• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.369-375
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• 2003

Xiaoshuan Zaizao Wan (XZW) has been used in China to improve hemiplegia, deviation of eye and mouth, and dysphasia due to cerebral thrombosis. To characterize pharmacological actions of XZW, we evaluated its effects on neuronal cell damage induced in primary cultured rat cortical cells by various oxidative insults, glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and $\beta$-amyloid fragment ($A_{\beta(25-35)}$). XZW was found to inhibit the oxidative neuronal damage induced by $H_2O_2$, xanthine/xanthine oxidase, or $Fe^{2+}$/ascorbic acid. It also attenuated the excitotoxic damage induced by glutamate or NMDA. The NMDA-induced neurotoxicity was more effectively inhibited than the glutamate-induced toxicity. In addition, we found that XZW protected neurons against the $A_{\beta(25-35)}$-induced toxicity. Moreover; XZW exhibited dramatic inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates and mild 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Taken together; these results demonstrate that XZW exerts neuroprotective effects against oxidative, excitotoxic, or $A_{\beta(25-35)}$-induced neuronal damage. These findings may provide pharmacological basis for its clinical usage treating the sequelae caused by cerebral thrombosis. Furthermore, XZW may exert beneficial effects on Alzheimer's disease and other oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.1 s.81
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• pp.150-161
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• 2007

Acori graminei Rhizomn (AGR) is a perennial herb which has been used clinically as a traditional oriental medicine against stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia. We investigated the effect of AGR on the modulation of gene expression profile in a hypoxic model of cultured rat cortical cells. Rat cerebrocortical cells were grown in Neurobasal medium. On DIV12, cells were treated with AGR $(10ug/m\ell)$, given a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$, 3 hr) on DIV14, and total RNAs were prepared one day after shock. Microarray analyses indicated that the expression levels of most genes were altered within the global M values +0.5 and -0.5, i.e., 40% increase or decrease. There were 750 genes which were upregulated by < global M +0,2, while 700 genes were downregulated by > global M -0.2. The overall profile of gene expression suggests that AGR suppresses apoptosis (upregulation of anti-apopotic genes such as TEGT, TIEG, Dad, p53, and downregulation of pro-apopotic genes such as DAPK, caspase 2, pdcd8), ROS (upregulation of RARa, AhR), and that AGR has neurotrophic effects (upregulation of Aktl, Akt2). These results provide a platform for investigation of the molecular mechanism of the effect of AGR in neuroprotection.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.114.1-114.1
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• 2002

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2009

Microscopic study of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) infected with Phytophthora capsici, causing Phytophthora blight of chili pepper, was conducted to compare histological and cytological characteristics in the root and stem of susceptible (C. annuum cv. Bugang) and resistant (C. annuum cv. CM334) pepper cultivars. The susceptible pepper roots and stems were extensively penetrated and invaded by the pathogen initially into epidermal cells and later cortical and vascular cells. Host cell walls adjacent to and invaded by the infecting hyphae were partially dissolved and structurally loosened with fine fibrillar materials probably by cell wall-degrading enzymes of the pathogen. In the resistant pepper, the pathogen remained on root epidermal surface at one day after inoculation, embedded and captured in root exudation materials composed of proteins and polysaccharides. Also the pathogen appeared to be blocked in its progression at the early infection stages by thickened middle lamellae. At 3 days after inoculation, the oomycete hyphae were still confined to epidermal cells of the root and at most outer peripheral cortical cells of the stem, resulting from their invasion blocked by wound periderms formed underneath the infection sites and/or cell wall appositions bounding the hyphal protrusions. All of these aspects suggest that limitation of disease development in the resistant pepper may be due to the inhibition of the pathogen penetration, infection, invasion, and colonization by the defense structures such as root exudation materials, thickened middle lamellae, wound peridems and cell wall appositions.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2005

