Jong Dai Kim

Effect of the extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch on the growth characteristics of human cell lines: Anti-tumor and immune activation activities.

Immune modulating activity of ethanol extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch was investigated by conserving growth characteristics of several human cell lines. All of the samples did not show severe cytotoxicity on normal human liver cell line, WRL-68, showing less than 25% inhibition of cell growth. The crude extract and its fractionized samples (F1 and F3) inhibited the growth of human hepatoma, Hep3B, down to ca. 70% of normal cell growth in adding 1.0 g l-1 of fraction F3. The result of anticancer experiments was well matched to the results of antimutagenicity using Chinese Hamster Lung cell lines(CHL V79). In adding 1.0 g l-1 of fraction F1, the growth of human B cell was enhanced, up to 60% of control growth. The secretion of two kinds of cytokines, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α from human B cells was also enhanced in adding the crude extract, but not the standards such as Glycyrrhizin (GL) or 18,β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GM). It was found that both of the apoptosis and differentiation were more accelerated in supplementing the crude extract and fraction F1 than in adding the standards. A spot was found only in the crude extract and fractions, not standards by Thin Layer Chromatography(TLC) analysis. It tells that there must be another unknown component in crude and/or fraction F1 as a possible candidate of immune modulators. This component seems to be a derivative of a monomer, GM since its Rf was close to the monomer. It was also interesting that glycyrrhizin, a major component in G. uralensis Fisch was biologically activated by first being hydrolyzed by an enzyme.

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

Analysis of Chemical Compositions and Electron-Donating Ability of 4 Korean Wild Sannamuls

The composition analysis and electron donating activity of 4 kinds of Korean wild sannamuls[Cacalia firma Komar. (CFK), Aster scaber Thunb. (AST), Ligularia fischeri (Ledeb.) Turcz. (LFT), Synurus palmatopinnatifidus (Makino) Kitam., SDN)] were investigated. The Korean edible mountainous vegetable was named a sannamul or chwinamul in Korea, generally. Most of them, the characterization of the each vegetable was reported, individually without comparative research. This study was compared the proximate compositions, mineral, dietary fiber and electron donating abilities on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) of sannamuls. In the chemical analysis of sannamuls, CFK was shown higher value in ash (), crude fat (), carbohydrate (), potassium () and magnesium () than others. Each mineral of the 3 other samples was a similar value but phosphorus in LFT was contained . The compositions of total dietary fiber of the samples were listed CFK LFT SDN AST and the Value on DPPH radicals, LFK CFT AST SDN. These results have susggest that CFK and LFT may be useful for a funtional material to food development.

In Vitro Skin Permeation of Cubosomes Containing Water Soluble Extracts of Korean Barberry

The monoolein (MO) cubic phases containing water soluble extract (WSE) from Berberis koreana (Korean barberry) were prepared by hydrating the molten MO with aqueous solutions of WSE (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%). The phase transition temperature of cubic phase containing WSE (∼70°C) was almost the same as that of WSE-free MO cubic phase that indicates that WSE was immobilized in the water channels of the cubic phase and did not affect its structure. The release of WSE from the cubic phase fits the first order process. The cubosomes were obtained by micronizing the cubic phase in a sonicator using Pluronic F127 as a dispersant. The cubosomes were stable in size at the ethanol concentration ≲16%. When compared with WSE solution in phosphate-buffered saline (10 mM, pH 7.4), in vitro skin permeation of WSE in the cubosomes was enhanced by about two times.

Effect of the flavonoid components obtained from Scutellaria radix on the histamine, immunoglobulin E and lipid peroxidation of spleen lymphocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effect on the IgE content induced by concanavalin A in spleen lymphocytes of the presence wogonin, ganhuangenin, wogonoside and 3,5,7,2′,6′-pentahydroxyl flavanone was investigated. These flavonoid components markedly inhibited the histamine released from cells stimulated with the calcium ionophore, A23187. However, the magnitude of the inhibitory effect on the degree of lipid peroxidation by ConA of these components was in order of PHF> GHG>WG>WGS. Interestingly, WG, GHG and WGS, with a methoxyl group in the A and B rings, strongly inhibited histamine and IgE production, whereas PHF without a methoxyl group was much stronger than that for lipid peroxidation. We suggest that WG, GHG and WGS might block the pathway for the release of histamine, and that the IgE level in spleen lymphocytes is responsible for the lipid peroxidation.

Effect of mycelial culture broth of Ganoderma lucidum on the growth characteristics of human cell lines.

