• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.190-197
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gallus gallus domesticus (GD) is a natural mutant breed of chicken in Korea with an atypical characterization of melanin in its tissue. This study investigated the effects of melanin extracts of GD on osteoblast differentiation and inhibition of osteoclast formation. MATERIALS/METHODS: The effects of the melanin extract of GD on human osteoblast MG-63 cell differentiation were examined by evaluating cell viability, osteoblast differentiation, and expression of osteoblast-specific transcription factors such as bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), small mothers against decapentaplegic homologs 5 (SMAD5), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin and type 1 collagen (COL-1) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analysis. We investigated the inhibitory effect of melanin on the osteoclasts formation through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and TRAP stains in Raw 264.7 cell. RESULTS: The melanin extract of GD was not cytotoxic to MG-63 cells at concentrations of $50-250{\mu}g/mL$. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and bone mineralization of melanin extract-treated cells increased in a dose-dependent manner from 50 to $250{\mu}g/mL$ and were 149% and 129% at $250{\mu}g/mL$ concentration, respectively (P < 0.05). The levels of BMP-2, osteocalcin, and COL-1 gene expression were significantly upregulated by 1.72-, 4.44-, and 2.12-fold in melanin-treated cells than in the control cells (P < 0.05). The levels of RUNX2 and SMAD5 proteins were higher in melanin-treated cells than in control vehicle-treated cells. The melanin extract attenuated the formation of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand-induced TRAP-positive multinucleated RAW 264.7 cells by 22%, and was 77% cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 macrophages at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the melanin extract promoted osteoblast differentiation by activating BMP/SMADs/RUNX2 signaling and regulating transcription of osteogenic genes such as ALP, type I collagen, and osteocalcin. These results suggest that the effective osteoblastic differentiation induced by melanin extract from GD makes it potentially useful in maintaining bone health.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1017-1025
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• 2022

Bone homeostasis is regulated by constant remodeling through osteogenesis by osteoblasts and osteolysis by osteoclasts and osteoporosis can be provoked when this balance is broken. Present pharmaceutical treatments for osteoporosis have harmful side effects and thus, our goal was to develop therapeutics from intrisincally safe natural products. Fucoidan is a polysaccharide extracted from many species of brown seaweed, with valuable pharmaceutical activities. To intensify the effect of fucoidan on bone homeostasis, we hydrolyzed fucoidan using AMG, Pectinex and Viscozyme. Of these, fucoidan biotransformed by Pectinex (Fu/Pec) powerfully inhibited the induction of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in osteoclasts differentiated from bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) by the receptor for activation of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). To investigate potential of lower molecular weight fucoidan it was separated into >300 kDa, 50-300 kDa, and <50 kDa Fu/Pec fractions by ultrafiltration system. The effects of these fractions on TRAP and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were then examined in differentiated osteoclasts and MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, respectively. Interestingly, 50-300 kDa Fu/Pec suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclasts differentiation from BMMs but did not synergistically enhance osteoblasts differentiation induced by osteogenic agents. In addition, this fraction inhibited the expressions of NFATc1, TRAP, OSCAR, and RANK, which are all key transcriptional factors involved in osteoclast differentiation, and those of Src, c-Fos and Mitf, as determined by RT-PCR. In conclusion, enzymatically low-molecularized 50-300 kDa Fu/Pec suppressed TRAP by downregulating RANKL-related signaling, contributing to the inhibition of osteoclasts differentiation, and represented a potential means of inducing bone remodeling in the background of osteoporosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the effects of pelargonidin, an anthocyanidin found in many fruits and vegetables, on endothelium-independent vascular contractility to determine the underlying mechanism of relaxation. Isometric contractions of denuded aortic muscles from male rats were recorded, and the data were combined with those obtained in western blot analysis. Pelargonidin significantly inhibited fluoride-, thromboxane A2-, and phorbol ester-induced vascular contractions, regardless of the presence or absence of endothelium, suggesting a direct effect of the compound on vascular smooth muscles via a different pathway. Pelargonidin significantly inhibited the fluoride-dependent increase in the level of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation at Thr-855 and the phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-dependent increase in the level of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation at Thr202/Tyr204, suggesting the inhibition of Rho-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) activities and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. These results suggest that the relaxation effect of pelargonidin on agonist-dependent vascular contractions includes inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activities, independent of the endothelial function.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 1999

