• 대한수의학회지
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.261-268
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• 2002

Bovine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria sergenti results in economic loss in the dairy industry. The majority of calves infected with T. sergenti in Korea harbor mixed populations with Buffeli, Chitose and Ikeda types. The T. sergenti types of the infected calves were examined to evaluate the effects of diminazene aceturate on their infection. To confirm the type of the T. sergenti infection, the allele-specific PCR was performed with the erythrocyte specimen from the 5 naturally infected calves. The dfferent allele-specific genes encoding the p32, p33 and 34, the immunodominant piroplasmin surface proteins, were amplified using the 3 sets of the oligonucleotide primers by PCR. The calves were treated with diminazene aceturate at the dose of 2mg/kg once intravenously and monitored for 12 months at one month intervals by the allele-specific PCR. Diminazene aceturate did not effect the Ikeda type infection. But diminazene aceturate effected the Chitose and Buffeli type infection reducing T. sergenti parasitemia. It is postulated that diminazene aceturate may effect the infection of the Chitose and Buffeli types, but not that of Ikeda type.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.475-479
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• 1996

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC, 1-diethylcarbamyl-4-methylpiperazine) is an antiparasitic piperazine derivative used in the treatment of lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi or grugia timori. DEC-N-oxide is a major metabolite in humans and has antifilarial activity. In carrying out pharmacokinetic studies, gas chromatographic analysis of DEC in plasma can be complicated by the presence of the metabolite, since the thermally unstable DEC-N-oxide is converted back to a material which coelutes with DEC under the conditions of the analysis. We now report a method to separate DEC-N-oxide from DEC in plasma using solid phase extraction with subsequent gas chromatographic analysis using a nitrogen specific detector. One-diethylcarbamyl-4-ethylpiperazine (E-DEC) was the internal standard. The standard curve of DEC was linear in the range of 10 to 200 ng/ml as described by Y=0.0350+0.0128X, $R^2=0.999$. The limit of quantitation was 4 ng/mL. Reproducibility at 10, 100 and 200 ng/mL concentration points of the standard curve gave coefficient variations of 6.1%, 7.8% and 1.6%, respectively. The recovery following solid phase extraction was 99.3% for DEC and 94.8% for the internal standard. This sensitive and specific analytical method is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of DEC.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.135-145
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• 2020

Infections caused by Trichomonas vaginalis in humans are one of the main public health problems caused by sexually transmitted diseases. Objective of this study was to evaluate potential biological activity of the medicinal plant Argemone mexicana (Mexican poppy) on T. vaginalis. Methanolic extracts of the stems and leaves of A. mexicana, and different fractions were prepared with solvents of different polarities. The extracts and functional groups were detected containing sterols, triterpenes, quinones, flavonoids and, alkaloids. Extracts from both the stems and leaves of A. mexicana inhibited the growth of T. vaginalis with half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 70.6 and 67.2 ㎍/ml, respectively. In the active fractions, the most abundant compounds were berberine and jatrorrhizine, with presumed antiparasitic activity.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.275-283
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the various roles and effects of Morinda citrifolia L.(noni) on the human body and to utilize the findings obtained for future disease related research on food and nutrition. Morinda citrifolia L. has been used in folk medicine by Polynesians for over 2,000 years and is reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects. Noni is an alkaloid system such as proxeronine, scopoletin, octanoic acid, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, nordamnacanthal, morindone, rubiadin, b-sitosterol, flavone glycosides, linoleic acid, acubin, L-asperuloside, caproic acid, caprylic acid, ursolic acid, rutin. Noni's side effects have been reported to affect anti-inflammatory, analgesics, LDL antioxidant, anti-tumor, antifungal, antibiotic, antiviral, antiparasitic and immunosuppressive effects. In particular, noni's efficacy is considered to be important for the prevention of diseases by inhibiting active oxygen, which is a direct cause of oxidative stress, through various metabolites through 'xeronine system'. Noni's functions and effects that have been examined in this study include anti-inflammation, pain relief, antioxidant, anticancer, hepatocyte protection among others. Therefore, noni's extracts are considered highly useful for diverse scientific and nutritional health functional foods.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.11-15
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• 2019

Lauraceae is a family medicinal plant whose tubers possesses antimicrobial, and cytotoxic, such as antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory special effects and has been used for the medicine in the cure of hepatitis and rheumatism. The antimicrobial activities of bioactive compounds including one neolignan; kunstlerone (1) and two alkaloids include isocaryachine (2) and noratherosperminine (3) as well as crude hexane, methanol and dichloromethane extracts were evaluated. Additionally, the effect of compounds 1, 2 and 3 were evaluated on A549, PC-3, A375, HT-29 and WRL-68 cell lines. In conclusion, kunstlerone 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines such as A549, PC-3, A375, HT-29 and WRL-68, respectively with $EC_{50}$ values of 28.02, 26.78, 33.78, 33.65 and $16.46{\mu}g/mL$. The crude methanol extract showed antigrowth activity against S. pyogenes II and B. cereus, with MICs of $256{\mu}g/mL$. The compounds kunstlerone (1), isocaryachine (2) and noratherosperminine (3) showed complete inhibition against P. shigelloides, with MIC ${\leq}60{\mu}g/mL$ compare to ampicillin, as a positive control, which showed antigrowth activity against P. shigelloides at MIC $10{\mu}g/mL$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.713-720
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• 2019

