• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1525-1532
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hot water extract from Cornus walteri Wanger (CWE) on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), concentrations of cellular lipid peroxidation products and reduced glutathione, and antioxidant enzyme activity were used as biomakers of cellular oxidative status. Cells pretreated with CWE (25~200 ${\mu}g/mL$) showed an increased resistance to oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner, as revealed by a higher percentage of surviving cells compared to control cells. ROS generation induced by TBHP was significantly reduced when cells were pretreated with 200 ${\mu}g/mL$ CWE for 4 h. Pretreatment with CWE (5~50 ${\mu}g/mL$) prevented the decrease in reduced glutathione and the increase in malondialdehyde and ROS evoked by TBHP in HepG2 cells. Finally, CWE pretreatments prevented the significant increase of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase activities induced by TBHP. These results show that CWE has significant protective ability against a TBHP-induced oxidative insult and that the modulation of antioxidant enzymes by CWE may have an important antioxidant effect on TBHP-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

In the workplace, the arsenic is used in the semiconductor production and the manufacturing of pigments, glass, pesticides and fungicides. Therefore, workers may be exposed to airborne arsenic during its use in manufacturing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of particulate matters (PMs) doped with arsenic (PMs-Arsenic) using a rodent model and to compare the genotoxicity in various concentrations and to examine the role of PMs-Arsenic in the induction of signaling pathway in the lung. Mice were exposed to PMs $124.4{\pm}24.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (low concentration), $220.2{\pm}34.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $426.4{\pm}40.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) doped with arsenic $1.4\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (Low concentration), $2.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $5.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) for 4 wks (6 h/d, 5 d/wk), respectively in the whole-body inhalation exposure chambers. To determine the level of genotoxicity, Chromosomal aberration (CA) assay in splenic lymphocytes and Supravital micronucleus (SMN) assay were performed. Then, signal pathway in the lung was analyzed. In the genotoxicity experiments, the increases of aberrant cells were concentration-dependent. Also, PMs-arsenic caused peripheral blood micronucleus frequency at high concentration. The inhalation of PMs-Arsenic increased an expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt: protein kinase B) and phpsphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) at high concentration group. Taken together, inhaled PMs-Arsenic caused genotoxicity and altered Akt signaling pathway in the lung. Therefore, the inhalation of PMs-Arsenic needs for a careful risk assessment in the workplace.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.732-739
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine if the addition of spermatozoa into the culture medium could influence the nuclear maturation of denuded porcine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from follicles of 3 to 5 mm in diameter, The cumulus and corona cells were removed from oocytes. Porcine denuded oocytes were cultured in tissue culture medium containing spermatozoa. After 48 h culture, oocytes were examined for the evidence of GV breakdown, metaphase I, anaphase-telophase I, and metaphase II (M II). The proportion of oocytes reaching M II stage was significantly (P<0.01) increased in the oocytes cultured in media containing spermatozoa compared to those in media without spermatozoa $(31.9\pm1.8%\; vs\; 14.9\pm1.0%)$.No differences in the rates of M II were observed among the different period of spermatozoa exposure nor among the spermatozoa from different species. The proportion of oocytes reaching M II stage was significantly different between high and low concentrations of spermatozoa. The present study suggests that mammalian spermatozoa contain a substance(s) that improves nuclear maturation in vitro of GV oocytes. Enhancing effect of spermatozoa for oocytes maturation in vitro is a highly dose-dependent.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2014

Cystatins (CSTs) are reversible and competitive inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteases, corresponding to papain-like cathepsins in plants and animals. A viral CST (CpBV-CST1) was identified from a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). Our previous study indicated that a transient expression of CpBV-CST1 interfered with immune response and development of Plutella xylostella larvae. To directly demonstrate the protein function, this study produced a recombinant CpBV-CST1 protein (rCpBV-CST1) using bacterial expression system to determine its inhibitory activity against cysteine protease and to assess its physiological alteration in insect immune and development. The open reading frame of CpBV-CST1 encodes a polypeptide of 138 amino acids (${\approx}15kDa$). rCpBV-cystatin protein in BL21 STAR (DE3) competent cells containing a recombinant pGEX4T-3:CpBV-CST1 was over-expressed by 0.5 mM IPTG for 4 h. In biological activity assay, the purified rCpBV-CST1 showed a significant inhibition against papain activity. It inhibited a cellular immune response of hemocyte nodule formation in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. Moreover, its oral administration retarded larval development of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 may be applied to control insect pest populations.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2020

