• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2015

Background: Sun ginseng (SG), a specific formulation of quality-controlled red ginseng, contains approximately equal amounts of three major ginsenosides (RK1, Rg3, and Rg5), which reportedly has antitumor-promoting activities in animal models. Methods: MTT assay was used to assess whether SG can potentiate the anticancer activity of epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells; apoptosis status was analyzed by annexin V-FITC and PI and analyzed by flow cytometry; and apoptosis pathway was studied by analysis of caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation, mitochondrial accumulation of Bax and Bak, and cytochrome c release. Results: SG remarkably enhances cancer cell death induced by epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells. Results of the mechanism study highlighted the cooperation between SG and epirubicin or paclitaxel in activating caspase-3 and -9 but not caspase-8. Moreover, SG significantly increased the mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak triggered by epirubicin or paclitaxel as well as the subsequent release of cytochrome c in the targeted cells. Conclusion: SG significantly potentiated the anticancer activities of epirubicin and paclitaxel in a synergistic manner. These effects were associated with the increased mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak that led to an enhanced cytochrome c release, caspase-9/-3 activation, and apoptosis. Treating cancer cells by combining epirubicin and paclitaxel with SG may prove to be a novel strategy for enhancing the efficacy of the two drug types.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2015

Dendropanax morbifera Leveille (Araliaceae) is an endemic species growing in the south-western part of South Korea and has been used in folk medicine. However, the effects of Dendropanax morbifera Lev. on skin biology remain to be elucidated. In this study, we isolated 1-tetradecanol and ${\beta}$-sitosterol from the n-hexane fraction of Dendropanax mobifera Lev. and To investigate the whitening effect of the fraction, we tested the inhibition of tyrosinase activity of 1-tetradecanol. The results show that the inhibitory effect of the 1-tetradecanol was higher than water extract and n-hexane fraction. And 1-tetradecanol significantly reduced melanin contents of B16F10 cells compared to more than water extract and n-haxane fraction dose-dependantly without cell cytotoxicitiy (below $100{\mu}g/mL$). We also investigated the skin moisturizing effect using HR-1 hairless mice. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the 1-tetradecanol treated group was significantly smaller than that in the other groups. To investigate the effect of the preventing hair loss by ${\beta}$-sitosterol, we observed HR-1 hairless mice through periodic growth feature. The results suggest that hair loss of mice by ${\beta}$-sitosterol was delayed and it's hair density showed the highest. These data provide evidence that Dendropanax morbifera Lev. may be a potent candidate for the improvement of both skin whitening, moisturizing and alopecia from the point of cosmetic industry view.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2015

Morinda officinalis (Rubiaceae) is a medicinal herb that has traditionally been used for the treatment of skin inflammation. The present study was to investigate the inhibitory efficacy of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) of the extracts of the root of M. officinalis, which was autoclaved at $132^{\circ}C$ and $1.2kgf/cm^2$ for 15 min using an autoclave. The composition of the extracts were compared with that prepared without autoclaved treatment. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were analyzed for the autoclaved M. officinalis root extract (AME) and M. officinalis root extract (ME). Results showed that the autoclaved AME contained total phenol and flavonoid contents 1.5-fold times more than those from ME. AME showed DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging activities as 79.25% and 94.5%, respectively, at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$. In anti-inflammatory assay, AME inhibited the activity of COX-2 and 5-LOX metabolites. In addition, AME showed higher an inhibition rate in MMP-1 expression than ME in UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblast (HDF) without any significant cytotoxicity. UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were effectively suppressed by AME. In conclusion, autoclaving the M. officinalis root increased the phenol and flavonoid contents. The extracts of the autoclaved M. officinalis enhanced the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-MMP-1 effects. Thus, the extracts could be an useful active ingredient in cosmetics.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2014

