• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.162-169
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• 2024

Particulate matter (PM) constitutes a hazardous blend of organic and inorganic particles that poses health risks. Inhalation of fine airborne PM with a diameter of ≤ 2.5 ㎛ (PM_2.5) can lead to significant lung impairments. (+)-afzelechin (AZC), a natural compound sourced from Bergenia ligulata, boasts a range of attributes, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and cardiovascular effects. However, knowledge about the therapeutic potential of AZC for patients with PM_2.5-induced lung injuries remains limited. Thus, in this study, we investigated the protective attributes of AZC against lung damage caused by PM_2.5 exposure. AZC was administered to the mice 30 min after intratracheal instillation of PM_2.5. Various parameters, such as changes in lung tissue wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio, total protein/total cell ratio, lymphocyte counts, levels of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), vascular permeability, and histology, were evaluated in mice exposed to PM_2.5. Data demonstrated that AZC mitigated lung damage, reduced W/D weight ratio, and curbed hyperpermeability induced by PM_2.5 exposure. Furthermore, AZC effectively lowered plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines produced by PM_2.5 exposure. It reduced the total protein concentration in BALF and successfully alleviated PM_2.5-induced lymphocytosis. Additionally, AZC substantially diminished the expression levels of Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4), MyD88, and autophagy-related proteins LC3 II and Beclin 1. In contrast, it elevated the protein phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Consequently, the anti-inflammatory attribute of AZC positions it as a promising therapeutic agent for mitigating PM_2.5-induced lung injuries by modulating the TLR4-MyD88 and mTOR-autophagy pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2024

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the major complications of sepsis. Aurantio-obtusin (AO) is an anthraquinone compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was developed to concentrate on the role and mechanism of AO in sepsis-induced AKI. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and BALB/c mice receiving cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery were used to establish in vitro cell model and in vivo mouse model. HK-2 cell viability was measured using MTT assays. Histological alterations of mouse renal tissues were analyzed via hematoxylin and eosin staining. Renal function of mice was assessed by measuring the levels of serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HK-2 cells and serum samples of mice were detected using corresponding ELISA kits. Protein levels of factors associated with nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway were measured in HK-2 cells and renal tissues by Western blotting. AO exerted no cytotoxic effect on HK-2 cells and AO dose-dependently rescued LPS-induced decrease in HK-2 cell viability. The concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased in response to LPS or CLP treatment, and the alterations were reversed by AO treatment. For in vivo experiments, AO markedly ameliorated renal injury and reduced high levels of SCr and BUN in mice underwent CLP operation. In addition, AO administration inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, AO alleviates septic AKI by suppressing inflammatory responses through inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.363-375
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• 2016

Potentilla kleiniana is a perennial herb beloning to Rosaceae family. Herein we investigated the effect of light intensity, light quality and chemical elicitor on plant growth and the accumulation of bioactive compounds in P. kleiniana. After 60 days of cultivation under different shading level [0% (200 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), 35% (95 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), 55% (65 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), 75% (40 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹)] in the greenhouse, chlorophyll and carotenoid content were the highest under 35% treatment, however, plant height, leaf number and biomass were the highest under non-shading. As a result of cultivation among strong light condition as a control, florescence and three mixture light sources [red:white:blue (RWB) = 8:1:1, red:blue (RB) = 8:2, red:green:blue (RGB) = 8:1:1] as treatments in plant growth chamber (25 ± 2℃, 185 ± 3 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), growth, biomass, chlorophyll content low difference between total phenolic compouds and flavonoid content were higher under RWB treatment. DPPH radical elimination ability was the highest under all treatments especially florescence and RGB treatment except control. As a result of treating chemical elicitor [salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA)] concentration (0, 50, 100, 200 μM) respectively, plant height, petiole diameter and biomass were higher under non-treatment, MeJA 50 μM. It was investigated that fresh weight and dry weight under MeJA 50 μM treatment were especially a little high. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoid content of SA 50 μM treatment was the highest but DPPH radical elimination ability was significantly the highest under MeJA 200 μM (88.65%) and MeJA 50 μM (87.84%) treatment. Thus, this study suggested that we determined optimal shading and light quality in the greenhouse and plant growth chamber also confirmed bioactive compound content, antioxidant ratio increase according to different chemical elicitation concentration.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2004

