• Title/Summary/Keyword: laboratory activities

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Antimicrobial Activities of the Anti-acne Compounds from Natural Sources (천연물유래 여드름 치료제제의 항균활성 측정)

  • Kim, Na-Rae;Lim, Young-Hee;Park, Sul-Woong;Nam, Eun-Sil
    • Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.80-84
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    • 2009
  • The in vitro antibacterial activities of anti-acne agents prepared from the extracts of natural sources were investigated against several bacteria including antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant Propionibacterium acnes. SD-1 and SD-2 were prepared with different formulations and they showed strong antibacterial activities. The anti-acne agents completely inhibited the growth of the tested strains at the concentration of 0.5%. There was no difference in antibacterial activity between antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant P. acnes. The inhibitory activities of two agents showed time-dependent manner. In S. aureus, time-kill curve demonstrated 2.8- and 3.4-$log_{10}$-unit killing after 8 h with SD-1 and SD-2, respectively. In P. acnes, time-killing curve demonstrated 5.1- and 6.1-$log_{10}$-unit killing after 24 h with SD-1 and SD-2, respectively. SD-2 showed stronger antimicrobial activity than SD-1. From these results, we expect that SD-1 and SD-2 have strong antibacterial activities and have advantages for treating acne.

Effects of Cu (II)-exchanged Montmorillonite on Growth Performance, Intestinal Microflora, Bacterial Enzyme Activities and Morphology of Broilers

  • Xu, Z.R.;Ma, Y.L.;Hu, C.H.;Xia, M.S.;Guo, T.;Jin, H.L.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.16 no.11
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    • pp.1673-1679
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    • 2003
  • Two hundred forty 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used to investigate the effects of Cu (II)-exchanged montmorillonite (CEM) or montmorillonite on the growth performance, intestinal microflora, bacterial enzyme activities and morphology of broilers. The chicks were assigned randomly into three groups with 80 chicks per treatment. The three dietary treatments were basal diet only (control group), basal diet +1 g $kg^{-1}$ montmorillonite, and basal diet +1 g $kg^{-1}$ CEM. The results showed that the addition of CEM to the diet increased significantly the body weight and feed efficiency, but a similarly significant increase was not found in broilers fed the diet containing montmorillonite. Supplementing the CEM in the diet of broilers also decreased the numbers of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli in the small intestine and cecum. The addition of either CEM or montmorillonite to the diet depressed the activities of $\beta$-glucosidase and $\beta$-glucuronidase in the small intestinal and cecal contents. Data of villus height and crypt depth for duodenum, jejunum and ileum indicated that dietary addition of CEM or montmorillonite improved the small intestinal mucosal morphology.

Effects of Addition of Electrolyte and Ascorbic Acid in Feed during Heat Stress in Buffaloes

  • Kumar, B.V. Sunil;Singh, G.;Meur, S.K.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.23 no.7
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    • pp.880-888
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    • 2010
  • The ameliorative effect of salts and ascorbic acid polyphosphate supplementation on heat stress was studied in buffaloes. Adult buffaloes of either sex were randomly divided into 2 groups of 4 animals each. Group I served as control and Group II was supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate and ascorbic acid polyphosphate. All the animals were exposed to two conditions of temperature and humidity: hot-dry and hot-humid in a psychrometric chamber for 4 h daily for 10 days. Blood was collected on day 1, 5 and 10 of treatment. The activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD), concentrations of serum glutathione (GSH), cortisol, sodium, potassium, and chloride and lipid peroxidation were estimated in serum. Lymphocyte proliferation was assessed in blood. The activities of catalase and SOD, serum concentration of GSH, sodium, potassium and chloride decreased while lipid peroxidation and serum cortisol increased in both groups when subjected to heat stress. Dietary supplementation resulted in further decreasing of the enzyme activities but increasing of the serum concentrations of GSH, sodium, potassium and chloride. Lipid peroxidation and serum cortisol increased in the supplemented group in both types of stress. Dietary supplementation caused an increase in lymphoproliferative response to con A. Thus, supplementation of ascorbate in addition to electrolytes relieves the animals of oxidative stress and boosts cell mediated immunity.

Effects of Fluoride Levels on Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Systems of Growing/Finishing Pigs

  • Tao, X.;Xu, Z.R.;Han, X.Y.;Wang, Y.Z.;Zhou, L.H.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.552-556
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    • 2005
  • Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), glutathione transferase (GST) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) activities were analyzed in serum, livers and kidneys of pigs treated with graded doses of fluoride (as NaF). Ninety-six Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire crossbred growing pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts, respectively), with similar initial weight 24.14${\pm}$1.12kg, were randomly assigned to four different treatments. These treatments containing the following added F: basal control; 50 mg/kg F; 100 mg/kg F and 150 mg/kg F were randomly assigned to four pens (three barrows and three gilts) each in a completely randomized design. The results showed pigs treated with 150 mg/kg F significantly decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and increased feed/gain ratio (F/G) (p<0.05) compared to the controls. In the groups treated with fluoride, the contents of MDA increased, T-AOC levels and the activities of SOD, GSH-PX, CAT, GST and XOD decreased, and most of which altered significantly (p<0.05). The study therefore indicated the mechanism of excess fluoride on the impairment of soft tissues involved in lipid peroxidation and decreased the activities of some enzymes associated with free radical metabolism.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Raw and Processed Fruits and Vegetables

