• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.245-258
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• 2008

Five triterpenic acids as marker compounds were extracted and isolated from Prunellae Spica by column chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their purity was determinated by HPLC (purity ${\geq}90%$). Molecular weight and elemental compositions of the five marker compounds were determined by fast atom bombardment high-resolution mass spectrometry (FAB-HRMS). The structural determination of the five marker compounds was carried out fast atom bombardment collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (FAB-CID-MS/MS). The collision-induced dissociation (CID) of protonated molecules $[M+H]^+$ and deprotonated molecules $[M-H]^-$ produced diverse product ions due mainly to retro Diels-Alder reaction (RDA), dehydration and decarboxylation. Moreover, the CID-MS/MS spectra of the $[M-H]^-$ ions were observed charge-remote fragmentation (CRF) patterns. On the basis of interpretation of CID-MS/MS spectra, structural elucidation of triterpenic acids isolated from Prunellae Spica was clearly performed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1012-1018
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• 2014

Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai (Korean name, Jeju-Joritdae) is one of the most abundant plants on Mt. Halla, Jeju Island, and it has long been used in traditional medicines. Recent studies have reported it as possessing various beneficial functions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertension, anti-gastritis, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer activity have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects and mechanism of S. quelpaertensis on human colon cancer HT-29 cells. Cell growth inhibition by S. quelpaertensis was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis was performed by DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining (PI), and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to confirm the anti-apoptotic factors, such as inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family members. $NO^{\bullet}$ production was determined by Griess assay. S. quelpaertensis treatment resulted in the time- and dose-dependent inhibition of the cell viability of HT-29 cells by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the accumulation of the sub-G1 cell population stained by PI, as well as the ladder-like DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. S. quelpaertensis-inducing apoptosis was accompanied by the induction of S cell cycle arrests, increasing $NO^{\bullet}$ concentrations, and the down-regulation of IAPs, including X-chromosome-linked IAP (XIAP), cellular IAP-1 (cIAP-1), cIAP-2, and survivin. Taken together, these findings have important implications for future clinical developments of S. quelpaertensis in colon cancer treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Objective: The DNA integrity of spermatozoa that attach to fallopian tube (FT) cells is higher than spermatozoa that do not attach. FT epithelial cells can distinguish normal and abnormal sperm chromatin. This study investigated the effects of sperm with a high-DNA fragmentation index (DFI) from men with unexplained repeated implantation failure (RIF) on the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway in human FT cells in vitro. Methods: Ten men with a RIF history and high-DFI and 10 healthy donors with low-DFI comprised the high-DFI (>30%) and control (<30%) groups, respectively. After fresh semen preparation, sperm were co-cultured with a human FT epithelial cell line (OE-E6/E7) for 24 hours. RNA was extracted from the cell line and the human innate and adaptive immune responses were tested using an RT2 profiler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array. Results: The PCR array data showed significantly higher TLR-1, TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-6, interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, interferon α (IFN-α), IFN-β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), CXCL8, GM-CSF, G-CSF, CD14, ELK1, IRAK1, IRAK2, IRAK4, IRF1, IRF3, LY96, MAP2K3, MAP2K4, MAP3K7, MAP4K4, MAPK8, MAPK8IP3, MYD88, NFKB1, NFKB2, REL, TIRAP, and TRAF6 expression in the high-DFI group than in the control group. These factors are all involved in the TLR-MyD88 signaling pathway. Conclusion: The MyD88-dependent pathway through TLR-1, TLR-2, and TLR-6 activation may be one of the main inflammatory pathways activated by high-DFI sperm from men with RIF. Following activation of this pathway, epithelial cells produce inflammatory cytokines, resulting in neutrophil infiltration, activation, phagocytosis, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and apoptosis.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.536-541
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• 2009

Plasma-polymerized acrylic acid films were deposited on Si wafer and KBr pellet by remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Effects of plasma power, reaction pressure, indirect plasma method on the growth rate, chemical structure, and chemical bonding state of the films were investigated. Chemical structure and chemical state of the films were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and curve fitting technique. Growth rate of the film increased to a saturation value with plasma power of 100 W, but showed the maximum with reaction pressure at 300 mtorr. Whenever W/FM factor (applied energy per gas molecule) increased by increasing plasma power or lowering pressure, the fragmentation of acrylic acid molecules was promoted. From the XPS curve fitting analyses, we found that the intensity of carboxyl COO bonding peak decreased with W/FM factor, and the tendency of intensity change of carboxylic COO peak was contrary to those of ether C-O and carbonyl C=O peaks.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1711-1716
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• 2005

