• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.144-146
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• 2003

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.375-383
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• 2011

In the previous report, we have demonstrated that ginsenoside Rc, one of major ginsenosides, is a major component for the restoration for normal growth of worms in cholesterol-deprived medium. In the present study, we further investigated the roles of minor ginsenosides, such as ginsenoside $Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$, ginsenoside metabolites such as compound K (CK), protopanaxadiol (PPD), and protopanaxatriol (PPT) and ginsenoside epimers such as 20(R)- and 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ in cholesterol-deprived medium. We found that ginsenoside $Rh_1$ almost restored normal growth of worms in cholesterol-deprived medium in F1 generation. However, supplement of ginsenoside $Rh_2$ caused a suppression of worm growths in cholesterol-deprived medium. In addition, CK and PPD also slightly restored normal growth of worms in cholesterol-deprived medium but PPT not. In experiments using ginsenoside epimers, supplement of 20(S)- but not 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ in cholesterol-deprived medium also almost restored worm growth. These results indicate that the absence or presence of carbohydrate component at backbone of ginsenoside, the number of carbohydrate attached at carbon-3, and the position of hydroxyl group at carbon-20 of ginsenoside might plays important roles in restoration of worm growth in cholesterol-deprived medium.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Tetracyclines (TCs) are mainly regulated as parent compounds by bioactivity-based screening methods in food. Especially with respect to antimicrobial residues, their metabolites/epimers are also highly concerning chemicals and traditionally applied microbial detection methods are needed to improve with validation for regulatory control. METHODS AND RESULTS: Detection capability and biological activity of tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and their epimers; anhydrotetracycline (ATC), epianhydrotetracycline (EATC), epitetracycline (ETC), 4-epi-chlortetracycline (ECTC), 4-epianydrochlotetra-cycline (EACTC), 4-epioxychlortetracycline (EOTC), were measured by microbial growth inhibition screening method of Korea Food Code. CONCLUSION(S): Limited detection capabilities were found, B. megarerium and B. subtilis showed for TC and CTC, and B. subtilis for OTC. Biological potency of each epimer was also presented against various microorganisms, at the level from 50% to 96%, comparing with parent TCs. It is recommended that more advanced microbial screening methods with validation are needed, and biologically active epimers are to be considered as marker residues for MRL setting of regulatory control purpose.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2009

This study looked at toxicity of Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, which had accumulated paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) from early March to late May 2005 at Jinhae Bay, Korea. Alexandrium sp. was observed in low densities (< 1,000 cells/L) at the beginning of the study in March, increased rapidly in April, declined rapidly and disappeared in May. Although low densities of Alexandrium sp. were observed in March, mussel toxicity exceeded regulation level ($80{\mu}g$ STXeq. /100 g). Peak PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) toxicity in the mussels occurred during high Alexandrium sp. cell densities in April. Mussels toxicity decreased with decline of Alexandrium sp. cell density. Major toxin components identified were $GTX_1$, $GTX_4$, followed by $C_1$, $C_2$, $GTX_2$, $GTX_3$ and neoSTX. Trace or sporadic toxin components were STX, $GTX_5$, $dcGTX_2$, $dcGTX_3$ and dcSTX. Toxin component analysis from the middle to end of the study showed that $11{\beta}$-epimers ($GTX_{3,4}$, $C_2$) were converted into $11{\alpha}$-epimers ($GTX_{1,2}$, $C_1$) and started to determine STX.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2005

The previous reports demonstrated that ginseng saponins, active ingredient of Panax ginseng, inhibited blood vessel contraction induced by various hormones or high $K^+$. Recently, we demonstrated that 20(R)- and 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$. regulate ion channel activities with differential manners. The aim of this study was to examine whether ginsenoside $Rg_3$ isomers also show differential effects on swine coronary artery contractionresponses induced by high $K^+$, serotonin (5-HT) or acetylcholine. Treatment of 20(S)- but not 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of coronary artery contracted by 25mM KCI. 20(S)- and 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ induced significant relaxations of coronary artery contraction induced by 5-HT $(3{\mu}M)$ in the presence of endothelium with concentration-dependent manner and, also in the absence of endothelium only 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ induced a strong Inhibition of coronary artery contraction induced by 5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner. 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ caused relaxation of coronary artery in the absence and presence of endothelium. In contrast, treatment of 20(S)- and 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3\;(100{\mu}M)$ did not show significant inhibition of coronary artery contraction induced by acetylcholine $(0.01\;to\;30{\mu}M)$ in the presence of endothelium, whereas both isomers caused significant inhibition of coronary artery contraction induced by acetylcholine $(0.01\;to\;30{\mu}M)$ in the absence of endothelium in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings indicate that 20(S)-or 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ exhibits differential relaxation eff3cts of swine coronary artery contractions caused by high $K^+$, acetylcholine, and 5-HT treatment and that this differential vasorelaxing effects of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ isomers also might be dependent on endothelium.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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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.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.219-224
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• 2011

