• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.32-43
• /
• 2009

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is known to cause severe hepatotoxicity mainly through the depletion of glutathione. In this study, we compared the cytotoxic effects of APAP on both a normal murine hepatic cell line, BNL CL.2, and its SV40-transformed cell line, BNL SV A.8. Gene expression profiles for APAP-treated cells were also obtained using microarray and analyzed to identify differences in genes or profiles that may explain the differences of susceptibility to APAP in these cell lines. These two cell lines exhibited different susceptibilities to APAP (0-$5,000{\mu}M$); BNL SV A.8 cells were more susceptible to APAP treatment compared to BNL CL.2 cells. A dose of $625{\mu}M$ APAP, which produced significant differences in cytotoxicity in these cell lines, was tested. Microarray analysis was performed to identify significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) irrespective of APAP treatment. Genes up-regulated in BNL SV A.8 cells were associated with immune response, defense response, and apoptosis, while down-regulated genes were associated with catalytic activity, cell adhesion and the cytochrome P450 family. Consistent with the cytotoxicity data, no significant DEGs were found in BNL CL.2 cells after treatment with $625{\mu}M$ APAP, while cell cycle arrest and apoptosis-related genes were up-regulated in BNL SV A.8 cells. Based on the significant fold-changes in their expression, a genes were selected and their expressions were confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR; there was a high correlation between them. These results suggest that gene expression profiles may provide a useful method for evaluating drug sensitivity of cell lines and eliciting the underlying molecular mechanism. We further compared the genes identified from our current in vitro studies to the genes previously identified in our lab as regulated by APAP in both C57BL/6 and ICR mice in vivo. We found that a few genes are regulated in a similar pattern both in vivo and in vitro. These genes might be useful to develop as in vitro biomarkers for predicting in vivo hepatotoxicity. Based on our results, we suggest that gene expression profiles may provide useful information for elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of drug susceptibility and for evaluating drug sensitivity in vitro for extrapolation to in vivo.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.60-66
• /
• 2012

Human skin is the first line of defense for the protection of the internal organs of the body from different stimuli. Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation induces skin damage and inflammation through the secretion of various cytokines, which are immune regulators produced by cells. To prevent the initiation of skin inflammation, keratinocytes that have been irreversibly damaged by radiation must be removed through the apoptotic mechanism. Ixeris dentata (family: Asteraceae) is a perennial medicinal herb indigenous to Korea. It has been used in Korea, China, and Japan to treat in digestion, pneumonia, diabetes, hepatitis, and tumors. To gain insight into the anti-inflammatory effects of I. dentata, we examined its influence on UVB-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), by observing cells that were stimulated with UVB in the presence or absence of I. dentata. In the present study, pro-inflammatory cytokine production was determined by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis to measure the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs). I. dentata inhibited UVBinduced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 in a dose-dependent manner. Further, I. dentata inhibited the UVB-induced expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Furthermore, I. dentata inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 MAPKs, suggesting that it inhibits the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, and COX-2 expression, by blocking MAPK phosphorylation. These results suggest that I. dentate can potentially protect against UVB-induced skin inflammation.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.50 no.spc1
• /
• pp.211-215
• /
• 2005

Three curcuminoids [curcumin (CUR), demethoxycurcumin(DEM), bisdemethoxycurcu in (BIS)] are major yellow pigments in turmleric (Curcuma longa L.) root. Contents of curcuminoids in turmeric roots collected from 6 locations were analyzed using, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with reversed-phase column, an UV-Vis detector at 420nm, and eluted with a mixture of acetonitrile: $0.1\%$ acetic acid in water (50 : 50, v/v) as mobile phase. The stability of curcuminoid pigments in $80\%$ methanol extract solution were investigated during storage in a freezer at $-20^{\circ}C$, room temperature in the dark, and light condition. Calibration curves for the determination of curcuminoids were made with significant linearity $(r^2=0.999**)$. Average content of total curcuminoids was 171.5 mg/g, with 91.6 mg/g of CUR, 56.9 mg/g of DEM, and 23.0 mg/g of BIS. Amount of curcuminoids during storage in a freezer was almost not changed while those in room temperature wert reduced and rapid degradation appeared after 60 days. Within 90 days, about $50\%$ curcuminoid decreased in the dark and about $70\%$ in the light condition, indicating the decomposition of curcuminoid pigments followed under light and heat.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.50 no.spc1
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 2005

