• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.123-133
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• 2001

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Cordyceps sinensis Sacc. (CSS) extract exerts the protective effect against oxidant-induced alterations in membrane transport function in renal tubules. Methods : Membrane transport fucntion was estimated by examining alterations in p-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake in rabbit renal cortical slices. For induction oxidative stress, slices were treated with an organic peroxide cumene hydroperoxide for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$. Cumene hydroperoxide inhibited PAH uptake in a time dependent manner. Results : CSS at 0.5-5% concentrations prevented cumene hydroperoxide-induced inhibition of PAH uptake. CSS at 1% also attenuated LDH release and lipid peroxidation induced by cumene hydroperoxide. When slices were treated with 0.2 mM mercury chloride, PAH uptake was inhibited and lipid peroxidation was increased. These changes by mercury were significantly prevented by CSS. Conclusion : These results suggest that CSS prevents oxidant-induced alterations in membrane transport function in rabbit renal cortical slices. Such protective effect of CSS may be attributed to inhibition of peroxidation of membrane lipid.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.900-907
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• 2004

The antiproliferative effect of the water extract of the branch and root bark of Ulmi Pumilae Cortex(WEUPC) was investigated on the p53-negative human leukemia cell line (HL-60). A dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell growth was observed; this effect appears to be due to induction of apoptosis. Involvement of oxidative stress is indicated by a dose-dependent increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. In addition. anti-apoptic effect was observed in the cells simultaneously treated with WEUPC and the anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine. WEUPC did not affect the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and the pro-apoptotic Bax, whereas p21/sup WAF1/CIPl/ was enhanced in a dose- and time-dependent fashion; this effect was partially inhibited by N-acetylcysteine. The increase in p21/sup WAF1/CIPl/ was accompanied by a parallel accumulation of cells in the G1 phase of the cycle. These results suggest that the p53-independent induction of p21/sup WAF1/CIP/ and the induction of apoptosis may mediate the anti proliferative effect of WEUPC at least in this study; on the basis of this observation, WEUPC could be proposed as an useful adjunct to the treatment of p53-deficient tumors, which are often refractory to standard chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 1982

An attempt was made to investigate the antioxidant activity of maltol, kojic acid, levulinic acid, furfural, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF), and pyrazine which had been known to be important intermediates of Maillard browning reactions. The activity of these compounds was determined by comparing induction periods of soybean oil substrates containing each compound at a 0.01M level with that of a control. The induction period was arbitrarily taken as the time in hours for a substrate to reach a peroxide value of 60meq/kg oil. The substrates and control were stored at $45.0{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$ for 30 days. The induction periods of the control, kojic acid, furfural, 5-HMF, maltol, levulinic acid, and pyrazine were respectively 468, 592, 510, 498, 486, 450, and 402 hours. Kojic acid demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity, whereas furfural, 5-HMF, and maltol showed weak activivity. Pyrazine and levulinic acid showed pro-oxidant activity. Although the prooxidant activity of pyrazine seemed definite, that of levulinic acid appeared very weak.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.240-247
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• 2012

Sabaek-san has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases derived from the cold with high fever, cough, and lung dysfunction in Korea and China. There is no study for the comparison between different solvent extracts of Sabaek-san. We made two samples, one is Sabaek-san water extract (SBSW) and the other is Sabaek-san 30% EtOH extract (SBSE). Both extracts inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) protein, reduced iNOS-derived nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Also, they reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) production. These anti-inflammatory effects caused by induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-1. HO-1 enzyme plays an important role of cellular anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory systems. The induction of HO-1 is primarily regulated at the transcriptional level, and its induction by various inducers is related to the nuclear transcription factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, it is worth taking note that SBSE has more powerful anti-inflammatory effects than SBSW. In this study we suggest that different solvent extraction makes different therapeutic actions.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.276-281
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• 2011

Oxidative stress or the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads neuronal cellular death and dysfunction, and it contributes to neuronal degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke. Glutamate-induced oxidative injury contributes to neuronal degeneration in many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as epilepsy and ischemia. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme plays an important role of cellular antioxidant system against oxidant injury. The expression of HO-1 has cytoprotective effects in glutamate-induced oxidative cytotoxicity in HT22 cells. The induction of HO-1 is primarily regulated at the transcriptional level, and its induction by various inducers is related to the nuclear transcription factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 is a master regulator of the antioxidant response. NNMBS008, the water-insoluble fraction of the 70% EtOH extract of roots of Sophora flavescens, showed dominant neuroprotective effects on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells by induced the expression of HO-1 and increased HO activity. In mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, NNMBS008 makes the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 pathway. In conclusion, the waterinsoluble fraction of the 70% EtOH extract of roots of S. flavescens (NNMBS008) significantly protect glutamate-induced oxidative damage by induction of HO-1 via Nrf2 pathway in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. These results suggest that these extracts could be the effective candidates for the treatment of ROS-related neurological diseases.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2020

