• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.289-317
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to reseach the effect of Daesihotang and its component groups on diabetes, free radical and antioxidative defense system in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The experimental group was divided into three groups: Daesihotang (DS), Soyangyak (DS1), Yangmyungyak (DS2). The results were obtained as follows: The level of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, creatinine in serum were considerablely reduced by Daesihotang. And the level of HDL cholesterol, albumin, total protein in serum were increased by Daesihotang significantly. And the level of BUN has some decreased, but with no significancy. In the study of Daesihotang on free radical scavenging effect in vitro, it has shown that Daesihotang and its components group have significant suppressing effect on peroxidation of linoleic acid on concentration. And in other experiments as scavenging effect of DPPH radical, inhibitory effect of superoxide in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation reaction by hydroxy radical in $H_2O_2-Fe^{2+}$ system, Daesihatang have some activity, but with no significancy. In the study of Daesihotang on antioxidative defense system in vivo, the activity of GOT and GPT in serum were significantly increased; and the amounts of lipid peroxide in serum was reduced significantly but in liver no significancy. In hepatic catalase activity, Daesihotang has showed significant effect. In the level of hepatic glutathione, Daesihotang increased the amount of glutathione significantly. And in the activity of glutathione-s-transferase, Daesihotang has decreasing effect but has no significancy. These result suggest that Daesihotang has strong effect on diabetes and it is useful to prevent diabetes, but has less effect on peroxidative damage by free radical.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.127-139
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• 2002

This study was carried out to prove the therapeutic effects of BNJB on the catract. The objects of this study were CXSD mice that spontaneously eye rupture occurred from three weeks after birth and eventually generate cataract within 12 weeks. We applied eyewash made from BNJB to eyes of CXSD mice twice in a day till all the eyes of the negative control showed up the symptoms of a cataract and recorded the increasing patterns of cataractous eyes. To explained the therapeutic effects of the BNJB, We carried out the ex vivo experiment which cultivating eyeballs were offered oxidative stress condition by $0.03{\%}$ $H_2O_2$ during three days. Total co-enzyme was extracted from the cultured eyeballs and used to measure activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathion S-transferase and content of GSH. The results were obtained as follows: 1. When we treated the catalin to CXSD mouse as a positive control, it represented the delaying effect for cataract generation for 2-3 days compare with negative control. But it seems that it doesn't appropriate as a therapeutic, or delaying agent. 2. In the experimental BNJB group, Cataract formation rate was dramatically reduced by BNJB. This rate was much lower than positive group and means our new formulation for the therapy of cataract has a good potential. 3. In the analysis of individual medicines of BNJB, Mok-Jeok-Cho, Hwang-Lyun and Ha-Go-Cho didn't have a major effect of BNJB. 4. The cataract formation rate was repressed by Bing-Pyun and Jin- Joo-Boon about $40{\%}$ and $50{\%}$, respectively. We can presume that the anti-cataract effect of BNJB was caused by these two medicines. 5. When we surveyed the anti-oxidant activities of BNJB, enzyme activities of GSH, SOD, and Catalase increased about $10{\%},\30{\%}$, and 2.5 folds, respectively.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.550-558
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• 2017

The purpose of current study is to investigate the beneficial effect of enzyme (Alcalase) hydrolysates of silk protein in rat. Alcalase-treated silk protein hydrolysate (ATSH) itself did not show any cytotoxicity on the hepatic tissues and blood biochemistry, similar to the normal condition. ATSH played a protective role in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity and liver damage. The values of AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase), which are the indicators of the liver function, were effectively alleviated with the ATSH treatment in a dose dependent manner. The level of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA), which were increased with t-BHP treatment, were significantly reduced by ATSH. High dose of ATSH (2 g/kg) reduced the t-BHP-induced LDH release by 48%. Antioxidant and antioxidant enzymes in liver cells were significantly increased by ATSH treatment in their level and activities. ATSH (2 g/kg) increased glutathione (GSH), an intracelluar antioxidant, by 2.5-fold compared with the t-BHP treated group. The activities of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase were also elevated by 38%, 60%, and 45%, respectively, with ATSH (2 g/kg) treatment. The antioxidative effect of ATSH was recapitulated to the protection from t-BHP induced liver damages in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Thus, ATSH might be used as a hepatoprotective agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2017

