Ha-Young Kang

Furofuran lignans from the bark of Magnolia kobus

A new furofuran lignan (1) along with four knownones (2-5) were isolated from the bark of Magnolia kobus. Their structures were elucidated as (+)-2α-(3’,4’-dimethoxyphenyl)-6α-(3″-hydroxy-4″,5″-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (1), (+)-sesamin (2), (+)-yangambin (3), (+)-kobusin (4), and (+)-eudesmin (5) on the basis of their comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR, and by comparison of their spectral data with those of related compounds.

Protective effects of the pyrolyzates derived from bamboo against neuronal damage and hematoaggregation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bamboo species are thought to be originally from Central China, but are now found in many temperate and semi-tropical regions around the world. Although the extracts from bamboo may have antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects, their exact biological activities have not been elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY Two biological activities of bamboo-derived pyrolyzates were investigated; the protective effects against N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced cell death in primary cultured cortical neuron and the anti-plasmin effects determined by using fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) assay. RESULTS Treatment of neuronal cells with pyrolyzates of Phyllostachys pubescens, Phyllostachys nigra and Phyllostachys bambusoides resulted in restored cell viability when compared to untreated cells in an NMDA-induced neuronal cell death assay. In addition, cortical neurons treated with Phyllostachys pubescens and Phyllostachys nigra showed a reduction of apoptosis following exposure to NMDA, as determined by Hoechst 33342 staining. In addition, Phyllostachys nigra pyrolyzates also exhibited anti-plasmin action in a FDP assay. It is of interest to note that pyrolyzates exhibited activities of NMDA-receptor antagonist and antifebrin (ogen), since a combination of NMDA receptor antagonists, glucocorticosteroids, GABAergic drugs and heparin are useful for treatment in delayed postischemic injury. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that the pyrolyzates derived from bamboo may have anti-apoptotic effects, and can be useful as a supplement for ischemic injury treatment.

Biodegradation of Methoxychlor and Its Metabolites by the White Rot Fungus Stereum hirsutum Related to the Inactivation of Estrogenic Activity

The white rot fungus Stereum hirsutum was used to degrade methoxychlor [2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane] in culture and the degraded products were extensively determined. The estrogenic activity of the degraded products of methoxychlor was examined using cell proliferation and pS2 gene expression assays in MCF-7 cells. S. hirsutum showed high resistance to methoxychlor 100 ppm, and the mycelial growth was fully completed within 8 days of incubation at 30°C. Methoxychlor in liquid culture medium was gradually converted into 2,2-dichloro-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane, 2,2-dichloro-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene, 2-chloro-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl) ethane, 2-chloro-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl) ethylene, and 1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene, indicating that methoxychlor is dominantly degraded by dechlorination and dehydrogenation. MCF-7 cells were demonstrated to proliferate actively at the 10−5 M concentration of methoxychlor. However, cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by the incubation with methoxychlor culture media containing S. hirsutum. In addition, the expression level of pS2 mRNA was increased at the concentration (10−5 M) of methoxychlor. The reductive effect of S. hirsutum for methoxychlor was clear but not significant as in the proliferation assay.

Inhibitory effect of the essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa on the growth of food-borne pathogens.

In this study, the antibacterial activity of essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa (Sieb. et Zucc) leaves and twigs was investigated. The test strains were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Legionella pneumophila, and Methicilline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibacterial activity was estimated by measuring bacterial growth inhibition. Histopathological examination was also performed. C. obtusa oil distinctly inhibited the growth of all test strains and exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes. It was chromatographically divided into several fractions. The fractions were further tested against antibacterial activity and their chemical compositions were analyzed. The fraction containing terpinen-4-ol (TA) showed high antibacterial activity toward all strains tested. Tests with authentic samples showed that TA played a major role in the antibacterial activity of C. obtusa oil, and in a mice test, the oil actively minimized inflammation by S. aureus.

Enhancement of Anticancer Activity of Acer mono by High Pressure Extraction Process

We investigated a method to improve anticancer activities of Acer mono by ultra high pressure extraction process. The extract yields by ultra high pressure were 9.49% and 9.87% for 5 min and 15 min processing time, respectively, which were relatively higher than 34% of conventional extraction processes due to their resid bark structure. The extract for 15 minutes extraction (HPE15) showed higher potent scavenging effect as 94.56% than the control, BHA as 93.24%. On SOD-like test, HPE15 also showed the highest activity as 38.6% at 1.0 mg/mL concentration. The cytotoxicity of HPE15 on normal human lung and kidney cell were below 23.54% in adding 1.0 mg/mL. Generally, human cancer cell growth stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS), lung adenocarcinoma (A549), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and liver adenocarcinoma (Hep3B) were inhibited up to 75% with higher selectivity of above 4.0. High antioxidant activity of HPE15 resulted in high anticancer activity, and its activity was also due to higher yields of Acer mono by ultra high pressure extraction process. It was also proved by HPLC comparison analysis.

The sap of Acer okamotoanum decreases serum alcohol levels after acute ethanol ingestion in rats.

