• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2017

D-chiro-inositol (DCI) is a secondary messenger in insulin signal transduction. It is produced in vivo from myo-inositol via action of epimerase. In this study, we evaluated antitumor activity of DCI against human breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. In order to determine the inhibitory effects of DCI on growth of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), two different assessment methods were implemented: MTT assay and mouse xenograft assay. MTT assay demonstrated downturn in cell proliferation by DCI treatment (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mM) groups by 18.3% (p < 0.05), 17.2% (p < 0.05), 17.5% (p < 0.05), 18.4% (p < 0.05), and 24.9% (p < 0.01), respectively. Also, inhibition of tumor growth was investigated in mouse xenograft model. DCI was administered orally at the dose of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight to treat nude mouse for 45 consecutive days. On the 45th day, tumor growth of DCI (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg) groups was suppressed by 22.1% and 67.6% as mean tumor volumes were $9313.8{\pm}474.1mm^3$ and $3879.1{\pm}1044.1mm^3$, respectively. Furthermore, breast cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype ($CD44^+/C24^-$) was measured using flow cytometry. On the 46th day, CSC ratios of DCI (500 mg/kg) and co-treatment with doxorubicin (4 mg/kg) and DCI (500 mg/kg) group decreased by 24.7% and 53.9% (p < 0.01), respectively. Finally, from tumor recurrence assay, delay of 5 days in the co-treatment group compared to doxorubicin (4 mg/kg) alone group was observed. Based on these findings, we propose that DCI holds potential as an anti-cancer drug for treatment of breast cancer.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2020

The plant Dendropanax morbifera Léveille is effective folk medicines for the treatment of several conditions, such as infectious diseases, skin diseases, and other illnesses. Although the inhibitory effects of D. morbifera on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have been shown in our previous study, its effects in vivo remain to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of the extracts from D. morbifera (EDM) on neointimal hyperplasia of rat carotid artery and explore the underlying mechanisms. We observed that the ratio of intima to media thickness (I/M) was significantly decreased in the EDM-treated groups by ~80% compared to that of the control. The expression of Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen was decreased by ~70% in the EDM-treated groups compared to that of the control. In addition, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 significantly reduced in the neointimal layer of the EDM-treated groups. Moreover, the decreased levels of contractile phenotypic markers of VSMCs, such as α-smooth muscle actin, myocardin, and smooth muscle-myosin heavy chain, were successfully restored by EDM treatment. Furthermore, the levels of synthetic phenotypic markers, cellular retinal binding protein 1 and connexin 43 were also restored to normal levels. These results suggest that EDM inhibits vascular neointimal hyperplasia induced by balloon injury in rats via phenotypic modulation of VSMCs. Therefore, EDM may be a potential drug candidate for the prevention of restenosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.722-728
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• 2005

The DNA topoismerase I inhibitor ${\beta}-lapachone$, the product of a lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae) from South America, activates a novel apoptotic response in a number of cell lines. In the present report, we investigated the effects of ${\beta}-lapachone$ on the growth of human lung in human non-small-cell-lung-cancer A549 cells. Upon treatment with ${\beta}-lapachone$, a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability and cell proliferation was observed as measured by hemocytometer counts and MTT assay. The ${\beta}-lapachone-treated$ cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including membrane shrinking, condensation of chromatin and DNA fragmentation. These apoptotic effects of ${\beta}-lapachone$ in A549 cells were associated with a marked induction of pro-apoptotic Bax expression, however the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, elevated amount of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 expression accompanied by up-regulation of tumor suppressor p53 was observed. By RT-PCR analyses, decrease in gene expression level of telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomeric repeat binding factor were also observed. Thus, these findings suggest that ${\beta}-lapachone$ may be a potential anti-cancer therapeutics for the control of human lung cancer cell model.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2011

