• Title/Summary/Keyword: Inhibiting Effect

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Effect of Young Barley Leaf on Lipid Contents and Hepatic Lipid-Regulating Enzyme Activities in Mice Fed High-Fat Diet (보리순이 고지방을 급여한 마우스의 지질 함량과 간조직의 지질대사 관련 효소활성에 미치는 영향)

  • Yang, Eun-Ju;Cho, Young-Sook;Choi, Myung-Sook;Woo, Myoung-Nam;Kim, Myung-Joo;Shon, Mi-Yae;Lee, Mi-Kyung
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.14-22
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    • 2009
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effects of powdered young barley leaf and its water extract on body weight and lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice. Male mice were divided into normal group, high-fat (HF) group, high-fat group supplemented with powdered young barley leaf (HF-YBL) and high-fat group supplemented with water extract of the powdered young barley leaf (HF-WYBL). The powdered young barley leaf or its water extract was added to a standard diet based on 1% dried young barley leaf (1 g YBL/100 diet and 0.28 g WYBL/100 g diet) for 8 weeks. Supplementation of YBL and WYBL significantly reduced body weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight in high-fat fed mice. Food intake and daily energy intake were significantly lower in the YBL group than in the HF group. After 8 weeks, plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the HF group than in the Normal group; however, both YBL and WYBL significantly lowered those of the high-fat fed mice. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol of the YBL and WYBL groups were significantly elevated compared to that of HF group. Both YBL and WYBL significantly increased fecal excretion of triglyceride in high-fat fed mice, whereas they did not affect fecal cholesterol concentration. The triglyceride levels of liver, adipose tissue and heart were significantly lower in the YBL and WYBL groups than in the HF group. Supplementation of WYBL also lowered the kidney triglyceride and heart cholesterol concentrations compared to those of HF group. Hepatic lipid regulating enzyme activities, fatty acid synthase, HMG-CoA reductase and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase, were significantly lower in the YBL and WYBL groups than in the HF group. Accordingly, these results suggest that YBL and WYBL improve plasma and organ lipid levels partly by increasing fecal lipid excretion and inhibiting fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver.

Effects of Plant Growth Retardants on the Growth and Characters Related with Lodging in Rice (생장조정제(生長調整劑) 처리(處理)가 수도생육(水稻生育) 및 도복관련(倒伏關聯) 형질(形質)에 미치는 효과(效果))

  • Kang, C.K.;Ryu, G.H.;Lee, K.H.
    • Korean Journal of Weed Science
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.31-38
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    • 1992
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effect of plant growth retardants on the growth and characters related with lodging in rice. The results are summarized as follows. Plant height which is closely related to lodging was significantly inhibited by the application of inabenfide, paclobutrazol, and uniconazole. Among the tested application times, inabenfide, paclobutrazol, and uniconazole were the most effective in inhibiting plant height at 30, 20, 20 days before heading respectively. Inabenfide was markedly effective in reducing the lower (4th) internode length, whereas paclobutrazol and uniconazole were more effective in reducing the upper (3rd and 2nd) internode length. Internode wall of rice plant treated with chemicals was tended to be thickened as compared with control. Heading date was not influenced by inabenfide, but paclobutrazol and uniconazole were inhibited 1 or 2 days in heading date as compared with control. Lodging index was the most reduced when inabenfide was applied 30 days before heading with 160g ai whereas paclobutrazol and uniconazole were applied 15 days before heading with 12, 1.2g ai per 10a, respectively. All the treatments inhibited the lodging of rice but control was completely lodged. Yield treated with these chemicals was prevented by 10-12% of yield decrease occurred by lodging. As a conclusion, inabenfide with 120 or 160g ai at 40 or 30 days before heading, paclobutrazol with 12g ai at 15 days before heading, arid uniconazole with 1.2g ai at 15 days before heading appear to be the most practical application time and rate for preventing lodging in paddy rice.

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Improvement of Shelf-life and Quality in Fresh-Cut Tomato Slices:

