• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.3917-3922
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• 2015

Curcumin, a lipid-soluble compound extracted from the plant Curcuma Longa, has been found to exert immunomodulatory effects via macrophages. However, most studies focus on the low bioavailability issue of curcumin by nano and microparticles, and thus the role of macrophages in the anticancer mechanism of curcumin has received little attention so far. We have previously shown the potential biocompatibility, biodegradability and anti-cancer effects of dendrosomal curcumin (DNC). In this study, twenty-seven BALB/c mice were equally divided into control as well as 40 and 80 mg/kg groups of DNC to investigate the involvement of macrophages in the antitumor effects of curcumin in a typical animal model of metastatic breast cancer. At the end of intervention, the tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced in DNC groups compared to control (P<0.05). Histopathological data showed the presence of macrophages in tumor and spleen tissues. Real-time PCR results showed that DNC increased the expression of STAT4 and IL-12 genes in tumor and spleen tissues in comparison with control (P<0.05), referring to the high levels of M1 macrophages. Furthermore treatment with DNC decreased STAT3, IL-10 and arginase I gene expression (P<0.05), indicating low levels of M2 macrophage. The results confirm the role of macrophages in the protective effects of dendrosomal curcumin against metastatic breast cancer in mice.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.241-254
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• 2015

This study attempts to examine farmers' preference and perception towards cropland agroforestry (CAF) and its economic benefits in Bangladesh. It surveys 84 farmers of two sub-districts named Manirampur and Bagherpara under Jessore district of Bangladesh to address the study objectives with the help of a questionnaire during the period of June to July 2013. We follow a multistage random sampling procedure for selecting respondents of the survey. A total of 27 plant species under 19 families are identified in the surveyed crop fields, among which 11 are tree species and 1 is shrub from 8 families and 15 species are agricultural crops from 11 families. According to the survey findings, most of the farmers prefer multipurpose tree species like Swietenia macrophylla (67 percent), Phoenix sylvestris (48 percent), Mangifera indica (48 percent) and Cocos nucifera (43 percent). We also find that Curcuma longa (92 percent), Oryza spp. (56 percent), Solanum melongena (43 percent) and Amorphophallus campanulatus (33 percent) are the available agriculture crops which are grown in association with trees in the study area. The surveyed farmers report that they practice CAF to get fuel wood, fodder, juice, fruit and food for family consumption and revenue earnings. About 76 percent of the surveyed farmers endorse the existence of a positive interaction between trees and agriculture crops, while the rest 24 percent endorse the existence of a negative interaction between trees and agriculture crops. This study finds that CAF farmers on an average earn US$ 1,410 per farm per year and the yearly average revenue difference between CAF and non-cropland agroforestry (NCAF) farmers is US$ 214. Overall, CAF needs to develop through scientific intervention in the study area to conserve the biodiversity and to enhance farmers' sustainable livelihood.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권8호
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• pp.3363-3368
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• 2014

Background: Curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, has shown cytotoxic effects against a variety of cancers. The aim of this study was to identify potential microRNA (miRNA) mediators of the anticancer effects of curcumin in ovarian cancer cells. Materials and Methods: SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were treated with curcumin ($10-60{\mu}M$) and miR-9 expression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed. The effects of miR-9 depletion on curcumin-mediated growth suppression were also examined. Phosphorylation of Akt and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) was measured in cells with miR-9 overexpression or curcumin treatment. Results: Curcumin caused a significant and dose-dependent increase of miR-9 expression in SKOV3 cells, while significantly impeding cell proliferation and stimulating apoptosis. Depletion of miR-9 significantly (p<0.05) attenuated the growth-suppressive effects of curcumin on SKOV3 cells, coupled with reduced percentages of apoptotic cells. In contrast, overexpression of miR-9 significantly enhanced the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and promoted apoptotic death in SKOV3 cells. Western blot analysis showed that both miR-9 overexpression and curcumin similarly caused a significant (p<0.05) decline in the phosphorylation of Akt and FOXO1, compared to untreated cells. Conclusions: The present study provided evidence that curcumin exerts its cytotoxic effects against SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells largely through upregulation of miR-9 and subsequent modulation of Akt/FOXO1 axis. Further studies are needed to identify direct targets of miR-9 that mediate the anticancer effects of curcumin in ovarian cancer cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.101-108
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• 2003

