• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 2017

Chondrocyte apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Schisandrin A, a bioactive compound found in fruits of the Schisandra genus, has been reported to possess multiple pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Although several studies have described the antioxidant effects of analogues of schisandrin A, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this bioactive compound remain largely unresolved. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effect of schisandrin A against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide [$H_2O_2$]) in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells. The results showed that schisandrin A preconditioning significantly inhibited $H_2O_2-induced$ growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death by blocking the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase proteins and down-regulating pro-caspase-3. These antiapoptotic effects of schisandrin A were associated with attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction and normalization of expression changes of proapoptotic Bax and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 in $H_2O_2-stimulated$ SW1353 chondrocytes. Furthermore, schisandrin A effectively abrogated $H_2O_2-induced$ intracellular ROS accumulation and phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 139, a widely used marker of DNA damage. Thus, the present study demonstrates that schisandrin A provides protection against $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis and DNA damage in SW1353 chondrocytes, possibly by prevention of ROS generation. Collectively, our data indicate that schisandrin A has therapeutic potential in the treatment of oxidative disorders caused by overproduction of ROS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 2019

Purpose: Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is an important traditional medicinal herb. Pharmacological research has indicated that AM has various physiological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, and hepatoprotective activities. The bioactive substances responsible for the physiological activities in AM, including many antioxidant substances, change during the roasting process. This study investigated and compared the changes in the antioxidant constituents of AM caused by roasting. Methods: DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and $ABTS^+$ (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) radical scavenging activities and their total phenolic content (TPC) were measured. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to confirm any changes in the isoflavonoids of roasted AM (R-AM),. The cell viability of UVB-induced HDF (Human dermal fibroblast) cells treated with AM and R-AM extracts was investigated. The comet assay was used to examine the inhibitory effects of R-AM extracts on DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. Results: The DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activities were $564.6{\pm}20.9$ and $108.2{\pm}3.1$ ($IC_{50}$ value) respectively, from the 2R-AM. The total phenol content was $47.80{\pm}1.40mg$ GAE/g from the 1R-AM. The values of calycosin and formononetin, which are the known isoflavonoid constituents of AM, were $778.58{\pm}2.72$ and $726.80{\pm}3.45{\mu}g/g$ respectively, from the 2R-AM. Treatment of the HDF cells with R-AM ($50{\sim}200{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect the cell viability. Furthermore, the R-AM extracts effectively protected against UVB-induced DNA damage. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that R-AM increases its isoflavonoid constituents and protects against UVB-induced DNA damage in HDF cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1094-1099
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• 2021

Hermetia illucens (Black soldier fly) is attracting attention as an environmental purification insect because it can supply a wide range of by-products of the agricultural food industry. Also, it has a potential feed for fish, birds, and pets due to a short life cycle and excellent nutritional components. Several pharmacological effects, including antimicrobial, of H. illucens have been reported. However, no study has focused on antiobesity effects of ethanol extract of H. illucens. In this study, we aimed to assess the anti-obesity effects of ethanol extract of H. illucens larvae (HIE) through inhibition of differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. The amount of lipid accumulated in adipocytes was measured by oil red-O staining, and the inhibitory effect on adipogenesis was confirmed. The expression levels of factors related to adipocyte differentiation and fat synthesis were determined using Western blot analysis. Lipid droplet formation in adipocytes was remarkably inhibited by HIE. In addition, treatment with 400 ㎍/ml of HIE significantly reduced the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α-transcription factors involved in adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that HIE is a potential anti-obesity agent because it inhibits adipocyte differentiation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.855-864
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• 2022

The pharmacological efficacy of Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. has been verified in only several fields including photoaging, inflammation, hepatotoxicity, acute gastritis and osseointegration. To identify the novel functions of Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. on anti-obesity, inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation and stimulatory effect on lipolysis were investigated in MDI (3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin) stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with methanol extracts of Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb. (MED). Lipogenic targets, including lipid accumulation, level of lipogenic transcription factors, and expression of lipogenic regulators, were downregulated in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with MED without any significant cytotoxicity. Also, MED treatment inhibited the mRNA levels of adipogenic targets including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) α, as well as lipogeic targets including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 2 (aP2) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. A similar decrease patterns were detected in Oil red O stained lipid droplets of MED treated MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, several lipolytic targets, such as cAMP concentration, concentration of free glycerol, expression level of lipases, including ATGL, perilipin and HSL, were upregulated in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with MED. These results show that MED has a novel role as a lipogenesis inhibitor and lipolysis stimulator in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.962-970
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• 2022

