• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.147-155
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• 2008

In previous works, we found that solvent extract of Opuntia humifusa Raf., a member of the lactaceae family, displayed potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, all solvent fractions, except for the water layer, showed potent scavenging effects. According to activity-guided fractionation, one of active radical scavenging principles in the ethyl acetate fraction was found to be taxifolin. In this study, we investigated whether taxifolin showed anti-oxidative activity. In addition, taxifolin modulated nitric oxide (NO) release and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and TNF-${\alpha}$. Taxifolin showed potent anti-oxidant activity with the $IC_{50}\;of\;8.5{\pm}1.4\;and\;9.3{\pm}1.0{\mu}M$ using xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XO) assay and 2,2-Diphenyl-lpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay, respectively. We next determined the role of taxifolin on the immunomodulating activity using murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cells. Taxifolin dose-dependently inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7. It also significantly blocked the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, taxifolin potently suppressed the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and GM-CSF mRNA in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells, but not that of TNF-${\alpha}$ Moreover, taxifolin significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and activator protein -1 (AP-1). These results suggest that taxifolin may downregulate inflammatory iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and GM-CSF gene expressions through inhibition of NF-K and AP-1 activation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.434-440
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• 2013

Functional properties of Cheonnyuncho fruit paste (CFP) were enhanced by fermentation, using Leuconostoc mesenteroides SM. The stability of CFP pigment was maintained and microorganisms in crude CFP were sterilized by heating at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. The production of dextran in CFP was increased by increasing the fermentation time and sugar content, resulting in an increase of consistency. The CFP fermented with 20% sucrose contained 4.8% mucilage after fermentation for 2 days. In particular, the production of mucilage was greatly enhanced by fortification with 3% sodium citrate in CFP, resulting in mucilage production of 7%. In addition, the viscous modulus of fermented CFP showed a greater increase than that of the elastic modulus. Thus, it was concluded that CFP fermented by L. mesenteroides SM can be fortified with functional ingredients, such as mucilage and probiotics, with enhanced rheological properties. Therefore fermented CFP can be utilized as the functional ingredients for functional foods.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.822-826
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• 2005

Effect of Cheonnyuncho extract on the liver injury of rats treated carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ was studied. Cheonnyuncho extract was administerd at dose of 0.5 and 1 g/kg/day, p.o. for 2 weeks. $CCl_4$ was treated at dose of $0.5\;mL/kg$, i.p. 3 hours later from the last pretreatment of Cheonnyuncho extract. Administration of Cheonnyuncho extract at a dose of 1 g/kg decreased serum AST, ALT and ALP activities by 36, 41, and 22% respectively compared to $CCl_4$ treatment group. Increased lipid peroxidation and decreased SOD and GST activities were also recovered by pretreatment of Chonnyuncho extract in liver of rats. These results suggest that Cheonnyuncho extract has hepatoprotective effect against liver injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.294-300
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• 2010

