• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.70-80
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of red ginseng-derived non-saponin fraction (NSF) on inflammatory responses and monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation in RAW264.7 and THP-1. NSF effectively inhibited inflammatory responses by downregulating nitric oxide (NO) production and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). NSF ($2000{\mu}g/mL$) decreased the levels of NO, iNOS, and COX-2 by 33, 83, and 64%, respectively. NSF inhibited the differentiation of monocyte-to-macrophage by decreasing cell adherence along with downregulation of the cluster of differentiation molecule $11{\beta}$ ($CD11{\beta}$) and CD36. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), were significantly reduced with NSF treatment. The NSF-mediated inhibition of inflammatory responses was due to the regulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). NSF effectively suppressed the translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ into the nucleus, while nuclear Nrf2 and its target protein, heme oxygenase-1, levels were significantly increased.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2018

The Houttuynia cordata has been utilized for various beneficial purposes in humans mainly because of its potent antioxidant principle quercitrin present in this plant. This study examines the possibility of producing a functional sea food commodity containing active principle quercitrin by feeding H. cordata for a extended period. Spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) were fed a diet containing H. cordata at 0.1-1.0% levels for 1 month and tissue concentrations of quercitrin were analyzed in serum, hepatopancreas and muscle. It was observed that quercitrin was found in the ranking order of hepatopancreas>muscle>serum. After a bolus administration of quercitrin (20 mg/kg, oral) to spotted sea bass and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), idential rank order was observed after 48 hr. In contrast, the order was liver>serum>muscle in rat and mice, indicating that higher quercitrin distribution occurs to the muscle in fishes compared with in mammals tested. High residue concentration of qeurcitrin in the edible tissue can be an advantageous property in terms of functional food production. High level H. cordata extract inclusion of 1.0% seems to have detrimental effects in spotted sea bass leading to growth retardation and hepatic damage. It was concluded that incorporation of H. cordata extract into diet can be a way of producing healthy foods. However the level of active extract needs fine tuning to avoid toxicity to fishes.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2019

The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 9): group I-normal group, group II-DSS control group, group III-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg), group IV-DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg), group V-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Radish Extract mixture (30 mg /kg) (SRE). DSS-treated mice developed symptoms similar to those of human UC, such as severe bloody diarrhea and weight loss. SRE supplementation, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, SRE treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules through suppression both MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) signaling pathways, and prevented the apoptosis of colon. Moreover, SRE administration significantly led to the up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzyme including SOD and Catalase. This is the first report that Radish extract mixture combined with sulfasalazine protects against experimental UC via the inhibition of both inflammation and apoptosis, very similar to the standard-of-care sulfasalazin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.338-345
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• 2021

Zizania latifolia has long been used as a tea for both edible and medicinal purposes. However, research into the use of Z. latifolia as a high value-added edible material is lacking. In a previous study, we confirmed that tricin is the major component in Z. latifolia. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of a Z. latifolia extract (ZLE). Toxicity tests of ZLE or tricin on HepG2 cells revealed no toxicity due to ZLE or tricin at all concentrations used. The reduction in cell viability by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was suppressed by treatment with ZLE or tricin. In addition, ZLE or tricin effectively inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (generation of hydrogen peroxide, alkoxy free radicals, and peroxyl free radicals by t-BHP) and oxidative damage. ZLE or tricin treatments also increased the protein expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which are known as antioxidant enzymes, suggesting that the protective effect of ZLE is related to activation of tricin. Taken together, the results indicate that Z. latifolia can be developed as a functional food material for improving liver function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.496-501
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• 2021

In this study, the marine agar-degrading bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. JH-1 was isolated, and its growth and agarase properties were investigated. Seawater was collected from the offshore of the Yonggung Temple in Busan, and agar-degrading bacteria were isolated and cultured with marine agar medium. The bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. JH-1 was isolated through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The extracellularly secreted enzyme was obtained from the culture broth of Pseudoalteromonas sp. JH-1 and was used to characterize its agarase. The extracellular agarase exhibited a maximum activity of 116.6 U/l at 50℃ and pH 6.0 of 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer. Relative activities were 31, 59, 94, 100, 45, and 31% at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70℃, respectively. Relative activities were 49, 85, 100, 86, 81, and 67% at pH 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively. Residual activity was more than 85% after exposure at 20, 30, and 40℃ for 2 hr, and more than 82% after exposure at 50℃ for 2 hr. Zymogram analysis confirmed that Pseudoalteromonas sp. JH-1 produced at least two agarases of 55 and 97 kDa. As the products of α-agarase and β-agarase have antioxidation, antitumor, skin-whitening, macrophage activation, and prebiotic effects, further studies are needed on the agarase of Pseudoalteromonas sp. JH-1.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.348-358
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• 2022

