• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.955-964
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• 2023

Bee pollen is a valuable apitherapeutic product and has been known to have diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anticancer activity. However, its effect on the immune system is not well studied and is rather controversial. This study intended to elucidate the biological activity of bee pollen on immunity. For this purpose, we used lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding, which shows increased extraction of bioactive components and enhanced biological activity. First, lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding significantly increased the proliferation of splenocytes isolated from normal mice. On the other hand, lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding dose-dependently reversed splenocyte proliferation by concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide. To clarify the activity of bee pollen on immunity lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding was administered daily to mice for five weeks and isolated splenocytes. In this study, there was no significant difference in the population of immune cells and the size of spleen between bee pollen- and sterile water-treated groups. However, proliferation of splenocyte isolated from bee pollen-administered animals was boosted by both concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. Finally, kaempferol, a well-known flavonoid from bee pollen, dose-dependently increased splenocyte proliferation by both Con A and LPS. On the other hand, naringenin, another flavonoid in the bee pollen, dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of splenocytes by Con A and LPS. Together, these data indicate that bee pollen may be able to prime the immunity to boost immune reaction after inflammation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.280-284
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• 2010

During liver fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) undergo a complex activation process characterized by increased proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition, which is the major pathological feature of hepatic cirrhosis. Therefore, suppression of HSCs activation has been proposed as therapeutic strategies for hepatic fibrosis. We tried to screen the antifibrotic activity of natural products employing HSC-T6, hepatic stellate cell lines as an in vitro assay system. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of aerial parts and roots of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai (Ranunculaceae). Our present study shows that roots of P. koreana exerted more strong inhibitory activity compared to its aerial parts. In addition, among the fractions of the aqueous methanolic extract of P. koreana roots, both n-hexane and $CHCl_3$ fraction showed the strong inhibitory activity on HSC proliferation. Further study also demonstrated that the n-hexane and $CHCl_3$ fraction of P. koreana roots significantly inhibited the HSC proliferation in time- and concentration-related manners.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2009

${\beta}ig$-h3, is a TGF-${\beta}$-induced gene product, extracellular matrix protein with 68 kDa MW(683 amino acids) and has been known for its possible roles in cell adhesion, spreading, migration and proliferation. To minimize a proteolytic degradation of ${\beta}ig$-h3, ${\beta}ig$-h3 incorporated chitosan sponge was prepared and its effects on fibroblast adhesion and migration were investigated. And its wound healing efficacy was evaluated in deep 2nd degree burn rabbit ear wound model. ${\beta}ig$-h3 enhanced fibroblast adhesion and proliferation. In histological observation, a significant over-proliferation of epidermal regeneration was observed in ${\beta}ig$-h3/chitosan dressing applied wound while epidermal regeneration was not proceeded yet in chitosan only treated wound. ${\beta}ig$-h3/sponge dressing could enhance epidermal regeneration.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.216-220
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• 2011

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) characterized by increased proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition is identified as the major pathological feature of hepatic cirrhosis. Therefore, suppression of HSC activation has been proposed as an important antifibrotic therapeutic strategy. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of root barks of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Ulmaceae) by employing HSC-T6 hepatic stellate cells as an in vitro assay system. Further investigation of the n-hexane and $CHCl_3$ fractions of root barks of U. davidiana var japonica led to the isolation of six triterpenoids: friedelin (1), epifridelanol (2), oleanolic acid (3), maslinic acid (4), ${\beta}$-amyrin (5) and ${\alpha}$-amyrin (6), together with ${\beta}$-sitosterol (7) and daucosterol (8). Among these compounds, 2, 3 and 4 significantly inhibited HSC proliferation. In addition, 4 inhibited HSC proliferation in time- and concentration-related manners, via a partially direct toxic effect, as assessed by morphological changes and release of lactate dehydrogenase.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.118-121
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• 2008