The root of Stnchys Sieboldif MIQ was extracted three times with methanol and extract was found to contain 3.02% of polyphenols and 1.97% of flavonoids. DPPH radical scavenging method, ferric thiocyanate method, and nitrite scavenging ability method were employed to investigate the constituents of the extract and to measure their activity on antioxidation. The fraction extracted by ethylacetate showed higher anti oxidation value than that of $\alpha-tocopherol$, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at the same concentration. UV-VIS spectral data of the extract by ethylacetate that was isolated on a silica gel column proved adsorption maxima in the range of 280∼330 nm. The fraction ES-RS that has $\lambda_{max}(nm)$ of band 1, 325nm and band II, 289nm exhibitd the strongest activity on antioxidation. ES-R5 fraction showed similar pattern to flavones by the analysis of UV-VIS spectral data.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.335-344
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to determine the rheological characteristics and sensory evaluation of yanggaeng by using the functional properties of Momordica charantia. Dried Momordica charantia was roasted at $180^{\circ}C$ to remove its bitter taste. The results of the study were as follows : The phenolic compound of Momordica charantia was $6.30{\pm}0.17mg/g$ in water extracts, which was the highest extractive rate. The anti-oxidant activity of non-roasted and roasted samples was determined in various phenolic concentrations at $50{\sim}200{\mu}g/mL$. The DPPH activities of non-roasted and roasted Momordica charantia water and ethanol extracts were 74.06~92.71% and 86.06~94.07%, respectively. The ABTS were 36.26~98.03% and 67.02~99.60% in water and ethanol extracts, respectively. The anti-oxidant protection factor of water and ethanol extracts were 2.19~2.25 PF and 2.20~2.36 PF respectively, and TBARS were 13.81~40.97% and 23.32~82.47%, respectively. The anti-oxidant activity of ethanol extracts was higher than that of water extracts at low phenolics concentration of $50{\mu}g/mL$, while the roasted sample was higher than the sample that was not roasted. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity of non-roasted Momordica charantia ethanol extracts was higher than that of water extracts, showing that there were increasing pattern depending on the increases in the phenolics concentration of Momordica charantia. The texture, such as hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness and color changed in proportion to the concentration of Momordica charantia powder. Moreover sensory characteristics, such as color, flavor, taste, texture and overall acceptability of the non-roasted sample changed in proportion to the concentration of Momordica charantia powder. However, in the roasted sample, the sensory characteristics was improved at a lower concentration (below 1%). Thus, when the yanggang was prepared by Momordica charantia powder as a minor ingredient, it would be desirable to add it after roasting, in consideration of its functional and sensory properties, and at appropriate concentration on below 1%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 2017

Chondrocyte apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Schisandrin A, a bioactive compound found in fruits of the Schisandra genus, has been reported to possess multiple pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Although several studies have described the antioxidant effects of analogues of schisandrin A, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this bioactive compound remain largely unresolved. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effect of schisandrin A against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide [$H_2O_2$]) in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells. The results showed that schisandrin A preconditioning significantly inhibited $H_2O_2-induced$ growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death by blocking the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase proteins and down-regulating pro-caspase-3. These antiapoptotic effects of schisandrin A were associated with attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction and normalization of expression changes of proapoptotic Bax and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 in $H_2O_2-stimulated$ SW1353 chondrocytes. Furthermore, schisandrin A effectively abrogated $H_2O_2-induced$ intracellular ROS accumulation and phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 139, a widely used marker of DNA damage. Thus, the present study demonstrates that schisandrin A provides protection against $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis and DNA damage in SW1353 chondrocytes, possibly by prevention of ROS generation. Collectively, our data indicate that schisandrin A has therapeutic potential in the treatment of oxidative disorders caused by overproduction of ROS.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2021

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves, a raw material for health functional foods and cosmetics have abundant polyphenols including oleuropein (major bioactive compound) with various biological activities: antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer activity, and inhibit platelet activation. Oleuropein has been reported as skin protectant, antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-atherogenic, anti-viral, and anti-microbial activity. Despite oleuropein is the important compound in olive leaves, there is still no quantitative approach to reveal oleuropein content in commercial products. Therefore, a validated method of analysis has to develop for oleuropein. In this study, the components and oleuropein content in 10 types of products were analyzed using a developed method with ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, charge of aerosol detector, and photodiode array. The total of 18 compounds including iridoids (1, 3, 4, 14, and 16-18), coumarin (2), phenylethanoids (5, 9, and 11), flavonoids (6-8, 10, 12, and 13), lignan (15), were tentatively identified in the leaves extract based high resolution mass spectrometry data, and the content of oleuropein in each product was almost identical between two detection methods. The oleuropein in three commercial product (A, G, H) was contained more over the suggested content, and it of five products (B, E, H, I, J) were analyzed within 5-10% error range. However, the two products (C, D) were found far lower than suggested contents. This study provides that analytical results of oleuropein could be a potential information for the quality control of leaf extract for a manufactured functional food.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.93-100
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• 2005

