• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.76-103
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• 2021

Objectives This study was designed to examine the effect of Gleditsiae Fructus n-hexane (GSF_Hx) on two different groups (on the LPS-induced activation of Raw264.7 cells in vitro, and on the DNCB-induced activation of atopic dermatitis NC/Nga Tnd mice in vivo) to find index components and active components of Gleditsiae Fructus. Methods GSF_Hx was analyzed by HPLC profiling and confirmed echinocystic acid (EA), oleanolic acid (OA) as index components of Gleditsiae Fructus. Using GSF_Hx, EA, OA, we investigated IL-6, TNF-α, NO production by ELISA analysis and evaluated manifestations of MAPKs transcription factors and NF-κB p65 translocation by western blotting. During In vivo study, atopic dermatitis was induced on NC/Nga Tnd mice by DNCB and administered GSF_Hx, EA, OA orally, and checked skin lesions and measured skin clinical score. Serum IgE level, Th1 and Th2 cytokines secretion and modulating molecular mediators and immune cells in the spleenocyte culture supernatant, PBMCs, ALN and dorsal skin were also measured by real-time PCR. Then, skin rash was evaluated and mast cell distribution was verified by H&E and toluidine blue staining on dorsal skin. Results It is possible that GSF_Hx, EA and OA reduce inflammation and allergic response of atopic dermatitis by suppressing Th1 and Th2 cytokines secretion and modulating molecular mediators and immune cells. They also had moisturizing effect by raising vitality of ceramide in dorsal skin of atopic dermatitis NC/Nga Tnd mice. However, EA particularly had better overall activity data than OA, that EA could be a more effective active component of Gleditsiae Fructus than OA. Conclusions Based on the inflammatory reduction property with moisturizing effect, GSF_Hx may play a role in effective treatment for atopic dermatitis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2022

Styrene is the precursor of polystyrene. Human exposure to styrene could occur in occupational and residential settings and via food intake. Styrene is metabolized to styrene-7,8-oxide by cytochrome P450 enzyme. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity mediated by styrene and styrene-7,8-oxide in TM3 testicular Leydig cells in vitro. We first monitored the nuclear fragmentation in Leydig cells after exposure to styrene or styrene-7,8-oxide. Hoechst 33258 cell staining showed that styrene exposure in TM3 Leydig cells did not exhibit nuclear fragmentation at any concentration. In contrast, nuclear fragmentation was seen in styrene-7,8-oxide-exposed cells. These results indicate that cytotoxicity-mediated cell death in Leydig cells is more susceptible to styrene-7,8-oxide than to styrene. Following styrene treatment, procaspase-3 and XIAP protein levels did not show significant changes, and cleaved (active) forms of caspase-3 were not detected. Consistent with the western blot results, the active forms of caspase-3 and XIAP proteins were not prominently altered in the cytoplasm of cells treated with styrene. In contrast to styrene, styrene-7,8-oxide induced cell death in an apoptotic fashion, as seen in caspase-3 activation and increased the expression of XIAP proteins. Taken together, the results obtained in this study demonstrate a fundamental idea that Leydig cells are capable of protecting themselves from cytotoxicity-mediated apoptosis as a result of styrene exposure in vitro. It remains unclear whether the steroid-producing function, i.e., steroidogenesis, of Leydig cells is also unaffected by exposure to styrene. Therefore, further studies are needed to elucidate the endocrine disrupting potential of styrene in Leydig cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of combining Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extract with Humuli Lupuli Flos extract on estrogenic and anti-osteoclastogenic activity. Methods : Estrogenic effect of a mixture of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extract and Humuli Lupuli Flos extract (CWHL), Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extract, Humuli Lupuli Flos extract, caudatin (an active ingredient of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix extract) and 8-prenylnaringenin (an active ingredient of Humuli Lupuli Flos extract) were examined by proliferation E-screen assay and expression of estrogen inducible gene, pS2 via Real Time-PCR (RT-PCR) in MCF-7 estrogen responsive cells. And their estrogenic activities were investigated how to modulate Estrogen receptor 𝛽 by binding affinity assay. Inhibitory effect of CWHL, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extract, Humuli Lupuli Flos extract, caudatin and 8-prenylnaringenin on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation were tested by TRAP (Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) staining in osteoclastogenic RAW 264.7 cells. Results : CWHL, Humuli Lupuli Flos extract and 8-prenylnaringenin accelerated the proliferation of MCF-7 and the expression of pS2 in MCF-7. CWHL, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extract, Humuli Lupuli Flos extract, caudatin and 8-prenylnaringenin bind to estrogen receptor 𝛽. CWHL, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extract, Humuli Lupuli Flos extract, caudatin and 8-prenylnaringenin inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in osteoclastogenic RAW 264.7. CWHL is more effective for all markers than Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extract or Humuli Lupuli Flos extract alone. Conclusions : CWHL may a potential therapeutic agent for menopause and osteoporosis as a natural food resource. CWHL as a natural food source has therapeutic potential in cases of menopause and osteoporosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.676-679
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• 2009

