• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.52-59
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• 2000

Objectives: The root and stem of Sinomenium acutum has been used for treatment of arthritis and neuralgia in oriental medicine. To find new substances of the anti-anaphylactic drugs, we studied Sinomenium acutum. Methods: To investigate the effect of this plant, the effect on anaphylactic reaction, plasma histamine level, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}-(TNF-{\alpha})$ production were measured after the aqueous extract of Sinomenium acutum stem (SSAE) was administrated to mice and rats. Results: The SSAE (0.1 to 1000 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited systemic anaphylactic reaction induced by compound 48/80 in mice. Especially, SSAE reduced compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic reaction with 50% at the dose of 1000 mg/kg. SSAE (100 to 1000 mg/kg) also significantly inhibited local anaphylactic reaction activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE. When mice were pretreated with SSAE at a concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1000 mg/kg, the plasma histamine levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. SSAE (1 to 1000 g/ml) dose-dependently inhibited histamine release from the rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. The level of cAMP in RPMCs, when SSAE was added, increased compared with that of a normal control. In addition, SSAE (0.1 g/ml) had a significant inhibitory effect on anti-DNP IgE-induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ production. Conclusions: These results indicate that SSAE inhibits mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from mast cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1275-1280
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• 2015

Previously, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans using high-throughput sequencing technology and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates. Among them, a cationic antimicrobial peptide, scolopendrasin VII, was selected based on its physicochemical properties, such as length, charge, and isoelectric point. Here, we assessed the anticancer activities of scolopendrasin VII against U937 and Jurkat leukemia cell lines. The results showed that scolopendrasin VII decreased the viability of the leukemia cells in MTS assays. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining revealed that scolopendrasin VII induced necrosis in the leukemia cells. Scolopendrasin VII-induced necrosis was mediated by specific interaction with phosphatidylserine, which is enriched in the membrane of cancer cells. Taken together, these data indicated that scolopendrasin VII induced necrotic cell death in leukemia cells, probably through interaction with phosphatidylserine. The results provide a useful anticancer peptide candidate and an efficient strategy for new anticancer peptide development.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.33.1-33.17
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• 2022

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is a deadly infectious disease that affects several fish species. It has been found that the NNV utilizes grouper heat shock cognate protein 70 (GHSC70) to enter the host cell. Thus, blocking the virus entry by targeting the responsible protein can protect the fishes from disease. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the inhibitory potentiality of 70 compounds of Azadirachta indica (Neem plant) which has been reported to show potential antiviral activity against various pathogens, but activity against the NNV has not yet been reported. The binding affinity of 70 compounds was calculated against the GHSC70 with the docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approaches. Both the docking and MD methods predict 4 (PubChem CID: 14492795, 10134, 5280863, and 11119228) inhibitory compounds that bind strongly with the GHSC70 protein with a binding affinity of -9.7, -9.5, -9.1, and -9.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Also, the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties of the compounds confirmed the drug-likeness properties. As a result of the investigation, it may be inferred that Neem plant compounds may act as significant inhibitors of viral entry into the host cell. More in-vitro testing is needed to establish their effectiveness.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2008

Polygoni cuspidati Rhizoma (PCRH) has been used in treatment of menoxenia, skin burn, gallstone, hepatitis, hyperlipidaemia, favus athlete's foot, supperative dermatitis and inflammation. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. In this present study, the effect of PCRH for stability on mast cell was analyzed. Two g/kg PCRH inhibited the compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis by 75%. In addition, PCRH inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and interleukin-8 secretion as compared with the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 stimulated human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. These results suggested PCRH may inhibit mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reaction.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1391-1398
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the suppressive effects of ore minerals on the allergic cell damages and oxidative cell damages. The ore minerals significantly reduced the productions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in rat basophilic leukemia cells challenged with 2,4-dinitrophenol-bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA). Lipoxygenase activity was also reduced by the ore minerals. Moreover, the ore minerals showed weak protective effects on the oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in pig kidney cells and retinal ganglion cells. Photohemolysis of erythrocytes in the presence of rose-bengal as a sensitizer was also inhibited by ore minerals. These results suggest that the ore minerals may be useful as the protectant for allergic and oxidative cell damages.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.496-508
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• 2012

Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD), an adaptor that bridges death receptor signaling to the caspase cascade, is indispensible for the induction of extrinsic apoptotic cell death. Interest in the non-apoptotic function of FADD has greatly increased due to evidence that FADD-deficient mice or dominant-negative FADD transgenic mice result in embryonic lethality and an immune defect without showing apoptotic features. Numerous studies have suggested that FADD regulates cell cycle progression, proliferation, and autophagy, affecting these phenomena. Recently, programmed necrosis, also called necroptosis, was shown to be a key mechanism that induces embryonic lethality and an immune defect. Supporting these findings, FADD was shown to be involved in various necroptosis models. In this review, we summarize the mechanism of extrinsic apoptosis and necroptosis, and discuss the in vivo and in vitro roles of FADD in necroptosis induced by various stimuli.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.336-341
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• 2014

Endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) plays important roles in blood coagulation and inflammation. EPCR activity is markedly changed by ectodomain cleavage and release as the soluble EPCR. EPCR can be shed from the cell surface, which is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ converting enzyme (TACE). Oroxylin A (OroA), a major component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is known to exhibit anti-angiogenic, antiinflammation, and anti-invasive activities. However, little is known about the effects of OroA on EPCR shedding. Data showed that OroA induced potent inhibition of phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced EPCR shedding through suppression of TACE expression and activity. In addition, treatment with OroA resulted in reduced PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of p38, extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). These results demonstrate the potential of OroA as an anti-sEPCR shedding reagent against PMA and CLP-mediated EPCR shedding.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.324-328
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• 2007

To search for immunoactive natural products exerting anti-inflammatory activity, we have evaluated the effects of the ethanol extracts of Rubus coreanus Miq. (ERC) on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$, and $Interferon-{\gamma}\;(IFN-{\gamma})$ production by RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Our data indicate that this extract is a potent inhibitor of NO production and it also significantly decreased $IFN-{\gamma}\;and\;TNF-{\alpha}$ production. Consistent with these results, the protein level of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was inhibited by ethanol extracts of ERC in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that ERC may exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects possibly by suppressing the inducible NO synthase and COX-2 expressions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.624-629
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• 2015

Lysozyme protects us from the ever-present danger of bacterial infection and binds to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with high affinity. Beyond its role in the activation of protein C, the endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) plays an important role in the cytoprotective pathway. EPCR can be shed from the cell surface, which is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE). However, little is known about the effects of lysozyme on EPCR shedding. We investigated this issue by monitoring the effects of lysozyme on phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-, interleukin (IL)-1βand cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-mediated EPCR shedding and underlying mechanism. Data demonstrate that lysozyme induced potent inhibition of PMA-, TNF-α-, IL-1β-, and CLP-induced EPCR shedding. Lysozyme also inhibited the expression and activity of PMA-induced TACE in endothelial cells. These results demonstrate the potential of lysozyme as an anti-EPCR shedding reagent against PMA-mediated and CLP-mediated EPCR shedding.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.266-272
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• 1998

The present study investigated the antitumor activity of the aqueous-alcoholic extracts from unripe cotton balls of Gossypium indicum. An Exposure of murine B16 melanoma and L1210 lymphoma cells to the extracts resulted in their severe deaths in time- and concentration-dependent manners. Of the extracts, hydrophilic fractions were most efficacious for the antitumor activity and found to contain certain amounts of catechin and its derivatives. The hydrophilic extract fraction C36B2-8 had approximately 10 times more cytotoxic effects on B12 and L1210 cells than on isolated murine thymocytes. High concentrations (>150 $\mu$g/ml) of C 36B3-8 mainly induced necrotic cell death. At low concentrations (<100 $\mu$g/ml), however, C 36B3-8 induced not only necrosis but also apoptosis of the two tumor cell lines, which was proved by the TUNEL staining and DNA fragmentation techniques. The data indicate that certain ingredients of the cotton ball extract of G. indicum have an antitumor activity.