Suaeda asparagoides (Miq.) is a salt marsh plant, long been prescribed in traditional medicine for the treatment of hypertension and liver toxification in Asian countries. The powder of S. asparagoides was added at the ratio of 0, 5, and 10%, respectively, of grain-type Meju to manufacture Doenjang in brine according to the salt concentration (8 and 12%). After 24 weeks of fermentation, the Doenjang samples were determined to have an anti-inflammatory effect on RAW 264.7 cells. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of Doenjang added S. asparagoides powder extracted using 80% EtOH, was performed to study the inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors such as NF-κB (nuclar factor κB), NO (nitric oxide), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha), IL-6 (interleukin-6), iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), and COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The results showed that the Doenjang extracts reduced the production of NO, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS increased in the LPS-stimulated RAW cell without cytotoxicity. In the case of the NF-κB and TNF-α there was no significant difference between the control and samples. In conclusion, these results suggest that Doenjang added with the S. asparagoides powder acts as functional fermented food with anti-inflammation effect.

Sparassis latifolia is a fungus abundant in β-glucan and amino acids and is highly valued as a medicinal mushroom. Among amino acids, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a free amino acid and has biological effects, such as increase/decrease of hypertension, improvement of cerebral blood flow, and prevention of dementia. In this study, biological elicitors were used to increase bioactive substances as a biofortification method. Sodium alginate extracted from seaweed (Sargassum horneri, Sargassum fulvellum, Sargassum fusiforme) were used as the elicitor. The levels of β-glucan and GABA in the mycelium and fruiting body grown by adding the elicitor to the medium were investigated. Addition of sodium alginate positively affected GABA production and negatively affected the β-glucan production in these fungi. Sodium alginates extracted from S. fulvellum induced the highest increase in GABA in the mycelium and fruiting bodies. Moreover, we investigated the effects of the extracts from mycelium and fruiting bodies on dendrite development in primary cortical neurons. We found that the extract from the fruiting bodies of sodium alginate treated fungi with increased levels of GABA inhibited the dendrite outgrowth of excitatory neurons, but not inhibitory neurons.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is originally an endogenous small molecule which is reduced into water in cells. In order to know the H2O2-induced oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 cells, first of all, the optimum concentration of exogenous H2O2 which show reactive cellular responses was determined as 40 μM by MTT assay, and followed by 40 μM H2O2 application in RAW 264.7 cells for 30 min, 1, or 2 hours. The expressional changes of essential proteins for cellular proliferation, epigenetic modification, inflammation, apoptosis, survival, and protection were assessed by immunoprecipitation high performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC) using 51 antisera. 40 μM H2O2 treatment down-regulated proliferation-related proteins, Ki-67, PCNA, CDK4, cyclin D2, cMyc, and PLK4, induced histone methylation/ deacetylation and DNA methylation by increasing levels of HDAC10 and DMAP1 and by decreasing levels of DNMT1 and KDM4D, activated inflammatory reaction by increasing levels of MCP-1, COX-2, CD68, LTA4H, CXCR4, and lysozyme, and dramatically up-regulated cellular apoptosis-, survival-, and protection-related proteins, AIF, PARP-1, caspase 9, c-caspase 9, pAKT1/2/3, SOD-1, HO-1, NF-kB, NRF2, and GSTO1 in RAW 264.7 cells. These observations suggest exogenous 40 μM H2O2-induced oxidative stresses which resulted global cellular responses including not only antioxidant, inflammation, and apoptosis but also proliferation and epigenetic modification. Particularly, 40 μM H2O2-induced apoptosis was mainly derived from PARP-1/AIF signaling leading parthanatos, and 40 μM H2O2-induced suppression of cMyc/MAX/MAD network was relevant to reduction of RAW 264.7 cell proliferation. Accordingly, H2O2 appears to affect RAW 264.7 macrophages in several ways eliciting not only oxidative stresses but also genome-wide DNA damage.

Hypoxia is one of the most common features of cancer. It is also associated with cancer progression and the acquisition of aggressiveness, which includes invasion and metastasis. Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 90% of all oral cancers, and its 5-year survival rate is about 50%. Despite various attempts and trials, its prognosis has not improved. Among numerous adverse prognostic factors, hypoxia is suspected as one of the most important factors, as it increases the aggressiveness of oral cancer cells. We attempted to observe the effect of hypoxia on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in oral cancer cells. We analyzed and compared both the mRNA and protein expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal markers using qRT-PCR and western blotting in both normoxic and hypoxic YD10B oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. Eighty-six genes were analyzed through real-time PCR using commercial microarray plates, performed in triplicate. Among the 86 genes, the expression of 24 were increased (≥ 2 fold) by hypoxia, while that of three genes was decreased (≥ 2 fold). Hypoxia significantly affects epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes. Further studies on the regulation of these genes may help to develop more efficient therapeutic modalities for oral cancer and to improve prognosis of oral cancer patients.

Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. are reported to have the multiple potential health benefits including blocking gastroenteric pathogens, reduce gut permeability, enhancing immune response and anti-viral effects. In this study, we explored whether LR211 and BL205, 206 exert on MCP-1 and IL-8 chemokines responses in rotavirus infected vero cells. And we investigated anti-rotaviral activity of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. isolated against rotavirus by plaque assay. As a results, all of them were not toxic to vero cells. Three probiotics, BL205, 206 and LR211, increased release of MCP-1 and IL-8 in Wa rotavirus infected vero cells compared to control. This anti-viral effects of LR211 and BL205, 206 can be explained that they modulate immune response by inducing MCP-1 and IL-8 chemokines.

Proteasome inhibitors can improve the efficiency of cancer treatments by inhibiting nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) activation in cancer cells. Lentils are a type of beans of which consumption of such beans is increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lentils extract (LE) on the proteasomal activities, NF-κB activation, and cell cycle in HepG2 human liver cancer cells. LE treatments inhibited proteasomal activities at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL respectively, and repressed NF-κB activation at concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL respectively, in HepG2 cells. LE treatments at concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL respectively, increased sub-G1 cell population in HepG2 cells, which may be the result of apoptosis. The results suggest that LE inhibited NF-κB activation partially with its proteasome inhibitory activities, and the increase of sub-G1 cell population was induced partially, by inhibition of NF-κB activation in HepG2 cells.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of enzyme activity and anti-proliferation of human cancer cell lines (HCT 116, NCI-H460 and MCF-7) of peanut skin depending on cultivars (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. K-Ol, cv. Sinpalkwang, cv. Daan, cv. Heuksaeng) and extraction solvent. Peanut skin was extracted with 80% ethanol, 80% methanol, 80% acetone, and distilled water, followed by analysis of the enzyme inhibitory activity and anticancer activity. Methanol extract of Daan cultivar most effectively inhibited α-gluosidase (65.08%, 0.025 mg/mL), tyrosinase (82.49%, 2 mg/mL) and ACE (73.61%, 10 mg/mL). The inhibitory effect of peanut skin extracts on colon cancer cell (HCT-116), lung cancer cell (NCI-H460) and breast cancer cell (MCF-7) growth were investigate using MTT assay. The highest anti-proliferation of cancer cell line of peanut skin extracts was observed in the methanol extract of Daan cultivar. The cell viability on HCT 116, NCI-H460 and MCF-7 cell lines of methanol extracts from peanut skin of Daan cultivar was 48.13%, 41.03%, and 36.02% at 200 μg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that peanut skin extracts may mediate physiological activity, and provide valuable information for the use of peanut byproduct as a functional food material.

Aloin [1,8-Dihydroxy-10-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3- (hydroxymethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone]은 알로에에서 추출한 천연 안트라퀴논이다. 다양한 유형의 인간 암세포에서 항산화, 항암 효과가 있는 것으로 밝혀졌지만 인간 대장암 세포 HT-29에서 aloin의 항암 효과는 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구에서는 aloin이 인간 대장암 HT-29 세포에서 세포 사멸 작용을 발휘할 수 있는 메커니즘을 조사하였다. Aloin 이 세포 생존율에 영향을 미치는지 알아보기 위해 대장암 세포 HT-29, 흑색종 세포 A375SM, 위암 세포 AGS를 aloin(0, 100, 200, 300 및 400 μM)으로 처리하였을 때, HT- 29에서는 농도 의존적으로 세포 생존율을 감소시켰고, A375SM과 AGS 세포에서는 암세포 생존율의 감소가 보이지 않았다. 이러한 HT-29에서의 세포 생존율 감소가 세포자멸사로 인한 감소인지 확인하기 위해 DAPI stain과 flow cytometry를 실시한 결과 apoptotic body가 유의적으로 증가하고 세포 자멸사가 증가한 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이와 같은 결과를 바탕으로 aloin이 대장암 세포 HT- 29에서 세포 사멸 관련 단백질 발현 양상에 미치는 영향을 확인하기 위해 western blotting을 실시하였다. Aloin은 Bax, PARP의 분절을 농도 의존적으로 증가시켰고, caspase- 3, -8을 활성화시켰지만, Bcl-2는 대조군에 비해 변화가 없었다. Aloin에 의해 유도된 세포자멸사 기전을 확인하기 위해 MAPK pathway 중 p-p38과 p-ERK의 발현을 확인한 결과, p-p38을 up-regulation시키고 p-ERK의 downregulation을 유도했다. 따라서, aloin은 인간 대장암에서 암 세포 성장 억제 효과 및 암세포 사멸 유도로 암예방 약제로서의 개발 가능성이 있다고 사료된다.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the quality characteristics of Brassica juncea cultivated in Jeongseon (BJJ), South Korea. We analyzed the nutritional components and antioxidant activity of BJJ. As a result of the free sugar analysis, the contents of glucose and fructose in BJJ were 0.29±0.02 g/100 g and 0.10±0.00 g/100 g, respectively. The major fatty acids were palmitic acid, octadecenoic acid and stearic acid. The palmitic acid was the highest at 31.22% of all fatty acids. The major minerals were identified as Ca, P, K, Mg and Na. The contents of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin E in BJJ were 0.02±0.00 mg/100 g, 0.087±0.01 mg/100 g, 0.02±0.00 mg/100 g, 0.56±0.06 mg/100 g and 0.20±0.03 mg α-TE/100 g, respectively. As a result of the free amino acid analysis, total amino acid contents in BJJ were 2,801.21±115.38 mg/100 g. L-proline content was the highest (744.30±119.06 mg/100 g) in BJJ. BJJ extract inhibits reactive oxygen species production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Also, BJJ extract exhibits a protective effect on oxidative stress in H2O2-induced human dermal fibroblast. These results indicate that BJJ comprises various valuable nutrients which can be used as functional food ingredients.