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that highly increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and there are few therapeutic options available in the clinic. Poricoic acid (PoA), a component of Poria cocos Wolf, has a wide range of pharmacological activities; however, little is known about its effects on NASH. The preventive effects of PoA on NASH were examined in vivo and in vitro by analyzing triglyceride synthesis, inflammation and fibrosis. In the high fat and methionine-choline deficient diet (HFMCD)-induced NASH mice, PoA reduced the liver weight and the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase compared with non-treated HFMCD group. The staining with Oil Red O and hematoxylin and eosin revealed that PoA administration reduced red staining and the size of lipid droplet. qPCR analysis showed that PoA also reduced the expression of genes related to triglyceride synthesis. Further, immunostaining with CD68 and qPCR analysis revealed that PoA reduced the staining with CD68 and the expression of inflammatory genes induced by HFMCD. Moreover, PoA reduced the staining with sirius red and antibody of α-smooth muscle actin and also reduced the expression of genes related to fibrosis. The treatment of PoA to AML12 cells reduced the increase in triglyceride amount and expression of genes associated with triglyceride synthesis, inflammation and fibrosis. Taken together, our study indicate that PoA has therapeutic effect on NASH through preventing triglyceride synthesis, inflammation and fibrosis.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 2023

Platycodon grandiflorus (P. grandiflorus) flower is a perennial plant belonging to the family Campanulaceae and has many excellent pharmacological effects, so it has been used as a medicinal ingredient since ancient times. In addition, anthocyanin is a purple or blue natural pigment contained in plant flowers and fruits, and is known as a powerful antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to confirm the dermatological functionality of P. grandiflorus flower extract and the value of the bluish anthocyanin contained in flowers as a cosmetic material as a natural pigment. Firstly, 50% ethanol and 80% ethanol were added to the P. grandiflorus flower and extracted under reflux for 4 h at 25, 60, and 80 ℃, and the pH of each treatment group was similar. Based on the anthocyanin content and chromaticity (E^*ab), 50% ethanol 60 ℃ extraction conditions showing the color development most similar to the natural color of the P. grandifloras flower were selected, and a sample was prepared by concentrating and lyophilizing. The analysis results showed that the total phenol, total flavonoid, and total anthocyanin contents were in the ranges of 23 ㎍/mL, 16 ㎍/mL, and 0.17 ㎍/mL, respectively. The P. grandiflorus flower extract suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, the P. grandiflorus flower extract showed wound healing effects through the promotion of skin cell migration in TNF-α stimulated human keratinocytes. The stability of anthocyanin and extract color was studied during a storage period of 50 days at various temperatures (4 ℃, 25 ℃, and 45 ℃). Color values (L, a, and b) of the P. grandiflorus flower extract changed over 50 days, whereas the bluish-purple color of the extract was stabilized using 5% maltodextrin. These results suggest that P. grandiflorus flower extract may be useful as a natural cosmetic pigment.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.139-152
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• 2002

Objectives：This study was conducted to compare the clinical and neuropsychological characteristics by DSM-IV subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) patients who did not have comorbid psychiatric disorders. Methods：5-15 year old children with ADHD were recruited at psychiatric outpatient clinic of Yeungnam University hospital and the patients with comorbidity or neurological abnormalities were excluded. Finally, total 404 children with ADHD were selected for this study. There were 234 subjects of ADHD-C(57.9%), 156 subjects of ADHD-I(38.6%) and 14 subjects of ADHD-HI(3.5%), who fulfilled the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. The mean age of the total subjects was 9.63±2.49 years old. The psychopathology, IQ, behavioral problems, neuropsychological executive function were evaluated before pharmacological treatment. The measures were Korean Personality Inventory of Child(K-PIC) for psychopathology, 4 behavioral check lists(ADDES-HV, ACTeRS, CAP, SNAP) for behavioral symptoms of ADHD, K-ABC and KEDI-WISC for IQ and Conner's CPT, WCST, SST for neuropsychological executive functions. Results：1) The prevalence of subtypes was ADHD-C, ADHD-I, ADHD-HI in decreasing order. There was no sex difference of prevalence among three subtypes. The mean age of ADHD-I was older than other subtypes. 2) There was significant differences of psychopathology among subtypes, the ADHD-C and ADHD-HI had higher than the ADHD-I in the scores of delinquent, hyperactivity and psychosis；the ADHD-C had higher than the ADHD-I in the scores of family relation and autism, the scores of ego resilience were lower than the ADHD-I. However, there was no difference in anxiety, depression and somatization scores among them. 3) The results of behavioral symptom check lists, the ADHD-C had higher the score of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity than the ADHD-I. Meanwhile the results of ACTeRs, which rated by the teachers, were different. 4) There were significant differences of sequential processing scale and arithmetics among subtypes in IQ using K-ABC, but there was no significant difference between the ADHD-C and the ADHD-I after excluding the ADHD-HI due to small numbers. 5) There was numerical difference among subtypes but did not reach statistical significance in three neuropsychological executive function tests. Conclusion：In conclusion, our results revealed that there was significant difference in clinical features among three subtypes but, no significant difference in executive functions.