• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2009

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as an intracellular messenger at the physiological level but can be cytotoxic at high concentrations. The cells within periodontal tissues, such as gingival and periodontal fibroblasts, contain nitric oxide syntheses and produce high concentrations of NO when exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharides and cytokines. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying NO-induced cytotoxicity in periodontal tissues are unclear at present. In our current study, we examined the NO-induced cytotoxic mechanisms in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). Cell viability and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using a MTT assay and a fluorescent spectrometer, respectively. The morphological changes in the cells were examined by Diff-Quick staining. Expression of the Bcl-2 family and Fas was determined by RT-PCR or western blotting. The activity of caspase-3, -8 and -9 was assessed using a spectrophotometer. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, decreased the cell viability of the HGF cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. SNP enhanced the production of ROS, which was ameliorated by NAC, a free radical scavenger. ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, did not block the SNP-induced decrease in cell viability. SNP also caused apoptotic morphological changes, including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. The expression of Bax, a member of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family, was upregulated in the SNP-treated HGF cells, whereas the expression of Bcl-2, a member of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was downregulated. SNP augmented the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol and enhanced the activity of caspase-8, -9, and -3. SNP also upregulated Fas, a component of the death receptor assembly. These results suggest that NO induces apoptosis in human gingival fibroblast via ROS and the Bcl-2 family through both mitochondrial- and death receptor-mediated pathways. Our data also indicate that the cyclic GMP pathway is not involved in NO-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.946-951
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• 2014

Melanin plays a key role in the protection of skin from ultraviolet light that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. However, the ROS leading to the oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA are involved in the overproduction of melanin that is known to cause melasma, age spots and freckles. Among the herb medicines, Ulmus macrocarpa used in this study was reported to contain flavonoids as a main component. The aim of this study is to investigate the whitening and anti-oxidant effects of Ulmus macrocarpa ethanolic extracts (UMEE) in B16F1 cells. UMEE below $3.12{\mu}g/ml$ did not show cytotoxicity. In an anti-oxidant experiment, UMEE showed not only high reducing power and scavenging activity on DPPH, but it was also observed that UMEE exhibit an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. UMEE did not display an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in vitro. However, UMEE inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F1 cells. In addition, UMEE reduced the expression levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which are key enzymes in melanogenesis. These results indicate that UMEE exert a whitening effect through the inhibition of both tyrosinase and TRP-2 expressions as well as anti-oxidant activity, suggesting that UMEE could have the functional potential for a whitening effect on the skin.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of a glycoprotein isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau (CTB glycoprotein, 75 kDa) on immunoglobulin E (IgE)-induced allergic inflammation in RBL-2H3 cells. This experiment evaluated the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activities of mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), transcription factor (c-jun), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and histamine release in cells. The results showed that the CTB glycoprotein inhibited histamine release and COX-2 expression induced by IgE in the cells. The CTB glycoprotein also had suppressive effects on the expressions of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, c-jun, and the production of intracellular ROS in IgE-treated RBL-2H3 cells. The activities of c-jun and COX-2 were collectively blocked by ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) and p38 MAPK inhibitor (SKF86002), respectively. Hence, we speculate that CTB glycoprotein might be a component with potential use in the preparation of health supplements for the prevention of allergic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, component analysis, antioxidative activity and cellular protective effects against oxidative stress on human skin cells in 50% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction obtained from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (G. pentaphyllum) Makino. The DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activites ($FSC_{50}$) of the 50% ethanol extracts, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction were 246.8, 147.2, $128.9{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of the 50% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay were 37.15, 10.74, $7.19{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. We investigated the cellular protective activity and the results showed that treatment of aglycone fraction ($0.05-0.39{\mu}g/mL$) protect human skin cells in a concentration-dependent manner when the skin cell damages were induced by treating them with $H_2O_2$. These results suggest that extract/fractions of G. pentaphyllum Makino may be applicable as natural antioxidants in cosmetics.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.313-320
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the freshness of chicken meat during 19 d of storage at $4^{\circ}C$ using a portable electronic nose. The portable system consisted of six different metal oxide sensors and a moisture sensor. Determination of volatile compounds with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, total bacterial count (TBC), and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) monitored the quality change of the samples. These results were compared with the results measured by the electronic nose system. TBC and TBARS measurements could be separated into five groups and seven groups, respectively, among ten groups. According to principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis with the signals of the portable electronic nose, the sample groups could be clearly separated into eight groups and nine groups, respectively, among ten groups. The portable electronic nose demonstrated potential for evaluating freshness of stored chicken.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.76-85
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• 2019

Recently, various investigation of vegetable oil which is extracted from natural resources is being progressed because of its low cost and environmental aspect. However, double bonds in vegetable oil should be substituted to other high reactive functional group due to its low reactivity for synthesizing bio-polymeric materials. ${\alpha}$-eleostearic acid, which is consist of conjugated triene, is the main component of tung oil, and the conjugated triene allows tung oil to have higher reactivity than other vegetable oil. In this study, tung oil is copolymerized with styrene and divinylbenzene to make thermoset resin without any substitution of functional group. Thermal and mechanical properties are measured to investigate the effects of the composition of each monomer on the synthesized thermoset resin. The result shows that the products have only one Tg, which means the synthesized thermoset resins are homogeneous in molecular level. Mechanical properties show that tung oil act as soft segment in the copolymer and make more elastic product. On the other hand, divinylbenzene acts as hard segment and makes more brittle product.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.24-30
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• 2018

