• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2015

Pachymic acid (PA) is a lanostane-type triterpenoid derived from the Poria cocos mushroom. Several beneficial biological features of PA provide medicine with a wide variety of valuable effects, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity; it also has antioxidant effects against oxidative stress. Nonetheless, the biological properties and mechanisms that produce this anti-cancer action of PA remain largely undetermined. In this study, we investigated the pro-apoptotic effects of PA in T24 human bladder cancer cells. It was found that PA could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies and chromatin condensation and accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. The induction of apoptotic cell death by PA was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bad protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins. In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of PA induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase. PA also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the truncation of Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that PA may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2018

In this study, pro-oxidant($d2w^{(R)}$) and rPP/ZnO nanocomposite flexible films for food packaging were prepared, and their mechanical and antimicrobial properties were investigated. As a result, the carbonyl index and hydroxyl index increased with exposured time to heat and UV rays. Surface analysis showed that the addition of zinc oxide improved the dispersibility and compatibility of the polymer, so that the surface of the composite film was smooth and the zinc oxide particles were smaller than the compared film. And it kept the physical properties by heat and UV ray blocking effect, and it worked to reduce decomposition. In the antimicrobial activity test, the microbial reduction rate was 3 logs or more at the use concentration of zinc oxide. The tensile strength was increased and the elongation was decreased. Oxidative degradability of multi-layered film in UV exposured for 72 hours, the molecular weight of the film decreased by 75.6%, 1,294 g/mol Mn and 5,920 g/mol Mw. In the safety analysis of food packaging materials, we obtained that are in standard of polypropylene, a food contact material of domestic law.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.493-500
• /
• 2013

Gelatin is a collagen-containing thermohydrolytic substance commonly incorporated in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of gelatin by using different reagents, such as 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-di (4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity-fluorescein (ORAC-FL) in a porcine gelatin hydrolysate obtained using gastrointestinal enzymes. Electrophoretic analysis of the gelatin hydrolysis products showed extensive degradation by pepsin and pancreatin, resulting in an increase in the peptide concentration (12.1 mg/mL). Antioxidant activity, as measured by ABTS, exhibited the highest values after 48-h incubation with pancreatin treatment after pepsin digestion. Similar effects were observed at 48 h incubation, that is, 61.5% for the DPPH assay and 69.3% for the ABTS assay. However, the gallic acid equivalent (GE) at 48 h was $87.8{\mu}M$, whereas $14.5{\mu}M$ GE was obtained using the ABTS and DPPH assays, indicating about sixfold increase. In the ORACFL assay, antioxidant activity corresponding to $45.7{\mu}M$ of trolox equivalent was found in the gelatin hydrolysate after 24 h hydrolysis with pancreatin treatment after pepsin digestion, whereas this activity decreased at 48 h. These antioxidant assay results showed that digestion of gelatin by gastrointestinal enzymes prevents oxidative damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2012

The abnormal maturation and ossification of articular chondrocytes play a central role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Inhibiting the enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix and maintaining the cellular phenotype are two of the major goals of interest in managing OA. Ginseng is frequently taken orally, as a crude substance, as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$, a major component of ginseng that contains an aglycone with a dammarane skeleton, has been reported to exhibit various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. However, a chondroprotective effect of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ related to OA has not yet been reported. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the chondroprotective effect of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ on the regulation of pro-inflammatory factors and chondrogenic genes. Cultured rat articular chondrocytes were treated with 100 ${\mu}M$ ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and/or 500 ${\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and assessed for viability, reactive oxygen species production, nitric oxide (NO) release, and chondrogenic gene expression. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ treatment resulted in reductions in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine and NO in $H_2O_2$-treated chondrocytes. The expression levels of chondrogenic genes, such as type II collagen and SOX9, were increased in the presence of ginsenoside $Rb_1$, whereas the expression levels of inflammatory genes related to chondrocytes, such as MMP1 and MMP13, were reduced by approximately 50%. These results suggest that ginsenoside $Rb_1$ has potential for use as a therapeutic agent in OA patients.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.137-142
• /
• 2008

Echinacea purpurea, an indian traditional plant medicine has been widely used as herbal remedy for the treatment of disease such as colds or other infections. However, Echinacea purpurea extracts recently have been applied as a cosmetic ingredient for skin care. We artificially cultured Echinacea purpurea by using the bioreactor culture system for this study. We induced callus from Echinacea purpurea and separated adventitious roots, harvested and extracted after cultured in bioreactors. Previously, several studies have been reported on anti-oxidant and immuno-enhancing effects of Echinacea purpurea extract but other efficacies were not well known. In this study, we investigated the whitening, anti-wrinkle and anti-oxidant effects to know applicable value of tissue-cultured Echinacea purpurea adventitious roots extract(TCEPARE) as a cosmetic ingredient. TCEPARE did not show cytotoxicity until a concentration of 2% and showed the anti-oxidative effect in DPPH and NBT tests. Also, the extract decreased tyrosinase expression in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells. TCEPARE reduced protein levels of MMP-1, 2 secreted in culture medium or in cell lysates. From these results we suggest that TCEPARE has potential benefits applicable as to cosmetic ingredient for skin care products.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.441-449
• /
• 2015

Endlicheria anomala, a neotropical plant, is found in northern South America and the Amazon region. It is traditionally used to remove poisons and cure gangrene. According to recent data, this plant has diverse biological properties such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic properties. However, the anti-cancer effect of E. anomala and its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we examined the anti-cancer effect and the active mechanism of methanol extract of E. anomala (MEEA) in human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human liver cancer cells (HepG2). Our data revealed that MEEA showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis both in A549 and HepG2 cells. We verified evidences of apoptosis via formation of chromatin condensation, apoptotic body and accumulation of cells in the subG1 phase. Following observed apoptosis-related phenomena, we found that the induction of apoptosis by MEEA was associated with the increase of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression. Furthermore, MEEA-induced apoptosis was characterized with proteolytic activation of caspase-3, degradation of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. Taken together, these findings indicate that MEEA may have potential cancer therapeutic utility in A549 and HepG2 cells.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 2001

