• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.568-575
• /
• 2018

In order to discover lifespan-extending compounds made from natural resources, activity-guided fractionation of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) ethanol extract was performed using the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model system. The compound 6-gingerol was isolated from the most active ethyl acetate soluble fraction, and showed potent longevity-promoting activity. It also elevated the survival rate of worms against stressful environment including thermal, osmotic, and oxidative conditions. Additionally, 6-gingerol elevated the antioxidant enzyme activities of C. elegans, and showed a dose-depend reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in worms. Further studies demonstrated that the increased stress tolerance of 6-gingerol-mediated worms could result from the promotion of stress resistance proteins such as heat shock protein (HSP-16.2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD-3). The lipofuscin levels in 6-gingerol treated intestinal worms were decreased in comparison to the control group. No significant 6-gingerol-related changes, including growth, food intake, reproduction, and movement were noted. These results suggest that 6-gingerol exerted longevity-promoting activities independently of these factors and could extend the human lifespan.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 2000

Experiments initiated 30 years ago to obtain selectable markers have led to a series of studies of Trp biosynthesis and anthranilate synthase (AS) the control enzyme using largely plant tissue cultures since they have experimental properties that can be readily exploited. Enzymological and compound feeding studies provided evidence that AS is the control point in the Trp biosynthesis branch and that altering the AS feedback control by the selection of mutants resistant to the Trp analog 5-methyl-tryptophan (5MT) can lead to the overproduction of this important amino acid. Plants regenerated from these Trp overproducing lines of most species also had high free Trp levels but Nicotiana tabaum (tobacco) plants expressed the feedback altered AS only in cultured cells and not in the regenerated plants. further tests by transient and stable expression of the cloned promoter for the naturally occurring tobacco feedback-insensitive AS, denoted ASA2, confirmed the tissue culture specific nature of the expression control. The 5MT caused by the expression of a feedback-insensitive AS from tobacco has been used to select protoplast fusion hybrids with several species since the resistance is expressed dominantly. Recently the ASA2 gene has been used successfully as a selectable marker to select transformed Astragalus sinicus and Glycine max hairy roots induced by Agrobactetium rhizogenes. These results show that the ASA2y-subunit can interact with the y-subunit of another species to form active feedback-insensitive enzyme that may be useful for selecting transformed cells. Plastid DNA transformation of tobacco has also effectively expressed ASA2 in the compartment in which Trp biosynthesis is localized in the cell.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.361-367
• /
• 2010

The use of antifouling(AF) paints is the effective method for the protection of underwater structures from the development of marine fouling organisms. The ban on harmful substances in antifouling paints requires the development of new antifouling strategies although Tributyitin (TBT) compound had been used extensively as an active ingredient Alternatives should be as effective as conventional paints but have lower toxicity. In the present study, a TBT-free self-polishing (Cu SPC) AF paint containing $Cu_2O$, a Cu free SPC AF paint, and a Foul-release silicone AF paint, which were commercially available, were examined to investigate environmental erects of leakage waters employing Sebastes shlegeli and Artemia. Survival rates were inversely proportional to the concentration of leakage waters from AF paints and the acute toxicity of SPC AF paints was relatively higher than that of foul release AF paints.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.521-525
• /
• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Artemisinin (AT), an active compound in Arternisia annua, is well known as an anti-malaria drug. It is also known to have several effects including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer activities. To date, the effect of AT on vascular disorders has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of AT on the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB). MATERIALS/METHODS: Aortic smooth muscle cells were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats. PDGF-BB stimulated VSMC migration was measured by the scratch wound healing assay and the Boyden chamber assay. Cell viability was determined by using an EZ-Cytox Cell Viability Assay Kit. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PDGF-BB stimulated VSMC was measured through $H_2DCF$-DA staining. We also determined the expression levels of signal proteins relevant to ROS, including measures of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 measured by western blot analysis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: AT ($10{\mu}M$ and $30{\mu}M$) significantly reduced the proliferation and migration of PDGF-BB stimulated VSMC in a dose-dependent manner. The production of ROS, normally induced by PDGF-BB, is reduced by treatment with AT at both concentrations. PDGF-BB stimulated VSMC treated with AT ($10{\mu}M$ and $30{\mu}M$) have reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and inhibited MMP9 expression compared to untreated PDGF-BB stimulated VSMC. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest, based on these results, that AT may exert an anti-atherosclerotic effect on PDGF-BB stimulated VSMCs by inhibiting their proliferation and migration through down-regulation of ERK1/2 and MMP9 phosphorylation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.8
• /
• pp.1008-1015
• /
• 2009

The goal of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. In this study induction of apoptosis by methanol extract of rosemary and their fractions were investigated in vitro. In examining the effect of rosemary methanol extract on the inhibition of growth of Hela, HepG2, A549, AGS cells and HT-29 cell, it was found that the methanol extract of rosemary and their fractions demonstrated a cytotoxic effect in a dose-dependent manner; in addition, hexane and chloroform fractions showed a particularly high cytotoxic effect on Hela and AGS cells. The results showed that the hexane and chloroform fractions of rosemary have cytotoxic effect which are related to the activity of the essential oil in the rosemary. Apoptosis in Hela and AGS cells mediated by the hexane and chloroform fractions was associated with the increase of cleaved caspase-3 levels and cleaved PARP. Therefore, with more researches on identification and action mechanism of active compound, the hexane and chloroform fractions are expected to be natural sources for the developments of functional food and medical agents to prevent gastric cancer and uterus cancer.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.342-349
• /
• 2011