In this study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activities of the extracts from the leaves of the Hydrangea petiolaris were identified, and the chemical structure was identified by separating the active ingredient. As the result of the anti-inflammatory activity experiment using RAW 264.7 cells, it was confirmed that the n-hexane (Hex) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of iNOS protein in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. In addition, the n-Hex and EtOAc fractions reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6). Upon the anti-bacterial tests using Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes, the extract, n-Hex, EtOAc and n-butanol (BuOH) fractions showed potent activities. In order to isolate the active constituents, the n-Hex and EtOAc fractions were further purified to afford four phytochemicals; phytol (1), corosolic acid (2), asiatic acid (3) and 1-O-p-coumaroyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (4). All of the compounds 1 - 4 were isolated for the first time from this plant. In addition, the contents of isolated compounds were determined by HPLC and the quantity of phytol (1) was 27.8 mg/g for the 70% EtOH extract. Based on the above research results, it is believed that it will be possible to develop a natural cosmetic material that has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects using the extract of H. petiolaris leaves.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.120-122
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• 2007

All living organisms use numerous signal-transduction pathways to sense and respond to their environments and thereby survive and proliferate in a range of biological niches. Molecular dissection of these signalling networks has increased our understanding of these communication processes and provides a platform for therapeutic intervention when these pathways malfunction in disease states, including infection. Owing to the expanding availability of sequenced genomes, a wealth of genetic and molecular tools and the conservation of signalling networks, members of the fungal kingdom serve as excellent model systems for more complex, multicellular organisms. Here, we employed Cryptococcus neoformans as a model system to understand how fungal-signalling circuits operate at the molecular level to sense and respond to a plethora of environmental stresses, including osmoticshock, UV, high temperature, oxidative stress and toxic drugs/metabolites. The stress-activated p38/Hog1 MAPK pathway is structurally conserved in many organisms as diverse as yeast and mammals, but its regulation is uniquely specialized in a majority of clinical Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A and D strains to control differentiation and virulence factor regulation. C. neoformans Hog1 MAPK is controlled by Pbs2 MAPK kinase (MAPKK). The Pbs2-Hog1 MAPK cascade is controlled by the fungal "two-component" system that is composed of a response regulator, Ssk1, and multiple sensor kinases, including two-component.like (Tco) 1 and Tco2. Tco1 and Tco2 play shared and distinct roles in stress responses and drug sensitivity through the Hog1 MAPK system. Furthermore, each sensor kinase mediates unique cellular functions for virulence and morphological differentiation. We also identified and characterized the Ssk2 MAPKKK upstream of the MAPKK Pbs2 and the MAPK Hog1 in C. neoformans. The SSK2 gene was identified as a potential component responsible for differential Hog1 regulation between the serotype D sibling f1 strains B3501 and B3502 through comparative analysis of their meiotic map with the meiotic segregation of Hog1-dependent sensitivity to the fungicide fludioxonil. Ssk2 is the only polymorphic component in the Hog1 MAPK module, including two coding sequence changes between the SSK2 alleles in B3501 and B3502 strains. To further support this finding, the SSK2 allele exchange completely swapped Hog1-related phenotypes between B3501 and B3502 strains. In the serotype A strain H99, disruption of the SSK2 gene dramatically enhanced capsule biosynthesis and mating efficiency, similar to pbs2 and hog1 mutations. Furthermore, ssk2, pbs2, and hog1 mutants are all hypersensitive to a variety of stresses and completely resistant to fludioxonil. Taken together, these findings indicate that Ssk2 is the critical interface protein connecting the two-component system and the Pbs2-Hog1 pathway in C. neoformans.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.962-966
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• 2002

The $SrBi_2$$Nb_2$$O_{9}$ (SBN) thin films were deposited with $SrNb_2$$O_{6}$ / (SNO) and $Bi_2$$O_3$ targets by co-sputtering method. For the growth of SBN thin films, we adopted the various power ratios of two targets; the power ratios of the SNO target to $Bi_2$$O_3$ target were 100 W : 20 W, 100 W : 25 W, and 100 W : 30 W during sputtering the SBN films. We found that the electrical properties of SBN films were greatly dependent on Bi content in films. The $Bi_2$Pt and $Bi_2$$O_3$ phase as second phases occurred at the films with excess Bi content greater than 2.4, resulting in poor ferroelectric properties. The best growth condition of the SBN films was obtained at the power ratio of 100 W : 25 W for the two targets. At this condition, the crystallinity and electrical properties of the films were improved at even low annealing temperature as $700^{\circ}C$ for 1h in oxygen ambient and the Sr, Bi and Nb component in the SBN films were about 0.9, 2.4, and 1.8 respectively. From the P-E and I-V curves for the specimen, the remnant polarization value ($2P_{r}$) of the SBN films was obtained about 6 $\mu$C/c $m^2$ at 250 kV/cm and the leakage current density of this thin film was $2.45$\times$10^{-7}$ $A/cm^2$ at an applied voltage of 3 V.V.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.490-494
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• 1997

