• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2012

Exposure of cells to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation can induce production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cellular components. In addition, these agents can stimulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and decrease collagen synthesis in human skin cells. In this study, we examined the anti-photoaging effects of extracts of Tetraselmis suecica (W-TS). W-TS showed the strongest scavenging activity against 2,2-difenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxyl radicals, followed by superoxide anions from the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. We observed that the levels of both intracellular ROS and lipid peroxidation significantly increased in UVB-irradiated human skin fibroblast cells. Furthermore, the activities of enzymatic antioxidants (e.g., superoxide dismutase) and the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (e.g., glutathione) significantly decreased in cells. However, W-TS pretreatment, at the maximum tested concentration, significantly decreased intracellular ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels in the cells. At this same concentration, W-TS did not show cytotoxicity. Type 1 procollagen and MMP-1 released were quantified using RT-PCR techniques. The results showed that W-TS protected type 1 procollagen against UVB-induced depletion in fibroblast cells in a dose-dependent manner via inhibition of UVB-induced MMP-1. Taken together, the results of the study suggest that W-TS effectively inhibits UVB-induced photoaging in skin fibroblasts by its strong anti-oxidant ability.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.294-301
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• 2013

In this study, we examined the hepatic anti-steatosis activity of carnosic acid (CA), a phenolic compound of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaves, as well as its possible mechanism of action, in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice model. Mice were fed a HFD, or a HFD supplemented with 0.01% (w/w) CA or 0.02% (w/w) CA, for a period of 12 weeks, after which changes in body weight, blood lipid profiles, and fatty acid mechanism markers were evaluated. The 0.02% (w/w) CA diet resulted in a marked decline in steatosis grade, as well as in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index values, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IGTT) results, body weight gain, liver weight, and blood lipid levels (P < 0.05). The expression level of hepatic lipogenic genes, such as sterol regulating element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), liver-fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), and fatty acid synthase (FAS), was significantly lower in mice fed 0.01% (w/w) CA and 0.02% (w/w) CA diets than that in the HFD group; on the other hand, the expression level of ${\beta}$-oxidation-related genes, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$ (PPAR-${\alpha}$), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1), and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), was higher in mice fed a 0.02% (w/w) CA diet, than that in the HFD group (P < 0.05). In addition, the hepatic content of palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), and oleic acid (C18:1) was significantly lower in mice fed the 0.02% (w/w) CA diet than that in the HFD group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that orally administered CA suppressed HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and fatty liver-related metabolic disorders through decrease of de novo lipogenesis and fatty acid elongation and increase of fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation in mice.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.387-403
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury (MIRI) has high morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to explore the role of long noncoding RNA lysyl oxidase like 1 antisense RNA 1 (LOXL1-AS1) in cardiomyocyte pyroptosis. Methods: Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury was constructed in human cardiomyocyte (HCM). The level of LOXL1-AS1, miR-761, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and pyroptosis-related proteins was monitored by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. Flow cytometry examined the pyroptosis level. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB and cardiac troponin I levels were detected by test kits. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured the release of inflammatory cytokines. Dual-luciferase assay validated the binding relationship among LOXL1-AS1, miR-761, and PTEN. Finally, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) animal model was constructed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining assessed morphological changes of myocardial tissue. NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and casepase-1 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: After H/R treatment, LOXL1-AS1 and PTEN were highly expressed but miR-761 level was suppressed. LOXL1-AS1 inhibition or miR-761 overexpression increased cell viability, blocked the release of LDH and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-18), inhibited pyroptosis level, and downregulated pyroptosis-related proteins (ASC, cleaved caspase-1, gasdermin D-N, NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18) levels in HCMs. LOXL1-AS1 sponged miR-761 to up-regulate PTEN. Knockdown of miR-761 reversed the effect of LOXL1-AS1 down regulation on H/R induced HCM pyroptosis. LOXL1-AS1 aggravated the MIRI by regulating miR-761/PTEN axis in vivo. Conclusions: LOXL1-AS1 targeted miR-761 to regulate PTEN expression, then enhance cardiomyocyte pyroptosis, providing a new alternative target for the treatment of MIRI.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.650-657
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• 2020

