• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2020

Background: Research on hot water extracts of medicinal plants that are easily applicable in the clinical setting is essential. To confirm the anti-inflammatory-related active compounds present in the hot water extract of Eriobotrya japonica leaves, ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production was measured and active compounds isolated from the extract were analyzed. Methods and Results: Sovent fractionation by solvent was performed to identify the active compounds present in the hot water extract, and the ability of the extract and the fractions obtained to inhibit NO production was measured. Subsequently, based on the results of liquid chromatography (LC) profile analysis of the n-butanol fraction that had a relatively high inhibitory ability of NO production, six subfractions were separated around the main peak. Among the separated subfractions spectra from mass spectroscopy (MS) were analyzed and standard comparisons were performed on the compounds of the three main peaks on the chromatogram. NO production inhibitory activity of subfraction 2 identified as neochlorogenic acid was the highest with an IC₅₀ of 18.49 ㎍/㎖ followed by that of subfraction 5 identified as cryptochlorogenic acid with IC₅₀ of 25.82 ㎍/㎖. Conclusions: Our result, it was confirmed that several caffeoylquinic acids, including neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid present in the hot water extract of E. japonica leaves have an important role as compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 1999

A bioequivalence study of the Dong Wha Cisapril tablets(Dong Wha Pharm. Ind. Co., Ltd.) to the Prepulsid tablets(Janssen Korea Ltd.), formulations of cisapride, was conducted. Twenty four healthy Korean male subjects received each formulation at the dose of 5 mg as cisapride in a 2$\times$2 crossover study. There was a 1-week washout period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of cisapride were monitored by an LC/MS method for over a period of 36 h after each administration. AUC(area under the plasma concentration- time curve from time zero to infinity) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal and extrapolation method. $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$) were compiled from the plasma drug concentration-time data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there are no differences in AUC, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ between the formulations. The apparent differences between the formulations in these parameters were all far less than 20% (i.e., 6.8, -6.6 and 1.8% for AUC, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). Minimum detectable differences(%) at $\alpha$=0.05 and 1-$\beta$=0.8 were all less than 20% in these parameters between the formulations (i.e., 16.5, 11.4 and 16.4% for AUC, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals for these parameters were also within 20% (i.e., -2.9~ 16.4, -13.2~0.1 and -7.8~ 11.4% for AUC, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). These results satisfy the bioequivalence criteria of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) guidelines (No. 98-51). Therefore, these results indicate that the two formulations of cisapride are bioequivalent and, thus, may be prescribed interchangeably.hangeably.y.hangeably.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2019

The effects of Lavandula angustifolia extract fermented with Pediococcus pentosaceus DK1 on UVB-mediated MMP-1 expression and collagen decrease in human skin fibroblasts were determined, and the conversion of its components was also analyzed. Fermentation was performed at varying L. angustifolia extract and MRS medium concentrations, and optimal fermentation conditions were selected. L. angustifolia extracts showed decreased cytotoxicity after fermentation in the fibroblasts. UVB-irradiated fibroblasts treated with fermented L. angustifolia extract showed MMP-1 expression 8.2-14.0% lower than that in UVB-irradiated fibroblasts treated with non-fermented extract. This was observed even at fermented extract concentrations lower than those of non-fermented extracts. Fibroblasts treated with fermented L. angustifolia extract showed 20% less reduction in collagen production upon UVB irradiation than those treated with non-fermented extracts. UVB-irradiated fibroblasts treated with fermented L. angustifolia extracts showed 50% higher inhibition of ROS generation than those treated with non-fermented extract. Luteolin and apigenin glycosides of L. angustifolia were converted during fermentation, and identified using RP-HPLC and LC/ESI-MS. Therefore, the effects of L. angustifolia extract on MMP-1 expression and collagen decrease in UVB-irradiated human skin fibroblasts were increased through fermentation by P. pentosaceus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.430-436
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• 2022

