• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2011

Tocopherols belong to the plant-derived poly phenolic compounds known for antioxidant functions in plants and animals. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) is a common reaction of plant cells in defense-related signal transduction pathways. We report a novel non-antioxidant function of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol in higher plants linking the physiological role of tocopherol with stress signalling pathways. Pre-incubation of a low concentration of $50{\mu}M$ ${\alpha}$-tocopherol negatively interferes with MAPK activation in elicitor-treated tobacco BY2 suspension culture cells and wounded tobacco leaves, whereas pre-incubated BY2 cells with ${\alpha}$-tocopherol phosphate did not show the inhibitory effect on stimuli-induced MAPK activation. The decreased MAPK activity was neither due to a direct inhibitory effect of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol nor due to the induction of an inhibitory or inactivating activity directly affecting MAPK activity. The data support that the target of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol negatively regulates an upstream component of the signaling pathways that leads to stress dependent MAPK activation.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2008

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant potential of A. lanata on oxalate mediated free radical toxicity in ethylene glycol induced calcium oxalate urolithic rats. Calcium oxalate (CaOX) stone was induced by 0.75% ethylene glycol in drinking water for 28 days. From $29^{th}$ day onwards, the CaOX urolithic rats were treated with A. lanata aqueous suspension (2,000 mg/kg body weight/dose/day) orally for another 28 days. At the end of experimental periods the animals were sacrificed, samples were collected and analyzed the lipid peroxidation product, protein oxidation product, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in normal and experimental groups. Lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation products were significantly elevated while enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels were significantly decreased in ethylene glycol induced CaOX urolithic rats when compared with control rats. The above alterations were reverted to near control in rats treated with aqueous suspension of A. lanata. This study suggests that A. lanata could prevent the free radical formation from calcium oxalate urolithiasis in rats and protecting the renal cells from oxidative injury.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.183-189
• /
• 2015

In the present study, an optimum protease was selected to hydrolyze the egg white liquid protein for the antioxidant peptides. Alcalase treatment yielded the highest amount of ${\alpha}$-amino groups (15.27 mg/mL), while the control (no enzymatic hydrolysis) showed the lowest amount of ${\alpha}$-amino groups (1.53 mg/mL). Alcalase also gave the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) value (43.2%) and was more efficient for egg white liquid hydrolysis than the other enzymes. The Alcalase hydrolysate had the highest radical-scavenging activity (82.5%) at a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. The conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of egg white liquid with Alcalase were selected as substrate : water ratio of 2:1. Five percent Alacalse treatment did not show significant (P>0.05) increases of DH and ${\alpha}$-amino nitrogen content after 24 hhydrolysis. Thirty two hour-hydrolysis with 5% Alcalase is sufficient to make antioxidative egg white liquid hydrolysate from egg white liquid. DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities were significantly (P<0.05) higher after enzymatic digestion. These results suggest that active peptides released from egg-white protein are effective radical-scavengers. Thus, this approach may be useful for the preparation of potent antioxidant products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.280-287
• /
• 2000

Generally, buckwheat has been regarded as a crop of secondary importance in many countries. In vitro functionalities of buckwheats as a food were evaluated in this study. Five of buckwheat cultivars were extracted with methanol, and the extractant were dried and lyophilized, separately. Or water soluble buckwheat components were digested with the commercial enzymes and the obtained protein hydrolysate was again fractionated by acid precipitation. The antioxidant capacity of the methanol extracts determined using Fe2+-ascorbic acid system was dependent ont the cultivars: The extract of Suwon 4 showed 3.3 times stronger activity than ascorbic acid in terms of IC50. Also, the extracts of buckwheats inhibited efficiently the activities of $\alpha$-amylase and lens aldose reductase. Buckwheat soluble protein or rutin suppressed the in vitro activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme, and the inhibitory degree depended largely on the cultivars. Buckwheat proteins exerted higher hydrophobicity being related to the sterol binding capacity than casein. The results suggested that buckwheat seeds may be desirable and functional food resources in human living in current society.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.1006-1013
• /
• 2021

Objective: Cells have increased susceptibility to activation of apoptosis when suffering heat stress (HS). An effective supplementation strategy to mimic heat-induced apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells (MECs) is necessary to maintain optimal milk production. This study aimed to investigate possible protective effects of the anti-apoptotic activity of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) against HS-induced damage of bovine MECs. Methods: Bovine MECs were pretreated with or without 5-ALA at concentrations of 10, 100, and 500 µM for 24 h followed by HS (42.5℃ for 24 h and 48 h). Cell viability was measured with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to explore the regulation of genes associated with apoptosis, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress genes. Results: We found that 5-ALA induces cytoprotection via inhibition of apoptosis markers after HS-induced damage. Pretreatment of bovine MECs with 5-ALA resulted in dramatic upregulation of mRNA for nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1, all of which are antioxidant stress genes. Moreover, 5-ALA pretreatment significantly suppressed HS-induced ER stress-associated markers, glucose-regulated protein 78, and C/EBP homologous protein expression levels. Conclusion: 5-ALA can ameliorate the ER stress in heat stressed bovine MEC via enhancing the expression of antioxidant gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.11
• /
• pp.1447-1453
• /
• 2022