Purple loosestrife-Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Lythraceae family. It has been used for centuries in Korea and other Asian traditional medicine. It has been showed pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effects. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer mechanisms are not yet understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis signaling pathways by ethanol extract of Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino (ELM) in human leukemia U937 cells. Treatment with ELM significantly inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs), DNA fragmentation and increased populations of sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptosis by ELM was connected with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1, survivin), depending on dosage. This induction was associated with Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspases (-3, -8 and -9) and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. Therefore, our data indicate that ELM suppresses U937 cell growth by activating the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways, and thus may have applications as a potential source for an anti-leukemic chemotherapeutic agent.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.277-282
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity of Ligularia fischeri leaf extract on adjuvant induced arthritis in experimental mice. The oral administration of the L. fischeri leaf extract (LF), at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight once a day for 3 weeks, significantly reduced hindpaw swelling and the production of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin(IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6). Treatment with LF (100 mg/kg) also decreased the serum levels of triglyceride and low density lipoprotein(LDL)-cholesterol, and increased high density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol contents compared with those of a control group. The induction of arthritis significantly increased oxidized proteins such as protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein products, and advanced glycation end-products in the lung, heart, and brain. Treatment with LF for 3 weeks reduced the levels of oxidized proteins. These results suggest that L. fischeri extract might be beneficial in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.325-330
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• 2003

Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae) has anti-oxidant, analgesic, and hypolipidemic effects. We previously showed that Solanum melongena (SM) aqueous extract inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic reactions. The activation of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) induces acute inflammation in rat hindpaw. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the SM aqueous extract on mouse paw edema induced by PAR2 agonists. Trypsin or trans-cinnamoyl-LIGRLO-NH$_2$ (tc-NH$_2$), PAR-2 agonists, was injected into the hind paw of mice to induce paw edema. SM aqueous extract (1, 5, 10, and 100 mg/kg) was orally administered 1 hr before induction of paw edema. SM aqueous extract (5, 10, and 100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited both paw edema and vascular permeability in the dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, SM aqueous extract (10 mg/kg) significantly inhibited PAR-2 agonist-induced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ expression in paw tissue compared to that of saline. These results suggest that SM aqueous extract may be useful for treatment of PAR-2-mediated inflammation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2020

Long-term exposure to environmental pollutants can impair the human skin's barrier function and promote skin aging mechanisms. The visible consequences of these effects are dryness, wrinkles, black spots and worsening skin sensitivity. As awareness of the effects of environmental stressors on the skin has recently increased, consumers' demand for cosmetics that can provide anti-pollution effects is increasing. In this study, the possibility of anti-pollution cosmetic material was investigated by measuring the inhibitory effect of free radicals using a mixture of Nypa fruticans Wurmb (NF), Saussurea neoserrata (SN), Codium fragile (CF) and Enteromorpha compressa (EC), which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects against irritation caused by dust. Combining the experimental results of a mixture of NF, SN, CF and EC by induction of fine dust stimulation, inhibition of inflammatory factors (PGE₂) and intracellular free radicals (ROS) by inhibiting effects were significant, indicating the possibility of use as anti-pollution cosmetics. The most plants used as sources of anti-pollution cosmetic ingredients contain antioxidants as active substances. In our highly industrialized and chemically polluted world, it is not surprising that most plants used as sources of anti-pollution cosmetic ingredients contain antioxidants as active substances. Considering our results, it can be suggested that this anti-pollutant consisting of NF, SN, CF and EC may be a good ingredient for skincare products for the cosmetic industry due to their antioxidant properties, which may especially alter skin aging.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.148-153
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• 2009

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a stable anti-oxidant or pro-oxidant, depending on the situation, and it is widely used to inhibit the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We recently reported that PDTC activates the MIP-2 gene in a NF-${\kappa}B$-independent and c-Jun-dependent manner in macrophage cells. In this work, we found that PDTC activates signal transduction pathways in mouse ES cells. Among the three different mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, including the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAP kinase, and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, only the ERK pathway was significantly activated in mouse ES cells after stimulation with PDTC. Additionally, we observed a synergistic activation of ERK and induction of c-Fos after stimulation with PDTC in the presence of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) conditioned medium. In contrast, another NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor, BMS-345541, did not activate the MAP kinase pathways or induce expression of c-Fos. These results suggest that changes in the presence of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor PDTC should be carefully considered when it used with mouse ES cells.