• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2 s.53
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• pp.127-138
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• 2006

In urban areas, diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are probably a major component of particulate matters, especially in Korea where drive many diesel vehicles. The aim of this study was to investigate genotoxic effects of DEP using single ceil gel electrophoresis. In order to evaluate the mechanisms of DEP genotoxicity, the rat microsome mediated and DNA repair enzyme treated comet assays together with conventional comet assay were performed. Total diesel particles (DEPT) was collected without site fractionation from diesel engine bus and dichloromethane extract was obtained. The organic extract of DEPT revealed DNA damage itself in NIH/3T3 cells. The level of DNA breaks plus oxidative DNA lesions and microsome mediated DNA damage was assessed by modified single cell gel eletrophoresis. DEPT was able to induce oxidative DNA damage as well as microsome mediated DNA damage. Vitamin C as an model antioxidant reduced DNA damage in endonuclase III treated comet assay. One of flavonoid, galangin as a CYP1A1 inhibitor. reduced DNA damage in the presence of S-9 mixture. $DEP_T$ is the sources of oxidative stress, but antioxidants can significantly reduce oxidative DNA dmage. And $DEP_T$ may contain indirect mutagens which can be inhibited by CYP1A1 inhibitors. The ethanol extracts of the mixed vegetables (BV) or the mixed fruits (BF) were evaluated for their in vitro antigenotoxic effects. BV and BF showed potent Inhibitory effects against DEPT induced DNA damage with oxidative DNA lesions and in the prescence of S-9 mixture. These results indicate that BV and BF could prevent cellular DNA damage by inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing cytochrome P4501A1 in cell culture.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.495-500
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• 2016

This study aimed to explore the neuroprotection and mechanism of isoflurane on rats with spinal cord ischemic injury. Total 40 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the four groups (n=10). Group A was sham-operation group; group B was ischemia group; group C was isoflurane preconditioning group; group D was isoflurane preconditioning followed by ischemia treatment group. Then the expressions of TWIK-related $K^+$ channel 1 (TREK1) in the four groups were detected by immunofluorescent assay, real time-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) and western blot. The primary neurons of rats were isolated and cultured under normal and hypoxic conditions. Besides, the neurons under two conditions were transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-TREK1 and lentivirual to overexpress and silence TREK1. Additionally, the neurons were treated with isoflurane or not. Then caspase-3 activity and cell cycle of neurons under normal and hypoxic conditions were detected. Furthermore, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrate (NADH) was detected using NAD+/NADH quantification colorimetric kit. Results showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of TREK1 increased significantly in group C and D. In neurons, when TREK1 silenced, isoflurane treatment improved the caspase-3 activity. In hypoxic condition, the caspase-3 activity and sub-G1 cell percentage significantly increased, however, when TREK1 overexpressed the caspase-3 activity and sub-G1 cell percentage decreased significantly. Furthermore, both isoflurane treatment and overexpression of TREK1 significantly decreased NADH. In conclusion, isoflurane-induced neuroprotection in spinal cord ischemic injury may be associated with the up-regulation of TREK1.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.559-565
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• 2001

Protein carboxyl O-methyltransferase (E.C.2.1.1.24) may play a role in the repair of aged protein that is spontaneously incorporated with isoaspartyl residues. The porcine brain carboxyl O-methyltransferase was cloned in the pET32 vector, and overexpressed in E.coh (BL21) that harbors pETPCMT, which encodes 227 amino acids, including tagging proteins at the N-terminus. The protein sequence of the cloned porcine brain PCMT (r-pbPCMT) shares a 98% identity with that of human erythrocyte PCMT and rat brain PCMT. It is 100% identical with that of bovine brain. The r-pbPCMT was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and digested by enterokinase in order to remove the protein tags. Then Superdex 75HR gel filtration chromatography was performed. The r-pbPCMT exhibited similar in vitro substrate specificities with the PCMT that was purified from porcine brain. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 24.5 kDa on the SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The $K_m$ value was $1.1{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ for S-adenosyl-L-methionine. S-adnosyl-L-homocysteine was a competitive type of inhibitor with the $K_i$ value of $1.38{\times}10^{-4}\;M$. The enzyme has optimal activity at pH 6.0 and $37^{\circ}C$. These results indicate that the expressed enzyme is functionally similar to the natural protein. It also suggests that it may be a suitable model to further understand the function of the mammalian enzyme.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.411.1-411.1
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• 2014

