• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2023

Oxidative stress brings about apoptosis through various mechanisms. In particular, oxidative stress in neuronal cells can causes a variety of brain diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Bidens tripartita on oxidative stress in neuronal cells. B. tripartita has traditionally been used in Russia as a medicine for diseases such as rhinitis, angina and colitis. Over-production of glutamate induces oxidative stress. When the oxidative stress occurs in the cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca²⁺ increase. In addition, the abrupt decline of mitochondrial membrane potential and the decrease of glutathione related enzymes such as glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are also observed. The samples used in the experiment showed cytoprotective effect in the MTT assay. It also lowered the ROS and Ca²⁺ level, and increased degree of mitochondrial membrane potential, GR and GPx. As a result, B. tripartita had a positive effect against oxidative stress. Thus, it is expected to have potential for treatment and prevention of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.23-30
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• 2008

Mitochondria biogenesis requires a coordination of two genomes, nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Disruption of mitochondria function leads to a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP generating capacity and consequently results in chronic degenerative diseases including insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases. Although PPAR-${\gamma}$ coactivator-$1{\alpha}$ (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) was discovered as a central regulator of mitochondria biogenesis and a transcriptional co-activator of nuclear respiratory factor (NRF) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), the expressions of PGC-$1{\alpha}$, NRF and Tfam were not significantly altered in tissues showing abnormal mitochondria functions. This observation suggests that there should be another regulator(s) for mitochondria function. Here, we demonstrate microRNAs (miRNAs) can modulate mitochondria function. Overexpression of microRNA dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential and increased ROS production in vitro and in vivo. It will be discussed the target of microRNA and its role in metabolic syndrome.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.599-608
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• 2015

Regeneration, a process of reconstitution of the entire tissue, occurs throughout life in the olfactory epithelium (OE). Regeneration of OE consists of several stages: proliferation of progenitors, cell fate determination between neuronal and non-neuronal lineages, their differentiation and maturation. How the differentiated cell types that comprise the OE are regenerated, is one of the central questions in olfactory developmental neurobiology. The past decade has witnessed considerable progress regarding the regulation of transcription factors (TFs) involved in the remarkable regenerative potential of OE. Here, we review current state of knowledge of the transcriptional regulatory networks that are powerful modulators of the acquisition and maintenance of developmental stages during regeneration in the OE. Advance in our understanding of regeneration will not only shed light on the basic principles of adult plasticity of cell identity, but may also lead to new approaches for using stem cells and reprogramming after injury or degenerative neurological diseases.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2002

Oxidant radicals are implicated as a causal factor in the pathogenesis of neurobiological disorders and neuro-degenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of edible plants against oxidative stress in bovine brain tissue. Fifty five kinds of edible plants grown in Korea were dried either by freeze-drying or hot-air drying (7$0^{\circ}C$), and evaluated for their antioxidant activity by measuring TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) in brain homogenates subjected to Fe$^{+2}$_mediated lipid peroxidation with or without the addition of botanical extracts. Heat-drying decreased the antioxidant activity of most plant extracts by 10~81%, compared with freeze-drying. However, Aruncus americanus, Ligularia stenocephala, Artemisia princceps var. orientalis, Petasites japonicus and Aster scaber showed very strong antioxidant activities regardless of processing, with or without heat treatment. The $IC_{50}$/ values of the methanol extracts from these edible plants were in the range of 0.093~0.379 mg/$m\ell$, which was lower than that of ascorbic acid (0.79 mg/$m\ell$). Thermal processing of some edible plants enhanced their antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.420-422
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• 2013

Lymphomatosis cerebri is considered a diffuse form of primary central nervous system lymphoma and very rare. It is not well recognized and may be misdiagnosed with infiltrating tumors, degenerative disorders, ischemic diseases, and infectious diseases developed in the brain. Awareness of the possibility of this rare disease and early biopsy are required for differential diagnosis and preventing poor clinical outcomes. We report a case with lymphomatosis cerebri who presented with rapid neurological deteriorations and review the relevant literatures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.307-312
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• 2016

