• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2003

The present study was attempted to investigate and compare the antioxidant potency of several well-know flavonoids, antioxidant vitamin and commercially available popular beverages. The antioxidant potency was assessed by the effect on reducing oxidative DNA damage of human lymphocytes. Cellular oxidative DNA damage was measured by SCGE (single-cell gel electrophoresis), also known as comet assay. Lymphocytes were pre-treated for 30 minutes with wide ranges of doses of apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, rutin, quercetin, $\alpha$-tocopherol (10,25,50,100,200,500,1000 $\mu$M) ,green tea extract or grape juice (10,50,100,250,500,1000 $\mu$g/mL) followed by a $H_2O$$_2$(100 $\mu$M) treatment for 5 min as an oxidative stimulus. The physiological function of each antioxidant substance on oxidative DNA damage was analyzed as tail moment (tail length $\times$ percentage migrated DNA in tail) and expressed as relative DNA damage score after adjusting by the level of control treatment. Cells treated with $H_2O$$_2$alone (positive control) had an extensive DNA damage compared with cells treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS, negative control) or pre-treated with all the tested samples. Of all the six flavonoids, quercetin was the most potent antioxidant showing the lowest $ED_{50}$/ of 8.5 $\mu$g/mL (concentration to produce 50% protection of relative DNA damage). The antoxidant potency of individual flavonoids were ranked as follows in a decreasing order; luteolin (18.4 $\mu$g/mL), myricetin (19.0 $\mu$g/mL) , rutin (22.2 $\mu$g/mL) , apigenin (24,3 $\mu$g/mL) , kaempferol (25.5 $\mu$g/mL). The protective effect of $\alpha$-tocopherol was substantially lower (highest $ED_{50}$value of 55.0 $\mu$g/mL) than all the other flavonoids, while the protective effect was highest in green tea and grape juice with low ED5O value of 7.6 and 5.3, respectively. These results suggest that flavonoids, especially quercetin, and natural compounds from food product, green tea and grape juice, produced powerful anti-oxidative activities, even stronger than $\alpha$-tocopherol. Taken together, supplementation of antioxidants to lymphocytes followed by oxidative stimulus inhibited damage to cellular DNA, supporting a protective effect against oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.145-163
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• 2002

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won and to study the mechanism for neuronal death protection in hypoxia with Embryonic day 20 (E20) cortical cells of a rat (Sprague Dawley). Methods: E20 cortical cells were dissociated in neurobasal media and grown for 14 days in vitro (DIV). On 14 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won was added to the culture media for 24 hrs or 72 hrs. On 17 DIV, cells were given a hypoxic shock and further incubated in normoxia for another three days. On 20 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection were evaluated by LDH assay, propidium iodide stain and phospho-H2AX immunostain and the mechanisms were studied by Bcl-2, Bak, Bax, caspase family, PKCα, ca1pain I. Results & Conclusions : 1. This study indicated that Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection in hypoxia were confirmed by LDH assay, propidium iodide stain and phospho-H2AX immunostain in culture method of Embryonic day 20(E20) cortical neuroblasts. 2. Woohwangcheongsim-won's mechanisms for neuronal death protection in hypoxia are to reduce the membrane damage fraction, to restrain DNA truncate, to restrain inflow of cytochrome c into cellularity caused by Bak diminution, to reduce the caspase cascade intiator caspase-8 and the effector caspase-3, to reduce the calpain I activity and to increase PKCand its activity in the membrane fraction. (J Korean Oriental Moo 2002;23(3):145～163)

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2002

We investigated the effect of Paeonia japonica (PJ) on radiation-induced oxidative damage to macromolecules in vitro and in vivo. The PJ reduced the tail moment (TM) which was a marker of DNA strand break in single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE; comet assay) in the human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Lipid peroxidation in the liver of the ICR mouse, measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), was also reduced by PJ administration. Ethanol fraction of PJ was more effective than polysaccharide fraction of that on reduction of TM in SCGE and lipid peroxidation. Also, Their activities to scavenge DPPH radicals and hydroxyl radicals were observed in vitro, and the activities were due to its ethanol fraction. It is plausible that scavenging of flee radicals by PJ extract may have played an important role in providing the protection against the radiation-induced damage. These results indicated that Paeonia japonica might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.152-152
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• 2003

