• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.239-250
• /
• 2024

In this study, we investigated the skin safety, antioxidant, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory effects of a composite extract of Prunus mume flower, Lonicera japonica flower, Chrysanthemum indicum flower, and Phyllostachys bambusoides (Royal TheraTea Guard^TM, RTG), which has been used as an internal medicine in the royal medical treatment for preventing skin damage caused by external environmental factors. In a cytotoxicity test on HaCaT cells, RTG complex extract showed no change in cell viability at concentrations of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, and a skin irritation index of 0.00 in a human patch test, confirming that it is non-irritating to the skin. The antioxidant effects was confirmed by the presence of 497.83 ㎍ GAE/g of polyphenols and increased DPPH radical scavenging activity, with a significant increase in catalase activity in the stratum corneum, showing potential as an antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress. The anti-inflammatory effects was observed through reduced erythema in skin stimulated by tape stripping and treated with fine dust in keratinocytes. The moisturizing effects was shown by increased expression of hyaluronan synthase (HAS)2, 3 and keratin1 in keratinocytes treated with fine dust compared to the control group, as well as increased skin moisture content and decreased skin roughness. These results suggest RTG can be used as a cosmetic ingredient to prevent skin damage caused by external environmental factors.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.9
• /
• pp.977-982
• /
• 2006

Purpose : There has been an increasing amount of literature concerning the association between Mycoplasma pneumoniae and asthma pathogenesis. Interleukin(IL)-6 stimulates the differentiation of monocytes, and can promote Th2 differentiation and simultaneously inhibit Th1 polarization. IL-8 is a potent chemoattractant and, it has been suggested, has a role in asthma pathogenesis. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by airway epithelium may be important in the regulation of airway inflammation and reactivity. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) has been reported to be a mediator of airway remodeling in asthma. We investigated the effects of M. pneumoniae on IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF production in human respiratory epithelial cells. Methods : A549 cells were cultured and inoculated with M. pneumoniae at a dose of 20 cfu/cell. After infection, the presence of M. pneumoniae in epithelial cell cultures was monitored by immunofluorescence and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) detection. IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NO was measured using the standard Griess reaction. Results : In A549 cells, M. pneumoniaeinduced IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF release in time-dependent manners. It also induced mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in similar manners. Conclusion : These observations suggest that M. pneumoniae might have a role in the pathogenesis of the allergic inflammation of bronchial asthma.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.479-485
• /
• 2009

Bulnesia sarmienti (BS), a traditional South American herbal medicine native to Gran Chaco, has been used to treat various human ailments. We investigated the cytotoxic activities and the inhibitory effects of BS bark extract(0, 50, 100 and $200\;{\mu}g/\;mL$) on the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), cyclooxygenase (COX) and proinflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 ng/ml)-stimulated murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. The levels of NO, COX, PGE2 production and proinflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) were measured by ELISA kit. Cell viability, as measured by the MTT assay, showed that BS extract had no significant cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 cells. BS extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO, $PGE_2$ and COX production accompanied by an attenuation of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ formation in macrophages. These results suggest that BS extract has potential as an herbal medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.369-375
• /
• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the physiological activities of Ginkgo biloba sarcotesta extracts before and after heat treatment. G. biloba sarcotesta was heated at $130^{\circ}C$ for 2 h and extracted with water, 70% ethanol and 80% methanol. ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities increased after heating in the water (14.95 mg AAE/g and 7.36 mg TE/g) and ethanol extracts (12.20 mg AAE/g and 6.23 mg TE/g). ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibitory activity decreased after heating in all but the water extract. Angiotensin converting enzyme I inhibitory activities decreased after heating in all extracts. Nitric oxide production inhibitory activity increased from 12.40~44.55% of the raw sample to 40.76~72.39% of the heated sample at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. Lipid accumulation inhibitory activities were similar before and after heat treatment. The highest antiproliferative effects on MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines were observed in 80% methanol extract in the heated sample. Cell viability at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ measured 34.88, 17.58, 8.44 and 10.48%, respectively. From the results, the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of G. biloba sarcotesta extracts increased with heat treatment, and research on the identification of the structure for the active compounds are needed in further studies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.143-153
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Infection with Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli, an emerging human pathogen found particularly in young children under 5 years of age, causes a spectrum of illnesses with high morbidity and mortality, ranging from diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Host mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLT-I toxicity. The experiments described here were designed to investigate the effect of SLT-I on TNF-${\alpha}$ production and to understand the effect of TNF-${\alpha}$ on GB3 expression. We also further examine the relationship between the Gb3 level and the differential susceptibility of cells to the cytotoxic action of SLT-I. Methods : The effect of purified SLT-1 from E. coli O157 : H7 (ATCC 43890) on tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) production in Raw264.7 cells was investigated. Many mediators regulate endothelial cell membrane expression of the glycolipid globotriaosyleramide (Gb3), which serves as the toxin receptor, suggesting that the host response to the toxin or other bacterial products may contribute to pathogenesis by regulating target cell sensitivity to the toxins. Therefore, the relationships between Gb3 expression and cytotoxicity against SLT-I on three types of cells were evaluated. Results : Detectable levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ were produced as early as six hours after induction and continued to increase during 48 hours by SLT-I. It was also found that Vero cells and dendritic cells (DC2.4 cells) expressed high levels of Gb3, 83% and 68%, respectively, and that Raw264.7 cells had a low level of Gb3 (29%) and appeared refractory to cytotoxicity against SLT-I. Vero cells and DC2.4 cells expressing high levels of Gb3 were highly susceptible to SLT-I. Furthermore, macrophages showed a resistance to SLT-I cytotoxicity, despite the fact that Gb3 expression was enhanced. Conclusion : These results strongly suggest that the expression of Gb3 is necessary but not sufficient to confer sensitivity of macrophages to SLT-I and further underpin the important role of SLT-I and its Gb3 receptors in the pathogenesis of E. coli O157 infection.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.227-237
• /
• 2003

