• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.461-474
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• 2020

Background: Ginseng effectively reduces fatigue in both animal models and clinical trials. However, the mechanism of action is not completely understood, and its molecular targets remain largely unknown. Methods: By screening for proteins that interact with the primary components of ginseng (ginsenosides) in an affinity chromatography assay, we have identified muscle-type creatine kinase (CK-MM) as a potential target in skeletal muscle tissues. Results: Biolayer interferometry analysis showed that ginsenoside metabolites, instead of parent ginsenosides, had direct interaction with recombinant human CK-MM. Subsequently, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), which is a ginsenoside metabolite and displayed the strongest interaction with CK-MM in the study, was selected as a representative to confirm direct binding and its biological importance. Biolayer interferometry kinetics analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry assay demonstrated that PPD specifically bound to human CK-MM. Moreover, the mutation of key amino acids predicted by molecular docking decreased the affinity between PPD and CK-MM. The direct binding activated CK-MM activity in vitro and in vivo, which increased the levels of tissue phosphocreatine and strengthened the function of the creatine kinase/phosphocreatine system in skeletal muscle, thus buffering cellular ATP, delaying exercise-induced lactate accumulation, and improving exercise performance in mice. Conclusion: Our results suggest a cellular target and an initiating molecular event by which ginseng reduces fatigue. All these findings indicate PPD as a small molecular activator of CK-MM, which can help in further developing better CK-MM activators based on the dammarane-type triterpenoid structure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1012-1022
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• 2020

Objective: Caseins and fatty acids of milk are synthesized and secreted by the epithelial cells of the mammary gland. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, has been shown to promote mammary development. This study was conducted to determine the effect of ATRA on casein synthesis and fatty acid composition in MAC-T cells. Methods: MAC-T cells were allowed to differentiate for 4 d, treated with ATRA (0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 μM), and incubated for 3 d. We analyzed the fatty acid composition, the mRNA expression of casein and fatty acid synthesis-related genes, and the phosphorylation of casein synthesis-related proteins of MAC-T cells by gas chromatography, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting, respectively. Results: In MAC-T cells, ATRA increased the mRNA levels of α_S1-casein and β-casein, janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and E74-like factor 5 of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 β (STAT5-β) pathway, ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, inhibited the mRNA expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E of the mTOR pathway, and promoted the phosphorylation of STAT5-β and S6K1 proteins. Additionally, ATRA increased the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, reduced the content of long-chain fatty acids, the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (SFA), the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to SFA, and the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA. The mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) were enhanced by ATRA. Conclusion: ATRA promotes the synthesis of casein by regulating JAK2/STAT5 pathway and downstream mTOR signaling pathway, and it improves the fatty acid composition of MAC-T cells by regulating SREBP1-related genes.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.481-489
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• 2010