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of processed (Beopje) curly dock (Rumex crispus L.) in LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 cells. The experimental group was classified into five groups : LPS no treatment, CD (curly dock), CD-B (CD processed through Beopje), LPS, LPS+CD-B (LPS+CD processed through Beopje) and LPS+CD (LPS+CD). Treatment of the Raw 264.7 cell lines using LPS led to a significant increase in NO production, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β), and inflammation related genes (COX-2 and iNOS). Investigation of the inhibitory effects of CD and processed CD on NO production and expression of iNOS and COX-2 was done in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. There was significant inhibition of NO production by LPS+CD and LPS+CD-B in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). Particularly, LPS+CD-B exhibited reduced mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 and NO production as compared to LPS+CD in Raw 264.7 cell lines (p<0.05). These results may explain some known biological activities of curly dock including the anti-inflammatory effects. CD-B in particular exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory effects of inhibiting production of NO, through the regulation of inflammatory related genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results of Beopje processing might help decrease the anti-biological effects and increase several active substances of curly dock

본 연구에서는 고구마(Ipomoea batatas L.) 수확 후 버려지는 잔재물의 활용가치를 위해 이들로부터 추출한 발효 추출물과 열수 추출물의 생리활성과 세포독성을 분석 하였다. 추출물의 pH는 모두 산성을 나타내었고, 유기물 함량은 발효 추출물과 열수 추출물에서 각각 0.98%와 0.97%로 비슷하게 나타내었다. 다량원소 중 인산, 칼륨, 칼슘, 마그네슘 성분의 함량은 열수 추출물에서 발효 추출물보다 모두 높게 나왔고, 질소 함량만 두 추출물에서 동일하게 나왔다. 미량원소 함량은 아연을 제외하고 발효 추출물보다 열수 추출물에서 높게 나타내었다. 총 폴리페놀 함량은 열수 추출물에서 60.5±2.7 mg/g로서 발효 추출물의 총 폴리페놀 함량의 22.7±4.2 mg/g 보다 37.8 mg/g 높은 함량을 나타내었다(p<0.05). 총 플라보노이드 함량은 열수 추출물에서 50.7±2.7 mg/g로서 발효 추출물의 함량인 14.0±2.1 mg/g 보다 36.7 mg/g 높은 함량을 나타내어 총 폴리페놀 함량과 마찬가지로 열수 추출물이 발효 추출물보다 높은 함량을 나타내었다(p<0.05). DPPH와 ABTS radical 소거능력은 모두 열수 추출물에서 발효 추출물 보다 높은 항산화력을 보였다(p<0.05). MTT assay를 이용한 추출물의 세포독성 실험에서는 두 추출물의 모든 농도에서 세포독성이 미약한 것으로 확인되었다. 따라서 고구마 수확 후 잔재물의 추출물이 향후 각종 바이오 소재로 이용 시에도 큰 문제가 없을 것이라 판단된다.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare and aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma arising in various anatomical sites. This article describes a case history of BSCC of the floor of mouth with mandibular involvement, and further discusses the appropriate management of such case with reference to the literature review. A 52-year-old male patient was referred to our clinic from another university hospital. Segmental mandibulectomy with supraomohyoid neck dissection and mandible reconstruction with left fibular free flap under general anesthesia was performed, followed by radiotherapy. Histopathological examination on the tumor lesion revealed features of squamous cell carcinoma with comedo-type necrosis. A diagnosis of BSCC was given by the oral pathology specialist. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a biphasic variant of SCC with both basaloid and squamous cell histology. A recent report showed that there is no significant difference in the prognosis. Due to the lack of accumulated research, close follow-up and continuous research are deemed necessary. Treatment that focuses on the stage of the tumor is appropriate. A periodic follow-up observation is also very important due to the occurrence of distant metastasis to the lungs.