In the present study, we examined whether Acer okamotoanum (A. okamotoanum) sap decreased the serum alcohol and acetaldehyde levels after acute ethanol treatment in a rat model. Male rats were orally administered 25, 50 or 100% A. okamotoanum sap 30 min prior to oral challenge with 3 ml of ethanol (15 ml/kg of a 20% ethanol solution in water), and the blood concentrations of alcohol and acetaldehyde were analyzed up to 7 h after the treatment. Pre-treatment with the sap significantly decreased the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations after 5 h when compared with ethanol treatment alone (a negative control). The expression levels of liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) mRNA were increased significantly in animals pre-treated with A. okamotoanum sap when compared with negative and positive controls. The data suggest that sap pre-treatment enhanced the alcohol metabolism rate in the rat liver. To investigate the involvement of mitochondrial regulation in the ethanol-induced hepatocyte apoptosis, we carried out an immunohistochemical analysis of Bax and Bcl-2. Pre-treatment with sap significantly decreased Bax expression and increased Bcl-2 expression 7 h after ethanol administration when compared with the negative control. The data suggest that A. okamotoanum sap pre-treatment may reduce the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the rat liver.

Transient ischemia-induced changes of interleukin-2 and its receptor β immunoreactivity and levels in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region

Interlukin-2 (IL-2) is an important cytokine in the brain: IL-2 and its receptors are involved with inflammatory processes. Chronological changes in IL-2 level in serum, and IL-2 and its receptor (IL-2 receptor beta, IL-2Rbeta) immunoreactivities and levels were examined in the hippocampal CA1 region after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils. IL-2 level in serum significantly decreased 12 h after ischemia/reperfusion. IL-2 immunoreactivity was detected in the somata of pyramidal cells in sham-operated group. At 15 min after ischemia, IL-2 immunoreactivity was shown in non-pyramidal cells as well as pyramidal cells. One day after ischemia, IL-2 immunoreactivity was lowest, and IL-2 immunoreactivity is shown in non-pyramidal cells from 2 days after ischemia. Four days after ischemia, IL-2 immunoreactivity was shown in dying pyramidal cells. IL-2Rbeta immunoreactivity in the sham-operated and 15 min-3 min post-ischemic groups is detected in the cell membrane of pyramidal cells. From 3 h after ischemia, IL-2Rbeta immunoreactivity is found in cytoplasm and nuclei, but not in cell membrane. IL-2Rbeta immunoreactivity decreases from 6 h after ischemia and is shown mainly in non-pyramidal cells from 3 days after ischemia. The data of Western blot analyses for IL-2 and IL-2Rbeta was similar to the immunohistochemical data. IL-2 infusion into cerebrospinal fluid did not protect hippocampal neurons from ischemic damage. These results suggest that IL-2 and IL-2Rbeta show malfunction from 3 h after ischemia, and exogenous IL-2 does not protect ischemic neuronal damage.

Isoflavone glycosides from the bark of Amorpha fruticosa

Four known isoflavone glucosides have been isolated from the bark of Amorpha fruticosa, which is a traditional remedy plant, for the first time. They were elucidated as 3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 4′,6-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and 3′,5-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), based on the UV, FT-IR, EIMS, FABMS, HREIMS, and NMR (1H and 13C, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC) data.

Change in Chemical Composition of Acer mono Saps Collected in Different Region and Time Depending on Storing Period

This study was performed to investigate change in chemical composition of Acer mono saps collected in Hamyang, Inje, Namyangju and Yeongwol depending on storing period. pH of A. mono sap was in the range of 4.43~5.68, and it was decreased rapidly with the increase of storing period. A. mono sap collected in Yeongwol in Feb. 22 contained 2.06% sucrose. Degradation of sucrose was occurred when storing period was extended, and it caused production of organic acid like pyruvic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and ethanol. Detected minerals in A. mono sap were K, Ca, Na, Mg, P, Si, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn, however, K and Ca content reached 93%. A. mono sap collected in Inje in Mar. 03 contained 131.72 mg/, which was especially high K content among the A. mono sap. 1.55~3.50 mg/ of Ascorbic acid was found in the A. mono sap. Sap collected in early date was less degraded.

Integrities and Skin Permeation-Enhancing Characteristics of Behenic Acid Nanoparticles

Fatty acid nanoparticles containing hinokitiol (HKL) were prepared by a melt-emulsification method. Behenic acid (BA) was used as a lipid for the matrix material of the nanoparticle. The size distribution was quite mono-dispersive and the mean diameter was around 200 nm. On a differential scanning calorimeter, no endothermic peak of HKL was observed when it was encapsulated in the nanoparticles. This indicates that HKL in the lipid matrix of the nanoparticles is not in a crystalline state, but rather in a dissolved state. The nanoparticles were stable over the range of pH 2–10 in terms of size. The absolute values of the zeta potentials in the pH range were high enough to prevent a particle-to-particle aggregation. Compared with stearic acid (SA) nanoparticles, which were completely disintegrated in sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) solution of 4%, the BA nanoparticles were robust and remained intact even in SLS solutions of 14%. Therefore, BA nanoparticles would be applicable to cleansing products containing detergents for personal care. When encapsulated either in SA nanoparticles or in BA nanoparticles, the in vitro flux of HKL through hairless mouse skin was 10–15 times higher than dissolved in propylene glycol. BA nanoparticles, however, enhanced the transdermal delivery of HKL less than SA nanoparticles did.