• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.221-230
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• 1984

The activities of aminopyrine demethylase which is marker enzyme of the microsomal drug-metabolizing system, NADPH-cytochrome a reductase and glutathione peroxidase were measured during the course of liver regeneration after about seventy percent hepatectomy in Wistar rats. In addition, the extent of lipid peroxidation and contents of cytochrome P-450 were also measured. Partial hepatectomy produced a significant depression in aminopyrine demethylase, to reach a minium about 24 hours after operation, but this activity was increased to normal value during regeneration. On the other hand, in sham-operated animals, this showed no change. All the activities of NADPH-chrome P-450 contents of liver microsomes were rapidly decreased at the early stage of regeneration. These values returned to normal after 7 days. By contrast, the activity of glutathione peroxidase was nearly unchanged. According to these results, at the early stage of regeneration, the decrease of cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity lead to decrease of lipid peroxidation and drug metabolizing enzyme activity. But these phenomena were not detected after 7 days of regeneration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.395-404
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• 2017

Fungal cell walls and cell membranes are the main targets of antifungals. In this study, we report on the antifungal activity of an ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora against Candida albicans, showing that the antifungal activity is associated with the synergistic actions of preventing cell wall synthesis, enabling membrane depolarization, and compromising permeability. First, it was shown that the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora was involved in damaging the integrity of cell walls in C. albicans. In isotonic media, cell bursts of C. albicans by the P. lactiflora ethanol extract could be restored, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the P. lactiflora ethanol extract against C. albicans cells increased 4-fold. In addition, synthesis of $(1,3)-{\beta}-{\small{D}}-glucan$ polymer was inhibited by 87% and 83% following treatment of C. albicans microsomes with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract at their $1{\times}MIC$ and $2{\times}MIC$, respectively. Second, the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora influenced the function of C. albicans cell membranes. C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract formed red aggregates by staining with a membrane-impermeable dye, propidium iodide. Membrane depolarization manifested as increased fluorescence intensity by staining P. lactiflora-treated C. albicans cells with a membrane-potential marker, $DiBAC_4(3)$ ((bis-1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol). Membrane permeability was assessed by crystal violet assay, and C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract exhibited significant uptake of crystal violet in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings suggest that P. lactiflora ethanol extract is a viable and effective candidate for the development of new antifungal agents to treat Candida-associated diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2012

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used frequently in traditional oriental medicine and is popular globally. Ginsenosides, which are the saponins in ginseng, are the major components having pharmacological and biological activities, including anti-diabetic and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of total saponin from Korean red ginseng(TSKRG) on thrombin-produced thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$), an aggregating thrombogenic molecule, and its associated microsomal enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and $TXA_2$ synthase (TXAS). Thrombin (0.5 U/mL) increased $TXA_2$ production up to 169 ng/$10^8$ platelets as compared with control (0.2 ng/$10^8$ platelets). However, TSKRG inhibited potently $TXA_2$ production to the control level in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the strong inhibition of COX-1 and TXAS activities in platelet microsomes having cytochrome c reductase activity. The results demonstrate TSKRG is a beneficial traditional oriental medicine in platelet-mediated thrombotic diseases via suppression of COX-1 and TXAS to inhibit production of $TXA_2$.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2004

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 1 enzymes such as P450 1A1, 1A2, and 181 are known to be involved in the oxidative metabolism of various procarcinogens and are regarded as important target enzymes for cancer chemoprevention. Previously, several hydroxystilbene compounds were reported to inhibit P450 1 enzymes and were rated as candidate chemopreventive agents. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of 2-[2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)vinyl]-thiophene (DMPVT), produced from the chemical modification of oxyresveratrol, on the activities of P450 1 enzymes. The inhibitory potential by DMPVT on the P450 1 enzyme activity was evaluated with the Escherichia coli membranes of the recombinant human cytochrome P450 1A1, 1A2, or 1B1 coexpressed with human NADPH-P450 reductase. DMPVT significantly inhibited ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) activities with $IC_{50}$ values of 61, 11, and 2 nM for 1A1, 1A2, and 1B1, respectively. The EROO activity in OMBA-treated rat lung microsomes was also significantly inhibited by OMPVT in a dose-dependent manner. The modes of inhibition by DMPVT were non-competitive for all three P450 enzymes. The inhibition of P450 1B1-mediated EROD activity by OMPVT did not show the irreversible mechanism-based effect. The loss of EROD activity in P450 1B1 with OMPVT incubation was not blocked by treatment with the trapping agents such as glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, or dithiothreitol. Taken together, the results suggested DMPVT to be a strong noncompetitive inhibitor of human P450 1 enzymes that should be considered as a good candidate for a cancer chemopreventive agent in humans.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 1995

