• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Diospyros malabarica stem extract, a natural materials, in oral health material. With this aim in mind, thin layer chromatography (TLC), TLC-bioautography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and real-time qPCR were performed. The antibacterial activity of D. malabarica stem extract against Streptococcus mutans KCTC3065 was confirmed in an n-hexane fraction with low polarity. The molecular weight of the antibacterial compound was estimated to be 188 by ESI-MS analysis. The inhibitory effects of the extract on biofilm formation and gene expression related to biofilm formation of S. mutans were determined by SEM and real-time PCR analysis. The extract inhibited the formation of S. mutans biofilms at D. malabarica stem extract concentrations of 1 mg/ml, as shown by SEM. The real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of the gtfC gene, which is associated with biofilm formation, was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that D. malabarica stem extracts, a natural materials, can be used in oral health products to suppress the formation of biofilms by inhibiting tooth adhesion of S. mutans, a causative agent of dental caries.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.459-473
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• 2021

Purpose: Although numerous systematic reviews or meta-analysis have reported the hypotensive effects of garlic, the application of these results in the area of functional food is limited. This is because the trials used various garlic preparations and patients with differing hypertensive intensities. To validate the use of garlic powder as a blood pressure lowering functional food, we performed the current meta-analysis, focusing on the study of prehypertensive subjects. Methods: Literature search was carried out using various database up to July 2020, including PubMed, Cochrane, ScienceDirect and Korean studies Information Service System, and each study was screened by pre-stated inclusion/exclusion criteria. We identified nine trials that met the eligibility, of which two studies with moderate or high risk of bias were excluded. Results: Meta-analysis of the seven studies revealed that an intake of garlic powder significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by -6.0 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], -11.2, -0.8; p = 0.025) and -2.7 mmHg (95% CI, -5.3, -0.1; p = 0.046), respectively. Shapes of the funnel plot for both SBP and DBP seemed symmetrical, and the Egger's regression revealed no publication bias. Moreover, duration of the intervention period was inversely associated with the pooled effects of garlic powder on SBP (p = 0.019) and DBP (p = 0.019), and this result was supported by the subgroup-analysis. The daily dose of garlic powder, baseline value of each biomarker, and subject number, did not moderate the effects on SBP and DBP. Conclusion: Results of the present meta-analysis indicate that garlic powder supplements are superior to placebo for improving the BP in prehypertensive individuals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2021

Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc is widely distributed in East Asia (Korea, Japan, and China), and its fruit is often used as a medication and food material. However, because most previous studies have only investigated the state of Prunus mume fruit extract, studies on the various ways of processing this extract are still needed to increase its utilization. In this study, we evaluated the physicochemical properties and physiological activities of spray-dried Prunus mume vinegar powder (SPP). The sugar content, pH, total acidity, and moisture content of the SPP were 8.90 °Brix, 3.19, 1.05%, and 3.07%, respectively. The SPP exhibited significantly high antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical scavenging activity (65.55%), reducing power (1.48), and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (48.07%). In addition, the SPP remarkably decreased the cell viability of human breast MDA-MB-231 and human skin cancer SK-MEL-28 in a dose-dependent manner. The morphological results of the treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with SPP were distorted, shrunken cell masses. Furthermore, apoptotic bodies and nuclear condensation formed in the SPP-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the SPP were 59.58 ㎍/g (gallic acid equivalent) and 57.56 ㎍/g (quercetin equivalent). The results of this study indicate that SPP, which has antioxidant activity and anticancer effects, can be useful in the development of natural medicines and functional food ingredients.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 2020

We studied the effects of the extract of aerial parts of hydroponically cultured ginseng (HGE) on alcohol-induced liver damage (AILD) in mice. AILD was induced by the oral administration of ethanol (EtOH) (25%; 5 g/kg body weight) for seven days in the study as well as EtOH-only groups. However, HGE (4 and 12 mg/kg) was orally administered (once daily for ten consecutive days) only to the study group, three days prior to the EtOH treatment. The HGE-treated group showed significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase than the EtOH-only group. In addition, HGE administration decreased the level of serum lactate dehydrogenase, a known marker of liver damage. The effect of HGE on AILD was found to be dose dependent, and the consecutive administration of HGE showed no side effects in mice. Our study indicates that HGE treatment can potentially reduce oxidative stress and toxicity in the liver of alcohol-treated mice and that HGE can be a useful therapeutic agent for alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. Additionally, a simple and efficient high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection method was developed for determining the contents of four major ginsenosides in HGE. The aerial parts of hydroponically cultured ginseng were extracted using 70% fermented ethanol, and the contents of ginsenosides F5, F3, F1, and F2 in HGE were found to be 2.5, 4.4, 1.4, and 23.3 mg/g, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2021

