• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.71-75
• /
• 1999

Tempting to further understand the molecular mechanism of pharmacological action of ethanol, we evaluated effects of phosphatidylethanol (PET) on inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) level and protein kinase C (PKC) activity in cultured NG108-15 cells. PET increased intracellular concentration of IP$_3$. PET incorporation into membranes of NG108-15 cells had no effect on the phosphorylation of the PKC-specific substrate MBP$\_$4-14/, thus indicates that PET does not affect PKC activity in this system.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens extract on the production of inflammation-related mediators (NO, ROS, NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS and COX-2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Perilla frutescents (L.) Britton var. frutescens was air-dried and extracted with ethanol. The extract dose-dependently decreased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and dose-dependently increased antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in lipopolysaccharide stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Also, Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens extract suppressed NO production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6), NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by the treatment with the extract. Thus, this study shows the Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens extract could be useful for inhibition of the inflammatory process.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.8
• /
• pp.982-988
• /
• 2022

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) has been used as preventive and therapeutic material for hyperpigmentation disorders. Previously, we isolated noble compounds including dehydroglyasperin C (DGC), dehydroglyasperin D (DGD) and isoangustone A (IAA) from licorice hexane/ethanol extracts. However, their anti-melanogenic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. The present study compared effects of DGC, DGD and IAA on pigmentation in melan-a melanocytes and human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn). DGD exerted the most excellent anti-melanogenic effect, followed by DGC and IAA at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, DGD significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro cell-free system and cell system. Western blot result showed that DGD decreased expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) in melan-a cells and HEMn cells. DGD induced phosphorylation of MITF, ERK and Akt signal pathway promoting MITF degradation system. However, DGD did not influence p38 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)/CREB signal pathway in melan-a cells. These result indicated that DGD inhibited melanogenesis not only direct regulation of tyrosinase but also modulating intracellular signaling related with MITF level. Collectively, these results suggested a protective role for DGD against melanogenesis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.67 no.2
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2023

In this study were evaluated the whitening and anti-oxidative activities from the extracts of Sorbus alnifolia branches, and identified the chemical structures of the active ingredients. In the whitening tests using α-MSH stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells, the 70% ethanol extract and n-butanol (n-BuOH) fractions concentration-dependently inhibited cellular melanogenesis and intracellular tyrosinase activities without causing cell toxicity. The total polyphenol content of n-BuOH and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions were measured to be respectively 241.1 ± 1.1 and 222.9 ± 2.4 (mg/g GAE), and the total flavonoid content of EtOAc fraction was 75.3 ± 2.0 (mg/g QE). Upon anti-oxidant studies with DPPH and ABTS⁺ radicals, potent radical scavenging activities were observed in the EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions. Moreover, in the study of cell protection efficacy using HaCaT keratinocytes damaged by H₂O₂, the EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions showed a very positive results on prevention of oxidative stress. Phytochemical studies for this extract resulted in the isolation of four compounds; 2-oxopomolic acid (1), euscaphic acid (2), epi-catechin (3), prunasin (4). These results suggested that the extract of S. alnifolia branches containing compounds 1-4 as natural ingredients could be used as whitening and anti-oxidant ingredients in cosmetic formulations.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 2023

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.321-331
• /
• 2022

Egg yolk is widely used to extract lecithin, which is utilized in the food and cosmetics industry. After lecithin is removed, the rest of egg yolk is generated as a by-product. Thus, it is necessary to properly utilize it. In this study, egg yolk protein extracts were produced using ethanol (EYE-E) and water (EYE-W). Their antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects were then evaluated. Antioxidant activities of EYE-E and EYE-W were determined using cellular antioxidant capacity (CAC) assay and comet assay. EYE-E and EYE-W showed significant (p<0.05) scavenging effects on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose dependent manner. At a concentration of 50 ㎍/mL, EYE-W showed higher (p<0.05) antioxidant activity than EYE-E. EYE-E and EYE-W also exhibited protective effects against DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. After treatment with EYE-E and EYE-W, DNA damage level of 48.7% due to oxidative stress was decreased to 36.2% and 31.8% levels, respectively. In addition, EYE-E and EYE-W showed immunomodulatory effects by regulating Th1 cytokines (TNF-α and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) in Balb/c mouse splenocytes. These data suggest that EYE-E and EYE-W could be used as functional food ingredients with excellent antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities in the food industry.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.56 no.7
• /
• pp.385-391
• /
• 2023

