• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2017

Objectives : Infectious diseases by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a growing problem worldwide. Characteristic of MRSA is endlessly mutation to resist antibiotics. Daehwanggo (DHG) is one of the oriental medicine prescriptions contained in Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine. Daehwanggo was mainly used for external preparation from old times. The purpose of this study is to confirm possibility as supplementary drug of DHG about antibiotics through observation of synergy effect between DHG and commercial antibiotics and to observe restriction on growth of MRSA on any pathway through observation of mechanism. Methods : The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of DHG against MRSA is $500{\sim}2000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ by broth dilution method. In the checkerboard method, the combinations of DHG with antibiotics has partial synergistic effect or synergy effect and DHG markedly reduced the MICs of the antibiotics oxacillin (OX), gentamicin (GT) against MRSA. In the inhibition of resistance mechanism of DHG against MRSA, the expression of resistance gene and protein about ${\beta}-lactam$ antibiotic was reduced. Also, we observed the effect of DHG about cell membrane permeability against MRSA, and confirmed that DHG suppressed growth of strains by increasing cell membrane permeability. Results : Basis on the result, we speculate that DHG increase antibacterial activity of antibiotics against MRSA by changing the structure of cell wall of MRSA. Conclusions : These data suggest that Daehwanggo possesses possibility as supplementary drug about antibiotics against MRSA.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.179-189
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• 2009

Objectives : Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptis japonica MAKINO; CR) is a well known crude drug as antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity. However, there is no study of the effect of CR on brain infarction and it's mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on ischemic stroke induced by photothrombotic infarction by evaluating the functional & neuronal recovery after brain infarction. Materials & Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were induced photothrombotic brain infarction on sensorimotor cortex, and brain infarction volume by image J software (NIH, USA) after Nissl stain, also single pellet reaching task as a functional motor recovery were observed. After orally pretreated by CR (500 mg/kg) or normal saline as a sham control before 7 days from the time of photothrombotic infarction, rats were sacrificed. After then we analysed anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-1$\beta$), by RT-PCR and ELISA method, and immunohistochemistry (GFAP, connexin-43) as a marker of neural plasticity. Results : CR (100, 250, 500 mg/kg) decreased the infarction volume dose-dependently, however the effect of 500mg/kg of CR (CR 500) showed the best (P=0.051). Also, CR 500 decreased the infarction volume time-dependently, the most effective time was 3-7 days after stroke. Photothrombosis increased inflammatory cytokines after infarction, CR 500 suppressed significantly mRNA expression of IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$. In serum, CR 500 decreased the amount of IL-1$\beta$, 12h, 24h and 48h respectively (p < 0.05), also decreased that of IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$, 12h respectively (p < 0.05) after infarction. The more astrocytes were observed and neural plasticity was facilitated in the rat brain of CR 500 than that of sham control in immunohistochemistry. Conclusions : This results suggest that CR decrease infarction volume and improve functional motor recovery in acute stage in photothrombotic ischemic infarction model in the mechanism of anti-inflammation and promoting neural plasticity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.218-226
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• 2016

Helicobacter pylori primarily colonizes the human stomach. Infection by this bacterium is associated with various gastric diseases, including inflammation, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Although there are antibiotic regimens for the eradication of H. pylori, the resistance of this species against antibiotics has been continuously increasing. The natural compound plumbagin has been reported as an antimicrobial and anticancer molecule. In this study, we analyzed the inhibitory effect of plumbagin on H. pylori strain ATCC 49503 as well as the expression of various molecules associated with H. pylori growth or virulence by immunoblotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses. We demonstrated the minimal inhibitory concentration of plumbagin on H. pylori through the agar dilution and broth dilution methods. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of plumbagin treatment on the expression of the RNA polymerase subunits and various virulence factors of H. pylori. Plumbagin treatment decreased the expression of RNA polymerase subunit alpha (rpoA), which is closely associated with bacterial survival. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of the major CagA and VacA toxins were decreased in plumbagintreated H. pylori cells. Likewise, the expression levels of urease subunit alpha (ureA) and an adhesin (alpA) were decreased by plumbagin treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that plumbagin may inhibit the growth, colonization, and pathogenesis of H. pylori by the mechanism demonstrated in this study.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 1992

Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by various species of microorganisms that suppress the growth of other microorganisms or may destroy them. Among the more than 4000 antibiotics that has been identified, about 20s are using as the therapy of infectious fish diseases. There are several methods used to classify and group antibiotics, and the most common classification has been based on chemical structure and proposed mechanism of action. The effect of antibiotics may be determined by the kind of fish pathogens and by the external environment surrounded the infected fish. It implies that the kind of antibiotics and its application method should be decided after the determination of the reasons of fish disease. The uncontrolled usages of antibiotics may induce the selection of resistant mutants appeared spontaneously and present in any group of bacteria. The epidemic spread of such antibiotic resistant strains of fish pathogenic bacteria already has been reported in various districts of japan. Importantly, transferable drug resistant(R) plasmids were detected in strains of most of fish pathogens. Based on those reports, the antimicrobial resistance appears to be a rapidly emerging problem in the fish industry on the country. The expanding literatures on the pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, withdrawal periods and efficacy of environmental effect for the commonly using antibiotics have met the needs of data for the practical application of antibiotics. However, the most important thing for the treatment of fish diseases would be the communication and exchanging of information between the site of aquaculture and the diagnostic laboratory.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.34-48
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• 1985

In vitro effects of nitrofurantoin, an antimicrobial agent for acute and chronic urinary tract infection, on the lung microsomal lipid peroxidation and the generation of reactive oxygen radicals were investigated to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms of its in vivopulmonary toxicity. The interaction of nitrofurantoin with porcine lung microsome resulted in significant lipid peroxidation. In addition, nitrofurantoin stimulated the generation of reactive oxygen radicals, $O^{-}_{2}{\cdot},\;H_2O_2$ as well as a highly reactive secondary oxygen species, $OH{\cdot}$. The stimulation of lipid peroxidation was inhibited not only by superoxide dismutase and catalase, but also by hydroxyl radical scavengers, mannitol and thiourea. Neither singlet oxygen $({^1}O_{2})$ was detected during the incubation of microsome with nitrofurantoin, nor lipid peroxidation was inhibited by singlet oxygen scavengers. When incubated anaerobically under the nitrogen atmosphere, the ability of nitrofurantoin to stimulatle lipid peroxidation was abolished. It appears that NADPH-dependent metaboliam of nitrofurantoin in pulmonary microsome under aerobic condition is accompanied by the stimulation of lipid peroxidation through the mediation of reactive oxygen radicals, particularly hydroxyl radical. It is strongly suggested from these results that the stimulation of pulmonary microsomal lipid peroxidation by the reactive oxygen radical may be a in vivo mechanism of pulmonary toxicity caused by nitrofurantoin.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1006-1015
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• 2005

We investigated the effect of hydroxyl radicals on the photolysis of triclosan (TCS), which is a potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. TCS degradation during the initial reaction time of 5 min followed a pseudo-first order kinetic model ai all light intensities at a wavelength of 365 nm and at the low light intensities at a wavelength of 254 nm. The photodegradation rate significantly increased with decreasing wavelength and increasing the UV intensities. The activity of hydroxyl radicals was suppressed when methanol was used as the solvent instead of water. An increase in the photon effect was observed when the UV intensity was higher than $5.77{\times}10^{-5}$ einstein $L^{-1}min^{-1}$ at 254 nm, and lower than $1.56{\times}10^{-4}$ einstein $L^{-1}min^{-1}$ at 365 nm. The quantum yield efficiency for the photolysis of TCS was higher at 365 nm than at 254 nm among the above mentioned UV intensities. Dibenzodichloro-p-dioxin (DCDD) and dibenzo-p-dioxin were detected as intermediates at both UV intensities of $1.37{\times}10^{-4}$ and $1.56{\times}10^{-4}$ einstein $L^{-1}min^{-1}$ at 365 nm. Dichlorophenol and phenol were also detected in all cases. Based on our findings, we presented a possible mechanism of TCS photolysis.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2012

