• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 1989

Reactive metabolites generated by benzo(a)pyrene(BP) monooxygenase(AHH) interact with nucleophiles in DNA and cause mutation and carcinogenesis. We studied the effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, which induce epoxide hydratase(EH) activity without concomitant induction of AHH activity, on the binding of BP metabolites to DNA in uitro in Sprague Dawley rats. DNA-BP metabolite adducts can be resolved into at least five distinct peaks by elution of a Sephadex LH-20 column with a water methanol gradieNt. These peaks are arbitrarily designated A(most polar) through I(least polar). Of the 5 peaks tentatively assigned to 7,8 biol-9,10-oxide(A),7,8·oxide(B),4,5-oxide(C), and further metabolites of 9-OH-BP(D & E), peaks A, C, D, and I were reduced to 70, 85, 80, and 30% of controls, respectively, and there was no significant change in peak B. In connection with this DNA binding study, BP metabolizing enzymes including AHH, EH, demethylase(DM) activity and cyt. P-450 contents were also investigated in order to compare the BP treated control with ginseng and BP treated test groups. The results showed that the EH activity was increased by 139% over the BP control, the Cyt. P-450 content was increased by 180% over the control value, and DM and AHH activities were also increased to some degree for the BP test group, but there was no significant effect of the ginseng treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.51-62
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• 2007

Objectives . The types of Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) have definite effect on response to herbal drugs. The majority of human P45O dependent xenobiotic metabolism is carried out by polymorphic enzymes which can cause abolished, altered or enhanced metabolism. Therefore, we evaluated the relation of major CYP2C19, 2D6 polymorphism with Sasang types. Methods : 214 healthy subjects were recruited with informed consent; 172 among them had Sasang diagnosis by QSCC2. CYP2D6, 2C19 polymorphism were determined by PCR-RFLP method. Results : None of the Sasang types showed significant difference in CYP2D6, 2C19 polymorphism. However, the Tae-um type showed relatively low frequency of CYP2D6 $^{*}$10/$^{*}$10 polymorphisms with low activity (p=0.110). In the So-yang type, specific $^{*}$3/$^{*}$3 genotype which is a poor metabolizer of CYP2C19$^{*}$3 was detected (p=0.078).Conclusion . These results suggest that the Tae-um type which is said to have high liver function in SCM has the tendency of high drug-metabolizing enzyme activity. With further study, the CYP polymorphism could serve as a scientific tool for SCM diagnosis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.874-878
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• 2006

Methyl gallate (MG) is a medicinal herbal product that is isolated from Paeonia lactiflora that inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) dependent phases of prostaglandin $D_2\;(PGD_2)$ generation in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) in a concentration-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ values of $17.0\;{\mu}M$. This compound also found inhibited the COX-2-dependent conversion of the exogenous arachidonic acid to $PGD_2$ in a dose-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ values of $190\;{\mu}M$, using a COX enzyme assay kit. However, at concentrations up to $80\;{\mu}M$, MG did not inhibit COX-2 protein expression in BMMC, indicating that MG inhibits COX-2 activity directly. Furthermore, MG consistently inhibited the production of leukotriene $C_4\;(LTC_4)$ in a dose dependent manner, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $5.3\;{\mu}M$. These results demonstrate that MG has a dual cyclooxygenase-2/5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity, which might provide the basis for novel anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 1995

