• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.61-65
• /
• 2021

Root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne incognita is major soil pathogen and cause severe economic damages to vegetable crops. In this study, we selected rhizobacteria for biocontrol of the root-knot nematode, M. incognita, and identified; performed bioassay of the bacterial extracts in cucumber seedlings. The crude extracts of strains CT16 and JC05 out of 180 strains inhibited egg hatching and increased juvenile mortality in vitro assay; based on 16S rRNA sequences analysis, the two strains were identified as Bacillus sp. CT16, and Neobacillus sp. JC05. After extracting the bacterial supernatants by using various organic solvents, n-butanol and n-hexane extracts of strain CT16 and n-butanol extract of strain JC05 showed inhibitory activity of egg hatching depending on concentrations. Subsequently, n-butanol extracts of two strains significantly suppressed formation of egg masses in cucumber seedling. Therefore, these results indicated that strains CT16 and JC05 could be used as potential biocontrol agents against M. incognita.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제55권4호
• /
• pp.198-203
• /
• 2022

As negative regulators of cytokine signaling pathways, suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins have been reported to possess both pro-tumor and anti-tumor functions. Our recent studies have demonstrated suppressive effects of SOCS1 on epithelial to mesenchymal signaling in colorectal cancer cells in response to fractionated ionizing radiation or oxidative stress. The objective of the present study was to determine the radiosensitizing action of SOCS1 as an anti-tumor mechanism in colorectal cancer cell model. In HCT116 cells exposed to ionizing radiation, SOCS1 over-expression shifted cell cycle arrest from G2/M to G1 and promoted radiation-induced apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner with down-regulation of cyclin B and up-regulation of p21. On the other hand, SOCS1 knock-down resulted in a reduced apoptosis with a decrease in G1 arrest. The regulatory action of SOCS1 on the radiation response was mediated by inhibition of radiation-induced Jak3/STAT3 and Erk activities, thereby blocking G1 to S transition. Radiation-induced early ROS signal was responsible for the activation of Jak3/Erk/STAT3 that led to cell survival response. Our data collectively indicate that SOCS1 can promote radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells by counteracting ROS-mediated survival signal, thereby blocking cell cycle progression from G1 to S. The resulting increase in G1 arrest with p53 activation then contributes to the promotion of apoptotic response upon radiation. Thus, induction of SOCS1 expression may increase therapeutic efficacy of radiation in tumors with low SOCS1 levels.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제61권3호
• /
• pp.282-291
• /
• 2023

Despite the recent progress in public health measures, malaria remains a troublesome disease that needs to be eradicated. It is essential to develop new antimalarial medications that are reliable and secure. This report evaluated the pharmacokinetics and antimalarial activity of 1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro[7.11]nonadecane (N-89) using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei in vivo. After a single oral dose (75 mg /kg) of N-89, its pharmacokinetic parameters were measured, and t_1/2 was 0.97 h, T_max was 0.75 h, and bioavailability was 7.01%. A plasma concentration of 8.1 ng/ml of N-89 was maintained for 8 h but could not be detected at 10 h. The dose inhibiting 50% of parasite growth (ED₅₀) and ED₉₀ values of oral N-89 obtained following a 4-day suppressive test were 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively. Based on the plasma concentration of N-89, we evaluated the antimalarial activity and cure effects of oral N-89 at a dose of 75 mg/kg 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days in mice harboring more than 0.5% parasitemia. In all the N-89-treated groups, the parasites were eliminated on day 5 post-treatment, and all mice recovered without a parasite recurrence for 30 days. Additionally, administering oral N-89 at a low dose of 50 mg/kg was sufficient to cure mice from day 6 without parasite recurrence. This work was the first to investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and antimalarial activity of N-89 as an oral drug. In the future, the following steps should be focused on developing N-89 for malaria treatments; its administration schedule and metabolic pathways should be investigated.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제61권1호
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2023

