• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.275-281
• /
• 2014

After harvesting the medicinal parts of Curcuma longa, the remaining underground parts were discarded. From the remaining underground parts of Curcuma longa quercetin-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q37) was isolated. The antioxidant activities in vitro and lifespan-extension effect of Q37 were elucidated using the Caenorhabditis elegans. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of Q37 showed similar potent activities in comparison with vitamin C. Q37 also showed potent superoxide quenching activities as measured by the riboflavin- and xanthine-originated superoxide quenching activity tests. Q37 prolonged lifespan of worms under normal culture condition. In terms of protective effect of Q37 on the stress conditions such as thermal and oxidative stresses, Q37-treated worms exhibited enhanced survival rate, as compared to control worms. To know the possible mechanism of Q37-mediated increased lifespan and stress resistance of worms, we examined the activities of Q37on superoxide dismutase (SOD), and invested intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The results revealed that Q37 was able to elevate SOD activity of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.1191-1198
• /
• 2011

The use of a ventricular assist device (VAD) can raise the one-year survival rate without cardiac transplantation from 25% to 52%. However, malfunction of the VAD system causes 6% of VAD patients' deaths, which could possibly be avoided through the development of new VADs in which VAD malfunctions do not affect the patient's heart movement or hemodynamic state. A conventional VAD has an impeller or vane for propelling blood that can allow blood to regurgitate when the propelling force is weaker than the aortic pressure. In this paper, we developed a new pulsatile conduit-shaped VAD that has two valves. This device removes the possibility of blood regurgitation and has a small stationary area even when the pumping force is extremely weak. We estimated the characteristics of the device by measuring the outflow and the pressure of the pump in in-vitro and in-vivo experiments.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 1978.09a
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 1978

This study was devised to observe the cytotoxic activity of extracts of Panax ginseng root against some cancer cells and to purify the crude extract. Three kinds of cancer cells(leukemic cells L5178Y, HeLa cells and Sarcoma 180 cells) and mouse embryo cells (as normal cells) were used for this study. The ginseng roots were extracted with petroleum ether in soxhlet apparatus, and the crude extracts were purified by the silicic acid column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography methods. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. Eight to ten mg of the petroleum ether extract (crude extract) were obtained from 1 g of Panax ginseng root, and its activities per mg were about 1,000 units. 2. Doubling time of the L5178Y cells was increased to two fold by 24 hours incubation in culture medium containing about one ${\mu}g$ of extract per ml, and eight and ten folds higher concentration of ginseng extract were required for the Sarcoma 180 cells and HeLa cells, respectively, than for the leukemic cells(L5178Y) to inhibit the cellular growth to the same degree. 3. When the L5178Y cells were exposed to medium containing various concentration of the extract for 24 hours before initiation of the soft agar cloning procedure, about $99\%$ of the L5178Y cells were killed at concentration of 8 units per ml. 4. The growth rate of mouse embryo cell (as normal cell) was not affected by the culture with media containing various amounts (1.45 to 30.0 ${\mu}g/ml$) of the extract. 5. The crude extract could be purified about four times by silicic acid column chromatography using several solvent systems, and one spot of active compound could be obtained on the thin-layer chromatogram. 6. In the Swiss mice inoculated with Sarcoma 180 cells, a survival time of the experimental group (injection group of active compound) was extended more. 1.5 to 2.0 times than the control group's(no injection group).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.543-551
• /
• 2023

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is a representative Chinese herbal medicine with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) has been isolated from ginseng and shown to have promising pharmacological activities. However, effects of PDD on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) have not been reported. We hypothesize that PDD may reverse inflammation-induced PF and be a novel therapeutic strategy. Methods: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a model of PF induced by bleomycin (BLM). The pulmonary index was measured, and histological and immunohistochemical examinations were made. Cell cultures of mouse alveolar epithelial cells were analyzed with Western blotting, coimmunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, siRNA transfection, cellular thermal shift assay and qRT-PCR. Results: The survival rate of PPD-treated mice was higher than that of untreated BLM-challenged mice. Expression of fibrotic hallmarks, including α-SMA, TGF-β1 and collagen I, was reduced by PPD treatment, indicating attenuation of PF. Mice exposed to BLM had higher STING levels in lung tissue, and this was reduced by phosphorylated AMPK after activation by PPD. The role of phosphorylated AMPK in suppressing STING was confirmed in TGF-b1-incubated cells. Both in vivo and in vitro analyses indicated that PPD treatment attenuated BLM-induced PF by modulating the AMPK/STING signaling pathway. Conclusion: PPD ameliorated BLM-induced PF by multi-target regulation. The current study may help develop new therapeutic strategies for preventing PF.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.183-194
• /
• 2022