  • Hong Ji Heun
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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    • 2004.10a
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    • pp.67-72
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    • 2004
  • Quality of fresh-cut tomato slices was compared during cold storage under various modified atmosphere packaging conditions. Chilling injury of slices in containers sealed with Film A was higher than with Film B; these films had oxygen transmission rates of 87.4 and 60.0 ml $h^{-1}\;m^{-2}\;atm^{-1}$ at $5^{\circ}C\;and\;99\%$ RH, respectively. While slices in containers with an initial atmospheric composition of air, $4\%\;CO_2+1\;or\;20\%\;O_2,\;8\%\;CO_2+1\;or\;20\%\;O_2,\;or\;12\%\;CO_2+20\%\;O_2$ showed fungal growth, slices in containers with $12\%\;CO_2+1\%\;O_2$ did not. Low ethylene in containers enhanced chilling injury. Modified atmosphere packaging provided good quality tomato slices with a shelf-life of 2 weeks or more at $5^{\circ}C$. Experiments were conducted to compare changes in quality of slices of red tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Sunbeam') fruit from plants grown using black polyethylene or hairy vetch mulches under various foliar disease management systems including: no fungicide applications (NF), a disease forecasting model (Tom-Cast), and weekly fungicide applications (WF), during storage at $5^{\circ}C$ under a modified atmosphere. Slices were analyzed for firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pH, electrolyte leakage, fungi, yeasts, and chilling injury. With both NF and Tom-Cast fungicide treatments, slices from tomato fruit grown with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) mulch were firmer than those from tomato fruit grown with black polyethylene mulch after 12 days storage. Ethylene production of slices from fruit grown using hairy vetch mulch under Tom-Cast was about 1.5- and 5-fold higher than that of slices from WF and NF fungicide treatments after 12 days, respectively. The percentage of water-soaked areas (chilling injury) for slices from tomato fruit grown using black polyethylene mulch under NF was over 7-fold that of slices from tomato fruit grown using hairy vetch under Tom-Cast. When stored at $20^{\circ}C$, slices from light-red tomato fruit grown with black polyethylene or hairy vetch mulches both showed a rapid increase in electrolyte leakage beginning 6 hours after slicing. However, slices from tomato fruit grown using the hairy vetch mulch tended to have lower electrolyte leakage than those grown with black polyethylene mulch. These results suggest that tomato fruit from plants grown using hairy vetch mulch may be more suitable for fresh-cut slices than those grown using black polyethylene mulch. Also, use of the disease forecasting model Tom-Cast, which can result in lower fungicide application than is currently used commercially, resulted in high quality fruit for fresh-cut processing. Experiments were conducted to determine if ethylene influences chilling injury, as measured by percentage of slices exhibiting water-soaked areas in fresh-cut tomato slices of 'Mountain Pride' and 'Sunbeam' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Ethylene concentration in containers without ventilation significantly increased during storage at $5^{\circ}C$, whereas little or no accumulation of ethylene occurred in containers with one or six perforations. Chilling injury was greatest for slices in containers with six perforations, compared to slices in containers with one perforation, and was over 13-fold greater than that of slices in control containers with no perforations. An experiment was also performed to investigate the effectiveness of including an ethylene absorbent pad in containers on subsequent ethylene accumulation and chilling injury. While ethylene in the no-pad controls increased continually during storage of both 'Mountain Pride' and 'Sunbeam' tomatoes at $5^{\circ}C$ under modified atmosphere conditions, no increase in accumulation of ethylene was observed in containers containing ethylene absorbent pads throughout storage. The ethylene absorbent pad treatment resulted in a significantly higher percentage of chilling injury compared with the no-pad control. In studies aimed at inhibiting ethylene production using AVG during storage of slices, the concentration of ethylene in control containers (no AVG) remained at elevated levels throughout storage, compared to containers with slices treated with AVG. Chilling injury in slices treated with AVG was 5-fold greater than that of controls. Further, we tested the effect of ethylene pretreatment of slices on subsequent slice shelf-life and quality. In slices treated with ethylene (0, 0.1, 1, or $10\;{mu}L\;L^{-1}$) immediately after slicing, ethylene production in non-treated controls was greater than that of all other ethylene pre-treatments. However, pretreatment of slices 3 days after slicing resulted in a different pattern of ethylene production during storage. Ihe rate of ethylene production by slices treated with 1 L $L^{-1}$ ethylene 3 days after slicing was greater during storage than any of the other ethylene treatments. With slices pre-treated with ethylene, both immediately and 3 days after slicing, the rate of ethylene production tended to show an negative correlation with chilling injury. Chemical name used: 1-aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG).

