• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2023.04a
• /
• pp.62-62
• /
• 2023

Zanthoxylum piperitum ("chopi" in Korean) has been used as traditional medicinal plants with high anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifungal activities. The aims of the study were to identify marker compounds and to investigate metabolites variation of chopi according to different parts and harvest times. Every month from June to September, chopi were harvested with three different parts: leaves, leaf-twig mixtures, twigs. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), two main marker compounds (quercitrin and quercetin-3-O-glucoside) were characterized in 70% ethanol extracts of chopi. Quantification of the two marker compounds were subsequently conducted by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), representing that contents of these compounds were higher in leaves and leaf-twig mixtures rather than twigs. For the comprehensive analysis of metabolites associated with production of marker compounds, 35 primary metabolites were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multivariate analysis results represented that plant parts were main contributors to the separation of chopi. However, significant differences were not observed between leaves and leaf-twig mixtures samples. The partial least square (PLS) predictive model revealed that monosaccharides (fructose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose) and branched-chain amino acids (isoleucine, valine, leucine) were important determinants for the production of marker compounds together with alanine, inositol, GABA, and theronic acid. This study could be extended to stabilize and utilize chopi as an industrial material, as well as to find good candidates with various nutritional traits.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.256-263
• /
• 2023

Species in the genus Trametes (Basidiomycota, Polyporales) have been used in natural medicine for a long time. Many studies reported that mycelia or fruiting bodies of Trametes spp. exhibited effects of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. However, comparative analysis in this genus is scarce due to limitation of morphological identification and the sample number. In this study, the 19 strains of seven Trametes species were chosen to generate a five-gene-based phylogeny with the 31 global references. In addition, 39 culture extracts were prepared for 13 strains to test for anticancer and antibacterial activities. Strong anticancer activities were found in several extracts from T. hirsuta and T. suaveolens. Anticancer activities of T. suaveolens, T. cf. junipericola and T. trogii were first described here. The antibacterial ability of T. versicolor and T. hirsuta extracts has been confirmed. The antibacterial activities of T. suaveolens have been reported at the first time in this study. These results suggest an efficient application of the genus Trametes as the drug resources especially for anticancer agents.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.955-964
• /
• 2023

Bee pollen is a valuable apitherapeutic product and has been known to have diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anticancer activity. However, its effect on the immune system is not well studied and is rather controversial. This study intended to elucidate the biological activity of bee pollen on immunity. For this purpose, we used lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding, which shows increased extraction of bioactive components and enhanced biological activity. First, lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding significantly increased the proliferation of splenocytes isolated from normal mice. On the other hand, lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding dose-dependently reversed splenocyte proliferation by concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide. To clarify the activity of bee pollen on immunity lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding was administered daily to mice for five weeks and isolated splenocytes. In this study, there was no significant difference in the population of immune cells and the size of spleen between bee pollen- and sterile water-treated groups. However, proliferation of splenocyte isolated from bee pollen-administered animals was boosted by both concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. Finally, kaempferol, a well-known flavonoid from bee pollen, dose-dependently increased splenocyte proliferation by both Con A and LPS. On the other hand, naringenin, another flavonoid in the bee pollen, dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of splenocytes by Con A and LPS. Together, these data indicate that bee pollen may be able to prime the immunity to boost immune reaction after inflammation.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.1111-1127
• /
• 2023

Health-promoting preparations of inanimate microorganisms or their components are postbiotics. Since probiotics are sensitive to heat and oxygen, postbiotics are stable during industrial processing and storage. Postbiotics boost poultry growth, feed efficiency, intestinal pathogen reduction, and health, making them acceptable drivers of sustainable poultry production. It contains many important biological properties, such as immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory responses. Postbiotics revealed promising antioxidant effects due to higher concentrations of uronic acid and due to some enzyme's production of antioxidants, e.g., superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidases and peroxidases. Postbiotics improve intestinal villi, increase lactic acid production, and reduce Enterobacteriaceae and fecal pH, all of which lead to a better immune reaction and health of the gut, as well as better growth performance. P13K/AKT as a potential target pathway for postbiotics-improved intestinal barrier functions. Similarly, postbiotics reduce yolk and plasma cholesterol levels in layers and improve egg quality. It was revealed that favorable outcomes were obtained with various inclusion levels at 1 kg and 0.5 kg. According to several studies, postbiotic compounds significantly increased poultry performance. This review article presents the most recent research investigating the beneficial results of postbiotics in poultry.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2023