Objectives: Reactive Oxygen Species(ROS) are continuously produced at a high rate as a by-product of aerobic metabolism. Since tissue damage by free radical, ROS such as hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$), nitric oxide(NO) increases with age. Several lines of evidence provided that ROS appears to cause to develop aging-related various diseases such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease. In this study, we have conducted to investigate the pharmacological effects of red ginseng for the development possibility to pharmacopuncture drug sources or healthy aid foods. Methods: For our aims, it was investigated the biological activities of Red Ginseng ethanol extracts (RGEE) by measuring total polyphenol contents, total flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity and cell viability of MCF 10A and SK-MEL-2 in vitro with MTT assay method. Results: The total polyphenol contents of RGEE was 3.06${\pm}$0.11mg/g in 10mg/ml, the total flavonoid contents of RGEE was 1.35${\pm}$0.01mg/g in same concentration. The ABTS radical scavenging activity was about 80% and that of DPPH activity was 65% in 50mg/ml of RGEE. The cell viability of SKMEL-2, skin cancer cell line was decreased and that of MCF 10A, skin normal cell line was increased. Conclusions: We conclude that RGEE may be useful as potential functional foods or pharmacopuncture drug sources on the diseases induced by oxidant stress.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2000

Unfortunately, there is no technique which is stable and repetitive to produce transgenic chicken, although various ways of gene transfer including PGC-and embryonic cell-mediated gene transfer, DNA microinjection, virus inoculation and sperm cells have been employed. The aims of this study were 세 develop and establish such a stable, repetitive and efficient way of gene transfer giving a faithful gene expression during development after the reconstruction of embryo in an UV-irradiated egg. A dual reporter plasmid (pJJ9), a fusion gene containing lacZ and GFP driven by a CMV promoter was used to exploit either merits of both reporting markers. lacZ with strong signal or GFP with vital marking. Electroporated embryonic blastodermal cells (EBCs) in the presence of the pJJ9 DNA faithfully showed 377 bp PCR product and lacZ or GFP expressions in the identical cells in vitro of in vivo. Furthermore, analyses of expression pattern of the foreign DNA demonstrated that microinjected EBCs cells into the UV-irradiated recipient egg should participate in normal developmental process, for example, proliferation and differentiation into various tissues. Thirty percentages of the manipulated eggs showed lacZ expression in their tissues. These results together with the specific procedures used in this study should facilitate avian transgenesis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.203-211
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• 1996

Methanol has been widely used as an industrial solvent and environmental exposure to methanol would be expected to be increasing. In humans, methanol causes metabolic acidosis and damage to ocular system, and can lead to death in severe and untreated case. Clinical symptoms are attributed to accumulation of forrnic acid which is a metabolic product of methanol. In humans and primates, formic acid is accumulated after methanol intake but not in rodents due to the rapid metabolism of methanol. Neverthless, the developmental and reproductive toxicity were reported in rodents. Previous reports showed that perinatal exposure to ethanol produces a variety of damage in human central nervous system by direct neurotoxicity. This suggests that the mechanism of toxic symptoms by methanol in rodents might mimic that of ethanol in human. In the present study I hypothesized that methanol can also induce toxicity in neuronal cells. For the study, primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons and glias were empolyed. Hippocampal cells were prepared from the embryonic day-17 fetuses and maintained up to 7 days. Effect of methanol (10, 100, 500 and 1000 mM) on neurite outgrowth and cell viability was investigated at 0, 18 and 24 hours following methanol treatment. To study the changes in proliferation of glial cells, protein content was measured at 7 days. Neuronal cell viability in culture was not altered during 0-24 hours after methanol treatment. 10 and 100 mM methanol treatment significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth between 18-24 hours. 7-day exposure to 10 or 100 mM methanol significantly increased protein contents but that to 1000 mM methanol decreased in culture. In conclusion, methanol may have a variety of effects on growing and differentiation of neurons and glial cells in hippocampus. Treatment with low concentration of methanol caused that neurite outgrowth was enhanced during 18-24 hours and the numbers of glial cell were increased for 7 days. High concentration of methanol brought about decreased protein contents. At present, the mechanism responsible for the methanol- induced enhancement of neurite outgrowth is not clear. Further studies are required to delineate the mechanism possibly by employing molecular biological techniques.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.39-50
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• 2018

