• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.3017-3021
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• 2013

Coumaroyl dipeptide amide, Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$, was prepared successfully using the solid-phase method, and its efficacy as a skin whitening agent was studied. Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$ was prepared with Rink-amide resin, and 96.354% of purity was obtained. Using MTT assay and LDH release assay, we found that it exhibited very low cytotoxicity. And, we found that Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$ inhibited tyrosinase activity dose-dependently and showed superior tyrosinase inhibitory activity to well-known whitening agent, arbutin. $IC_{50}$ value of Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$ was 182.4 ${\mu}M$, and $IC_{50}$ value of arbutin was 384.6 ${\mu}M$. Also, in measurement of melanin contents using B16F1 melanoma cell lines, Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$ reduced melanin production induced by ${\alpha}$-MSH statistically significant, and showed superior melanin inhibitory activity to p-coumaric acid or arbutin. In addition, Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$ reduced MC1R mRNA expression level. Thus, we concluded that MC1R pathway is the significant pathway of Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$, and Coumaric acid-LG-$NH_2$ has great potential to be used as novel whitening agents.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Free-living amoebae ingest several kinds of bacteria. In other words, the bacteria can survive within free-living amoeba. To determine how Escherichia coli K1 isolate causing neonatal encephalitis and non-pathogenic K12 interact with free-living amoebae, e.g., Acanthamoeba castellanii (T1), A. astronyxis (T7), Naegleria fowleri, association, invasion and survival assays were performed. To understand pathogenicity of free-living amoebae, in vitro cytotoxicity assay were performed using murine macrophages. T1 destroyed macrophages about 64% but T7 did very few target cells. On the other hand, N. fowleri which needed other growth conditions rather than Acanthamoeba destroyed more than T1 as shown by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. In association assays for E. coli binding to amoebae, the T7 exhibited significantly higher association with E. coli, compared with the T1 isolates (P<0.01). Interestingly, N. fowleri exhibited similar percentages of association as T1. Once E. coli bacteria attach or associate with free-living amoeba, they can penetrate into the amoebae. In invasion assays, the K1 (0.67%) within T1 was observed compared with K12 (0%). E. coli K1 and K12 exhibited high association with N. fowleri and bacterial CFU. To determine the fate of E. coli in long-term survival within free-living amoebae, intracellular survival assays were performed by incubating E. coli with free-living amoebae in PBS for 24 h. Intracellular E. coli K1 within T1 (2.5%) and T7 (1.8%) were recovered and grown, while K12 were not found. N. fowleri was not invaded and here it was not recovered.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

To investigate the immunomodulatory roles of cyclic AMP (CAMP) on macrophage- and T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses, CAMP elevating agents were employed and carefully re-examined under the activation conditions of the cells. Various inhibitors tested dose-dependently blocked tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ production with IC$_{50}$ values ranged from 0.04 to 300 ${\mu}$M. Of the inhibitors, cAMP-elevating agents showed lower cytotoxicity assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, suggesting less toxic and more selective. In particular co-treatment of dbcAMP with a protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine displayed the synergistic inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ production. The modulatory effect of dbcAMP on TNF-${\alpha}$ and nitric oxide (NO) was significantly affected by treatment time of dbcAMP. Thus, post-treatment of dbcAMP (three hours before LPS) abrogated dbcAMP's inhibitory activity and rather enhanced TNF-${\alpha}$ level up to 60%. In contrast, additional NO production was shown at the co-treatment of dbcAMP with LPS. Unlike simultaneous treatment of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$co-treatment, the combination of dbcAMP with other NO-inducing stimuli did not show drastic overproduction of NO. cAMP elevating agents also diminished splenocyte proliferation stimulated by concanavalin (Con) A, phytohemaglutinin A (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, dbcAMP but not rolipram strongly suppressed CD8$^+$ T cells (CTLL-2). Finally, cAMP elevating agents were differentially involved in regulating CD98-mediated cell-cell adhesion. Thus, dbcAMP and rolipram significantly enhanced the cell-cell adhesion, whereas forskolin blocked. Therefore, our results suggest that CAMP elevating agents participate in various immune responses mediated by macrophages and T cells with a different fashion depending on cellular environments and activation signals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2004

