• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.768-772
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• 2010

In this study, the neuronal cell protective effects of methanol extract from cheonggukjang were evaluated. The proximate composition and total phenolics of the methanol extract were 40.95% crude protein, 22.49% crude fat, 15.99% nitrogen free extract, 7.91% moisture, 6.74% crude ash, 5.92% crude fiber, and 28.43 mg/g of total phenolics. Intracellular ROS accumulation resulting from $H_2O_2$ treatment of PC12 cells was significantly reduced when methanol extract was present in the media compared to PC12 cells treated with $H_2O_2$ only. In a cell viability assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide (MTT), the methanol extract showed protective effects against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the medium was also inhibited. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of the methanol extract against acetylcholinesterase was dose-dependent.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2011

The quality of decoction water would be important for the preparation of herbal medicines. Four types of decoction water, S1, S2, S3 and S4, three types of mineral water from Jeju island and one type of tap water from Seoul region were evaluated. The contents of minerals in decoction water were analysed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. There was significant difference in the mineral contents between the types of decoction water. The bioactive components from rhubarb were extracted with four types of water and the relationship between mineral contents in water and the extracted amounts of components was evaluated. The total extraction was calculated by evaporating water and weighing the residue. The bioactive components in rhubarb were determined by HPLC method. Kruskall-Wallis rank sum tests were used. Multiple factor analysis was used to analyze the relation between the contents of mineral and total extraction or bioactive components in the decocted solutions. Not only the total extraction but also the amount of extracted bioactive components showed statistically significant relationship with the contents of minerals and anions in decoction water.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2019

Platelet aggregation is essential for the formation of a hemostatic plug in the case of blood vessel damage. On the other hand, excessive platelet aggregation may cause cardiovascular disorders, such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. Scopoletin, which found in the root of plants in the genus Scopolia or Artemisia, has anti-coagulation and anti-malaria effects. This study examined the effects of scopoletin on human platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Scopoletin had anti-platelet effects via the down-regulation of thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) production and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), which are aggregation-inducing molecules produced in activated platelets. On the other hand, scopoletin increased both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, which are known as intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists and aggregation-inhibiting molecules. In particular, scopoletin increased the potently cAMP level more than cGMP, which led to suppressed fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}_3$ in collagen-induced human platelet aggregation. In addition, scopoletin inhibited collagen-elevated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that aggregation amplification through granule secretion is inhibited by scopoletin. Therefore, scopoletin has potent anti-platelet effects and may have potential for the prevention of platelet-derived vascular diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.349-356
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• 2023

Gout, a chronic inflammatory arthritic disease, is characterized by hyperuricemia. Gout can be induced by an inflammatory response to monosodium urate (MSU) crystals mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokine release following activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Many sulfur-containing phytochemical compounds in garlic (Allium sativum L.) are considered active ingredients because of their potential pharmacological benefits for various diseases, but their efficacy in NLRP3 inflammasome activation-mediated gout has not been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated whether diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS), representative garlic-derived sulfur compounds, have an inhibitory effect on MSU-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our results showed that under non-cytotoxic conditions, DADS and DATS significantly blocked nitric oxide production and interleukin (IL)-1β release in response to MSU in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed RAW 264.7 macrophages. DADS and DATS also attenuated enhanced expression of NLRP3 and its adapter protein, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, which was associated with downregulation of and caspase-1 p20 and IL-1β expression, suggesting that MSU-induced LRP3 inflammasome activation was counteracted by DADS and DATS. Furthermore, DADS and DATS blocked oxidative stress, an upstream event for NLRP3 inflammasome activation, as evidenced by the fact that they scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that DADS and DATS suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation by inhibiting the ROS/NLRP3 pathway and that they have potential as treatments for NLRP3-dependent gouty arthritis.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2009

