Publications by authors named "Namki Cho"

Background: Usenamine A (UA) is a natural compound isolated from the lichen , and its therapeutic effects on rheumatic diseases are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of UA and its therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Materials And Methods: Molecular docking was performed between the 3D structure of UA and the TNF-TNFR2 complex.

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The present study investigated the photoprotective effect of the ultrasonic-assisted ethanol extract (USHE) from , a brown seaweed containing fucosterol (6.22 ± 0.06 mg/g), sulfoquinovosyl glycerolipids (CHOS, CHOS, CHOS, CHOS), and polyphenols, against oxidative damage in ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed HaCaT keratinocytes.

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  • LBR, a shrub native to East Asia, has shown promise as an anticancer and antibacterial agent, though its effectiveness against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was previously unclear.
  • Research found that LBR’s ethanol extract can cause TNBC cell death by halting cell growth, causing S-phase arrest, and triggering apoptosis.
  • RNA sequencing indicated that LBR alters genes related to cell adhesion and inhibits certain cancer-promoting proteins, showing potential as a safe chemotherapeutic option for breast cancer treatment.
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  • - Drug-resistant infections are a major medical challenge, and while adaptive lab evolution helps anticipate these issues, it has limitations; novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) aim to address this.
  • - Multi-stimuli responsive DDSs target specific bacterial infection sites by exploiting the acidic conditions of infected tissues, facilitating more effective drug delivery and pathogen elimination.
  • - Recent advancements in nano-drug delivery systems (nDDSs) improve the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments by targeting and delivering drugs directly to bacterial biofilms, while also exploring new methods like immune modulation and photothermal therapy for enhanced treatment options.
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Fucoidan from Saccharina japonica (SJF) was isolated and characterized, and its anti-inflammatory effects on fine dust/ambient particulate matter (PM)-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes were investigated. SJF increased cell viability by reducing intracellular ROS production in PM-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes. Moreover, SJF downregulated the expression/production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-25, IL-33, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and TSLP) and chemokines (MDC and TARC) through modulating NF-κB/MAPK signaling in PM-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes.

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Background: Colon cancer, a prominent contributor to global cancer-related deaths, prompts the need for innovative treatment strategies. Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg (E.

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Compared to other organs, the brain has limited antioxidant defenses. In particular, the hippocampus is the central region for learning and memory and is highly susceptible to oxidative stress. Glial cells are the most abundant cells in the brain, and sustained glial cell activation is critical to the neuroinflammation that aggravates neuropathology and neurotoxicity.

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This work developed Acer tegmentosum extract-mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) loaded chitosan (CS)/alginic acid (AL) scaffolds (CS/AL-AgNPs) to enhance the healing of E. coli-infected wounds. The SEM-EDS and XRD results revealed the successful formation of the CS/AL-AgNPs.

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Article Synopsis
  • TRF2 is a key component of the shelterin complex, critical for maintaining genome integrity, and is often overexpressed in various cancers, particularly liver cancer, where it correlates with poor patient outcomes.
  • Research shows that FKB04, a derivative of Flavokavain B, effectively inhibits TRF2 expression in liver cancer cells, resulting in telomere shortening and increased telomere-free ends without significantly impacting other shelterin proteins.
  • FKB04's ability to induce cell senescence and inhibit tumor growth in mouse models highlights TRF2 as a promising therapeutic target for liver cancer treatment.
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Helminth infections and their components has been recognized to have a positive impact on the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Metagonimus yokogawai-derived proteins (MYp) to provide protection against ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through modulation of immune responses. The cytotoxicity of MYp at various doses was first assessed using MTS and flow cytometry.

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The colonization of pathogenic microbes poses a significant clinical barrier that hinders the physiological wound-healing process. Addressing this challenge, we developed a novel wound dressing using a modified cotton gauze dressing coated with fucoidan and functionalized with silver nanoparticles (LB-Ag NPs-FN-OCG) for the rapid treatment of infected wounds. Firstly, phytochemical-capped LB-Ag NPs were synthesized and characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential analysis.

