• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제42권3호
• /
• pp.379-388
• /
• 2018

Background: Ginsenosides are the main ingredients of Korean Red Ginseng. They have extensively been studied for their beneficial value in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the multitarget effects of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) with various components are unclear. Methods: We investigated the multitarget activities of KRGE on neurological dysfunction and neurotoxicity in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of PD. KRGE (37.5 mg/ kg/day, 75 mg/kg/day, or 150 mg/kg/day, per os (p.o.)) was given daily before or after MPTP intoxication. Results: Pretreatment with 150 mg/kg/day KRGE produced the greatest positive effect on motor dysfunction as assessed using rotarod, pole, and nesting tests, and on the survival rate. KRGE displayed a wide therapeutic time window. These effects were related to reductions in the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive dopaminergic neurons, apoptosis, microglial activation, and activation of inflammatory factors in the substantia nigra pars compacta and/or striatum after MPTP intoxication. In addition, pretreatment with KRGE activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathways and inhibited phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways, as well as blocked the alteration of blood-brain barrier integrity. Conclusion: These results suggest that KRGE may effectively reduce MPTP-induced neurotoxicity with a wide therapeutic time window through multitarget effects including antiapoptosis, antiinflammation, antioxidant, and maintenance of blood-brain barrier integrity. KRGE has potential as a multitarget drug or functional food for safe preventive and therapeutic strategies for PD.

• Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research
• /
• 제19권4호
• /
• pp.130-139
• /
• 2018

This study aimed to analyze a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation using a pentafluorophenyl column of parent drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its active metabolite, desethylhydroxchloroquine (DHCQ) applying to determine bioequivalence of two different formulations administered to patients. A rapid, simple, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for bioanalysis of HCQ and its metabolite DHCQ in human whole blood using deuterium derivative $hydroxychloroquine-D_4$ as an internal standard (IS). A triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated using electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Sample preparation involves a two-step precipitation of protein techniques. The removed protein blood samples were chromatographed on a pentafluorophenyl (PFP) column ($50mm{\times}4.6mm$, $2.6{\mu}m$) with a mobile phase (ammonium formate solution containing dilute formic acid) in an isocratic mode at a flow rate of 0.45 mL/min. The standard curves were found to be linear in the range of 2 - 500 ng/mL for HCQ; 2 - 2,000 ng/mL for DHCQ in spite of lacking a highly sensitive MS spectrometry system. Results of intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were within acceptable limits. A run time of 2.2 min for HCQ and 2.03 min for DHCQ in blood sample facilitated the analysis of more than 300 human whole blood samples per day. Taken together, we concluded that the assay developed herein represents a highly qualified technology for the quantification of HCQ in human whole blood for a parallel design bioequivalence study in a healthy male.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제29권8호
• /
• pp.1310-1315
• /
• 2019

Hyaluronidases enhance therapeutic drug transport by breaking down the hyaluronan barrier to lymphatic and capillary vessels, facilitating their tissue absorption. Commercially available hyaluronidases are bovine in origin; however, they pose risks such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The present study aimed to develop a novel, highly active hyaluronidase and assess its function. Therefore, in order to find the most efficient active hyaluronidase, we produced several shortened hyaluronidases with partial removal of the N- or C-terminal regions. Moreover, we created an enzyme that connected six histidines onto the end of the hyaluronidase C-terminus. This simplified subsequent purification using $Ni^{2+}$ affinity chromatography, making it feasible to industrialize this highly active recombinant hyaluronidase which exhibited catalytic activity equal to that of the commercial enzyme. Therefore, this simple and effective isolation method could increase the availability of recombinant hyaluronidase for research and clinical purposes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제29권5호
• /
• pp.545-550
• /
• 2021

