Jae-Seon Yi

Suppression of thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) production by 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose via blockade of NF-κB and STAT1 activation in the HaCaT cells

Keratinocytes, one of major cell types in the skin, can be induced by TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma to express thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17), which is considered to be a pivotal mediator in the inflammatory responses during the development of inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we examined the effect of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-d-glucose (PGG), isolated from the barks of Juglans mandshurica, on TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma induced CCL17 expression in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Pretreatment of HaCaT cells with PGG suppressed TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma-induced protein and mRNA expression of CCL17. PGG significantly inhibited TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma-induced NF-kappaB activation as well as STAT1 activation. Furthermore, pretreatment with PGG resulted in significant reduction in expression of CXCL9, 10, and 11 in the HaCaT cells treated with IFN-gamma. These results suggest that PGG may exert anti-inflammatory responses by suppressing TNF-alpha and/or IFN-gamma-induced activation of NF-kappaB and STAT1 in the keratinocytes and might be a useful tool in therapy of skin inflammatory diseases.

Antiinflammatory Effect of the Ethanol Extract of Berberis koreana in a Gerbil Model of Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion

Berberis koreana extract (BE) has a strong neuroprotective effect after ischemic stroke in gerbils, which is associated with the inhibition of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor. The present study examined the antiinflammatory mechanism of BE after ischemic damage in vitro and in vivo. The BE used contained on average 7.39 ± 0.78 mg/g of berberine. In PC12 cells with inflammation, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was significantly reduced by BE. About 75% of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region of gerbils exposed to 5 min of transient ischemia were protected from ischemic damage by BE. Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) immunoreactivity and its protein level in the CA1 region of vehicle‐treated animals exposed to an ischemic insult increased with time post‐ischemia, whereas no such changes were observed in BE‐treated animals exposed to ischemia. PGE2 production in BE‐treated ischemic animals was significantly lower than that observed in vehicle‐treated ischemic animals. Summarizing, the potent neuroprotective effect of BE was found to be due to the inhibitions of COX‐2 expression and PGE2 production and its antiinflammatory activity. Copyright

Production of transgenic Aralia elata regenerated from Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformed roots

Transgenic hairy roots were induced from petiole and root segments of in vitro plant Aralia elata, a medicinal woody shrub, after co-cultivation with A. rhizogenes ATCC 15834. The percentage of putative hairy root induction from root segments was higher (26.7%) than petiole explants (10.0%). Hairy roots showed active production of lateral roots with vigorous elongation. Transgenic plants were regenerated from hairy roots via somatic embryogenesis. These plants had wrinkled leaves, short petioles and numerous lateral hairy roots. The RT-PCR analysis showed the expression of rol A, B, C, D, aux 1 and 2 genes differed between the transgenic lines. Endogenous IAA level was higher in transgenic than non-transgenic plants. Conclusively, transgenic hairy roots were developed for first time in A. elata and the transgenic hairy root lines showed distinct morphological growth pattern and gene expression.

Induction of adventitious roots and analysis of ginsenoside content and the genes involved in triterpene biosynthesis inPanax ginseng

Adventitious roots were produced directly from root segments ofPanax ginseng seedlings when cultured on an MS solid medium containing 3.0 mg L-1 IBA. Omitting NH4NO3 from this medium greatly enhanced both the frequency of adventitious root formation and the number of roots per expiants. This frequency declined markedly with the age of the root, but could be increased through repeated sub-culturing events. A two-step procedure that included NH4NO3 free media for the first two weeks of culture, followed by transfer onto media containing NH4NO3 for another four weeks, greatly improved total fresh weights of these adventitious roots compared with a method of continuous culture over six weeks in media that always contained NH4NO3. Expression of the genes involved in triterpene biosynthesis was analyzed by RT-PCR. Ginsenoside contents were enhanced by the omission of NH4NO3 and were also greatly increased by treatment with methyl jasmonate.

Induction of cell proliferation and neuroblasts in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus by aqueous extract from Platycodon grandiflorum in middle-aged mice

In the present study, we observed the neurogenic effects of an aqueous extract from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum (EPG) in middle-aged (12-month-old) mice. For this, 100mg/kg EPG was administered orally to mice for 30 days before sacrifice and 5-bromodeoxyguanosine (BrdU) was injected intraperitoneally every 8h for 24h on the day prior to sacrifice. The increase of neurogenesis was estimated by immunohistochemical staining for cellular proliferation markers (BrdU and Ki67) and a marker for neuroblasts (Doublecortin, DCX). These markers were detected in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in vehicle- and EPG-treated groups. The number of BrdU-, Ki67- and DCX-positive cells in the EPG-treated group was significantly increased compared to that in the vehicle-treated group. In addition, DCX-positive cells in the EPG-treated group showed well-developed processes. These results suggest that the number of neuroblasts is increased by the repeated treatment of EPG in middle-aged mice.

