• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.46-50
• /
• 2015

Both Portulaca oleracea (PO) and Glechoma hederacea (GH) have been used as traditional medicine due to the multiple pharmacological activities. However, the effects of PO and GH in the pathology of periodontitis is still elusive. In this study, we examined anti-microbial activity of PO ethanol extract (POEE) and GH ethanol extract (GHEE) in vitro, and physiological effects of POEE and GHEE on the cell inflammatory responses and the severity of periodontitis were determined using the rat periodontitis model. Our results indicate that POEE and GHEE had no effects on the proliferation of streptococcus mutans and on LPS-mediated inflammatory responses in gingival fibroblast cells. Notably, ingestion of POEE and GHEE resulted in attenuating the severity of periodontitis and population change of immune cells. These data suggests that PO and GH should be considered as candidates for relieving the severity of periondontitis.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.242-247
• /
• 2019

Biological factors (e.g. microorganism activity) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) play essential roles for degradation and/or removal of organic matters. In this study, to understand the microbial functional roles in WWTP, we tried to isolate and characterize a bacterial strain from activated sludge sample. Strain S16 was isolated from the activated sludge of a municipal WWTP in Daejeon metropolitan city, the Republic of Korea. The cells were a Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, facultative anaerobe, and rod-shaped. Strain S16 grew at a temperature of $15{\sim}40^{\circ}C$ (optimum, $30^{\circ}C$), with 0~9.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.0~2.0%), and at pH 5.5~9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0~7.5). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S16 was most closely related to the unique species Miniimonas arenae NBRC $106267^T$ (99.79%, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) of the genus Miniimonas. The cell wall contained alanine, glutamic acid, serine, and ornithine. Although the isolation source of the type strain NBRC $106267^T$ which considered as a marine microorganism is sea sand, that of strain S16 is terrestrial environment. It might raise an ecological question for habitat transition. Therefore, comparative genome analysis will be valuable investigation for shedding light on their potential metabolic traits and genomic streamlining.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1144-1151
• /
• 2019

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with various metabolic syndromes, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Cudrania tricuspidata is a medicinal plant distributed widely in Asia and has been used in clinical practice to treat various diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the lipid-lowering effects of C. tricuspidata fruit extract (CTE) using a cell model induced by free fatty acids (FFAs). HepG2 cells were exposed to 1mM FFAs (palmitic acid:oleic acid = 2:1) for 24 hr to simulate the conditions of NAFLD in vitro. CTE attenuated the increases of lipid accumulation, intracellular triglyceride, and cholesterol content and inhibited 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) activity in the HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Also, CTE inhibited the protein expression of lipogenesis-related genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1/-2 (SREBP-1/-2), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) in FFAs-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. In addition, CTE-induced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that CTE attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation by inhibiting lipogenesis through the modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway on FFAs-induced lipogenesis in HepG2 cells and may potentially prevent NAFLD.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.78-87
• /
• 2020

Objectives: To expand and provide information on the efficacy of herbal medicines, anti-obesity effects were evaluated. In many studies, plant-derived components with anti-obesity efficacies have been investigated for their potential inhibitory effects on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of 65 herbal medicine in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Methods: Preferentially, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with 65 herbal medicines (500 ㎍/mL) during differentiation for 8 days. Next, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with selected herbal medicines at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 ㎍/mL during differentiation for 8 days. The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining. The expressions of genes related to adipogenesis were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Results: Among the 65 kinds of herbal medicines, 13 herbal medicines that been shown to be effective against the accumulation of lipid droplets were selected. Finally, selected Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang showed inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation at 3T3-L1 preadipocytes without affecting cell toxicity. In addition, Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang significantly reduced the expression levels of several adipocyte marker genes including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α. Conclusions : These results suggest that the ability of Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasimtang has inhibited overall adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells. Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang may be a promising medicine for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2018