Aspartate-glutamate carrier 2 (AGC2, citrin) is a mitochondrial carrier expressed in the liver that transports aspartate from mitochondria into the cytosol in exchange for glutamate. The AGC2 is the main component of the malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) that ensures indirect transport of NADH produced in the cytosol during glycolysis, lactate oxidation to pyruvate, and ethanol oxidation to acetaldehyde into mitochondria. Through MAS, AGC2 is necessary to maintain intracellular redox balance, mitochondrial respiration, and ATP synthesis. Through elevated cytosolic Ca²⁺ level, the AGC2 is stimulated by catecholamines and glucagon during starvation, exercise, and muscle wasting disorders. In these conditions, AGC2 increases aspartate input to the urea cycle, where aspartate is a source of one of two nitrogen atoms in the urea molecule (the other is ammonia), and a substrate for the synthesis of fumarate that is gradually converted to oxaloacetate, the starting substrate for gluconeogenesis. Furthermore, aspartate is a substrate for the synthesis of asparagine, nucleotides, and proteins. It is concluded that AGC2 plays a fundamental role in the compartmentalization of aspartate and glutamate metabolism and linkage of the reactions of MAS, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, amino acid catabolism, urea cycle, protein synthesis, and cell proliferation. Targeting of AGC genes may represent a new therapeutic strategy to fight cancer.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.797-810
• /
• 2023

Elaeagnus umbellata leaves have been reported to suppress inflammation, allergic responses, lung cancer proliferation and oral bacterial growth. Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that has been found to cause many toxicities, including liver toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of 70% ethanol extract of E. umbellata leaves (EUL) to protect human hepatocytes from Cd toxicity. After exposure of HepG2 cells to Cd at 10 𝜇M for 24 h, cell viability, expression levels of apoptosis- and antioxidant-related proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and Cd uptake were assessed. EUL protected HepG2 cells from Cd-induced apoptosis as determined by MTT assay. A decrease in caspase-3 and p-p53 protein levels was observed in cells pretreated with EUL prior to Cd exposure. Furthermore, the Cd-induced increase in intracellular DCF fluorescence was attenuated by EUL, indicating that the Cd-induced apoptosis preventing effect was associated with the suppression of ROS accumulation. Moreover, EUL's effects on the inhibition of p38, JNK, and AKT phosphorylation also appear to be associated with protection against Cd toxicity. Moreover, EUL upregulated Cd-depressed expression of Nrf2, HO-1, catalase, and MT-1,2 proteins, suggesting that Cd uptake-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells may be inhibited by EUL's antioxidative potential.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.255-260
• /
• 2018

Chung-Sang (CS) is an experimental herbal remedy that is formulated to treat respiratory diseases implicated by inflammation. The herbs comprised of CS are frequently prescribed for treating various inflammatory symptoms: Menthae haplocalycis Herba, Magnoliae Flosis, Xanthii Fructus, Herba Asari, and Caryphylli Flos. Here, we prepared the extract of CS with boiling water (wCS) or with 50 % ethanol (eCS) and examined whether the two different extracts of CS exhibit a toxicity to cultured cells and mice. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with wCS or eCS, and the cytotoxicity of these extracts to RAW 264.7 cells was determined by an MTT assay. Although the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species that are detrimental to the cells was not increased by the extracts, the cytotoxicity to the cells was evident from 10 mg/ml of wCS and 100 mg/ml of eCS, suggesting that eCS is less cytotoxic. When mice (n = 10/group) received a single intratracheal wCS or eCS daily for 14 days, wCS yielded 40 % mortality, whereas eCS showed none. Both wCS and eCS did not significantly affect the weight of the body and of vital organs, except the lung. Biochemical analyses of mice blood indicated no damage to liver or kidney. However, unlike eCS, wCS significantly increased the level of IgE in serum. Collectively, our results show that eCS was less toxic than wCS, suggesting that CS prepared with 50 % ethanol is preferential over the conventional way of preparing CS.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.16-27
• /
• 2004

In the traditional Chinese medicine, Drynariae Rhizoma (DR) has been reported as a good enhancer for bone healing. DR, a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal systems of Korea, has been reported to possess antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Modulation of immune response to alleviate disease has been of interest for a long time. Plant extracts have been widely investigated for possible immunomodulatory properties. Thus, I have evaluated the anticellular and immunomodulatory properties of ethanolic extract of DR. DR extract inhibited proliferation of mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin; PHA) and antigen (purified protein derivative; PPD)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In addition, DR inhibited growth of several cell lines of mouse and human origin. It also inhibited production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$. Intracytoplasmic $interferon-{\gamma}\;(IFN-{\gamma})$ and expression of cell surface markers, CD16 and HLA-DR, on human PBMC, were not affected on treatment with DR but CD25 expression was down regulated. This study demonstrates the antiproliferative and immunosuppressive potential of ethanolic extract of DR in vitro.