As utilization of radiation in medicine, industry and biochemical research increases, the protection against radiation damage has become an important issue. Natural products such as herbal medicines are beginning to receive attention as modifiers on the radiation response. In the present study, the protective effect of a herb, Menthae Herba, against radiation-induced DNA damage was evaluated using alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE; comet assay) in the mouse peripheral blood Iymphocytes and the micronucleus formation test in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The tail moment, which was a marker of DNA damage in the SCGE, and the frequency of micronuclei was decreased in groups treated with Mentae Herba extract before exposure to 200 cGy of gamma-ray. We also confirmed its activities to scavenge DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. These experiments demonstrated that Menthae Herba was effective at reducing the radiation-induced damage of DNA and scavenging free radicals. It is plausible that scavenging of free radicals by Menthae Herba may have played an important role in providing the protection against the radiation-induced damage to the DNA. These results indicated that Menthae Herba might be a useful radioprotector and that radical scavenging appears to be one of the mechanisms of radiation protection.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.106-116
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• 2002

The 70% ethanol extract of Alpinia officinarum and its major flavonoid, galangin showed strong antioxidative effect on the lipid peroxidation of ethyl linolate with Fenton's reagent and free radical scavenging effect to DPPH radical generation. However, they did not reveal any pro-oxidant effect on bleomycin-Fe(III) dependent DNA degradation. They also showed the protective effect against $H_2O$$_2$, KO$_2$ or UV-induced cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. They also showed the suppressive effect of DNA damage induced by $H_2O$$_2$ or KO$_2$ with dose-dependent manner in single cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE) assay. On the other hand, they have an anticlastogenic effect against adriamycin-induced micronucleated reticulocyte in peripheral blood of mice. These results suggest that the mechanism of inhibition by 70% ethanol extract of Alpinia officinarum and galangin against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced genotoxicity or cytotoxicity is due, at least partly, to their antioxidative and free radical scavenging properties without pro-oxidant effect. All these results indicate that 70% ethanol extract of Alpinia officinarum and galangin may be useful for protection against ROS-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 1998

Several lines of evidence indicate that some neuropeptides classically associated hypothalamus have been found in pituitary gland, suggesting the existence of local regulation of pituitary function. Among the hypothalamic releasing hormones, genes for TRH and GnRH are expressed in the rat anterior pituitary gland. The present study was carried out to investigate the expression of the GHRH gene in rat anterior pituitary and the pituitary-derived cell lines. The presence of GHRH transcripts in pituitary tissue was shown by 3'rapid amplification of cDNA end (3'-RACE) analysis. In reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) study, GHRH cDNA fragments were amplified from two pituitary-derived cell lines, $\alpha$T3 cells originated from mouse gonadotrope and GH3 cells from rat somatolactotrope. Immunoreactive GHRH was detected in large and medium-sized pituitary cells by immunocytochemistry. Significant amounts of GHRH-like molecules were found in the GH3 cell extracts. In RNase protection assay, the level of pituitary GHRH mRNA was augmented by ovariectomy. These results demonstrate that GHRH gene is expressed in the rat gonadotropes and somatotropes, and suggest that the pituitary GHRH could be participated in the paracrine and/or autocrine regulation of cell proliferation, as well as promoting growth hormone secretion.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2023

Blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRSV) and blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) are included in the quarantine virus list managed by the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with an internal control was developed for the simultaneous detection of both viruses. The specific primers used here were designed based on the highly conserved regions of the genomic sequences of each virus, obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information nucleotide databases. The primers were designed to amplify a partial sequence within coat protein (CP) for detecting BRRSV and a partial sequence within the CP-16 kDa for detecting BlScV. 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was used as internal control, and the primer set used in a previous study was modified in this study for detecting 18S rRNA. Each conventional PCR using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers exhibited a sensitivity of approximately 1 fg plasmid DNA. The multiplex PCR assay using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers was effective in simultaneously detecting the two viruses and 18S rRNA with a sensitivity of 1 fg plasmid DNA, similar to that of conventional PCR assays. The multiplex PCR assay developed in this study was performed using 14 blueberry cultivars grown in South Korea. BRRSV and BlScV were not detected, but 18S rRNA was all detected in all the plants tested. Therefore, our optimized multiplex PCR assay could simultaneously detect the two viruses and 18S rRNA in field samples collected from South Korea in a time-efficient manner. This approach could be valuable in crop protection and plant quarantine management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.4
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• pp.425-431
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• 2007