Introduction: TLR-5, a member of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family, is a element of the type I transmembrane receptors, which are characterized by an intracellular signaling domain homolog to the interleukin-1 receptor. These receptors recognize microbial components, particularly bacterial flagellin. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA, tretinoin), a natural metabolite of vitamin A, acts as a growth and differentiation factor in many tissues, and is also needed for immune functions. In this study, THP-1 human macrophage-monocytes were used to examine the mechanisms by which atRA regulated the expression of TLR-5. Because the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation at the transcriptional level is also unclear, this study examined which putative transcription factors are responsible for TLR-5 expression by atRA in immune cells. Materials and Methods: This study examined whether atRA induces the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and which transcription factors are involved in regulating the TLR-5 promoter in RAW264.7 cells using a reporter assay system. Western blot analysis was used to determine which signal pathway is involved in the expression of TLR-5 in atRA-treated THP-1 cells. Results: atRA at a concentration of 10 nM greatly induced the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells. Human TLR-5 promoter contains three Sp-1/GC binding sites around -50 bp and two NF-kB binding sites at -380 bp and -160 bp from the transcriptional start site of the TLR-5 gene. Sp-1/GC is primarily responsible for the constitutive TLR-5 expression, and may also contribute to NF-kB at -160 bp to induce TLR-5 after atRA stimulation in THP-1 cells. The role of NF-kB in TLR-5 expression was further confirmed by inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) experiments, which greatly reduced the TLR-5 transcription by 70-80%. Conclusion: atRA induces the expression of the human TLR-5 gene and NF-kB is a critical transcription factor for the atRA-induced expression of TLR-5. Accordingly, it is conceivable that retinoids are required for adequate innate and adaptive immune responses to agents of infectious diseases. atRA and various synthetic retinoids have been used therapeutically in human diseases, such as leukemia and other cancers due to the antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing effects of retinoids. Therefore, understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of TLR-5 may assist in the design of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases, leukemia and cancers.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effect of a herbal preparation HJ01 consisting of Salicornia herbacea, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Crataegi Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix on adipocyte differentiation in OP9 cells and on poloxamer 407(P-407)-induced hyperlipidemia in mice. Methods : 1. MTT assay was used to evaluate the potential cytotoxicity of Salicornia herbacea, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Crataegi Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix and HJ01, respectively. 2. Bone-marrow derived OP9 cells were treated with HJ01, and the alterations in fat storage in the cells were determined by the Oil red O assay. 3. The protein level of CAAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha($C/EBP{\alpha}$), as a adipocyte differentiation marker, was examined using western blot analysis in differentiated OP6 cells. 4. Adult male C57BL6 mice received intraperitoneal injections of P407 to induce hyperlipidemia, simultaneously, were treated with HJ01 for 4 weeks. Then the cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) levels in sera and liver tissues were measured. Results : 1. The MTT assay exhibited that Salicornia herbacea, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Crataegi Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix and HJ01 showed no significant cytotoxicity in tested dosages. 2. Ten days' treatment with HJ01 markedly inhibited the increases in fat storage in differentiated OP6 cells. 3. Four weeks' treatment with HJ01 down-regulated the protein level of CAAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha($C/EBP{\alpha}$) but up-regulated the levels of adiponectin in differentiated OP9 cells. 5. HJ01 inhibited the accumulation of TC and TG in liver tissues and increased serum levels of TC in hyperlipidemic mice. Conclusions : These results suggest that HJ01 can in vitro inhibit adipocyte differentiation and fat storage in OP6 cells, in vivo improve the hyperlipidemia induced by P-407 in mice, which may be mediated by promoting glucose uptake and improving a lipid metabolite profile.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.460-474
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is a promising drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis. This study examined the impact of polymorphisms in NR1I2, adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes on the pharmacokinetics of CK in healthy Chinese individuals. Methods: Forty-two targeted variants in seven genes were genotyped in 54 participants using Sequenom MassARRAY system to investigate their association with major pharmacokinetic parameters of CK and its metabolite 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD). Subsequently, molecular docking was simulated using the AutoDock Vina program. Results: ABCC4 rs1751034 TT and rs1189437 TT were associated with increased exposure of CK and decreased exposure of 20(S)-PPD, whereas CFTR rs4148688 heterozygous carriers had the lowest maximum concentration ($C_{max}$) of CK. The area under the curve from zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration ($AUC_{last}$) of CK was decreased in NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 homozygous carriers, while $C_{max}$ was significantly reduced only in rs2472682. ABCC4 rs1151471 and CFTR rs2283054 influenced the pharmacokinetics of 20(S)-PPD. In addition, several variations in ABCC2, ABCC4, CFTR, and NR1I2 had minor effects on the pharmacokinetics of CK. Quality of the best homology model of multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) was assessed, and the ligand interaction plot showed the mode of interaction of CK with different MRP4 residues. Conlusion: ABCC4 rs1751034 and rs1189437 affected the pharmacokinetics of both CK and 20(S)-PPD. NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 were only associated with the pharmacokinetics of CK. Thus, these hereditary variances could partly explain the interindividual differences in the pharmacokinetics of CK.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2015

In summary, the rutin metabolite DHT significantly reduced EGF-induced neoplastic transformation in JB6 P+ cells. This inhibition was mediated mainly by blocking the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and subsequent suppression of AP-1 activities. DHT attenuated Raf-1 kinase activity by directly binding to Raf-1 in vitro and ex vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that Raf-1 may be a critical molecular target to suppress DHT-induced neoplastic transformation, which is mainly attributable to the chemopreventive potential of several foods containing rutin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.547-554
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• 2017