The discovery of new antimalarial drugs can be developed using asynchronized Plasmodium berghei malaria parasites in vivo in mice. Studies on a particular stage are also required to assess the effectiveness and mode of action of drugs. In this report, we used endoperoxide 6-(1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro [7.11] nonadec-4-yl) hexan-1-ol (N-251) as a model antimalarial compound on P. chabaudi parasites. We examined the antimalarial effect of N-251 against ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich P. chabaudi parasites and asynchronized P. berghei parasites using the 4-day suppressive test. The ED₅₀ values were 27, 22, and 22 mg/kg, respectively, and the antimalarial activity of N-251 was verified in both rodent malaria parasites. To assess the stage-specific effect of N-251 in vivo, we evaluated the change of parasitemia and distribution of parasite stages using ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich P. chabaudi parasites with one-day drug administration for one life cycle. We discovered that the parasitemias decreased after 13 and 9 hours post-treatment in the ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich groups, respectively. Additionally, in the ring-stage-rich N-251 treated group, the ring-stage parasites hindered trophozoite parasite development. For the trophozoite-stage-rich N-251 treated group, the distribution of the trophozoite stage was maintained without a change in parasitemia until 9 hours. Because of these findings, it can be concluded that N-251 suppressed the trophozoite stage but not the ring stage. We report for the first time that N-251 specifically suppresses the trophozoite stage using P. chabaudi in mice. The results show that P. chabaudi is a reliable model for the characterization of stage-specific antimalarial effects.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.51-65
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of three types of Yongdamsagantanggamibang(YSTG) which has been medicated the patient with inflammatory disease of female genitourinary system. Methods: To verify the anti-inflammatory mechanism of YSTGs, expressions of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, MCP-1, COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA in THP-1 cells were examined. And we investigated the production levels of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in mouse following LPS co-treatment. Results: 1. YSTG1, YSTG2 and YSTG3 extract did not show any cytotoxic effect on human fibroblast cells at any of the concentrations evaluated(500, 250, 125, 62.5, 37.25 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$) 2. YSTG1, YSTG2 and YSTG3 extract showed scavenging activity on DPPH free radical and SOD-like activity. 3. YSTG1, YSTG2 and YSTG3 extract decreased production levels of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-${\alpha}$ and MCP-1 in LPS-treated THP-1 cells. 4. YSTG1, YSTG2 and YSTG3 extract decreased expressions of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, MCP-1, COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA in LPS-treated THP-1 cells. 5. YSTG1, YSTG2 and YSTG3 extract decreased production levels of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in serum of LPS-treated mouse. Conclusion: Based on results above, it is revealed three types of YSTG have the anti-inflammatory effect, and may be effective in the treatment for inflammatory disease of female genitourinary system.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제21권12호
• /
• pp.1795-1803
• /
• 2011

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease accompanies the rise in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and the tendency toward high-fat dietary habits. Specifically, the higher prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in men and postmenopausal women seems to be caused by the protective effects of estrogen against liver fibrosis, or lack thereof. There are no effective preventive therapies for liver diseases because the mechanisms underlying the progression of fatty liver diseases to chronic liver diseases and the protective effects of estrogen against fibrogenesis remain unclear. Recently, it has been reported that the hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in the progression of chronic liver diseases. Hedgehog, a morphogen regulating embryonic liver development, is expressed in injured livers but not in adult healthy livers. The level of hedgehog expression parallels the stages of liver diseases. Hedgehog induces myofibroblast activation and hepatic progenitor cell proliferation and leads to excessive liver fibrosis, whereas estrogen inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells to myofibroblasts and prevents liver fibrosis. Although the mechanism underlying the opposing actions of hedgehog and estrogen on liver fibrosis remain unclear, the suppressive effects of estrogen on the expression of osteopontin, a profibrogenic extracellular matrix protein and cytokine, and the inductive effects of hedgehog on osteopontin transcription suggest that estrogen and hedgehog are associated with liver fibrosis regulation. Therefore, further research on the estrogen-mediated regulatory mechanisms underlying the hedgehog-signaling pathway can identify the mechanism underlying liver fibrogenesis and contribute to developing therapies for preventing the progression of fibrosis to chronic liver diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제38권12호
• /
• pp.1753-1759
• /
• 2009

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of components obtained from Zanthoxylum schinifolium and Zanthoxylum piperitum on rancidity and quality of Kwamegi (semi-dried Pacific saury, Coloabis saira). Ethanol extract (ZS) of Zanthoxylum schinifolium leaves or the essential oil (ZP) obtained from pericarp of Zanthoxylum piperitum in 1 or 20% ethanol solution was sprayed to the Pacific saury before Kwamegi preparation at its final concentrations of 0.125~2 ppm in the Kwamegi. The prepared Kwamegi was vacuum packed with multi-layered film (polyethylene/polyamide/EVOH/polyethylene, thickness 80 μm) and kept at -20${^{\circ}C}$ until use. After opening the package Kwamegi was stored at 4${^{\circ}C}$ for 1, 3 and 7 days during which rancidity tests and sensory evaluation were carried out. Acid, peroxide, and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values increased with storage time but reduced significantly by the addition of ZS at the concentrations of ≥G0.125 ppm and ZP≥F0.25 ppm. The effects of ZS and ZP were dose-dependent and more pronounced as storage time prolonged. The ZS and ZP also reduced dimethyamine and trimethyamine (TMA) contents which were increased with time, while they prevented the decrease of trimethyamine oxide. The ZS at the concentration of ≥G0.25 ppm and the ZP at >0.5 ppm were needed to maintain TMA less than 4.5 mg/100 g for 3 day storage at 4${^{\circ}C}$. Sensory evaluation of the Kwamegi exhibited a slightly higher preference with the ZS and ZP treated ones at the level of 0.25~0.5 ppm. It is concluded that very low amounts of ZS and ZP are effective in suppression of rancidity of Kwamegi and could be utilized for its quality management.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제27권10호
• /
• pp.1168-1175
• /
• 2017

