• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-63
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• 2019

In view of the growing industrial use of Bacterial cellulose (BC), and taking into account that it might become airborne and be inhaled after industrial processing, assessing its potential pulmonary toxic effects assumes high relevance. In this work, the murine model was used to assess the effects of exposure to respirable BC nanofibrils (nBC), obtained by disintegration of BC produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages ($BMM{\Phi}$) were treated with different doses of nBC (0.02 and 0.2 mg/mL, respectively 1 and $10{\mu}g$ of fibrils) in absence or presence of 0.2% Carboxymethyl Cellulose (nBCMC). Furthermore, mice were instilled intratracheally with nBC or nBCMC at different concentrations and at different time-points and analyzed up to 6 months after treatments. Microcrystaline $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159, a plant-derived cellulose, was used for comparison. Markers of cellular damage (lactate dehydrogenase release and total protein) and oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxidase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity) as well presence of inflammatory cells were evaluated in brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. Histological analysis of lungs, heart and liver tissues was also performed. BAL analysis showed that exposure to nBCMC or CMC did not induce major alterations in the assessed markers of cell damage, oxidative stress or inflammatory cell numbers in BAL fluid over time, even following cumulative treatments. $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159 significantly increased LDH release, detected 3 months after 4 weekly administrations. However, histological results revealed a chronic inflammatory response and tissue alterations, being hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries (observed 3 months after nBCMC treatment) of particular concern. These histological alterations remained after 6 months in animals treated with nBC, possibly due to foreign body reaction and the organism's inability to remove the fibers. Overall, despite being a safe and biocompatible biomaterial, BC-derived nanofibrils inhalation may lead to lung pathology and pose significant health risks.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2017

The inhibitory effects of Asparagus cochinchinensis against inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), substance P and phthalic anhydride (PA) treatment were recently reported for some cell lines and animal models. To evaluate the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of A. cochinchinensis toward the livers and kidneys of ICR mice, alterations in related markers including body weight, organ weight, urine composition, liver pathology and kidney pathology were analyzed in male and female ICR mice after oral administration of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight/day saponin-enriched extract of A. cochinchinensis (SEAC) for 14 days. The saponin, total flavonoid and total phenol levels were found to be 57.2, 88.5 and 102.1 mg/g in SEAC, respectively, and the scavenging activity of SEAC gradually increased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, body and organ weight, clinical phenotypes, urine parameters and mice mortality did not differ between the vehicle and SEAC treated group. Furthermore, no significant alterations were measured in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and the serum creatinine (Cr) in the SEAC treated group relative to the vehicle treated group. Moreover, the specific pathological features induced by most toxic compounds were not observed upon liver and kidney histological analysis. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that SEAC does not induce any specific toxicity in the livers and kidneys of male and female ICR mice at doses of 600 mg/kg body weight/day.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 2020

We studied the effects of the extract of aerial parts of hydroponically cultured ginseng (HGE) on alcohol-induced liver damage (AILD) in mice. AILD was induced by the oral administration of ethanol (EtOH) (25%; 5 g/kg body weight) for seven days in the study as well as EtOH-only groups. However, HGE (4 and 12 mg/kg) was orally administered (once daily for ten consecutive days) only to the study group, three days prior to the EtOH treatment. The HGE-treated group showed significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase than the EtOH-only group. In addition, HGE administration decreased the level of serum lactate dehydrogenase, a known marker of liver damage. The effect of HGE on AILD was found to be dose dependent, and the consecutive administration of HGE showed no side effects in mice. Our study indicates that HGE treatment can potentially reduce oxidative stress and toxicity in the liver of alcohol-treated mice and that HGE can be a useful therapeutic agent for alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. Additionally, a simple and efficient high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection method was developed for determining the contents of four major ginsenosides in HGE. The aerial parts of hydroponically cultured ginseng were extracted using 70% fermented ethanol, and the contents of ginsenosides F5, F3, F1, and F2 in HGE were found to be 2.5, 4.4, 1.4, and 23.3 mg/g, respectively.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2021

