• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.1377-1383
• /
• 2015

Scopoletin is a component of several plant such as Erycibe obtusifolia, Aster tataricus, Foeniculum vulgare and Brunfelsia grandiflora. It was reported to have anti-angiogenesis and anti-allergy effects. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of scopoletin was investigated in Raw264.7 cells, mouse macrophages. The effects of scopoletin on phagocytosis and nitric oxide (NO) production were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses. It was observed that scopoletin exerted inhibitory effects on both phagocytosis and NO production. In addition, scopoletin decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) which were related to NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. In particular, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6 were remarkably decreased by treatment with scopoletin. Furthermore, the content of TNFα produced by macrophage was decreased in the presence of scopoletin at 8 hr. These results indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of scopoletin could exert by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Raw264.7 cells stimulated with LPS. The above results suggest scopoletin could be a new remedial agent for anti-inflammation through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α expressions as well as supression of phagocytosis and NO production.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.1041-1049
• /
• 2013

The root of Polygala radix has been widely known as an oriental traditional medicinal stuff that improves memory. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Polygala radix hot water extracts (PRHWE) on cognitive function related to the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) derived from neural cells (PC12) in addition to antioxidant activity was examined both in a cell-free system and live cells. First, in the study on cell viability using an MTT assay, PRHWE did not exhibit any cell toxicity at 0.1% (w/v) or below. It also was observed that PRHWE increased the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, PRHWE had a protective effect on DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, it inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide in neuronal cells. Furthermore, the AchE activity decreased with increasing concentrations. In addition, PRHWE increased the expression level of SOD-1 and NOS-2 in PC12 cells. Moreover, the transcriptional activities of p53 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were reduced in the presence of PRHWE in an experiment using a reporter gene assay. Therefore, these results prove that PRHE has antioxidative and protective effects on neuronal cells, suggesting that it may have great potential as a therapeutic agent for human health.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.215-219
• /
• 2010

This study was undertaken to investigate the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai. Antimutagenic study on extract of A. koreanum was studied using the test with Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA98. And mutagenicity study was studied using the test with S. typhimurium TA100, TA98, TA1535, TA1537 and Escherichia coli WP2 uvr A. A. koreanum was negative in Ames test with S. typhimurium and E. coli with or without S-9 mixture. Test substances of $5000\;{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, $2500\;{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ and $600\;{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of A. koreanum extracts were chosen via toxicity test. Ames test was performed on positive control group, experimental group and negative control group in the presence of the metabolic activation system and metabolic non-activation system. As a result, there was no coherent increase and reverse mutation in all concentrations. Therefore, A. koreanum does not cause reverse mutation. In addition, A. koreanum showed strong antimutagenic activities in S. typhimurim TA100 and TA98. In conclusion, A. koreanum root may be an excellent antimutagenic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.89-97
• /
• 1994

Although bone scan is a highly sensitive test for detecting bone metastasis, its findings are often limited in specificity and cannot be used for assessing the bone marrow. Bone marrow scintigraphy may provide useful information but previous experience with radiolabelled colloid has been disappointing. Recently, $^{99m}Tc$ labeled anti-granulocyte monoclonal antibody (anti-NCA-95 MAb) has been introduced as a new bone marrow imaging agent. To evaluate the usefulness of $^{99m}Tc$ anti-NCA MAb bone marrow scans for detecting skeletal metastasis, bone marrow scans of 44 malignant tumor patients were evaluated and compared with bone scan findings. Bone scan showed abnormal lesions in 26(59%) cases, and 18 of these patients also had an abnormal bone marrow scan. Seven of the 8 patients who had normal bone marrow scan despite bone scan lesions were confirmed to be free from metastasis. There was one case with a marrow defect despite normal bone scan but the presence of metastasis was not determined due to loss of follow up. Bone scan demonstrated a total of 64 lesions while bone marrow scan showed 38 lesions. Fifty percent (32/64) of the bone scan lesions had matching marrow defects while the remaining 50% did not. Most of these non matched lesions were suggested to be nonspecific lesions such as rib fractures or degenerative change. Meanwhile bone marrow scan was able to detect 6 new lesions not detected by bone scan, bit metastasis in each lesion was not confirmed. Bone marrow scan was also helpful in assessing equivocal bone scan lesions to be of metastatic nature in 10 patients by demonstrating a matched marrow defect. Thus $^{99m}Tc$ anti-NCA MAb bone marrow scan can help exclude metastasis in patients with nonspecific bone scan lesions and may be able to detect metastatic lesions not seen with bone scan. It appears useful as a complementary study to bone scan in evaluating malignant tumor patients.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2006

