• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

The moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) plant is used as food and as an anti-allergic agent. In this study, we studied the inhibitory effect of moringa root extract on the expression of PMA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which is the main factor implicated in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells in MCF-7 cells. At first, various moringa extracts were examined in the MCF-7 cells. Both moringa root extract and leaf extracts inhibited PMA-induced MMP-9 activity, but the root extract suppressed PMA-induced MMP-9 activity to a greater extent than the leaf extract. The moringa root extract also inhibited PMA-induced MMP-9 protein expression and cell invasion. According to RT-PCR, the treatment of the MCF-7 cells with moringa root extract decreased levels of PMA-induced MMP-9 mRNA expression, but not the expression of TIMP-1 and -2, indicating that moringa root extract prevents the transcription of MMP-9 in response to PMA. In addition, moringa root extract specifically suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK/JNK, but not p38. We suggest that moringa root extract abolishes MMP-9 activity/expression through ERK/JNK. In conclusion, moringa root extract suppressed PMA-induced MMP-9 activity/expression by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK/JNK in MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that moringa root extract may be a potential antimetastatic and anti-invasive agent. Future clinical research is needed on the anticancer properties of moringa root extract.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 1980

Seed tunicates of Halocynthia roretzi (v. DRASCHE) which were artificially settled in Chungmu area were transplanted to Seonyudo and Eochungdo to know the feasibility of the tunicate culturing in the western coast of Korea. From April 1978 to March 1979, the growth of the transplanted tunicate in the two area was compared and analyzed in reference to the ecological factors. At the time when the seeds were transplanted, the mean body height of Halocynthia roretzi(V. DRASCHE) was 1.84 mm, body breadth 1.42 mm, and the body weight 15.0 mg. After 333 days the mean body height was 10.77 mm, body breadth 6.75 mm, and body weight 201 mg in Seonyudo area. In Eochungdo area the mean body height was 13.5 mm, body breadth 11.51 mu and body weight 880 mg. According to above results, it is possible to culture the seeds in Eochungdo area. Salinity $(29.2-32.0\%_{\circ})$ was favorable, water temperature $(6.8-26.8^{\circ}C)$ was not a critical factor, but the growth of the tunicate was affected by the high temperature$(over\;25.0^{\circ}C)$ in July. Transparency lower than 1.0 m seriously affects the growth of the tunicate, and it was one of the important factors inhibiting the growth of the tunicate. Seonyudo area was found out to be inadequate for the culture of the sea spuirt Halocynthie roretzi because of the retarded growth in body breadth and weight while showing extended growth in body length then leading to higher mortality owing to large amount of silting and fouling of the colonial tunicate, Didemnum (didemnum) moseleyi.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2016

Objective: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect. G6PD plays a key role in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a major source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for oxidation-reduction reductions involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species such as $H_2O_2$. We hypothesized that G6PD deficiency may reduce the amount of NADPH in sperms, thereby inhibiting the detoxification of $H_2O_2$, which could potentially affect their motility and viability, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infertility. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from four males with G6PD deficiency and eight healthy males as a control. In both groups, motile sperms were isolated from the seminal fluid and incubated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M$ concentrations of $H_2O_2$. After 1 hour incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, sperms were evaluated for motility and viability. Results: Incubation of sperms with 10 and $20{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ led to very little decrease in motility and viability, but motility decreased notably in both groups in 40, 60, and $80{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$, and viability decreased in both groups in 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the G6PD-deficient group and controls. Conclusion: G6PD deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$, and the reducing equivalents necessary for protection against $H_2O_2$ are most likely produced by other pathways. Therefore, G6PD deficiency cannot be considered as major risk factor for male infertility.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.478-484
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• 2011

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is known to be frequently associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. We examined the effects of EtOH extracts from Triticum aestivum on lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to screening the candidate materials in preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The lipid level in adipocytes was determined by Oil Red O staining. The treatment of 50% ethanol, but not water and 100% ethanol extracts, from Triticum aestivum at concentration of 0.5 $mg/ml$ inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, revealing no cell toxicity. Thus, the fractions of $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc and BuOH were separated from 50% EtOH extract to characterize anti-adipogenic effect. The $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml$ effectively inhibited the lipid accumulation in the adipocytes compared to those of EtOAc and BuOH at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml$. The intracellular triglyceride accumulation also was significantly reduced by treatment of $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction in concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction attenuated the intracelluar level of fatty acid synthase(FAS) accompanied by attenuated expression of Peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) adipogenic transcription factor. These results suggest that $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction from 50% EtOH extract of Triticum aestivum may has the potent anti-adipogenic effects by inhibiting the transactivation of $PPAR{\gamma}$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.351-358
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• 2016