Acanthamoeba castellanii belonging to the T4 genotype may cause a fatal brain infection known as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, and the vision-threatening eye infection Acanthamoeba keratitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiamoebic effects of three clinically available antidiabetic drugs, Glimepiride, Vildagliptin and Repaglinide, against A. castellanii belonging to the T4 genotype. Furthermore, we attempted to conjugate these drugs with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to enhance their antiamoebic effects. Amoebicidal, encystation, excystation, and host cell cytotoxicity assays were performed to unravel any antiacanthamoebic effects. Vildagliptin conjugated silver nanoparticles (Vgt-AgNPs) characterized by spectroscopic techniques and atomic force microscopy were synthesized. All three drugs showed antiamoebic effects against A. castellanii and significantly blocked the encystation. These drugs also showed significant cysticidal effects and reduced host cell cytotoxicity caused by A. castellanii. Moreover, Vildagliptin-coated silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesized and are shown to enhance its antiacanthamoebic potency at significantly reduced concentration. The repurposed application of the tested antidiabetic drugs and their nanoparticles against free-living amoeba such as Acanthamoeba castellanii described here is a novel outcome that holds tremendous potential for future applications against devastating infection.

• 셀메드
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.2.1-2.17
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• 2014

The plant kingdom is considered to be a repository of modern medicine, attributable to their rich source of bio-active molecules and secondary metabolites. It is indeed the Nutraceuticals that enhance immunity and ensure a healthier life because of their prophylactic and therapeutic values. Over centuries, papaya [Caricaceae; (Carica papaya Linn.)] is a renowned nutritious and medicinal plant. Each part of the papaya like root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, seed, rinds, and latex has its own nutraceutical properties. It serves as food, cooking aid, and Ethnomedicine to prevent and treat wide-range of diseases and disorders. It has also been traditionally used as appetite enhancer, meat tenderizer, purgative, medicinal acne, abortifacient and vermifuge. Over decades, a series of scientific attempts were made to authenticate the nutraceutical properties of papaya. These studies validated that the papaya has antiplasmodial, antitrichochramal, antitrichomonal, antidengue, and anti-cancer activities. They have also exhibited that papaya possesses antiseptic, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and contraceptive features, and it helps in the management of sickle-cell anaemia, HIV, heart diseases and digestional disorders too. Nevertheless, the responsible bio-active molecules and their mode of actions remain indistinct and imprecise, and this calls for further pharmacological and clinical research on them. Conclusively, papaya is one of the naturally gifted plants; though its nutraceutical properties as a food or as a quasi-drug are poorly understood or undervalued by people. Accordingly, this scrutiny, demand for instigation of public health awareness campaigns to promote papaya consumption, so that the society shall acquire optimal benefits of papaya and in turn prevent and alleviate various diseases and illness.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.53-58
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• 2001

We studied antitrichomoniasis with the extract of Gentiana scabra val buergeri, which may be effective in treating infectious diseases. The growth inhibition against T. vaginalis became optimal when tile extract concentration was 0.7 mg/ml and the cells were seeded at a density of 3$\times$10$^5$ per well. After incubation for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs, respectively, the number of cells were each 5$\times$10$^5$, 1$\times$10$^5$, 1$\times$10$^5$, and none, respectively. Under the electron microscope, the experimental group showed that the nucleus, karyosomes, and chromatin were weaker than those in the control group. After incubating for 3 hrs, the cells were destroyed completely, and only a remnant remained. The hydrogenosomes disappeared almost. The vacuoles and autophagic vacuoles increased. The cells became regressive form.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.223-229
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• 2013

This study aimed to explore the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of intraocular cysticercosis due to Taenia solium metacestode infection. Total 8 patients diagnosed with intraocular cysticercosis at the Red Cross Hospital of Yunnan Province, China were examined retrospectively. Patients with clear dioptic media had undergone fundus chromophotography. All patients underwent B ultrasonography of the ocular region (CT) successive scanning of the orbit and cerebral tissues. Parasites were extracted surgically and then examined pathologically. The fundus chromophotography showed a white and condensing scolex package in the vesicle. The B ultrasonic examination showed a vesicle-like echogenic mass in the vitreous chamber, in which the high-level echo spot was the cysticercus scolex. The pathological examinations showed that the vesicle wall exhibited hyaline degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, neuroglial fiber, and glial cell proliferation layers from the inside to the outside. The scolex is round and is composed of the outer tissue (the body wall) and the inner furrow tissue; these tissues migrated together. Primordially differentiated sucking discs were found in one case, but no hooklets were found. The inner scolex tissue was folded like a paper flower. The severity of intraocular disease is closely correlated with the pathophysiological processes of the cysticercus worm. Pathological examination of the intraocular lesions can help to evaluate the course of the disease as well as to provide a scientific basis for effective antiparasitic medication.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.109-115
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• 2009

This study investigated whether trinitroglycerine (TNG) as nitric oxide (NO) releasing agent had anti-leishmanial effects and mediated pathology in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a zoonotic infection caused by leishmania protozoa is still one of the health problems in the world and in Iran. NO is involved in host immune responses against intracellular L. major, and leishmania killing by macrophages is mediated by this substance. Moreover, application of CL treatment with NO-donors has been recently indicated. In our study, TNG was used for its ability to increase NO and to modify CL infection in mice, in order to evaluate NO effects on lesion size and formation, parasite proliferation inside macrophages, amastigote visceralization in target organs, and NO induction in plasma and organ suspensions. Data obtained in this study indicated that TNG increased plasma and liver-NO, reduced lesion sizes, removed amastigotes from lesions, livers, spleens, and lymph nodes, declined proliferation of amastigotes, hepatomegaly, and increased survival rate. However, TNG reduced spleen-NO and had no significant effects on spelenomegaly. The results show that TNG therapy reduced leishmaniasis and pathology in association with raised NO levels. TNG had some antiparasitic activity by reduction of positive smears from lesions, livers, spleens, and lymph nodes, which could emphasize the role of TNG to inhibit visceralization of L. major in target organs.