• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.244-251
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• 2012

In vitro and greenhouse screening of seven rhizobacterial isolates, AB05, AB10, AB11, AB12, AB14, AB15 and AB17, was conducted to investigate the plant growth promoting activities and inhibition against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum in pepper. According to identification based on 16S rDNA sequencing, the majority of the isolates are members of Bacillus and a single isolate belongs to the genus Paenibacillus. All seven bacterial isolates were capable of inhibiting C. acutatum to various degrees. The results primarily showed that antibiotic substances produced by the selected bacteria were effective and resulted in strong antifungal activity against the fungi. However, isolate AB15 was the most effective bacterial strain, with the potential to suppress more than 50% mycelial growth of C. acutatum in vitro. Moreover, antibiotics from Paenibacillus polymyxa (AB15) and volatile compounds from Bacillus subtilis (AB14) exerted efficient antagonistic activity against the pathogens in a dual culture assay. In vivo suppression activity of selected bacteria was also analyzed in a greenhouse with the reference to their prominent in vitro antagonism efficacy. Induced systemic resistance in pepper against C. acutatum was also observed under greenhouse conditions. Where, isolate AB15 was found to be the most effective bacterial strain at suppressing pepper anthracnose under greenhouse conditions. Moreover, four isolates, AB10, AB12, AB15, and AB17, were identified as the most effective growth promoting bacteria under greenhouse conditions, with AB17 inducing the greatest enhancement of pepper growth.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2011

Objective : The present study was designed to assess the potential inhibitory activity of an ethanol extract of Belamcandae Rhizoma (EBR) on the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-induced melanogenesis signal pathway in B16F10 melanoma cells. Methods : Several experiments were performed in B16F10 melanoma cells. We studied tyrosinase activity, melanin content, cell-free tyrosinase activity and DOPA stain, and performed Western blots and RT-PCR for proteins and mRNA involved in melanogenesis. Results : ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced tyrosinase activity and melanin content were inhibited significantly by EBR. EBR markedly suppressed the protein expression level of tyrosinase in B16F10 melanoma cells. On the other hand, the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and -2 (TRP-2; DCT) were not affected by EBR. To elucidate the mechanism of the depigmenting property of EBR, we examined the involvement EBR in cAMP response element binding (CREB) protein phosphorylation and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) signalling induced by ${\alpha}$-MSH. EBR did not regulate CREB phosphorylation and MITF expression by ${\alpha}$-MSH. Nevertheless, the mRNA expression of tyrosinase was significantly attenuated by EBR treatment without changes in the expression of TRP-1 and -2 mRNA. Conclusion : Our study suggested that EBR inhibits ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis by suppressing tyrosinase mRNA.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2003

The researches for tumor and the developments for new anti-tumor medicine are being continuously developed in the oriental as well as the west. The principles therapy of anti-tumor activity was based on knowledge of the method of support the healthy energy and strengthen the body resistance, promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, clear away heat and toxic materials, dissipate phlegm and disperse the accumulation of evils. But the major clinical features of tumor was to be considered in developing a treatment plan include (1) distinguish between clinical and pathologic staging - acute and chronic, (2) classification of pathologic pattern, and (3) distinction of body situation : for examples asthenia - sthenia etc. It was most important to distinguish between supporting the healthy and eliminating the evil factors and to treat differently at the root and the branch cause of a neoplasm. In clinical study and experimental study, the effects of oriental medicine could be summarized as three that were decreasing toxicity of chemo-therapy, directly suppressing and killing cancerous cell and increasing chemo-effect through preventing metastasis. Improving organic immunity with oriental medicine could be summarized as five that were promoting phagocytosis of macrophage, inducing interferon, promoting formation of immnoglobulin, increasing number of T-cell and promoting transformation of lymphocyte. It is suggested that effective use of immune activating herbs inhibited metastasis and decreased recurrence and then we were able to expect increasing survival rate and improving clinical symptoms and quality of life(QOL) of tumor patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.496-501
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• 1992