Purpose: Hyperglycemia accelerates the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a group of compounds formed via non-enzymatic glycation/glycoxidation. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is related to oxidative stress, resulting in some overgeneration of AGEs. The accumulation of AGEs in T2DM patients leads to increased inflammation, DNA damage, tissue damage, progression of diabetic microvascular disease, and nephropathy. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of heme. Expression of HO-1 in the endothelium and in muscle monocytes/macrophages was upregulated upon exposure to reactive oxygen species or oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Cells activated by oxidative stress are reported to release HO-1 in the serum. In the current study, we discuss the oxidative status according to the level of AGEs and the association of HO-1 with AGEs or urinary DNA damage marker in type 2 diabetic Korean patients. Methods: This study enrolled 36 diabetic patients. Subjects were classified into two groups by serum AGEs level (Low AGEs group: < 0.85 ng/mL serum AGEs; High AGEs group: ≥ 0.85 ng/mL serum AGEs). Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Blood and urinary parameters were measured using commercial kits. Results: No significant differences were observed in the general characteristics and body composition between the two groups. Serum HO-1 concentration was significantly higher in the High AGEs group than in the Low AGEs group. After adjustment of age and gender, a correlation was performed to assess the association between serum HO-1 and serum AGEs or urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Our results indicate that serum HO-1 is positively correlated with serum AGEs and urinary 8-OHdG. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate that in diabetes patients, a high level of HO-1 is associated with a high concentration of AGEs and 8-OHdG, probably reflecting a protective response against oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2022

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are responsible for the degradation and formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and overproduction of MMPs is observed in several diseases, such as cancer and asthma, that progress with metastatic characteristics. Natural products, especially phytochemicals, have been an important source of MMP inhibitors with reduced side effects. Although the majority of phytochemicals inhibit the enzymatic activity of MMPs, some suppress MMP production. In this context, the current study evaluated the potential of Corydalis heterocarpa, a halophyte with reported bioactivities, to inhibit MMP expression in PMA-stimulated HT-1080 cells. A crude C. heterocarpa extract was shown to decrease the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 while increasing the endogenous MMP inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 which regulate MMP expression in healthy tissues. In addition, our results show that the inhibitory effects of C. heterocarpa might occur through suppression of the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling, the upstream activator of MMP overexpression. In conclusion, C. heterocarpa is a potential source of antimetastatic compounds that might serve as lead molecules to develop novel MMP inhibitors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2022

Carotenoids are red, orange, and yellow fat-soluble pigments that exist in nature, and are known as physiologically active substances with various functions, such as provitamin A, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. Because of their physiological activity and color availability, carotenoids are widely used in the food, cosmetics, and aquaculture industries. Currently, most carotenoids used industrially use chemical synthesis because of their low production cost, but natural carotenoids are in the spotlight because of their safety and physiologically active effects. However, the production of carotenoids in plants and animals is limited for economic reasons. Carotenoids produced by bacteria have a good advantage in replacing carotenoids produced by chemical synthesis. Since carotenoids produced from bacteria have limited industrial applications due to low productivity, studies are continuously being conducted to increase the production of carotenoids by bacteria. Studies conducted to increase carotenoid production from bacteria include the activity of enzymes in the bacterial carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, the development of mutant strains using physical and chemical mutagens, increasing carotenoid productivity in strain construction through genetic engineering, carotenoid accumulation through stress induction, fermentation medium composition, culture conditions, co-culture with other strains, etc. The aim of this article was to review studies conducted to increase the productivity of carotenoids from bacteria.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.239-245
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• 2022

Although normal activation of platelets is important in the process of hemostasis, excessive or abnormal activation of platelets can lead to cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the discovery of novel substances capable of regulating or inhibiting platelet activation may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Artemether is a derivative of artemisinin, known as an active ingredient of Artemisia annua, which has been reported to be effective in treating malaria, and is known to function through antioxidant and metabolic enzyme inhibition. However, the role of artemether in platelet activation and aggregation and the mechanism of action of artemether in collagen-induced human platelets are not known until now. This study investigated the effects of artemether on platelet activation and thrombus formation induced by collagen. As a result, cAMP level was significantly increased by artemether, and VASP and IP3R, substrates of cAMP-dependent kinase, were phosphorylated. IP3R phosphorylation by Artemether inhibited Ca²⁺ recruitment into the cytoplasm, and phosphorylated VASP inhibited fibrinogen binding by inactivating αIIb/β3 located on the platelet membrane. Consequently, artemether inhibited thrombin-induced fibrin clot formation. Therefore, we propose that artemether can act as an effective prophylactic and therapeutic agent for cardiovascular diseases caused by excessive platelet activation and thrombus formation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.526-537
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• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of aqueous and 60% ethanol extracts of Allium ochotense Prokh. against alcohol-induced cytotoxicity as well as on the activities of alcohol-metabolic enzymes. Antioxidant effects of the extracts were analyzed using 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazl, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and malondialdehyde assays, and found that both extracts exhibited considerable antioxidant activities. Additionally, both extracts showed synergistic effects on the activities of alcohol-metabolic enzymes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase, but not on the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase. In addition, 2'-7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays revealed that aqueous and 60% ethanol extracts reduced oxidative stress and increased cell viability. Moreover, both extracts regulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, namely B-cell lymphoma (BCl-2), BCl-2 associated X (BAX), and pro-caspase-3, in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, aqueous and 60% ethanol extracts of A. ochotense Prokh. might be valuable functional materials derived from natural resources for the prevention of ethanol-induced cytotoxicity.