• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.947-959
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• 2012

This study was aimed at an evaluation of the potential inheritance of electroporation effects on Lactobacillus fermentum BT 8219 through to three subsequent subcultures, based on their growth, isoflavone bioconversion activities, and probiotic properties, in biotin-supplemented soymilk. Electroporation was seen to cause cell death immediately after treatment, followed by higher growth than the control during fermentation in biotin-soymilk (P<0.05). This was associated with enhanced intracellular and extracellular ${\beta}$-glucosidase specific activity, leading to increased bioconversion of isoflavone glucosides to aglycones (P<0.05). The growing characteristics, enzyme, and isoflavone bioconversion activities of the first, second, and third subcultures of treated cells in biotin-soymilk were similar to the control (P>0.05). Electroporation affected the probiotic properties of parent L. fermentum BT 8219, by reducing its tolerance towards acid (pH 2) and bile, lowering its inhibitory activities against selected pathogens, and reducing its ability for adhesion, when compared with the control (P<0.05). The first, second, and third subcultures of the treated cells showed comparable traits with that of the control (P>0.05), with the exception of their bile tolerance ability, which was inherited to the treated cells of the first and second subcultures (P<0.05). Our results suggest that electroporation could be used to increase the bioactivity of biotin-soymilk via fermentation with probiotic L. fermentum BT 8219, with a view towards the development of functional foods.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.315-328
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• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Bunsimgieum on antitumor effect after sarcoma-180 cells transplantation into peritoneal cavity or left groin and immune responses on the depressed immunity induced by methotrexate in mice. The Bunsimgieum extract of 10mg/kg was orally administered 14 days for antitumor effects and 21 days for immune responses. 50% inhibitory concentration($IC_{50}$) of SUN-1, SUN-C4, and SUN-396 cancer cell, mean sunvival days and body weight of tumor bearing mice, and growth of tumor mass for antitumor effect; delayed type hypersentivity, hemagglutinin titer, hemolysis titer, rosette forming cells, natured killer cell activity, lymphocyte transformation, productivity of interleukin-2, and phagocytic activity for their immune responses were measured in ICR mice. Significance in antitumor effect is noted in the enlongation of mean life days and inhibition of tumor growth(p<0.01, respectively). Significance of immune responses is also noted in hemolysis titer, lymphocyte transfumotion, IL-2 productivity, phagocytic activity, and natural killer cell activity at E/T ratio 100:1(p<0.01, respectively). Significant in rosette cell formation was seen at dosage of 20mg/kg(p<0.01). However, Difference of body weight as antitumor effect, delayed type hypersensitivity, and hemagglutinin titer were not shown significantly. According to the above results, it could be suggested that Bunsimgieum has prominent antitumor and immunity enhancing effect.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 2022

Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem to food safety as well as human healthcare. To avoid this, there are several approaches for a new class of antibiotic agents that target only production of virulence factors such as biofilm without bacterial growth defect. The objective of this study was to investigate the antibiofilm activity of tuberostemonine in Staphylococcus aureus. Tuberostemonine significantly reduced the biofilm formation (26.07-47.02%) in the crystal violet assay whereas there were no effect on S. aureus growth. The dispersion in preformed biofilm was also observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Quantification real-time PCR revealed that the icaA and agrA expression having an important role in biofilm production of S. aureus were strongly affected with tuberostemonine. These results suggest that tuberostemonine has potential for controlling biofilm formation and dispersion by effect on virulence regulation of S. aureus.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is a widely used herbal medicine for pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, leprosy, and venomous wounds in Asia, particularly in China. Although HJ has certain physiological activities, such as longitudinal bone growth, antioxidation and alleviation of rheumatism, its anticancer activities, other than in colorectal and ovarian cancer, are yet to be studied. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and mechanism of methanol extracts of HJ (MeHJ) against human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeHJ suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), which was demonstrated using the MTT and Live & Dead assays. Furthermore, MeHJ effectively inhibited colony formation of FaDu cells, even at non-cytotoxic concentrations, and significantly induced apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-9, -3, -7, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and through the downregulation of BCL-2 and upregulation of BAX in FaDu cells, as determined by DAPI staining, flow cytometry, and western blot analyses. Collectively, these findings suggest that the inhibitory effects of MeHJ on the growth and colony formation of oral cancer cells may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, MeHJ has the potential to be used as a natural chemotherapeutic drug against human oral cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2022

Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (the flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunberg) has been used as an antibacterial and antiviral drug in Korean Medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae water extract (FL) on the production of cytokines in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After 24 h treatment, the production of various cytokines from RAW 264.7 was measured with multiplex cytokine assay using Bio-Plex 200 suspension array system. FL at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL significantly inhibited productions of tumor necrosis factor-α, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β, and MIP-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; FL at concentrations of 100 and 200 ㎍/mL significantly inhibited productions of leukemia inhibitory factor, LIX (CXCL5), and RANTES in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; FL at concentrations of 200 ㎍/mL significantly inhibited productions of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage colony-stimulating factor in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; FL at concentrations of 50 and 100 ㎍/mL significantly increased productions of interleukin (IL)-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; FL at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL significantly increased productions of IL-6 and interferon gamma-induced protein-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; FL at concentrations of 100 and 200 ㎍/mL significantly increased productions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, these data mean that FL might modulate productions of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Further study needs to verify the exact mechanism for modulatory activities of FL with macrophages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 2022

Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the NTRK1 gene. TrkA signaling mediates the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neurons and other cells following stimulation by its ligand, the nerve growth factor. Chromosomal rearrangements of the NTRK1 gene result in the generation of TrkA fusion protein, which is known to cause deregulation of TrkA signaling. Targeting TrkA activity represents a promising strategy for the treatment of cancers that harbor the TrkA fusion protein. In this study, we evaluated the TrkA-inhibitory activity of the benzoxazole compound KRC-108. KRC-108 inhibited TrkA activity in an in vitro kinase assay, and suppressed the growth of KM12C colon cancer cells harboring an NTRK1 gene fusion. KRC-108 treatment induced cell cycle arrest, apoptotic cell death, and autophagy. KRC-108 suppressed the phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules of TrkA, including Akt, phospholipase Cγ, and ERK1/2. Furthermore, KRC-108 exhibited antitumor activity in vivo in a KM12C cell xenograft model. These results indicate that KRC-108 may be a promising therapeutic agent for Trk fusion-positive cancers.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.115-130
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• 2022

Though information exists regarding the pathogenesis of the shot-hole disease (SH) in flowering cherry (FC), there has been a lack of research focusing on SH management. Therefore, here, we investigated the inhibitory activities of antagonistic bacteria against SH pathogens both in vitro and in vivo as well as their biochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds. Two biosurfactant-producing bacterial antagonists, identified as Bacillus velezensis strains JCK-1618 and JCK-1696, exhibited the best effects against the growth of both bacterial and fungal SH pathogens in vitro through their cell-free culture filtrates (CFCFs). These two strains also strongly inhibited the growth of the pathogens via the action of their antimicrobial diffusible compounds and antimicrobial volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Crude enzymes, solvent extracts, and biosurfactants of the two strains exhibited antimicrobial activities. Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of the partially purified active fractions revealed that the two antagonists produced three cyclic lipopeptides, including iturin A, fengycin A, and surfactin, and a polyketide, oxydifficidin. In a detached leaf assay, pre-treatment and co-treatment of FC leaves with the CFCFs led to a large reduction in the severity of the leaf spots caused by Epicoccum tobaicum and Bukholderia contaminans, respectively. In addition, the two antagonists produced indole-3-acetic acid, siderophore, and a series of hydrolytic enzymes, along with the formation of a substantial biofilm. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the antimicrobial activities of the diffusible compounds and VOCs of B. velezensis against the SH pathogens and their efficiency in the biocontrol of SH.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1006-1012
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated the effects of sodium propionate (SP) treatment on intracellular mechanism of murine macrophages and its contribution to host immunity during Brucella abortus 544 infection. The intracellular growth assay revealed that SP inhibited Brucella replication inside the macrophages. To determine intracellular signaling involved during SP treatment after Brucella infection, we analyzed the change of five different cytokines production relevant to SP such as TNF-α, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6, and the results indicated that the boost with IL-10 was apparent throughout the culture period for 48 h as well as IL-1β which was apparent at 24 h post-infection and IFN-γ which was apparent at 24 h and 48 h in comparison to SP untreated groups. On the other way, SP-treated cells displayed suppressed production of TNF-α and IL-6 at all time points tested and 48 h post-infection, respectively. Furthermore, we conducted western blot to establish a cellular mechanism, and the result suggested that SP treatment attenuated p50 phosphorylation, part of the NF-κB pathway. These findings indicated that the inhibitory effect of SP against Brucella infection could be attributed through induction of cytokine production and interference on intracellular pathway, suggesting SP as a potential candidate for treating brucellosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.671-675
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• 2009

Prostate cancer has been a critical health problem due to an increase of prostate cancer-related deaths worldwide. Also, a frequent treatment option for prostate cancer is androgen ablation, but this treatment has a limited scope, especially for hormone-refractory cancer. There is an urgent need for the identification of alternative therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer. Previously, over one hundred species of dried-plant methanol extracts were tested for inhibitory effects on proliferation. One of them, Piper longum Linn. was selected based on its potent anti-proliferation effect. The dried root of P. longum Linn. was extracted with 100% methanol for 2-3 days and its extract was fractionated using chloroform. The chloroform layer was then subjected to column chromatography on silica gel, reverse phase-18 (RP-18) and Sephadex LH-20, in turn. Finally, the pure compound was obtained and identified as pipernonaline by NMR spectroscopic and physico-chemical analysis. In this study, anti-proliferation and cell cycle arrest effects of pipernonaline on human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were investigated using the MTT and PI staining, respectively. Our findings suggest that pipernonaline represents a dose-dependent growth inhibition pattern on PC-3 cells and, moreover, its growth inhibition is associated with sub-G1 and G0/G1 cell cycle accumulation in PC-3 cells. Also, these results provide an anticancer candidate for human prostate cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.574-578
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the antimicrobial effects of natural additives on pathogenic microorganisms in commercial chicken during storage. Chicken skin ($20cm^2$) inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium or Pseudomonas aeruginosa was treated with 2% natural additives, including chitosan, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and garlic, during storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 12 days. A combination of the three natural additives significantly inhibited growth of S. Typhimurium compared to treatment with chitosan, EGCG or garlic alone (p<0.05). This combination also inhibited growth of P. aeruginosa compared to treatment with one or two of the natural additives (p<0.05). These results suggest that combined chitosan, EGCG, and garlic may be used as an antimicrobial agent in commercial chicken during refrigerated storage.