Two types of purified samples, water-soluble (sample A; M. W, 1.2 x 10(6) dalton) and water-insoluble (sample C; M. W., 1.0 x 10(6) dalton) samples, were obtained through consecutive separation processes from the culture broth of Ganoderma lucidia mycelium. It was found that both samples from the culture broth were very effective in inhibiting the growth of several human cancer cell lines, having a 93-85% growth inhibition on Hep3B, AGS and A549 with the least cytotoxicity on the normal human lung cell line, WRL68 of less than 25% the highest supplementation concentration of 1.0 mg/l. In general, the sample C showed greater inhibition of cancer cell growth than the sample A. The same trend was also observed in antimutagenicity using the Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO test) or Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test). The CHO test showed that sample C had higher antimutagenicity on mutagens 4NQO or MMNG than sample A (approximately 40% vs approximately 25%). The percentage of antimutagenicity from the Ames test was lower than that from the CHO test, possibly due to the difference in the sensitivity of mutagens. The water-insoluble sample greatly enhanced the growth of the human T cell line (H9) up to 1 x 10(5) with sample supplementation at 1.0 mg/l concentration from 4.3 x 10(4) without sample supplementation as well as improved the secretion level of both IL-6 and TNF-alpha up to 100 pg/ml from approximately 40 pg/ml without sample supplementation. The kinetics of response to the immune cell growth was illustrated by the response time obtained when the sample concentration was increased. The water-insoluble sample can be used for effectively treating cancer in that it accelerated apoptosis of human carcinoma cells up to 70% compared to less than 50% for the control. The sample also increased the differentiation ratio of HL-60 cells up to 58% after four days of cultivation, compared to 18% in the case of no sample supplementation. These results can be used in implying that the insoluble part of G. lucidium mycelium culture broth must be related to controlling signal transduction, resulting in the regulation of cancer cell growth.

Immunoglobulin and cytokine production from mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes is regulated by extracts of Cordyceps sinensis in C57Bl/6N mice.

Cordyceps sinensis, one of the well-known fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine, is recognized to play a role in the metabolic process of inflammation and immunity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of C. sinensis on the immune function of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes in C57Bl/6N mice. C. sinensis-treated mice were administered the respective extract by oral gavage for 4 weeks. Immunoglobulin E concentrations in serum and MLN lymphocytes were significantly lower in C. sinensis-treated mice than in control mice. In contrast, the immunoglobulin A concentration from the C. sinensis group was higher than that in control mice. C. sinensis increased the proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in MLN lymphocytes. C. sinensis significantly decreased interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 cytokine concentrations. Therefore, water extracts of C. sinensis modulate immune parameters through regulation of immunoglobulin production resulting from decreased T-lymphocyte helper 2 cytokine secretion and reduce cytokine secretion in MLN lymphocytes.

c-Myb Immunoreactivity, Protein and mRNA Levels Significantly Increase in the Aged Hippocampus Proper in Gerbils

Myb genes are a family of transcription factors and have been implicated in the control of the proliferation and differentiation of normal and transformed cells. c-Myb is the best characterized member of the myb family. In the present study, we investigated age-dependent changes of c-myb immunoreactivity, its protein and mRNA level in the hippocampus proper (CA1–3 regions) at various age stages in gerbils. In the postnatal month 1 (PM 1) group, c-myb immunoreactivity was detected in non-pyramidal neurons of the strata oriens and radiatum as well as in pyramidal neurons of the stratum pyramidale. At PM 3, c-myb immunoreactivity and its protein level were similar to those at PM 1. Thereafter, c-myb immunoreactivity and its protein level were increased with time. In the PM 24 group, c-myb immunoreactivity, its protein and mRNA levels were highest. These results suggest that the significant increase of c-myb immunoreactivity, protein and mRNA levels in the aged hippocampus may be associated with neuronal aging.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) hollow microcapsules prepared by emulsification, salting out, and photo cross-linking method

Coumarin residues were conjugated to poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by reacting epoxypropoxy coumarin (EPC) with the polymer. According to the peak areas on the 1H NMR spectrum, EPC was calculated to be conjugated to every 283 repeating units (vinyl alcohols). A cyclic photo-dimerization and dedimerization of EPC of PVA-EPC conjugate were observed under a cyclic irradiation of 365 nm and 254 nm. The salting-out of the conjugate significantly took a place in the range of 0–2.0M NaCl, and the phenomenon was observed at a lower concentration than that of unmodified PVA was. Oil-in-water emulsion was prepared as a template for the preparation of hollow microcapsules using chloroform as an oil phase and PVA-EPC as an emulsifier. The emulsion was stable for 24 hr in terms of droplet size. The wall surrounding droplets was built-up by the salting-out of PVA-EPC, and it was cross-linked by the irradiation of 365 nm. After chloroform was evaporated and salt was removed by a dialysis, hollow microcapsules were successfully obtained.

Vanillin and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol promotes cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus of mice via the increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tropomyosin-related kinase B

4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin) and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (4-HBA) are well-known phenolic compounds, which possess various therapeutic properties and are widely found in a variety of plants. In the present study, the effects of vanillin and 4-HBA were first investigated on cell proliferation, as well as neuronal differentiation and integration of granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) of adolescent mice using Ki-67, doublecortin (DCX) immunohistochemistry and 5-bromo-2′-de-oxyuridine (BrdU)/feminizing Locus on X 3 (NeuN) double immunofluorescence. In both the vanillin and 4-HBA groups, the number of Ki-67+ cells, DCX+ neuroblasts and BrdU+/NeuN+ neurons were significantly increased in the subgranular zone of the DG, as compared with the vehicle group. In addition, the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), a BDNF receptor, were significantly increased in the DG in the vanillin and 4-HBA groups compared with the vehicle group. These results indicated that vanillin and 4-HBA enhanced cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation and integration of granule cells in the DG of adolescent mice. These neurogenic effects of vanillin and 4-HBA may be closely associated with increases in BDNF and TrkB.