• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.257-261
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• 2013

${\alpha}$-Curcumene is one of the physiologically active components of Curcuma zedoaria, which is believed to perform anti-tumor activities, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-curcumene on the growth of human overian cancer, SiHa cells. Upon treatment with ${\alpha}$-curcumene, cell viability of SiHa cells was inhibited > 73% for 48 h incubation. ${\alpha}$-Curcumene treatment showed a characteristic nucleosomal DNA fragmentation pattern and the percentage of sub-diploid cells was increased in a concentration-dependent manner, hallmark features of apoptosis. Mitochondrial cytochrome c activation and an in vitro caspase-3 activity assay demonstrated that the activation of caspases accompanies the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-curcumene, which mediates cell death. These results suggest that the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-curcumene on SiHa cells may converge caspase-3 activation through the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 2012

This study investigated the hypoglycemic effect of the Padina arborescens extract in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Freeze-dried Padina arborescens were extracted with 80% methanol and concentrated for use in this study. The hypoglycemic effect was determined by inhibitory activities against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase as well as the alleviation of postprandial blood glucose level. Padina arborescens extracts showed higher inhibitory activities than acarbose, a positive control against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase. The $IC_{50}$ values of Padina arborescens extracts against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase were 0.26 and 0.23 mg/mL, respectively, which evidenced as more effective than observed with acarbose. The increase of postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly suppressed in the Padina arborescens extract administered group than the control group in the streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. Furthermore, the area under the curve (AUC) was significantly lowered via Padina arborescens extract administration in diabetic mice (p 0.05). These results indicated that the Padina arborescens extract might be used as an inhibitor of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase and delay absorption of dietary carbohydrates.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.391-398
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory and utero-relaxant effect of ${\alpha}$-bisabolol on the pregnant human myometrium. Samples from the pregnant human myometrium were used in functional tests to evaluate the inhibitory effect of ${\alpha}$-bisabolol (560, 860, 1,200 and $1,860{\mu}M$) on spontaneous myometrial contractions. The intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels generated in response to ${\alpha}$-bisabolol in human myometrial homogenates were measured by ELISA. The anti-inflammatory effect of ${\alpha}$-bisabolol was determined through the measurement of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$) and interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, in pregnant human myometrial explants stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Forskolin was used as a positive control to evaluate the cAMP and cytokine levels. ${\alpha}$-Bisabolol was found to induce a significant inhibition of spontaneous myometrial contractions at the highest concentration level (p<0.05). ${\alpha}$-Bisabolol caused a concentration-dependent decrease in myometrial cAMP levels (p<0.05) and a concentration-dependent decrease in LPS-induced $TNF{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ production, while IL-10 production did not increase significantly (p>0.05). The anti-inflammatory and utero-relaxant effects induced by ${\alpha}$-bisabolol were not associated with an increase in cAMP levels in pregnant human myometrial samples. These properties place ${\alpha}$-bisabolol as a potentially safe and effective adjuvant agent in cases of preterm birth, an area of pharmacological treatment that requires urgent improvement.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 1993

Antioxdant effect was studied in model system with linoleic acid methylester and tocochromanols $({\alpha}-,\;{\beta}-,\;{\gamma}-,\;{\delta}-tocopherol\;and \;{\alpha}-,\;{\gamma}-,\;{\delta}-tocotrienol)$ under definite autoxidation condition-temperature $(40,\;60,\;80^{\circ}C),\;O_2\;(0,\;10,\;20%\;O_2\;in\;N_2)$. 13-Hydroperoxy-9-cis-11-trans-, 13-hydroperoxy-9-trans-11-trans-, 9-hydroperoxy-10-trans-12-cis-, 9-hydroperoxy-10-trans-12-trans-octadecadienoic acid methylester as the major oxidation product were produced from linoleic acid methylester by autoxidation, analyzed with HPLC and antioxidant activities were compared by their quantitative changes. Experimental results showed that all added tocochromanols except ${\alpha}-tocotrienol$ had antioxidant effect at $60^{\circ}C$, and also ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, ${\alpha}-tocotrienol$ and ${\delta}-tocotrienol$ had prooxidant effect at $80^{\circ}C$. And cis/trans-hydroperoxide was predominantly produced at $40^{\circ}C$, but trans/trans-hydroperoxide at $80^{\circ}C$. Except no reproductive experimental data in produced hydroperoxides amount, the production ratio of cis/trans-:trans/trans-hydroperoxides in the autoxidation condition of range from $40^{\circ}C/10%,\;O_2\;to\;60^{\circ}C/20%\;O_2$ were as follows: ${\alpha}-T>{\alpha}-T_3>{\gamma}-T>{\beta}-T>{\gamma}-T_3>{\delta}-T>{\delta}-T_3$. This result showed that ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ among tocochromanols had the lowest antioxidant effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2014

