• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.71-79
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• 2015

Objectives : These present study was designed to investigate the relaxation effects of Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus(AOF) on isolated corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.Methods : Rabbit corpus cavernous tissues were prepared in strip. Then relaxation responses of AOF at 0.01-3 ㎎/㎖ in contracted strips induced by phenylephrine(PE) were measured. To evaluate mechanisms, indomethacin(IM) tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), Nω-nitro-L-arginine(_L-NNA), methylene blue(MB) were treated before AOF extract(0.1-3 ㎎/㎖) infused into precontracted strips induced by PE. And 1 mM Ca²⁺was infused into precontracted strips after pretreatment of AOF extract(3 ㎎/㎖) in Ca²⁺-free krebs-ringer solution. NO concentration was measured by Griess reagent system. Ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers and eNOS positive reaction were measured by histocheminal and immunohistochemical process.Results : The cavernous strips were significantly relaxed by AOF extract 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 ㎎/㎖ and the pretreatment with IM 10 μM,_L-NNA 100 μM, MB 10 μM inhibited relaxation of AOF compared to non-pretreatment, but the pretreatment with TEA 100 μM didn't affect relaxation of AOF. In a Ca²⁺-free solution, pretreatment with AOF reduced increase on contraction of strips by Ca²⁺supply than non-pretreatment. On HUVEC, NO concentration was increased. On corpus cavernosum of penis in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rat, ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers and eNOS positive reaction in AOF group were increased compared to PE groupConclusions : Taken this results, we can suggest that AOF extract exerts a relaxation effects on rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in part by suppressing influx of extracellular Ca²⁺throughout prostacyclin, the NO-cGMP system.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2002

The present study was aimed to examine the role of endothelium in the relaxant effect of hawthorn fruit extract of Crataegus pinnatifida in four different types of rat arteries, posterior cerebral communicating artery, right descending coronary artery, common carotid artery, and aorta. In $9,11-dideoxy-11{\alpha}$, $9{\alpha}-epoxy-methanoprostaglandin$ $F_{2{\alpha}}$ (U46619)-preconstricted arterial rings except for aorta, the extract produced endothelium-independent relaxations with similar potency. This relaxation was unaffected by pretreatment with $100\;{\mu}M\;N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methylester (L-NAME, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), $3\;{\mu}M$ 1H-[l,2,4]oxadiazolo$[4,2-{\alpha}]$quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, the guanylate cyclase inhibitor), or $10\;{\mu}M$ indomethacin (the cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Putative $K^+$ channel blockers (charybdotoxin plus apamin or glibenclamide) did not affect the extract-induced relaxation in cerebral or coronary artery rings. In contrast, in rat aortic rings the extract produced significantly smaller relaxant response in endothelium-denuded rings than that in endothelium-intact rings. Pretreatment with L-NAME or ODQ abolished the extractinduced endothelium-dependent aortic relaxation, whilst indomethacin $(3\;{\mu}M)$ had no effect. The present results indicate that hawthorn fruit extract possesses a vasorelaxing effect in cerebral, coronary and carotid arteries and this effect is independent of the presence of a functional endothelium. However, the extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aorta was mediated through endothelial nitric oxide and cyclic GMP-dependent mechanisms, suggesting that active components in the extract may act on endothelium to stimulate release of nitric oxide in large conduit arteries of the rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9517-9522
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• 2014

Purple rice (Oryza sativa L. var. indica) cv. Kum Doisaket is cultivated in northern Thailand. This study evaluated the mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of hydrophilic and lipophilic components of purple rice using the Ames test. The seed and hull of purple rice were extracted with hexane, methanol, ethanol, and water. The methanol extracts had the highest amounts of phenolic acids and flavonoids, while the hexane extracts contained large amount of tocols and ${\gamma}$-oryzanol. None of the extracts were mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. The hexane extract of rice hull and the methanol extract of rice seed were strongly effective against aflatoxin B1- and 2-amino-3, 4 dimethylimidazo (4, 5-f) quinoline-induced mutagenesis, while aqueous extracts showed weakly antimutagenic properties. All extracts with the exception of aqueous extracts enhanced the number of revertant colonies from benzo (a) pyrene induced-mutagenesis. None of the extracts inhibited mutagenesis induced by the direct mutagens 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-acrylamide and sodium azide. The hull extracts showed more potent antimutagenicity than the seed extracts. Based on a chemical analysis, ${\gamma}$-oryzanol and ${\gamma}$-tocotrienol in the hull and cyanidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside in the seed are candidate antimutagens in purple rice. The antimutagenic mechanisms of purple rice might be related to either modulation of mutagen metabolizing enzymes or direct attack on electrophiles. These findings supported the use of Thai purple rice as a cancer chemopreventive agent.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1071-1076
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• 1999

