• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.626-632
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• 2005

The polyamines are essential components of all eukaryotic cells and absolutely necessary for cell growth. In the present study, the cytoprotective role of polyamine was characterized. When $Ac_2F$ rat liver cells were treated with 1M 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dehydrochloride (AAPH), a water soluble free radical initiator, viability of the cells was noticeably decreased due to the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The cytotoxic effect of AAPH as well as ROS generation were significantly inhibited by the treatment of polyamines. Among polyamines, especially spermine at $20{\mu}M$ concentration exerted over $45\%$ inhibition of AAPH-induced ROS generation. Western blotting was performed to determine whether superoxide dismutase(SOD) or catalase (CAT) expression was involved in oxidative stress. The AAPH treatment blocked both SOD and CAT protein expressions. Spermine could recover those protein expressions to the untreated control levels. According to the result of cycline E measurement, AAPH might block the entry of the cells into S phase of the cell cycle. The reduced expression of cyclin E protein could be fully recovered by the addition of spermine. The antioxidative effects of spermine was also further proved by the apopotitic morphological analysis using ethidium bromide and acridine orange.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2009

The antioxidant properties and protective effects of Inula britannica on ${H_2}{O_2}$-induced SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell damage were investigated. A series of solvent fractions, including hexane(Fr.H), petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate(Fr.EA), and water fraction(Fr.W), were prepared from the 70% methanol extracts of Inula britannica. Fr.W had the highest total contents of phenolics and flavonoids, followed by Fr.EA. The antioxidant properties of the fractions were also evaluated by analyzing their scavenging activities on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radicals, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, and nitric oxide. Fr.W showed the strongest activities in all assays. The concentrations of Fr.W that resulted in 50% reductions of the DPPH and ABTS radicals were 20.7 ${\mu}g$/mL and 39.4 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. Fr.W showed the weakest cytotoxic activities on the SH-SY5Y cells, whereas it effectively protected ${H_2}{O_2}$-induced cell death, increasing cell survival by 35.0-77.0% at a concentration range of 62.5-250 ${\mu}g$/mL. In this range, Fr.W also significantly decreased intracellular ROS levels by 34-39%. Overall, the antioxidant properties of Inula britannica can contribute to rescuring neuronal cells from oxidative stress-induced cell injury.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1782-1789
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• 2012

We have developed a novel type of polymer nanogel loaded with anticancer drug based on bio-derived poly(${\gamma}$-glutamic acid) (${\gamma}$-PGA). ${\gamma}$-PGA is a highly anionic polymer that is synthesized naturally by microbial species, most prominently in various bacilli, and has been shown to have excellent biocompatibility. Thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA was synthesized by covalent coupling between the carboxyl groups of ${\gamma}$-PGA and the primary amine group of cysteamine. Doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated using the following steps: (1) an ionic nanocomplex was formed between thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA as the negative charge component, and Dox as the positive charge component; (2) addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) induced hydrogen-bond interactions between thiol groups of thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA and hydroxyl groups of PEG, resulting in the nanocomplex; and (3) disulfide crosslinked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated by ultrasonication. The average size and surface charge of Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels in aqueous solution were $136.3{\pm}37.6$ nm and $-32.5{\pm}5.3$ mV, respectively. The loading amount of Dox was approximately 38.7 ${\mu}g$ per mg of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogel. The Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels showed controlled drug release behavior in the presence of reducing agents, glutathione (GSH) (1-10 mM). Through fluorescence microscopy and FACS, the cellular uptake of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels into breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was analyzed. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated using the MTT assay and was determined to be dependent on both the concentration and treatment time of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels. The bio-derived ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels are expected to be a well-designed delivery carrier for controlled drug delivery applications.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.500-510
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition of essential oil, absolute and oleoresin isolated from Elsholtzia splendens and their biological activities. Yields of essential oil, absolute and oleoresin extracted from Elsholtzia splendens were 0.28%, 12.45% and 9.95%, respectively. The major component was 2-cyclohexen-1-one in essential oil, methyl linolenate in absolute and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid in oleoresin. Essential oil and oleoresin showed the inhibitory activities in enzyme-dependent, enzyme-independent and autooxidative lipid peroxidation system. $EC_{50}$ values in nuetral red uptake (NRU) assays for the exposure times of 24 h were $46.4{\mu}g/ml$, $681.7{\mu}g/ml$ and $17.6{\mu}g/ml$ in essential oil, absolute and oleoresin, and oleoresins showed the cytotoxic effect at the only high dose. Any mutagenic and antibiotic activity did not show in absolute and oleoresin, but, there were mutagenic and antibiotic activities only when treated with essential oil $500{\mu}g/ml$ above in Ames test. Essential oil and oleoresin might be somewhat effective in prolongating the ciliostasis of rat trachea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1709-1716
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• 2007