The focus of this study was to investigate the influences of enzymatic scavengers of active oxygen metabolites and phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor on hepatic secretory and microsomal function during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. Rats were pretreated with free radical scavengers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, deferoxamine and phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor such as quinacrine and then subjected to 60 min. no-flow hepatic ischemia in vivo. After 1, 5 hr of reperfusion, bile was collected, blood was obtained from the abdominal aorta, and liver microsomes were isolated. Serum aminotransferase (ALT) level was increased at 1 hr and peaked at 5 hr. The increase in ALT was significantly attenuated by SOD plus catalase, deferoxamine and quinacrine especially at 5 hr of reperfusion. The wet weight-to-dry weight ratio of the liver was significantly increased by ischemia/reperfusion. SOD and catalase treatment minimized the increase in this ratio. Hepatic lipid peroxidiltion was elevated by ischemia/reperfusion, and this elevation was inhibited by free radical scavengers and quina crine. Bile flow and cholate output, but not bilirubin output, were markedly decreased by ischemia/reperfusion and quinacrine restored the secretion. Cytochrome $P_{450}$ content was decreased by ischemia/reperfusion and restored by free radical scavengers and quinacrine to the level of that of the sham operated group. Aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was decreased and aniline p-hydroxylase was increased by ischemia/reperfusion. The changes in the activities of the two enzymes were prevented by free radical scavengers and quinacrine. Our findings suggest that ischemia/reperfusion diminishes hepatic secretory functions as well as microsomal drug metabolizing systems by increasing lipid peroxidation, and in addition to free radicals, other factors such as phospholipase $A_2$ are involved in pathogenes of hepatic dysfunction after ischemia/reperfusion.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2012

Objective : Herb-drug interactions have become an important issue because of the consumption of herbal remedies has increased in the world. Yangguksanhaw-tang (Liang ge san huo-tang) and Taeumjowi-tang (Tai yin tiao wei-tang) are typical herbal formulas on Sasang constitution medicine (four-constitution medicine). This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of Yangguksanhaw-tang and Taeumjowi-tang on drug metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isozymes. Methods : Vivid$^{(R)}$ CYP450 Screening Kits were used to measure of CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 activities. This method is based on the use of fluorescent CYP450 substrates that are efficiently metabolized by specific CYP450 isozymes to yield a product with altered fluorescent properties. The percent inhibitions of CYP450s by herbal formulas were calculated. Results : Yangguksanhaw-tang inhibited CYP2C19 and CYP2E1 activities higher than that other CYP450 isozymes. The $IC_{50}$ values of CYP2C19 and CYP2E1 were 159.83 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 261.40 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The CYP2E1 activity was inhibited ($IC_{50}=215.17{\mu}g/mL$) higher than that other CYP450 isozymes by Taeumjowi-tang. Conclusions : These results suggest that Yangguksanhaw-tang may inhibit the metabolism of co-administered drugs whose primary route of metabolism is via CYP2C19 or CYP2E1. Taeumjowi-tang could inhibit the metabolism of co-administered drugs, which are substrates for CYP2E1. Therefore, co-administration of the herbal formulas and other conventional drugs should be undertaken with care.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.285-290
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• 2019

AHR regulates the expression of xenobiotics metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) as a transcription fact upon binding of ligands that are mainly aryl hydrocarbons. The role of AHR in human physiology has been intensively investigated for the past decades, however our understanding on AHR yet to be elucidated largely due to the lack of proper chemical agents. It has been demonstrated that AHR correlates to pathogenesis for some diseases in recent studies suggesting that the study on the AHR may provide a valid therapeutic target. Classical antagonists in current use are reported to be partially agonistic whereas a pure antagonist is yet to be found. In this study, phenyldiazenylaniline has been designed based on the structure of two known AHR antagonist, Resveratrol and CH223191. The derivatives of phenyldiazenylaniline have been prepared and subjected to assessment as an AHR antagonist in order to optimize the AHR antagonistic activity of the designed structure by means of convergence study of organic synthesis and molecular biology.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.443-447
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• 2019

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is the master regulator of xenobiotics metabolizing enzymes (XMEs). AhR is activated by aryl hydrocarbons upon binding then goes into the cell nucleus and acts as a transcription factor. Despite the role of AhR in human physiology has been investigated for a long while, it is yet to be understood mainly due to the lack of appropriate chemical agents. Furthermore, it has been reported that AhR is related to a wide range of pathogenesis. In addition, recent studies suggest that the study on the development of AhR antagonist may provide a valid therapeutic agent. Some known antagonists in current use are partially agonistic whereas a pure antagonist is still absent. In this study, two phenyl-ring structures of phenyldiazenylphenylpicolinamide has been modified into various structures and evaluated its impact on the AhR antagonistic activity to elucidate the structure-activity relationship.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2003

