• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.199-209
• /
• 2023

Background: Due to the interrupted blood supply in cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS), ischemic and hypoxia results in neuronal depolarization, insufficient NAD+, excessive levels of ROS, mitochondrial damages, and energy metabolism disorders, which triggers the ischemic cascades. Currently, improvement of mitochondrial functions and energy metabolism is as a vital therapeutic target and clinical strategy. Hence, it is greatly crucial to look for neuroprotective natural agents with mitochondria protection actions and explore the mediated targets for treating CIS. In the previous study, notoginseng leaf triterpenes (PNGL) from Panax notoginseng stems and leaves was demonstrated to have neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the potential mechanisms have been not completely elaborate. Methods: The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) was adopted to verify the neuroprotective effects and potential pharmacology mechanisms of PNGL in vivo. Antioxidant markers were evaluated by kit detection. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by ATP content measurement, ATPase, NAD and NADH kits. And the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and pathological staining (H&E and Nissl) were used to detect cerebral morphological changes and mitochondrial structural damages. Western blotting, ELISA and immunofluorescence assay were utilized to explore the mitochondrial protection effects and its related mechanisms in vivo. Results: In vivo, treatment with PNGL markedly reduced excessive oxidative stress, inhibited mitochondrial injury, alleviated energy metabolism dysfunction, decreased neuronal loss and apoptosis, and thus notedly raised neuronal survival under ischemia and hypoxia. Meanwhile, PNGL significantly increased the expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) in the ischemic regions, and regulated its related downstream SIRT1/2/3-MnSOD/PGC-1α pathways. Conclusion: The study finds that the mitochondrial protective effects of PNGL are associated with the NAMPT-SIRT1/2/3-MnSOD/PGC-1α signal pathways. PNGL, as a novel candidate drug, has great application prospects for preventing and treating ischemic stroke.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.414-421
• /
• 2023

Cnidium japonicum (C. japonicum) is a type of halophyte that inhabits soil of a high salinity, and according to previous studies, it is known to have antitumor effects. However, the skin's protective effect, particularly against UVB irradiation, has not been revealed. In this study, C. japonicum crude extract was studied to determine its effect on damage to human keratinocytes (HaCaT) induced by UVB irradiation, and ROS assays were performed, the results of which showed that C. japonicum crude extract affects UVB-induced photoaging damage in human keratinocytes. To examine inhibitory effects against the expressions of MMPs, RT-PCR and Western blot assay were performed by treating the crude extract at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 ㎍/ml by irradiating UVB at 15 mJ/cm². As a result, it was confirmed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 decreased in the group treated with C. japonicum crude extract, which also effectively regulated the antioxidant defense mechanism pathway by activating JNK, ERK, and p38. In conclusion, the current study suggested the possibility that C. japonicum could be used as a raw material for anti-photoaging cosmeceuticals in the future.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2023

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, whitening, moisturizing, wound-healing, cell proliferation and cell protective effects of 70% EtOH and hot water extract from Scutellaria baicalensis. For the anti-oxidative test, the 70% EtOH and hot water extract showed DPPH radical scavenging activities. In the anti-inflammatory tests, 70% EtOH and hot water extract inhibited the production of NO, pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and prostaglandin (PGE₂). In addition, it was confirmed that the 70% EtOH and hot water extract inhibited the melanin production, and increased production of hyaluronic acid (HA), a moisturizing factor. As a result of cell migration and proliferation assay, 70% EtOH extract promoted the cell growth in HaCaT cell. Additionally, 70% EtOH and hot water extract showed cell protective effects against UVB, and 70% EtOH extract also showed cell protective effects agianst blue light. Based on these results, it is concluded that the 70% EtOH and hot water extract from Scutellaria baicalensis could be potentially applicable as anti-oxdiative, anti-inflammation, whitening, moisturizing, wound-healing, cell proliferation and cell protective effects in cosmetic natural materials.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.430-440
• /
• 2023

