• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.413-419
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• 2011

This study was conducted to find out the cadmium (Cd) accumulation and tolerance of Iris pseudacorus and Acorus calamus as aquatic plants native to Korea for Cd removal in water. In the range of Cd concentration from $10{\mu}M$ to $130{\mu}M$, the Cd lethal dose 50 ($LD_{50}$) was $78.5{\mu}M$ in I. pseudacorus and $47.6{\mu}M$ in A. calamus. In I. pseudacorus, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase as antioxidants were relatively effective against oxidative stress caused by Cd, while catalase, superoxide dismutase, and polyphenolics were effective in A. calamus. The polyphenolics known as typical antioxidants were not detected in I. pseudacorus. In both species, the Cd accumulation in plants increased with the higher Cd concentration and the longer processing period. Also, the absorbed Cd was accumulated mainly in the roots. The amount of Cd accumulated in the shoot part was maximally $548.1mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ (82.1% to Cd accumulated in the root part) in I. pseudacorus and $121.4mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ (13.7%) in A. calamus, which implied that both species all were enough evaluated as Cd hyper-accumulators based on 0.01% or more Cd accumulation in the shoot. Especially I. pseudacorus showed outstanding ability to move well Cd into the shoots from the roots and high tolerance to Cd stress.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.669-676
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• 2004

Functional characteristics of citrus products fermented with lactic acid bacterium and yeast were investigated. Flavonoid composition of fermented citrus extracts increased significantly compared to control, leading to increases of naringenin and hesperetin concentrations. All citrus extracts showed anti-apoptotic effects in HepG2 cells regardless of fermentation, with citrus-fermented products showing greater anti-apoptotic effect and intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species content reduction compared to native citrus extracts. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally dosed with native or fermented citrus extracts. Singnificantly higher body weight reductions were observed in higher fermented citrus-dosed (100 mg/kg body weight) group compared to the other groups. Plasma total cholesterol level was slightly, but not significantly, reduced. Fatty liver formation induced by high-fat diet was significantly suppressed in rats administered with fermented citrus extracts. Results suggest fermented citrus extracts have potent anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative activities in vitro, and inhibitory activity against fatty liver formation by high-fat diet in vivo.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1666-1685
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• 2004

This present study was designed to screen medicinal plants for the treatment of brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease or aging. We tested the effects of the water extracts from 38 species medicinal plants on antioxidant capacity, monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitory activity, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and antiperoxidation activity in vitro. The water extracts from 38 species were tested on their antioxidant activity using radical scavenging effects against ABTS+. The water extract of C. sappan was showed the highest antioxidant capacity, the antioxidant activity at 1 Jig of herbal extract being 0.38mM TE. Lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates induced by NADPH and ADP-Fe/sup 2+/ was strong inhibited by C. sappan and R. palmatum extracts. Among the 38 medicinal plants investigated, R. palmatum showed significant biological activity (antioxidant capacity, MAO-B inhibiory activity, and AChE inhibitory activity). The protective efficacy of R. palmatum water extract on 1-methyl-4­phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced parkinsonism and its possible mechanism were studied in C57BL/6 mice. Treatment of R. palmatum water extract protected biomacromolecules such as lipids from oxidative damage induced by MPTP. The content of MDA in brain tissue was decreased significantly by R. palmatum extract. These results suggest that R. palmatum water extract plays on effective role in attenuating MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. This protective effect of R. palmatum might be estimated the result from the inhibitory activity on monoamine oxidase B and the enhancement of antioxidant activity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.654-660
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• 2014

Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages cell molecules, and modifies cell signaling. The nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) is a critical transcription regulator, which protects cells against oxidative damage. Nrf2 expression is increased in a large number of cancers. However, little information has been reported regarding the expression of Nrf2 in skin cancers. Hence, we explored the expression of Nrf2 protein in skin cancers. Methods The Nrf2 protein expression in 24 specimens, including 6 malignant melanomas (MM), 6 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 6 basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and 6 normal skin tissues, was evaluated by western blotting. Immunohistochemical staining was performed. The expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), the key regulator of Nrf2, was also analyzed by western blotting. Results Small interfering RNA transfection to the melanoma cell line G361 confirmed that an approximately 66 kDa band was the true Nrf2 band. The western blot revealed that the Nrf2 protein was definitely expressed in normal skin tissues, but the Nrf2 expression was decreased in MM, SCC, and BCC. Immunohistochemical examination showed that expression of Nrf2 was decreased in all skin cancer tissues compared to the normal skin tissues. Keap1 was not expressed in all malignant skin tumors and normal skin tissues by western blot. Conclusions ROS was increased in various types of cancers which proteins were highly expressed or underexpressed. This study demonstrated that the expression of Nrf2 protein was down-regulated in human malignant skin tumors. We suggest that decreased expression of Nrf2 is related to skin cancers.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2003

