• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 1999

Enzymatic conversion of brain glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked alkaline phosphatase (GPI-AP), amphiphilic, was examined. When GPI-AP was incubated with glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD), a negligible conversion of GPI-AP to hydrophilic form was observed. The inclusion of monoacylglycerols enhanced the enzymatic conversion, although the action of monoacylglycerols differed greatly according to the size of acyl group; the enzymatic conversion was enhanced considerably in the presence of monoacylglycerols possessing acyl group of longer chain length ($C_{10-}C_{18}$), which monoacylglycerols with acyl moiety of shorter length ($C_{4-}C_{8}$) did fail to augment the enzymatic conversion. Noteworthy, monooleoylglycerol was much more effective than the other monoacylglycerols in promoting the enzymatic conversion, indicating a beneficial role of the unsaturation in acyl chain. Meanwhile, ionic amphiphiles such as monohexadecyllysophosphatidylcholoine and palmitoyl-carnitine decreased the enzymatic conversion of GPI-AP in a concentration-dependent manner, with monohexadecyllysophosphatidylcholine and palmitoyl-carnitine deceased the enzymatic conversion of GPI-AP in a concentration-dependent manner, with monohexadecyllysophosphatidylcholoine being more inhibitory than palmitoylcarnitine. Separately when GPI-AP was exposed to various oxidants prior to the incubation with GPI-PLD, a remarkable decrease of the enzymatic conversion was observed with hypochlorite and peroynitrite generators, but not $H_{2}O_{2}$. In further study, hypochlorite was found to inactivate GPI-PLD at low concentrations ($3~100{\mu}M$). From these results, it is suggested that the enzymatic conversion of GPI-AP by GPI-PLD may be regulated in vivo system.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 1995

In ordedr to gain insight into the mechanisms byl which erythropoietin promotes erythropoiesis, effects of various inhibitors on the erythropoietin-propmoted differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells and on the erythroid progenitor cells and on the erythropoietin-promoted $Ca^{++}$ uptake in the progenitor cells were determined, and the relationship between the inhibitory activity of each inhibitor cells were determined, and he relationship between the inhibitory activity of each inhibitor toward the differentiation and channel blocker (varapamil), a $Ca^{++}$ chelator (EDTA) and a protein kinase C inhibitor (stauroporine). All of these agents inhibited both the erythropoietin-mediated differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells, as determined by the incroporation of $^{59}Fe$ into heme, and $Ca^{++}$ uptake in a concentrtion dependent manner. In the cases of varapamil and EDTA, the half-miximal inhibitory concentration $(IC_{50})$ values for differentiation of the progenitor cells may be theconsequence of the inhibition of the $Ca^{++}$ uptake in a concentration dependent manner. In the cases of varapamil and EDTA, the half-miximal inhibitory concentration dependent manner. In the cases of verapamil and EDTA, the half-miximal inhibitory concentration $(IC_{50})$ values for differentiation of the progenitor cells may be the consequence of the inhibition of the $Ca^{++}$ uptake by the inhibitor. On the other hand, in the cases of genistein and stauroporine, the $IC_{50}$ values for inhibition of differentitation were significantly different from that for inhibition of $Ca^{++}$uptake. These results suggest that the mechanism of inhibition of differentiation by these two inhibitors in complex. However, taken all together, the above results support the proposition that $Ca^{++}$ uptake may play a role in the erythropoietin-mediated differentiation of erythoid progenitor cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 1995

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in non-adrenegic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission was studied on circular muscle strips of the dorsal part of the fuinea-pig gastric fundus. In the presence of atropine and guanethidine, a low frequency-dependent relaxsations which were not affected by adrenergic and cholinergic blockage but abolished by tetrodotoxin. $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), a stereospecific inhibitor of NO-biosynthesis, inhibited the relaxations induced by electrical stiumulations but not the relaxations to exogenous nitric oxide. The effect of L-NNA was prevented by L-arginine, the precursor of the NO biosynthesis but not by its enantiomer, D-arginine. Exgenous administration of No caused concentration -dependent relaxations which showed a similarity to those obtained with electrical simultaion. Hemoglobin, a NOscavenger, abolished the NO-induced relaxations and also markedly reduced those induced by electrical simultaion. The inhibitory effect os hemoglobin was similar to that of L-NNA. Application of ATP caused weak relaxations compared with those to electrical stimultaion, which were unaffected by L-NNA. Exogenously applied vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) induced concentration-dependent relaxation which was not affected by L-NNA. These results suggest that NO is produced and released mainly as a neurotransmitter from enteric neurons during NANC relaxation induced by low frequencies and short trains of electrical simulation and has a main role in NANC neurotransmission at relaxation induced by these electrical simultaions in the guinea-pig gastric fundus.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1350-1357
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• 2005

