• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.291-297
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• 2010

Liriope platyphylla has been though as an useful medical plant to improve the cough, sputum, neurodegenerative disorders, obesity, and diabetes in Korea and China from old times. In order to investigate the effects of Liriope platyphylla on expression and secretion of nerve growth factor (NGF), the mRNA expression and protein secretion were detected in the neuronal cell (B35) and neuroglial cell (C6) cultured with three differences concentration (5%, 10%, 15%) of Liriope platyphylla. In MTT assay and FACS anslysis, the some death of some B35 and C6 cells were observed in 15% extract-treated group, while other groups did not induce the death. Also, the mRNA expression of NGF were significantly increased in 5% and 10% extracts treated-group. Furthermore, the NGF protein concentration in supernatant collected from cultured cells showed the very similar pattern with mRNA expression. In order to verify the activity of secreted NGF, the culture supernatant collected from B35 and C6 cells cultured with Liriope platyphylla extracts for 24 hrs were treated into undifferentiated PC12 cells, and the differentiation level of PC12 cell were also observed with microscopes. The differentiation level of PC12 cell were significantly increased depend on the dose of extract. Therefore, these results suggested that the water extracts of Liriope platyphylla may contribute the regulation of NGF expression and secretion in the neuronal cell and be considered as an excellent candidate for a neurodegenerative disease-therapeutic drug.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.267-273
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• 2008

Water-soluble fraction (WSF) from edible mushroom hinmogi (Tremella fuciformis) were obtained by water extraction, and polysaccharides in the WSF were separated by ethanol precipitation. The inhibitory effects of the polysaccharides on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation were evaluated by the reduction of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) translation, triglyceride accumulation, Oil Red-O staining, and expression levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein a (C/$EBP{\alpha}$), and leptin. The $PPAR{\gamma}$ translation in 3T3-L1 cells was inhibited by the treatment with polysaccharide precipitated by 80% ethanol (P80) which showed highest inhibitory activity among polysaccharides tested. In addition, treatment of P80 to 3T3-L1 cells significantly inhibited the triglyceride accumulation, Oil Red-O staining, and mRNA expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, C/$EBP{\alpha}$, and leptin in a dose-dependent manner. Based upon these results, P80 from edible mushroom hinmogi shows the inhibitory activity on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Therefore, it might be employed as a potential anti-obesity material.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

In recent times, the demand for edible medication for the treatment of hyperpigmentation has increased significantly. Therefore, the discovery of a stable, safe and inexpansive antimelanogenic component from natural substances, such as grains, is of particular interest. The levels and activities of some metabolites and/or enzymes can be increased. In the present study, we investigated the antimelanogenic effects of water-soluble extracts from barley (BE), malt (ME) and germinated barley (GBE) in melan-a cells. The inhibitory effects of ME and GBE on melanin production were significantly greater than that of BE. Interestingly, the content of ferulic acid, the proposed active component of barley, was also higher in ME and GBE than in BE by HPLC analysis. Western blot analysis of the expression of melanogenic enzymes in melan-a cells treated with BE, ME or GBE indicated the expression of both tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) significantly decreased after treatment with BE, ME or GBE. These results suggest that besides BE, ME and GBE also inhibit melanin production most likely through suppression of tyrosinase and TRP-2 expression. ME and GBE were more efficacious at inhibiting melanin production than BE was and may also represent potential skin-whitening agents.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2015

Purpose: Chrysanthemum indicum (CHI) has been used for edible and medical purposes for a long time in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of CHI water extract in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Methods: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, CHI extract as a whole plant was used in this study. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with various concentrations of CHI extract (1, 10, and $100{\mu}g/mL$). After that Nitric Oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) expression level were measured. Results: CHI extract significantly suppressed the LPS-induced NO production and decreased the level of iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, COX-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and also the down regulation of $PGE_2$ expression in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The present study suggested that CHI extract can be substituted for anti-inflammatory drugs and provide a safe and effective non pharmacological therapeutic approach.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2007

Objectives : In Alzheimer's disease(AD), free radical oxidative stress caused by amyloid beta-peptide may lead to DNA damage, neuronal dysfunction, neurotoxicity and cell death, Hwangryunhaedok-tang(HHT) is traditionally used for the treatment of pyrogenetic diseases. To develop a new anti-AD drug from natural herb, HHT was selected and extracted in this study. Methods : The antioxidant activities of HHT water extract powder were examined by hydroxyl radical-induced DNA strand nicking assay, and antioxidative enzymes expression assay in H4IIE cell. In addition, HHT was examined for the inhibitory effect on the acetylcholinesterase(AChE) using by Ellman's coupled assay. Results: The HHT exhibit DNA protective effect in the hydroxyl radical-induced DNA Strand nicking assay, mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were recovered at a normal level by HHT treatment in H4IIE cell. Furthermore, water extract of HHT showed inhibitory effect on AChE activity. Conclusion : These results suggest that HHT may be effective in delaying and preventing AD progression related to the free radical-induced DNA damage and AChE activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.382-387
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• 2008

