• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.19-34
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the anti-tumor effect of O. japonicus extracts on intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell line SNU-1079. Methods: Cholangiocarcinoma SNU-1079 cells were treated with various concentrations of O. japonicus DW and EtOH extracts ($0-300{\mu}g/ml$) for 24, 48 or 72 h. Cell viability was evaluated through a PMS/MTS assay, and the apoptosis rate was examined through ELISA assay and flow cytometry analysis. The mRNA expression of apoptosis- and cell cycle progression-related genes (Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax, Survivin, Cyclin D1, and p21) was evaluated using real-time PCR, and the caspase activity was examined using immunoblot analysis. Results: O. japonicus extracts inhibited cell proliferation and increased apoptosis rate in both ELISA assay and flow cytometry analysis. O. japonicus extracts decreased Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Survivin, and Cyclin D1 mRNA expression and increased Bax mRNA level. O. japonicus extracts also increased Caspase-3 activation. Overall, O. japonicus DW extracts were more effective than EtOH extracts. Conclusions: O. japonicus inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in SNU-1079 cells via mitochondria -mediated intrinsic pathway, which leads to Caspase-3 activation. The results indicate that O. japonicus is a potential therapeutic herb with anti-tumor effect against intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.498-507
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• 2021

Ichthyoplankton (fish eggs and larvae) were collected seasonally collected from 2017 to 2019 to clarify whether Dokdo serves as a fish spawning and/or nursery ground. Fish eggs were identified and classified into 16 species. The dominant fish egg species were Engraulis japonicus, Maurolicus japonicus, and Parajulis poecilepterus. Fish larvae were identified and classified into 15 species. The dominant fish larvae species were E. japonicus, M. japonicus, and Sebastes owstoni. A cluster analysis similarity percentages revealed two distinct groupings according to sample location (stations) with E. japonicus and M. japonicus as the main group influencers. E. japonicus was the dominant species off Dokdo. The species diversity and abundance peaked in summer. The diversity index, richness index, and evenness index fluctuated seasonally. There were no predominant species variations among the years. Sedentary species such as P. poecilepterus, Semicossyphus reticulatus, and Glyptocephalus stelleri occurred in the inshore stations. E. japonicus, M. japonicus, and Trachipterus trachypterus occurred in the offshore stations. Our results show these species use Dokdo as spawning and nursery grounds.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.35-50
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• 2019

Objectives: Orostachys japonicas (O. japonicus) has been known for its anti-tumor effect. In the present study, it was investigated whether O. japonicus EtOH extracts could induce apoptosis and autophagy which are part of the main mechanism related to anti-tumor effect in THP-1 cells. Methods: Cells were treated with various concentrations of O. japonicus EtOH extracts ($0-300{\mu}g/ml$) for 24, 48, and 72h. Cell viability was evaluated by MTS/PMS assay and apoptosis rate was examined by flow cytometry and ELISA assay. The mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Survivin, Bax) and autophagy-related gene (mTOR) was evaluated using real-time PCR. The protein expression of Caspase-3, Akt, LC3 II, Beclin-1, Atg5, $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, ERK was evaluated using western blot analysis. Results: O. japonicus EtOH extracts inhibited cell proliferation and apoptosis rate was increased in both flow cytometry and ELISA assay. Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Survivin (anti-apoptosis factors) mRNA expressions were decreased and Bax (pro-apoptosis factor) mRNA level was increased. mTOR mRNA expressions was decreased and LC3 II protein expressions was increased. Activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was decreased and phosphorylation of p38 was increased. Conclusion: O. japonicus is regarded to inhibit cell proliferation, to induce apoptosis and to regulate autophagy-related genes in THP-1 cells via $NF-{\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK signaling pathway. This suggests O. japonicus could be an effective herb in treating acute myeloid leukemia.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.659-677
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• 2020

Leonurus japonicus (L. japonicus) Houtt., a biennial plant in the Lamiaceae family is broadly distributed in Asia such as Korea, China, Japan. The aerial part of L. japonicus is used as a traditional medicine to treat uterine disease including dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, sterility. In this study, we examined the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of L. japonicus ethanol extracts. The antioxidant activity of L. japonicus was measured by total polyphenol and flavonoid content, and DPPH, ABTS scavenging, reducing power activity, and intracellular ROS expression assay. The anti-inflammatory effects were measured by nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) production and inflammatory protein expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content of L. japonicus were 51.40 ± 0.47 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g and 73.28 ± 0.10 mg of rutin equivalents/g respectively. DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity tended to increase concentration-dependent and treatment L. japonicus with 400 ㎍/mL reduced ROS production by 69.5%. Furthermore, L. japonicus inhibited NO, TNF-α and IL-1β production in a concentration-dependant manner and reduced the expression levels of inflammatory proteins via regulating NF-κB, MAPK pathway. Therefore, we suggest that L. japonicus could be a natural antioxidants and medicinal source to treat oxidative stress and inflammation-related disease.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.271-277
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• 2001

Ethanol extracts from Mallotus japonicus Muell exhibited strong antimicrobial activities by paper disc diffusion method on the five strains of Listeria monocytogenes(ATCC 19111, ATCC 19112, ATCC 19113, ATCC 19114 and ATCC 15313). Ethanol extract from Mallotus japonicus Muell was subsequently fractionated by n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water. n-Hexane fraction of Mallotus japonicus Muell showed strong growth inhibition at concentrations as low as 20 ppm level in broth culture medium on the five strains of L. monocytogenes for 72 hr at $30^{\circ}C$. Single substance(M34-4-4) was isolated from n-hexane fraction of Mallotus japonicus Muell. M34-4-4 showed a bactericidal activity against L. monocytogenes at a concentration of 50 ppm level. The purified M34-4-4 was identified as linolenic acid by $^1H-NMR,\;DEPT-135\;and\;^{13}C-NMR$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2013