Dictyopteris divaricata, a type of marine brown algae, has been studied for its various biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and whitening effects. However, its potential antiobesity effects have not been extensively explored. This study aimed to examine the impact of D. divaricata ethanol extract (DDE) on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Our results showed that when 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with noncytotoxic concentrations of DDE there was a concentration-dependent decrease in fat accumulation rate and triglycerid production compared with the control. Furthermore, DDE significantly reduced the expression of transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP-1) and fatty acid transport protein (FABP4), which are crucial for 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. These findings suggest that DDE may exhibit antiobesity effects by suppressing the expression of lipogenic transcription factors and fatty acid transport proteins. Therefore, DDE holds potential as a therapeutic agent for obesity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2024

A two-year-old, spayed female, 22.5 kg Pungsan was referred with chronic crusts and erosion on the nose. A referring veterinarian prescribed an anti-inflammatory dose (0.5-1 mg/kg/day) of oral glucocorticoids for 5 months, but skin lesions showed no meaningful improvement. A dermatological evaluation revealed a crust, depigmentation, erosion, and erythematous lesion over the nasal planum with a loss of the normal cobblestone texture. Also, firm and multifocal plaques over the thigh, groin, axilla, and dorsum were detected. A cytology examination on the nose, thigh, groin, axilla, and dorsum revealed moderate neutrophilic inflammation and bacterial infection. Abdominal radiography and ultrasonography revealed subcutaneous calcified materials along the thigh, groin, axilla, and dorsum. Calcinosis cutis was suspected because of the adverse effect of previous prolonged corticosteroid therapy. A histopathology examination of the nose lesion revealed moderate to severe degenerative or apoptotic changes of the basal layer and lymphoplasmacytic interface dermatitis. Facial discoid lupus erythematosus (FDLE) was diagnosed based on the history and the clinical, cytological, and histopathological results. Minocycline (7 mg/kg PO q 12 h) and niacinamide (500 mg/dog PO q 12 h) were prescribed as initial treatment. Glucocorticoids were not administered due to the presence of calcinosis cutis induced by previous corticosteroid treatment. After 6 weeks of treatment, the clinical signs on the nose were mildly improved. At this time, topical 1% pimecrolimus cream (twice daily) was initiated, while minocycline and niacinamide were continued at the same dose. The nasal planum markedly improved after 6 weeks of additional treatment, hence minocycline and niacinamide were prescribed for an additional 2 weeks and stopped, and the patient was continued solely on topical pimecrolimus. The dog's skin lesion has been maintained in clinical remission with topical 1% pimecrolimus twice daily for more than 5 months.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2024

Background: The rising incidence of dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has underscored the need for collaboration between plastic surgeons and nephrologists, particularly concerning preoperative and postoperative management for facial reconstruction. This collaboration is essential due to a scarcity of comprehensive information in this domain. Methods: A study initiated in January 2015 involved 10 ESRD cases on dialysis undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery for facial skin cancer, followed by reconstructive surgery under general anesthesia. To ensure surgical safety, rigorous measures were enacted, encompassing laboratory testing, nephrology consultations, and preoperative dialysis admission. Throughout surgery, meticulous control was exercised over vital signs, electrolytes, bleeding risk, and pain management (excluding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Postoperative assessments included monitoring flap integrity, hematoma formation, infection, and cardiovascular risk through plasma creatinine levels. Results: Adherence to the proposed guidelines yielded a notable absence of postoperative wound complications. Postoperative plasma creatinine levels exhibited an average decrease of 1.10 mg/dL compared to preoperative levels, indicating improved renal function. Importantly, no cardiopulmonary complications or 30-day mortality were observed. In ESRD patients, creatinine levels decreased significantly postoperatively compared to the preoperative levels (p< 0.05), indicating favorable outcomes. Conclusion: The consistent application of guidelines for admission, anesthesia, and surgery yielded robust and stable outcomes across all patients. In particular, the findings support the importance of adjusting dialysis schedules. Despite the limited sample size in this study, these findings underscore the effectiveness of a collaborative and meticulous approach for plastic surgeons performing surgery on dialysis-dependent patients, ensuring successful outcomes.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.494-507
• /
• 2023

