Chang Kiu Moon

Antitumor activity of some phytobased polysaccharides and their effects on the immune function

Polysaccharide fractions were prepared from Ginseng root,Mori Radicis Cortex (M.R.C.),Phellodendri Cortex (Ph.C.),Sappan Wood (S.W.) andTigli Semen (T.S.). Water extract was also prepared from the mixture of Ph.C., S.W. and T.S. Ginseng polysaccharide and water extract of the mixture showed marked antitumor activity against sarcoma 180. Ginseng polysaccharide showed a mild increasing effect on the number of circulating leucocytes and a marked increasing effect on the number of plaque forming cells (PFC). Polysaccharides from ginseng root, S.W., Ph.C.+T.S. and water extract of the mixture showed dramatic inducing activities of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) and macrophages. These results suggest the possibility that water extract of the mixture may have the lentinan like effect and ginseng polysaccharide may have stimulating effects on the general immune system.

Antitumor activities of several phytopolysaccharides

Polysaccharides were isolated with alkaline extraction method from twelve pharmaceutical plants, which have been used against the various tumors in the oriental herb medicine, and examined for their antitumor activities. When the polysaccharides were administered i.p. at the dose of 10mg/kg/day for ten consecutive days to the male ICR mice, which had been implanted with 1×106 cells of sarcoma 180 twentyfour hours before the first injection of polysaccharides, those fromForsythia Corea, Curcuma Zedoaria, Albizzia Julibrissin, Prunus Persica, Foeniculum Vulgare andDaphne Pseudogenkwa showed inhibition ratios of 88.0%, 61.1%, 73.0%, 72.8% 55.1% and 71.7%. The significant prolongation of life span was observed only in the case ofForsythia Corea (18.1%). Other six polysaccharide fractions fromOlibanum, Lonicera Japonica, Rheum Coreanum, Scirpus Maritimus, gleditchia Officinalis and Brassica Juncea showed negligible inhibition ratios.

Effects of Red ginseng-crude saponin on plasma lipid levels in rats fed on a diet high in cholesterol and triglyceride

The effect of Red ginseng saponin on plasma lipid levels in Wistar rats fed on a diet high in cholesterol and triglyceride was determined. A dose of Red ginseng-crude saponin (150 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 4 weeks to Wistar rats fed on a diet containing 2% cholesterol and 10% olive oil. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were measured and lipoproteins were analyzed by using electrophoretic technique. Red ginseng saponin showed no significant changes of HDL-cholesterol level but it lowered plasma levels of total cholesterol and elevate those of triglyceride intensively.

Effects of some organophosphate pesticides on the murine immune system following subchronic exposure (II)

Four technical grade organophosphate pesticides (Fenitrothion, Fenthion, Diazinon and EPN) were investigated for their effects on the murine immune function.Among the immunotoxicological assay parameters of NIEHS, humoral immune parameter and pathotoxicological indicators were examined in this study.Subchronic exposure of rodents to these pesticides resulted in marked suppression of humoral immune function and moderate histological changes of lymphoid organ without any significant alterations of clinical status.

Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on liver and lung cytochrome P450s in Mice

Certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been reported to induce cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1A2. In the present study, the effects of six well-known PAHs, such as benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, dibenz[a, h]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluorancene and benzo[b]fluorancene, on the activities of hepatic and pulmonary CYP enzymes were investigated in male ICR mice. When mice were treated intraperitoneally with 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg of individual PAHs for 3 consecutive days, the activities of ethoxyresorufin- and methoxyresorufin-O-dealkylases were significantly and differentially induced in both liver and lung. Moreover, other CYP isozyme-associated monooxygenase activities were also induced significantly in liver and lung with characteristic induction profiles. Our present results suggest that individual PAHs might have inductive effects on CYP isozymes, and that the characteristic inductive effects of individual PAHs on certain CYP isozymes would be developed as a marker for determining exposure to certain PAHs.

Effects of brazilin on lipid and phosphatidyl fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

In diabetes, the abnormal increase of the membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (C/PL) is considered to be the main reason for the decreased membrane fluidity, which then results in impaired erythrocyte deformability and subsequent microcirculatory disturbances. In this study, we examined the effects of brazilin on lipid and phosphatidyl fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Treatment of brazilin (10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg for 2 weeks, i.p) altered phospholipid and cholesterol contents in diabetic erythrocyte membranes. The C/PL ratio of brazilin treated groups decreased compared with that of diabetic control group while no change was observed in normal erythrocytes. In streptozotocin induced diabetic rats, alterations in phosphatidyl fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes were observed and brazilin could reverse these alterations. Arachidonic acid level retumed to a normal level while linoleic acid level remained unchanged by the treatment of brazilin. The results suggest that brazilin might increase erythrocyte membrane fluidity which plays a key role in regulating erythrocyte deformability, thereby it could exert positive effects on microcirculatory disturbances.

Effects of antitumor polysaccharides fromAlbizza julibrissin on immune function

Polysaccharide fractions were prepared fromAlbizzia julibrissin by different extraction schedules. The fractions obtained were designated as PS-I and PS-II, respectively. Further purification of PS-I by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography gave two subfractions, Alju A and Alju B. Each fraction showed marked antitumor activity against sarcoma 180 solid form but not ascite form. PS-I and PS-II increased delayed hypersensitivity in normal and tumor bearing mice. PS-I treatment led to moderate restoration of the suppressed antibody production in tumor bearing mice.

Bovine lens aldose reductase inhibitory effects of some natural monoterpenes

Carvomethone, (+)pulegone, (−) isopulegol and (−)menthone, which are natural and widely distributed in the plantkingdom, were examined for their Lens Aldose Reductase inhibitory effects. All monoterpenes tested showed the the mild inhibitory effects. Inhibition percents of four monoterpenes were in the range of 23–42% at 10−3M and 5–21% at 10−4M.