• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2010

Meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDGA) is a medicinal herbal product isolated from the bark of Machilus thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc. (Lauraceae). It exhibits a neuroprotective effect and also exerts cytotoxicity to certain cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated whether or not MDGA inhibits inflammatory reaction through the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) generation. The results showed that MDGA (5~$25 {\mu}M$) inhibited 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced NO generation in macrophage Raw 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. We also measured the cytotoxic effects of MDGA on Raw 264.7 cells and found no evidence of cytotoxicity. The inhibition of NO generation by MDGA was consistent with the inhibitory effect on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In addition, MDGA inhibited the LPS-induced gene expression of $interleukin-1{\beta}$ $(IL-1{\beta})$ as well as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ $(TNF-{\alpha})$. The present results may provide that MDGA has anti-inflammatory properties through inhibition of the toll-like receptors (TLRs) pathway, and suggest that MDGA can be used as an anti-inflammatory agent.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.128-131
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• 2007

Tumor angiogenesis is a critical step f3r the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important angiogenic molecule associated with tumor-induced neovascularization. VEGF exerts its activity through binding to its receptor tyrosine kinase, KDR/Flk-1, expressed on the surface of endothelial cells. This study was carried out to investigate inhibitory effect of extracts from root cortex of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews on VEGF binding to VEGF receptor. The MeOH extract from P. suffrutiocosa Andr. inhibited the binding of KDR/Flk-1-Fc to immobilized VEGF$_{165}$ more than 45% at the concentration of 100 ${\mu}$g/mL. The MeOH extract was further fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-BuOH, and aqueous fractions. Among the four fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction from the root cortex of P. suffruticosa Andr. exhibited highly effective inhibition (${\approx}$ 79% inhibition) and then n-BuOH fraction (${\approx}$ 45% inhibition) on the binding of KDR/Flk-1-Fc to immobilized VEGF$_{165}$ at the concentration of 100 ${\mu}$g/mL. The ethyl acetate fraction from the root cortex of P. suffruticosa Andr. more efficiently blocked VEGF-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation, than the growth of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma. Our results suggest that P. suffruticosa Andr. may be used as a candidate fur developing anti-angiogenic agent.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1265-1271
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• 2008

Adlay bran is a waste product previously thought to have no commercial value, Its methanolic extract was fractionated using n-hexane (ABM-Hex), ethyl acetate (ABM-EtOAc), 1-butanol (ABM-BuOH), and water (ABM-$H_2O$). The ABM-EtOAc fraction exhibited a strongest inhibition against growth of human lung cancer cell A549 and human colorectal carcinoma cells HT-29 and COLO 205. Inhibition of cell cycle progression at $G_0/G_1$ transition, increase of cells at the sub-$G_1$ phase, and DNA ladders were observed in cells treated with ABM-EtOAc. The ABM-BuOH fraction showed the strongest inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interlukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ in stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Further, ABM-EtOAc and ABM-BuOH inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in A549 and HT-29 carcinoma cells, while COX-l expression was not affected. These results reveal that both ABM-EtOAc and ABM-BuOH may aid the prevention of cancers and the applications in cancer chemotherapy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.283-289
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• 2015

The half-dried leaves of Stewartia. pseudocamellia were extracted with hot water (SPE) and partitioned with n-hexane (SPEH), dichloromethane (SPED), and ethyl acetate (SPEE) successively. SPE and SPEE showed significant inhibitory effects against melanogenesis and tyrosinase activities. By bioassay-guided isolation, ten phenolic compounds were isolated by column chromatography from SPEE. The whitening effect of the isolated compounds from SPEE were tested for the inhibitory activities against melanogenesis using B16 melanoma cells, in vitro inhibition of tyrosinase, and L-3,4-dihydorxy-indole-2-carboxylic acid (L-DOPA) auto-oxidation assay. A cytotoxic activity assay was done to examine the cellular toxicity in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. Of the compounds isolated, gallic acid and quercetin revealed significant inhibitory activities against melanogenesis compared to arbutin. In particular, quercetin exhibited similar inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and L-DOPA oxidation without cytotoxicity. These results suggested that SPE could be used as a potential source of natural skin-whitening material in cosmetics as well as in food products.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.272-276
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• 2003

