• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.79-94
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• 2011

Background: Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines are currently being evaluated as a novel strategy for tumor vaccination and immunotherapy. However, inducing long-term regression in established tumor-implanted mice is difficult. Here, we show that deoxypohophyllotoxin (DPT) induces maturation and activation of bone marrow-derived DCs via Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 activation of MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$. Methods: The phenotypic and functional maturation of DPT-treated DCs was assessed by flow cytometric analysis and cytokine production, respectively. DPT-treated DCs was also used for mixed leukocyte reaction to evaluate T cell-priming capacity and for tumor regression against melanoma. Results: DPT promoted the activation of $CD8^+$ T cells and the Th1 immune response by inducing IL-12 production in DCs. In a B16F10 melanoma-implanted mouse model, we demonstrated that DPT-treated DCs (DPT-DCs) enhance immune priming and regression of an established tumor in vivo. Furthermore, migration of DPT-DCs to the draining lymph nodes was induced via CCR7 upregulation. Mice that received DPT-DCs displayed enhanced antitumor therapeutic efficacy, which was associated with increased IFN-${\gamma}$ production and induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. Conclusion: These findings strongly suggest that the adjuvant effect of DPT in DC vaccination is associated with the polarization of T effector cells toward a Th1 phenotype and provides a potential therapeutic antitumor immunity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.287-291
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• 2009

In order to use Corni fructus as functional food materials, we investigated the biological activities of ethanol extracts from Corni fructus (EECF). The hydrogen-donating activity of EECF was increased in a dose dependent manner compared with untreated control, and the activities by EECF were 64 and 74% at 300 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ concentration, respectively. The NO productions in the RAW264.7 marcrophage cells treated with EECF were increased in dose dependent manners. EECF significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in dose and time dependent manners. EECF of $500{\mu}g/mL$ concentration inhibited the proliferation by over 60% in the MCF-7 cells when treated for 72 hr. Also, the proliferations were increased in the MCF-7 cells cultured in the charcoal-treated FBS (cFBS) medium with environmental hormones such as bisphenol or $17{\beta}$-estradiol of $0.1{\mu}M$ whereas the proliferations were decreased in the MCF-7 cells treated with the environmental hormones after treatment of EEFC for 72 hr. The results suggest that Corni fructus would be used as functional food materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2017

Salvia plebeia R. Br. (Lamiaceae) has been used in folk medicines in Asian countries, including Korea and China, to treat inflammatory diseases. The focus of our research was on the anti-adipogenic activity of ethanol extract from Salvia plebeia R. Br. (SPE) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This study investigated inhibition of differentiation and lipogenesis upon SPE treatment in 3T3-L1 cells. The results reveal that SPE at non-cytotoxic concentration significantly suppressed triglyceride accumulation and reduced expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein as adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared to non-treated control cells. Inducible phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, acetyl CoA carboxylase, and hormone-sensitive lipase as well as carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 mRNA expression increased upon SPE treatment, which suppressed expression of fatty acid synthase. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that SPE can inhibit expression of adipogenic genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our study suggests that SPE has potential anti-obesity effects and is a novel therapeutic functional agent with anti-adipogenic activity via reduction of lipogenesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.288-293
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• 2008

In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of Makgeoly (MG). MG was fractionated into four fractions by using solvent partition method, affording hexane (MGH), methanol (MGM), butanol (MGB) and aquous (MGA) soluble fractions. We determined the cytotoxicity of these four fractions in four kinds of cancer cell lines, such as HepG2, MCF-7, B16-F10 and HT29 by MTT assay. Among the various fractions, the MGM showed the strongest cytotoxic effects on all cancer cell lines. The morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and blebbing of cells were also observed by MGM treatment in HepG2 cell. In addition, we observed quinone reductase (QR) activity stimulating effects in all fraction layers of MG on HepG2 cells. QR activity increased approximately 2.6 and 2.1 times in MGM and MGH treated HepG2 cell at $100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, compared to that in control value. Although further studies are needed, the present work could suggest that the fin of MG has a potential to be used as a chemopreventive agent against cancer.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.456-460
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• 2008

Santalum album has been used as a folk medicine for treatment of skin diseases, inflammation, gonorrhea, gleet, and cystitis in India and other Asian countries. In a search for possible bioactive agents from natural sources, we found that the various solvent extracts of S. album showed significant antioxidative effect in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity test and moderate other biological functions submitted to the several bioassay systems for whitening and cytotoxicity evaluations. Among the tested extracts displayed DPPH radical scavenging activity, and the 70% acetone extract showed the most potent activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $18.6\;{\mu}g/ml$, more potent than a positive control, L-ascorbic acid ($IC_{50}$, $28.7\;{\mu}g/mL$). Also, anti-lipid peroxidation, tyrosinase inhibitory, and cytotoxic effects were determined in each experiment. Total phenolic content of 70% acetone extract was found to be 117.1 mg equivalent of gallic acid per g of extract. Previous phytochemical investigation reveals the presence of phenolic compounds. The results indicate that S. album possess potential antioxidant activity and phenolic constituents are responsible for this capacity.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-169
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• 2007

