• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.72-89
• /
• 2003

To elucidate the neuroprotective effect of Yeoldahanso-tang(YHT) on nerve cells damaged by hypoxia, the cytotoxic effects of exposure to hypoxia were determined by XTT(SODIUM3,3'-{I-[(PHENYLAMINO) CARBONYL]-3,4-TETRAZOLIUM}- BIS (4-METHOXY-6-NITRO) BENZENE SULFONIC ACID HYDRATE), NR(Neutral red), MTT(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and SRB(Sulforhodamin B) asssay. The activity of catalase and SOD(Superoxide dismutase) was measured by spectrophometry, and $TNF-{\alpha}$(Tumor cell necrosis $fector-{\alpha}$) and PKC(Protein kinase C) activity was measured after exposure to hypoxia and treatment of YHTWE. Also the neuroprotective effect of YHTWE was researched for the elucidatioion of neuroprotective mechanism. The results were as follows; 1. Hypoxia decreased cell viability measured by XTT, NR assay when cultured cerebral neurons were exposed to 95% N2/5% CO2 for $2{\sim}26$ minutes in these cultures and YHTWE inhibited the decrease of cell viability. 2. H2O2 treatment decreased cell viability measured by MTT, and SRB assay when cultured cerebral neurons were exposed to 1-80 ${\mu}M$ for 6 hours, but YHTWE inhibited the decrease of cell viability. 3. Hypoxia decreased catalase and SOD activity, and also $TNF-{\alpha}$ and PKC activity in these cultured cerebral neurons, but YHTWE inhibited the decrease of the catalase and SOD activity in these cultures. 4. Hypoxia triggered the apoptosis via caspase activation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Also hypoxia stimulate the release of cytochrome c forom mitochondria. YHTWE inhibited the apoptosis via caspase activation induced by hypoxia. From these results, it can be suggested that brain ischemia model induced hypoxia showed neurotoxicity on cultured mouse cerebral neurons, and the YHTWE has the neuroprotective effect in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by hypoxia in cultured mouse cerebral neurons.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.228-233
• /
• 2002

To investigate the effects of submersion aging in chilled water on tenderness and microbial growth of vacuum-packed beef, the semimembranosus muscles of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) was sampled at a commercial meat plant at 24 hrs postmortem. The samples were cut to 2.5 cm thick steaks and randomly assigned to following two treatments. The samples were stored in conventional refrigerator at 4$^{\circ}C$ after vacuum packaging for control whereas the other vacuum-packed samples were submersed in chilled water at 1$^{\circ}C$ for treatment, and both samples were stored for 14 days to measure total plate counts (TPC), sarcomere length, free calcium concentration, shear farce value and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI). The sarcomere length of treatment was significantly (p<0.05) longer than that of control at 3 days aging. Result suggested that submersion in chilled water of vacuum-packed beef might be effective to improve tenderness of meat compared to storage in conventional refrigerator. There were no significant differences in the shear force and MFI between control and treatment during storage. However, the free calcium concentration of samples from treatment was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of control at 7 days of ageing. This result indicated that the lower shear force value and the longer sarcomere length of samples from treatment might be due to increasing the free calcium ion concentration in sarcoplasm during storage. On the other hands, samples from control showed significantly (p<0.05) higher number of microbial (TPC) compared to treatment during storage. from results obtained, submersion in chilled water of vacuum-packed beef could be recommended as a desirable aging method to improve tenderness of Hanwoo compared to aging in conventional refrigerator.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.622-629
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing sucrose with sugar alcohols (sorbitol, glycerol and xylitol) on the quality properties of semi-dried jerky. Total 7 treatments of jerkies were prepared as follows: control with sucrose, and treatments with 2.5 and 5.0% of sucrose replaced by each sugar alcohol, respectively. Drying yield, pH, water activity, moisture content, shear force, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value, sugar content, and sensory evaluation were evaluated. Xylitol slightly decreased the pH when compared to the other sugar alcohols (p>0.05). The water activity of the semi-dried jerky was significantly reduced by treatment with glycerol and xylitol (p<0.05). The moisture content of semi-dried jerky containing various sugar alcohols was significantly higher than that of the control (p<0.05), while replacing sucrose with glycerol yielded the highest moisture content. The shear force of semi-dried jerky containing sugar alcohols was not significantly different for the sorbitol and glycerol treatments, but that replacing sucrose with 5.0% xylitol demonstrated the lowest shear force (p<0.05). The TBARS values of semi-dried jerkies with sugar alcohols were lower than the control (p<0.05). The sugar content of the semi-dried jerkies containing sorbitol and glycerol were lower than the control and xylitol treatment (p<0.05). In comparison with the control, the 5.0% xylitol treatment was found to be significantly different in the sensory evaluation (p<0.05). In conclusion, semi-dried jerky made by replacement with sugar alcohols improved the quality characteristics, while xylitol has applicability in manufacturing meat products.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2000.05a
• /
• pp.23-36
• /
• 2000