The health benefits of garlic (Allium sativum L.) are derived from a wide variety of components and from the different ways it is administered. The known health benefits of garlic include cardiovascular protective effects, stimulation of immune function, reduction of blood glucose level, protection against microbial, viral and fungal infections, as well as anticancer effects. In the present study, it was examined the effects of water extract of A. sativum (WEAS) on the growth of cultured human tumor cells in order to investigate its anti-proliferative mechanism. Treatment of WEAS to tumor cells resulted in the growth inhibition, especially in leukemia cells, which was associated with induction of G2/M arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis. In order to further explore the critical events leading to apoptosis in WEAS-treated U937 human leukemia cells, the following effects of WEAS on components of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway were examined: generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the expression changes of Bcl-2 and IAP family proteins. The cytotoxic effect of WEAS was mediated by its induction of apoptosis as characterized by the occurrence of DNA ladders, apoptotic bodies and chromosome condensation in U937 cells. The WEAS-induced apoptosis in U937 cells was correlated with the generation of intracellular ROS, collapse of MMP, activation of caspase-3 and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. The quenching of ROS generation with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine conferred significant protection against WEAS-elicited ROS generation, caspase-3 activation, G2/M arrest and apoptosis. In conclusion, the present study reveals that the cellular ROS generation plays a pivotal role in the initiation of WEAS-triggered apoptotic death in U937 cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.630-635
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• 2014

Pine nut oil (PNO) is well known to impart beneficial effects in overweight individuals, but the mechanisms underlying PNO-mediated weight loss remain unclear. To investigate how PNO promotes weight loss, its composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, the effects of PNO on cytotoxicity, lipid accumulation, expression of lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, and leptin secretion were assessed in 3T3-L1 cells. GC-MS analyses revealed that PNO contains several components, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. Moreover, PNO did not have a cytotoxic effect on 3T3-L1 cells. However, it inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2). Finally, PNO significantly increased leptin secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results support the notion that PNO is useful for weight management in overweight individuals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.510-517
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• 2002

Effects of wheat arabinoxylan on mouse spleen lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages were examined in vitro. Among three wheat arabinoxylans (A1: low MW, A2: medium MW, A3: high MW), A3$(50{\sim}100\;{\mu}g/mL)$ increased the viability of spleen lymphocytes up to $114{\sim}125%$ of the control. A1 and A3 $(20\;{\mu}g/mL)$ increased the viability of lipopolysaccharide-treated lymphocytes synergistically. Viability of murine peritoneal macrophages treated with wheat arabinoxylans $(10{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL)$ was increased up to $135{\sim}175%$ of the control. The cytotoxic activity of macrophages against murine lymphocytic leukemic cell increased in the presence of wheat arabinoxylan. Phagocytic index of macrophages treated with wheat arabinozylans $(20\;{\mu}g/mL)$ significantly increased $197{\sim}232%$ compared with the control, and lysosomal phosphatase and myeloperoxidase activities also increased significantly (p<0.05). Treatment of wheat arabinoxylans tended to decrease nitrite production, but significantly stimulated $H_2O_2\;and\;O_2$ productions of macrophages (p<0.05). These results indicate that the immunostimulating effect of wheat arabinoxylan may be closely related with lysosomal enzyme activity and reactive oxygen intermediate production of macrophages.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.307-313
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• 2014

Rumex crispus (curled dock), which is a perennial wild plant, has long been used as a laxative, astringent, and medicine to treat blood and skin diseases. We recently reported that the roots of R. crispus are an effective nutraceutical for bone. This study prepared ethanol extracts of the leaves and roots of R. crispus, and analyzed the major constituents using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. In addition, their effects on the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells, such as cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen content, and mineralization, were compared. The chromatograms of the chemical constituents of the two extracts exhibited quite different profiles: quercetin and quercitrin were identified as major peaks in the leaf extract, whereas cinnamtannin B1 and procyanidin isomers were the major peaks for the root extract. Neither extract was cytotoxic at concentrations of < $25{\mu}g/ml$. ALP activity and collagen synthesis-which are markers of the early stage of osteogenesis-in MG-63 cells were significantly increased upon the addition of the root extract compared with the addition of the leaf extract. In contrast, the leaf extract had a more stimulatory effect on mineralization-which is marker of the late stage of osteogenesis-in MG-63 cells than did the root extract. In conclusion, extracts of both leaves and roots of R. crispus stimulated the bone-forming activity of osteoblasts; in particular, the root extract was more effective in the early stage of osteoblast differentiation, while the leaf extract was more effective in the late stage. This difference in anabolic activity may be due to differences in the constituents of the leaves and roots. The leaves and roots of R. crispus appear to complement each other as stimulators of bone formation.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2021

In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of an extract of the fruiting body of the Tuber himalayense (TH) truffle collected from oak growing areas in Korea was investigated. The extract was not cytotoxic at concentrations below 100 ㎍/mL in an experiment evaluating inflammation inhibitory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) production was inhibited by the extract in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot assay results indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of TH extract was likely caused by the reduced production of NO and PGE₂ via suppression of induced NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression. In addition, TH extract effectively inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 by macrophages. Thus, TH extract effectively inhibits the overexpression of various inflammatory mediators and could be valuable in formulating anti-inflammatory foods and medicines that target these components.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2019

The ami of our study was on the anti-obesity effect of ethanol extract from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim root (TKM) in murine adipocytes, 3T3-L1 cells. This study focused on anti-adipogenic activity through inhibition of cell differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells treated TKM. 100 ug/ml of non-cytotoxic TEM remarkablely inhibited content of triglycerol and suppressed expressions of $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}a$ and SREBP-1c related with lipogenic transcription factors in theres 3T3-L1 cells compared to (-)control cells. As phosphorylations of AMPK and ACC were incerased, HSL and CPT-1 mRNA expression increased upon TKM treatment, which involved in inhibition of fatty acid synthase expression. In conclusion, these results indicate that TKM can inhibit mRNA and protein expression of lipogenic genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our study suggests that TKM has potential anti-obesity effects and is a convergence therapeutic functional agent with anti-adipogenic activity via hypolipogenesis.