Background: This study was designed to investigate whether ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) and compound K (CK) ameliorated insulin resistance by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced inflammation in adipose tissue. Methods: To induce ER stress, epididymal adipose tissue from mice or differentiated 3T3 adipocytes were exposed to high glucose. The effects of Rb1 and CK on reactive oxygen species production, ER stress, TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation, inflammation, insulin signaling activation, and glucose uptake were detected by western blot, emzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or fluorometry. Results: Rb1 and CK suppressed ER stress by dephosphorylation of $IRE1{\alpha}$ and PERK, thereby reducing TXNIP-associated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in adipose tissue. As a result, Rb1 and CK inhibited IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation and downstream inflammatory factor IL-6 secretion. Inflammatory molecules induced insulin resistance by upregulating phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 at serine residues and impairing insulin PI3K/Akt signaling, leading to decreased glucose uptake by adipocytes. Rb1 and CK reversed these changes by inhibiting ER stress-induced inflammation and ameliorating insulin resistance, thereby improving the insulin IRS-1/PI3K/Akt-signaling pathway in adipose tissue. Conclusion: Rb1 and CK inhibited inflammation and improved insulin signaling in adipose tissue by suppressing ER stress-associated NLRP3 inflammation activation. These findings offered novel insight into the mechanism by which Rb1 and CK ameliorate insulin resistance in adipose tissue.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2003

Recent studies indicated that cancer cells become resistant to ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy drugs by enhanced DNA repair of the lesions. Therefore, it is expected to increase the killing of cancer cells and reduce drug resistance by inhibiting DNA repair pathways that tumor cells rely on to escape chemotherapy. There are a number of key human DNA repair pathways which depend on multimeric polypeptide activities. For example, Ku heterodimer regulatory DNA binding subunits (Ku70/Ku80) on binding to double strand DNA breaks (DSBs) are able to interact with 470-kDa DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), and are essential for DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity. It has been known that DNA-PK is an important factor for DNA repair and also is a sensor-transmitting damage signal to downstream targets, leading to cell cycles arrest. Our ultimate goal is to develop a treatment of breast tumors by targeting proteins involved in damage-signaling pathway and/or DNA repair. This would greatly facilitate tumor cell cytotoxic activity and programmed cell death through DNA damaging drug treatment. Therefore, we designed a domain of Ku80 mutants that binds to Ku70 but not DNA end binding activity and used the peptide in co-therapy strategy to see whether the targeted inhibition of DNA-PK activity sensitized breast cancer cells to irradiation or chemotherapy drug. We observed that the synthesized peptide (HNI-38) prevented DNA-PKcs from binding to Ku70/Ku80, thus resulting in inactivation of DNA-PK activity. Consequently, the peptide treated cells exhibited poor to no DNA repair, and became highly sensitive to IR or chemotherapy drugs, and the growth of breast cancer cells was inhibited. Additionally, the results obtained in the present study also support the physiological role of resistance of cancer cells to IR or chemotherapy.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the anti-aging effect of Rosa damascena extract containing low molecular glycoprotein (RELG) converted from the high molecular glycoprotein by bioconversion. Free radical scavenging activities were performed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Antioxidant activities ($IC_{50}$) of RELG and the positive control ascorbic acid were $22.6{\mu}g/mL$ and $21.1{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. For skin cells, $15{\mu}g/mL$ RELG showed 28% antioxidant activity by inhibiting the production of active oxygen species induced by ultraviolet ray and hydrogen peroxide. $15{\mu}g/mL$ RELG prevented 10% the cell death caused by stress in human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HDPC) and reduced 90% the production of active oxygen species. In addition, the glycoprotein showed not only anti-wrinkle effect but also moisturizing effect by 48% inhibition of matrix metallo proteinase-1 (MMP-1) production by ultraviolet stress and $10{\mu}g/mL$ RELG enhanced 10% neutral lipid synthesis with 44% aquaporin 3 (AQP3) expression, which is moisture factor. In conclusion, the RELG can be used as an anti-aging cosmetic material.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2017