Probiotics are usually defined as intestinal bacteria that provide healthy benefit to the host and may offer new therapeutic materials for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus are known as typical probiotics. But, these bacteria have mostly a weak viability and thus decreased probiotics-mediated effects in the intestinal tract. Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease, which is characterized by the releases of inflammatory mediators including cytokine and IgE. They are mainly associated with the recruitment, activation and disregulation of specific inflammatory cells, especially mast cells, monocytes, T cells, eosinophils and neutrophils in asthma. We performed these studies as in vitro and in vivo test the human inflammatory cell lines and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. And then the inhibitory effects of Enterococcus faecalis whole extract on inflammatory responses were examined. For our examinations, the E. faecalis whole extract (Ef extract) was acquired from whole bacteria of E. faecalis using freeze/thawing after ultrasonication method. As results, OVA-mediated THP-1 cell viability was decreased by the treatment of Ef extract. In the asthmatic mouse model, Ef extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the inflammatory sites and blood. This whole extract may have anti-asthmatic effects associated with the regulation of IL-5 and IgE expression. It may also be a promising candidate in anti-allergic medicine for the treatment of asthma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제36권2호
• /
• pp.163-173
• /
• 2007

Lipid peroxidation is one of the main manifestations of oxidative damage and has been found to play an important role in the toxicity and carcinogenesis of many carcinogens. This study was carried out to determine the effects of vitamin C on lipid contents and fatty acid compositions of serum and liver in male rats treated with radiation or aflatoxin $B_1\;(AFB_1)$. Six week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 7 groups; control group, radiation exposed group, $AFB_1$ treated group, X-ray and $AFB_1$ co-treated group. Three groups, except control group, were each further divided into vitamin C administered group and not administered groups. For this study, vitamin C was injected with 10 mg/kg of body weight by intraperitoneal injection and 1 hr later, 0.4 mg/kg of $AFB_1$ was injected by the same method. These administrations were repeated every 3 days over a period of 15 days. Only one time, X-ray was irradiated on whole liver with 1,500 cGy. Then vitamin C and AFB1 were administered by the same level and same method described above. On the 16th day of treatments, the animals were sacrificed. From the analysis of the serum lipid patterns, significant decrease (p<0.01) in triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol levels were observed in X-ray and $AFB_1$ co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). In liver lipids, the levels of free cholesterol and total cholesterol were also decreased in X-ray and $AFB_1$ co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). The levels of serum free cholesterol and hepatic TG were not significantly different among all groups according to vitamin C administrations. The high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level of serum was significantly (p<0.01) increased while the low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol level was decreased in X-ray and $AFB_1$ co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). In the phospholipid fatty-acid compositions of serum and liver tissue, group 3, 5 and 7 showed an increase in polyunsaturated fatty-acid (PUFA) but a decrease in saturated fatty acid (SFA) when compared to the control group. The composition ratio of fatty acid varied according to vitamin C administration. These results suggested that vitamin C has partly suppressive effects on lipid contents and fatty acid composition of serum and liver in rats treated by radiation and $AFB_1$.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.44-55
• /
• 2011

This study aimed to investigate the effects of water extract of Rubus coreanus (RCE) on the expression and activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), as well as its signal transduction pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The specific inhibitors of NOS show RCE treatment increases NO production in HUVECs due to the up-regulation of eNOS rather than iNOS. The real-time expression level of eNOS mRNA was also increased upon RCE treatment in HUVECs. While a PKC-specific inhibitor, RO-317549, did not alter RCE-induced NO production in HUVECs, tamoxifen (estrogen receptor-specific inhibitor), PD98059 (ERK-specific inhibitor) and LY-294002 (PI3K/Akt-specific inhibitor) did have suppressive effects. Increased NO production by RCE seems to result from a higher level of active eNOS (pSer1177). Specifically, inhibition of ERK not only decreased the level of active eNOS, but also increased the inactive form of the enzyme (pThr495) in HUVECs. This study suggests that RCE treatment increases NO production in HUVECs due to the increased expression and activity of eNOS. It is also shown that RCE-induced eNOS activation occurs partly through the binding of RCE to the estrogen receptor, along with ERK and PI3K/Akt-dependent signal transduction pathways. In addition, the regulatory binding proteins of eNOS including Hsp90 and caveolin-1 were related to these effects of RCE on eNOS activity in HUVECs.