• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2001

Many researchers have been studied with guard cell protoplasts and detached epidermis as they think that properly stabilized protoplasts and detached epidermis retain many of the properties of intact guard cells. However, some studies have shown that stomata in detached epidermis behave differently, both quantitatively and qualitatively, from those in the intact leaf. Stomata in the intact leaf are very sensitive to environmental factors such as light, $CO_2$ and osmotic stress, but stomata in detached epidermis are less sensitive to these factors than those in the intact leaf. The clearest evidence to suggest the different response between detached epidermis and intact leaf obtained from the experiments with heavy metal, cadmium. 3-weeks old Commelina. communis was transferred to and grown in Hoagland solution in the presence or absence of 5 mM $Cd^{2+}$ for 4 days. The application of $Cd^{2+}$ showed about 70% inhibition of stomatal conductance when measured at various light intensity (100-1,000 $\mu$mole $m^{-2}s^{-1}). However, stomata in detached epidermis floated on an incubation medium containing 100 $\mu$M $Cd^{2+}$ opened to a degree of about 8.38 fm, but the stomata treated with no cadmium opened to 3.74 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. These results were unexpected as the intact leaf grown in a Hoagland solution containing cadmium showed very negative physiological responses. These results showed that stomata in detached epidermis and in the intact leaf could respond reversely. Therefore, it is possible that we now misunderstand how stomata open in real natural condition.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2017

Hyaluronidase inhibitory activity as inflammatory factor of Koreinsis chinensis leaf ethanol extract was showed higher inhibitory activity than water extract. 29.5% inhibitory activity was shown at concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$ phenolics. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells were treated with different concentrations ($5-25{\mu}g/mL$) of Koreinsis chinensis leaf extract and the amount of nitric oxide (NO) was determined; LPS-treated cells produced 3 times more NO than non-LPS treated cells. Moreover, the NO production in cells treated with Koreinsis chinensis leaf extract showed inhibitory effect in a concentration-dependent manner. Due to the stimulant-induced NO production is regulated by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), we determined the iNOS protein level to elucidate the mechanism by which the NO production was inhibited. It was reduced by 40% with a Koreinsis chinensis leaf extract concentration of $25{\mu}g/mL$ and identified iNOS inhibition in dose-dependent manner. The prostaglandin $E_2$ production in cells treated with Koreinsis chinensis leaf extract was reduced by 26.2% at concentration of $25{\mu}g/mL$. The protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-treated Raw 264.7 cells was inhibited by 64% at $25{\mu}g/mL$ of Koreinsis chinensis leaf extract. Koreinsis chinensis leaf extract had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6 as pro-inflammatory cytokine in LPS-treated Raw 264.7 cells at $25{\mu}g/mL$ of Koreinsis chinensis leaf extract. Their levels were decreased by 61.7 and 62% respectively.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.613-617
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adipogenesis is part of the cell differentiation process in which undifferentiated fibroblasts (pre-adipocytes) become mature adipocytes with the accumulation of lipid droplets and subsequent cell morphological changes. Several transcription factors and food components have been suggested to be involved in adipogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether mulberry leaf ethanol extract (MLEE) affects adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: The 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with different doses of MLEE for 8 days starting 2 days post-confluence. Cell viability, fat accumulation, and adipogenesis-related factors including CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), $PPAR{\gamma}$ coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and adiponectin were analyzed. RESULTS: Results showed that MLEE treatments at 10, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/ml$ had no effect on cell morphology and viability. Without evident toxicity, all MLEE treated cells had lower fat accumulation compared with control as shown by lower absorbances of Oil Red O stain. MLEE at 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ significantly reduced protein levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$, PGC-$1{\alpha}$, FAS, and adiponectin in differentiated adipocytes. Furthermore, protein level of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ was significantly decreased by the treatment of $100{\mu}g/ml$ MLEE. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that MLEE treatment has an anti-adipogenic effect in differentiated adipocytes without toxicity, suggesting its potential as an anti-obesity therapeutic.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECFTIVES: The present study was conducted to examine the inhibitory effect of loquat leaves on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and invasion. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female athymic nude mice were given a subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of MDA-MB-231 cells and randomly grouped to receive a s.c. injection of either 500 mg/kg ethanol, water extract or vehicle five times a week. Tumor growth, mitotic rate and necrosis were examined. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured with DMSO or with various concentrations of loquat water or ethanol extract. Proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were examined. RESULTS: Tumor growth of xenograft nude mouse was significantly reduced by loquat extracts. The results of mitotic examination revealed that loquat extracts reduced tumor cell division. Both ethanol and water extracts significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation. The protein expression of ErbB3 was significantly down-regulated by loquat leaf extracts. Loquat leaf extracts increased apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells following 24 hour incubation and the ethanol extract was more potent in inducing apoptosis than the water extract. Furthermore, loquat extracts inhibited adhesion, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. MMP activity was significantly inhibited by loquat extracts. CONCLUSION: Our results show that extracts of loquat inhibit the growth of tumor in MDA-MB-231 xenograft nude mice and the invasion of human breast cancer cells, indicating the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and invasion.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.773-786
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• 2017

