• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.510-515
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• 2014

Duckweed (Lemna perpusilla J. Torrey) is a typical floating aquatic macrophyte that has been used for evaluating phytotoxicity of toxicants. In this study, we evaluated the responses of duckweed to PAHs and ammonium as toxicants that frequently affect the growth of plants in polluted industrial and agricultural areas. As the duckweed is growing in aquatic environment, the PAHs and ammonium were incorporated into nutrient solution and the fronds were cultured hydroponically. Frond growth was responded differentially to the concentration and type of PAHs. The severe inhibition of frond growth was observed in the treatment of fluorene. Fluoranthene and pyrene, however, showed weak inhibition of frond growth. The latter PAHs that showed weak inhibition did not reduced frond number at the low concentration of 30 ppm. Pigment contents were also responded differentially. Phenanthrene and fluorene reduced chlorophyll content more strongly than fluoranthene and pyrene. Carotenoids, well-known antioxidative compound, was relatively increased at the low concentration of PAHs up to 30 ppm by the treatment of fluoranthene and pyrene, suggesting an increased antioxidative activity in fronds. Ammonium treatment showed higher inhibitory effect even low concentration of 3 mM.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2018

Viticis fructus (fruits of Vitex rotundifolia) is the dried fruit from Vitex rotundifolia; is a traditional medicine for treating inflammation, migraines, chronic bronchitis, headaches, eye pain, and gastrointestinal infections; and demonstrates various bioactivities, including anti-allergic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects, which are partly due to its phenolic compound content. This study examines the inhibitory effects of viticis fructus (fruits of Vitex rotundifolia) on MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression using gelatin zymography and RT-PCR in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced HT-1080 fibro-sarcoma cells. Fruits of Vitex rotundifolia were extracted twice using dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$) and methanol (MeOH). The combined crude extracts ($CH_2Cl_2$ and MeOH) significantly inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in gelatin zymography. The combined extracts were fractionated into n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), n-butanol, and water, successively according to polarity. Among all solvent-partitioned fractions, 85% aq. MeOH fractions showed the strongest inhibition on the activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gelatin zymography. In PMA-stimulated HT-1080 cells, the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA were also greatly inhibited by the 85% aq. MeOH fraction. These results suggest that viticis fructus can be used as an excellent source for anti-invasive agents.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of the ethanol extracts from various medicinal herbs against plant pathogens to understand the possible the crop protection agents.METHODS AND RESULTS: Among the tested medicinal herbs, Zizyphus jujuba ethanol extract had the potent antimicrobial activity against Phytophthora capsici, Erwinia carotovorum subsp. carotovora, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum. The major constituents of Z. jujuba were identified to eugenol(40.45%), dodecanoic acid(18.40%), β-caryophyllene (10.05%) and isoeugenol(9.85%) by GC/MS. Eugenol and isoeugenol had strong inhibitory activity on spore germination against P. capsici and growth against E. carotovorum subsp. carotovora, P. syringae pv. syringae and R. solanacearum.CONCLUSION: In this regard, eugenol and isoeugenol were found to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of Z. jujuba ethanol extract against plant pathogens. In addition, Z. jujuba ethanol extract, eugenol and isoeugenol can be used the potent antimicrobial agents.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2016

The extraction and purification of the anti-hyperglycemic α-glucosidase inhibitor from an edible mushroom, Pleurotus cornucopiae, were investigated. The inhibitor was maximally extracted when the P. cornucopiae fruiting body was treated with distilled water at 30℃ for 12 h. Purification was achieved using Sephadex G-100 and G-50 filtration chromatography, pepsin hydrolysis, and reverse-phase HPLC. The compound’s solid yield and inhibitory activity were 12.2% and 9.10 mg/ml of IC₅₀, respectively. The purified inhibitor contained two hexapeptides with Thr-Ile-Ala-Phe-Ile-Asp (A) and Tyr-Tyr-Ala-Ile-Gly-Asp (B) sequences and molecular weights of 678.79 Da (A) and 643.7 Da (B). The purified inhibitor showed a mixed inhibition pattern to α-glucosidase and a dose-dependent anti-hyperglycemic effect in a streptozotocininduced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rat model, exhibited by decreased blood glucose levels at doses of 50 and 300 mg/kg.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.41-55
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• 2004

Objective : To investigate the possible molecular mechanism (s) of melittin as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, we examined the effects of the compound on the growth of human lung carcinoma cell line A549. Methods : Growth inhibitory study, flow cytometry analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, RT-PCR and in vitro caspases activity assay were performed. Results : Melittin treatment declined the cell viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of apoptotic cell death. Melittin treatment down-regulated the levels of Bcl-XS/L mRNA and protein expression of A549 cells, an anti-apoptotic gene, however, the those of Bax, a pro-apoptotic gene, were up-regulated. Melittin induced the proteolytic cleavage and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 protease in a dose-dependent manner without alteration of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family and Akt expression. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR data revealed that the levels of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 were also remained unchanged. Conclusions : Taken together, these findings suggest that melittin-induced inhibition of human lung cancer cell growth is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products, and melittin may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.613-618
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• 2016