The type three secretion system (T3SS) is a major virulence system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The effector protein Exotoxin S (ExoS) produced by P. aeruginosa is secreted into the host cells via the T3SS. For the purpose of an experiment on inhibitors with regard to ExoS secretion, we developed a sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. Quercetin was selected because it has a prominent ExoS inhibition effect and also is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on mammalian cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of quercetin on the expression and secretion of ExoS using ELISA and Western blot analysis methods. The results showed that the secretion of ExoS was significantly decreased by 10 and 20 µM of quercetin. Also, popB, popD, pscF, and pcrV which are composed of the T3SS needle, are reduced by quercetin at the mRNA level. We also confirmed the inhibitory effect of quercetin on cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18) in P. aeruginosa-infected H292 cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ELISA. Collectively, quercetin inhibits the secretion of ExoS by reducing both ExoS production and the expression of the needle protein of T3SS. Furthermore, these results suggest that quercetin has the potential to be used as an anti-toxic treatment for the inflammatory disease caused by P. aeruginosa infection.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2020.08a
• /
• pp.82-82
• /
• 2020

염증 (Inflammation)은 물리적인 상처나 세균감염이 되었을 때 손상된 조직을 재생하고 신체를 방어하기 위해 일어나는 선천성 면역반응으로 알려져 있다. 주로 선천면역을 담당하는 대식세포는 lipopolysaccharide, reactive oxygen species와 cytokine 등에 의해 활성화되어 tumor necrosis factor-α. interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 등 염증인자들의 생성에 관여한다. 특히, 산화질소는 superoxide 음이온과 쉽게 반응하고 peroxynitrite와 같은 독성이 강한 산화제를 생성하여 단백질 및 지질의 과산화를 유도하고 세포독성을 일으키는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 항산화 및 항염증 소재를 탐색하기 위해 오미자 (Schisandra chinensis), 꾸지뽕 (Cudrania tricuspidata)을 이용하여 항산화 활성을 평가하고자 하였으며, 세포주를 활용한 세포독성 및 항염증 활성을 확인하고자 하였다. 본 연구는 전북 순창군에서 재배된 오미자, 꾸지뽕을 열 건조(60℃) 통해 건조한 후 분말화하였다. 최적 추출 조건 선정을 위해 다양한 용매 (열수, 증류수, 주정 20, 40, 60%), 온도 (25, 40, 60, 80℃) 및 시간 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 h) 조건에서 추출된 추출물의 총 폴리페놀 함량을 비교함으로써 최적 조건을 선정하였다. 오미자와 꾸지뽕의 DPPH 및 ABTS radical 소거 활성, 총 플라보노이드 함량을 확인하여 항산화능 및 기능성 성분 함량을 평가하였다. 또한 대식세포주인 Raw 264.7을 활용하여 MTT assay, 산화질소 생성 억제 활성을 확인하여 세포독성 및 항염증 활성을 평가하였다. 실험 결과, 오미자 및 꾸지뽕은 각각 주정 40%, 60℃ 그리고 증류수, 60℃에서 추출 시 가장 높은 총 폴리페놀 함량 (약 98.3 mg GAE/g 및 88.2 mg GAE/g)을 함유하며, DPPH 라디칼 소거 활성은 약 44.6% 및 24.4%, ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성은 약 30.3% 및 40.8%로 확인되었다. 총 플라보노이드 함량은 약 21.80 mg QE/g 및 35.68 mg QE/g으로 확인되었다. 또한 오미자 및 꾸지뽕 기능성 추출물을 100 ug/mL 처리 시 세포 독성이 나타나지 않는 것으로 확인되었으며, NO 생성량을 약 56.3% 및 21.7% 저감시켜 항염증 효능을 나타내는 것으로 확인되었다.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2020.08a
• /
• pp.83-83
• /
• 2020

