This study evaluated cell viability and cytokine release in immortalized human oral fibroblasts (hTERT-hNOFs) and keratinocytes (IHOK) exposed to a dental-impregnated gingival retraction cord. To prepare the extracts, dental gingival retraction cords impregnated with aluminum chloride hexahydrate were immersed in a cell culture medium for 24 h at 37 °C. hTERT-hNOFs and IHOK were cultured for 24 h. The cell culture medium was removed and extracts of the dental gingival retraction cords were added. After incubation with the extract solution, cell viability was evaluated using an MTT assay. The levels of the cytokines IL-1α and IL-8 were measured in the supernatants of each cell type. The cell viability after exposure to the extract solution for 10 min exceeded 70 % in both cell types. The ET50 values for hTERT-hNOF and IHOK were 35.75 and 28.98 min, respectively. For IHOK, the IL-1α level was (5.35 ± 5.22) pg/mL at 10 min, (3.58 ± 5.38) pg/mL at 20 min, and (2.85 ± 4.28) pg/mL at 60 min of exposure (p > 0.05). The IL-8 level in IHOK was (67.16 ± 18.70) pg/mL at 10 min, (78.36 ± 7.50) pg/mL at 20 min, and (111.9 ± 26.10) pg/mL at 60 min of exposure (p > 0.05). Cytokine release was not observed from hTERThNOFs. Based on these results, cell viability and cytokine release were confirmed in cells exposed to the impregnated gingival retraction cord. In addition, the application of the extracts to hTERT-hNOF and IHOK during the actual contact time and determination of ET50 may be beneficial for evaluating the biocompatibility of dental-impregnated gingival retraction cords.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate are secondary metabolites produced by anaerobic fermentation of dietary fibers in the intestine. Intestinal SCFAs exert various beneficial effects on intestinal homeostasis, including energy metabolism, autophagy, cell proliferation, immune reaction, and inflammation, whereas contradictory roles of SCFAs in the oral cavity have been reported. Herein, we found that low and high concentrations of SCFAs induce differential regulation of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, respectively, in gingival fibroblast cells. Additionally, cell viability was found to be differentially regulated in response to low and high concentrations of SCFAs. These findings demonstrate that the physiological functions of SCFAs in various cellular responses are more likely dependent on their local concentration.

All organisms are being exposed to harmful factors present in the environmental. The combined action of various factors is a distinguishing feature of modern life. An interaction between two chemicals is considered as synergistic when the effect produced

This study was conducted to examine the viability of Korean native striped cattle (Bos namadicus Falconer, Chikso) clone embryos after embryo transfer. Chikso somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos were produced by fusion of ear skin cells derived from a female Chikso with enucleated oocytes matured in vitro for 18-24 hr. After in vitro culture of SCNT embryos for 7 to 8 days, fresh or vitrified blastocysts derived from SCNT were transferred into a uterine horn of recipient cows. Fifteen of total 43 recipients were pregnant at Day 50 and 4 recipients were maintained to term. Three IVF-derived calves and 1 clone Chikso calf were born. Pregnancy rate was higher when fresh embryos were transferred to recipients compared to vitrified embryos, but development to term was not different between both groups. The clone Chikso calf died at 5 days after birth due to the fullness of amniotic fluid in rumen and the infection of umbilical cord. The result of the present study shows that clone Chikso calf can produced from the embryo transfer of SCNT embryos, however, solution of abortion problem is necessary to improve the cloning efficiency.

