• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.12-30
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• 2022

Many studies on plant extracts have been reported for the treatment of candidiasis caused by Candida albicans, a representative fungal infection. This study demonstrates the synergistic antifungal activity of the combination of Phellodendri Cortex and Magnoliae Cortex, previously reported to have antifungal efficacy. Considering the antifungal efficacy and the separation of the active constituents, berberine and magnolol, hot water extraction and carbon dioxide supercritical extraction were selected for Phellodendri Cortex and Magnoliae Cortex, respectively. A combination of 0.55 g/L hot water extract of Phellodendri Cortex and 0.59 g/L carbon dioxide supercritical extract of Magnoliae Cortex showed synergistic antifungal activity. The synergistic antifungal activity of 160 μM berberine and 100 μM magnolol, which are representative antifungal compounds of Phellodendri Cortex and Magnoliae Cortex, respectively, contributes to the synergistic antifungal effect of their extracts. The additive decrease in cellular ergosterol level and the increased antifungal efficacy by extracellular ergosterol suggest that disruption of the biological function of ergosterol in the cell membrane is not responsible for the synergistic antifungal activity of berberine and magnolol. Synergistic cellular release of chromosomal DNA upon mixing berberine and magnolol indicates that disruption of the cellular structure is responsible for the synergistic antifungal effect of berberine and magnolol.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2023

Algal organic matters (AOMs) are challenging to remove using traditional water treatment methods. Additionally, they are recognized as disinfection by product (DBP) precursors during the chlorination process. These compounds have the potential to seriously harm aquatic creatures. Despite the fact that AOMs and DBPs formed from algae can harm aquatic species by impairing their cognitive function and causing behavioral problems, only a few studies on the effects of AOMs and associated DBPs have been conducted. To assess the impact of extracellular organic materials (EOMs) produced by three different hazardous algal species and the chlorinated EOMs on zebrafish, this study used fish acute embryo toxicity (FET) and cognitive function tests. With rising EOM concentrations, the embryo's survival rate and mental capacity both declined. Of the three algal species, the embryo exposed to Microcystis aeruginosa EOM exhibited the lowest survival rate. On the other hand, the embryo exposed to EOMs following chlorination demonstrated a drop in CT values in both the survival rate and cognitive ability. These findings imply that EOMs and EOMs treated with chlorine may have detrimental effects on aquatic life. Therefore, an effective EOM management is needed in aquatic environment.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2022

Scrophularia koraiensis Nakai is widely used to remedy fever, edema, and neuritis. S. koraiensis has harpagoside and angoroside C, these compounds have been reported to alleviate inflammation, rheumatic diseases, and analgesic stimulation. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract of S. koraiensis (SKE) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced macrophages. At cellular levels, SKE decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO), the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cytokines (IL-1b, TNF-a, and IL-6) under the LPS stimulation. SKE inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and its inhibitor (IκB-α). In addition, SKE suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In conclusion, SKE could be considered a potential resource for attenuating inflammation response and it may be utilized in the material for cosmetics, food additives, and tea.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1979-1987
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• 2019

Sargassum thunbergii is a brown alga from which various bioactive compounds can be extracted. Among these, the activities of indole derivatives, particularly as potential inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and their underlying mechanisms have been rarely investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of indole-6-carboxaldehyde (I6CA) on MMP-9 by gelatin zymography and western blot anlaysis. We used phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which is known to induce MMP-9 expression and secretion, to stimulate HT1080 cells. Our results revealed that I6CA significantly inhibited MMP-9 expression and secretion, without significantly affecting the viability of PMA-stimulated HT1080 cells. Our mechanistic studies indicated that I6CA suppressed the phosphorylation and activation of two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK). Furthermore, I6CA inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) in response to PMA stimulation, which suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit nuclear translocation. Collectively, I6CA was determined to suppress MMP-9 expression and secretion, and effects were proposed to be mediated via the inhibition of the MAPK and NF-κB p65 pathways. Therefore, we suggested I6CA to be a potential therapeutic agent for MMP-9-related processes, including tumor invasion and metastasis; however, further investigation is required.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2014