To investigate genetic diversity and PCR detection of Rhizina undulata, PCR detection and sequence analysis of rDNA ITS region of R. undulata in soil were analyzed and developed. The length of partial 18S rDNA from four R. undulata isolates were 1,375 nt. The sequence similarity of R. undulata isolates was 100%. The rDNA ITS regions of R. undulata isolates were 585 nt long. Nucleotide sequencing of the ITS regions showed that PDK-1, PTT-1 and PDJ-9 isolates had 100% sequence identity. But, PDS-5 isolate differed from the three isolates by two nucleotide substitution. R. undulata-specific primers designed by the sequence of ITS region were used in PCR detection of R. undulata. PCR products about 525 bp size, which is specific to R. undulata, were amplified from total DNAs of R. undulata isolates. To assay the sensitivity of PCR detection by R. undulata ITS-specific primer, purely cultured mycelial suspension of R. undulata was serially diluted and mixed with 100g of sterile sandy loam soil, respectively. And then, PCR products of total DNAs extracted from each mycelium-soil mixtures were analysed. The PCR protocol could detected up to 1ng mycelium of R. undulata within 100g of soil.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2001

Environmental risk factors such as ionizing radiations, heavy metals, and pesticides can cause environmental disasters when they exist in excess. The increases in use of ionizing radiation and agricultural pesticide are somewhat related to the possibility of the disaster. The risk of radiation and pesticide was evaluated by means of the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay on the human blood lymphocytes. The lymphocytes were irradiated with $0{\sim}2.0Gy$ of $^{60}Co$ gamma ray. Another groups of lymphocytes were exposed to various concentrations of parathion. Significantly increased tail moment, which was a marker of DNA strand breaks in SCGE assay, showed a clear dose- or concentration-response relationship. Parathion of a recommended concentration for agricultural use ($1mg {\ell}^{-1}$ ) has a strong cytotoxic effect on lymphocytes, which is equivalent to damage induced by 0.1 Gy of ${\gamma}$-ray. Furthermore, $2mg{\ell}^{-1}$ of parathion can give rise to DNA damage equivalent to that induced by 0.25 Gy at which the radiation-induced damage can start to develop into clinical symptoms. The comparative results of this study can provide an experimental basis and biological information for the prevention of environmental disaster.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2004

Investigation of the expression of the riboflavin (rib) genes, which are found immediately downstream of luxG in the lux operon in Photobacterium phosphoreum, provides more information relevant to the evolution of bioluminescence, as well as to the regulation of supply of flavin substrate for bacterial bioluminescence reactions. In order to answer the question of whether or not the transcriptions of lux and rib genes are integrated, a transcriptional termination assay was performed with P. phoxphoreum DNA, containing the possible stem-loop structures, located in the intergenic region of luxF and luxE ($\Omega$$\_$A/), of luxG and ribE ($\Omega$$\_$B/), and downstream of ribA ($\Omega$$\_$c/). The expression of the CAT (Chloram-phenicol Acetyl Transferase) reporter gene was remarkably decreased upon the insertion of the stem-loop structure ($\Omega$$\_$c/) into the strong lux promoter and the reporter gene. However, the insertion of the structure ($\Omega$$\_$B/) into the intergenic region of the lux and the rib genes caused no significant change in expression from the CAT gene. In addition, the single stranded DNA in the same region was protected by the P. phosphoreum mRNA from the Sl nuclease protection assay. These results suggest that lux genes and rib genes are part of the same operon in P. phosphoreum.