• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.568-573
• /
• 2015

Arabis glabra is a localized common rhizomatous flowering plant, This plant is often used in Korean traditional systems of medicine as a remedy for blood cleaning, detoxification, abscess, gastrospasm, arthritis, contraction and diarrhea. Generally drugs that are used for arthritis have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, validity of the anti-inflammatory activity has not been scientifically investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of A. glabra using the ethanolic extract and its sub-fractions. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) on RAW 264.7macrophages. Our results indicated that hexane and chloroform fraction significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO and PGE₂ production in the cells. The hexane fraction inhibitory activity for NO tests with IC₅₀ values showed in 21.0 ㎍/㎖. The chloroform fraction inhibitory activity for PGE₂ tests with IC₅₀ values showed in 18.0 ㎍/㎖. These efficacy are expected to be able to present the potential for the development of health functional food for the prevention inflammatory diseases because it has sufficient preventive medical possibilities. Further, it is determined that it is necessary to further study the mechanism of cytokine and protein expression associated with inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.12
• /
• pp.1835-1842
• /
• 2014

Various microorganisms are involved in the fermentation of Mageoli, Korean traditional liquor. Among them, the most predominant microorganism is yeast, including Saccharomyces cerevisae. This study investigated the effects of crude polysaccharides separated from Mageoli mash (CP-M) on activation of peritoneal macrophages in cell culture medium. Four types of yeasts, S. cerevisae 89-1-1, 98-2, 268-3, and 113-4, were used. When peritoneal macrophages were treated with $10{\mu}g/mL$ of CP-M fermented with S. cerevisae 113-4, the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium was highest ($33.3{\mu}M$). The concentrations of IL-6 and -12 were also highest at 116.3 pg/mL and 59.8 pg/mL, respectively. In the case of CP-M cultured at 15, 20, and $30^{\circ}C$ after inoculation with S. cerevisae 113-4 and fermented at different temperatures, production of NO and IL-6 by peritoneal macrophages did not change compared to the control. For CP-M obtained after fermentation at $25^{\circ}C$, however, NO concentration increased 2.7~3.3 fold and IL-6 concentration by 5.7 fold compared to the control. Furthermore, the effect of fermentation period on expression of CP-M functionality was examined. NO production by CP-M of the 5th day mash was highest, increasing 2.2 fold compared to 0-day CP-M. However, there were no significant differences in concentration of IL-6 or -12 according to different fermentation periods, although CP-M showed a large decrease after 10 days. The results show that fermentation conditions with the highest activity were observed in CP-M inoculated with S. cerevisae 113-4 and fermented at $25^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. CP-M consisted of 78.6% neutral sugar, 11.6% acidic polysaccharide, and 9.8% protein. In particular, the sugar composition of neutral sugar consisted of mannose (47.8%), glucose (29.6%), and galactose (12.7%). Based on the results, CP-M is assumed to be an extracellular polysaccharide originating in yeast with high mannose content.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.417-425
• /
• 2017

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson is distributed in China and Korea, and the fruit of C. monnieri is used as traditional Chinese medicine to treat carbuncle and pain in female genitalia. In this study, we examined the anti-proliferation and cell cycle arrest effects of ethanol extracts from C. monnieri (CME) in AGS gastric cancer cells. Our results show that CME suppressed cell proliferation and induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in AGS cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and LDH assay. Cell morphology was altered by CME in a dose-dependent manner. In order to identify the cell cycle arrest effects of CME, we investigated cell cycle analysis after CME treatment. In our results, CME induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Protein kinase B (Akt) plays a major role in cell survival mechanisms such as growth, division, and metastasis. Akt protein regulates various downstream proteins such as glycogen synthase kinase-$3{\beta}$ (GSK-$3{\beta}$) and tumor protein p53 (p53). Expression levels of p-Akt, p-GSK-$3{\beta}$, p53, p21, cyclin E, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) were determined by Western blot analysis. Protein levels of p-Akt, p-GSK-$3{\beta}$, and cyclin E were reduced while those of p53, p21, and p-CDK2 (T14/Y15) were elevated by CME. Moreover, treatment with CME, LY294002 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitor), BIO (GSK-$3{\beta}$ inhibitor), and Pifithrin-${\alpha}$ (p53 inhibitor) showed that cell cycle arrest effects were mediated through regulation of the Akt/GSK-$3{\beta}$/p53 signaling pathway. These results suggest that CME induces cell cycle arrest at G1 phase via the Akt/GSK-$3{\beta}$/p53 signaling pathway in AGS gastric cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 2007.12a
• /
• pp.57-58
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.9
• /
• pp.1346-1353
• /
• 2011

Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in oriental regions since ancient times. In this study, the effect and mechanism of the MeOH extract of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep (STME) on adipocite differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocites were investigated. Treatment with STME in the concentration range of 0-200 ${\mu}g$/ml significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocites in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by a decrease in intracellular lipid droplets and lipid contents measured by Oil Red O staining. In association with the inhibitory effect of lipid accumulation, the expressions of the proteins concerned with adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocites were also investigated. Treatment with STME reduced the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$), cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ (C/EBP${\alpha}$ and C/EBP${\beta}$) and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), which are adipocyte specific markers. In flow cytometry analysis, the inhibitory effect of differentiation was caused by G1 arrest and following mitotic clonal expansion cease. Therefore, we also investigated the alteration of G1 phase arrest-related proteins. As a result, the expression of p21 protein was significantly increased, while the expressions of Cdk2, E2F-1 and phospho-Rb were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in STME treated 3T3-L1 cells. According to these results, STME might inhibit differentiation through G1 arrest in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes adipogenesis, and further studies, which are in progress, have to be completed to identify the active compounds.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
• /
• s.36
• /
• pp.189-215
• /
• 2014

Since the launching of in 1963, a large amount of outstanding cartoons had been produced in China by the year 1980. During this period of time, international reputation was achieved with the extremely full expression and characteristic stories originated from Chinese culture. Decades of cartoons were produced ever year benefiting from support of the government in the last years. However, the quality and in fluence power dropped down comparing with the increasing productivity. The outward followed by examples of successful international box office most of the animation made in China. These cartoons did not obtain admitting internationally, or disclose any traditional speciality of China, although the domestic box office is considered to be fairly successful. The key factors to the successful cases should be analysed and researched rather than simply estimating, in order to achieve both artistic and commercial success. Factor of humor, as a key element of a successful cartoon is proposed in this thesis. Prior to the discussion, a general definition of humor factor is described through Henri Bergson's comedy concept, based on which the key factors of humor will be analysed. A classification system would be derived and introduced as a tool for the analysis of humor factors. According to Henri Bergson, Humor is determined by circumstance, language and character factors. Humor factors are divided into visual, scene and acoustic factors in this research taking the Speciality of cartoon media into consideration. It is the speciality that, in addition to the visual and language factors, multiple acoustic elements are also introduced in such a presentation pattern. This classification system would be considerably applicable to the analysis of humor factors in Chinese cartoons. In this study, around the year 2000 to share the Chinese animation masterpiece were analyzed by selecting and , and . This discussion about key factors of humor is likely to be beneficial to the development of Chinese Cartoons in the future.

• Archives of design research
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.221-230
• /
• 2004

Design textbooks for general education bring our attention to the education of design as a part of whole education. In this vein, this thesis tried to analyze and discuss on the current status of design education contents included in the 7th educational curriculum of the Art & Life. This study had a historical review of the contents of arts education as well as a review of theoretical contents in art education. Also this thesis analyzed five types of Art & Life text books currently used at high schools with weight given to the design and to the status of pictorial coverage in the text books. Finally, the thesis presented problems of design education through a comparative analysis of high school arts education and design education. Through the analysis, inequality of design contents in education was reported. It was clearly attributable to the backgrounds of text book writers. For example, authors with graphic design backgrounds tended to lack product and environment design concepts, while hand craft section of text books all showed a biased contents towards traditional Korean arts. In the analysis of pictorial coverage, similar to the composition of academic contents, coverage was concentrated in the graphic design areas; inequality in quantity of pictures found with a ratio of 1 to 4. In terms of areas of arts, design contents in text books were concentrated only in arts creation chapters among the 3 major areas of arts appreciation, understanding, and creation. Design education is attained in an atmosphere of creativity and the provision of ample teaching material. It is because diverse contents will generate the development of arts. When compared to design education curriculum of U.S. and Japan, these creativity put their focus of design education in the understanding and emotional contacts, so that every application is easily attained. In terms of expression learning, creativity and diversity of material are emphasized. From Kindergarten to middle, and high school periods, apparently the care contents of deign is emphasized. A textbook in the 7th education curriculum is one of the sources for education. In designing text books, learning process should be emphasized following subjects and natures of arts so that creativity can be achieved. Therefore, a systematic approach for design research and educational development for material would be needed in textbook design.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1397-1403
• /
• 2013

Fructus Sophorae, the dried ripe fruit of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.), is an herbal ingredient used in traditional Oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Fructus Sophorae extracts (FSE) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and tumor necrotic $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were evaluated. Our data revealed that FSE increased the macrophage activation and the production of $PGE_2$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$, which was consistently correlated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. On comparative cytokine protein array, FSE significantly increased several cytokines, which was associated with phosphorylation of mitogen- activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Akt in RAW 264.7 cells. However, each inhibitor of these molecules attenuated the FSE-induced $PGE_2$ production. These results indicate that FSE activated macrophages through the activation of MAPKs and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that FSE may provide a promising source of an immunoenhancing agent.