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Effect of Chitosan-Ascorbate and Morea(roasted of oyster shell at $1300^{\circ}C$) on Growth of Contaminating Bacteria in Dombaeki(traditional shark dish) during Storage (돔배기의 저장 중 오염미생물의 생육에 미치는 키토산-아스코베이트 및 모려의 처리효과)

  • Kim, Do-Kyun;Lee, Ye-Kyung;Kim, Young-Sook;Park, Jin-Soo;Kim, Soon-Dong
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.223-229
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    • 2009
  • The effects of 0.01%(w/v) chitosan-ascorbate(CA) and 10 ppm morea on the number of total microbes, Escherichia coli levels, and growth of food poisoning bacteria in dombaeki during storage at $10^{\circ}C$ over 6 days were investigated. Total microbes in meat, cartilage, and skin of untreated samples increased by 4.24, 3.81, and 2.20 logs compared to the zero timepoint, respectively, but, in CA-treated samples, counts fell by 2.66, 2.37, and 1.24 logs. Total microbial levels in morea-treated meat, cartilage, and skin showed similar tendencies but the effects were slightly less than seen in CA-treated samples. E. coli numbers in CA-treated meat, cartilage, and skin stored for 6 days decreased by 1.69, 1.25, and 1.52 logs respectively, compared with control samples. Morea-treated samples showed similar falls, but the effects were again slightly less than seen after CA-treatment. Both Salmonella and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were detected in untreated meat stored for 3 or 6 days. Food poisoning bacteria were found in both untreated and morea-treated samples stored over 6 days. However, no such bacteria were detected in CA-treated samples. Also, CA-treated meat, cartilage, and skin showed low degrees of degeneration. Thus, CA treatment enhanced shelf-life and dombaeki quality by inhibiting microorganism growth and tissue breakdown during storage.

Optimization of Production Medium by Response Surface Method and Development of Fermentation Condition for Monascus pilosus Culture (Monascus pilosus 배양을 위한 반응표면분석법에 의한 생산배지 최적화 및 발효조건 확립)

  • Yoon, Sang-Jin;Shin, Woo-Shik;Chun, Gie-Taek;Jeong, Yong-Seob
    • KSBB Journal
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    • v.22 no.5
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    • pp.288-296
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    • 2007
  • Monascus pilosus (KCCM 60160) in submerged culture was optimized based on culture medium and fermentation conditions. Monacolin-K (Iovastatin), one of the cholesterol lowing-agent which was produced by Monascus pilosus may maintain a healthy lipid level by inhibiting the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Plackett-Burman design and response surface method were employed to study the culture medium for the desirable monacolin-K production. As a result of experimental designs, optimized production medium components and concentrations (g/L) were determined on soluble starch 96, malt extract 44.5, beef extract 30.23, yeast extract 15, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ 4.03, $Na_2HPO_4{\cdot}12H_2O$ 0.5, L-Histidine 3.0, $KHSO_4$ 1.0, respectively. Monacolin-K production was improved about 3 times in comparison with shake flask fermentation of the basic production medium. The effect of agitation speed (300, 350, 400 and 450 rpm) on the monacolin-K production were also observed in a batch fermenter. Maximum monacolin-K production with the basic production medium was 68 mg/L when agitation speed was 500 rpm. And it was found that all spherical pellets (average diameter of $1.0{\sim}1.5mm$) were dominant during fermentation. Based on the results, the maximum production of 185 mg/L of monacolin-K with the optimized production medium was obtained at pH (controlled) 6.5, agitation rate 400 rpm, aeration rate 1 vvm, and inoculum size 3%.

Beneficial Effects of Acanthopanax senticosus Extract in Type II Diabetes Animal Model via Down-Regulation of Advanced Glycated Hemoglobin and Glycosylation End Products (제2형 당뇨 동물모델에서 가시오가피 추출물의 당화혈색소 및 최종당화산물 억제를 통한 혈당조절 효과)

  • Kwon, Han Ol;Lee, Minhee;Kim, Yong Jae;Kim, Eun;Kim, Ok-Kyung
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.45 no.7
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    • pp.929-937
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    • 2016
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) (ethanol : DW=1:1, v/v) on inhibition of type 2 diabetes using an OLETF rat model via regulation of HbA1c and AGEs levels. Supplementation with ASE 0.1% and 0.5% effectively lowered levels of glucose, insulin, oral glucose tolerance test, and Homa-insulin resistance, suggesting reduced insulin resistance. Blood levels of HbA1c and AGEs were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner. As oxidative stress plays a key role in accelerating production of HbA1c and AGEs, which worsen symptoms of type 2 diabetes, levels of malonaldehyde and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. Lipid peroxidation in both blood and liver tissues was significantly reduced, and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-${\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, which elevate production of HbA1c and AGEs, was inhibited (P<0.05). To evaluate the possible cellular events after AGEs receptor activation, genetic expression of protein kinase C (PKC)-${\delta}$ and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Supplementation with both ASE 0.1% and 0.5% significantly inhibited mRNA expression of PKC-${\delta}$ and TGF-${\beta}$, indicating that ASE may have beneficial effects on preventing insulin-resistant cells or tissues from progressing to diabetic complications. Taken together, ASE has potential to improve type 2 diabetes by inhibiting insulin resistance and protein glycosylation, including production of HbA1c and AGEs. Anti-oxidative activities of ASE are a main requisite for reducing production of HbA1c and AGEs and are also related to regulation of the PKC signaling pathway, resulting in suppression of TGF-${\beta}$, which increases synthesis of collagen, prostaglandin, and disease-related proteins.