Patients with type II diabetes mellitus are more susceptible to colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence than non-diabetics. The anti-diabetic drug metformin is most commonly prescribed for the treatment of this disease and has recently shown antitumor effect in preclinical studies. The aberrant mutational activation in the components of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is very frequently observed in CRC. We previously reported that metformin inhibits the phosphorylation of ERK and BEZ235, a dual inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR, has anti-tumor activity against HCT15 CRC cells harboring mutations of KRAS and PIK3CA. Therefore, we hypothesized that simultaneous inhibition of two pathways by combining metformin with BEZ235 could be more effective in the suppression of proliferation than single agent treatment in HCT15 CRC cells. Here, we investigated the combinatory effect of metformin and BEZ235 on the cell survival in HCT15 CRC cells. Our study shows that both of the two signaling pathways can be blocked by this combinational strategy: metformin suppressed both pathways by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK, 4E-BP1 and S6, and BEZ235 suppressed PI3K/AKT/ mTOR pathway by reducing the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6. This combination treatment synergistically reduced cell viability. The combination index (CI) values ranged from 0.44 to 0.88, indicating synergism for the combination. These results offer a preclinical rationale for the potential therapeutic option for the treatment of CRC.

Background: Hair loss related syndromes are increasing due to environmental pollution and stress. Hair care products are mainly prepared by mixing chemicals and natural extracts, such as those obtained from medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 70% ethanol extracts from the flowers of Calendula officinalis, fruit body of Phellinus linteus, and the whole plant of Houttuynia cordata on the growth of CCD-986 cells, hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), and 3T3-L1 cells. Methods and Results: All sample extracts at all concentrations, except for that from P. linteus fruit body at 500㎍/㎖, were cytotoxic to CCD-986 cells. However, none of the sample extracts were cytotoxic to HFDPC. The lipid differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells regulates hair regeneration via secretion of platelet derived growth factor. The 70% ethanol extract of H. cordata whole plant promoted hair growth. Adipogenesis rate significantly increased in a treatment concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions: These results suggest that 70% ethanol extracts of C. officinalis flower, P. linteus fruit body and H. cordata could be used for the development of hair care products.

본 연구는 국내에서 상용 중인 과일 및 채소로부터 췌장베타세포 보호활성을 가지는 추출물의 식물 자원을 탐색해보고자 수행되었다. Alloxan에 대한 총 13종의 과일･채소 추출물에 대한 효과를 햄스터췌장베타세포주(HIT-T15)를 배양한 후 세포생존율, LDH 방출량, NAD+/NADH ratio, 인슐린 분비량 및 4종의 항산화효소활성을 측정하였다. 총 13종의 과일･채소 추출물은 alloxan에 의해 감소된 세포생존율을 유의하게 증가시켰다. 마늘종(Allium sativum) 등의 11종의 시료는 alloxan에 의해 증가된 LDH 방출량을 유의적으로 감소시켰으며, 산수유(Cornus officinalis) 등의 9종의 시료는 alloxan에 의해 감소된 NAD+/NADH ratio를 유의적으로 상승시킴으로써 세포생존율을 증가시켰다. 또한 3종의 추출물인 마늘종(Allium sativum), 산수유(Cornus officinalis)와 고들빼기(Yongjia sonchifolia) 추출물은 인슐린 분비능을 보호하였고 깻잎 등 5종의 시료는 SOD, GST, GR 및 GPx와 같은 항산화효소 활성을 유의적으로 증가시켰다. 과일･채소 추출물은 세포괴사 및 DNA fragmentation을 억제하고 세포 내 항산화효소 활성을 증가시킴으로써 alloxan에 의해 유발된 산화스트레스로부터 췌장베타세포를 보호하는 것으로 생각된다. 이상의 연구결과로부터 마늘종(Allium sativum), 산수유(Cornus officinalis), 자두(Prunus salicina), 오미자(Schisandra chinensis) 및 고들빼기(Yongjia sonchifolia)와 같은 5종의 추출물이 alloxan에 의한 산화스트레스로부터 췌장베타세포를 보호하는 효과가 우수한 것으로 판단되며 향후 췌장베타세포의 손상을 억제하는 기능성 식품 등의 개발에 기초 연구자료로 활용될 것으로 생각된다.

