• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2018

3',4'-Disenecioylkhellactone is one of khellactone-type coumarins isolated from the roots of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. However, its pharmacological effects are still little understood. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of 3',4'-disenecioylkhellactone on growth of gastric cancer cells. 3',4'-Disenecioylkhellactone strongly suppressed cell proliferation and induced caspase-mediated apoptosis in AGS human gastric cancer cells. Analysis of phospho-antibody arrays revealed 3',4'-disenecioylkhellactone effectively suppressed signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) tyrosine phosphorylation. 3',4'-Disenecioylkhellactone decreased STAT3 translocation to the nucleus and expression of STAT3 target genes. In addition, we examined the level of STAT3 activation in several gastric cancer cells and found that the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation by 3',4'-disenecioylkhellactone was associated with gastric cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, this study provides evidence for the first time that 3',4'-disenecioylkhellactone may be a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of gastric cancer.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2005

In the 40 years since the first benzodiazepine was brought into clinical use there has been a substantial growth in understanding the molecular basis of action of these drugs and the role of their receptors in anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepine receptors are present throughout the brain with the highest concentration in cortex, and it potentiate and prolong the synaptic action of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Central benzodiazepine receptors and $GABA_A$ receptors are part of the same macromolecular complex. Abnormalities of these $GABA_A$-benzodiazepine receptors as a result of drug challenge tests and neuroimaging studies may underlie some anxiety disorders. The role of $GABA_A$-benzodiazepine receptors in the action of benzodiazepine and as a factor in anxiety disorder, in both animal and humans including knock-out and knock in technique, may lead to new anxiolytics that have potentially significant therapeutic gains without unwanted side effects.

• Mycobiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2000

Mycelium of Hericium erinaceum isolate KU-1 was cultured in liquid medium (HL medium) and solid medium (Ko medium) at pH 4.0 in $28^{\circ}C$. 1.0% glucose or fructose was the most favorable carbon source, and 0.2% amonium acetate or $NaNO_3$ was an exellent nitrogen source for mycelial growth as well as production of antimicrobial substances. The mixture of saw dust 70% with rice bran 30% (SR medium) was the substrate for formation of sporophores. The active substrates in extracts from mycelium, culture filtrate and fruiting body were separated by TLC. The solvent for TLC was EtOAc: Chloroform: MeOH (10 : 5 : 10). Phenol-like substances appeared at Rf $0.5{\sim}0.9$, and fatty acid-like substances appeared at Rf $0.1{\sim}0.2$. The purified materials from the extracts showed antimicrobial effects to Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Microsporum gypseum. The S. aureus was the most inhibited. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of purified white powder and the Hercenone derivatives against S. aureus were $5.65\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $1.85\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• Mycobiology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2007

The antifungal effect of pine needle extract prepared by a distinguishable extraction method and the dry distillation method, was examined. The effect of this extract itself was insignificant. The chemical components of pine needle extract were then investigated by gas chromatographic analysis, and four, chemical components, acetol, furfural, 5-methyl furfural, and terpine4-ol, were identified. The antifungal effects of those four chemical components against Alternaria mali (A. mali), an agent of Alternaria blotch of apple, were then examined. It was observed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 6.25, 0.78, 0.78, and 12.5 (mg/ml) of acetol, furfural, 5-methyl furfural, and terpine-4-ol, respectively. MICs of furfural and 5-methyl furfural had the same order of magnitude as that of an antifungal agrochemical, chlorothalonil. Although furfural itself can not be completely substituted for an antifungal agrochemical, a partial mixture of furfural and antifungal agrochemical may be used as a substitute. The use of agrochemicals for the prevention of plant disease caused by pathogenic fungus such as A. mali could be partially reduced by the application of this mixture.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 2005

The neurofibromatosis type2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene product, merlin, is structurally related to the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family of proteins that anchor the actin cytoskeleton to specific membrane proteins and participate in cell signaling. However, the basis of the tumor suppressing activity of merlin is not well understood. Previously, we identified a role of merlin as an inhibitor of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway. Recent studies have suggested that phosphorylation of merlin, as of other ERM proteins, may regulate its function. To determine whether phosphorylation of merlin affects its suppression of Ras-ERK signaling, we generated plasmids expressing full-length merlin with substitutions of serine 518, a potential phosphorylation site. A substitution that mimics constitutive phosphorylation (S518D) abrogated the ability of merlin to suppress effects of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway such as Ras-induced SRE transactivation, Elk-mediated SRE transactivation, Ras-induced ERK phosphorylation and Ras-induced focus formation. On the other hand, an S518A mutant, which mimics nonphosphorylated merlin, acted like wild type merlin. These observations show that mimicking merlin phosphorylation impairs not only growth suppression by merlin but also its inhibitory action on the Ras-ERK signaling pathway.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 2015

