• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.68-83
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• 2019

The number of pedestrian traffic accident fatalities is three times the number of car accidents in South Korea. Serious accidents are caused especially at intersections when the vehicle turns to their right. Various pedestrian collision warning services have been developed, but they are insufficient to prevent dangerous pedestrians. In this study, P2CWS is developed to warn approaching vehicles based on the pedestrians' characteristics. In order to evaluate the performance of the service, actual pedestrian data were collected at the intersection of Daejeon, and comparative analysis was carried out according to pedestrian characteristics. As a result, the performance analysis showed a higher accordance when the characteristics of the pedestrian is considered. Accordingly, we can conclude that identifying pedestrian characteristics in predicting the pedestrian crossing is important.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.23-28
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• 2012

Objectives : Samhwangsashim-tang(SHSST), a mixture of Rhei radix et rhizoma, Scutellariae radix, and Coptidis rhizoma, has been regarded as being able to treat bleeding, gastric discomfort, dry mouth, insomnia and purpura due to Blood Heat. Currently, this herbal formula is applied to gastritis, gastric ulcer, hypertension, atherosclerosis or other types of vascular inflammatory disorders. Methods : We extracted this herbal mixture with 30% ethanol and examined for its effects on systemic inflammatory responses and in vitro macrophage activity. Mice were orally given to SHSST for 7 days and then lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was intraperitoneally injected. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) levels in serum were measured 1 h after LPS challenge. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from thioglycollate-injected mice and used for in vitro cellular activity. Cell death was measured using the MTT method and annexin V/propidium iodide staining. LPS-stimulated signaling molecules necessary for TNF-${\alpha}$ expression were determined by Western blotting. Results : Oral administration of SHSST for 7 days resulted in a significant reduction in LPS-stimulated TNF-${\alpha}$ release into serum. In vitro treatment of SHSST was cytotoxic in a concentration-dependent manner. However, SHSST caused a concentration-dependent reduction in necrosis and increase in apoptosis in mouse peritoneal macrophages. SHSST inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, p38 and JNK signaling molecules in response to LPS. Conclusion : Taken together, our results demonstrated that SHSST was effective in lowering LPS-stimulated TNF-${\alpha}$ serum levels, possibly through its modulation of NF-${\kappa}B$, p38 and JNK in macrophages.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.69-76
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• 2018

Objectives : Dracocephalum palmatum Stephan (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant used by the East-Russian nomads but there were few studies on this plant. This study was to evaluate anti-cancer effects of D. palmatum Stephan leaf hexane fraction on human derived prostate cancer cell death. Methods : The dried leaves of D. palmatum were dissolved in methanol, and hexane fraction (DpLH) was again obtained from lyophilized methanol extract (DpLM). DpLH was investigated by measuring by MTT assay and annexin V/PI staining to evaluate its effects on the cell viability and apoptosis of PC-3 cells. The ROS generations were detected by DCF-DA dye. The protein expressions were confirmed by p-AKT, Bcl-2, Bax, procaspase-3 activities. Results : After treatment of DpLH to PC-3 cells, the cell proliferation was significantly inhibited, and in addition, DpLH treatment also accelerated apoptosis of PC-3 cells. When DpLH was treated to the PC-3 cells, its ROS production significantly decreased. The proportion of all proteins (p-AKT/actin, Bcl-2/Bax and procaspase-3/actin ratios) showed decreasing tendency of expression compared with the control group. Conclusions : As shown in the above results, the extract from D. palmatum inhibits ROS production and promotes cell death, which is considered to be a relatively safe induction of cell death when administered to a living body. In conclusion, these results suggested that DpLH may have anti-cancer effect in human prostate cancer cell.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.259-266
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• 2000

