• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.368-374
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• 2004

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of female death. Viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 are selectively retained and expressed in carcinoma cells infected with HPV (Human papillomavirus) type 16. The HPV is cooperated in immotalization and transformation of primary keratinocyte. E6 and E7 oncoproteins interfere the functions of tumor suppressor proteins p53 and retinoblasoma protein (pRb), respectively. Among a lots of natural products, Artemisia scoparia Waldstein et Kitamura has inhibitory effects on the binding between E6 oncoprotein and tumor suppressor p53, or the binding between E6 and E6 associated protein (E6AP), an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. HPV oncoprotein inhibitors from Artemisia scoparia W. were isolated by solvent partition and column chromatography (Silica gel, RP-18) and the inhibitory compounds were finally purified by HPLC using an ELISA screening system based on the binding between E6 and E6AP. The aim of this study is to identify the structure of inhibitory compounds and to investigate whether these compounds have inhibitory effects on the functions of E6 oncoprotein. We investigated whether 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (DCQA) extracted from Artemisia scoparia W. Could inhibit the function of E6 oncoprutein. DCQA inhibited the in vitro binding of E6 and E6AP which are essential for the binding and degradation of the tumor suppressor p53 and also inhibited the proliferation of human cervical cancer cell lines (SiHa and CaSKi) in a dose response manner. These results suggest that DCQA inhibited the function of E6 oncoprotein, suggesting that it can be used as a potential drug for the treatment of cervical cancers infected with HPV.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 2016

This study was carried out to allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts on Coronopus didymus in order to investigate the competitive dominant in plant ecosystem and possibility application in natural herbicide. Number of species and species diversity for close to patch of C. didymus was decreased gradually site #1 (7, 1.76), site #2 (5, 1.34) and site #3 (5, 1.25). It was generally decreased the relative germination ratio (r=-0.731, p<0.01), the mean germination time, the relative elongation ratio (r=-571, p<0.01, r=-0.730, p<0.01), the relative fresh weight (r=-0.743, p<0.01), development of root hairs of receptor plants by concentration of the aqueous extracts from C. didymu. But they were different from the growing regions, the kind of receptor plants and the treatment of the aqueous extracts. Especially, it was differently effected among growing regions that inhibited more radicle than shoot by the aqueous extracts concentration of C. didymus. Total phenolic compound in the aqueous extracts of C. didymus analyzed about $23.0{\pm}1.1mg/g$. Total phenolic compounds of soil in survey area was increased gradually site #1 ($0.072{\pm}0.002mg/g$), site #2 ($0.082{\pm}0.003mg/g$) and site #3 ($0.092{\pm}0.004 mg/g$). We think that the aqueous extracts of C. didymu showed allelopathic effects on other plants. Therefore, C. didymu hold the competitive dominant of plant ecosystem in Jeju Island and possibility application of natural herbicide.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.779-788
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• 2005

Purpose : Echinacea, a traditional plant medicine has been used as immune-stimulant. Recent studies have revealed that extract of Echinacea has immunostimulatory effects on human blood mononuclear cells. This study was designed for the purpose of screening the genes associated with immunologic effects of Echinacea on monocytes and dendritic cells using a cDNA microarray chip. Methods : $CD14^+$ monocyte cells were cultured for one day with Echinacea extract(final concentration : $50{\mu}g/mL$) in experiment 1, but were cultured without Echinacea in experiment 2. The gene expression of these cultured monocytes was analyzed using the cDNA microarray chip. Dendritic cells produced from $CD14^+$ monocyte were cultured for five days with GM-CSF and IL-4, and then cultured for one day with Echinacea in experiment 3, but were done without Echinacea in experiment 4. Results : In experiments 1 and 2, there were 17 significantly expressed genes with average expression ratios above 2.5, including interferon gamma-inducible protein 30(IFI 30), CDC(cell-division-cylcle)-like kinase 2(CLK 2), syndecan binding protein(syntenin), superoxide dismutase 2, etc. In experiments 3 and 4, there were 24 gene, with significantly expressed genes were 24 genes, which were insulin-like growth factor 2(somatomedin A), methyl-CpG binding domain protein 3, IFI 30, small inducible cytokine subfamily A, member 22, etc. The genes encoding CD44, IFI 30, mannose receptor C type 1(MRC 1), chemokine receptor 7(CCR 7), CLK 2, syntenin and cytochrome C oxidase subunit VIII were significantly expressed in both monocytes and dendritic cells cultured with Echinacea. Conclusion : This study employed a cDNA microarray chip to elicit the immune-associated gene profile; the expression was enhanced by Echinacea in CD14+ monocytes and dendritic cells. Thus we laid the basis for the quantitative and functional analysis of genes induced by Echinacea in monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2016