The Effect of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR Gene Transfer on the Sensitivity of Human Lung Cancer Cell Lines to Cisplatin and Paclitaxel ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR 유전자이입이 Cisplatin, Paclitaxel에 대한 폐암세포주의 감수성에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Seok-Young;Seol, Ja-Young;Park, Kyung-Ho;Park, Gun-Min;Hwang, Yong-Il;Kim, Cheol-Hyeon;Jang, Seung-Hun;Kwon, Sung-Youn;Yoo, Chul-Gyu;Kim, Young-Whan;Han, Sung-Koo;Shim, Young-Soo;Lee, Choon-Taek
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.51 no.2
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    • pp.122-134
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    • 2001
  • Background : Some chemotherapeutic drugs induce NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by degrading the $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ protein in cancer cells which contributes to anticancer drug resistance. We hypothesized that inhibiting $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation would block NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and result in increased tumor cell mortality in response to chemotherapy. Methods : The "superrepressor" form of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor was transferred by an adenoviral vector (Ad-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR) to the human lung cancer cell lines (NCI H157 and NCI H460). With a MIT assay, the level of sensitization to cisplatin and paclitaxel were measured. To confirm the mechanism, an EMSA and Annexin V assay were performed. Results : EMSA showed that $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR effectively blocked the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by cisplatin. Transduction with Ad-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR resulted in an increased sensitivity of the lung cancer cell lines to cisplatin and paclitaxel by a factor of 2~3 in terms of $IC_{50}$. Annexin-V analysis suggests that this increment in chemosensitivity to cisplatin probably occurs through the induction of apoptosis. Conclusion : The blockade of chemotherapeutics induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by inducing Ad-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR, increased apoptosis and increasing the chemosensitivity of the lung cancer cell lines tested, subsequently. Gene transfer of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-SR appears to be a new therapeutic strategy of chemosensitization in lung cancer.

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Bee Venom Inhibits Angiogenesis by Decreasing HIF-1α Expression in HCT116 Cells (봉독의 HIF-1α 발현감소를 통한 혈관신생 억제효과)

  • Shin, Jae-Moon;Jeong, Yun-Jeong;Park, Kwan-Kyu;Choe, Jung-Yoon;Han, Sang-Mi;Lee, Kwang-Gill;Yeo, Joo-Hong;Chung, Il-Kyung;Chang, Young-Chae
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.41-48
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    • 2012
  • Bee venom (BV) has been used in medicine to treat a variety of diseases including arthritis, rheumatism, and various cancers. Recent reports indicate that BV has anti-angiogenic effects, but the precise molecular mechanism underlying the effects of BV against colorectal cancer remains to be elucidated. We examined the effects of BV and its major components (melittin and apamin) on tumor angiogenesis and found that BV significantly decreased protein levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$), an important factor involved in angiogenesis and tumor progression, in human colorectal carcinoma HCT116 cells. BV also suppressed the transcription of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ under hypoxia, leading to a decrease in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major target gene of HIF-$1{\alpha}$. We also found that these effects were mainly elicited by apamin, but not melittin. BV specifically inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 without changing the total levels of this protein, but had no effect on kinases of p38/JNK and AKT. Our results suggest that BV may inhibit human colorectal cancer progression and angiogenesis by inhibiting HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and VEGF expression, thereby providing a novel potential mechanism for the anticancer action of BV.

Anti-metastastic Effects of ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang (부정방암탕(扶正防癌湯) 구성(構成) 약물(藥物)의 암전이(癌轉移) 억제(抑制)에 대한 연구(硏究))