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the causative agent of a mosquito-borne encephalitis and is transmitted to human via persistently infected mosquito vectors. Although the virus is known to cause only acute infection, there were reports that showed neurological sequelae, latent infection in peripheral mononuclear cells, and recurrence of the disease after acute encephalitis. Innate resistance of certain cell lines, abnormal SN1 expression of the virus, and anti-apoptotic effect of cullular bcl-2 have been suggested as probable causes of JEV persistence even in the absence of defective interfering (DI) particles. Although possible involvement of DI particles in JEV persistence was suggested, neither has a direct evidence for DI presence nor its molecular characterization been made. Two questions asked in this study are whether the DI virus plays any role in JEV persistent infection if it is associated with and what type of change(s) can be made in persistently infected cells to avoid apoptosis even with the continuous virus replication, DI-free standard stock of JEV was infected in BHK-21, Vero, and SW13 cells and serial high multiplicity passages were performed in order to generate DI particles. There different-sized DI RNA species which were defective in both structural and nonstructural protein coding genes. Rescued ORFs of the DI genome maintained in-frame and the presence of replicative intermediate or replicative form RNA of the DI particles confirmed their replication competence. On the other hand, several clones with JEV persistent infection were established from the cells survived acute infections during the passages. Timing of the DI virus generation during the passages seemed coincide to the appearance of persistently infected cells. The DI RNAs were identified in most of persistently infected cells and were observed throughout the cell maintenance. One of the cloned cell line maintained the viral persistence without DI RNA coreplication. The cells with viral persistence released the reduced but continuous infectious JEV particle for up to 9 months and were refractory to homologous virus superinfection but not to heterologous challenges. Unlike the cells with acute infection these cells were devoid of characteristic DNA fragmentation and JEV-induced apoptosis with or without homologous superinfection. Therefore, the DI RNA generated during JEV undiluted serial passage on mammalian cells was shown to be biologically active and it seemed to be responsible, at least in part, for the establishment and maintenance of the JEV persistence in mammalian cells. Viral persistence without DI RNA coreplication, as in one of the cell clones, supports that JEV persistent infection could be maintained with or without the presence of DI particles. In addition, the fact that the cells with JEV persistence were resistant against homologous virus superinfection, but not against heterologous one, suggests that different viruses have their own and independent pathway for cytopathogenesis even if viral cytopathic effect could be converged to an apoptosis after all.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.1 s.61
• /
• pp.174-186
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The water extract of Samul-tang (SMT) has traditionally been used for treatment of ischemic heart and brain damage in oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of SMT rescues cells from these damages. Methods: This study was designed to investigate the protective mechanisms of SMT on oxidative stress-induced toxicity in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. Treatment with $H_2O_2$ markedly induced death of H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Results: The characteristics of H20z-induced death of H9c2 showed apparent apoptotic features such as DNA fragmentation and morphological change. However, SMT significantly reduced both H202-induced cell death and morphological change. The decrease of Bc-2 expression by High were inhibited by SMT. In addition, the increase of Bax expression was also inhibited by SMT. The cotreatment of SMT and $H_2O_2$ in H9c2 cells also induced the phosphorylation of ERK in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK1/2 attenuated the protective effects of SMT on $H_2O_2-induced$ toxicity in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. These results suggest that both ERK1/2 signaling pathways play important roles in the protective effects of SMT on $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptotic death of H9c2 cells. Also, the expression profile of proteins in $H_2O_2$ cardiomyoblast cells were screened by using two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Among 300 spots resolved in 2-D gels, the comparison of control versus apoptosis cells revealed that signal intensity of 17 spots increased and 11 spots decreased. Conclusions: Taken together, this study suggests that the protectiw effects of the water extract of SMT against oxidative damages may be mediated by the modulation of Bc1-2 and Bax expression via the regulation of the ERK signaling pathway.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 1998.06a
• /
• pp.231-243
• /
• 1998

