• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2012

Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (1), ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3-ol (2), and 5,8-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3-ol(3) were isolated from the fruit body of Phellinus pini. Their structures were based on spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and NMR (1D and 2D). These compounds were screened for their ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 reduced NO production in the assay with $IC_50$ values of 29.7 ${\mu}M$ (1), 15.1 ${\mu}M$ (2), and 18.4 ${\mu}M$ (3) respectively. They also suppressed the expression of protein and m-RNA of iNOS and COX-2 in a dose dependent manner by western blot analysis and RT-PCR experiment in LPS-activated microglial cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.14-29
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• 2015

Objectives : The extract of Sagunja-tang has been traditionally used for restorative treatment of constitutional weakness, vascular and immune disorder, and nervous disease in Oriental country. This study investigated the regulatory effects of Sagunja-tang on the expression, production, and activity of immune mediators.Methods : In this study, the extract of Sagunja-tang was prepared by extracting with distilled water at 100$^{\circ}C$ for 2.5h. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through 0.45${{\mu}m}$ filter. The extract was dissolved in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and filtered again through 0.45${{\mu}m}$ filter before use. The level of nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide(NO) was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂), Th1 cytokines (IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2) and Th2 cytokines(IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were determined by Western blot analysis. Also examined the effects of the extract on T-cell proliferation and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells.Results : In this investigation, Production levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) was inhibited in a dose dependent manner by treatment with the extract. I also found that the extract increased T-cell proliferation and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells in a dose-dependent manner.Conculsions : These results suggest that the water extract of Sagunja-tang may be useful for a therapeutic drug against a sickly constitution and immune diseases, probably by regulating the production of immune mediators.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.573-580
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• 2013

We investigated the physiological activities of extracts from Lindera obtusiloba Blume leaf and twig (LLW: water extract from Lindera obtusiloba Blume leaf, LLE: 50% ethanol extract from Lindera obtusiloba Blume leaf, LTW: water extract from Lindera obtusiloba Blume twig, LTE: 50% ethanol extract from Lindera obtusiloba Blume twig). Total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of LTE were 445.38 mg/g and 302.09 mg/g, respectively. The electron donating ability (95.38%) of LTE was higher than that of the LLE (93.76%), LTW (88.09%), and LLW (82.06%). The oxygen radical absorbance capacity of extracts were improved with 50% ethanol condition, rather than hot water. Superoxide radical scavenging activity and FRAP activity of the extracts were improved with an increase of treatment concentration. All the extracts($1,000{\mu}g/mL$) stimulated a production of nitric oxide (NO) in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. In particular, the NO stimulating activity of LTE was superior to that of LLE, LTW, and LLW. The antitumor activity of LTE ($500{\mu}g/mL$) in A549, HeLa and SNU719 was 55.63%, 83.87% and 68.11%, respectively. The UVB-induced MMP-1 production in HS68 cells was suppressed by the treatment of LTE (88.28%), LLE (83.96%), LTW (80.59%) and LLW (76.08%).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2020

Background: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is regarded as a potential biomarker for identifying eosinophilic inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the clinical implication of FeNO and its influence on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) prescription rate in Korean chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods: FeNO level and its association with clinical features were analyzed. Changes in the prescription rate of ICS before and after FeNO measurement were identified. Results: A total of 160 COPD patients were divided into increased (≥25 parts per billion [ppb], n=74) and normal (<25 ppb, n=86) FeNO groups according to the recommendations from the American Thoracic Society. Compared with the normal FeNO group, the adjusted odds ratio for having history of asthma without wheezing and with wheezing in the increased FeNO group were 2.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-6.29) and 4.24 (95% CI, 1.37-13.08), respectively. Only 21 out of 74 patients (28.4%) with increased FeNO prescribed ICS-containing inhaler and 18 of 86 patients (20.9%) with normal FeNO were given ICS-containing inhaler. Previous exacerbation, asthma, and wheezing were the major factors to maintain ICS at normal FeNO level and not to initiate ICS at increased FeNO level. Conclusion: Increased FeNO was associated with the history of asthma irrespective of wheezing. However, FeNO seemed to play a subsidiary role in the use of ICS-containing inhalers in real-world clinics, which was determined with prior exacerbation and clinical features suggesting Th2 inflammation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.305-321
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• 2006