This experiment was conducted to know the appropriate methods for extraction and determination of rutin contained buckwheat plants. The efficient HPLC analytical condition of rutin contained buckwheat plants was developed. The gradient elution employed a $250mm\times4.6mm$ i.d. Tosoh ODS 120T column. The gradient system was used two mobile phases. A gradient elution was performed with mobile phase A, consisting of $2\%$ Acetic $acid-45\%$ Acetonitrile, and mobile phase B, comprising $2\%$ aqueous acetic acid, and delivered at a flow rate of 1mL/min as follows: 0-18 min, $50-100\%$ A; 18-20 min, $100-50\%$ A; 20-22 min, $50\%$ A. The UV detection wavelength was set at 355 nm. The limit of detection (LOD) for rutin standard compound was 20 ng/mL. And, the higher content of rutin in the extracts was obtained by $80^{\circ}C$ reflex extraction for 120 min. from plants of buckwheat using ethanol.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 2007

Eleven polyhydroxyursane triterpenoids (PHUTs) were tested to determine their cytoprotective, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects. To compare the bioactivities of $19{\alpha}$-hydroxyursane-type triterpenoids {23-hydroxytormentic acid (6), its methyl ester (7), tormentic acid (8), niga-ichigoside $F_1$ (9),euscaphic acid (10) and kaji-ichigoside $F_1$ (11)} of the Rosaceae crude drugs (Rubi Fructus and Rosa rugosae Radix) with PHUTs possessing no $19{\alpha}-hydroxyl$ of Centella asiatica (Umbelliferae), the four PHUTs, asiaticoside (1), madecassoside (2), asiatic acid (3), and madecassic acid (4) were isolated from C. asiatica and 23-hydroxyursolic acid (5) from Cussonia bancoensis. Cytoprotective effects were assessed by measuring cell viabilities against cisplatin-induced cytotoxocity in $LLC-PK_1$, cells (proximal tubule, pig kidney) to determine whether these agents have protective effects against nephrotoxicity caused by cisplatin. The inhibitory effect of 11 PHUTS on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ were evaluated by measuring nitrite accumulation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, and their anti-inflammatory effects were tested in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model. Six MHUTs (compounds 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, and 11) exhibited higher cell viabilities during cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity testing even at a concentration of $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ than cisplatin only-treated group, suggesting that ese compounds have the potentcytoprotective efffcts. Compounds 1 and 3 of the C. asiatica and niga-ichigoside $F_1$ exhibited no inhibitory effect on NO and/or $PGE_2$ production whereas other PHUTs produced mild to significant NO and/or $PGE_2$ production.The four compounds (2, 5, 9, and 10) potently inhibited mouse ear edema induced by TPA whereas two compounds (1 and 3) had no activity in this test. These results suggest that many PHUTs are potentchemopreventives. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) was also discussed in each assay with regard to the significant role of OHs at the position of 2, 3, 6, 19, and 23 and to the glycoside linkage at the 28-carboxyl.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2007

Dietary flavonoids have antioxidant and antitumor promoting effects. Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) is a flavonoid-rich herbal medicine and has long been used as a food additive and an antitumor agent in Korea. Previous study demonstrated that a purified flavonoid fraction prepared from RVS, herein named RCMF (the RVS chloroform-methanol fraction), exhibited growth inhibition and induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma(HOS) cells. This study evaluated if p53-mediated pathway is associated with the RCMF-induced apoptosis in HOS cells. RCMF was shown to be capable of inducing apoptosis of the cells, as expected, and transparently increased p53 expression in the cells. However, the RCMF-induced cytotoxicity was suppressed by transfecting the cells with antisense p53 oligonucleotide, which also inhibited the decrease of Bcl-2 and the increase of Bax in mitochondria, and the release of cytochrome c into cytosol. This finding suggests that p53-mediated mitochondrial stress is required for RCMF-induced apoptosis in HOS cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.116-125
• /
• 2000

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate that Sunghyangjeongki-San which has been frequently medicated in the early stage of stroke can protect against ischemic damage in rat brain Methods : Extracellular levels of amino acids(glutamate, aspartate, GABA, glycine, taurine, tyrosine, alanine), organic acids(pyruvate, lactate), and cerebral infarction volume were measured at the striatum of rats subjected to permanant focal cerebral ischemia induced by 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occiusion(MCAO). Rats were orally administered with Sunghyangjeongki-San at 30mins before MCAO and the microdialysate was collected by intracerebral microdialysis three times before MCAO and six times after MCAO at 20mins interval and analyzed by HPLC. After a microdialysis study, the brain was sliced and stained with cresyl violet buffer for the measurement of cerebral infarcted area and volume by image analyzer system Results : The concentrations of glutamate, aspartate, and tyrosine known as excitatory neurotransmitters were significantly decreased in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group, The concentrations of GABA, glycine, taurine and alanine known as inhibitory neurotransmitters were significantly increased in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group. The concentrations of pyruvate and lactate showed little significant change in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group. The measurement of cerebral infarcted area and volume by image analyzer system were significantly decreased in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group. Conclusions : Sunghyangjeongki-San can affect on protecting against cerebral ischemia by regulating extracellular levels of excitatory and inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters and improve the conditions of the patients in the early stage of stroke.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.255-260
• /
• 2006

