• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2013

Candida biofilms are self-organized microbial communities growing on the surfaces of host tissues and medical devices. These biofilms have been displaying increasing resistance against conventional antifungal agents. The roots of Scutellaria baicalensis have been widely used for medicinal purpose throughout East Asia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of S. baicalensis aqueous extract upon the preformed biofilms of 10 clinical C. albicans isolates, and assess the mechanism of the antibiofilm activity. Its effect on preformed biofilm was judged using an XTT reduction assay and the metabolic activity of all tested strains were reduced ($57.7{\pm}17.3$%) at MIC values. The S. baicalenis extract inhibited (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthase activity. The effect of S. baicalensis on the morphology of C. albicans was related to the changes in growth caused by inhibiting glucan synthesis; most cells were round and swollen, and cell walls were densely stained or ruptured. The anticandidal activity was fungicidal, and the extract also arrested C. albicans cells at $G_0/G_1$. The data suggest that S. baicalensis has multiple fatal effects on target fungi, which ultimately result in cell wall disruption and killing by inhibiting (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthesis. Therefore, S. baicalensis holds great promise for use in treating and eliminating biofilm-associated Candida infections.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.647-652
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• 2006

Plants of the genus Dioscorea have long been used as oriental folk medicine, and Dioscorea batatas Decne has been cultivated for healthy food in Korea. Although the bulbils were produced 2,000 ton annually, there are few reports for bioactive compounds in bulbils. In this study, three phenanthrenes and two phenanthraquinones were isolated from the aerial bulbils of D. batatas Decne, and their structures were elucidated. Among them, compound 2 (6-hydroxy-2,7-dimethoxy-1,4-phenanthraquinone) has not been reported previously. Evaluation of antimicrobial activities based on disk-diffusion assay, MIC and MFC showed the compound 12 (6,7-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene) has strong antimicrobial activity with $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ of MIC and MFC against Candida albicans. Our results suggested that compound 12 has a potent antifungal activity, and the antimicrobial activity and its spectrum are modulated by hydroxylation and methoxylation of phenanthrene ring moiety of the compound.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal activity of 19 agro-materials that have been registered for organic cultivation in Korea, after inoculation of pear leaves with Venturia nashicola and Gymnosporangium asiaticum. In V. nashicola, most of the nine agro- materials containing sulfur and copper completely inhibited spore germination, and some of the spores that germinated did not form appressoria. However, in only lime sulfur, Neobordeaux (cupric sulfate), and Wheengaris (sulfur)showed antifungal activity against G. asiaticum. Among the agro-materials containing plant extracts, Wheengarujaba (wood vinegar+spirits+rhubarb) inhibited conidial germination in V. nashicola and G. asiaticum by 100% and 71.6%, respectively. Among the agro-materials containing antifungal microorganisms, Cheongotan (Streptomyces griseus) reduced spore germination rate of V. nashicola to 88.8%; moreover, formation of appressoria or intracellular accumulation was not observed. Application of Topsid (Paenibacillus polymyxa) reduced spore germination rates in V. nashicola and G. asiaticum to 71.0% and 90.6%, respectively, and the formation of appressoria was not observed. Studying the antifungal activity of agro-materials because of cumulative applications under the field conditions is necessary, owing to their contact fungicidal effect and the induced-resistance by microbial metabolites and natural compounds.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2007