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-$\kappa$B) regulates the expression of multiple cytokines, chemokines, and cell adhesion molecules that are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. We investigated the anti-asthmatic effects and the mechanism of action of DA-9201, an extract of the black rice, in a mouse model of asthma. Mice immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) were administered with DA-9201 (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (DEXA, 3 mg/kg) for 2 weeks and challenged with aerosolized OVA during the last 3 days. Anti-asthmatic effects were assessed by means of enhanced pauses, level of total lgE and Th2 cytokines in plasma or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the percentage of eosinophils in BALF, and histopathological examination. The expression of NF-$\kappa$B in nuclear and cytoplasmic fraction and its DNA-binding activity in lung tissues were analyzed by means of Western blotting and electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. DA-9201 significantly reduced airway hyperrespon-siveness (AHR), total lgE level in plasma and BALF, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in BALF, and the percentage of eosinophils in BALF. Tissue inflammation was significantly improved by DA­9201 treatment. In addition, DA-9201 dramatically suppressed the expression of NF-$\kappa$B and its DNA-binding activity. These results suggest that DA-9201 may be useful for the treatment of asthma and its efficacy is related to suppression of NF-$\kappa$B pathway.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1328-1332
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• 2005

In the course of screening for anti-dementia agents from natural products, two $\beta$-secretase (BACE1) inhibitors were isolated from the husk of pomegranate (Punica granatum) by activity-guided purification. They were identified as ellagic acid and punicalagin with $IC_{50}$ values of 3.9 $\times$$10^{-6}$ and 4.1$\times$$10^{-7}$ M and Ki values of 2.4$\times$$10^{-5}$and 5.9$\times$$10^{-7}$ M, respectively. The compounds were non-competitive inhibitors with a substrate in the Dixon plot. Ellagic acid and punicalagin were less inhibitory to $\alpha$-secretase (TACE) and other serine proteases such as chymotrypsin, trypsin, and elastase, thus indicating that they were relatively specific inhibitors of BACE1.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1317-1323
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• 2005

In an attempt to examine the ability of benzisothiazole-based drugs to interact with $\beta$-adrenoceptors, a series of 1,2-benzisothiazole derivatives, which were substituted with various propanolamine or oxypropanolamine side chains in the 2 or 3 position, were synthesised and tested. The pharmacological activity of these compounds at the ,$\beta$-adrenoceptors was examined using isolated rat atria and small intestinal segments, which preferentially express the $\beta_{1}$- and $\beta_{3}$-adrenoceptor-mediated responses, respectively. None of these products showed any $\beta$-adrenoceptor agonistic activity. In contrast, the 2- and 3-substituted isopropyl, tert-butyl, benzyl, and piperonyl derivatives 2a-d and 3a-d elicited surmountable inhibition of the isoprena­line-induced chronotropic effects in the atria, suggesting competitive antagonism at the $\beta_{1}$­recognition site. The $pA_{2}$ values revealed tert-butyl 3b and the isopropyl substituted piperonyl derivatives 3a to be the most effective. Remarkably, many of the 2-substituted propanolamines were less active than the corresponding 3-substituted oxypropanolamines. With the exception of compound 3b, none of these drugs antagonised the muscle relaxant activity of isoprenaline in the intestine, suggesting no effect on the $\beta_{3}$-adrenoceptors. These results confirm the ability of the benzisothiazole ring to interact with the $\beta$-adrenoceptors, and demonstrate that 2-substitution with propanolamine or 3-substitution with oxypropanolamine groups yields compounds with preferential antagonistic activity at the cardiac $\beta_{1}$adrenoceptors. The degree of antagonism depends strongly on both the nature of the substituent and its position on the benzisothiazole ring.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.560-565
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• 1997

The physicochemical properties of melatonin (MT) in propylene glycol (PG) and 2-hydroxypropyl-.betha.-cyclodextrin $(2-HP{\beta}CD)$ vehicles were characterized. MT was endothermally decomposed as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Melting point and heat of fusion obtained were $116.9{\pm}0.24^{\circ}C $.and $7249{\pm}217 cal/mol$., respectively. MT as received from a manufacture was very pure, at least 99.9%. The solubility of MT in PG solution increased slowly until reaching 40% PG and then steeply increased. Solubility of MT increased linearly as concentration of $2-HP{\beta}CD$ without PG INCREASED$(R^2=0.993)$. MT solubility in the mixtures of pg and $2-HP{\beta}CD$ also increased linearly but was less than the sum of its solubility in $2-HP{\beta}CD$ and PG individually. The MT solubility was low in water, simulated gastric or intestinal fluid but the highest in the mixture of PG(40v/v%) and $2-HP{\beta}CD$ (30w/v%) although efficiency of MT solubilization in $2-HP{\beta}CD$ decreased as the concentration of PG increased. MT was degraded in a fashion of the first order kinetics $(r^2>0.90)$. MT was unstable in strong acidic solution (HCl-NaCl buffer, pH 1.4) but relatively stable in other pH values of 4-10 at $70^{\circ}C$. In HCl-NaCl buffer, MT in 10% PG was more quickly degraded and then slowed dpwm at a higher concentration. However, the degradation rate constant of MT in 2-HP.betha.CD was not changed significantly when compared to the water. The current studies can be applied to the dosage formulations for the purpose of enhancing percutaneous absorption or bioavailability of MT.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.572-578
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• 1997

