• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1467-1476
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• 2006

This study was to evaluate the effect of Bulhwangeumjeonggi-san (BS) on mouse Th1 and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of BS extract were measured as well as the amount ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase in RBL-wH3 cells and the levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with BS extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total lgE, OVA-specific lgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4- T cell were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of BS extract, it increased proliferation of CD4 cells by 14% in 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration but it showed an inhibition in higher concentrations. CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with BS resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Th1 cells and mild increase of IL-4 in Th2 cell at 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ but the level of IL-4 decreased by 18% at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. BS extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of BS extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in TNF-${\alpha}$ production. Oral administration of BS extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum lgE and OVA-specific lgE by 50% and 55%, respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 25% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 53%, and 38%, respectively. The results show that BS does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Th1 or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.4
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• pp.119-123
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• 1986

The study was conducted to find out the gene effects on body weights at weaning and at the age of 60 days in mice, with 343 progenies from full-dialell crosses of four lines of BALB/c, CBA, C3H and C57BL. The progenies were reared at the Experimental Animal Farm, College of Agriculture, Kyungpook National University from November, 1984 to February, 1985, and data collected from the progenies were analyzed into general combining ability, maternal effects, specific combining ability and reciprocal effects with Harvey's model. General combining ability effects estimated in line-crosses were -0.6033~0.5298 for weaning weights and -0.5086~1.0012 for body weights at the age of 60 days. General combining ability for BALB/c and C57BL were significantly better than general combining ability for CBA and C3H for both traits (P<0.05). Maternal effects for C3H were significantly larger than the maternal effects of BALB/c for both traits (P<0.05). The estimates of maternal effects were -0.9678~0.4609 for weaning weights and -1.1886~0.0729 for body weights at the age of 60 days. Specific combining ability effects were estimated to be significant (P<0.05), and the estimates were -0.1999~0.3380 for weaning weights and -0.4056~0.3317 for body weights at the age of 60 days. Reciprocal effects were found to be largest in BALB/c${\times}$C57BL and BALB/c${\times}$C3H. The estimates were -0.5049 from BALB/c${\times}$C57BL and 0.4972 from BALB/c${\times}$C3H form weaning weights, and -1.0336 from BALB/c${\times}$C57BL and 1.2793 from BALB/c${\times}$C3H for body weights at the age of 60 days.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.379-392
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• 2019

The current study investigated the effect of Gabjubaekmok (Diospyros kaki) ethanolic extract (GEE) on $H_2O_2$-induced human neuroblastoma MC-IXC cells and amyloid beta $(A{\beta})_{1-42}$-induced ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice. GEE showed significant antioxidant activity that was evaluated based on ABTS, DPPH scavenging activity, and inhibition of malondialdehyde (MDA) and acetylcholinesterase activity. Further, GEE inhibited ROS production and increased cell viability in $H_2O_2$-induced MC-IXC cells. Administration of GEE ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction on $A{\beta}$-induced ICR mice as evaluated using Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests. Results of ex vivo test using brain tissues showed that, GEE protected the cholinergic system and mitochondrial functions by increasing the levels of antioxidants such as ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) against $A{\beta}$-induced cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, GEE decreasd the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, p-JNK, p-tau, BAX and caspase 3. While, expression levels of p-Akt and $p-GSK3{\beta}$ increased than $A{\beta}$ group. Finally, gallic acid was identified as the main compound of GEE using high performance liquid chromatography.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.399-407
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• 2021

Wrinkle formation and dryness are the most well-known symptoms of skin aging. This study investigated skin anti-aging and moisturizing effects of Mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus L.), the national flower of Korea. The effect of H. syriacus L. flower extract was examined in skin cells originating from humans in vitro and in hairless mice exposed to UVB in vivo. The in vivo study results showed that skin hydration-related factors such as involucrin, filaggrin, HAS1, HYAL1, and matrix metalloproteinase-I (a primary skin photoaging factor) were regulated by H. syriacus L. Additionally, epidermal thickness and collagen disruption, which resulted in wrinkle formation and skin dryness, were ameliorated by oral administration of H. syriacus L. These results indicate that H. syriacus L. flowers can play important roles in preventing aging and promoting skin moisturizing.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.601-610
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• 2022