Background: Nefopam has shown an analgesic effect on acute pain including postoperative pain. The reuptake of monoamines including serotonin and noradrenaline has been proposed as the mechanism of the analgesic action of nefopam, but it remains unclear. Although alpha-adrenergic agents are being widely used in the perioperative period, the role of noradrenergic modulation in the analgesic effect of nefopam has not been fully addressed. Methods: Changes in the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal (i.t.) nefopam against formalin-elicited flinching responses were explored in Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with i.t. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which depletes spinal noradrenaline. In addition, antagonism to the effect of nefopam by prazosin and yohimbine was evaluated to further elucidate the antinociceptive mechanism of i.t. nefopam. Results: Pretreatment with i.t. 6-OHDA alone did not alter the flinching responses in either phase of the formalin test, while it attenuated the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam significantly during phase 1, but not phase 2. The antagonist of the alpha-2 receptor, but not the alpha-1 receptor, reduced partially, but significantly, the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam during phase 1, but not during phase 2. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that spinal noradrenergic modulation plays an important role in the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam against formalin-elicited acute initial pain, but not facilitated pain, and this action involves the spinal alpha-2 but not the alpha-1 receptor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.381-385
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• 1992

The effect of antioxidant activity of soyasaponin on the liposomal phospholipid membrane were investigated by spectrophotometry. The oxidation index and oxidation rate of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ containing egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) liposomes were markedly decreased in the presence of soyasaponin relative to those of purephospholipid liposmes. ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ containing liposomes delayed the oxidation of liposomes. Especially soyasaponin stimulated the antioxidant activity of ${\alpha}-tocopheroal$ in liposomes. These results indicates that soyasaponin in liposomes had some additive effect on antioxidant of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ toward liposomes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2006

The effect(s) of the volatile oil (VO) of Nigella sativa and its two components, ${\alpha}-pinene$ and ${\rho}-cymene$ on body temperature of male and female conscious mice were studied. Further investigations to delineate the mechanism(s) of action of the observed effect(s) by using various blockers involved in the central regulation of body temperature were made. VO and ${\alpha}-pinene$ caused significant reductions in rectal body temperature at is and 30 minute after treatment. ${\rho}-cymene$ had negligible effect on body temperature of mice. Cyproheptadine inhibited VO and ${\alpha}-pinene-induced$ hypothermia significantly. Nalbuphine inhibited ${\alpha}-pinene-induced$ hypothermia significantly but did not affect VO-induced hypothermia. Droperidol potentiated VO and ${\alpha}-pinene-induced$ hypothermia to a non-significant level; whereas atropine potentiated VO-induced hypothermia non-significantly. The study confirms further the role of serotoninergic receptors in the mechanism(s) of the observed pharmacological effects of the VO of Nigella sativa. It also indicated a possible role of opioid receptors in ${\alpha}-pinene-induced$ hypothermia.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 1988

The effect of salts on the formation of ${\alpha}$-hemihydrated gypsum at boiling temperature under atmospheric pressure was studied by the solubility measurement method, and the formation of ${\alpha}$-hemihydrated gypsum from by-product gypsum of phosphoric acid process in the salts solution were investigated. The order of catalytic effect of salt on the formation of ${\alpha}$-hemihydrated gypsum are as follows: NH4Cl>NaCl>NaNO3. In the salts solution of sodium nitrate, sodium chloride, and ammonium chloride, prismatic ${\alpha}$-hemihydrated gypsum was obtained and the crystal form was converted to needle form in complex solution with sulfuric acid. The P2O5 content in gypsum was largely decreased in this atmosphoric solution process.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2007

It is well-known that Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has an immune activity and anticancer effect. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to examine whether this extract might activate human peripheral monocyte to produce tumor necrosis $factor-\alpha$ $(TNF-\alpha)$. To examine the effect of M11C on the production of $TNF-\alpha$ from monocyte, the monocyte were stimulated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated monocyte-conditioned media; MCM). MCM was treated to the $TNF-\alpha$ sensitive L929 cells, and then L929 cytotoxicity was measured by means of MTT. MCM had cytotoxic effect on L929. And the cytotoxic effect of MCM on L929 was almost abolished by $anti-TNF-\alpha$ antibody. These data indicated that MCM contained $TNF-\alpha$, suggesting the $TNF-\alpha$ generation from M11C-stimulated monocyte. This suggestion was confirmed from the data that $TNF-\alpha$ was highly detected in MCM by immunoblotting technique. M11C effect on $TNF-\alpha$ production from monocyte was in the dose and stimulating time dependent manners. Also the effect of M11C on the expression of $TNF-\alpha$ mRNA from monocyte was shown in the dose and stimulating time dependent manners. As a result, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, could be used for an immunostimulator.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.249-256
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• 1983

When the reaction rate constant k of phospholipase D on liposome was measured by the ANS fluorometry, k of phospholipase D on DMPC liposome which was made of L-$\alpha$-PI, cholesterol and L-$\alpha$-PS decreased than that of phospholipase D on DMPC liposome with cholesterol or with PI and cholesterol. Optimal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, the most important factor on effect of phospholipase D, also decreased to 1mM, as compared with 10mM and 60mM respectively when cholesterol and PI were added, and cholesterol only was added. The change of cholesterol Mol% had a great influence on k value of phospholipase D. But in case of addition of L-$\alpha$-PS to cholesterol, the influence was relatively diminished.