Vascular dementia (VaD) is characterized by progressive memory impairment, which is associated with microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Polyphenol-rich natural plants, which possess anti-inflammatory activities, have attracted scientific interest worldwide. This study investigated whether Rubus fruticosus leaf extract (RFLE) can attenuate VaD. Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into five groups: SO, sham-operated and treated with vehicle; OP, operated and treated with vehicle; RFLE-L, operated and treated with low dose (30 mg/kg) of RFLE; RFLE-M, operated and treated with medium dose (60 mg/kg) of RFLE; and RFLE-H, operated and treated with high dose (90 mg/kg) of RFLE. Bilateral common carotid artery and hypotension were used as a modeling procedure, and the RFLE were intraorally administered for 5 days (preoperative 2 and postoperative 3 days). The rats then underwent memory tests including the novel object recognition, Y-maze, Barnes maze, and passive avoidance tests, and neuronal viability and neuroinflammation were quantified in their hippocampi. The results showed that the OP group exhibited VaD-associated memory deficits, neuronal death, and microglial activation in hippocampi, while the RFLE-treated groups showed significant attenuation in all above parameters. Next, using BV-2 microglial cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we evaluated the effects of RFLE in dynamics of proinflammatory mediators and the upstream signaling pathway. RFLE pretreatment significantly inhibited the LPS-induced release of nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-6 and upregulation of the MAPKs/NF-κB/iNOS pathway. Collectively, we suggest that RFLE can attenuate the histologic alterations and memory deficits accompanied by VaD, and these roles are, partly due to the attenuation of microglial activation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.42.1-42.20
• /
• 2021

Eosinophils play critical roles in the maintenance of homeostasis in innate and adaptive immunity. Although primarily known for their roles in parasitic infections and the development of Th2 cell responses, eosinophils also play complex roles in other immune responses ranging from anti-inflammation to defense against viral and bacterial infections. However, the contributions of pattern recognition receptors in general, and NOD-like receptors (NLRs) in particular, to eosinophil involvement in these immune responses remain relatively underappreciated. Our in vivo studies demonstrated that NLRC4 deficient mice had a decreased number of eosinophils and impaired Th2 responses after induction of an allergic airway disease model. Our in vitro data, utilizing human eosinophilic EoL-1 cells, suggested that TLR2 induction markedly induced pro-inflammatory responses and inflammasome forming NLRC4 and NLRP3. Moreover, activation by their specific ligands resulted in caspase-1 cleavage and mature IL-1β secretion. Interestingly, Th2 responses such as secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 decreased after transfection of EoL-1 cells with short interfering RNAs targeting human NLRC4. Specific induction of NLRC4 with PAM3CSK4 and flagellin upregulated the expression of IL-5 receptor and expression of Fc epsilon receptors (FcεR1α, FcεR2). Strikingly, activation of the NLRC4 inflammasome also promoted expression of the costimulatory receptor CD80 as well as expression of immunoregulatory receptors PD-L1 and Siglec-8. Concomitant with NLRC4 upregulation, we found an increase in expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, but not MMP-2. Collectively, our results present new potential roles of NLRC4 in mediating a variety of eosinopilic functions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.33.1-33.17
• /
• 2022

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) have emerged as potential regulators of macrophage function. We have investigated mechanisms of SOCS3 action on type 2 macrophage (M2) differentiation induced by glucocorticoid using human monocytic cell lines and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Treatment of THP1 monocytic cells with dexamethasone (Dex) induced ROS generation and M2 polarization promoting IL-10 and TGF-β production, while suppressing IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 production. SOCS3 over-expression reduced, whereas SOCS3 ablation enhanced IL-10 and TGF-β induction with concomitant regulation of ROS. As a mediator of M2 differentiation, glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) was down-regulated by SOCS3 and up-regulated by shSOCS3. The induction of GILZ and IL-10 by Dex was dependent on ROS and p38 MAPK activity. Importantly, GILZ ablation led to the inhibition of ROS generation and anti-inflammatory cytokine induction by Dex. Moreover, GILZ knock-down negated the up-regulation of IL-10 production induced by shSOCS3 transduction. Our data suggest that SOCS3 targets ROS- and p38-dependent GILZ expression to suppress Dex-induced M2 polarization.