Culture conditions for high frequency plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from embryogenic cell suspension cultures of Hovenia dulcis are described. Germinated somatic embryos were selected for induction of secondary embryogenesis. Friable embryogenic cells were induced directly from somatic embryos when transfer to 1/3 MS solid or liquid medium lacking plant growth regulators. The temperature strongly effected on induction of secondary embryognesis than other conditions in culture. All somatic embryos produced friable embryogenic cell clumps within 10 days when germinated somatic embryos cultured in 1/3 MS medium at $30^{\circ}C$ in suspension culture. No somatic embryos formed from embryogenic cell suspension cultures at $18^{\circ}C$. Numerous somatic embryos were induced and subsequently developed uniformly into germination stage from suspended cell clumps after 4 weeks of culture on $18^{\circ}C$. Plantlets conversion were observed on $18^{\circ}C$ when germinated somatic embryos were transferred to 1/3 MS solid medium without plant growth regulators or supplemented with 0.1-0.5 mg/l benzyladenine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.118-128
• /
• 2009

Objects: This study was conducted to investigate the current educational environment of herbology and to develop a future-oriented curriculum for oriental medicine. The questionnaire used in this research was drawn up based on the current curriculum referring to the current curriculum of herbology and pharmacognosy. Methods: The survey was carried out presenting the questionnaires to a total 12,754 of the students and doctors of oriental medicine through e-mailing five times; of these, 2,074 replied. Results: 1. Among the respondents, about 97% agreed that it was necessary to revise and complement the current curriculum of herbology. 2. The respondents felt that the assigned lecture time of subject was "sufficient" (19%), "insufficient" (39%) and "average" (39%), respectively, and the level of lecture was "insufficient" (37%) or "average" (43%) respectively. According to priority, it showed that the contents which needed complement in lecture were discrimination of medicinal herbs (24%), practical use of action and indications (23%), and correlation with modern disease (21%). In theoretical lectures, 69% of the respondents agreed on the introduction of natural scientific methods 3. In practice, 51% of the respondents replied that the lecture time for practice was insufficient. The contents which needed to be complemented in practice were as follows: audio-visual materials for discrimination of medicinal herbs (22%), concrete exercise for the processing of medicinal herbs (21%), and attempts for the objective discrimination of medicinal herbs using instruments (microscope, analytical instrument, residual pesticide, heavy metal, genetic analysis) (16%). 70% replied that the discrimination of medicinal herbs of high price and rarity was "none or insufficient". 4. 56% replied that it was necessary to introduce and practice physicochemical analysis, and they showed higher requests according to the increase of their educational level. However, 86% replied that they had never experienced concrete attempts for objective discrimination of medicinal herbs, which seemed to indicate that, excepting some schools, practice exercise was rarely performed. Conclusions: According to results, it seems that an urgent review on the current course of herbology and a workshop on the process of experimental practice for professors is needed.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.253-260
• /
• 2010

Plant secondary metabolites have always been a focus of study due to their important roles in human medicine and nutrition. We transferred the isoflavone synthase (IFS) gene into soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method in an attempt to produce transformed soybean plants which produced increased levels of the secondary metabolite, isoflavone. Although the trial to produce transgenic plant failed due to unestablished hygromycin selection, transformed callus cell lines were obtained. The induction rate and degree of callus were similar among the three cultivars tested, but light illumination positively influenced the frequency of callus formation, resulting in a callus induction rate of 74% for Kwangan, 67% for Sojin, and 73% for Duyou. Following seven to eight subcultures on selection media, the isoflavone content of the transformed callus lines were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The total amount of isoflavone in the transformed callus cell lines was three- to sixfold higher than that in control callus or seeds. Given the many positive effects of isoflavone on human health, it may be possible to adapt our transformed callus lines for industrialization through an alternative cell culture system to produce high concentrations of isoflavones.