• 약학회지
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

The use of doxorubicin, which is one of the most effective anticancer agents, is often limited by occurrence of acquired resistance in tumor cells. GSH has been shown to be involved in the development of this drug resistance. Transcription factor Nrf2 governs the expression of GSH synthesizing glutamylcysteine ligase (GCL), as well as multiple phase 2 detoxifying enzymes. Here we show that Nrf2 is one of factors determining doxorubicin sensitivity. Nrf2-deficient fibroblasts (murine embryonic fibroblasts, MEF) were more susceptible to doxorubicin mediated cell death than wild-type cells. Doxorubicin treatment elevated levels of Nrf2-regulated genes including NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (Nqo1) and GCL in wild-type fibroblasts, while no induction was observed in Nrf2-deficient cells. Doxorubicin resistance in human ovarian SK-OV cells was reversed by treatment with L-buthionine-sulfoxamine (BSO), which is depleting intracellular GSH. Finally, transfection of SK-OV cells with Nrf2 siRNA resulted in exacerbated cytotoxicity following doxorubicin treatment compared to scrambled RNA control. These results indicate that the Nrf2 pathway, which plays a protective role in normal cells, can be a potential target to control cancer cell resistance to anticancer agents.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2003년도 Annual Meeting of KSAP : International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences on Obesity
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• pp.102-102
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• 2003

The inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis and nitric oxide production by corresponding inducible isozyme have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents. In our continuous search for cancer chemopreventive agents from natural products, we have evaluated the inhibitory potential of PGE$_2$and NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. As a result, pinosylvin (3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a stilbenoid, mainly found from the heartwood and leaves of the Pinus sylvestris, showed potential inhibitory activity of LPS-induced PGE$_2$and NO production in a dose-dependent manner. Pinosylvin also suppressed the LPS-induced iNOS protein expression. Further study revealed that pinosylvin exhibited antioxidant activity by the DPPH free radical scavenging potential and inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidase activity. In addition, pinosylvin inhibited COX -2 overexpressed human colon cancer cell (HT-29) growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that pinosylvin might be a promising candidate for developing cancer chemopreventive agent.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.207-214
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• 2007

Chronic oxidative stress produced by exposure to environmental chemicals or pathophysiological states can lead animals to aging, carcinogenesis and degenerative diseases. Indirect antioxidative mechanisms, in which natural or synthetic agents are used to coordinately induce the expression of cellular antioxidant capacity, have been shown to protect cells and organisms from oxidative damages. Electrophile and free radical detoxifying enzymes, which were originally identified as the products of genes induced by cancer chemopreventive agents, are members of this protective system. The NFE2 family transcription factor Nrf2 was found to govern expression of these detoxifying enzymes, and screening for Nrf2-regulated genes has identified many gene categories involved in maintaining cellular redox potential and protection from oxidative damage as Nrf2 downstream genes. Further, studies using Nrf2-deficient mice revealed that these mutant mice showed more susceptible phenotypes towards exposure to environmental chemicals/carcinogens and in oxidative stress related disease models. With the finding that cancer chemopreventive efficacy of indirect antioxidants (enzyme inducers) is lost in the absence of Nrf2, a central role of Nrf2 in the antioxidative protective system has been firmly established. Promising results from cancer prevention clinical trials using enzyme inducers propose that pharmacological interventions that modulate Nrf2 can be an effective strategy to protect tissues from oxidative damage.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2007년도 Proceedings of The Convention of The Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• pp.115-121
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• 2007

Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (Cactaceae) is widely cultivated in Jeju Island (South Korea) for use in the manufacture of health foods such as tea, jam and juice. Its fruit and stem have been traditionally used as oriental folk medicine to treat diabetes, hypertension, asthma, burns, edema and indigestion. During the search for naturally occurring antioxidative neuroprotective agents, it was found that the ethyl acetate fraction of the stems and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten exhibited potent antioxidant effect. Using a chromatographic fractionation method, several constituents were isolated from this fraction. Among isolates, KYS50182 showed the most potent in vitro and in vivo neuroprotective activities, suggesting that the flavonoid can serve as a lead structure for the development of neuroprotective agents by providing neuroprotection against oxidative and focal ischemic neuronal injuries.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.171-174
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• 2007

