• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.312-319
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• 2016

Human skin cells undergo pathophysiological processes via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon excessive exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. This study investigated the ability of hesperidin ($C_{28}H_{34}O_{15}$) to prevent apoptosis due to oxidative stress generated through UVB-induced ROS. Hesperidin significantly scavenged ROS generated by UVB radiation, attenuated the oxidation of cellular macromolecules, established mitochondrial membrane polarization, and prevented the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Hesperidin downregulated expression of caspase-9, caspase-3, and Bcl-2-associated X protein, and upregulated expression of B-cell lymphoma 2. Hesperidin absorbed wavelengths of light within the UVB range. In summary, hesperidin shielded human keratinocytes from UVB radiation-induced damage and apoptosis via its antioxidant and UVB absorption properties.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2010

To elucidate the invasion mechanism of pathogenic Naegleria fowleri, especially a receptor-ligand recognition, we investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity of pathogenic N. fowleri and nonpathogenic N. gruberi to murine macrophages, RAW 264.7, by adding four kinds of saccharides, ${\alpha}$-fucose, ${\beta}$-galactose, ${\alpha}$-D-mannopyranoside (${\alpha}$-mannose) and xylose. There was not enough of a difference in the cytotoxicity of N. fowleri treated with 10 mM of each saccharide. In particular, the cytotoxicity of N. fowleri was highly inhibited by 100 mM ${\alpha}$-mannose, which was 62.3% inhibition calculated by the analysis of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Although murine macrophages were not significantly destroyed by nonpathogenic N. gruberi under hematoxylin staining, the cytotoxicity of N. gruberi was inhibited from 31.5% to 14.5% (P<0.01) by 100 mM ${\alpha}$-mannose treatment. The binding of N. fowleri to macrophages was inhibited from 33% to 50% by 100 mM ${\alpha}$-mannose. Furthermore, as results of the adhesion assays which were performed to determine whether binding of Naegleria is mediated by saccharides-binding protein, the binding ability of N. fowleri as well as N. gruberi was inhibited by 100 mM ${\alpha}$-mannose.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2004

The immunomodulating activities and chemical characteristics of a water-soluble exopolymer from submerged mycelial culture of Phellinus pini were studied. Anticomplementary activity of this polymer was found to be $73.2\%$, and its activation system occurred through both classical and alternative pathways, where the classical pathway was detected to be the major one by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Nitric oxide (NO) release ability and acid phosphatase activity of macrophage were increased by 1.6-fold ($100{\mu}g/ml$) and 3.4-fold ($500{\mu}g/ml$), respectively, and splenocyte proliferation in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was also increased by 2.6-fold ($200{\mu}g/ml$), compared to the control. The molecular weight of this polymer, determined by HPLC, was under 5 kDa. Total sugar and protein contents were 89.7 and 10.3%, respectively. Both sugar and amino acid compositions of the exopolymer were also analyzed.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1124-1131
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• 2009

Acanthopanax senticosus has been used in East Asia as a traditional medicine. The purpose of this study is the investigation of an extraction method for A. senticosus var subinermis (ASvS) leaves to improve their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Six extracts were prepared: extracted with water (W), ethanol (Eth), water or ethanol after ultra high pressure (WP, EthP), and water or ethanol after an extrusion process (WEx, EthEx). Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing ability showed that all extracts had a significant antioxidant activity. In anti-inflammatory activities, Eth and EthEx significantly inhibited the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ independent of cell viability in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein was significantly decreased by EthEx. These findings present that Eth and EthEx extracts of ASvS leaves have anti-inflammatory activities, and EthEx extract suppresses LPS-induced NO through the down-regulation of iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2012

Mulberry extracts can be incorporated into skin-whitening products. The compound attributed to lighten the skin is arbutin, a form of hydroquinone that inhibits melanin release by suppressing the tyrosinase enzyme. For the cosmetic applications, the physiological effects of mulberry (Morus alba) extracts were investigated. The water soluble fraction of mulberry contains higher amount of protein (16.28~4.47%) in contrast to fat (1.55~1.41%). In addition, the fraction abundantly contains succinic acid (972.4-275.8 mg/g) and phosphoric acid (1,628.4-121.9 mg/g) in different parts of mulberry. The free radical scavenging ability in water soluble fraction was found to display remarkable effects in comparison with methanol and ethyl acetate fraction. The ethyl acetate-soluble of root and leaf showed remarkable tyrosinase inhibition activity by IC 50 (${\mu}g/ml$). The anticancer activity of methanol fraction obtained from mulberry using human cancer cell lines showed growth inhibition effect (270.14 mg/ml in Calu-6 cells, 295.29 mg/ml in HCT-116, and 332.29 mg/ml in MCF-7 cells, respectively). Based on the results, Morus alba extracts include cosmetic ingredients with antioxidizing and whitening properties.