Platycosides, Platycodi radix (Platycodon grandiflorus root) saponins, are used as food supplements and exert diverse pharmacological activities. Deglycosylation of saponins enhances their biological efficacy, and deglycosylated platycosides are produced mainly through enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the types of available deglycosylated platycosides remain limited because of a lack of hydrolyzing enzymes that can act on specific glycosides in glycosylated platycosides. In this study, a crude enzyme from Aspergillus tubingensis converted platycoside E (PE) and polygalacin D₃ (PGD3) into deglucose-apiose-xylosylated (deGAX)-platycodin D (PD) and deGAX-polygalacin D (PGD), respectively. The products were identified through LC/MS analysis by specifically hydrolyzing all glucose residues at C-3, and apiose and xylose residues at C-28 of platycoside. The hydrolytic activity of the crude enzyme obtained after the cultivation of the fungus using citrus pectin and corn steep solid as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, in culture medium was increased compared with those using other carbon and nitrogen sources. The crude enzyme from A. tubingensis was the most effective in producing deGAX platycoside at pH 5.0 and 60℃. The crude enzyme produced 0.32 mg/ml deGAX-PD and 0.34 mg/ml deGAX-PGD from 1 mg/ml PE and 1 mg/ml PGD3 (at pH 5.0 and 60℃) for 12 and 10 h, with productivities of 32.0 and 42.5 mg/l/h and molar yields of 62.1 and 59.6%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to produce deGAX platycosides from glycosylated platycosides.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1437-1447
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• 2023

A recently bioinformatic analysis of genomic sequences of fungi indicated that fungi are able to produce more secondary metabolites than expected. Despite their potency, many biosynthetic pathways are silent in the absence of specific culture conditions or chemical cues. To access cryptic metabolism, 108 fungal strains isolated from various sites were cultured with or without Streptomyces sp. 13F051 which mainly produces trichostatin analogues, followed by comparison of metabolic profiles using LC-MS. Among the 108 fungal strains, 14 produced secondary metabolites that were not recognized or were scarcely produced in mono-cultivation. Of these two fungal strains, Myrmecridium schulzeri 15F098 and Scleroconidioma sphagnicola 15S058 produced four new compounds (1-4) along with a known compound (5), demonstrating that all four compounds were produced by physical interaction with Streptomyces sp. 13F051. Bioactivity evaluation indicated that compounds 3-5 impede migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2018

Advances in bacterial and fungal genome mining uncover a plethora of cryptic secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. Guided by the genome information, targeted transcriptional derepression could be employed to determine the product of a cryptic gene cluster and to explore its biological role. Monascus spp. are food grade filamentous fungi popular in eastern Asia and several genome data belong to them are now available. We achieved transcription activation of a cryptic fungal polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthase gene Mpfus1 in Monascus purpureus ${\Delta}MpPKS5$ by inserting Aspergillus gpdA promoter at the upstream of Mpfus1 through double crossover gene replacement. The gene cluster with Mpfus1 show a high similarity to those for the biosynthesis of conjugated polyene derivatives with 2-pyrrolidone ring and the mycotoxin fusarin is the representative member of this group. The ${\Delta}MpPKS5$ is incapable of producing azaphilone pigment, providing an excellent background to identify chromogenic and UV-absorbing compounds. Activation of Mpfus1 resulted in a yellow hue on mycelia and its methanol extract exhibit a maximum absorption at 365 nm. HPLC analysis of the organic extracts indicated the presence of a variety of yellow compounds in the extract. This implies that the product of MpFus1 is metabolically or chemically unstable. LC-MS analysis guided us to predict the MpFus1 product and to propose that the Mpfus1-containing gene cluster encode the biosynthesis of a desmethyl analogue of fusarin. This study showcases the genome mining in Monascus and the possibility to unveil new biological activities embedded in it.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.662-670
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of methanolic extracts of graviola, Annona muricate leaves (AMME) on antioxidant activity and melanin production. First of all, DPPH radical and reducing power were performed to determine the antioxidant effect of AMME and organic solvent fractions. AMME and organic solvent fractions showed antioxidative activity in a concentration dependent manner. The ethyl acetate fraction of AMME among organic solvent fractions showed the highest antioxidant activity. Moreover, tyrosinase activity was performed to confirm the effect of organic fractions on melanin production. AMME, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions increased tyrosinase activity a dose dependent manner. Next, the hexane fraction with the best effect on melanin synthesis in AMME organic solvent fraction was divided into 12 fractions by silica column chromatography. Among them, the fraction 7 and 8 showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power. In addition, the fraction 7 and 8 at $64{\mu}g/ml$ showed melanin synthesis by 260% and 184%, respectively. Finally, the fraction 8 at $4{\mu}g/ml$ showed melanin synthesis by 34% in B16F1 cells. LC-MS analysis showed that fraction 7 and fraction 8 have a molecular weight of 617 and 619, respectively. FT-IR analysis showed that fractions 7 and 8 is similar to bis(2-hydroxyethly)dimerate. Above results suggest that graviola leaves extracts could be applicable to the development of natural antioxidants or hair cosmetics which are related to the promoting effect of melanin production.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.145-159
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• 2015

