• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2009

Two poorly known and often confused pleurostomatid ciliates, Litonotus paracygnus Song, 1994 and L. pictus Gruber, 1884, were collected from the coastal waters of Yeonggeumjeong and Bongpo-port, Gangwondo in the East Sea and from the Iwon tide embankment near Ganwol-do, Chungcheongnam-do in the Yellow Sea, Korea. These species were described based on live observations, the protargol-impregnation and morphometrics of the species. Also provided are their diagnoses. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences of these species were compared with previously known sequences of related species. The diagnostics of the two Litonotus species are as follows. L. paracygnus: 150-300 $\mu$m long in vivo, strongly contractile neck region, two ellipsoid macronuclei (Ma) and one micronucleus (Mi), 7 left (LSK) and 11-14 right somatic kineties (RSK), 2-4 contractile vacuoles (CV) located on the posterior end, extrusemes (Ex) distributed on the anterior region of the ventral margin only. L. pictus: about 200-600 $\mu$m long in vivo, extremely contractile, beautiful body color with rows of yellow to yellow-brownish cortical pigment granules, 12-21 Ma arranged in moniliform pattern, infrequently vermiform, 7-11 LSK and 18-26 RSK, several CV located on both margins, Ex distributed on the anterior region of the ventral margin only. In this study, this genus was firstly recorded in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.327-331
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• 2006

Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) have long been used for food sources in Korea. The present study was performed to investigate the ex vivo effect of Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme on NO production in macrophage of mice. Seven to eight week old mices(Balb/c) were fed chew diet ad libitum and water extract of Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme was administrated orally at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). every other day for two or four weeks NO(nitric oxide) production by activated macrophage was assessed by measuring nitrite, the stable NO metabolite, using Griess reaction assay. NO production were significantly enhanced in Zingiber officinale group at 500 mg/kg B.W. and in Hizikia fusiforme group at 50 mg/kg B.W. compared to the coresponding control groups. In conclusion, this study may suggest that Zingiber officinale and Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) extracts enhance the immune function by regulating NO production in macrophages of mice.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2010

Acorns have been used as a traditional remed as well as food source. However, few studies on their immunomodulating effects have been reported. In this study, the combined immunomodulative effect of a water extract of acorns was tested on seven to eight weeks old mice(balb/c). The mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and a water extract of the plant mixture was orally administered every other day for four weeks at two different concentrations(50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). The production of cytokine(IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$), secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not, detected by ELISA assay using cytokine kit. After 48 h of incubation with mitogen(ConA or LPS) ex vivo study showed that cytokine (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$) was detected in both of the 50 and 500 mg/kg B.W. supplementation groups with LPS stimulation. The results of this study may suggest that supplementation with acorn water extract increase immune function by regulating cytokine production capacity by activated macrophages.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2016

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and helper T (Th) cytokine-dependent autoantibody production. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of baicalin on the dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and Th cytokines in pristane-induced lupus mice. Mice were received i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane, and then, later about 3 months, were used as a pristane-induced lupus model. The pristane-induced lupus mice were administrated orally with baicalin 50 mg/kg once in a day for 10 days. Immune cells obtained from the pristane-primed lupus control group (lupus control) and baicalin-treated pristaneprimed lupus mouse group (BAC lupus) were cultured for 24 h or 36 h with/without mitogens. These results demonstrated that LPS-induced production of macrophage and splenic TNF-${\alpha}$ and Con A-induced production of thymic IFN-${\gamma}$ were attenuated in BAC lupus compared to lupus control, while LPS-stimulated production of macrophage IL-10, Con A-stimulated production of splenic IL-10 and, $PGE_2$-reduced production of splenic IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced. Therefore, these findings suggest that baicalin may protect from autoimmunity and disease activity in lupus via modulatory effect of proinflammatory cytokine overproduction and Th cytokine imbalance.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.421-425
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• 2003

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two phospholipid permeation enhancers, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and didecanoylphosphatidylcholine (DDPC), along with a fusidic acid derivative, sodium taurodihydrofusidate (STDHF) and ethanol (EtOH) on the buccal transport of propranolol hydrochloride (PPL) using an ex vivo buccal diffusion model. The permeation rate of [$^3 H$]PPL as measured by steady-state fluxes increased with increasing EtOH concentration. A significant flux enhancement (P＜0.05) was achieved by EtOH at 20 and 30 %v/v concentrations. At a 0.5 %w/v permeation enhancer concentration, the buccal permeation of [$^3 H$]PPL was significantly enhanced by all the enhancers studied (i.e., LPC, DDPC and STDHF) compared to the control (phosphate-buffered saline pH 7.4, PBS). LPC and DDPC displayed a greater degree of permeation enhancement compared with STDHF and EtOH-PBS mixtures with an enhancement ratio of 3.2 and 2.9 for LPC and DDPC, respectively compared with 2.0 and 1.5 for STDHF and EtOH:PBS 30:70 %v/v mixture, respectively. There was no significant difference between LPC and DDPC for the flux values and apparent permeability coefficients of [$^3$H]PPL. These results suggest that phospholipids are suitable as permeation enhancers for the buccal delivery of drugs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.352-356
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• 1991

