• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2014

Chemotherapy has long been considered as one of useful strategies for cancer treatment. It is primarily based on the apoptosis that can selectively kill cancer cells. However, cancer cells can progressively develop an acquired resistance to apoptotic cell death, rendering refractory to chemo- and radiotherapies. Although the mechanism by which cells attained resistance to drug remains to be clarified, it might be caused by either pumping out of them or interfering with apoptotic signal cascades in response to cancer drugs. In case that cancer cells are defective in some part of apoptotic machinery by repeated exposure to anticancer drugs, alternative cell death mechanistically distinct from apoptosis could be adopted to remove cancer cells refractory to apoptosis-inducing agents. This review will mainly deal with harnessing of necrotic cell death, specifically, programmed necrosis and practical uses. Here, we begin with various defects of apoptotic death machinery in cancer cells, and then provide new perspective on programmed necrosis as an alternative anticancer approach.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1998

The effect of synthetic polymer membranes on the permeation rate of dideoxynucleoside-type anti-HIV drugs through hairless rat skin was studied using ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA) membranes fabricated by solvent casting method. In vitro skin permeation kinetics study of DDC (2',3'-dideoxythymidine), DDI (2',3'-dideoxyinosine) and AZT (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine) across the (membrane/skin) composite was conducted for 24 hours at $37^{\circ}C$ using the Valia-Chien skin permeation system. The results showed that skin permeation rate of each drug across the (skin/membrane) composite was mainly dependent on the property of the membrane. Proper selection of the polymeric membrane which resembles hydrophilicity/lipophilicity of the delivering drug was important in controlling the skin permeation rate.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2019

In this study, we described the new developed method to simultaneously discriminate two herbal drugs of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba using eight marker compounds (1 - 8) on an HPLC-PDA system. The developed method was applied to quantify the major components of two herbal drugs. The pattern analysis successfully discriminated and evaluated different components between Artemisiae Argyi Folium and Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba. Results were used for classification of different species from collected samples.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.38-46
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• 2023

The value of living a long and healthy life without suffering has increased owing to aging populations, transition to welfare societies, and global interest in health deriving from the novel coronavirus disease pandemic. New drug development has gained attention as both a tool to improve the quality of life and high-value market, with blockbuster drugs potentially generating over 10 billion dollars in annual revenue. However, for newly discovered substances to be used as drugs, various properties must be verified over a long period in a time-consuming and costly process. Recently, the development of artificial intelligence technologies, such as deep and reinforcement learning, has led to significant changes in drug development by enabling the effective identification of drug candidates that satisfy desired properties. We explore and discuss trends in artificial intelligence for de novo drug design.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.159-174
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• 2007

Pharmacology of Korean Red ginseng gives us unique possibility to develop new class of antiepileptic drugs today and to improve one's biological activity. The chemical structures of ginsenosides (GS) have some principal differences from well-known antiepileptic new generation drugs. The antiepileptic effect of GS was also demonstrated in all models of epilepsy in rats (young and adult), which have studied, in all models of epilepsy including status epilepticus (SE), induced by lithium - pilocarpine. In our experiments in rats new evidences on protective effects were exerted as a result of premedication by GS. Pre-treatment of several GS could induce decrease of the seizures severity and brain structural damage (by MRI), neuronal degeneration in hippocampus. Wave nature of severity of motor seizures during convulsive SE was observed during lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in rats (the first increase of seizures was 30 min after the beginning of SE and the second - 90 min after. The efficacy of treatment on SE by ginsenoside as expected was observed after no less 3 weeks by daily GS i.p. administration. It is blocked SE or significantly decrease the severity of seizures during SE. The implication of presented data is that combination of ginsenosides from Korean Red ginseng and ginseng cell culture Dan25 that could be applied for prevention of epileptical status development. However, a development of optimal ratio of different ginsenosides $(Rb_1$ Rc, Rg, Rf,) should consummate in the new antiepileptic drug development.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.282-289
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• 2021

A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), caused a worldwide pandemic. Our aim in this study is to produce new fusion inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2, which can be the basis for developing new antiviral drugs. The fusion core comprising the heptad repeat domains (HR1 and HR2) of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) were used to design the peptides. A total of twelve peptides were generated, comprising a short or truncated 24-mer (peptide #1), a long 36-mer peptide (peptide #2), and ten peptide #2 analogs. In contrast to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 S-mediated cell-cell fusion cannot be inhibited with a minimal length, 24-mer peptide. Peptide #2 demonstrated potent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 S-mediated cell-cell fusion at 1 µM concentration. Three peptide #2 analogs showed IC50 values in the low micromolar range (4.7-9.8 µM). Peptide #2 inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus assay at IC50=1.49 µM. Given their potent inhibition of viral activity and safety and lack of cytotoxicity, these peptides provide an attractive avenue for the development of new prophylactic and therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.479-491
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• 2023