Alzheimer's disease is the most common degenerative brain diseases that causes dementia. ${\beta}$-amyloid neuritic plaque density that accumulates in the brain is difficult to perform daily living, such as memory loss, language ability deterioration. It is used to estimate ${\beta}$-amyloid neuritic plaque density in adult patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease and other causes of cognitive impairment. Using the $^{18}F$-Florbetaben with high sensitivity and specificity for the ${\beta}$-amyloid neuritic plaque density to evaluate the usefulness for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. In $^{18}F$-FDG Brain imaging shows no specific findings. And it appeared on the MR-Brain imaging without atrophy of the hippocampus. However, the intake of ${\beta}$-amyloid neuritic plaque density in $^{18}F$-Florbetaben informs that it is the progress of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, $^{18}F$-Florobetaben is very useful for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1163-1167
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• 2011

Excessive alcohol consumption causes various degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Absorbed ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde and acetic acid by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Acetaldehyde is well known as a toxicant through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, ALDH2 activity may play important roles in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced brain diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of ALDH2 enzyme activity on lipid peroxidation in brain tissues and urine of mice exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks. Five male, 8-week old Aldh2 (+/+) and Aldh2 (-/-) mice (C57BL/6J strain) in each group were exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks (2 g/kg wt./day) using gavage, and those in the control group received 0.9% saline alone. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, a marker for lipid peroxidation, was measured in whole brain tissue and urine by high performance liquid chromatography. As a result, chronic ethanol treatment did not show any statistical change on the TBARS level of brain tissue in both Aldh2 (+/+) mice and in Aldh2 (-/-) mice. However, following ethanol exposure for 8 weeks in Aldh2 (-/-) mice, the urinary TBARS levels were significantly increased to more than double compared to the pretreatment group. This result was not observed in Aldh2 (+/+) mice. These results suggest that although ALDH2 enzyme activity plays a role in the generation of ROS in the whole body, it does not seem to be important in the pathogenesis of alcohol induced degenerative brain diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.395-402
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• 2009

Insulin appears to play a role in brain physiology, and disturbances of cerebral insulin signalling and glucose homeostasis are implicated in brain pathology. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of insulin under conditions of oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in C6 glial cells. Insulin at concentration of $10^{-7}$ M could prevent 12 h $H_2O_2$-induced cell death. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly scavenged by insulin pre-treatment in C6 glial cells after $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress. Insulin significantly stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt in the cells and the activation of Akt was maintained in response to insulin under $H_2O_2$ incubation for 12 h. In conclusion, these results provide evidence that insulin acts as a free radical scavenger and stimulating Akt activity. These data suggest that insulin may be effective in degenerative diseases with oxidative stress.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.691-698
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• 2005

Phlorotannins, the polyphonic compounds found in brown Eisenia and Ecklonia algae, have several pharmacologically beneficial effects such as anti-inflammation. In addition, our recent data show that these compounds may improve the cognitive functions of aged humans suggesting the potential ability to enhance memory in several neurodegenerative disorders. To examine the experimental hypothesis that two effective components of Ecklonia cava, dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol (PFF), have memory-enhancing abilities, both were administered orally to mice before a passive avoidance test. The repeated administration of either dieckol or PFF dose-dependently reduced the inhibition of latency by the administration of ethanol. To investigate the mode of memory-enhancing actions, the levels of major central neurotransmitters in three different regions (striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex) of the mouse brain were measured. The levels of some of the neurotransmitters were significantly changed by ethanol. Both dieckol and PFF altered the levels of some neurotransmitters modified by the ethanol treatment. It is noteworthy that both dieckol and PFF increased the level of acetylcho-line, and they exerted anticholinesterase activities. Overall, the memory-enhancing abilities of dieckol and PFF may result from, at least in part, the increment of the brain level of acetylcho-line by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.635-639
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• 2008

Acrolein is a highly reactive by product of lipid peroxidation and individuals with neurodegenerative disorders have been shown to contain elevated concentrations of this molecule in the brain. In the present study, we examined the pattern of neurofilament-L (NF-L) modification elicited by acrolein. When NF-L was incubated with acrolein, protein aggregation occurred in a acrolein concentration-dependent manner. Exposure of NF-L to acrolein also led to the generation of protein carbonyl compounds. Through the addition of free radical scavengers we observed a significant decrease in acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregation. These results indicate that free radicals may be involved in the modification of NF-L by acrolein. In addition, dityrosine crosslink formation was observed in acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregates and these aggregates displayed thioflavin T reactivity, reminiscent of amyloid. This study suggests that acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregation might be closely related to oxidative reactions, thus these reactions may play a critical role in neuro-degenerative diseases.