Antiplatelet aggregation, anticoagulant and lipid-lowering drugs are clinically widely used for secondary preventive purpose in the cardiovascular patients, but there is no primary preventive agents to prevent these diseases. With the aim of developing effective primary agents for cardiovascular diseases, we tried to formulate an optimized mixture of natural plants extract containing Theae sinensis, Camelliae sinensis, Vitis vinifera, Gingko folium and curcuminoids from Curcuma longa and to evaluate its anti-thrombotic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects in vivo. The inhibitory effect of curcuminoids on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration were also investigated in vitro. in the animal experiments treated with hyperlipidemic diet, oral treatment of curcuminoids and natural plants extracts mixture (100 mg/kg) into male Sprague Dawley rats for 7 week simultaneously inhibited platelet aggregation as well as improved lipid profile in the blood. Compared to control group, both of curcuminoids-treated and mixture-treated groups revealed significantly decrease of total cholesterol (24.4%, 28.6%), free cholesterol (25.1%, 24.0%), cholesterol ester (14.6%, 29.0%), LDL-cholesterol (27.0%, 32.0%) and triglyceride (15.0%, 31.0%), respectively. However, both groups showed increase of HDL-cholesterol (46.6% and 51.5%) . In particular, atherogenic index of curcuminoids and mixture treatment group was significantly decreased to 47.0% and 56.0%, respectively. Furthermore, oral treatment of curcuminoids and mixture significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation (21.1% and 29.1%, respectively), compared to control group. The anti-thrombotic values of mixture was almost similar to that of aspirin treatment (100 mg/kg) group. These results suggest that the oral treatment of curcuminoids-based natural plant extract mixture improved cardiovascular conditions in hyperlipidemic rats.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.289-295
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• 2016

Curcumin is a flavonoid found in the rhizome of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa L.) and has recently attracted interest because it has numerous biological functions and therapeutic properties. In the present study, we attempted to incorporate curcumin into medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) nanoemulsions (0.15 wt% curcumin, 10 wt% MCT oil, and 10 wt% emulsifiers) with various emulsifiers [polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween-20), sorbitan monooleate (SM), and soy lecithin (SL)]. The physicochemical properties of the nanoemulsions including the Ostwald ripening stability were investigated. The initial droplet size was found to be 89.08 nm for the nanoemulsion with 10 wt% Tween-20 (control), and when Tween-20 was partially replaced with SM and SL, the size decreased: 73.43 nm with 4 wt% SM+6 wt% Tween-20 and 67.68 nm with 4 wt% SL+6 wt% Tween-20 (prepared at 15,000 psi). When the nanoemulsions were stored for 28 days at room temperature, the droplet size increased as the storage time increased. The largest increase was observed for the control nanoemulsion, followed by the 4 wt% SL+6 wt% Tween-20 and 4 wt% SM+6 wt% Tween-20 systems. The Turbiscan dispersion stability results strongly supported the relationship between droplet size and storage time. The time-dependent increase in droplet size was attributed to the Ostwald ripening phenomenon. Thus, the Ostwald ripening stability of curcumin-loaded MCT nanoemulsions with Tween-20 was considerably improved by partially replacing the Tween-20 with SM or SL. In addition, curcumin may have acted as an Ostwald ripening inhibitor.

• Mycobiology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.221-225
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• 2003

Effect of ethanolic extracts of Lawsonia inermis, Azadirachta indica, Vinca rosea, Tagetes patula, Ocimum sanctum, Colocasia antiquorum, Adhatoda vasica, Moringa oleifera, Datura metel and Curcuma longa leaf on conidial germination, mycelial growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus were examined. The conidial germination of A. flavus and A. fumigatus were most inhibited by the extract of L. inermis, while that of A. niger was inhibited by A. indica. Other tested plant extracts have a good effect on conidial germination on the selected fungi. The highest mycelial growth of A. flavus(37 mm) was found in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus it(38 and 39 mm) was found in D. metel. The lowest(4, 9 and 6 mm) respectively mycelial growth of these fungi found in L. inermis. The highest sporulation($75{\times}10^4/ml$) of A. flavus was counted in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus those($45{\times}10^4$ and $55{\times}10^4/ml$) were in D. metel and the lowest($5{\times}10^4,\;12{\times}10^4\;and\;9{\times}10^4/ml$) respectively sporulation of these fungi counted in L. inermis plant extract medium.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.43-58
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• 2017

