• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1908-1919
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• 2015

This work investigated the potential of curcumin (CCM) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to inhibit N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated biofilm formation in gram-negative bacteria from membrane bioreactor (MBR) activated sludge. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CCM alone against all the tested bacteria were 200-350 μg/ml, whereas those for EGCG were 300-600 μg/ml. Biofilm formation at one-half MICs indicated that CCM and EGCG alone respectively inhibited 52-68% and 59-78% of biofilm formation among all the tested bacteria. However, their combination resulted in 95-99% of biofilm reduction. Quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) assay with known biosensor strains demonstrated that CCM inhibited the expression of C4 and C6 homoserine lactones (HSLs)-mediated phenotypes, whereas EGCG inhibited C4, C6, and C10 HSLs-based phenotypes. The Center for Disease Control biofilm reactor containing a multispecies culture of nine bacteria with one-half MIC of CCM (150 μg/ml) and EGCG (275 μg/ml) showed 17 and 14 μg/cm² of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on polyvinylidene fluoride membrane surface, whereas their combination (100 μg/ml of each) exhibited much lower EPS content (3 μg/cm²). Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations also illustrated that the combination of compounds tremendously reduced the biofilm thickness. The combined effect of CCM with EGCG clearly reveals for the first time the enhanced inhibition of AHL-mediated biofilm formation in bacteria from activated sludge. Thus, such combined natural QSI approach could be used for the inhibition of membrane biofouling in MBRs treating wastewaters.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.235-239
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• 2003

Thirteen sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the flower of Chrysanthemum coronarium L., which has been widely cultivated in Korea as a vegetable for a long time, were investigated their antimicrobial activities against eight bacteria and five phytopathogenic fungi. The antimicrobial activities of dihydrochrysanolide (6) and 1-epi-dihydrochrysanolide (7) showed strong activities against all the bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Especially, Staphylococcus aureus was investigated that have very strong antibacterial activity to $1.56\;{\mu}g{\cdot}disc^{-1}$, respectively. Also, most of sesquiterpene lactones, which have ${\alpha}-methylene-{\gamma}-butyrolactone$ group, were exhibited strong activity to Gram(+) bacteria than Gram(-) bacteria. In the antifungal test, Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora capsici known as phytopathogenic fungi have exhibited all extensive activity about compounds that have ${\alpha}-methylene-{\gamma}-butyrolactone$ group.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.248-257
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• 2009

The inhibitors against Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing (QS) signaling were developed by modifying the molecular structure of the major signal, N-3-hydroxybutanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-OH-$C_4$-HSL). A series of structural derivatives, N-(3-hydroxysulfonyl)-L-homoserine lactones (HSHLs) were synthesized by the solid-phase organic synthesis method. The in vivo QS inhibition by these compounds was measured by a bioassay system using the V. harveyi bioluminescence, and all showed significant inhibitory effects. To analyze the interaction between these compounds and LuxN, a 3-OH-$C_4$-HSL receptor protein of V. harveyi, we tentatively determined the putative signal binding domain of LuxN based on the sequence homology with other acyl-HSL binding proteins, and predicted the partial 3-D structure of the putative signal binding domain of LuxN by using ORCHESTRA program, and further estimated the binding poses and energies (docking scores) of 3-OH-$C_4$-HSL and HSHLs within the domain. In comparison of the result from this modeling study with that of in vivo bioassay, we suggest that the in silica interpretation of the interaction between ligands and their receptor proteins can be a valuable way to develop better competitive inhibitors, especially in the case that the structural information of the protein is limited.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.118-125
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• 2011