In order to produce a new antibiotic material against Jurkat T cells using horizontal gene transfer among microbes, co-cultures between soil bacteria AY2000 and the multiple antibiotic producer S. griseus was carried out. It showed that the highest active substance against Jurkat T cells was produced at 48 hr of co-culture time with MTT assay. Moreover, a morphological change of nuclear of Jurkat T cells treated with co-cultured substance was observed in DAPI staining. This result suggests that a new material was produced with co-culture supernatant, and that co-culture between microboes can develop new antibiotic materials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.79-89
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• 2004

Saussurea lappa and Taraxacum mongolicum have been used for herbal medicinal treatments against cancers in East Asia. We performed this study to understand the molecular basis underlying the anti-tumor effects of two herbs and analyzed the effects of these medicinal herbs on proliferation and on expression of cell growth/apoptosis related molecules by using an AGS gastric cancer cell line. The treatments of Saussurea lappa dramatically reduced cell viabilities in a dose and time-dependent manner, but Taraxacum mongolicum did not. FACS analysis and Annexin V staining assay also showed that Saussurea lappa induces apoptotic cell death of AGS. Expression analyses via RT-PCR and Western blots revealed that Saussurea lappa increased expression of the p53 and its downstream effector p21/sup Waf1/, and that the both increased expression of apoptosis related Bax and cleavage of active caspase-3 protein. We also confirmed the translocation of Bax to mitochondria Collectively, our data demonstrate that Saussurea lappa induces growth inhibition and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells, and these effects are correlated with down- and up-regulation of growth-regulating apoptotic and tumor suppressor genes, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2343-2347
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• 2013

Objective: This investigation aimed to determine effects of celecoxib on the cell cycle kinetics of the gastric cancer cell line MGC803 and the mechanisms involved by assessing expression of cytochrome C and caspase-9 at the protein level. Methods: Cell proliferation of MGC803 was determined by MTT assay after treatment with celecoxib. Apoptosis was assessed using fluorescence staining and cell cycle kinetics by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of caspase-9 protein and of cytochrome C protein in cell cytosol and mitochondria. Results: Celecoxib was able to restrain proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner, inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, release of cytochrome C into the cytosol, and cleavage of pro-caspase-9 into its active form. Conclusion: Celecoxib can induce apoptosis in MGC803 cells through a mechanism involving cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial cytochrome C release and caspase activation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 1996

Evaluation of plant extracts that might inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication was performed to find potent anti-HBV agents. Eighty-five species of plants from forty-three families were tested for their anti-HBV activities using HBV-producing HepG2-derived 2.2.15 cells. The anti-HBV activity of plant extracts was measured by slot blot hybridization technique and cytotoxicity was determined by crystal violet staining procedure. All plants were extracted with methanol and the extracts were partitioned into n-hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous layer. The ethyl acetate fractions of Rhus verniciflua $(stem:\;EC_{50},\;8.2{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;9.4{\mu}g/ml)$, Gastrodia elata $(root:\;EC_{50},\;17.7{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;>20{\mu}g/ml)$, Raphanus sativus $(seeds:\;EC_{50},\;17.3{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;>20{\mu}g/ml)$, and Angelica gigas $(root:\;EC_{50},\;8.3{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;15.6{\mu}g/ml)$ revealed the anti-HBV activity in 2.2.15 cell culture system and these fractions are under the process of further sequential fractionation by column chromatography to find the active principles against HBV.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.302-308
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• 2011

As a part of our ongoing program on finding biologically active components from natural source we found three known constituents from the EtOH extract of the wheat bran. The known compounds were identified as tachioside (1), pinellic acid (2) and tryptophan (3). The structure and relative stereochemistry were determined from MS, 1D and extensive 2D NMR techniques as well as by comparison of their data with the published values. All isolates were tested their inhibitory effects on the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. The effect of compounds from wheat bran on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation were measured by Oil Red O staining. These results demonstrate that tachioside (1) and pinellic acid (2) decreased lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by inhibiting lipogenesis. These compounds had shown antiobesity activities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 1976

A 33 year old male patient was admitted with 20 years history of recurrent hemoptysis. On clinical examination, mild left chest discomfortness and foul odored sputum with occasional rusty hemoptysis were principal complaints noted. Chest X-ray film revealed moderately advanced active tuberculosis lesion on both upper lung fields, and hen-egg sized mass surrounded with linear crescent of air shadow in a cavity on his left upper lung field. On left thoracotomy, dense pleural adhesions on left apicoposterior segmental surface with multiple lymphnode enlargements were noted, and the soft encapsulated mass of $5{\times}5{\times}8cm$ was localized in the apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe. Apicoposterior segment with anterior segment of the left upper lobe was resected. Cavity was opened to find a rusty grayish colored, fragile mass, which was confirmed as "fungus ball" of aspergillosis by histological section slide with Gomori staining. The authors report one case of pulmonary aspergilloma superinfected with previous long standing pulmonary tbc.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.420-425
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• 2010

The antifungal effects and action mechanisms of styraxjaponoside A and B were investigated. Devoid of hemolytic effect, the compounds had significant effect against several human pathogenic fungal strains, with energy-independent manners. To understand the action mechanisms of the compounds, the flow cytometric analysis plotting the forward scatter and the side scatter, $DiBAC_4$(3) staining and DPH fluorescence analysis were conducted. The results indicated that the actions of the compounds were dependent upon the membrane-active mechanisms. The present study suggests that styraxjaponoside A and B exert their antimicrobial effects via membrane-disruptive mechanisms.