• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.16-21
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• 2005

Nitric Oxide (NO), derived from L-arginine, is produced by two types (constitutive and inducible) of nitric oxide synthase (NOS: cNOS and iNOS). The NO produced in large amounts by the iNOS is known to be responsible for the vasodilation and hypotension observed in septic shock, cancer metastasis and inflammation. The inhibitors of iNOS, thus, may be useful candidates for the treatment of inflammatory diseases accompanied by the overproduction of NO. We prepared alcoholic extracts of herbal drugs which have been used for the treatment of inflammation in oriental medicine. We have screened the inhibitory activity of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages after the treatment of these extracts. Among 82 kinds of extracts of herbal drugs, 35 extracts showed the potent inhibitory activity of NO production above 50% at the concentration of $50\;{\mu}g/mL$. The inhibitory activities of NO production were also evaluated for several solvent fractions at two different concentrations. Especially, hexane and EtOAc fractions of Alpinia officinarum, Angelica gigas, Ostericum koreanum, Saussurea lappa, Torilis japonica, and hexane fractions of Agrimonia pilosa, Machilus thunbergii, Hydrangea serrata, Magnolia obovata, Prunella vulgaris, Tussilago farfara, and EtOAC fractions of Perilla frutescence showed a significant activity at 10 and/or $25\;{\mu}g/mL$. In Western blot analysis, the hexane fractions ($5\;{\mu}g/mL$) of Magnolia obovata and Saussurea lappa, and EtOAc fractions ($20\;{\mu}g/mL$) of Hydrangea Serrata, Perilla frutescence and Torilis japonica inhibited the expression of iNOS protein in LPS-activated macrophages. These plants may be promising candidates for the study of the activity-guided purification of active compounds and might be useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and endotoxemia accompanying overproduction of NO.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.227-234
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• 2006

There has been increasing concern in recent years about the occurrence, fate and toxicity of pharmaceutical products in aquatic environment. Although these compounds have been detected in a wide variety of environmental samples including sewage effluent, surface waters, ground water and drinking water, their concentrations generally range from the low ppt to ppb levels. It is therefore often thought to be unlikely that pharmaceuticals will have a detrimental effect on the environment. This study was conducted to determine the endocrine disruption effects of the several pharmaceutical residues in water using adult Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). The common antibiotics were used sulfa durgs (sulfamethoxazole and sulfamethazine) and tetracycline drugs (oxytetracycline and tetracycline). Positive control that was induced Vtg (vitellogenin) in male fish was used $17\beta$-estradiol. Vtg was qualified and quantified through Western blotting and ELISA. After SDS gel electrophoresis, the dominant protein band was identified to molecular weight approximately 205 kDa in whole body samples of vitellogenic female. In female medaka exposed to $17\beta$estradiol, there was no significant difference in total protein induction. In contrast, three to five day exposure of male fish to $17\beta$-estradiol resulted in more than 60.0% increase of total protein compared to that of control males (p<0.01). In case of antibiotics, female fish didn't show significant difference, but male fish was showed significant difference. In addition, Vtg induction in male fish was observed with all the test chemicals. On concentrations greater than 0.1 ppm of sulfamethoxazole, 1 ppm of sulfamethazine, 1 ppm of oxytetracycline and 20 ppm of tetracycline, Vtg induction was increased in a dose response manner. This study is one of the early reports suggesting potential endocrine disruption mechanism of antibiotic pharmaceutical products in aquatic ecosystem. Although the effect concentrations obtained from this study were high as unrealistically as in environments, it is endocrine disruption that we should be considered as one of the important consequences of pharmaceutical contamination at water environment, and warrants due attention in future researches.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.207-213
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• 2003

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are orphan nuclear hormone receptors that are known to control the expression of genes that are involved in lipid homeostasis and energy balance. PPARs activate gene transcription in response to a variety of compounds, including hypolipidemic drugs. Most of these compounds have high affinity to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of PPARs and cause a conformational change within PPARs. As a result, the receptor is converted to an activated mode that promotes the recruitment fo co-activators such as the steroid receptor co-activator-1 (SRC-1). Based on the activation mechanism of PPARs (the ligand binding to $PPAR{\gamma}$ induces interactions of the receptor with transcriptional co-activators), we performed Western blot and ELISA. These showed that the indomethacin, a $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand, increased the binding between $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SRC-1 in a ligand dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that the in vitro conformational change of $PPAR{\gamma}$ by ligands was also induced, and increased the levels of the ligand-dependent interaction with SRC-1. Collectively, we developed a novel and useful ELISA system for the mass screening of $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligands. This screening system (based on the interaction between $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SRC-1) may be a promising system in the development of drugs for metabolic disorders.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.162-168
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• 2000

