• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.27-39
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• 2023

Extensive research supported the therapeutic potential of curcumin, a naturally occurring compound, as a promising cytokine-suppressive anti-inflammatory drug. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic anti-inflammatory and anti-cytokine activities by combining 6-shogaol and 10-shogaol to curcumin, and associated mechanisms in modulating lipopolysaccharides and interferon-γ-induced proinflammatory signaling pathways. Our results showed that the combination of 6-shogaol-10-shogaolcurcumin synergistically reduced the production of nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor and interlukin-6 in lipopolysaccharides and interferon-γ-induced RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cells assessed by the combination index model. 6-shogaol-10-shogaol-curcumin also showed greater inhibition of cytokine profiling compared to that of 6-shogaol-10-shogaol or curcumin alone. The synergistic anti-inflammatory activity was associated with supressed NFκB translocation and downregulated TLR4-TRAF6-MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, SC also inhibited microRNA-155 expression which may be relevant to the inhibited NFκB translocation. Although 6-shogaol-10-shogaol-curcumin synergistically increased Nrf2 activity, the anti-inflammatory mechanism appeared to be independent from the induction of Nrf2. 6-shogaol-10-shogaol-curcumin provides a more potent therapeutic agent than curcumin alone in synergistically inhibiting lipopolysaccharides and interferon-γ induced proinflammatory mediators and cytokine array in macrophages. The action was mediated by the downregulation of TLR4/TRAF6/MAPK pathway and NFκB translocation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.525-533
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• 1997

연구배경 : 수술적 절제가 불가능한 폐암환자에서 복합화학요법의 역할이 최근 증대되고 있으나 아직 가장 이상적인 복합화학요법은 확립되지 않고 있다. 두 종류 이상의 항암제를 복합투여시 약제간의 상호작용에 의해 항암효과의 상승 혹은 억제를 보일 수 있으나 이를 예측하기가 어려웠다. 본 연구에서는 MTT 검사를 이용하여 두 약제를 여러 농도에서 복합투여후 살해능의 변화를 관찰하였다. 방 법 : 사람의 폐선암세포인 PC-14를 이용하여 cisplatin, mitomycin C, adriamycin 및 etoposide를 여러 농도에서 단독 또는 두 약제를 복합투여하여 항암효과의 변화를 MTT 검사로 측정하고 두 약제 복합투여시의 상호 작용의 결과를 이원배치법을 이용한 Anova분석을 이용하여 측정하였다. 결 과 : 위의 네종류의 약제는 단독투여시 농도에 비례하는 암세포살해능을 보였고 두 약제를 복합투여시 모든 조합에서 암세포살해능의 상승효과를 보였으며 특히 mitomycin C 와 cisplatin 및 adriamycin과 cisplatin을 복합투여시 상승효과가 강하게 나타났다. 결 론 : 위의 결과로 비소세포폐암의 복합화학요법시 mitomycin C와 cisplatin 혹은 adriamycin과 cisplatin을 같이 사용할 경우 항암효과의 극대화를 얻을 수 있으리라 기대된다. 나아가 이번 연구의 디자인은 복합항암화학요법을 필요로 하는 모든 종류의 암에 적용되어 최대항암효과를 얻을 수 있는 약제선정에 도움의 될 수 있으리라 생각된다.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2004

The effects of Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae) leaf, Emblica officinalis (Euphorbiaceae) fruit and Ocimum sanctum. (Labiateae) leaf extracts were studied in L-thyroxine (0.5 mg/kg) induced hyperthyroidic mice. Separately combined effects of these three plant extracts and of a commonly used antithyroidic drug, Propyl thiouracil (PTU) were investigated for comparison. Serum concentration of thyroxine $(T_4)$, triiodothyronine $(T_3)$, glucose and the activity of hepatic Glucose 6-Phosphatase (G-6-Pase) were considered as main parameters. Hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) activities were also studied to reveal the toxic effect of the plant extracts, if any. While exogenous $T_4$ enhanced serum concentration of $T_4$, $T_3$, glucose and the activity of hepatic G-6-Pase, a simultaneous administration of either A. marmelos leaf (1.0 mg/kg), E. officinalis fruit( 30 mg/kg) and O. sanctum leaf (50 mg/kg) extracts, to hyperthyroidic animals decreased all these parameters. However, the effects were more pronounced, as nearly normal thyroid function and serum glucose concentration were exhibited when all three plant extracts were administered together. A decrease in LPO and a concomitant increase in SOD and the CAT activities indicated the safe and antiperoxidative nature of the plant extracts, administered either alone or in combination. Our findings reveal that the three test plant materials exhibit synergistic effects without any hepatotoxicity, suggesting their potential use in the amelioration of hyperthyroidism and/ or hyperglycaemia.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.258-262
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• 2007

