• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.342-353
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• 2012

Ginseng, the root of the Panax ginseng, has been a popular and widely-used traditional herbal medicine in Korea, China, and Japan for thousands of years. Now it has become popular as a functional health food and is used globally as a natural medicine. Evidence is accumulating in the literature on the physiological and pharmacological effects of P. ginseng on neurodegenerative diseases. Possible ginseng- or ginsenosides-mediated neuroprotective mechanisms mainly involve maintaining homeostasis, and anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and immune-stimulatory activities. This review considers publications dealing with the various actions of P. ginseng that are indicative of possible neurotherapeutic efficacies in neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.328-332
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• 2014

Dexamethasone (Dex) was shown to inhibit the differentiation, maturation, and antigen-presenting function of dendritic cells (DC) when added during DC generation or maturation stages. Here, we examined the direct effects of Dex on MHC-restricted antigen processing. Macrophages were incubated with microencapsulated ovalbumin (OVA) in the presence of different concentrations of Dex for 2 h, and the efficacy of OVA peptide presentation was evaluated using OVA-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells. Dex inhibited both class I- and class II-restricted presentation of OVA to T cells; this inhibitory effect on antigen presentation was much more potent in immature macrophages than in mature macrophages. The presentation of the exogenously added OVA peptide SIINFEKL was not blocked by Dex. In addition, short-term treatment of macrophages with Dex had no discernible effects on the phagocytic activity, total expression levels of MHC molecules or co-stimulatory molecules. These results demonstrate that Dex inhibits intracellular processing events of phagocytosed antigens in macrophages.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 1984

The possible effects of garlic (Aliium sativurn L.) extract on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus R- 716 were investigated. Various solvent extracts of garlic strongly inhibited growth and sporulation by Aspergillus parasiticus R-716, and effective solvents used for extraction of garlic were chloroform, benzene, and water-chloroform. The growth and aflatoxin production decreased with the increase in extract concentration, and extract equivalent 1.5g of raw garlic weight in 25ml SLS medium completely inhibited, and at a level of 1.25g garlic, total aflatoxin was reduced 64% (472 ${\mu}g$/25ml) of that produced in the control (1, 352 ${\mu}g$/25 ml). During cultivation inhibitory rate of growth was reduced from 89.1% to 40% and aflatoxin $B_2$, $G_1$ production increased with the laps of time. Especially garlic extract appeared to have a stimulatory effect on lipid accumulation on the contrary aflatoxin production.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.58-64
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• 1990

The effects of ginseng saponins, G-Rbl and G-Rc on the rat liver LDH A-gene transcnptional activity was investigated during pro-replicative phase of rat liver after partial hepatectomy. Changes in LDH A-mRNA levels in regenerating rat liver after intraperitoneal administrations of G-Rbl of G-Rc were tested by slot blot hybridization methods. The results showed that G-Rbl (1 mg/100g B.W) and G-Rc (1 ma/100g B.W) caused marked increases of LDH A-mRNA contents by respectively 1.9- and 1.5-fold in rat liver at 5·hours after partial hepatectomy. Dose dependent effect of G-Rbl and G-Rc (1-25 mg/100g B.W) on the LDH A-mRNA levels on regenerating rat liver were also analyzed. The maximal in- creases of liver LDH A-mRNA levels were observed with the doses of 1 mg for G-Rbl and 5 mg for G-Rc However, when the administration doses of G-Kbl and G-Rc were increased to 20 mg, G-Rbl caused a marked decrease of LDH A-mRNA level to 61% of those in sham-operated rat liver In contrast, G-Rc slightly decreased the liver LDH A-mRNA contents by 30% as compared to those of the maximum value but still maintained 22% higher LDH A-mRNA levels then those of sham-operated rate liver. On the basis of these experimental results, we conclude that ginseng saponin, G-Rb 1 and G·Rc have stimulatory effect at the lower concentration (1 mg/100g B.W) and inhibitory effect at the higher concentration (20 moi loos 5.W) on the LDH A-gene transcription during regeneration of rat liver, Additionally we also investigated the stimulatory effects of ginsenosides on the protein and DNA synthetic activities in hepatocyte primary cell cultures isolated from regenerating rat liver. Both of G·Rc and -Re increased the synthetic rates of hepatocytes proteins and DNA at the administration doses of 50 ug and 100 ug/3 ml/dish respectively representing 1.3-1.6 fold increases. From these results we postulate that G-Rc and -Re may have a mitogen enhancer activity for the hepatocyte proliferation during rat liver regeneration period. Keywords Inductive effects of ginsenosides, G-Rb, -Rc, and -Re, rat LDH A-gene transcription, the sin thetic rate of proteins and DNA in regeneration rat liver.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 1999