Herbal medicine has been the basis for medical treatments through much of human history, and such traditional medicine is still widely practiced today. Modern medicine makes use of many plant-derived compounds as the basis for pharmaceutical drugs. In traditionally, Achyranthes aspera, Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seed and Acanthopanax senticosus have been used for the treatment and prevention of bone-related diseases. In this study, we investigated the pharmacological effect of mixture of Achyranthes aspera, Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seed and Acanthopanax senticosus and the other herbs. Two types of enzymes were used to enhance the extraction components of amino acid, mineral content, free sugar, and flavor recovery in extracting natural herbal mixtures(NME). We evaluated regulation of osteogenic differentiation in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells using alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red S staining and RT-PCR. The CCK-8 assay indicated that NME had no cytotoxicity but increased cell survival. In addition, NME promoted the mineralization and expression of osteogenic differention marker genes in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Therefore, NME has an effect of promoting proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cell.

Tissue engineering has been rapidly developed in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction. Biocompatible scaffold from chemically composites seeded with stem cells is essential and several growth factors for bone formation and angiogenesis are also required. To overcome limited activity of new bone formation with scaffolds, several biomechanical stimulation methods on cells have been made to grow cells in scaffold. Several bioreactors have been developed for real tissue growth in culture laboratory. In addition to biological stimulants like BMP, growth factors and exogenous drugs, biomechanical stimulation technique has also been known as an effective method in cell differentiation. We developed our own bioreactor with tensile mechanical strains. Then we tested with it for detection of suitable biomechanical effect on the cell differentiation and proliferation. And we also compared the results with the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS). Mechanical strain group showed more rapid reaction with cell differentiation and proliferation than non-mechanical strain group. Mechanical strain groups stimulated with 0.5∼0.7Hz for 6 hours and 8 hours showed more active cell differentiation than the group with 0.5∼0.7Hz for 2.5 hours tensile strain stimulation. Group of LIPUS also showed more rapid reaction in cell differentiation and proliferation. LIPUS with 3MHz showed more cell reaction than the LIPUS group with 1MHz. Our results showed the positive effect on differentiation and proliferation of cell with mechanical tensile strain, LIPUS both.

Nerve injury induced protein 1 (Ninjurin1) was originally described in neuroscience in which the expression of Ninjurin1 was regulated by Schwann cells and dorsal root ganglion neuronal cells of damaged nerve tissues. After the first discovery of Ninjurin1, the widespread expression of Ninjurin1 in adult and embryonic tissues have been observed including bone marrow, peripheral blood lymphocytes, thymus, and heart. Currently, the Ninjurin1 mediated positive regulation of pre-osteoclasts fusion and osteoclast development was reported. The bone homeostasis is dynamically balanced by bone-resorbing activity of osteoclast and bone-forming activity of osteoblast. Until now, the role of Ninjurin1 was never been described in osteoblastogenesis. Therefore, in this study, we have evaluated the expression and function of Ninjurin1 in osteoblast. The ample expression of Ninjurin1 was observed in bone marrow of mouse tibia sections but it was barely expressed in osteocytes. And also the expression levels of Ninjurin1 were gradually increased during osteoblast differentiation of calvarial pre-osteoblast, C2C12, and MC3T3-E1 cells. Importantly, the expression of Ninjurin1 was increased in the absence of osteogenic stimulus, BMP2, which suggests the cell density-dependent regulation of Ninjurin1. The controlled expression of Ninjurin1 by cell-density was evidently shown in not only pre-osteogenic osteoblast lineage cells but also in non-osteogenic cancer cells such as HeLa and A549 cells. In addition, the isoform-specific knockdown of Ninjurin1 remarkably reduced the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-positive osteoblast differentiation. Thus, our results suggest a previously unappreciated mechanism of Ninjurin1 expression and also suggest its role on osteoblastogenesis.