• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1224-1227
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• 2005

Here we report the cytotoxic activity of three known compounds isolated for the first time from Corydalis pallida (Papaveraceae). An isoquinoline alkaloid, berberine, exhibited cytototoxic activity against two human cancer cell lines, HT-1080 (human fibrosarcoma) and SNU-638 (human stomach adenocarcinoma), with $IC_{50}$ values of 3.2 and 3.4 $\mu$g/mL, respectively. N­trans-feruloyltyramine and N-trans-feruloylmethoxytyramine were also isolated from this plant but were inactive.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.201-205
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to evaluate of the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect, cytotoxicity and tyrosinase inhibition activities using methanol extracts from different parts of four herb plants. The results showed that whole and root extracts of yarrow the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents as well as whole of yarrow revealed the highest DPPH radical scavenging effect. In cytotoxicity test against three cancer cell lines, HeLa (uterus), SK-Hep-1 (liver), and YD-15 (oral), the whole extract of feverfew showed the highest toxicity with $IC_{50}$ values of $102.58-138.68{\mu}g/mL$. Also, mallow root extract ($71.24{\mu}g/mL$) exhibited potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity comparable to arbutin ($69.56{\mu}g/mL$), which was used as the control.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2004

As a result of the enormous amount of information that has been collected with E. coli over the past half century (e.g. genome sequence, mutant phenotypes, metabolic and regulatory networks, etc.), we now have detailed knowledge about gene regulation, protein activity, several hundred enzyme reactions, metabolic pathways, macromolecular machines, and regulatory interactions for this model organism. However, understanding how all these processes interact to form a living cell will require further characterization, quantification, data integration, and mathematical modeling, systems biology. No organism can rival E. coli with respect to the amount of available basic information and experimental tractability for the technologies needed for this undertaking. A focused, systematic effort to understand the E. coli cell will accelerate the development of new post-genomic technologies, including both experimental and computational tools. It will also lead to new technologies that will be applicable to other organisms, from microbes to plants, animals, and humans. E. coli is not only the best studied free-living model organism, but is also an extensively used microbe for industrial applications, especially for the production of small molecules of interest. It is an excellent representative of Gram-negative commensal bacteria. E. coli may represent a perfect model organism for systems biology that is aimed at elucidating both its free-living and commensal life-styles, which should open the door to whole-cell modeling and simulation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.693-697
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• 2004

YH-1715R, (2R,3R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(3-methoxy-1,2,4-isothiazol-3-yl-thio)-1-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-l-yl)-2-butanol, a new triazole derivative obtained by the structural modification of fluconazole, was found to exhibit potent anti-Candida activity against a wide variety of Candida albicans (C. albicans) (MIC: 0.4-12.5 mg/l). To investigate the mode of action of YH-1715R, its effect on ergosterol biosynthesis in cell-free extracts and whole cells of C. albicans was examined. The inhibitory activity of YH-1715R was approximately ten-fold higher than that of fluconazole. To determine the primary action mechanism of YH-1715R, its inhibitory activity against lanosterol $14\alpha$-demethylase (14$\alpha$-DM), a major target for azole, was measured using gas-liquid chromatography. YH-1715R and fluconazole were found to inhibit 14a-DM with an $IC_{50}$ of 0.015 $\mu$M and 0.01$8\mu$M, respectively, plus the mode of inhibition of YH-1715R and fluconozole was noncompetitive with a $K_i$ of 0.0533$\mu$M and 0.0975$\mu$M.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2007

Extract of Japanese red pine needles has been used in Asia pacific regions since long periods believing its valuable properties as tonic and ability of curing diseases of unidentified symptoms. Some selective compounds present in the extract and their effects were analyzed. Carbohydrates and vitamin c were identified using HPLC; terpenoid compounds by GC-MS; anti-bacterial analysis by paper discs, plates count and gastrointestinal motility by whole cell patch clamp. The extract is a mixture of compounds therefore its diverse effect was expected. Self-fermentation in extract proceeds after spontaneous appearance of yeast strains without inoculation. Effects and composition of the extract vary with varying period of self-fermentation. Extract inhibits the growth of bacteria dose dependently exhibiting its antibacterial properties however effectiveness increases with increase in fermentation period. The extract also can modulate gastrointestinal motility in murine small intestine by modulating pace maker currents in ICC mediated through ATP sensitive potassium channel.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.222-226
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• 2010

This study was carried out to isolate and characterize the Lactobacillus plantarum with bile salt deconjugation activity that was isolated from Kimchi. Some isolates were selected and identified as L. plantarum by 16S rRNA gene sequence and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of whole cell protein patterns. They were assayed to determine their capacities to express bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. Among the identified strains, L. plantarum CIB 001 showed the highest level of BSH activity. Then, resistance to gastric acidity and bile condition were analyzed for further characterization. This strain was able to maintain viability for 1h at pH 2.0 and to survive in a MRS (deMan, Rogosa, and Sharpe) broth with 1.0% of bile acids. L. plantarum CIB 001 would potentially be useful in the food industry as probiotics.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2018

Echinacoside, an active compound in the herb Herba Cistanche, has been reported to inhibit glutamate release. In this study, we investigated the effects of echinacoside on spontaneous excitatory synaptic transmission changes induced by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), by using the in vitro rat hippocampal slice technique and whole-cell patch clamp recordings from CA3 pyramidal neurons. Perfusion with echinacoside significantly suppressed the 4-AP-induced epileptiform activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Echinacoside reduced 4-AP-induced increase in frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) but it did not affect the amplitude of sEPSCs or glutamate-activated currents, implicating a presynaptic mechanism of action. Echinacoside also potently blocked sustained repetitive firing, which is a basic mechanism of antiepileptic drugs. These results suggest that echinacoside exerts an antiepileptic effect on hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons by simultaneously decreasing glutamate release and blocking abnormal firing synchronization. Accordingly, our study provides experimental evidence that echinacoside may represent an effective pharmacological agent for treating epilepsy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.71-80
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• 2005

