• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1423-1430
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• 2009

Rosmarinic acid frequently found as a secondary metabolite in herbs and medicinal plants, has exhibited antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. The proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) in response to activation by various stimuli plays a critical role in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to examine the effects of Rosmarinic acid on the proliferation and migration of HASMC. Rosmarinic acid suppressed the proliferation of HASMC via induction of the expression of apoptotic proteins including cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and caspase-3. Rosmarinic acid decreased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and increased pro-apoptotic Bax. Moreover, treatment of rosmarinic acid decreased the G1/S cycle regulation proteins (cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6) and increased p21, p27 and p53. Rosmarinic acid also blocked HASMC migration via suppression of MMP-9 and MMP-2. Taken together, these results indicate that rosmarinic acid has the potential for use as an anti-atherosclerosis agent.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2011

Various herbal medicinal extracts were examined for the development of cosmetic products with anti-oxidative and anti-wrinkle activity. First, total polyphenol contents and DPPH radical scavenging activities of herbal medicinal extracts were measured. Most herbal samples, except for DW extracts of Portulaca oleracea, Caesalpinia sappan, Taraxacum platycarpum, Carthamus tinctorius, and 70% EtOH extracts of Taraxacum platycarpum and Carthamus tinctorius, showed DPPH radical scavenging activity over 80% at a concentration of $400{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. SOD-like antioxidant activity of DW extracts of Syzygium aromaticum, DW extracts of Eriobtrya japonica and 70% EtOH extracts of Sophora japonica was measured as 40%, 35% and 80%, respectively at a dry matter concentration of $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. In elastase inhibition assay, DW extracts of Lycium chinense ($50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) and 70% EtOH extracts of Areca catechu ($50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) showed 50% and 40% of inhibition, respectively. At a concentration of $1.250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, DW extracts of Lycium chinense and 70% EtOH extracts of Areca catechu showed 10% and 30% of collagenase inhibition, respectively. Skin and lotion samples were prepared using the two herbal extracts of high anti-wrinkle activity: Lycium chinense extract and Areca catechu extract. The storage stability of skin and lotion containing each of the selected herbal extracts was evaluated. pH and viscosity were used as stability indicators for the stability test under different storage temperatures and freeze-thaw cycle conditions. The skin and lotion containing each of DW extract of Lycium chinense and 70% EtOH extract of Areca catechu was showed high pH and viscosity stability. The skin and lotion containing DW extracts of Lycium chinense showed relatively higher stability than the skin and lotion containing 70% EtOH extract of Areca catechu, at cycle chamber and freeze-thaw conditions. In summary, these results indicated that cosmetics containing DW extract of Lycium chinense were relatively stable, and this herbal extract could be used as a stable functional cosmetic material.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6379-6384
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• 2013

S-benzyl-cysteine (SBC) is a structural analog of S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is one of the major water-soluble compounds in aged garlic extract. In this study, anticancer activities and the underlying mechanisms of SBC action were investigated and compared these with those of SAC using human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. SBC significantly suppressed the survival rate of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory activities of SBC were stronger than those of SAC. Flow cytometry revealed that SBC induced G2-phase arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. SBC-treatment dramatically induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$), and enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 whilst hardly affecting caspase-8 activity. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that SBC-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of the expression of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggested that SBC exerts cytotoxic activity involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 pathways in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5253-5257
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• 2014

Formaldehyde (FA) is an economically important chemical, and has been found to cause various types of toxic damage to the body. Formaldehyde-induced toxic damage involves reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger subsequent toxic effects and inflammatory responses, which may increase risk of cancer. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the possible toxic mechanism in bone marrow caused by formaldehyde. In accordance with the principle of randomization, the mice were divided into four groups of 6 mice per group. One group was exposed to ambient air and the other three groups were exposed to different concentrations of formaldehyde (20, 40, $80mg/m^3$) for 15 days in the respective inhalation chambers, 2h a day. At the end of the 15-day experimental period, all mice were killed. Bone marrow cells were obtained. Some of those were used for the determination of blood cell numbers, bone marrow karyote numbers, CFU-F, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content; others were used for the determination of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell cycle and Bcl-2, Bax, CytC protein expression. WBC and PLT numbers in median and high dose groups were obvious reduced, but there was no change on RBC numbers. There was also reduced numbers of bone marrow karyotes and CFU-F in the high dose group. SOD activity was decreased, but MDA content was increased. MMP and Bcl-2 expression were decreased with increasing formaldehyde concentration, while expression of Bax and Cyt C was increased. We also observed change in cell cycling, and found that there was S phase arrest in the high dose group. Our study suggested that a certain concentration of formaldehyde could have toxic effects on the hematopoietic system, with oxidative stress as a critical effect.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.101-106
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• 2009

Objectives : We investigated the anti-aging effects on skin with 9 Repetitive steaming and fermenting herbal composition extract (FHE). Methods : Herbal composition is comprised of Panax Ginseng, Rehmannia glutinosa, Polygonum multiflorum and Polygonatum Sibiricum. They steamed and fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus brevis by turns at 9 times. We measured various effects related to skin aging such as scavenging activity against free radical, cell proliferation, collagen synthesis and toxicity of 9 repetitive steaming and fermenting herbal composition extract were evaluated and compared with herbal composition extract (HE). Results : As the number of steaming and fermenting cycle increased free-radical scavenging activity were increased. But cell proliferating ratio was not increased when the number of steaming and fermenting cycle. The FHE could significantly increase the collagen synthetic ratio compared with HE treated group. And, FHE was showed no toxicity at all tested concentrations. Conclusions : The results of our study propose that FHE has good anti-aging effects on skin.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.216-224
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• 2023