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the most important modalities in cancer treatment; however, normal tissue damage is a serious concern. Drug development for the protection or reduction of normal tissue damage is therefore a clinical issue. Herein, we evaluated the protective properties of Panax ginseng Meyer and its corresponding mechanisms. Methods: C56BL/6 mice were orally pretreated with P. ginseng water extract (PGE; 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg) or intraperitoneally injected melatonin (20 mg/kg) for 4 d consecutively, then exposed to 15-Gy X-ray radiation 1 h after the last administration. After 10 d of irradiation, the biological properties of hematoxicity, fat accumulation, histopathology, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis signals were examined in the hepatic tissue. Results: The irradiation markedly induced myelosuppression as determined by hematological analysis of the peripheral blood. Steatohepatitis was induced by X-ray irradiations, whereas pretreatment with PGE significantly attenuated it. Oxidative stress was drastically increased, whereas antioxidant components were depleted by irradiation. Irradiation also notably increased serum liver enzymes and hepatic protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Those alterations were markedly normalized by pretreatment with PGE. The degree of irradiation-induced hepatic tissue apoptosis was also attenuated by pretreatment with PGE, which was evidenced by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick-end labeling assay, western blotting, and gene expressions analysis, particularly of apoptotic molecules. Conclusion: We suggest that PGE could be applicable for use against radiation-induced liver injury, and its corresponding mechanisms involve the modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and apoptosis.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2006

The Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (HLT-B) is one of the most powerful mucosal immunogens and known mucosal adjuvants. However, the induction of high levels of HLT-B expression in E. coli has proven a difficult proposition. Therefore, in this study, the HLT-B gene was cloned from pathogenic E. coli and expressed as a fusion protein with GST (glutathion S-transferase) in E. coli BL2l (DE3), in an attempt to harvest a large quantity of soluble HLT-B. The culture conditions, including the culture media used, temperature, pH and the presence of lactose as an inducer, were all optimized in order to obtain an increase in the expression of soluble GST-rHLT-B. The biological activity of the purified rHLT-B was assayed in a series of GMI-ELISA experiments. The findings of these trials indicated that the yield of soluble recombinant GST-rHLT-B could be increased by up to 3-fold, as compared with that seen prior to the optimization, and that lactose was a more efficient alternative inducer than IPTG. The production of rHLT-B, at 92 % purity, reached an optimal level of 96 mg/l in a 3.7 L fermentor. The specific GM1 binding ability of the purified rHLT-B was determined to be almost identical to that of standard CTB.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.55-65
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• 2010

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is a reactive free radical gas and a messenger molecule. NO has many physiological functions, but excessive NO production induces neurotoxicity. Objective: The present study investigated whether the aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow possesses a protective effect on NO-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC. Method: For this study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, DNA fragmentation assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed. Result: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) exposure significantly decreased the viability of cells. The cells treated with SNP exhibited several apoptotic features such as increasing of Bax expression, caspase-3 enzyme activity and inhibiting of Bcl-2 expression. On the other hand, the viability of cells pre-treated with the aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow was increased dose-dependently. The cells pre-treated for 1 h with the aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow followed by treatment with SNP showed a decreased occurrence of apoptotic features like decreasing Bax expressions, caspase-3 enzyme activity and increasing Bcl-2 expressions. The aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow reduced apoptotic cell death in neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC through the inhibition of Bax-dependent caspase-3 activation and the increasing of Bcl-2 expression. Conclusion: Based on the present results, it is possible that Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow has therapeutic value for the treatment of a variety of NO-induced brain diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.418-424
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• 2012

This study focused on the enzymatic biotransformation of the major ginsenoside Rb1 into Rd for the mass production of minor ginsenosides using a novel recombinant ${\beta}$-glucosidase from Flavobacterium johnsoniae. The gene (bglF3) consisting of 2,235 bp (744 amino acid residues) was cloned and the recombinant enzyme overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) was characterized. This enzyme could transform ginsenoside Rb1 and gypenoside XVII to the ginsenosides Rd and F2, respectively. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) fused BglF3 was purified with GST-bind agarose resin and characterized. The kinetic parameters for ${\beta}$-glucosidase had apparent $K_m$ values of $0.91{\pm}0.02$ and $2.84{\pm}0.05$ mM and $V_{max}$ values of $5.75{\pm}0.12$ and $0.71{\pm}0.01{\mu}mol{\cdot}min^{-1}{\cdot}mg$ of $protein^{-1}$ against p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside and Rb1, respectively. At optimal conditions of pH 6.0 and $37^{\circ}C$, BglF3 could only hydrolyze the outer glucose moiety of ginsenoside Rb1 and gypenoside XVII at the C-20 position of aglycon into ginsenosides Rd and F2, respectively. These results indicate that the recombinant BglF3 could be useful for the mass production of ginsenosides Rd and F2 in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic industry.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.307-315
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• 2017