To search direct fed microbials, we isolated a Candida sp. from kefir grain. The isolated Candida sp. strain showed 99.8% of identity to the species of Candida kefyr by API 20C kit. Enzyme activity of Candida kefyr was higher in amylase (0.33±1.12μmol/min/mg) than that in phytase (0.052±0.98μmol/ min/mg) cellulase(0.051±μmol/min/mg) and xylanase (0.011±0.98mol/min/mg). The maximum numbers of Candida kefyr in growth curve were reached at 30 h fermentation. Candida kefyr showed high resistances to acidic environment, which was not perfectly extincted even at pH 2.0. And it showed high tolerance to bile salt which had almost 97.2% of survival in the presence of 1.0% bile salt.Especially, Candida kefyr showed high heat stability which remained 10% of initial microorganisms at 60℃. Candida kefyr was not generally inhibited by most of 11 antibiotic agent which contained tetracycline groups. These results suggest that the isolated Candida kefyr has a useful properties as probiotics.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 1968

For the effective control of Syphilis, many investigators have developed a more rapid, simple and economical screening serological test which is adequately sensitive and specific. To fulfill the requirements of a more rapid serologic test for syphlis, a substitute for the conventional serum specimen was needed since considerable time and labor are involved in the processing of blood to serum. Burdon suggested the use of plasma in the serologic tests for syphilis as a substitute for serum. He noticed that plasma was more sensitive than serum in the Kline and Kahn tests, and attributed this to the presence of more antibody-like substance, "reagin" in plasma than in serum. However, to make plasma sufficiently sensitive, it was necessary to inactivate plasma by heating at a temperature of $56^{\circ}C$ for about 30 minutes. Heating of plasma resulted in the precipitation of fibrinogen which made centrifugation necessary to obtain dear plasma. Since the chief disadvantage to the use of unheated plasma(or serum) was a reduction in sensitivity of results-which probably was due to a labile factor such as complement-Portnoy et al began to consider rapid chemical methods of inactivation of plasma(or serum). They experienced that choline chloirde was shown to be anticomplementary which suggested its use as an inactivating agent for unheated plasma(or serum). In 1959 Portnoy et al reported the Rapid Plasma Reagin(RPR) Test for syphilis which is a more rapid, economical and simple. But still this test has many disadvantages as a rapid performing, field and office procedure, because it requires the usual laboratory equipments such as centrifuge, rotating machine, microscope etc. To substitute these disadvantages of the RPR test, in 1962, Portnoy et al developed the Rapid Plasma Reagin(RPR) card test for syphilis, which has the following advantages: a) Simplicity and rapidity of performance, b) Requires no laboratory equipments, c) Stable antigen suspension, d) Adequate sensitivity and specificity. This RPR card test can be used as a rapidly performing and screening test in field investigation, outpatient clinics, small laboratories and hospitals doing limited syphilis serology, and predonor in blood bank. Private clinic which has limited laboratory equipment and technic for syphilis serology can also use this RPR card test as a tool in the rapid diagnosis of syphilis. It was thought that this RPR card test is a useful tool in Korea for private physician and mass survey for syphilis diagnosis. But Portnoy patented the reagents needed for the performing the RPR card test. Therefore authors developed newly the reagents and according to Portnoy's method evaluated the newly developed. RPR card test compared with the VDRL, Kolmer CF, and RPCF tests. The RPR card and VDRL tests were performed plasma and serum from the total 1,132 cases. Among these 1,131 cases, 521 were syphilis suspected laboratory specimens, and 611 were syphilis unsuspected healthy young men. After screening with these two tests, the RPR card and VDRL tests, reactive specimens to the above one or both tests were retested by the Kolmer CF and RPCF tests.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2015

