• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2011

Previous work demonstrated that an ethanol extract (HS0608) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Curcuma longae radix, Phellinus linteus, and Scutellariae radix markedly inhibits $A{\beta}$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity. The present study was performed to further verify the neuroprotective effect of HS0608 on oxidative and ischemic cerebral injury using cultured rat cortical neurons and rats. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to $100\;{\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) induced neuronal apoptotic death. At $10-100{\mu}g/ml$, HS0608 inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $H_2O_2$ in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. In vivo, HS0608 prevented cerebral ischemic injury induced by 2-h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and 24-h reperfusion. The ischemic infarct and edema were significantly reduced in rats that received HS0608 (200 mg/kg). These results suggest that the anti-oxidative properties of HS0608 may be responsible for its neuroprotective effect against focal cerebral ischemic injury and that HS0608 may have a therapeutic role in neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.363-372
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• 2020

Gardenia jasminoides (GJ) is a widely used herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on the ORAI1 channel, which is important in generating intracellular calcium signaling for T cell activation, remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether 70% ethanolic GJ extract (GJ_EtOH) and its subsequent fractions inhibit ORAI1 and determined which constituents contributed to this effect. Whole-cell patch clamp analysis revealed that GJ_EtOH (64.7% ± 3.83% inhibition at 0.1 mg/ml) and all its fractions showed inhibitory effects on the ORAI1 channel. Among the GJ fractions, the hexane fraction (GJ_HEX, 66.8% ± 9.95% at 0.1 mg/ml) had the most potent inhibitory effects in hORAI1-hSTIM1 co-transfected HEK293T cells. Chemical constituent analysis revealed that the strong ORAI1 inhibitory effect of GJ_HEX was due to linoleic acid, and in other fractions, we found that genipin inhibited ORAI1. Genipin significantly inhibited I_ORAI1 and interleukin-2 production in CD3/CD28-stimulated Jurkat T lymphocytes by 35.9% ± 3.02% and 54.7% ± 1.32% at 30 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the same genipin concentration inhibited the proliferation of human primary CD4⁺ T lymphocytes stimulated with CD3/CD28 antibodies by 54.9% ± 8.22%, as evaluated by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester assay. Our findings suggest that genipin may be one of the active components of GJ responsible for T cell suppression, which is partially mediated by activation of the ORAI1 channel. This study helps us understand the mechanisms of GJ in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2014

The present study investigated an ethanol extract (SSB) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Vitis amurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by Amyloid ${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}$) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to $15{\mu}M$ $A{\beta}$ (25-35) for 36 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At $1-30{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, SSB inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $A{\beta}$ (25-35) in cultured cortical neurons. Memory impairment and increase of acetylcholinesterase activity induced by intracerebroventricular injection of mice with 16 nmol $A{\beta}$ (25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with SSB (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o., for 8 days). From these results, it is suggested that antidementia effect of SSB is due to its neuroprotective effect against $A{\beta}$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that SSB may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.409-415
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• 2008

Moutan cortex, the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (Paeoniaceae), has pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, analgesic and antioxidant activities. We investigated a methanol extract of Moutan cortex for neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid ${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}$) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to $10\;{\mu}M\;A{\beta}$ (25-35) for 24 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. Moutan cortex inhibited $10\;{\mu}M\;A{\beta}$ (25-35)-induced neuronal cell death at 30 and $50\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, which was measured by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. Moutan cortex inhibited $10\;{\mu}M\;A{\beta}$ (25-35)-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which were measured by fluorescent dyes. Moutan cortex also inhibited glutamate release into medium induced by $10\;{\mu}M\;A{\beta}$ (25-35), which was measured by HPLC. These results suggest that Moutan cortex prevents $A{\beta}$ (25-35)-induced neuronal cell damage by interfering with the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, and then inhibiting glutamate release and ROS generation. Moutan cortex may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 1989

Ouabain, strychnine sulfate, caffeine sodium benzoate and chlorpromazine hydrochloride were introduced intraperitoneally into male mice for 7, 14 and 21 days to induce the changes in the relative percentages of lactate dehydrogenase isozymes. The five isozymes in brain, heart and kidney tissues were electrophoresed on cellulose acetate strip and subjected to densitometry. Ouabain caused a drastic increase of B$_4$isozymes only in brain tissues. The two stimulants altered the relative percentages of $A_4$and B$_4$isozymes conspicuously in brain tissues, whereas virtually no redistributions of five isozymes were occurred by the depressant except B$_4$isozymes in brain and heart tissues. On the basis of these observations, it might be suggested that the changes in intracellular concentration of sodium and calcium ions are not the cause of the isozyme redistributions and that Organization of plasma membrane could be one of the factors involved in the tissue specificity of lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in vertebrates.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.388-396
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• 2009