Background: Red-skin root disease has seriously decreased the quality and production of Panax ginseng (ginseng). Methods: To explore the disease's origin, comparative analysis was performed in different parts of the plant, particularly the epidermis, cortex, and/or fibrous roots of 5-yr-old healthy and diseased red-skin ginseng. The inorganic element composition, phenolic compound concentration, reactive oxidation system, antioxidant concentrations such as ascorbate and glutathione, activities of enzymes related to phenolic metabolism and oxidation, and antioxidative system particularly the ascorbate-glutathione cycle were examined using conventional methods. Results: Aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), magnesium, and phosphorus were increased, whereas manganese was unchanged and calcium was decreased in the epidermis and fibrous root of red-skin ginseng, which also contained higher levels of phenolic compounds, higher activities of the phenolic compound-synthesizing enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and the phenolic compound oxidation-related enzymes guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase. As the substrate of guaiacol peroxidase, higher levels of $H_2O_2$ and correspondingly higher activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were found in red-skin ginseng. Increased levels of ascorbate and glutathione; increased activities of $\text\tiny L$-galactose 1-dehydrogenase, ascorbate peroxidase, ascorbic acid oxidase, and glutathione reductase; and lower activities of dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione peroxidase were found in red-skin ginseng. Glutathione-S-transferase activity remained constant. Conclusion: Hence, higher element accumulation, particularly Al and Fe, activated multiple enzymes related to accumulation of phenolic compounds and their oxidation. This might contribute to red-skin symptoms in ginseng. It is proposed that antioxidant and antioxidative enzymes, especially those involved in ascorbate-glutathione cycles, are activated to protect against phenolic compound oxidation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1491-1498
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• 2006

The feasibility of pullulan acetate nanoparticles (PAN) with ionic strength (IS) sensitivity as a radioisotope carrier to inhibit tumor growth is demonstrated. PAN was radiolabeled with rhenium 188 (Re-188) without any chelating agents. The labeling efficiency of Re-188 into PAN (Re-188PAN) was $49.3{\pm}4.0%$ as determined by TLC. The tumor volumes of mice treated with 0.45 mCi of Re-188-PAN were measured and compared with that of free Re-188 after 5 days of intratumoral injection. For the histological evaluation of apoptotic nuclei of tumor cells, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were performed. The mean tumor volume of the Re-188-PAN-treated group was decreased by 36% after 5 days, whereas that the free Re-188-treated group was decreased by only 15% (P<0.05). The mean number of TUNEL-positive cells in Re-188-PAN-treated tumors at $144.3{\pm}79.9$ cells/section was significantly greater than the control ($26.7{\pm}7.9$ cells/section, P=0.03). The numbers of leukocyte and lymphocyte were decreased in both free Re-188- and Re-188-PAN-treated mice. These results indicated that the intratumoral injection of Re-188-PAN effectively inhibits the tumor growth by prolonging Re-188 retention time in tumor site induced by the IS sensitivity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.822-829
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• 2007

A gene coding for phosphoketolase, a key enzyme of carbohydrate catabolism in heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria(LAB), was cloned from a Lactobacillus paraplantarum C7 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene is 2,502 bp long and codes for a 788-amino-acids polypeptide with a molecular mass of 88.7 kDa. A Shine-Dalgarno sequence(aaggag) and an inverted-repeat terminator sequence are located upstream and downstream of the phosphoketolase gene, respectively. The gene exhibits an identity of >52% with phosphoketolases of other LAB. The phosphoketolase of Lb. paraplantarum C7(LBPK) contains several highly conserved phosphoketolase signature regions and typical thiamine pyrophosphate(TPP) binding sites, as reported for other TPP-dependent enzymes. The phosphoketolase gene was fused to a glutathione S-transferase(GST::LBPK) gene for purification. The GST::LBPK fusion protein was detected in the soluble fraction of a recombinant Escherichia coli BL21. The GST::LBPK fusion protein was purified with a yield of 4.32mg/400ml by GSTrap HP affinity column chromatography and analyzed by N-terminal sequencing. LBPK was obtained by factor Xa treatment of fusion protein and the final yield was 3.78mg/400ml. LBPK was examined for its N-terminal sequence and phosphoketolase activity. The $K_M\;and\;V_{max}$ values for fructose-6-phosphate were $5.08{\pm}0.057mM(mean{\pm}SD)$ and $499.21{\pm}4.33{\mu}mol/min/mg$, respectively, and the optimum temperature and pH for the production of acetyl phosphate were $45^{\circ}C$ and 7.0, respectively.