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of BGG on atopic dermatitis, we investigated the composition of immune cells of lymph node, PBMC and skin of Dermatophagoides farinae-induced NC/Nga mice. The levels of immunoglobulins in serum were analyzed at the protein level and the amount of pathologic cytokines were investigated using CD3/CD28 stimulated splenocytes. The results are summarized below; 1. BGG showed no cytotoxic effect up to $200\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ on mLFC in vitro. 2. BGG showed no hepatotoxicity in vivo based on the levels of ALT and AST. 3. Atopic dermatitis was improved through naked eye examination. BGG reduced the skin clinical index from 2.9 to 1.3 (p<0.01). 4. H&E and toluidine blue staining of tissue biopsies revealed that BGG inhibited the infiltration of lymphocytes and mast cells to skin. 5. BGG reduced the number of CD19 positive B cells in PBMCs by 16% (p<0.01), whereas cells were increased by 26% (p<0.05) in lymph nodes. 6. BGG reduced the numbers of B220+/CD23+ cells by 15% (p<0.01) and 33% in PBMCs and lymph node, respectively. 7. BGG reduced the numbers of B220+/IgE+ cells in PBMCs and lymph node by 21% and 33% (p<0.01), respectively. 8. BGG suppressed the levels of IgE (13%, p<0.001) as well as IgM (34%, p<0.001), IgG2a (40%, p<0.001) and IgG2b (26%, p<0.05). 9. BGG reduced the levels of IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$ by 7% (p<0.05) and 13% (p<0.001) in anti-CD3 and anti-CD28-activated splenocytes, respectively. 10. BGG considerably inhibited the production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 by 42% (p<0.01) and 15% in the serum, respectively. Based on the results above, we concluded that BGG has therapeutic effects on atopic dermatitis by regulating the differentiation of B cells and isotype switching of IgE. Further investigations on the molecular mechanisms of BGG on atopic dermatitis are anticipated.

• Clean Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2016

The nanotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles used in cosmetics and tire industry is one of emerged issues. Herein, the removal of ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in aqueous phase and its ecotoxicity were investigated. In the short-term exposure for fertilized eggs (O. latipes), the deformity was observed at 5 mg L⁻¹ of ZnO nanoparticles in some individuals and delayed hatching of eggs by retarded growth was observed at 10 mg L⁻¹ of ZnO nanoparticles. This result show that ZnO nanoparticles have cytotoxic effect to the organisms lived in water phase. Therefore, herein, the removal of ZnO nanoparticles in aqueous phase by chemical precipitation was investigated. After addition of Na₂S and Na₂HPO₄, the precipitated ZnO was transformed to ZnS and Zn₃(PO₄)₂ particles, respectively. The removal efficiency of ZnO was reached to almost 100% for two cases. In addition, the toxicity tests about ZnS and Zn₃(PO₄)₂ particles showed no acute toxicity for D. magna. This implies that transformation of ZnO to ZnS and Zn₃(PO₄)₂ particles with very low ionization constant might decrease effectively the toxicity of ZnO.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2001

Environmental risk factors such as ionizing radiations, heavy metals, and pesticides can cause environmental disasters when they exist in excess. The increases in use of ionizing radiation and agricultural pesticide are somewhat related to the possibility of the disaster. The risk of radiation and pesticide was evaluated by means of the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay on the human blood lymphocytes. The lymphocytes were irradiated with $0{\sim}2.0Gy$ of $^{60}Co$ gamma ray. Another groups of lymphocytes were exposed to various concentrations of parathion. Significantly increased tail moment, which was a marker of DNA strand breaks in SCGE assay, showed a clear dose- or concentration-response relationship. Parathion of a recommended concentration for agricultural use ($1mg {\ell}^{-1}$ ) has a strong cytotoxic effect on lymphocytes, which is equivalent to damage induced by 0.1 Gy of ${\gamma}$-ray. Furthermore, $2mg{\ell}^{-1}$ of parathion can give rise to DNA damage equivalent to that induced by 0.25 Gy at which the radiation-induced damage can start to develop into clinical symptoms. The comparative results of this study can provide an experimental basis and biological information for the prevention of environmental disaster.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.221-227
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• 2005

Apoptosis of Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam, which possesses hematopoiesis, osteoporosis prevention, and antimutagenic effects, at different growth stages was evaluated. Cytotoxic effect of acetone extracts of immature fruits against various tumor cell lines was higher than that of mature fruits, particularly in hormone-independent human breast cancer, MDA-MB-231 cell line. Immature fruit extract increased expression level of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and reduced that of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and stimulated caspase-3 activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. Results suggest immature fruit of P. salicina Lindl. cv. soldam to be natural source for development of functional food and medical agents to prevent human breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.690-695
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• 2003

Physiological activities of 40% ethanol extracts of Phellinus ribis were studied by employing several biological and biochemical assays. The extracts of Phellinus ribis displayed nitrate-scavenging activities (NSA) at pH 1.2 as with 64% NSA with 1.0 mg/mL of the extracts. They also had 91% 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities at the concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. Antioxidant activities of the extracts (at 0.5 mg/mL) on the autoxidation of linoleic acid (p<0.001) were also observed.. The inhibitory effect of the extracts on angiotensin converting enzyme was 11%. Cytotoxic effects of Phellinus ribis extracts against human cancer cell tines were also examined using MTT assay. The extracts (at 50 mg/mL) had severe growth inhibitory effects on A549, Hela, AGS, and SK-Hep-1, which were 8, 44, 76 and 42%, respectively. Ames test indicated that the extracts had no mutating effects on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100.