Background and Objectives: Retinal stem cells (RSCs) resided in ciliary epithelium have shown to possess a high capacity to self-renew and differentiate into retinal cells. RSCs could be induced to differentiate when they are exposed to stimuli like natural compounds and suitable contexts such as biomaterials. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Retinol and alginate/gelatin-based scaffolds on differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) originated from mouse ciliary epithelium. Methods and Results: MSCs were extracted from mouse ciliary epithelium, and their identity was verified by detecting specific surface antigens. To provide a three-dimensional in vitro culture system, 2% alginate, 0.5% gelatin and the mixed alginate-gelatin hydrogels were fabricated and checked by SEM. Retinol treatment was performed on MSCs expanded on alginate/gelatin hydrogels and the survival rate and the ability of MSCs to differentiate were examined through measuring expression alterations of retina-specific genes by ICC and qPCR. The cell population isolated from ciliary epithelium contained more than 93.4% cells positive for MSC-specific marker CD105. Alginate/gelatin scaffolds showed to provide an acceptable viability (over 70%) for MSC cultures. Retinol treatment could induce a high expression of rhodopsin protein in MSCs expanded in alginate and alginate-gelatin mixtures. An elevated presentation of Nestin, RPE65 and Rhodopsin genes was detected in retinol-treated cultures expanded on alginate and alginate-gelatin scaffolds. Conclusions: The results presented here elucidate that retinol treatment of MSCs grown on alginate scaffolds would promote the mouse ciliary epithelium-derived MSCs to differentiate towards retinal neurons.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.34-46
• /
• 2010

Objective: This experimental study was performed to examine if Hang-Am-Dan non-boiled water extracts (HAD-N) induce apoptosis in human lung carcinoma NCI-H460 cells in vitro and inhibits the growth of NCI-H460 cell-transplanted solid tumor in vivo. Materials and Methods: We cultured NCI-H460 cell lines and xenografted them to nude mice. The mice were divided into 3 groups, NCI-H460 cell alone, NCI-H460 + 90 mg/kg HAD-N treated group, and NCI-H460 + 180 mg/kg HAD-N treated group, with seven mice per group. HAD-N was orally administrated every day for four weeks. We checked their body weight and tumor weight and volumes two times a week and their absolute organ weight and biochemical blood analysis at the final day by sacrificing them. We also calculated their tumor inhibition rate (IR), mean survival time and percent increase in life span (% ILS). Results: In this study, we observed that all of the HAD-N treated mice got smaller tumors. The more doses of HAD-N used, the less IR showed at the 8th day after starting this experiment. Tumor weight and volume of HAD-N treatment groups also decreased. Mean survival time and percent increase in life span (% ILS) in the high-dose HAD-N treatment groups were higher than those of other groups. The test substances in the blood level UN results showed reduction in the significance in both HAD-N 90 mg/kg and HAD-N 180 mg/kg (p<0.01). The blood level phosphatase results in HAD-N 90 mg/kg group compared to NCI-H460 cell alone group showed a reduction in significance (p<0.05). AST levels HAD-N 180 mg/kg group compared to NCI-H460 cell alone group significance as well (p<0.05). Conclusion: We suggest that the results of the in vivo study showed that HAD-N may have potential as a growth inhibitor of tumor-induced NCI-H460 of nude mice in spite of the shortcomings of this study. More studies to overcome those shortcomings and to find out significant antitumor mechanism will be needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.351-357
• /
• 2004

