• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.567-572
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Anti-Thrombotic Activities and Cardiovascular Improvement of Fermented Garlic Extracts. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing rapidly in developed countries, with CVDs now representing the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Natural products and ethnomedicines have been shown to reduce the risk of CVDs. Garlic is a medicinal plant used throughout the world for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiplatelet activities. We hypothesized that fermented preparations of these products may possess stronger antiplatelet effects than the non-fermented forms owing to the increased bioavailability of the bioactive compounds produced during fermentation. Therefore, we compared these compounds via in vitro and ex vivo platelet aggregation assays by using standard light transmission aggregometry and ex vivo granule secretions from rat platelets. We found that fermented preparations exerted more potent and significant inhibition of platelet aggregation both in vitro and ex vivo. Likewise, ATP release from dense granules of platelets was also significantly inhibited in fermented preparation-treated rat platelets compared to that in non-fermented preparation-treated ones. We concluded that fermented preparations exerted more potent effects on platelet function both in vitro and ex vivo, possibly as a result of the increased bioavailability of active compounds produced during fermentation. We therefore suggest that fermented products may be potent therapeutics against platelet-related CVDs and can be used as antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Purpose: Fruit and vegetable juices are known to be rich sources of antioxidants, which have beneficial effects on diseases caused by oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to directly compare the antioxidant activities of fruit and vegetable juices marketed in Korea. Methods: We analyzed four fruit juices, two vegetable juices, two yellow-green juices, and six mixed vegetable juices. Antioxidant activities were analyzed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) test, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Protective effects against DNA damage were determined using an ex vivo comet assay with human lymphocytes. Results: DPPH radical scavenging activities were in the following order: blueberry juice > mixed vegetable C juice > kale juice > mixed vegetable P juice > grape juice. ABTS radical scavenging activities were in the following order: blueberry juice > mixed vegetable C juice > grape juice > mixed vegetable P juice > kale juice. Peroxyl radical scavenging activities as assessed by ORAC assay were in the following order: blueberry juice > kale juice > mixed vegetable C juice > grape juice. Grape or blueberry juice showed strong abilities to prevent DNA damage in lymphocytes, and the difference between them was not significant according to the GSTM1/GSTT1 genotype. Conclusion: Antioxidant activities of fruit and vegetable juices and ex vivo DNA protective activity increased in the order of blueberry juice, grape juice, and kale juice, although the rankings were slightly different. Therefore, these juices rich in polyphenols and flavonoids deserve more attention for their high antioxidant capacity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2008

Zinc plays a protective role in anti-atherosclerosis but the clear mechanism has not been proposed yet. In the present study, we evaluated whether zinc modulates atherosclerotic markers, VACM-1 and ICAM-1 and cell viability both in endothelial cells in vitro and mouse aortic cell viability ex vivo. In study 1, as in vitro model, endothelial EA.hy926 cells were treated with $TNF{\alpha}$ for 5 hours for inducing oxidative stress, and then treated with Zn-adequacy ($15\;{\mu}M$ Zn) or Zn-deficiency ($0\;{\mu}M$ Zn) for 6 hours. Pro-atherosclerosis factors, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression and cell viability was measured. In study 2, as ex vivo model, mouse aorta ring was used. Mourse aorta was removed and cut in ring then, cultured in a 96-well plate. Aortic ring was treated with various $TNF{\alpha}$ (0-30 mg/ml) and intracellular zinc chelator, N, N, N', N', -tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN, $0-30\;{\mu}M$) for cellular zinc depletion for 2 days and then cell viability was measured. The results showed that in in vitro study, Zn-adequate group induced more VCAM-1 & ICAM-1 mRNA expression than Zn-deficient group during 6-hour zinc treatment post-5 hour TNF-$\alpha$ treatment, unexpectedly. These results might be cautiously interpreted that zinc would biologically induce the early expression of anti-oxidative stress through the increased adhesion molecule expression for reducing atherosclerotic action, particularly under the present 6-hour zinc treatment. In ex vivo, mouse aortic ring cell viability was decreased as TNF-$\alpha$ and TPEN levels increased, which suggests that mouse aortic blood vessel cell viability was decreased, when oxidative stress increases and cellular zinc level decreases. Taken together, it can be suggested that zinc may have a protective role in anti-atherosclerosis by cell viability in endothelial cells and aorta tissue. Further study is needed to clarify how pro-atherosclerosis molecule expression is modulated by zinc.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.118.2-119
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• 2003