  • Park, Joon-Hyuck;Yu, Young-Beob;Shim, Bum-Sang;Choi, Seung-Hoon;Ahn, Koo-Seok
    • THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.39-60
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    • 2001
  • Fuzhengfangaitang is a prescript for inhibiting recurrence and metastasis of cancer. We had examined the anti-metatstastic effect of Fuzhengfangaitang. Furthermore, we performed the following experiments with ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang. The purpose of this thesis is to study what ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang have more valuable anti-cancer effects. And the results are listed below: 1. Cell Viability assay At the dose of 400$\mu$g/ml, most ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang depressed viability of ECV-304. And especially, Scutellaria barbata D. DON$50{\mu}g/ml$ : 53.118%, $100{\mu}g/ml$: 49.092%, $200{\mu}g/ml$ : 43.765%, $400{\mu}g/ml$ : 12.747%), Polygonum bistorta L.($50{\mu}g/ml$ : 45.554%, $100{\mu}g/ml$ : 45.554%, $200{\mu}g/ml$ : 0.0%, $400{\mu}g/ml$ : 0.0%) and Psoralea corylifolia L.($50{\mu}g/ml$ : 86.591%, $100{\mu}g/ml$ : 81.307%, $200{\mu}g/ml$ : 24.801%, $400{\mu}g/ml$ : 3.111%) highly depressed cell viability more than the other ingredients. (${\alpha}$<0.05) 2. Cell Proliferation assay Proliferation assay with ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang on ECV-304 showed that Crataegus pinnatifuda BGE ($50{\mu}g/ml$: 63.276%, $100{\mu}g/ml$ : 64.092%, $200{\mu}g/ml$ : 68.966% $400{\mu}g/ml$ : 38.517%, ED50=$296.974{\mu}g/ml$), Polygonum bistorta L.($50{\mu}g/ml$ : 83.981%, $100{\mu}g/ml$ : 86.997%, $200{\mu}g/ml$ : 58.780%, $400{\mu}g/ml$ : 26.408%), ED50=$266.725{\mu}g/ml$) and Psoralea corylifolia L.($50{\mu}g/ml$ : 103.037%, $100{\mu}g/ml$ : 82.529%, $200{\mu}g/ml$ : 2.829%, $400{\mu}g/ml$ : 0.998%), ED50=$177.369{\mu}g/ml$) depressed cell proliferation more than the other ingredients. 3. Tube Formation assay Compared with the control group, most ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang did not remarkably inhibited the Tube Formation assay of ECV-304 at the dose of $100{\mu}g/ml$. But, Polygonum bistorta L. highly inhibited the tube formation of ECV -304 at the lower dose of $50{\mu}g/ml$. 4. Rat Aortic Ring assay In comparison with the control group, Scutellaria barbata D. DON., root of Polygonum bistorta L. and Psoralea corylifolia L. restricted the angiogenesis of the rat aortic ring at the dose of $100{\mu}g/ml$. And the other ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang did not restricted the angiogenesis of the rat aortic ring at that dose. Especially, Polygonum bistorta L. highly inhibited the angiogenesis of the rat aortic ring at the lower dose of $50{\mu}g/ml$. From our research, the anti-angiogenic effects of the ingredients of Fuzhengfangaitang was proven. Moreover, it will be helpful for designing more effective prescription for anti angiogenesis.

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Selection of Flavonoids Inhibiting Expression of Cell Adhesion Molecules Induced by Tumor Necrosis Factor- a in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells (종양괴사인자에 의하여 유도된 혈관내피세포의 Cell Adhesion Molecules 발현을 억제시키는 플라보노이드 선별)

  • 최정숙;최연정;박성희;이용진;강영희
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.31 no.6
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    • pp.1134-1141
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    • 2002
  • Adhesion of leukocytes to the activated vascular endothelium and their subsequent recruitment/migration into the artery wall are key features in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases. These features have been mediated by cell adhesion molecules including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and in tracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This study examined whether flavonoids inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-$\alpha$-induced monocyte adhesion via a modulation of the protein expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). TNF-$\alpha$ markedly increased the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to endothelial cells and induced the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin proteins in HUVECs. Micromolar concentrations of the flavones luteolin and apigenin and the flavonol quercetin near completely blocked the monocyte adhesion to the activated endothelial cells and the induction of these adhesion molecules. However, equimicromolar catechins of (-)epigallocatechin gallate and (+)catechin, the flavonol myr- icetin and the flavanones of naringin and hesperidin had no effect on TNF-$\alpha$-activated monocyte adhesion. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate, (+) catechin, and naringin did not attenuate the TNF-$\alpha$ induction of these adhesion molecules. Furthermore, culture with luteolin and apigenin strongly blocked the expression of TNF-$\alpha$-induced VCAM-1 mRNA and modestly attenuated ICAM-1 mRNA. Quercetin modestly decreased the TNF-$\alpha$-activated VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNAs. These results demonstrate that flavonoids classified as flavones and flavonols may inhibit monocyte adhesion to the TNF-$\alpha$-activated endothelium, most likely due to a blockade of expression of functional adhesion molecules down-regulated at the transcriptional level, indicating a definite linkage between the chemical structure of flavonoids and the expression of cell adhesion molecules. Furthermore, the antiathero-genic feature of flavonoids appears to be independent of their antioxidant activity.