Euglena gracilis is a microalga of great biotechnological interest that can create high levels of bioactive compounds, such as tocopherol, paramylon, and folic acid. The objective of this study was to investigate the biological activities of extracts from E. gracilis, especially those focused on immunological activity. E. gracilis biomass was extracted with hot water (HWE) and the remaining pellet was continuously extracted with methanol (HWME). First, we examined the effect of two extracts from E. gracilis on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of pro-inflammation cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. HWE treatment dose-dependently increased the production of IL-1β and TNF-α. On the other hand, treatment with HWME significantly decreased the generation of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cells. In addition, other biological activities of the extracts were further analyzed: α-glucosidase inhibition, protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B) inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Analysis of these biological activities showed that HWE has more inhibitory effects than HWME against α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, and XO agents. However, the inhibition of PTP1B and ACE with HWME were higher than with HWE. Taken together, the results suggested that E. gracilis possesses various biological activities―especially immunological capabilities―through regulation of cytokine production. Therefore, E. gracilis extract may be potentially useful for food material with immune-regulating effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.899-906
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• 2020

The WSS lateral examination is important for diagnosing spinal disorders. Recently, long-length detectors for large-area diagnose have been popularized to effectively reduce the exposure dose and examination time. It can be applied very efficiently to examinations of patients with high risk of falls, children, and adolescents. However, since the image is acquired through a single irradiation, the volume of cervical vertebra is relatively smaller than the lumbar due to the geometrical anatomy of the spine. Therefore, this study intends to fabricate an additional filter using 3D printing technology and copper filament to obtain uniform image quality in the WSS lateral examination and to analyze the results. 3D printing technology is able to easily print a desired shape, so it is widely used in the entire industrial field, and recently, a copper filament has been developed to confirm the possibility as an additional filter. In the WSS lateral examination, CNR and SNR were excellently measured when the additional filter was applied, confirming the possibility of using the additional filter.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.295-304
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• 2021

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematopoietic malignancy driven by promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor A (PML-RARA) fusion gene. The therapeutic drugs currently used to treat APL have adverse effects. 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is an anticancer medicine with high effectiveness and low toxicity. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of GRh2-induced PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in human APL cell line (NB4 cells) remain unclear. Methods: Apoptosis-related indicators and PML-RARA expression were determined to investigate the effect of GRh2 on NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK, LY294002, and C 87, as inhibitors of caspase, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) pathways were used to clarify the relationship between GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. Results: GRh2 dose- and time-dependently decreased NB4 cell viability. GRh2-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 activation in NB4 cells after a 12-hour treatment. GRh2-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells was accompanied by massive production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage and upregulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression. GRh2 also induced PML/PML-RARA degradation, PML nuclear bodies formation, and activation of the downstream p53 pathway in NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK inhibited caspase activation and significantly reversed GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. GRh2 also upregulated TNF-α expression and inhibited Akt phosphorylation. LY294002, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway, enhanced the antitumor effects of GRh2, and C 87, an inhibitor of the TNF-α pathway, reversed NB4 cell viability, and GRh2-mediated apoptosis in a caspase-8-dependent manner. Conclusion: GRh2 induced caspase-dependent PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in NB4 cells via the Akt/Bax/caspase9 and TNF-α/caspase8 pathways.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.86-98
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• 2021

