• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2010

An endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from forest soil samples collected at the Taebaek mountain of Gangwon province, Korea, and taxonomically characterized by physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic methods. Its 16S rRNA sequences showed the maximum similarity of 97% with B. amyloliquefaciens. In addition, the isolate BCNU 2002 was determined to have the ability to produce enzymes such as amylase, protease, gelatinase and catalase. The in vitro antifungal activity of Bacillus sp. BCNU 2002 was also examined against human pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum. A maximum production level of antifungal substances of Bacillus sp. BCNU 2002 was achieved under aerobic incubation at $28^{\circ}C$ for 7 days in LB broth. BCNU 2002 showed strong antifungal activities against T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum with the range of percentage inhibition from 56.25 to 63.23%. It was also confirmed that ethylacetate extract of cultured broth showed a strong antifungal activity against A. niger, C. albicans, S. cerevisiae and T. rubrum by agar diffusion method. The peptide fraction also exhibited broad antifungal spectrum against various pathogenic fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration values for active extracts ranged between 125 ${\mu}g$/mL and 1000 ${\mu}g$/mL.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidative activity on oxidaton of human low density lipoprotein from marine microorganisms. Bacillus sp. RH-5 producing antioxidative activity have been isolated and identified from coast sea in Pusan. Bacillus sp. RH-5 produced at highest level of antioxidative activity in the medium of 1.0% glucose, 0.25% polypepton, 0.25% yeast extract, 0.01% $FeSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ and 50% sea water. The optimal medium pH, cultural temperature and shaking time for the highest production as the antioxidant were 7.0, $30^{\circ}C$ and 48 hr, respectively. The culture broth inhibited the copper catalyzed oxidation of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) at the concentration of 500 and $1,000\;\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ ethylacetate extracts in the presence of $5\;\mu\textrm{M}\;CuSo_4$. The electrophoretic mobility of the LDL oxidized in the presense of $5\;\mu\textrm{M}\;CuSo_4$ was higher than that of native LDL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5371-5376
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• 2015

Berberine (B1), isolated from stems of Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr, was used as a principle structure to synthesize three phenolic derivatives: berberrubine (B2) with a single phenolic group, berberrubine chloride (B3) as a chloride counter ion derivative, and 2,3,9,10-tetra-hydroxyberberine chloride (B4) with four phenolic groups, to investigate their direct and indirect antioxidant activities. For DPPH assay, compounds B4, B3, and B2 showed good direct antioxidant activity ($IC_{50}$ values=$10.7{\pm}1.76$, $55.2{\pm}2.24$, and $87.4{\pm}6.65{\mu}M$, respectively) whereas the $IC_{50}$ value of berberine was higher than $500{\mu}M$. Moreover, compound B4 exhibited a better DPPH scavenging activity than BHT as a standard antioxidant ($IC_{50}=72.7{\pm}7.22{\mu}M$) due to the ortho position of hydroxyl groups and its capacity to undergo intramolecular hydrogen bonding. For cytotoxicity assay against human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080) using MTT reagent, the sequence of $IC_{50}$ value at 7-day treatment stated that B1 < B4 < B2 ($0.44{\pm}0.03$, $2.88{\pm}0.23$, and $6.05{\pm}0.64{\mu}M$, respectively). Berberine derivatives, B2 and B4, showed approximately the same level of CAT expression and significant up-regulation of SOD expression in a dose-dependent manner compared to berberine treatment for 7-day exposure using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Our findings show a better direct-antioxidant activity of the derivatives containing phenolic groups than berberine in a cell-free system. For cell-based system, berberine was able to exert better cytotoxic activity than its derivatives. Berberine derivatives containing a single and four phenolic groups showed improved up-regulation of SOD gene expression. Cytotoxic action might not be the main effect of berberine derivatives. Other pharmacological targets of these derivatives should be further investigated to confirm the medical benefit of phenolic groups introduced into the berberine molecule.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3071-3075
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• 2016

Morin, a flavonoid found in figs and other Moraceae species, displays a variety of biological actions, exerting anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of morin focusing on anti-adhesive influence. We performed experiments with MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Morin inhibited TNF-induced cancer cell adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) without showing any toxicity. It further inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 on MDA-MB-231 cells as well as HUVECs. Morin also decreased the expression of N-cadherin on MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, there was apparent anti-metastatic activity in vivo. In conclusion, this study suggested that morin inhibits cancer cell adhesion to HUVECs by reducing VCAM-1, and EMT by targeting N-cadherin, and that it features anti-metastatic activity in vivo. Further investigation of possible anti-metastatic activity of morin against human breast cancer cells is warranted.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2000

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidative activity on oxidation of human low density lipoprotein(LDL) of band 2 fractionated from culture broth of Streptomyces sp. BH-405. Antioxidative activity of band 2 obtained from fractionation of BH-405 culture purification was measured against $Cu^{2+}$ mediated human LDL oxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. $CuSO_4$ mediated oxidation of LDL was degraded at a much higher rate than native LDL. Band 2 at a concentration of 100 or 200 !lg/mL inhibited the oxidation of LDL induced by $CuSO_4$, The formation of conjugated dienes induced in the presence of 5 !1M CuS04 of the mouse macrophage and J744. The electrophoretic mobility of the LDL in addition of $200\mu\textrm{g}$ band 2 in the presence of $5\mu\textrm{m}$ $CuSO_4$ was lower than that of native LDL. LDL modified by copper mediated or cell mediated uptake was degraded by macrophage at much greater than native LDL, and band 2 was found as potential inhibitor of modification of 125I-labelled LDL by macrophage. phage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.148-157
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• 2007