The new MPV type reagent, Al-trifluoromethanesulfonyldiisobutylalane ($DIBAO_3SCF_3$), has been prepared and its reducing characteristics in the reduction of selected organic compounds containing representative functional groups have been examined, and compared its reactivity with that of Al-methanesulfonyldiisobutylalane ($DIBAO_3SCH_3$) in order to understand the fluorine-substituent effect on its reactivity. In general, the reactivity of $DIBAO_3SCF_3$ appears to be much higher than that of $DIBAO_3SCH_3$, apparently due to the acidity increase by the electron-withdrawing fluorine-substituent. The reagent reduced aldehydes and ketones readily, but showed a perfect selectivity in the reduction of $\alpha,\beta$-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones to produce the corresponding allylic alcohols in an absolutely 100% purity. In addition, the reagent achieved the regioselective cleavage of phenyl- or/and alkyl-substituted epoxides to the less substituted alcohols in a perfect regioselectivity. Moreover, the reagent also showed an high stereoselectivity in the reduction of substituted cycloalkanones to produce the thermodynamically more stable alcohol epimers exclusively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.840-844
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• 2010

The new MPV type reagent, Al-methanesulfonyldiisobutylalane ($DIBAO_3SCH_3$), has been prepared and its reducing characteristics in the reduction of selected organic compounds containing representative functional groups have been examined in order to find out a new reducing system with high selectivity in organic synthesis. In general, the reagent is extremely mild, showing only reactivity toward aldehydes, ketones and epoxides. The reagent exhibits a unique reducing applicability in organic synthesis. Thus, the reagent can achieve a clean 1,2-reduction of $\alpha,\beta$-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones to produce the corresponding allylic alcohols in 100% purity. In addition, the reagent shows an excellent regioselectivity in the ring-opening reaction of epoxides. Finally, $DIBAO_3SCH_3$ shows a high stereoselectivity in the reduction of cyclic ketones to produce the thermodynamically more stable epimers exclusively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.194-196
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• 1998

The metabolism of dromostanolone (2α-methyl-5α- androstan-17β-ol-3-one) was studied in three adult volunteers after oral dose of 20 mg. Solvent extracts of urine obtained after enzyme hydrolysis were derivatized with MSTFA/TMCS and MSTFA/TMIS. The structures of intact drug and its metabolites were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in electron impact (EI) mode. The major metabolite (2α-methyl-5α- androstan-3α-ol-17-one), its 3β-epimer, parent compound, and several hydroxylated metabolites including intact drug were detected by comparing total ion chromatograms of control urine with that of the administered sample. Two epimers of 2α-methyl-5α- androstan-3,17β-diol were detected using selected ion monitoring. The maximum excretion of dromostanolone and 2α-methyl-5α- androstan-3α-ol-17-one was reached in 6.2-15 hr. The half-life of intact dromostanolone was 5.3 hr. About 3.0% of the administered amount was found to be excreted within 95 hr as unchanged form.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.236-242
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• 1998

Reaction of carbonyl compounds with Al-alkoxydiisobutylalane (DIBAOR, R=H, Et, i-Pr, t-Bu) has been investigated in detail so as to establish their usefulness as selective reducing agents in organic synthesis. The reagents appear to be extremely mild and can reduce only aldehydes and ketones effectively under mild conditions. All the other common organic functional groups are not affected by these reagents. The reagents can also reduce α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones to the corresponding allylic alcohols without any detectable 1,4-reduction. Furthermore, the reagents show a highly chemoselective discrimination between aldehyde and ketone, between aldehydes, and between ketones. Even more remarkable is the stereoselective reduction of cyclic ketones to the thermodynamically more stable alcohol epimers.