It is known that the stable protein 1 (SP1) detected in aspen plants remains soluble upon boiling and that sp1 expression in transgenic aspen is resistant to salt stress. Presently, we analyzed the effect of expression of SP1 in Arabidopsis thaliana plants and their response to high temperature stress. After $45^{\circ}C$ for 16 h, relative to wild type plants, sp1 transgenic plants exhibited stronger growth and were better in several physiological properties including chlorophyII, chlorophyII fluorescence, water content, proline content, and malondialdehyde content. These preliminarily results suggest that the over-expression of SP1 may notably enhance heat-tolerant level of transgenic A. thaliana plants.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.319-328
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• 2020

High fructose intake induces hyperglycemia and hypertension. However, the mechanism by which fructose induces metabolic syndrome is largely unknown. We hypothesized that high fructose intake induces activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), resulting in hypertension and metabolic syndrome. We provided 11-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats with drinking water, with or without 20% fructose, for two weeks. We measured serum renin, angiotensin II (Ang II), and aldosterone (Aldo) using ELISA kits. The expression of RAS genes was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. High fructose intake increased body weight and water retention, regardless of food intake or urine volume. After two weeks, fructose intake induced glucose intolerance and hypertension. High fructose intake increased serum renin, Ang II, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels, but not Aldo levels. High fructose intake increased the expression of angiotensinogen in the liver; angiotensin-converting enzyme in the lungs; and renin, angiotensin II type 1a receptor (AT1aR), and angiotensin II type 1b receptor (AT1bR) in the kidneys. However, expression of AT1aR and AT1bR in the adrenal glands did not increase in rats given fructose. Taken together, these results indicate that high fructose intake induces activation of RAS, resulting in hypertension and metabolic syndrome.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.612-616
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• 2006

The protective effect of water extract of ash tree leaves (ALE) against oxidative damages was investigated in paracetamol-induced BALB/c mice. Biochemical analysis of anti-oxidative enzymes, immunoblot analyses of hepatic cytochrome P450 2El (CYP2E1), and the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$) were examined to determine the extract's protective effect and its possible mechanisms. BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: normal, paracetamol-administered, and ALE-pretreated groups. A single dose of paracetamol led to a marked increase in lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA). This was associated with a significant reduction in the hepatic antioxidant system, e.g., glutathione (GSH). Paracetamol administration also significantly elevated the expression of CYP2E1, according to immunoblot analysis, and of TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA in liver. However, ALE pretreatment prior to the administration of paracetamol significantly decreased hepatic MDA levels. ALE restored hepatic glutathione and catalase levels and suppressed the expression of CYP2E1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ observed in inflammatory tissues. Moreover, ALE restored mitochondrial ATP content depleted by the drug administration. These results show that the extract of ash tree leaves protects against paracetamol-induced oxidative damages by blocking oxidative stress and CYP2E1-mediated paracetamol bioactivation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2018

The warming of water as a result of climate change affects fish habitat. Variations in water temperature affect fish physiology almost totally. The rise in water temperature due to climate change leads to hypoxia following decreased oxygen solubility and decreased binding capacity of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin. This study was conducted to evaluate the health status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry at elevated water temperatures($20^{\circ}C$) compared with optimum water temperature ($15^{\circ}C$). The method facilitated the detection of biomarker genes using NGS RNAseq analysis and evaluation of their expression pattern using RT-qPCR analysis. The biomarker genes included interferon alpha-inducible protein 27-like protein 2A transcript variant X3, protein L-Myc-1b-like, placenta growth factor-like transcript variant X1, fibroblast growth factor receptor-like 1 transcript variant X1, transferrin, intelectin, thioredoxin-like, c-type lectin lectoxin-Thr1-like, ladderlectin-like and calponin-1. The selected biomarker genes were sensitive to changes in water temperature based on NGS RNAseq analysis. The expression patterns of these genes based on RT-qPCR were similar to those of NGS RNAseq analysis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.860-865
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• 2009

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing multinucleated cells derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage. The differentiation of osteoclasts are regulated by osteoblastic cells expressed RANKL, which is the most critical molecule for osteoclast differentiation. In this study, we found that water extracts of cuscuta inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation by direct action on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) without cytotoxicity. In BMMs, water extracts of cuscuta inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, TRAP, and OSCAR. Also, the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 was inhibited by water extracts of cuscuta treatement. Water extracts of cuscuta inhibited the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK in BMMs treated with RANKL. However, water extracts of cuscuta did not inhibit RANKL-induced I-${\kappa}B$ activation. Water extract of cuscuta failed to inhibit bone resorption by osteoclasts cultured on hydroxyapatite plates. These results suggest that cuscuta may be a promising drug for use against bone disorders such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.