Background & Objective: Articular cartilage is a potential target for drugs designed to inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to stop or slow the destruction of the proteoglycanand collagen in the cartilage extracellular matrix. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Cinnamomum cassia in inhibiting the release of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), the degradation of collagen, and MMP activity in rabbit and human articular cartilage explants. Methods: The cartilage-protective effects of Cinnamomum cassia were evaluated by using glycosaminoglycan degradation assay, collagen degradation assay, colorimetric analysis of MMP activity, measurement of lactate dehydrogenase activity and histological analysis in rabbit cartilage explants culture. Results: Interleukin-1a (IL-1a) rapidly induced GAG, but collagen was much less readily released from cartilage explants. Cinnamomum cassia significantly inhibited GAG and collagen release in a concentration-dependent manner. Cinnamomum cassia dose-dependently inhibited MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-13 activities from IL-1a-treated cartilage explants culture when tested at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 1 mg/ml. Conclusion : These results indicate that Cinnamomum cassia inhibits the degradation of proteoglycan and collagen through the down regulation of MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-13 activities of IL-1a-stimulated rabbit and human articular cartilage explants.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 1998

Cotton fabric was treated with chitosan by pad-dry(-cure) method to impart antimicrobial properties. Four chitosans of different degree of deacetylation (DAC: 65~95%) with similar molecular weight(MW: ca. 50, 000) and one chitosan oligomer(MW 1, 800, DAC 86%) were used. In order to improve the durability to laundering of antimicrobial activity for the fabrics treated with chitosan oligomer, crosslinker or binder was included in the finishing formulation. Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris was evaluated by the Shake Flask Method. The treated fabrics were laundered up to 20 times according to AATCC Test Method 60-1986 or JIS 0217-104 and antimicrobial activity of the laundered fabrics was evaluated. The antimicrobial activity was increased with the increase of concentration and degree of deacetylation of chitosan. And the cured fabrics showed better durability to laundering than the not-cured fabrics according to AATCC Test Method 60-1986. Crosslinker and binder decreased antimicrobial according of the fabrics treated with chitosan oligomer and were not effective to improve the durability to laundering according to JIS 0217-104. (Korean J Human Ecology 1(1) : 103~112, 1998)

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.93-96
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• 2009

House dust mites (HDMs) play an important role in the occurrence of allergic diseases such as asthma and atopic dermatitis. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) is one of the most prevalent HDMs. It mediates the activation of T cells and monocytes, and induces the elevation of immunoglobulin E levels in allergic diseases. However, the effects of Der p on human monocytes have not been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated whether or not Der p has a great effect on the chemotactic activity of the human monocytic cell line, THP-1 cells, as induced by CC chemokines. We also show that the Der p extract (DpE) increased the chemotactic activity of THP-1 cells in response to MCP-1, RANTES, MIP-1${\alpha}$, and TARC, but had no effect on the expressions of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) binding to CC chemokines in THP-1 cells. Protease inhibitors, such as aprotinin and E64, blocked the increased chemotaxis, while cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ influx mediated by these chemokines was inhibited by DpE. These results indicate that DpE increases the chemotactic activity of THP-1 cells in response to CC chemokines by regulating the cells' protease-dependent mechanism. This finding may be useful in identifying the pathogenesis of allergic diseases induced by Der p.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.727-733
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• 2015

Although Sophorae Flos (SF) has been reported to exert an anti-cancer activity, molecular targets and mechanisms associated with anti-cancer activity of SF have been unclear. Because cyclin D1 has been regarded as an important regulator in the cell proliferation, we focused cyclin D1 and investigated the effect of SF on the cyclin D1 regulation in light of elucidating the molecular mechanism for SF’s anti-cancer activity. The treatment of SF decreased cellular accumulation of cyclin D1 protein. However, SF did not change the level of cyclin D1 mRNA. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation by MG132 attenuated SF-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation and the half-life of cyclin D1 was decreased in the cells treated with SF. In addition, a point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated SF-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by a selective inhibitor, PD98059 suppressed cyclin D1 downregulation by SF. From these results, we suggest that SF-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation may result from proteasomal degradation through its threonine-286 phosphorylation via ERK1/2. SF-induced proteasomal degradation of cyclin D1 might inhibit proliferation in human colorectal cancer cells. The current study provides information on molecular events for an anti-cancer activity of SF

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2011

Dual-specificity protein phosphatases (DUSPs) constitute a family of protein phosphatase characterized by the ability to dephosphorylate phospho-tyrosyl and phospho-seryl/threonyl residues. Most DUSPs are involved in regulation of cell survival and differentiation. In this study, a human dual-specificity protein phosphatase, DUSP28, was isolated from a human kidney cDNA. The recombinant protein was successfully produed in E.coli and showed sufficient phosphatase activity toward DiFMUP (6,8-difluoro-4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate). Various phosphatase inhibitors and divalent metals were tested for their effects on the DUSP28 phosphatase activity. As a result, $Zn^{2+}$ was found to strongly inhibit DUSP28 phosphatase activity, suggesting DUSP28 is involved in Zn-related signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, the DUSP28 protein preferred phospho-tyrosyl residues to phospho-threonyl residues, implying its physiological roles in the cellular process.