1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-${\beta}$-D-glucose (PGG) is a gallotannin isolated from various plants such as Galla Rhois. In a previous study, it was reported that PGG has anti-allergic effects by inhibiting interleukin (IL)-4 signaling in B cells. However, the effect of PGG on basophilic cells remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of PGG on mitogen and calcium ionophore-induced allergic responses. PGG had no effect on proliferation and cytotoxicity of RBL-2H3 cells. PGG significantly suppressed cell degranulation (histamine and ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$) as well as inflammatory cytokine production such as IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. The underlying mechanism of PGG on these anti-allergic actions was correlated with inhibition on translocation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ from the cytosol to nucleus. These data suggest that PGG is a potentially effective functional compound for prevention of allergic diseases.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.spc1
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• pp.179-184
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• 2006

This study was carried out to evaluate major agronomical characterization and phenol compound contents, Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity (XO), Catalase activity, Superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical sacvenging activity were analyzed in colored waxy corns. The mean of stem height and ear length were 248.8 cm and 18.6 cm, respectively. The pericarp thickness in CNU108 $(30.3{\mu}m)$ was thinner than other hybrids. The period of tasseling days in CNU69 and CNU202 were very shorter than other hybrids (59 days). 100-kernel weight of CNU50 was 35.6 g and heavier than the others. The antioxidant activities such as xanthin oxidase (XO), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were higher in CNU70 and CNUI 38. Especially highest EDA (electron donating ability) in DPPH radical scavenging effect was 94.8% and 94.6% in CNU160 and CNU193, respectively. In the results, the antioxidant enzyme activity and antioxidant acticity were higher in CNU109 and CNU 34 hybrids. The hybrids, CNU34, CNU70, CNU108, CNU 138 and CNU193 may be considered higher functional color waxy corn.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.42-51
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• 2019

We compared the antibacterial activities of spermidine and astaxanthin against two gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus parauberis and S. iniae to find new antibacterial candidates. We also evaluated the preventive effects of spermidine against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in C2C12 myoblasts. Our results indicated that spermidine has more significant antibacterial activities than astaxanthin against both two fish pathogenic bacteria as well as gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli used as a control group. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of spermidine were 0.25 mM and 1 mM against S. parauberis, 1 mM and 3 mM against S. iniae, and 0.5 mM and 1.5 mM against E. coli, respectively. In addition, the postantibiotic effect lasted from 7 h, 5 h and 6 h for S. parauberis, S. iniae and E. coli, respectively. The results also showed that the decreased C2C12 cell viability by H₂O₂ could be attributed to the induction of DNA damage and apoptosis accompanied by the increased production of reactive oxygen species, which was remarkably protected by spermidine. Additionally, the antioxidant effect of spermidine was associated with the activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway. According to the data, spermidine may be a potential lead compound which can be further optimized to discover novel antibacterial and antioxidant agents.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2011

Riboflavin synthase catalyzes the formation of one molecule of each riboflavin and 5-amino-6-ribitylamino-2,4-pyrimidinedione by the transfer of a 4-carbon moiety between two molecules of the substrates, 6,7-dimetyl-8-ribityllumazine. The most remarkable feature is the sequence similarity between the N-terminal half (1-97) and the C-terminal half domain (99-213). To investigate the structure and fluorescent characteristics of the N-terminal half of riboflavin synthase (N-RS) in Escherichia coli, more than 10 mutant genes coding for the mutated N-terminal domain of riboflavin synthase were generated by polymerase chain reaction. The genes coding for the proteins were inserted into pQE vector designed for easy purification of protein by 6X-His tagging system, expressed, and the proteins were purified. Almost all mutated N-terminal domain of riboflavin synthases bind to 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine and riboflavin as fluorescent ligands. However, N-RS C47D and N-RS ET66,67DQ mutant proteins show colorless, indicating that fluorescent ligands were dissociated during purification. In addition, most mutated proteins show low fluorescent intensity comparing to N-RS wild type, whereas N-RS C48S posses stronger fluorescent intensity than that of wild type protein. Based on this result, N-RS C48S can be used as the tool for high throughput screening system for searching for the compound with inhibitory effect for the riboflavin synthase.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2001

Entomopathogenic fungus of Cordyceps militaris is famous of its medicinal efficacies. An antitumor compound was purified from the n-hexane extract of artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of C. militaris and identified as ergosterol peroxide $(5{\alpha},\;8{\alpha}-epidioxy-24(R)-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3{\beta}-o1,\; C_{28}H_{44}O_3)$ mainly by $^1H\;and\;^{13}C-NMR$ spectroscopic techniques. When the antitumor activity of ergosterol peroxide was measured against 3 tumor cell lines from Korean cancer patients, it showed the most strong activity against gastric cancer SNU-l cell line 3 days after treatment. The 50% inhibitory concentrations $(IC_{50})$ of ergosterol peroxide 6 days after treatment were $75.8{\mu}g/ml$ for human gastric SNU-1 tumor cell line, $39.7{\mu}g/ml$ for human colorectal SNU-C4 tumor cell line and $32.7{\mu}g/ml$ for human hepatoma SNU-354 cell line.