The loss of green coloration via chlorophyll (Chl) degradation typically occurs during leaf senescence. To date, many Chl catabolic enzymes have been identified and shown to interact with light harvesting complex II to form a Chl degradation complex in senescing chloroplasts; this complex might metabolically channel phototoxic Chl catabolic intermediates to prevent oxidative damage to cells. The Chl catabolic enzyme 7-hydroxymethyl Chl a reductase (HCAR) converts 7-hydroxymethyl Chl a (7-HMC a) to Chl a. The rice (Oryza sativa) genome contains a single HCAR homolog (OsHCAR), but its exact role remains unknown. Here, we show that an oshcar knockout mutant exhibits persistent green leaves during both dark-induced and natural senescence, and accumulates 7-HMC a and pheophorbide a (Pheo a) in green leaf blades. Interestingly, both rice and Arabidopsis hcar mutants exhibit severe cell death at the vegetative stage; this cell death largely occurs in a light intensity-dependent manner. In addition, 7-HMC a treatment led to the generation of singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$) in Arabidopsis and rice protoplasts in the light. Under herbicide-induced oxidative stress conditions, leaf necrosis was more severe in hcar plants than in wild type, and HCAR-overexpressing plants were more tolerant to reactive oxygen species than wild type. Therefore, in addition to functioning in the conversion of 7-HMC a to Chl a in senescent leaves, HCAR may play a critical role in protecting plants from high light-induced damage by preventing the accumulation of 7-HMC a and Pheo a in developing and mature leaves at the vegetative stage.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.283-288
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• 2021

This study investigated the anticancer activity of methanol extract from Platycarya strobilacea leaf in AGS human gastric cancer cells. We determined the cell viability effect of P. strobilacea using MTS assay. Apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest were confirmed by fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining using cellometer K2. The mRNA expression levels of the Bcl-2 family were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The cell viability was decreased in a dose-dependent manner treated with different concentrations of P. strobilacea. Total, early, and late apoptotic cells were dramatically increased, and the cell cycle was arrested at the sub-G1 phase. The mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were reduced, whereas pro-apoptotic factors, Bax and Bak, were increased in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that P. strobilacea leaf extract induced significant apoptotic activity through an intrinsic mitochondria pathway.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 1991

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of starch addition on the fermentative quality and dry matter digestibility(DMD) of Kudzu(Puerari~ thzmbergii Bentham) silage. The herbages was ensiled by the conventional methods in small plastic silo of 7.5 liters with addition of starch of 0 %, 2 %, 4 74, 6 % and 8 %, respectivery. The samples of kudzu silage were separated into leaf and stem, and was determined the pH, organic acid and characteristics of fiber such as neutral detergent fiber(NDF), acid detergent liber(ADF) and acid detergent lignin(ADL). The DMD of leaf and stem silage were evaluated by pepsin-cellulase technique method. The energy values(tota1 digestible nutrients, TDN; digestible energy, DE; metaboliz;~bie energy. ME) were calculated by DMD. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The fiberous meterials(such as NDF, AIIF and ADL) of leaf and stem were decreased with increasing levels of starch(p

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.15-20
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• 2005

Locations of silicon accumulation in rice leaves and its possible association with resistance to rice blast were investigated by analytical electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. A blast-susceptible cultivar, Jinmi, and partially resistant cultivars, Hwaseong and Suwon345, were grown under a hydroponic culture system with modified Yoshida's nutrient solution. Electron-dense silicon layers were frequently found beneath the cuticle in epidermal cell walls of silicon-treated plants. Increasing levels of silicon were detected in the outer regions of epidermal cell walls. Silicon was present mainly in epidermal cell walls, middle lamella, and Intercellular spaces within subepidermal tissues. Furthermore, silicon was prevalent throughout the leaf surface with relatively small deposition on stomatal guard cells in silicon-treated plants. Force-distance curve measurements revealed relative hardness and smaller adhesion force in silicon-treated plants (18.65 uN) than control plants (28.39 uN). Moreover, force modulation microscopy showed higher mean height values of elastic Images In silicon-treated plants(1.26 V) than in control plants (0.44 V), implying the increased leaf hardness by silicon treatment. These results strongly suggest that silicon-induced cell wall fortification of rice leaves may be closely associated with enhanced host resistance to blast.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2012

Antioxidant and neuronal cell protective effects of aqueous extract from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaf tea (LLTE) were investigated. The 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging effect, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and malondialdehyde inhibition of LLTE were increased in a dose dependent manner. Intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation resulting from hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) treatment was significantly reduced when LLTE were present in the media compared to PC12 cells treated with $H_2O_2$ only. In neuronal cell viability assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT), LLTE showed protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase release into medium was also inhibited by LLTE (7.13-43.89%). Total phenolics of LLTE were 33.16 mg/g and a quercetin was identified as major phenolics (105.93 mg/100g). Therefore, above these data suggest that LLTE including quercetin may be useful in the natural antioxidant substance, and may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2010

We used a flow cytometer to investigate the variations in endopolyploidy (the frequencies of nuclei with DNA contents equivalent to 4C through 16C) during the short period of the early growing stage in vigorously growing young tissues of maize seedlings. We examined different portions of the root and leaves that had been growing for 7 (day 7) and 13 (day 13) days after germination. Endoreplication showed two opposing phenomena without aging. In one case, the endopolyploidy of the first leaf was higher on day 13 than on day 7. In the latter case, endopolyploidy decreased, as clearly revealed by a comparison of the endopolyploidy of the second leaves and the 160-170 mm portion of the seminal root on days 7 and 13. Endopolyploidy was also lower in the top of the leaf. In roots, endopolyploidy was increased by the exogenous application of abscisic acid for only 1 day. The levels of endopolyploidy increased without an increase in cell size in the roots. These results showed that endoreplication occurs in actively growing and young tissue and that the variation can be induced in the short period examined.