This study was designed to characterize the effect of ginsenoside-Rg2 (Rg2), one of panaxatriol saponins isolated from Korean ginseng root, on the release of catecholamines (CA) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla, and also to establish its mechanism of action. Rg2 (3~30 µM), administered into an adrenal vein for 90 min, depressed acetylcholine (ACh)-induced CA secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Rg2 also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion induced by 3-(m-chloro-phenyl-carbamoyl-oxy)-2-butynyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (McN-A-343), 1.1-dimethyl-4-phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP), and angiotensin II (Ang II). Also, during perfusion of Rg2, the CA secretion induced by high K⁺, veratridine, cyclopiazonic acid, methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoro-methyl-phenyl)-pyridine-5-carboxylate (Bay-K-8644) depressed, respectively. In the simultaneous presence of Rg2 and N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride ʟ-NAME), the CA secretion induced by ACh, Ang II, Bay-K-8644 and veratridine was restored nearly to the extent of their corresponding control level, respectively, compared to those of inhibitory effects of Rg2-treatment alone. Virtually, NO release in adrenal medulla following perfusion of Rg2 was significantly enhanced in comparison to the corresponding spontaneous release. Also, in the coexistence of Rg2 and fimasartan, ACh-induced CA secretion was markedly diminished compared to the inhibitory effect of fimasartan-treated alone. Collectively, these results demonstrated that Rg2 suppressed the CA secretion induced by activation of cholinergic as well as angiotensinergic receptors from the perfused model of the rat adrenal gland. This Rg2-induced inhibitory effect seems to be exerted by reducing both influx of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ through their ionic channels into the adrenomedullary cells as well as by suppressing Ca²⁺ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, at least through the elevated NO release by activation of NO synthase, which is associated to the blockade of neuronal cholinergic and AT₁-receptors. Based on these results, the ingestion of Rg2 may be helpful to alleviate or prevent the cardiovascular diseases, via reduction of CA release in adrenal medulla and consequent decreased CA level in circulation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.134-148
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• 2021

Background: Lung cancer has a high incidence worldwide, and most lung cancer-associated deaths are attributable to cancer metastasis. Although several medicinal properties of Panax ginseng Meyer have been reported, the effect of ginsenosides Rk1 and Rg5 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) stimulated by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and self-renewal in A549 cells is relatively unknown. Methods: We treated TGF-β1 or alternatively Rk1 and Rg5 in A549 cells. We used western blot analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), wound healing assay, Matrigel invasion assay, and anoikis assays to determine the effect of Rk1 and Rg5 on TGF-mediated EMT in lung cancer cell. In addition, we performed tumorsphere formation assays and real-time PCR to evaluate the stem-like properties. Results: EMT is induced by TGF-β1 in A549 cells causing the development of cancer stem-like features. Expression of E-cadherin, an epithelial marker, decreased and an increase in vimentin expression was noted. Cell mobility, invasiveness, and anoikis resistance were enhanced with TGF-β1 treatment. In addition, the expression of stem cell markers, CD44, and CD133, was also increased. Treatment with Rk1 and Rg5 suppressed EMT by TGF-β1 and the development of stemness in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, Rk1 and Rg5 markedly suppressed TGF-β1-induced metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP2/9) activity, and activation of Smad2/3 and nuclear factor kappa B/extra-cellular signal regulated kinases (NF-kB/ERK) pathways in lung cancer cells. Conclusions: Rk1 and Rg5 regulate the EMT inducing TGF-β1 by suppressing the Smad and NF-κB/ERK pathways (non-Smad pathway).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.348-354
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• 2020

Oryeong-san (ORS) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine widely used for renal associated diseases, composed of five medicine herbs; Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi, Cinnamomum cassia Presl, Polyporus umbellatus Fries, Poria cocos Wolf and Alisma orientale Juzepzuk. We studied to improve the convenience of intake and portability by developing modernized dosage forms, and examined the effect on anti-inflammation of ORS. In order to develop the tablet formulation of ORS (ORS-F), the tablets were evaluated on the basis of physical characteristics include diameter, thickness, weight variation, hardness, friability and disintegration. To analyze the marker components of ORS-F, eight index markers from five herbal medicines were chosen. And the method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detector method was established for the simultaneous analysis. The biological activities were examined the effect of ORS-F on pro-inflammation mediated by LPS-stimulation. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines were determined by reacting cultured medium with griess reagent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) were investigated by Western blot and RT-PCR. The anti-oxidant activities of OJS-F increased markedly, in a dose-dependent manner. and, The total phenolic compound and flavonoids contents of OJS-F were 10.20±0.09 ㎍/㎎ and 12.86±0.86 ㎍/㎎. OJS-F which is LPS has diminished in the LPS-induced release of inflammatory mediators (NO, iNOS, COX2 and PGE2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) from the RAW264.7 macrophages. Therefore, the developed formulation for tablet of ORS-F provide efficiency and usability, and indicated effect of anti-inflammation.