Sodium salicylate, a plant stress hormone that plays an important role(s) in defenses against pathogenic microbial and herbivore attack, has been shown to induce a variety of cell responses such as anti-inflammation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in animal cells. p38MAPK plays a critical role(s) in the cell regulation by sodium salicylate. However, the signal pathway for sodium salicylate-induced p38MAPK activation is yet unclear. In this study, we show that although sodium salicylate enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a general ROS scavenger, did not prevent sodium salicylate-induced p38MAPK, indicating ROS-independent activation of p38MAPK by sodium salicylate. Sodium salicylate-activated p38MAPK appeared to be very rapidly down-regulated 2 min after removal of sodium salicylate. Interestingly, sodium salicylate-pretreated cells remained fully responsive to re-induction of p38MAPK activity by a second sodium salicylate stimulation or by other stresses, $H_2O$$_2$ and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), thereby indicating that sodium salicylate does not exhibit both homologous and heterologous desensitization. In contrast, pre-exposure to MeJA, $H_2O$$_2$, heat shock, or hyperosmotic stress reduced the responsiveness to subsequent homologous stimulation. Sodium salicylate was able to activate p38MAPK in cells desensitized by other heterologous p38MAPK activators. These results indicate that there is a sensing mechanism highly specific to sodium salicylate for activation of p38MAPK, distinct trom pathways used by other stressors such as MeJA, $H_2O$$_2$ heat shock, and hyperosmotic stress.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2008

Oxidative damage resulted from reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the main causes for the decrease of the viability during in vitro culture and cryopreservation process. This experiment was performed to determine the effects of antioxidants on the human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) during cryopreservation procedure. HSCs cultured in vitro with or without antioxidants were frozen and then examined for stem cell potential after thawing. The cell viability of thawed HSC was increased in $\alpha$-tocopherol and ascorbic acid treatment group compared to control group ($62.7{\pm}8.0%$) and it was higher in 150 uM $\alpha$-tocopherol treatment group ($70.5{\pm}7.0%$). No significant difference was observed in the membrane integrity in all groups. In auto-differentiation rate, no significant difference was appeared in all groups, but was lower in 150 uM $\alpha$-tocopherol ($7.3{\pm}2.6%$) compared to control group ($10.1{\pm}1.6%$). These results demonstrate that treatment of antioxidants improves the efficiency of cryopreservation for HSC and $\alpha$-tocopherol may be considered effective antioxidant for the protective effect on HSC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1167-1179
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to fathom the underlying mechanisms of nutrition intervention and redox sensitive transcription factors regulated by Antrodia cinnamomea fermented product (FAC) dietary supplementation in broiler chickens. Methods: Four hundreds d-old broilers (41±0.5 g/bird) assigned to 5 groups were examined after consuming control diet, or control diet replaced with 5% wheat bran (WB), 10% WB, 5% FAC, and 10% FAC. Liver mRNA expression of antioxidant, inflammatory and lipid metabolism pathways were analyzed. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) concentration in each group were tested in the chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) of 35-d old broilers to represent the stress level of the chickens. Furthermore, these cells were stimulated with 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to evaluate the cell stress tolerance by measuring cell viability and oxidative species. Results: Heme oxygenase-1, glutathione S-transferase, glutamate-cysteine ligase, catalytic subunit, and superoxide dismutase, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) that regulates the above antioxidant genes were all up-regulated significantly in FAC groups. Reactive oxygen species modulator protein 1 and NADPH oxygenase 1 were both rather down-regulated in 10% FAC group as comparison with two WB groups. Despite expressing higher level than control group, birds receiving diet containing FAC had significantly lower expression level in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and other genes (inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-richcontaining family, pyrin domain-containing-3, and cyclooxygenase 2) involving in inflammatory pathways. Additionally, except for 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase that showed relatively higher in both groups, the WB, lipoprotein lipase, Acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid binding protein, fatty acid desaturase 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha genes were expressed at higher levels in 10% FAC group. In support of above results, promoted Nrf2 and inhibited NF-κB nuclear translocation in chicken liver were found in FAC containing groups. H₂O₂ and NO levels induced by LPS and AAPH in cPBMCs were compromised in FAC containing diet. In 35-d-old birds, PGE₂ production in cPBMCs was also suppressed by the FAC diet. Conclusion: FAC may promote Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and positively regulate lipid metabolism, both are potential inhibitor of NF-κB inflammatory pathway.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense. It has a wide spectrum of clinical applications such as in anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is still unknown that berberine related with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In the present study, we are examined the molecular mechanism of ROS- and p38 MAP kinase-mediated apoptosis by berberine in HepG2 cells. Berberine increased cytotoxicity effects by time- and does-dependent manner. $LD_{50}$ was detected 50 ${\mu}M$ at 48h of exposure to berberine. Nuclei cleavage and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were observed in cells treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ of berberine for 48h. Moreover, berberine induced the activating of caspase-3, p53, p38 and Bax expression, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, Bcl-2, was decreased. Additionally, berberine-treated cells had an increased level of generation of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicated that berberine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream change, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation, p38 and p53 activation, caspase-3 activation, and consequent leading to apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2018

Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization is closely linked with the initiation of salivary secretion in parotid acinar cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be related to a variety of oxidative stress-induced cellular disorders and believed to be involved in salivary impairments. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) on cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation in mouse parotid acinar cells. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels were slowly elevated when $1mM\;H_2O_2$ was perfused in the presence of normal extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. In a $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium, $1mM\;H_2O_2$ still enhanced the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level. $Ca^{2+}$ entry tested using manganese quenching technique was not affected by perfusion of $1mM\;H_2O_2$. On the other hand, $10mM\;H_2O_2$ induced more rapid $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation and facilitated $Ca^{2+}$ entry from extracellular fluid. $Ca^{2+}$ refill into intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ($1{\mu}M$)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release from $Ca^{2+}$ store was not affected by $1mM\;H_2O_2$ in permeabilized cells. $Ca^{2+}$ efflux through plasma membrane $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ (PMCA) was markedly blocked by $1mM\;H_2O_2$ in thapsigargin-treated intact acinar cells. Antioxidants, either catalase or dithiothreitol, completely protected $H_2O_2-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation through PMCA inactivation. From the above results, we suggest that excessive production of $H_2O_2$ under pathological conditions may lead to cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation and that the primary mechanism of $H_2O_2-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation is likely to inhibit $Ca^{2+}$ efflux through PMCA rather than mobilize $Ca^{2+}$ ions from extracellular medium or intracellular stores in mouse parotid acinar cells.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.403-416
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the food functional properties and in vitro bioactivity of vacuum freeze-dried fish roe concentrates (FRCs) prepared from Alaska pollock Theragra chalcogramma (AP), bastard halibut Paralichthys olivaceus (BH) and skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis (ST). All three species showed better buffering capacity on the alkaline side (pH 10-12) than on the acidic side. The water-holding capacities of the FRCs were 3.5, 8.5 and 4.2 g/g protein for AP, BH and ST, respectively, and were significantly higher than that of commercial egg white. The protein solubilities of the FRCs were 42.5% (AP), 50.0% (BH) and 13.9% (ST). The foaming capacities of the FRCs were not significantly different among the species (128.0% for AP, 128.3% for BH, and 143.3% for ST; P>0.05), and their foam stability was maintained at 53.0-74.2% for 60 minutes. The oil-in-water emulsifying activity indexes of AP and BH (19.5 and 20.2 ㎡/g protein, respectively) were significantly superior to that of ST (P<0.05). The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothia-zoline-6-sulfonic acid radical-scavenging activities (IC₅₀, mg/mL) of the FRCs were in the ranges of 1.05-3.26 and 0.13-0.18 mg/mL, respectively, and the angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory activity was in the range of 0.97-1.89 mg/mL.