We conducted a phylogeographic analysis of Korean endemic Zacco koreanus populations inhabiting the East-flowing river (Gangneung Yeongokcheon; GY, Yangyang Namdaecheon; YN), the Han River (Seomgang; SG, Soksacheon; SS), and the Nakdong River(Gilancheon; GA) using the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene (619 bp). Population genetic analysis was further performed to assess the population connectivity for the GY river where there is a large number of human-made artificial weirs with several fishways. The phylogeographic analysis revealed that while the populations of the East-flowing river and those of the Han River formed a monophyletic lineage, the Nakdong River individuals represented a distinct lineage with 3.7-4.2% (mean=4.0%) genetic distance from the other lineages. The population genetic analysis of the GY showed that a mid-stream population harbored relatively higher mitochondrial diversity relative to up- and down-stream populations, and there was no genetic differentiation between these three populations. The latter findings might suggest high genetic connectivity between the populations via genetic flow along the fishways. However, an analysis using faster-evolving genetic markers, such as microsatellites, is needed to confirm the findings of high population connectivity. Our study suggests the possibility of the presence of cryptic species in Z. koreanus in the Nakdong River basin. However, further study with more individual samples as well as additional markers or even more advanced genomic tools is required to test our hypothesis. Ecological or phenotypic analyses should be conducted to test whether the observed Nakdong River lineage represents a different or cryptic species, or simply hidden, but excessive, intraspecific diversity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.79-88
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• 2023

Trifludimoxazin is a triazinone herbicide that inhibits the synthesis of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). The lack of PPO damages the cell membranes, leading to plant cell death. An official analytical method for the safety management of trifludimoxazin is necessary because it is a newly registered herbicide in Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a residual analysis method to detect trifludimoxazin in five representative agricultural products. The EN method was established as the final extraction method by comparing the recovery test and matrix effect with those of the QuEChERS method. Various sorbent agents were used to establish the clean-up method, and no differences were observed among them. MgSO₄ and PSA were selected as the final clean-up conditions. We used LC-MS/MS considering the selectivity and sensitivity of the target pesticide and analyzed the samples in the MRM mode. The recovery test results using the established analysis method and inter-laboratory validation showed a valid range of 73.5-100.7%, with a relative standard deviation and coefficient of variation less than 12.6% and 14.5%, respectively. Therefore, the presence of trifludimoxazin can be analyzed using a modified QuEChERS method, which is widely available in Korea to ensure the safety of residual insecticides.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.236-251
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• 2015

Objectives: To investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines to test their efficacy in common cold treatment. Methods: For all experiments, the herbal medicines were extracted with 80% ethanol and freeze-dried. To determine the anti-oxidative properties, we tested DPPH-free radical-scavenging activity and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. To determine anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential, we investigated acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and writhing test in ICR mice. For anti-pyretic activities, an LPS-induced pyrexia study was conducted in rabbits. To evaluate the anti-histamine activity, we examined compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis in ICR mice and the release of β-hexosaminidase on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Results: Ephedrae herba, Forsythiae fructus, Cinnamomi ramulus, and Cimicifugae rhizome showed potent free-radical scavenging activities. Gentianae macrophyllae radix inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability. Schizonepetae spica and Cimicifugae rhizome inhibited acetic acid. Cinnamomi ramulus and Angelicae decursivae radix inhibited LPS-induced pyrexia. Angeliace dahuricae radix and Asari radix inhibited compound 48/80. Scutellariae radix, Cinnamomi ramulus, Ephedrae herba, and Zingiberis rhizoma crudus potently inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase. Conclusions: We examined the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines;We examined the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines Codonopsis pilosulae radix, Zingiberis rhizoma crudus, and Cinnamomi ramulus showed novel efficacy. These results suggest that some of herbal medicines may be very effective in treating common cold.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.632-639
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• 1990

The biological activities of twelve different kinds of enzymatic browning reaction products(EBRP), which resulted from the reactants four kinds of polyphenols with polyphenol oxidase extracted from Ligularia fischeri, pimpinella brachycarpa and Aster scaber of edible mountain herbs. All of twelve samples did not show any mutagenic effect in the spore rec-assay, Ames mutagenicity test and DNA breaking test. However metal ions such as $Cu^{2+},\;Fe^{2+}$, and $Ni^{2+}$ were increased the DNA breakage in rec-assay. The EBRPs inhibited the mutagenicities induced by $benzo({\alpha})pyrene (B({\alpha})P)$, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b]indole(Trp-P-1) and 2-aminofluorene(2-AF) in Salmonella/microsome assay system with S-9 mix. In effects of EBRPs on the DNA repair system, the activity of EcoRI was highly inhibited and that of $T_{4}$ DNA ligase was inactivated by addition of EBRPs. The results of transformation ratio of plasmid pGA658 into E. coli HB 101 was significantly decreased by the reaction products of S. brachycarpa polyphenoloxidase (PPO). When UV light was exposed to the mixture of DNA and EBRP before the thanformation, the reaction products from L. fischeri PPO with pyrogallol, catechol and hydroxyhydroquinone stimulated transformation ratio.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.515-525
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• 2022

