• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.3 s.70
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• pp.397-405
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• 2005

Sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate derived from hydrolysis of glucoraphanin in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, was shown to induce phase II detoxification enzymes and inhibit chemically induced mammary tumors in rodents. Recently, sulforaphane is known to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cancer cells, however its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that sulforaphane acted to inhibit proliferation and induce morphological changes of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Treatment of HeLa cells with $10{\mu}M\;or\;15{\mu}M$ sulforaphane resulted in significant G2/M cell cycle arrest as determined by flow cytometry. Moreover, $20{\mu}M$ sulforaphane significantly induced the population of sub-G1 cells (9.83 fold of control). This anti-proliferative effect of sulforaphane was accompanied by a marked inhibition of cyclin A and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)4 protein and concomitant induction of Cdc2, Cdk inhibitor p16 and p21. However, sulforaphane did not affect the levels of cyelooxygenases and telomere-regulatory gene products. Although further studies are needed, the present work suggests that sulforaphane may be a potential chemoprevetive/ chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of human cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.652-657
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• 2007

This study was performed to evaluate the physicochemical and quality characteristics of bread with Enteromorpha intenstinalis added. In order to compare the physical and organoleptic properties, 1 to 4% of E. intenstinalis powder was mixed with the flour. Among the physical characteristics of the dough, the absorption ratio in the farinogram and the degree of attenuation increased with increasing amounts of E. intenstinalis powder, whereas the development time, dough stability, the degree of extension, the degree of resistance, and R/E became reduced. In the amylogram, there was no difference in the gelatinization starting temperature among the samples, but the maximum viscosity gradually increased according to increasing amounts of E. intenstinalis powder. Also, a sensory evaluation was carried out in terms of acceptability (color, flavor, moistness, tenderness, mouth feel, and overall acceptability). Taken together, the 2% treatment showed the highest evaluation values, as compared to the other treatments.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 2009

Toll-like receptors(TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors(PRRs) that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns(PAMPs) and regulate the activation of innate immunity. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of NF-${\kappa}$B, leading to the induction of inflammatory gene products such as COX-2. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine. Isoliquiritigenin(ILG), a simple chalcone-type flavonoid, is an active component present in licorice and has been used to treat many chronic diseases. However, the mechanism as to how ILG mediates health effects is still largely unknown. In the present report, we present biochemical evidence that ILG inhibits the NF-${\kappa}$B activation induced by TLR agonists and the overexpression of downstream signaling components of TLRs, MyD88, IKK${\beta}$, and p65. ILG also inhibits TLR agonists-induced COX-2 expression. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory effects of ILG are caused by modulation of the immune responses regulated by TLR signaling pathways.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.767-775
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• 2008

Uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) plays a major role in thermogenesis at brown adipose tissues and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic disorders. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effects of A-3826G polymorphism in 117 Korean prepubertal children aged 8-11 years olds. Anthropometry by bioelectrical impedance analysis method, plasma lipid profiles by auto-biochemical analyzer and UCP-1 genotyping by PCR-RFLP were done. The frequencies of UCP-1 genotypes were AA; 17.7%, AG; 57.8%, GG; 26.6%. The frequencies of each G allele (55.5%) was similar to Japanese's (49%) and higher than Caucacian's (25%). No correlation UCP-1 polymorphism and BMI (kg/$m^2$) or the degree of obesity described by the relative percentiles of the standard weight according to height in prepubertal children. However, plasma total- and LDL-cholesterol were significantly increased in G allele when sex, age and weight were adjusted. Our results suggested that G allele of UCP-1 gene was stronger risk factors in hyperLDLcholesterolemia than A allele. This impact might be progressed as the precaution against the revalence of obesity based-metabolic disease.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2005

We used nine decamer primers to generate DNA fragment sizes ranging from 100 bp to 1,600 bp from two bullhead (Pseudobagrus fulvidraco) populations of Dangjin in Korea. 376 fragments were identified in the cultured bullhead population, and 454 in the population of wild bullhead from Dangjin: 287 specific fragments $(76.3\%)$ in the cultured bullhead population and 207 $(45.6\%)$ in the wild bullhead population. On average, a decamer primer was used to generate 34.2 amplified products in a cultured bullhead. A RAPD primer was used to generate an average of 3.1 amplified bands per sample, ranging between 2.5 and 6.0 fragments in this population. Nine primers also generated 24 polymorphic fragments (24/376 fragment, $6.4\%$) in the cultured bullhead population, and 24 (24/454 fragments, $5.2\%$) in the wild bullhead population. The OPA-16 primer, notably, produced which 11 out of 11 bands $(100\%)$ were monomorphic in the wild bullhead population. 110 intra-population-specific fragments, with an average of 12.2 per primer, were observed in the cultured bullhead population. 99 fragments, with an average of 11.0 per primer, were identified in the wild bullhead. Especially, 55 inter-population-common fragments, with an average of 6.1 per primer, were observed in the two bullhead populations. The bandsharing value (BS value) of individuals within the wild bullhead population was substantially higher than was determined in the cultured bullhead population. The average bandsharing value was $0.596\pm0.010$ within the cultured bullhead population,. and $0.657\pm0.010$ within the wild bullhead population. The dendrogram obtained with the nine primers indicates two genetic clusters, designated cluster $1\;(CULTURED\;01\~CULTURED\;11)$, and cluster $2\;(WILD\;12\~WILD\;22)$. Ultimately, the longest genetic distance displaying significant molecular differences was determined to exist between individuals in the two bullhead populations, namely between individuals WILD no. 19 of the wild bullhead population and CULTURED no. 03 of the cultured bullhead population (genetic distance = 0.714). RAPD-PCR allowed us to detect the existence of population discrimination and genetic variation in Korean population of bullhead. This finding indicates that this method constitutes a suitable tool for DNA comparison, both within and between individuals, populations, species, and genera.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.205-210
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• 2018