In the present study, we provide evidence that ginsenoside $Rh_2$ (G-$Rh_2$) as well as staurosporine induces apoptosis of human hepatoma SK-HEP-1 cells by caspase 3-mediated processing of $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ in the early stage of apoptosls. Immunoblottings showed that G-$Rh_2$ as well as statrosporine induced the processing of caspase-3 to an active form, pl7. In stable Bcl-2 transfectants however, G-$Rh_2$ induced DNA fragmentation, while staurosporine did not. In the early stage of apoptosis, $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ was detected to undergo proteolytic processing specifically conducted by caspase-3. $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ translated in vitro was cleaved into a p14 fragment, when incubated with cell extracts obtained from either G-$Rh_2$- or staurosporine-treated cells. Cleavage was equally inhibited in both cases by adding Ac-DEVD-cho, a specific caspase-3 inhibitor, but not by Ac-YVkD-cho, a specific caspase-l inhibitor. Similarly, $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ was efficiently leaved by recombinant caspase-3 overexpressed in E. coli. Moreover, the endogenous $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ of untreated-cell extracts was also cleaved by recombinant caspase-3. Mutation analysis allowed identification of two caspase-3 cleavage sites, $DHVD^{112}$/L and $SMTD^{149}$/F, which are located within, or near the interaction domains for cyclins, Cdks, and PCNA. Taken together, these results show that G-$Rh_2$ as well as staurosporine increases caspase-3 activity, which in turn directly cleaves $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ resulting in elevation of Cdk kinase activity in the early stages of apoptosis. We propose that proteolytic cleavage of $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ is a functionally relevant event that allows unleashing the cyclin/Cdk activity from the inhibitor seen in the earlier stage of apoptosis, the event of which may be associated with the triggering mechanism for the execution of apoptosis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2018.04a
• /
• pp.14-14
• /
• 2018

This Camptotheca acuminata Decne. (CA), belonging to Nyssaceae, is a deciduous tree. and has been used as Traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times. The CA produces camptothecin a natural indole alkaloid, and reported to have anti-cancer effects. But the studies on biological activities of CA leaves are insufficient. Therefore, this study confirmed various biological activities such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiinflammatory and metabolism analysis by HPLC-MS/MS of CA leaves. The $RC_{50}$ values of DPPH radical scavenging activity of ethyl acetate fraction, n-Butanol fraction, methanol extraction, water fraction and n-Hexane fraction were $12.23{\pm}0.01$, $15.93{\pm}0.42$, $55.12{\pm}0.45$, $56.29{\pm}4.15$ and $427.29{\pm}6.13ug/mL$, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ values of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of ethyl acetate fraction, n-Butanol fraction, methanol extraction, n-Hexane fraction and water fraction were $24.29{\pm}0.14$, $47.86{\pm}0.45$, $54.23{\pm}1.21$ $466.76{\pm}2.21$ and $623.91{\pm}9.67ug/mL$, respectively. The nitric oxide release activity of n-Hexane fraction, methanol extraction, ethyl acetate fraction, water fraction and n-Butanol fraction were $31.49{\pm}5.74$, $29.79{\pm}0.71$, $26.89{\pm}0.71$, $8.24{\pm}5.83$ and $7.75{\pm}4.08%$ at 25 ug/mL, respectively. The anti-cancer activity of n-Hexane fraction, methanol extraction, ethyl acetate fraction, water fraction and n-Butanol fraction were $31.49{\pm}5.74$, $29.79{\pm}0.71$, $26.89{\pm}0.71$, $8.24{\pm}5.83$ and $7.75{\pm}4.08%$ at 25 ug/mL, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction activities showed higher biological activities than other fractions. Thus, Additional studies were conducted using ethyl acetate fraction. Metabolite analysis was performed using a LCMS-8040 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. As a result, Five compounds (1-5) were identified in the ethyl acetate fraction of the CA leave. The identification of these compounds was generated by the analysis of fragmentation methods of the negative and positive ion modes. Five compounds were identified as gallic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (2), isoquercetin (3), astragalin (4) and camptothecin (5). These results suggest that the CA leave can be used for functional materials.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.47-64
• /
• 2013

