• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2014

Larrea nitida is a plant that belongs to the Zygophyllaceae family and is widely used in South America to treat inflammatory diseases, tumors and menstrual pain. However, its pharmacological activity remains unclear. In this study we evaluated the property of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) of Larrea nitida extracts (LNE) as a phytoestrogen that can mimic, modulate or disrupt the actions of endogenous estrogens, depending on the tissue and relative amount of other SERMs. To investigate the property of SERM of LNE, we performed MCF-7 cell proliferation assays, estrogen response element (ERE)-luciferase reporter gene assay, human estrogen receptor (hER) binding assays and in vivo uterotrophic assay. To gain insight into the active principles, we performed a bioassay-guided analysis of LNE employing solvents of various polarities and using classical column chromatography, which yielded 16 fractions (LNs). LNE showed high binding affinities for $hER{\alpha}$ and $hER{\beta}$ with $IC_{50}$ values of $1.20{\times}10^{-7}$ g/ml and $1.00{\times}10^{-7}$ g/ml, respectively. LNE induced $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2)-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation, however, it reduced the proliferation in the presence of E2. Furthermore, LNE had an atrophic effect in the uterus of immature rats through reducing the expression level of progesterone receptor (PR) proteins. LN08 and LN10 had more potent affinities for binding on $hER{\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ than other fractions. Our results indicate that LNE had higher binding affinities for $hER{\beta}$ than $hER{\alpha}$, and showed SERM properties in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and the rat uterus. LNE may be useful for the treatment of estrogen-related conditions, such as female cancers and menopause.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.536-547
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• 2008

Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS, leucoanthocyanidin oxygenase), a 2-oxoglutarate iron-dependent oxygenase, catalyzed the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of the anthocyanin class of flavonoids, from the colorless leucoanthocyanidins to the colored anthocyanidins. The full-length cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of ANS gene (designated as GbANS) were isolated from Ginkgo biloba for the first time. The full-length cDNA of GbANS contained a 1062-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 354-amino-acid protein. The genomic DNA analysis showed that GbANS gene had three exons and two introns. The deduced GbANS protein showed high identities to other plant ANSs. The conserved amino acids (H-X-D) ligating ferrous iron and residues (R-X-S) participating in 2-oxoglutarate binding were found in GbANS at the similar positions like other ANSs. Southern blot analysis indicated that GbANS belonged to a multi-gene family. The expression analysis by real-time PCR showed that GbANS expressed in a tissue-specific manner in G. biloba. GbANS was also found to be up-regulated by all of the six tested abiotic stresses, UV-B, abscisic acid, sucrose, salicylic acid, cold and ethylene, consistent with the promoter region analysis of GbANS. The recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E. coli strain with pET-28a vector. The in vitro enzyme activity assay by HPLC indicated that recombinant GbANS protein could catalyze the formation the cyanidin from leucocyanidin and conversion of dihydroquercetin to quercetin, suggesting GbANS is a bifunctional enzyme within the anthocyanidin and flavonol biosynthetic pathway.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.71-74
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• 2005

The sterile form of Inonotus obliquus is used for preparation of the medicine befungin that is effective in the treatment of gastritis, gastric ulcers, and several tumors. The fungus is known to be produced mainly on the stems of Betula platyphylla var. japonica that grows at high altitudinal (above 1,100 m) region in Korea. But, we found the mushroom on the stem of Betula costata at Mt. Jumbong in Korea. We isolated a pure culture of the fungus from the stem of B. costata by use of potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium with streptomycin. We could isolate the fungus from plant's tissue filled with hyphae, but not from other parts. The spore collected from the sclerotia showed $6.0{\sim}10.0{\times}4.5{\sim}6.0{\mu}m$ in diameter, and the hypha was $2.5{\sim}5.0{\mu}m$ in thickness. The colony showed irregular features and scattered yellow color at the center as the culture ages. We could find brownish setae at the yellow region of colony at 20 days of culture, and the size ranged $4{\sim}6{\times}100{\sim}420{\mu}m$. The oatmeal agar (OA) provided best growth for I. obliquus among five media (CDA, CMA, MA, OA and PDA). Optimum temperature ranged $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$, and optimum pH was relatively alkaline with the range of pH 8.0~9.5.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5137-5142
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• 2012

UHRF2 is a member of the ubiquitin plant homeo domain RING finger family, which has been proven to be frequently up-regulated in colorectal cancer cells and play a role as an oncogene in breast cancer cells. However, the role of UHRF2 in glioma cells remains unclear. In this study, we performed real-time quantitative PCR on 32 pathologically confirmed glioma samples (grade I, 4 cases; grade II, 11 cases; grade III, 10 cases; and grade IV, 7 cases; according to the 2007 WHO classification system) and four glioma cell lines (A172, U251, U373, and U87). The expression of UHRF2 mRNA was significantly lower in the grade III and grade IV groups compared with the noncancerous brain tissue group, whereas its expression was high in A172, U251, and U373 glioma cell lines. An in vitro assay was performed to investigate the functions of UHRF2. Using a lentivirus-based RNA interference (RNAi) approach, we down-regulated UHRF2 expression in the U251 glioma cell line. This down-regulation led to the inhibition of cell proliferation, an increase in cell apoptosis, and a change of cell cycle distribution, in which S stage cells decreased and G2/M stage cells increased. Our results suggest that UHRF2 may be closely related to tumorigenesis and the development of gliomas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1370-1376
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• 2015

