• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.283-288
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• 2007

Acanthopanacis Cortex (AC) has been popularly used as an herbal medicine for medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, impotence and diabetes. Here, we investigated immunostimulating effects of the aqueous extract of AC on macrophage. We studied nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ release in response to AC treatment, as they are important secretory products of macrophage. AC alone induce the NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ production. AC increase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation but does not p38 activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Also AC resulted in the enhanced cell-surface expression of CD80 and CD14. In addition, AC resulted in enhanced T cell-stimulatory capacity and increased T cell secretion of interferon (IFN)-gamma. After feeding with AC to mouse for 10 days, the change of $CD28^+$ and $CD40^+$ population was analyzed. AC increased $CD28^+$ population in splenocytes in vivo. These studies indicate that AC induces macrophage activation and suggest the possible use of AC in macrophage-based immunotherapies.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.15-30
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mixed extracts of aralia cortex and phellodendron cortex (P55A) on activities of human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells in vitro. First experiment was done to evaluate the effect of P55A in normal condition. In control group, the cells($4.5{\times}10^4$ cells/ml) were cultured with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium contained with 10% fetal bovine serum. In experimental groups, P55A was added to the above culture condition at the final concentrations of 0.1 ${\mu}g/ml$(Test group 1), 1 ${\mu}g/ml$(Test group 2) and 10 ${\mu}g/ml$(Test group 3). Then each group was tested for the cell proliferation rate at $\frac{1}{2}$, 2, 5 days, protein levels at 2, 5 days, and alkaline phosphatase activity at 2, 5 days. Second experiment was done to evaluate the effect of P55A in high glucose condition. 200 mg/dl glucose was added to the same culture condition of all groups in first experiment. Then each group was tested for the cell proliferation rate at $\frac{1}{2}$ , 2, 5 days, protein levels at 2, 5 days, and alkaline phoaphatase activity at 2, 5 days. The results were as follows ; 1. First experiment 1) As P55A concentration increased, cell proliferation rate increased significantly in test group 2 at 2 days, and test group 2 and 3 at 5 days in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells(P<0.05). 2) In human gingival fibroblasts, all test groups showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 5 days. In periodontal ligament cells, test group 2 and 3 showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 2, 5 days(P<0.05). 3) Alkaline phosphatase activity of human periodontal ligament cells increased as P55A concentration increased. The test group 2 and 3 showed significant increase as compared to control group at 5 days(P<0.05). 2. Second experiment 1) As P55A concentration increased, cell proliferation rate increased significantly in test group 2 at 2 days, and test group 2 and 3 at 5 days in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells(P<0.05). 2) In human gingival fibroblasts, test group 3 showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 2 days, and all test groups at 5 days. In periodontal ligament cells, test group 2 and 3 showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 2, 5 days(P<0.05). 3) Alkaline phosphatase activity of human periodontal ligament cells increased as P55A concentration increased. The test group 2 and 3 showed significant increase as compared to control group at 2 days, and all test groups at 5 days(P<0.05). From the above results, mixed extracts of aralia cortex and phellodendron cortex appeared to enhance cellular activities including cell proliferation rate, protein levels and alkaline phosphatase activity of human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells in normal and high glucose condition. This study suggests that mixed extracts of aralia cortex and phellodendron cortex seem to be able to subside the inflammation of periodontal tissue and regenerate the destructed periodontal tissue.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1994년도 춘계학술대회 and 제3회 신약개발 연구발표회
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• pp.242-242
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• 1994

