• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2013

Antibacterial activity is an important feature for the development of antibiotics alternatives. Plant extract is considered as a promising alternative for organic farming. In this study, a total of 11 plants were extracted using ethanol to determine their antibacterial activities against to Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogens, Mannheimia haemolytica and Salmonella gallinarum. The synergistic interaction among plant extracts was also investigated. Plants used in this study were Carthamus nctoricus L. (pA), Poncirus trifollata Raf. (pB), Scutellaria balcalensis Georgi (pC) Prunus sargentii (pD), Cucurbita moschata $D_{UCH}$ Leaf (pE), Allium cepa L. peel (pF) Portulaca oleracea L. (pG), Xanthium strumarium L. (pH), Duchesnea chrysantha (pI), Cudrania tricuspidata (pJ) and Juniperus chinensis L. (pK). The pB and pA had the most broad antibacterial spectrum and the highest activity against to Staph. aureus among plant extract, respectively. In the synergistic interaction, the mixtures of pA and pC as well as pA and pF had batter antibacterial activity against to Staph. Aureus compared with other mixtures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1576-1586
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• 2023

Vaccination is the most effective method for preventing the spread of the influenza virus. Cell-based influenza vaccines have been developed to overcome the disadvantages of egg-based vaccines and their production efficiency has been previously discussed. In this study, we investigated whether treatment with forskolin (FSK), an adenylyl cyclase activator, affected the output of a cell-based influenza vaccine. We found that FSK increased the propagation of three influenza virus subtypes (A/H1N1/California/4/09, A/H3N2/Mississippi/1/85, and B/Shandong/7/97) in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Interestingly, FSK suppressed the growth of MDCK cells. This effect could be a result of protein kinase A (PKA)-Src axis activation, which downregulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activity and delays cell cycle progression from G1 to S. This delay in cell growth might benefit the binding and entry of the influenza virus in the early stages of viral replication. In contrast, FSK dramatically upregulated ERK1/2 activity via the cAMP-PKA-Raf-1 axis at a late stage of viral replication. Thus, increased ERK1/2 activity might contribute to increased viral ribonucleoprotein export and influenza virus propagation. The increase in viral titer induced by FSK could be explained by the action of cAMP in assisting the entry and binding of the influenza virus. Therefore, FSK addition to cell culture systems could help increase the production efficiency of cell-based vaccines against the influenza virus.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.101-115
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• 2001

Objective : To characterize the antitumorigenic potential of Apamin, one of the major components of bee venom, its effects on cell proliferation and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway were characterized using the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2. Methods & Results : Cell counting analysis for cell death demonstrated that consistent with a previous results, SK-MEL-2 cells treated with $0.5-2.0{\mu}g/ml$ of Apamin showed no recognizable cytotoxic effect whereas detectable induction of cell death was identified at concentrations over $5.0{\mu}g/ml$. [3H]thymidine incorporation assay for cell proliferation demonstrated that DNA replication of SK-MEL-2 cells is inhibited by Apamin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. To explore whether Apamin-induced growth suppression is associated with the MAPK signaling pathway, phosphorylation of Erk, a function mediator of MAPK growth-stimulating signal, was examined Western blot assay using a phospho-specific Erkl/2 antibody. A significant increase of Erkl/2 phosphorylation level was observed in Apamin-treated cells compared with untreated control cells. Qantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that Apamin inhibit expression of MAPK downstream genes such as c-Jun, c-Fos, and cyclin D1 but not expression of MAPK pathway component genes including Ha-Ras, c-Raf-1, MEK1, and Erk. Conclusion : It is strongly suggested that the antitumorigenic activity of Apamin might result in part from its inhibitory effect on the MAPK signaling pathway in human melanoma cells SK-MEL-2.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.288-293
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• 2014

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hair growth-promoting effect of Clitocybin A from mushroom Clitocybe aurantiaca with dermal papilla cells (DPCs), which play important roles in the regulation of hair cycle. Clitocybin A significantly increased the proliferation of immortalized rat vibrissa DPCs. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that Clitocybin A promoted cell-cycle progression through G0/G1 to S phase in immortalized rat vibrissa DPCs. In addition, Clitocybin A increased the level of cell cycle proteins such as cyclin D1, phospho-pRB, and phospho-CDK2. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of Clitocybin A on the proliferation of DPCs, we examined the activation of wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling which is known to regulate hair follicle development, differentiation and hair growth. Clitocybin A activated wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling via the increase of phospho(ser552)-${\beta}$-catenin, phospho(ser675)-${\beta}$-catenin and phospho(ser9)-$GSK3{\beta}$. Furthermore, Clitocybin A markedly increased the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). These results suggest that the Clitocybin A may induce hair growth by proliferation of DPCs via cell-cycle progression as well as the activation of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling and ERK pathway.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2023