The root bark of Ulmus macrocarpa has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as edema, infection and inflammation. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effects remain unclear. In this study, as part of our ongoing screening program to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of new compounds from traditional medicinal resources, we investigated the effects of U. macrocarpa water extract (UME) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the productions of as nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines such tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 were evaluated. Although the release of IL-1β remained unchanged in UME-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, the productions of NO, TNF-α and IL-10 were significantly increased, along with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase, TNF-α and IL-10 expression at concentrations with no cytotoxicity. UME treatment also induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) indicating that UME activated macrophages through the activation of NF-κB, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and MAPKs signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, pre-treatment with UME significantly attenuated the production of NO, but not TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells suggesting that UME may be useful in preventing inflammatory diseases mediated by excessive production of NO. These findings suggest that the beneficial therapeutic effects of UME may be attributed partly to its ability to modulate immune functions in macrophages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1580-1586
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• 2009

This study is on the effect of oil seed by-products added to Chungkukjang. For this, we designed three cases: Chungkukjang was added in with defatted sesame flour before fermented (DSFBF), added with defatted sesame flour after fermented (DSFAF) and with no adding (control). In each case, the common ingredients and the active antioxidant ingredients were examined and compared and the effects were analyzed. According to microanalysis result, carbohydrate content Chungkukjang the DSFAF 24.97%, control 23.86%, DSFBF Chungkukjang 20.21% as compared to control and Chungkukjang DSFAF relatively low carbohydrate content. The moisture contents in DSFBF (55.98%) or DSFAF (52.83%) were higher than that in control (48.89%). Chungkukjang crude ashes in DSFBF (1.48%) or DSFAF (2.41%) were much lower than in control (6.45%). The proportions of crude lipid in DSFBF (3.30%) or DSFAF (3.93%) were higher than in control (1.77%) by about 2%. As for crude protein, the percentage in DSFAF (15.86%) was lower than that of DSFBF (19.03%) or of control (19.03%). There was no meaningful difference in biological activity measurement as total phenolic contents were 1.26 mg/mL in DSFBF, 1.14 mg/mL in DSFAF and 1.26 mg/mL in control. But electron donating ability was meaningfully more active in DSFBF (21.30%) than in control (20.24%). The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity in DSFBF (68.48%) was twice higher than in control (34.01%), which may imply that DSFBF contain some ingredients that can scavenge superoxide anion radically. In hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, DSFAF scores 96.87%, which is the highest with 96.40% in DSFBF and 95.73% in control. Relative antioxidative effects in DSFBF was 47.92%, which is comparable to 47.06% in control. As a result of extraction and quantitative HPLC analysis of sesamin and sesamolin extracted from the samples, DSFBF contained 3.04$\pm$0.21 mg/g of sesamin, which is meaningfully higher than 2.41$\pm$0.14 mg/g in DSFAF. Content of sesamolin was higher in DSFBF (1.36$\pm$0.09 mg/g) than DSFAF (1.12$\pm$0.07 mg/g) or in control. We can conclude that biologically active and effective ingredients could be found more in DSFBF than in DSFAF or in control. This study conveys not only the meaning that oil seed by-products can be used as an ingredient for making Chungkukjang functional food, but also the possibility that oil seed by-products themselves could become excellent functional food.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.211-216
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• 2008