The focus of this study was to investigate the influences of enzymatic scavengers of active oxygen metabolites and phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor on hepatic secretory and microsomal function during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. Rats were pretreated with free radical scavengers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, deferoxamine and phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor such as quinacrine and then subjected to 60 min. no-flow hepatic ischemia in vivo. After 1, 5 hr of reperfusion, bile was collected, blood was obtained from the abdominal aorta, and liver microsomes were isolated. Serum aminotransferase (ALT) level was increased at 1 hr and peaked at 5 hr. The increase in ALT was significantly attenuated by SOD plus catalase, deferoxamine and quinacrine especially at 5 hr of reperfusion. The wet weight-to-dry weight ratio of the liver was significantly increased by ischemia/reperfusion. SOD and catalase treatment minimized the increase in this ratio. Hepatic lipid peroxidiltion was elevated by ischemia/reperfusion, and this elevation was inhibited by free radical scavengers and quina crine. Bile flow and cholate output, but not bilirubin output, were markedly decreased by ischemia/reperfusion and quinacrine restored the secretion. Cytochrome $P_{450}$ content was decreased by ischemia/reperfusion and restored by free radical scavengers and quinacrine to the level of that of the sham operated group. Aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was decreased and aniline p-hydroxylase was increased by ischemia/reperfusion. The changes in the activities of the two enzymes were prevented by free radical scavengers and quinacrine. Our findings suggest that ischemia/reperfusion diminishes hepatic secretory functions as well as microsomal drug metabolizing systems by increasing lipid peroxidation, and in addition to free radicals, other factors such as phospholipase $A_2$ are involved in pathogenes of hepatic dysfunction after ischemia/reperfusion.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1996

The enzymatic properties for NADPH-P450 reductase domain of a fusion protein between human cytochrome P450 1A1 and rat NADPH-P450 reductase expressed in Escherichia coli were investigated. The fusion plasmid pCW/1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane showed high NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity ($830.1\pm 85.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$), while pCW control vector and P 450 1A1 expression vector pCW/1A1 showed relatively quite low activity ($4.35\pm 0.49, 3.27\pm 0.50 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively). The kinetic curves for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase followed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The $K_{max}$ and $V_{max}$ for NADPH-dependent reductase activity were $8.24\pm 2.61\mu $and $817.9\pm 60.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively, whereas those for cytochrome c-dependent reductase activity were $19.97\pm 2.86\mu M$ and $1303.5\pm 67.1 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$. The reductase activities were also compared with those of rat, porcine and human liver microsomes. The activity of pCW/ 1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane was 15.2-fold higher than that of rat liver microsome. Treatment with benzo(a)pyrene, 7-ethoxyresorufin and $\alpha$-naphthofiavone which are known as specific substrates or inhibitor for human P450 1A1 increased NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity of fusion protein in E. coli membrane dose-dependently. These results demonstrate that the membrane topology of fused enzyme may be important for activity of its NADPH-P450 reductase domain.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 1998

Ambroxol is thought to have antioxidant ability and some antiinflammatory effect. Effect of ambroxol on the oxidative damages of lipid, collagen and hyaluronic acid was examined. F $e_{2+}$(10 $\mu$M) and 100$\mu$Mascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation of liver microsomes was inhibited by 10 and 100$\mu$M ambroxol, 30$\mu$g/ml catalase and 10 mM DABCO but was not affected by 30$\mu$g/ml SOD and 10 mM DMSO. A 10 and 100$\mu$M ambroxol and 10 mM DABCO inhibited the peroxidative action of 10$\mu$M F $e_{3+}$, 160$\mu$M ADP and 100$\mu$M NADPH on microsomal lipids, whereas inhibitory effects of 30$\mu$g/ml SOD,30$\mu$g/ml catalase and 10 mM DMSO were not detected. The degradation of hyaluronic acid caused by 107M Fe2\\`,5007M H2O2 and 100$\mu$M ascorbate was inhibited by 10 and 100$\mu$M ambroxol,30$\mu$g/ml catalase,10 mM DMSO and 10 mM DABCO, while 30$\mu$g/ml SOD did not show any effect. The cartilage collagen degradation caused by 307$\mu$ F $e_{2+}$,500$\mu$M $H_2O$$_2$ and 200$\mu$M ascorbate was prevented by 100$\mu$M ambroxol. $H_2O$$_2$ and OH . were scavenged by ambroxol, whereas $O_2$, was not removed by it. Ambroxol (100$\mu$M) and 1 mM cysteine reduced DPPH to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine. In conclusion, ambroxol may inhibit the oxidative damages of lipid, hyaluronic acid and collagen by its scavenging action on oxidants, such as OH . and probably iron-oxygen complexes and exert antioxidant ability.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1994

