• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2007

The role of soil microorganisms, specifically rhizobacteria, in the development of rhizoremediation techniques is important to speed up the process and to increase the rate of mobilization or absorption of heavy metals to the plant. In this study, Methylobacterium sp. SY-NiR1 was isolated from the rhizosphere soils of plants in oil and heavy metal-contaminated soil. Based on its pink pigmented colony, rod-shape cells, and belonging in $\alpha-Proteobacteria$, Methylobacterium sp. SY-NiR1 is considered a pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph. SY-NiR1 had the ability to produce indole acetic acid which is one of phytohormones. This bacterium showed resistance against multiple heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, and the order of its resistance based on $EC_{50}$ was Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr. Therefore, Methylobacterium sp. SY-NiR1 can stimulate seed germination and plant growth in soil contaminated with heavy metals.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.31-34
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• 2023

Pilomatricoma is characterized by a semi-transparent epidermis, especially pigmented pilomatricoma, containing melanocytes in basaloid cells, which are dark and purple, resembling vessel-derived skin masses. If the vascularity at doppler ultrasound is high before surgery, it may be misdiagnosed. A 10-year-old female patient visited our clinic because of a mass in the right ear triangular fossa. Ultrasonography was performed, and a vascular-origin tumor was suspected because of the high vascularity. The excised mass was diagnosed as pigmented pilomatricoma by a pathologist. Pilomatricoma is mistaken for other masses owing to its various phenotypes. A misdiagnosis can lead to misdirected strategies which can cause delayed treatment and can result in an increase in the size of the pilomatricoma, making the sequalae of surgery more complicated. For proper treatment, careful examination and evaluation are required before surgery.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.343-348
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• 2013

We investigated the inhibitory effects of hesperidin on melanogenesis. To find melanosome transport inhibitor from natural products, we collected the structural information of natural products from Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) and performed pharmacophore-based in silico screening for Rab27A and melanophilin (MLPH). Hesperidin did not inhibit melanin production in B16F10 murine melanoma cells stimulated with ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH), and also did not affect the catalytic activity of tyrosinase. But, hesperidin inhibited melanosome transport in melanocyte and showed skin lightening effect in pigmented reconstructed epidermis model. Therefore, we suggest that hesperidin is a useful inhibitor of melanosome transport and it might be applied to whitening agent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.365-370
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Oxidative stress is a major cause of cancer. This study investigated the effects of the ethanol extracts from germinated and non-germinated Keunnunjami rice, a blackish-purple pigmented cultivar with giant embryo, on selected human cancer cell lines and on the antioxidant defense system of mice fed with a high-fat diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: High fat-fed mice were orally administered with either distilled water (HF) or extracts (0.25%, w/w) from brown (B), germinated brown (GB), Keunnunjami (K), and germinated Keunnunjami (GK) rice. RESULTS: In comparison with the brown rice extract, Keunnunjami extract showed higher anticancer effect against cervical and gastric cell lines but lower anticancer activity on liver and colon cancer cells. Mice from the HF group showed significantly higher lipid peroxidation and lower antioxidant enzyme activities than the control group. However, the oxidative stress induced by high-fat diet markedly decreased in B, GB, K, and GK groups as compared with the HF group. CONCLUSIONS: Germination may be an effective method for improving the anticancer and antioxidative properties of Keunnunjami rice and extracts from germinated Keunnunjami rice may serve as a therapeutic agent against cervical and gastric cancers and oxidative damage.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 1992

The influence of various levels of major medium components such as sucrose, nitrate, phosphate, plant growth regulators, and light intensity for cell growth and the production of anthocyanin content in cell cultures of Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa were investigated. Best results for anthocyanin yield were obtained using Murashige and Skoog(MS) medium containing 5% sucrose, 12.5% nitrate, 200% phosphate, 1.0mg/l indole-3-acetic acid(IAA), 1.0mg/l benaylaminopurine(BAP), and continuous illumination of 7,000 lux. On the other hand, maximum cell growth was achieved with 5% sucrose, 50% nitrate above 400% phosphate compare with that of MS basal mediumi, and 0.5mg/l 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2, 4-D). Anthocyanin accumulation in a suspension cultured cells of given genotype was stimulated by subculturing onto the medium lacking 2, 4-D. Pigmented cell clusters were extracted with methanol containing 1% hydrochloric acid (HCl) and then anthocyanin was identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and U. V. spectrophotometer.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 1987

Previous studies have been performed for the sero-identification of selected species of Bacteroides by immunofluorescence antibody techniques and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using species-specific rabbit antisera to B. gingivalis, B. intermedius, and B. melaninogenicus. However, these studies have not commented on the serological cross-reactivity between these 3 species of black- pigmented Bacteroides. For the cross-reactivity study, antisera to B. gingivalis ATCC 33277, B. intermedius ATC C25261 and B. asaccharolyticus ATCC 25260 were raised from rabbits. Preliminary study for observing the cross-reactivity between these species was performed by indirect immunoflourescence technique. Immunoabsorption of the antisera was done with bacterial cells from the other species and the species-specificity of the antisera was conformed by the absence of reactivity with bacterial strains from the other species by indirect immunofluorescence technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Three representative unabsorbed antisera cross-reacted strongly with cells from the other species. Especially, anti-B. asaccharolyticus ATCC 25260 antiserum showed a strong cross-reactivity with B. gingivalis ATCC33277. After immunoabsorption of 3 representative antisera with the other species, the cross-reactivity was found only between B. gingivalis ATCC 33277 and B. asaccharolyticus ATCC 25260. Further study would be necessary to clarify the cross-reactivity between important oral black-pigmented Bacteroides from subgingival plaque or bacterial colonies for rapid identification.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2011