Various investigations of vegetable oil extracted from natural resources are underway because of their low cost and environmental value. On the other hand, the double bonds in vegetable oil should be substituted to other high reactive functional groups due to their low reactivity for synthesizing bio-polymeric materials. ${\alpha}$-eleostearic acid, which consists of a conjugated triene, is the main component of tung oil, and the conjugated triene allows tung oil to have higher reactivity than other vegetable oils. In this study, tung oil was copolymerized with styrene and divinylbenzene to make a thermoset resin without any substitution of functional groups. The thermal and mechanical properties were measured to examine the effects of the composition of each monomer on the synthesized thermoset resin. The results showed that the products have only one Tg, which means the synthesized thermoset resins are homogeneous at the molecular level. The mechanical properties show that tung oil acts as a soft segment in the copolymer and makes a more elastic product. On the other hand, divinylbenzene acts as a hard segment and makes a more brittle product.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.27-38
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• 2017

Objective : In the present study, we examined whether Canavalia gladiata D.C. (CG) and Arctium lappa L., Redix (AL) mixture (CGAL), their components, lupeol and chicoric acid, regulate immune system and suppress the tumor in vitro and in vivo. Methods : LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured after treatment with CG extract (CGE), CGAL, lupeol, chicoric acid and lupeol and chicoric acid mixture (lupeol+CA) in Raw264.7 cell. To determine the effect of CGE on immune responses, immune cell population and IgG production were assessed in mice. To investigate the effect of CGAL and their component on anti-tumor activity, tumor volume and weight were measured, cell cycles and immune cell population were analyzed in MC38 injected tumor bearing mice. Also, NK cell activity was determined in splenocyte isolated from tumor bearing mice. Results : CGE, CGAL, lupeol, chicoric acid and lupeol+CA decreased the LPS-induced ROS and NO production without cell toxicity in RAW264.7 cells. CGE increased the immune cell populations of $CD4^+T$, $CD8^+T$ and macrophages in various immune organ of mice. In tumor bearing mice, CGAL, lupeol, chicoric acid and lupeol+CA suppressed tumor volume and weight. In cell cycle analysis, they decreased the percentages of S phase. In addition, CGAL, lupeol, chicoric acid and lupeol+CA immune cell populations of $CD4^+T$, $CD8^+Tcell$, NK cell and macrophage in tumor as well as NK cell activity. Conclusion : CGAL and its compounds may enhance immune responses and suppress tumor growth, and may be capable of developing health functional foods.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.665-676
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• 2003

To investigate the chemical characteristics of PM$\_$2.5/ in Seoul, Korea, atmospheric particulate matters were collected using a PM$\_$10/ dichotomous sampler including PM$\_$10/ and PM$\_$2.5/ inlet during the period of October 2000 to September 2001. The Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectromety (ICP-MS), ion Chromatography (IC) methods were used to determine the concentration of both metal and ionic species. A statistical analysis was performed for the heavy metals data set using a principal component analysis (PCA) to derived important factors inherent in the interactions among the variables. The mean concentrations of ambient PM$\_$2.5/ and PM/sub10/ were 24.47 and 45.27 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively. PM$\_$2.5/ masses also showed temporal variations both yearly and seasonally. The ratios of PM$\_$2.5/PM$\_$10/ was 0.54, which similar to the value of 0.60 in North America. Soil-related chemical components (such as Al, Ca, Fe, Si, and Mn) were abundant in PM$\_$10/, while anthropogenic components (such as As, Cd, Cr, V, Zn and Pb) were abundant in PM2s. Total water soluble ions constituted 30∼50 % of PM$\_$2.5/ mass, and sulfate, nitrate and ammonium were main components in water soluble ions. Reactive farms of NH$_4$$\^$+/were considered as NH$_4$NO$_3$ and (NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$ during the sampling periods. In the results of PCA for PM$\_$2.5/, we identified three principal components. Major contribution to PM$\_$2.5/ seemed to be soil, oil combustion, unidentified source. Further study, the detailed interpretation of these data will need efforts in order to identify emission sources.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2017

In this study, antioxidative activities and cellular protective effects of 70% ethanol extracts and fractions from lavender were evaluated. The scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) of free radical (1,1-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) was 46.6, 45.5 and $477.5{\mu}g/mL$ in the 70% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction, respectively. The reactive oxygen species scavenging activities (${OSC_{50}$) of 70% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction were 8.1, 3.3 and $17.6{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, and they showed lower antioxidative activity than that of using L-ascorbic acid ($1.5{\mu}g/mL$). However, the aglycone fraction showed higher photohemolysis protective effect than that of using the 70% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction. At $50{\mu}M$ concentration, the cellular protective effect (${\tau}_{50}$) of 70% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction from lavender was 70.6, 87.2 and 165.2 min, respectively. In particular, the lavender aglycone fraction showed 3.8 times higher cellular protective effect than that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol. The lavender fractional components including luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, vitextin, rosmarinic acid, luteolin, and apigenin were identified using TLC and LC-MS. However, the lavender aglycone fraction did not show any significant increase in flavonoids (luteolin and apigenin) compared to that of the ethyl acetate fraction. In conclusion, it is suggested that lavender may be applied as an antioxidant material in cosmetic industries.