• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.640-645
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• 2017

Clerodendrum trichotomum (CT) leaves and stems have been used in folk medicine for their anti-hypertension, arthritis, rheumatism, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was performed to evaluate the potential of CT as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. CT leaves were extracted using 70% ethanol (EtOH). Then, using this extract, a hexane, chloroform ($CHCl_3$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (BuOH) fraction was prepared. The polyphenol contents were higher in the EtOAc fraction ($78.08{\mu}g/mg$) and BuOH fraction ($77.54{\mu}g/mg$) compared to the other fractions. Also, these two fractions exhibited strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities were higher in the $CHCl_3$ fraction ($IC_{50}=4.43{\mu}g/ml$) and EtOAc fraction ($IC_{50}=5.69{\mu}g/ml$). Moreover, the EtOAc fraction effectively inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells ($IC_{50}=18.87{\mu}g/ml$). Thus, we investigated the effects of the EtOAc fraction on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The treatment of the EtOAc fraction ($100{\mu}g/ml$) effectively decreased the levels of the tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). These results suggest the potential for CT extract and fractions as promising anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.594-602
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• 2009

Purpose : Transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ reportedly increases neuronal survival by inhibiting the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in astrocytes and protecting neurons after excitotoxic injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of $TGF-{\beta}1$ on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal rats is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether $TGF-{\beta}1$ has neuroprotective effects via a NO-mediated mechanism and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation on perinatal HI brain injury. Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with $TGF-{\beta}1$ (1, 5, or 10 ng/mL) and incubated in a 1% O2 incubator for hypoxia. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 h of hypoxic exposure (7.5% $O_2$). $TGF-{\beta}1$ (0.5 ng/kg) was administered intracerebrally to the rats 30 min before HI brain injury. The expressions of NOS and NMDA receptors were measured. Results : In the in vitro model, the expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in the hypoxic group and decreased in the 1 ng/mL $TGF-{\beta}1-treated$ group. In the in vivo model, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) decreased in the hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group. The expressions of eNOS and nNOS were reversed compared with the expression of iNOS. The expressions of all NMDA receptor subunits decreased in hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group except NR2C. Conclusion : The administration of $TGF-{\beta}1$ could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via some parts of the NO-mediated or excitotoxic mechanism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the effect of Rhei Rhizoma (RR; 大黃) water extract on gene expression in a hypoxia model of cultured rat hippocampal neurons. RR water extract $(2.5{\mu}g/ml)$ was added to the culture media on day 10 in vitro (DIV10), and a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$/5% $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 h) was given on DIV13. After maintaining the cultures in normoxia for 24 hr, total RNA was isolated and used for microarray analysis. The MA-plot indicated that most genes were up- or downregulated within 2-fold. There were more downregulated genes (725 ea) than upregulated ones (472 ea) when larger than Global M value 0.2 (i.e., >15% increase) or smaller than Global M value -0.2 (i.e., >15% decrease) were considered. Antiapoptosis genes such as Tegt (2.4-fold), Nfkb1 (2.4-fold) Veg (1.8-fold), Ngfr (1.6-fold) were upregulated, while pro-apoptosis genes such as Bad (-64%), Cstb (-66%) were downregulated. Genes for combating environmental stress (stress response genes) such as Defb3 (2.7-fold), Cygb (2.2-fold), Ahsg (2.18-fold), Alox5 (2-fold) were upregulated. Genes for cell proliferation (cell cycle-related genes) such as Erbb2 (1.84-fold), Mapk12 gene (1.8-fold) was upregulated. Therefore, RR water extracts upregulate many pro-survival genes while downregulating many pro-death genes. It is interpreted that these genes, in combination with other regulated genes, can promote neuronal survival in a stress such as hypoxia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.281-286
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• 1999

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the types of complications, the incidences of complications, and preoperative and postoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of the complication. Material and Method: Between August 1990 and August 1997 in Asan Medical Center, 42 patients(24 men and 18 women) underwent surgical resection for pulmonary aspergilloma. The mean age was 46.6${\pm}$11.5 years(range 29 to 69 years). Hemoptysis(90%) was the most common presentation. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common predisposing cause(81%). The associated diseases were bronchiectasis(n=11), active puolmonary tuberculosis(n=9), diabetes mellitus(n=8), lung carcinoid(n=1), and acute myeloblastic leukemia(n=1). Lobectomy was done in 32 cases(76%), segmentectomy or wedge resection in 4, pneumonectomy in 2, and lobectomy combined with segmentectomy in 4. Result: Operative mortality was 2%. The most common postoperative complication was persistent air leakage(n=6). The variables such as age, sex, pulmonary function test, amount and duration of hemoptysis, associated diseases(diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis), mode of preoperative management(steroid, antifungal agent, bronchial arterial embolization), and modes of operative procedures were statistically insignificant. The radiologic extent of infiltration to normal lung parenchyme was statistically significant(p=0.04). Conclusion: We conclude that the extent of the infiltration to normal lung parenchyme in preoperative radiologic studies should be carefully evaluated to reduce the postoperative complications in surgery for pulmonary aspergilloma.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2021

