• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.941-946
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• 2007

Bacillus halodurans O-methyltransferase (BhOMT) is a S-adenosylmethionine (SAM or AdoMet) dependent methyltransferase. Three dimensional structure of the BhOMT bound to S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH or AdoHcy) has been determined by comparative homology modeling. BhOMT has 40% sequence identity with caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) from alfalfa. Based on x-ray structure of CCoAOMT, three dimensional structure of BhOMT was determined using MODELLER. The substrate binding sites of these two proteins showed slight differences, but these differences were important to characterize the substrate of BhOMT. Automated docking study showed that four flavonoids, quercetin, fisetin, myricetin, and luteolin which have two hydroxyl groups simultaneously at 3'- and 4'-position in the B-ring and structural rigidity of Cring resulting from the double bond characters between C2 and C3, were well docked as ligands of BhOMT. These flavonoids form stable hydrogen bondings with K211, R170, and hydroxyl group at 3'-position in the Bring has stable electrostatic interaction with Ca2+ ion in BhOMT. This study will be helpful to understand the biochemical function of BhOMT as an O-methyltransferase for flavonoids.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2015

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 degrades type IV collagen in the basement membrane and plays crucial roles in several pathological implications, including tumorigenesis and inflammation. In this study, we analyzed the effect of flavonols on MMP-9 expression in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. Galangin and kaempferol efficiently decreased MMP-9 secretion, whereas fisetin only weakly decreased its secretion. Galangin and kaempferol did not affect cell viability at concentrations up to $30{\mu}M$. Luciferase reporter assays showed that galangin and kaempferol decrease transcription of MMP-9 mRNA. Moreover, galangin and kaempferol strongly reduce $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation and significantly decrease JNK phosphorylation. These results indicate that galangin and kaempferol suppress PMA-induced MMP-9 expression by blocking activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1. Therefore, these flavonols could be used as chemopreventive agents to lower the risk of diseases involving MMP-9.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.619-622
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• 2006

Biotransformation is a good tool to synthesize regioselective compounds. It could be performed with diverse sources of genes, and microorganisms provide a myriad of gene sources for biotransformation. We were interested in modification of flavonoids, and therefore, we cloned a putative O-methyltransferase from Bacillus cereus, BcOMT-2. It has a 668-bp open reading frame that encodes a 24.6-kDa protein. In order to investigate the modification reaction mediated by BcOMT-2, it was expressed in E. coli as a His-tag fusion protein and purified to homogeneity. Several substrates such as naringenin, luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin were tested and reaction products were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). BcOMT-2 could transfer a methyl group to substrates that have a 3' functional hydroxyl group, such as luteolin and quercetin. Comparison of the HPLC retention time and UV spectrum of the quercetin reaction product with corresponding authentic 3'-methylated and 4'-methylated compounds showed that the methylation position was at either the 3'-hydroxyl or 4'-hydroxyl group. Thus, BcOMT-2 transfers a methyl group either to the 3'-hydroxyl or 4'-hydroxyl group of flavonoids when both hydroxyl groups are available. Among several flavonoids that contain a 3'- and 4'-hydroxyl group, fisetin was the best substrate for the BcOMT-2.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2005

Previously, a flavonoid fraction, which consisted mainly of protocatechuic acid, fustin, fisetin, sulfuretin, and butein, here named RCMF [${\underline{R}}hus$ verniciflua Stokes (RVS) ${\underline{c}}hloroform-{\underline{m}}ethanol\;{\underline{f}}raction$], was prepared from a crude acetone extract of RVS which is traditionally used as a food additive and as an herbal medicine. In the present study, we investigated the effects of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on RCMF-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis induction using human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. The results from tritium uptake and MTT assays showed that $TNF-{\alpha}$ treatment itself (10 ng/ml) did not induce any cytotoxicity, but it actively accelerated RCMF-mediated cytotoxicity of HOS cells. RCMF-induced cytotoxicity and its facilitation by $TNF-{\alpha}$ was verified to be apoptotic, based on the increased DNA fragmentation and low fluorescence intensity in nuclei after propidium iodide (PI) staining of HOS cells. This speculation was further demonstrated by monitoring the Annexin V/PI double staining which could discriminate the difference between apoptotic and necrotic deaths. Collectively, our findings indicate that $TNF-{\alpha}$ accelerates RCMF-induced cytotoxicity in HOS cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.2083-2086
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• 2009

