• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4311-4316
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high global incidence and mortality rates. Current candidate drugs to treat HCC remain lacking and those in use possess undesirable side effects. In this investigation, the antiproliferative effects of dentatin (DTN), a natural coumarin, were evaluated on HepG2 cells and DTN's probable preliminary molecular mechanisms in apoptosis induction were further investigated. DTN significantly (p<0.05) suppressed proliferation of HepG2 cells with an $IC_{50}$ value of $12.0{\mu}g/mL$, without affecting human normal liver cells, WRL-68 ($IC_{50}$ > $50{\mu}g/mL$) causing $G_0/G_1$ cell cycle arrest via apoptosis induction. Caspase colorimetric assays showed markedly increased levels of caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities throughout the treatment period. Western blotting of treated HepG2 cells revealed inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ that triggers the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway by up-regulating cytoplasmic cytochrome c and Bax, and down-regulating Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The current findings suggest DTN has the potential to be developed further as an anticancer compound targeting human HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3551-3558
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• 2016

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, with chronic inflammation and diet as major causes in its development. Chemopreventive effects of natural dietary products have been the focus of studies for prevention over the past decade. This study was conducted to determine the effects of unpolished Thai rice during precancerous stage through the involvement of ${\beta}$-catenin, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and inflammatory cytokines focusing on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF)-related to CRC. Male Sprague Dawley rats received two injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) at weeks 4 and 5 while rats were treated with 20% or 70% unpolished Thai rice. The rats were sacrificed at week 38 and the colons removed for aberrant crypt foci (ACF) identification. Histopathologic changes, immunohistochemical analysis of ${\beta}$-catenin and COX-2 expression, and cytokine expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers were determined. The administration of unpolished Thai rice significantly and dose dependently decreased the total number of ACF and the percentages of ACF with high-grade dysplasia. Interestingly, unpolished Thai rice suppressed the expression of ${\beta}$-catenin and COX-2. In addition, it also altered proinflammatory (IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$) and anti-inflammatory (IL- 10) markers. The results suggested that unpolished Thai rice may provide a promising dietary intake for prevention during precancerous stage of CRC development, through the involvement of ${\beta}$-catenin and COX-2 expression, and also modulate inflammatory cytokines-related to CRC.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.504-509
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• 2014

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a substantial contributor to morbidity and mortality. In search of a natural products capable of inhibiting this multidrug resistant bacteria, we have investigated the antimicrobial activity of brazilein (BRZ) isolated from Caesalpinia sappan L. (Leguminosae) against 8 different strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). New antimicrobial activity was found using the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), broth dilution as well as checkerboard method. Against the 8 strains, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of BRZ were in the range of $62.5-500{\mu}g/mL$. From those results we performed the checkerboard test to determine the synergism of BRZ in combination with Hygromycin-b (HgB) against 4 strains. The combined activity of BRZ and HgB against 4 strains resulted in a fractional inhibitory concentrations index (FICI) ranging from 0.18-0.5. The effect of BRZ with HgB was found to be synergistic. We found that BRZ reduced the MICs of HgB. BRZ and HgB could lead to the development of new combination antibiotics against MRSA infection.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.4
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• pp.485-489
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• 1999

The germination percentages of Quercus hybrid seeds produced in 1994 using stored pollens were low. The survival rate and height growth within 2 years differed according to crossing combinations. The survival rate and growth of seedlings from hybrid seeds produced in 1991 and 1993 were investigated. The survival rates of five-year-old and three-year-old seedlings were from 71 to 100% and from 33 to 100%, respectively. The survival rates differed according to cross combinations. The mortality of seedlings increased in proportion to the increase of percentages of dwarf seedlings. The growth of five-year-old seedlings, of which mother tree was Q. aliena, was the best. The growth of seedlings produced by artificial crossing tended to be worse than that of natural crossing.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2002

Gastrointestinal infections kill over two million people each year, and pathogen contamination of livestock causes many cases of food poisoning. Two candidate intestinal probiotic strains, L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 were found to inhibit the growth of Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, L. innocua, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacteroides fragilis. In a series of mouse experiments, L. rhamosus GR-1 and L rhamnosus GG protected against S. typhimurium infection and translocation to the liver and spleen, reduced mortality and induced intestinal phagocytic and immunoglobulin responses. In a second series of experiments, the combination of L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 was superior to L. rhamnosus GG and placebo in protecting the mice from the lethal effect of salmonella. In summary, the use of combinations of probiotic lactobacilli as dietary supplements or foods could be considered for people at high risk of salmonella intestinal infection. Given the post-infection complications that can arise, such natural methods warrant further exploration especially given the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance and the lack of alternative measures available to many developing countries.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2006

The antitumor activity of crude saponin mixture obtained from Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.) (Fam; Cucurbitaceae) hairy roots (CSLT) in mice transplanted with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) was investigated. The EAC-bearing mice receiving 150 and $300{\mu}g/kg$ body weight, (i.p) of CSLT have shown a dose dependent elevation in tumor-tree survival and a highest number of survivors were observed after administration of CSLT $(300{\mu}g/kg)$, which was considered as an optimum dose for its antineoplastic action. The mean survival time (MST) for this dose was approximately $47.1{\pm}0.74d$, when compared with $19.0{\pm}0.36d$ of untreated control. Administration of $300{\mu}g/kg$ CSLT resulted in 130% long-term increased survival time. The measurement of body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, viable and non-viable count indicated the efficacy of CSLT in tumor-bearing mice, there was a significant recovery in hematological profiles, and there was depletion in lipid peroxidation levels, and the antioxidant enzyme activities such as GSH, SOD and CAT were restored to near the normal levels. The CSLT was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when animals were intraperitoneally injected with 250, 500, 750 and $1000{\mu}g/kg$ bodyweight. The treated mice showed conspicuous toxic symptoms only at a dose of $1500{\mu}g/kg$. Mortality of the animals was monitored up to 14 d post drug treatment, $1/7^{th}$ of the $LD_{50}$ dose has been considered for the optimal antineoplastic activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2016