We investigated the degree of obesity, histological development stages of gonads and sexual maturation induction rates of comb pen shell, Atrina pectinata, per the type of micro-algae supplied. Terms of maturation by singular or mixed supply of microalgae, it was found that maturation of the female was the quickest at 60.0% by the Tetraselmis tetrathele (Tet). experiment group followed by 57.1% by the Chlorella ellipsoidea (Chl). experiment group and 16.7% by the Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Pha). experiment group. However, there were no significant differences between Tet. experiment group and Chl. experiment group. As for the male, maturation was the quickest at 60.0% by the Tet. experiment group followed by 16.7% by the Chl. experiment group and 14.3% by the Pha. experiment group. In light of these results, Tet. is concluded to be a very useful feed organism in breeding the mother comb pen shells. Upon completion of the experiment, the sexual maturation induction rate for the female was found to be the highest at 82.0% in the Tet. experiment group followed by 72.0% by the Chl. experiment group, 64.0% by the Pha. experiment group and 58.0% by the mixed micro-algae experiment group. During the period of experiment, the survival rate was the highest at 94.4% by the mixed micro-algae experiment group followed by 90.0% by the Pha. experiment group, 83.1% by the Tet. experiment group and 78.8% by the Chl. experiment group.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2009

The trapping leaves of Drosera capture insects by secreting sticky mucilage from numerous glandular trichomes (GTs) that are developed on the leaf epidermis. The present study examines and compares the structural features of those trichomes in Drosera binata and D. pygmy with the use of light and electron microscopy. The study focuses primarily on the development and differentiation pattern of the GTs during growth. Upon examination, the upper and lower epidermis were readily distinguishable by the features of GTs in developing leaves. In particular, the GTs were dense in the upper epidermis and along the leaf margin. In D. binata, the capitate GTs with elongated stalk and sessile peltate GTs were found most commonly, whereas only capitate GTs with varying degrees of the stalk length were observed in D. pygmy. Up to ca. $2.2{\sim}3.4\;mm$ long capitate GTs were seen in the leaf margins of D. binata and ca. $3.7{\sim}4.2\;mm$ long GTs having racket-like head with adaxial hemispheric structures, otherwise known as tentacles, were noted in the leaf margin of D. pygmy. The peltate GTs were found to be distributed in the lower epidermis of D. binata. In both species, head cells were dense with cytoplasm containing high numbers of Golgi bodies, ER, mitochondria and small vesicles. Secretory materials accumulated within numerous small vacuoles, then fused together to form a single large vacuole, which serves as a secretory cavity. Flection movement of the marginal GTs and leaf blade GTs, and increased mucilage secretion from the head cells upon contact with prey during the capturing process are considered to be major factors in their active insectivorous mechanism. The findings of this study will be useful in comparisons to similar findings in other species that form adhesive trapping leaves, such as Drosophyllum or Pinguicula., further contributing a better understanding of the function and structure of the trapping leaves of carnivorous plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.130-134
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• 2016

How does $CO_2$ affect on the stomatal mechanism? The mechanism of stomatal opening by $CO_2$ is not clear as it is difficult to see $CO_2$ effect on light-induced stomatal opening. Furthermore, stomata may react differently according to the concentration of $CO_2$. The significance of the possible endogenous rhythms must consider to understand on $CO_2$-related response. It is clear that $CO_2$ has an effect on the accumulation of osmotic materials which determines the degree of stomatal apertures because it is known that stomata open in the condition of the reduced $CO_2$ concentration. However, it is not fully understood how $CO_2$ leads to the stomatal opening. It has been thought that $CO_2$ can not affect on the ion fluxes which determines the increase of osmotic potential in guard cells. However, in this study, the changes of guard cell membrane permeability by $CO_2$ have been focused on. There are many reports that $CO_2$ related reactions are dominant when the leaf is exposed to certain a mount of $CO_2$. The hypothesis of the stomatal opening by light is based on the increase of osmotic materials in guard cells including $K^+$, $Cl^-$, sucrose and $malate^{2-}$. It was reported that $CO_2$ induced a big hyperpolarization indicating that $H^+$ was extruded to the cell outside. It was also found that $CO_2$ caused guard cell membrane hyperpolarization in the intact leaf up to 3 or 4 times higher than that of light induced membrane hyperpolarization. These results represent that $CO_2$ can affect on the change of physical characteristics which affects on the change of the membrane permeability.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.546-554
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• 2006

