• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.408-416
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• 2020

This study examined the neuronal cytotoxicity of aluminum chloride (AlCl3), a dementia inducer, and the protective effects of Aster yomena (Kitam.)(AY) extract on AlCl3-induced cytotoxicity in cultured C6 glioma cells. The antioxidative effects, such as the inhibitory ability of xanthine oxidase (XO) and superoxide anion-radical (SAR) scavenging ability, on cell viability were examined. AlCl3 decreased the cell viability significantly in a dose-dependent manner, and the XTT50 value was 130.0 μM in these cultures. The cytotoxicity of AlCl3 was determined to be mid-toxic according to the Borenfreund and Puerner' toxic criteria. Quercetin (QU), an antioxidant, increased the cell viability reduced by AlCl3-induced cytotoxicity. The protective effect of the AY extract on AlCl3-induced cytotoxicity was analyzed. The AY extract increased the cell viability remarkably compared to the AlCl3-treated group and showed the inhibitory ability of XO and SAR-scavenging ability. The cytotoxicity of AlCl3 was correlated with oxidative stress, and the AY extract effectively prevented AlCl3-induced cytotoxicity through its antioxidative effects. In conclusion, natural resources, such as the AY extract, may be a putative agent for improving the cytotoxicity of heavy metallic compounds correlated with oxidative stress, such as AlCl3, a morbid agent.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 1999

One of the practical limitations with the use of liposomes for delivery of the pharmaceutical substances such antigens is that liposomes are relatively unstable in storage. In order to extend the stability of liposome in storage without affecting their functional activity, solution-type liposomes were dehydrated to form a structurally intact dry liposomes. Comparative immunological evaluation was carried out for both dry and solution-type liposomes containing gag-V3 chimera, consequently it was found that dry liposomes elicited both humoral and cellular response as efficiently as solution-type liposemes did against the same gag-V3 antigen. Especially, long-term stability of the liposomes was remarkably enhanced by the dehydration made to loposomes without a significant change in its ability to elicit immune response in vivo. These results indicate that dry pH-sensitive liposome may become an effective delivery and adjuvant system for general vaccine development.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

The suitability of CPWs, by-products of the juice industry, was investigated as a source for the production of cosmeceuticals. Four kinds of CPWs, CW, CWE, CWER, and CWEA, were examined for their antioxidant potentials in terms of DPPH radical-scavenging ability for anti-wrinkle applications, inhibition of tyrosinase or melanin production for whitening products, and anti-inflammatory effects to treat various skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and acne as well as for anti-bacterial activity against acne-inducing pathogens. Of the four extracts, CWER was the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor ($IC_{50}$ value: $109\;{\mu}g/mL$), and CWEA ($IC_{50}:\;167\;{\mu}g/mL$) showed good antioxidative effects. CWE and CWEA samples had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the melanin production. The cytotoxic effects of the four CPWs were determined by colorimetric MTT assays using human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Most extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity at $100\;{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggest CPWs are attractive candidates for topical applications on the human skin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.792-802
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• 2009

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered to be a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics for future generations. We identified four novel hexapeptides with antimicrobial activity: KCM11 (TWWRWW-$NH_2$), KCM12 (KWRWlW-$NH_2$), KCM21 (KWWWRW-$NH_2$), and KRS22 (WRWFIH-$NH_2$), through positional scanning of a synthetic peptide combinatorial library (PS-SCL). The ability of these peptides to inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria and unicellular fungi was evaluated. KCM11 and KRS22 preferentially inhibited the normal growth of fungal strains, whereas KCM12 and KCM21 were more active against bacterial strains. Bactericidal activity was addressed in a clear zone assay against phytopathogenic bacteria, including Pectobacterium spp., Xanthomonas spp., Pseudomonas spp., etc. KCM21 showed the highest activity and was effective against a wide range of target organisms. Application of KCM21 with inoculation of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum on detached cabbage leaves resulted in an immune phenotype or a significant reduction in symptom development, depending on the peptide concentration. Cytotoxicity of the four hexapeptides was evaluated in mouse and human epithelial cell lines using an MTT test. The results revealed a lack of cytotoxic effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1993-2005
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• 2019

Thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) is characterized by higher biogas production rates as a result of assumedly faster microbial metabolic conversion rates compared to mesophilic AD. It was hypothesized that the thermophilic microbiome with its lower diversity than the mesophilic one is more susceptible to disturbances introduced by alterations in the operating factors, as an example, the supply of nitrogen-rich feedstock such as poultry manure (PM). Laboratory scaled TAD experiments using cattle slurry and increasing amounts of PM were carried out to investigate the (in-) stability of the process performance caused by the accumulation of ammonium and ammonia with special emphasis on the microbial community structure and its dynamic variation. The results revealed that the moderate PM addition, i.e., 25% (vol/vol based on volatile substances) PM, resulted in a reorganization of the microbial community structure which was still working sufficiently. With 50% PM application, the microbial community was further stepwise re-organized and was able to compensate for the high cytotoxic ammonia contents only for a short time resulting in consequent process disturbance and final process failure. This study demonstrated the ability of the acclimated thermophilic microbial community to tolerate a certain amount of nitrogen-rich substrate.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.960-966
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• 2003