The commercial product "pyto-patch" prepared as nano sized silver particle less than 5 nm, has effective antifungal activity against Collectotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vitro. As a fungal growth inhibiton mechanism, it can reduce spore germination rate and mycelial growth. As s promising fungicide, Phyto-patch can control anthracnose effectively. The spore of C. gloeosporioides dipped in 5 ppm phyto-patch dilute suppressed germination rate to 13.2%, and mycelial growth stopped for 15 days at 10 ppm. The spore postinoculated on 10 ppm phyto-path smeared PDA surface could not germinate for 3 days and prohibit pathogen infection effectively. In field test, the anthracnose development of 4 ppm phyto-patch treated plot was less than 7% after 21 days compaired to 40% of it in untreated plot. In heavy rainfall season, pepper anthracnose effectivly contrrolled by regular 10 ppm phytopatch spraying every 7 days. The diseased pepper fruit decreased to 5.8% compaired to 94.6% in untreated plot. During drying period, the diseased pepper fruit havested in phyto-patch treated plot was 24.2%, but pepper fruit havested in untreated plot destroyed to 100% within 3 days. The nano silver particle coated on multching textile prevented late blight of pepper effectively and disease occurance delayed about month.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2006

Potassium Sorbate (PS) is a potassium salt version of sorbic acid, which has antimicrobial and fungistatic features in foods. Therefore, PS is used as a food preservative against fungi and mold. PS has been found to be non-toxic even when taken in large quantities given its trait to be broken down in the body into water and carbon dioxide. Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (GJIC) is essential in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis during development and differentiation. This study was made of the effects of PS on GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial (WB) cells. We found dramatic decrease of cell viability in time- and dose-dependent manners when WB cells were treated with PS. The effect of PS on GJIC is strong inhibition, and it took place in parallel with a hyperphosphorylation of connexin 43 expression. The finding that PS interferes with gap junction functionality should be considered with respect to the mechanism of PS-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2008

The degradation mechanism of Triclosan(TCS), which is a potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and has been considered as an emerging pollutant, was investigated in the Fenton and the hybrid reaction with Fe$^{2+}$ and UV-C. The results show that the Fe$^{2+}$ is oxidized to 30% by $H_2O_2$, 28% by UV-C, and 15% by UV-A for 10 min. The degradation rate of TCS for beginning time(10 min) was higher in UV-C only reaction than that in hybrid reaction, which of the order was inverted according to the lapse of reaction time. The effect of methanol was the greatest in Fenton reaction, in which the degradation rate of TCS decreased from 90% to 5% by the addition of methanol. Chloride, ionic intermediate, was produced to 77% for 150 min of hybrid reaction(Fe$^{2+}$ + UV-C), which was the greatest. In case with methanol, the generation rate of chloride for 15 min was ignorable in all reactions($\leq$2%) but the hybrid reaction with Fe$^{2+}$ and UV-C(12%). Additionally, the removal rate of TOC in each reaction was estimated as the followed orders; Fe$^{2+}$ + UV-C > Fe$^{2+}$ + $H_2O_2$ > Fe$^{2+}$ + UV-A > UV-C > UV-A. However, the Fenton reaction was almost stopped after 90 min because the reaction between Fe$^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ cannot be kept on without adding the oxidant. The phenomena was not observed in the hybrid reaction. In view of generating chloride, the reductive degradation of TCS may be in the hybrid reaction with Fe$^{2+}$ and UV-C, which is favorable to mineralize halogenated organic compounds such as TCS. Consequently, the hybrid process with Fe$^{2+}$ and UV-C may be considered as the alternative treatment method for TCS.