• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.516-520
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• 2011

Osteoporosis is social problem around the world, because fracture of old age may lead to critical medical condition. Osteoclast is a main target for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis due to their responsibility for bone resorption. Saussureae Radix has been known that has gastro-protective, bronchodilatory effect and has a anti-biotic effect. Saussureae Radix has been widely used in Oriental medicine. However, the effect of extract of Saussureae Radix in osteoclast differentiation remains unknown. Thus, we examined the effect of Saussureae Radix in receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}$B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. From the results of our study, Here we found that Saussureae Radix significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Saussureae Radix suppressed the activation of NF${\kappa}$B in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Saussureae Radix significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Saussureae Radix greatly inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. especially in the case of NFATc1 expression, a master transcription factor of the differentiation of osteoclasts is very important step for osteoclastogenesis. These results demonstrate that Saussureae Radix may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2013

In the present study, we investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of the seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa (EEZS) on cholinergic blockade-induced memory impairment in mice. Male ICR mice were treated with EEZS. The behavioral tests were conducted using the passive avoidance, the Y-maze, and the Morris water maze tasks. EEZS (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in our present behavioral tasks without changes of locomotor activity. The ameliorating effect of EEZS on scopolamine-induced memory impairment was significantly reversed by a sub-effective dose of MK-801 (0.0125 mg/kg, s.c.). In addition, single administration of EEZS in normal naive mouse enhanced latency time in the passive avoidance task. Western blot analysis was employed to confirm the mechanism of memory-ameliorating effect of EEZS. Administration of EEZS (200 mg/kg) increased the level of memory-related signaling molecules, including phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase or cAMP response element-binding protein in the hippocampal region. Also, the time-dependent expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor by the administration of EEZS was markedly increased from 3 to 9 h. These results suggest that EEZS has memory-ameliorating effect on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment, which is mediated by the enhancement of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system, in part, via NMDA receptor signaling, and that EEZS would be useful agent against cognitive dysfunction such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.578-585
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• 2017

Recently, there has been a rise in the number of amphetamine derivatives that serve as substitutes for controlled substances (e.g. amphetamine and methamphetamine) on the global illegal drug market. These substances are capable of producing rewarding effects similar to their parent drug. In anticipation of the future rise of new and similar psychoactive substances, we designed and synthesized four novel amphetamine derivatives with N-benzyl, N-benzylamphetamine HCl (NBNA) substituent on the amine region, 1,4-dioxane ring, ethylenedioxy-amphetamine HCl (EDA), methyl, para-methylamphetamine HCl (PMEA), and naphthalene, 2-(aminopropyl) naphthalene HCl (2-APN) substituents on the phenyl site. Then, we evaluated their abuse potential in the conditioned place preference (CPP) test in mice and self-administration (SA) test in rats. We also investigated the psychostimulant properties of the novel drugs using the locomotor sensitization test in mice. Moreover, we performed qRT-PCR analyses to explore the effects of the novel drugs on the expression of D1 and D2 dopamine receptor genes in the striatum. NBNA, but not EDA, PMEA, and 2-APN, induced CPP and SA in rodents. None of the test drugs have produced locomotor sensitization. qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated that NBNA increased the expression of striatal D1 dopamine receptor genes. These data indicate that NBNA yields rewarding effects, suggesting potential for abuse. Continual observation for the rise of related substances is thus strongly encouraged.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.135-138
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• 2002

Cotyledonary explants from immature zygotic embryos of each 85 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were cultured on medium containing MS salts, B5 vitamins, 40 mg$^{-1}$ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 30 g$^{-1}$ sucrose. Frequency of somatic embryo formation on cotyledonary explants showed in thirty-six lines(＜10%), in thirty-seven lines (11~49%), in nine lines (50~89%), and in three lines(>90%), respectively, The highest frequency (up to 90%) and number (6.36 per cotyledon) of somatic embryos were obtained from lines of KM1010, KM1032 and KM1064. Primary somatic embryos produced from three lines produced numerous secondary somatic embryos on the surfaces, which were subcultured for over one year. Upon transfer to maturation and conversion medium (Komatsuda, 1992), somatic embryos converted to plantlets at a frequency of approximately 25%.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2011

Chloroplast genetic engineering of higher plants offers several unique advantages compared with nuclear genome transformation, such as high levels of transgene expression, a lack of position effect due to site-specific transgene integration by homologous recombination, multigene engineering in a single transformation event and reducing risks of gene flow via pollen due to maternal inheritance. We established a reproducible chloroplast transformation system of potato using a tobacco specific plastid transformation vector, pCtVG (trnI-Prrn-aadA-mgfp-TpsbA-trnA). Stable transgene integration into chloroplast genomes and the homoplasmic state of the transgenome were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. Northern, immunoblot analysis, and GFP fluorescence imaging revealed high expression and accumulation of GFP in the plastids of potato leaves. This system would provide new opportunities for genetic improvement and mass production of value added foreign proteins in this crop.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.560-564
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-Bacillus cereus activity of actinonin. Actinonin inhibited the growth of B. cereus in a dose dependent manner. The growth-inhibitory activity of actinonin was evaluated using a broth micro-dilution method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and agar disk diffusion tests. B. cereus showed high susceptibility to actinonin in a concentration-dependent manner and MIC was determined to be $0.192{\mu}g/mL$. Additionally, 1 and 2 mM actinonin induced formation of B. cereus inhibition zones. In addition, as compared to B. cereus alone, B. cereus added with $10{\mu}M$ actinonin showed a lower level of cytotoxicity in HeLa cells in vitro. Thus, this study revealed that actinonin could be a potential source of a natural antimicrobial agent or a pharmaceutical component against B. cereus.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.287-292
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• 2005

