• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 1993

The Preventive effect of the saponin fraction of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against hyperchole- sterolemia was demonstrated by assaying the cholesterol and triacylglyceride level of the blood serum and liver of rats fed high-cholesterol diet with and/or without ginsenoside. To understand the mechanism of the preventive action of ginsenoside, ginsenoside effect on LDL receptor binding ability, cholesterol level, and cAMP level of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells cultured under various conditions were examined. When LDL (20 $\mu$g/ml) was added to the culture medium for CHO cell culture, LDL receptor binding activity of the cell was suppressed down to 58% of that of normal group. Ginsenosides at 10--2% and 10-3% level (w/v) were shown to exert an appreciable stimulatory effect on CHO cell LDL receptor activity, which partially overcame the suppression due to the presence of LDL (20 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) in the medium. Ginsenosides also reduced the increased cholesterol level of test group almost to that of normal group, and it increased cAMP level, which was usually reduced to 55% of that of the normal group due to the presence of LDL in the medium. Comparison of Kd and Bmax value of CHO cells cultured under different conditions revealed that this stimulation was due not to the receptor's binding affinity but to its number. Addition of ginsenoside (10-2%) decreased the uptake of taurocholic acid as much as 20% at the actively transporting everted ileal sacs, but it failed to form a large mixed micelles with taurocholic acid, which was one of the proposed mechanisms by which ginsenoside inhibits bile acid reabsorption. From the above results, it seemed likely that ginsenoside prevented hypercholestrolemia by decreasing cholesterol level in cells thereby relieving the inhibition of LDL receptor synthesis by cholesterol and also by inhibiting bile acid reabsorption from the small intestine.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.625-635
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• 2005

In this study, the effects of verapamil on growth rate, apoptosis, production of transforming growth factor (TGF-${\beta}$) and fibronectin were evaluated in keloid and normal human dermal fibroblasts. Both fibroblasts were primarily cultured from earlobe keloids of three female patients and treated with various concentrations of verapamil. Cell toxicity was assessed by MTT assay, growth rate and apoptosis by FACS, and the production of TGF-${\beta}$ and fibronectin by ELISA and Western blot, respectively. In the $MTT_{50}$, the cell growth was more suppressed in keloid fibroblasts. In the $MTT_{90}$, cell growth was more stimulated in normal fibroblasts. No significant effect appeared on TGF-${\beta}$ expression but an increase in extracellular fibronectin secretion was found in keloid fibroblasts. Keloid fibroblasts responded to verapamil more sensitively, and the percentage of apoptosis was higher at the $MTT_{50}$l. In brief, verapamil had growth-inhibitory effect with inducing apoptosis at the $MTT_{50}$, but rather growth-stimulatory effect at the $MTT_{90}$. The biphasic effect of verapamil depending on the dose might explain one of the reasons of relapse after keloid treatment with verapamil. Clinical application with high concentration (2.5 mg/ml) is advised unless excessive dosage is used.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.519-526
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cold plasma treatment on the improvement of seed germination and surface sterilization of ginseng seeds. Methods: Dehisced ginseng (Panax ginseng) seeds were exposed to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma operated in argon (Ar) or an argon/oxygen mixture (Ar/O₂), and the resulting germination and surface sterilization were compared with those of an untreated control group. Bacterial and fungal detection assays were performed for plasma-treated ginseng seeds after serial dilution of surface-washed suspensions. The microbial colonies (fungi and bacteria) were classified according to their phenotypical morphologies and identified by molecular analysis. Furthermore, the effect of cold plasma treatment on the in vitro antifungal activity and suppression of Cylindrocarpon destructans in 4-year-old ginseng root discs was investigated. Results: Seeds treated with plasma in Ar or Ar/O₂ exhibited a higher germination rate (%) compared with the untreated controls. Furthermore, the plasma treatment exhibited bactericidal and fungicidal effects on the seed surface, and the latter effect was stronger than the former. In addition, plasma treatment exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. destructans and reduced the disease severity (%) of root rot in 4-year-old ginseng root discs. The results demonstrate the stimulatory effect of plasma treatment on seed germination, surface sterilization, and root rot disease suppression in ginseng. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the cold plasma treatment can suppress the microbial community on the seed surface root rot in ginseng.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2010

Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai (Araliaceae) is a medicinal plant indigenous to Korea. The root and stem barks of Acanthopanax species have been used as a tonic and sedative as well as in the treatment of rheumatism and diabetes. In our study, three lignans, eleutheroside E (EE), tortoside A (TA), and syringaresinol (SY), were isolated from the stem and root of A. koreanum in an effort to study the immunomodulating effect. We treated natural killer cells and dendritic cells with lignans (EE, TA, or SY), and analyzed their cytokine (IL-12 and IFN-${\gamma}$) secretion. EE, TA, or SY markedly enhanced IL-12 secretion in mouse lymphoid (DC1) and myeloid type (DC2.4) dendritic cells after 48 hr of treatment. There were no significant differences in the cytokine stimulatory effects between EE, TA, or SY. Moreover, treatment of EE, TA, or SY significantly induced IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion by human NK cells (NK92MI) confirmed by ELISA assay. This study suggests that lignans from A. koreanum modulate cytokines, and that such modulation may provide the mechanism of action for many of their therapeutic effects.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.121-125
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• 2013

