• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.383-390
• /
• 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can be differentiated into a variety of cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, β-pancreatic islet cells, and neuronal cells. MSCs have been reported to exhibit immunomodulatory effects in many diseases. Many studies have reported that MSCs have distinct roles in modulating inflammatory and immune responses by releasing bioactive molecules. Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles present in biological fluids, including the blood, urine, and cultured medium of cell cultures. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of mouse adipose tissue-derived MSCs (mAD-MSCs), cultured medium (MSC-CM) of mAD-MSCs, and mAD-MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exo) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. We observed that the expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 were significantly increased in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells compared to those in LPS-unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, these values were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in mAD-MSCs-RAW 264.7 cell co-culture groups, MSC-CM-treated groups, and MSC-Exo-treated groups. MSCs can modulate the immune system in part by secreting cytokines and growth factors. We observed that immunomodulatory factors such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 were secreted by mAD-MSCs under co-culturing conditions of mAD-MSCs with activated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, mAD-MSC-derived exosomes exhibited similar immunomodulatory effects in activated RAW 264.7 cells. Therefore, our results suggest that mAD-MSCs have an immunomodulatory function through indirect contact.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.471-478
• /
• 2011

The ginseng stem fungus gnat, Phytosciara procera, overwintered in old stems and roots of ginseng as a larvae from late September to early May in next year. In the late Spring they become pupa then emerged. Therefore, the first control period has to be set between late May and early June. It is a same period of elimination of ginseng flower stalks. Two or three times pest control might be needed per month for controlling adult of P. procera. Otherwise, the overwintered form as larva in old stem by removal of old stems of ginseng, the population of first generation of P. procera adults could be reduced. However, it seemed that the removal of old stems was not necessarily correlated with the population of P. procera adults in the next generation. Three kinds of environmental-friendly control agents that were mainly contained sophora extract, showed the highly insecticidal activities against larva of P. procera. Among them, one agent containing sophora extract and paraffin oil showed an ovicidal action as well as oviposition repellency.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.305-313
• /
• 2021

This study verified the antioxidant and whitening activities of a Pinus koraiensis extract (PK) and a Hibiscus cannabinus L. extract (HC), and further evaluated the interaction of the extract ingredients when mixed at a 1:1 ratio (PKHC). The electron-donating and ABTS+ radical scavenging activities of the PKHC extract at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration were 93.7% and 94%, respectively, indicating a higher efficacy than achieved with either extract alone. Measurements of the tyrosinase the activities in response to PK, HC, and PKHC extracts at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentrations showed inhibitions of 40%, 27.5%, and 43%, respectively, confirming a higher efficacy of the mixture due to the synergistic action of the ingredients. The cell toxicity values in melanoma cells treated with PK, HC, and PKHC at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration were 87.4%, 80.2%, and 98%, confirming a higher viability in cells treated with the mixture due to antagonism. The expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase protein expression determined by Western blotting decreased by 53.9%, 64.8%, 67.3%, and 56.1%, respectively, when PKHC was administered at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) results also showed that PKHC at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml inhibited the mRNA expression of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase mRNA by 54.4%, 64.9%, 66.6%, and 63.1%, respectively. Taken together, the data confirmed the antioxidant and whitening effect of the PKHC extract and verified the possibility that this extract mixture has great potential as a cosmetic ingredient.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.724-731
• /
• 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are characterized by their multipotency capacity, which allows them to differentiate into diverse cell types (bone, cartilage, fat, tendon, and neuron-like cells) and secrete a variety of trophic factors (ANG, FGF-2, HGF, IGF-1, PIGF, SDF-1α, TGF-β, and VEGF). MSCs can be easily isolated from human bone-marrow, fat, and umbilical-cord tissues. These features indicate that MSCs might be of use in stem-cell therapy. However, MSCs undergo cellular senescence during long-term expansion, and this is accompanied by functional declines in stem-cell potency. In the human body, because of their senescence and declines in their microenvironmental niches stem cells fail to maintain tissue homeostasis, and as a result, senescent cells accumulate in tissues. This can lead to age-related diseases, including degenerative disorders and cancers. Recent studies suggest that the number of histone modifications to stem cells’ genomes and aberrant alterations to their DNA methylation increase as stem cells progress into senescence. These epigenetic alterations have been partly reversed with treatments in which DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors or histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are introduced into replicative senescent-MSCs. This review focuses on epigenetic alteration in replicative senescent-MSCs and explains how epigenetic modifications are widely associated with stem-cell senescences such as differentiation, proliferation, migration, calcium signaling, and apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.260-274
• /
• 2015