The liver progenitor cells could form a potential target cell population fore both tumor-initiating and -promoting chemicals. Induction of drug-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes, including AhR-dependent CYP1A1, NQO-1 and AKR1C9, was detected in the rat liver epithelial WB-F344 "stem-like" cells. Additionally, WB-F344 cells express a functional, wild-type form of p53 protein, a biomarker of genotoxic events, and connexin 43, a basic structural unit of gap junctions forming an important type of intercellular communication. In this cellular model, two complementary assays have been established for detection of the modes of action associated with tumor promotion: inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and proliferative activity in confluent cells. We found that the PAHs and PCBs, which are AhR agonists, released WB-F344 cells from contact inhibition, increasing both DNA synthesis and cell numbers. Genotoxic effects of some PAHs that lead to apoptosis and cell cycle delay might interfere with the proliferative activity of PAHs. Contrary to that, the nongenotoxic low-molecular-weight PAHs and non-dioxin-like PCB congeners, abundant in the environment, did not significantly affect cell cycle and cell proliferation; however both groups of compounds inhibited GJIC in WB-F344 cells. The release from contact inhibiton by a mechanism that possibly involves the AhR activation, inhibition of GJIC and genotoxic events induced by environmental contaminants are three important modes of action that could play an important role in carcinogenic effects of toxic compounds. The relative potencies to inhibit GJIC, to induce AhR-mediated activity, and to release cells from contact inhibition were determined for a large series of PAHs and PCBs and their metabolites. In vitro bioassays based on detection of events on cellular level (deregulation of GJIC and/or proliferation) or determination of receptor-mediated activities in both ?$stem-like^{\circ}{\times}$ and hepatocyte-like liver cellular models are valuable tools for detection of modes of action of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. They may serve, together with concentration data, as a first step in their risk assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.244-249
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• 2003

To investigate the hepatic oxygen free radical metabolizing system and changes of serum cholesterol levels in rats fed a diet supplemented with Monascus pigment (MP), Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 300 g have been fed a diet supplemented with 2% or 4% MP for a month. The rats fed 2% MP supplemented diet gained less body weight than the control rats and those fed 4% W supplemented diet. Those fed 2% or 4% MP supplemented diet had no remarkable changes in liver function on basis of liver weight/body weight, serum levels of xanthine oxidase, alanine amino transferase activity In rats fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet, hepatic cytochrome P45O dependent aniline hydroxylase activity significantly (p<0.05) declined about 32%, 37% respectively and showed no significant differences between rats fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet whereas those fed 2% MP supplemented diet showed about 29% increased hepatic xanthine oxidase activity. And hepatic glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase activites in rats fed 2% MP supplemented were more increased by about 17%, 28% respectively than the control rats. There were no significant differences both in between those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet. Especially rats fed 2% or 4% MP supplemented diet showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in hepatic catalase activity by 41%, 25% compared with control rats and those fed 4% MP supplemented diet showed more decrease in tendency of catalase activity than those 2% MP supplemented diet. But hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content were appeared to be similar value among three groups. On the other hand, rats fed 2% MP supplement diet showed 17% increased levels of serum HDL-choresterol and 26% decreased value of LDL-cholesterol and serum level of triglyceride. But no different value were appeared between those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet. Especially in those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet, artherogenic index were significantly (p<0.05) declined by 37%, 29% respectively compared with control. In conclusion, it is likely that rats fed a diet supplemented with a proper quantity of MP may have the potential of oxygen free radical detoxication and lowering of artherogenic index.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.435-440
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• 2004

The gene encoding a extremely thermostable 4-$\alpha$-glucanotransferase from a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Thermococcus litoralis, was cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequence of the enzyme was distantly related to other functionally-related ones, such as D-enzymes. The enzyme is of industrial interest because of a novel activity of producing cycloamylose and is also important for fundamental studies of protein, sugar-metabolizing enzymes. In this paper, the overexpression of 4-$\alpha$-glucanotransferase in E. coli was carried out expression vector system with lac and T7 promoters. The enzyme was successfully overexpressed, and purified by the heat treatment of a cell-free extract, successive Butyl-Toyopearl and Mono Q chromatographies. The purified recombinant enzyme showed the same specific activity and the same mobility in SDS-PAGE as natural enzyme.