Objectives : The effects of aqueous extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (a traditional medicine for cancer treatment in oriental medicine) on the induction of apoptotic cell death were investigated in human liver origm hepatoma cell lines, HepG2. Methods : The death of HepG2 cells was markedly induced by the addition of extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic characteristic ladder pattern of DNA strand break was not observed in cell death of HepG2. In addition, it was not shown nucleus chromatin condensation and fragmentation under hoechst staining. However, by the using annexin V staining assay, externalizations of phosphatidylserine in HepG2 cell which were treated with Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts were detected in the early time (at 9 hr after extract treatment). Furthermore, LDH release was not detected in this early stage. Therefore, Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts-induced cell death of HepG2 cells is mediated by apoptotic death signal processes. Result : The activity of caspase 3-like proteases remained in a basal level in HepG2 cells which treated with the extract of Cordyceps sinensis. However, it was markedly increased in HepG2 cells which treated with two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K) which were differently extracted (respectively, 2.3 and 3.3 fold). On a while, the phosphotransferase activities of JNK1 was markedly induced in HepG2 cells which were treated with two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae. On the contrary, the activation of transcriptional activator, activating protein1(AP-1) and NF-kB were severely decreased by these two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K). In addition, antioxidants (GSH and NAC) and intracellular $Ca2^+$ level regulator (Bapta/AM and Thapsigargin) did not affect Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts-induced apoptotic death of HepG2 cells. Conclusions : In conclusion, our results suggest that two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K) induces the apoptotic death of human liver origin hepatoma HepG2 cells via activation of caspase 3-like proteases as well as JNK1, and inhibition of transcriptional activators, AP-1 and $NK-{\kappa}B$.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.739-747
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• 2014

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of Ixeris dentata extract (IDE) on anticancer activity in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells at both cellular and molecular levels. The cells were cultured in the presence of 0, 20, 30 and $40{\mu}g/mL$ Ixeris dentata extract for 24 hours, respectively. At the end of culture, cytochemical analyses for MTT activity, trypan blue dye exclusion, Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis, and radical oxygen species (ROS) were conducted. RT-PCR was also performed to determine whether or not alterations in cell viability affect the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. MTT assay showed that relative cell viability decreased in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). Reduction of cell viability matched well with increased cell membrane permeability as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion test (p<0.05). The rates of intracellular ROS also increased in a similar manner to those of TB-stained cells. There was an associated shift of apoptotic cells from early to late apoptosis between the 30 and $40{\mu}g/mL$. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio significantly increased along with significant decreases in Bcl-2 expression between 30 and $40{\mu}g/mL$ groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, anticancer activity of Ixeris dentata extract is modulated by a reduction in cell viability along with increased membrane permeability, leading to ROS accumulation within cells, and subsequently cell death through an apoptotic pathway that involves Bax and Bcl-2 in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.199-208
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• 2015

Objectives : In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethanol extract of Scutellaria baicalensis (EESB) on the progression of cell cycle in human renal cell carcinoma Caki-1 cells. Methods : The effects of EESB on cell growth and apoptosis induction were evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The mRNA and protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results : It was found that EESB treatment on Caki-1 cells resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and induced apoptotic cell death as detected by Annexin V-FITC staining. The flow cytometric analysis indicated that EESB resulted in G2/M arrest in cell cycle progression which was associated with the down-regulation of cyclin A expression. Our results also revealed that treatment with EESB increased the mRNA and proteins expression of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1), without any noticeable changes in cyclin B1, Cdk2 and Cdc2. In addition, the incubation of cells with EESB resulted in a significant increase in the binding of p21 and Cdk2 and Cdc2. These findings suggest that EESB-induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in Caki-1 cells is mediated through the p53-mediated upregulation of Cdk inhibitor p21. Conclusions : Taken together, these findings suggest that EESB may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent and further studies will be needed to identify the biological active compounds that confer the anti-cancer activity of S. baicalensis.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2018