Atmospheric Acid Deposition: Nitrogen Saturation of Forests: Volume weighted annual average wet deposition of nitroge at 33 sites in Korea during 1999-2004 ranged 7.28 to $21.05kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ with average $12.78kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, which values are similar level with nitrogen deposition of Europe and North America. The temperate forests that suffered long-term high atmospheric nitrogen deposition are gradually saturated with nitrogen. Such nitrogen saturated forest watersheds usually leach nitrate ion ($NO_3^-$) in stream water and soil solution. It may be likely that Korean forest ecosystems are saturated by much nitrogen deposition. In leaves with nitrogen saturation ratios of N/P, N/K and N/Mg are so enhanced that mineral nutrient system is disturbed, suffered easily frost damage and blight disease, reduced fine-root vitality and mycorrhizal activity. Consequently nitrogen saturated forests decrease primary productivity and finally become forest decline. Futhermore understory species are replaced the nitrophobous species by the nitrophilous one. In soil with nitrogen saturation uptake of methane ($CH_4$) is reduced and emission of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrous oxide ($N_{2}O$) are increased, which gases are greenhouse gas accelerating global warming.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.16-32
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• 2016

Objective : The water extract of Bojungikgi-tang (BTE) composed with Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Angelicae gigantis Radix, Atractylodes Rhizoma alba, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Cimicifuga Rhizoma, and Bupleuri Radix and it has been traditionally used for chronic diseases or weakness after illness in oriental countries. However, little is known about the effects of aqueous extract of BTE on trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BTE on TMA-induced CHS in BALB/c mice.Methods : In this study, the extract of BTE was prepared by extracting with distilled water at 100℃ for 2.5 h. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through 0.45 μm filter. Mice were orally administrated with or without BTE extract of different doses (25-200 ㎎/㎏/day) for 28 days. During the challenge period, mice were externally applied with different doses of BTE extract one time per day 30 min before TMA treatment. I examined the effects of BTE on the serum levels of IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in isolated peritoneal macrophages, Th2 cytokine production in isolated spleen cells, ear swelling responses, and the leukocyte infiltration induced by TMA.Results : The orally and externally administration of BTE dose-dependently reduced the serum levels of hapten-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), IgG1 titer, and PGE₂ production as well as ear swelling responses and leukocyte infiltration in TMA-induced BALB/c mice. The levels of NO and PGE₂ production from peritoneal macrophages stimulated with TMA-BSA were markedly suppressed by pretreatment with BTE in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, the levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) production from spleen cells stimulated with ConA were markedly suppressed by BTE treatment in a concentration dependent manner.Conclusions : These results suggest that BTE treatment suppresses chronic contact hypersensitivity, and it can be assumed that the suppression of ear swelling, serum IgE, NO and PGE₂ levels, leukocyte infiltration, and Th2 cytokines in an animal model. Therefore, these properties may contribute to the strong anti-CHS response effect of BTE.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2019

Recent studies reported that obesity upregulated the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and regulated particular behavior patterns in animal models. They also reported that ameliorated the increase in nNOS expression and decreased depression and anxiolytic effects. Thus, exercise seems to be an effective strategy for improving brain function by downregulating nNOS. However, the immune response differs greatly, depending on the exercise intensity. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in brain nNOS expression in obese C57BL/6 mice that performed exercise of different intensities. Obesity was induced in 6-wks-old mice (n=35) by feeding a 60%-fat diet for 6-wks. A control (CON) group (n=14) was fed a normal diet. At the end of the induction 6-wks period of obesity, seven animals in the CON group and obesity-induced group were sacrificed to confirm obesity induction (preliminary experiments and confirmation of visceral fat accumulation). The remaining animals were then used in an 8-wks exercise intervention. Other than the CON (n=7), the obesity-induced animals were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet (HFD, n=7), HFD-low intensity (HFD-LI, n=7, 12 m/min for 75 min), HFD-moderate intensity (HFD-MI, n=7, 15 m/min for 60 min), and HFD-high intensity (HFD-HI, n=7, 18 m/min for 50 min). The exercise was performed on an animal treadmill. The expression of the nNOS protein in the hippocampus was significantly higher in the HFD group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in the hippocampal expression of the nNOS protein in the other exercise groups as compared with that in the CON group. In contrast, nNOS expression in the HFD-HI group was significantly lower than that in the HFD-LI group (p<0.05). The expression of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) was significantly higher in all the exercise groups as compared with that in the CON and HFD groups. There was no difference in the expression of pAkt in the cerebral cortex among groups, and the expression of pAkt in the cerebellum was significantly higher in the HFD-HI group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.05). There were also no between-group differences in pAkt expression in the cerebellum among the various exercise groups. In conclusion, nNOS seems to be overexpressed in response to obesity, and it appears to be downregulated by exercise. Relatively high-intensity exercise may be effective in improving brain function by downregulating nNOS.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.340-347
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• 2022