Objectives : Daesiho-tang (DSHT) has been widely used in the treatment of cerebral infarct in traditional medicine. However, there was not report on the anti-obesity-related diseases efficacy of DSHT. In this study, we investigated the effects for the new formulation of DSHT, on the adipocyte differentiation cycle in 3T3-L1 cells. Methods : 3T3-L1 cells were treated with DSHT (50, 100, $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) during differentiation for 6 days. Also, the inhibitory effect of DSHT against 3T3-L1 adipogenesis was evaluated in various stage of adipogenesis such as early (0-2day), intermediate (2-4day), and terminal stage (4-6day). The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining. and, the expressions of genes related to adipogenesis were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Results : DSHT showed inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation at 3T3-L1 preadipocytes without affect cell toxicity as assessed by measuring fat accumulation and adipogenesis. In addition, DSHT significantly reduced the expression levels of several adipocyte marker genes including proliferator activated $receptor-{\gamma}$ ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/ enhancer-binding $protein-{\alpha}$ ($C/EBP-{\alpha}$). Also, the anti-adipogenic effect of DSHT was strongly limited in the intermediate (2-4 day), terminal stage (4-6 day) of 3T3-L1 adipogenesis. In addition, the DSHT treatment down- regulated mRNA expression levels of $PPAR-{\gamma}$,, $C/EBP-{\alpha}$ in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conclusions : These results suggest that, the ability of DSHT has inhibited overall adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells. The new formulation of DSHT may be a promising medicine for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2015

Probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic substances as well as microorganisms were added to infant formula in an attempt to influence the intestinal microflora with an aim to stimulate the growth of lactic acid bacteria, especially bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Over the last 10 years, new synbiotic infant formulas containing probiotics and prebiotics have been proposed in order to simulate the effect of breast-feeding on the intestinal microflora. Owing to their synergistic effect, the new synbiotics are expected to be more helpful than using probiotics and prebiotics individually. Maintenance of the viability of the probiotics during food processing and the passage through the gastrointestinal tract should be the most important consideration, since a sufficient number of bacteria ($10^8cfu/g$) should reach the intended location to have a positive effect on the host. Storage conditions and the processing technology used for the manufacture of products such as infant formula adversely affect the viability of the probiotics. When an appropriate and cost-effective microencapsulation methodology using the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status and substances with high biological value are developed, the quality of infant formulas would improve. The effect of probiotics may be called a double-effect, where one is an immunomodulatory effect, induced by live probiotics that advantageously alter the gastrointestinal microflora, and the other comprises anti-inflammatory responses elicited by dead cells. At present, a new terminology is required to define the dead microorganisms or crude microbial fractions that positively affect health. The term "paraprobiotics" (or ghost probiotics) has been proposed to define dead microbial cells (not damaged or broken) or crude cell extracts (i.e., cell extracts with complex chemical composition) that are beneficial to humans and animals when a sufficient amount is orally or topically administered. The fecal microflora of bottle-fed infants is altered when the milk-based infant formula is supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics. Thus, by increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, prebiotics modify the fecal microbial composition and accordingly regulate the activity of the immune system. Therefore, considerable attention has been focused on the improvement of infant formula quality such that its beneficial effects are comparable to those of human milk, using prebiotics such as inulin and oligosaccharides and potential specific probiotics such as bifidobacteria, which selectively stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the microflora and the indigenous intestinal metabolic activity of the microflora.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.98-105
• /
• 2004

Purpose : To evaluate whether positron omission tomography (PET) with 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-giucose(FDG) can be used to predict of early response to definitive aim radlotherapy (RT) in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck using response rate and locoreglonal control as study endpoints. Materials and Methods : Twenty-two patients with head and neck cancer underwent a FDG-PET study before RT, after a flrst dose of 45 Gy, and after a second dose on more 4han 70 Gy. Standard uptake value (SUV) was calculated for primary tumor (n=22) and neck lymph node (n:10). Attenuation corrected PET scans acquired 60 min after tracer injection were used for evaluation of FDG uptake In tumors. A quantitative FDG uptake index was expressed as Suvlean (corrected for iean body mass). The follow-up time was at least 5 months (range S-1 S months). Results : A total of 22 primary tumors and 10 metastatic lymph nodes were analyzed In FDG-PET. In the first PET study the mean SUVlean the primary tumors and nodes were 5.4 (SD, 2.5) and 4.6 (SD, 2.3), respectively. In the second PET, study peformed after 46 Gy RT the mean SUV in primary tumor and node decreased to 2.9 (SD, 1.9, p<0.001) and 1.7 (SD, 1.3) respectively. in the third PET study peformed at the full dose (more than 70 Gy), RT the mean SUV In the primary tumors and nodes decreased to 2.3 (SD, 1.5, p<0.001) and 1.5 (SD, 1 .1) respectively. Conclusions: FDG uptake In tumors showed a significant decrease after the 45 Gy and more than 70 Gy of RT for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Reduction of metabolic activity after 46 Gy of radiotherapy Is closely correlated with radiation response.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.1179-1191
• /
• 2019