This study was performed to determine the composition of phenolic substances contained in the leaves of Cirsium setidens (Compositae), validate the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, and determine the in vivo sedative effect of the main component pectolinarin. Six phenolic compounds isolated from C. setidens were spectroscopically identified as chlorogenic acid (1), hyperoside (2), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), caffeic acid methyl ester (4), linarin (5), and pectolinarin (6) and then used as standard compounds for HPLC analysis. HPLC proved to be precise, accurate, and sensitive for the simultaneous analysis of the phenolic substances. In particular, six compounds showed good regression ($R^2$ > 0.999) within test ranges and recovery was in the range of 95.4 - 104.8%. The content of pectolinarin was considerably higher (156.48 mg/g) than those of other phenolic substances including the other flavone glycoside, linarin (18.99 mg/g). The contents of other phenolic substances, in order, were chlorogenic acid (8.41 mg/g), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5.74 mg/g), hyperoside (4.33 mg/g), and caffeic acid methyl ester (0.51 mg/g). Oral administration with compound 6 (10 and 20 mg/kg) enhanced the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital in mice, indicating that it has a sedative effect.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2014

Protocatechuic acid is an active phenolic acid compound from Momordica charantia. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of protocatechuic acid against oxidative stress under cellular system using C6 glial cell. The oxidative stress was induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and amyloid beta 25-35 ($A{\beta}_{25-35}$), and they caused the decrease of cell viability and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the treatment of protocatechuic acid significantly elevated the decreased cell viability and inhibited the overproduction of ROS by $H_2O_2$. In addition, protocatechuic acid significantly recovered the cellular damage induced by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$. In particular, protocatechuic acid at the concentration $10{\mu}g/mL$ decreased the elevated ROS level to normal level. These results indicate that protocatechuic acid may have neuroprotective effect through attenuating oxidative stress.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2013.02a
• /
• pp.215-216
• /
• 2013

The silicide is a compound of Si with an electropositive component. Silicides are commonly used in silicon-based microelectronics to reduce resistivity of gate and local interconnect metallization. The popular silicide candidates, CoSi2 and TiSi2, have some limitations. TiSi2 showed line width dependent sheet resistance and has difficulty in transformation of the C49 phase to the low resistive C54. CoSi2 consumes more Si than TiSi2. Nickel silicide is a promising material to substitute for those silicide materials providing several advantages; low resistivity, lower Si consumption and lower formation temperature. Nickel silicide (NiSi) nanowire (NW) has features of a geometrically tiny size in terms of diameter and significantly long directional length, with an excellent electrical conductivity. According to these advantages, NiSi NWs have been applied to various nanoscale applications, such as interconnects [1,2], field emitters [3], and functional microscopy tips [4]. Beside its tiny geometric feature, NW can provide a large surface area at a fixed volume. This makes the material viable for photovoltaic architecture, allowing it to be used to enhance the light-active region [5]. Additionally, a recent report has suggested that an effective antireflection coating-layer can be made with by NiSi NW arrays [6]. A unique growth mechanism of nickel silicide (NiSi) nanowires (NWs) was thermodynamically investigated. The reaction between Ni and Si primarily determines NiSi phases according to the deposition condition. Optimum growth conditions were found at $375^{\circ}C$ leading long and high-density NiSi NWs. The ignition of NiSi NWs is determined by the grain size due to the nucleation limited silicide reaction. A successive Ni diffusion through a silicide layer was traced from a NW grown sample. Otherwise Ni-rich or Si-rich phase induces a film type growth. This work demonstrates specific existence of NiSi NW growth [7].

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2009

Rhapontin is the glycosylated stilbene compound, and comprising major component of rhubarb root extract. Rhapontin has been used as a raw material of skin-whitening cosmetics in Korea. Rhapontigenin, the aglycone of rhapontin, has been suggested to be more active than its glycosylated form. Therefore, the rhubarb root extract was treated with commercial enzyme, Pectinex to remove glycosylated moiety of rhapontin and rhapontigenin was prepared. The resulting material was analysed and identified as rhapontigenin by proton NMR and MALDI-Mass. Rhapontigenin exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ of $126.72{\mu}g/mL$. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of rhapontigenin was six times higher than that of rhapontin. In melanin biosynthesis inhibition assay using Streptomyces bikiniensis, rhapontigenin showed wider inhibition zone than that of rhapontin. From these results, we expect that rhapontigenin has stronger skin whitening effect than rhapontin and has advantages in cosmetic industry.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.37-41
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Lorelin Depot $Injection^{(R)}$ (Dongkook Pharm. Co., LTD) with Lucrin Depot $Injection^{(R)}$ (Abbott) by measuring serum testosterone level in rats. Leuprorelin (leuprolide acetate), which is an active compound for the two formulations, is an LHRH analogue that is used for the treatment of a wide range of sex hormone-related disorders including advanced prostatic cancer, endometriosis and precocious puberty. Lorelin Depot $Injection^{(R)}$ is a micro-encapsulated formulation to suppress testosterone level by releasing leuprorelin continuously for four weeks with a single subcutaneous injection. The comparison study of the efficacy was performed during four weeks, and serum testosterone levels were monitored in the two formulations. The mean serum testosterone levels from the formulations were decreased to that of the castrate range (50 ng/dL or less) after three days after the initial depot injection, and the concentration were remained throughout four weeks' period. There were no significant differences in the $AUC_{0-3day}$ of testosterone and testosterone levels at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days between the two formulations. These results indicate that the two formulations, Lorelin Depot $Injection^{(R)}$ and Lucrin Depot $Injection^{(R)}$, are bioequivalent in terms of the serum testosterone level in rats.