Background: Smilax glabra has various pharmacological activities and is widely used as a herbal medicine. Although the incidence of oral cancer is low, the recurrence rate is high, and the 5-year survival rate is poor. It is necessary to search for anticancer drugs that increase the effect of cancer chemotherapy on heterogeneous oral tissues and reduce the side effects on normal cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of ethanol extract of Smilax glabra (EESG) as an anticancer drug for oral cancer. Methods: Smilax glabra root components extracted with 70% ethanol were used to analyze their effects on cancer cells. A 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide assay was performed for cytotoxicity analysis. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the cell cycle phase distribution. To observe apoptotic cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and γH2AX were detected by fluorescence microscope. The protein levels of cleaved PARP and caspase were analyzed using western blotting. The activation of procaspase-3 was confirmed by measuring caspase-3 activity. Results: EESG was no cytotoxic to normal gingival fibroblast but was high in YD10B oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. EESG treatment increased the subdiploid DNA content of YD10B cells by assessing DNA content distribution. Chromatin condensation and DNA strand breaks increased in YD10B cells treated with EESG. EESG-treated YD10B cells had high Annexin V and low propidium iodide levels, confirming that early apoptosis was induced. In addition, increased levels of γH2AX foci, a marker of DNA damage, were observed in the nuclei of EESG-treated YD10B cells. The EESG-treated YD10B cells also exhibited decreased procaspase-3 and procaspase-9 levels, increased PARP cleavage and caspase-3 activity. Conclusion: These results indicate that EESG inhibited cancer cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis in YD10B OSCC cells.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.365-371
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• 2012

We aimed to analyze the muscle activity of adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis during gait and develop the wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment by applying the principle of sports taping based on the result of the analysis. We selected 20 male students between the ages of 13 and 18 and divided them into 2 groups: one group consisted of 10 patients with idiopathic scoliosis <20 degrees of Cobb's Angle: the other group had 10 normal students. Using, we measured and analyzed the muscle activity of 8 different regions: left and right latissimus dorsi, left and right thoracolumbar fascia, left and right gluteus medius, and left and right biceps femoris during gait. Our results can be summarized as follows: Firstly, in patients with idiopathic scoliosis, the gait showed a significantly low activity of the right latissimus dorsi muscle when the left foot was supported on the ground(p<.05). Secondly, in the overall gait cycle, the patients showed a higher activity of the right thoracolumbar fascia and right gluteus medius than that seen in the normal students: however, this difference was not statistically significant. Thirdly, by applying sports taping on the bisis of the results, this study developed the wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment that could maximize the stimuli of the right latissimus dorsi and alleviate muscle contraction of the right thoracolumbar fascia and right gluteus medius, while expanding the spinal line upward and downward, by focusing on the difference between left and right muscular strength of the muscle activity of the bright latissimus dorsi. Overall, we expect that by wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment, the muscular functions in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2005

The KOMPSAT-1 satellite, launched into a circular sun synchronous orbit on Dec. 21, 1999, entered its$6^{th}$year of successful operation this year. The purposes of the mission are to collect earth images (6.6 m resolution), multi-spectral images of the ocean, and to collect information on the particle environment of the low earth orbit. For normal operation, KOMPSAT-1 orbits are determined using GPS navigation solutions. However, at the start of the life of KOMPSAT-1, the 11-year solar activity cycle was at a maximum. Solar flux was maintained at this level until 2002, and thereafter reduced to a moderate level by 2004. Thus, the OD (Orbit Determination) accuracy has varied according to the solar activity. This paper presents the degree to which the OD accuracy could be degraded during a high solar activity period compared with that of a (relatively) low solar activity period. We investigated the effect of the use of solve-for parameters such as a drag coefficient ($C_D$), solar radiation coefficient ($C_R$), and the general accelerations ($G_A$) on OD accuracy with solar activity. For the evaluation of orbit determination accuracy, orbit overlap comparison is used since no independent orbits of comparable accuracy are available for comparison. The effect of the use of a box-wing model instead of a constant cross-sectional area is also investigated.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2006

Telomerase activation is detected in most cancerous cells; hence, telomerase is a highly selective target for cancer therapy, which plays an important role in the apoptotic process. We have previously reported that the ginseng saponin metabolite, Compound K (20-O-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol, IH901), inhibits cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the $G_1$ phase. The present study investigated the regulation of telomerase activity in Compound K treated U937 cells. Compound K treatment caused a reduction in telomerase activity and down-regulated the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, resulting in the decreased expressions of its protein, and of the c-Myc and Spl proteins (transcription factors of hTERT). These results indicate that the anticancer activity of Compound K could be mediated by inhibition of the telomerase activity.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.339-344
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• 2009

This study aims to find out the effect of heavy metals, as is the case of EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals), on reproductive endocrine disruption of aquatic animals. In the present experiment zinc, which is a heavy metal well known for its androgenous activity, was used. The experimental period was 24 weeks, starting in November during the inactive stage of the clam's reproductive cycle. The experimental groups were composed of one control condition and three zinc exposure conditions (0.64, 1.07, and 1.79 mg/L). The sex ratio (F:M) was 1:1.06 in the control group and 1:1.70 in all the exposed group, illustrating the tendency for higher proportion of males with increases in zinc concentration. Gonad maturity was higher in 1.07, and 1.79 mg/L groups compared to the control group, with higher maturity observed in males than females. Intersex individuals made up 24.7% of the exposed group, while females exhibited a higher ratio than the males with increasing zinc concentration. The results of this study indicate that zinc functions as an androgenic effector on the reproduction of Gomphina veneriformis.