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) is the most common disease in the western male, and it is founded in $70{\sim}80%$ patient who has Gastrointestinal trouble. It is characterized by the formation of disorders of Gastrointestinal tract, for example, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain& discomfort, stool urgency, and so on. The etiology of IBS is uncertain, but the majority of patients has emotional problems. The aims of this study are to investigate and summarize the current trends of treatment for IBS so as to suggest the effective and available way to treat this disease. In Oriental Medicine, the IBS is recognized as Stagnation of the Iiver-qi(肝氣鬱結), Incoordination between the liver and the stomach(肝胃不和). So the point of treatment of IBS is Invigorating the spleen and relieving the depression of Iiver-qi(疏肝健脾), Regulating the function of the liver and the flow of qi(調肝理氣), Regulating the stomach and lowering the adverse flow(和胃降逆), and the treatment can be approached in several ways through herb drugs, acupuncture. Some of the herb drugs have substances which promote gastric and small intestinal emptying. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapies stimulate the meridian points of LR(足厥陰肝經), ST(足陽明胃經), LI(手陽明腸經), SI(手太陽小腸經) and is reported to be effective for releafing syndromes. Anal therapy, attachment of herb drug to umbilicus are annunced as the effective treatments. So, this study of the approach and application of these treatments on IBS would be necessary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권8호
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• pp.4853-4858
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• 2013

Objectives: To investigate whether hypoxia has an effect on regulation of multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapeutic drugs in laryngeal carcinoma cells and explore the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$). Methods: Laryngeal cancer cells were cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The sensitivity of the cells to multiple drugs and levels of apoptosis induced by paclitaxel were determined by MTT assay and annexin-V/propidium iodide staining analysis, respectively. HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was blocked by RNA interference. The expression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ gene was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. The value of fluorescence intensity of intracellular adriamycin accumulation and retention in cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. Results: The sensitivity to multiple chemotherapy agents and induction of apoptosis by paclitaxel could be reduced by hypoxia (P<0.05). A the same time, the adriamycin releasing index of cells was increased (P<0.05). However, resistance acquisition subject to hypoxia in vitro was suppressed by down-regulating HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression. Conclusion: HIF-$1{\alpha}$ could be considered as a key regulator for mediating hypoxia-induced MDR in laryngeal cancer cells via inhibition of drug-induced apoptosis and decrease in intracellular drug accumulation.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.187-197
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find a reasonable solution to a current status of drug classification between the drugs of western conventional (allopathic) medicine and Korean medicine. A clear and distinct concept on the drugs of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine based on reasonable concepts and broad consensus is a pressing issue in Korea, and will facilitate the development of herbal medicinal products and pharmaceutical industry. Methods : Considering the issue of drug classification from domestic and international regulations, we reviewed the current Drug Law of Korea and China, Guidance for Industry, Botanical Drug Products of USA, Directive 2004/24/EC of the European parliament and of the council. Results : In Korea, the drug classification of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine is quite vague even though differential licensure system is enforced for the clinicians of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine field. According to the definition in the Drug Law, the scope of Korean medicine drug is so broad that even a drug made of single-compound material, as well as herbal extract of crude mixture, is regarded as a drug of Korean medicine, as long as the material may be separated from medicinal herbs, animal tissues, or mineral resources. Only new compound not found in natural resources are outside of the scope of Korean medicine drug. In USA and EU, medicinal products manufactured from herbs are approved by separate regulations for the herbs with special waivers. In China, the category of new medicine and the definition of allopathic medicine and traditional chinese medicine are clearly specified and classified. Conclusions : As medicines are validated therapeutic materials for efficacy and toxicity, we suggest that generally the concept of conventional medicines is based on a single compound that has been synthesized and individually validated and that of Korean medicines is based on a compound extracted from natural materials or a complex of compounds that has been validated as a whole in its totality.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권11호
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• pp.1151-1158
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• 2011