The present work tested the inhibitory effects of bile acids on the cholesterol biosynthesis and the activity of HMG-CoA reductase in cultured rat hepatocytes. The uptake of bile acids in hepatocytes were increased in according to the different bile acid concentrations and culture times. The rate of cholesterol synthesis in cells were inversely decreased to the bile acid concentrations and culture times. As expected, insulin injection (4 units/100g body weight) showed an enhancing effect of the cholesterol synthesis and the HMG-CoA reductase activity. The addition of bile acids in medium of insulin-treated hepatocytes also showed the suppressing effect. This effect was directly confirmed in isolated hepatic icrosomes by the test of HMG-CoA reductase activity. In the test of $Na^+$,$K^+$-ATPase activity in the isolated hepatocyte membrane, only the cholic acid did not stimulate the enzyme system. The reason of such difference is not obvious, but this result indicates that the cholic acid could be absorbed by simple diffusion.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2020

Metformin has been widely used as an antidiabetic drug, and reported to inhibit cell proliferation in many cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In NSCLC cells, metformin suppresses PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, but effect of metformin on RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is controversial; several studies showed the inhibition of ERK activity, while others demonstrated the activation of ERK in response to metformin exposure. Metformin-induced activation of ERK is therapeutically important, since metformin could enhance cell proliferation through RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway and lead to impairment of its anticancer activity suppressing PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, requiring blockade of both signaling pathways for more efficient antitumor effect. The present study tested the combination therapy of metformin and trametinib by monitoring the alterations of regulatory effector proteins of cell signaling pathways and the effect of the combination on cell viability in NCI-H2087 NSCLC cells with NRAS and BRAF mutations. We show that metformin alone blocks PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway but induces the activation and phosphorylation of ERK. The combination therapy synergistically decreased cell viability in treatment with low doses of two drugs, while it gave antagonistic effect with high doses. These findings suggest that the efficacy of metformin and trametinib combination therapy may depend on the alteration of ERK activity induced by metformin and specific cellular context of cancer cells.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.289-317
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to reseach the effect of Daesihotang and its component groups on diabetes, free radical and antioxidative defense system in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The experimental group was divided into three groups: Daesihotang (DS), Soyangyak (DS1), Yangmyungyak (DS2). The results were obtained as follows: The level of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, creatinine in serum were considerablely reduced by Daesihotang. And the level of HDL cholesterol, albumin, total protein in serum were increased by Daesihotang significantly. And the level of BUN has some decreased, but with no significancy. In the study of Daesihotang on free radical scavenging effect in vitro, it has shown that Daesihotang and its components group have significant suppressing effect on peroxidation of linoleic acid on concentration. And in other experiments as scavenging effect of DPPH radical, inhibitory effect of superoxide in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation reaction by hydroxy radical in $H_2O_2-Fe^{2+}$ system, Daesihatang have some activity, but with no significancy. In the study of Daesihotang on antioxidative defense system in vivo, the activity of GOT and GPT in serum were significantly increased; and the amounts of lipid peroxide in serum was reduced significantly but in liver no significancy. In hepatic catalase activity, Daesihotang has showed significant effect. In the level of hepatic glutathione, Daesihotang increased the amount of glutathione significantly. And in the activity of glutathione-s-transferase, Daesihotang has decreasing effect but has no significancy. These result suggest that Daesihotang has strong effect on diabetes and it is useful to prevent diabetes, but has less effect on peroxidative damage by free radical.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.346-351
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the antioxidant effects of a mixture of mulberry leaves and silkworm powder in plasma and liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were used and their diets were supplemented with $0.4\%$ (4 g/kg) of the mixtures. Experimental groups were diabetic rats without supplements (DM group) or with a combination of the supplements: $100\%$ mulberry leaves (M group), $25\%$ silkworm powder mixed with mulberry leaves (25SM group), $50\%$ silkworm powder mixed with mulberry leaves (50SM group), $75\%$ silkworm powder mixed with mulberry leaves (75SM group) or $100\%$ silkworm powder (100S group). The rats were fed experimental diets and water ad libitum. All animals were injected with streptozotocin at the $3^{rd}$ week for inducing diabetes and were sacrificed on $9^{th}$ day thereafter. Hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity significantly decreased in the mixture supplemented groups compared to the DM group. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was not significantly different among any of the experimental groups, but glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity increased in the mixture supplemented groups compared to the DM group. In particular, it was the highest in the 50SM group. The hepatic TBARS values were lower in all the mixture supplemented groups than in the DM group, and it was as lowest when ratio of mulberry leaves to silkworm powder was highest. Hepatic lipofuscin contents were similar with the TBARS value. In conclusion, the mixtures containing silkworm powder reduced oxidative damage by strengtbening the antioxidative system and suppressing oxidative stress in the STZ-induced diabetic rat. The 1:1 blend of silkworm powder and mulberry leaves was the most effective combination for antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.754-762
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2, a major saponin derivative in ginseng extract, is recognized for its anti-cancer activities. Compared to coding genes, studies on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) that are regulated by Rh2 in cancer cells, especially on competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) are sparse. Methods: LncRNAs whose promoter DNA methylation level was significantly altered by Rh2 were screened from methylation array data. The effect of STXBP5-AS1, miR-4425, and RNF217 on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells was monitored in the presence of Rh2 after deregulating the corresponding gene. The ceRNA relationship between STXBP5-AS1 and miR-4425 was examined by measuring the luciferase activity of a recombinant luciferase/STXBP5-AS1 plasmid construct in the presence of mimic miR-4425. Results: Inhibition of STXBP5-AS1 decreased apoptosis but stimulated growth of the MCF-7 cells, suggesting tumor-suppressive activity of the lncRNA. MiR-4425 was identified to have a binding site on STXBP5-AS1 and proven to be downregulated by STXBP5-AS1 as well as by Rh2. In contrast to STXBP5-AS1, miR-4425 showed pro-proliferation activity by inducing a decrease in apoptosis but increased growth of the MCF-7 cells. MiR-4425 decreased luciferase activity from the luciferase/STXBP5-AS1 construct by 26%. Screening the target genes of miR-4425 and Rh2 revealed that Rh2, STXBP5-AS1, and miR-4425 consistently regulated tumor suppressor RNF217 at both the RNA and protein level. Conclusion: LncRNA STXBP5-AS1 is upregulated by Rh2 via promoter hypomethylation and acts as a ceRNA, sponging the oncogenic miR-4425. Therefore, Rh2 controls the STXBP5-AS1/miR-4425/RNF217 axis to suppress breast cancer cell growth.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-319
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• 2021