Hesperetin (3',5,7-trihydroxy 4'-methoxyflavanone) and its glycoside hesperidin (hesperetin 7-rhamnoglucoside) in oranges have been reported to possess pharmacological effects related to anti-obesity. However, hesperetin and hesperidin have not been studied on suppressive effects on appetite. This study examined that hesperetin and hesperidin can stimulate the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), one of appetite-regulating hormones, from the enteroendocrine STC-1 cells, and then examined the mechanisms involved in the CCK release. Hesperetin significantly and dose-dependently stimulated CCK secretion with an $EC_{50}$ of 0.050 mM and increased the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) compared to the untreated control. The stimulatory effect by hesperetin was mediated via the entry of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and the activation of TRP channels including TRPA1. These results suggest that hesperetin can be a candidate biomolecule for the suppression of appetite and eventually for the therapeutics of obesity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.326-332
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• 2010

Daidzein, a natural isoflavonoid phytoestrogen, structurally resembles estradiol (E2) and possesses estrogenic activity. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that daidzein may mimic the effects of E2 on ovine follicle development by regulation of the mRNA expression of bone morphogenetic protein receptor genes and thereby influence the reproductive system. Granulosa cells were cultured in serum-free McCoy's 5A medium with and without supplementation of daidzein. Results showed that daidzein (10-100 ng/ml) significantly increased the proliferation of ovine granulosa cells (p<0.05), but inhibited the growth of granulosa cells at a dose of 1,000 ng/ml (p<0.01). Daidzein inhibited progesterone production in a dose dependent manner; however, it did not affect estradiol production by granulosa cells. We also investigated the effects of daidzein on BMPRII, BMPRIB and ALK-5 mRNA expression in ovine granulosa cells by quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment of granulosa cells with daidzein increased significantly expression of these genes at 10-100 ng/ml. Thus, these data suggested that a low concentration of daidzein (10-100 ng/ml) had a direct stimulatory effect on ovine granulosa cells while a high concentration was toxic.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.307-313
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• 2001

Whether there exists a sympathetic neural mechanism regulating the expression of aquaporin (AQP) water channels in the kidney was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with reserpine (1 mg/kg, IP), and the expression of AQP1-4 proteins was determined in the kidney one day thereafter. Following the treatment with reserpine, the systolic blood pressure measured in a conscious state was significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with that in the control $(83{\pm}8\;vs\;124{\pm}6\;mmHg;\;n=6\;each,\;P＜0.05)$. The expression of AQP2 proteins was decreased in the cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla. The decrease of AQP2 proteins was in parallel in the membrane and the cytoplasmic fractions, suggesting a preserved AQP2 targeting. No significant changes were observed in the expression of AQP1, AQP3, or AQP4. Neither basal nor AVP-stimulated formation of cAMP was significantly altered. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system has a tonic stimulatory effect specifically on the expression of AQP2 water channels in the kidney.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.290-295
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• 1992

여러 가지 생리랴 활성기능을 가지고 있다고 알려진 유산균에 대해 활성산소 소거효과 및 면역 증강 효과 를 검토하여 보았다. 유산균 배양액 및 파쇄액의 활성산소 소거효과를 각각 다른 검색방법에 의해 살펴 본 결과, 유산균 배 양액 및 Mn-complex는 XOD assay와 paraquat에 대한 반응에서 활성 산소 소거 효과가 뛰어나 superoxide anion radical 소거와 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났고, 배양액 중에서 $Mn^{2+}$와 결합하는 성분은 누로 peptide나 amino acid인 것으로 추정된다. 한편 cell free extract는 광용혈 시험에서 좋은 효과를 나타내어 singlet oxygen 소거와 관련이 있는 것으로 생각되며, 또한 cell free extract 는 T세포를 자극하여 생성된 액성인자에 의해 B세포에 항체 생성능을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Dlx3 and Dlx5 are homeobox domain proteins and are well-known regulators of osteoblastic differentiation. Since possible reciprocal relationships between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells exist, we examined the regulatory role of Dlx3 and Dlx5 on adipogenic differentiation using human dental pulp stem cells. Over-expression of Dlx3 and Dlx5 stimulated osteogenic differentiation but inhibited adipogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells. Dlx3 and Dlx5 suppressed the expression of adipogenic marker genes such as $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2 and lipoprotein lipase. Adipogenic stimuli suppressed the mRNA levels of Dlx3 and Dlx5, whereas osteogenic stimuli enhanced the expression of Dlx3 and Dlx5 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These results suggest that Dlx3 and Dlx5 exert a stimulatory effect on osteogenic differentiation of stem cells through the inhibition of adipogenic differentiation as well as direct stimulation.

• 생약학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.326-331
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated pharmacologic activity of rice bran ethyl acetate fraction (RBE), based on their osteoblast enhancing effects. It has been found that REB have a stimulatory effect on the commitment of bi-potential mesenchymal precursor C2C12 cells into osteoblasts in the presence of BMP-2. Furthermore, RBE enhanced the BMP-2-stimulated induction of ALP, an early phase biomarker of osteoblast differentiation. In addition, Western blot analysis showed RBE enhanced the BMP-2-stimulated phosphorylation of p38, but not those of ERK or JNK. These findings show RBE has the potential to enhance the BMP-2-mediated commitment of C2C12 cells into osteoblasts and their differentiation through p38 activation.