Hovenia dulcis which is distributed in Korea, China and Japan is known to show hepatoprotctive effect and reduce the acute alcohol toxicity. In this study, the hepatoprotective effect against the chemically induced experimental liver injury models and lowering effect of blood alcohol level in animal models acutely administered alcohol by the peduncle extracts of Hovenia dulcis var. koreana were investigated. HdfHW-1, and HdfM-1 which are the extracts of fruit peduncles and young branches with hot water or 70％ methanol and followed with 100％ methanol, were significantly reduced the $CCl_4$ or D-galactosamine/LPS induced damage in sliced liver. The hot water or methanol extracts of fruit peduncle protected dose-dependently against $CCl_4$ induced toxicity in primary hepatocyte culture and particularly, the amount of LDH release was reduced to the control level at 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of hot water extracts. HdfHW-1 also decreased the hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$ in rats. The active components of HdfHW-1 seemed to be high molecular weights because 0.2 M NaCl HdfHW-1 fraction was the most effective among NaCl fractions of HdfHW-1 eluted with various concentrations of NaCl on DEAE 650C column chromatography. HdfM and HdfHW were significantly reduced the levels of blood alcohol in rats and mice administered 40％ alcohol. These results indicated that the hot water or methanol extracts of fruit peduncle of Hovenia dulcis var. koreana have hepatoprotective effect and may be reduce alcohol toxicity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.829-836
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• 1997

Studies on the effect of quinones on cardiac function has been conducted with normal hearts. But not with injured hearts, I.e. ischemia/reperfusion-injured heart. Quinone compounds are known to produce oxygen free radicals during metabolism, and for this reason, quinones are implicated in the aggravation of ischemia/reperfusion injury or cardioprotection, as in the case of ischemic preconditioning depending on the experimental conditions. The present study was carried out to examine the effect of 2-chloro-3-(4-cyanophenylamino)-1.4-naphthoquinone (NQ-Y15) on cardiac function of ischemic/reperfused and normal rat hearts. In isolated perfused hearts, various functional parameters such as left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (EDP) and maximum positive and negative dP/dt ($[\pm}dP/dt_{max}$), time to contracture, heart rate (HR) and coronary flow rate (CFR) were measured before and 30 min after dosing and following 25 min ischemia/30min reperfusion. NQ-Y15 increased LVDP, +dP/$d_{max}$and -dP/$dt_{min}$ by 18%. 30%, and 40%, respectively. There were no significant changes in other haemodynamic parameters. After ischemia/reperfusion injury, pretreatment with NQ-Y15 induced a significant decrease in LVDP and $[\pm}dP/dt_{max}$, but an increase in EDP. LDH-release was not significantly increased. These results suggested that NQ-Y15 may augment the ventricular contractility but it makes hearts more vulnerable to ischemia/reperfusion injury.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2009

