• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.179-189
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• 2020

Green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant with protective effects against neurotoxicity. However, it is currently unclear whether EGCG protects neuronal cells against radiation-induced damage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of EGCG on ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells. The effects of UV irradiation included apoptotic cell death, which was associated with DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enhanced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. UV irradiation also increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and mitochondrial pathway-associated cytochrome c expression. However, pretreatment with EGCG before UV exposure markedly decreased UV-induced DNA fragmentation and ROS production. Furthermore, the UV irradiation-induced increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytochrome c upregulation, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation were each ameliorated by EGCG pretreatment. Additionally, EGCG suppressed UV-induced phosphorylation of p38 and rescued UV-downregulated phosphorylation of ERK. Taken together, these results suggest that EGCG prevents UV irradiation-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by scavenging ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrial pathways known to play a crucial role in apoptosis. In addition, EGCG inhibits UV-induced apoptosis via JNK inactivation and ERK activation in PC12 cells. Thus, EGCG represents a potential neuroprotective agent that could be applied to prevent neuronal cell death induced by UV irradiation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.196-205
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• 2021

Objectives: Bruising is an important side effect of enoxaparin injection. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is used to treat different types of wounds, bone fractures, and bruising in traditional medicine in many countries for centuries. This study aimed to determine the effects of the Comfrey ointment on the bruise size and color following enoxaparin injection. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The participants were randomly divided into two groups of 40, namely Comfrey and Placebo. Changes in bruise size and color in both groups were assessed daily before and after the intervention. Results: The Comfrey and Placebo groups were homogeneous in demographic and clinical variables. A downward trend was observed in the bruise size in both groups throughout the study. However, the bruise size was smaller in the Comfrey group than the Placebo group on day 2-5 of the intervention. Moreover, there was a significant difference in bruise color between the groups, with a shorter healing course in the Comfrey group. Conclusion: The Comfrey ointment accelerated the healing process of enoxaparin injection-induced bruising in patients with ACS. It is recommended as a safe and simple approach for these patients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.376-386
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• 2022

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of depression by modulating synaptic structural remodeling and functional transmission. Previously, we have demonstrated that the ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) presents a novel antidepressant-like effect via BDNF-TrkB signaling in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-exposed mice. However, the underlying mechanism through which Rb1 counteracts stress-induced aberrant hippocampal synaptic plasticity via BDNF-TrkB signaling remains elusive. Methods: We focused on hippocampal microRNAs (miRNAs) that could directly bind to BDNF and are regulated by Rb1 to explore the possible synaptic plasticity-dependent mechanism of Rb1, which affords protection against CUMS-induced depression-like effects. Results: Herein, we observed that brain-specific miRNA-134 (miR-134) could directly bind to BDNF 30 UTR and was markedly downregulated by Rb1 in the hippocampus of CUMS-exposed mice. Furthermore, the hippocampus-targeted miR-134 overexpression substantially blocked the antidepressant-like effects of Rb1 during behavioral tests, attenuating the effects on neuronal nuclei-immunoreactive neurons, the density of dendritic spines, synaptic ultrastructure, long-term potentiation, and expression of synapse-associated proteins and BDNF-TrkB signaling proteins in the hippocampus of CUMS-exposed mice. Conclusion: These data provide strong evidence that Rb1 rescued CUMS-induced depression-like effects by modulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity via the miR-134-mediated BDNF signaling pathway.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2427-2434
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• 2022

Series of unequal quantity Nd/Ce co-doped ceramic nuclear waste forms, (Gd, Nd)₂(Zr, Ce)₂O₇, were prepared to tailor its ordered pyrochlore or disordered fluorite structure. The phase transition, microtopography, and elemental composition of the ceramic samples were systematically investigated, especially the effect of order-disorder structure on the chemical stability. It was confirmed that unequal quantity of Nd/Ce could synchronously replace the Gd/Zr-sites of Gd₂Zr₂O₇. And the phase transition of order-disorder structure could be successfully tailored by regulating the average cationic radius ratio of (Gd, Nd)₂(Zr, Ce)₂O₇ series. The elements of Gd, Nd, Zr, and Ce are uniformly distributed in the ordered or disordered structures. The MCC-1 leaching results showed that (Gd, Nd)₂(Zr, Ce)₂O₇ pyrochlore ceramic nuclear waste forms had excellent chemical stability, whose elements' normalized leaching rates were as low as 10^-4-10^-7 g·m^-2·d^-1 after 7 days. In particular, the chemical stability of disordered structure was superior to that of ordered structure. It was proposed that the force constant and the closest packing were changed with the structure transformation resulting the chemical stability difference.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.790-800
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• 2022