  • Lee, Yuan Yee;Saba, Evelyn;Kim, Minki;Rhee, Man Hee;Kim, Hyun-Kyoung
    • Biomedical Science Letters
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.196-205
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    • 2018
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from metabolic reactions cause oxidative DNA damage, which results in oxidative tissue injury. Therefore, there is an increasing demand in the intake of high antioxidant sources in order to maintain a healthy environment in cells. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Malus domestica (apple), Pyrus communis L. (pear), Daucus carota L. (carrot), Brassica oleracea var. (broccoli), Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage), and Raphanus sativus L. (radish) obtained from the local market. Since these are common fruits and vegetables that are widely consumed, we aimed to investigate their beneficial properties, placing particular emphasis on their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The samples were processed via an indirect heating method and their properties were compared to their raw forms. Based on DPPH and ABTS assays, processed samples showed better antioxidant activities when compared to raw samples and processed pear samples exhibited the best antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activities of the samples were also investigated in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines (iNOS, COX-2, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6) was assessed using RT-PCR. As expected, processed samples exhibited better iNOS inhibition when compared to their raw forms and processed broccoli and cabbage samples exhibited outstanding anti-inflammatory effects. The samples, up to 1 mg/mL concentration, did not exhibit cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells as demonstrated by cell viability assays. Altogether, processed broccoli and cabbage samples exhibited the strongest anti-inflammatory properties.

Total Saponin from Korean Red Ginseng Inhibits Thromboxane A2 Production Associated Microsomal Enzyme Activity in Platelets

  • Lee, Dong-Ha;Cho, Hyun-Jeong;Kang, Hye-Yeon;Rhee, Man-Hee;Park, Hwa-Jin
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.36 no.1
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    • pp.40-46
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    • 2012
  • Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used frequently in traditional oriental medicine and is popular globally. Ginsenosides, which are the saponins in ginseng, are the major components having pharmacological and biological activities, including anti-diabetic and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of total saponin from Korean red ginseng(TSKRG) on thrombin-produced thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$), an aggregating thrombogenic molecule, and its associated microsomal enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and $TXA_2$ synthase (TXAS). Thrombin (0.5 U/mL) increased $TXA_2$ production up to 169 ng/$10^8$ platelets as compared with control (0.2 ng/$10^8$ platelets). However, TSKRG inhibited potently $TXA_2$ production to the control level in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the strong inhibition of COX-1 and TXAS activities in platelet microsomes having cytochrome c reductase activity. The results demonstrate TSKRG is a beneficial traditional oriental medicine in platelet-mediated thrombotic diseases via suppression of COX-1 and TXAS to inhibit production of $TXA_2$.

Identification of Amino-Acids Residues for Key Role in Dextransucrase Activity of Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-742CB

  • Ryu, Hwa-Ja;Kim, Do-Man;Seo, Eun-Seong;Kang, Hee-Kyung;Lee, Jin-Ha;Yoon, Seung-Heon;Cho, Jae-Young;Robyt, John-F.;Kim, Do-Won;Chang, Suk-Sang;Kim, Seung-Heuk;Kimura, Atsuo
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.1075-1080
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    • 2004
  • Dextransucrase (DSRB742) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-742CB is a glucosyltransferase that catalyzes the synthesis of dextran using sucrose, or the synthesis of oligosaccharides when acceptor molecules, like maltose, are present. The DSRB742 gene (dsrB742) was cloned and the properties were characterized. In order to identify critical amino acid residues, the DSRB742 amino acid sequence was aligned with glucosyltransferase sequences, and three amino acid residues reported as sucrose binding amino acids in Streptococcus glucosyltransferases were selected for site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Asp-533, Asp-536, and His-643 were independently replaced with Ala or Asn. D533A and D536A dextransucrases showed reduced dextran synthesis activities, 2.3% and 40.8% of DSRB742 dextransucrase, respectively, and D533N, D536N, H643A, end H643N dextransucrases showed complete suppression of dextran synthesis activities altogether. Additionally, D536N dextransucrase showed complete suppression of oligosaccharide synthesis activities. However, modifications at Asp-533 or at His-643 retained acceptor reaction activities in the range of 8.4% to 21.3% of DSRB742 acceptor reaction activity. Thus at least two carboxyl groups of Asp-533 and Asp-536, and His-643 as a proton donor, are essential for the catalysis process.

Comprehensive investigations of key mitochondrial metabolic changes in senescent human fibroblasts

  • Ghneim, Hazem K.;Alfhili, Mohammad A.;Alharbi, Sami O.;Alhusayni, Shady M.;Abudawood, Manal;Aljaser, Feda S.;Al-Sheikh, Yazeed A.
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.263-275
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    • 2022
  • There is a paucity of detailed data related to the effect of senescence on the mitochondrial antioxidant capacity and redox state of senescent human cells. Activities of TCA cycle enzymes, respiratory chain complexes, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anions (SA), lipid peroxides (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC), thioredoxin reductase 2 (TrxR2), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), glutathione reductase (GR), reduced glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), along with levels of nicotinamide cofactors and ATP content were measured in young and senescent human foreskin fibroblasts. Primary and senescent cultures were biochemically identified by monitoring the augmented cellular activities of key glycolytic enzymes including phosphofructokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glycogen phosphorylase, and accumulation of H2O2, SA, LPO, PCC, and GSSG. Citrate synthase, aconitase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and complex I-III, II-III, and IV activities were significantly diminished in P25 and P35 cells compared to P5 cells. This was accompanied by significant accumulation of mitochondrial H2O2, SA, LPO, and PCC, along with increased transcriptional and enzymatic activities of TrxR2, SOD2, GPx1, and GR. Notably, the GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly reduced whereas NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH ratios were significantly elevated. Metabolic exhaustion was also evident in senescent cells underscored by the severely diminished ATP/ADP ratio. Profound oxidative stress may contribute, at least in part, to senescence pointing at a potential protective role of antioxidants in aging-associated disease.