The induction of proliferation of adult rat islets was investigated under various culture conditions. The islets were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats and subsequently embedded in collagen gels, which mimic the in vivo three-dimensional surroundings. During the culture period, the effects of heterologous serum (fetal bovine serum, FBS), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and retinoic acid (RA) on islet growth were examined with respect to the morphological and total DNA content changes. To investigate these changes at the cellular level, whole mount immunocytochemistry using specific antibodies for insulin and glucagon was performed. The results showed that (i) collagen gels as an extracellular matrix can maintain islets in a similar way to that in vivo, (ii) heterologous serum (FBS) had stimulatory effects on islet proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, (iii) RA had inhibitory effects on islet proliferation induced by the serum in a dose-dependent manner, (iv) EGF had weak inhibitory effects on islet proliferation induced by the serum except at the concentration of 10 nM where its effect was not significant, and (v) whole mount immunocytochemistry revealed that newly proliferated islet cells were mainly $\beta$-and $\alpha$-cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2001

Antioxidant enzymes, scavengers of the reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI), are involved in numerous defense systems in cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the hot-water extracts of two medicinally potent mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus linteus) on the activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes in vitro and in vivo. The mushroom extracts stimulated the catalase activity in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, whereas the other antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) were unaffected by the extracts. The catalytic activity of catalase in the liver and brain was significantly increased after the oral treatment of the mushroom extracts (2.5 g/kg) to ICR mice for 2 months. Western blot analysis of the liver and brain tissues revealed that the expression level of catalase in the mice, treated with both mushroom extracts, was significantly increased compared to that of the control mice. However, the level of the SOD expression in the mice treated with the natural product extracts was unchanged under the same experimental conditions. Although the mechanisms for the stimulatory effect of the catalase expression by these extracts remains unclear, these results suggest that the ingredients of the Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus linteus extracts act as an activator of catalase, and regulate the expression of catalase at the translational or transcriptional level.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1 s.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 1966

The inhibitory effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on the isolated intestinal strips of the tortoise (Amyda japonica), rat, rabbit and guinea pig was investigated. 1) The strips from the middle or lower part of the tortoise intestine responded with relaxation to 5-HT $(10^{-9}{\sim}10^{-5}g/ml)$, and the magnitude of the relaxation was proportional to the dose of 5-HT. The rectal part of the tortoise intestine, in contrast, showed contraction, the magnitude of which also was proportional to the dose of 5-HT. 2) Various blocking agents such as methysergide, morphine, tetracaine, nethalide, bretylium, hexamethonium, mecamylamine and chlorisondamine, showed no selective blocking activity on the relaxant effect of 5-HT on the tortoise intestine. The inhibitory effect of isoproterenol on the tortoise intestine, however, was selectively blocked by nethalide, and the stimulatory effect of 5-HT on the rectal part of the tortoise was blocked by methysergide. 3) In the presence of 5-HT, the stimulatory effect of DMPP on the tortoise intestine was remarkably attenuated, whereas that of acetylcholine and $BaCl_2$ was little affected. In the presence of isoproterenol, the stimulatory effect of acetylcholine and $BaCl_2$ were affected, but that of DMPP was little affected. 4) Large dose of 5-HT($10^{-4}$g/ml) produced inhibitory effect on the strips from the distal part of the isolated colon of the rat, rabbit and guinea pig, when the strips had been exposed to 5-HT($10^{-4}$g/ml), methysergide or phen`oxybenzamine. 5) Bretylium, as well as nethalide, abolished or remarkably reduced, in a few cases of the experiments, the inhibitory effect of the large dose of 5-HT on the distal part of the colon, whereas morphine did not affect it. 6) The ileal strips of the guinea pig also showed relaxation, as in the colonic strips, having been exposed to the large dose of 5-HT or phenoxybenzamine. This effect, however, was not obsered in the case of the rabbit ileum. 7) The property of the action-site of 5-HT in the tortoise intestine seemd to be different from the 5-HT receptors which have been revealed by several investigators. 8) Adrenergic component seemed to be participated in the inhibitory effect of 5-HT on the colon of the rat and rabbit.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.200-206
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• 1990

