• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.103-107
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• 2002

Four known sesquiterpenes, laurinterol (1), isolaurinterol (2), aplysinal (3) and aplysin (4) were isolated from the Korean red alga Laurencia okamurae off Cheju Island, Korea. Their structures were identified by comparison with the literature data. Compounds 1-4 showed potent cytotoxicity against A549, SK-OV-3, SKMEL-2, XF498, and HTl5 cell lines with $EC_{50}$ values ranging from 1.2 to 17.6 ${\mu}g/ml$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.293-296
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• 2015

A new L-isoascorbic acid derivative epi-leptosphaerin (1) and two known compounds leptosphaerin (2), and verongamine (3) were isolated from sponges of the orders Verongida and Thorectidae. Compounds 1 and 2 are most likely of sponge-associated fungal origin. In the present study, isolated compounds were investigated for their inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), which is considered a promising target for the management of pain, inflammation, and comorbidities associated with diabetes. Compound 3, verongamine, displayed weak inhibitory activity against sEH with an $IC_{50}$ value $51.5{\pm}1.0{\mu}M$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2013

A bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract of the fungus Paecilomyces variotii, which was derived from the giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai, led to the isolation of antibacterial compounds viriditoxin and its monomeric subunit semi-viriditoxin. Viriditoxin showed significant antibacterial activity against several marine fish and human pathogens including MDR strains. Significant potencies against resistant pathogens such as VRE Enterococcus faecium, VRE Enterococcus faecalis, and MRSA were highly interesting. Viriditoxin also showed notable antibacterial activity against the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae. Its potency was over 100-fold higher than oxytetracycline which is employed as a general antibiotic for aquaculture.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.100-103
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• 2011

Phytochemical study on the ethanol extract of a Crinum species by bioassay-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of an active principle, which was determined as parthenin (1) on the basis of physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses. This is the first report on the existence of a sesquiterpenoid from Crinum ensifolium. Compound 1 was found to show strong cytotoxic activity against some cancer cell lines and strongly inhibit NF-${\kappa}$B activity with the $IC_{50}$ value of 1.82 ${\mu}M$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2011

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an online $ABTS^+$-based assay (online HPLC-$ABTS^+$) system was used to determine the principal antioxidants in Cudrania tricuspidata fruits. Six prenylated isoflavonoids (1 - 6) were isolated from C. tricuspidata fruits according to the online HPLC-$ABTS^+$ system. The structures of isolated compounds, alpiniumisoflavone (1), 6,8-diprenylorobol (2), 6,8-diprenylgenistein (3), pomiferin (4), 4'-methylalpiniumisoflavone (5), and osajin (6) were identified by their retention time, UV spectra, ESI-MS, and NMR data. Among these compounds, 6,8-diprenylorobol (2) and pomiferin (4) reduced A2E photooxidation in a dose dependent manner.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.298-302
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• 2013

In this study, the effect of sericin on synthesis of the silica was investigated. Using the mixture of sericin solution and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), it was confirmed that silica could be synthesized in the presence of sericin, which was verified by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR) analysis. The TGA and FT-IR data revealed that silica-sericin complex was formed as a final product. Based on the TGA result, the content of silica and sericin in the complex would be 87 and 13%, respectively. The degree of silica condensation was higher than the natural biosilica. It could be concluded that sericin can induce the synthesis of silica directly from TEOS, which is similar to silicatein from marine sponges.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.618-629
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• 2021

The Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) accident caused by the East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and the recent increase in the frequency of earthquakes in Korea have caused safety concerns regarding radionuclide exposure. In addition, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Japan recently decided to release radionuclide-contaminated water from Fukushima's NPP into the Pacific Ocean, raising public concerns that the possibility of radionuclide contamination through both domestic- and foreign fishery products is increasing. Although many studies have been conducted on the input of artificial radionuclides into the Pacific after the Fukushima NPP accident, studies on the distribution and accumulation of artificial radionuclides in marine products from East Asia are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to explore recent research on the distribution of artificial radionuclides (e.g., ¹³⁷Cs, ^239+240Pu, ⁹⁰Sr, and etc.) in marine products from Korean seas after the Fukushima NPP accident. In addition, we also discuss future research directions as it is necessary to prepare for likely radiation accidents in the future around Korea associated with the new nuclear facilities planned by 2030 in China and owing to the discharge of radionuclide-contaminated water from the Fukushima NPP.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.194-198
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• 2018

Inflammation is a biological response caused by overactivation of the immune system and is controlled by immune cells via a variety of cytokines. The overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines enhances abnormal host immunity, resulting in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ might be one way to treat these conditions. Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of compounds isolated from Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim., which is traditionally used as an antipyretic and analgesic in Korea. In primary cell culture assays, 12 compounds were found to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-12p40, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$) in vitro in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells stimulated with LPS.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.103-112
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• 2007

High prices, overfishing, and contamination have limited the availability of natural caviar as a food product. We attempted to apply encapsulation by calcium-alginate gel membranes to caviar analog preparation in an effort to produce a high-quality replacement for natural caviar. Physical conditions of stirring speed $(X_1,\;rpm)$ and gelation time $(X_2,\;min)$ as the independent variables for gelation were optimized by response surface methodology. Sphericity $(Y_1,\;%)$, diameter $(Y_2,\;mm)$, membrane thickness $(Y_3,\;mm)$, rupture strength $(Y_4,\;g)$, and rupturing deformation $(Y_5,\;mm)$ were used as the dependent variables to compare characteristics of the capsules for caviar analogs with natural caviar. The values of the independent variables as evaluated by multiple response optimization were $X_1=-0.1271 (278 rpm) and $X_2=0.4436$ (12.2 min), respectively. Predicted values of the four dependent variables were $Y_1=97.7%,\;Y_2=2.97mm,\;Y_4=1,465g,\;and\;Y_5=1.15mm$. Membrane thickness $(Y_3)$ was eliminated from the dependent variables for multiple response optimization because it could not be measured with an image analyzer. The experimental values prepared under the optimal conditions for verification nearly coincided with the predicted values and satisfied the conditions of natural caviar.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.240-247
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• 2015

Viridicatol (1) has previously been isolated from the extract of the marine-derived fungus Penicillium sp. SF-5295. In the course of further biological evaluation of this quinolone alkaloid, anti-inflammatory effect of 1 in RAW264.7 and BV2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was observed. In this study, our data indicated that 1 suppressed the expression of well-known pro-inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and consequently inhibited the production of iNOS-derived nitric oxide (NO) and COX-2-derived prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 and BV2 cells. Compound 1 also reduced mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$). In the further evaluation of the mechanisms of these anti-inflammatory effects, 1 was shown to inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and BV2 cells. Compound 1 blocked the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor kappa B $(I{\kappa}B)-{\alpha}$ in the cytoplasm, and suppressed the translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and p50 heterodimer in nucleus. In addition, viridicatol (1) attenuated the DNA-binding activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and BV2 cells.