This study was done to determine whether specific alterations exist in hepatic microsomal function after varying periods of ischemia (IS) and reperfusion (RP) during microsomal lipid peroxidation occurs. Rats were pretreated with $\alpha$-tocopherol to inhibit lipid peroxidation or with vehicle (soybean oil). Control animals were time-matched sham-ischemic animals. Four groups of animals were studied: Group 1 (sham), group 2 (30 mins IS), group 3 (60 mins IS) and group 4 (90 mins IS). After 1, 5 or 24 hr of reperfusion, liver microsomes were isolated and cytochrome P-450s were studied. In all vehicle-treated ischemic rats, serum ALT levels peaked at 5 hr and were significantly reduced by $\alpha$-tocopherol pretreatment. Similarly, microsomal lipid peroxidation was elevated in all vehicle-treated ischemic animal groups, but this elevation was prevented by $\alpha$-tocopherol pretreatment. Cytochrome P-450 content was significantly decreased in both group 3 and group 4. In all vehicle-treated ischemic animal groups, aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was significantly decreased for the entire reperfusion period. $\alpha$-Tocopherol inhibited reductions of cytochrome P-450 content and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity at both 1 hr and 5hr of reperfusion but did not affect the reduced levels of cytochrome P-450 content and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity at 24 hr of reperfusion. Aniline p-hydroxylase activity was significantly decreased in group 4, whereas it was increased in group 3. These decreases and increases were prevented by $\alpha$-tocopherol pretreatment. Our finding suggests that abnormalities in microsomal drug metabolizing function occur during hepatic ischemia and reperfusion in vivo and this is attributed to microsomal lipid peroxidation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.304-310
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• 1995

This study was done to investigate the effect of vitamin C on hepatic biliary and microsomal function during ischemia and reperfusion. Rats were treated with vitamin C(20, 100, 400, 1600 mg/kg) or with vehicle(saline) and then subjected to 60 min no-flow hepatic ischemia in vivo. Control animals were time-matched sham ischemic animals. After 1 or 5 hr of reperfusion, bile was collected, blood was obtained from the abdominal aorta, and liver microsomes were isolated. In vehicle-treated ischemic rats, serum ALT and AST levels peaked at 5 hr and were significantly attenuated by vitamin C 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg treatment. Similarly, hepatic wet weight-to-dry weight ratio was decreased in the vehicle-treated ischemic group. Vitamin C 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg treatment minimized the increase in this ratio. Lipid peroxidation was elevated in vehicle-treated ischemic group, but this elevation was also inhibited by vitamin C 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg treatment. Bile flow and cholate output, but not bilirubin output, were markedly decreased by ischemia/reperfuzion. Vitamin C 20 mg/kg and 100mg/kg treatment restored the secretion but vitamin C 1600 mg/kg reduced the cholate output. Cytochrome P-450 content was decreased by ischemia/reperfusion and restored by vitamin C 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg treatment to the level of sham operated group but decreased by vitamin C 1600 mg/kg. Aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was decreased and aniline p-hydroxylase activity was increased by ischemia/reperfusion. The changes in the activities of aminopyrine were prevented by vitamin C 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg treatment, but not by 400 mg/kg and 1600 mg/kg treatment. Our findings suggest that ischemia/reperfusion diminishes hepatic secretory functions as well as microsomal drug metabolizing systems, small doses(20, 100 mg/kg) of vitamin C significantly ameliorates and large doses(400, 1600 mg/kg) of vitamin C aggravated these ischemia/reperfusion-induced changes.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.84-88
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• 2014

Licoricidin isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis is known to have anticancer, anti-nephritic, anti-Helicobacter pylori, and antibacterial effects. In this study, a cocktail probe assay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to investigate the modulating effect of licoricidin on cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in human liver microsomes. When licoricidin was incubated at $0-25{\mu}m$ with CYP probes for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$, it showed potent inhibitory effects on CYP2B6-catalyzed bupropion hydroxylation and CYP2C9-catalyzed diclofenac 4'-hydroxylation with half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values of 3.4 and $4.0{\mu}m$, respectively. The inhibition mode of licoricidin was revealed as competitive, dose-dependent, and non-time-dependent, and following the pattern of Lineweaver-Burk plots. The inhibitory effect of licoricidin has been confirmed in human recombinant cDNA-expressed CYP2B6 and 2C9 with $IC_{50}$ values of 4.5 and $0.73{\mu}m$, respectively. In conclusion, this study has shown the potent inhibitory effect of licoricidin on CYP2B6 and CYP2C9 activity could be important for predicting potential herb-drug interactions with substrates that mainly undergo CYP2B- and CYP2C9-mediated metabolism.