This paper has shown the experimental results about the physiological activities of water-, ethanol-, ethyl acetate-soluble fractions from ethanolic extracts of leaves, stems and roots of Cudrania tricuspidata on the skin, which has been used for a long time as a traditional herb medicine in Korea and China. The effects of these fractions on the secretion of nitric oxide and cytokines from macrophage(RAW 264.7 cell) exhibited that the ethyl acetate and water fractions from leaves inhibited the release of nitric oxide, all fractions inhibited thoses of inflammatory cytokine $IL-1{\alpha}$, and the ethyl acetate fractions of leaves, stems and roots inhibited thoses of inflammatory cytokine IL-6. The only ethylacetate fraction of leaves demonstrated significantly the reduction of melanin synthesis in melanoma cells. In order to evaluate the efficacy of collagen synthesis, the treatment with extracts on the human normal fibroblast cell(CCD-986sk cell) resulted in finding that the water fractions of leaves, stems and roots and the ethanol fractions of leaves and stems showed the increased synthesis of collagen.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.313-322
• /
• 2013

Ultraviolet irradiation in the cells and skin produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induces the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) causing skin photoaging. Using the human dermal fibroblast (HDF), we investigated the antioxidative and anti-aging effects of the extracts from Talinum paniculatum. Talinum paniculatum leaf and stem extracts (LSE) showed free radical scavenging effect by 98.45% at 500 ${\mu}g/mL$ and superoxide radical scavenging effect by 97.01% at 500 ${\mu}g/mL$ in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. The photoprotective potential of LSE was tested in HDF exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. It was revealed that LSE had an inhibitory effect on MMP-1 expression in UVA-irradiated HDF without any significant cytotoxicity. The treatment of UVA-irradiated HDF with LSE resulted in dose-dependent decreases in the expression levels of MMP-1 mRNA and protein. Also, UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were effectively suppressed by treatment of LSE. Additionally, the senescence-associated ${\beta}$- galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) activity was decreased in the presence of LSE. These results suggest that Talinum paniculatum leaf and stem extracts (LSE) may have anti-aging effects and can be used as new functional materials against oxidative stress-mediated skin damages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.661-667
• /
• 2014

To investigate the anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of Opuntia humifusa cladodes, O. humifusa cladodes powder was extracted with 75% ethanol and fractionated with various solvents. Among the extracts fractionated with various solvents, ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of O. humifusa cladodes were highest ($89.94{\pm}1.15%$ and $29.01{\pm}3.03%$, respectively) in the ethyl acetate fraction. Further, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the ethyl acetate fraction were the highest ($196.02{\pm}5.26$ and $114.00{\pm}10.03{\mu}g/mg$, respectively). DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities increased according to the concentration of O. humifusa cladodes extract, and those of the ethyl acetate fraction were the highest. Ferric reducing antioxidant powers of chloroform and the ethyl acetate fraction were higher than those of other fractions. Overall, the ethyl acetate fraction of O. humifusa cladodes showed the highest anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects. Results indicate that O. humifusa cladodes powder has potential as a useful ingredient with anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.561-566
• /
• 2017