This study investigated the anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-obesity effects of Sparassis latifolia (S. latifolia) fruiting body powder in rats fed with a high fat and cholesterol diet (HFD). Rats were fed a normal control diet (ND), an HFD, an HFD supplemented with 5% fruiting body powder of S. latifolia (HFD+SL), or an HFD supplemented with 0.03% simvastatin (HFD+SS), for 6 weeks. The HFD group demonstrated considerable increase in body weight gain, the food efficiency ratio (FER), and plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, compared to the ND group. In contrast, the HFD+SL and HFD+SS groups showed significantly reduced body weight gain, food intake, and plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to the HFD group. In particular, the HFD+SL and HFD+SS diets significantly suppressed the occurrence of non-alcoholic fat deposits in the liver. Taken together, these results suggest that dietary supplementation of the fruiting body powder of S. latifolia in an HFD could lower the risks of hyperlipidemia, atherogenesis, and obesity and may be used as a functional food to manage cardiovascular disease and fecal lipid and cholesterol levels.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.786-794
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• 2018

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae have been widely worked in wound dressing, hepatoprotective activity, antigenotoxicity, control of glucose level and anti-cancer activity. To investigate the anti-obesity activity of ethanol extract of silkworm pupae powder fermented with Cordyceps militaris (ESfC), the free glycerol release and cAMP concentration as well as fat accumulation were measured in the primary adipocytes of SD (Sprague Dawley) rats and high fat diet (HFD)-treated C57BL/6 mice treated with 12 weeks. Firstly, the presence of the cordycepin with lipid lowering effect was confirmed in ESfC using HPLC analysis. The level of free glycerol and cAMP concentration was significantly increased in the primary adipocytes treated with high dose of ESfC ($400{\mu}g/ml$) although these levels were consistently maintained in other dose ESfC treated groups. In HFD-induced obesity model, the increased fat weight and size of adipocytes in HFD+Vehicle treated group was recovered in HFD+ESfC treated group. Also, the liver weight and the number of lipid droplets were higher in HFD+Vehicle treated group than No treated group. But, this level was significantly decreased in HFD+ESfC treated group compared with HFD+Vehicle treated group. Furthermore, a similar recovery was detected on the phosphorylation of periliphin and HSL, and ATGL expression. Overall, the results of the present study provide some scientific evidences that ESfC can stimulate lipolysis in primary adipocytes and prevent fat accumulation in HFD-treated obesity model, and therefore have the potential for use as anti-obesity agents to treat obese patient.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.361-366
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• 2013

This research was performed to investigate the effect of Agarum cribrosum ethanol extracts on the levels of lipids in the serum of rats fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Experimental groups were divided into basal diet only (BDG), high fat diet control (HFDCG), high-fat diet and 5% Agarum cribrosum ethanol extract powder (HF5S), and high-fat diet and 10% Agarum cribrosum ethanol extract powder(HF10S) groups. The levels of hematological variables were not significantly different among the four groups. Compared with the control group's serum total cholesterol level of 89.14 mg/dL, the levels of the HF5S and HF10S groups were significantly lowered to 77.26 and 75.47 mg/dL, respectively. Compared with the control group's LDL-cholesterol leve of 27.41 mg/dL, the LDL-cholesterol levels of the HF5S and HF10S groups were significantly lowered to 20.64 and 20.17 mg/dL, respectively. Also, compared to the control group's serum triglyceride level of 98.36 mg/dL, the triglyceride levels of the HF5S and HF10S groups were significantly lowered to 87.94 and 87.39 mg/dL, respectively. These results indicate that dietary intake of Agarum cribrosum ethanol extracts might have beneficial effects on obesity by reducing body weight and improving blood lipid profile.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.819-827
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, alcohol metabolizing, and hepatoprotective effects of hot water (MOW) and 80% ethanol (MOE) extracts from moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf. The total phenol content of MOW and MOE were 45.49 and 63.06 mg tannic acid equivalents/g, respectively. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities of MOW and MOE were remarkably elevated in a dose-dependent manner, and about 60.8% and 71.3% at 1 mg/mL, respectively (P<0.01). Superoxide dismutase-like activities of MOW and MOE were 2.8% and 7.4% at 5 mg/mL, respectively (P<0.05). ${\alpha}-Glucosidase$ inhibitory activity also increased in a dose-dependent manner in both extracts, and MOE was higher about two times than MOW at 5 mg/mL (P<0.001). The effects of MOW and MOE on alcohol metabolizing activity were determined by measuring generation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ADH and ALDH activities significantly increased upon addition of MOW and MOE (P<0.05). Anti-inflammatory activity was examined in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Nitric oxide production was reduced to 32.1% and 81.2% by addition of MOW and MOE at 1 mg/mL, respectively (P<0.05). MOW and MOE showed significant protective effects against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep3B cells at $100{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggest that moringa leaf extracts have great potential as natural health products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1234-1243
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• 2011