Manassantin B, a dilignan isolated from Saururus chinensis, significantly inhibited proliferation in HSC-T6 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. In addition, treatment of HSC-T6 cells with manassantin B changed cell morphology from flattened myofibroblastic membranous morphology, representing activation state, to slender shape, representing quiescent state. Furthermore, manassantin B effectively reduced collagen content in HSC-T6 cells. These results suggested that manassantin B exerted antifibrotic activity in HSCT6 cells, in part, via inhibition of cell proliferation and decrease of collagen production.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2000

Effects of red ginseng acidic polysaccharides (RGAP) on immune system were studied. The proliferation of spleen cells was induced by RGAP treatment per se. Cotreatment of lipopolysaccharide $(100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ or concanavalin A $(1\;{\mu}g/ml)$ with RGAP further stimulated the spleen cell proliferation. BALB/c mice treated with RGAP showed a slight splenic hyperplasia and increased antibody forming cell response to sheep red blood cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed an influx of macrophages in the mice treated with RGAP.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 2009

A novel gastric ulcer healing formulation, a mixture of Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Halloysitum Rubrum and Ostreae Testa (Dihaos), was examined for gastric ulcer healing effects. The effect of Dihaos was assessed in various gastric ulcer models in rats. Oral administration of Dihaos significantly reduced HCl-ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. Dihaos also significantly reduced gastric and duodenal ulcers induced by cysteamine. Ostreae Testa decreased secretion of gastric juice and increased the pH of gastric juice. Furthermore, the extracts of Dioscoreae Rhizoma affected the cell proliferation of MKN 74 cells. These results suggest that the healing effect of Dihaos on gastrohemorrhagic lesions results from its protective effect against acid secretion and proliferation of mucosal cells in induced gastric ulcers in rats.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.214-216
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• 2006

Isorhamnetin from the aerial parts of Persicaria thunbergii has been reported to have anti-tumor activity mediated by the inhibition of farnesyl protein transferase. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferation effects of isorhamnetin on NIH3T3, K-RAS, H-RAS and SW620 cells, and it showed anti-proliferative effects in a dose-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ value 4.1, 7.9, 20.2, and $22.4{\mu}g/ml$, repectively.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2003

Bisphenol A shares similarities in structure, metabolism and action with DES, a known human teratogen and carcinogen. Bisphenol A, a monomer of polycarbonate and epoxy resins, has been detected in canned food and human saliva. The purpose of the this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity, cell proliferation of bisphenol A In the presence of a rat liver S9 mix, contaning cytochrome P450 enzymes, and Cu (II). In the present study, Bisphenol A in combination with Cu (II) exhibited a enhancement in cytotoxicity which were inhibited by free radical scavengers. The content of malondialdehyde, an end product of lipid peroxidation, was also found to increase with concentration of bisphenol A. Also, we examined the change of CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD, catalase and GPx activities in the MCF-7 cells exposed to bisphenol A. The activities of CuZn-SOD, CPx, catalase were found to decrease with bisphenol A concentration. Meanwhile, the activity of Mn-SOD was unchanged. This indicated that elevated oxidative stress caused by imbalance between the production and removal of free radicals occurred in cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2019

Eucommiae Cortex (EC), bark of Eucommia ulmoides, has been known as a traditional medicine to regulate hypertension and immune system. Because silk of gum in the EC blocks the release of active ingredients, EC generally has been utilized after processing with carbonization or salt-water to breakdown it. This study aimed to investigate the differences of non-processed EC and processed EC on antioxidant and anticancer properties. Antioxidant capacity was assessed by measuring the content of total polyphenols, reducing power, and ABTS radical scavenging effect. And anticancer effects were examined by evaluating the viability of pancreatic cancer cells and wound healing ability. The results demonstrated that processed EC contained more content of polyphenols and exhibited more potent reducing power and radical scavenging effect than non-processed EC. In addition, processed EC more efficiently inhibited proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. These results suggest that processing of medicinal plants can improve the biological properties such as antioxidant or anticancer activity, which may lead to the development of herbal medicine treatment technology.