The crude galactomannans (GMs) were obtained from the culture of a newly isolated fungus Trichoderma erinaceum DG-312 and their anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in mice. The maximum concentrations of mycelial biomass and GMs reached 9.44 g/l, 2.72 g/l at day 3 in a 5-l stirred-tank bioreactor, respectively. The results of Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography and compositional analysis revealed that the crude GMs contain heterogeneous polysaccharides consisting of $74.9\%$ mannose and $24.1\%$ galactose. The GMs was shown to possess a significant anti-inflammatory activity against acetic acid-induced inflammatory mouse model in a dose-dependent manner, when mice were treated with 100 and 200 mg GMs/kg body weight. The inhibition in vascular permeability $(60.6\%)$ and in writhing response $(62.5\%)$ evidenced an anti-inflammatory activity of the GMs. The marked anti-inflammatory and writhing-lowering properties of the GMs suggest its potential therapeutic use.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 1995

This experiment was carried out in order to elucidate the effect of NaCl(0.85%) acclimation on congestion symptoms in central venous sinuses(CVS) of gill filaments and on the alteration of blood constituents in cultured eels for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7days after handling stress. After giving a handling stress on eels, the frequency of gill congestion was about 90%. It gradually decreased to 40% on the 3rd day, then increased to 60% on the 7th day in NaCl(0.85%) acclimation. The values of haematocrit(Ht), methemoglobin(Met-Hb), glucose (GLU), calcium($Ca^{++}$), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) were lower than those of the control, whereas magnesium($Mg^{++}$) and haemoglobin(Hb) were higher than the control. However total protein(Tp) and albumin (ALB) levels similar to the control. When the fish after giving a handling stress were cultured in NaCl-free water as a control, the frequency of gill congestion and the value of blood components showed a similar pattern to that obtained from the NaCl acclimated experiments. However, in the early period(1-3day) after handling stress, NaCl acclimating slightly helped the natural tendancy of recovery. These results suggest that the frequency of gill congestion is not always reduced over the whole period of NaCl acclimation. However, the acclimation to NaCl solution may be a somewhat useful therapy for the gill congestion in stressed eels.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 1995

Physiological activities of E. compressa were examined after oral and intraperitoneal(i.p.) adminstration in young(8g) Israeli and colored carp. Hematological parameters were evaluated to test physiological respose. Anti-bacterial activity was examined by counting the number of bacterial cells in the kidney, and also by measuring the change of agglutinin titers following A. sobriae infection. There was a tendency of increase in E. compressa-fed groups in total protein, albumin and glucose levels. The most marked increase was noted in the group fed with 5% E. compressa. GPT and GOT levels were reduced with the increase of E. compressa concentration. Feeding of E. compressa did not alter haematocrit(Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) values. The number of A. sobriae was reduced in all groups intraperitoneally treated with variable concentration of E. compressa-extract. The lowest bacterial cells were found at the group intraperitoneally treated with $30{\mu}g$ of E. compressa-extract per g of colored carp($30{\mu}g/g$), indicating that the anti-bacterial activity is maximized at this concentration. The agglutinin titers were elevated in E. compressa extract-treated groups($30{\mu}g/g$) with the maximum value of $6.0{\pm}1.1$. These results indicate that E. compressa adminstration activated physiological response, and triggered a cascade for anti-bacterial reaction.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.601-607
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the changes of total and soluble ${\beta}$-glucan contents, purity and physicochemical characteristics of alkali hydrolyzed barley varieties: Saessalbori (SSB), Saechalssalbori (SCSB) and Hinchalssalbori (HCSB). The barleys were hydrolyzed at different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (0.2~1.0 N) for 12 hours. Total ${\beta}$-glucan contents of raw SSB, SCSB and HCSB were 8.40, 7.77 and 8.28%, and soluble ${\beta}$-glucan contents were 4.80, 4.16 and 4.61%, respectively. The total ${\beta}$-glucan contents after alkali hydrolyzed at 1.0 N NaOH were 7.54, 6.89 and 7.54%, also soluble ${\beta}$-glucan contents were 4.82, 4.30 and 4.55%, respectively. The degree of purity of soluble ${\beta}$-glucan in SSB, SCSB, and HCSB were 35.79, 30.91 and 33.90%, respectively. They were increased to 74.02, 75.28 and 81.41% after hydrolyzed at 1.0 N NaOH, respectively. The molecular weight and viscosity of soluble ${\beta}$-glucan solutions were decreased as sodium hydroxide concentration was increased. The re-solubility of raw barley ${\beta}$-glucan was about 50%; however, it was increased to approximately 87% as sodium hydroxide concentration was increased.