Bone homeostasis is maintained by balance between bone resorbing-osteoclasts and bone forming-osteoblasts. Excessive osteoclastic bone resorption plays a critical role in bone destruction in pathological bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal disease. Many compounds derived from natural products have pharmacological applications and have therapeutic value for treating or preventing several bone diseases characterized by excessive bone resorption. To discover new compounds that can act as anti-resorptive agents, we screened for natural compounds that regulate osteclast differentiation, and found that water extract of Ziziphus Jujuba Mill (WEZJ) has inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation. In this study, WEZJ clearly inhibits the osteoclast differentiation in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor kB (RANKL), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) without cytoxicity by blocking activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1, and c-Fos. In signaling pathway, the phosphorylation of Akt, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and the expression of osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphates (TRAP), Integrin av, Integrin b3, Cathepsin K are suppressed, too. These result suggest that WEZJ may have therapeutic value for treating or preventing several bone diseases characterized by excessive bone destruction.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Wetlands constitute a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and have unique characteristics such as frequent inundation, inflow of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems, presence of plants adapted to grow in water, and soil that is occasionally oxygen deficient due to saturation. These characteristics and the presence of vegetation determine physical and chemical properties that affect decomposition rates of organic matter (OM). Decomposition of OM is associated with activities of various extracellular enzymes (EE) produced by bacteria and fungi. Extracellular enzymes convert macromolecules to simple compounds such as labile organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) that can be easily taken up by microbes and plants. Therefore, the enzymatic approach is helpful to understand the decomposition rates of OM and nutrient cycling in wetland soils. This paper reviews the physical and biogeochemical factors that regulate extracellular enzyme activities (EEa) in wetland soils, including those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and phenol oxidase that decompose organic matter and release C, N, P, and S nutrients for microbial and plant growths. Effects of pH, water table, and particle size of OM on EEa were not significantly different among sites, whereas the influence of temperature on EEa varied depending on microbial acclimation to extreme temperatures. Addition of C, N, or P affected EEa differently depending on the nutrient state, C:N ratio, limiting factors, and types of enzymes of wetland soils. Substrate quality influenced EEa more significantly than did other factors. Also, drainage of wetland and increased temperature due to global climate change can stimulate phenol oxidase activity, and anthropogenic N deposition can enhance the hydrolytic EEa; these effects increase OM decomposition rates and emissions of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ from wetland systems. The researches on the relationship between microbial structures and EE functions, and environmental factors controlling EEa can be helpful to manipulate wetland ecosystems for treating pollutants and to monitor wetland ecosystem services.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2010

Phenolic compounds affect intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) signaling. The study examined whether the simple phenolic compound octyl gallate affects ATP-induced $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in PC12 cells using fura-2-based digital $Ca^{2+}$ imaging and whole-cell patch clamping. Treatment with ATP ($100\;{\mu}M$) for 90 s induced increases in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in PC12 cells. Pretreatment with octyl gallate (100 nM to $20\;{\mu}M$) for 10 min inhibited the ATP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ response in a concentration-dependent manner ($IC_{50}=2.84\;{\mu}M$). Treatment with octyl gallate ($3\;{\mu}M$) for 10 min significantly inhibited the ATP-induced response following the removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ with nominally $Ca^{2+}$-free HEPES HBSS or depletion of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores with thapsigargin ($1\;{\mu}M$). Treatment for 10 min with the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonist nimodipine ($1\;{\mu}M$) significantly inhibited the ATP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase, and treatment with octyl gallate further inhibited the ATP-induced response. Treatment with octyl gallate significantly inhibited the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase induced by 50 mM KCI. Pretreatment with protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporin (100 nM) and GF109203X (300 nM), or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein ($50\;{\mu}M$) did not significantly affect the inhibitory effects of octyl gallate on the ATP-induced response. Treatment with octyl gallate markedly inhibited the ATP-induced currents. Therefore, we conclude that octyl gallate inhibits ATP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in PC12 cells by inhibiting both non-selective P2X receptor-mediated influx of $Ca^{2+}$ from extracellular space and P2Y receptor-induced release of $Ca^{2+}$ from intracellular stores in protein kinase-independent manner. In addition, octyl gallate inhibits the ATP-induced $Ca^{2+}$ responses by inhibiting the secondary activation of voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ channels.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1992