Human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (hVEGFR2) is an important signaling protein involved in angiogenesis and attractive drug target in cancer therapy. It has been reported that flavonols, a class of flavonoids, have anti-angiogenic activity in various cancer cell lines. We performed receptor-oriented pharmacophore based in silico screening for identification of hVEGFR2 inhibitors from flavonol database. By comparing with three X-ray complex structures of hVEGFR2 and its inhibitors, we evaluated the specific interactions between inhibitors and receptors and determined a single pharmacophore map. This map consisted of four features, a hydrogen bonding acceptor (HBA) on Cys917, two hydrogen bonding donors on Glu917 (HBD1) and Glu883 (HBD2), and one hydrophobic interaction (Lipo) with Val846, Ala864, Val897, Val914 and Phe1045 of hVEGFR2. Using this map, we searched a flavonol database including 9 typical flavonols and proposed that five flavonols, kaempferol, quercetin, fisetin, morin, and rhamnetin can be potent inhibitors of hVEGFR2. 3-OH of C-ring and 4’-OH of B-ring of flavonols are the essential features for hVEGFR2 inhibition. This study will be helpful for understanding the mechanism of inhibition of hVEGFR2 by natural products.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2003

One of the possible mechanisms of multi-drug resistance found in cancer cells is the over-expression of P­glycoprotein (P-gp). Studies have shown that compounds in plants including vegetables and fruits not only have anticancer activities but may also modulate P-gp activity. The effect of flavonoids and organic isothiocyanate on P-gp activity was studied in human uterine sarcoma cell lines, MES-SA (sensitive) and MES-SA/DX5 (resistant) cells. The accumulation of daunomycin (DNM), a P-gp substrate, was approximately 10 times greater in the sensitive cell as compared to the resistant cells over the entire time course (up to 2 hours). The positive control, verapamil increased the two hour accumulation of DNM while quercetin decreased that of DNM in the resistant cells. 1-Naphtyl-isothiocyanate (NITC) showed no effect on the two hour accumulation of DNM. The $IC_{50}$ values for DNM in the resistant cells was about 20 times higher than that observed in the sensitive cells $(10.1{\pm}1.7\;{\mu}M\;vs.\;0.58{\pm}0.28\;{\mu}M)$. Verapamil reduced the $IC_{50}$ value for DNM whereas flavonoids (quercetin and fisetin) increased those for DNM in the resistant cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.348-364
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• 1990

The activities of twenty-one flavonoids and their related compounds on the hypersensitivity reaction against various antigens were studied in vitro and in vivo. 1. Generally flavonoids inhibited significantly the homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) induced by reaginic antibody as compared as anaphylaxis by compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation, and so more strongly active in the IgE-mediated anaphylaxis than non-IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. 2. Flavonids inhibited remarkably Arths reaction, hemolysin titer, delayed hypersensitivity, haemagglutinin titer, rosette forming cells and plague forming cells against sheep red blood cells, and so it exhibited that flavonoids inhibited type 2, 3 and 4 hypersensitivity. 3. Quercetin, kaempferol, hesperetin, disodium cromoglycate, malvin and baicalein were active dose-dependently in the all types of hypersensitivity. Fisetin, daidzein, morin, narigin, flavone, catechin, rutin, hesperidin, neophsperidin, apigenin and chrysin were significantly active in the various types of hypersensitivity, but apigenin, rutin and catechin were less active in the delayed hypersensitivity. Taxifolin was significantly active in PCA and histamine-induced anaphylaxis except other types of hypersensitivity. Rotenone and cyanin also inhibited all types of hypersensitivity, but they are toxic. 4. Based on these results from hypersensitivity, the following flavonoid structure-activity relationships became apparent. 1) Flavonoids with $C_{2-3}$ double bond in C-ring were more active than that of $C_{2-3}$ saturation. 2) Flavonoids with $C_4$ ketone group in C-ring were more active than abscence of them except catechin and malvin. 3) Flavonoids with benzene ring at positions 2 or 3 in C-ring exhibited same activities. 4) Flavonoids with opening of the C-ring does not abolish their activities. 5) The glycosylated flavonoids in position 3 or 7 was less active than their aglycone. 6) Flavonoids with the more hydroxy group in A and B-ring were more active. 7) Flavonoids with or without $C_3-OH$ did not change their activities.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.147-158
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the influences of abnormal high temperature on growth, yield and physiologically active substances of the strawberry. General strawberry cultivars in the $20^{\circ}C$ growth condition showed much better growth of leaf number, length, diameter along with plant height, compared with those in $22.5^{\circ}C$ or $25^{\circ}C$. But the cultivars of both 'Sulhyang' and 'Mehyang' showed good growth and development at $25^{\circ}C$ with the roots showing great growth at $20^{\circ}C$. The quality and yield of the strawberry were best in the $20^{\circ}C$ growth condition, but the merchantability deteriorated in the $25^{\circ}C$ high temperature condition. As for the content of the physiologically active substances of the strawberry, it increased at $20^{\circ}C$, the optimum growth temperature, but decreased at $25^{\circ}C$. The physiologically active substances in the strawberry differed among the cultivars, the contents of cyanidin-3-glucoside, cinchonine, ellagic acid and cinnamic acid higher in the 'Mehyang', whereas the content of fisetin is higher in the 'Sulhyang' cultivar.Consequentially, the high temperature in summer has a negative effect on the physiological active ingredients of the strawberry, which was increased in the strawberry cultivated at proper temperature, and high quality strawberry production was possible.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2022