Objectives : This study investigated cellular-protective effects of Nardotidis seu Sulculii Concha water extract (NSCE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA)+iron or tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP). Methods : In vitro, MTT assay was assessed for cell viability, and immunoblotting analysis was performed to detect expression of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway and autophagy related proteins. In vivo, mice were orally administrated with the aqueous extract of NSCE of 500 mg/kg for 3 days, and then injected with CCl₄ 0.5 mg/kg body weight to induce acute damage. The level of liver damage was measured by serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) analysis. Results : Treatment with NSCE inhibited cell death induced by AA+iron and tBHP. NSCE induced the phosphorylation of AMPK, and this compound also induced the phosphorylation of LKB1, an upstream kinase of AMPK, and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a primary downstream target of AMPK. NSCE increased the protein levels of autophagic markers (LC3II and beclin-1) and decreased the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and simultaneously increased the phosphorylation of unc-51-like kinase-1 (ULK-1) in time-dependent manner. Conclusions : NSCE has the ability 1) to protect cells against oxidative stress induced by AA+iron or tBHP. NSCE 2) to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and 3) to regulate autophagy, an important regulator in cell survival.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2022

In December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China and spread rapidly around the world, infecting millions of people. Cases of COVID-19 infection were observed to lead to viral pneumonia. Thirty-five patients admitted to the Gyeonggi Medical Center, South Korea, between November 2020 to January 2021, were found to have been infected with the influenza virus A and B, which cause symptoms similar to COVID-19. The records of these patients and those of COVID-19 patients who visited the hospital for medical examination were compared. The study patients included thirty patients with COVID-19 and/or influenza, five of those with influenza alone. A group of 121 patients without infection was used as control. Patients with COVID-19 and influenza had significantly higher lactate dehydrogenase levels than the patients with COVID-19 alone. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was higher in patients with COVID-19 alone than in other groups. Significant clinical outliers were observed in the COVID-19 and influenza infection group compared with the COVID-19 alone group. These results are expected to play an important role in the analysis of the hematological data of infected patients and the comparison of simultaneous and single infection data to determine clinical symptoms and other signs. These results may also assist in the development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Background : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of stems and leaves of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (ES) from Gangwon-do. Methods and Results : Stems and leaves of ES were collected from two areas in Gangwon-do: Cheorwon-gun and Samcheok-si. Samples were extracted with water by using the pressurized liquid extraction method and with 70% prethanol A by using the heat reflux extraction method. The anti-inflammatory effects of ES were evaluated through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide(MTT), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) assay, nitric oxide(NO) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and Western blot analysis in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 1) Results showed that ES leaf extractions were not cytotoxic at a concentration of up to 30 ㎍/㎖. The leaves of 70% prethanol A extractions of ES(30 ㎍/㎖) inhibited NO, interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) production and decreased the protein level of cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2). There was no significant change in the protein level of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS). The stem extractions of ES did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions : In this study, the leaves of 70% prethanol A extractions of ES demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect on RAW 264.7 macrophages. The 70% prethanol A extractions have a relatively higher anti-inflammatory effect on RAW 264.7 macrophages than water extractions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.839-846
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Korean Eucommia ulmodies Oliver tea extract on aluminum administered rats. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (100${\pm}$10 g) were divided into the following six groups; control group, 3% E. ulmodies tea extract group, 1,000 and 2,000 ppm aluminum ($Al_2(SO_4)_3$ in distilled water) groups, and 1,000 and 2,000 ppm aluminum plus 3% E. ulmodies tea extract groups. The aluminum content in the rat tissues of the aluminum administered group was lower than that in the rat tissue of the aluminum group administered 3% E. ulmodies tea extract. Asparate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels increased in the aluminum-administered group but were lower in the 3% E. ulmodies tea extract group. Lactate dehydrogenase was lower in the 3% extract E. ulmodies teaaluminum group than that in the aluminum group. Cholinesterase was higher in the 3% E. ulmodies tea-aluminum group than that in the aluminum group. Plasma renin activity levels increased in the aluminum administration group, compared with the aluminum plus 3% E. ulmodies tea group. Plasma aldosterone levels increased in the aluminum administration group compared with the aluminum plus 3% E. ulmodies tea group. These results suggest that an extract of E. ulmodies tea in water has lowering effects on the accumulation of aluminum. It is believed that the E. ulmodies tea had some protective effects in the aluminum-administered rats, but the mechanisms remain obscure.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.276-286
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• 2024