This study evaluates the utility of an antibacterial microneedle composed of green tea extract (GT) and hyaluronic acid (HA), for the efficient delivery of GT. These microneedles have the potential to be a patient-friendly method for the conventional sustained release of drugs. In this study, a fabrication method using a mold-based technique to produce GT/HA microneedles with a maximum area of ${\sim}60mm^2$ with antibacterial properties was used to manufacture transdermal drug delivery systems. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry was carried out to observe the potential modifications in the microneedles, when incorporated with GT. The degradation rate of GT in GT/HA microneedles was controlled simply by adjusting the HA composition. The effects of different ratios of GT in the HA microneedles were determined by measuring the release properties. In HA microneedles loaded with 70% GT (GT70), a continuous higher release rate were sustained for 72 h. The in vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that GT/HA microneedles are not generally cytotoxic to chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1), human embryonic kidney cells (293T), and mouse muscle cells (C2C12), which were treated for 12 and 24 h. Antimicrobial activity of the GT/HA microneedles was demonstrated by ~95% growth reduction of gram negative [Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) and Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium)] and gram positive bacteria [Staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis)], with GT70. Furthermore, GT/HA microneedles reduced bacterial growth in the infected skin wound sites and improved skin wound healing process in rat model.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.159-174
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• 2007

Pharmacology of Korean Red ginseng gives us unique possibility to develop new class of antiepileptic drugs today and to improve one's biological activity. The chemical structures of ginsenosides (GS) have some principal differences from well-known antiepileptic new generation drugs. The antiepileptic effect of GS was also demonstrated in all models of epilepsy in rats (young and adult), which have studied, in all models of epilepsy including status epilepticus (SE), induced by lithium - pilocarpine. In our experiments in rats new evidences on protective effects were exerted as a result of premedication by GS. Pre-treatment of several GS could induce decrease of the seizures severity and brain structural damage (by MRI), neuronal degeneration in hippocampus. Wave nature of severity of motor seizures during convulsive SE was observed during lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in rats (the first increase of seizures was 30 min after the beginning of SE and the second - 90 min after. The efficacy of treatment on SE by ginsenoside as expected was observed after no less 3 weeks by daily GS i.p. administration. It is blocked SE or significantly decrease the severity of seizures during SE. The implication of presented data is that combination of ginsenosides from Korean Red ginseng and ginseng cell culture Dan25 that could be applied for prevention of epileptical status development. However, a development of optimal ratio of different ginsenosides $(Rb_1$ Rc, Rg, Rf,) should consummate in the new antiepileptic drug development.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.215-224
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• 2001

Objcetive : Neuropathic pain sometimes arises from a partial peripheral nerve injury. This kind of pain is usually accompanied by spontaneous burning pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. It has been well known that acupuncture is effective to the pain control from ancient time in Asia. However, it is not clear whether acupuncture can control neuropathic pain. The aim of the present study is to examine if acupuncture stimulation may be effective to the mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods : To produce neuropathic pain, under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, the right superior caudal trunk was resected between the S3 and S4 spinal nerves. After the neuropathic surgery, we examined if the animals exhibited the behavioral signs of mechanical allodynia. The mechanical allodynia was assessed by stimulating the tail with von Frey hair (bending force : 2.0g). three or 6 weeks after the neuropathic surgery, acupuncture stimulation was delivered to Houxi (SI 3) as the following parameters (2HZ frequency, 0.07mA intensity and 3msec duration) for 30 minutes. Results : The stimulation of Houxi (SI 3) acupoint relieved the behavioral signs of mechanical allodynia. Conclusion : Our results suggest that acupuncture can control the mechanical allodynia of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.383-393
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• 2022