Antioxidative and scavenging effects were investigated by using two hyaroxycinnamic acids (caffeetannins). such as caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, on oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity that induced by paraquat. The results are summerized as follows: 1. To assess radical scavenging ability, reduction concentration (IC$\sub$50/) of 1.1 diphenyl-2-dipicrylhydrazine (DPPH) were measured. IC$\sub$50/ values of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid were 29.7 ${\pm}$0.6 ${\mu}$M and 26.0${\pm}$0.5 ${\mu}$M respectively. Their radical scavenging activities showed concentration-dependent manner. 2. In H$_2$O$_2$-induced hemolysis assay to rat blood, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid led to different effects, whose hemolysis inhibition ratios at 100 ${\mu}$M were 45.2${\pm}$7.1% and 11.6${\pm}$3.1% respectively 3. In hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system producing superoxide anion, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid showed different inhibitory activities of xanthine oxidase showing 36.8${\pm}$4.3% and 5.4${\pm}$2.3% respectively. 4. To microsomal NADPH dependent cytochrome p-450 reductase in rat liver, paraquat consumed NADPH at a dose-dependent manner from 0 to 1 ${\mu}$M paraquat concentration. Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid blocked NADPH consumption rates at concentration-dependent manner and inhibition ratios at 100 ${\mu}$M were 67.6% and 59.2% respectively. 5. Administration (30mg/kg, iv) of paraquat to rats caused the marked elevation of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid peroxides (LPO) in the serum and lipid peroxides in the microsome as compared to the control group. Serum GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP and LPO and liver microsomal LPO were reduced significantly by caffeic acid (50mg/kg), chlorogenic acid (25mg/kg) and silymarin (150 mg/kg) as compared to the paraquat group. From these results, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid exerted their antioxidative agents by removing reactive oxygen substance (ROS) and scavenging effects by inhibiting ROS generating enzyme. As a general, two hydroxyeinnamic acids showed the useful compounds for scavenger and reducer on the paraquat induced hepatotoxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2009

Our previous study demonstrated that flavone inhibits vascular contractions by decreasing the phosphorylation levelof the myosin phosphatase target subunit (MYPT1). In the present study, we hypothesized that flavone attenuates vascular contractions through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway. Rat aortic rings were denuded of endothelium, mounted in organ baths, and contracted with either 30 nM U46619 (a thromboxane A2 analogue) or 8.0 mM NaF 30 min after pretreatment with either flavone (100 or 300 $({\mu}M$) or vehicle. We determined the phosphorylation level of the myosin light chain ($MLC_{20}$), the myosin phophatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and the protein kinase C-potentiated inhibitory protein for heterotrimeric myosin light chain phophatase of 17-kDa (CPI17) by means of Western blot analysis. Flavone inhibited, not only vascular contractions induced by these contractors, but also the levels of $MLC_{20}$ phosphorylation. Furthermore, flavone inhibited the activation of RhoA which had been induced by either U46619 or NaF. Incubation with flavone attenuated U46619 or NaF-induced phosphorylation of $MYPT1^{Thr855}$ and $CPI17^{Thr38}$, the downstream effectors of Rho-kinase. In regards to the $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, flavone inhibited the phosphorylation of $MYPT1^{Thr855}$ and $CPI17^{Thr38}$, as well as vascular contractions induced by U 46619. These results indicate that flavone attenuates vascular contractions, at least in part, through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.519-523
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• 1998

We have previously reported that anti-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) serum raised against native G6PD (nG6PD) enzyme recognized nG6PD antigen poorly in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Kim, 1997). In the present study, we investigated whether anti-G6PD serum raised against nG6PD can react with denatured G6PD effectively in competitive ELISA. We used partially active G6PD (paG6PD) by repeated freeze-thawing or SDS-denatured G6PD (SDS-G6PD) as both immobilized and soluble antigens, and anti-G6PD serum raised against nG6PD for competitive ELISA. The polystyrene cuvettes coated with either paG6PD or SDS-G6PD were challenged with a mixture of a limiting amount of anti-G6PD serum and various doses of paG6PD or SDS-G6PD as competitors, followed by incubation with alkaline phosphatase-anti-IgG conjugate. The competitive ELISA with paG6PD or SDS-G6PD antigen exhibited the sigmoidal dose-response curve characteristic of competition immunoassays. Furthermore, Triton-denatured G6PD (Triton-G6PD) was used in competitive ELISA. The paG6PD, SDS-G6PD, or Triton-G6PD used as competitors increased the inhibition of antibody binding to immobilized either of nG6PD or denatured G6PD compared with nG6PD competitor. The inhibition by denatured G6PD competitors was more pronounced at high competitor concentrations than at low counterparts. We conclude that anti-G6PD serum raised against nG6PD can effectively react with denatured G6PD in competitive ELISA and that our anti-G6PD serum recognizes denatured enzymes better than active enzymes.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2000