Background: The incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease is increasing in recent years and has been one of the leading causes of neurological dysfunction and death. Ginsenoside Rg1 has been found to protect against neuronal damage in many neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effect and mechanism by which Rg1 protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) are not fully understood. Here, we report the neuroprotective effects of Rg1 treatment on CIRI and its possible mechanisms in mice. Methods: A bilateral common carotid artery ligation was used to establish a chronic CIRI model in mice. HT22 cells were treated with Rg1 after OGD/R to study its effect on [Ca²⁺]_i. The open-field test and poleclimbing experiment were used to detect behavioral injury. The laser speckle blood flowmeter was used to measure brain blood flow. The Nissl and H&E staining were used to examine the neuronal damage. The Western blotting was used to examine MAP2, PSD95, Tau, p-Tau, NOX2, PLC, p-PLC, CN, NFAT1, and NLRP1 expression. Calcium imaging was used to test the level of [Ca²⁺]_i. Results: Rg1 treatment significantly improved cerebral blood flow, locomotion, and limb coordination, reduced ROS production, increased MAP2 and PSD95 expression, and decreased p-Tau, NOX2, p-PLC, CN, NFAT1, and NLRP1 expression. Calcium imaging results showed that Rg1 could inhibit calcium overload and resist the imbalance of calcium homeostasis after OGD/R in HT22 cells. Conclusion: Rg1 plays a neuroprotective role in attenuating CIRI by inhibiting oxidative stress, calcium overload, and neuroinflammation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2014

This study investigated anti-obesity and antioxidant effects of dietary non-fermented soybean crud residue (SCR) and fermented SCR by Monascus pilosus (FSCR) in high-fat induced-obese mice. SCR and FSCR were supplemented with high-fat diet at 2% (wt/wt) dose for 8 weeks. Both SCR and FSCR significantly lowered body weight, epididymal fat weight and weight gain rate compared to high-fat diet control (HC) group and FSCR group showed lowest weight gain rate. In addition, it was observed that serum and hepatic lipid profiles including triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were significantly improved by supplementing SCR or FSCR. Furthermore, SCR and FSCR administration showed increase of glutathione content and decrease of hepatic lipid peroxide content, serum aminotransferase activity, and hepatic xanthine oxidase activity. On the other hand, activities of reactive oxygen species scavenging enzyme such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in two test groups were higher than those of HC. Lastly, in comparison with SCR, FSCR was more effective in restoring obesity-related biomarkers to normal level in high-diet induced obese mice. In conclusion, the present study indicates that FSCR could have not only anti-obese effects such as inhibition of abdominal fat accumulation, but also protective effects of cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis by decreasing serum and hepatic lipid contents. Furthermore, these results suggest that experimental diets in this study could alleviate hepatic damage caused by overproduction of reactive oxygen spices (ROS) due to obesity via inhibition of ROS generating activities and induction of ROS scavenging activities.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 2014

Hot water dipping test was conducted for chicon to restrict red discoloration of its basal part which impairs the product value during sales. Hot water dipping treatment was given to chicon for 4 min and for 8 min at $38^{\circ}C$ and for 2 min and 4 min at $42^{\circ}C$, and for 1 min and 2 min at $45^{\circ}C$, along with control (for one min at $20^{\circ}C$). The red discoloration indices of basal part of chicon during sensory evaluation on the sixth day of storage under the storage temperature at $10^{\circ}C$ was lower at $42^{\circ}C$ for 2 min, $42^{\circ}C$ for 4 min and $45^{\circ}C$ for 1 min treatments. The color change value of the basal part in chicon measured by colorimeter showed that the lowest ${\Delta}a^*$ and ${\Delta}h$ were maintained in the basal part of chicon treated at $42^{\circ}C$ for 2 min. Whereas, color changes in $42^{\circ}C$ for 2 min and $45^{\circ}C$ for 1 min treatments were significantly low as compared with that of control. The contents of total phenolic compounds which are the substances that cause red discoloration of basal part in chicon were lowest at $42^{\circ}C$ for 2 min, $42^{\circ}C$ for 4 min and $45^{\circ}C$ for 1 min treatments. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) resposible for in the synthesis of phenolic substances was the least in $42^{\circ}C$ for 2 min treatment. Whereas, PAL activity of the chicons treated a t $42^{\circ}C$ for 2 min and at $45^{\circ}C$ for 1 min were significantly lower than that of control. However, red discoloration was progressed as similar level with that of control in the basal part of chicon at $45^{\circ}C$ for 2 min. The contents of total phenolic compounds and PAL activity in this treatment were not significantly different from those in control. The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity which causes red discoloration of cut tissues was low in all the treatments including $42^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$ treatment at which no inhibition effects of the red discoloration of basal part of chicon were observed. When the correlation coefficient between each investigated index was tested, most of them showed high correlation except the PPO activity and particularly and the red discoloration index and sensory evaluation ${\Delta}h$ values, and PAL activity and total phenolic compounds content were $r=0.927^{**}$, and $r=0.942^{**}$, respectively.