• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2016

Prunellae Spica, the herbaceous plant in the genus Prunella, is a traditional herbal medicine and has been reported to have diuretic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of its action was not clearly identified. In the present study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of Prunellae Spica extract (PSE) against the damage of mitochondria and death in hepatocyte induced by oxidative stress. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron significantly induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hepatocytes. However, PSE protected cells and inhibited apoptosis by altering the protein levels such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and pro-caspase 3. Moreover, AA+iron induced reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction, and Both of them were inhibited by PSE treatment. PSE markedly activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important regulator in cell survival. Furthermore, this activation by PSE was mediated with liver kinase B1, a major upstream kinase that phosphorylates Thr 172 of AMPKα, and this activation was associated with its cell protection, as assessed by an experiment of a chemical inhibitor. In conclusion, this study demonstrate that PSE protects hepatocytes against oxidative stress as mediated with activation of LKB1-dependent AMPK pathway.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Yacon (Samallanthus sonchifolius), a common edible plant grown throughout the world, is well known for its antidiabetic properties. It is also known to have several other pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, and anti-cancer effects. To date, the effect of yacon on gliomas has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of yacon on the migration and proliferation of C6 glioma cells stimulated by fetal bovine serum (FBS). MATERIALS/METHODS: Cell growth and proliferation were determined by evaluating cell viability using an EZ-Cytox Cell Viability Assay Kit. FBS-induced migration of C6 glioma cells was evaluated by performing the scratch wound healing assay and the Boyden chamber assay. We also used western blot analysis to determine the expression levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), a major regulator of migration and proliferation of glioma cells. Matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) 9 and TIMP-1 levels were measured by performing reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: Yacon ($300{\mu}g/mL$) reduced both the FBS-induced proliferation of C6 glioma cells and the dose-dependent migration of the FBS-stimulated C6 cells. FBS-stimulated C6 glioma cells treated with yacon (200 and $300{\mu}g/mL$) showed reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and inhibition of MMP 9 expression compared to those shown by the untreated FBS-stimulated C6 cells. In contrast, yacon (200 and $300{\mu}g/mL$) induced TIMP-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, we suggest that yacon may exert an anti-cancer effect on FBS-stimulated C6 glioma cells by inhibiting their proliferation and migration. The most likely mechanism for this is down-regulation of ERK1/2 and MMP9 and up-regulation of TIMP-1 expression levels.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.693-698
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• 2008

The full-length cDNA of LebZIP2 (Lycopersicon esculentum bZIP2) encodes a protein of 164 amino acids and contains a N-terminal basic-region leucine zipper domain. Analysis of the deduced tomato LebZIP2 amino acid sequence revealed that it shares 85% sequence identity with both tobacco bZIP and pepper CcbZIP. LebZIP2 mRNA is expressed at a high level exclusively in flowers. Presently, LebZIP2 was strongly increased also following NaCl and mannitol treatments. No significant LebZIP2 expression was evident following cold treatment. Transient LebZIP2 overexpression resulted in increased NbNOA1 and NbNR transcript levels in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Our results indicate that LebZIP2 might play roles as an abiotic stress-signaling pathway and as a transcriptional regulator of the NbNOA1 or NbNR genes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2015

Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji in Korea, has a wide range of pharmacologic properties, such as reducing adiposity and hyperlipidemia, and antiatherosclerotic effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In order to profile proteins from the nodal segment, callus, root and shoot, high throughput proteome approach was executed in the present study. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 84 differential expressed proteins were confirmed out of 839 protein spots using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 58 differential expressed protein spots (${\geq}$ 2-fold) were analyzed using MASCOT search engine according to the similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins along with the UniProt database. Out of 58 differential expressed protein, 32 protein spots were up-regulated such as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, endoplasmic oxidoreductin-1, heat stress transcription factor A3, RNA pseudourine synthase 4, cysteine proteinase, GntR family transcriptional regulator, E3 xyloglucan 6-xylosyltransferase, while 26 differential protein spots were down-regulated such as L-ascorbate oxidase precursor, late embryogenesis abundant protein D-34, putative SCO1 protein, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 3. However, frequency distribution of identified proteins using iProClass databases, and assignment by function based on gene ontology revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleic acid binding (17%), transferase activity (14%) and ion binding (12%). In that way, the exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.336-343
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• 1995

The Self Tuning Regulator(STR) method which is an approach of adaptive control theory, is ap-plied to design the fully automatic power controller of the nonlinear reactor model. The adaptive control represent a proper approach to design the suboptimal controller for nonlinear, time-varying stochastic systems. The control system is based on a third­order linear model with unknown, time-varying parameters. The updating of the parameter estimates is achieved by the recursive extended least square method with a variable forgetting factor. Based on the estimated parameters, the output (average coolant temperature) is predicted one-step ahead. And then, a weighted one-step ahead controller is designed so that the difference between the output and the desired output is minimized and the variation of the control rod position is small. Also, an integral action is added in order to remove the steady­state error. A nonlinear M plant model was used to simulate the proposed controller of reactor power which covers a wide operating range. From the simulation result, the performances of this controller for ramp input (increase or decrease) are proved to be successful. However, for step input this controller leaves something to be desired.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2003