Background : Paclitaxel is highly beneficial anticancer drug for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and has shown remarkable radiosensitizing effect in vitro. We evaluated whether concurrent chemoradiation therapy with weekly paclitaxel (60 $mg/m^2$) could be tolerated and effective in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods : Twenty-two stage III (IIIA:6, IIIB:16) NSCLC patients were treated with weekly administration of paclitaxel (60 $mg/m^2$) on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36 in addition to concurrent radiation therapy of 54 Gy. After the initial phase of concurrent chemoradiation, patients received additional two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with paclitaxel (175 $mg/m^2$)/cisplatin (75 $mg/m^2$) or paclitaxel (175 $mg/m^2$)/carboplatin (6AUC) every 3 weeks. Results : Overall response rate was 81.8% (18/22) with 9.1% (2/22) of complete response and 72.7% (16/22) of partial response rate. Two patients (9.1%) died of chemoradiation-induced pneumonitis after completion of therapy. In total, grade 3 toxicities included pneumonitis (22.7%), esophagitis (22.7%), neuropathy (13.6%), and neutropenia (13.6%). The median survival time was 15 months and 2-year overall survival were 31.8%. Conclusion : Concurrent chemoradiation therapy with weekly paclitaxel in locally advanced NSCLC showed good local response, but survival rate was not completely satisfactory due to potentially fatal chemoradiation-induced pneumonitis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.193-196
• /
• 2009

Pinellia koreana K-H Tae & J-H Kim is a recently discovered Korea endemic medicinal plant species whose natural habitat is rapidly destroyed by industrial development. Described in this paper are culture conditions for high frequency plant regeneration via bulblet formation from leaf explant cultures of P. koreana. Leaf explants formed white nodular structures and off-white calluses at a frequency of 91.2% when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA. However, the frequency of white nodular structures and off-white calluses formation was slightly decreased with an increasing concentration of NAA up to 4 mg/L, where the frequency reached 31.7%. Most petiole explants did not form white nodular structures and off-white calluses except the combination treatment of 2 mg/L BA and 2 mg/L NAA. Upon transfer onto MS basal medium, over 90% of nodular structures gave rise to numerous bulblets and developed into plantlets. Plantlets regenerated from bulblets were transplanted to potting soil and grown to maturity at a survival rate of over 95% in a growth chamber. Therefore, the in vitro plant regeneration system of P. koreana obtained in this study will be useful for mass propagation and long-term preservation of genetic resources of P. koreana.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.410-416
• /
• 2005

Rhodiola sachalinensis has been used as a traditional medicine in Asia. We were germination in vitro seedling of grow naturally in Chang bai Moutain. And callus induction from leaf segments, treatmented plant regeneration in plant growth regulators (Auxins and cytokinins). We investigated optimal conditions for efficient plant regeneration through callus induction and shoots formation on medium with various kinds of growth regulators. Callus induction and adventitious shoots formation was achieved when cytokinin and auxin combinated to this experiment. Especially, there was the highest callus induction rates when we were used to 1 mg/L kinetin and 2 mg/L NAA $(98\%)$, Adventitious shoots formation wear obtained difference rate when cytokinin alone 1 mg/L BA $(96.6\%)$. And regenerated plantlet was acclimatized and transplanted to the soil, showed $100\%$ survival.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.210-218
• /
• 2013

Numerous studies have suggested that Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract has various immune modulatory activities both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we used a mouse model to examine the effects of orally administered KRG extract on immunity against herpes simplex virus (HSV). Balb/c mice were administered with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg oral doses of KRG extract for 10 d and then vaginally infected with HSV. We found that KRG extract rendered recipients more resistant against HSV vaginal infection and further systemic infection, including decreased clinical severity, increased survival rate, and accelerated viral clearance. Such results appeared to be mediated by increased vaginal IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion. Moreover, increased mRNA expression of IFN-${\gamma}$, granzyme B, and Fas-ligand was identified in the iliac lymph node and vaginal tracts of KRG extract treated groups (200 and 400 mg/kg). These results suggest that the activities of local natural killer cells were promoted by KRG extract consumption and that KRG may be an attractive immune stimulator for helping hosts overcome HSV infection.