염증은 물리화학적 자극이나 세균 감염과 같은 외부 자극에 대응하기 위한 생체조직의 방어 반응의 하 나이며 조직이나 장기의 손상을 회복시키는 기전으로서 매우 중요한 역할을 하지만 염증반응이 과도해 질 경우 궤양성 대장염, 기관지염, 천식, 대장암 등을 유발하는 원인으로 작용하기 때문에 염증반응을 조 절하는 항염증제 개발은 매우 중요시되고 있다. 국내 염증개선 관련 시장은 현재 약 3조원 규모이며 지속 적인 성장세에 있지만 천연소재의 기능성 중심으로 출시된 제품 중 다수의 제품에서 주로 수입 원료를 사용하고 있어 국내 자생 및 재배하는 천연 소재들의 효능에 대한 검증을 통해 수입 원료 의존도를 낮추 기 위한 연구가 요구되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 순창에서 재배되는 참두릅 (Aralia elata Seem)과 도라지 (Platycodon grandiflorum)를 이용하여 천연 염증개선 소재화를 목적으로 기능성 증진을 위한 추 출조건 선정과정과 대식세포에 대한 세포독성 및 항염증 효능을 확인하여 천연소재를 이용한 염증개선 소재화를 시도하고자 한다. 본 연구는 전북 순창에서 재배되는 참두릅과 도라지의 추출조건을 선정하기 위해 용매, 온도 및 시간별 추출물의 total polyphenol 함량 평가를 통하여 최적 추출조건 선정을 진행하 였으며, 선정된 추출조건에서 추출된 추출물의 항산화 활성을 측정하기 위하여 DPPH & ABTS radical scavenging activity 및 total flavonoids 함량을 확인하여 항산화 효능을 평가하였다. 또한 대식세포인 Raw 264.7을 사용하여 MTT assay, Nitric oxide (NO) 생성 억제 효능을 확인하여 세포독성 및 항염증 활 성을 평가하였다. 실험결과, Total polyphenol 함량 분석을 통해 최적 추출조건이 선정된 두릅 (주정 40%, 25℃, 3 h), 도라지 (주정 60%, 25℃, 1 h)의 추출물을 이용하여 DPPH & ABTS radical scavenging activity 및 total flavonoids 함량을 분석한 결과, 도라지보다 두릅에서 더 높은 항산화 활성을 나타내었다. 대식세포를 활용한 두릅과 도라지의 세포독성을 측정한 결과, 100 ug/mL 이내의 농도에서 독성활성이 나타내지 않음을 확인되었으며, 항염증 활성을 측정한 결과 100 ug/mL에서 두릅 추출물이 도라지 추출 물보다 약 33% 이상 NO 생성억제 활성이 높게 나타내었다.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2020.08a
• /
• pp.84-84
• /
• 2020

염증 (Inflammation)은 병원체, 손상된 세포, 자극물질 등으로 인한 손상에 대해 작용하여 조직이나 장기의 손상을 재생하는 작용으로써 신체 방어 기전들 가운데 매우 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이러한 염증반응이 과다할 경우 각종 염증성 질환 혹은 암 등을 유발하는 원인으로 발전할 수 있어 항염증제의 개발은 전 세계적으로 중요시되고 있다. 선천적 면역을 담당하는 대식세포는 lipopolysaccharide(LPS), 활성산소 (ROS) 등에 의해 자극되어 염증인자 생성에 관여한다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 항염증 소재 개발을 목표로 하며, 국내 천연소재를 활용한 기능성 항염증 소재로 전북 순창군에서 재배된 초석잠(Stachys Sieboldii MIQ.)과 돼지감자 (Helianthus tuberosus L.)를 이용하여 항산화 활성을 평가하고자 하였으며, 대식세포주를 활용한 세포독성 및 항염증 활성에 대한 효능을 확인하고자 하였다. 본 연구는, 전북 순창 지역에서 재배 된 초석잠과 돼지감자를 사용하여 각 조건의 추출 용매, 온도, 시간별 추출물의 Total polyphenol 함량 평가를 통한 최적 추출조건 선정을 진행하고, 선정된 추출조건의 추출물의 항산화 활성을 측정하기 위해 DPPH & ABTS radical scavenging activity 분석 및 Total flavonoids 함량 분석을 통해 항산화 효능 평가를 진행하였다. 또한 항염증 소재로의 활용을 위해 대식세포인 Raw 264.7을 사용하여 농도별 MTT assay를 진행하여 세포독성 평가를 진행하였고, Nitric oxide (NO) 생성억제 효능을 확인하여 항염증 활성을 평가하였다. 실험 결과, Total polyphenol 함량 분석을 통해 최적 추출조건이 선정된 초석잠 (25℃, 주정 60%, 3 h), 돼지감자 (25℃, 주정 40%, 1 h)은 최적 조건에서 약 58 mg GAE/g 및 158 mg GAE/g의 총 폴리페놀 함량을 보였으며, DPPH & ABTS radical scavenging activity 및 Total flavonoids 함량 분석한 결과, 초석잠이 돼지감자보다 더 높은 항산화 활성을 나타내었다. 대식세포 실험에서의 추출물 처리군의 세포독성 측정 결과, 100 ug/mL 이내의 농도에서 독성활성이 나타나지 않음을 확인하였고, Nitric oxide (NO) 생성 억제활성 측정을 통해 LPS 처리군 대비 접종량 100 ug/mL 기준 각각 초석잠 약 47%, 돼지감자 약 49% 수준의 항염증 활성을 확인하였다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.67 no.4
• /
• pp.418-430
• /
• 2024