Dendropanax morbifera Lev. is known in Korea for its golden sap and medicinal properties. The many biological activities of the leaf and stem extracts suggest that this tree could be a valuable source of medicinal compounds for the treatment of various ailments such as dermatitis, migraines, dysmenorrhea, muscle pain, and infectious diseases. However, there is little information on the composition and biological activity of the volatile fraction of D. morbifera. Therefore, in this study, the volatile compounds in leaves, stems, and sap of D. morbifera were isolated using solvent and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to reveal their chemical composition and identify potential compounds of interest. Fifteen compounds were identified in the leaf extracts, whereas 29 and 3 compounds were identified in the stem and sap extracts, respectively. The volatile profiles obtained using solvent and SFE differed. Esters and aromatic hydrocarbons predominated in the solvent extract of leaves and SFE extract of stems, whereas the solvent extract of stems and SFE extract of leaves contained terpenoids. Limonene, ${\alpha}$-pinene, and ${\beta}$-myrcene were identified in the volatile extract of sap, with limonene representing 96.30% of the total peak area. In addition, the antiproliferative effects of the solvent extracts of leaves and stems were evaluated, revealing that these solvent extracts were particularly effective in decreasing the proliferation of HepG2 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.179-190
• /
• 2024

Cannabis sativa is a plant widely cultivated worldwide and has been used as a material for food, medicine, building materials and cosmetics. In this study, we assessed the functional effects of C. sativa stem and root extracts using network pharmacology and confirmed their novel functions. The components in stem and root ethanol extracts were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and networks between the components and proteins were constructed using the STICHI database. Functional annotation of the proteins was performed using the KEGG pathway. The effects of the extracts were confirmed in lysophosphatidylcholine-induced THP-1 cells using real-time PCR. A total of 21 and 32 components were identified in stem and root extracts, respectively, and 147 and 184 proteins were linked to stem and root components, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that 69 pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway, were commonly affected by the extracts. Further investigation using pathway networks revealed that terpenoid backbone biosynthesis was likely affected by the extracts, and the expression of the MVK and MVD genes, key proteins in terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, was decreased in LPC-induced THP-1 cells. Therefore, this study determined the diverse function of C. sativa extracts, providing information for predicting and researching the effects of C. sativa.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.170-179
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate for mineral contents, total polyphenol compounds, betaine, choline and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of halophyte. The mineral concentrations of Salicornia herbacea (top part) were Na 100,006 mg/kg, K 1,385 mg/kg, Mg 6,263 mg/kg, Ca 2,750 mg/kg, Fe 90.4 mg/kg, Mn 98.9 mg/kg, Zn 33.3 mg/kg, Cu 3.4 mg/kg respectively. And Suaeda Japonica (top part) were Na 85,332 mg/kg, K 710 mg/kg, Mg 7,005 mg/kg, Ca 4,344 mg/kg, Fe 1,434.9 mg/kg, Mn 119.1 mg/kg, Zn 19.2 mg/kg, Cu 2.7 mg/kg respectively. The betaine contents of Salicornia herbacea (top part) were 15.09 mg/g and Suaeda Japonica (top part) were 14.64 mg/g. The choline contents estimated by the DBAP-choline derivatives of Salicornia herbacea (top part) were 20.9 mg/100 g, Salicornia herbacea (root) were 23.4 mg/100 g, Suaeda Japonica (top part) were 23.1 mg/100g and Suaeda Japonica (root) were 23.8 mg/100 g. Total polyphenol compounds of Salicornia herbacea (top part) were high 36.0 mg/g in growth phase. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of methanol extract Salicornia herbacea (top part) were high 90.1% in growth phase. The frozen dried powder of Salicornia herbacea (top part) 1 g was equal to Quercetin 30.26 mg, Rutin 42.65 mg, TBHQ 20.32 mg, BHA 25.86 mg, BHT 40.75 mg, Ascorbic acid 22.86 mg in DPPH radical scavenging activities.