Anticarcinogenic activity of astaxanthin-containing egg yolks (designate AEY) was investigated for benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced mouse forestomach tumorigenesis initiating regimen. Female ICR mouse (6-7 weeks of age) were housed in polycarbonated cages (5 mice/cage; 20 mice/treatment) in a humidity-and-temperature-controlled facility and permitted free access to water and food. One week later, four and 2 days prior to p.o. treatment with BP (2 mg/0.2 ml corn oil), mice were given 0.2 ml PBS containing 50 mg AEY, 100 mg AEY, 150 mg AEY, or 150 mg CEY. Control mice were only given 0.2 ml PBS. Three days later this sequence was repeated for a total of 4 times. Beginning with the first intubation and continuing thereafter, body weight and food intake were recorded once weekly. All surviving mice were sacrificed 24 weeks after the first dose of BP. Mice treated with AEY developed only about one third as many neoplasms/animal as mice in control or CEY-treated group (p<0.05). Reduction effect of tumor development by AEY was dependent upon doses applied. Tumor incidence was also reduced by AEY treatments, but significantly reduced only by 150 mg AEY treatment when compared to that by control or CEY. Food intake and body weight were not affected by AEY treatment. These results indicate that AEY inhibits tumorigenesis of mouse forestomach induced by BP.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1983

Contractile responses of myocardium and vascular smooth muscle to angiotensin II were studied in isolated rabbit papillary muscles and aortic helical strips, with respect to the sensitivity and the mechanism of action. All experiments were performed in $HCO-_3\;-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with $3%\;CO_2-97%\;O_2$ and kept pH 7.35 at $35^{\circ}C$. Action potentials were measured by conventional microelectrode technique in the papillary muscles. Helical strips of vascular smooth muscle were prepared from the descending thoracic aorta of the rabbit. Angiotensin II elicited a positive inotropic effect in doses from $10^{-8}$ to $10^{-6}\;M$, and this effect was dose-dependent and characterized by a symmetrical increase of maximum dP/dt during contraction and relaxation phase. Slow responses (or slow action potentials) were induced by A. II $(10^{-6}\;M)$ in the papillary muscle hypopolarized by 27 mM $K^+$. These A. II-induced slow action potentials were eliminated by verapamil (2 mg/l), but not affected by propranolol $(10^{-5}\;M)$. In aortic helical strips, contractile force was increased dose-dependently in the range of $10^{-10}{\sim}10^{-7}\;M$ A. II. $ED_{50}$ in aorta was $3{\times}10^{-9}\;M$ A. II, whereas that in paillary muscle was $2.5{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ A. II. A. II contracted vascular smooth muscle in depolarizing concentration of $K^+$ (100 mM $K^+$), and also produced a sustained contraction even in the presence of verapamil and regitine. The results of this experiment suggest that the primarily important physiological role of A. II is the action on the blood vessel, and the positive inotropic effect of A. II in papillary muscle results from the increase of slow inward $Ca^{++}$ current, and that A. II-induced contraction of aorta is independent of transmembrane potential and associated with promoting bet transmembrane $Ca^{++}\;-influx$ and the mobilization of cellular $Ca^{++}$.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.3-3
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• 2018

For centuries, Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng) has been widely used as a medicinal herb in Korea, China, and Japan. Ginsenosides are a class of triterpene saponins and recognized as the bioactive components in Korean ginseng. Ginsenosides, which can be classified broadly as protopanaxadiols (PPD), protopanaxatriols (PPT), and oleanolic acids, have been shown to flaunt a vast array of pharmacological activities such as immune-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant effects. In recent years, a number of ginseng and ginsenoside researches have increasingly gained wide attention owing to its unique pharmacological properties. Although good efficacies of ginsenosides have been reported, lack of target specific delivery into tumor sites, low solubility, and low bioavailability due to modifications in gastro-intestinal environments limit their biomedical application in clinical trials. As a result to this major challenge, nanotechnology and drug delivery techniques play a significant role to solve this problematic issue. Thus, we reported the preparation of poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) and glycol chitosan (GC) functionalized to ginsenoside (Compound K and PPD) conjugates via hydrolysable ester bonds with improved aqueous solubility and pH-dependent drug release. In vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed that PEG-CK, and PPD-CK conjugates exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to bare CK and PPD in HT29 cells. However, GC-CK conjugates exhibited higher and similar cytotoxicity in HT29 and HepG2 cells. Furthermore, GC-CK-treated RAW264.7 cells did not exhibit significant cell death at higher concentration of treatment which supports the biocompatibility of the polymer conjugates. They also inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW64.7 cells. In addition to polymer-ginsenoside conjugates, silver (AgNps) and gold nanoparticles (AuNps) have been successfully synthesized by green chemistry using different m. The biosynthesized nanoparticles demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity, biofilm inhibition, and anticoagulant effect. Special interest on the effective delivery methods of ginsenoside to treatment sites is the focus of metal nanoparticle research.In short, nano-sizing of ginsenoside results in an increased water solubility and bioavailability. The use of nano-sized ginsenoside and P. ginseng mediated metallic nanoparticles is expected to be effective on medical platform against various diseases in the future.