• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.56-67
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• 2011

Objectives : Recent etiological studies show that oxidative stress might play a major role in the diabetes and its complications. Mori Ramulus (MR) has been known to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. The methanol extract of MR was tested for its effectiveness in LLC-PK1 cells exposed to high glucose. Methods : The cytoprotective effect of MR was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The antioxidative effect was measured in terms of generation amount of ${\cdot}O_2^-$ by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), NO by 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2), $ONOO^-$ by dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) in the high glucose -treated LLC-$PK_1$ cells. Western blotting was performed using anti-AGE, anti-RAGE, anti-MAPKs(ERK1/2, JNK, p38), anti-PI3K, anti-Akt, and anti-NF-${\kappa}$B (p50, p65) respectively. Results : MR extract reduced cell death and inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}O_2^-$, NO, $ONOO^-$ in the high glucose-treated LLC-$PK_1$ cells. MR inhibited the expression of AGE, RAGE, MAPKs, PI3K, and Akt by means of decreasing NF-${\kappa}$B activation. MR also inhibited NF-${\kappa}$B activation itself. Conclusions : These results indicate MR has cytoprotective, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore it is suggested that MR might prevent and cure diabetes and its complications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.449-454
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• 2014

Background: Extracts of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk has been reported to possess anticancer effects, but the active ingredients and the anti-cancer mechanisms are still unknown. Materials and Methods: The effects of a C mimosoides Lamk extract on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction in human cervical carcinoma cell lines, namely HeLa, SiHa, and C33A, as well as in normal Vero cells, were investigated. Results: Treatment with 5 active fractions (F17-F21) of C mimosoides Lamk methanol extracts inhibited cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Neutral red assays indicated that treatment with F21 significantly decreased the viability of all cervical cancer cell lines compared to F21-treated normal cells. In addition, HPLC analysis revealed that F21 contained multiple phenolic compounds, namely gallic acid, caffeine, vanillic acid, ferulic acid and resveratrol. F21 had the lowest IC50 and, therefore, a much higher cytotoxicity than F20, F17, F19, and F18 by 20-, 25-, 46- and 47- fold, respectively. Analysis of activation of the apoptosis pathway using a caspase 3/7 activity assay revealed that F21 treatment resulted in a considerable increase in caspase activation in all cancer cell lines tested. At the same concentration of F21, HeLa cells had the highest caspase activity (6.5-fold) compared to the control. Conclusion: C mimosoides Lamk may be of value as an alternative therapeutic agent, especially in combination with other compounds offering possible of synergy of action. Moreover, HPV- and non-HPV-related cervical cancer cells may differ in their responses to treatment regimens.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.111-123
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of Caesalpiniae Lignum (Somok) on HepG2 cells, a human liver cancer cell line. To study the cytotoxic effect of Caesalpiniae Lignum methanol extract (CL-MeOH) on HepG2 cells, the cells were treated with various concentrations of CL-MeOH and then cell viability was determined by XTT reduction method and trypan blue exclusion assay. CL-MeOH reduced proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To confirm the induction of apoptosis, HepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of CL-MeOH. The activation of caspase 3 and the cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), a substrate for caspase-3 and a typical sign of apoptosis, was examined by western blot analysis. CL-MeOH decreased procaspase 3 level in a dose-dependent manner and induced the clevage of PARP at concentration> $200{\mu}/ml$. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascades are multi-functional signaling networks that influence cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and cellular responses to stress. CL-MeOH-induced MAPK activation was examined by Western blot for phosphorylated ERK, p38 and JNK. CL-MeOH significantly increased p38 phosphorylation and JNK phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of p38 function using the selective inhibitor SB20358O results in inhibition of apoptosis by CL-MeOH. These results suggest that CL-MeOH-induced apoptosis is MAP kinase-dependent apoptoric pathway. These results suggest that CL-MeOH is potentially useful as a chemotherapeutic agent in human liver cancer.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.917-922
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• 1999

The transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate(DMT) with ethylene glycol(EG) was kinetically investigated in the temperature range from 190 to $240^{\circ}C$ with and without a zinc acetate(Zn) as a catalyst. The degree of reaction was calculated by the measurement of the quantity of methanol which distilled from the reaction vessel. This distillation made corrections of reactant and catalyst concentrations necessary. The effects of catalyst concentration, molar ratio of DMT and EG, types of metal compounds, and temperature on kinetics were studied. The catalytic activity of various metal compounds was excellent, in order of Ti, Zn, Sn, and Sb. Also the order of activation energy was Zn>Ti>Sn>Sb.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.658-662
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• 2009

In this work, the amine-treated activated carbon nanotubes (A-MWNTs) were used to investigate the $CO_2$ adsorption behaviors. A-MWNTs were prepared by impregnation with amine in methanol after chemical activation methods using a KOH. The characteristics of amine-treated A-MWNTs were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), $N_2$ adsorption, desorption isotherms at 77 K. The specific surface area and pore volume of the A-MWNTs were analyzed by BET equation, BJH method, and t-plot method. $CO_2$ capture capacity as a function of temperature was measured by temperature programmed desorption (TPD). From the results, the amine treatment increased the basicity and nitrogen content of the A-MWNTs. The $CO_2$ adsorption capacity of the amine-nontreated A-MWNTs showed the highest value at room temperature and then greatly decreased with increasing the temperature. However, the amine-treated A-MWNTs presented a softer slope with temperature compared to the amine-nontreated ones. It was due to the strong interactions between $CO_2$ and amino groups presented on the carbon surfaces studied.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.362-367
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• 1991

