• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress causes cell damage and death, which contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Urolithin A (UA), a gut microbial-derived metabolite of ellagitannins and ellagic acid, has high bioavailability and various health benefits such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is unknown whether it has protective effects against oxidative stress-induced cell death. We investigated whether UA ameliorates H₂O₂-induced neuronal cell death. MATERIALS/METHODS: We induced oxidative damage with 300 μM H₂O₂ after UA pretreatment at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, and 5 μM in SK-N-MC cells. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined using the CCK-8 assay. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using a 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. Hoechst 33342 staining was used to characterize morphological changes in apoptotic cells. The expressions of apoptosis proteins were measured using Western blotting. RESULTS: UA significantly increased cell viability and decreased intracellular ROS production in a dose-dependent manner in SK-N-MC cells. It also decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the expressions of cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP. In addition, it suppressed the phosphorylation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. CONCLUSIONS: UA attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis via inhibiting the mitochondrial-related apoptosis pathway and modulating the p38 MAPK pathway, suggesting that it may be an effective neuroprotective agent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Exposure of the normal lung tissue around the cancerous tumor during radiotherapy causes serious side effects such as pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis. Radioprotectors used during cancer radiotherapy could protect the patient from side effects induced by radiation injury of the normal tissue. Delphinidin has strong antioxidant properties, and it works as the driving force of a radioprotective effect by scavenging radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, no studies have been conducted on the radioprotective effect of delphinidin against high linear energy transfer radiation. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the radioprotective effects of delphinidin on human lung cells against a proton beam. MATERIALS/METHODS: Normal human lung cells (HEL 299 cells) were used for in vitro experiments. The 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay assessed the cytotoxicity of delphinidin and cell viability. The expression of radiation induced cellular ROS was measured by the 2'-7'-dicholordihydrofluorescein diacetate assay. Superoxide dismutase activity assay and catalase activity assay were used for evaluating the activity of corresponding enzymes. In addition, radioprotective effects on DNA damage-induced cellular apoptosis were evaluated by Western blot assay. RESULTS: Experimental analysis, including cell survival assay, MTT assay, and Western blot assay, revealed the radioprotective effects of delphinidin. These include restoring the activities of antioxidant enzymes of damaged cells, increase in the levels of pro-survival protein, and decrease of pro-apoptosis proteins. The results from different experiments were compatible with each to provide a substantial conclusion. CONCLUSION: Low concentration ($2.5{\mu}M/mL$) of delphinidin administration prior to radiation exposure was radioprotective against a low dose of proton beam exposure. Hence, delphinidin is a promising shielding agent against radiation, protecting the normal tissues around a cancerous tumor, which are unintentionally exposed to low doses of radiation during proton therapy.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2004

The free radical scavenging activities and the protective effects of Rhus javanica extracts against oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated. n-Hexane, ethyl acetate and water fractions were prepared from a methanol extract. DPPH radical, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were estimated. Intracellular ROS formation was quantified using fluorescent probes, 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) for hydroxyl radical and dihydroethidium (DHE) for superoxide anion. The oxidative DNA damage was investigated by the comet assay in HepG$_2$ cells exposed either to $H_2O$$_2$ or to menadione. The highest $IC_{50}$/ values for DPPH radical scavenging activity was found in the ethyl acetate fraction with a value of 5.38 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Cells pretreated with $\geq$ 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of the ethyl acetate extract had significantly increased cell viability compared to control cells, which were not pretreated with the extract. Intracellular ROS formation and DNA damage in HepG$_2$ cells, which were pretreated with the various concentrations of Rhus javanica ethyl acetate extract and then incubated either with $H_2O$$_2$ or with menadione, reduced in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Rhus javanica might have biologically active components which have strong protective effects against ROS induced oxidative damages to the biomolecules, such as cell membranes and DNA.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.485-489
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• 2011