A yeast treatment process was applied to treat food processing organic wastewater containing inhibitory material to anaerobic bacteria. The wastewater contained high concentration of the furfural as a by-product from the food processing. Aerobic yeast (Candida utilis) was selected to remove organics in wastewater. The batch test showed that the wastewater had an inhibition to anaerobic bacteria. The optimum level of temperature for yeast treatment was ranged from 25 to 45$^{\circ}C$. The pH range from 4 to 8 was favorable to yeast growth. The continuous flow reactor was operated at various SRTs. The results were satisfactory with the reduction of COD up to 90％ at SRT of more than 1 day. Through the kinetic study of the yeast, the remained COD concentration was mainly caused by the formation of soluble microbial product (SMP).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2004

The biosynthesis of cephalexin was carried out in the aqueous two-phase systems using penicillin acylase as a catalyst, and 7-aminodeacetoxicephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA) and phenylglycine methyl ester (PGME) as substrates. 20% PEG400-l7.5% ${(NH_4)}_2SO_4$ containing 0.5 M NaCl and 1.5 M methanol aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) were selected as reaction medium, and 53% product yield was obtained using immobilized penicillin acylase as a catalyst. 20% PEG400-l5% $MgSO_4$ ATPS was also used for the synthesis of cephalexin, and 60-62% product yield was obtained by using free penicillin acylase as a catalyst. When batch reactions were repeated in the ATPS, the cephalexin yields decreased during the reactions due to deactivation, loss, and product inhibition of penicillin acylase. The effect of different ratio of phenylglycine methyl ester to 7-ADCA on the product yield was investigated, and high cephalexin yield was obtained at a high molar ratio.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2008

Isorhamnetin isolated from Oenanthe javanica significantly inhibited proliferation and collagen production in HSC-T6 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Pretreatment of HSC-T6 cells with isorhamnetin significantly inhibited serum-induced ERK phosphorylation, in a similar manner as PD98059, a known MEK inhibitor. These results suggested that isorhamnetin reduced collagen production in HSC-T6 cells, in part, via inhibition of ERK signaling pathway.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 1997

The conversion of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose by Gluconobater suboxydans was analyzed, and continuous production of L-sorbose was carried out in immobilized cell reactors. L-Sorbose production by high densities of resting cells was more effective than by conventional batch fermentations. Sorbitol dehydrogenase, an enzyme converting D-sorbitol to L-sorbose, did not suffer from substrate inhibition, but from product inhibition. When L-sorbose production was carried out with Ca-alginate-immobilized cells, about 60 g/l of L-sorbose was obtained. On the other hand, when the corn steep liquor (CSL) concentration of medium was reduced to 0.08%, 80 g/l of L-sorbose was obtained. Outgrowth inside the immobilized carriers was thought to block the pores of the carriers so that substrate could not easily diffuse through the carriers. Continuous production of L-sorbose was well accomplished in a bubble column reactor, and 6. 5 g/l.h of productivity and 81.2% of yield were obtained at a substrate feeding rate of 0.08h$^{-1}$ under the optimum conditions with carrier volume of 55% and aeration rate of 3 vvm.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.393-398
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• 1996

In order to develop a lactic acid bacterial powder which can be used as a probiotic for human and animal, a lactic acid bacteria which has high resistance against low pH and ox-gall, and shows a good growth inhibition against E. coli, was isolated from an animal intestine and characterized. The isolated strain was identified as Enterococcus faecium. It had more than 90% of survival at low pH for 2 hours and almost 100% of survival in the presence of 0.3% ox-gall. When co-cultured with E. coli in MRS broth, all of the E. coli cells were killed within 24 hours. The final powdered product of the isolated strain was manufactured after a freeze drying process using an industrial media, and then checked its stability. Its storage stability was 80% for 11 months at 18$\circ$C.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 1995

In the course of evaluation of hepatoprotective components against alcohol-induced toxicity from Aloe spp., the methanol extract was found to cause a significant inhibition of rat liver cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase activity. Systematic fractionation of active tractions monitored by bioassay led to isolation of four compounds; aloe-emodin, aloenin, ethylidene-aloenin and ${\beta}-sitosterol$, which were estimated as active principles for inhibition of c-ADH and c-ALDH activities in vitro.