In this study, a galactooligosaccharide (GOS) was synthesized using active ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}$-gal) inclusion bodies (IBs)-containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells. Analysis by MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight) mass spectrometry revealed that a trisaccharide was the major constituent of the synthesized GOS mixture. Additionally, the optimal pH, lactose concentration, amounts of E. coli ${\beta}$-gal IBs, and temperature for GOS synthesis were 7.5, 500 g/l, 3.2 U/ml, and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively. The total GOS yield from 500 g/l of lactose under these optimal conditions was about 32%, which corresponded to 160.4 g/l of GOS. Western blot analyses revealed that ${\beta}$-gal IBs were gradually destroyed during the reaction. In addition, when both the reaction mixture and E. coli ${\beta}$-gal hydrolysate were analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HP-TLC), the trisaccharide was determined to be galactosyl lactose, indicating that a galactose moiety was most likely transferred to a lactose molecule during GOS synthesis. This GOS synthesis system might be useful for the synthesis of galactosylated drugs, which have recently received significant attention owing to the ability of the galactose molecules to improve the drugs solubility while decreasing their toxicity. ${\beta}$-Gal IB utilization is potentially a more convenient and economic approach to enzymatic GOS synthesis, since no enzyme purification steps after the transgalactosylation reaction would be required.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.419-424
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• 2011

Galla Rhois and its components are known to possess anti-infl ammatory properties. In the present study, we prepared equilibrium mixture of ethyl m-digallate and ethyl p-digallate isomers (EDG) from Galla Rhois and examined its effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in murine macrophage cell line. Treatment of RAW264.7 macrophages with EDG signifi cantly inhibited NO production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression stimulated by LPS, as assessed by Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. We also demonstrated that EDG treatment led to an increase in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein expression. EDG treatment also enhanced expression level of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in nucleus, which is critical for transcriptional induction of HO-1. Treatment with SnPP (tin protoporphyrin IX), a selective HO-1 inhibitor, reversed EDG-mediated inhibition of nitrite production, suggesting that HO-1 plays an important role in the suppression of NO production by EDG. Taken together, these results indicate that EDG isolated from Galla Rhois suppresses LPS-stimulated NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages via HO-1 induction.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.66-77
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• 2022

Background: Thrombospondin-4 (TSP4) upregulates in the spinal cord following peripheral nerve injury and contributes to the development of neuropathic pain (NP). We investigated the effects of cyanocobalamin alone or in combination with morphine on pain and the relationship between these effects and spinal TSP4 expression in neuropathic rats. Methods: NP was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Cyanocobalamin (5 and 10 mg/kg/day) was administered 15 days before CCI and then for 4 and 14 postoperative days. Morphine (2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day) was administered only post-CCI. Combination treatment included cyanocobalamin and morphine, 10 and 5 mg/kg/day, respectively. All drugs were administered intraperitoneally. Nociceptive thresholds were detected by esthesiometer, analgesia meter, and plantar test, and TSP4 expression was assessed by western blotting and fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Results: CCI decreased nociceptive thresholds in all tests and induced TSP4 expression on the 4th postoperative day. The decrease in nociceptive thresholds persisted except for the plantar test, and the increased TSP4 expression reversed on the 14th postoperative day. Cyanocobalamin and low-dose morphine alone did not produce any antinociceptive effects. High-dose morphine improved the decreased nociceptive thresholds in the esthesiometer when administered alone but combined with cyanocobalamin in all tests. Cyanocobalamin and morphine significantly induced TSP4 expression when administered alone in both doses for 4 or 14 days. However, this increase was less when the two drugs are combined. Conclusions: The combination of cyanocobalamin and morphine is more effective in antinociception and partially decreased the induced TSP4 expression compared to the use of either drug alone.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.39-47
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• 2024

Objectives : This study evaluates how various traditional Korean herbal medicines assess MUC5AC expression for esophageal mucosal defense and analyzes the associated mechanisms involved in inflammation. Methods : Forty types of traditional Korean herbal medicines were assessed for in vitro antioxidant activities, and the real-time PCR method was employed to analyze MUC5AC expression under pH 4.5 conditions in human esophageal epithelial cells (HET-1A). Eight types of Korean herbal medicines were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activities, and Reactive oxygen specise (ROS) expression was analyzed under bile salt (480 𝜇M) and pH 5.5 conditions in human esophageal epithelial cells (HET-1A). Simulation experiments involving bile salts and acidity were conducted for one hour to assess the efficacy of four drugs, and the activities of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MEK), Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-𝜅B), and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected through Western blot analysis. Results : Compared to the Normal group, the Control group exhibited higher ROS generation. Such increased ROS levels were significantly reduced by four extracts: Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (CUP), Cnidium officinale Rhizoma (CR), Ginseng Radix (GR), and Linderae Radix (LR). The protein expression of COX-2 decreased with the treatment of LR, CUP, and CR. Particularly, CUP and CR exhibited superior effects compared to other groups in inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-𝜅B. Conclusion : Based on the results obtained, we have identified drugs that inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation caused by bile acid in esophageal epithelial cells. Our future plans involve comparing and analyzing the efficacy of these herbal medicines through animal experiments.