Catecholamines, serotonin and their metabolites were measured in the posterior hypothalamus of urethane-anesthetized normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) using brain microdialysis which is a recently developed experimental method to measure the release of neurotransmitters and their metabolites at the localized brain area in vivo. Microdialysis probe was implanted stereotaxically to the rat posterior hypothalamus and perfused by Ringer's solution. Monoamines and their metabolites were quantified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. In vitro recovery test of microdialysis showed that there exist inverse relationship between the perfusion flow rate and the relative recovery of neurochemical compounds. The estimated extracellular concentration of dopamine was about 32 nM, of norepinephrine 50 nM, of epinephrine 50 nM, of serotonin 73 nM, of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) 281 nM, of homovanillic acid (HVA) 181 nM, and of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) 3767 nM in the hypothalamic perfusate of the normotensive rat. There was no difference in the basal level of monoamines between the SHR and the WKY. In contrast, the level of DOPAC, HVA and 5HIAA in SHR was higher than that in the WKY, This study demonstrated that the microdialysis technique should be an applicable tool for in vivo measurement of central neurochemical substances.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.813-820
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• 2013

Monoterpenoids were recently found as main biologically active compounds which is responsible for various physiological effect in goat's beard (Aruncus dioicus). Ethyl acetate extract of A. dioicus (ADE) was treated to B16F10 melanoma cells for the examination of whitening activity. MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell toxicity and the result showed that slight cell toxicity (> 10%) by over $500{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$. Thus, 0, 5, 10, or $50{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ ADE was used for further experiments. We found that tyrosinase activity was decreased according to ADE concentration, and the total melanin content was also dramatically reduced. Especially with $50{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ ADE treatment tyrosinase activity was reduced to 35.6%, and 58.8% of melanin content was lowered. In addition, whitening related proteins including tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP1), TRP2, microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) and cAMP and protein kinase A (PKA) were reduced by ADE treatment. It caused decreased phosphorylation of cAMP response binding protein (CREB) but increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal related kinase (ERK). Therefore, in this paper we would like to suggest the potent usage of A. dioicus natively grown in Ulleungdo, Korea as materials of functional cosmetics by confirming whitening activity related with melanin content.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.453-460
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• 2020

Background: BIOGF1K, a fraction of Panax ginseng, has desirable antimelanogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiphotoaging properties that could be useful for treating skin conditions. Because its potential positive effects on allergic reactions in skin have not yet been described in detail, this study's main objective was to determine its efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography was used to verify the compounds in BIOGF1K, and we used the (3-4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method to determine its cytotoxicity in RBL-2H3 and HMC-1 cell lines. RBL-2H3 cells were induced using both anti-DNP-IgE/DNP-BSA and calcium ionophore (A2187) treatments, whereas HMC-1 cells were induced using A2187 alone. To measure mast cell degranulation, we performed histamine (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and β-hexosaminidase assays. To quantify interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in RBL-2H3 cells, we performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR); to quantify expression levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in HMC-1 cells, we used semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Finally, we detected the total and phosphorylated forms of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p-38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase proteins by immunoblotting. Results: BIOGF1K decreased the AD response by reducing both histamine and β-hexosaminidase release as well as reducing the secretion levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in RBL-2H3 cells and IL-4 and IL-13 in HMC-1 cells. In addition, BIOGF1K decreased MAPK pathway activation in RBL-2H3 and HMC-1 cells. Conclusions: BIOGF1K attenuated the AD response, hence supporting its use as a promising and natural approach for treating AD.