Angelicae gigantis Radix aqua-acupuncture solution (AGRAS) and Angelicae gigantis Radix water-extracted solution (AGRWS) were prepared and tested for their organ toxicities and chemopreventive potentials. The organ-toxicity of AGRAS to male ICR mice was studied by the measurements of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP-s) activities after injection of AGRAS for 7 days. The activities of GOT GPT and LDH were decreased, but the activity of ALP-s was not changed with AGRAS. When AGRAS was administered once daily for 10 days before the tumor implantation, AGRAS exerted antitumor activity by inhibiting the growth of Ehrich ascites tumor cells (EATC) in viva. The inductions of quinone reductase (QR), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and inhibition of polyamine metabolism were tested for the chemopreventive potentials of AGRAS and AGRWS. AGRAS was potent inducer of QR activity in murine hepatoma Hepalclc7 cells. In cultured rat Ac2F cells, AGRAS was also significantly induced QR activity GSH levels were increased about 1.3 fold with AGRAS. In addition the activity of GST was increased about 2.5 fold with AGRAS at the concentration of $0.1{\;}{\times}{\;}$. The effects of AGRAS and AGRWS were tested on the growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii in a broth medium was inhibited by AGRAS and AGRWS at the concentration of $1{\;}{\times}{\;}and{\;}5{\;}{\times}{\;}$, respectively: These results suggest that AGRAS has chemopreventive potential by inducing QR activity increasing GSH and GST levels and inhibition of polyamine metabolism.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.929-936
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• 2003

Methanol extract (MeOH), n-hexane (Hx), chloroform ($CHCl_3$), ethyl acetate (EA), butanol (BuOH) and aqueous ($H_2O$) fractions of Eucommiae Cortex including geniposidic acid (GA), geniposide (GP) and aucubin (AU) were tested for their therapeutic efficacy on osteoporosis. The contents of GA, GP and AU in the cortex and leaf of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver were quantified by HPLC. The effect of Eucommiae Cortex on the induction of growth hormone (GH) release was studied by using rat pituitary cells. The proliferation of osteoblast-like cells increased by herbal extracts was assayed using a tetrazolium (MTT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and [$^3H$]-proline incorporation assays. The inhibition of osteoclast was studied by using the coculture of mouse bone marrow cells and ST-2 cells. As a result, the GA, GP and AU were present in the cortex more than in the leaf of E. ulmoides Oliver. The MeOH (1mg/mL), Hx, $CHCl_3$ and EA fractions (each 20 $\mu$ g/mL) had potent induction of GH release. The $CHCl_3$ exhibited the potent proliferation of osteoblasts. The AU, GP and GA were increased proliferation of osteoblasts. In addition, GA ($IC_{50}: 4.43{\times}10^{-7}$M), AU and GP were significantly inhibited proliferation of osteoclast. In summary, it is thought that the components in a part of the fractions of Eucommiae Cortex participate in each step of mechanism for activating osteoblast to facilitate osteogenesis, and suppress osteoclast activity to inhibit osteolysis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.55-59
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• 1975

Safety study of the continuous releasing dichlorvos-resin insecticide $(Mopari^{\circledR})$ was conducted in human volunteers and domestic fowls. For the purpose, the potential hazards in using the insecticide were observed in terms of the inhibition of plasma cholinesterase activity and the changes in the liver function (GOT, GPT, Alkaline phosphatase, Bilirubin, Thymol turbidity), the blood picture (RBC, WBC with differential count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit and ESR) and the urine picture (sugar, albumin, pH and microscopic findings) in 40 healthy adult volunteers and 60 leghorn domestic fowls. In case of the human study the observation was continued for 2 months during the application of the insectiside ($1{\sim}3$ solid formulations/$30m^3$) in the living rooms of ordinary Korean dwelling houses or in the office. In the animal test, however, 1 to 5 solid formulations of the insecticide were applied in the fowl cage of $9.2m^3$ for 5 weeks. Any significant inhibition of the plasma cholinesterase activity was not observed in both the human volunteer and the fowl throughout the experimental period. And the liver function as well as the blood and urine pictures were also not changed after exposure to the vaporizing insecticide. It is considered from the result that the amount of dichlorvos released into the air by the continuous vaporizing dichlorvos-resin insecticide presents no significant hazardous effect on humans or animals in the present experimental condition.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.243-249
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• 2006

The effect of genistein, widely used as a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on rat brain Kv1.5 channels which were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells was investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Genistein inhibited Kv1.5 currents at +50 mV in a concentration-dependent manner, with an $IC_{50}$ of $54.7{\pm}8.2\;{\mu}M$ and a Hill coefficient of $1.1{\pm}0.2$. Pretreatment of Kv1.5 with protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors ($10\;{\mu}M$ lavendustin A and $100\;{\mu}M$ AG1296) and a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor ($500\;{\mu}M$ sodium orthovanadate) did not block the inhibitory effect of genistein. The inhibition of Kv1.5 by genistein showed voltage-independence over the full activation voltage range positive to 0 mV. The activation (at +50 mV) kinetics was significantly delayed by genistein: time constant for an activation of $1.4{\pm}0.2$ msec under control conditions and $10.0{\pm}1.5$ msec in the presence of $60\;{\mu}M$ genistein. Genistein also slowed the deactivation of the tail currents, resulting in a crossover phenomenon: a time constant of $11.4{\pm}1.3$ msec and $40.0{\pm}4.2$ msec under control conditions and in the presence of $60\;{\mu}M$ genistein, respectively. Inhibition was reversed by the application of repetitive depolarizing pulses, especially during the early part of the activating pulse. These results suggest that genistein directly inhibits Kv1.5 channels, independent of phosphotyrosine-signaling pathway.