• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.190-195
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• 2004

The anticancer potency of the ethanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna on N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced hepatocellular carcinoma in Wistar albino rats was studied. Single intraperitoneal injection of DEN was administrated to induce liver cancer. After two weeks, phenobarbital (PB) was given orally for fourteen weeks to promote the cancer. The cancer bearing animals treated with ethanolic extract of T.arjuna (400 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. Nucleic acids such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) were estimated in liver and kidney of control and experimental animals. Certain marker enzymes viz, alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 5'-nucleotidase (5'ND) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed in serum, liver and kidney of control and experimental animals. The levels of DNA and RNA were significantly increased in cancer bearing animals. The activities of ALT, AST, ACP, ALP, 5'ND, and LDH were significantly (P<0.001) increased in serum of cancer bearing animals. On the other hand, the levels of ALT, AST were decreased (P<0.001) and ACP, ALP, 5'ND, and LDH were significantly increased (P<0.001) in liver and kidney. These changes were reversed to near normal in drug treated animals. These observations suggest that the ethanolic extract of T.arjuna possess anticancer activity.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.305-309
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• 2007

Arsenic compounds have been used to treat various diseases including cancer in oriental medicine. Arsenic trioxide ($As_2O_3,\;Trisenox^{(R)}$) has been used for the treatment of leukemia and its anti-solid tumor activity has also been reported recently. Tetra-arsenic oxide ($As_4O_6,\;TetraAs^{(R)}$) is a newly developed arsenic compound which has shown an anticancer activity in some human cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-gastric cancer potential of TetraAs and to search for an agent with synergistic interaction with TetraAs against human gastric cancers. We analysed anti-proliferative effect of TetraAs when given alone and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-FU, paclitaxel, and cisplatin in SNU-216, a human gastric cancer cell line. The $IC_{50}$ of these 4 anti-cancer drugs ranged from 5.8 nM to $7.5\;{\mu}M$ with a potency rank of order paclitaxel>TetraAs>cisplatin>5-FU. TetraAs showed 10-fold greater potency than 5-FU and cisplatin at the same effect level of $IC_{50}$. TetraAs+5-FU and TetraAs+paclitaxel showed synergistic and additive interaction, respectively. On the other hand, TetraAs with cisplatin group appeared to be strongly antagonistic. Apoptotic population was measured and compared between single and combination treatment. The apoptotic cells for the combination of TetraAs+5-FU showed significant increase compared to single TetraAs treatment. On the contrary, TetraAs+cisplatin showed less apoptotic cells compared to TetraAs or cisplatin alone treatment. Overall, our results indicate that TetraAs can be effectively combined with 5-FU or paclitaxel, but not with cisplatin for synergistic anti-cancer effect, which warrants further evaluation using in vivo models.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.3473-3479
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• 2009

The pharmacological profile of KR-31081, a newly synthesized AT1 receptor antagonist, was evaluated in pithed rats, conscious renal hypertensive rats (RHRs) and conscious furosemide-treated beagle dogs. In pithed rats, KR-31081 (i.v.) induced a non-parallel right shift in the dose-pressor response curve to angiotensin II (ID50: 0.05 mg/kg) with a dose-dependent reduction in the maximum responses; this antagonistic effect was about 40 times more potent than losartan (ID50: 1.74 mg/kg) which showed competitive antagonism. KR-31081 did not alter the responses induced by other agonists such as norepinephrine and vasopressin. In RHRs, orally given KR-31081 produced a dose-dependent and long-lasting (>24 h) antihypertensive effect with a higher potency to losartan (ED20: 0.30 and 3.36 mg/kg, respectively). In furosemide-treated dogs, orally given KR-31081 produced a dose-dependent and long-lasting (>8h) antihypertensive effect with a rapid onset of action (time to Emax: 1-1.5 h) and 20-fold greater potency than losartan (ED20: 0.41 and 8.13 mg/kg, respectively). These results suggest that KR-31081 is a potent, orally active AT1 receptor antagonist useful for the research and diagnostic tools as an added exploratory potential.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.395-402
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• 2005

Biologically active recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) was produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells and purified by a series of chromatographic steps. The chromatographic steps included anion-exchange chromatography (DEAE Sepharose F/F, Q Sepharose F/F), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Source 15 PHE), and hydroxyapatite chromatography (Macro-Prep ceramic hydroxyapatite type I). A distinctive step of the purification process developed was the use of ZnCl$_2$ for the removal of non-glycosylated or lowly-glycosylated FSH and impurities through co-precipitation with Zn$^{2+}$. Purified rhFSH was identified and characterized by several physicochemical and biological methods such as gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, amino acid analysis, carbohydrate analysis, and biological activity. The overall yield of the purification was ~$30\%$. The rhFSH preparation obtained showed high purity (>$99\%$) and high in vivo potency (>16,000 IU/mg). Carbohydrate analysis suggested that the purified rhFSH contained approximately $40\%$ (w/w) carbohydrate with di­or tri-antennary structure on average, which is somewhat more heavily sialylated than commercially available rhFSH. In conclusion, the results of these analyses established an identity of the purified rhFSH with natural FSH from human pituitary glands, and furthermore, the purified rhFSH preparation showed higher in vivo potency and was slightly more heavily sialylated than commercially available rhFSH.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.874-880
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• 2010

