• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1996.04a
• /
• pp.217-217
• /
• 1996

The putative role of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitter has been studied in rabbit corpus cavernosum. In the presence of atropine and guanethidine the short and prolonged electrical field stimulation (EFS, 2～16 ㎐) induced a frequency-dependent relaxation which was abolished by tetrodotoxin (0.3 ${\mu}$M), a nerve conductance blocker. The neurogenic relaxant reponses were not affected in the presence of VIP-inactivating peptidase, ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin (2 units/$m\ell$), whereas VIP-induced relaxation were completely abolished. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by N$\^$G/-nitro-L-arginine (10～100 ${\mu}$M) caused concentration-dependent inhibition to the neurogenic relaxant responses and at 100 ${\mu}$M the relaxations were virtually abolished. In contrast NO (3～30 ${\mu}$M) and VIP (0.001～l ${\mu}$M)-induced relaxation were unaffected. The inhibitory effect of L-NNA was reversed in the presence of L-arginine (5 mM), the precursor of the NO biosynthesis. Hemog1obin (20～60 ${\mu}$M), sequestering NO in the extracellular space, abolished the NO-evoked relaxation and also caused a concentration-dependent inhibition to the neurogenic relaxation. These observation indicate that NANC relaxation induced by prolonged EFS of rabbit corpus cavernosum is also mediated mainly by nitric oxide as same as that of short EFS, and suggest that VIP is not involved in NANC relaxation of rabbit corpus cavernosum and NO would not be produced by VIP in this tissue.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
• /
• v.25
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2007

In order to investigate the availability of insect resources for agrobiotechnological or medical purposes, we examined antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP assay) and cell viability by oxidant stress and NO inhibition assay by treatment of the extracts of Statilia maculata Thunberg, Tenodera angustipennis Saussure and Tenodera aridifolia Stoll. We found that Tenodera angustipennis Saussure and Tenodera aridifolia Stoll extract (DW, etanol, methanol) had high levels of anti-oxidant activity, whereas Tenodera aridifolia Stoll extract showed increased cell viability by hydrogen peroxide and inhibition of NO production. These findings suggest that Statilia maculata Thunberg, Tenodera angustipennis Saussure and Tenodera aridifolia Stoll, extract have potentials to be developed for agrobiotechnology or medicinal use, indicating that mechanistic study including inhibition against molecular inflammation will show a possibility for the development of useful insect resources.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.599-607
• /
• 2009

Prunellae Spica is the spike or whole plant of Prunella vulgaris Linne, which has been used for clearing heat from the liver, brightening the eyes and treating headache in traditional oriental medicines. This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the aqueous extract of Prunellae Spica (PSE; PS extract) on the production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, and all three doses of PS extract (0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 mg/ml) had no significant cytotoxicity during the entire experimental period. The cells were treated with 1 ${\mu}g/ml$ of LPS 1 h before adding PS extract, and increased NO and PGE2 production were detected in LPS-activated cells compared to control. However, these increases were dose-dependently attenuated by treatment with PS extract. The inhibition of NO by PS extract was due to the suppression of iNOS expression via inhibition of $NF{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation and proteolytic degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. The decreased level of PGE2 was derived from inhibition of COX-2 activity, but expression of COX-2 protein was not affected by PS extract. Moreover, PS extract reduced the elevated production of IL-${\beta}$ and IL-6 by LPS. These results demonstrate that PS extract has inhibitory effects on the production of NO and PGE2 as a consequence of the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, especially IL-${\beta}$ and IL-6 in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.23-27
• /
• 1998

Inhibition of nodule formation and nitrogen fixation by soil nitrogen, primarily nitrate, is well known in legume plants. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ${NO_3}^-$ on the nodulation, nitrogenase activity, and growth of supernodulating soybean mutant and its wild type. A greenhouse study was conducted to compare two of supernodulating mutants, 'SS2-2' and 'nts 382', with the normal nodulating cultivar 'Sinpaldalkong 2' when grown in a 1-l styroform cup filled with sand, and fertilized with five levels of ${NO_3}^-$ (0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 mM). During the growth period, each plant was supplied two or three times a week with 50 mL of nutrient solution. Supernodulating soybean mutants, SS2-2 and nts 382, showed more nodules and nodule mass, and greater $C_2\;H_2$ activity than the wild type, Sinpaldalkong 2, regardless of the level of exogeneous nitrogen supply. On the other hand, total dry weight of SS2-2 mutant, which was smaller than Sinpaldalkong 2, did not respond to the various ${NO_3}^-$-N levels. This suggested that supernodulating SS2-2 mutant could maintain fairly high total dry weight at the low ${NO_3}^-$-N level, even in the absence of exogeneous ${NO_3}^-$-N in the nutrient solution. From the reduced top growth and high nitrogen fixing ability of supernodulating mutants, it was surmised that supernodulating mutant could potentially protect agricultural environments from pollution through the reduction in nitrogen fertilization as well as maintain fairly high yield with increasing planting density.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.1079-1095
• /
• 1995

