Min Jeong Seo

Apoptosis induction of human prostate carcinoma cells by cordycepin through reactive oxygen species‑mediated mitochondrial death pathway

Cordycepin is the main functional component of Cordyceps militaris, which has been widely used in oriental traditional medicine. This compound has been shown to possess many pharmacological properties, such as enhancing the bodys immune function, and anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anticancer effects. In the present study, we investigated the apoptotic effects of cordycepin in human prostate carcinoma cells. We found that treatment with cordycepin significantly inhibited cell growth by inducing apoptosis in PC-3 cells. Apoptosis induction of PC-3 cells by cordycepin showed correlation with proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and -9, but not caspase-8, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases, collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In addition, cordycepin treatment resulted in an increase of the Bax/Bcl-2 (or Bcl-xL) ratio, downregulation of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family members, Bax conformational changes, and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol. The cordycepin-induced apoptosis was also associated with the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the quenching of ROS generation with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine conferred significant protection against cordycepin-elicited ROS generation, disruption of the MMP, modulation of Bcl-2 and IAP family proteins, caspase-3 and -9 activation and apoptosis. This indicates that the cellular ROS generation plays a pivotal role in the initiation of cordycepin-triggered apoptotic death. Collectively, our findings suggest that cordycepin is a potent inducer of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells via a mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway and that this agent may be of value in the development of a potential therapeutic candidate for both the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Cordyceps militaris alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in ob/ob mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming an important public health problem as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes have become epidemic. In this study we investigated the protective effect of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) against NAFLD in an obese mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS Four-week-old male ob/ob mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 1% C. militaris water extract for 10 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and proinflammatory cytokines were measured. Hepatic levels of lipids, glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxide were determined. RESULTS Consumption of C. militaris significantly decreased serum glucose, as well as homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), in ob/ob mice. In addition to lowering serum FFA levels, C. militaris also significantly decreased hepatic total lipids and triglyceride contents. Serum ALT activities and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were reduced by C. militaris. Consumption of C. militaris increased hepatic GSH and reduced lipid peroxide levels. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that C. militaris can exert protective effects against development of NAFLD, partly by reducing inflammatory cytokines and improving hepatic antioxidant status in ob/ob mice.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a 17 kDa fibrinolytic enzyme from Schizophyllum commune

A fibrinolytic enzyme of the mushroom, Schizophyllum commune was purified with chromatographic methods, including a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange column and gel filtrations with Sephadex G-75 and Sephadex G-50 columns. The analysis of fibrin-zymography and SDS-PAGE showed that the enzyme was a monomeric subunit that was estimated to be approximately 17 kDa in size. The fibrinolytic activity of the enzyme in plasminogen-rich and plasminogen-free fibrin plates was 1.25 and 0.44 U/ml, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme was identified as HYNIXNSWSSFID, which was highly distinguished from known fibrinolytic enzymes. The relative activity of the purified enzyme with an addition of 5 mM EDTA, Phosphoramidon, and Bestatin was about 76, 64, and 52%, respectively, indicating that it is a metalloprotease. The optimum temperature for the purified enzyme was approximately 45°C, and over 87% of the enzymatic activity was maintained as a stable state in a pH range from 4.0 to 6.0. Therefore, our results suggest that the potential thrombolytic agent from S. commune is a unique type of fibrinolytic enzyme.

Effect of Fermented Cudrania tricuspidata Fruit Extracts on the Generation of the Cytokines in Mouse Spleen Cells

We investigated a physiological function by fermenting a medicinal mushroom, (Cudrania tricuspidata fruit). A fermentation using lactic acid bacteria and the extracts isolated from 70% ethanol fractionation was included in cultured mouse spleen cells for cytokine secretion. As a result, total polyphenol content improved by 47% by organic acid fermentation. This was regarded as immune activity in fermented C. tricuspidata fruits, as the levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 secretion increased. In addition, when the extracts were treated with a stimulant lipopolysaccharide, the secretion of helper T (Th) 1 cytokines IL-2, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α was suppressed, while the secretion of Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 significantly increased. Therefore, this study suggests that fermentative C. tricuspidata fruit extracts can contribute to the suppression of cellular immune reactions induced by the expression of Th1 cells and activation of the expression of Th2 cells inducing humoral immune reactions associated with the antibody generation by B lymphocytes.

Effect of Black Garlic Extract on Cytokine Generation of Mouse Spleen Cells

생리활성물질을 다량함유하고 있는 마늘의 발효산물인 흑마늘의 면역활성을 검증하기 위하여 C57BL6 마우스 비장세포를 이용하여 흑마늘이 비장세포의 활성화에 미치는 영향을 확인하였다. 흑마늘 추출물은 시판되는 남해 흑마늘 액기스를 농축하여 사용하였다. 그 결과 IL-2에서 흑마늘 추출물만 처리한 군에서 생성이 증가하였으며, LPS와 흑마늘 추출물을 함께 처리하였을 때 IL-2와 TNF-

Biochemical analysis of a fibrinolytic enzyme purified from Bacillus subtilis strain A1

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Initial acidic pH is critical for mycelial cultures and functional exopolysaccharide production of an edible mushroom, Laetiporus sulphureus var. miniatus JM 27

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Characterization Analysis of Functional Gochujang including Grain Syrup with Tomato Puree

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Effect of Dongchunghacho (Cordyceps militaris) on hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic db/db mice

의 생성이 LPS만 처리한 군보다 증가하여 대식세포나 T림프구의 발현에 의해 일어나는 세포성 매개 면역을 활성화를 유도하는 Th1 세포의 발현을 활성화 하였다. 그리고 IL-6는 흑마늘 추출물만 처리하였을 때 후기생성이 증가하였으며, LPS와 흑마늘 추출물을 함께 처리한 경우 LPS만 처리한 군보다 IL-4와 IL-6의 생성이 증가하였다. IL-10은 LPS와 흑마늘 추출물을 함께 처리하였을 때 후기 생성이 감소하였는데, 이는 B 림프구의 활성화에 따른 항체생성 면역을 활성화하며 Th1 세포로부터 유도되는 세포성 면역반응을 억제함으로서 항체유도 체액성 면역반응으로 전환을 효과적으로 조절하는 것을 확인하였다. 따라서 흑마늘 추출물은 마우스 비장세포에서 T 림프구의 활성화에 따른 Th1 세포와 Th2 세포가 활성화되어 면역계의 세포성 면역과 체액성 면역반응을 활성화하여 면역조절에 효과를 나타내는 것으로 사료된다. 【The effect of black garlic extract on the activation of spleen cells from a C57BL6 mouse was investigated to examine immune activities of of fermented black garlic containing a variety of bioactive substances. xtract obtained from the concentration of commercial Namhae black garlic was used for the analysis of immune activities. Treatment with the extract increased the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) cytokine. The simultaneous administration of the extract plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased the expression of IL-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-

Purification and Biochemical Characteristics of Fibrinolytic Enzyme from Streptomyces corcohrussi JK-20

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