A series of 13- and 14-membered cyclic enkephalin analogs based on the moderately $\mu$ selective prototype compound Tyr-C[D-$A_2bu$-Gly-Phe-Leu] 8a were synthesized to investigate the structure-activity relationship. The modifications of sequence were mainly focused on two positions 3 and 5, critical for the selective recognition for $\mu$ and $\delta$ opioid receptors. The substitution of hydrophobic $Leu^5$ with hydrophilic $Asp^5$ derivatives led to Tyr-C[D-$A_2bu$-Gly-Phe-Asp(N-Me)] 7 and Tyr-C[D-Glu-Phe-gPhe-rAsp(O-Me)] 5, the peptides with a large affinity losses at both $\mu$ and $\delta$ receptors. The substitution of $Phe^3$ with $Gly^3$ led to Tyr-C[D-Glu-Gly-gPhe-rLeu] 3 and Tyr-C[D-Glu-Gly-gPhe-D-rLeu] 4, the peptides with large affinity losses at $\mu$ receptors, indicating the critical role of phenyl ring of $Phe^3$ for $\mu$ receptor affinities. One atom reduction of the ring size from 14-membered analogs Tyr-C[D-Glu-Phe-gPhe-(L and D)-rLeu] 6a, 6b to 13-membered analogs Tyr-C[D-Asp-Phe-gPhe-(L and D)-rLeu] 1, 2 reduced the affinity at both $\mu$ and $\delta$ receptors, but increased the potency in the nociceptive assay, indicating the ring constrain is attributed to high nociceptive potency of the analogs. For the influence of D- or L-chirality of $Leu^5$ on the receptor selectivity, regardless of chirality and ring size, all cyclic diastereomers displayed marked $\mu$ selectivity with low potencies at the $\delta$ receptor. The retro-inverso analogs display similar or more active at $\mu$ receptor, but less active at $\delta$ receptor than the parent analogs.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.797-801
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• 1997

Recently we reported that water extracts of Coptidis Rhizomas showed calcium antagonistic action and alpha-adrenoceptor inhibitory action in the vascular smooth muscle. Since ca lcium antagonistic properties are important in the treatment of various diseases including asthma. In the present study, the bronchodilatory effects of crude extract of three kinds of Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptidis chinensis, Coptis japonica and root hair of Coptis japonica) was investigated using rat isolated trachea. The result showed that all extracts relaxed carbachol-contracted tracheal smooth muscle. Concentration-dependently, in which the root hair of Coptis japonica was the least potent. The inhibitory potency expressed in terms of $IC_{50}$ against carbachol contraction was 1.8${\mu}$g/ml and 2.7${\mu}$g/ml for Coptidis chinensis and Coptis japonica, respectively. These extracts also inhibited KCI-contracted tracheal smooth muscle. But the relative potency ($IC_{50}$) was 3.5 and 4.1 folds weaker than carbachol-induced contraction for Coptidics chinenesis and Coptis japonica, respectively. Pretreatment of crude extracts also inhibited carbachol- or KCI-induced contraction, non-competitively. These findings indicate that the extracts have muscarinic blocking as well as $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocking action. When provoked intracellular stored $Ca^{2+}$ release by carbachol in $Ca^{2+}$-free conditions, initial phasic contraction due to $Ca^{2+}$ release was significantly inhibited by the extracts. As taken together, we conclude that water extracts of Coptidis Rhizoma may be beneficial in bronchospasm or other broncheal tube narrowing conditions such as asthma.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.55-70
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• 2005

Objective: Ulmus davidiana Planch (Ulmaceae) has long been known to have anti-inflammnatory in the traditional Korean medicine. UD has been reported as a good enhancer for bone healing. Methods : In this experiment, we investigate the Inhibitory effects of UD on bone resorption using the bone cells culture. Different concentrations of crude extract of UD were added to mouse bone cells culture. The mitochondria activity of the bone cells after exposure was determined by colorimetric MIT assay. It was demonstrated that UD has potential effects on bone cells culture without any cytotoxicity. The most effective concentration of UD on bone cells were $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Cathepsin K (Cat K) is the major cysteine protease expressed in osteoclasts and is thought to play a key role in matrix degradation during bone resorption. Results : When mouse long bone cells including osteoclasts and osteoblast were treated with the PI3-Kinase inhibitor, wortmannin (WT), WT prevented the osteoclast-mediated intracellular processing of Cat K. Similarly, treatment of osteoclasts-containing long bone cells with UD extracts prevented the intracellular maturation of Cat K, suggesting that UD may disrupt the intracellular trafficking of pro Cat K. This is similar to that of WT. Since secreted proenzymes have the potential to reenter the cell via mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) receptor, to prevent this possibility, we tested WT and UD in the absence or presence of M6P. Inhibition of Cat K processing by WT or UD was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of M6P resulted in enhanced potency of WT and UD. Conclusion : UD dose-dependently inhibited in vitro bone resorption with a potency similar to that observed for inhibition of Cat K processing.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 1986

