Jeongrai Lee

Effect of a Growth Protein-Colostrum Fraction on Bone Development in Juvenile Rats

Colostrum is a complex mixture of bioactives that promotes neonate growth. Studies show that it contains components capable of promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption. Although many colostrum-based nutritional supplements have been developed as growth promotants, few studies have investigated their functional effects. A bovine colostrum 1–30 kDa fraction, Growth Protein-Colostrum (GP-C), was administered to juvenile rats as a dietary supplement to determine effects on growth and development. GP-C enhanced the growth and mineralization of the femur as evidenced by increased serum osteocalcin and bone mineral density. Increased levels of serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 suggest that the mechanism of enhanced growth is partially controlled by endocrine factors. GP-C was also found to increase osteoblast proliferation in vitro, a finding that indicates a possible mechanism of action of GP-C, but further studies are required. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that a colostrum-based dietary supplement enhances bone growth and development in humans.

Characterization of catechol 2,3-dioxygenases☆

Three catechol 2,3-dioxygenases for biphenyl, naphthalene/salicylate, and toluene/xylene oxidation were cloned from Achromobacter xylosoxidans KF701, Pseudomonas putida (NAH7), and Pseudomonas sp. (pWWO). The cloned catechol 2,3-dioxygenases were identified by enzymatic activity assay in addition to yellow bands on polyacrylamide gel after electrophoresis and activity staining. All of the cloned catechol 2,3-dioxygenases exhibited their highest activities on catechol as a substrate compared with catechol derivatives including 4-chlorocatechol, 3-methylcatechol, and 4-methylcatechol. The cloned catechol 2,3-dioxygenases are not fused proteins but were significantly different from one another in their electrophoretic mobilities on nondenaturing 7.5%-polyacrylamide gel.

The effect of rexflavone (Sophorae fructus extract) on menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial.

To observe the protective effect of orally administrated Rexflavone (Sophorae fructus extract) for the postmenopausal symptoms, a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial was designed. Rexflavone significantly improved 11 menopausal symptoms including hot flash, which was evaluated by the modified Kupperman Index (KI), while hormone level and lipid profile were little changed by consumption. Rexflavone group significantly decreased KI score (−14.91 ± 8.79) compared to placebo group (−11.45 ± 6.62) as a representative index for improvement of menopausal symptoms (p < 0.05). We found that Rexflavone has no adverse effect to be safe for long term consumption. It was shown that the consumption of Rexflavone possessed beneficial effects on the postmenopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Molecular cloning and characterization of catechol 2,3-dioxygenases from biphenyl/polychlorinated biphenyls-degrading bacteria

Catechol 2,3-dioxygenases were cloned from Alcaligenes sp. KF711, Pseudomonas putida KF715, and Achromobacter xylosoxidans KF701 which are biphenyl/polychlorinated biphenyls-degrading bacteria. All of the cloned enzymes were purified by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The purified catechol 2,3-dioxygenases were significantly different from one another in ring-fission activities to catechol and its derivatives. The catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from Alcaligenes sp. KF711 exhibited higher ring-fission activity to 4-chlorocatechol than those from P. putida KF715 and A. xylosoxidans KF701. In electrophoretic mobilities, the three enzymes were different from one another on nondenaturing PAGE but the same on SDS-PAGE.

A new abietane diterpenoid from Isodon inflexus

A new ent-abietane diterpenoid, 3α,6β-dihydroxy-7,17-dioxo-ent-abieta-15(16)-ene (1), and three known ent-kaurane diterpenids, kamebacetal A (2), kamebakaurin (3), and excisanin A (4), and a known triterpenoid, ursolic acid (5), were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon inflexus. Their chemical structures were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data including 1D-and 2D-NMR experiments. All isolates (1–5) were evaluated for their potential to inhibit LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells. Of these, compounds 1–4 inhibited the production of NO with IC50 values ranging from 1.0 to 26.5 μM.

Xanthigen Attenuates High-fat Diet-induced Obesity through Down-regulation of PPARγ and Activation of the AMPK Pathway

Xanthigen, a mixture of brown seaweed and pomegranate seed extracts, has weight loss properties and lipid-lowering effects in mice and humans. This study elucidated the Xanthigen mechanism of an anti-obesity activity in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Xanthigen decreased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in the adipose tissue of HFD-fed mice. The serum leptin level and the adipose tissue leptin expression in mice fed HFD plus Xanthigen were significantly decreased, compared to HFD-fed mice. Phosphorylation of AMPactivated protein kinase (AMPK) α and β and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the adipose tissue of HFD plus Xanthigen-fed mice was elevated, and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) expression was decreased. Xanthigen may have an anti-obesity activity by down-regulation of PPARγ and activation of the AMPK pathway.

An experimental study on the control of pressure transients using an orifice

Control of pressure transients in a hydraulic system may be important and necessary to avoid failure and to improve the efficiency of operation. This study addresses the design and use of an orifice to provide the desired control to a hydraulic actuator system. Control is accomplished by installing orifices at appropriate locations in the system. Experimental results show that an orifice can be used to obtain control of shock and the control level depends on the orifice size, orifice type, operating pressure and flow rate. From the experimental data, an empirical design chart for controlling pressure rise using an orifice has been derived.

Improvement of High-fat Diet-induced Obesity by Xanthigen in C57BL/6N Mice

비만은 대사성 질환의 주요 위험 인자이다. 최근, 천연물질들의 비만 개선효과에 관심이 집중되고 있다. 잔티젠은 체중감소와 지질 대사 개선 효과가 있는 것으로 알려진 미역에서 유래한 fucoxanthin과 석류씨 오일에서 유래한 punicic acid로 구성된 복합 추출물이다. 본 연구에서, 우리는 C57BL/6N 마우스를 이용하여 잔티젠이 고지방식이로 유도된 비만을 개선시킬 수 있는지 조사하였다. 마우스는 각각 정상식이 대조군, 고지방식이 대조군, 고지방식이 + 1% 잔티젠군, 고지방식이 + 1% 녹차 추출물 양성대조군으로 나누어 11주간 사육하였다. 잔티젠 투여군은 고지방식이군과 비교하여 식이효율과 체중이 유의적으로 감소하였다. 체중 변화와 유사하게, 잔티젠은 복부부고환 지방조직과 후복막 지방조직 및 간의 무게를 고지방식이군 대비 뚜렷하게 감소시켰고, 혈청 LDL-콜레스테롤 함량 또한 유의적으로 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과들은 잔티젠의 탁월한 항비만 효과를 갖는 건강기능식품 소재로서의 개발 가능성을 제시한다.Kyeong-Mi Choi 1 , Youn-Sun Lee 1 , Wonkyun Kim 1 , Yung-Hyun Choi 2 , Youn-Gil Kwak 3 , Jae-Chul Jung 3 , Jeongrai Lee 3 and Hwan-Soo Yoo 1 * College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Department of Biomaterial Control, Anti-Aging Research Center and Blue-Bio Industry RIC, Dong-Eui University, Busan 614-710, Korea Rexgene Biotech Co., Ltd, Ochang 363-885, Korea

Characterization of thepcbE gene encoding 2-hydroxypenta-2,4-dienoate hydratase inPseudomonas sp. DJ-12

Nucleotide sequence extending 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase gene (pcbC) and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoate hydrolase gene (pcbD) ofPseudomonas sp. DJ-12 was previously analyzed and the two genes were present in the order ofpcbD-pcbC preceded by a promoter fromPseudomonas sp. DJ-12. In this study, a 3.8-kb nucleotide sequence located downstream of thepcbC gene was analyzed to have three open reading frames (ORFs) that are designated asorf1, pcbE andorf2 genes. All of the ORFs were preceded by each ribosome-binding sequence of 5-GGAXA-3 (X=G or A). However, no promoter-like sequence and transcription terminator sequence were found in the analyzed region, downstream ofpcbC gene. Therefore, the gene cluster appeared to be present in the order ofpcbD-pcbC-orf1-pcbE-orf2 as an operon, which is unique organization characterized so far in biphenyl- and PCB-degrading bacteria. Theorf1 gene was composed of 1,224 base pairs which can encode a polypeptide of molecular weight 44,950 containing 405 amino acid residues. A deduced amino acid sequence of theorf1 gene product exhibited 21–33% identity with those of indole dioxygenase and phenol hydroxylase components. ThepcbE gene was composed of 783 base pairs encoding 2-hydroxypenta-2,4-dienoate hydratase involved in the 4-chlorobiphenyl catabolism. Theorf2 gene was composed of 1,017 base pairs encoding a polypeptide of molecular weight 37,378 containing 338 amino acid residues. A deduced amino acid sequence of theorf2 gene product exhibited 31% identity with that of a nitrilotriacetate monooxygenase component.

Fructus Sophorae Enhances the Production of Prostaglandin E 2 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α through Activation of MAPKs and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways in Murine Macrophages

Fructus Sophorae, the dried ripe fruit of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.), is an herbal ingredient used in traditional Oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Fructus Sophorae extracts (FSE) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the production of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) were evaluated. Our data revealed that FSE increased the macrophage activation and the production of PGE₂ and TNF-α, which was consistently correlated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and TNF-α expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. On comparative cytokine protein array, FSE significantly increased several cytokines, which was associated with phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Akt in RAW 264.7 cells. However, each inhibitor of these molecules attenuated the FSE-induced PGE₂ production. These results indicate that FSE activated macrophages through the activation of MAPKs and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that FSE may provide a promising source of an immunoenhancing agent.Young-Soon Kang 1 , Min Ho Han 1,2 , Moon Hee Lee 1,2 , Su Hyun Hong 1 , Heungsik Park 3 , Jae-Chul Jung 3 , Jeongrai Lee, Eun-Woo Lee, Kyung Hwa Kang, Cheol Min Kim, Byung-Woo Kim and Yung Hyun Choi 1,2 * Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine, Busan 614-052, Korea Anti-Aging Research Center & Blue-Bio Industry RIC, Dongeui University, Busan 614-714, Korea NOVAREX Co., Ltd. Life Science Institute, Chungbuk 363-885, Korea Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Dongeui University, Busan 614-714, Korea Department of Pathology, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine, Busan 614-052, Korea Research Center for Anti-Aging Technology Development, Busan 609-735, Korea Department of Biochemistry, Busan National University College of Medicine, Yangsan 626-870, Korea