In this Study, application of ${H_2}{O_2}$/$Fe^0 oxidation System (Fenton-like oxidation) for the oxidative treatment of high-level soil contamination with hydrocarbon was suggested. The characteristics of Fenton-like oxidation of diesel-contaminated fine soil was experimentally probed in a batch system varying initial pH, zero valent iron and hydrogen peroxide levels, and initial diesel concentration. Contaminant degradation was identified by total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH) concentration with gas chromatography. The batch experiments showed that the optimal ${H_2}{O_2}$and $Fe^0 dosage, 10% ${H_2}{O_2}$+ 20% $Fe^0 removed 65% of initial TPH concentration (10,000mg/kg) at a retention time of 24h. And the TPH removal in the ${H_2}{O_2}$/$Fe^0 system effectively proceeded only within a limited pH range of 3-4. The zero valent iron-catalyzed Fenton-like oxidation of diesel-contaminated soil was more competitive to the $FeSO_4-catalyzed system (Fenton oxidation) in removal efficiency and cost especially for the treatment of high level contamination.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.443-455
• /
• 2020

The thioredoxin (Trx) system plays critical roles in regulating intracellular redox levels and defending organisms against oxidative stress. Recent studies indicated that Trx reductase (TrxR) was overexpressed in various types of human cancer cells indicating that the Trx-TrxR system may be a potential target for anti-cancer drug development. This study investigated the synergistic effect of auranofin, a TrxR-specific inhibitor, on sulforaphane-mediated apoptotic cell death using Hep3B cells. The results showed that sulforaphane significantly enhanced auranofin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting TrxR activity and cell proliferation compared to either single treatment. The synergistic effect of sulforaphane and auranofin on apoptosis was evidenced by an increased annexin-V-positive cells and Sub-G1 cells. The induction of apoptosis by the combined treatment caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and upregulation of Bax. In addition, the proteolytic activities of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a substrate protein of activated caspase-3, were also higher in the combined treatment. Moreover, combined treatment induced excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, reduced combined treatment-induced ROS production and apoptosis. Thereby, these results deduce that ROS played a pivotal role in apoptosis induced by auranofin and sulforaphane. Furthermore, apoptosis induced by auranofin and sulforaphane was significantly increased through inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that down-regulation of TrxR activity contributed to the synergistic effect of auranofin and sulforaphane on apoptosis through ROS production and inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.975-984
• /
• 2021

Objective: Inbreeding depression of reproduction is a major concern in the conservation of native chicken genetic resources. Here, based on the successful development of strongly inbred (Sinb) and weakly inbred (Winb) Langshan chickens, we aimed to evaluate inbreeding effects on reproductive traits and identify candidate genes involved in inbreeding depression of reproduction in Langshan chickens. Methods: A two-sample t-test was performed to estimate the differences in phenotypic values of reproductive traits between Sinb and Winb chicken groups. Three healthy chickens with reproductive trait values around the group mean values were selected from each of the groups. Differences in ovarian and hypothalamus transcriptomes between the two groups of chickens were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). Results: The Sinb chicken group showed an obvious inbreeding depression in reproduction, especially for traits of age at the first egg and egg number at 300 days (p<0.01). Furthermore, 68 and 618 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained in the hypothalamus and ovary between the two chicken groups, respectively. In the hypothalamus, DEGs were mainly enriched in the pathways related to vitamin metabolism, signal transduction and development of the reproductive system, such as the riboflavin metabolism, Wnt signaling pathway, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways, including stimulated by retinoic acid 6, serpin family F member 1, secreted frizzled related protein 2, Wnt family member 6, and frizzled class receptor 4 genes. In the ovary, DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways associated with basic metabolism, including amino acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycosaminoglycan degradation. A series of key DEGs involved in folate biosynthesis (gamma-glutamyl hydrolase, guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1), oocyte meiosis and ovarian function (cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1, structural maintenance of chromosomes 1B, and speedy/RINGO cell cycle regulator family member A), spermatogenesis and male fertility (prostaglandin D2 synthase 21 kDa), Mov10 RISC complex RNA helicase like 1, and deuterosome assembly protein 1) were identified, and these may play important roles in inbreeding depression in reproduction. Conclusion: The results improve our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression in chicken reproduction and provide a theoretical basis for the conservation of species resources.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.498-506
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the restorative effect of Semisulcospira libertina extract, on damaged liver cells induced by D-galactosamine in rats. Treatment of damaged liver cells with S. libertina extract significantly reduced local fatty degeneration, and inflammatory cell necrosis, to levels similar with the undamaged control group. In addition, S. libertina extracts were found to reduce plasma levels of liver damage indicator enzymes, such as AST, ALT, LDH and ALP, to control levels. It also reduced lipid peroxides, and lipid contents within damaged liver tissues. This suggests that S. libertina extract has a restorative effect on liver cells, thus reducing release of damage-associated liver enzymes, and oxidative degradation of lipids. Also, S. libertina extracts were found to be involved in recovery of damaged cells from inflammatory response by suppressing expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, which leads to tissue injury and necrosis, whereas inducing expression of HO-1 that protects cells during inflammation. Thus, S. libertina extract restores liver tissue from necrosis and fibrosis, as well modulates expression of inflammation-related genes against liver damage. Our findings suggest that S. libertina extract is an effective medicinal resource, for improving and recovering liver cells from hepatic injury.