Cortex mori (Morus alba L.), the root bark of mulberry tree, has been used as an antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant in herbal medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Cortex mori could inhibit the ovalbumin (OA) -induced late asthmatic reaction in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs were sensitized by two exposures to an aerosol of OA(1.0%) and then challenged with aerosolized antigen(2.0%), The animals were pretreated by three inhalations of the aerosoled Cortex mori either before antigen sensitization or cahllenge. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and peripheral blood were collected at 17 hours after OA challenge. The cell populations in BALF and peripheral blood were examined to determine the changes of the relative proportions of eosinophils,neutrophils and mononuclear cells etc. Beta-glucuronidase activity in BALF was measured to evaluate the alveolar macrophage activation. OA-induced histamine release from guinea pig peritoneal fluid cells was measured by radioisotope enzymatic asssay. Results were as follows. The number of eosinophils, neutriphils and lymphocytes recovered in BALF were significantly increased in the 17h following aerosol challenge with OA. Among them, eosinophil and neutriphils were decreased remarkably in group that had been preinhalated with Cortex mori. The number of lymphocytes in BALF were not decreased in group pretreated with CM before sensitization but decreased in Group pretreated with CM before challenge. After OA challenge, the number of eosinophils in peripheral blood were markedly increased, but Cortex mori inhibited significantly the OA-induced eosinophilia. Beta-glucuronidase activity in the supernatants of BALF were significantly increased in the 17h following aerosol challenge with OA, however, pretreatment of Cortex mori had no influence on Beta-glucuronidase activity, suggesting that Cortex mori had no inhibitory effect on OA-induced alveolar macrophage activation. Cortex mori inhibited the OA-induced histamine release from guinea pig peritoneal fluid cells. From the above results, it is suggested that Cortex mori contains some substances with an activity to inhibit the the OA-induced late phase reaction of the bronchial asthma in guinea pigs.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.14-27
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Acanthopanacis Cortex Radicis extract(ACRE) on the apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Methods: After treatment with various concentration of ACRE, cell growth was evaluated in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Hoechst 33342 staining was performed to estimate DNA fragment effect of ACRE on the apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay was used to estimate the effects of ACRE on the early apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. RT-PCR was used to estimate the apoptosis gene expression effect of ACRE on Hela cell MCF-7 cell. Results: Under $0.1mg/m\ell$ of ACRE, cytotoxic effect was not found per NIH3T3 cell. The viability of HeLa cell and MCF-7 cells was significantly decreased ACRE ($100{\mu}g/m\ell$) in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell, ACRE ($50{\mu}g/m\ell$) in HeLa cell 3 days after treatment, in MCF-7 cell 1&3 days after treatment (p<0.01). DNA fragmentation was observed 3 days after treatment of cl of ACRE on HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. In Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, after treatment of $100{\mu}g/m\ell$ of ACRE, the early apoptotic cell increased both in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. In RT-PCR analysis, after treatment of $100{\mu}g/m\ell$ of ACRE, bcl-2 were decreased and bax, caspase-3 were increased both in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Conclusions: ACRE appears to have considerable activity on the apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제62권12호
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• pp.444-449
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• 2019

Background: Sixty percent of infants with severe neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy die, while most survivors have permanent disabilities. Treatment for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is limited to therapeutic hypothermia, but it does not offer complete protection. Here, we investigated whether hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) promotes cell survival and suggested neuroprotective strategies. Purpose: HIF-1α deficient mice have increased brain injury after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI), and the role of HIF-2α in HI is not well characterized. Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD)1 overexpression is not beneficial in neonatal HI. The expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α was measured in SOD1 overexpressing mice and compared to wild-type littermates to see if alteration in expression explains this lack of benefit. Methods: On postnatal day 9, C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to HI, and protein expression was measured by western blotting in the ipsilateral cortex of wild-type and SOD1 overexpressing mice to quantify HIF-1α and HIF-2α. Spectrin expression was also measured to characterize the mechanism of cell death. Results: HIF-1α protein expression did not significantly change after HI injury in the SOD1 overexpressing or wild-type mouse cortex. However, HIF-2α protein expression increased 30 minutes after HI injury in the wild-type and SOD1 overexpressing mouse cortex and decreased to baseline value at 24 hours after HI injury. Spectrin 145/150 expression did not significantly change after HI injury in the SOD1 overexpressing or wild-type mouse cortex. However, spectrin 120 expression increased in both wild-type and SOD1 overexpressing mouse at 4 hours after HI, which decreased by 24 hours, indicating a greater role of apoptotic cell death. Conclusion: HIF-1α and HIF-2α may promote cell survival in neonatal HI in a cell-specific and regional fashion. Our findings suggest that early HIF-2α upregulation precedes apoptotic cell death and limits necrotic cell death. However, the influence of SOD was not clarified; it remains an intriguing factor in neonatal HI.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.307-313
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• 2014

Cell migration requires a defined cell polarity which is formed by diverse cytoskeletal components differentially localized to the poles of cells to extracellular signals. Rap-GAP3 transiently and rapidly translocates to the cell cortex in response to chemoattractant stimulation and localizes to the leading edge of migrating cells. Here, we examined localization of truncated RapGAP3 proteins and found that the I/LWEQ domain in the central region of RapGAP3 was sufficient for posterior localization in migrating cells, as opposed to leading-edge localization of full-length Rap-GAP3. All truncated proteins accumulated at the leading edge of migrating cells exhibited clear translocation to the cell cortex in response to stimulation, whereas proteins localized to the posterior in migrating cells displayed no translocation to the cortex. The I/LWEQ domain appears to passively accumulate at the posterior region in migrating cells due to exclusion from the extended front region in response to chemoattractant stimulation rather than actively being localized to the back of cells. Our results suggest that posterior localization of the I/LWEQ domain of RapGAP3 is likely related to F-actin, which has probably different properties compared to newly formed F-actin at the leading edge of migrating cells, at the lateral and posterior regions of the cell.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.29-38
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• 2017

Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the change in marker compounds, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of salt-water processed Cortex Eucommiae. Methods To evaluate the influence of processing on anti-oxidant effect of Cortex Eucommiae, changes in total phenol, total flavonoid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) between processed and raw Cortex Eucommiae were assessed. In addition, nitrite assay was conducted to determine the influence of processing on anti-inflammatory effect of Cortex Eucommiae. Cell viability was also examined as to elucidate whether processing affects cytotoxicity of Cortex Eucommiae. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was conducted to monitor changes in pinoresinol diglucoside amount of processed and raw Cortex Eucommiae. Results Salt-water processed Cortex Eucommiae showed higher total phenol and flavonoid amount, compared to raw Cortex Eucommiae. Furthermore, anti-oxidative activity of processed Cortex Eucommiae was improved as discovered in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Anti-inflammatory effect of Cortex Eucommiae was also enhanced following salt-water processing, as evidenced in nitrite assay. HPLC analysis found that the amount of pinoresinol diglucoside, widely known as the marker compound of Cortex Eucommiae, increases through salt-water processing. All experiments were performed with non-toxic concentration of Cortex Eucommiae; processing did not affect the cytotoxicity of Cortex Eucommiae up to the currently adopted concentration. Conclusions The present results support that salt-water processing of Cortex Eucommiae is beneficial in terms of marker compound amount, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Additional investigations are needed to standardize the processing method of Cortex Eucommiae.

• 대한치과기공학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.43-49
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• 2002

To develop the natural antibacterial agents which don't have any toxicity against man, collected several species of medicinal plants were tested for their antibacterial activity from dental caries bacteria Streptococcus sanguis. The result of using paper disc method and the result of viable cell counting method, Phellodendri Cortex was selected as antibacterial agent. The high antibacterial activity was acquired at high extraction temperature and long extraction temperature. The antibacterial of Phellodendri Cortex was not effected by the concentration of ethanol.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.111-123
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• 2011

To investigate the effects of repeated immobilization-stress challenge on the the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the genomic transcriptome in the adrenal cortex of immobilization-stressed mouse was analyzed by using a cDNA microarray. Mice were subjected to immobilization stress for 2 h per day for 5 consecutive d. With a 4.0-fold cutoff of arbitrary criteria, the expression levels of 168 out of 41,174 genes were significantly modulated in the adrenal cortex by stress when comparing the control and experimental groups. These genes were related to apoptosis, cell cycle, immune response, inflammatory responses, and signal transduction, and thus may be used as potential targets for the development of therapeutics for chronic stress or depression. Six significant genes among these were selected for real time polymerase chain reaction analysis to confirm the change of their expression levels. The gene for phospho 1 was also further investigated because its expression showed the greatest fold-change.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2011

Objectives : Myocardial infarction is caused by heart cell death in a region where coronary arteries supplying blood to the region are occluded. In the present study, we determined whether ethanol extract of Cortex fraxini (HY5053) could attenuate heart injury by inhibiting apoptosis. Methods : Improvement of survival of HepG2 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, and reduction of apoptosis under hypoxic conditions (3% $O_2$) were assessed by trypan blue staining and DNA fragmentation assay, respectively. To assess the impact of HY5053 on the heart injury, Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 1 day of the left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. HY5053 was given by intraperitoneal injection (200 mg/kg) 1 hr prior to the occlusion. Subsequently, the heart were harvested, excised into 4 slices, and the slices were stained with 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. Finally, the extent of heart injury represented as ischemic index (%) was assessed. Results : Addition of HY5053 (400 ${\mu}g$/mL) into the culture medium for 1 day under ischemic conditions improved the cell survival by 50%, compared with control (0 ${\mu}g$/mL), consequently delayed apoptosis in 6 hr difference. Also, HY5053 (200 mg/kg) reduced the ischemic index by 44%, compared with control (0 mg/kg). Conclusions : These findings suggested that HY5053 attenuated myocardial infarction by inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, Cortex fraxini could be developed as a novel cardioprotectant to complement a currently available treatment, coronary angioplasty.