Liriope platyphylla has been used in oriental medicine as an effective medical plant to improve symptoms of cough, sputum production, neurodegenerative disorders, obesity and diabetes for long time. In order to investigate the effects of novel extracts on nerve growth factors (NGF)-stimulated neuritic outgrowth, the alteration of NGF expression and NGF receptor signaling pathway were detected in neuroblastoma cells and C57BL/6 mice. Of a total of 13 novel extracts, 4 extracts (LP-E, LP-M, LP-M50, LP2E17PJ) showed high viability on MTT assay. Also, all of these extracts induced NGF secretion and NGF mRNA expression in neuroblastoma cells. However, the NGF-induced neuritic outgrowth from PC12 cells was only stimulated by LP-E, LP-M and LP-M50. Furthermore, we selected LP-M as a best candidate, based on method and amounts of extraction, in order to verify its effect in mice. C57BL/6 mice were treated with 50 mg/kg of LP-M for 2 weeks and the effects on NGF regulation were analyzed with various methods. The expression of NGF mRNA was significantly increased in LP-M treated mice compared to vehicle treated mice. Also, the signaling pathway of p75NTR was inhibited in the cortex by LP-M treatment, with no change in the hippocampus of brain. However, the signaling pathway of TrkA was dramatically activated in only hippocampus via LP-M treatment. Therefore, these results suggest that the novel four extracts of L. platyphylla may contribute to the regulation of NGF expression and secretion in neuronal cells. LP-M was especially considered to be an excellent candidate for a neurodegenerative disease-therapeutic drug.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2001

Background: Although pulmonary resection is the standard approach for the management of pulmonary metastases from soft tissue sarcoma, most of them are unresectable and chemotherapy remains the only option. The effectiveness of the cytotoxic drugs may be limited by the toxicities that occur before the therapeutic dose is reached. The regional administration of doxorubicin using pulmonary arterial perfusion in a rodent model can produce 10 to 25 times higher concentrations in the lung than systemic administration with minimal systemic toxicities. However, it is unclear whether a high concentration of doxorubicin has beneficial effects for killing cancer cells. Material and Method: We studied this to evaluate the dose-dependent cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of doxorubicin on methylcholanthrene-induced rat fibrosarcoma(MCA) cells. This study examined the cytotoxicity and apoptosis-related gene expressions(Fas, FasL, Bax, caspase 1, caspase 2, caspase 8, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-xS) in MCA cells after 24 hours exposure to various concentrations of doxorubicin such as 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 $\mu$M. Result: Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed after 24 hours exposure to doxorubicin. However, peak apoptosis after 24 hours exposure was observed at 5 $\mu$M of doxorubicin. Above 5 $\mu$M, apoptotic activity was decreased with dose-increment. All mRNA levels of apoptosis-related genes after 24 hours exposure were up-regulated above the control level at 1 $\mu$M of doxorubicin and then decreased by doxorubicin dose-increment except caspase 8, which showed higher levels than the control level at 5 $\mu$M. Apoptosis-related protein levels were highest at 1 $\mu$M of doxorubicin and then decreased by doxorubicin dose-increment. However, Bax and Bcl-xL proteins steadily showed higher levels than the control throughout the different concentrations of doxorubicin. Conclusion: These results suggest that apoptosis is the main cytotoxic mechanism in low concentrations of doxorubicin in MCA cells and apoptosis-related genes, such as Bax, caspase 8, and Bcl-xL, are involved. At high concentrations, doxorubicin still can kill MCA cells, even when apoptosis is inhibited, and have its propriety for achieving much cytotoxicity against MCA cells.