• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2010

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and chitosan have been used as matrix materials to support the dermal part of skin equivalent which is used for both pharmacological and toxicological evaluations of drugs potentially used for dermatological diseases. However, their biological roles of GAGs and chitosan in the skin equivalent are still unknown. In the present study, we evaluated whether GAGs and chitosan directly affect keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) and their transit-amplifying cells (TA cells). Among supporting matrix materials, chitosan significantly increased the number of ${\alpha}6$ $integrin^{high}/CD71^{high}$ human keratinocyte TA cells by 48.5%. In quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis, chitosan significantly increased CD71 and CD200 gene transcription whereas not ${\alpha}6$ integrin. In addition, the level of the gene transcription of both keratin 1 (K1) and K10 in the chitosan-treated human keratinocytes was significantly lower than those of control, suggesting that chitosan inhibit keratinocyte differentiation. We also found that N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG) and $\beta$-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (D-glc), two components of chitosan, have no effect on the expression of CD71, K1, and K10, suggesting that each monomer component of chitosan is not enough to regulate the number of epidermal keratinocyte lineage. Conclusively, chitosan increases keratinocyte TA cell population which may contribute to the cellular mass expansion of the epidermal part of a skin equivalent system.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.685-699
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) has long been known as a medicinal herb effective in various diseases, including bronchitis and asthma, but is still more widely used for food. Fermentation methods are being applied to increase the pharmacological composition of PG extracts and commercialize them with high added value. This study examines the hydrolyzed and fermented PG extract (HFPGE) fermented with Lactobacillus casei in RAW 264.7 cells, and investigates the effect of amplifying the immune and the probable molecular mechanism. MATERIALS/METHODS: HFPGE's total phenolic, flavonoid, saponin, and platycodin D contents were analyzed by colorimetric analysis or high-performance liquid chromatography. Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay. Phagocytic activity was analyzed by a phagocytosis assay kit, nitric oxide (NO) production by a Griess reagent system, and cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cytokines were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, whereas MAPK and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation were analyzed by Western blots. RESULTS: Compared to PGE, HFPGE was determined to contain 13.76 times and 6.69 times higher contents of crude saponin and platycodin D, respectively. HFPGE promoted cell proliferation and phagocytosis in RAW 264.7 cells and regulated the NO production and iNOS expression. Treatment with HFPGE also resulted in increased production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand10, granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and the mRNA expressions of these cytokines. HFPGE also resulted in significantly increasing the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results imply that fermentation and hydrolysis result in the extraction of more active ingredients of PG. Furthermore, we determined that HFPGE exerts immunostimulatory activity via the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.235-246
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• 2018

Paeony has pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-bacterial, central inhibitory, gastric secretion inhibition, and antispasmodic activities. In addition, its antioxidant activity and whitening effect being reported, thus it is being explored as raw materials for cosmetics. We compared the changes in the contents of paeoniflorin and paeonol in Peony extracts, depending on the changes of extracting solvents, temperature and time. The HPLC method was set up for simultaneous analysis, the system suitabilities were confirmed by using the calibration curves and the QC samples for each assay batch. Paeonol was detected only in roots, and paeoniflorin was higher in leaf and flower than root. Higher concentrations of both ingredients were extracted when the root was used after grinding to a suitable size, and when 30% 1,3-butylene glycol was used as the extraction solvent. Also the concentrations tended to increase at higher temperature and longer time, but the increase was gradual at over $75^{\circ}C$ and 4 hours. The ratio of root, leaf and flower was determined to be 2+2+1g/0.5kg of batch, reaching the contents criteria of paeoniflorin and paeonol. Finally, we selected as the best extraction condition when the raw materials are mixed with 2+2+1g/0.5kg and extracted with 30% 1,3-butylene glycol as an extraction solvent at $75^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours, considering both the concentrations of two components and the cost of raw materials and manufacturing process, The extraction units were scaled up to 10 kg under this condition.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.408-419
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK), the main active metabolite in Panax ginseng, has shown good safety and bioavailability in clinical trials and exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemic stroke. However, its potential role in the prevention of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of ginsenoside CK against cerebral I/R injury. Methods: We used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, including oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion induced PC12 cell model and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion induced rat model, to mimic I/R injury. Intracellular oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rate were analyzed by Seahorse multifunctional energy metabolism system; ATP production was detected by luciferase method. The number and size of mitochondria were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and MitoTracker probe combined with confocal laser microscopy. The potential mechanisms of ginsenoside CK on mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy were evaluated by RNA interference, pharmacological antagonism combined with co-immunoprecipitation analysis and phenotypic analysis. Results: Ginsenoside CK pretreatment could attenuate mitochondrial translocation of DRP1, mitophagy, mitochondrial apoptosis, and neuronal bioenergy imbalance against cerebral I/R injury in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our data also confirmed that ginsenoside CK administration could reduce the binding affinity of Mul1 and Mfn2 to inhibit the ubiquitination and degradation of Mfn2, thereby elevating the protein level of Mfn2 in cerebral I/R injury. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that ginsenoside CK may be a promising therapeutic agent against cerebral I/R injury via Mul1/Mfn2 mediated mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy.