• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.115-122
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• 1995

Effects of staurosporine, genistein and pertussis toxin on superoxide and HOCl production in C5a- or PMA-activated neutrophils were investigated. A C5a-induced superoxide and $H_2O_2$ production was inhibited by staurosporine, genistein and pertussis toxin. The stimulatory effect of PMA was inhibited by staurosporine but was not affected by pertussis toxin, whereas it was further promoted by genistein. Staurosporine and genistein inhibited superoxide production by sodium fluoride, but pertussis toxin did not affect it. PMA-induced $H_2O_2$ production was inhibited by staurosporine but was not affected by pertussis toxin. Genistein did not show a stimulatory effect on PMA-induced $H_2O_2$ production. Staurosporine and pertussis toxin inhibited HOCl production by C5a- or PMA, whereas genistein stimulated it. C5a-or PMA-induced myeloperoxidase release was inhibited by genistein, in this response the effect of pertussis toxin was not detected. Staurosporine did not affect the stimulatory effect of PMA on the release. Myeloperoxidase activity was markedly increased by genistein but was not affected by staurosporine and pertussis toxin. These results indicate that the respiratory burst of neutrophils may be regulated by protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase. Superoxide production induced by the direct activation of protein kinase C might be affected by protein tyrosine kinase oppositely. Genistein probably pro-motes HOCl production by activating myeloperoxidase.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제4권5호
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• pp.356-361
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• 2010

Zinc is an essential trace element required for bone formation, however not much has been clarified yet for its role in osteoblast. We hypothesized that zinc would increase osteogenetic function in osteoblasts. To test this, we investigated whether zinc treatment enhances bone formation by stimulating osteoblast proliferation, bone marker protein alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured and treated with various concentrations of zinc (0, 1, 3, 15, 25 uM) along with a normal osteogenic medium (OSM) as control for 1, 5, 10 days. As measured by MTT assay for mitochondrial metabolic activity, cell proliferation was stimulated even at low zinc treatment (1-3 ${\mu}M$) compared to OSM, and it was stimulated in a zinc concentration-dependent manner during 5 and 10 days, with the most pronounced effect at 15 and 25 uM Zn. Cellular (synthesized) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was increased in a zinc concentration-dependent manner, so did medium (secreted) ALP activity. Cellular collagen concentration was increased by zinc as time went by, therefore with the maximum zinc stimulatory effect in 10 days, and medium collagen concentration showed the same pattern even on 1 and 5 day. This zinc stimulatory effect of collagen synthesis was observed in cell matrix collagen staining. The study results imply that zinc can increase osteogenic effect by stimulating cell proliferation, ALP activity and collagen synthesis in osteoblastic cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.28-33
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• 2003

Ginsenosides, major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, are known to regulate excitatory ligand-gated ion channel activity such as nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptor channel activity. However, it is not known whether ginsenosides affect inhibitory ligand-gated ion channel activity. We investigated the effect of ginsenosides on human recombinant $GABA_A$ receptor (${\alpha}_1{\beta}_1{\gamma}_{2s}$) channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using a two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Among the eight individual ginsenosides examined, namely, $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$ and $Rg_2$, we found that Rc most potently enhanced the GABA-induced inward peak current ($I_{GABA}$). Ginsenoside Rc alone induced an inward membrane current in certain batches of oocytes expressing the $GABA_A$ receptor. The effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$ was both dose-dependent and reversible. The half-stimulatory concentration ($EC_{50}$) of ginsenoside Rc was 53.2$\pm$12.3 $\mu$M. Both bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, and picrotoxin, a $GABA_A$ channel blocker, blocked the stimulatory effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$. Niflumic acid (NFA) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), both $CI^{-1}$ channel blockers, attenuated the effect of ginsenoside Rc on I$I_{GABA}$. This study suggests that ginsenosides regulated $GABA_A$ receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes and implies that this regulation might be one of the pharmacological actions of Panax ginseng.

• Advances in environmental research
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.355-365
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• 2014

The present study has been performed on one year old tree saplings of Azadirachta indica (L.), Cassia siamea (L.), Dalbergia sissoo (Roxb.), Eucalyptus rostrata (L.), Mangifera indica (L.) and Schyzygium cumini (L.) in order to assess the effect of exposure of $SO_2-NO_2$, alone and combination of two gases. Tree saplings have been exposed to an average of $495{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ $SO_2$ and $105{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ $NO_2$ for 40 d at the rate of $4hd^{-1}$ during 10:00 am to 01:00 pm in OTC. Total chlorophyll, specific leaf area (SLA), nitrate reductase (NR) activity, foliar protein, free proline content and free amino acids (AAs) of foliage have been the plant parameters, taken into consideration to evaluate the effect of gaseous exposure. Exposure of two gases has caused reduction in total chlorophyll content (P < 0.05, 0.01). Physiological and biochemical process has been seemed to be altered noticeable due to the combined effect of $SO_2+NO_2$ followed by $SO_2$ alone (P < 0.05, 0.01). $NO_2$ mediated stress has produced, stimulatory and inhibitory responses in tree saplings. Results reveal that tree saplings have been attempted to absorb the $NO_2$ through N assimilation pathway. E. rostrata, C. siamea have been emerged as moderate tolerant to $SO_2$ mediated stress followed by A. indica. Response pattern of S. cumini, M. indica and D. sissoo set them as good indicators of $SO_2-NO_2$ exposure. Effects of two gases on tree saplings have been found to be synergistic.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2010