Purpose: Aloe-emodin (AE), a natural anthraquinone abundant in aloe plants and rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum), has long been used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. However, AE's underlying mechanisms in periodontal inflammation have not been fully elucidated. Acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) is a potential biomarker involved in bone remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate AE's effect on periodontitis in rats and investigate AMCase expression. Methods: Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into the following groups: healthy (group 1), disease (group 2), vehicle (group 3), AE high-dose (group 4), and AE low-dose (group 5). Porphyromonas gingivalis ligatures were placed in rats (groups 2-5) for 7 days. Groups 4 and 5 were then treated with AE for an additional 14 days. Saliva was collected from all groups, and probing pocket depth was measured in succession. Periodontal pocket tissues were subjected to histomorphometric analysis after the rats were sacrificed. Bone marrow-derived macrophages and murine macrophages were stimulated with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and treated with different concentrations of AE. AMCase expression was detected from the analysis of saliva, periodontal pocket tissues, and differentiated osteoclasts. Results: Among rats with P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis, the alveolar bone resorption levels and periodontal pocket depth were significantly reduced after treatment with AE. AMCase protein expression was significantly higher in the disease group than in the healthy control (P<0.05). However, AE inhibited periodontal inflammation by downregulating AMCase expression in saliva and periodontal pocket tissue. AE significantly reduced RANKL-stimulated osteoclastogenesis by modulating AMCase (P<0.05). Conclusions: AE decreases alveolar bone loss and periodontal inflammation, suggesting that this natural anthraquinone has potential value as a novel therapeutic agent against periodontal disease.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.21-28
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of Cyperi Rhizoma extracts (CRE) using in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods : We evaluated the neuroprotective effect of CRE against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) toxicity using tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry (IHC) in primary rat mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. In addition, the effect of CRE was evaluated in mice PD model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). For evaluations, C57bl/6 mice were orally treated with CRE 50 mg/kg for 5 days and were injected intraperitoneally with MPTP (20 mg/kg) at 2 h intervals on the last day. To identify the CRE affects on MPTP-induced neuronal loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum of mice, the behavioral tests and IHC analysis were carried out. Also, we conducted nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) assay in dopaminergic neurons and IHC using glial markers in SNpc of mice to assess the anti-inflammation effects. Results : In primary mesencephalic culture system, CRE protected dopaminergic cells against $10{\mu}M$ MPP+-induced toxicity at 0.2 and $1.0{\mu}g/mL$. In the behavior tests, CRE treated group showed improved motor deteriorations than those in the MPTP only treated group. CRE significantly protected striatal dopaminergic damage from MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Moreover, CRE inhibited productions of NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ in dopaminergic culture system and activation of astrocyte and microglia in SNpc of the mice. Conclusion : We concluded that CRE shows anti-parkinsonian effect by protecting dopaminergic neurons against MPP+/MPTP toxicities through anti-inflammatory actions.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.712-720
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• 2023

Osteoporosis is a growing global health concern primarily associated with decreased estrogen in postmenopausal women. Recently, some strains of probiotics were examined for potential anti-osteoporotic effects. This study intended to evaluate the impacts of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MGE 3038 strain (MGE 3038) in ovariectomized rats. For this purpose, twelve weeks old female Wistar rats (n=21; 250-300 g) were divided into 3 groups; ovariectomy (OVX) group, OVX/MGE 3038 group and Sham group (control). In these groups; two went through respective OVX and one had daily MGE 3038 administration through oral gavage. Prior to 16 weeks after OVX, we collected blood samples and extracted the tibiae. We scanned the extracted tibiae by in-vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and evaluated pathology by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining. The serum levels of C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin (OC), and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were examined. The OVX/MGE 3038 group showed increases in bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, trabecular number, and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and a decrease in trabecular spacing than the OVX group. However, OVX/MGE 3038 group and control group were measurably comparable in Tb.Th. Micro-CT, H&E, and Masson's trichrome findings exhibited increased preservation and maintenance of trabecular bone structure in the OVX/MGE 3038 group in comparison to the OVX group. In serum, the levels of CTX, OC and RANKL were significantly different between the OVX and OVX/MGE 3038 groups. Taken together, L. plantarum MGE 3038 could be helpful for the treatment of osteoporosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.133-144
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• 2004

Background and Objective : Twirling is one of the needling methods, which is frequently used for acupuncture in oriental medicine. Some thesis about needle manipulation has been reported that needle manipulation is more effective than plain acupuncture. So we have developed the auto-controlled twirling needle(ACTN) system which is most simple style of needle manipulation. The present study was conducted to see if ACTN can enhance the antinociceptive effect of acupuncture. Methods : To investigate the analgesic effect of acupuncture we used two pain model. One is acute pain model using tail flick latency(TFL), the other is neuropathic pain model using mechanical allodynia. For TFL test, rats were lightly anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium(40 mg/kg, i.p). To produce mechanical allodynia in the rat tail, the right superior caudal trunk was resected between the S1 and S2 spinal nerves. For plain acupuncture(PA), a needle was inserted into a Zusanli(ST36) for 15min. In combining ACTN with PA, twirling needle was performed once in a second. We measured the difference of analgesic effect of only PA and ACTN on two different kinds of pain. Results and conclusion : ACTN increased TFL more than PA. (15min P<0.001, 25min P<0.01). And ACTN also reduced neuropathic pain (15min P<0.01, 25min<0.05). But PA alone can't reduce the neuropathic pain. These results indicate that ACRN had more analgesic effect than PA. The mechanism that play a key role, and the condition which produce best analgesic effect of ACTN are to be studied further.