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia and hair loss can be stressful in patients with cancer. The hair grows back, but sometimes the hair tends to stay thin. Therefore, understanding mechanisms regulating hair regeneration may improve the management of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Previous studies have revealed that chemotherapeutic agents induce a hair follicle vascular injury. As hair growth is associated with micro-vessel regeneration, we postulated that the stimulation of angiogenesis might enhance hair regeneration. In particular, mice treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) showed delayed anagen initiation and reduced capillary density when compared with untreated controls, suggesting that the retardation of anagen initiation by 5-FU treatment may be attributed to the loss of perifollicular micro-vessels. We investigated whether the ETS transcription factor ETV2 (aka ER71), critical for vascular development and regeneration, can promote angiogenesis and hair regrowth in a 5-FU-induced alopecia mouse model. Tie2-Cre; Etv2 conditional knockout (CKO) mice, which lack Etv2 in endothelial cells, presented similar hair regrowth rates as the control mice after depilation. Following 5-FU treatment, Tie2-Cre; Etv2 CKO mice revealed a significant reduction in capillary density, anagen induction, and hair restoration when compared with controls. Mice receiving lentiviral Etv2 injection after 5-FU treatment showed significantly improved anagen induction and hair regrowth. Two-photon laser scanning microscopy revealed that enforced Etv2 expression restored normal vessel morphology after 5-FU mediated vessel injury. Our data suggest that vessel regeneration strategies may improve hair regrowth after chemotherapeutic treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제46권3호
• /
• pp.337-347
• /
• 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 are directly associated with hyper-activation of innate immune response that excessively produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and induce cytokine storm, leading to multi-organ-failure and significant morbidity/mortality. Currently, several antiviral drugs such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) and molnupiravir are authorized to treat mild to moderate COVID-19, however, there are still no drugs that can specifically fight against challenges of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Panax ginseng, a medicinal plant widely used for treating various conditions, might be appropriate for this need due to its anti-inflammatory/cytokine/viral activities, fewer side effects, and cost efficiency. To review Panax ginseng and its pharmacologically active-ingredients as potential phytopharmaceuticals for treating cytokine storm of COVID-19, articles that reporting its positive effects on the cytokine production were searched from academic databases. Experimental/clinical evidences for the effectiveness of Panax ginseng and its active-ingredients in preventing or mitigating cytokine storm, especially for the cascade of cytokine storm, suggest that they might be beneficial as an adjunct treatment for cytokine storm of COVID-19. This review may provide a new approach to discover specific medications using Panax ginseng to control cytokine storm of COVID-19.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제38권4호
• /
• pp.199-208
• /
• 2023

Background: Canine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are an attractive source for veterinary regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug development. Here we used vitamin C (Vc) to improve the reprogramming efficiency of canine iPSCs, and its functions in the reprogramming process were elucidated. Methods: Retroviral transduction of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc (OSKM), and GFP was employed to induce reprogramming in canine fetal fibroblasts. Following transduction, the culture medium was subsequently replaced with ESC medium containing Vc to determine the effect on reprogramming activity. Results: The number of AP-positive iPSC colonies dramatically increased in culture conditions supplemented with Vc. Vc enhanced the efficacy of retrovirus transduction, which appears to be correlated with enhanced cell proliferation capacity. To confirm the characteristics of the Vc-treated iPSCs, the cells were cultured to passage 5, and pluripotency markers including Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Tra-1-60 were observed by immunocytochemistry. The expression of endogenous pluripotent genes (Oct4, Nanog, Rex1, and telomerase) were also verified by PCR. The complete silencing of exogenously transduced human OSKM factors was observed exclusively in canine iPSCs treated with Vc. Canine iPSCs treated with Vc are capable of forming embryoid bodies in vitro and have spontaneously differentiated into three germ layers. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize a straightforward method for enhancing the efficiency of canine iPSC generation and provide insight into the Vc effect on the reprogramming process.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2008