In our study, sixteen known phenolic compounds, including quercetin (1), methyl gallate (2), caesalpiniaphenol C (3), 8S,8'S,7'R-(-)-lyoniresinol (4), 7,3',5'-trihydroxyflavanone (5), sappanchalcone (6), sappanone A (7), taxifolin (8), fisetin (9), fustin (10), (+)-catechin (11), brazilin (12), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside (13), 1-(2-methylbutyryl)phloroglucinol-glucopyranoside (14), (+)-epi-catechin (15), and astragalin (16) and one mixture of two conformers of protosappanin B (17/18) were isolated from the stems of Caesalpinia decapetala var. japonica. Their structures were elucidated based on a comparison of their physicochemical and spectral data with those of literature. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first isolation of compounds 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10 from C. decapetala and compounds 13 and 14 from the Caesalpinia genus. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effect against the α-glucosidase enzyme. Among them, two flavonols (1 and 9), one chalcone (6), and one homoisoflavanone (7) exhibited an inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase action with an IC₅₀ range value of 5.08-15.01 μM, stronger than that of the positive control (acarbose, IC₅₀ = 152.22 μM). Kinetic analysis revealed that compounds 1 and 9 showed non-competitive α-glucosidase inhibition, while the inhibition type was mixed for compounds 6 and 7.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2009

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has been proposed as a therapeutic target for bronchial asthma as it plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of the disease. We developed an in vitro test system measuring transcriptional downregulatory activities on IL-13 as a primary screening method to select drug candidates from natural products. The promoter region of IL-13 (-2,048 to +1) was cloned into the upstream of a luciferase gene in the plasmid pGL4.14 containing the hygromycin resistance gene as a selection marker, generating pGL4.14-IL-13. The EL-4 thymoma and RBL-2H3 mast cells transiently expressing this plasmid highly produced the luciferase activities by responding to PI (PMA and ionomycin) stimulation up to 8-fold and 13-fold compared with the control, respectively, whereas cyclosporin A, a well-known antiasthmatic agent, significantly downregulated the activities. The BF1 clone of RBL-2H3 cells constitutively expressing pGL4.14-IL-13 was established by selecting surviving cells under a constant lethal dose of hygromycin treatment. The feasibility of this system was evaluated by measuring the downregulatory activities of 354 natural products on the IL-13 promoter using the BF1 clone. An extract from Morus bombycis (named TBRC 156) significantly inhibited PI-induced luciferase activities and IL-13 mRNA expression, but not the protein expression. Fisetin (named TBRC 353) inhibited not only PI-induced luciferase activities and mRNA expression, but also the IL-13 protein secretion, whereas myricetin (named TBRC 354) could not suppress the IL-13 expression at all. Our data indicated that this in vitro test system is able to discriminate the effects on IL-13 expression, and furthermore, that it might be suitable as a simple and time-saving primary screening system to select antiasthmatic agents by measuring transcriptional activities of the IL-13 promoter.