Recently endogenous digitalis-like substances were found in the blood of various cardiovascular diseases and they have been considered one of the causes of evoking hypertension. However, the mechanism of endogenous digitalis-like substances-induced hypertension is not clarified yet. Therefore, the effects of Na-K pump inhibition on the contractility of vascular smooth muscle[conduit and resistant artery were investigated, using organ bath and bioassay experiment. Aortic and carotid arterial rings[conduit artery and the branches of brachial and superior mesenteric artery[resistant artery were used to find the effect of Na-K pump inhibition. The results obtained were as followes;The magnitudes of contractions induced by norepinephrine, serotonin, or acetylcholine in all these arteries were significantly increased by the inhibition of Na-K pump. The increased contractile responses to these agonists, especially to serotonin, were much more prominant in resistant arteries. Nitroprusside-induced relaxations were attenuated by Na-K pump inhibition and there were no significant differences in the effects of Na-K pump inhibition on nitroprusside-induced relaxations of these blood vessels. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was suppressed by the inhibition of Na-K pump, especially by the administration of ouabain, and this inhibitory effect was much more prominent in the branches of superior mesenteric artery, compared with other arteries. In the branches of superior mesenteric arteries, endothelium-dependent relaxation was completely blocked by ouabain. The release of EDRF was partially suppressed by Na-K pump inhibition.From the above results, it is suggested that the hypertension due to the increase in vascular resistance can be evoked by the inhibition of Na-K pump and endogenous digitalis-like substances induce hypertension through this mechanism.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.203-210
• /
• 2017

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of three kinds of strawberry ethanol extracts from Robus corchorifolius L. f. (RCL), Rubus parvifolius L. var. parvifolius (RPL), and Duchesnea chrysantha Miq. (DCM) were investigated. The RPL was highest (P<0.05) in phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging activities of RPL and DCM extracts were higher than that of RCL (P<0.05). Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of RPL was high compared to DCM and RCL (P<0.05). RCL exhibited a significant (P<0.05) potent antioxidant activity in nitric oxide radical inhibition. Inhibition diameter zone (nearest mm) of extracts against the test bacteria ranged from 11.5 in RCL to 12.5 in DCM against Staphylococcus aureus, from 10.5 in RCL to 13.5 in DCM against Streptococcus pneumoniae, from 8.5 in DCM to 10.5 in RCL against Escherichia coli, and the same inhibition of 10 mm in three of the extracts against Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, there was no inhibition against fungi Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Three of the extracts had the same minimum inhibitory concentration values of 12.50, 12.50, and $6.25{\mu}g/mL$ against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and S. pneumoniae, respectively. On the other hand, MIC values of 12.50, 12.50, and $6.50{\mu}g/mL$ were recorded for RPL, DCM, and RCL against E. coli, respectively. The result of present study revealed that extracts from three kinds of strawberries could be potential candidates as antioxidant and antimicrobial sources for functional food industries.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.447-453
• /
• 2013