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is one of the most valuable medicinal plants which is enriched in anti-microbe secondary metabolites and widely used in traditional medicine. Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic fungus that causes gray mold disease in a broad range of hosts. B. cinerea could overcome the ginseng defense and cause serious leaf and root diseases with unknown mechanism. Methods: We conducted simultaneous transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the host to investigate the defense response of ginseng affected by B. cinerea. The gene deletion and replacement were then performed to study the pathogenic gene in B. cinerea during ginseng - fungi interaction. Results: Upon B. cinerea infection, ginseng defense responses were switched from the activation to repression, thus the expression of many defense genes decreased and the biosynthesis of antifungal metabolites were reduced. Particularly, ginseng metabolites like kaempferol, quercetin and luteolin which could inhibit fungi growth were decreased after B. cinerea infection. B. cinerea quercetin dioxygenase (Qdo) involved in catalyzing flavonoids degradation and ∆BcQdo mutants showed increased substrates accumulation and reduced disease development. Conclusion: This work indicates the flavonoids play a role in ginseng defense and BcQdo involves in B. cinerea virulence towards the P. ginseng. B. cinerea promotes disease development in ginseng by suppressing of defense related genes expression and reduction of antifungal metabolites biosynthesis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.33-38
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• 2017

Objectives : Termitomyces albuminosus (Berk.) Heim is one of the famous wild edible mushrooms in the southern part of China. It is known that Termitomyces albuminosus, like Aconitum koreanum used in Korean traditional medicine, contains a kind of cerebroside, termitomycesphin, causing a pharmacologic effect on the neuron system. The pharmacologic effect of Termitomyces albuminosus can be used to possibly replace Aconitum koreanum. However, It needs to be certified as safe before it can be used. Here, a single-oral toxicity test and safety classification was conducted to obtain acute information of the toxicity of dried-Termitomyces albuminosus powder and to secure its safety in clinical applications. Methods : In order to calculate approximate lethal dose(ALD), test substance was orally administered to male and female SD-rat at dose levels of 5,000 and 0 (vehicle control) mg/kg (body weight). Based on the result of this toxicity, also the estimation of safety classification was calculated using the HED-based (human equivalent dose) MOS (margin of safety). Results : There were no mortalities, test substances treatment-related clinical signs, no changes in the body or organ weights, and no gross or histopathological findings at 14 days after treatment with test substance. Thus, the approximate lethal dose of dried-Termitomyces albuminosus powder was considered over 5,000 mg/kg in both female and male mice. Conclusions : Based on the limit dose, 5000 mg/kg, it was estimated that dried-Termitomyces albuminosus powder is classified as "Specified class B" indicating that clinical dose is not limited to patients as safe as food.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