The anti-platelet activity of ilexoside D isolated from the roots of Ilex pubescens Hook. et Arn. was investigated in in vitro and ex vivo models of platelet aggregation induced by ADP, thrombin or collagen in rats. In vitro ilexoside D inhibited more effectively platelet aggregation induced by ADP and thrombin than by collagen as compared with aspirin. Ex vivo ilexoside D also inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and collagen, but not by thrombin, and the inhibitory action of ilexoside D was more effective than that of aspirin. However, in vitro ilexoside D inhibited very poorly the generation of malonyldialdehyde, which is known to be concomitantly released with thromboxane $A_2$ during platelet aggregation. These results suggest that the anti-platelet activity of ilexoside D may not be responsible for prostaglandin synthesis in platelets.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.259-264
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• 2007

Ginger(Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many various traditional preparations since the ancient times. As a component of traditional health products, ginger is known to be effective as an appetite enhancer, and has anti-cold and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate ginger's immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts were orally administered to mice, and isolated macrophages were used as the experimental model. To identify the ex vivo effects, six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed a chow diet ad libitum and the ginger water extracts were administered orally every other day for two or four weeks at two different concentrations(50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). The results show that IL-IO and $IFN-{\gamma}$ were detected in the 500 mg/kg b.w. supplemented group with LPS stimulation in all cases. Also, the $IFN-{\gamma}$ /IL-10 ratio ranged from 3~5 with mitogen stimulation such as Con A and LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the cytokine(IL-10 and $IFN-{\gamma}$) production capacity of activated macrophages in mice.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.528-533
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• 2002

To evaluate the antithrombotic and antiallergic properties of rhaponticin extracted from Rhei Rhizoma, the in vitro and ex vivo inhibitory activities of rhaponticin and its metabolite, rhapontigenin, were measured. These compounds inhibited in vitro ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Rhapontigenin was more potent, with $IC_{50}$ values of 4 and $70{\;}{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In ex vivo ADP- and collagen-induced rat platelet aggregation, these compounds also exhibited a potent inhibitory effect. The antiplatelet aggregation effects of rhaponticin and rhapontigenin were more potent than those of aspirin. Rhapontigenin showed significant protection from death due to pulmonary thrombosis in mice. Rhapontigenin also showed the strongest inhibitory activity against $\beta-hexosaminidase$ release induced by DNP-BSA. These compounds inhibited PCA reaction in mice. Rhapontigenin intraperitoneally administered showed the strongest inhibitory activity and significantly inhibited PCA at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, with inhibitory activities of 48 and 85%, respectively. The inhibitory activity of orally administered rhaponticin was stronger than that of intraperitoneally administered rhaponticin. These results suggest that rhaponticin, in the rhizome of Rhei Rhizoma, is a prodrug that has extensive antiallergic and antithrombotic properties.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.555-564
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenosides of Panax ginseng are used to enhance skin health and beauty. The present study aimed to investigate the potential use of ginsenoside Rf (Rf) from Panax ginseng as a new anti-pigmentation agent. Methods: The anti-melanogenic effects of Rf were explored. The transcriptional activity of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression levels of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and tyrosinase-related proteins (Tyrps) were evaluated in melanocytes and UV-irradiated ex vivo human skin. Results: Rf significantly inhibited Forskolin (FSK) or UV-stimulated melanogenesis. Consistently, cellular tyrosinase activity and levels of MITF, tyrosinase, and Tyrps were downregulated. Furthermore, Rf suppressed MITF promoter activity, which was stimulated by FSK or CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) overexpression. Increased CREB phosphorylation and protein kinase A (PKA) activity induced by FSK were also mitigated in the presence of Rf. Conclusion: Rf can be used as a reliable anti-pigmentation agent, which has a scientifically confirmed and reproducible action mechanism, via inhibition of CREB/MITF pathway.

• Implantology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.210-218
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reproducibility of a method based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) technology for the visualization and measurement of gingival soft-tissue dimensions. Material and Methods: A total of 66 selected points in soft-tissue of the ex vivo head of an adult pig were investigated in this study. For the measurement of radiographic thickness (RT), wet soft-tissue surfaces were lightly covered with barium sulfate powder using a powder spray. CBCT was taken and DICOM files were assessed for soft-tissue thickness measurement at reference points. A periodontal probe and a rubber stop were used for the measurement of trans-gingival probing thickness (TPT). After flap elevation, actual thickness of soft-tissue (actual thickness, AT) was measured. Correlation analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients analysis (ICC) were performed for AT, TPT, and RT. Results: All variables were distributed normally. Strong significant correlations of AT with RT and TPT values were found. The two ICC values between TPT vs. AT and RT vs. AT differed significantly. Conclusion: Our results indicated that correlation of RT was stronger than that of TPT with AT. We concluded that soft tissue measurement with CBCT could be a reliable method, compared to the trans-gingival probing measurement method.