Objectives: We performed this study to evaluate the antioxidative and hypolipidemic effect of Artemisia iwayomogi (韓茵蔯), Curcuma longa L. (鬱金) and Raphanus sativus L. (蘿?子) (ACR). Method: We enriched Artemisiae Capillaris, Curcumae Longae and Raphani Semen compound with alcohol. ACR extract is treated to HepG2 cell. Cell groups are devided into 3 groups: normal, control and ACR treated group. We measured polyphenol, flavonoids, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, ROS, glutathione, GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase, SOD, catalase, free fatty acid, lipid peroxidation and suppression of ACAT1 and HMG-CoA reductase expression on mRNA level. Results: 1. ACR contained polyphenol and flavonoids and increased GSH significantly in HepG2 cell. 2. ACR increased GPx, GR, and catalase activity significantly in HepG2 cell. 3. ACR increased DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity significantly in HepG2 cell and decreased ROS. 4. ACR decreased free fatty acid and MDA significantly in HepG2 cell. 5. ACR suppressed ACAT1 and HMG-CoA reductase expression on mRNA level in HepG2 cell. Conclusion: This study suggests that ACR has antioxidative and hypolipidemic effect and might be effective in prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.309-329
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• 1996

There are the Seven Effect of Drugs and unique processing methods in Chinese traditional medicine. The Seven Effects are single effrect(單行), additive effect(相加, 相須), synergic effect(上乘, 相使), antagonistic effect(相畏, 拮抗), inhibitory effect(相惡), neutralizing effect(相殺) and opposite effect(相反). We are interested in synergic effects of some drugs and components ; Addition of OLDENLANDIA DIFFUSA to Kilkyungtang combanation enhanced the cytotoxic activity of Kilkyungtang against A549 and B16-Fo eells by 20% and 50%, respectively. The Oldenlandia-added kilkyungtang also potentiated the cytotoxicities of mitomycine Cand 5-fluorouracil. ar-tunnerone. isolated from the root of Curcuma longa, potentiated the cytotoxic activity of sesquiphellandrene(isolated from the same root), aurapten(isolated from Aurantii semen)or cyclophosphamide by 10 times. The purpose of the processing(修治) of Chinese grugs is to remove unusable parts of plants and to eliminate toxicities as well as to produse new active components in drugs. On a occasion of study on the anthelmintic drugs against the chinese fluke(Clonorchis sinesis, (肝디스토마), we have observed that the processed mume fruit(鳥梅) possessed a very very potent clonorchicidal effect, while the methanol extract of the non-processed fruit inactive. The active component was isolated from the processed mume and identified as 5-hydroxymethylfurfuryl aldehyde. This substance dose not occur in the immature fruit and was found only in the processed one. Wehave heated the immature fruit in an oven at $90^{\circ}C$ for 52 hrs and found that the heated fruit eame clonorchidal. As demonstrated in these and other example cited in this presentation, the natural products chemistry is contributory to univeiling the drug effect ensued from the processing and the synergic effect of Oriental medical drug combinations, and to rationalization or modernization of the traditional medicine.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.283-288
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• 2014

Among all serious diseases globally, diabetes (type 1 and type 2) still poses a major challenge to the world population. Several target proteins have been identified, and the etiology causing diabetes has been reasonably well studied. But, there is still a gap in deciding on the choice of a drug, especially when the target is mutated. Mutations in the KCNJ11 gene, encoding the kir6.2 channel, are reported to be associated with congenital hyperinsulinism, having a major impact in causing type 1 diabetes, and due to the lack of its 3D structure, an attempt has been made to predict the structure of kir6.2, applying fold recognition methods. The current work is intended to investigate the affinity of four phytochemicals namely, curcumin (Curcuma longa), genistein (Genista tinctoria), piperine (Piper nigrum), and pterostilbene (Vitis vinifera) in a normal as well as in a mutant kir6.2 model by adopting a molecular docking methodology. The phytochemicals were docked in both wild and mutated kir6.2 models in two rounds: blind docking followed by ATP-binding pocket-specific docking. From the binding pockets, the common interacting amino acid residues participating strongly within the binding pocket were identified and compared. From the study, we conclude that these phytochemicals have strong affinity in both the normal and mutant kir6.2 model. This work would be helpful for further study of the phytochemicals above for the treatment of type 1 diabetes by targeting the kir6.2 channel.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.498-501
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• 2012

본 연구에서 curcumin이 계란 알러젠 중의 하나인 OVA에 의해서 유도된 NF-${\kappa}B$ 활성화 및 iNOS 발현에 어떤 영향을 미치는지 알아보았다. Curcumin은 OVA에 의해서 유도된 NF-${\kappa}B$ 활성화와 iNOS 발현을 억제시켰다. 이러한 결과는 curcumin이 계란 알러젠인 OVA에 의해서 유도된 NF-${\kappa}B$의 활성화와 iNOS의 발현을 억제하여 염증반응이나 알러지와 같은 만성적인 질병들을 조절할 수 있다는 것을 보여주는 중요한 결과라 사료된다. 이러한 연구는 추후 알러지 작용기전 규명 및 알러지 치료제 개발에 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 기대한다.