The antifungal activity of the essential oil fraction from Thymus magus, and its major component thymol, against Candida albicans was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The combined effects of the oils and clotrimazole, a commonly used antifungal drug for treatment of external candidiasis, were evaluated in this study. In experimental vaginal candidiasis the essential oil fraction of T. magnus resulted in relatively milder inhibition of fungal growth following the inoculation of test mice compared to clotrimazole. However, new fungal growth was not detected up to 12 days after cessation of treatment. In contrast, in a similar experiment using clotrimazole, C. albicans was detected in the $12^{th}$ day post-treatment with the sample. This result indicates that T. magnus oil could be a promising drug to control vaginal candidiasis. In checkerboard titer tests, the combination of clotrimazole with the essential oil fraction of T. magus or T. quinquecostatus resulted in significant synergism, with FIC indices between 0.14 and 0.27 against C. albicans, while clotrimazole combined with thymol, the major component of these oils, produced only an additive effect, with FIC indices ranging between 0.50 and 1.00. Thus, the prominent synergistic effects of clotrimazole combined with T. magus essential oil indicate that these compounds may be an effective treatment for C. albicans infections.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.65-69
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• 2017

Patients with severe gag reflex (SGR) have difficulty getting the treatment they require in local clinics, and many tend to postpone the start of their treatment. To address this problem, dentists have used behavioral techniques and/or pharmacological techniques for treatment. Among the pharmacological methods available, propofol IV sedation is preferred over general anesthesia because it is a simpler procedure. Propofol in combination with remifentanil is characterized by stable sedative effects and quick recovery, leading to a deep sedation. Remifentanil acts to reduce the pain caused by lipid-soluble propofol on injection. The synergistic effects of propofol-remifentanil include reduction in the total amount of drug required to achieve a desired sedation level and anti-emetic effects. In this case report, we outline how the use of propofol-remifentanil IV sedation enabled us to successfully complete a wide range of dental treatments in a patient with SGR.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.295-299
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• 2004

The antifungal activities of the essential oil from Agastache rugosa and its main component, estragole, combined with ketoconazole, one of the azole antibiotics commonly used to treat infections caused by Trichophyton species, were evaluated in this study. The combined effects were measured by the checkerboard microtiter and the disk diffusion tests, against T. erinacei, T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. schoenleinii and T. soudanense. Susceptibility of the five Trichophyton species to the oil alone, or ketoconazole alone, differed distinctly. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICI) of ketoconazole combined with estragole or A. rugosa essential oil, against the tested Trichophyton species, were between 0.05 and 0.27, indicating synergistic effects. These drug combinations exhibited the most significant synergism against T. mentagrophytes, with FICIs of 0.05 and 0.09 for estragole and the essential oil fraction from A. rugosa, respectively. Isobolograms based on the data from checkerboard titer tests also indicated significant synergism between ketoconazole and the Agastache oil fraction or estragole, against the Trichophyton species evaluated. Trichophyton susceptibility to ketoconazole was significantly improved by combination with the Agastache rugosa oil fraction or its main component, estragole.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.376-382
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• 1999

A methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolate was recovered from a 9-month-old female Shih-Tzu dog with canine distemper virus infection. We performed in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test to determine the most effective antimicrobial drug against the isolate and thus, to emphasize its potential clinical importance in animal practices. Isolate was confirmed MRSA by oxacillin agar screening test. The isolate was fully resistant to all $\beta$-lactam antibiotics and was susceptible to glycopeptides. Of the other antibiotics, mupirocin, TMP/SMZ (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), and chloramphenicol showed inhibitory effect at the concentration of 4x MIC. The MICs ranged 0.25->$128{\mu}g/ml$, and MBCs ranged 0.5->$128{\mu}g/ml$. The combined TMP/SMZ with cefamandole or novobiocin showed synergistic effect, whereas the combination of novobiocin plus cefamandole or teicoplanin resulted in antagonistic effects. Although MRSA in animals so far has been reported in the geographically limited countries, at least theoretically, it could be occurred in the future more frequently through either human or animal origin. The use of this combination may be of value in this situation. As with all antimicrobial agents, inappropriate or unnecessarily prolonged therapy may contribute to the emergence of resistance strains and loss of efficacy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.434-444
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• 2021