VHSV is a major viral agent that affects freshwater and marine fish, causing serious economic losses in aquaculture in the world. Due to their filter-feeding activity, bivalve mollusks may act as viral transmitters after accumulation of the fish viruses released into seawater from infected fish. Amplification by RT-PCR was carried out to investigate the presence of VHSV in pacific oysters (Crassotrea gigas) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), inhabiting regions around aquatic farms in Korea. Primers designed from conserved regions of VHSVs allowed us to detect four different types of VHSV in a single PCR. Twenty two of the eighty four samples showed positive results of VHSV in a 2-step RT-PCR. Using six positive samples from three different regions in Korea, we cloned and sequenced the glycoprotein (G) gene (467-bp long) of VHSVs. Genetic analysis of the VHSVs detected in shellfish in various geographical areas of Korea showed highly restricted results to VHSV type Iva. This was in agreement with the reports showing only a single genotype of VHSV (Iva genotype) in outbreaks in cultured or wild fish in Korea. Consequently, we investigated VHSVs carried by bivalve mollusks inhabiting the vicinity of aquatic farms, and revealed correlationship between the type of viral accumulated in shellfish by filter-feeding, and those detected in disease outbreaks in fish.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.519-524
• /
• 2006

Poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PVP) and its copolymers, poly(4-vinyl pvridine- co-acrylamide) and poly(4-vinyl pyridine-co-allylamine), were synthesized and evaluated for application to organic solder-ability preservatives (OSP). The copolymers were synthesized by radical polymerization of vinyl pyridine in the presence of acrylamide or allylamine as a comonomer. Various kinds of polymers with different chemical composition were synthesized by varying the feed ratio of monomers and their low $M_w$ polymers can be obtained by adding 2-mercaptoethanol as a chain transfer agent during poly-merization. All the polymers showed good adhesion properties on Cu pad when they were spin-coated. Especially, allylamine -containing copolymers showed both good adhesion and solubility properties. Also, they exhibited better thermal stability than PVP homopolymer and such thermal properties were changed depending on the chemical composition and their $M_w$, which were evidenced by the measurement of oxygen induced temperature (OIT). From the OIT measurement, poly(4-vinyl pyridine- co-allylamine) was thermally stable up to $230^{\circ}C$ for 70 min in the 100% oxygen environment. As a result, allylamine-containing copolymers can be considered as a promising OSP coating material that has excellent thermal and adhesive properties applicable to the present microelectronic package processes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.113-120
• /
• 1995

Purpose : To investigate the effect of alkaloid fraction from Korean ginseng on radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (dsb) formation and repair in murine lymphocytes Materials and Methods : We used the neutral filter elution technique to assay $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}$ ray-induced DNA double strand breaks formation and repair in C57BL/6 mouse spleen lymphocytes for evaluating the dose-response relationship in the presence of alkaloid fraction as a radioprotective agent. The lymphocytes were stimulated with Phytohemagglutinin (PHA, 2 u g/ml) to label $^3[H]-thymidine.$ Isotope-labelled lymphocytes in suspension were exposed to 100 Gy at $0^{\cdot}C$ in the alkaloid fraction-treated group and elution procedure was performed at PH 9.6. The extents of formation of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks and repair were compared respectively via strand scission factor (SSF) and relative strand scission factor (RSSF). Results: Alkaloid fraction reduced the formation of double strand breaks with dose modification factor of 2 15, compared to control group Rejoining of DNA dsb appeared to take place via two components. The first fast component was completed within 20.4 minutes, but the second slow component was not completed until 220.2 minutes after irradiation. About $30\%$ of dsb formed by irradiation was ultimately unrejoined despite the administration of alkaloid fraction. The administration of alkaloid fraction had a great effect on the second slow component of repair; the half-time of fast component repair was not changed, but that of slow component was 621.8 minutes. Conclusion: Neutral filter elution assay Proved to be a very effective method to quantitate the extents of DNA dsb formation and its repair. By using this technique, we were able to evaluate the efficiency of alkaloid fraction from Korean ginseng as a valuable radioprotector. Alkaloid fraction can be used prophylactically to prevent or ameliorate the severe radiation damages in workers and neighbors around the atomic power plants. For more refined study, however, more advanced purification of alkaloid fraction wil be needed in the near future.