The growth and production of Aulichthys japonicus (6.70~15.32 cm TL) were investigated in an eelgrass bed of Dongdae Bay, Korea throughout 2006. A total 888 A. japonicus were collected with a small beam trawl. Growth in fish total length was expressed by the von Bertalanffy's growth equation as: $L_t=24.8257(1-e^{-0.5583(t+0.4816)})$. The densities, biomass, daily, annual production, and P/B ratio were $0.01{\pm}0.009/m^{-2}$, $0.17{\pm}0.16g/m^2$, $0.00006{\pm}0.00006g$ AFDW/$m^2$/day, 0.02g AFDW/$m^2$/yr, and 0.12, respectively. Monthly variation in production of A. japonicus was large; the peak occurred at July, September and November 2006 (0.000182, 0.000127 and 0.000123 g AFDW/$m^2$/day), where as the lowest value was 0.000003g AFDW/$m^2$/day at April and May 2006. Monthly change in production of A. japonicus was positive correlated with number of individuals, biomass and growth rate.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2014

Humulus japonicus is an ornamental plant in the Cannabaceae family. Although the mode of action of Humulus japonicus is not fully understood, a strong relationship was observed between anti-inflammatory and anticancer in some types of cells. Recent studies also have shown that Humulus japonicus possesses anti-inflammatory activities and may significantly improve antioxidant potential in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. Thus, the aim of this study was evaluated the effect of Humulus japonicus extract on sperm motility and subsequent preimplantation developmental competence of the bovine embryos. After in vitro maturation, the oocytes with sperms were exposed in in vitro fertilization (IVF) medium supplemented with Humulus japonicus extract (0.01, 0.05, $0.1{\mu}g/mL$, respectively) for 1 day. In our results, exposure of IVF medium to Humulus japonicus extract did not affect sperm motility and percentage of penetrated oocytes but ROS intensity was significantly decreased by $0.01{\mu}g/mL$ compared with other groups (p< 0.05). Moreover, treatment with $0.01{\mu}g/mL$ of Humulus japonicus extract was higher the frequency of blastocyst formation than the any other groups (p<0.05). Otherwise, treatment with $0.01{\mu}g/mL$ of Humulus japonicus extract not increased the total cell number but reduced apoptotic-positive nuclei number. In conclusion, our results indicate that supplementation of Humulus japonicus extract in IVF medium may have important implications for improving early embryonic development in bovine embryos.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.81-83
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• 2010

To figure out the geographical distribution of Gynaecotyla squatarolae and Microphallus koreana metacercariae in Korea, shore crabs of southwestern coastal areas were examined. Eight coastal areas in Inchon-si (A), Gyeonggi-do (B), Chungcheongnam-do (C, D, and E), Jeollabuk-do (F), and Jeollanam-do (G and H) were selected, and 2 kinds of crabs, Macrophthalmus dilatatus and/or Macrophthalmus japonicus, were caught. After transportation to the laboratory, 15 crabs per each group were grouped and ground in a mortar and pestle, and examined for microphallid metacercariae. In M. dilatatus, G. squatarolae metacercariae were recovered from 3 (C, E, and H) out of 6 regions, but M. koreana metacercariae were not recovered. In the case of M. japonicus, G. squatarolae metacercariae were recovered from 6 (B, D, E, F, G, and H) of 7 areas surveyed, and M. koreana matacercariae were detected from 5 regions (A, B, D, F, and H). These results indicate that the life cycle of G. squatarolae is maintained in the western coastal areas using M. dilatatus and M. japonicus as intermediate hosts, while that of M. koreana is maintained only using M. japonicus.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.90-94
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• 1984

We deduced a possible metabolic pathway of L-malate in a malo-alcoholic yeast, Schizosaccharomyces japonicus var. japonicus St-3. The malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) prepared from the microorganism was about four times as active as that of malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37). And Km values of malic enzyme and malate dehydrogenase for malate were found to be 3.125 mM and 4.761 mM, respectively, which referred to the fact that the affinity of malic enzyme for the substrate was greater than that of malate dehydrogenase. We also found that pyruvate was produced with disappearing malate in malo-alcoholic fermentation, and that the addition of $Mn^{2+}$ activated malic enzyme activity. Based on these results obtained we have deduced a main pathway of malate${\rightarrow}$pyruvate${\rightarrow}$acetaldehyde${\rightarrow}$ethanol for the utilization of L-malate by this malo-alcoholic yeast strain.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2018

We assessed the effects of population density on the growth and survival rate of sea cucumber(Stichopus japonicus) in indoor tank Growth of S. japonicus in high density breeding was slow overall, and body weight on 250, 350 and 500 individual/m² group were 31.9g, 26.8g and 21.5g, respectively. The growth rate of body weight was 3.5~5.1 times according to the density of water, and the survival rate was 44.2~50.1%. The growth and survival rate were increased as decreasing the storage density. During the breeding season, small individuals tend not to be large and constantly culled, so it is necessary to set up the sorting period (etc.), and divide S. japonicus into groups of similar size.