Hyun-Joo Jung

Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory activities of 20( S )-ginsenoside Rg3 in cultured mammalian cell lines

Ginsenoside Rg3 is one of ginsenosides that are the well-known bioactive principles of Panax ginseng. Among the two stereoisomeric forms of Rg3, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 [20(S)-Rg3] is predominant. 20(S)-Rg3 is capable of suppressing the nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) productions induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 macrophage cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In the same stimulated macrophages, 20(S)-Rg3 was able to suppress matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity and suppress cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. It suppressed the production of some proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and the cell mobility enhanced by LPS in the macrophage cells. 20(S)-Rg3 displayed suppressive effect on the ROS level but not on the NO level, and down-regulating effect on MMP-9 but not on MMP-2 in non-stimulated HaCat keratinocytes. 20(S)-Rg3 also exhibited suppressive effect on the MMP-9 gelatinolytic activity enhanced in the HaCat keratinocytes stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), one of the major proinflammatory cytokines. However, 20(S)-Rg3 was not able to modulate the NO level even in the presence of TNF-α. Taken together, anti-inflammatory and related antioxidative and MMP-9 inhibitory activities of 20(S)-Rg3, the major stereoisomeric form of ginsenoside Rg3, are confirmed in macrophage and keratinocyte cell lines.

Evaluation of anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of coenzyme Q10 in experimental animals

Objectives This work aimed to assess some pharmacological activities of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in animal experimental models.

Enhancement of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions of red ginseng extract by fermentation

Objectives  This work aimed to compare some pharmacological properties of red ginseng extract (RG) and fermented red ginseng extract (FRG).

Potentiation of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of cultured wild ginseng root extract through probiotic fermentation.

This work aimed to determine some pharmacological properties of non‐fermented (WG) and fermented (FWG) extracts of cultured wild ginseng root.

Assessment of the anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of ethyl vanillin

The present work aimed to assess novel pharmacological properties of ethyl vanillin (EVA) which is used as a flavoring agent for cakes, dessert, confectionary, etc. EVA exhibited an inhibitory activity in the chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis. Anti-inflammatory activity of EVA was convinced using the two in vivo models, such as vascular permeability and air pouch models in mice. Antinociceptive activity of EVA was assessed using acetic acid-induced writhing model in mice. EVA suppressed production of nitric oxide and induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. However, EVA could not suppress induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in the LPS-activated macrophages. EVA diminished reactive oxygen species level in the LPS-activated macrophages. EVA also suppressed enhanced matrix metalloproteinase-9 gelatinolytic activity in the LPSactivated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. EVA at the used concentrations couldn’t diminish viability of the macrophage cells. Taken together, the anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of EVA are based on its suppressive effect on the production of nitric oxide possibly via decreasing the reactive oxygen species level.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent Down-Regulation of Tumor Suppressor Genes PTEN, USP28, DRAM, TIGAR, and CYLD Under Oxidative Stress

We examined whether steady-state mRNA levels of five tumor suppressor genes are subjected to oxidative stress. Superoxide radical-generating menadione and serum deprivation diminished the steady-state mRNA levels for the genes phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), ubiquitin specific peptidase 28 (USP28), damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM), TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR), and cylindromatosis (CYLD). Hydrogen peroxide showed suppression in steady-state mRNA levels for USP28, DRAM, TIGAR, and CYLD but not for PTEN. The steady-state mRNA levels specific for all five genes were enhanced by antioxidants, such as glutathione and N-acetylcysteine. The HepG2 stable transfectants overexpressing the mitochondrial isoform of human glutaredoxin, Grx2a, and containing a relatively low reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were assessed to contain the increased steady-state mRNA levels specific for the five tumor suppressor genes. In brief, the steady-state mRNA levels specific for these genes are negatively regulated by oxidative stress through the mediation of ROS.

Evaluation of the Antiangiogenic, Anti-inflammatory, and Antinociceptive Activities of Morin

Morin displayed significant inhibition of chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis and was able to increase the endostatin level in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Morin was shown to contain an in vivo anti-inflammatory activity using a carrageenan-induced air pouch model in mice. Antinociceptive activity of morin was also assessed using an acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. Collectively, morin possesses antiangiogenic, in vivo anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities.

Disruption of redox homeostasis and induction of apoptosis by suppression of glutathione synthetase expression in a mammalian cell line.

Abstract The stable HepG2 transfectants anti-sensing expression of the glutathione synthetase (GS) gene exhibited delayed cell growth and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. After the treatment with hydrogen peroxide, the intracellular ROS level was much higher in the stable transfectants than in the vector control cells. However, the GSH levels decreased more significantly in the stable transfectants than in the vector control cells, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis of the stable transfectants was notably higher than that of the vector control cells. The GS anti-sense RNAs rendered the HepG2 cells more sensitive to growth arrest caused by glucose deprivation. They also sensitized the HepG2 cells to cadmium chloride (Cd) and nitric oxide (NO)-generating sodium nitroprusside (SNP). In brief, the results confirm that GS plays an important role in the defense of the human hepatoma cells against oxidative stress by reducing apoptosis and maintaining redox homeostasis.

Carbon nanotubes-integrated inertial switch for reliable detection of threshold acceleration

The vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT)-bundle is utilized as a mechanical buffer for inertial micro-switch to extend the contact time and therefore to obtain reliable and stable output signals. The CNT bundles are directly synthesized on two facing surfaces of both movable- and stationary electrodes by patterning the catalyst on released microstructures and the following thermal chemical vapor deposition process. When the movable electrode collides with the stationary electrode, CNT bundles are elastically deformed, significantly prolonging the contact time. The measured contact time of CNT integrated inertial micro-switch was 108 µs, while the inertial micro-switch without CNT was 4.5 µs.

Reactive oxygen species-dependent transcriptional regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α in a human hepatocarcinoma cell line

The present work aimed to examine whether transcriptional regulation of the human PGC-1α gene encoding peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is subjected to oxidative stress or not. Oxidative stressors, such as superoxide radical-generating menadione (MD) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), brought about a diminishment in the PGC-1α mRNA levels of the human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. The PGC-1α mRNA level was enhanced by the treatment with exogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The HepG2 stable transfectants overexpressing the mitochondrial isoform of human glutaredoxin, Grx2a, were assessed to contain the significantly increased PGC-1α mRNA level, compared to the vector control cells. Taken together, transcription of the human PGC-1α gene is negatively regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a human hepatocarcinoma cell line.