Purpose: The human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line, K562, expresses the chimeric bcr-abl oncoprotein, whose deregulated protein tyrosine kinase activity antagonizes via DNA damaging agents. Previous experiments have shown that nanomolar concentrations of herbimycin A (HWA) coupled with X-irradiation have a synergistic effect in inducing apoptosis in the Ph-positive K562 leukemia cell line, but genistein, a PTK inhibitor, is non selective for the radiation-induced apoptosils on $p210^{bcr/abl}$ protected K562 cells. In these experiments, the cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways, the Induction on a number of transcription factors and the differential gene expression in this model were investigated. Materials and Methids: K562 cells in the exponential growth phase were used in this study. The cells were irradiated with 0.5-12 Gy, using a 6 Mev Linac (Clinac 1800, Varian, USA). Immediately after irradiation, the cells were treated with $0.25/muM$ of HMA and $25/muM$ of genistein, and the expressions and the activities of abl kinase, MAPK family, NF- kB, c-fos, c-myc, and thymidine kinase1 (TK1) were examined. The differential gene expressions induced by PTK inhibitors were also investigated. Results: The modulating effects of herbimycin A and genistein on the radiosensitivity of K562 cells were not related to the bcr-abl kinase activity. The signaling responses through the MAPK family of proteins, were not involved either in association with the radiation-induced apoptosis, which is accelerated by HMA, the expression of c-myc was increased. The combined treatment of genistein, with irradiation, enhanced NF- kB activity and the TK1 expression and activity. Conclusion: The effects of HMA and genistein on the radiosensitivity on the K562 cells were not related to the bcr-abl kinase activity in this study, another signaling pathway, besides the WAPK family responses to radiation to K562 cells, was found. Further evaluation using this model will provide valuable information for the optional radiosensitization or radioprotection.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.470-478
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study is to monitor the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) produced by human osteosarcoma cell line (MG63) stimulated with Prevotella nigrescens lipopolysaccharides (LPS). and to compare the level of secretion before and after the treatment of calcium hydroxide on P. nigrescens LPS. LPS was extracted and purified from anaerobically cultured P. nigrescens. MG63 cells were stimulated by the LPS (0, 1, $10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) or LPS($10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) pretreated with 12.5 mg/ml of $Ca(OH)_2$ for 3 days. Total RNA was isolated from the cell. and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for quantification of MMP-1 and TIMP-1. The results were as follows. 1. MMP-1 mRNA expression at 48 hr was highly increased by stimulation with P. nigrescens LPS. The increase was dose-dependent. 2. When stimulated with ($1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of LPS. TIMP-1 mRNA expression was highly increased at 24 hr and 48 hr. However. TIMP-1 expression was suppressed at higher concentration ($10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$). 3. When P. nigrescens LPS was pretreated with $Ca(OH)_2$. MMP-1 and TIMP-1 gene expression was downregulated. The results of this study suggest that transcriptional regulation of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 by P. nigrescens LPS could be one of the important mechanisms in bone resorption of periapical inflammation. The result of calcium hydroxide on MMP-1 and TIMP-1 gene expression suppression shows that calcium hydroxide detoxified bacterial LPS and thus should be used the medication of choice for intracanal dressings in root canal infected with black-pigmented bacteria.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.839-845
• /
• 2009

