• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.720-726
• /
• 1996

The neurotoxicity induced by L-glutamate in primary cultures of rat cortical cells could be attenuated by diterpene constituents of Ginkgo biloba leaves, ginkgolides A, B and C. At the concentration of 100 nM, ginkgolides up-regulated the activity of glutathione reductase in primary cultures of rat cortical cells exposed to 100 ${\mu}$M glutamate. Furthermore, ginkgolides increased the content of reduced glutathione in glutamate-treated cortical cells. However, ginkgolides showed little effect in reducing superoxide dismutase activity. Ginkgolides did, however, markedly block the production of malondialdehyde, a byproduct of lipid peroxidation in glutamate-treated rat cortical cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.444-449
• /
• 1995

Primary cultures of rat cortical and chicken embryonic brain cells were employed to establish a reliable screening method for natural products blocldng or enhancing glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. Exposure of primary cultured rat cortical cells or chicken embryonic brain cells to high dose of glutamate resulted in the fragmentation of neutites and consequent neuronal death. The level of cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), indicator for cell survival in cultures, was significantly reduced at exposure to glutamate. For the practical application of the methods, series of concentrations of plants extracts and positive control were applied prior to the glutamate insult on primary cultures of rat cortical and chicken embryonic, brain cells. Relative LDH level in cells was measured for the estimation of the effect of the test materials on the glutamatergic neurons. The validity of the present screening method for natural products acting on glutamatergic neurons was examined with dextromethorphan, a known glutamatergic antagonist. The treatment of 100 $\mu{M}$ dextromethorphan prevented the reduction of LDH in rat cortical and chicken embryonic brain cells caused by glutamate insult keeping 60% and 90% of LDH level in normal control, respectively. Above results indicate that primary cultures of rat cortical and chicken embryonic brain cells could be proper systems for the screening of potential natural agents acting on glutamatergic, neurons. Between the two types of cultures, primary culture of chicken embryonic brain cells seemed to be a better system for the primary screening, since it is technically easier and economical compared to that of rat cortical cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.287-292
• /
• 2006

Protective effects of the water extract of Protaetia brevitarsis larva against $CCl_4-induced$ toxicity were investigated in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. The extract used in these studies contained several minerals, fatty acids and amino acids. Treatment of hepatocyte cultures with the extract provided a significant protection from the increased LDH activity induced by $CCl_4$. The results demonstrated that the extract may have the protective effect against $CCl_4-induced$ toxicity in hepatocyte cultures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.1299-1303
• /
• 2005

Human articular chondrocytes (HAC) were cultivated as a monolayer in a serum-free medium for primary culture (SFM-P). An optimized SFM-P provides $95\%$ proliferation rate of that obtainable from primary and secondary chondrocyte cultures grown in a control medium with serum. The gradual decrease in the amounts of synthesized glycosaminoglycan and type II collagen was improved by coating the culture dishes with type IV collagen and fibronectin. A significant improvement in the expression of type II collagen and aggrecan mRNA could be achieved. In addition, the monolayer cultures showed better synthesis of the extracellular matrices than alginate-bead cultures in SFM-P.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 1997

The neurotoxicity induced by L-glutamate in primary cultures of rat cortical cells could be attenuated by sesquiterpene constituent of Ginkgo biloba leaves, bilobalide. At the c oncentration of 100 nM, Bilobalide elevated the combined levels of reduced/oxidized glutathione in rat cortical cells exposed to 100 ${\mu}$M glutamate. Furthermore, bilobalide promoted a reduction in superoxide dismutase activity in glutamate-treated cells. Finally, bilobalide markedly inhibited the production of malondialdehyde. a measure of lipid peroxidation, in glutamate-treated rat cortical cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.56-61
• /
• 2008

The hepatoprotective effects of the water extracts of Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HD) were investigated in vitro. Following the induction of hepatotoxicity by ethanol in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, the protective effects of four different water extracts of HD were determined through serial dose-response and time-dependent studies. The individual extracts used in these studies were prepared from fruits, seeds, leaves and tubes. Treatment of hepatocyte cultures with the water extracts of HD provided a significant protection from the increased lactate dehydrogenase activity induced by ethanol. Particularly, the fruits extract was the most effective against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in the primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. The results demonstrated that the extracts might have the protective effect against ethanol-induced toxicity in hepatocyte cultures.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.156-160
• /
• 2008

