• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.130-137
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Insulin resistance (IR) is major cause of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) play an important role in insulin sensitivity. Medicinal plants are frequently used for T2D treatment. This study investigates the effect of Artemisia annua L. (AA) extracts on adipokines in mice with high-fat-diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D. Methods: We divided 60 mice into 12 groups (n = 5 per group): control, untreated T2D, treated T2D, and 9 other groups. T2D was induced in all groups, except controls, by 8 weeks of HFD and STZ injection. The treated T2D group was administered 250 mg/kg of metformin (MTF), while the nine other groups were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of hot-water extract (HWE), cold-water extract (CWE), and alcoholic extract (ALE) of AA (daily oral gavage) along with 250 mg/kg of MTF for 4 weeks. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed, and the homeostasis model assessment of adiponectin (HOMA-AD) index and blood glucose and serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin levels were measured. Results: Similar to MTF, all three types of AA extracts (HWEs, CWEs, and ALEs) significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose during the IPGTT, the HOMA-AD index, blood glucose levels, and serum insulin, leptin, and resistin levels and increased serum adiponectin levels in the MTF group compared to the T2D group (p < 0.0001). The HWEs affected adipokine release, while the CWEs and ALEs decreased leptin and resistin production. Conclusion: Water and alcoholic AA extracts have an antihyperglycemic and antihyperinsulinemic effect on HFD/STZ diabetic mice. In addition, they decrease IR by reducing leptin and resistin production and increasing adiponectin secretion from adipocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.9
• /
• pp.1279-1283
• /
• 2009

In order to investigate the potential characteristics of horseweed (Erigeron canadensis L.) recognized with weeds for the application to food industry, the antioxidative properties of horseweed were measured with total polyphenol, flavonoid, tannin, chlorophyll contests and antioxidant activities. Total polyphenol, flavonoid, tannin, and chlorophyll content were 63.32, 27.71, 161.19, and 428.85 mg/g in the extracts of fresh horseweed (FHE), respectively. The extracts of dry horseweed (DHE) on $40^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr were 89.25, 33.44, 210.44, and 229.29 mg/g, and the extracts of dry horseweed after blanching (BDHE) were 115.49, 45.51, 252.54, and 283.07 mg/g, respectively. $IC_{50}$ of EDA (electron donating ability, %) and AEAC (L-ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity) were 5.5527 mg/mL and 192.78 mg AA eq/g sample in the FHE, respectively. The DHE were 0.4710 mg/mL and 194.05 mg AA eq/g sample, and the BDHE were 0.4135 mg/mL and 242.40 mg AA eq/g sample, respectively. Horseweed, where the antioxidant activity is excellent, is thought to be potentially useful with foodstuffs.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.35.1-35.11
• /
• 2012

The homeopathic remedy Chelidonium majus 200C (Chel-200) is traditionally used by homeopathic practitioners in liver ailments arising out of hepatotoxicity. The present investigation was aimed at examining whether vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid or AA), used in both traditional and orthodox medicines, can show better effects when used in combination with Chel-200, in favorably modifying the toxicological effects induced by the chronic feeding of p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB, initiator) and phenobarbital (PB, promoter) in mice for 7 days through 120 days to induce hepatotoxicity and liver tumors. Mice were euthanized at 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of carcinogen feeding to assess various cytogenetical, biochemical and histological changes occurring in them. In a placebo controlled study, Chel-200 or the respective placebo (Alcohol-200C or Alc, "vehicle" of homeopathic drug), was orally administered to toxicant-fed mice. Sub-groups of the mice receiving Chel-200 were also fed either AA or an Alc placebo and their individual and conjoint effects were studied against the respective controls, to evaluate if the combination therapy of Chel-200 with AA can be of additional help in the amelioration of the toxicities generated by the toxicants. The combined feeding of Chel-200 and AA appeared to reduce the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects significantly, when compared to either only the Chel-200 or AA fed group. A similar trend was also obtained in the results of scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies of the livers. Experiments in other mammalian models are warranted to confirm if these drugs in combination could be used in palliative care of human patients with liver diseases including cancer.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.940-944
• /
• 1994