The effects of Si impurity on electronic structures and magnetism of bcc Fe are investigated by using a first-principles method by considering spin-orbit coupling. In order to describe the Si impurity, a 27 atomic bcc Fe supercell has been considered. The Kohn-Sham equation was solved in terms of the all-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The effects of spin-orbit coupling were calculated self-consistently by considering spin-diagonal terms based on second variation method. For the ferromagnetic (FM) state without considering SOC, the spin magnetic moment of the Si impurity was calculated to be $-0.143{\mu}B$, while the magnetic moments of Fe atoms were calculated to be $2.214{\mu}B$, $2.327{\mu}B$, and $2.354{\mu}B$ in away from the Si atom, respectively. However, the FM state with considering SOC, the spin magnetic moment of the Si impurity was calculated to be $-0.144{\mu}B$, which is not affected significantly by SOC, but the spin magnetic moments of Fe atoms were calculated $2.189{\mu}B$, $2.310{\mu}B$, and $2.325{\mu}B$, respectively, which are much reduced value compared to those of the FM state without SOC. Comparing the total charge density and spin density, those features are thought to be originated by the screening distortions of the Fe $t_{2g}$ orbital, which can be obtained by considering SOC.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.285-298
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• 2000

Objectives : To investigate the positive rate of Helicobacter pylori in patients with dyspepsia; medical compliance and related factors; the eradication rate a year after screening and related factors; the relationship between the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the improvement of symptoms; and the estimated cost of three alternative approaches to treat Helicobacter pylori in the community. Methods : A total of 510 subjects with dyspeptic symptoms were selected and given the serological test in March 1998. The subjects were all adults over 30 years of age residing in Kyongju city. Results : Of the 510 selected subjects, 375 (73.5%) subjects proved positive for Helicobacter pylori on serological testing. Of these 304 (81.1%) who consented to an endoscopic examination, underwent a Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test. Of these 304 subjects, 204 (67.1%), who had positive CLO test results, were given the triple therapy - tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. To determine the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori, 181 (88.1%) out of the 204 subjects who were given the triple therapy completed a follow-up urea breath test one year later. Of these, the Helicobacter pylori of 87(48.1%) subjects was eradicated. Among the 122 subjects who were medication compliant, the Helicobacter pylori eradication rate was 57.4% (70 subjects), while the eradication rates was only 28.8% (17subjects) in the non-compliant group. The Helicobacter pylori eradication was significantly related to compliance (p<0.01), but not to other characteristics and habits. The symptom improvement rate tended to be higher 62.1%), in the Helicobacter pylori eradicated group than in the non-eradicated group (59.6%). Conclusions : When the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative treatment were considered in the light of cost, antibiotic tolerance and the number of patients to be treated, alternative II was favorable in terms of cost. Alternative III was favorable in terms of the number of patients to be treated, antibiotic tolerance and early detection of gastric cancer. Further long-term research analyzing the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of each treatment will be needed as supporting material in creating new policies.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.2 s.89
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• pp.164-169
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• 1999

This study was carried out in an attempt to select chemicals such as zeolite granules, chitosan, wood-vinegar, $Ca(OCl)_2$, NaOCl, against bacterial brown blotch caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii on Flammulina velutipes in laboratory and mushroom unit. Results obtained using these chemicals were summarized. Inhibitory effect on $Ca(OCl)_2$ and wood-vinegar with 0.5% concentration was shown to caual pathogen, P. tolaasii, by slight damage on the mycelial growth of F. velutipes. Those materials were recognized as promising one for control of bacterial brown bloth on F. velutipes. Disease incidence in control was the highest value as 43.8%; whereas chemical treatment was estimated as 14.6% with 0.5% of $Ca(OCl)_2$. Disease incidence was inhibited about 20% in chemical treatment with 0.5% of wood-vinegar, 1.0% of $Ca(OCl)_2$, and 26.1% with 1.0% of wood-vinegar. For the inhibition effects of chemical concentrations, it was effective at the low concentration which was 0.5% rather than that of 1.0%. Quality of mushrooms was significantly improved, and yields was also increased by 30% in the chemical treatment. In case of $Ca(OCl)_2$ treatment at 1.0% concentration, the yields was increased by 35.6% showed the highest value among tested chemicals. However, the overall effects including disease incidence, quality and yields suggests that $Ca(OCl)_2$ is relatively more effective than wood-vinegar, and the optimal concentration controlling the disease was $0.5{\sim}1.0%$ with $Ca(OCl)_2$ and 0.5% with wood-vinegar.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.391-401
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• 2008