Investigation of the optimum levels of pre-plant nitrogen for raising of hot pepper (cv. Nokkwang) plug seedlings was the objective of this research. To achieve this, the pre-plant nitrogen levels were varied to 0, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, and $1,500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and the other essential nutrients were controlled to equal concentrations in all treatments. All the fertilizers were added during the formulation of the mixed medium of coir dust, peatmoss, and perlite with the ratio of 35, 35, and 30% (v/v/v). The root medium containing pre-plant fertilizer was packed into 50-cell plug trays and seeds were sown. The measurement of pH and EC in every week, soil solution analysis for nutrients in week 0, 3, and 7 and growth measurements as well as tissue analysis for nutrient contents in week 7 were conducted. The pHs measured before seed sowing did not show significant differences, but the differences among treatments became significant as seedlings grow bigger. The soil solution ECs were significantly different among treatments in week 0 and these differences were diminished by degrees after week 3, resulting in no significant differences among treatments in week 7. The trends in changes of $NH_4-N$, $NO_3-N$, and other the macro-element concentrations in soil solution of root media were similar to those of ECs. The treatments of 500 and $750mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ N were more effective than other treatments on seedling growth. The seedling growths in the treatments containing higher N than $1,000mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and control were severely suppressed. The elevated pre-plant N concentrations in the root medium resulted in the increase of tissue N contents. The treatments of 500 and $750mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ N shown the highest seedling growths had 5.13% and 5.31%, respectively, in tissue N contents based on the dry weight of above ground tissue at week 7. The results of this study indicated that the optimum level of pre-plant N is 500 to $750mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for the raising of hot pepper plug seedlings.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1041-1049
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• 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
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 1998

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus as well as other molds. It is a natural contaminant of mouldy food and feed. OA has a number of toxic effects, the most prominant being nephrotoxicity. Futhermore, OA is immunosuppressive, genotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. OA inhibits protein synthesis by competition with phenylalanine in the phenylalanine-tRNA aminoacylation reaction. Recently, lipid peroxidation induced by OA has been reported, indicating that the lesion induced by this mycotoxin could be also related to oxidative pathway. Since it seems impossible to avoid contamination of foodstuffs by toxigenic fungi, detoxification and detoxication of OA are needed. In this study we investigated the protective effects of aspartame (Asp), phenylalanine (Phe), polyphenol 70S (PP) and aloe extract (AE) on the nephrotoxicity induced by subacute exposure to the OA. Asp and Phe are structural analogues of OA. PP, an ingredient of Green Tea and AE have been known as antioxidant and radical scavenger. Phe (40 mg/kg, i.p.) and Asp (25 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats simultaneously with OA (2.0 mg/kg, p.o.) for 2 weeks. PP (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and AE (50 mg/kg, i.v.) were pretreated before administration of OA, for 2 weeks and 3 days, respectively. Using enzymuria, BUN level, creatinemia and histophathologic examination as indices of renal damage, we observed that all of four compounds prevented the nephrotoxic effects induced by OA. It seems that structural analogues of OA such as Asp and Phe have better protective effect on the nephrotoxicity of OA than antioxidants. These results indicate that 1) formation of free radical and lipid peroxidation are likely to be involved in the nephrotoxicity of OA in vivo, 2) Asp, PP and AE might be used for prevention of renal lesions in cases of ochratoxicosis.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.380-384
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• 2003

Optimal extraction, separation and capillary rinsing conditions for capillary electrophoresis (CE) were established to discriminate the geographical origin of ligusticum root (Ligusticum wallichii) using 113 samples (domestic sample n = 62, foreign sample n = 51). Ligusticum root was extracted with 30% ethanol and separated on a uncoated fused-silica $(50\;{\mu}m{\times}27\;cm)$ capillary. Conditions for optimal analysis include: temperature, $40^{\circ}C$; voltage, 10 kV; and pressure injection time, domestic and foreign samples were 5 sec and 2 sec, respectively. The optimal separation buffer was 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) containing 15 mM iminodiacetic acid with 40% methanol. Under the optimal conditions established for CE, the ratio of specific peak area (peak LW-1) to other peak area (peak LW-5) was effective in discrimination geographical origin of ligusticum root. The mean accuracy for correct discrimination of geographical origin of domestic and foreign ligusticum roots were 65% and 63%, respectively.