Objective: To differentiate the human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the defined culture condition and determine its therapeutic potential for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Methods: The embryoid bodies were formed from hESCs and attached on the matrigel coated culture dishes. The neural structures consisting neural precursors were selected and expanded to form rosette structures. The mechanically isolated neural rosettes were differentiated into pigmented cells in the media comprised of N2 and B27. Expression profiles of markers related to RPE development were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining. Dissociated putative RPE cells ($10^5$ cells/5 ${\mu}L$) were transplanted into the subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model induced by intravenous sodium iodate injection. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after transplantation, and immnohistochemistry study was performed to verify the survival of the transplanted cells. Results: The putative RPE cells derived from hESC showed characteristics of the human RPE cells morphologically and expressed molecular markers and associated with RPE fate. Grafted RPE cells were found to survive in the subretinal space up to 4 weeks after transplantation, and the expression of RPE markers was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Transplanted RPE cells derived from hESC in the defined culture condition successfully survived and migrated within subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model. These results support the feasibility of the hESC derived RPE cells for cell-based therapies for retinal degenerative disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6541-6548
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• 2013

Pigmented rice is mainly black, red, and dark purple, and contains a variety of flavones, tannin, polyphenols, sterols, tocopherols, ${\gamma}$-oryzanols, amino acids, and essential oils. The present study evaluated the cytotoxic effects of purple rice extracts (PREs) combined with chemotherapeutic drugs on human cancer cells and mechanisms of cell death. Methanolic (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of three cultivars of purple rice in Thailand: Doisaket (DSK), Nan and Payao (PYO), were tested and compared with white rice (KK6). Cytotoxicity was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, prostate cancer LNCaP and murine normal fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. MeOH-PYO-PRE was the most cytotoxic and inhibited HepG2 cell growth more than that of LNCaP cells but was not toxic to NIH3T3 cells. When PREs were combined with paclitaxel or vinblastine, they showed additive cytotoxic effects on HepG2 and LNCaP cells, except for MeOH-PYO-PRE which showed synergistic effects on HepG2 cells when combined with vinblastine. MeOH-PYO-PRE plus vinblastine induced HepG2 cell apoptosis with loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) but no ROS production. MeOH-PYO-PRE-treated HepG2 cells underwent apoptosis via caspase-9 and-3 activation. The level of ${\gamma}$-oryzanol was highest in DCM-PYO-PRE (44.17 mg/g) whereas anthocyanin content was high in MeOH-PYO-PRE (5.80 mg/g). In conclusion, methanolic Payao purple rice extract was mostly toxic to human HepG2 cells and synergistically enhanced the cytotoxicity of vinblastine. Human HepG2 cell apoptosis induced by MeOH-PYO-PRE and vinblastine was mediated through a mitochondrial pathway.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2013

The descriptions of galls, or tumors, in red algae have been sparse. K$\ddot{u}$tzing (1865) observed possible galls of Bostrychia but only presented a drawing. Intensive culture observations of hundreds of specimens of the genus Bostrychia over many years have revealed that galls appeared in only a small subset of our unialgal cultures of B. kelanensis, Bostrychia moritziana/radicans, B. radicosa, B. simpliciuscula, and B. tenella and continued to be produced intermittently or continuously over many years in some cultures but were never seen in field specimens. Galls appeared as unorganized tissue found primarily on males and bisexuals, but occasionally on females and tetrasporophytes. The gall cells usually were less pigmented than neighboring tissue, but contained cells with fluorescent plastids and nuclei. The galls were not transferable to other potential hosts. Galls could be produced from gall-free tissue of cultures that originally had galls even after transfer to new culture dishes. Electon microscopy of galls on one isolate (3895) showed that virus-like particles are observed in some gall cells. It is possible that a virus is the causative agent of these galls.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2019

The pathological condition of excessive melanogenesis causing freckles, melasma, senile lentigo, pigmented acne scars, and cancer has a critical impact on the wellness of individuals. The mechanism of melanogenesis is related to the expression of melanogenic enzymes. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of pine cone (Pinus densiflora) extracts on melanogenesis. P. densiflora, the Korean Red Pine, is the predominant tree species in the cool, temperate forests of northeast Asia, occurring in pure stands across Korea, Japan, and parts of northern China and Russia. P. densiflora leaves, pollen, and bark have been widely used for traditional medicine, or edible purposes. However, pine cones are rarely used as natural raw materials, although they contain many bioactive phytochemicals. The pine cone ethyl acetate fraction (PEF) showed no toxicity to B16F10 cells at a concentration of less than $100{\mu}g/mL$. PEF inhibited the expression of microphthalmiaassociated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related factors in B16F10 cells treated with 3-Isobutyl1-methylxanthine (IBMX). These results suggest that pine cones can be used as an effective natural melanogenesis inhibitory agent.