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant neoplasm in the world. Much attention has been focused on reducing colon cancer risk through medical properties of natural compound that could act as anticarcinogens. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of Styela plicata (S. plicata) from in vitro experiments. S. plicata extracts showed antioxidant activity measured by TRAP assay and antigenotoxic effect in $200{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage in human leukocytes. Especially, freeze-dried S. plicata extracted with methanol showed the highest level of TRAP (0.225 mM) and inhibition of DNA damage (66.8%). Additionally we observed the effect of S. plicata on the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and DMH induced DNA damage (by comet assay) in male SD rats. The animals were divided into three groups and fed high-fat and low fiber diet (100 g lard+20 g cellulose/kg diet) without (normal control and DMH control) or with a 3% (w/w) of lyophilized S. plicata powder (DMH+S. plicata). One week after beginning the diets, rats were treated with DMH (30 mg/kg, s.c.) for 6 weeks except for normal control group, which was treated saline instead; dietary treatments were continued for the entire experiment. Nine weeks after DMH injection, administration of S. plicata resulted in reduction of ACF numbers, to 82.7% of the carcinogen control value ($7.67{\pm}2.04$ vs. $1.33{\pm}0.53$: p<0.01). S. plicata supplementation induced antigenotoxic effect on DMH-induced DNA damage in the blood cell (% tail intensity: $6.79{\pm}0.26$ vs. $6.13{\pm}0.22$). These data indicate that S. plicata extract has antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic effects from in vitro experiments and S. plicata exerts a protective effect on the process of colon carcinogenesis, possibly by suppressing the DMH-induced DNA damage in blood cell and the development of preneoplastic lesions in colon.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.376-386
• /
• 2016

Apoptosis induction has been proposed as an efficient mechanism by which malignant tumor cells can be removed following chemotherapy. The intrinsic mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway is frequently implicated in chemotherapy-induced tumor cell apoptosis. Since DNA-damaging agent (DDA)-induced apoptosis is mainly regulated by the tumor suppressor protein p53, and since more than half of clinical cancers possess inactive p53 mutants, microtubule-damaging agents (MDAs), of which apoptotic effect is mainly exerted via p53-independent routes, can be promising choice for cancer chemotherapy. Recently, we found that the apoptotic signaling pathway induced by MDAs (nocodazole, 17α-estradiol, or 2-methoxyestradiol) commonly proceeded through mitotic spindle defect-mediated prometaphase arrest, prolonged Cdk1 activation, and subsequent phosphorylation of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bim in human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells. These microtubule damage-mediated alterations could render the cellular context susceptible to the onset of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by triggering Bak activation, Δψm loss, and resultant caspase cascade activation. In contrast, when the MDA-induced Bak activation was inhibited by overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL), the cells in prometaphase arrest failed to induce apoptosis, and instead underwent mitotic slippage and endoreduplication cycle, leading to formation of populations with 8N and 16N DNA content. These data indicate that cellular apoptogenic mechanism is critical for preventing polyploid formation following MDA treatment. Since the formation of polyploid cells, which are genetically unstable, may cause acquisition of therapy resistance and disease relapse, there is a growing interest in developing new combination chemotherapies to prevent polyploidization in tumors after MDA treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.57-67
• /
• 2011

Agaricus brasiliensis, one of edible mushroom belonging to Basidiomycota, has been used for curing gastric ulcer and stomach cancer of human beings and also known to have good inhibitory effects on sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma of mice. Neutral saline soluble (0.9% NaCl), hot water soluble and methanol soluble substances (hereinafter referred to Fr. NaCl, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH, respectively) were prepared from fruiting body of the mushroom. ${\beta}$-glucan and total protein contents were identify from fractions of edible mushrooms extract. The ${\beta}$-glucan and protein contents of all fractions of the mushrooms ranged from 21.54~32.31% and 0.16~9.34%, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity tests, crude polysaccharides were not cytotoxic against cancer cell lines such as Sarcoma 180, HT-29, NIH3T3 and RAW 264.7 at the concentration of 10~2000 ${\mu}g/ml$. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides exhibited life prolongation effect of 18.8~50.6% in mice previously inoculated with Sarcoma 180. Fr. HW increased the numbers of spleen cell by 1.2 fold at the concentration of 200 ${\mu}g/ml$ compared with control. Fr. MeOH and Na improved the immuno-potentiating activity of B lymphocyte by increasing the alkaline phosphatase activity by 1.6 fold compared with control at the concentration of 50~500 ${\mu}g/ml$. Fr. Na generated 15.9 ${\mu}M$ of nitric oxide (NO) when cultured with RAW 264.7 at the concentration of 200 ${\mu}g/ml$, while lipopolysaccharide, a positive control, produced 3.7 ${\mu}M$. The Fr. NaCl, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH increased the secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, Il-2 and IL-6 by 2.2 times compared with the control group. Fr. Na increased the numbers of peritoneal exudate cells by 4 folds at the concentration of 50mg/kg compared with control. Circulating leukocytes increased by 2.7 folds when Fr. HW from A. brasiliensis was inoculated at the concentration of 50 mg/kg body weight. The hematological and blood chemical analysis of the 3 fractions did not show any difference in blood compositions and enzyme activities compared with the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, the experimental results suggested that crude polysaccharides extracted from A. brasiliensis contain antitumor and immuno-potentiating activities against Sarcoma 180 in ICR mice.