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Opuntia humifusa (OPH) extracts and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) supplementations on the laying productivity, egg quality and sensory characteristics of eggs in hens. Six hundred forty, 35-wk-old Lohmann brown, laying hens were randomly divided into four groups: 1) water (control), 0.12% OPH extract, 0.1% MSM, and 0.12% OPH extract+0.1% MSM. They were mixed into the feed and given for 5 weeks. Egg production rates, egg weight, feed demand ratio were not significantly different among the groups. However, OPH or MSM decreased broken egg rates by increasing thickness and firmness of egg shell but they did not show the additive effects. In addition, OPH or MSM enhanced Haugh unit, an indicator of freshness of egg, and viscosity of egg white and egg yolk. OPH or MSM maintained the freshness of eggs better the control during their storage for 10 day at $4^{\circ}C$. However, OPH+MSM did not show additive effects in their freshness. Sensory test revealed that OPH or MSM decreased fishy taste and greasy flavor and they improved texture. Overall OPH or MSM enhanced the preference of eggs. In conclusion, the supplementation of either OPH or MSM enhances egg freshness and egg quality in laying hens but they should not be supplemented together due to no additive effects.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of the freeze-dried stems and fruit of the cactus Cheonnyuncho. The analysis showed that powdered stems have the highest fat content (1.91%) and the powdered fruits have he highest protein content (2.62%). The K content of the fruits higher than that of the stems, while the Ca, Mg, Na and P contents of the stems were higher than those of the fruits. Both the stems and fruits powders contained high levels of the amino acids glutamic acid and aspartic acid. The free sugars such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose were detected in both the stems and fruits. The 75% ethanol (EtOH) extract showed a relatively high antioxidative activity compared to those of the water and 75% methanol (MeOH) extracts. Furthermore, the 75% EtOH extract of the stem powder exhibited a total polyphenol content of 3.60 g/100 g, and a total flavonoid content of 2.00 g/100 g. The antioxidant activities of the stem and fruit powder extracts, measured in DPPH radical scavenging experiments, were higher than that of the control group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1271-1278
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the food components of the fruit, cladodes, and flowers of freezedried Cheonnyuncho harvested from Yeosu, Jeonnam in Korea. The major components of freeze-dried Cheonnyuncho in proximate composition were carbohydrates and crude ash. Ca, K, and Mg were the predominant minerals in Cheonnyuncho. Calcium content was higher in the fruit and cladodes than in the flowers. Two major amino acids, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, made up over 25% of the total amino acids in Cheonnyuncho. Palmitic acid and stearic acid were most abundant out of all the saturated fatty acids in Cheonnyuncho. The saturated fatty acid content of the fruit was higher than that of the flowers and cladodes. The major unsaturated fatty acid of Cheonnyuncho was oleic acid. The cladodes contained unusually high amounts of linoleic acid compared to the fruit and flowers. The major free sugar in the fruit was sucrose, whereas that of the cladodes and flowers was fructose. The total free sugar content was the highest in fruit, followed by cladodes. The most abundant organic acid in the fruits and cladodes was malic acid, while that of the flowers was citric acid. Vitamin A concentration was highest in the flowers whereas vitamin C concentration was highest in the fruit.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1752-1760
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• 2011

In this study, the effect of the Opuntiahumifusa extracts on proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis and ROS level of a cell was investigated using an osteoblast. Opuntiahumifusawas separated intoOpuntiahumifusapeel (OH-P), seed (OH-Se) and stem (OH-St).These were subjected to extraction by using hot water and ethanol. The proliferation of the MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells that were treated with OH-Se water extract were increased by approximately 120%. Regarding the effects of OH-Se on ALP activity, the $50{\mu}g/ml$ ethanol extract group showed the highest activity. The synthesis of collagen increased significantly in response to treatment with OH-Se water extract. The ROS scavenging effects of Opuntiahumifusawere investigated for involvement of oxidativedamage, cell culture and staining. Also, when OH-Se water extract $100{\mu}g/ml$ was added, the ROS level decreased by 54%. These results indicate that Opuntiahumifusa extracts have an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoblastic differentiation, suggesting that it could be used for the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.366-373
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• 2011

Recent studies suggested that Cheonnyuncho is a significant source of bioactive phenolic compounds, comparable to phytochemicals, including green tea and onion. In this study, the hot-water and 80% ethanolic extracts of Cheonnyuncho were assessed as to their total phenol content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (DPPH radical-scavenging activity and reducing power), and anti-obesity activity. The results showed that the total phenol contents of the hot water extract and the 80% ethanolic extract were $16.52{\pm}3.87$ and $13.44{\pm}0.85$ mg GAE/g, respectively. The total flavonoids content was detected only in the 80% ethanolic extract, however, with a 778.08 ${\mu}g$ catechin equivalents/g content. The DPPH radical-scavenging activity and reducing power of the 80% ethanolic extract from Cheonnyuncho was significantly higher than those of the water extract (p < 0.05). During the adipocyte differentiation, the 80% ethanolic extract of Cheonnyuncho more significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and ROS production than the 3T3-L1 cells that were treated with hot water extract. Furthermore, the 80% ethanolic extract of Cheonnyuncho suppressed the mRNA abundance of the adipogenic transcription factor, $PPAR{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$), and its target gene, aP2 (adipocyte protein 2). These results indicate that Cheonnyuncho extracts can inhibit adipogenesis through a mechanism that involves direct down regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ gene expression or via modulation of ROS production associated with radical-scavenging activities.