• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.171-180
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• 2024

Background: Epimers of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) have a low bioavailability and are prone to deglycosylation, which produces epimers of ginsenoside Rh2 (S-Rh2 and R-Rh2) and protopanaxadiol (S-PPD and R-PPD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and potency of these molecules as anti-cancer agents. Methods: Crystal violet staining was used to study the anti-proliferatory action of the molecules on a human epithelial breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and compare their potency. Cell death and cell cycle were studied using flow cytometry and mode of cell death was studied using live cell imaging. Anti-angiogenic effects of the drug were studied using loop formation assay. Molecular docking showed the interaction of these molecules with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) and aquaporin (AQP) water channels. VEGF bioassay was used to study the interaction of Rh2 with VEGFR2, in vitro. Results: HUVEC was the more sensitive cell line to the anti-proliferative effects of S-Rh2, S-PPD and R-PPD. The molecules induced necroptosis/necrosis in MDA-MB-231 and apoptosis in HUVEC. S-Rh2 was the most potent inhibitor of loop formation. In silico molecular docking predicted a good binding score between Rh2 or PPD and the ATP-binding pocket of VEGFR2. VEGF bioassay showed that Rh2 was an allosteric modulator of VEGFR2. In addition, SRh2 and PPD had good binding scores with AQP1 and AQP5, both of which play roles in cell migration and proliferation. Conclusion: The combination of these molecules might be responsible for the anti-cancer effects observed by Rg3.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.187-190
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• 2002

Crude synaptic membrane fractions from the frontal cortex, striatum, brain stem and whole brain of rat were prepared to assay the effects of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on [$^3$H]DAGO bindings of the opioid $\mu$-receptors. Scatchard plots analysis binding data demonstrated that GTS (0.1 mg/ml) decreased the affinity of specific [$^3$H]DAGO bindings without changes in B$\_$max/ in the frontal cortex and striatum. On the other hand, GTS did not affect the [$^3$H]DAGO bindings iii the brain stem and whole brain. These results suggest that the regulation of [$^3$H]DAGO bindings by GTS may play roles in the change of the pharmacological responses of $\mu$-opioids.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.152-154
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• 2002

The methanol extract of Viscum album var. coloratum, Korean mistletoe, showed potent prolongation effects on the bleeding time in rats in vivo, and whole blood clotting time and plasma recalcification time in rats ex vivo. The prolongation effect on the bleeding time of Korean mistletoe is comparable to that of Viscum album L., European mistletoe, 185.6% and 176.5%, respectively. However, the water extracts of the both plants did not show any prolongation effects. Platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor binding assay was carried out to elucidate the action mechanisms of the extracts, and both of the methanol extracts did not show any inhibitory activity. The $LD_{50}$ of the methanol extracts of both mistletoes are more than 2 g/kg. These results suggest that the mehtanol extract of Korean mistletoe might be a potential candidate to develop new drug to improve microcirculation.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.23-31
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• 2020

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidemia effect of Scutellariae Radix, Aucklandiae Radix and Bupleuri Radix(SAB). Methods : FL83B cells were mouse liver hepatocytes, and we used this cell line. FL83B cells were treated with 0.5 mM oleic acid(OA) for 24 h, SAB extract was treated. After OA treatment, intracellular triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid contents were measured with AdiopoRed™ assay and Free Fatty Acid Quantitation assay kit, respectively. Further, we evaluated several lipogenesis and metabolic markers such as sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), 3-hydroxy3-methyl-glutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT-1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and cluster of differentiation (CD36) using RT-PCR and Western-blot analysis. Results : OA markedly increased intracellular TG and free fatty acid, which plays a key role in reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, in FL83B cells. These increases were alleviated by SAB extract. The mRNA and protein expression of Fatty acid(FA) oxidation factors (CPT-1, PPARα), lipolysis factor(HSL), FA transporter(CD36), cholesterol synthesis factors (HMGCoA) and Lipodenesis (SREBP-1c, FAS, and ACC-1) were significantly increased by treatment of SAB extract in the OA-induced fatty liver cell model. Conclusions : In summary, the treat of SAB extract showed a significant reduction of the influx of fatty acids into hepatocytes, promoted the oxidation of fatty acids, and regulated fat synthesis-related factors, thereby regulating the accumulation of TG and free fatty acids.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권7호
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• pp.765-771
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• 2018

$PPAR{\gamma}$는 지방세포의 분화를 조절하는 핵심적인 전사 인자로서 이를 조절하는 후성유전학적 조절 기전이 비만억제 연구에서 중요하게 주목 받고 있다. 선행연구에서 CACUL1이 $PPAR{\gamma}$의 전사 활성 및 지방세포의 분화를 억제하는 corepressor로서 작용함을 밝힌 바 있으며 본 연구에서는 CACUL1의 새로운 결합 단백질로 발굴된 protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5)의 $PPAR{\gamma}$ 조절 기능을 분석하였다. PRMT5가 CACUL1과 결합함을 immunoprecipitation assay in vivo와 GST-pull down assay in vitro를 통하여 확인하였다. Luciferase reporter assay 결과로 두 단백질이 상호 협력하여 $PPAR{\gamma}$의 전사 활성을 억제함을 확인하였다. PRMT5가 안정적으로 과발현 또는 knockdown되는 3T3-L1 세포주를 제작하여 지방세포 분화에 미치는 영향을 분석한 결과, PRMT5가 3T3-L1세포의 지방세포 분화를 억제함을 증명하였다. 같은 맥락으로 PRMT5는 $PPAR{\gamma}$의 타겟 유전자인 Lpl과 aP2의 발현을 억제하는 것을 RT-qPCR로 확인하였다. 이상의 연구 결과로 PRMT5이 CACUL1과 결합하여 $PPAR{\gamma}$의 전사 활성을 방해, 나아가 지방세포의 분화를 억제하는 기존에 알려지지 않은 분자적 기전을 처음으로 밝혔다. 따라서, PRMT5 효소 활성의 조절은 비만 억제를 위한 약물 개발에 단서를 제공할 것이다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권11호
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• pp.909-920
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• 2020

Cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels ([Ca²⁺]_c) change dynamically in response to inducers, repressors, and physiological conditions, and aberrant [Ca²⁺]_c concentration regulation is associated with cancer, heart failure, and diabetes. Therefore, [Ca²⁺]_c is considered as a good indicator of physiological and pathological cellular responses, and is a crucial biomarker for drug discovery. A genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) was recently developed to measure [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models. GECI have some advantages over chemically synthesized indicators, although they also have some drawbacks such as poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), low positive signal, delayed response, artifactual responses due to protein overexpression, and expensive detection equipment. Here, we developed an indicator based on interactions between Ca²⁺-loaded calmodulin and target proteins, and generated an innovative GECI sensor using split nano-luciferase (Nluc) fragments to detect changes in [Ca²⁺]_c. Stimulation-dependent luciferase activities were optimized by combining large and small subunits of Nluc binary technology (NanoBiT, LgBiT:SmBiT) fusion proteins and regulating the receptor expression levels. We constructed the binary [Ca²⁺]_c sensors using a multicistronic expression system in a single vector linked via the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and examined the detection efficiencies. Promoter optimization studies indicated that promoter-dependent protein expression levels were crucial to optimize SNR and sensitivity. This novel [Ca²⁺]_c assay has high SNR and sensitivity, is easy to use, suitable for high-throughput assays, and may be useful to detect [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models.