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is a medical problem occurring as damage to the myocardium following blood flow restoration after a critical period of coronary occlusion. Oxygen free radicals (OFR) are implicated in reperfusion injury after myocardial ischemia. The antioxidant enzyme, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD, also called SOD1) is one of the major means by which cells counteract the deleterious effects of OFR after ischemia. Recently, we reported that a PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein was efficiently delivered into cultured cells and isolated rat hearts with ischemia-reperfusion injury. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of the PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein after ischemic insult. Immunofluorescecnce analysis revealed that the expressed and purified PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein injected into rat tail veins was efficiently transduced into the myocardium with its native protein structure intact. When injected into Sprague-Dawley rat tail veins, the PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein significantly attenuated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion damage; characterized by improving cardiac function of the left ventricle, decreasing infarct size, reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), decreasing the release of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and relieving cardiomyocyte apoptosis. These results suggest that the biologically active intact forms of PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein will provide an efficient strategy for therapeutic delivery in various diseases related to SOD1 or to OFR.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.10-19
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to elucidate the effects of Kwibi-tang extract(KB) on dermal fibroblast. Methods: To demonstrate the effects of KB on dermal fibroblast, we used human dermal fibroblast(F6) and UVB light(30 $mJ/cm^2$) was used to damage to dermal fibroblast. we measured the nitrite production, LDH release in UVB-irradiated dermal fibroblast to elucidate the action-mechanism of KB. Also, we evaluated cell proliferation of dermal fibroblast and the amount of increased PICP, TIMP-1 in dermal fibroblast. Results: 1. KB decreased the cell proliferation of F6 dermal fibroblast in concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. 2. KB decreased the synthesis of PICP in concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. 3. KB decreased the synthesis of TIMP-1 in concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. 4. KB have no effect on the damage in UVB-irradiated F6 dermal fibroblast. Conclusions: From the results, we concluded KB decreases the cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in dermal fibroblast. So we suggest that KB has the anti-hyperplasy of dermal fibroblast.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.166-173
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• 2010

Oxidative stress to proteins, lipids, or DNA is higher in human autopsy tissue and in rodent models of a number of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. On the basis of this information, we established a screening system using N18-RE-105 cells to identify therapeutic agents that can protect cells from glutamate toxicity. During the course of our screening program, we recently isolated the active compound 9-hydroxy-$\alpha$-tocopherone ($\alpha$-TP), which prevents glutamate-induced cell death, from Viola mandshurica. The chemical structure of $\alpha$-TP was identified using spectroscopic methods and by comparison with literature values. Antioxidant activity and protective effects of $\alpha$-TP were evaluated by DPPH radical-scavenging assay, morphological assay, MTT reduction assay, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. These results suggest that $\alpha$-TP could be a new potential chemotherapeutic agent against neuronal diseases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.456-464
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• 2005

Objective : The authors investigated whether rotenone induces cellular death also in non-dopaminergic neurons and high concentration of potassium ion can show protective effect for non-dopaminergic neuron in case of rotenone-induced cytotoxicity. Methods : Neuro 2A cells was treated with rotenone, and their survival as well as cell death mechanism was estimated using 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium[MTT] assay, Lactate dehydrogenase[LDH] release assay, fluorescence microscopy, and agarose gel electrophoresis. The changes in rotenone-treated cells was also studied after co-treatment of 50mM KCl. And the protective effect of KCl was evaluated by mitochondrial membrane potential assay and compared with the effects of various antioxidants. Results : Neuro 2A cells treated with rotenone underwent apoptotic death showing chromosome condensation and fragmentation as well as DNA laddering. Co-incubation of neuro 2A cells with 50mM KCl prevented it from the cytotoxicity induced by rotenone. Intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species[ROS] resulting by rotenone were significantly reduced by 50mM KCl. Potassium exhibited significantly similar potency compared to the antioxidants. Conclusion : The present findings showed that potassium attenuated rotenone-induced cytotoxicity, intracellular accumulation of ROS, and fragmentation of DNA in Neuro 2A cells. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of potassium ion in neuronal apoptosis, but the practical application of high concentration of potassium ion remains to be settled.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2014

This study was conducted to analyze the protective capacity of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), which is rich in mulberry and blackberry as an anthocyanin pigment. In this study, we found that treatment with C3G significantly reduced ROS production in hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)-treated$ HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, treatment with C3G significantly increased the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in $H_2O_2-treated$ HepG2 cells. Moreover, treatment with C3G dose-dependently decreased the release of LDH and activation of caspase-3 in HepG2 cells treated with $H_2O_2$. Furthermore, the DNA damage in $H_2O_2-treated$ HepG2 cells was decreased by C3G treatment when compared with the control group in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, treatment with C3G recovered the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase in $H_2O_2-treated$ HepG2 cells. To summarize, these results suggest that C3G protects cells from $H_2O_2-induced$ oxidative damage by activating antioxidant enzymes.