Prohibitin 1 (Phb1) is a pleiotropic protein, located mainly in the mitochondrial inner membrane and involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and the stabilization of mitochondrial protein. Acetaminophen (APAP) is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter analgesics worldwide. However, at high dose, the accumulation of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) can lead to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, we sought to understand the regulation of mRNA expression in relation to APAP and GSH metabolism by Phb1 in normal mouse AML12 hepatocytes. We used two different Phb1 silencing levels: high-efficiency (HE, >90%) and low-efficiency (LE, 50-60%). In addition, the siRNA-transfected cells were further pretreated with 0.5 mM of Sadenosylmethionine (SAMe) for 24 h before treatment with APAP at different doses (1-2 mM) for 24 h. The expression of APAP metabolism-related and antioxidant genes such as Cyp2e1 and Ugt1a1 were increased during SAMe pretreatment. Moreover, SAMe increased intracellular GSH concentration and it was maintained after APAP treatment. To sum up, Phb1 silencing and APAP treatment impaired the metabolism of APAP in hepatocytes, and SAMe exerted a protective effect against hepatotoxicity by upregulating antioxidant genes.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.520-529
• /
• 2024

Lycium barbarum extract has a high potential to be developed as a health functional food due to the various health-promoting effects of Lycium barbarum. This study analyzed changes in nutritional and functional components depending on the extraction solvent (purified water and a mixture of purified water and alcohol) and the condition of the sample. The nutritional components (carbohydrates, protein, fat, ash), organic acids, amino acids, total phenolic compounds, and total flavonoids of the extract produced during the extraction process were analyzed. The nutritional composition and functional substances of the extracts showed some differences depending on the type of solvent and the condition of the sample. The amounts of crude protein (7.61%), crude fat (1.63%), carbohydrate (90.22%), and ash (0.54%) of dried Lycium barbarum extract using purified water as a solvent were similar to those of the powder sample extract. The highest content of citric acid was 4.31 mg/mL, similar to the case of acetic acid, when the powder sample used a mixture of purified water and alcohol as a solvent. The highest amino acid content was 357.39 mg/mL when the powder sample was mixed with purified water and alcohol as a solvent. The total amount of phenolic compounds was 686.16 g/L when the powder sample was extracted with a mixture of purified water and alcohol as a solvent. The highest total flavonoid content was 111.32 g/L when the powder sample was extracted with a mixture of purified water and alcohol as a solvent.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.11
• /
• pp.851-858
• /
• 2023

Unique cartilage matrix-associated protein (UCMA) is an extrahepatic vitamin K-dependent protein rich in γ-carboxylated (Gla) residues. UCMA has been recognized for its ability to promote osteoblast differentiation and enhance bone formation; however, its impact on osteoblasts under hyperglycemic stress remains unknown. In this paper, we investigated the effect of UCMA on MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells under hyperglycemic conditions. After exposure to high glucose, the MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with recombinant UCMA proteins. CellROX and MitoSOX staining showed that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which initially increased under high-glucose conditions in MC3T3-E1 cells, decreased after UCMA treatment. Additionally, quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed increased expression of antioxidant genes, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and superoxide dismutase 1, in the MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to both high glucose and UCMA. UCMA treatment downregulated the expression of heme oxygenase-1, which reduced its translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, the expression of dynamin-related protein 1, a mitochondrial fission marker, was upregulated, and AKT signaling was inhibited after UCMA treatment. Overall, UCMA appears to mitigate ROS production, increase antioxidant gene expression, impact mitochondrial dynamics, and modulate AKT signaling in osteoblasts exposed to high-glucose conditions. This study advances our understanding of the cellular mechanism of UCMA and suggests its potential use as a novel therapeutic agent for bone complications related to metabolic disorders.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2019

The protein kinase $CK2{\alpha}$ (formerly Casein Kinase II) is implicated in tumorigenesis and transformation. However, the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in breast cancer have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in estrogen signaling. Estrogen increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity, and protein expression in estrogen receptor positive ($ER^+$) MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, which were inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. $H_2O_2$ enhanced $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression. Human epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression in EGF receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing MCF-7 (MCF-7 HER2) cells, but not in MCF-7 cells. Estrogen induced the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The p38 inhibitor, SB202190, blocked estrogen-induced increases in ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and $CK2{\alpha}$ protein expression. The data suggest that ROS/p38 MAPK is the key inducer of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in response to estrogen or EGF.