• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.279-285
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• 2011

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the skin whitening effect of the extracts of 3 herbs, Ligularia fischeri, Solidago virga-aurea and Aruncus dioicus, which were collected from Ullung island. Tyrosinase inhibition activities were 33% in pre-fermented extracts and 45% in post-fermented ones. When tyrosinase activities in B16F10 murine melanoma cells were tested, activities in pre- and post-fermented extracts were 41 and 56.5%, respectively. Thus, the post-fermented extracts might have greater skin whitening effects. The protein expression of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase, which are all skin-whitening related transcription factors, showed that both pre- and post-fermented herbs inhibited protein biosynthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Post-fermented herb extracts especially showed a greater decrease of protein expressions. The expression of MITF, a regulatory transcription factor, was also decreased by both extracts but was greater in the post-fermented ones. From the results, it can be concluded that the 3 herb extracts from Ullung island may inhibit melanin biosynthesis by the suppression of MITF activity in a signaling pathway. Results indicate that the post-fermented herbs tested in the present study had skin whitening activities and can be used as functional ingredients for food and cosmetic compositions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1351-1359
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• 2013

The anti-proliferative activity of ${\beta}$-ionone was investigated on human non-small lung cancer A-549 cells (designated A-549 cells). A-549 cells were treated with various concentrations of ${\beta}$-ionone (1, 5, 10, and 15 ${\mu}M$) for two, four, and six days. Biochemical markers related to the growth inhibition of A-549 cells by ${\beta}$-ionone were measured at the second day of incubation. ${\beta}$-Ionone inhibited the growth of A-549 cells by dose-and time-dependent manners, resulting in an $IC_{50}$ of 5.0 ${\mu}g/ml$ at the second day of incubation. ${\beta}$-Ionone induced apoptosis by a dose-dependent manner. ${\beta}$-Ionone increased levels of p53, p21, and Bax proteins, but suppressed expression of the Bcl-2 protein. Similarly, ${\beta}$-ionone enhanced cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol, and induced activation of caspase-9 and -3. Additionally, ${\beta}$-ion-one reduced $cPLA_2$ and COX-2 protein levels. These results suggest that the ${\beta}$-ionone inhibits the proliferation of A-549 cells through reciprocal regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression and suppression of $cPLA_2$ and COX-2 protein expressions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2006

In previous reports we demonstrated that ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, affect some subsets of voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels in neuronal cells expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. However, the major component(s) of ginseng that affect cloned $Ca^{2+}$ channel subtypes such as ${\alpha}_{1C}$(L)-, ${\alpha}_{1B}$(N)-, ${\alpha}_{1A}$(P/Q)-, ${\alpha}_{1E}$(R)- and ${\alpha}_{1G}$(T) have not been identified. Here, we used the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique to characterize the effects of ginsenosides and ginsenoside metabolites on $Ba^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ba}$) in Xenopus oocytes expressing five different $Ca^{2+}$ channel subtypes. Exposure to ginseng total saponins (GTS) induced voltage-dependent, dose-dependent and reversible inhibition of the five channel subtypes, with particularly strong inhibition of the ${\alpha}_{1G}$-type. Of the various ginsenosides, $Rb_1$, Rc, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_3$, and $Rh_2$, ginsenoside $Rg_3$ also inhibited all five channel subtypes and ginsenoside $Rh_2$ had most effect on the ${\alpha}_{1C}$- and ${\alpha}_{1E}$-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. Compound K (CK), a protopanaxadiol ginsenoside metabolite, strongly inhibited only the ${\alpha}_{1G}$-type of $Ca^{2+}$ channel, whereas M4, a protopanaxatriol ginsenoside metabolite, had almost no effect on any of the channels. $Rg_3$, $Rh_2$, and CK shifted the steady-state activation curves but not the inactivation curves in the depolarizing direction in the ${\alpha}_{1B}$- and ${\alpha}_{1A}$-types. These results reveal that $Rg_3$, $Rh_2$ and CK are the major inhibitors of $Ca^{2+}$ channels in Panax ginseng, and that they show some $Ca^{2+}$ channel selectivity.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.335-342
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• 2010

