• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.1771-1781
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• 2018

The emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, as well as fungal infectious diseases that further threaten health, especially in immunodeficient populations, is a major global problem. The development of new antifungal agents in clinical trials is inferior to the incidence of drug resistance, and the available antifungal agents are restricted. Their mechanisms aim at certain characteristics of the fungus in order to avoid biological similarities with the host. Synthesis of the cell wall and ergosterol are mainly targeted in clinical use. The need for new approaches to antifungal therapeutic agents or development alternatives has increased. This review explores new perspectives on mechanisms to effectively combat fungal infections and effective antifungal activity. The clinical drug have a common feature that ultimately causes caspase-dependent cell death. The drugs-induced cell death pathway is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, including mitochondrial membrane depolarization and cytochrome c release. This mechanism of action also reveals antimicrobial peptides, the primary effector molecules of innate systems, to highlight new alternatives. Furthermore, drug combination therapy is suggested as another strategy to combat fungal infection. The proposal for a new approach to antifungal agents is not only important from a basic scientific point of view, but will also assist in the selection of molecules for combination therapy.

• 대한융합한의학회지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.35-55
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• 2021

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of topical agents including natural products using for atopic dermatitis treatment via a review on the cases and clinical trials. Methods: Through a search on Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, DBPIA, NDSL, and OASIS, we selected papers that applied natural products externally for atopic dermatitis and analyzed them. Results: Finally, Seventeen papers were selected. As the primary outcome, changes in the SCORAD and EASI, were the most used. The most frequent type of external formulation was cream. In terms of the frequency of use, it was used at least twice a day in all studies. When evaluated based on SCORAD, EASI, SH and TEWL, the improvement effect on atopic dermatitis was highest when the ointment formulation and the moisturizer formulation were used. A few side effects of topical agents including natural products were observed, but most were mild symptoms and no serious side effects occurred. Conclusion: This study is meaningful in that it has drawn a significant trend for studies that have been published in the last 5 years that contain a single intervention for topical agents including natural products, and that it presents the direction and evidence for the application of external therapy to increase the therapeutic effect of atopic dermatitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2939-2946
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• 2015

Many of the anti-cancer agents currently used have an origin in natural sources including plants. Aloe vera is one such plant being studied extensively for its diverse health benefits, including cancer prevention. In this study, the cytotoxic potential of Aloe vera crude extract (ACE) alone or in combination with cisplatin in human breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells was studied by cell viability assay, nuclear morphological examination and cell cycle analysis. Effects were correlated with modulation of expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and drug metabolism by RT-PCR. Exposure of cells to ACE resulted in considerable loss of cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, which was found to be mediated by through the apoptotic pathway as evidenced by changes in the nuclear morphology and the distribution of cells in the different phases of the cell cycle. Interestingly, ACE did not have any significant cytotoxicity towards normal cells, thus placing it in the category of safe chemopreventive agent. Further, the effects were correlated with the downregulation of cyclin D1, CYP 1A1, CYP 1A2 and increased expression of bax and p21 in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. In addition, low dose combination of ACE and cisplatin showed a combination index less than 1, indicating synergistic growth inhibition compared to the agents applied individually. In conclusion, these results signify that Aloe vera may be an effective anti-neoplastic agent to inhibit cancer cell growth and increase the therapeutic efficacy of conventional drugs like cispolatin. Thus promoting the development of plant-derived therapeutic agents appears warranted for novel cancer treatment strategies.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.28-49
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• 2020

The efficacy and side effects associated with anticancer drugs have attracted an extensive research focus. Onconephrology is an evolving field of nephrology that deals with the study of kidney diseases in cancer patients. Most renal diseases in cancer patients are unique, and management of renal disease can be challenging especially in the presence of continuing use of the nephrotoxic drugs. Cisplatin is one of the most important chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of various malignancies, such as head, neck, ovarian, and cervical cancers. The major limitation in the clinical use of cisplatin is its tendency to induce adverse effects, such as nephrotoxicity. Recently, plant-derived phytochemicals have emerged as novel agents providing protection against cisplatin-induced renal cytotoxicity. Owing to the diversity of phytochemicals, they cover a wide spectrum of therapeutic indications in cancer and inflammation and have been a productive source of lead compounds for the development of novel medications. Of these agents, the effectiveness of triterpenoids, isolated from various medicinal plants, against cisplatin-induced renal cytotoxicity has been reported most frequently compared to other phytochemicals. Triterpenes are one of the most numerous and diverse groups of plant natural products. Triterpenes ameliorate cisplatin-induced renal damage through multiple pathways by inhibiting reactive oxygen species, inflammation, down-regulation of the MAPK, apoptosis, and NF-κB signaling pathways and upregulation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defense mechanisms. Here, we reviewed recent findings on the natural compounds with protective potential in cisplatin-induced renal cytotoxicity, provided an overview of the protective effects and mechanisms that have been identified to date, and discussed strategies to reduce renal cytotoxicity induced by anticancer drugs.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.98-103
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• 2014