• The Critical Review of Religion and Culture
• /
• no.31
• /
• pp.255-287
• /
• 2017

This paper analyzes the religious circuit of suicidal concept based on verbal expression and ritual acts, which are found in the suicide discourse of Korean Catholic Church and Protestant Church. In the relationship of suicide and religion, it is easily overlooked the religious circuit and its construction that forms the concept of suicide among the religious laymen. It is assumed that the belief system of traditional religions prohibits suicide and the laymen accordingly construct a perception or concept of suicide along with this belief system. Various studies on this subject have proved it. However, in order to understand the religious way of constructing the concept of suicide on a personal level, it is necessary to pay attention to the religious environment in which the concepts and emotions of suicide circulate. The laymen do not passively and perfectly accept the finely established suicide concept provided by the doctrine or the theology. Rather, the laymen tend to collect the pieces of concept over the suicide that are drifting in the religious environment of his/her daily routine life and to make an concept of suicide in an incomplete form. We can find the unstable and imperfect traits of such a suicide concept through the experience of suicide survivors who have a religious background. For the suicide survivors with religious beliefs, they resist the formal doctrinal and theological provisions to suicide, or try to understand the notion of suicide in their own contexts. In terms of linguistic expressions and ritual acts relating to suicide, the attentions are differently directed in the public and the private domain among the religious groups. Considering on the high rates of suicide in Korean society, the Korean Catholic Churches are increasingly tolerant over the suicide and accept it in the public sphere. It is unlikely when comparing to the negative attitudes of the suicide in the past. However, such tolerance does not go beyond the doctrinal and ethical judgment that defines suicide as a serious sin. The once-committed lay believer's speech and gestures usually contain the various emotions, such as sadness, grief, anxiety, regretfulness, eagerness, and pain in the private spheres. The language and gestures with these emotions have been activated in the religious circuits of suicide, being extended to the religious apparatus for the person who died of suicide. In case of Protestantism, the institutional organizations, such as the particular denominations and the individual-churchism of the Korean Protestant Churches, and their own interpretations of the Bible have in the private sphere strongly effected on the linguistic expressions and the rituals related to the suicide. The religious-ethical judgment of the suicide is varied how the suicide is interpreted by the theologians and the pastors. And the ritual acts for healing the complex feelings and the psychological wounds of the suicide survivors are not actively explored and adopted yet. It makes harder to approach and heal the protestant followers since they emphasize the innermost belief and the salvation assurance faith.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
• /
• no.32
• /
• pp.309-336
• /
• 2011

There were various linking points that connect Li xue(Neo-Confucianism) to aesthetics in Song Dynasty as following. 1. The traditional moral as "pursuing pleasure of Kong-zi and Yan Hui" 2. Esteem of "life and vitality". Scholars of Li xue in Song regarded the pleasure of acting up to "benevolence" as a beauty, and this benevolence originated in the "heaven and earth; the universe". "Benevolence", that is to say, is name of the nature that continuous reproduction breed in an endless succession by "Yin-Yang the universe", thus the natural "life and vitality" of the "heaven and earth" as the matter of course is the perfect beauty. 3. An idea of "serene contemplation". Originally the "serene contemplation" belongs to discipline of "Li xue", however simultaneously this conception was entirely applicable to aesthetic point of view. 4. Cosmological consciousness. In the same manner, the "pleasure" which is moralistic and moreover aesthetic is indivisible from cosmic contemplation itself. Because of this point, the art and aesthetics of Song Dynasty self-consciously had the cosmological consciousness in its fullness. 5. Respect of beauty of nature. Scholars of "Li xue" considered as : no matter what "Li" or "Qi" that producing all things is "coming of itself", that is by no means artificially operated or prearranged in advance. Such standpoint was applied to creative art and made art of Song Dynasty esteem beauty of nature (coming of itself) exceedingly. 6. Laying stress on "disposition". Scholars of "Li xue" ordinarily valued much of "disposition of a sage", consequently this tendency influenced on aesthetics. "disposition" indicates the whole impression that one who has appearance and the inside(personality, temper, thought, etc.) gives to others. By putting that impression into practice of art and literature, it is to materialize the works of art as a unity of form and subject, also as an expression of human existence that breathed into one's sensibility on the whole. 7. Principles of "completing inquiry", "study the laws of nature by close access" of "Li xue". These principles made art and literature of Song Dynasty take a serious view of "Li" of all over the universe, so made them close investigate things, and after all have achieved very remarkable characteristic in art and literature, especially in paintings of Song Dynasty. Theory of painting in Song Dynasty had occupied considerably high position in Chinese aesthetic history. It was positively superior to former generations no matter what in quantity or in theoretical minuteness and its systematic level. Undoubtedly the Chinese theory of painting had been achieving development time after time since Song Dynasty. However if we could make a comparison it with every single period (ex. Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties), there is no prominent period than Song Dynasty in theory of paintings. Song period had number of essays of Landscape painting.