Previous studies have demonstrated the role of hydroquinone (HQ), a hydroxylated benzene metabolite, in modulating various immune responses; however, its role in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses is not fully understood. In this study, the role of HQ in inflammatory responses and the underlying molecular mechanism were explored in macrophages. HQ down-regulated the expression of interferon $(IFN)-{\beta}$ mRNA in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without any cytotoxicity and suppressed interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3-mediated luciferase activity induced by TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF) and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). A mechanism study revealed that HQ inhibited IRF-3 phosphorylation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TRIF, and AKT by suppressing phosphorylation of AKT, an upstream kinase of the IRF-3 signaling pathway. IRF-3 phosphorylation is highly induced by wild-type AKT and poorly induced by an AKT mutant, AKT C310A, which is mutated at an inhibitory target site of HQ. We also showed that HQ inhibited IRF-3 phosphorylation by targeting all three AKT isoforms (AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3) in RAW264.7 cells and suppressed IRF-3-mediated luciferase activities induced by AKT in HEK293 cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that HQ inhibits the production of a type I IFN, $IFN-{\beta}$, by targeting AKTs in the IRF-3 signaling pathway during macrophage-mediated inflammation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2017

In the enduring investigation of the bioactive microbes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain (referred to as CGK-KS-1 (ICTB-315)), isolated from Chumathang hot spring, Ladakh, and India, was identified to possess a major bioactive fraction with antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties. This bioactive metabolite was purified through bioactivity-guided fractionation. The chemical structure of this major compound was elucidated as phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN) based on $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR, FT-IR, EI-HR-MS and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. In the current study, PCN exhibited antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging between $1.9-3.9{\mu}g/ml$ against various test human pathogens and Xanthomonas spp. PCN showed the anti-biofilm property with the $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 17.04 to $60.7{\mu}M$ against different test pathogens. The in silico docking studies showed PCN strongly interacted with various proteins of different Xanthomonas spp. with high binding energies. We report herein for the first time the anti-biofilm property and the docking studies of PCN. The extrolite from P. aeruginosa strain CGK-KS-1 showed promising bioactivities and may be considered as a potential candidate for application in various biocontrol strategies.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.8-8
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• 2012

Ginseng have been traditionally used for strengthening immunity, providing nutrition and recovering health from fatigue. Recently, pharmaceutical activities of ginseng roots have been proven by many researches, and ginseng has become a world-famous medicinal plant. Ginseng saponin, ginsenoside, is one of the most important secondary metabolite in ginseng which has various pharmacological activities. Many studies have aimed to convert major ginsenosides to the more active minor ginsenoside Rg3 for consumer demand ginseng product. Microbial strain GS514 strain was isolated from soil around ginseng roots for enzymatic preparation of ginsenoside Rg3, which strain shows strong ability of converting ginsenoside Rb1and Rd into Rg3 in the solution with NaCl. The gene encoding a ${\beta}$-glucosidase from this GS514 was cloned and expressed in the BL21 (DE3) strain of Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized. The molecular mass of purified was 87.5 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE. The gene sequence revealed significant homology to the family 3 glycoside hydrolases. The purified single enzyme also catalyzed the conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 into Rg3. This target enzyme will be able to produce as much saponin for consumer demand ginseng product. Anti-apoptotic proteins bind with pro-apoptotic proteins to induce apoptosis mechanism. Over expression of these anti-apoptotic proteins lead to several cancers by preventing apoptosis. Docking simulations were performed for anti-apoptotic proteins with several ginsenosides from Panax ginseng. Our finding shows ginsenosides particularly Rg3, Rh2 and Rf have more binding affinity with apoptotic proteins. Further, these docking system of each ginsenosides can be extended to experimental screen system for further brief confirmations of several diseases.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 1992

The influence of phenobarbital (PB) pretreatment (75 mg/kg/day, i.p. for 4 days) on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem (DTZ) and its metabolite, desacetyldiltiazem (DAD), was investigated in rats. DTZ was injected via femoral (3 mg/kg) or portal (10 mg/kg) vein to the control and PB-pretreated rats. DAD was also injected separately via femoral (3 mg/kg) vein to both groups of rats. The intrinsic hepatic plasma clearance of DTZ was found to be significantly increased (6.8-fold) by the PB pretreatment. However, the fraction of an intravenous DTZ dose converted to DAD $(F_mi)$ was only slightly (6%) increased and calculated metabolic rate constant of DTZ to DAD was not affected by the pretreatment. On the other hand, plasma free fraction of DTZ was increased (1.8-fold) from $4.24{\pm}0.25%$ to $7.45{\pm}0.54%$ by the pretreatment. However, the l.8-fold increase in the free fraction of DTZ would not explain the 6.8-fold increase in the hepatic intrinsic clearance of DTZ. Therefore, the increase in either the hepatic blood flow or the metabolism other than to DAD was expected as the probable mechanism(s) of the increased hepatic clearance of DTZ. Sequential metabolism of DAD to further metabolites, however, would be a more potential cause of the apparently unchanged metabolism of DTZ to DAD by the PB-pretreatment.