Probiotics have emerged as a potential treatment modality for numerous gastrointestinal disorders, including IBD. However, few probiotics have undergone appropriate preclinical screening in vivo. Kefir is considered a probiotic, benefiting the host through its effects in the intestinal tract. Despite numerous studies examining the action of probiotics on the host organism, few have analyzed the effects on intestinal environment. We assessed the protective effect of kefir for three weeks before inducing colitis with 2% dextran sodium sulfate for five days. The DSS loads were similar in all DSS treatment group. The results of the experiment are as follows. Food intake and FER of experimental groups were not significantly different each other, but water consumption tended to be higher in all DSS treatment groups as compared with the normal control. And visual inspection of feces revealed mild diarrhea in rat given 2% DSS. The anti-inflammatory activity of kefir was determined by myeloperoxidase activity during the DSS treatment, and there was no significant difference in any group. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as a colonic lipid peroxidation were significantly lower in the kefir intake groups than in rats treated with 2% DSS alone. The DNA % in tail and tail moment values as a DNA damage level of the blood lymphocytes in kefir intake groups tended to be lower than 2% DSS treatment alone, especially tail lengths were significantly diminished. According to the colonic histopathological assay, there were a severe inflammation of lamina propria and submucosa and mild edema in mucosa and sub mucosa in DSS alone treated group. We found a slight regenerative change in kefir treatment groups. In our experiments, this means that ulcerative colitis related to oxidative injury might be prevented by kefir as a probiotic. Further studies of the potential benefits of kefir as a probiotic in inflammatory condition are encouraged.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.227-237
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• 1997

In order to search for anti-Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-1 agents from Korean medicinal herbs and Korean traditional prescriptions (herb complexes), we selected 80 medicinal herbs and 45 prescriptions, based on a review of the Korean traditional medicine books. Both methanol extracts and boiling-water extracts were tested by means of the MTT assay (tetrazolium based colorimetric assay). Ten of the 125 methanol extracts: CM-11, CM-18, CM-19, CM-21, CM-22, CM-39, MM-3, MM-18, MM-29, MM-73 (see explanation of nomenclature below), showed efficacy against HSV-1. Twelve of the water extracts: CW-2, CW-3-I, CW-3-II, CW-18, MW-3, MW-5 MW-6, MW-12, MW-47, MW-69, MW-73 and MW-79 were active. #3 (individual herb) and #73 (individual herb) were interesting because both water and methanol extracts were active. Especially, #3 is a part of composition of Hong-il-$laksamd{\check{u}}ngbang$ and Hojanghaedokt'ang which have anti-HSV-1 activitives. The SI value of MW-69 and CW-18 was relative high as $10.2{\pm}0.7$ and $11.8{\pm}2.2$. The cytotoxic effect on Vera cells of $Panch'{\check{o}}nch'onch'{\check{o}}ngbang$, Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlst. and acycloguanosine was determined by MTT assay. Water extracts of $Panch'{\check{o}}nch'onch'{\check{o}}ngbang$ (prescription) and Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlst. showed very weak cytotoxic effects on Vero cells at > $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ but acycloguanosine showed strang cytotoxic effects on Vera cells at > $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. As a result, #3, #73, MW-69 and CW-18 are considered as potentially useful for anti-HSV-1 agent and will be the focus of further research. Abbreviations: CM - methanol extracts of traditional prescriptions; CW - water extracts of traditional prescriptions; MM - methanol extracts of individual herbs; MW - water extracts of individual herbs.