Fungicidal screening was performed to control soybean black root rot caused by Calonectria ilicicola through in vitro and greenhouse assays. In in vitro assay, 25 fungicides were assessed by an agar dilution method and a 96-well microtiter plate method. While protective fungicides including dithianon, dichlofluanid, mancozeb, and captan showed a very low activity against the mycelial growth C. ilicicola SC03-15 in the agar dilution method, they displayed potent inhibitory activity against spore germination in a 96-well microtiter plate method with $EC_{50}$ values of 4.65, 0.61, 4.64, and $0.29{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, respectively. Ergosterol biosynthesis-inhibiting (EBI) fungicides showed different antifungal activity against mycelial growth and spore germination according to molecules. Difenconazole displayed higher antifungal activity against spore germination rather than mycelial growth, and prochloraz inhibited potently both mycelial growth and spore germination with EC50 values less than $1.8{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$. In contrast, the other EBI fungicides inhibited more highly mycelial growth than spore germination. Carbendazim+diethofencarb and dazomet also inhibited both mycelial growth and spore germination of C. ilicicola SC03-15 at very low concentrations. In greenhouse assay, carbendazim+diethofencarb effectively controlled a soybean black root rot by drenching 2 days before or after inoculation. In addition, tebuconazole showed potent curative activity against soybean black root rot.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2009

Fludioxonil is derived from the antifungal compound pyrrolnitrin produced by Pseudomonas pyrrocinia and classified as a reduced-risk fungicide by the US EPA. The efficacy of fludioxonil for the control of lettuce gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea was evaluated under several conditions such as growth stages of host, inoculum concentrations, and amounts of potato dextrose broth (PDB) included in spore suspension of B. cinerea. At 4-leaf stage of lettuce plants, fludioxonil applied at 2 ${\mu}g$/ml was more effective for the control of gray mold than at 5- and 6-leaf stages. However, fludioxonil at more than 10 ${\mu}g$/ml provided similar control activity in all growth stages of lettuce tested. The fungicide (10 and 50 ${\mu}g$/ml) also gave excellent control of gray mold on lettuce seedlings inoculated with spore suspensions of B. cinerea ($2.5{\times}10^5$ to $2{\times}10^6$ spores/ml). But, control efficacy of fludioxonil (2 ${\mu}g$/ml) was negatively correlated with inoculum concentration. Addition of PDB in spore suspension of B. cinerea resulted in higher disease severity than non-treated control. By inoculating spore suspension including 0.5% PDB, the fungicide gave the most control activity on the disease, followed by 1% and 2% PDB. The results suggest that fludioxonil has potential to control gray mold of lettuce, but the fungicide at a concentration having moderate activity may represent low control efficacy on the disease under some conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.436-443
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• 2011

The solid complexes of La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III) and Gd(III) with 4-hydroxy-3-(1-{2-(2,4-dihydroxy-benzylidene)-amino phenylimino}-ethyl)-6-methyl-pyran-2-one ($H_2$L) derived from o-phenylenediamine, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-(2H)pyran,2,4(3H)-dione (dehydroacetic acid or DHA) and 2, 4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductometry, magnetic susceptibility, UV-visible, FT-IR, $^1H$-NMR, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis study, and screened for antimicrobial activity. The FT-IR spectral data suggest that the ligand behaves as a dibasic tetradentate ligand with ONNO donor atoms sequence towards central metal ion. From the microanalytical data, the stoichiometry of the complexes has been found to be 1:1 (metal: ligand). The physico-chemical data suggests distorted octahedral geometry for La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III) and Gd(III) complexes. The X-ray diffraction data suggests monoclinic crystal system for La(III) and Ce(III) and orthorombic crystal system for Pr(III) and Nd(III) complexes. Thermal behavior (TG/DTA) of the complexes was studied and kinetic parameters were determined by Horowitz-Metzger and Coats-Redfern methods. The ligand and its metal complexes were screened for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus Sp. and fungicidal activity against Aspergillus Niger, Trichoderma and Fusarium oxysporum.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2009