Neuronal death is a common characteristic hallmark of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, there have been no effective drugs to successfully prevent neuronal death in those diseases, whereas oriental medicinal plants have to possess valuable therapeutic potentials to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, in an attempt to provide neuroprotective agents from natural plants, 80% methanol extracts of a wide range of medicinal plants, which are native to Jeju Island in Korea, were prepared and their protective effects on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death were examined. Among those tested, extracts from Smilax china and Saururus chinesis significantly decreased hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death. The extracts attenuated hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$)-induced caspase-3 activation in a dose-dependent manner. Further, plant extracts restored $H_2O_2$-induced depletion of intracellular glutathione, a major endogenous antioxidant. The data suggest that Jeju native medicinal plants could potentially be used as therapeutic agents for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress is implicated.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.82.2-83
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• 2003

Beta-amyloid peptide (A${\beta}$) is considered to be responsible for the pathogenesis of the Alzheimer's disease. Several lines of evidence support that A${\beta}$-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity is mediated through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Agents that are able to scavenge excess ROS may be useful as protecting or reducing agents for development or progress of AD. Green tea extract has been known to have antioxidant property. Our previous studies also demonstrate that green tea extract protected ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury by reduction of cell death through scavenging of oxidative damages of macromolecules. (omitted)

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.306-309
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the potential use of Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke as a source of antioxidant agents. Various solvent fractionates from S. lappa C.B. Clarke roots were investigated for their anti-oxidative effectiveness. The contents of total phenolics and flavonoids were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu's colorimetric and the aluminum nitrate method, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of n-butanol soluble fractionates from S. lappa C.B. Clarke, 44.43 ${\mu}g$ gallic acid equilibrium (GAE)/g extract and 92.15 ${\mu}g$ quercetin equilibrium (QE)/g extract, respectively, were higher than those of other solvent fractionates. The n-butanol soluble fractionates of S. lappa C.B. Clarke (1,000 ppm) showed the strongest inhibitory potential on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and reducing power at 92.98% and 0.38, respectively. Thus, our data shows that the S. lappa C.B. Clarke plant may help prevent antioxidative stress.

• 생약학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.372-375
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• 2007

Reactive oxygen species(ROS) or free radicals are produced in the pathogenesis of human diseases including atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and aging. Antioxidants are associated with the prevention of ROS-induced tissue and cellular damage in the various diseases. This study investigated the antioxidative activities of the methanol extract of Alisma plantagoaquatica var. orientale and its main component under conditions of radical generation using allophycocyanin and ferric-thiocyanate assay. Alisol B 23-acetate as a main component was isolated from the methanol extract of Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale. In results, the extract of Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale showed inhibitory activity on AAPH [2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride]-induced protein oxidation. Also, the extract of Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale and alisol B 23-acetate inhibited lipid peroxidation. These results indicate that Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale and alisol B 23-acetate show promise as therapeutic agents for various damages involving free radical reactions.

• Mycobiology
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.9-13
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• 2015

Medicinal fungi, taken whole or as various forms of extracts, have been used to alleviate, cure or prevent human ailments since pre-historic times. In particular, Asian cultures have incorporated a variety of mushrooms into their medical practices. Chemically pure, bioactive metabolites from fungi have been a mainstay of modern pharmacological research and in addition to antibiotics, include anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, enzyme inhibitors, antagonist and agonists of hormones, and a variety of psychotropic substances. However, to date not many studies have focused on the possible health benefits of odorant volatile organic compounds (i.e., gas phase compounds). An analysis of these compounds for their health related effects will expand the range of compounds available for the treatment of chronic and acute diseases. This review highlights phenolic acids and monoterpenes from Asian medicinal mushrooms (AMMs), which not only produce pleasant odors but also have antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Odorant bioactive volatile phase compounds from medicinal mushrooms remain an essentially untapped source for future medicines, and AMMs remain a promising resource for future pharmacological research.

• 생약학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.95-99
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• 2007

In order to find novel cancer chemopreventive agents, quinone reductase (QR) inductive activity of methanol extract of herbal medicines was examined using murine hepatoma, hepa1c1c7 cells. QR has been used as an anticarcinogenic marker enzyme in cancer chemoprevention study. The methanol extract of Alpinia officinarum (Zingiberace) showed showed significantly strong quinone reductase inductive activity compared to the control group. The methanol extract of Alpinia officinarum was successively fractionated with various solvents according to polarity. Hexane, ethyl acetate, buthanol and water fractions were obtained and theirs activities were assessed. The QR inductive effect was moved to the ethyl acetate fraction and was highly increased. The CD (concentration required to double the specific activity of QR) value of ethyl acetate fraction was 8.6 ${\mu}g/mL$. Alpinia officinarum also showed strong antioxidant activity. These results suggest that Alpinia officinarum can be developed as cancer chemopreventive agent.