This research is to estimate the toxicity of Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba (ARA) in F344 rats and to find a dose level for the 13 weeks toxicity study. A hot water extract of ARA (ARWE) was administered orally to F344 rats at dose levels of 0 (vehicle control), 500, 1000, 2000, 3500, and 5000 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Each group was composed to five male and five female F344 rats. According to the result, there were no ARWE-related adverse changes in mortality, body weights, food consumption, urinalysis, hematology, clinical chemistry, gross finding at necropsy, and organ weight examination. Salivation was observed in 3500 and 5000 mg/kg/day in male and female rats but it could not have found any relationship with ARWE administration. Based on our findings, ARWE may not cause toxicity in rats under the experimental conditions. Therefore, dose level of 5000 mg/kg/day as a highest treatment group in 13-week exposure study is recommended for further toxicity assessment.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.41-50
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• 2020

Vermicompost, manure, compost and organic fertilization are ecofriendly. Nowadays, many products resulted from sericulture consumed by humans such as mulberry leaves, fruits, mulberry tea, silk and natural silk cosmetics. Soil applications of three treatments with vermicompost (0.5, 1 and 2 tons per 0.42 hectare) and recommended rate of mineral fertilizers of nitrogen phosphorus potassium were used for investigation. Impact of fertilization on mulberry plant traits of moisture, number of shoots/tree, total shoots length/tree, number of leaves/shoot, number of leaves/ (100g), leaf yield/tree and leaf yield of fadden/season were recorded. In addition the effect of fertilization on larval and cocoon characters of young instar duration, fifth instar duration, total larval duration, larval mortality percentage, weight of third instar larvae, weight of fourth instar larvae, weight of fifth instar larvae, fresh cocoon weight, fresh shell weight, pupae weight, cocoon shell ratio, silk productivity, cocooning percentage, pupation ratio, number of cocoons/ liter, crop cocoons by number, crop cocoons by weight, fecundity and fertility. Using vermicompost treatment was enhancing plant characters. Treatments of V₃, V₂ and V₁ were shortage young, fifth and larvae durations. Mostly feeding silkworm during the whole larval duration on treated mulberry leaves with vermicompost improving the traits average. Using vermicompost for fertilization by rate of V₃ and V₂ is better than others for cocoon characters for females and males.V₃ and V₂ of vermicompost per 0.42 hectare is recommended for rearing mulberry silkworm instead of mineral fertilization.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.449-457
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• 2015

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of MB12662, a synthetic dunnione compound, on cisplatin-induced vomiting reflexes and intestinal, renal, immune system, and hematopoietic toxicities in ferrets and mice, respectively. Male ICR mice were orally administered MB12662 (5, 10, 25 or 50 mg/kg) for 10 days, during which intraperitoneally challenged with cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg) from day 4 to 7, and sacrificed on day 10 for the pathological examination. Male ferrets were orally administered MB12662 (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg) for 7 days, subcutaneously challenged with cisplatin (5 mg/kg), and monitored for vomiting reflexes and survival of the animals. Four-day injection of cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg) to mice caused body weight loss and degeneration and atrophy of intestinal villi, reducing villi/crypt ratio to a half level of control animals. Cisplatin also induced renal and hepatic toxicities, and depletion of splenocytes and bone marrow progenitor cells. The systemic toxicities including decreased villi/crypt ratio, immune system atrophy, splenocyte depletion, and decreased cellularity in bone marrow were improved by MB12662. Cisplatin (5 mg/kg) induced retching and emetic responses of ferrets, which were remarkably attenuated by MB12662 in a dose-dependent manner. All the ferrets pretreated with MB12662 survived the challenge of cisplatin, in comparison with 40% mortality in vehicle-treated animals, and blood parameters of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity were markedly recovered. It is expected that MB12662 could be a candidate for the body protection against burden, including emesis, of chemotherapeutic agents.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.473-480
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• 1986

Mumps is an extremly common infectious disease affecting predominantly young children hut it is not a severe disease in terms of mortality. One hundred and two sera from infants of 3 different groups which are vaccinated, unvaccinated and unknown were detected to mumps antibody. The tests used were Complement Fixation(CF) test, Single Radial Hemolysis(SRH) test, Hemagglutination Inhibition(HI) test, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Immunoglobulin G(ELISA IgG) test, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Immunoglobulin M(ELISA IgM) test. 1. The rate of positivity for mumps antibody in 102 sera wera 89.16%(74/83) by Hl test, 68.83%(53/77) by ELISA IgG test, 64.58%(62/96) by SRH test, 63.24%(43/68) by ELISA IgM test and 50.00%(49/98) by CF test. 2. The rate of positivity by 5 tests for 55 sera turned out to be very similar with above results respectively. 3. The correlation coefficients(r) between ELISA IgG test ant H1 test, ELISA IgG test and ELISA IgM test were 0.34(P<0.0l) and 0.31(P<0.02), respectively. 4. The percentage of apparently natural infection of mumps seemed to be 65.15%(43/66) in infants. 5. Seroconversion rate of mumps by vaccination were 90.91%(10/11). 6. Among the 53 infants who were tested with ELISA IgG 15 were below 15 months age of(28.30%) and this percentage may be taken as a suggestion that mumps vaccination should be given earlier than present practice. 7. ELISA IgG test was found very sensitive and recommendable method for large scale screening for the presence of antibody to mumps.