• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2006

In previous our studies, we have reported that eugenol derived from Eugenia caryophyllata(Myrtaceace) exhibits acute N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)- and oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced neurotoxicity in primary cortical cultures and protects hippocampal neurons from global ischemia. In this study, we investigated whether the extracts and fractions of E. caryophyllata or eugenol shows the neuroprotective effects against delayed neuronal injury evoked by NMDA or ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionate(AMPA), and oxidative damage induced by arachidonic acid-, hydrogen peroxide-, $FeCl_2$/ascorbic acid-, and buthionine sulfoximine(BSO) in primary cortical cultures. We examined the neurotoxicity of eugenol itself in cultures and inhibitory effect of eugenol on NMDA- or kainate(KA)-induced convulsion in BALB/c mice. Each water, methanol extract and methanol fraction of E. caryophyllata was significantly attenuated NMDA-induced delayed neurotoxicity, respectively. Eugenol exhibited a significant inhibitory action against the convulsion evoked by NMDA and KA, and reduced delayed or brief neurotoxicity induced by NMDA, AMPA, and various oxidative injuries. These results suggest that eugenol derived from E. caryophyllata may contribute the neuroprotection against delayed-type excitotoxicity and excitotoxins-mediated convulsion through the amelioration of oxidative stress.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2009

Nitric oxide (NO) has both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects depending on its concentration and the experimental model. We tested the effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nonselective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, and aminoguanidine, a selective inducible NOS (iNOS) inhibitor, on kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures and hippocampal CA3 neuronal death. L-NAME (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and/or aminoguanidine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered 1 h prior to the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of KA. Pretreatment with L-NAME significantly increased KA-induced CA3 neuronal death, iNOS expression, and activation of microglia. However, pretreatment with aminoguanidine significantly suppressed both the KA-induced and L-NAME-aggravated hippocampal CA3 neuronal death with concomitant decreases in iNOS expression and microglial activation. The protective effect of aminoguanidine was maintained for up to 2 weeks. Furthermore, iNOS knockout mice ($iNOS^{-1-}$) were resistant to KA-induced neuronal death. The present study demonstrates that aminoguanidine attenuates KA-induced neuronal death, whereas L-NAME aggravates neuronal death, in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, suggesting that NOS isoforms play different roles in KA-induced excitotoxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2 s.66
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• pp.232-243
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• 2006

Objectives : Albizzia Julibrissin was formulated to contain various natural products known to cure erectile dysfunction. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Albizzia Julibrissin on the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, nitrite level, antioxidation and erectile responses induced by ethanol in corpus cavernosum penis of rats. Methods : The crushed Albizzia Julibrissin was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 45.3 g. Albizzia Julibrissin extract was oral-administered 100 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 20 days, while the normal group was administered only with a saline. The efficacy of Albizzia Julibrissin against erectile function was examined as described in the text. Results : The level of urethral NOS activity and nitrite were increased by Albizzia Julibrissin. The level of lipid peroxide was decreased by Albizzia Julibrissin. The level of urethral lipid peroxide in the ethanol-Albizzia Julibrissin double administered rats was decreased as low as in the norma! group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was increased. The level of urethral nitrite, NOS activity, glutathione and serum testosterone in the ethanol-Albizzia Julibrissin double administered rats were as high as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. The erectile response to cavernous nerve stimulation in the ethanol-Albizzia Julibrissin double administered rats increased as high as in the normal group while the one in the ethanol-treated group decreased. Conclusions : Albizzia Julibrissin was shown to be effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction induced by ethanol in rats.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

The chemical and rheological properties of deproteinated porphyrans from laver Porphyra yezoensis were investigated to obtain basic data for the production of food materials with biological functionality. Deproteinated porphyran was prepared by acid extraction (pH 4.0, $80^{\circ}C$, 4 hr) and successive hydrolysis with 0.5% Alcalase and 0.5% Flavourzyme. The porphyran constituted 10.7% of the dry laver and consisted of 0.6% protein, 14.8% ester sulfate, 3.2% 6-O-methyl galactose, 16.0% 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose, and 67.3% galactose. The effects of concentration and temperature on the apparent viscosity were examined by applying the power law and Arrhenius equations. The porphyran solution showed the typical behavior of a pseudoplastic liquid and the flow behavior index decreased with increasing concentration. The activation energy of the deproteinated porphyran solution at a 1,000 L/s shear rate also increased from $1.4954{\times}10^{4}\;to\;1.9544{\times}10^{4}\;J/kg$ mol with the concentration.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.370-374
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• 2005