Objective : Isoflurane, a widely used common inhalational anesthetic agent, can induce brain toxicity. The challenge lies in protecting neurologically compromised patients from neurotoxic anesthetics. Choline alfoscerate (L-α-Glycerophosphorylcholine, α-GPC) is recognized for its neuroprotective properties against oxidative stress and inflammation, but its optimal therapeutic window and indications are still under investigation. This study explores the impact of α-GPC on human astrocytes, the most abundant cells in the brain that protect against oxidative stress, under isoflurane exposure. Methods : This study was designed to examine changes in factors related to isoflurane-induced toxicity following α-GPC administration. Primary human astrocytes were pretreated with varying doses of α-GPC (ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 µM) for 24 hours prior to 2.5% isoflurane exposure. In vitro analysis of cell morphology, water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, proteome profiler array, and transcriptome sequencing were conducted. Results : A significant morphological damage to human astrocytes was observed in the group that had been pretreated with 10.0 mM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane. A decrease in cell viability was identified in the group pretreated with 10.0 µM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane compared to the group exposed only to 2.5% isoflurane. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that mRNA expression of heme-oxygenase 1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, which were reduced by isoflurane, was further suppressed by 10.0 µM α-GPC pretreatment. The proteome profiler array demonstrated that α-GPC pretreatment influenced a variety of factors associated with apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing identified pathways significantly related to changes in isoflurane-induced toxicity caused by α-GPC pretreatment. Conclusion : The findings suggest that α-GPC pretreatment could potentially enhance the vulnerability of primary human astrocytes to isoflurane-induced toxicity by diminishing the expression of antioxidant factors, potentially leading to amplified cell damage.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.170-178
• /
• 2023

We investigated the free radical scavenging and digestive enzyme inhibitory activities of the hot water extract of peach twig (Prunus persica L. Bastch). This extract of the peach twigs was further split up into n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butyl alcohol(n-BuOH), which resulted in three solvent-soluble fractions. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺) assay systems, while hypoglycemic effect of the peach twig extract and the solvent-soluble fractions were tested using α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays. Accordingly, the EtOAc layer showed a greater free radical scavenging activity compared to other solvent-soluble fractions. Furthermore, based on the α-glucosidase and α-amylase assays, the IC₅₀ values were determined to be 38.2±1.6 and 69.6±6.1 ㎍/mL for the EtOAc-soluble fractions, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that the fractions obtained from the peach twig extract can be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidant and hypoglycaemic constituents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2024

Skin aging progresses due to external factors such as ultraviolet rays and infections. These factors cause skin fibroblasts to secrete proteolytic enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs induce the degradation of collagen located in the extracellular matrix, directly influencing aging. The stems of Akebia quinata Decaisne have been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the anti-aging effect of Akebia quinata Decaisne stem ethanol extract (AQSEE) is not known. Therefore, we studied the TNF-α-induced MMP-1 inhibitory effect in human fibroblasts. When the cell viability of AQSEE was confirmed through MTT asaay, it showed no toxicity up to 400 ㎍/mL. The inhibition of MMP-1 mRNA and protein secretion was confirmed through RT-qPCR and ELISA, and results showed a significant decrease at concentrations of 100, 200, 400 ㎍/mL. We also confirmed by Western blotting that phosphorylation of MAPKs signaling pathway and transcription factors was reduced. As a result, phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun, p65 was significantly decreased at all concentrations. DPPH and ABTS assays were performed to confirm the radical scavenging ability of AQSEE, and the results showed a significant decrease at all concentrations. The results of this study confirmed the MMP-1 inhibitory effect and radical scavenging ability, which suggests that it can be used as an anti-aging substance.