• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.1547-1552
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• 2022

β-Amyrin is a pentacyclic triterpene widely distributed in leaves and stems worldwide. The ability of β-amyrin to induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in microorganisms suggests its potential as an antimicrobial agent. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the antibacterial mode of action of β-amyrin. We treated Escherichia coli cells with β-amyrin and found that it triggered ROS accumulation. Excessive stress caused by ROS, particularly hydroxyl radicals, induces glutathione (GSH) dysfunction. GSH protects cells from oxidative and osmotic stresses; thus, its dysfunction leads to membrane depolarization. The resultant change in membrane potential leads to the release of apoptotic proteins, such as caspases. The activated caspases-like protein promotes the cleavage of DNA into single strands, which is a hallmark of apoptosis-like death in bacteria. Apoptotic cells usually undergo events such as DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure, differentiating them from necrotic cells, and the cells treated with β-amyrin in this study were positive for annexin V and negative for propidium iodide, indicating apoptosis-like death. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the antibacterial mode of action of β-amyrin involves the induction of ROS, which resulted in apoptosis-like death in E. coli.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.675-681
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• 2015

β amyloid protein (Aβ) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and possibly in Aβ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Aβ can directly cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Overproduction of ROS is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration of AD. Here, we investigated 9 kinds of ramie (Boehmeria nivea, (L.) Gaud., BN; hereafter denoted as BN) for their protective action against oxidative stress in a cellular system using C6 glial cells. We observed loss of cell viability and high levels of ROS generation after treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and Aβ_25-35. However, treatments with BN extracts led to an increase in cell viability and decrease in ROS production induced by H2O2 and Aβ25-35. In particular, the extracts of BN-01 (seobang variety from Seocheon) and BN-09 (local variety from Yeonggwang) showed excellent anti-oxidative properties. This indicates that BN extracts could prevent neurodegeneration by reducing oxidative stress in cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.519-528
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• 2019

Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and oxidative stress in cells. On the other hand, modulation of the cellular antioxidant defense system by changes in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content is largely unknown. To determine the relationship between the cellular mtDNA content and defense system against oxidative stress, this study examined a set of myoblasts containing a depleted or reverted mtDNA content. A change in the cellular mtDNA content modulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes in myoblasts. In particular, the expression and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase were inversely correlated with the mtDNA content in myoblasts. The depletion of mtDNA decreased both the reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) slightly, whereas the cellular redox status, as assessed by the GSH/GSSG ratio, was similar to that of the control. Interestingly, the steady-state level of the intracellular ROS, which depends on the reciprocal actions between ROS generation and detoxification, was reduced significantly and the lethality induced by $H_2O_2$ was alleviated by mtDNA depletion in myoblasts. Therefore, these results suggest that the ROS homeostasis and antioxidant enzymes are modulated by the cellular mtDNA content and that the increased expression and activity of GPx and catalase through the depletion of mtDNA are closely associated with an alleviation of the oxidative stress in myoblasts.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.631-638
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• 2009

GLEDITSIAE SPINA (GS) has been used as folk remedies traditionally for treatment of antiphlogistic and antifebrile agents. An ethanol extract and its fraction of GS were assessed to determine the mechanism of its antioxidant activity. Also, inhibitory effect of extract from GS and its fraction measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. GS ethanol extract and its fraction exhibited a concentration-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) scavenging activities, including trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), OPPH radical, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals, peroxynitrite and nitric oxide, using different assay systems. Furthermore, the GS ethanol extract and its fraction showed dose-dependent protection of LDL oxidation induced by $CuSO_4$. In addition, the GS ethanol extract and its fraction were characterized as containing a high amount of total phenolics. These results suggest that GS ethanol extract and its fraction might be helpful for preventing oxidative stress and protecting LDL oxidation.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.193-198
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• 2014

Degradation of glucose is aberrantly increased in hyperglycemia, which causes various harmful effects on the liver. Methylglyoxal is produced during glucose degradation and the levels of methylglyoxal are increased in diabetes patients. In this study we investigated whether methylglyoxal induces mitochondrial impairment and apoptosis in HepG2 cells and induces liver toxicity in vivo. Methylglyoxal caused apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells. Moreover, methylglyoxal significantly promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depleted glutathione (GSH) content. Pretreatment with antioxidants caused a marked decrease in methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis, indicating that oxidant species are involved in the apoptotic process. Methylglyoxal treatment induced mitochondrial permeability transition, which represents mitochondrial impairment. However, pretreatment with cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the formation of the permeability transition pore, partially inhibited methylglyoxal-induced cell death. Furthermore, acute treatment of mice with methylglyoxal increased the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), indicating liver toxicity. Collectively, our results showed that methylglyoxal increases cell death and induces liver toxicity, which results from ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.289-296
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• 2019