This study was undertaken to assess overall effects of bisphenol A, a monomer widely used in manufacturing polycarbonate plastics or epoxy resin, exposure on immune system of mice. For in vitro evaluation, serial concentration of SPA was added into culture of various immune cells from normal female ICR mice, and for in vivo or ex vivo assessment, mice were orally exposed to BPA dissolved in olive oil as doses of 500, 1000, 2000 mg/g b.w. for acute expose or 100, 500, 1000 mg/kg/day b.w. 5days a week for subacute exposure. (omitted)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.223-229
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• 2012

Clinical and preclinical in vivo immune cell imaging approaches have been used to study immune cell proliferation, apoptosis and interaction at the microscopic (intra-vital imaging) and macroscopic (whole-body imaging) level by use of ex vivo or in vivo labeling method. A series of imaging techniques ranging from non-radiation based techniques such as optical imaging, MRI, and ultrasound to radiation based CT/nuclear imaging can be used for in vivo immune cell tracking. These imaging modalities highlight the intrinsic behavior of different immune cell populations in physiological context. Fluorescent, radioactive or paramagnetic probes can be used in direct labeling protocols to monitor the specific cell population. Reporter genes can also be used for genetic, indirect labeling protocols to track the fate of a given cell subpopulation in vivo. In this review, we summarized several methods dealing with dendritic cell, macrophage, and T lymphocyte specifically labeled for different macroscopic whole-body imaging techniques both for the study of their physiological function and in the context of immunotherapy to exploit imaging-derived information and immune-based treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2012

In vivo nicotine is associated with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and lung cancer. Diagnostic assays of these diseases depend on very low analytical detection limits. In this study, a sensitive analytical method was examined using a voltammetric graphite pencil electrode (GPE) and a modified carbon nanotube paste electrode (CNE). The optimum analytical conditions for both electrodes were compared using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SW) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) obtaining 400 sec accumulation time and oxidation peak. Under optimum parameters, the stripping working range of GPE was $5.0-40.0{\mu}g/L$, CNE: 0.1-0.8 and $5-50{\mu}g/L$. Quantification limits were $5.0{\mu}g/L$ for GPE and $0.1{\mu}g/L$ for CNE, while detection limits were $0.6{\mu}g/L$ for GPE and $0.07{\mu}g/L$ for CNE. A standard deviation of $10.0{\mu}g/L$ was observed for 0.064 GPE and 0.095 CNE (n = 12) using 400 sec accumulation time. The results obtained can be applied to non.treated urine and ex vivo biological diagnostics.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2019

Purpose: To investigate the temperature-based differences of cortical bone ultrashort echo time MRI (UTE-MRI) biomarkers between body and room temperatures. Investigations of ex vivo UTE-MRI techniques were performed mostly at room temperature however, it is noted that the MRI properties of cortical bone may differ in vivo due to the higher temperature which exists as a condition in the live body. Materials and Methods: Cortical bone specimens from fourteen donors ($63{\pm}21$ years old, 6 females and 8 males) were scanned on a 3T clinical scanner at body and room temperatures to perform T1, $T2^*$, inversion recovery UTE (IR-UTE) $T2^*$ measurements, and two-pool magnetization transfer (MT) modeling. Results: Single-component $T2^*$, $IR-T2^*$, short and long component $T2^*s$ from bi-component analysis, and T1 showed significantly higher values while the noted macromolecular fraction (MMF) from MT modeling showed significantly lower values at body temperature, as compared with room temperature. However, it is noted that the short component fraction (Frac1) showed higher values at body temperature. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for careful consideration of the temperature effects on MRI measurements, before extending a conclusion from ex vivo studies on cortical bone specimens to clinical in vivo studies. It is noted that the increased relaxation times at higher temperature was most likely due to an increased molecular motion. The T1 increase for the studied human bone specimens was noted as being significantly higher than the previously reported values for bovine cortical bone. The prevailing discipline notes that the increased relaxation times of the bound water likely resulted in a lower signal loss during data acquisition, which led to the incidence of a higher Frac1 at body temperature.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.5
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• pp.591-595
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• 1997