• Quantitative Bio-Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2018

This study was performed to investigate the cytoprotective effects of Stachys riederi var. japonica ethanol extract (SREE) to control oxidative stress induced by UVA-irradiation by examining antioxidant capacity and gene expression of cytochrome c using human dermal fibroblasts. The total polyphenolics and flavonoids in the SREE were 41.2 and 25.4 mg/g, respectively. At concentrations of 500 and $1000{\mu}g/mL$, the electron-donating ability of SREE was 48.6% and 82.0%, respectively, and the 2,2'-azino-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity was 62.3% and 78.8%, respectively. These findings showed that SREE has a fairly good antioxidant capacity. As determined by an MTT assay, the maximum permissible level for treating SREE to human dermal fibroblasts was shown to be over $200{\mu}g/mL$. SREE ($200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly decreased cytochrome c mRNA and protein expression by 31.1% (p<0.001) and 38.8% (p<0.01), respectively. These findings suggest that SREE may protect human skin cells against mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. Therefore, SREE seems to be a natural antioxidant to protect cells against oxidative stress induced by UVA-irradiation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.120-124
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• 2022

Actinidia polygama has long been used in traditional Korean medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Although numerous chemical compounds in the fruit extracts of A. polygama have been characterized and their role in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production has been reported, the anti-inflammatory properties of A. polygama extracts remain to be explored. In this study, we investigated the in-vivo effect of A. polygama extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in BV-2 microglial cell lines. We discovered that 100% ethyl alcohol extract of A. polygama effectively attenuates the release of NO and is superior to both water extract and 50% ethanol extract. Using MTT assay, western blot, and ELISA on LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells lines, we established the ability of A. polygama extract to markedly suppress the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6. These results reveal that the anti-inflammatory property of A. polygama in BV-2 microglial cells is due to the downregulation of iNOS, COX-2, MAPK protein, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1547-1552
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• 2022

β-Amyrin is a pentacyclic triterpene widely distributed in leaves and stems worldwide. The ability of β-amyrin to induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in microorganisms suggests its potential as an antimicrobial agent. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the antibacterial mode of action of β-amyrin. We treated Escherichia coli cells with β-amyrin and found that it triggered ROS accumulation. Excessive stress caused by ROS, particularly hydroxyl radicals, induces glutathione (GSH) dysfunction. GSH protects cells from oxidative and osmotic stresses; thus, its dysfunction leads to membrane depolarization. The resultant change in membrane potential leads to the release of apoptotic proteins, such as caspases. The activated caspases-like protein promotes the cleavage of DNA into single strands, which is a hallmark of apoptosis-like death in bacteria. Apoptotic cells usually undergo events such as DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure, differentiating them from necrotic cells, and the cells treated with β-amyrin in this study were positive for annexin V and negative for propidium iodide, indicating apoptosis-like death. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the antibacterial mode of action of β-amyrin involves the induction of ROS, which resulted in apoptosis-like death in E. coli.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2004

The interaction of chemoattractant receptors and $G{\alpha}_{16}$ was studied to provide the molecular basis to elucidate the interaction of chemoattractant receptors with $G{\alpha}_{16}$ subunit, thereby possibly contributing to finding novel targets for designing new type of G protein antagonists with anti-inflammatory effects. Experiments were performed to characterize the $G{\alpha}_{16}$ subunit domains responsible for efficient coupling to chemoattractant receptors. Thus, a series of chimeric $G{\alpha}_{11}G{\alpha}_{16}$ and $G{\alpha}_{16}G{\alpha}_{11}$ cDNA constructs were expressed, and the ability of chimeric proteins to mediate C5a, IL-8, and fMLP-induced release of inositol phosphate in transfected Cos-7 cells was tested. The results showed that short stretches of residues 154 to residue 167 and from residue 174 to residue 195 of $G{\alpha}_{16}$ contribute to efficient coupling to the C5a receptor. On the other hand, a stretch of amino acid residues 220-240 of $G{\alpha}_{16}$ that is necessary for interacting with C5a receptor did not play any role in the interaction with IL-8 receptor. However, a stretch from residue 155 to residue 195 of $G{\alpha}_{16}$ was found to be crucial for efficient coupling to IL-8 receptor in concert with C-terminal 30 amino acid residues of this ${\alpha}$ subunit. Coupling profiles of a variety of chimeras, composed of $G{\alpha}_{11}G{\alpha}_{16}$ to fMLP receptor indicate that the C-terminal 30 amino acids are most critical for the coupling of $G{\alpha}_{16}$ to fMLP receptor. Taken together, $G{\alpha}_{16}$ subunit recruits multiple and distinctive coupling regions, depending on the type of receptors, to interact.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.895-902
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• 2002

Monocytes and macrophages playa major role in defense mechanism of the host response to tumor, in part through the secretion of several potent products and macrophage cytokines. Monocytes and tissue macro phages produce at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Recent studies emphasizes that TNF and IL-1 modulate the inflammatory function of endothelial cells, leukocytes, and fibroblasts. In this study, our work is directed toward studying the in vitro effects of Korean propolis on the ability to induce cellular and secretory responses in murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. It was found that Water Extract of Korean Propolis (WEP) could activate macro phages by producing cytokines. The production of the macrophage cytokines, IL-1 and TNF-$\alpha$, by RAW 264.7 treated with WEP was examined from 2.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml up to 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml with dose dependent manner. Nitric oxide (NO) production was also increased when cells were exposed to combination of LPS and WEP from 2.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml up to 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. At high dose of WEP (50 to 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) used to prescribe for anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated macrophage. Besides cytokine production, NO release, surface molecule expression and cell morphologic antigen expression were increased in response to the stimulation by WEP. These results suggested WEP may function through macrophage activation.