This research was performed to investigate the possibilities of industrial usage of camellia (Camellia japonica L.) by examining the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of methanol extract with different sections. Content of total phenolics, DPPH radical scavenging activities and antibacterial activity of young leaf, mature leaf, flower bud, flower, bark, and seed of camellia were compared in vitro experimental models. Total phenolics was contained the higher in young leaf (74.62 mg), flower bud (65.02 mg) and flower (62.42 mg) but less than 20.95 mg per 100 g of dry weight in other parts of Camellia japonica L. And effects of antioxidant measured by DPPH radical scavenger activity ($RC_{50}$, reduce concentration 50%), was shown higher $7.16{\sim}18.14\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ in methanol extract of young leaf, flower bud and flower than $61.23\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of BHT as a chemical oxidant. Also, the antimicrobial activity of Camellia japonica L. extracts determined using a paper disc method against food-borne pathogen and food spoilage bacteria, the young leaves extracts showed the most active antimicrobial activity against 7 kinds of harmful microorganisms. Flower bud extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. C1036. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of young leaf extract against B. subtillis,S. fradiae,S. aureus,E. coli,P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp. C1036, and S. typhimurium were revealed 1 to 15 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. As a result, antimicrobial activity of camellia extracts was shown higher gram positive bacteria than gram negative bacteria.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.839-845
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• 2009

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant neoplasm in the world. Much attention has been focused on reducing colon cancer risk through medical properties of natural compound that could act as anticarcinogens. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of Styela plicata (S. plicata) from in vitro experiments. S. plicata extracts showed antioxidant activity measured by TRAP assay and antigenotoxic effect in $200{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage in human leukocytes. Especially, freeze-dried S. plicata extracted with methanol showed the highest level of TRAP (0.225 mM) and inhibition of DNA damage (66.8%). Additionally we observed the effect of S. plicata on the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and DMH induced DNA damage (by comet assay) in male SD rats. The animals were divided into three groups and fed high-fat and low fiber diet (100 g lard+20 g cellulose/kg diet) without (normal control and DMH control) or with a 3% (w/w) of lyophilized S. plicata powder (DMH+S. plicata). One week after beginning the diets, rats were treated with DMH (30 mg/kg, s.c.) for 6 weeks except for normal control group, which was treated saline instead; dietary treatments were continued for the entire experiment. Nine weeks after DMH injection, administration of S. plicata resulted in reduction of ACF numbers, to 82.7% of the carcinogen control value ($7.67{\pm}2.04$ vs. $1.33{\pm}0.53$: p<0.01). S. plicata supplementation induced antigenotoxic effect on DMH-induced DNA damage in the blood cell (% tail intensity: $6.79{\pm}0.26$ vs. $6.13{\pm}0.22$). These data indicate that S. plicata extract has antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic effects from in vitro experiments and S. plicata exerts a protective effect on the process of colon carcinogenesis, possibly by suppressing the DMH-induced DNA damage in blood cell and the development of preneoplastic lesions in colon.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2015

The extracted phenolic compounds from Cornus kousa fruit for biological activities as functional resources were examined. The phenolic compounds which were extracted with water and 40% ethanol from Cornus kousa fruit were $7.04{\pm}0.27$ and $4.47{\pm}0.18mg/g$, respectively. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity of water and ethanol extracts were 84% and 86% at $50{\mu}g/mL$phenolics, respectively. The 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical decolorization activity of water and ethanol extracts were 84 and 95% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ phenolics, respectively. Antioxidant protection factor in water and ethanol extracts at $50{\mu}g/mL$ phenolics were 1.93 and 1.82 PF, respectively. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance were 69% in water extracts and 89% in ethanol extracts at $150{\mu}g/mL$ phenolics. The inhibition activity on xanthine oxidase in water and ethanol extracts was 34 and 60%, respectively. The inhibition activity on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was 29% in water extracts and 87% in ethanol extracts. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was 19% in ethanol extracts. The collagenase inhibition activity of anti-wrinkle effect showed an excellent wrinkle improvement effect as 53% in water extracts and 77% in ethanol extracts at $200{\mu}g/mL$ phenolics. The hyaluronidase inhibition activity as antiinflammation effect of water extracts was confirmed to 34% of inhibition at $200{\mu}g/mL$ phenolic. The results can be expected extracts from Cornus kousa fruit to use as functional resource for antioxidant, antigout, inhibitor of carbohydrate degradation, antiwrinkle activity and antiinflammation activity.