• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2017

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor, controls the expression of genes encoding cytoprotective proteins, including antioxidant enzymes that combat oxidative and electrophilic stress to maintain redox homeostasis. However, recent studies demonstrated that, in cancer, aberrant activation of Nrf2 by epigenetic alterations promotes high expression of cytoprotective proteins, which can decrease the efficacy of anticancer drugs used for chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding the relationship between oxidative stress, Nrf2, epigenetic modification, and anticancer drug resistance, which should aid in development of new strategies to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2018

Natural product substances have historically served as the most significant also be prepared by source of new leads for pharmaceutical development. They can chemical synthesis(both semisynthesis and total synthesis) and have played a important role in the field of organic chemistry by providing synthetic targets. Rcently, they have also been extended for commercial purpose to refer to medicinal products, health functional foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics from natural sources. A large number of currently prescribed drugs have been either directly derived from or inspired by natural products. However, with the advent of robotics, bioinformatics, high throughput screening(HTS), molecular biology-biotechnology, combinatorial chemistry, in silico(molecular modeling) and other methodologies, the pharmaceutical industry has largely moved away from plant derived natural products as a source for leads and prospective drug candidates. The strategy for natural prduct industry is now changing from drug approaches to health foods by identifying effective natural products as preparations. In Korea, a lot of development of natural product based drugs have been done, but very few on health functional foods. The concept of natural product based health foods is not active components as lead compounds but standardized extracts or preparation mixed with other medicinal plants. The representative material has been recently known to be a standardized ginseng extract "Ginsana G 115" developed by Swiss Pharmaton company. The purpose of this presentation is to underline how natural products research continues to make significant contributions in the domain of discovery and development of new health functional foods. It is proposed to present the development of high value added health food or health functional foods through scientific investigation on efficacy and standardization of new materials form natural products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.849-855
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• 2021

Recently, as nanotechnology has been introduced and used in various fields, the development of new drugs has been accelerating. Nanoparticles have maintained blood drug concentration for extended periods of time with a single administration of the drug. The drug can then be selectively released only at the pathological site, thereby reducing side effects to other non-pathological sites. In addition, nanoparticles can be modified for selective target sites delivery for other specific diseases, with polymers being widely used in the manufacture of these nanoparticles. Poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid ) (PLGA) is one of the most extensively developed biodegradable polymers. PLGA is widely used in drug delivery for a variety of applications. It has also been approved by the FDA as a drug delivery system and is widely applied in controlled release formulations, such as in gene therapy treatments. PLGA nanoparticles have been developed as delivery systems with high efficiency to specific cell types by using passive and active targeting methods. After the development of a drug delivery system using PLGA nanoparticles, the drug is selectively delivered to the target site, and the effective blood concentration for extended periods of time is optimized according to the disease. In this review paper, we focus on ways to improve cell-specific treatment outcomes by examining the development of astrocyte selective nanoparticles based on PLGA nanomaterials for gene therapy.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.306-309
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• 2017

Microbial transformation of $({\pm})$-6-(1,1-dimethylallyl)naringenin (6-DMAN, 1) and $({\pm})$-5-(O-prenyl) naringenin-4',7-diacetate (5-O-PN, 2) was performed by using fungi. Scale-up fermentation studies with Mucor hiemalis, Cunninghamella elegans var. elegans, and Penicillium chrysogenum led to the isolation of five microbial metabolites. Chemical structures of the metabolites were determined by spectral analyses as $({\pm})$-8-prenylnaringenin (3), (2S)-5,4'-dihydroxy-7,8-[(R)-2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2,3-dihydrofurano]flavanone (4), $({\pm})$-5-(O-prenyl)naringenin-4'-acetate (5), $({\pm})$-naringenin-4'-acetate (6), and $({\pm})$-naringenin (7), of which 5 was identified as a new compound.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

Xenograft models of human cancer play an important role in the screening and evaluation of candidates for new anticancer agents. The models, which are derived from human tumor cell lines and are classified according to the transplant site, such as ectopic xenograft and orthotopic xenograft, are still utilized to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and toxicity. The metastasis model is modified for the evaluation and prediction of cancer progression. Recently, animal models are made from patient-derived tumor tissue. The patient-derived tumor xenograft models with physiological characters similar to those of patients have been established for personalized medicine. In the discovery of anticancer drugs, standard animal models save time and money and provide evidence to support clinical trials. The current strategy for using xenograft models as an informative tool is introduced.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2012

Prebiotic oligosaccharides, with a degree of polymerization (DP) of mostly less than 10, exhibit diverse biological activities that contribute to human health. Currently available prebiotics are mostly derived from disaccharides and simple polysaccharides found in plants. Subtle differences in the structures of oligosaccharides can cause significant differences in their prebiotic properties. Therefore, alternative substances supplying polysaccharides that have more diverse and complex structures are necessary for the development of novel oligosaccharides that have actions not present in existing prebiotics. In this review, we show that structural polysaccharides found in plant cell walls, such as xylans and pectins, are particularly potential resources supplying broadly diverse polysaccharides to produce new prebiotics.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1002-1008
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• 2003