Objectives : It is well known that Sibjotang (Shizaotang), traditional herbal medicine formula, regulates the body fluid blood pressure homeostasis. This study is to investigate whether Sibjotang improves diabetic renal dysfunction in type II diabetes mellitus animal model, db/db mice. Methods : The animals model were divided into three groups at the age of 8 weeks; control group (C57BLKS/J-db/m mice), diabetic group [(C57BLKS/J+Lepr)-db/db mice], and Sibjotang group [(C57BLKS/J+Lepr)-db/db mice + Sibjotang 100 mg/kg/day]. During 8 weeks of treatment, blood glucose and urinary albumin excretion were checked in metabolic chamber at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, respectively. Results : Body weight and food intake of diabetic group were significantly higher than control group after 8 weeks administration. However, there were not significant different between the diabetic group and Sibjotang group. Urinary albumin excretion was significantly decreased in the Sibjotang group than the diabetic group. In addition, supplementation with Sibjotang significantly lowered levels of blood glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), suggesting reduced insulin resistance. The ratio of mesangial matrix/glomerular area was markedly larger in diabetic group than control group, whereas Sibjotang significantly reduced this expansion. Moreover, immunohistological study revealed that Sibjotang attenuated the increase of transforming growth $factor(TGF)-{\beta}$ expression in kidney. Conclusion : Sibjotang ameliorates diabetes-associated renal injury through the improvement of the blood glucose and insulin sensitivity, and inhibiting the $TGF-{\beta}1$ expression. Therefore, Sibjotang may be a new therapeutic formula for the treatment of diabetic-associated renal dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.91-109
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• 2003

The importance of repeat screening for stomach cancer is well known to decrease deaths from stomach cancer. This study was aimed at assessing practice behaviors and to identify related factors in the aspects of demographic factors, health status and cancer risk recognition, attitude to cancer screening, health behaviors, and inhibiting or facilitating factors to stomach cancer screening in an urban area. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from 403 people aged 40 to 69 years from April 23th to May 15th, 2002. Practice behaviors were classified as : "ever" or "never", and "repeat" or "not repeat" grouped based on a recent 5 year screening history. The results were as follows: 1. Among the 403 subjects: "the ever group" was 23.8% and "the repeat group" was 4.0%, The rates of screening were 20.5% for men, 27.8% for those women, and 27.3% for aged 40-49, 24.5% for those aged 50-59, 19.0% for those aged 60-69. The rates of repeat screening were 4.0% for men, 4.1% for women, and 2.9% for those aged 40-49, 6.3% for aged 50-59, 2.5% for those aged 60-69. 2. The main factors associated with adherence to gastric cancer screening were education(post high school vs below : OR=2.44), previous cancer screening(yes vs no : OR=2.61), belief in personal health(no vs yes : OR=2.72), health status(unhealthy vs healthy : OR=3.40), possibility of cancer compared to others(low vs not low : OR=2.56), and regular exercise(yes vs no : OR=2.94). The main factor associated with adherence to gastric cancer repeat screening was other cancer screening(yes vs no : OR=6.33). Consequently, there is a need to change the recognition of the importance and necessity of stomach cancer screening in healthy conditions through health education, and to perform multiple screening tests each visit.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.9-16
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• 2020

Objective : To identify the effects of the water extract of Liriope platyphylla tuber (Liriopis tuber, LT) on the activation of astocytes, we investigated the regulatory effects of LT extract on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in C6 rat astrocytes. Methods : LT extract was extracted with boiling water. C6 cell line were treated with LT extract at 1, 2, and 3 mg/㎖ or without for 30 min and then stimulated with H₂O₂ at 5 ㎛ for 24 hr. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), catalase, Akt, phospho-Akt (p-Akt) phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), and protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) proteins were determined by Western blot, respectively. GFAP expression was also observed with immunocytochemistry under a fluorescence microscope. Results : LT extract induced cell proliferation in H₂O₂-stimulated C6 cells. LT extract significantly inhibited the expression of GFAP, NF-κB and COX-2 and increased the expression of HO-1 and the phosphorylation of STAT3 in H₂O₂-stimulated C6 cells. LT extract also significantly increased the phosphorylation of Akt and decreased the expression of PKCα in a dose-dependent manner in H₂O₂-stimulated C6 cells. Conclusions : LT extract can regulate H₂O₂-induced activation of astrocytes through inhibiting the expression of NF-κB, COX-2 and regulating Akt / HO-1, STAT3 or PKCα signaling pathway.