Biodegradable drug-eluting stent has dual functions of supporting the lumen and treating internal tumor preventing the restenosis by releasing drug. In this study, the polycaprolactone (PCL) based three dimensional (3D) mesh loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) was presented by rapid prototyping (RP) technique of solid freeform fabrication (SFF) for biodegradable drug-eluting stent application. PCL has many advantageous properties such as good biocompatibility, good mechanical properties, and good drug permeability. PTX is widely used in the cancer treatment by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. Analytical methods of HPLC and NMR were used for simultaneous quantification of PTX. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to observe the architecture and morphologies of 3D mesh. The cytotoxicity assay results indicated released PTX's biological activity. This study provided that PCL based 3D mesh loaded with PTX by RP technique has great potential for biodegradable drug-eluting stent application.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.111-122
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• 2021

Recently, interleukin 34 (IL-34) was identified as the second functional ligand for macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (M-CSFR). IL-34 functions similarly to M-CSF through its binding to the M-CSFR. There is still insufficient information on IL-34 in chickens, which has until now been reported only through predicted sequences and not through experimental research. Thus, to confirm its expression and to determine its potent biological activity, several chicken lines and cell lines were used. Cloning of recombinant chicken IL-34 and M-CSF genes was performed to investigate their modulatory effects on proinflammatory cytokine expression in vitro. The expression levels of IL-34, M-CSF, and M-CSFR genes were upregulated in broiler chickens with leg dysfunction (cause unknown). However, IL-34 was downregulated in most pathogen-stimulated tissues. M-CSFR expression was enhanced by recombinant IL-34 and M-CSF proteins in vitro. IFN-γ expression was enhanced by recombinant IL-34, but not by M-CSF. However, IL-12 expression was not regulated in any of the treated cells, and IL-1β was decreased in all tissues. These results indicate that IL-34 and M-CSF have roles in both the classical and alternative macrophage activation pathways. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the expression of IL-34 in chickens for pathogenic trials, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that the IL-34 protein plays a role in both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions in macrophages. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the cytokines or chemokines that can be induced by IL-34 and to further elucidate the functions of IL-34 in the inflammatory pathway.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.458-465
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• 2021

Tubulysins are a group of bioactive secondary metabolites from myxobacteria exhibiting strong anticancer activity against various cancer cell lines. In this study, we describe the identification of putative tubulysin biosynthetic gene clusters (tubA~tubF) in the genome sequences of two tubulysin-producing myxobacterial strains, Archangium gephyra MEHO_002 and MEHO_004. The inactivation of the putative tubulysin biosynthetic genes resulted in a tubulysin-production defect. The DNA sequences of the A. gephyra MEHO_002 and MEHO_004 tubulysin biosynthetic genes were 97% identical, and the amino acid sequences of the encoded proteins shared a similarity of 97-100%. The nucleotide sequences of the tubulysin biosynthetic gene clusters in MEHO_002 and MEHO_004 were 86% identical to that in Cystobacter sp. SBCb004 known as a tubulysin-producing myxobacterium, and the organization of the clusters was identical except for the lack of a tubZ gene in the clusters in MEHO_002 and MEHO_004. The amino acid sequences of the proteins encoded by each gene were 88-97% similar to those encoded by SBCb004, and the domain compositions of the proteins were also identical.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.862-872
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• 2021

Recent studies on synthesis of metallic nanomaterials such as silver (Ag), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), cerium (Ce), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) using plants and microbes are attracted researchers for their wide range of applications in the field of biomedical sciences. The plant contains abundant of bioactive contents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, steroids tannins and nutritionals components. Similarly, microbes produce bioactive metabolites, proteins and secretes valuable chemicals such as color pigments, antibiotics, and acids. Recently reported, biogenic synthesis of NPs in non-hazardous way and are promising candidates for biomedical applications such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-cell proliferative and anti-plasmodia activity. All those activities are dose dependent, along with their shape and size also matters on potential of NPs. Microbes and plants are great source of metabolites, those useful in biomedical field, such metabolites or chemicals involved in synthesis of NPs in an ecofriendly way. NPs synthesized using microbes or plant materials are reveals more non-toxic, facile, and cost-effective compare to chemically synthesized NPs. In present review we are focusing on NPs synthesis using biological agents such as microbes (bacteria, fungi and algae) and plant, characterization using different techniques and their antibacterial applications on pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.400-409
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• 2021

