caenorhabditis elegans as a surrogate in vivo model. From our screening, we obtained 4 probiotic candidate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains based on their anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell cultures and the results of the in vitro and in vivo probiotic property assessments. Molecular characterization using 16S rDNA sequencing analysis identified the 4 LAB strains as Lactobacillus plantarum. The selected L. plantarum strains (CAU1054, CAU1055, CAU1064, and CAU1106) were found to possess desirable in vitro and in vivo probiotic properties, and these strains are good candidates for further investigations in animal models and human clinical studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying their anti-inflammatory activities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2015

Previous phytochemical studies of Vigna angularis (Ohwi) Ohwi & Ohashi (Leguminosae) have shown the presence of saponins and flavonoids. From the seed of V. angularis, genistein-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (genistin) was isolated. Lifespan-extending effect of genistin was elucidated using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Genistin showed potent lifespan extension of worms under normal culture condition. This compound also exhibited the protective effects against thermal and oxidative stress conditions. In the case of heat stress, genistin-treated worms exhibited enhanced survival rate, compared to control worms. In addition, genistin-fed worms lived longer than control worms under oxidative stress induced by paraquat. To verify the possible mechanism of genistin-mediated increased lifespan and stress resistance of worms, we investigated whether genistin might alter superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activities and intracellular ROS levels. Our results showed that genistin was able to elevate SOD and catalase activities of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2014

The seed of Vigna angularis (Ohwi) Ohwi & Ohashi (= Phaseolus angularis W. F. Wight, Leguminosae) is one of well-known folk foodstuffs in Korea, China and Japan. In the course of screening for antioxidants from natural plants in Korea by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) a methanol extract of the seeds of V. angularis were found to show a potent antioxidant activity. And the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of V. angularis (VAEA) showed the most potent DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide quenching activities. To reveal the effect of antioxidant activities of VAEA, we tested the thermal and oxidative stress tolerances, activities of SOD and catalase, and intracellular ROS level in Caenorhabditis elegans. Consequently, VAEA-fed worms lived longer than control worms under the thermal and oxidative stress conditions. And VAEA elevated SOD and catalase activities of worms, and reduced intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1052-1060
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• 2018

Triclosan (TCS) is a phenolic antimicrobial chemical used in consumer products and medical devices. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo animal studies has linked TCS to numerous health problems, including allergic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disease. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system, we here show that short-term TCS treatment ($LC_{50}$: ~0.2 mM) significantly induced mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, TCS-induced mortality was dramatically suppressed by co-treatment with non-ionic surfactants (NISs: e.g., Tween 20, Tween 80, NP-40, and Triton X-100), but not with anionic surfactants (e.g., sodium dodecyl sulfate). To identify the range of compounds susceptible to NIS inhibition, other structurally related chemical compounds were also examined. Of the compounds tested, only the toxicity of phenolic compounds (bisphenol A and benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) was significantly abrogated by NISs. Mechanistic analyses using TCS revealed that NISs appear to interfere with TCS-mediated mortality by micellar solubilization. Once internalized, the TCS-micelle complex is inefficiently exported in worms lacking PMP-3 (encoding an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter) transmembrane protein, resulting in overt toxicity. Since many EDCs and surfactants are extensively used in commercial products, findings from this study provide valuable insights to devise safer pharmaceutical and nutritional preparations.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2012

In the present study, toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was investigated in the nematode, Caenohabditis elegans focusing on the upstream signaling pathway responsible for regulating oxidative stress, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in AgNPs exposed C.elegans, suggesting oxidative stress as an important mechanism in the toxicity of AgNPs towards C. elegans. Expression of genes in MAPK signaling pathways increased by AgNPs exposure in less than 2-fold compared to the control in wildtype C.elegans, however, those were increased dramatically in sod-3 (gk235) mutant after 48 h exposure of AgNPs (i.e. 4-fold for jnk-1 and mpk-2; 6-fold for nsy-1, sek-1, and pmk-1, and 10-fold for jkk-1). These results on the expression of oxidative stress response genes suggest that sod-3 gene expression appears to be dependent on p38 MAPK activation. The high expressions of the pmk-1 gene 48 h exposure to AgNPs in the sod-3 (gk235) mutant can also be interpreted as compensatory mechanisms in the absence of important stress response genes. Overall results suggest that MAPK-based integrated stress signaling network seems to be involved in defense to AgNPs exposure in C.elegans.