The present study investigated an ethanol extract (HS0608) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Curcuma longae radix, Phellinus linteus, and Scutellariae radix for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid $\beta$ protein ($A{\beta}$) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to $10\;{\mu}M$ $A{\beta}$ (25-35) for 36 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At $1-50\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, HS0608 inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $A{\beta}$ (25-35) in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of ICR mice with 15 nmol $A{\beta}$ (25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with HS0608 (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test. From these results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of HS0608 is due to its neuroprotective effect against $A{\beta}$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that HS0608 may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2012

The present study investigated an ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis fruit (CSF) for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid ${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}$) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and also for antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to $10{\mu}M\;A{\beta}$ (25-35) for 36 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At $0.1-10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, CSF inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $A{\beta}$ (25-35) in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of mice with 15 nmol $A{\beta}$ (25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with CSF (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test. CSF (50 mg/kg) inhibited the increase of cholinesterase activity in $A{\beta}$ (25-35)-injected mice brain. From these results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of CSF is due to its neuroprotective effect against $A{\beta}$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that CSF may have a therapeutic role for preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2007

In the present study, I investigated the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), arachidonic acid (AA), and Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor (NOSI), alone or in combination, on the proliferation of cultured primary normal human oral keratinocytes (NHOK). The purpose of this study was therefore the preliminary study for the examination of the interaction between these agents and NHOK in order to elucidate the mechanisms by which epithelial growth and regeneration are regulated. NHOK were obtained from gingival tissue of 20 individuals aged 20 to 29, and third passage (P3) cells were used for this study. The DNA synthesis was measured by the BrdU assay. Addition of low concentration of AA ($1{\mu}M$) and high concentration of AA with NMDA group (NMDA+AA $10{\mu}M$) made DNA synthesis rate increase significantly at the early stage. Adding NNA ($10{\mu}M$) affected DNA synthesis rate to increase significantly in 4 hours. At the early stage, DNA synthesis was significantly active in the NOS-I with NMDA groups than in the control and the NMDA-only group, while it didn't become statistically meaningful in 24 hours. AA $1{\mu}M$ and NNA $10{\mu}M$ may induce the proliferation of the NHOK independently and NOS-I may induce the proliferation of the NHOK with NMDA. These reactions might be related to the NMDA receptor in the cell and the change of the intracellular calcium ion concentration.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 1990

Various conditions of cultures were performed to investigate the role of tight junctions formed between adjacent MDCK cells on the entry of Toxoplasma. When MDCK cells were cocultured with excess number of Toxoplasma at the seeding density of 1×105, 3×105, and 5×105 cells/ml for 4 days, the number of intracellular parasites decreased rapidly as the host cells reached saturation density, i.e., the formation of tight junctions. When the concentration of calcium in the media (1.8 mM in general) was shifted to $5{\mu}M$ that resulted in the elimination of tight junction, the penetration of Toxoplasma increased about 2-fold(p<0.05) in the saturated culture, while that of non-saturated culture decreased by half. Trypsin-EDTA which was treated to conquer the tight junctions of saturated culture favored the entry of Toxoplasma about 2.5-fold(P<0.05) compared to the non-treated, while that of non- saturated culture decreased to about one fifth. It was suggested that the tight junctions of epithelial cells play a role as a barrier for the entry of Toxoplasma and Toxoplasma penetrate into hoot cells through membrane structure-specific, i.e., certain kind of receptors present on the basolateral rather than apical surface of MDCK cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.150-155
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• 2007

In the present study, we have tested the effect of dioleoyl phosphatidic acid (PA) on intracellular $Ca_{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_{i}$) in two human colon cancer cell lines (HCT116 and HT29). PA and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive lysolipid, increased $[Ca^{2+}]_{i}$ in both HCT116 and HT29 cell lines. Increases of $[Ca^{2+}]_{i}$ by PA and LPA were more robust in HCT116 cells than in HT29 cells. A specific inhibitor of phospholipase C (U73122), however, was not inhibitory to the cell responses. Pertussis toxin, a specific inhibitor of $G_{i/o}$ type G proteins, however, had an inhibitory effect on the responses except for an LPA-induced one in HT29 cells. Ruthenium red, an inhibitor of the ryanodine receptor, was not inhibitory on the responses, however, 2-APB, a specific inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor, completely inhibited both lipid-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increases in both cell types. Furthermore, by using Ki16425 and VPC32183, two structurally dissimilar specific antagonists for $LPA_{1}/LPA_{3}$ receptors, an involvement of endogenous LPA receptors in the $Ca^{2+}$ responses was observed. Ki16425 completely inhibited the responses but the susceptibility to VPC32183 was different to PA and LPA in the two cell types. Expression levels of five LPA receptors in the HCT116 and HT29 cells were also assessed. Our data support the notion that PA could increase $[Ca^{2+}]_{i}$ in human colon cancer cells, probably via endogenous LPA receptors, G proteins and $IP_{3}$ receptors, thereby suggesting a role of PA as an intercellular lipid mediator.