NQO1은 플라보 단백질 계통의 2 전자 환원 효소이며 NADH 또는 NADPH를 보조인자로 quinone 계통의 화합물을 hydroquinone으로 환원 한다. 암에서 NQO1은 그에 상응하는 정상 조직과 비교하였을 때 비교적 높은 발현을 나타낸다. NQO1의 다양한 기능 중 quinone 물질 대사는 두 가지 형태의 상반되는 기능을 가진다. 이것은 quinone으로부터 전환된 hydroquinone의 상태적 안정성과 불안정성에 기인하며, 불안정한 hydroquinone의 생성은 산화적 손상 야기 및 DNA 손상은 세포의 운명을 바꾸어 놓게 된다. 따라서 암에서 그 발현이 높은 NQO1을 표적으로 작용하는 생체환원 물질은 암 세포 사멸을 강하게 유도하게 되어 암 치료의 가능성을 보여주고 있다. 항암 표적 분자로서 NQO1 특징과 NQO1을 통해 작용하는 생체환원물질 ${\beta}$-lapachone의 항암 효과와 기전에 대하여 살펴보았다.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.193-199
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• 1983

대전근교(大田近郊)의 목장(牧場)에서 자유중인 유우(乳牛)를 대상(對象)으로 CMT법(法)에 의하여 유방염(乳房炎)으로 판정(判定)된 양성우(陽性牛)의 유즙(乳汁)으로부터 분리(分離)한 Staphylococcus aureus를 공시(供試)하여 유방염치료(乳房淡治療)에 있어 보다 개선(改善)된 방법(方法)을 모색(模索)하기 위하여 시판(市販)되고 있는 복합처방(複合處方)된 항균제(抗菌劑)를 선택(選擇)하여 내성시험법(耐性試驗法)을 개발(開發)할 목적(目的)으로 실시(實施)한 결과(結果)를 다음과 같이 요약(要約)한다. 1. 치료용(治療用) 항균제(抗菌劑)를 계속(繼續) 반복(反復)하여 사용(使用)하게되면 차등(差等)있는 내성(耐性)을 나타내었다. 2. Rifamastene, Neo-cillin은 다같이 4회(回)까지 Abimasten-100, Neo-Masti, Special formula, Mastalone은 6회(回)까지 약(弱)한 내성(耐性)을 나타내었다. 3. Tardomyocel-L는 6회(回)까지 내성(耐性)이 거의 나타나지 않았다. 4. 내성시험(耐性試驗)을 거처 선택(選擇)된 약제(藥齊)를 3일간격(日間隔)으로 교체사용(交替使用)할 것을 권장한다.

• 대한바이러스학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.161-170
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• 2000

Continuous efforts are being made to find effective therapeutic agents against HIV-1, the causative agents of AIDS. In this study, we developed a cell-based assay system employing a trans-complementation for production of recombinant viruses which are capable of undergoing one round of replication in CD4+ T cells. This assay system was tested for ability to screen the agents that act at late stage of HIV-1 life cycle. The effect of a protease inhibitor on the trans-complementation assay was assessed. Recombinant HIV-1 viruses were prepared from a trans-complementation in the presence of various concentrations of protease inhibitor. Inhibition of single round infection of these recombinant viruses by protease inhibitor was observed to be a dose-dependent manner. Inhibitory effects of a protease inhibitor on HIV-1 Gag polyprotein processing by HIV-1 protease was detected at concentrations of the protease inhibitor compatible with inhibition of virus infection, confirming that the corresponding step was involved in the inhibitory mechanism of this compound. Together, these results provide evidence that a cell-based assay system established in this study can be used to screen the agents that target the late stage of HIV-1 life cycle.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.89-100
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• 2019

Background: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunocompromised patients, such as lung transplant recipients. Voriconazole, the first-line therapy for IA, shows a non-linear pharmacokinetic profile and has a narrow therapeutic range. Careful and appropriate administration is necessary, primarily because it is used for critically ill patients; however, the clinical usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has not been sufficiently verified. Therefore, in this study, we validated the safety and efficacy of voriconazole TDM in lung transplant recipients receiving only voriconazole for IA treatment. Methods: The electronic medical records of lung transplant recipients (${\geq}19$ years of age) administered only voriconazole for > 7 days for treatment of IA from June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among the 54 patients, 27 each were allocated to TDM and non-TDM groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups except for ICU-hospitalization status. Of the TDM group patients, 81.5% needed adjustment of voriconazole dosage because the levels were out of target range. Comparison of two groups showed that treatment response was higher throughout treatment and switching rates of second-line agents were significantly lower in the TDM group, but it was insufficient to confirm safety improvements through voriconazole TDM. Conclusions: Considering that the treatment response tended to be higher and the rates of switching to second-line antifungal agents were lower in the TDM group, voriconazole TDM may increase the therapeutic effect on IA in lung transplant patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.207-217
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• 2015

Skin is the first line of defense for protecting our bodies against external perturbations, including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, mechanical/chemical stress, and bacterial infection. Nutrition is one of many factors required for the maintenance of overall skin health. An impaired nutritional status alters the structural integrity and biological function of skin, resulting in an abnormal skin barrier. In particular, the importance of micronutrients (such as certain vitamins and minerals) for skin health has been highlighted in cell culture, animal, and clinical studies. These micronutrients are employed not only as active compounds in therapeutic agents for treating certain skin diseases, but also as ingredients in cosmetic products. Here, the author describes the barrier function of the skin and the general nutritional requirements for skin health. The goal of this review is to discuss the potential roles and current knowledge of selected micronutrients in skin health and function.