The red radish (Raphanus sativus L.; RR) sprout is a plant of the cruciferous family. In this study, we elucidated the effect of the water extract of RR sprout (RRSE) against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase enzyme activity and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. α-amylase, αglucosidase, and pancreatic lipase enzyme activity was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by RRSE treatment. RSSE also abolished adipocyte differentiation and lipid and triglyceride accumulation without cytotoxicity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, RRSE modulated the expression of the proteins related to adipogenic transcription factors: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), and CCAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α. RRSE also suppressed expression of the proteins responsible for lipid synthesis, transport, and storage: adiponectin, fatty acid synthesis (FAS), perilipin, and fatty acid bind protein-4 (FABP4). This study showed that RRS treatment has the potential to inhibit obesity by controlling the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and adipogenic proteins.

Purpose:Immunosuppressive regimen based on reduced-dose Tacrolimus (TAC) is widely accepted in the field of renal transplantation. However, optimal targetsfor TAC whole blood trough concentrations during the early period after kidney transplantation remain uncertain. Methods: A total of 184 consecutive adult renal transplant recipients with triple immunosuppression (TAC/Mycophenolate/corticosteroid) were included in this study. According to the trough level of TAC at day 7 after transplantation, patients were classified as low TAC concentration (LT, ＜10 ng/ml, n=85), intermediate TAC concentration (IT, 10∼15 ng/ml, n=75), and high TAC concentration (HT, ＞15 ng/ml, n=24) groups. Rate of acute rejection, graft function and side effects of TAC within 1 yr after transplantation were evaluated. Results: There was no difference in trough concentrations of TAC at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after transplantation among the three groups. Significantly higher incidence of acute rejection within 2 weeks after transplantation was observed in LT group compared with IT and HT groups (17.4%, 5.6% and 4.8%, respectively, P=0.037). HT patients showed significantly better estimated glomerular filtration rates until 6 months after transplantation than IT and LT patients (75.5±24.8 vs. 63.8±12.8 and 64.3±15.2 ml/min at 6 months, P=0.03). There was no significant difference in TAC toxicity in terms of post-transplant diabetes and renal toxicity.

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts (PFS) is a plant of the labiatae family. The purpose of this work was to assess the preventive effects of PFS ethanolic extracts (PFSEs) on cytokine-induced β-cell damage. Cytokines, which are released by the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the pancreatic islets, are involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The combination of interleukin-1β (IL-1), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accumulation of intracellular ROS led to β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. PFSEs possess antioxidant activity and thus lead to downregulation of ROS generation. Cytokines decrease cell viability, stimulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and induce the production of nitric oxide (NO). PFSEs prevented cytokine-induced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with PFSE resulted in significant reduction in cytokine-induced NO production that correlated with reduced levels of the iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Furthermore, PFSE significantly decreased the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) by inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation in RINm5F cells. In summary, our results suggest that the protective effects of PFSE might serve to counteract cytokine-induced β-cell destruction. Findings indicate that consumption of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts alleviates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced β-cell damage and thus has beneficial anti-diabetic effects.Key words : Cytokines, diabetes, NF-κB, Perilla frutescents, RINm5F

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Diospyros lotus has been cultivated for its edible fruits, which are considered to have medicinal importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antipruritic activities of water-soluble, methanol extract, and ethyl acetate (EA) fractions from D. lotus leaves. The EA fraction showed the lowest IC50 vale (DPPH: 5.3 μg/mL, ABTS: 53.8 μg/mL). Therefore, we further investigated anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects of the EA fraction. TNF-α production increased by PMA plus A23187 treatment was significantly inhibited by the EA fraction in a dose-dependent manner. The EA fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. Furthermore, EA fraction had inhibitory effects on scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 in Balb/c mice. These results suggest that the EA fraction from D. lotus leaves has potential as ameliorative agent against oxidative stress and pruritus-related disease.