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The escalating pandemic brought about by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus is threatening global health, and thus, it is necessary to develop effective antiviral drugs. Usenamine A is a dibenzo-furan derivative separated from lichen Usnea diffracta showing broad-spectrum activity against different viruses. We evaluate that usenamine A has antiviral effects against novel SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant pseudotyped viruses (PVs) in A549 cells.

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Dichlorvos (2,2-Dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate, [DDVP]) belongs to the class of organophosphates and is widely used as an insecticide in agriculture farming and post-harvest storage units. Extensive research has been conducted to assess the factors responsible for the presence of DDVP in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as the entire food chain. Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of DDVP metabolites in the food chain and their toxicity to mammals.

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() L., an evergreen tree with substantial biological activity, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, has been used in many herbal and traditional medicines. To elucidate its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and the underlying mechanisms, we applied a methanol extract of (ETME) to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse immortalized Kupffer cells.

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A growing proportion of the global adult and pediatric populations are currently affected by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), leading to rising rates of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma without effective pharmacotherapy. Here, we investigated whether 2-geranyl-1-methoxyerythrabyssin II (GMET), isolated from Lespedeza bicolor, could alleviate lipid accumulation and inflammatory responses in a NASH model. GMET exhibited potent in vitro and in vivo effects against lipid accumulation and attenuated inflammatory responses without cytotoxicity.

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Chemical investigation of a methanol extract obtained from the roots of Lespedeza bicolor identified one new pterocarpene (1), three new pterocarpans (2-4), and three new arylbenzofurans (5-7), and two known compounds (8 and 9). Their structures were determined by interpretations obtained from combined UV, NMR, and HRTOFMS spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the absolute configurations of compounds 2 and 3 were established by the combination of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and NMR calculations with DP4+ probability analysis.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Naringenin (NGN) is a widely distributed flavonoid with potent antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. Neuroprotective agents play a crucial role in the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). It has shown potential therapeutic effects for neurological disorders.

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Leukemia, despite currently being one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, still lacks a focused treatment. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the pharmacological effect of 1-methoxyerythrabyssin II, a pterocarpan identified in the roots of , on leukemic cells and to explore its underlying mechanism using a network pharmacology strategy. 1-Methoxyerythrabyssin II showed an antiproliferative effect in a concentration-dependent manner and exhibited a higher potency in human acute leukemia T cells (Jurkat).

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Background: Natural products can serve as one of the alternatives, exhibiting high potential for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we report a screening platform to test the antiviral efficacy of a natural product library against SARS-CoV-2 and verify their activity using lung organoids.

Methods: Since SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a risk group 3 pathogen, the drug screening assay must be performed in a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory.

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Prolonged exposure to fine dust (FD) increases the risk of skin inflammation. Stimulated epidermal cells release growth factors into their extracellular environment, which can induce inflammation in dermal cells. Algae are considered rich sources of bioactive materials.

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EGFR-mediated tumors have been targeted to overcome several different malignant cancers. EGFR overexpression and mutations are directly related to the malignancy, which makes the therapy more complicated. One reason for the malignancy is the induction of AP1 followed by inflammation IL-6 secretion.

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The purpose of this study was to explore students’ psychosocial characteristics presumably nurtured in school physical education (PE) and school sports club activities in Korea. In addition, this study attempted to investigate what actual behaviours for each characteristic are observed and could be evaluated. Previous studies related to secondary students’ character development in school sports clubs and school PE classes were investigated at the initial stage, and then a panel of 3 experts and 4 host researchers reviewed and selected 9 characteristics and 30 behaviours.

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Previously we revealed an upregulated expression of B7-H3 and B7-H4 mRNA and protein in breast cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, little is known regarding the clinical impact and value of B7-H3 and B7-H4 in TNBC subtypes. Thus, this study evaluated the clinicopathologic effects of B7-H3 and B7-H4 mRNA and protein expression according to the TNBC subtypes.

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