The present study was conducted to examine the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation levels and subsequent DNA damage in the bovine cultured somatic cells. Bovine ear skin cells were classified by serum starvation, confluence and cycling cells. Cells were stained in 10 ${\mu}M$ dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate ($H_2DCFDA$) or 10 ${\mu}M$ hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF) dye to measure the $H_2O_2$ or $^{\cdot}OH$ radical levels. The samples were examined with a fluorescent microscope, and fluorescence intensity was analyzed in each cell. $H_2O_2$ and $^{\cdot}OH$ radical levels of cultured somatic cells were high in confluence group ($7.1{\pm}0.7$ and $8.4{\pm}0.4$ pixels/cell, respectively) and significantly low in serum starvation group ($4.9{\pm}0.4$ and $7.0{\pm}0.4$ pixels/cell, respectively, p<0.05). Comet tail lengths of serum starvation ($148.3{\pm}5.7$ ${\mu}M$) and confluence ($151.1{\pm}5.0$ ${\mu}M$) groups were found to be significantly (p<0.05) increased in comparison to that of cycling group ($137.1{\pm}7.5$ ${\mu}M$). These results suggest that the culture type of donor cells can affect the ROS generation, which leads the DNA fragmentation of the cells.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2011

The present study was conducted to examine the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation levels in porcine parthenogenetic embryos. Porcine in vitro matured oocytes were activated by the combination of electric stimulus and 6-DMAP before in vitro culture. Porcine oocytes and parthenogenetic embryos were stained in 10 ${\mu}M$ dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF) or 10 ${\mu}M$ hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF) dye each for 30 min at $39^{\circ}C$. The fluorescent emissions from the samples were recoded as JPEG file and the intensity of fluorescence in oocytes and embryos were analyzed. $H_2O_2$ and $^{\cdot}OH$ radical levels of porcine oocytes were reduced immediately after electric stimulation. However, $H_2O_2$ and $^{\cdot}OH$ radical levels of parthenogenetic embryos were increased with time elapsed after electric stimulation from 0 h to 3 h and after DMAP culture. During in vitro culture, $H_2O_2$ and $^{\cdot}OH$ radical levels were gradually increased from the one-cell stage to the two- and four-cell stages. The result of the present study suggests that the ROS was not increased by electric pulse in porcine embryos. Rather than it seems to be associated with the stage of development and the culture condition.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2013

Fucoxanthin is an important carotenoid derived from edible brown seaweeds and is used in indigenous herbal medicines. The aim of the present study was to examine the cytoprotective effects of fucoxanthin against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage. Fucoxanthin decreased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species, as assessed by fluorescence spectrometry performed after staining cultured human HaCaT keratinocytes with 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. In addition, electron spin resonance spectrometry showed that fucoxanthin scavenged hydroxyl radical generated by the Fenton reaction in a cell-free system. Fucoxanthin also inhibited comet tail formation and phospho-histone H2A.X expression, suggesting that it prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced cellular DNA damage. Furthermore, the compound reduced the number of apoptotic bodies stained with Hoechst 33342, indicating that it protected keratinocytes against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death. Finally, fucoxanthin prevented the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These protective actions were accompanied by the down-regulation of apoptosis-promoting mediators (i.e., B-cell lymphoma-2-associated ${\times}$ protein, caspase-9, and caspase-3) and the up-regulation of an apoptosis inhibitor (B-cell lymphoma-2). Taken together, the results of this study suggest that fucoxanthin defends keratinocytes against oxidative damage by scavenging ROS and inhibiting apoptosis.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2008

Vitrification methods are convenient for cryopreserving plant specimens, as the specimens are plunged directly into liquid nitrogen (LN) from ambient temperatures. However, tissues and species with poor survival are still not uncommon. The development of vitrification solutions with high survival that cover a range of materials is important. We attempted to develop new vitrification solutions using bromegrass cells and found that VSL, comprising 20% (w/v) glycerol, 30% (w/v) ethylene glycol, 5% (w/v) sucrose, 10% (w/v) DMSO and 10 mM $CaCl_2$, gave the highest survival following cryopreservation, as determined by fluorescein diacetate staining. However, the cryopreserved cells showed little regrowth, for unknown reasons. To check its applicability, VSL was used to cryopreserve gentian axillary buds and the performance was compared with those of conventional vitrification solutions. Excised gentian stem segments with axillary buds (shoot apices) were two-step precultured with sucrose to induce osmotic tolerance prior to cryopreservation. Gentian axillary buds cryopreserved using VSL following the appropriate preculturing approach exhibited 78% survival (determined by the regrowth capacity), which was comparable to PVS2 and PVS1 and far better than PVS3. VSL had a wider optimal incubation time (20-45 min) than PVS2 and was more suitable for cryopreserving gentian buds. The optimal duration of the first step of the preculture was 7-11 days, and preculturing with sucrose and glucose gave a much higher survival than fructose and maltose. VSL was able to vitrify during cooling to LN temperatures, as glass transition and devitrification points were detected in the warming profiles from differential scanning calorimetry. VSL and its derivative, VSL+, seem to have the potential to be good alternatives to PVS2 for the cryopreservation of some materials, as exemplified by gentian buds.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.107-121
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• 2012