To understand antitumor activity of Zanthoxylum schinfolium, which has been used as an aromatic and medicinal plant in Korea, the cytotoxic effect of various organic solvent extracts of its leaves on human tumor cells were investigated. Among these extracts such as methanol extract (SL-13), methylene chloride extract (SL-14), ethyl acetate extract (SL-15), n-butanol extract (SL-16), and residual fraction (SL-17), SL-14 appeared to contain the most cytotoxic activity against leukemia and breast cancer cells tested. The methylene chloride extra.1 (SL-14) possessed an apoptogenic activity causing apoptotic DNA fragmentation of human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells via mitochondrial cytochrome c release into cytoplasm, subsequent activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP, which could be negatively regulated by antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. The GC-MS analysis of SL-14 revealed that the twenty-two ingredients of SL-14 were 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol (15.1%), 2-a-methyl-17, b-hop-21-ene (15.1%), 15-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H benzazepin (11.95%), phytol (10.38%), lupeol (9.92%), 12-methylbenzofuran (8.23%), hexadecanoic acid (5.96%), cis,cis,cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid-methyl-ester (5.49%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid-methylester (3.59%), 15-methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-2-(4-nitrophenyl) (3.36%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (1.93%), vitamine E (1.88%), beta-amyrin (0.96%), and auraptene (0.89%). These results demonstrate that the cytotoxicity of the methylene chloride extract of the leaves of Z. schinifolium toward Jurkat T cells is mainly attributable to apoptosis mediated by mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade regulated by Bcl-xL, and provide an insight into the mechanism underlying antitumor activity of the edible plant Z. schinifolium.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1257-1264
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• 2016

Extracts from Artemisia annua $Linn\acute{e}$ (AAE) have various functions (anti-malaria, anti-virus, and anti-oxidant). However, the mechanism of the effects of AAE is not well known. Thus, we determined the apoptotic effects of AAE in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. In this study, we suggested that AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-$3{\beta}$ signal pathway and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. Activation by Akt phosphorylation resulted in cell proliferation through phosphorylation of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), mTOR, and GSK-$3{\beta}$. Thus, de-phosphorylation of Akt inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through inhibition of Akt, mTOR, phosphorylation of GSK-$3{\beta}$ at serine9, and control of Bcl-2 family members. Inhibition of GSK-$3{\beta}$ attenuated loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome C. Bax and pro-apoptotic proteins were activated by their translocation into mitochondria from the cytosol. Translocation of Bax induced outer membrane transmission and generated apoptosis through cytochrome C release and caspase activity. We also measured 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, lactate dehydrogenase assay, Hoechst 33342 staining, Annexin V-PI staining, 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide staining, and Western blotting. Accordingly, our study showed that AAE treatment to AGS cells resulted in inhibition of Akt, TSC2, GSK-$3{\beta}$-phosphorylated, Bim, Bcl-2, and pro-caspase 3 as well as activation of Bax and Bak expression. These results indicate that AAE induced apoptosis via a mitochondrial event through regulation of the Akt/mTOR/GSK-$3{\beta}$ signaling pathways.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2009

Chondrocytes and synovial fluid derived markers are used to monitor for osteoarthritis(OA). Specific inhibitors, known as tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMP), regulate the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP). This study investigated whether MMP and TIMP levels were altered in synovial fluid and cartilage following the experimental induction of OA in canines. Twenty mature beagle dogs underwent a unilateral surgical transection of the cranial cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament as well as a medial meniscectomy. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and MMP-9 levels were assayed using Western blot and TIMP-2 levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays four weeks after OA induction. Increased MMP-2 expression was observed in chondrocytes isolated from cartilage following OA induction, but MMP-9 expression decreased. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and MMP-9 levels in synovial fluid from the OA induced joint significantly increased compared to those of the sham group. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 concentrations were higher in chondrocytes from the OA cartilage, yet TIMP-2 remained lower in the synovial fluid of OA. This suggests the elevated release of MMP-9 over MMP-2 into the synovial fluid following the cartilage degradation-related death of chondrocytes after OA. Osteoarthritis can be further deteriorated by increased MMP activity in the synovial fluid because TIMP-2 exist low concentration into the extracellular matrix. As a result, MMP activity, particularly MMP-9 activity, can be useful as a biomarker in diagnosing and monitoring the early stages of canine OA.