An ex vivo assay determining the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) activity in perfused rat liver has been developed by assessing the rate of thiobenzamide S-oxide (TBSO) formation from the infused thiobenzamide (TB). The hepatotoxicity by TB or TBSO was not a critical factor for maintaining the FMO activity for up to 50 min. The FMO activity expressed in nmoles TBSO produced/g liver/min was the same for the recycling and non-recycling perfusion. This implies that reduction of the oxidized TBSO back to the parent compound (TB) is negligible. Hydrolysis of the collected perfusates with either ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ or arylsulfatase did not increase the TBSO level and thus, TBSO does not appear to undergo conjugation either to glucuronide or sulfate esters. Thus, measuring the rate of TB S-oxidation in the isolated perfused liver with 1 mM TB for 50 min provides a useful tool for evaluation of the hepatic FMO activity in the absence of hepatic necrosis and without the interferences caused by further conjugation or back reduction of the TBSO to the parent TB.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.19.1-19.6
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• 2012

$Capparis$ $zeylanica$ Linn. a 'Rasayana' drug is used for its memory enhancing effects in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and memory enhancing activities of $Capparis$ $zeylanica$ Linn. The$in-vitro$ and $ex-vivo$ models of AChE inhibitory activity were used along with Morris water maze test to study the effect on memory in rats. The anticholinesterase effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts of $Capparis$ $zeylanica$ was measured by spectrophotometric Ellman method at 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10 and 30 mg/ml and brain monoamine oxidase (MAO-A and MAO-B) activity was assessed by Naoi's method. The results $in-vitro$ and $ex-vivo$ AChE assay revealed that methanolic and aqueous extracts of $Capparis$ $zeylanica$ inhibit AChE activity, whereas these extracts did not alter MAO activity at any concentration tested as compared to moclobemide and L-deprenyl. The results indicate that $Capparis$ $zeylanica$ improves scopolamine-induced memory deficits through inhibition of AChE activity, and not by direct MAO inhibition.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2015

Two pleurostomatid ciliates, Loxophyllum perihoplophorum Buddenbrock, 1920 and L. rostratum Cohn, 1866, were collected from the coastal waters of the East Sea, Korea. Their morphologies are described based on live observation and protargol staining, and morphometrics are provided. Loxophyllum perihoplophorum is characterized by the following features: 200-650 μm long in vivo; body slender leaf-shaped, flexible and contractile, with thin and wide extrusome-belted zone; 2 macronuclear nodules (Ma) and 1 micronucleus (Mi); 7-9 contractile vacuoles (CV) positioned along dorsal margin; extrusomes (Ex) evenly distributed along edge of entire body, with about 10 dorsal warts (Wa); 9-11 left (LSK) and 19-22 right somatic kineties (RSK), 4-5 furrows (Fu) on left side. Loxophyllum rostratum is about 100-130 μm long in vivo; body oblate leaf-shaped, contractile, convex ventral side and S-shaped dorsal side, beak-like anterior end; 2 Ma and 1 Mi; 1 CV terminally located; Ex distributed along edge of entire body, with about 9-10 dorsal Wa; 7-8 LSK and 15-19 RSK, ca. 5 Fu on left body side. In addition, sequences of small subunit ribosomal DNA were determined from these two Loxophyllum species and compared with the known Loxophyllum sequences.