Rates of nucleophilic substitution reaction ([Pd (ONN) Cl] + Y$^-\;{\rightleftharpoons}$ [Pd (ONN)Y] + Cl$^-$ ; Y = SCN$^-$, CN$^-$, N$_3^-$, imidazole, pyridine) have been measured in methanol by spectrophotometric method at various temperatures. A set of nucleophilic reactivity constants, n$_{Pd}^{\circ}$ has been calculated. These values show an order of nucleophilicity CN$^-$ > SCN$^-$ > N$_3^-$ > Imidazole > Pyridine. The enthalpy of activation are small positive values and the entropy of activation are large negative values. From these results, it can be inferred that the nucleophilic substitution reaction proceeds through an associative (A) mechanism.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.73-83
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• 2008

Objectives : The root of Zingiber officinale ROSC. (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens; Ginger) has been widely used as one of folk remedies and food materials in many traditional preparations. Ginger is known as an effective appetite enhancer and anti-inflammatory agent. This study was performed to investigate the effect of ginger chloroform fraction (GCF) in microglia which play a central role on brain inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. Methods : Dried ginger was extracted with 80% methanol, and then fractionated with chloroform. BV2 mouse microglial cells were cultured with different concentrations of GCF and then stimulated with LPS (1 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$) at indicated times. The cell toxicity of GCF was determined by MTT assay. The concentrations of NO, PGE2 and cytokines were measured by Griess assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. The mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS, COX-2 and cytokines were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The phosphorylation of three MAPKs (p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and JNK) and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation were determined by Western blotting. Results : GCF significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators, NO, $PGE_2$ and proinflammatory cytokines ($TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$) in a dose-dependent manner. GCF attenuated LPS-induced expression of mRNA and protein of inflammatory enzymes, iNOS, COX-2 and proinflammatory cytokines through suppressing the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK and the activation of p65 $NF-{\kappa}B$ in BV2 cells. Conclusions : This study suggests that GCF may have an anti-inflammatory property through suppressing the inflammatory mediator production released by activated microglia after the brain injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.511-515
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• 2002

Paeoniae radix has been considered as one of the most important crude drugs used in traditional oriental medicine and has been employed as a circulatory tonic in care of weakness, night sweats, and lumbar pain, etc. Platelet activation plays an important role in thrombosis and haemostasis. Active compounds for the inhibition of platelet activation from Paeoniae radix were extracted and fractionated into five fractions. Its fraction two and three of ethyl acetate extract inhibited the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets induced by collagen. Two active compounds, bezoyloxypaeoniflorin and paeoniflorin, were isolated from fraction two and three by silica gel column and high performance liquid chromatography. The chemical structures were determined by comparison of their proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Benzoyloxypaeoniflorin showed strong inhibition at the concentration of 100 ug/mL against collagen-induced washed rabbit platelets aggregation. It is suggested that Paeoniae radix has become food material to prevent a cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2018

Viticis fructus (fruits of Vitex rotundifolia) is the dried fruit from Vitex rotundifolia; is a traditional medicine for treating inflammation, migraines, chronic bronchitis, headaches, eye pain, and gastrointestinal infections; and demonstrates various bioactivities, including anti-allergic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects, which are partly due to its phenolic compound content. This study examines the inhibitory effects of viticis fructus (fruits of Vitex rotundifolia) on MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression using gelatin zymography and RT-PCR in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced HT-1080 fibro-sarcoma cells. Fruits of Vitex rotundifolia were extracted twice using dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$) and methanol (MeOH). The combined crude extracts ($CH_2Cl_2$ and MeOH) significantly inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in gelatin zymography. The combined extracts were fractionated into n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), n-butanol, and water, successively according to polarity. Among all solvent-partitioned fractions, 85% aq. MeOH fractions showed the strongest inhibition on the activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gelatin zymography. In PMA-stimulated HT-1080 cells, the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA were also greatly inhibited by the 85% aq. MeOH fraction. These results suggest that viticis fructus can be used as an excellent source for anti-invasive agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.788-793
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the biological effects from Codium fragile. Methanol extract of Codium fragile increased two times at 2500 ㎍/ml the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum that associated with probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria of Kimchi. Ethyl acetate extract of Codium fragile inhibited the cellulase activity up to approximately 60% at $2500\;{\mu}g/ml$. Methanol extract of Codium fragile was fractionated into several subfractions and their antioxidant activities were measured by using DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activity. Especially the antioxidative activity of ethyl acetate fraction was shown higher than that of other fractions and its fraction showed higher contents of total phenolic compounds, indicating the positive relationship between DPPH radical scavenging effect and total polyphenol content. Stimulation of the macrophages RAW264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in increased production of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium. However, the methanol extract of Codium fragile showed marked inhibition of NO synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. This result suggest that Codium fragile plays significant role for activation of immune system in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.