Macrophages play an important role in host defenses by killing tumors and virus infections and producing secretory products. High mannuronic acid (HMA) containing alginate was examined to determine the mechanisms by which HMA-activated macrophages resist infection with HSV-1 and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The ability of macro phages to resist infection with HSV-1 or to inhibit the growth of tumor cells was assessed following treatment with HMA alginate in the presence of either antibodies to various cytokines or inhibitors/scavengers of toxic macrophage products. Only antibodies to IFN-$\alpha$/$\beta$ were able to abrogate the protective effects of HMA alginate in macrophages infected with HSV-1, suggesting that the antiviral activity induced by this immunomodulator was mediated by the production of IFN-$\beta$. In contrast, anti-TNF-$\alpha$, anti-IFN and inhibitors of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species were all able to partially abrogate HMA-induced cytostatic activity, suggesting that multiple mechanisms are involved in macrophage cytostasis. These results indicate that the HMA-induced intrinsic antiviral and extrinsic cytotoxic activites are mediated by different mechanisms.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2010

Abalone (Haliotis discus hannai), mostly distributed and maricultured in southwestern coastal areas of South Korea, is recognized as an economically important species in the fishery industry. Abalone intestines are one of the by-products of abalone processing. To investigate abalone intestines as bioactive substances, abalone intestine gastrointestinal digests (AIGIDs) of various molecular weights (MWs) were prepared using in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and an ultrafiltration system, and tested for inhibitory effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress in macrophage cells treated with hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$). In our results, among AIGIDs, AIGID-III (MW=5-10 kDa) showed potent inhibitory activities for lipid peroxidation and free radicals. Additionally, the results clearly indicated that AIGID-III treatment could prevent cytotoxic damage of macrophages by $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress due to its potent scavenging ability against cellular ROS. These results suggest that AIGIDs may have protective and therapeutic potential for oxidative stress syndromes and immune diseases through ROS inhibition in macrophage cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.230-235
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• 2004

We previously reported that the phytoprotein extracted from Acanthopanax senticosus (PA) had anti-carcinogenic anti-metastatic activity via increase of inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication. In the present study investigated the immunomodulatory mechanism of phytoprotein isolated from the stem bark of Acanthopanax sentic (PA). PA was found to significantly stimulate macrophages producing TNF-α and IL-1β in vitro. It also showed tumori activity indicating that PA had the ability to stimulate macrophage directly. Moreover, PA induced the CDB/sup +/ CTL cy responses to recognize antigen on the B16-BL6 melanoma cells. Treatment of PA with B16-BL6 melanoma cells increased the proliferation of splenocytes compared with untreated control. These results demonstrate that PA immunomodulatory activity suggesting a useful anti-tumor agent applicable to treatment and prevention of cancer.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.947-955
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• 2011

The complexes [Pd(bpy)(Hex-dtc)]$NO_3$ and [Pt(bpy)(Hex-dtc)]$NO_3$ (bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine and Hex-dtc is hexyldithiocarbamato ligands) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic studies. The cytotoxicity assay of the complexes has been performed on chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line, K562, at micromolar concentration. Both complexes showed cytotoxic activity far better than that of cisplatin under the same experimental conditions. The binding parameters of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated using UV-visible and fluorescence techniques. They show the ability of cooperatively intercalating in CT-DNA. Gel filtration studies demonstrated that platinum complex could cleave the DNA. In the interaction studies between the Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with CT-DNA, several binding and thermodynamic parameters have been determined, which may provide deeper insights into the mechanism of action of these types of complexes with nucleic acids.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.51-58
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• 2016

Objectives This study was designed to investigate whether the Cheongajihwang-Tang (CT) has an inhibitory effect association with oxidation or inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. Methods Cytotoxic activity of CT extract on RAW264.7 cells was evaluated by using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) solution. Nitric oxide production was measured using Griess reagent system. The total phenolic contents and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was measured to evaluate the anti-oxidative effects of CT. Dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) has been used as a substrate for measuring intracellular oxidant production. Results Cheongajihwang-Tang does not impair the cell viability in tested concentration. CT showed anti-oxidative effects in vitro by decreasing electron donating ability, and also showed anti-inflammatory effects suppressing NO and ROS expression in LPS induced RAW264.7 activation. CT inhibited the generation of intracellular ROS production as dose dependant manner. Conclusions CT has anti-oxidative effects and anti-inflammatory activities. These results indicate that CT extract has an anti-inflammatory activities via anti-oxidative effects.