P. tenebrifer (PT) belongs to the Diptera order and Stratiomyidae family. Recently, insect industry have been focused as food, animal feed and environmental advantages. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and melatonin have been associated with regulating sleep and depression. GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter and is synthesized via biotransformation of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to GABA by lactic acid bacteria. In this study, we first used a GABA-enhanced PT extract, wherein GABA was enhanced by feeding MSG to PT. The underlying mechanisms preventing stress and insomnia were investigated in a corticosterone (CORT)-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and chronic restraint stress (CRS)-exposed mouse model, as well as in pentobarbital (45 mg/kg)-induced sleep behaviors in mice. In the present study, the GABA peak was detected in high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) analysis and showed in Ptecticus tenebrifer water extract (PTW) but not in non-PTW extract. The results showed that PTW and Ptecticus tenebrifer with 70% ethanol extract (PTE) exerted neuroprotective effects by protecting against CORT-induced downregulation of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) expression. In addition, PTW (300 mg/kg) significantly reduced CORT levels in CRS-exposed mice. Furthermore, PTW (100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly reduced sleep latency and increased total sleep duration in pentobarbital (45 mg/kg)-induced sleeping behaviors, which was related to serum melatonin levels. In conclusion, our results suggest that PTW exerts anti-stress and sleep-enhancing effects by regulating serum CORT and melatonin levels.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2023

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and function. It is a natural part of aging and can lead to decreased mobility and increased frailty. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which is involved in muscle protein degradation, is closely linked to sarcopenia. Germinated Rhynchosia nulubilis hydrolysate (GRH) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but there have been no reports on its inhibitory effect on muscle reduction. However, no study has yet explored the relationship between GRH and muscle loss inhibition. In this study, we evaluated the effects of GRH on muscle atrophy inhibitory activity in dexamethasone (Dexa)-induced muscle atrophy C2C12 myotubes and mouse models. Moreover, we identified a molecular pathway underlying the effects of GRH on skeletal muscle. May Grunwald-Giemsa staining showed that the length and area of myotubes increased in the groups treated with GRH. In addition, the GRH-treated group significantly reduced the expression of muscle ring finger protein 1 and muscular atrophy F-box (MAFbx) in the Dexa-induced muscular atrophy C2C12 model. GRH also improved muscle strength in C57BL/6 mice with Dexa-induced muscle atrophy, resulting in prolonged running exhaustive time and increased grip strength. We found that muscle strengthening by GRH was correlated with a decreased expression of the MAFbx gene in mouse muscle tissue. In conclusion, GRH can attenuate Dexa-induced muscle atrophy by inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway via downregulation of the MAFbx gene expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2301-2305
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• 2013

Ardisia crispa (Family: Myrsinaceae) is an evergreen, fruiting shrub that has been traditionally used as folklore medicine. Despite a scarcity of research publications, we have succeeded in showing suppressive effects on murine skin papillomagenesis. In extension, the present research was aimed at determining the effect of a quinone-rich fraction (QRF) isolated from the same root hexane extract on both initiation and promotion stages of carcinogenesis, at the selected dose of 30 mg/kg. Mice (groups I-IV) were initiated with a single dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(${\alpha}$)anthracene (DMBA, $100{\mu}g/100{\mu}l$) followed by repeated promotion of croton oil (1%) twice weekly for 20 weeks. In addition, group I (anti-initiation) received QRF 7 days before and after DMBA; group II (anti-promotion) received QRF 30 minutes before each croton oil application; group III (anti-initiation/promotion) was treated with QRF as a combination of group I and II. A further two groups served as vehicle control (group V) and treated control (group VI). As carcinogen control, group IV showed the highest tumor volume ($8.79{\pm}5.44$) and tumor burden ($3.60{\pm}1.17$). Comparatively, group III revealed only 20% of tumor incidence, tumor burden ($3.00{\pm}1.00$) and tumor volume ($2.40{\pm}1.12$), which were significantly different from group IV. Group II also showed significant reduction of tumor volume (3.11), tumor burden (3.00) and tumor incidence (11.11%), along with prominent increase of latency period of tumor formation (week 12). Group I, nonetheless, demonstrated marked increment of tumor incidence by 40% with prompted latency period of tumor formation (week 7). No tumor formation was observed in groups V and VI. This study provided clear evidence of inhibitory effects of QRF during promotion period which was in agreement with our previous findings. The mechanism(s) underlying such effects have yet to be elucidated.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2013

Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) is one of the important immune-inhibitory molecules which was expressed in T cells, B cells, NKT cells, and macrophages activated by various immune activating factors. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is one of the crucial immunogens for PD-1 expression. However, there are only a few reports on the expression mechanisms of PD-1 in innate immune cells. In this study, we investigate the expression mechanisms of PD-1 in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cell lines by RT-PCR, Western Blot, flow cytometry as well as ChIP assay and co-immunoprecipitation. When Raw264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS, PD-1 expression was greatly up-regulated via PI3K and p38 signaling. Primary macrophages isolated from LPS-injected mice were also shown the increased expression of PD-1. In promoter assay, NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF-1 binding regions in mouse PD-1 promoter are important for PD-1 expression. We also found that the co-activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF-1 is indispensable for the maximum PD-1 expression. These results indicate that the modulation of PD-1 expressed in innate immune cells could be a crucial for the disease therapy such as LPS-induced mouse sepsis model.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.193-197
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• 2009

Background: Though it is clear that many types of viruses can infect the oral mucosa, its condition for infection is unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the conditions for viral infection of normal oral mucosa and explore the possibility of topical gene therapy to oral mucosa using a viral vector. Methods: Freshly taken fragments of the palate and the tongue of mice were used for organ culture. The specimens were exposed to green fluorescent protein (GFP)-adenoviral vector for 1 hour except for the control. Initial viral titer was $6.3{\times}10^{11}\;pfu/ml$ and the virus was diluted to working concentrations. The dilution ratio was 1:1,000 ($6.3{\times}10^8\;pfu/ml$), 1:10,000 ($6.3{\times}10^7\;pfu/ml$), and 1:100,000 ($6.3{\times}10^6\;pfu/ml$). They were then cultured on a stainless steel wire mesh in an organ culture dish. The specimens were stereoscopically examined every 24 hours for 6 days, after which they were fixed and analyzed through immunohistochemical methods Results: There was no visible expression in the control, $6.3{\times}10^6\;pfu/ml$, and $6.3{\times}10^7\;pfu/ml$ groups. Initial expression was observed at 24 hours after infection in both the palate and the tongue in $6.3{\times}10^8\;pfu/ml$ and the expression significantly increased until 3 days in the palate and 2 days in the tongue after infection (P<0.05). In both groups, the expression was mostly observed at the resection margin. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the epithelial cells were positive to GFP. Conclusion: The present study showed that topically applied adenovirus containing specific genetic information of GFP could successfully transduce GFP in normal oral epithelial cells at the resection margin in organ culture in terms of dose and exposure time.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.1744-1752
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• 2013

We investigated the protective effect of UVB inducing photodamage from mulberry extract (ME) and Lithospermum erythrorhizon extract (LE). The contents of total anthocyanin and shikonin as a color compound of ME and LE were 4.92 mg/g and 9.58 mg/g, respectively. The electron donating ability and superoxide radical scavenging activity of ME were 84.32% and 76.34%, respectively. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity of the ME ($545.37{\mu}moles$ TE/g) was higher than LE ($427.18{\mu}moles$ TE/g). MMP-1 production in the HS68 cells were exposed to UVB suppressed by treatment with $200{\mu}g/mL$ of ME (68.6%) and LE (32.7%). ME and LE were applied to a skin aging mouse model, which was induced by the irradiation of UVB to the backs of hairless mice. The value of skin erythema index, wrinkle depth and thickness, epidermis thickness, and collagenous fiber damage in the experiment groups (MEL: ME 3%, MEM: ME 5%, MEH: ME 7%, LEL: LE 3%, LEM: LE 5%, LEH: LE 7%) were remarkably reduced than in the control group (only UVB exposure group), while water capacity increased. The level of total wrinkles depth in the skin was decreased to be 30% of the control group by MEH and LEM. These results suggest that ME and LE are useful cosmetic materials for skin protection against UVB-inducing.