We describe the immune stimulatory effects of compounds determined by means of activity-monitored extraction and isolation techniques. As a result, 4-carboethoxy-6-methoxy-2-quinolone (1) and 4-carboethoxy-6-hydroxy-2-quinolone (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the Oryza sativa cv. Heugnambyeo bran, and were determined to exert significant inhibitory effects in macrophage cell line (murine RAW 264.7) and murine splenocytes. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, particularly the results obtained via hetero nuclear multiple-bond connectivity and high-resolution MS spectroscopy. Up to date, compound (1) was isolated as natural sources for the first time.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.61-65
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• 2001

In this study, a BTX degrading microbial consortium was obtained from the activated sludges of a BTX releasing sewage water and city sewage water treatment plant. The MY microbial consortium was developed for benzene and toluene degradation, whereas the MA microbial consortium was developed for xylene isomers. The major microorganism of the MA consortium was identified as Rhodococcus ruber DSM 43338T, whereas that of the MY consortium was Rhodococcus sp. In terms of the degradation of a single component, the removal rate of benzene was fastest and decreased in order; toluene, o-xylene, p-xylene and m-xylene. For degradation of mixed BTX, most BTX were degraded within 108 hours and the degradation rate showed either stimulatory or inhibitory effects depending on the composition. MA and MY microbial consortium obtained in this study may be used effectively to remove BTX biologically.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.247-253
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• 2000

In order to investigate the stimulatory effect(hormesis) of low dose gamma-radiation on the seeding growth of old seeds with respect to antioxidant defense systems, various doses of gamma radiation to the 5-year-old dried seeds of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. cv Sulin eockaei). Compared to the new, 1-year- old seeds, old seeds irradiated by low does gamma radiation in the range of 1-2 Gy showed vigor growth as revealed by statistically significant increases both in the germination rates and the leaf size and fresh weight. Further, seedlings grown from seeds treated by low dose gamma radiation showed higher peroxidase and catalase activities than non-treated seedlings. These results suggest that the antioxidant defense systems could be closely related to the stimulatory effects of low dose radiation. [antioxidant enzyme, chinese cabbage, gamma radiation, germination rate, hormesis]

• BMB Reports
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.332-336
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• 1997

The stimulatory effects of leucine on the activities of two soluble forms of brain glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins (GDH I and GDH II) have been studied at various conditions. There were significant differences between GDH I and GDH II in their sensitivities to the action of leucine. When the effects of varied leucine concentrations on GDH activities were studied in the direction of reductive amination of 2-oxoglutarate with NADPH as a coenzyme, a marked activation was observed for both isoproteins at leucine concentrations up to 10 mM, whereas both isoproteins showed activation to a lesser extent with NADH as a coenzyme. The stimulatory effects of leucine on GDH activities in the direction of the oxidative deamination of glutamate were also observed, but to a much lesser extent. Leucine relieved the inhibition of GDH I by GTP and this resulted in an increase in the apparent activation by leucine in the presence of GTP. 2-Oxoglutarate was found to give rise to high substrate inhibition and leucine significantly reduced the substrate inhibition in the presence of $200\;{\mu}M$ NADH. Thus, the effects of leucine might be composed of a direct effect on the enzyme together with a relief of high substrate inhibition.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.859-865
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• 2005

The stimulatory effects of exogenous salicylate as a pathway inducer on phenanthrene biodegradation were investigated using Burkholderia cepacia PM07. The phenanthrene degradation rate was greatly enhanced by increasing the salicylate additions, and the maximum rate was 19.6 mg $I^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ with the addition of 200 mg $I^{-1}$ of salicylate, 3.5 times higher than that (5.6 mg $I^{-1}\;d^{-1}$) without the addition of salicylate. The degradation rate was decreased at higher concentrations of salicylate (above 500 mg$I^{-1}$), and cell growth was significantly inhibited. The phenanthrene degradation was not affected by increasing glucose up to 2 g $I^{-1}$, although dramatic microbial growth was obtained. The stimulatory effect of exogenous salicylate decreased in the presence of glucose. After the addition of 200 mg $I^{-1}$ of salicylate, approximately $60\%$ of the initial phenanthrene (50 mg $I^{-1}$) was degraded after 96 h. However, with extra addition of 200 mg $I^{-1}$ of glucose, the phenanthrene degradation rate decreased, and only $18.5\%$ of the initial phenanthrene was degraded.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 1976

Aconiti tuber butanol fraction has been recently known to have stimulatory effect on myocardial contractility. In the present study, the possibility that the Aconiti tuber butanol fraction acts directly on contractile proteins of myocardium has been investigated using natural actomyosin extracted from dog heart. It revealed that Aconiti tuber butanol fraction in concentrations from $10^{-2}{\sim}10^{-7}\;gm/ml$ had no stimulatory effect on either the $Mg^{++}$ or $Ca^{++}$-activated adenosinetriphosphatase activity of cardiac actomyosin. And no direct $Ca^{++}$-like action of the drug on cardiac actomyosin was also found. Aconiti tuber butanol fraction in concentrations above $10^{-4}\;gm/ml$, however, was somewhat stimulatory on superprecipitation of actomyosin and markedly inhibited the membrane bound $Na^+-K^+$-activated ATPase activity. In these connections, the positive inotropic action of Aconiti tuber butanol fraction on myocardium thus does not seem to reflect a direct interaction with contractile proteins, but the drug seem to stimulate myocardial contractility through the actions on the membrane transport of $Ca^{++}$.