The solid complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II) and Fe(III) with 4-hydroxy-3-(1-{2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)- amino phenylimino}-ethyl)-6-methy-pyran-2-one (H2L) derived from o-phenylenediamine, 3-acetyl- 6-methyl-(2H) pyran, 2,4 (3H)-dione (dehydroacetic acid or DHA) and salicylic aldehyde have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductometry, magnetic susceptibility, UV-visible, IR, $^1H$-NMR spectra, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and screened for antimicrobial activity. The IR spectral data suggest that the ligand behaves as a dibasic tetradentate ligand with ONNO donor atoms sequence towards central metal ion. From the microanalytical data, the stoichiometry of the complexes has been found to be 1:1 (metal: ligand). The physico-chemical data suggests square planar geometry for Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes and octahedral geometry for Co(II), Mn(II) and Fe(III) complexes. The x-ray differaction data suggests orthorhombic crystal system for Cu(II) complex, monoclinic crystal system for Ni(II), Co(II) and Fe(III) and tetragonal crystal system for Mn(II) complex. Thermal behaviour (TG/DTA) of the complexes was studied and kinetic parameters were determined by Coats-Redfern method. The ligand and their metal complexes were screened for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and fungicidal activity against Aspergillus Niger and Trichoderma.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

Candida biofilms are organized microbial communities growing on the surfaces of host tissues or indwelling medical devices, and the biofilms show enhanced resistance against the conventional antifungal agents. The roots of Coptidis chinensis have been widely used for medicinal purposes in East Asia. The present study was aimed to assess the effect of C. chinensis aqueous extract upon preformed biofilms of 10 clinical Candida albicans isolates and the antifungal activities which contribute to inhibit the C. albicans biofilm formation. Its effect on preformed biofilms was judged using XTT [2,3-Bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide)] reduction assay, and metabolic activity of all tested strains was reduced significantly ($57.3{\pm}14.7%$) at $98{\mu}g/ml$ of the C. chinensis extract. The extract damaged the cell membrane of C. albicans which was analyzed by fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide staining. The anticandidal activity was fungicidal, and the extract obstructed the adhesion of C. albicans biofilms to polystyrene surfaces, arrested C. albicans cells at $G_o/G_1$ as well, and reduced the growth of biofilms or budding yeasts finally. The data suggest that C. chinensis has multiple antifungal effects on target fungi resulting in preventing the formation of biofilms. Therefore, C. chinensis holds great promise for exploring antifungal agents from natural products in treating and eliminating biofilm-associated Candida infection.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2011

Rust causes significant losses in the yield and quality of various crops. The development of new effective and environmentally benign agents against the pathogen is of great interest. In the course of searching a natural antifungal compound from medicinal plants, we found that the methanol extract of Angelica gigas roots had a potent control efficacy against wheat leaf rust (WLR) caused by Puccinia recondita. The antifungal substance was isolated from the methanol extract by silica gel column chromatography, alumina column chromatography and $C_{18}$ preparative HPLC. It was identified as decursinol angelate by EI-MS and $^1H$-NMR data. In in vivo test, decursinol angelate effectively suppressed the development of WLR and red pepper anthracnose (RPA) among the 6 plant diseases tested. In addition, the wettable powder-type formulation of ethyl acetate extract of A. gigas roots significantly suppressed the development of WLR. The crude extract containing decursinol angelate and the chemical appear to be a potential candidate for control of WLR. In addition, this is the first report on the in vivo antifungal activity of decursinol angelate against WLR as well as RPA.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2007

Dipyrithione (2, 2'-dithiobispyridine-1, 1'-dioxide, PTS2), a pyrithione derivate, is highly bactericidal and fungicidal. In this study we examined its apoptotic effect on HeLa cells. PTS2 induced HeLa cell death in a dose and time dependent manner. ERK1/2 and p38 were markedly activated, but little JNK1/2 activation was detected. Suppression of p38 activation by SB203580 reduced the extent of apoptosis of the HeLa cells and also prevented induction of p21, release of cytochrome c, and cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. Inhibition of ERK1/2 with PD98059 increased apoptosis, indicating that ERK1/2 activation has an anti-apoptotic effect on PTS2-induced HeLa cell apoptosis. PTS2 also inhibited murine sarcoma 180 and hepatoma 22 tumor growth in an animal tumor model. Our findings indicate that PTS2 possesses anti-tumor activity, that caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) are involved in PTS2-induced HeLa cell apoptosis and that ERK1/2 and p38 have opposing effects on this apoptosis.