Ferulic acid (3-methoxy, 4-hydroxy cinnamic acid) is a flavoid component possessing antioxidant property. The compound is currently under development as a new drug candidate for the treatment of the dementia. The objective of this preformulation study was to determine the physicochemical properties of ferulic acid. The n-octanol to water partition coefficients of ferulic acid were 0.375 and 0.489 at the pHs of 3 and 10, respectively. Accelerated stability study for ferulic acid indicated that the t 90 value for the drug was estimated to be 459 days at $25^{\circ}C$. Ferulic acid was also found to be unstable under the relative humidity of more than 76%, probably because of the hygroscopic nature of the drug. In order to study compatibility of ferulic acid with typical excipients, potential change in differential scanning calorimetry spectrum was studied in 1: 1 binary mixtures of ferulic acid and typical pharmaceutical excipients (e.g., Aerosil, Avicel, CMC, Eudragit, lactose, PEG, PVP, starch and talc). Avicel, CMC, PVP and starch were found to be incompatible with ferulic acid, indicating the addition of these excipients may complicate the manufacturing of the formulation for the drug. Particle size distribution of ferulic acid powder was in the size range of 10-190 $\mu$m with the mean particle size of 61 $\mu$m. The flowability of ferulic acid was apparently inadequate, indicating the granulation may be necessary for the processing of the drug to solid dosage forms. Two polymorphic forms were obtained by recrystallization from various solvents used in formulation. New polymorphic form of ferulic acid, Form II, was obtained by recrystallization from 1,4-dioxane. The equilibrium solubility for Form I was approximately twice of that for Form II. The dissolution rate of Form II was higher than that of Form I in the early phase (<6 min). Therefore, these physicochemical information has to be taken in the consideration for the formulation of ferulic acid.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of the patients with cancer participating in a clinical trial for the development of a new drug. Method: This study was based on a phenomenological approach. The eight patients participating in a clinical trial were selected as the participations of this study. The data were obtained through in-depth interviews from the participants and were analyzed using the Giorgi method. Results: Essential experiences of the patients with cancer under a clinical trial consisted of anticipating recovery of physical health and a social role, passing the strict criteria of a clinical trial, diminishing economic burden, satisfaction with special treatment receiving, social contribution, concerns about side effects and withdrawal from the clinical trial, conflicts as a participant, pain, limited administration of other treatments, regret for giving up other treatments, strict compliance with instructions, prevention of side effects and maintaining desirable life-style. Integrated units of meaning of these components were hope, good luck, a sense of satisfaction, fear, distress, and the will of self-control. Conclusion: The most essential meaning of the cancer patients participating in a clinical trial was hope. Hope was found to be a primary factor reinforcing the will of self-management. The results of this study can be of great help to the research nurses to understand the lived experience of the patients with cancer and to plan an effective nursing intervention for the patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.346-349
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• 2010

Coenzyme $Q_{10}$ ($CoQ_{10}$) production from Rhizobium radiobacter T6102 was monitored under various oxygen supply conditions by controlling the agitation speeds, aeration rates, and dissolved oxygen levels. As the results, the $CoQ_{10}$ production was enhanced by limited oxygen supply. To investigate whether the $CoQ_{10}$ production is associated with its physiological functions of electron carrier and antioxidant, the effects of sodium azide and hydrogen peroxide on the $CoQ_{10}$ production were studied, showing that the $CoQ_{10}$ contents were slightly enhanced with increasing sodium azide (up to 0.4 mM) and hydrogen peroxide (up to $10\;{\mu}M$) concentrations. These results suggest the plausible mechanism where the limited electron transfer stimulating the environments of limited oxygen supply and oxidative stress could accumulate the $CoQ_{10}$, providing the relationship between the $CoQ_{10}$ physiological functions and its regulation system.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2013

The chemokine receptor CCR1 a GPCR super family protein contains seven transmembrane domains. It plays an important role in rheumatoid arthritis, organ transplant rejection, Alzheimer's disease and also causes inflammation. Because of its role in disease processes, antagonism of CCR1 became an attractive therapeutic target. In the current study, we have taken a novel series of recently reported CCR1 antagonist of 1-(4-Phenylpiperazin-1-yl_-2-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl) ethanone derivatives and performed a HQSAR analysis. The model was developed with Atom (A) and bond (B) parameters and with different set of atom counts to improve the model. The results of HQSAR showed good predictive ability in terms of $r^2$ (0.904) and $q^2$ (0.590) with 0.710 as standard error of prediction and 0.344 as standard error of estimate. The contribution map depicted the atom contribution in inhibitory effect. Compound-14 which was reported to be a highly active compound showed positive atom contribution in three R groups ($R^3$. $R^{5a}$ and $R^{2b}$) in inhibitory effect, which could be the reason why this compound is highly active compound whereas, the lowest active compound-6 showed negative contribution to inhibitory effect.