Cancer cells undergo the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and show unique oncogenic metabolic phenotypes such as the glycolytic switch (Warburg effect) which are important for tumor development and progression. The EMT is a critical process for tumor invasion and metastasis. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a chromatin-associated nuclear protein, but it acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule when released from dying cells and immune cells. HMGB1 induces the EMT, as well as invasion and metastasis, thereby contributing to tumor progression. Here, we show that HMGB1 induced the EMT by activating Snail. In addition, the HMGB1/Snail cascade was found induce a glycolytic switch. HMGB1 also suppressed mitochondrial respiration and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity by a Snail-dependent reduction in the expression of the COX subunits COXVIIa and COXVIIc. HMGB1 also upregulated the expression of several key glycolytic enzymes, including hexokinase 2 (HK2), phosphofructokinase-2/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 2 (PFKFB2), and phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (PGAM1), in a Snail-dependent manner. However, HMGB1 was found to regulate some other glycolytic enzymes including lactate dehydrogenases A and B (LDHA and LDHB), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), and monocarboxylate transporters 1 and 4 (MCT1 and 4) in a Snail-independent manner. Transfection with short hairpin RNAs against HK2, PFKFB2, and PGAM1 prevented the HMGB1-induced EMT, indicating that glycolysis is associated with HMGB1-induced EMT. These findings demonstrate that HMGB1 signaling induces the EMT, glycolytic switch, and mitochondrial repression via Snail activation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.509-518
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of heat shock treatments on the phytochemicals including antioxidants and anticancer materials in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) sprouts. In study I, kale sprouts grown under the growing system for four days were soaked at 40, 50, or $60^{\circ}C$ distilled water for 10, 30, or 60 seconds, and in study II, kale sprouts were soaked at $50^{\circ}C$ distilled water for 10, 20, 30, 45, or 60 seconds. After the heat shock treatments, the sprouts were transferred into normal growing conditions and recovered there for two days. Fresh and dry weights, electrolyte leakage, total phenolic concentration, antioxidant capacity, total flavonoid concentration, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, and glucosinolates content of the sprouts were measured before and after the heat shock treatments. As a result, there was a significant decrease in the fresh and dry weight of kale sprouts treated with heat shock compared with control at harvest in study I. Especially, heat shock at $60^{\circ}C$ lead to more pronounced growth inhibition compared with heat treatments at 40 and $50^{\circ}C$. Electrolyte leakage by cell collapse was the highest in the sprouts exposed to $60^{\circ}C$ distilled water, which agreed with the growth results. Heat shock at $50^{\circ}C$ significantly induced the accumulation of phenolic compounds. In study II, fresh weight of kale sprouts at $50^{\circ}C$ heat shock showed a significant decrease compared with the control at one and two days after the treatment. However, the decrease was minimal and dry weight of kale sprouts was not significantly different from that in control. In contrast, the heat shock-treated kale sprouts had higher level of total phenolic concentration than control at harvest. Heat shock treatments at $50^{\circ}C$ for 20 seconds or more showed at least 1.5 and 1.2 times higher total phenolic concentration and antioxidants capacity than control, respectively. The change of the total flavonoid concentration was similar with that of antioxidants. PAL activity after 24 hours of heat shock was higher in all the heat shock-treated sprouts than that in control suggesting heat shock may stimulate secondary metabolic pathway in kale sprouts. Seven glucosinolates were identified in kale sprouts and soaking the sprouts with $50^{\circ}C$ water for 20 seconds had a pronounced impact on the accumulation of total glucosinolates as well as two major glucosinolates, progoitrin and sinigrin, at harvest. In conclusion, this study suggests that heat shock using hot water would be a potential strategy to improve nutritional quality of kale sprouts by inducing the accumulation of phytochemicals with antioxidant and anticancer properties.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.297-303
• /
• 2014

The effects of Eisenia bicyclis extracts on osteoblast differentiation and osteoclast formation were investigated. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was tested in an MTT assay. Treatment with E. bicyclis ethanol extract increased cell proliferation by approximately 128% at a concentration of 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. The ALP activities in the MC3T3-E1 cells was 179% higher when the E. bicyclis ethanol extract was processed at a concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. The proliferation of RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells decreased significantly in response to treatment with the E. bicyclis extracts. Moreover, the proliferation of the RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells treated with E. bicyclis hot water extract decreased by nearly 80%. In addition, the E. bicyclis extract reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells from osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that E. bicyclis extracts have an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation and suggest that the extracts could be used in the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.