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence and is one of the highest mortality cancers when advanced stage is proceeded. However, Anti-cancer drugs available for treatment are limited and new anti-cancer drugs and new ways to treat them are minimal. We examined that the effects and possibility of Red Ginseng (RG, Panax ginseng Meyer) as new anti-cancer drug on HCC by combining network pharmacology and molecular biology. Materials and Methods: Network pharmacological analysis was employed to investigate the systems-level mechanism of RG focusing on HCC. Cytotoxicity of RG was determined by MTT analysis, which were also stained by annexin V/PI staining for apoptosis and acridine orange for autophagy. For the analyze mechanism of RG, we extracted protein and subjected to immunoblotting for apoptosis or autophagy related proteins. Results: We constructed compound-target network of RG and identified potential pathways related to HCC. RG inhibited growth of HCC through acceleration of cytotoxicity and reduction of wound healing ability of HCC. RG also increased apoptosis and autophagy through AMPK induction. In addition, its ingredients, 20S-PPD (protopanaxadiol) and 20S-PPT (protopanaxatriol), also induced AMPK mediated apoptosis and autophagy. Conclusion: RG effectively inhibited growth of HCC cells inducing apoptosis and autophagy via ATG/AMPK in HCC cells. Overall, our study suggests possibility as new anti-cancer drug on HCC by proof for the mechanism of the anti-cancer action of RG.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.525-533
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• 1997

Background : No ideal combination chemotherapy for lung cancer has been established even though lots of combination anticancer chemotherapies have been tried. For the combination of anticancer drugs, the interaction of anticancer drugs is very important but unpredictable factor. In this experiment, we designed and tested new experiment to measure the interaction of two anticancer drugs using MIT assay in an attempt to predict clinical response of the combination regimen. Methods : With human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (PC-14), the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin, adriamycin, mitomycin C and etoposide were measured by in vitro chemosensitivity test (MIT assay). The combined cytotoxic effects of combination of two drugs were also measured in every combination of the drug concentrations and analyzed the interaction by Anava analysis of two way factorial design. Results : Four individual drugs showed cytotoxic effects on PC-14 by dose dependent fashion. Comparison of two drug combinations revealed that mitomycin C + cisplatin and adriamycin + cisplatin combinations showed stronger synergistic cytotoxic effects. Conclusion : From this experiment, we suggest two combinations of mitomycin C + cisplatin and adriamycin + cisplatin as chemotherapeutic regimens for unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Furthermore, this experimental design could be applied to other types of cancer requiring combination anticancer chemotherapy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.362-369
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• 2010

Despite the fact that the dissolution test can serve as an effective tool for drug quality control and prediction of in vivo drug performance, there are a number of drugs with no established dissolution specifications because they were developed quite a long time ago. Under this circumstances, KFDA started the new project that establishes dissolution method and specifications for drugs with no dissolution specifications listed in the Korea Pharmaceutical Codex (KPC). This project aims for promoting the appropriate management of oral solid dosage forms. Seoul regional KFDA selected 2 items, Nicametate citrate tablet and Norfloxacin capsule, for establishing dissolution specifications. We went through the following procedures to develop the dissolution method and specifications: (1) Validation of dissolution test equipment, (2) Purchase of test drugs, (3) Preliminary test with one of the test products (1 lot), (4) Validation of analysis methods (3 lots), (5) Final tests and cross tests among other laboratory to establish dissolution specifications, (6) Additional test with the other test drugs. The outcome of this study will be reflected in revision of the KPC. It is believed that the quality control and evaluation of oral solid dosage forms listed in KPC will be advanced with the revision which adds additional dissolution test and specifications for the drugs with no established dissolution specifications.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2002

Enoyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase (Fabl) of bacteria is hem as an important target for new antibacterial drugs and plays a determinant role in completing cycles of elongation in type-H fatty acid synthase system. In this study, a fabI gene from Staphylococcus aureus 6538p cloned in pET-l4b vector and FabI protein was over-produced in Escherichaia coli BL2l (DE3). $NH_2$-terminal His-tagged FabI protein was purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) metalaffinity chromatography Purified 6xHis-tagged FabI showed a catalytic activity on tram - 2 - octenoyl - N -acethlcysteamine by utilizing NADPH as a cofactor. For the discovery of new FabI inhibitors from chemical libraries, a target-oriented screening system using a 96-well plate was developed. About 10,000 chemical libraries from Korea Chemical Bank wore tested in this screening system, and 26 chemicals (0.25%) among them showed an inhibitory activity against FabI enzyme. This result showed that a new screening system can be used for the discovery of new FabI inhibitors.