• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.339-344
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• 2015

Naringenin (NAR) as one of the flavonoids observed in grapefruit has been reported to exhibit an anti-cancer activity. However, more detailed mechanism by which NAR exerts anti-cancer properties still remains unanswered. Thus, in this study, we have shown that NAR down-regulates the level of cyclin D1 in human colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. NAR inhibited the cell proliferation in HCT116 and SW480 cells and decreased the level of cyclin D1 protein. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation by MG132 blocked NAR-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation and the half-life of cyclin D1 was decreased in the cells treated with NAR. In addition, NAR increased the phosphorylation of cyclin D1 at threonine-286 and a point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine blocked cyclin D1 downregulation by NAR. p38 inactivation attenuated cyclin D1 downregulation by NAR. From these results, we suggest that NAR-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation may result from proteasomal degradation through p38 activation. The current study provides new mechanistic link between NAR, cyclin D1 downregulation and cell growth in human colorectal cancer cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2020

Leishmaniasis is a prevalent cause of death and animal morbidity in underdeveloped countries of endemic area. However, there is few vaccine and effective drugs. Antimicrobial peptides are involved in the innate immune response in many organisms and are being developed as novel drugs against parasitic infections. In the present study, we synthesized a 5-amino acid peptide REDLK, which mutated the C-terminus of Pseudomonas exotoxin, to identify its effect on the Leishmania tarentolae. Promastigotes were incubated with different concentration of REDLK peptide, and the viability of parasite was assessed using MTT and Trypan blue dye. Morphologic damage of Leishmania was analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Cellular apoptosis was observed using the annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit, mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit and flow cytometry. Our results showed that Leishmania tarentolae was susceptible to REDLK in a dose-dependent manner, disrupt the surface membrane integrity and caused parasite apoptosis. In our study, we demonstrated the leishmanicidal activity of an antimicrobial peptide REDLK from Pseudomonas aeruginosa against Leishmania tarentolae in vitro and present a foundation for further research of anti-leishmanial drugs.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.367-372
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• 2005

밤나무 잎에 함유된 기능성 물질 검색의 일환으로 항미생물 효과를 검정하고 활성물질의 분석을 시도하였다. 예비실험을 통해 추출물의 활성을 확인한 후 시료를 n-hexane, EtOAc, MeOH로 순차 추출하여 정제한 다음 활성이 강한 MeOH 분획의 0.2 g, 0.5 g에 해당하는 추출물로 13종의 미생물에 대해 활성을 측정한 결과, Cram 양성 세균 중에서 S. aureus와 S. epidermidis는 대조구로 사용한 benzoic acid보다 강한 활성이 나타났고, M. luteus와 L. mesenteroides, B. subtilis에서도 활성이 인정되었으며, Gram 음성 세균인 E. coli, S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa에서도 강한 활성이 나타나 밤나무 잎 추출물은 비교적 넓은 항균 spectra와 활성이 있음이 확인되었다. 이에 활성물질을 규명하고자 시료를 solvent fractionation, silica gel adsorption column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, HPLC 등으로 정제하고 활성이 나타난 산성 획분과 페놀성 획분의 물질을 분리한 후 MS, $^1H-NMR,\;^{13}C-NMR$ 등으로 분석한 결과, 산성 획분에서는 stigmast- 5-en-3-ol($\beta$-sitosterol)이 활성을 갖는 물질로 나타났다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.3-8
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• 2009

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play an important role in tumor invasion, angiogenesis and inflammatory tissue destruction. Increased expression of MMP was observed in benign tissue hyperplasia and in atherosclerotic lesions. Invasive cancer cells utilize MMP to degrade the extracellular matrix and vascular basement membrane during metastasis, where MMP-2 has been implicated in the development and dissemination of malignancies. The present study attempted to examine the antiangiogenic activity of the medicinal herbs of Aspergillus usamii var. shirousamii-transformed Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Zizyphus jujube (tAgR and tZj) with respect to MMP-2 production and endothelial motility in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)- or VEGF-exposed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Nontoxic tAgR and tZj substantially suppressed PMA-induced MMP-2 secretion. In addition, $25{\mu}g/mL$ tAgR and tZj prevented vascular endothelial growth factor-stimulated endothelial cell transmigration and tube formation. The results reveal that tAgR and tZj dampened endothelial MMP-2 production leading to endothelial transmigration and tube formation. tAgR and tZj-mediated inhibition of endothelial MMP may boost a therapeutic efficacy during vascular angiogenesis.

• Mycobiology
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.308-318
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• 2019

Bio-sulfur can be produced in the process of desulfurization from a landfill and collected by some microorganism such as Thiobacillus sp. as a sulfur element. In order to investigate practical use of bio-sulfur as an agent for controlling plant disease, in vitro antifungal activity of bio-sulfur was tested against Colletotrichum orbiculare known to cause cucumber anthracnose. Efficacy of bio-sulfur for suppressing anthracnose disease was also evaluated in vivo using cucumber leaves. Mycelial growth of C. orbiculare on medium containing bio-sulfur was inhibited. Disease severity of cucumber leaves pre-treated with bio-sulfur was significantly decreased compared to that of untreated ones. To illustrate how bio-sulfur could suppress anthracnose disease, structures of cucumber leaves infected with C. orbiculare were observed under a fluorescent microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cucumber leaves pre-treated with bio-sulfur showed a low rate of appressorium formation whereas untreated ones showed abundant appressoria. Shrunk fungal hyphae were mostly observed on bio-sulfur-pretreated leaves by SEM. Similar results were observed on leaves pre-treated with a commercial fungicide Benomyl(R). These results suggest that inhibition of appressorium formation of C. orbiculare by bio-sulfur may contribute to its suppression of cucumber anthracnose.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제60권4호
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• pp.463-471
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• 2021