To gain further insight into how antiestrogens modulate cell function, the effects of antiestrogen on cell proliferation were studied in human breast cancer cells. We examined the effects of trans-tamoxifen on the proliferation of three human breast cancer cell lines that differed in their estrogen receptor contents. Trans-tamoxifen $(1{\mu}M)$ markedly inhibited the estrogen stimulated proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells that contained high levels of estrogen receptor $(1.15{\pm}0.03 pmole/mg protein)$ over that of control. In T47D cells that contained low levels of estrogen receptor $(0.23{\pm}0.05 pmole/mg protein)$, trans-tamoxifen $(1{\mu}M)$ showed minimal inhibition of estrogen stimulated cell proliferation over that of control. MDA-MB-231 cells, that contained no detectable levels of estrogen receptors, had their growth unaffected by trans-tamoxifen treatment. These results showed their sensitivity to growth inhibition by antiestrogen conrrelated well with their estrogen receptor content. Also we examined the effect of antiestrogen on cellular progestrone receptor level as well as plasminogen activator activity in MCF-7 cells. Trans-tamoxifen $(1{\mu}M)$ showed maximal inhibition of estrogen stimulated progestrone receptor level as well as plasminogen activator activity in MCF-7 cells that were stimulated by estrogen. It is not clear whether these inhibitions of progestrone receptor and plasminogen activator activity by estrogen are related to the antiestrogen inhibition of cell proliferation of MCF-7 cells. From the results of this study, it is clearly demonstrated that trans-tamoxifen is an antiestrogen in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Our data suggest that the biological effectiveness of trans-tamoxifen appear to result from its affinity of interaction with the estrogen receptor.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.533-538
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• 1997

Biflavonoid is one of unique classes of naturally-occurring bioflavonoid. Previously, certain biflavonoids were found to possess the inhibitory effects on phospholipase $A_2$ activity and lymphocytes $ proliferation^1$ suggesting their anti-inflammatory/immunoregulatory potential. In this study, effects of several biflavonoids on arachidonic acid release from rat peritoneal macrophages were investigated, because arachidonic acid released from the activated macrophages is one of the indices of inflammatory conditions. When resident peritoneal macrophages labeled with $[^{3}H]$arachidonic acid were activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) or calcium ionophore, A23187, radioactivity released in the medium was increased approximately 4.1-7.3 fold after 120 min incubation compared to the spontaneous release in the control incubation. In this condition, biflavonoids (10 uM) such as ochnaflavone, ginkgetin and isoginkgetin, showed inhibition of arachidonate release from macrophages activated by PMA (32.5-40.0% inhibition) or A23187 (21.7-41.7% inhibition). Amentoflavone showed protection only against PMA-induced arachidonate release, while apigenin, a monomer of these biflavonoids, did not show the significant inhibition up to 10 uM. Staurosporin (1 uM), a protein kinase C inhibitor, showed an inhibitory effect only against PMA-induced arachidonate release (96.8% inhibition). Inhibition of arachidonate release from the activated macrophages may contribute to an anti-inflammatory potential of biflavonoids in vivo.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.720-726
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• 2004

Two Spectrophotometric procedures are presented for the determination of two commonly used H2-receptor antagonists, nizatidine (I) and ranitidine hydrochloride (II). The methods are based mainly on charge transfer complexation reaction of these drugs with either ${\rho}-chloranilic$ acid (${\rho}-CA$) or 2, 3 dichloro-5, 6-dicyanoquinone (DDQ). The produced colored products are quantified spectrophotometrically at 515 and 467 nm in chloranilic acid and 000 methods, respectively. The molar ratios for the reaction products and the optimum assay conditions were studied. The methods determine the cited drugs in concentration ranges of 20-200 and $20-160\;\mu\textrm{g}/mL$ for nizatidine and ranges of 20-240 and $20-140\;\mu\textrm{g}/mL$ for ranitidine with chloranilic acid and DDQ methods, respectively. A more detailed investigation of the complexes formed was made with respect to their composition, association constant, molar absorptivity and free energy change. The proposed procedures were successfully utilized in the determination of the drugs in pharmaceutical preparations. The standard addition method was applied by adding nizatidine and ranitidine to the previously analyzed tablets or capsules. The recovery of each drug was calculated by comparing the concentration obtained from the spiked mixtures with those of the pure drug. The results of analysis of commercial tablets and the recovery study (standard addition method) of the cited drugs suggested that there is no interference from any excipients, which are present in tablets or capsules. Statistical comparison of the results was performed with regard to accuracy and precision using student's t-test and F-ratio at 95％ confidence level. There is no significant difference between the reported and proposed methods with regard to accuracy and precision.