Sulforaphane (SFN) and total phenolics (TPC) contents and antioxidant activity (AA) were analyzed from 13 radish genotypes (Rhaphanus sativus L.), cultivated at 3 locations with different altitudes (Gangneung: asl 5 m, Jinbu: asl 550 m, and Daegwallyeong: asl 750 m). SFN varied greatly from 0.1 to $120.5{\mu}g{\cdot}g^{-1}$ in dry weight test and was significantly affected by location ($P{\leq}0.001$), genotype ($P{\leq}0.001$) and $location{\times}genotype$ interaction ($P{\leq}0.01$). Radishes, cultivated at Daegwallyeong site, showed higher SFN than those of other locations. Among different genotypes, the root of 'Black radish' and leaves of 'Purunmu' of Daegwallyeong had the highest SFN (107.8 and $120.5{\mu}g{\cdot}g^{-1}$, respectively). TPC in root was affected by genotype ($P{\leq}0.001$), and $location{\times}genotype$ interaction ($P{\leq}0.01$), but not by location. In leaves, TPC was affected by location ($P{\leq}0.01$), genotype ($P{\leq}0.001$), and $location{\times}genotype$ interaction ($P{\leq}0.001$). AA expressed as electron donating ability was significantly influenced by location, genotype and $location{\times}genotype$ interaction and correlated positively with TPC ($Pearson's$ $r$=0.897) in root. These results suggest that radish could be a good source of functional food and high altitude location such as Daegwallyeong has potential for the production of radish with high content of health promoting factors.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.552-557
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the different DIF (day/night temperature differential) treatments on early growth of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) after planting. The DIF treatments were thus as follows. DIF levels are DIF-6 ($20-26^{\circ}C$) and DIF 0 ($23^{\circ}C$), DIF 3 ($24.5-21.5^{\circ}C$) and DIF 6 ($26-20^{\circ}C$). The DIF 3 and DIF 6 treatments significantly increased plant height of the sweet pepper plants during ten weeks after planting compared to DIF-6 and DIF 0. Leaf area per plant of DIF 3 treatment constantly increased and the level was greatest leaf area at ten weeks after planting. Fresh weight per plant treated with DIF-6 was lower and was reduced 74-77% range compared to other treatments. DIF 0 and DIF 3 treatments significantly affected dry weight and percentage of dry matter compared to DIF-6 and DIF 6. Especially DIF 6 treatment significantly decreased from eight weeks after planting. Percentage of dry matter of the leaf treated with DIF 0 and DIF 3 consistently increased from six weeks after planting, however, DIF-6 and DIF 6 treatments dramatically decreased from eight weeks after planting. High levels of DIF management cause growth retardant on early growth of sweet pepper plants, especially when night temperature is higher than day temperature, plants are indicated to be greater growth retardant.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.994-1004
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• 2005

The dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) promoter contains cis-acting element for the transcription factors Spl and E2F. Transcription of dhfr gene shows maximal activity during the Gl/S phase of cell cycle. The member of the Spl transcriptional factor family can act as both negative and positive regulators of gene expression. There was a report that Spl-Rb and E2F4-pl30 complexes cooperate to establish stable repression of dhfr gene expression in CHOC400 cells. Here, we examined the role of HDAC in dhfr, cyclin E, and cyclin A gene regulation using the histone deacetylation inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA) in U2OS and C33A cells, a Rb-positive human osteosarcoma cell line, and a Rb-negative cervical carcinoma cell line, respectively. When the dhfr promoter constructs were applied in U2OS cells, TSA markedly stimulated over 14-fold of dhfr promoter activity through dhfr-Spl sites by the deletion of an E2F element. In contrast, the deletion of dhfr-Spl binding sites completely abolished promoter stimulation by TSA. The dhfr promoter activity including dhfr-Spl sites increased only 2-fold in C33A cells. Promoter activity containing only dhfr-E2F site did not have much effect by the treatment of TSA in both U2OS and C33A cells. On the other hand, treatment with TSA induced significantly mRNA expression of dhfr and cyclin E, whereas levels of cyclin A decreased in U2OS cells, but had no effect in C33A cells. These results indicate that TSA have contradictory effect, activation of dhfr and cyclin E genes on Gl phase, and down-regulation of cyclin A on G2 phase through transcriptional regulation in U2OS cells.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.245-254
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• 2010

Effects of heavy metal ions on the gene expression of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) were examined in cultured eel hepatocytes. When the expression of CYP1A mRNA was measured by RT-PCR after incubation of eel hepatocytes with benzo[$\alpha$]pyrene (B[$\alpha$]P) at concentrations of 10-8~10-5 M, the CYP1A expression increased with B[$\alpha$]P treatment in a dose dependent manner, showing significant increase at concentrations more than 10-7 M. When the eel hepatocyte was treated with cadmium (10-6 and 10-5 M), the expression of CYP1A was inhibited and especially at higher concentration (10-5 M). The inhibition of CYP1A expression by cadmium was also observed in cells treated with B[$\alpha$]P. In another study, effects of heavy metal ions on the expression of CYP1A were examined in cultured hepatocytes isolated from eel which was treated previously with B[$\alpha$]P in vivo. Hepatocytes isolated from the liver of eel taken at 48 hours after injection of B[$\alpha$]P (10 mg/kg) were cultured for 2 days with cadmium, copper, lead or zinc (10-6 and 10-5 M). The expression of CYP1A was found to be suppressed by the metal ions compared with the control in which CYP1A was induced with previous treatment of B[$\alpha$]P in vivo. The present results may provide an important basic information for studying the effects of heavy metal ions on CYP1A expression in other species of fish and studying toxicological mechanisms of heavy metal ions in aquatic livings.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2009