The effects of ginseng saponins, SRbl and G-Rc on the rat liver LDH A-gene transcriptional activity was investigated during prereplicative phase of rat liver after partial hepatectomy. Changes in LDH A-mRNA levels in regenerating rat liver after intraperitoneal administrations of G-Rbl or 'G-Rc were tested by slot blot hybridization methods. The results showed that G-Rbl (1 mg/100g B.W) and G-Rc (1 mg/100g B.W) caused marked increases of LDH A-mRNA contents by respectively 1.9- and 1.5-fold in rat liver at 5-hours after partial hepatectomy Dose dependent elect of G-Rbl and G-Rc (1-25 mg/ 100g B.W) on the LDH A-mRNA levels on regenerating rat liver were also analyzed. The maximal increases of liver LDH A-mRNA levels were observed with the doses of 1 mg for G-Rbl and 5 mg for G-Rc. However, when the administration doses of G-Rbl and G-Rc were increased to 20 mg, G-Rbl caused a marked decrease of LDH A-mRNA level to 61% of those in sham-operated rat liver. In contrast, G-Rc slightly decreased the liver LDH A-mRNA contents by 30% as compared to those of the maximum value but still maintained 22% higher LDH A-mRNA levels then those of sham-operated rate liver. On the basis of these experimental results, we conclude that ginseng saponin, G-Rbl and G-Rc have stimulatory effect at the lower concentration (1 mg/ 100g B.W) and inhibitory effect at the higher concentration (20 mg/ 100g B.W) on the LDH A-gene transcription during regeneration of rat liver. Additionally we also investigated the stimulatory effects of ginsenosides on the protein and DNA sinthetic activities in hepatocyte primary cell cultures isolated from regenerating rat liver. Both of G-Rc and -Re increased the synthetic rates of hepatocytes proteins and DNA at the administration doses of 50 us and 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/3 ml/dish respectively representing 1.3-1.6 fold increases. From these results we postulate that G-Rc and -Re may have a mitogen ehincer activity for the hepatocyte proliferation during rat liver regeneration period.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.263-275
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• 2020

Studies on promoting milk protein yield by supplementation of amino acids have been globally conducted. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge of what pathways affected by individual amino acid in mammary epithelial cells that produce milk in practice. Phenylalanine (PHE) and valine (VAL) are essential amino acids for dairy cows, however, researches on mammary cell levels are still lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of PHE and VAL on milk protein synthesis-related and energy-mediated cellular signaling in vitro using immortalized bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells. To investigate the effects of PHE and VAL, the following concentrations were added to treatment medium: 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5 mM. The addition of PHE or VAL did not adversely affect cell viability compared to control group. The concentrations of cultured medium reached its maximum at 0.9 mM PHE and 0.6 mM VAL (p < 0.05). Therefore, aforementioned 2 treatments were analyzed for proteomics. Glucose transporter 1 and mammalian target of rapamycin mRNA expression levels were up-regulated by PHE (166% and 138%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, sodium-dependent neutral amino acids transporter type 2 (ASCT2) and β-casein were up-regulated by VAL (173% in ASCT2, 238% in and 218% in β-casein) (p < 0.05). A total of 134, 142, and 133 proteins were detected in control group, PHE treated group, and VAL treated group, respectively. Among significantly fold-changed proteins, proteins involved in translation initiation or energy metabolism were detected, however, expressed differentially between PHE and VAL. Thus, pathway analysis showed different stimulatory effects on energy metabolism and transcriptional pathways. Collectively, these results showed different stimulatory effects of PHE and VAL on protein synthesis-related and energy-mediated cellular signaling in MAC-T cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2003

Oral administration of antigen has long been used in the induction of immune tolerance in various animal models of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Alleveation of arthritogenic symptoms has been reported from RA patients who received oral administration of type II collagen (CII) without side effects, however its rather inconsistent therapeutic efficacy and variation among patients calls for more detailed investigation on the mechanism of oral tolerance to be settled as regular treatment for RA. In an attempt to understand the immunogenic processes underpinning tolerance induction by orally administered CII, we analyzed changes in the expression of costimulatory molecules and STAT/SOCS signaling messengers in the mouse model of collagen induced arthritis (CIA). We found thatin the spleen of CIA mice, that has been undergone repeated oral feeding of CII prior to the induction of arthritis, showed increased promortion of CTLA4 expressing lymphocytes than in the spleen of PBS fed control. On the other hand, cells expressing CD28 or ICOS were decreased in the spleen of tolerized mice. Tolerance induction by oral CII administration also enhanced the expression of STAT6 in both RNA and protein level, while not affecting the expression of STAT3. The expression of SOCS3, which hasbeen known to transmit STAT-mediated signals from Th2 type cytokines, remained unchanged in the spleen of tolerized mice. Interestingly transcript of SOCS1, which has been associated with Th1 related pathways, was only visible in the spleen of tolerized but not of control mice, suggesting that as in the case of IL-6 signaling, it may exert a feed back inhibition toward the Th1 type stimulation.