Alpaca fibers have some distinct properties such as softness and warmth, which have not been fully understood in combination with the fiber internal structures. In the present investigation, the internal structures of alpaca fibers have been closely examined under the scanning electron microscope (SEM), especially in the longitudinal direction. The results showed that numerous pigment granules reside loosely inside pockets in brown and dark-brown alpaca fibers. These pigment granules were mainly distributed inside the cortical cells, the medullation regions as well as underneath the cuticles. Their size in the brown alpaca fibers was smaller and more uniformly round than in the dark-brown fibers. These granules in colored alpaca fibers loosen the bundle of cortical cells, providing many crannies in the fibers which may contribute to the superior flexibility, warmth and softness of the fibers. Moreover, there are no heavy metal elements found in the granules. The mordant hydrogen peroxide bleaching employed could eliminate the pigment granules and create many nano-volumes for further dyeing of fibers into more attractive colors.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.167-170
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• 2008

We previously reported that 90% MeOH fraction of Biota orientalis leaves (L.) ENDL. had significant neuroprotective activity against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells. In the present study, (-)-savinin (1), (-)-hinokinin (2), dehydroheliobuphthalmin (3) were isolated by bioactivity-guided fractionation from the 90% MeOH fraction. All three lignans had significant neuroprotective activities against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity at the concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 ${\mu}M$.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.302.2-303
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• 2002

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Baicalein. baicalin and wogonin. the major constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis. have been reported to exhibit antioxidant properties in many different bioassay systems. The present study evaluated neuroprotective effects of these flavonoids on various neuronal injuries induced in primary cultured rat cortical cells by oxidative stress. NMDA. oxygen-glucose deprivation. and $A{\beta}$(25-35). (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.124-124
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• 1995

Cisplatinum is often effective in cancer treatment, but potent nephrotoxicity limits its clinical use. We have, therefore, developed new anticancer drugs that contain platinum. We have synthesized six new platinum compounds based on Figure 1. Drugs were initially administrated at 5${\times}$10$\^$-4/M with 48 hours exposure in monolayer cultures of primary rabbit proximal tubular cells and human renal cortical cells with the M.T.T. endpoint to measure toxicity. Drug concentrations of 10$\^$-3/M, 10$\^$-4/M, and 10$\^$-5/M with 72 hours exposure were used for human renal cortical tissues in 7 weeks histoculture with toxicity measured by the glucose-consumption endpoint. From these studies, we determined that the new platinum drugs have lower nephrotoxicity than cisplatinum. Drugs D, E, and H. have lower nephrotoxicity than the other new drugs. We are currently measuring the anticancer efficacy of drugs D, E, and H.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.195.2-195.2
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• 2003

The CH$_2$Cl$_2$ fraction of the bark of Machilus thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc. (Lauraceae) significantly protected primary cultures of rat cortical cells exposed to the excitotoxic amino acid, L-glutamate. Several lignans including (-)-isoguaiacin, meso- dihydroguaiaretic acid, machilin A, (+)-galbelgin, licarin A, (-)-sesamin, and (+)-guaiacin were isolated from the CH$_2$Cl$_2$ fraction using by bioactivity-guided isolation techniques. Among these lignans, (-)-isoguaiacin, meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid, licarin A and (+)-guaiacin had significant neuroprotective activities against glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells at concentration ranging from 0.1 ${\mu}$M to 10.0 ${\mu}$M. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 1996

The reactivity of the sulfhydryl (thiol) group of homocysteine has been associated with an Increased risk of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and stroke. Thiols also react with nitric oxide (NO, an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) ), forming S-nitrosothiols that have been reported to have potent vasodilatory and antiplatelet effects and been expected to decrease adverse vascular effects of homocysteine. The present study was aimed to Investigate whether the S-nitrosation of homocysteine modulates the neurotoxic effects of homocysteine. An 18 hour-exposure of cultured rat cortical neurons to homocysteine ( >1 mM) resulted in a significant neuronal cell death. At comparable concentrations ( <10 mM), however, S-nitrosohomocysteine did not induce neuronal cell death. Furthermore, S-nitrosohomocysteirle partially blocked NMDA-mediated neurotoxicity. S-nitrosohomocysteine also decreased NMDA-mediated increases in intracellular calcium concentration. The present data indicate that in brain nitric oxide produced from neuronal and nonneuronal cells can modulate the potential, adverse properties of homocysteine.