The Environmental Impact Quotient(EIQ) has been used to organize the extensive toxicological and soil residue data available on some fruit vegetables pesticides into a usable form for field use. It addresses a majority of the environmental concerns that are encountered in agricultural systems including farm worker, consumer, ecological and environmental safety. The EIQ made use of the rating system by using the EIQ equation. The EIQ of pesticides registered for oriental melon was higher than that of other in terms of farm worker, consumer and environmental safety. Pesticides registered for red pepper showed highest EIQ in ecosystem. The EIQ decreased in order of insecticide> fungicide> herbicide> plant growth regulator. The environment Impact Quotient for the pesticides registered in fruit and vegetables decrease gradually.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.483-487
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• 2001

This study was conducted to examined the effects of TIBA and ethrel on podding rate, percentage of seed numbers per pod, and seed yield of black soybean. The black soybean variety “Geomjeongkong 1” was used. TIBA of 50, 100, and 150 ppm and ethrel of 500, 1,000, and 1,500 ppm were applied at V6 (fifth leaf stage), V8 (seventh leaf stage), and R1 (flowering stage). The podding rate was increased by the treatment of TIBA at R1 stage while it was decreased by ethrel at all growth stages. Compared with control, TIBA decreased 100 seed weight a little bit but ethrel increased it slightly, on the contrary. Both TIBA of 50 ppm and ethrel of 500 ppm increased the sued yield by 8 to 28％ compared with control regardless of growth stages of application; the highest seed yield was obtained at V6 stage of application of 50 ppm in TIBA and 500 ppm in ethrel, respectively.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.516-521
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• 2021

Although arginase primarily participates in the last reaction of the urea cycle, we have previously demonstrated that arginase II is an important cytosolic calcium regulator through spermine production in a p32-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrated that rhaponticin (RPT) is a novel medicinal-plant arginase inhibitor and investigated its mechanism of action on Ca²⁺-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation. RPT was uncompetitively inhibited for both arginases I and II prepared from mouse liver and kidney. It also inhibited arginase activity in both aorta and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Using both microscope and FACS analyses, RPT treatments induced increases in cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels using Fluo-4 AM as a calcium indicator. Increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ elicited the phosphorylations of both CaMKII and eNOS Ser1177 in a time-dependent manner. RPT incubations also increased intracellular L-arginine (L-Arg) levels and activated the CaMKII/AMPK/Akt/eNOS signaling cascade in HUVECs. Treatment of L-Arg and ABH, arginase inhibitor, increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations and activated CaMKII-dependent eNOS activation in ECs of WT mice, but, the effects were not observed in ECs of inositol triphosphate receptor type 1 knockout (IP3R1^-/-) mice. In the aortic endothelium of WT mice, RPT also augmented nitric oxide (NO) production and attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In a vascular tension assay using RPT-treated aortic tissue, cumulative vasorelaxant responses to acetylcholine (Ach) were enhanced, and phenylephrine (PE)-dependent vasoconstrictive responses were retarded, although sodium nitroprusside and KCl responses were not different. In this study, we present a novel mechanism for RPT, as an arginase inhibitor, to increase cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in a L-Arg-dependent manner and enhance endothelial function through eNOS activation.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.166-178
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• 2018

In this study, the principal objective was to investigate the effect of light quality and vessel ventilation on the growth and development, physiology, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and contents of mineral nutrients of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) 'Marble Beauty'. Single node cuttings stuck into the plant growth regulator (PGR)-free MS medium in containers covered with caps with or without a ventilation filter were cultured first four weeks under white and then additional four weeks under either white (control), blue, red, or red + blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) for 56 days. Interestingly, a ventilated culture condition not only reduced the percentage of the hyperhydricity, but also increased the total chlorophyll content (Chl a + Chl b) of the plantlets as compared to the non-ventilated condition. In addition, blue LEDs produced plantlets with the greatest number of shoots and red LEDs produced plantlets with the greatest shoot length. The quality of plantlets was improved under a ventilation condition. Besides, under a ventilated condition, red + blue LEDs raised APX activity, and blue LEDs not only raised the activity of the CAT, but also increased tissue contents of such elements as K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn and Fe. The red LEDs increased contents of B and Si under a ventilated condition, and Na accumulation under a non-ventilated condition. Thus, including blue or red LEDs as the light source in a ventilated culture condition will produce plantlets of carnation 'Marble Beauty' in vitro with improved quality.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.830-842
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• 2021

When perceiving microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) or plant-derived damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), plants alter their root growth and development by displaying a reduction in the root length and the formation of root hairs and lateral roots. The exogenous application of a MAMP peptide, flg22, was shown to affect root growth by suppressing meristem activity. In addition to MAMPs, the DAMP peptide PEP1 suppresses root growth while also promoting root hair formation. However, the question of whether and how these elicitor peptides affect the development of the vascular system in the root has not been explored. The cellular receptors of PEP1, PEPR1 and PEPR2 are highly expressed in the root vascular system, while the receptors of flg22 (FLS2) and elf18 (EFR) are not. Consistent with the expression patterns of PEP1 receptors, we found that exogenously applied PEP1 has a strong impact on the division of stele cells, leading to a reduction of these cells. We also observed the alteration in the number and organization of cells that differentiate into xylem vessels. These PEP1-mediated developmental changes appear to be linked to the blockage of symplastic connections triggered by PEP1. PEP1 dramatically disrupts the symplastic movement of free green fluorescence protein (GFP) from phloem sieve elements to neighboring cells in the root meristem, leading to the deposition of a high level of callose between cells. Taken together, our first survey of PEP1-mediated vascular tissue development provides new insights into the PEP1 function as a regulator of cellular reprogramming in the Arabidopsis root vascular system.