Effects of Panax ginseng Saponins and Water Extract on the Growth of Cultured Human Keratinocytes and Melanocytes

Yoon, Tae Jin; Kim, Nack In; Park, Jai Kyung; Haw, Choong Rim

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy is difficult owing to lack of sensitive diagnostic tools. Recently, several investigators have studied the use of polymerase chain reaction(PCR) to detect Mycabacterium leprae. Using nested-PCR the sensitivity and specif city of DNA amplification is considerably improved.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose on investigation is to assess the efficacy if nested-PCR which is applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsies material of patients with 1 prosy.
METHODS
Biopsy samples were taken from patients with lepremc tous(11 patients) and tuberculoid (10 patients) leprosy, fixed in formalin, and embedded in parafin. The DNA from samples was extracted and amplified through 25 cycles by using the outside pairs of primer(L and L). The second amplification was allowed thproceed through 15 cycles using insice gairs of primer(L and L4).
RESULTS
All twenty one samples showed 347-base-pair products. To confirm that the 347-bp product did correspond to the expected portion of the M. leprae groE gene, the amplified product was digested with Pst I. Pst I dipestion yielded 254-and 93-bp fragmerts, as predicted from the sequence of the M. leprae gene. The senilivity was that a single organism was idntified by nested-PCR.
CONCLUSION
The nested-PCR is sensitive, specific, and simple diagiostic tool for leprosy.