Sanguinarine, a natural benzophenanthridine alkaloid, has been considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer because it can induce apoptosis in human cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms of action still remain unclear. Tumor suppressor p53 deletion or mutation is an important reason for the resistance of colorectal cancer cells to anticancer agents. Therefore, in the present study, the role of p53 during apoptosis induced by sanguinarine was investigated in p53wild type (WT, p53+/+) and p53null (p53+/+) HCT116 colon carcinoma cells. Sanguinarine significantly caused greater reductions in cell viability in HCT116 (p53+/+) cells than in HCT116 (p53-/-) cells. Consistently, sanguinarine promoted more DNA damage and apoptosis in HCT116 (p53+/+) cells than in HCT116 (p53-/-) cells while increasing the expression of p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21^WAF1/CIP1. Sanguinarine increased the activity of caspase-8 and caspase-9, which are involved in the initiation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, respectively, and it activated caspase-3, a typical effect caspase, in HCT116 (p53+/+) cells. Sanguinarine also increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, while destroying the integrity of mitochondria in HCT116 (p53+/+) cells, but not in HCT116 (p53-/-) cells. Overall, the results indicate that sanguinarine induced p53-dependent apoptosis through ROS-mediated activation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.785-791
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• 2021

Many lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have probiotic properties that exert various health benefits. In this study, the reduction potential of nitrogen oxide compounds and ferric ions by six LAB, including Lactobacillus kimchicus, L. lactis, L. casei, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus GG, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were evaluated. The L. kimchicus strain produced a substantial amount of nitrite reduced from nitrate added to the media, whereas the other five LAB strains did not. L. kimchicus also showed the most potent reducing activity of ferric to ferrous ions. However, the reduction potential of the autoclaved L. kimchicus was little pronounced. The scavenging activities of viable LAB or their cell lysates against different radicals were not consistent with the potency of the LAB's reducing ability. The present results indicate that L. kimchicus has a strong reduction potential for nitrogen oxides in viable status, and that this ability can be used as a probiotic property for various health benefits.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that induces symptoms such as a decrease in motor function and cognitive impairment. Increases in the aggregation and deposition of amyloid beta protein ($A{\beta}$) in the brain may be closely correlated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, the effects of an adzuki bean extract on the aggregation of $A{\beta}$ were examined; moreover, the anti-Alzheimer's activity of the adzuki extract was examined. MATERIALS/METHODS: First, we undertook thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to evaluate the effect of an adzuki bean extract on $A{\beta}_{42}$ aggregation. To evaluate the effects of the adzuki extract on the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in vivo, $A{\beta}_{42}$-overexpressing Drosophila were used. In these flies, overexpression of $A{\beta}_{42}$ induced the formation of $A{\beta}_{42}$ aggregates in the brain, decreased motor function, and resulted in cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Based on the results obtained by ThT fluorescence assays and TEM, the adzuki bean extract inhibited the formation of $A{\beta}_{42}$ aggregates in a concentration-dependent manner. When $A{\beta}_{42}$-overexpressing flies were fed regular medium containing adzuki extract, the $A{\beta}_{42}$ level in the brain was significantly lower than that in the group fed regular medium only. Furthermore, suppression of the decrease in motor function, suppression of cognitive impairment, and improvement in lifespan were observed in $A{\beta}_{42}$-overexpressing flies fed regular medium with adzuki extract. CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal the delaying effects of an adzuki bean extract on the progression of Alzheimer's disease and provide useful information for identifying novel prevention treatments for Alzheimer's disease.