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the Ulva lactuca Linnaeus extracts were measured. As a result of the MTT assay of the extract, it was found that the cell viabilities were higher than 90% at all concentrations, and the cell promotion rate exceeded 100% at a certain concentration. Therefore, in all subsequent experiments, the highest concentration was set at 500 ㎍/ml. In the nitric oxide (NO) assay, one of the anti-inflammatory experiments, the Ulva lactuca Linnaeus extracts exhibited inhibitory effects of 16%, 19%, and 62% at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ㎍/ml, respectively, compared with the LPS-only group. In tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) assay, the extracts showed inhibitory effects of 16%, 17%, and 27% at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ㎍/ml, respectively, compared with the LPS-only group. In the interleukin-6 (IL-6) assay, the extracts also showed inhibitory effects of 15% and 28% at concentrations of 50 and 500 ㎍/ml, respectively, compared with the LPS-only group. In the total polyphenol content assay, the extracts exhibited 8.02, 9.90, and 23.8 mg GAE/g at concentrations of 0.3, 3, and 30 mg/ml, respectively. In the ABTS assay, the extracts exhibited scavenging activities of 2.6, 12.6, and 77.3% at concentrations of 0.3, 3, and 30 mg/ml, respectively. Therefore, it is considered that Ulva lactuca Linnaeus extracts can be used as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances for the development of functional foods.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.796-799
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• 1996

The antimutagenic properties of twenty-one strains of Bifidobacterium were examined using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in an in vitro assay system. The mutagens utilized for testing included Trp-P-1 (3-amino-1, 4-dimethyl-$^{5}H-pyrido$ (4, 3-b) indole), benzopyrene, IQ (2-amino -3-methylimidazo [4,5-f] quinoline), and NQO. The lyophilized cells of strain showed inhibitory effect of 64, 38, 29 and 20% in average against Trp-P-1, benzopyrene, NQO and IQ, respectively. There was no marked variation between each strain or growth stage in the degree of antimutagenicity against Trp-P-1, benzopyrene and IQ. Twelve hour grown cells showed higher antimutagenicity against NQO than 5-day grown cells. The results indicate that Bifidobacterium cells had a antimutagenic effect against several well-known mutagens to some degree.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.14-29
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• 2020

Dietary nitrate supplementation from green leafy vegetables and beetroot is involved in the 'nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide (NO) pathway' and is reported to have important vascular impacts. This study evaluated the blood parameters and blood flow change subsequent to a raw juice diet program. The 28 subjects who voluntarily participated in the raw juice diet program at Sahmyook University were instructed to drink the juice composed of fruits and vegetables instead of partaking the usual meal, at a scheduled time daily. The study was approved by the research ethics council of the Sahmyook University (SYUIRB 2014-043). Evaluation of the participants after the required duration revealed decreased levels of soft lean mass (P<0.05), skeletal muscle mass (P<0.001), body fat mass (P<0.001), body mass index (P<0.001) and circulating levels of total cholesterol (P<0.001), triglycerides (P<0.05), HDL-cholesterol (P<0.01), LDL-cholesterol (P<0.01), and blood urea nitrogen (P<0.001). Conversely, circulating levels of creatinine (P<0.001), hemoglobin (P<0.001), and hematocrit (P<0.01) were increased after the intervention. The blood flow levels were also increased after the program (P<0.001). Our results indicate that a short-term raw juice diet contributes to the improvement of vascular blood flow and blood lipid parameters, and decreases the lean muscle mass related to dehydration.