The crystal structure of an ethylene sorption complex of dehydrated $Ag_{12}-A $reacted with bromine vapor has determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group of Pm3m at 22(l)$^{\circ}$C (a=12.180(2) ${\AA}$). The crystal was prepared by dehydration of $Ag_{12}$-A at 400 $^{\circ}$C and $2 {\times} l0^{-6}$ Torr for 2 days, followed by exposure to 200 Torr of ethylene gas at 24(l) $^{\circ}$C for 1 hr. After the ethylene gas was evacuated for 1 hr, the crystal was exposed to 180 Torr of bromine vapor at 24(l) $^{\circ}$C for 1.5 h. The structure was refined to the final error indices, $R_1=0.066\;and\;R_2$ (weighted)=0.055, using 137 independent reflections for which I>3${\sigma}$I. About 55% of the sodalite unit contain two 6-ring $Ag^+$ ions and the remaining 45% contain $Ag_6$ molecules complexed to 2 $Ag^+$ ions at 6-ring sites to give $(Ag^+)_2(Ag_6).$ Upon sorption of ethylene, 4.75 ethylene molecules were sorbed per unit cell and of these, only 1.25 ethylene molecules were brominated by treatment of dibromine because of the limitation of the available space for the reaction products in the large cavity. In the large cavity, each of 3.5 $Ag^+$ ions forms a lateral ${\pi}$ complex with an ethylene molecule. About 2.5 8-ring $Ag^+$ ions per unit cell interact with 1.25 1,2-dibromoethane and each of ca. 1.25 6-ring $Ag^+$ ions also interacts with one of bromine atoms of 1,2-dibromoethane. Each bromine atom approaches a carbon atom with C-Br(l)=2.07(20) ${\AA}$ and C-Br(2)=2.07(10) ${\AA}$, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.317-325
• /
• 2006

Purpose : This study was carried out to elucidate the effects of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine(L-NMMA) and nitric oxide precursor, L-arginine(L-Arg) on cerebral hemodynamics and energy metabolism during reoxygenation-reperfusion(RR) after hypoxia-ischemia(HI) in newborn piglets. Methods : Twenty-eight newborn piglets were divided into 4 groups; Sham normal control(NC), experimental control(EC), L-NMMA(HI & RR with L-NMMA), and L-Arg(HI & RR with L-Arg) groups. HI was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries and simultaneously breathing with 8 percent oxygen for 30 mins, and followed RR by release of carotid occlusion and normoxic ventilation for one hour. All groups were monitored with cerebral hemodynamics and cytochrome $aa_3$ (Cyt $aa_3$) using near infrared spectroscopy(NIRS). $Na^+$, $K^+$-ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation products, and tissue high energy phosphate levels were determined biochemically in the cerebral cortex. Results : In experimental groups, mean arterial blood pressure, $PaO_2$, and pH decreased, and base excess and blood lactate level increased after HI compared to NC group(P<0.05). These variables subsequently returned to baseline after RR except pH. There were no differences among the experimental groups. In NIRS, oxidized hemoglobin($HbO_2$) decreased and hemoglobin(Hb) increased during HI(P<0.05) but returned to base line immediately after RR; 40 min after RR, the $HbO_2$ had decreased significantly compared to NC group(P<0.05). Changes of Cyt $aa_3$ decreased significantly compared to NC after HI and recovered at the end of the experiment. Significantly reduced cerebral cortical cell membrane $Na^+$, $K^+$-ATPase activity and increased lipid peroxidation products(P<0.05) were not improved with L-NMMA or L-Arg. Conclusion : These findings suggest that NO is not involved in the mechanism of HI and RR brain damage during the early acute phase of RR.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.588-594
• /
• 2000

Structural changes of an iron phthalocyanine (FePC) monolayer induced by adsorption and externally applied potential on high area carbon surface have been investigated in situ by iron K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) in 0.5 M $H_2S0_4.$ Fine structures shown in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) for microcrystalline FePC decreased upon adsorption and further diminished under electrochemical conditions. Fe(II)PC(-2) showed a 1s ${\rightarrow}$ 4p transition as poorly resolved shoulder to the main absorption edge rather than a distinct peak and a weak 1s ${\rightarrow}$ 3d transition. The absorption edge position measured at half maximum was shifted from 7121.8 eV for Fe(lI)PC(-2) to 7124.8 eV for $[Fe(III)PC(-2)]^+$ as well as the 1s ${\rightarrow}$ 3d pre-edge peak being slightly enhanced. However, essentially no absorption edge shift was observed by the 1-electron reduction of Fe(Il)PC(-2), indicating that the species formed is $[Fe(II)PC(-3)]^-$. Structural parameters were obtained by analyzing extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) oscillations with theoretical phases and amplitudes calculated from FEFF 6.01 using multiple-scattering theory. When applied to the powder FePC, the average iron-to-phthalocyanine nitrogen distance, d(Fe-$N_p$) and the coordination number were found to be 1.933 $\AA$ and 3.2, respectively, and these values are the same, within experimental error, as those reported ( $1.927\AA$ and 4). Virtually no structural changes were found upon adsorption except for the increased Debye-Wailer factor of $0.005\AA^2$ from $0.003\AA^2.$ Oxidation of Fe(II)PC(-2) to $[Fe(III)PC(-2)]^+$ yielded an increased d(Fe-Np) (1 $.98\AA)$ and Debye-Wailer factor $(0.005\AA^2).$ The formation of $[Fe(II)PC(-3)]^-$, however, produced a shorter d(Fe-$N_p$) of $1.91\AA$ the same as that of crystalline FePC within experimental error, and about the same DebyeWaller $factor(0.006\AA^2)$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.74-79
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study is to clone cgt gene from Paenibacillus sp. JB-13 and to overexpress the protein in E. coli. For this purpose, the cgt gene was amplified from Paenibacillus sp. JB-13 genomic DNA by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers. The sequence analysis results showed that the cgt gene from Paenibacillus sp. JB-13 has 98% homology with the cgt gene of Bacillus sp. To overexpress the protein, the cgt gene was cloned into pEXP7 expression vector and transformed into E. coli. The production of CGTase by recombinant E. coli was optimized under following conditions: 0.5% glucose, 3.0% polypeptone, 0.3% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.5% NaCl, and 7.0 of initial pH, 2.0% of inoculum, $37^{\circ}C$ of culture temperature for 14 hr. And the optimal agitation was found at 0.1 vvm. The synthesis of 2-O-${\alpha}$-D-Glucopyranosyl L-Ascorbic acid (AA-2G) using the CGTase expressed in E. coli was identified as AA-2G by HPLC and HPLC confirmed that treating AA-2G made by cloned CGTase with ${\alpha}$-glucosidase substantially produced AA and glucose.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.421-428
• /
• 1996