In the 4th industrial revolution, the maker movement is spreading around the world with the fusion of advanced technology with product manufacturing. Already in developed countries such as the US and Japan, the emphasis is on maker education that integrates education into traditional makers' movement. Through this, we are fostering young talents who will lead the fourth industrial revolution era. Domestic maker education is mainly performed in the maker space, and is limited to the IT field using Arduino and App-Inventor. Therefore, it has the limitation of fostering IT-oriented makers. Therefore, it is affecting the proliferation of the maker's movement because of the difficulty of participation of the general public. The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of maker 's movement and to suggest the direction of Korean maker education. In order to accomplish the purpose of research, we analyzed the case of convergent maker education at D Creation Economic Innovation Center, which combines IT and culture technology. We conducted a case study on maker education(VR production project, electronic publishing, beads craft, leather craft, IoT) which was held from July 8 to August 30, 2017 five times. We conducted interviews with five preliminary makers who participated in all the courses of the education, and five instructors who acted as professional makers with pre- developed questionnaires. The results of the study were derived by applying the Thematic Analysis method after opening the contents of the interview. Based on the results of the study, we could suggest characteristics of Korean makers and future direction of maker education.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2019

Trigonella foenum-graceum L. (fenugreek) is a phytoestrogen, a nonsteroidal organic chemical compound from plants which has similar mechanism of action to sex hormone estradiol-$17{\beta}$. This study aims to assess the effectivity of fenugreek seeds extract on collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and collagen type III alpha 1 (COL3A1) which are both decreased in aging skin and become worsen after menopause. This in vitro experimental study used old human dermal fibroblast from leftover tissue of blepharoplasty on a postmenopausal woman (old HDF). As a control of the fenugreek's ability to trigger collagen production, we used fibroblast from preputium (young HDF). Subsequent to fibroblast isolation and culture, toxicity test was conducted on both old and young HDF by measuring cell viability on fenugreek extract with the concentration of 5 mg/mL to $1.2{\mu}g/mL$ which will be tested on both HDF to examine COL1A1 and COL3A1 using ELISA, compared to no treatment and 5 nM estradiol. Old HDF showed a 4 times slower proliferation compared to young HDF (p<0.05). Toxicity test revealed fenugreek concentration of $0.5-2{\mu}g/mL$ was non-toxic to both old and young HDF. The most significant fenugreek concentration to increase COL1A1 and COL3A1 secretion was $2{\mu}g/mL$ (p<0.05).

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2019

A popular approach for the study of estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ inhibition is to investigate the protein-protein interaction between the estrogen receptor (ER) and the coactivator surface. In our study, we investigated phytochemicals from Rubus coreanus that were able to disrupt $ER{\alpha}$ and coactivator interaction with an $ER{\alpha}$ antagonist. The E-screen assay and molecular docking analysis were performed to evaluate the effects of the estrogenic activity of R. coreanus extract and its constituents on the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. At $100{\mu}g/mL$, R. coreanus extract significantly stimulated cell proliferation ($574.57{\pm}8.56%$). Sanguiin H6, which was isolated from R. coreanus, demonstrated the strongest affinity for the $ER{\alpha}$ coactivator-binding site in molecular docking analysis, with a binding energy of -250.149. The initial results of the study indicated that sanguiin H6 contributed to the estrogenic activity of R. coreanus through the activation of the $ER{\alpha}$ coactivator-binding site.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2019

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammatory response and dysregulation of immune function. The severity of US has been influenced by environmental factors and food habit. The immune modulatory, anti-inflammatory and steroidal medicine have been used for the treatment of UC. However, long-term administration of those medicine is accompanied with side-effect. So, it is necessary to develop the non side-effect medicine using natural product. Prebiotics influences intestinal condition and food consumption. The heredity, immunity and environmental condition are related with occurrence of UC. In recent study, UC patients had lower level of prebiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium compared with healthy people. Also, previous study announced that imbalance of enteric flora aggravates the severity of UC. The effectiveness of probiotics might affect colon ability and viable bacteria also could promote the proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacteria. Prebiotics, such as herbal medicine, could lead to balance of intestinal bacteria or increase beneficial bacteria. So, proper choice of herbal medicine could control the intestinal condition. This study aimed to investigate the effect of mixture of probiotics and prebiotics (synbiotics) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in vivo. The synbiotics consist of Lactobacillus buchneri, Polymnia sonchifolia and Glycine max Merr. in this study. To evaluate the effect of synbiotics, 3% DSS was administered in BALB/c mice and synbiotics was daily administered for experimental days. The administration of synbiotics regulated colon length shortening, body weight change and disease activity index effectively. Also, extract of synbiotics upregulated survival ability of Lactobacillus buchneri in gut condition. These results suggest that mixture of probiotics and prebiotics, called as synbiotics, could influence intestinal condition also regulate the colon disease. Synbiotics might be a therapeutic agent for treatment of UC.