Properties of a lesser-used wood species were investigated to determine its potential for structural utilization. Trees of Delonix regia were felled and sampled at the base, middle and top and then sectioned to inner wood, middle wood, and outer wood for variation across the axial and radial directions. Hence, selected physical and mechanical properties as well as natural durability of D. regia along the radial and axial directions were examined. Obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at α_0.05. There was no significant difference in the Moisture content (MC) of the wood but specific gravity (SG) decreased from base to top ranging from 0.35-0.44. Water absorption, volumetric swelling, and volumetric shrinkage range from 46.18-51.86%, 2.57-4.02%, and 2.26-3.96% respectively along the axial plane. The weight loss for graveyard exposure and accelerated laboratory decay test ranged from 25.14-48.00% and 32.02-44.45% respectively. Modulus of Rupture and Modulus of Elasticity values range from 29.42-72.68 Nmm² and 3,834.54-8,830.37 Nmm² respectively. The SG values has confirmed the species as a medium density wood and values of other properties tested showed that the wood is dimensional stable and moderately resistance to fungi and termite. Hence, it could be used for light construction purposes such as furniture and other interior woodwork.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.317-322
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• 1995

As a basic research for breeding new varieties, reciprocal -intergeneric crosses between Citrus junos and P.trifoliata were made. F$_1$ hybrid production using in vitro ovule culture, gametogenesis, and fertilization phenomena were investigated. Frequency of fruit set resulting from crossing of Citrus junos and Poncirus Trifoliata was 16.6% while that of Poncirus Trifoliata and Citrus junos was 11.7%. Callus formation occurred well when ovules at the 6th week after pollination were cultured on MT (Murashige and Tucker) medium supplemented with zeatin 0.5 mg/L and NAA 1.0 or 3.0 mg/L. Immature ovules developed into mature embryos of the MT medium supplemented with 2,4-D 0.1 or 3.0 mg/L. Immature ovules developed into mature embryos of the MT medium supplemented with 2,4 D 0.1 or 0.5 mg/L. The invitro germination rates of 20-week-old ovules set C. junos $\times$ P. Trifoliata and P. Trifoliata $\times$ C. junos were 54.5% and 48.6%, respectively. The emergence ratios of trifoliate hybrids obtained by C. junos $\times$ P. Trifoliata and P. Trifoliata $\times$ C. junos were 56.7% and 100%, respectively. The chromosome number of C. junos and P. Trifoliata was n = 9 or 2n = 18, and the sizes of their pollen grain were 33.75 $\mu$ and 25.0 $\mu$. The length and width of embryo sac in C. junos and P. Trifoliata were 69.38~79.23 $\mu$ and 27.50~38.56 $\mu$, and those of egg cells were 17.50~41.50 $\mu$ and 6.25~8.12$\mu$. Fertilization of C. junos and P. trifoliata terminated 72 h after pollination.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2011

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anticonvulsive agent and has been used in the treatment of epilepsy for almost 30 years. VPA emerged in 1997 as an antineoplastic agent. And it is known that antitmor activity of VPA is associated with its targeted at histone deacetylases. 17AAG, Inhibition of HSP90 leads to the proteasome degradation of the HSP90 client proteins, such as Akt, Raf/Ras, Erk, VEGF, cyclin D and p53, and causes potent antitumor activity. It is reported that 17AAG-induced HSP90 inhibition results in prevention of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in several types of cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effect of co-treatment with the histone deacetylases inhibitor, VPA and the HSP90 inhibitor, 17AAG on human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. Cell viability was evaluated by trypan-blue exclusion. Induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by Hoechst staining, flow cytometry (DNA hypoploidy and MMP change), Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining. In this study, HOS cells co-treated with VPA and 17AAG showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensations, the reduction of MMP, the decrease of DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, the translocation of AIF onto nuclei, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-7 and PARP whereas each single treated HOS cells did not. Although the single treatment of 1 mM VPA or 0.5 ${\mu}M$ 17AAG for 48 h did not induce apoptosis, the co-treatment with them induced prominently apoptosis. Therefore our data in this study provide the possibility that combination therapy with VPA and 17AAG could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human osteosarcoma.