Free radical scavenging and antioxidants have attracted attention as a way to prevent the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study was carried out to investigate the effects of n-hexane fraction from Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae) leaves (HFL) on dopamine (DA)-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Compared with apomorphine (APO, $IC_{50}=18.1\;{\mu}M$) as a positive control, the HFL $IC_{50}$ value for DA-induced apoptosis was $3.0\;{\mu}g/ml$, and two major compounds from HFL, costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone, were $7.3\;{\mu}M$ and $3.6\;{\mu}M$, respectively. HFL and these major compounds significantly inhibited ROS generation in DA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. A rodent 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of PD was employed to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of HFL in vivo. 6-OHDA was injected into the substantia nigra of young adult rats and an immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to quantitate the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons. HFL significantly inhibited 6-OHDA-induced TH-positive cell loss in the substantia nigra and also reduced DA induced $\alpha$-synuclein (SYN) formation in SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that HFL may have neuroprotective effects against DA-induced in vitro and in vivo models of PD.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.240-247
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• 2005

Phytochemical investigation of the berries of Juniperus phoenicea led to the isolation of 4 compounds, namely; scutellarin, isoscutellarin, shikimic acid and the new palmitoyl lactone derivative 16-hydroxy palmitic-1,16-olide. This is the first report for the occurrence of these compounds in the species grown in Libya. The identification of the isolated compounds was based on the application of different spectroscopic techniques. In addition, the antihepatotoxic effect of the aqueous decoction of the berries was investigated.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.108-110
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• 2002

A new ardimerin (1) was isolated from the herb of Ardisia japonica. Its structure was determined by the elucidation of spectroscopic data and a chemical transformation. Compound (1) showed potent radical scavenging effect on DPPH radical $(IC_{50},\;0.32\;{\m}M)$.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.242-248
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• 2011

Several soil bacteria were found to degrade N-Acylhomoserine lactones (NAHLs), thereby interfering with the bacterial quorum sensing system. In this research, fifteen strains of NAHL degrading rhizobacteria were isolated from potato rhizosphere. Based on phenotypic characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analyses, the strains were identified as members of genera Bacillus, Streptomyces, Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas and Mesorhizobium. All tested isolates were capable to degrade both synthetic and natural NAHL produced by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) strain EMPCC. In quorum quenching experiments selected isolates, especially Mesorhizobium sp., were markedly reduced the pathogenicity of Pcc strain EMPCC in potato tubers and totally suppressed tissue maceration on potato tubers. These led to consider the latter as a useful biocontrol agent against Pectobacterium spp.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.91-94
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• 1991

Callus was derived from the seedlings of Agastache rugosa(Labiatae). The growth rate of callus and the production of essential oil were studied with the variation of culturing conditions. 2, 4-D 2ppm in the medium was more effective for the production of essential oil than NAA 2ppm. The growth rate of callus and the production of essential oil were inhibited by the illumination of the light. The essential oils from Agastache rugosa and the callus cultivated on the medium containing 2, 4-D 2 ppm and kinetin 0.2 ppm were analysed by TLC, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. These two oils showed different compositions. The main component of the plant oil, methyl chavicol was not contained in the callus oil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.21-35
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• 2004

Heme oxygenase (HO)-l catabolizes heme into three products: carbon monoxide, bilirubin, and free iron. HO-l serves as a protective gene by virtue of the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative actions of one or more of these three products. HO-l can be regarded as a potential therapeutic target in a variety of oxidant-mediated and inflammatory diseases. In this respect, it would be valuable to develop potent and selective inducers of HO-1 for therapeutic use. Here, we have shown that 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose, catalposide and dehydrocostus lactone are potent inducers of HO-1 and exert cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities via HO-1-ependent machanism.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2015

Compared to their terrestrial and marine counterparts, little is known about the capacity of freshwater-derived actinomycete bacteria to produce novel secondary metabolites. In the current study, we highlight the disparities that exist between cultivation-independent and -dependent analyses of actinomycete communities from four locations in Lake Michigan sediment. Furthermore, through phylogenetic analysis of strains isolated from these locations, we identified a Streptomyces sp., strain B025, as being distinct from other Streptomyces spp. isolated from sediment. Upon fermentation this strain produced a rare class of eight-membered lactone secondary metabolites, which have been for their antitumor properties. We used spectroscopic and chemical derivitization techniques to characterize octalactin B (1) in addition to its corresponding novel, unnatural degradation product (2).