Two white rot fungi, Ceriporia sp. ZLY-2010 (CER) and Stereum hirsutum (STH) were used as biocatalysts for the biotransformation of (-)-${\alpha}$-pinene. After 96 hr, CER converted the bicyclic monoterpene hydrocarbon (-)-${\alpha}$-pinene into ${\alpha}$-terpineol (yield, 0.05 g/L), a monocyclic monoterpene alcohol, in addition to, other minor products. Using STH, verbenone was identified as the major biotransformed product, and minor products were myrtenol, camphor, and isopinocarveol. We did not observe any inhibitory effects of substrate or transformed products on mycelial growth of the fungi. The activities of fungal manganese-dependent peroxidase and laccase were monitored for 15 days to determine the enzymatic pathways related to the biotransformation of (-)-${\alpha}$-pinene. We concluded that a complex of enzymes, including intra- and extracellular enzymes, were involved in terpenoid biotransformation by white rot fungi.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 1994

This study was carried out to clear up the cause of low-acid producing phenomenon occurred In non-fat dry milk during liquid-yoghurt fermentation by Lactobacillus case, and to present its improving methods. All samples of non-fat dry milks which were low in TCA-soluble peptides showed low-acid production, but those high in TCA-soluble peptides showed high-acid production. The addition of trypsin-hydrolysate of Na-caseinate to non-fat dry milk showed some improving effect on acid production but that of papain-hydrolysate did not show any improving effect and that of bacterical neutral protease-hydrolysate showed some inhibitory effect. The improving effects on growth and acid production of lactic acid bacteria were more prominent when the trypsin-hydrolysate of Na-caseinate was added. to such fermenting system in which the levels of TCA-soluble peptides and the proteolytic ability of starter bacteria were abnormally low. The liquid-yoghurt made with non-hydrolysed Na-caseinate and defective non-fat dry milk showed precipitate occurrence but that with trypsin-hydrolysate of Na-caseinate and defective non-fat dry milk did not make any precipitate during storage as with normal non-fat dry milk.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 1997

To gain further insight into the mechanism of action of antiestrogens, we examined the interaction of antiestrogen with the estrogen receptor system and with estrogen- noncompetable antiestrogen binding sites. In addition to binding directly to the estrogen receptor, antiestrogens can be found associated with binding sites that are distinct from the estrogen receptor. In contrast to the restriction of estrogen receptors to estrogen target cells, such as those of uterus and mammary glands, antiestrogen binding sites are present in equal amounts in estrogen receptor-positive and -negative human breast cancer cell lines, such as MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231 that differ markedly in their sensitivity to antiestrogens. In order to gain greater insight into the role of these antiestrogen binding sites in the action of antiestrogens, we have examined the biopotency of different antiestrogens for the antiestrogen binding sites and that is CI628 > tamoxifen > trans-hydroxy tamoxifen > CI628M > H1285 > LY117018. This order of affinities does not parallel the affinity of these compounds for the estrogen receptor nor the potency of these compounds as antiestrogens. Indeed, compounds with high affinity for the estrogen receptor and greatest antiestrogenic potency have low affinities for these antiestrogen binding sites. Antiestrogenic potency correlates best with estrogen receptor affinity and not with affinity for antiestrogen binding sites. In summary, our findings suggested that interaction with the estrogen receptor is most likely the mechanism through which antiestrogens evoke their growth inhibitory effects.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2023

Objectives: The most prominent microorganisms that cause hospital infections and acquire antibiotic resistance are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The present study aimed to compare the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of various Allium ampeloprasum and Allium porrum extracts and evaluate the antibacterial effects of these extracts against these two microorganisms. Methods: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the acetone, methanol, aqueous, and hexane leeks extracts from A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum were measured. The antibacterial activity of these extracts against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was tested using the disk diffusion method for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Further, the minimum inhibitory concentrations and the minimum bactericidal concentrations of these extracts for these two bacteria were evaluated and compared with those of common antibiotics. Results: The aqueous extracts showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents and at concentrations of 35 and 40 mg per disk, showed the most antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa; P. aeruginosa showed more sensitivity to the aqueous extracts than S. aureus. Conclusion: Aqueous A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum extracts may prevent the growth of hospital pathogens, especially P. aeruginosa; our findings will aid the discovery of new antimicrobial substances against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.130-136
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• 2023

In this study, the anti-bacterial activity of three medicinal herbs such as Dioscorea batatas, Morus alba, and Tagetes erecta, have been applied in oriental medicine against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial activity of Dioscorea batatas ethanol extract (DBEE), Morus alba ethanol extract (MAEE), and Tagetes erecta ethanol extract (TEEE) was analyzed by disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. As a result, three medicinal herbs exhibited antibacterial activity in a dose-dependent manner as well as MAEE and TEEE showed the most potent antibacterial activity followed by disk diffusion assay against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. MIC against E. coli and S. aureus was 1.6 mg/mL of MAEE and TEEE as well as 0.2 mg/mL of TEEE. MBC against both strains was 5 mg/mL of DBEE and 2.5 mg/mL of TEEE. Consequently, three medicinal herbs in this study showed potent antibacterial activity through the inhibited growth of E. coli and S. aureus, which is considered as a potential candidate for cosmeceutic agents to attenuate the pruritus. In addition, antibacterial and antihistamine effects followed by the extraction solvents should be analyzed in future studies.