The objectives of present study were to characterize the peptides which were isolated from Korean fermented soybean paste, chungkukjang, and to determine their antioxidant activities. Four fractions were collected from the methanol extract of chungkukjang by using a recycling preparative HPLC. Among fractions, Fr-2 was identified to be highly potent free radical scavenging activity in the assay of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and nitroblue tetrazolium(NBT)-reduction inhibition. Base on antioxidant effects, fraction Fr-2 was employed for the refraction with a prep-column and separated into five fractions of which two fractions were identified to have higher antioxidant activity. To confirm the amino acid constituents of antioxidant fractions Fr-2-2 and Fr-2-3 were analyzed, and eight kinds of amino acids such as aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, lysine, histidine, and arginine were identified as the constituent amino acids. Antioxidant activities of the separated peptides were further assessed cell viability with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl terazolium bromide (MTT), and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of H4IIE cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Chungkukjang peptides have shown their ability to protect H4IIE rat hepatoma cells against H2O2- induced oxidative stress by concentration and time-dependent manner. Therefore, These results indicated that fermented soybean paste chungkukjang will be promoted the antioxidant and radical scavenging activities, and beneficial for health. The antioxidant peptide fractions Fr-2-2 and Fr-2-3 were denominated as P-NICS-1 and P-NICS-2, respectively. However, further studies were required to clarify their amino acid sequences and molecular properties, and physiological significances.

환경오염원인 삼산화크롬(chromium trioxide, CrO3)의 세포독성을 배양 대뇌신경교종세포(C6 glioma)를 재료로 산화적 손상측면에서 조사하였으며, 또한 CrO3의 세포독성에 대한 청미래덩굴(Smilax china L., SC)추출물의 영향을 세포생존율을 비롯한 전자공여능 및 lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) 활성과 같은 항산화 측면에서 분석하였다. 본 실험에서 배양 C6 glioma 세포에 15∼30uM의 CrO3를 처리한 결과 농도 의존적으로 세포생존율이 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 감소하였으며 XTT50값이 30uM에서 나타나 고독성(highly-toxic)인 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 항산화제인 catalase는 CrO3에 의하여 감소된 세포생존율을 유의하게 증가시켰다. 한편, CrO3의 세포독성에 대한 SC추출물의 영향에 있어서는, SC추출물은 CrO3에 의하여 감소된 세포생존율을 유의하게 증가시킴으로서 CrO3의 세포독성을 방어하였다. 이와 동시에, SC추출물은 전자공여능및 lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) 활성감소를 보임으로서 항산화 효과를 나타냈다. 위의 결과로 부터 CrO3의 세포독성에 산화적 손상이 관여하고 있으며, 또한 SC추출물은 항산화 효과에 의하여 CrO3의 산화적 손상을 방어함으로서 세포를 보호하는데 효과적인 것으로 나타났다.

메틸수은(MMC)에 대한 kaempferol의 영향을 항산화 측면에서 조사하기 위하여 MMC에 대한 독성효과와 kaempferol의 항산화효과를 세포생존율을 비롯한 지질과산화(lipid peroxidation)와 superoxide-dismutase (SOD)-like activity 조사하였다. 본 연구에서 MMC는 배양 인체피부섬유모세포에 고독성을 나타냈으며 kaempferol과 같은 flavonoids는 항산화효과에 의하여 MMC의 세포독성을 방어한 것으로 나타났다.

인삼재배지 180지점으로부터 토양을 채취하여 토양산도, 유기물함량 및 유효인산함량을 측정한 결과 재배년수별 유의한 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 채취한 토양의 메탄올추출액으로 상추종자 발아실험을 실시한 결과 5~6년 재배지의 토양에서 종자발아나 유묘생장을 강하게 억제하는 토양추출액을 선발하였다. 선발된 토양 추출액중 발아와 유묘생장을 억제하였던 추출액은 인삼배양세포의 활력을 최대 90%까지 억제하였으나 전해물질의 누출은 증가하지 않았다. 토양추출액으로 세가지 종류의 항산화 효소 활성을 측정한 결과 superoxide dismutase는 거의 영향을 받지 않았으나, 상추유묘의 생체중억제형 토양추출액을 처리한 인삼배양세포의 peroxidase의 활성이 현저하게 억제되었고, catalase의 활성은 발아억제형 및 생체중억제형 토양추출액 모두에서 유의한 억제를 보였다.