열대식물인 인도멀구슬나무(Azadirachta indica)는 병해충과 방제와 의학적인 목적으로 오랫동안 이용하였다. 본고에서는 님제의 활성성분인 아자디라크틴의 해충에 대한 곤충생장조절, 기피, 섭식저해, 산란억제 등 다양한 작용기작과 국내 이용현황에 대하여 고찰하였다. 국내 유통되는 친환경유기농자재 중에서 님제 제품은 총 57종이었다. 그중 효능효과가 표시된 자재는 7종이었고 평균 아자디라크틴 함량은 0.38%로써 세계적으로 유통되는 평균 함량 2.1%와 비교할 때 약 5.5배 낮았다. 국내에서 님제의 방제효과에서 진딧물은 실험에서 다소 변이는 있었으나 대부분 90% 이상의 방제효과를 보였다. 꽃매미 약충에 누적살충률은 73~77%를 보였고, 총채벌레에 대한 방제가는 50~72% 범위로 살포효과가 인정되었다. 노린재와 나방류에 대한 방제효과는 대체적으로 낮았다. 본고는 유통되는 님제품의 이해와 실험자료의 해석에 필요한 주요한 정보를 제공해줄 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.346-359
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• 2018

Xanthomonas oryzae, a bacterial pathogen causing leaf blight disease (BLB) in rice, can cause widespread disease and has caused epidemics globally, resulting in severe crop losses of 50% in Asia. The pathogen is seed-borne and is transmitted through seeds. Thus, control of BLB requires the elimination of the pathogen from seeds. Concern about environment-friendly organic production has spurred improvements in a variety of biological disease control methods, including the use of bacteriophages, against bacterial plant pathogens. The present study explored the potential of bacteriophages isolated from diseased plant leaves and soil samples in killing the bacterial pathogen in rice seeds. Eight different phages were isolated and evaluated for their bacteriolytic activity against different pathogenic X. oryzae strains. Of these, a phage designated ${\varphi}XOF4$ killed all the pathogenic X. oryzae strains and showed the broadest host range. Transmission electron microscopy of ${\varphi}XOF4$ revealed it to be a tailed phage with an icosahedral head. The virus was assigned to the family Siphoviridae, order Caudovirales. Seedlings raised from the seeds treated with $1{\times}10^8pfu/ml$ of ${\varphi}XOF4$ phage displayed reduced incidence of BLB disease and complete bacterial growth inhibition. The findings indicate the potential of the ${\varphi}XOF4$ phage as a potential biological control agent against BLB disease in rice.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.39-50
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• 2019

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases play an important role in cell growth and differentiation, as well as the modulation of proinflammatory cytokines. The objective of this study was to examine the increase in the anti-inflammatory effect of Gentiana scabra Bunge (GSB), due to bioconversion with the Aspergillus kawachii crude enzyme, via inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling and MAP kinase pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells treated with the GSB ethyl acetate fraction bioconverted with A. kawachii crude enzyme (GE-BA), was dramatically suppressed as compared to GSB ethyl acetate fraction non-bioconverted with the A. kawachii crude enzyme (GE-UA). The phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ in RAW 264.7 cells treated with GE-BA was further suppressed, as compared to exposure to GE-UA. Moreover, the mRNA expression of interleukin 6, interleukin 1-beta, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ was further suppressed by GE-BA, compared to GE-UA. Similarly, anti-oxidant activities, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging activity, of GE-BA were further increased compared to GE-UA. These observations demonstrate that the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of GSB ethyl acetate fraction increases as a result from bioconversion with the A. kawachii crude enzyme.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제12권8호
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• pp.309-315
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• 2021

소나무 수피에서 추출한 Pycnogenol은 항균활성과 항산화 효과가 뛰어난 성분으로 항염, 혈압조절기능, 면역조절, 암세포 성장억제 등 다양한 의학적 효능과 함께 천연 소염제로 응용되고 있지만 화장품 관련 연구는 미비한 상황이므로 본 연구는 Pycnogenol 성분이 피부에 미치는 효과를 임상학적 접근한 연구이다. Pycnogenol 성분 첨가, 무첨가한 화장품을 각 각 10명의 임상자가 6주간 사용하게 한 후 피부 상태 변화를 살펴보았으며 모공의 감소, 눈가주름의 감소, 처진모공의 개수와 각도의 감소, 색소침착이 감소하는 효과가 있었다. 그러므로 Pycnogenol 성분을 함유한 화장품은 노화피부에서 나타나는 피부 문제를 개선하는 효과가 있다.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.1011-1020
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• 2020

Efficient management systems of facilities make it possible to manage environmental conditions properly, such as the temperature, humidity and light source required for the best growth of the crops, as well as for the mass production of fruit and vegetables with high quality every year through an advanced and protected cultivation system. Powdery mildew is a type of chronic disease that is difficult to control during the production of Korean melons under a protected cultivation system, the use of which is increasing in production areas in Korea. Two Bacillus strains isolated from soil samples showed antagonistic activities against several pathogens, specifically Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis; they were identified as Bacillus velezensis M2 and B. amyloliquefaciens M3 in a molecular biological test of the nucleotide sequences of gyrase subunit A (gyrA). The treatment was given three times at intervals of five days with 400-fold diluted cultures of B. velezensis M2 and B. amyloliquefaciens M3. This led to the inhibition of the incidence of powdery mildew disease in Korean melon leaves, which resulted in effective control efficiency against the incidence of powdery mildew disease with control values of 87% and 65%, respectively. Cultures of antagonistic microbes tested in this study can be used to increase the efficiency as part of an environmentally friendly management scheme to prevent powdery mildew disease during the protected cultivation of crops, including Korean melons.