Lactoferrin is a multifunctional protein that is found in milk, neutrophils, and other biological fluids, and its receptors have also been identified in the central nervous system. Recently, it was reported that bovine milk-derived lacto­ferrin (BLF) produced analgesia via a $\mu$-opioid receptor-mediated response in the spinal cord. However the precise mech­anism of this analgesic effect is remains unclear. In Randall-Selitto paw pressure study, each single administration of morphine (10 mg/kg) and BLF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) induced analgesia, however, NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg/kg), inhibited analgesia induced by BLF (100 mg/kg). Intracerebroventricular infusion (I.C.V.) of N­methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) ($0.3\;{\mu}g/8.0\;{\mu}l/hr/day$), as a NMDA receptor agonist, reversed inhibition of MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg) on analgesia induced by BLF (100 mg/kg). These results suggest that BLF have analgesic effect, through NMDA recep­tor activation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2001

Dehydroascorbate (DHA) reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) catalyzes the reduction of DHA to reduced ascorbate (AsA) using glutathione (GSH) as the electron donor in order to maintain an appropriate level of ascorbate in plant cells. To analyze the physiological role of DHAR in environmental stress adaptation, we developed transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) plants that express a human DHAR gene isolated from the human fetal liver cDNA library in the chloroplasts. We also investigated the DHAR activity, levels of ascorbate, and GSH. Two transgenic plants were successfully developed by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. DHAR activity and AsA content in mature leaves of transgenic plants were approximately 1.41 and 1.95 times higher than in the non-transgenic (NT) plants, respectively In addition, the content of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in transgenic plants was approximately 2.95 times higher than in the NT plants. The ratios of AsA to DHA and GSSG to GSH were changed by overexpression of DHAR, as expected, even though the total content of ascorbate and glutathione was not significantly changed. When tobacco leaf discs were subjected to methyl viologen at $5\;{\mu}M$, $T_0$ transgenic plants showed about a 50% reduction in membrane damage compared to the NT plants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.234-241
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• 1996

Two hundreds and thirty lactic acid bacteria, mostly isolated from Kimchi, including type strains were used for analysis of cellular fatty acids. The 230 test strains were recoverd in 7 major and 1 single clusters defined at Euclidian distance of 17.5. These aggregate taxa were equivalent to the genus Leuconostoc (aggregate group A, B, C and D), the genus Lactobacillus (aggregate group F), the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus (aggregate group E) and the genera Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus (aggregate group G). It is concluded as evident that FAMEs (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) profile of cell can be used as a criterion in classification of lactic acid bacteria from kimchi. Additional comparative taxonomic studies need to be carried out on well chosen representative strains to determine the most appropriate methods of value.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.3 s.138
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• pp.255-258
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• 2004

Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp pekinensis) is one of the most popular green vegetables in Cruciferae family, which consisted in many Korean food. All kinds of Chinese cabbage are used both fresh and cooked with certain varieties being more suitable than others for some uses. A unique dish, Kimchi, has been developed in Korea and elsewhere by fermenting Chinese cabbage and pickling it in salt solution. Though lots of beneficial effect of Kimchi on human health has been published before, it is still debatable and in vague on the active origin of the Kimchi or of the Chinese cabbage responsible for the corresponding biological activities. We have recently conducted photochemical investigation of the Chinese cabbage, which is the main ingredient of the Korean traditional food, Kimchi. The MeOH extract of Chinese cabbage was partitioned with ethylacetate and BuOH, successively. The ethyl acetate soluble part was subjected to column chromatography with silica gel and RP-18, which gave finally five minor components, i.e., ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (1), indole-3-acetonitrile (2), 4-methoxyindole-3-acetonitrile (3), methyl ferulate (4), glycerol 1-(9,12,15-octadecatrienoate) (5). The structures of them were established on the basis of spectral $(^1H-NMR,\;^{13}C-NMR)$ evidences.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.214-224
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• 1998

This study was conducted to develop labor and chemical cultural practice improvement for weed control in ginseng field. Five crop species were screened in vitro and three crop extracts were sprayed in the test allelopathic effect for weed species. Methyl alcohol extracts of rice, oat, rye and wheat straw showed inhibitory effect on the germination of six weed species, Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Arthraxon hispidus, Digitaria adscendens, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Setaria viridis. Especially, extract of oat straw was most effective to inhibit the germination of six weed species tested. Also, spraying the extract solution of rice, rye and wheat straw was effective to inhibit the growth of weeds in ginseng field. Ginseng root length, diameter, fresh and dry weight in extract spraying plot were higher than those of non-treatment plot.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2008

This study was carried out to elucidate the influence of gibberellin soak and seed dressing with Toros wp. on the dehiscence of Eleutherococcus senticossus seeds. $GA_3$ treatment was effective on promoting after-ripening seed of Eleutherococcus senticossus whose concentration was higher until $500\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, after-ripening period became shorter. But rotting percentage increased gradually up above $500\; mg{\cdot}L^{-1}\;GA_3$After all, $300\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}\;GA_3$ was the most effective treatment for promoting after-ripening seed. Dressing treatment with Toros wp. on seeds reduced the dehiscent rate of E. senticosius. by suppressing activity of fungi living on the endocarp surface of seed.