Dysregulation of the Wnt pathway causes various diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, osteoporosis, obesity and chronic kidney diseases. The modulation of dysregulated Wnt pathway is absolutely necessary. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect and the mechanism of action of Wnt-C59, a Wnt signaling inhibitor, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated epithelial cells and macrophage cells. Wnt-C59 showed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines including IL6, CCL2, IL1A, IL1B, and TNF in LPS-stimulated cells. The dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in LPS stimulated cells was suppressed by WntC59 treatment. The level of β-catenin, the executor protein of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, was elevated by LPS and suppressed by Wnt-C59. Overexpression of β-catenin rescued the suppressive effect of Wnt-C59 on proinflammatory cytokine expression and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity. We found that the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB, measured by co-immunoprecipitation assay, was elevated by LPS and suppressed by Wnt-C59 treatment. Both NF-κB activity for its target DNA binding and the reporter activity of NF-κB-responsive promoter showed identical patterns with the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB. Altogether, our findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of Wnt-C59 is mediated by the reduction of the cellular level of β-catenin and the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB, which results in the suppressions of the NF-κB activity and proinflammatory cytokine expression.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2022

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain triggers AD, followed by hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, neurofibrillary tangles, and synapses loss, neuronal cell death, and cognitive decline occur in a chain. In APPswe neuronal cell line, 50 ㎍/ml of Campbell early (Vitis labruscana B.) leaves 50% ethanol extract (VLL) treatment inhibited the secretion of Aβ1-42 by about 63% and the secretion of Aβ1-40 by about 50%. VLL did not target the enzymatic activity of the amyloidogenic pathway and decreased the protein expression of APP. As a result of RT-qPCR (Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR) of the APPswe cell line treated with VLL, it is thought that the protein expression of APP was reduced by inhibiting the transcription process of the APP gene. In addition, VLL inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity in vitro by 27.6% and 54.7%, respectively, at 50 and 100 ㎍/ml concentrations. We found that VLL inhibited the production of Aβ, a dementia-inducing substance, by suppressing the transcription of the APP gene, and that VLL inhibited AChE activity. We suggest that VLL has the potential as a natural drug material that modulates the alleviation of dementia symptoms.