Salvianolic acid B, which is a compound in the Salvia miltiorrhiza, has diverse biological activities, In particular, the antioxidative effects were reported to be involved in the protection of hepatocytes, neurons, and various cell types. On the other hand, some phenolic compounds, such as ferulic acid, which is regarded as an antioxidant, plays a pro-oxidative role in the specific transitional metal environment, which could explain the anticancer effect. This study examined the pro-oxidative effects of salvianolic acid B in the presence of $Cu^{2+}$. Treatment with both salvianolic acid B and $Cu^{2+}$ induced the transition of supercoiled DNA to the open circular or linear form but not in the sole salvianolic acid B or $Cu^{2+}$ treatments. Salvianolic acid B reduced the $Cu^{2+}$ to $Cu^+$ using neocuproine, a $Cu^+$ specific chelator. In addition, catalase, an enzyme that breaks down the $H_2O_2$ to water and molecular oxygen, inhibited the DNA breakage. $H_2O_2$, a reactive oxygen species, has detrimental effects on biological molecules, particularly DNA. Overall, the reduction of $Cu^{2+}$ by salvianolic acid B could lead to the production of $H_2O_2$ followed by DNA breakage. These results suggest that the pro-oxidative effects could be the one of the anti-cancer mechanisms of salvianolic acid B, which remains to be explained.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.515-522
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• 2015

Treculia africana Decne, a breadfruit species, is native to many parts of West and Tropical Africa. The breadfruit belongs to the family Moraceae and is one of the four members of the genera Treculia. The crude extract of T. africana has been used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent for various ailments, such as whooping cough. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of the methanol extract of T. africana Decne (META) and the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects in human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. The META exhibited anti-oxidative activity through a DPPH radical scavenging capacity and inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. META treatment induced apoptosis of HT29 cells, showing an increase in the percentage of both SubG1 cells and Annexin V-positive cells and the formation of apoptotic bodies in a dose-dependent manner. META-mediated apoptosis was associated with the up-regulation of the death receptor FAS and Bax and a decrease in the Bcl-2 expression. META-treated HT29 cells also showed the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, and proteolytic cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). These findings suggest META may exert an anti-cancer effect in HT29 cells by inducing apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.838-844
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• 2010

A fibrinolytic enzyme of Streptomyces corcohrussi from soil sediment was purified by chromatography using DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and Sephadex G-50. The analysis of SDS-polyacrylamide gel suggested that the purified enzyme is a homogeneous protein and the molecular mass is approximately 34 kDa. The purified enzyme showed activity of 0.8 U/ml in a plasminogen-rich fibrin plate, while its activity in a plasminogen-free fibrin plate was only 0.36 U/ml. These results suggested that the purified enzyme acts as a plasminogen activator. The fibrinolytic activity of the enzyme under the supplementation of protease inhibitors, $\varepsilon$-ACA, t-AMCHA and mercuric chloride in the enzyme reaction was less than 24%, indicating that it could be modulated by the plasmin and/or fibrinogen inhibitors involved in the fibrinogen-to-fibrin converting process. As time passed, $Zn^{2+}$, a heavy metal ion, inhibited the activity to 34.1%. The optimum temperature of the purified enzyme was approximately $50^{\circ}C$ and over 92% of the enzyme activity was maintained between pH 5.0 and 8.0. Therefore, our results provide a potential fibrinolytic enzyme as a noble thrombolytic agent from S. corcohrussi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1691-1696
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• 2010

Neohesperidin is a natural new nutrition sweetener, widely existing in plants of dry citrus peel, which can be derived from extraction. Since the sweetness is 1,300-1,500 times greater than that of sugar, neohesperidin are widely used in fruit juices, wines, beverages, bakeries and pharmaceutical formulations, and are particularly suitable for consumption by diabetic patients. However, the yield of extraction from citrus peel waste is very low. In this study optimal yield conditions were determinedusing response surface methodology (RSM) in order to increase the neohesperidin extraction yield. The critical factors for maximum extraction yield were selected extraction pressure ($x_1$), extraction time ($x_2$), and concentration of ethanol ($x_3$). As a result, the extraction yield was improved when the extracting pressure increased. The extraction yield also increased in a time-dependent manner. When adding ethanol as an assistance solvent to the supercritical carbon dioxide, extraction yield was increased as more ethanol concentration was added. Finally, the extraction yield of neohesperidin was improved to about 162.22% compared to ethanol extraction as a conventional method.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.545-552
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• 2017

Julbernardia globiflora, a tropical African tree widespread in Miombo woodland, has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of depression and stomach problems. However, the antioxidative and anticancer activities of J. globiflora remain unclear. The objective of this study is to evaluate the antioxidative and anticancer effects of methanol extract of J. globiflora (MEJG) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. MEJG exhibited significant antioxidative effect with an $IC_{50}$ (concentration at 50% inhibition) value of $1.23{\mu}g/ml$ measuring by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. We found that MEJG induced apoptosis of HT29 cells with the increase of apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies using Annexin V staining and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. The MEJG treatment showed the increase of Fas, a death receptor, and Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, and the decrease of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, resulting in the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol and activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. The apoptotic effects of MEJG were confirmed by cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that MEJG may exert the anticancer effect in HT29 cells by inducing apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.