UPLC-QTOF-MS-Based Metabolomics and Antioxidant Capacity of from Different Geographical Origins.

() has been commonly utilized as a therapeutic plant in traditional medicine. In this study, we examined variations in metabolites in roots grown in different regions using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Multivariate analysis showed that the metabolite profiles of plants grown in Hoengseong and Jeongseon were more similar to each other than to that of grown in Jeju.

Evaluation of critical factors in the preparation of saliva sample from healthy subjects for metabolomics.

Saliva has been the subject of an increasing number of clinical metabolomics investigations, and salivary metabolic profiling has suggested potential diagnostic biomarkers for several human diseases, contributing to a better understanding of their mechanisms. However, a comprehensive evaluation of factors that may influence salivary metabolic profiling is still lacking. In the present study, we examined the effects of solvent, collection method, and storage stability on salivary metabolic profiles using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Identification of a novel 11β-HSD1 inhibitor from a high-throughput screen of natural product extracts.

Selective inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) have considerable potential as a treatment for metabolic syndrome including type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. To identify 11β-HSD1 inhibitors, we conducted high-throughput screening (HTS) of active natural product extracts from the Korea Chemical Bank, including Tanshinone I, Tanshinone IIA, and flavanone derivatives, and 2- and 3-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one. Then Tanshinone IIA and its derivatives were targeted for the development of a lead compound according to the HTS results.

Akt activation increases cellular cholesterol by promoting the proteasomal degradation of Niemann-Pick C1.

Null mutations of the Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) gene cause NPC disease, a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by cholesterol accumulation in late endosomes (LE) and lysosomes (Ly). Nascent or mutated NPC1 is degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, but how NPC1 degradation is regulated remains currently unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated a link between NPC1 degradation and the Akt (protein kinase B)/mTOR [mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin] signalling pathway in cervical cancer cell lines.