The occurrence, optical property, chemical composition, crystal structure and formation environments of the phillipsite within deep-sea manganese nodules were systematically investigated in this study. Phillipsite in manganese nodules occurs in nucleus of nodules along with consolidated bottom sediments, weathered volcanic debris, and interstitial grains in the each layer of manganese encrusts. Phillipsite is predominantly pseudomorphs of volcanic shards, and occurs as white to pale yellow in color lath-shaped and equant crystals. These show aggregations of prismatic, blocky, and bladed of 2 to $20{\mu}m$ long, and 2 to $5{\mu}m$ thick. The simplified average chemical formula of phillipsite is $({Ca_{0.1}Mg_{0.3}Na_{1.1}K_{1.5}})_3{(Fe_{0.3}Al_{4.2}Si_{11.8})O_{32}{\cdot}10H_2O}$ with a very siliceous and alkalic. The $Si/(Al+Fe^{+3})$ ratio is 2.37 to 2.78 and alkalis greatly exceed the divalent exchangeable cations, and Na/K ratio is 0.59 to 0.81. The phillipsite is monoclinic ($P2_l/m$) with the unit-cell parameters, $a=10.005{\AA}$, $b=14.129{\AA}$, $c=8.686{\AA}$, ${\beta}=124.35^{\circ}$, and $V=1013.6{\AA}^3$. Phillipsites in manganese nodules formed apparently authigenically at a temperature less than $10^{\circ}C$, and they crystallized at a pressure of less than 0.7 kb, and pH of about 8 in deep-sea environments.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.447-454
• /
• 2009

We synthesized polyester-diol containing Cloisite 30B which is exfoliated during the synthesis. First, esterification was conducted with excess adipic acids and two 2-hydroxyethyl groups of the tertiary ammonium tethered to Cloisite 30B silicate layer. Due to the small molecular size of adipic acid ($d{\approx}3.0\;{\AA}$, $L{\approx}9.3\;{\AA}$), it penetrated into the interlayer of Cloisite 30B, reacted with the 2-hydroxyethyl groups, and produced the tertiary ammonium that has the two ethyl-ester adipic acid groups, one methyl group, and one hydrogenated alkyl group. Through the esterification, the molecular size of the tertiary ammonium increased and as the result, the basal space of Cloisite 30B increased from $18.4\;{\AA}$ to more than $58.3\;{\AA}$. The produced ethyl-ester adipic acid and unreacted adipic acid reacted with excess diethylene glycol ([COOH]/[OH]${\approx}0.6$) to be polyester-diol. The COOH conversion calculated from the acid value of the reactant mixture was 94%. The number average molecular weight and PDI of the produced polyester-diol were 830 g/mol and 1.2, respectively.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.106-112
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the protective effects of ethanolic extract of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai (AE) against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups in order to receive the following experimental diets with intraperitoneal injection of $CCl_4$ (2.0 mL/kg body weight, 20% solution 0.65 mL) for eight weeks (n = 8 per group): $CCl_4$ control (CON), $CCl_4$ + AE 1% (AE1), $CCl_4$ + AE 3% (AE3), or $CCl_4$ + acanthoic acid 0.037%, which is equivalent to AE 3% (AA). Results: Highest serum ALT activity and albumin level were observed in the $CCL_4$ control group, but showed a significant decrease by either AE or AA supplementation in a dose-dependent manner (p = 0.0063 and 0.0076, respectively). Both hemotoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's staining indicated remarkable prevention of $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in the AE3 group. $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production were significantly lowered in the AE treated groups, but not in the AA group (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0002, respectively). The effects of AE3 were greater than those of AA for inflammation and liver toxicity biomarkers. Conclusion: Taken together, the results suggested that ethanolic extract of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai provided hepatoprotective effects, leading to the reduction of inflammatory response. In addition, the effect of AE was superior to that of single compound AA.