This study was carried out to isolate the colonies of dominant fermented bacteria from Kimchi (Korean native fermented foodstuffs) and investigate their inhibitory potentials on mutagenesis and carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) as direct carcinogen. For this purpose, single cell gel electrophoresis technique (SCGE assay, or comet assay) which is a sensitive and rapid technique for detecting the presence of DNA strand breaks in individual cells was used. DNA damages of Kimchi isolates were compared with that of the positive control, MNNG. Among 3 isolates from Tongbaechu Kimchi, two isolates B-1 and B-2 showed antigenotoxicities (p<0.01). All 4 isolates from Yulmu Kimchi had antigenotoxicities (p<0.05). Also, 3 of 5 isolates from Chonggak Kimchi and 2 of 9 isolates from Kaktugi were antigenotoxic (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively).

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.335-340
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• 2017

PURPOSE. Bacterial adhesion on provisional crown materials retained for a long time can influence the duration for which permanent prosthetic restorations can be healthily worn in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to compare seven different commonly used provisional crown materials with regard to Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans surface adhesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS. For each group, twenty specimens of the provisional fixed prosthodontic materials TemDent ($Sch{\ddot{u}}tz$), Imident (Imicryl), Tab 2000 (Kerr), Structur Premium (Voco), Systemp (Ivoclar Vivadent), Acrytemp (Zhermack), and Takilon-BBF (Takilon) were prepared (diameter, 10.0 mm; height, 2.0 mm). Surface roughness was assessed by atomic force microscopy. Each group was then divided into 2 subgroups (n=10) according to the microbial suspensions used: S. mutans and C. albicans. The specimens were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ with S. mutans or C. albicans for seven days. Bacterial adherence on surfaces was assessed using the 2,3-bis[2-methyloxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) assay. RESULTS. S. mutans showed maximum adhesion to Structur, followed by Systemp, Acrytemp, Takilon, Tab 2000, Imident, and TemDent (P<.05). The highest vital C. albicans adhesion was noted on Takilon, followed by Imident and Tab 2000; the lowest adhesion was noted on Systemp (P<.05). CONCLUSION. The materials showed significant differences in the degree of bacterial adhesion. C. albicans showed higher surface adhesion than S. mutans on provisional crown and fixed partial denture denture materials.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.324-328
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• 2003

In a mutagenicity test using the Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100, the Xanthium strumarium L. extracts had not a mutagenicity. The extracts were assayed that antioxidative effect using a colony formation assay. The extracts showed protective effects against the cytotoxicity of H$_2$O$_2$ and increased the immunity induced by TNF and IL-1${\beta}$. The modulating effect of Xanthium strumarium L. extract on the induction of carcinogenesis by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidin (MNNG), was investigated in Wistar rats. The GSH content was found to be reduced by MNNG treatment, but increased on adding extract. In addition the Xanthium strumarium L. extract increased p53 expression versus MNNG alone.

• ALGAE
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2002

Population dynamics of Anabaena and the anatoxin-a concentration were monitored with physicochemical parameters at 3 sites in the lower Naktong River from May to September in 2000. Total 4 species of Anabaena (A. flosaquae, A. smithii, A. ucrainica and A. mucosa) were identified with morphological characterisitcs. Anabaena flos-aquae was most abundant among the populations. The standing crop of Anabaena ranged from 10 to 11,220 cells · $ml^{-1}$ and biomass of Anabaena more 1,000 cells · $ml^{-1}$ was obseved once at St. Mulgeum and St. Seonam, twice at St. Hagueon out of total 9 samplings. There were not significant correlations between the standing crop of Anabaena and other physicochemical parameters such as temperature, nitrate, total nitrogen, phosphate, total phophorus and N/P ratios. The frequency of trichomes with akinetes was low and ranged from 0 to 4% in the total Anabaena population and A. smithii showed highest frequency of 2.8% among all species. The population at St. Seonam showed highest frequency of 1.4% among all sampling sties. The population in September showed the highest frequency of 3.0% among all sampling period. The frequency of trichomes with heterocysts was low and ranged from 1 to 87% inthe total Anabaena population and A. smithii showed highest frequency of 55.1% among all species. The population at St. Mulgeum showed highest frequency of 17.6% among all sampling sites. The population in August showed the highest frequency of 21.4% among all sampling period. The frequency of trichomes with akinetes and/or heterocysts was not related to all the physicochemical parameters of temperature, nitrate, total nitrogen, phosphate, total phosphorus and N/P ratios. The anatoxin-a concentations were determined in algal materials dominated by Microcystis and Anabaena from June though August by derivatization using 7-fluoro-4-nitro-2, 1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) and HPLC analysis with fluorimetric detection. All the concentrations were below the detection limit of 0.1 ㎍ · $l^{-1}$ in the present study.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2014