본 기초연구에서는 강제수영검사(forced swimming test, FST)에 의해 우울증이 유발된 쥐의 해마(hippocampus) 부위에서 뇌 대사물질(brain metabolites)중에 choline 신호의 변화를 관찰하였다. 본 연구의 목적은 우울증이 유발된 쥐에 항우울제인 desipramine-HCl을 투여하여 정상 쥐와 약물을 투여한 쥐 사이의 뇌 대사물질의 차이를 자기공명분광법(magnetic resonance spectroscopy: MRS)을 통하여 알아보는 것이다. 실험대상으로는 6주령의 SD rat을 사용하였으며 우울증을 유발시키고 항우울제의 약물평가를 위한 모델링 방법으로 강제수영검사를 시행하였다. 자기공명분광법을 시행하기 위한 localization 방법으로는 PRESS 펄스시퀀스를 사용하였다(TR: 2,500 ms, TE: 144 ms, averaging: 512, complex data point: 2048, scan time: 25 min). 정상 쥐 그룹과 우울증을 유발시킨 뒤 항우울제를 투여한 쥐 그룹 모두 양쪽 해마부위에서의 NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr 비율(ratio)은 차이가 나지 않았다. 또한 왼쪽 해마에서 정상 쥐와 항우울제를 투여한 쥐 사이에서 NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr 비율도 차이가 나지 않았고, 오른쪽 해마부위에서도 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 본 연구를 통하여 anti-immobility효과를 나타내는 항우울제를 투여함으로써 choline 신호가 정상 쥐와 비슷하게 회복되는 것을 관찰하였다. 이는 앞으로의 항우울제 약물 평가에 있어 자기공명분광법을 도입함으로써 기존의 주관적인 판단을 배제할 수 없었던 행동변화분석만으로 항우울제의 효과를 평가하는 방법에 비해 객관적이고 정량적인 분석을 할 수 있다는 점에서 아주 유용한 방법이라 사료된다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.202-206
• /
• 2014

본 연구에서 여름철 성수기를 앞두고 생산된 아이스크림류에 대하여 대장균군과 E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus, C. perfringens, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. 등 식중독균 검출여부를 조사한 결과 모든 제품에서 검출되지 않았다. 이에 반하여 세균수에 있어서는 11개 제조공장별로, 그리고 아이스크림류 유형별로 $2.5{\times}10^3$에서부터 $5.5{\times}10^5cfu/g$까지 다양한 수준을 나타내었다. 또한, OEM 생산업체에서 제조된 아이스크림을 포함하여 아이스크림 제품별로는 과자류, 찰떡, 초코렛, 과일쥬스 등의 부원료가 추가적으로 사용되거나, 손작업이 필요로 하는 stic bar type 등 7개 제품에서 세균수 허용기준이 초과된 것으로 나타났다. 세균수 허용기준을 초과한 제품에 대하여 아이스크림류 유형별로 분석한 바, 아이스크림은 10개중 3개 제품(30.0%), 아이스밀크는 6개중 3개 제품(50.0%), 샤베트는 2개중 1개 제품(50.0%)으로 조사되어 약간의 차이가 있었다. 아이스크림류 제조공정 중 미생물의 품질관리를 위하여 포장용기에 대한 미생물 모니터링 검사를 포함하여 동결 공정에 추가적인 CCP 설정 등과 같은 HACCP제도의 도입 및 보완을 고려해 보아야 할 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.217-221
• /
• 2013

본 연구는 가공치즈에서 Staphylococcus aureus의 생장을 예측하기 위한 수학적 모델을 개발하였다. 모짜렐라 슬라이스 치즈와 체다 슬라이스 치즈에 S. aureus 혼합균액(ATCC13565, ATCC14458, ATCC23235, ATCC27664, NCCP10826) 0.1 ml (log CFU/g)을 접종한 후 $4^{\circ}C$ (1440 h), $15^{\circ}C$ (288 h), $25^{\circ}C$ (72 h), and $30^{\circ}C$ (48 h)에 저장하면서 총 세균수와 S. aureus 세균수를 tryptic soy agar와 mannitol salt agar를 이용해 각각 확인하였다. S. aureus의 세균 수를 Baranyi model로 분석하여 생장률(${\mu}_{max}$; ${\log}CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$), 유도기(LPD; h), 초기 세균 수(log CFU/g), 최대 생장 세균수(log CFU/g)를 계산함으로써 1차 모델을 개발하였다. 또한 저장온도와 S. aureus의 ${\mu}_{max}$, LPD의 관계를 분석하기 위해 square root model과 exponential decay model을 이용하였고 이를 통해 2차모델을 개발하였으며 개발된 모델의 평균제곱근 편차(RMSE)를 계산하여 적합성을 검증하였다. $4^{\circ}C$에서는 모든 가공치즈에서 황색포도상구균의 생장이 관찰되지 않았으나 $15^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$에서는 모짜렐라 슬라이스와 체다 슬라이스 치즈에서 황색포도상구균이 생장하였으며($R^2=0.785-0.996$) 저장온도가 높아짐에 따라 생장률은 증가한 반면 유도기는 감소하였다($R^2=0.879-0.999$). 또한 개발된 모델의 RMSE 값은 0.3500-0.5344로 적합하였다. 따라서 본 연구결과는 가공치즈에서 황색포도상구균의 생장 예측에 유용하게 사용될 것이다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권11호
• /
• pp.1566-1573
• /
• 2006