Anatomical Characteristics of Korean Mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum)

국내산 겨우살이의 해부학적 특성을 구명하기 위해 광학현미경과 주사전자현미경을 이용하여 겨우살이 및 기주목인 신갈나무의 목재 조직구조를 관찰하였다. 겨우살이가 착생된 부분의 가지는 직경이 그렇지 않은 부분보다 더 컸다. 겨우살이 사부는 인피섬유와 유세포로 그리고 목부는 후벽 목섬유, 방사유세포, 축방향유세포 및 도관상가도관으로 구성되어 있다. 겨우살이 방사조직의 경우 일반적인 목재 수종에 비해 방사유세포가 차지하는 비율이 매우 높고 평복세포, 직립세포 및 방형세포 모두로 이루어져 있는 이형방사조직인 것으로 밝혀졌다. 겨우살이의 도관상가도관 세포벽 내강표면에 나선비후 그리고 세포벽에 유연벽공이 발달되어 있다. 겨우살이 흡기의 삽입에 따라 숙주 도관의 형태가 일부 변형되어 있으나 도관 내 타일로시스는 관찰되지 않았다. 겨우살이 흡기의 끝 부분 형태는 비교적 뾰족하게 나타났고 흡기 삽입에 따른 기주목 세포 자체의 파괴는 관찰되지 않았다.

Proximate and mineral components of Viscum album var. coloratum grown on eight different host tree species

Mistletoes are parasite plants growing on various tree species, taking nutrients from the host. Beneficial compounds of mistletoe were used in medicine and these mistletoes were commonly collected from oak species that were not well identified. We analyzed the nutritional value by measuring proximate and mineral components of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) from various host trees. Carbohydrate was the most proximate component in both leaves and twigs followed crude protein, crude fiber, crude ash and crude fat. While the contents of the proximate components and minerals varied among hosts and between plant parts, leaves contained higher crude protein and ash, and more minerals except for magnesium than twigs, although no significant difference was found in mistletoe grown on Prunus mandshurica. There were significant differences of proximate and mineral contents depending on the host species. Mistletoe grown on Chaenomeles sinensis contained higher levels of carbohydrates, crude fat, crude ash, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, and zinc than mistletoe grown on other species. Mistletoe grown on P. mandshurica contained high mineral levels of potassium, copper and phosphorous. The nutritional value of mistletoes were greatly influenced by the host species but among the hosts, specific nutrients accumulated in leaves more than in twigs, and vice versa. Based on the analysis, Korean mistletoe contains relatively good quality of nutrients and has high potential for dietary supplements as well as for medicinal compounds.

Component Characteristics of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Seeds for Bioenergy Plant Utilization

Abstract Xanthoceras sorbifolium is considered as bio-energy crops owing to the high oil content from kernel. This study was performed to analyze calorific value, crude ash content, ultimate ratio, crude lipid and fatty acid composition among seed sources. Calorific values ranged from 4,526.0 cal g -1 to 7,377.2 cal g -1 in seeds and kernels showed the highest value. Calorific values and crude ash contents were observed as significant difference among plantations and/or individuals (p＞0.05). Kernel from SD-F plantation showed the highest calorific value and lower crude ash content. C content comprised 63.4%, the highest levels was detected from SD-F (64.8%). Crude lipid content in kernel observed as 54.5 g 100 g -1 from SD-F. In contrast it was determined the lowest value from LN-JARS as 46.5 g 100 g -1 . The fatty acid composition of kernel was determined to those of oleic acid (31.3%) and linoleic acid (38.1%) from SD-F and LN-JARS. These results will be offered to useful information for breeding materials selection.Key Words: bio energy, calorific value, FAME, oil content, Xanthoceras sorbifolium

Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on in vitro Propagation of Echinosophora koreensis Nakai

To establish in vitro nodal culture conditions of Echinosophora koreensis Nakai, one of rare and endangered species famous for beautiful flowers in the Korean Peninsula, the influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on shooting and rooting from in vitro shoots was investigated. In shoot multiplication, addition of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) to the half-strength Driver and Kuniyukis media in the range of 2.22 to 8.88 induced 2.5 to 2.7 shoots per axillary bud; and addition of 2.27 thidiazuron (TDZ) produced 3.2 shoots, during 4 weeks of culture, while zeatin and isopentenyl adenine (2ip) were not effective on shoot multiplication as observed from several combination treatments of BA with other PGRs. Shoots established were smaller than 2 cm in length, in most of the treatments. while in BA 8.88 treatment more than 30% of shoots were longer than 2 cm and shorter than 4 cm. In rooting, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) from 5.37 to 21.48 showed the rooting rate from 40.0 to 62.5%. Indole butyric acid (IBA) addition had little effect on rooting (

Germination and Seedling Induction of Viscum album var. coloratum (Kom.) Ohwi after Artificial Inoculation on the Branch of Host Plants

Berries of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum [Kom.] Ohwi) contained one seed, which have, in general, one or two embryos but very rarely three embryos. Mucilaginous substances in berries may help them adhere to the branches of host trees. It was observed that seeds need more than one and half years to develop into normal and healthy seedlings from the time of inoculation. Many factors such as adhesion of berry, thickness of host branch, orientation of haustorial root, etc. influenced the successful development of mistletoe plants. Through the application of six-year observation results on the germination of seeds and growth of seedlings, about 80% of germination rate for mistletoe seeds and 61% of survival ratio for germinated seeds, which is more than 23 times higher in natural conditions, were obtained after inoculation of seeds on the one-year-old branches of Malus pumila var. dulcissima and Quercus mongolica trees. The technological aspects of the success can be applied to other host plants and provide a critical clue to an artificial propagation system, for this medicinally valuable genus. This is the first successful report on artificial inoculation and plant development of Korean mistletoe.