BRAF inhibitors are insufficient monotherapies for BRAF-mutated cancer; therefore, we investigated which inhibitory pathway would yield the most effective therapeutic approach when targeted in combination with BRAF inhibition. The oncogenic BRAF inhibitor, PLX4720, increased basal autophagic flux in BRAF-mutated cells compared to wild-type (WT) BRAF cells. Interestingly, early autophagy inhibition improved the effectiveness of PLX4720 regardless of BRAF mutation, whereas late autophagy inhibition did not. Although ATG5 knockout led to PLX4720 resistance in both WT and BRAF-mutated cells, the MEK inhibitor trametinib exhibited a synergistic effect on PLX4720 sensitivity in WT BRAF cells but not in BRAF-mutated cells. Conversely, the prolonged inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress reduced basal autophagy in BRAF-mutated cells, thereby increasing PLX4720 sensitivity. Taken together, our results suggest that the combined inhibition of ER stress and BRAF may simultaneously suppress both pro-survival ER stress and autophagy, and may therefore be suitable for treatment of BRAF-mutated tumors whose autophagy is increased by chronic ER stress. Similarly, for WT BRAF tumors, therapies targeting MEK signaling may be a more effective treatment strategy. Together, this study presents a rational combination treatment strategy to improve the efficacy of BRAF inhibitors depending on BRAF mutation status.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.873-884
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• 2021

본 연구에서는 다양한 인체 암포주를 대상으로 NSAID의 항암 효과를 증강시키는 artesunate (ART)의 역할과 이에 대한 분자적 기전을 연구하였다. 다양한 타입의 암세포주를 대상으로 암세포 성장 억제 활성을 조사한 결과, ART는 NSAID인 celecoxib (CCB) 또는 dimethyl-CCB (DMC)와의 병용 효과를 나타내었다. ART 처리로 ATF4/CHOP의 발현 증강과 함께 오토파지 유도 표식인 p62 감소의 결과로서, ATF4/CHOP 경로가 ART의 오토파지 유도 활성에 관여할 것으로 예상되었으며, ART의 오토파지 활성과 관련하여 NRF2 및 암 줄기 세포 관련 단백질인 CD44, CD133, ALDH1, Oct4, mutated p53 (mutp53) 및 c-Myc의 발현이 감소되었다. 또한 DMC 단독처리 보다 ART와 DMC의 병용으로 ATF4/CHOP의 발현 증강과 p62의 감소가 더욱 촉진되고, NRF2 및 암 줄기 세포 관련 단백질 발현 감소도 현저히 촉진되면서 궁극적으로 PARP 활성화에 의해 apoptosis가 유도됨을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 ART/DMC 병용 처리가 각 물질 단독 처리보다 암세포의 성장 억제 및 apoptosis 유도에 더욱 효과적이고, ART 및 DMC 의 오토파지 유도 활성은 암 줄기 세포 관련 단백질의 분해를 촉진함으로써, 암 줄기 세포가 제거될 수 있음을 시사하였다. 이와 같이 ART는 NSAID 뿐만 아니라 imatinib의 항암 효과를 증강시키는 활성으로, chemosensitizer로서 중요한 후보 물질이 될 수 있음을 밝혔다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.133-142
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• 2018

Patients with type II diabetes mellitus are more susceptible to colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence than non-diabetics. The anti-diabetic drug metformin is most commonly prescribed for the treatment of this disease and has recently shown antitumor effect in preclinical studies. The aberrant mutational activation in the components of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is very frequently observed in CRC. We previously reported that metformin inhibits the phosphorylation of ERK and BEZ235, a dual inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR, has anti-tumor activity against HCT15 CRC cells harboring mutations of KRAS and PIK3CA. Therefore, we hypothesized that simultaneous inhibition of two pathways by combining metformin with BEZ235 could be more effective in the suppression of proliferation than single agent treatment in HCT15 CRC cells. Here, we investigated the combinatory effect of metformin and BEZ235 on the cell survival in HCT15 CRC cells. Our study shows that both of the two signaling pathways can be blocked by this combinational strategy: metformin suppressed both pathways by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK, 4E-BP1 and S6, and BEZ235 suppressed PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by reducing the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6. This combination treatment synergistically reduced cell viability. The combination index (CI) values ranged from 0.44 to 0.88, indicating synergism for the combination. These results offer a preclinical rationale for the potential therapeutic option for the treatment of CRC.