Landscape structure changes over the past three decades were determined with land use and land cover(LULC) maps, and their relationships with mean air temperature time series were the analyzed for the Busan metropolitan area and South Kyeongsang Province, Korea. The geometric structures of the LULC data were quantitatively represented based on FRAGSTATS, a spatial pattern analysis program for quantifying landscape structure. FRAGSTATS-derived landscape metrics confirmed that there were major changes in LULC and landscape fragmentation in the region. Meteorological observation records showed that mean air temperature had increased from $14.1^{\circ}C$ in the 1990's to $14.8^{\circ}C$ in the 2000's in Busan. For South Kyeongsang Province, they increased from $13.2^{\circ}C$ to $13.9^{\circ}C$ during the same time period. These long-term temperature changes are correlated with typical spatial pattern changes of LULC in the southeastern region of the country. Spatial metrics analysis showed that urban area expanded from 9.7% to 26.8% of Busan while forest and agricultural land decreased by 9.6% and 14.9%, respectively over the past thirty years. The significant urbanization are tightly associated with deforestation, removal of agricultural land, and fast temperature increases since the 1990's. The urban area of South Kyeongsang Province rapidly increased, and it became 12 times as large as it was. The degree of temperature increases differed among three different sub-regions. The temperature increasing rate was lowest in the coastal region while the colder mountainous region had the highest figure.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2009

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as an intracellular messenger at the physiological level but can be cytotoxic at high concentrations. The cells within periodontal tissues, such as gingival and periodontal fibroblasts, contain nitric oxide syntheses and produce high concentrations of NO when exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharides and cytokines. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying NO-induced cytotoxicity in periodontal tissues are unclear at present. In our current study, we examined the NO-induced cytotoxic mechanisms in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). Cell viability and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using a MTT assay and a fluorescent spectrometer, respectively. The morphological changes in the cells were examined by Diff-Quick staining. Expression of the Bcl-2 family and Fas was determined by RT-PCR or western blotting. The activity of caspase-3, -8 and -9 was assessed using a spectrophotometer. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, decreased the cell viability of the HGF cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. SNP enhanced the production of ROS, which was ameliorated by NAC, a free radical scavenger. ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, did not block the SNP-induced decrease in cell viability. SNP also caused apoptotic morphological changes, including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. The expression of Bax, a member of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family, was upregulated in the SNP-treated HGF cells, whereas the expression of Bcl-2, a member of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was downregulated. SNP augmented the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol and enhanced the activity of caspase-8, -9, and -3. SNP also upregulated Fas, a component of the death receptor assembly. These results suggest that NO induces apoptosis in human gingival fibroblast via ROS and the Bcl-2 family through both mitochondrial- and death receptor-mediated pathways. Our data also indicate that the cyclic GMP pathway is not involved in NO-induced apoptosis.