We investigated the mortality and the oxidative damages of Deschampsia antarctica in response to waterlogging stress. In field, we compared the changes in the density of D. antarctica tuft at the two different sites over 3 years. The soil water content at site 2 was 6-fold higher than that of site 1, and the density of D. antarctica tuft decreased significantly by 55.4% at site 2 for 3 years, but there was no significant change at site 1. Experimental results in growth chamber showed that the $H_2O_2$ and malondialdehyde content increased under root-flooding treatment (hypoxic conditions-deficiency of $O_2$), but any significant change was not perceptible under the shoot-flooding treatment (anoxic condition-absence of $O_2$). However, total chlorophyll, soluble sugar, protein content, and phenolic compound decreased under the shoot-flooding treatment. In addition, the catalase activity increased significantly on the 1st day of flooding. These results indicate that hypoxic conditions may lead to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and anoxic conditions can deplete primary metabolites such as sugars and protein in the leaf tissues of D. antarctica. Under present warming trend in Antarctic Peninsula, D. antarctica tuft growing near the shoreline might more frequently experience flooding due to glacier melting and inundation of seawater, which can enhance the risk of this plant mortality.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.103-118
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• 2008

Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some ROS, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are normally produced in cells as by-products of biochemical reactions or as signaling molecules. When ROS-generating reactions are activated excessively, pathological quantities of ROS are released to create an imbalance between antioxidants and ROS, called as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which may result in cellular damage, has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative conditions. In humans the first line of antioxidant defence are the antioxidant enzymes, especially SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and to a lesser extent catalase, as well as the tripeptide glutathione(GSH). These enzymes will help destroy ROS(reactive oxygen species) such as hydroxyl radical, $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxides, while GSH protects against oxidized protein. Many herbal medicines possess antioxidant properties. Herbal antioxidants may protect against these diseases by contributing to the total antioxidant defense system of the human body. Here, many herbal medicines including Ginseng, Licorice, Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Ginkgo biloba and many others was reviewed in terms of anti-oxidant efficiency related to their components.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제42권5호
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• pp.523-532
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• 2014

This study was done to evaluate the antioxidant effect of oak hot water extracts on the oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The cytotoxicity of $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress was performed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for the cell viability according to the dose-dependent treatment. Oak extracts demonstrated a dose-dependent ability to inhibit $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis in cultured tenofibroblasts, as assessed by MTT assay and FACS analysis. $H_2O_2$ increased the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, treatment with oak extracts was decreased this activation of ERK1/2 and JNK, as confirmed by western blot analysis, and reduced the production of ROS, as verified by fluorescent microscopic and flow cytometry (FACS) analyses. These findings suggest that oak extracts, by suppressing JNK, ERK1/2, and intracellular ROS production, have a concentration-dependent antiapoptotic effect on achilles tenofibroblasts exposed to an oxidative stressor, and may have therapeutic potential.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.685-689
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• 2006

In order to examine the injury of vascular endothelial cells related with oxidative stress of reactive oxygen species(ROS), mophological changes of vascular endothelial cells were observed by light microscope after bovine pulmonary vascular endothelial cell line (BPVEC) was treated with 15 uM of hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the effect of vitamin E against ROS-induced oxidative stress was examined by light microscope. In this study, the cell number of BPVEC treated with ROS has significantly decreased than that of control, and the loss of cytoplasmic processes and cell swelling were observed in BPVEC treated with ROS. Whereas, cell number of BPVEC treated with vitamin E has significantly increased than that of BPVEC treated with ROS and also, cytoplasmic processes of BPVEC treated with vitamin E were preserved as control. These findings suggested that not only did ROS induce damage of BPVES by decrease of cell number, loss of cytoplasmic processes and cell swelling, but vitamin E also has protective effect against ROS-induced oxidative stress in cultures of BPVEC.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.118-122
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• 2007

We have studied the cytoprotective effect on H$_2$O$_2$ induced oxidative stress from leaves of Carpinus tschonoskii. The methanol extract of Carpinus tschonoskii was found to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) using flow cytometry and confocal microscope. This extract prevented lipid peroxidation and thus reduced cell death of Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) induced by H$_2$O$_2$ treatment. The extract increased catalase activity and phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK). Taken together, the results suggest that Carpinus tschonoskii protects V79-4 cells against oxidative damage by H$_2$O$_2$ through scavenging ROS.