In order to use for metabolic studies of tranylcypromine (TCP), TCP-phenyl-$d_{5}$ was synthesized via the intermediates, 3-benzoylpropionic acid-$d_{5}$ and trans-2-phenylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid-$d_{5}$ -TCP(0.22 mmole/kg) and its deuterated analog were administered s. c. to the rats and GC/MS analyses of the urines led to the detection of N-acetyltranylcypromine (ATCP) and glucuronide conjugate of phenyl-hydroxylated ATCP. MAO activities in rat brain were measured using serotonin as the substrate. In vitro $IC_{50}$ of ATCP was determined to be $10^{-3}M$. The inhibitions by ATCP were not dependent on the preincubation time and were reversed by washing sedimented mitochondrial pellets after the preincubation. In vivo MAO inhibitions at various times of 0.5, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 23 hr after the administration of 0.4 mmole/kg (i. p. ) of ATCP were found to be 0.13, 73, 90, 89, and 74 %, respectively. Similarly, the inhibition percents by 0.015 mmole/kg (i. p. ) of TCP were 94, 99, 95, 91, 71 and 49%. The results strongly suggest that deacetylated product of ATCP may account for its in vivo MAO inhibition. The relationship between the metabolism via phenyl-hydroxylation and the in vivo potency of TCP was examined by QSAR study and it was found that groupings discriminating between the compounds with p-substituents and those without them only ensure high correlations, suggesting that ring-hydroxylation which occurs at the para position in most of the compounds is a determining factor to the potency of TCP.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 1993

The muscarinic antagonist l-[benzilic-4,4'-$^3H$]quinuclidinyl benzilate([$^3H$]QNB) bound to a single class of muscarinic receptor with high affinity in guinea pig ileal membranes. The $K_{D}$ and B$_{max}$ values for [$^3H$]QNB calculated from analysis of saturation isotherms were 54 pM and 156fmol/mg, respectively. H$_{1}$-blockers inhibited [$^3H$]QNB binding to ileal membranes with $K_{i}$ values ranged from 0.008 $\mu{M}$ to 1.6 $\mu{M}$. The pseudo-Hill coefficients of H$_{1}$-blockers for inhibition of [$^3H$]QNB binding to the ileal membranes were close to unit. The $K_{i}$ values for H$_{1}$-blockers were similar to the $K_{M}$ values calculated by Schild plot of functional data obtained from inhibition of the carbachol-induced contraction in guinea-pig ileum, suggesting that binding of H$_{1}$-blockers vs [$^3H$]QNB in ileal membranes represents an interaction with a receptor of physiological relevance. The $K_{H}$ values of H$_{1}$-blockers for H$_{1}$-receptor estimated from inhibition of the histamine-induced contraction were the range of 0.15 nM to 56.5 nM. The $K_{M}$/K$_{H}$ ratio of H$_{1}$-blockers varied over a wide range of 3 to 2300. Thus, the antihistaminic potencies of H$_{1}$-blockers do not correlate with their antimuscarinic potencies, which suggest that antihistamines have different antimuscarinic potencies in therapeutic blood levels causing similar antiallergic effect. Among 13 traditional antihistaminics examined in this study, drug having the highest and the lowest $K_{M}$/K$_{H}$ ratio is triprolidine and diphenidol, respectively. The present results demonstrate that the antimuscarinic property of antihistamines is not necessary for their antiallergic effect, and data on the affinity of antihistamines for muscarinic and H$_{1}$-receptors can be an important parameter in the selection and evaluation of these drugs.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

Protein kinases are the most important drug targets for the treatment of numerous diseases. The involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in many biological processes such as development, memory, cell differentiation, and proliferation has been demonstrated. PKC is recognized as an important player in carcinogenesis. Thus, a variety of PKC inhibitors have been investigated. Among them, flavonoids have been demonstrated to affect the activity of many mammalian in vitro enzyme systems. The recent investigation was performed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of hesperidin, which is a flavonoid, on the proliferation and carcinogenesis of many cancers. In this study, an efficient kinase assay based on a biochip using radio-phosphorylation was established and performed for an examination of the inhibitory effects of hesperidin on PKC activity at different concentrations of 50, 200, 500 nM. It was found that hesperidin shows inhibitory potency on PKC, and that the biochip can be used to rapidly screen kinase inhibitors resulting in the therapeutic agents.