The 1, 1- diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl (DPPH) is a well-known radical and a trap (scavenger) for other radicals. Hyaluronidase (HAase) is an enzyme that depolymerizes the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid (HA) in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue. Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme was reported to convert the arachidonic, linoleic and other polyunsaturated fatty acid into biologically active metabolites involved in the inflammatory and immune responses. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate plant extracts as sources of natural antioxidants and to examine whether Achyranthes japonica having significant DPPH, HAase and LOX inhibitory activity. The inhibitory effect of HAase by A. japonica was assayed using a Morgan microplate assay. The antioxidant activity of the A. japonica extracts was measured on the basis of the scavenging activity of the stable 1, 1- diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl (DPPH) free radical. DPPH scavenging activity of matured roots of A. japonica was evaluated at 4.0 mg/ml was 87.8% and that of young roots was 86.2% at same concentration. The roots of A. japonica showed maximum inhibition of HAase activity (IC₅₀ = 27.7 μg/ml). The highest LOX inhibition was recorded in the root extract among three vegetative parts. Inhibition of HAase activity of roots may contribute towards the development of herbal medicines. Although percent inhibition of lipoxygenase by Achyranthes japonica for all young and matured groups for leaves, stems, and roots at different concentrations, there were not show a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.979-985
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• 2004

Effects of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf extracts on factors related to blood circulation were studied using rats fed high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Rats were randomly divided into five groups, and plant extracts were orally administered. Green tea extract increased bleeding time in rat tails, suggesting it could prevent platelet aggregation. Administration of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf extracts decreased total cholesterol level in liver. Grape leaf extracts decreased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in plasma, whereas buckwheat and grape leaf extracts decreased the substances in liver. These results showed extracts of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf were effective for improving lipid composition in blood and liver and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in animal tissue, suggesting they may have potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.194-202
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• 1994

To study the metabolism and absorption of endosulfan in carp, $^{14}C-{\alpha}-endosulfan$ was treated with the $LC_{10}$ concentration $(4.5\;{\mu}g/L)$. In an in vivo test, endosulfan was metabolized $(65{\sim}80%)$ in tissues and endosulfan ether, endosulfan alcohol, endosulfan ${\alpha}-hydroxyether$, and endosulfan lactone were identified, indicating that those are the main metabolites of detoxification in carp. The maximum levels of $^{14}C-endosulfan$ in the head, muscle, and gut occurred after 8 hr exposure. However, the maxima reached in the liver and kidneys after 30 min and 4 hr, respectively. Radioactivity in the tissue decreased rapidly 8 hr after treatment. The total amount of $^{14}C-endosulfan$ recovered in the liver, kidneys and gut of fish was about $80{\sim}90%$ during the 8 hr treatment. The non-extractable radioactivity increased after 8 hr exposure $(27{\sim}31%)$. Endosulfan sulfate, the main degradation product in plant and mouse, was not detected during the test interval from tissues of the carp.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2001

Lettuces were grown hydroponically in three different nutrient solutions, normal and 30 or 50 mM $KNO_3-added$ nutrient solutions, and the electrical conductivities of the nutrient solutions were 1.0, 4.5, and 6.5 dS/m, respectively. Lettuces grown in the $KNO_3-added$ nutrient solutions showed a decrease in the germination ratio and the lower indices of growth, such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, and leaf width. Microsomes were prepared from the roots of lettuce and characteristics of microsomal ATPases were investigated. The activities of microsomal ATPases grown in the 30 mM and 50 mM $KNO_3-added$ nutrient solutions were higher than that grown in the normal nutrient solution. The highest activities of microsomal ATPases were observed at pH 7.0 in all culture conditions. The activities of microsomal ATPases were increased in a reaction buffer solution containing high concentration of $K^+$, whereas they were decreased in a reaction buffer containing $Na^+$. The stimulating effect of $K^+$ in the reaction buffer was greater on the microsomal ATPases of lettuces grown in the $KNO_3-added$ nutrient solutions than that grown in the normal nutrient solution. These results imply that the activities of microsomal ATPases in the root tissue are increased as increasing the $KNO_3$ concentration in the hydroponical nutrient solution.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2000

This study was conducted to examine the effects of cow manure originated from the clay mineral (porphyrite, zeolite and bentonite) feeding on the growth of Zea mays GK729. CEC of the manure after bentonite, zeolite, and porphyrite feeding were 147.5, 137.0, and 114.0 cmol/Kg, respectively. These values were higher than that of non-mineral treated manure, 107.5 cmol/Kg. After 3 month growing, there was significant difference among treatment in the biomass prodcution and the content of minerals in plant tissue of Z. mays, but the physico-chemical properties of soils were not showed significant difference. For these results suggested that the clay mineral enhanced the grwoth of Z. mays according to the unknown mechanism, the further studies on the physiological changes will be needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.335-340
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• 2004

This experiment was conducted to compare the dry matter yields and feed values of summer forage crops such as two cultivars of Maize, two cultivars of Sorghum hybrid and one Japanese millet at the Dae-Ho reclaimed tideland, Korea from 2002 to 2003. Seasonal changes of soil salt content maintained somewhat low at early stage and increased at growing stage and then decreased at harvest time. The dry matter yield was 6,102, 4,557 and 2,928 kg/ha, respectively, for Japanese millet Sorghum hybrid and Maize. The highest Crude protein(CP) content was recorded in sorghum hybrid. Neutral detergent fiber.(NDF) and acid detergent fiber(ADF) contents were highest in Japanese millet following Sorghum hybrid and Maize in turn. The highest sodium content in plant tissue was recorded in Japanese millet. These results suggest that Japanese millet is the most suitable summer forage crops for cultivation on reclaimed tideland in view of the good emergence and forage production.