Objective : In the previous study, co-administration of Gongjindan-gamibang (GJD) with sorafenib increased oral bioavailability of sorafenib through augment the absorption, therefore, the effects of GJD co-administration on the pharmacokinetics of sorafenib were observed after single and 7-day repeated oral co-administration with 3.5 hr-intervals in the present study. Method : After 50 mg/kg of sorafenib treatment, GJD 100 mg/kg was administered with 3.5 hr-intervals. The plasma were collected at 30 min before administration, 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hrs after end of first and last 7th sorafenib treatment, and plasma concentrations of sorafenib were analyzed using LC-MS/MS methods. PK parameters of sorafenib ($T_{max}$, $C_{max}$, AUC, $t_{1/2}$ and $MRT_{inf}$) were analysis as compared with sorafenib single administered rats. Results : GJD markedly inhibited the absorption of sorafenib, from 1 hr to 24 hrs after end of first 3.5 hr-interval co-administration, the $C_{max}$ (-43.27%), $AUC_{0-t}$ (-56.29%) and $AUC_{0-inf}$ (-66.70%) of sorafenib in co-administered rats were dramatically decreased as compared with sorafenib single treated rats. However, GJD significantly increased the absorption of sorafenib, from 4 hr to 8 hrs after end of last 7th 3.5 hr-interval co-administration, the $AUC_{0-t}$ (34.08%) and $AUC_{0-inf}$ (37.31%) of sorafenib in co-administered rats were dramatically increased as compared with sorafenib single treated rats. Conclusion : Although GJD decreased the oral bioavailability of sorafenib through inhibition of gastrointestinal absorptions after end of first 3.5 hr-interval co-administration, it is observed that GJD increases the oral bioavailability of sorafenib as facilitated the absorption after end of last 7th repeated co-administration. Hence, the co-administration of GJD and sorafenib should be avoided in the combination therapy of sorafenib with GJD on anticancer therapy.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.729-734
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• 2005

A sensitive and selective method for quantitation of sofalcone and its active metabolite in human plasma has been established using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS). Plasma samples were transferred into 96-well plate using an automated sample handling system and spiked with 10 $\mu$L of 2 $\mu$g/mL $d_3$-sofalcone and $d_3$-sofalcone metabolite solutions (internal standard), respectively. After adding 0.5 mL of acetonitrile to the 96-well plate, the plasma samples were then vortexed for 30 sec. After centrifugation, the supernatant was transferred into another 96-well plate and completely evaporated at 40 ${^{\circ}C}$ under a stream of nitrogen. Dry residues were reconstituted with mobile phase and were injected into a $C_{18}$ reversed-phase column. The limit of quantitation of sofalcone and its metabolite was 2 ng/mL, using a sample volume of 0.2 mL for analysis. The reproducibility of the method was evaluated by analyzing 10 replicates over the concentration range of 2 ng/mL to 1000 ng/mL. The validation experiments of the method have shown that the assay has good precision and accuracy. Sofalcone and its metabolite produced a protonated precursor ion ([M+H]$^+$) of m/z 451 and 453, and a corresponding product ion of m/z 315 and 317, respectively. Internal standard ($d_3$-sofalcone and $d_3$-sofalcone metabolite) produced a protonated precursor ion ([M+H]$^+$) of m/z 454 and 456 and a corresponding product ion of m/z 315 and 317, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of sofalcone and its active metabolite in human plasma.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.398-409
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate environmental exposure to tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) by conducting an analysis of the concentration of TSNAs in deposited dust collected from a fertilizer plant and the surrounding village, a simulation of high-temperature drying of tobacco waste, and CALPUFF modeling. Methods: The raw materials of the products, deposited dust (inside and outside the plant and residential area), soil, and wastewater were sampled and the TSNA concentrations were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. As the plant was closed down before the investigation, simulation tests were conducted to confirm the substances discharged during high-temperature (300℃) drying of tobacco waste. CALPUFF modeling was performed to identify the area of influence due to exposure to TSNAs. Results: TSNAs were detected in organic fertilizers estimated to contain tobacco waste, deposited dust, and soil collected from inside and outside the plant. N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), and N'-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) components were detected in five of 15 deposited dust samples collected from the residential area around the plant, while TSNAs were not detected in the five sampling points in the control area. Also, the simulation test for the high temperature drying of tobacco waste found emissions of TSNAs. The CALPUFF modeling results showed that the survey area was likely to be included in the area of influence of TSNA emissions from the plant. Conclusions: It is estimated that harmful tobacco ingredients such as TSNAs were dispersed in nearby areas due to the illegal use of tobacco waste as a raw material to produce organic fertilizers at the plant. These findings assume that the residents have been exposed to TSNAs and suggest that the need for the establishment of measures to manage environmental health.