The study was conducted on 30 true acyclic Sahiwal cows (15 cows, ${\geq}90$ days postpartum; 15 postpubertal heifers, ${\geq}30$ months of age) and a similar 20 untreated controls (10 cows, 10 heifers). An 'Eazi' breed Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) device (containing 1.38 g progesterone) was inserted intravaginally for 7 days (days 0 to 7) followed by 500 IU eCG i.m. at CIDR removal in all the treated animals. Heifers also received 5 mg oestradiol valerate i.m at CIDR insertion. The reproductive performance of these animals was recorded in terms of oestrus induction response, conception and pregnancy rates. Plasma progesterone ($P_4$) and oestradiol-$17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) profiles of 4 representative animals from each treatment group before, during and after CIDR treatment were also monitored. An oestrus induction response of 100% was observed in treated cows and heifers. The majority of cows (53.3%) and heifers (60%) were induced to oestrus within 24-36 and 36-48 h, respectively after CIDR withdrawal; with mean intervals of $44{\pm}3.18$ and $48{\pm}2.35h$, respectively. The conception rate at induced oestrus was higher in cows (40%) than heifers (20%). The final pregnancy rates after 2 subsequent oestruses were 80 and 60% in cows and heifers, respectively (overall 70% for all treated animals). In comparison, only 10% of control animals (2 cows only, 2/20) showed oestrus and become pregnant (10%) during theentire study period. The pretreatment (day 0) mean plasma P4 levels were statistically (p>0.05) similar in cows and heifers ($0.40{\pm}0.04$ and $0.49{\pm}0.11ng/ml$, respectively). The peak $P_4$ levels were observed on day 1 in cows ($13.94{\pm}1.41ng/ml$) and day 2 in heifers ($19.15{\pm}3.30ng/ml$) with a progressive decline up to the day of CIDR withdrawal ($3.35{\pm}0.92$ and $8.79{\pm}1.71ng/ml$, respectively). Mean $P_4$ levels on day 9 and 10 in cows and heifers did not differ significantly from their respective day 0 values and the lowest values were recorded on day 10 both in cows and heifers ($0.13{\pm}0.03$ and $0.14{\pm}0.02ng/ml$, respectively). Wide variations in individual pretreatment $E_2$ levels were observed both in the cows (range = 4-26, mean = $13.00{\pm}4.65pg/ml$) and heifers (range = 10-14, mean = $11.50{\pm}0.96pg/ml$). Thereafter also, $E_2$ levels in cows showed variation and reached a peak level ($53.50{\pm}2.99pg/ml$) on day 8. In heifers, peak mean $E_2$ level ($111.25{\pm}39.81pg/ml$) was recorded on day 1, followed by a non-significant decline on day 2, a significant fall on day 6 and a non-significant increase on day 9 and 10. However, mean $E_2$ levels on days 7 (p<0.05), 8 and 9 (p<0.01) were significantly higher in cows compared to heifers. The post-CIDR withdrawal mean highest $P_4$ and lowest $E_2$ levels coincided with the period when the majority of animals were induced to oestrus. CIDR and eCG treatment resulted in effective induction of oestrus with satisfactory pregnancy rates in true acyclic Sahiwal cows and heifers.