Twenty-five compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract of Geum japonicum (Rosaceae), and their structures were identified as eleven triterpenoids [ursolic acid 3-acetate (2), cecropiacic acid 3-methyl ester (3), pomolic acid 3-acetate (5), ursonic acid (6), ursolic acid (7), pomolic acid (8), corosolic acid (9), euscaphic acid (11), arjunic acid (16), tormentic acid (18), 23-hydroxytormentic acid (21)], two saponins [rosamultin (22) and kaji-ichigoside $F_1$ (23)], two megastigmanes [blumenol A (14) and (+)-dehydrovomifoliol (15)], three flavonoids [apigenin (13), isoquercitrin (17) and tiliroside (24)], two ellagic acid derivatives [3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (12) and ducheside B (25)] and five others [eugenol (1), emodin (4), vanillic acid (10), gallic aldehyde (19), salidroside (20)]. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature values. This is the first report of the eleven compounds, 2~6, 10, 15, 16, 20, 23, and 25 from the genus Geum, as well as the first report of apigenin (13) and 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (12) from G. japonicum. The antioxidant properties of 22 isolates (1~11, 14, 16~25) were evaluated by the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) radical scavenging using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay. Among them, isoquercitrin (17) showed significant scavenging activity, and gallic aldehyde (19) and ducheside B (25) showed weak scavenging activity.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 1994

Elevated near-UV radiation, containing a large amount of UV-B and a small amount of UV-C, inhibited the development of leaves and tillers, the increase in biomass production, the elongation of plant height, the photosynthetic rate and the chlorophyll content in rice plants in a phytotron. Elevated UV-B radiation filtered through cellulose diacetate film or UV-31 cut filter (transmission down to 290 nm) similarly suppressed each growth component above. Near-UV radiation-caused injuries were alleviated either by elevated CO$_2$ atmosphere or by exposure to high irradiance-visible radiation. On the basis of these findings, we examined cultivar differences in the resistance to UV radiation-caused injuries among 198 rice cultivars belonging to 5 Asian rice ecotypes ( aus, aman, boro, bulu and tjeleh) from the Bengal region and Indonesia and to Japanese lowland and upland rice groups. It was shown that .various cultivars having different sensitivities to the effects of near-UV radiation were involved in the same ecotype and the same group, and that the Japanese lowland rice group and the boro ecotype were more resistant. Among Japanese lowland rice cultivars, Sasanishiki (one of the leading varieties in Japan) exhibited more resistance to near-UV radiation, while Norin 1 showed less resistance, although these two cultivars are closely related. It was thus indicated that the resistance to the inhibitory effects of near-UV radiation of rice cultivars is not simply due to the difference in the geographical situation where rice cultivars are cultivated. From the genetic analysis of resistance to the inhibitory effects of UV radiation on growth of rice using F$_2$ plants generated by reciprocally crossing Sasanishiki and Norin 1 and F$_3$ lines generated by self-fertilizing F$_2$ plants, it was evident that the resistance to the inhibitory effects of elevated near-UV radiation in these rice plants was controlled by recessive polygenes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 2009

Purpose: The use of an autogenous fat graft has become a common procedure in plastic surgery. However, questions remain concerning on the viability of fat cells and preservation method of aspirated fat. The purpose of this study was to examine the viability of fat cells stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ in the freeze for 1 year after harvest from abdominal liposuction. Methods: Eighteen adults (aged 24 to 65 years old, 16 female and 2 male) were recruited for this study. Harvested aspirated fat tissues were obtained by suction - assisted lipectomy and frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$ commercial refrigerator for one year (average 12.5 months). The viability off at cells in specimens were measured after thawing. The numbers of viable cells were measured on a fluorescence microscope after staining with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. GPDH (Glycerol - 3 - phosphate dehydrogenase) activity was measured. Cell culture was done for 3 weeks. Results: There were no viable cells under the fluorescence microscope, no detectable GPDH activity, and no cultured cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that aspirated fat after frozen storage for one year at $-20^{\circ}C$ freezer is inadequate to reuse.