The methanolic extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS-T) and its fractions (RVS-H, RVS-C, RVS-E and RVS-B) showed significant neuroprotective activity against glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells. RVS-B, which showed the most potent neuroprotective activity, was further fractionated to yield RVS-B5. Treatment of cortical cells with the RVS-T, RVS-B and RVS-B5 reduced the cellular ROS level and restored the reduced activities of glutathione reductase and SOD induced by glutamate. Although, the activity of glutathione peroxidase was not virtually changed by glutamate, RVS-B5 increased the glutathione peroxidase activity. In addition, these three tested fractions significantly restored the content of GSH which was decreased by glutamate insult in our cultures. Taken together, it could be postulated that RVS extract, in particular its fraction RVS-B5, protected neuronal cells against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity through acting on the antioxidative defense system.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.2 s.130
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2005

This study was performed to understand the interaction between Ophiostomataceae and basidiomycetes fungi during cultures, and whether the basidiomycetes fungi inhibit the growth and decolorize dark pigments of blue staining fungi. The conjoint cultivation was studied on 2% malt extract agar. The ability of basidial cultures to decolorize dark pigments of ophiostomatoid fungi was the main characteristics estimated during this study. More than half of basidial cultures were characterized by deadlock interaction with blue staining fungi. In the dual cultures, where basidial partners were presented by Agaricus bisporus(64), Laetiporus sulphureus(L01/89), Trametes versicolor(09) and unknown fungus(02), antagonism was found at the phase of primary contact of colonies. Replacement interaction resulted usually in decreasing dark colour of substrate was observed for 11 basidial cultures that were belonging mainly to white-rot fungi. Among them Abortiporus biennis(123), Antrodiella hoehnelii(S28/91), Bjerkandera fumosa (137), and Gleophyllum odoratum(124) were characterized by the absence of deadlock-phase: they began to grow over dark colonies of their partners just after primary contact. Basidiomycetes did not affect strongly the pigments of Ceratocystis spp. and Leptographium sibirica isolates, but completely decolorized colonies of Ophiostoma ips and to a smaller degree Ophiostoma minus. Antrodiella hoehnelii(S28/91), Bjerkandera fumosa(137), Gleophyllum odoratum(124) and Trametes versicolor(B18/91) cultures were found to be the most active in decreasing dark color of blue staining fungi colonies. The cultures were recommended for further development as agents of biopulping of wood chips and bio-control of blue stain in woods.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 1988

Primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes were used to study in vitro cytotoxic effects of T-2 toxin on liver cells. When T-2 toxin was added to the culture, a significant depression of the hormonal induction of ${\alpha}$-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) uptake and tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity was observed. However, T-2 toxin did not affect the uptake of ouabain into hepatocytes. Protein synthesis was inhibited by T-2 toxin, but RNA synthesis was not severely affected. The inhibitory effects of T-2 toxin on protein synthesis was diminished rapidly with culture time and the hepatocytes culture maintained control level of protein synthesis within 24 hrs.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.125-129
• /
• 2009

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and Parkinson's disease, are caused by neuronal cell death. Apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, excitotoxicity or ischemia are discussed to play a role of neuronal cell death. In order to find the candidate of neuroprotective agent, neuroprotective activity of some medicinal plants was investigated with in vitro assay system using glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells. The aqueous methanolic extracts of twenty-seven medicinal plants were evaluated the protective effects against glutamate-injured excitotoxicity in rat cortical cells at the concentration of 50 $\mu$g/ml and 100 $\mu$g/ml, respectively. Among them, extracts of Lonicera japonica, Taraxacum platycarpum, Polygonum aviculare, Gardenia jasminoides, Forsythia viridissima, Lygodium japonicum, Panax notoginseng, Akebia quinata, Anemarrhena asphodeloides and Phellodendron amurense showed significantly neuroprotective activities against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in primary rat cortical cells.