Objectives : Traditional medicines isolated from natural products often have positive effects in the prevention and healing of various immune disorders, such as allergy and atopic inflammation. Scrophulariae Radix (SR) been used in oriental medicine used for treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Mast cells are known to play important roles in the initiation of allergic reactions. In this study, we investigated the effects of SR ethanol extract on inflammatory responses in IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. Methods : Rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells were purchased from Korean Cell Line Bank (KCLB No. 22256). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Assays for ${\beta}-Hexosaminidase$ Secretion : RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with dinitrophenyl-ImmunoglobulinE (DNP IgE). The next antigen DNP-BSA ($25ng/m{\ell}$) was added for 10 minutes and the reaction was terminated after 5 minutes in the ice bath. To determine ${\beta}-Hexosaminidase$ release, supernatants were aliquoted into 96-well plates. Samples were mixed with substrate solution and incubated for 1 h at $37^{\circ}C$. Absorbance was measured with a spectrophotometer at 405 nm. IL-4 and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$($TNF-{\alpha}$) concentrations in cell culture supernatants were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results : The cytotoxicity of SRE in RBL-2H3 cells was less than 5%. SRE inhibited DNP-IgE-imduced degranulation of mast cells in RBL-2H3 cells. Also significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokine, IL-4 and TNF-alpha. In this study, the SRE showed potential anti-allergic and antiinflammatory. Conclusions : These results indicate that SRE could be inhibit the allergic response through suppressing the mast cell activation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.389-396
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety of Houttuynia cordata Thunb extract (HCE) in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice, to determine the effects of the extract on the growth performance and colony count, and to establish the optimal concentration of HCE. In total, 60 five-week-old male ICR mice with an average initial body weight (BW) of 27.24 ± 0.44 g were used in a four-week experiment. Mice were randomly allotted to four treatment groups (five replications per group, three mice per cage): 1) a control (CON) group fed with normal distilled water; 2) treatment group 1 (T1) fed with normal distilled water containing 0.05% HCE; 3) treatment group 3 (T3) fed with normal distilled water containing 0.1% HCE; and 4) treatment group 3 (T3) fed with normal distilled water containing 0.2% HCE. BW, feed intake (FI), and water intake were measured on the first, fourteenth, and eighteenth days. T2 showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) over the experimental period. However, water intake levels did not show significant differences among the groups. In the large intestine and feces, E. coli and Lactobacillus levels were significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the HCE treated group compared to the CON group. Supplying HCE via the drinking water improved the growth performance and colony count in ICR mice. Based on results of this study, utilizing HCE in livestock species is expected to be safe and feasible.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2022

Ginsenoside Rb₁ (Rb₁), one of the most important ingredients in Panax ginseng Meyer, has been confirmed to have favorable activities, including reducing antioxidative stress, inhibiting inflammation, regulating cell autophagy and apoptosis, affecting sugar and lipid metabolism, and regulating various cytokines. This study reviewed the recent progress on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Rb₁ against cardiovascular and nervous system diseases, diabetes, and their complications, especially those related to neurodegenerative diseases, myocardial ischemia, hypoxia injury, and traumatic brain injury. This review retrieved articles from PubMed and Web of Science that were published from 2015 to 2020. The molecular targets or pathways of the effects of Rb₁ on these diseases are referring to HMGB1, GLUT4, 11β-HSD1, ERK, Akt, Notch, NF-κB, MAPK, PPAR-γ, TGF-β1/Smad pathway, PI3K/mTOR pathway, Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, Nrf2/ARE pathway, and MAPK/NF-κB pathway. The potential effects of Rb₁ and its possible mechanisms against diseases were further predicted via Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and disease ontology semantic and enrichment (DOSE) analyses with the reported targets. This study provides insights into the therapeutic effects of Rb₁ and its mechanisms against diseases, which is expected to help in promoting the drug development of Rb₁ and its clinical applications.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2022

In recent years, research into medicinal herbs with antioxidative activities has increased. Chrysanthemum morifolium and Chrysanthemum indicum are aromatic herb plants and that have long been used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. This study aims to evaluate the chemical compositions and antioxidative activities of essential oils hydrodistilled from the flower heads of C. morifolium and C. indicum. The chemical compositions of the essential oils were compared using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The antioxidative activity was determined and evaluated spectroscopically by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, metal chelating activity, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity assays. According to the GC/MS results, chrysanthenone was predominant in the essential oils of both C. morifolium (64.14%) and C. indicum (32.02%). This is the first report of the identification of chrysanthenone as a major constituent of the essential oil of C. morifolium. Both Chrysanthemum oils were also revealed to possess antioxidant potential, exhibiting high antioxidative activities. In particular, the DPPH radical scavenging activities of the C. morifolium and C. indicum oils at a concentration of 100 mg/mL were 76.9 and 83.2%, respectively. The metal chelating values of C. morifolium and C. indicum were 0.85 and 0.76, whereas the reducing power values of that at 100 mg/mL were 0.76 and 0.71, respectively. This study provides the chemical properties of the essential oils of both C. morifolium and C. indicum grown in Vietnam and their potential antioxidant capacity.