Fragmentations and ion-molecule reactions of ionized cyclohexane propionic acid and cyclohexane butyric acid were studied using FTMS and theoretical calculations. The difference in bond dissociation depending on the aliphatic chain length was investigated and mechanisms for the possible rearrangements depending on the aliphatic carbon length were suggested. The most abundant fragment ion of the ionized cyclohexane propionic acid was c-$C_6H_{11}CH_2\;^+$ formed from the molecular ion by the direct C-C bond cleavage, while that of the ionized cyclohexane butyric acid was c-$C_6H_9C(OH)=OH^+$ formed by rearrangement of the molecular ion from the acid to diol form and loss of propyl radical. Stabilities of the radical and distonic ions of $C_nH_{2n}O^{+\bullet}$ formed from the molecular ion were compared. Protonated molecules were dissociated into smaller ions by losing one or two water molecules. The $[nM + H]^+$, $[nM + H - H_2O]^+$, and $[nM + H - 2H_2O]^+$ with n = 2 and 3 were generated by solvation with the neutral molecules in the ICR cell at long ion trapping time.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.166-177
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was performed to determine if Orostschys japonicus A. Berger has protective effects against CML in K562 cell lines. Materials and Methods : MTT assay, cell proliferation assay, Reverse transcription-polymerase reaction chain, RT-PCR, DNA fragmentation assay, Quantitative PCR were studied. Results : Orostschys japonicus A. Berger had no effects on Bax gene in K562 cell lines, but decreased Bcl-2 gene, and increased the Caspases-3 gene. This is indicate of induced apoptosis in K562 cell lines by Orostschys japonicus A. Berger. Conclusion : These results suggest that Orostschys japonicus A. Berger has effects on apatosis in K562 cell lines.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2003

Ganoderma lucidum is commonly known as medically potent mushroom, which has been widely used in China and other oriental countries for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. In this report, we investigated the anti-oxidant and protective effect of Ganodema lucidum extract (GLE) against the DNA damage induced by free radical and U.V. In the assay of cell growth inhibition, the inhibitory cell growth rate induced by hydroxyl radical was dose-dependently decreased by GLE. This results support that GLE has a detoxifying activity against cytotoxicity of hydroxyl radical in E. coli cell. GLE also protected ColE1 plasmid DNA damage in the concentration of 200$\mu\textrm{g}$ per reaction on the DNA fragmentation assay. The nuclear tailing by hydrogen peroxide in single cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE) was decreased by GLE in the concentration of 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. These data indicate that Ganoderma lucidum has an anti-oxidative activity to hydrogen peroxide. The mutation rate after irradiation of U.V. was reduced by 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml GLE and total number of Rif (Rifampicin) resistant mutants was decreased in a concentration dependent manner when added the GLE exogenously in a culture media. According to the results, it is likely that GLE has not only an anti-oxidative activity to hydroxyl radical but also an anti-mutagenic activity to U.V. mutagenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.74-86
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• 2005

Background: There are increasing neuro-degenerative disorders with aging. Paeoniae Radix(PR) possesses various pharmacological effects such as sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and neuro-protective actions. Also antiaging and anti-cancer effects of PR were reported. Our purpose was to investigate whether PR is useful on the treatment of Parkinson's disease, one of the neuro-degenerative disorders. Objective: We investigated whether Paeonia Radix possesses a protective effect against 1-methyl-4 phenylpyridine(MPP+)-induced cytotoxicity in neuronal cells. Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay, flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), and Western blotting were performed on SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells. Results: Cells treated with MPP+ exhibited several apoptotic features, while cells pre-treated with Paeonia Radix prior to MPP+ exposure showed s decrease in the occurrence of apoptotic features. Conclusions: These results suggest that Paeonia Radix may exert a protective effect against MPP+-induced apoptosis in SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.63-74
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• 2003

목적 : 한의학에서 관절염이나 진통치료에 사용되어 왔던 봉독약침액이 인간 골육종 세포주인 MG-63 세포에서 항종양효과가 있는지 연구하고자 한다. 특히 본 실험에서는 이러한 봉독의 종양발생 억제작용이 세포사멸과 관련이 있는지, 그리고 프로스타글란딘 합성 효소인 cyclooxygenase(COX)-2의 억제와 관련이 있는지를 연구하고자 한다. 방법 : 인간 골육종 세포주에서 세포사멸의 변화를 관찰하기 위해서 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium brimide(MTT) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), DNA fragmentation assay 및 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) 방법을 이용하였다. 결과 : 세포독성 검사에서 봉독은 MG-63 세포에서 농도-의존적으로 세포독성을 나타내었다. 이러한 봉독의 세포독성이 세포사멸로 인한 것인지를 여러 가지 형태로 검사한 결과 봉독에 의한 세포독성은 TUNEL 검사와 DAPI 염색시 세포사멸의 특징적인 소견들을 나타내었고, flow cytometric 분석에서도 세포사멸을 의미하는 세포주기의 변화들을 나타내었다. 봉독이 COX-2의 발현에 미치는 영향을 RT-PCR로 실험한 결과 봉독은 COX-2 mRNA의 발현을 선택적으로 억제하였다. 결론 : 본 실험의 결과 봉독은 COX-2 mRNA의 발현을 억제함으로써 골육종 세포에서 세포사멸을 유발하고 그 결과 항종양효과를 나타내는 것으로 보여진다.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.602-608
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• 2002

To investigate whether Puerariae radix (PR) possesses protective effect against ethanol (EtOH)-inducecl apoptosis in the central nervous system, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, flow cytometric analysis, DNA fragmentation assay. and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed on human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC. Morphological and biochemical analyses demonstrated that SK-N-MC cells treated with EtOH exhibit classical apoptotic features. On the other hand, cells pre-treated with PR prior to EtOH exposure showed decreased occurrence of classical apoptotic features. In addition, it was shown that PR pre-treatment inhibits EtOH-induced increases in the levels of mRNA expression of bax and caspase-3, while it further enhances the level of bcl-2 expression. These results suggest that PR may exert protective effects against EtOH-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.