Effects of low temperature ($8^{\circ}C$) on the hydraulic conductivity of young roots of a chilling-sensitive (cucumber; Cucumis sativus L.) and a chilling-resistant (figleaf gourd; Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche) crop have been measured at the levels of whole root systems (root hydraulic conductivity, $Lp_r$) and of individual cortical cells (cell hydraulic conductivity, Lp). In figleaf gourd, there was a reduction only in hydrostatic $Lp_r$ but not in osmotic $Lp_r$ suggesting that the activity of water channels was not much affected by low root temperature (LRT)treatment in this species. Changes in cell Lp in response to chilling and recovery were similar asroot level, although they were more intense at the root level. Roots of figleaf gourd recovered better from LRT treatment than those of cucumber. In figleaf gourd, recovery (both at the root and cell level) often resulted in Lp and $Lp_r$ values which were even bigger than the original, i.e. there was an overshoot in hydraulic conductivity. These effects were larger forosmotic (representing the cell-to-cell passage of water) than for hydrostatic $Lp_r$. After a short term (1 d) exposure to $8\;^{\circ}C$ followed by 1 d at $20\;^{\circ}C$, hydrostatic $Lp_r$ of cucumber nearly recovered and that of figleaf gourd still remained higher due to the overshoot. On the contrary, osmotic $Lp_r$ and cell Lp in both species remained high by a factor of 3 as compared to the control, possibly due to an increased activity of water channels. After pre-conditioning of roots at LRT, increased hydraulic conductivitywas completely inhibited by $HgCl_2$ at both the root and cell levels. Different from figleaf gourd, recovery from chilling was not complete in cucumber after longer exposure to LRT. It is concluded that at LRT, both changes in the activity of aquaporins and alterations of root anatomy determine the water uptake in both species. To better understand the aquaporin function in plants under various stress conditions, we examined the transgenic Arabidopsisand tobacco plants that constitutively overexpress ArabidopsisPIP1;4 or PIP2;5 under various abiotic stress conditions. No significant differences in growth rates were found between the transgenic and wild-type plants under favorable growth conditions. By contrast, overexpression of PIP1;4 or PIP2;5 had a negative effect on seed germination and seedling growth under drought stress, whereas it had a positive effect under cold stress and no effect under salt stress. Measurement of water transport by cell pressure probe revealed that these observed phenotypes under different stress conditions were closely correlated with the ability of water transport by each aquaporin in the transgenic plants. Together, our results demonstrate that PIP-type aquaporins play roles in seed germination, seedling growth, and stress response of Arabidopsis and tobacco plants under various stress conditions, and emphasize the importance of a single aquaporin-mediated water transport in these cellular processes.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2020

[Purpose] Epidemiological evidence has shown that leisure-time physical activity and structured exercise before and after breast cancer diagnosis contribute to reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Thus, in this review, we aimed to summarize the physical activity-dependent regulation of systemic factors to understand the biological and molecular mechanisms involved in the initiation, progression, and survival of breast cancer. [Methods] We systematically reviewed the studies on 1) the relationship between physical activity and the risk of breast cancer, and 2) various systemic factors induced by physical activity and exercise that are potentially linked to breast cancer outcomes. To perform this literature review, PubMed database was searched using the terms "Physical activity OR exercise" and "breast cancer", until August 5th, 2020; then, we reviewed those articles related to biological mechanisms after examining the resulting search list. [Results] There is strong evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer, and the protective effect of physical activity on breast cancer has been achieved by long-term regulation of various circulatory factors, such as sex hormones, metabolic hormones, inflammatory factors, adipokines, and myokines. In addition, physical activity substantially alters wholebody homeostasis by affecting numerous other factors, including plasma metabolites, reactive oxygen species, and microRNAs as well as exosomes and gut microbiota profile, and thereby every cell and organ in the whole body might be ultimately affected by the biological perturbation induced by physical activity and exercise. [Conclusion] The understanding of integrative mechanisms will enhance how physical activity can ultimately influence the risk and prognosis of various cancers, including breast cancer. Furthermore, physical activity could be considered an efficacious non-pharmacological therapy, and the promotion of physical activity is probably an effective strategy in primary cancer prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.60-63
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• 1992

Individual starter culture were inoculated into liquid medium and incubated at $40^{\circ}C$ for 16 hours. Whole cell were obtained and evaluated for ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity using orthonitrophenyl-${\beta}-D-galactopyranoside$ (ONPG) as substrate. S. thermophilus had more ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity than other Lactobacilli did. To study the effect of storage temprature on enzyme activity of yoghurt, some samples of cultured yoghurt were stored under refrigeration $(4^{\circ}C)$, and the others under room temperature $(23^{\circ}C)$. At $4^{\circ}C$, yoghurt had ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity and many viable bacteria in 1 month. After 20 days, yoghurt had maximum ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity. At $23^{\circ}C$, yoghurt had ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity by 5 days. As this experiment shown ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity was ascribed to viable bacteria, especially S. thermophillus. Commercial yoghurt had lower ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity. There were considerable variations with regard to the lactose hydrolyzing capabilities of commercial yoghurt samples.