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) inhibits neurite outgrowth of various neuronal cell types, and CSPG-associated inhibition of neurite outgrowth is mediated by the Rho/ROCK pathway. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to differentiate into neuron-like cells under specific conditions and have been shown to differentiate into neuron-like cells by co-treatment with the ROCK inhibitor Y27632 and the hypoxia condition mimicking agent $CoCl_2$. In this study, we addressed the hypothesis that a ROCK inhibitor might be beneficial to regenerate neurons during stem cell therapy by preventing transplanted MSCs from inhibition by CSPG in damaged tissues. Indeed, dose-dependent inhibition by CSPG pretreatment was observed during morphological changes of Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) induced by Y27632 alone. The formation of neurite-like structures was significantly inhibited when WJ-MSCs were pre-treated with CSPG before induction under Y27632 plus $CoCl_2$ conditions, and pretreatment with a protein kinase C inhibitor reversed such inhibition. However, CSPG treatment resulted in no significant inhibition of the WJ-MSC morphological changes into neuron-like cells after initiating induction by Y27632 plus $CoCl_2$. No marked changes were detected in expression levels of neuronal markers induced by Y27632 plus $CoCl_2$ upon CSPG treatment. CSPG also blocked the morphological changes of human bone marrow-derived MSCs into neuron-like cells under other neuronal induction condition without the ROCK inhibitor, and Y27632 pre-treatment blocked the inhibitory effect of CSPG. These results suggest that a ROCK inhibitor can be efficiently used in stem cell therapy for neuronal induction by avoiding hindrance from CSPG.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.73-78
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Uncontrolled activation of microglia may directly toxic to neurons by releasing various substances such as inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide(NO), prostaglandin E2 and superoxide. In this study, the effects of the several subfractions isolated from Coptidis Rhizoma extract were investigated on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells, Methods : Coptidis Rhizoma extract prepared with 80% methanol, and then fractionated with ethylacetate, chloroform, n-butanol and water. BV2 cells were pretreated four subfractions of Coptidis Rhizoma with various concentrations, and then stimulated with LPS. Cytotoxicity of each fraction was measured by MTT assay. NO production was determined in culture surpernatants by Griess reagent. Results : Ethylacetate, chloroform and butanol fractions of Coptidis Rhizoma extract significantly decreased LPS-induced NO production in BV2 cells as a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Ethylacetate fraction of Coptidis Rhizoma extract was most effective on inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells compared with other fractions. Conclusion : This data indicates that Ethylacetate fraction of Coptidis Rhizoma extract shows strong antiinflammatory effects through inhibition of LPS-induced microglial activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.461-467
• /
• 2009

The auditory cortex (A1) encodes the acquired significance of sound for the perception and interpretation of sound. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas molecule with free radical properties that functions as a transmitter molecule and can alter neural activity without direct synaptic connections. We used whole-cell recordings under voltage clamp to investigate the effect of NO on spontaneous GABAergic synaptic transmission in mechanically isolated rat auditory cortical neurons preserving functional presynaptic nerve terminals. GABAergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in the A1 were completely blocked by bicuculline. The NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), reduced the GABAergic sIPSC frequency without affecting the mean current amplitude. The SNAP-induced inhibition of sIPSC frequency was mimicked by 8-bromoguanosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate, a membrane permeable cyclic-GMP analogue, and blocked by 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, a specific NO scavenger. Blockade of presynaptic $K^+$ channels by 4-aminopyridine, a $K^+$ channel blocker, increased the frequencies of GABAergic sIPSCs, but did not affect the inhibitory effects of SNAP. However, blocking of presynaptic $Ca^{2+}$ channels by $Cd^{2+}$, a general voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, decreased the frequencies of GABAergic sIPSCs, and blocked SNAP-induced reduction of sIPSC frequency. These findings suggest that NO inhibits spontaneous GABA release by activation of cGMP-dependent signaling and inhibition of presynaptic $Ca^{2+}$ channels in the presynaptic nerve terminals of A1 neurons.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 2019

The aim of the present investigation was to assess the oxidation inhibition by nitrogen oxide scavenging activity and physiological activities. Bioactive compound of proanthocyanidin $69.000{\pm}2.737mg$ catechin equivalents (CE)/g dry weight. Antioxidant effects (nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, nitrite scavenging activity, ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity) of distilled water (DW), 70% ethanol and n-butanol extract of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Turmeric extracts yield were DW 17.11%, 70% ethanol 15.26% and n-butanol 4.12%, respectively. Oxidation inhibition activity of the samples exhibited a dose-dependent increase. However, in the current study, none of the samples evaluated showed activity as strong as the BHA and trolox. Total flavonoid content was the highest in the n-butanol extract, followed by 70% ethanol and DW extract. Further, nitrite scavenging activity was the highest for the n-butanol extract. As a result of this experiment, the turmeric can be utilized as a valuable and potential natural oxidation inhibition for the functional food industry.