This study aimed to investigate the relaxation effects and its underlying mechanisms of Epimedium koreanum Nakai(EK) in phenylephrine(PE) treated isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. The dose-dependent relaxation responses of phenylephrine(PE, $1{\times}10^{-6}M$)-precontracted strips to EK at $0.01-3.0mg/m{\ell}$ were measured and also observed after endothelial denudation using organ bath. To analyze the underlying mechanisms of EK-induced relaxation, $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA), methylene blue(MB), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), indomethacin(IM) were pretreated before EK extract infused into precontracted strips induced by PE. To investigate cytotoxic activity and nitric oxide(NO) concentration of EK extract on EA.hy926 cells, mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity(MTT) assay and nitric oxide detection kit were used. The cavernous strips were significantly relaxed by EK extract at $0.3mg/m{\ell}$, $1.0mg/m{\ell}$, $3.0mg/m{\ell}$ and the relaxation responses of PE-precontracted strips denuded endothelium also inhibited in comparison with intact endothelium. The pretreatment of L-NNA, MB, TEA reduced EK extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, but the pretreatment of IM didn't affect EK extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. When EK extract was applicated on EA.hy926 cells, the NO concentration was increased. Our findings have shown that EK extract exerts a relaxing effect on corpus cavernosum in part by suppressing influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through activating the NO-cGMP system.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2004

The suitability of the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay as a test for the monitoring of genotoxicity of aquatic environment was evaluated. The SCGE assay was employed to detect DNA damage induced in clam (Spisula sachalinensis) exposed to a direct mutagen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or an indirect mutagen, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The cells of gill and digestive glands were isolated from clam by homogenization, which was the optimized cell dissociation method, and the level of DNA damage was assessed and expressed as mean tail length. In the gill cells, significant dose- and time-dependent increase was observed in the mean tail length at the concentration from 0.01 to 0.5 ppm MNNG for 96 h. The linear correlation between relative dam-age index (RDI) values was suggested to provide criteria of genotoxicity monitoring for direct acting mutagen. The dose- and time-dependent responses of the digestive glands cells were less sensitive than those of the gill cells. In contrast, the genotoxic response resulting from the exposure of 0.01～1.0 ppm B[a]P to clam revealed a higher sensitivity in the digestive glands cells than the gill cells. The comparison between the time profiles of genotoxic responses in clam and carp, the latter had been obtained in our previous study, indicated that the metabolism of genotoxic compounds in the two aquatic organisms were quite different each other. We conclude that the SCGE assay has the potential as a screening test for routine genotoxicity monitoring of aquatic organisms because of its higher sensitivity and simplicity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of cholinergic stimulation and membrane depolarization on secretion of epinephrine (EP) and norepinephrine (NE) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal gland and to investigate the effect of bromocriptine on secretion of EP and NE evoked by these secreta-gogues. Acetylcholine (ACh, 5.32 mM), high $K^{+}$(56mM), 1.1-dimethyl-4-phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP, 100 $\mu$M for 2 min), (3-(m-cholro-phenyl-carbamoyl-oxy)-2butynyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (McN-A-343, 100 $\mu$M for 2 min), cyclopiazonic acid (10 $\mu$M for 4 min) and methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl) -pyridine-5-carboxylate (Bay-K-8644, 10 $\mu$M for 4 min) evoked a 1.3~5.3-fold greater secretion of EP than NE in the perfused rat adrenal gland. The perfusion of bromocriptine (1-10 $\mu$M) into an adrenal vein for 20 min produced relatively dose-dependent inhibition in secretion of EP and NE evoked by ACh, high $K^{+}$, DMPP, and McN-A-343. Moreover, under the presence of bromocriptine (1~10 $\mu$M), releasing responses of EP and NE evoked by cyclopiazonic acid and Bay-K-8644 were also greatly reduced. Taken together, these results suggest that cholinergic stimulation and membrane depolarization enhance more release of EP than NE in the perfumed rat adrenal medulla, and that bromocriptine inhibits the release of EP and NE evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors as well as by membrane depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of bromocriptine is associated with inhibition of calcium channels through activation of dopaminergic D2-receptors located in the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells.lls.