The pharmacokinetic properties of oxolinic acid (OA) were studied after oral administration, intraperitoneal injection and dipping to cultured olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (average 90 g, $23{\pm}1{^{\circ}C}$). Plasma samples were taken at 3, 5, 10, 15, 24, 30, 48, 96 and 144 h post-dose. In oral dosage at 15, 30 and 60 ㎎/㎏, the peak plasma concentrations of OA, which attained at 10~15 h post-dose, were 1.92, 2.45 and 3.72 $\mu{g}/m\ell$, respectively. In intraperitoneal injection with 10 and 20 ㎎/㎏, the peak plasma concentrations of OA, which attained at 10 h post-dose, were 4.1 and 4.8 $\mu{g}/m\ell$, respectively. In dipping in 30 and 50 ppm for 1 h, peak concentrations were observed at 5 h and 30 h post-dose, were 0.22 and 0.38 $\mu{g}/m\ell$, respectively. The kinetic profile of absorption, distribution and elimination of OA in plasma were analyzed fitting to a one-compartment model by WinNonlin program. Calculated parameters for a single oral dosage of 15, 30 and 60 ㎎/㎏, respectively, were: AUC (the area under the concentration-time curve)=70.93, 120.0 and 141.86 $\mu{g}$ $h/m\ell$ $T_{max}$ (time for maximum concentration)=16.22, 20.39 and 17.33 h; $C_{max}$ (maximum concentration)=���D1.61, 2.40 and 3.01 $\mu{g}/m\ell$. Following intraperitoneal injection of 10 and 20 ㎎/㎏, these parameters were AUC=184.7 and 315.92 $\mu{g}$ $h/m\ell$ $T_{max}$=5.91 and 6.26 h; $C_{max}$=4.19 and 4.45 $\mu{g}/m\ell$. Following dipping at 30 and 50 ppm, these parameters were AUC=17.58 and 21.69 $\mu{g}$ $h/m\ell$ $T_{max}$=19.08 and 31.43 h; $C_{max}$x=0.22 and 0.25 $\mu{g}/m\ell$.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.529-539
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• 2019

Purpose: Sprouts of evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata, OL) were reported to have high contents of flavonoids and potent antioxidant activity. This study examined the antioxidant and antiobesity activities of OL sprouts to determine if they could be a natural health-beneficial resource preventing obesity and oxidative stress. Methods: OL sprouts were extracted with 50% ethanol, evaporated, and lyophilized (OLE). The in vitro antioxidant activity of OLE was examined using four different tests. The antiobesity activity and in vivo antioxidant activity from OLE consumption were examined using high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6 mice. Results: The IC₅₀ for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of OLE were 26.2 ㎍/mL and 327.6 ㎍/mL, respectively. OLE exhibited the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity of 56.7 ㎍ ascorbic acid eq./mL at 100 ㎍/mL, and an increased glutathione level by 65.1% at 200 ㎍/mL compared to the control in the hUC-MSC stem cells. In an animal study, oral treatment with 50 mg or 100 mg of OLE/kg body weight for 14 weeks reduced the body weight gain, visceral fat content, fat cell size, blood leptin, and triglyceride levels, as well as the atherogenic index compared to the high fat diet control group (HFC) (p < 0.05). The blood malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the catalase and SOD-1 activities in adipose tissue were reduced significantly by the OLE treatment compared to HFC as well (p < 0.05). In epididymal adipose tissue, the OLE treatment reduced the mRNA expression of leptin, PPAR-γ and FAS significantly (p < 0.05) compared to HFC while it increased adiponectin expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: OLE consumption has potent antioxidant and antiobesity activities via the suppression of oxidative stress and lipogenesis in DIO mice. Therefore, OLE could be a good candidate as a natural resource to develop functional food products that prevent obesity and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.515-528
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the immunological activity and optimized the mixture conditions of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) extracts in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: S. horneri was extracted using three different methods: hot water extraction (HWE), 50% ethanol extraction (EE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ) were measured using a WST-1 assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of nitric oxide and T cell activation production were measured using a Griess assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined using an EZ-LDH kit. Results: Among the three different types of extracts, HWE showed the highest levels of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. In the animal model, three different types of extracts were administrated for 14 days (once/day) at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. HWE and SFE showed a high level of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in the with and without mitogen-treated groups, whereas EE administration did not induce the splenocyte activation. When RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with different mixtures (HWE with 5, 10, 15, 20% of SFE) to determine the optimal mixture ratio of HWE and SFE, the levels of nitric oxide and cytokine production increased strongly in the HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE containing group. In the animal model, HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE mixture administration increased the levels of splenocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and activated CD4⁺ cell population significantly, with the highest level observed in the HWE with 5% of SFE group. Moreover, the NK cell activity was increased significantly in the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture-treated group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The optimal mixture condition of S. horneri with immune-enhancing activity is the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture. These results confirmed that the extracts of S. horneri and its mixtures are potential candidate materials for immune enhancement.