In the present study, we investigated whether a mixture of fucoidan and Crepidiastrum denticulatum extract (FCE) had the potential to improve the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatment. The results demonstrated that FCE significantly reduced cell viability and induced the release of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and DNA fragmentation in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, FCE treatment also increased the protein expression level of p53, the release of cytochrome c, and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, FCE dose-dependently increased protein expression levels of Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 and -9. However, FCE decreased the protein expression level of Bcl-2. These results suggest that FCE inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway. The present study demonstrates that FCE can be used as an anti-cancer agent for liver cancer based on apoptosis mechanism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.920-929
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• 2024

As a pivotal defensive line against multitudinous malignant tumors, natural killer (NK) cells exist in the tumor microenvironment (TME). RAD18 E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase (RAD18) has been reported to foster the malignant progression of multiple cancers, but its effect on NK function has not been mined. Here, the study was designed to mine the mechanism by which RAD18 regulates the killing effect of NK cells on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Expression of E2F Transcription Factor 7 (E2F7) and RAD18 in CRC tissues, their correlation, binding sites, and RAD18 enrichment pathway were analyzed by bioinformatics. Expression of E2F7 and RAD18 in cells was assayed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Dual-luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay verified the regulatory relationship between E2F7 and RAD18. CCK-8 assay was utilized to assay cell viability, colony formation assay to detect cell proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test to assay NK cell cytotoxicity, ELISA to assay levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and immunofluorescence to detect expression of toxic molecules perforin and granzyme B. High expression of RAD18 and E2F7 was found in CRC tissues and cells. Silencing RAD18 could hamper the proliferation of CRC cells, foster viability and cytotoxicity of NK cells, and increase the secretion of GM-CSF, TNF-α, IFN-γ as well as the expression of perforin and granzyme B. Additionally, ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assay ascertained the binding relationship between RAD18 promoter region and E2F7. E2F7 could activate the transcription of RAD18, and silencing RAD18 reversed the inhibitory effect of E2F7 overexpression on NK cell killing. This work clarified the inhibitory effect of the E2F7/RAD18 axis on NK cell killing in CRC, and proffered a new direction for immunotherapy of CRC in targeted immune microenvironment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.456-464
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigates the effects of Korean pueraris radix water extract in Cd(cadmium) administered rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $100{\pm}10g$ were used for this experiment and divided into following 4 groups; control group, 3% pueraria radix in water extract group, 50 ppm Cd group, 50ppm Cd group with 3% pueraria radix in water extract group. The Cd administered rats were given 50 ppm of $CdCl_2\;{\cdot}\;2H_2O$ disolved in the distilled water. The Cd content in the rats tissue of Cd administered group was lower than in the rats tissue of Cd group with 3% pueraria radix in water extract group. Plasma levels of renin activity was increased by Cd administration group, compared with 3% pueraria radix in water extract group and Cd administred group. Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase(GOT) and Glutamate pyruvate transaminase(GPT) were increased in Cd-administered group and lower in the 3% extracts of pueraria radix in water extract group. Lactate dehydrogenase(LDHase) was lower in the 3% extracts of pueraria radix-Cd group than in the Cd group. This results suggested that pueraria radix in water extract group, has a lowering effects on the accumulation of Cd and it is belived that the pueraria radix in water extract group has some protective effects to Cd administered in rats, but the mechanism of these effects was obscure.