Vaginal microbiome deeply influences vaginal health via production of messenger molecules. The healthy vaginal pH ranges between 3.5 and 4.5. However, dysbiosis of vaginal microbiome increases the pH level, leading to the incidence of vaginitis. The commensal vaginal bacterium Dermabacter vaginalis-which was isolated from the vaginal fluid of a Korean female-was incubated in acidic and neutral pH to simulate healthy and vaginitis conditions, respectively. The chemical profiles of the two different cultures were compared using HPLC. The compound showing distinctive difference between the two sets of data was presumed to be a chemical messenger, which was identified as cyclo(L-pro-L-met) by analysis of NMR, MS, and specific rotation data. Synthesis was achieved in three steps (overall yield 15%), enabling structure confirmation and antimicrobial evaluation against vaginal pathogens. Cyclo(L-pro-L-met) showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans, a major cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

In this study, we investigated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory efficacy, and identified their constituents from Brassica napus L. (Korean name: Yuchae) whole plant. Upon the anti-oxidative activities screening, the ethanol extract exhibited potent DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities. On the anti-inflammation studies using LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, the extract inhibited the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) effectively. To identify major constituents of B. napus extract, further purification was performed and led to isolation of two compounds; isorhamnetin 3,7-O-diglucoside(1) and isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside(2). Quantitative analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) determined the flavonoid 1 as the major constituent. Isolated compounds showed DPPH radical scavenging effects and decreased NO levels without causing cell toxicities. These results indicate that the extract of Yuchae, a rich plant resource in Jeju Island, could be potentially applicable as an anti-oxidative and/or anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Four known triterpenoids and one sterol glycoside were isolated from Viburnum opulus var. clavescens for. sterile flowers. By the spectral data analysis, we determined to be the structures of isolated compounds as 𝛼-amyrin (1), ursolic aldehyde (2), maslinic acid (3), ursolic acid (4) and 𝛽-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside (5). Among the isolated compounds, we revised ¹³C-NMR chemical shifts of ursolic aldehyde (2) using DEPT and HMBC spectra analysis. 𝛼-Amyrin (1), ursolic aldehyde (2), maslinic acid (3) and 𝛽-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside (5) were isolated for the first time from this plant.

Obesity is a disease in which an abnormally large amount of fat accumulates in the body. Various diseases such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, fatty liver, gallbladder disease, and coronary artery disease are induced. In this study, we investigated the effect of betaone, a type of barley, on obesity suppression. After the betaone extract was treated with 3T3 L1 adipocytes, the effect on adipocyte formation was investigated through Oil Red O staining. It was observed that differentiation was inhibited without affecting the viability of 3T3 L1 adipocytes. The effect of betaone extract on obesity inhibition in a mouse model was investigated. As a result of administering betaone extract after a high-fat diet, it was confirmed that the level of blood sugar and body weight was decreased, and glucose uptake ability was improved in a glucose tolerance test. The formation of mouse adipose tissue was suppressed, and the expression of genes involved in the formation and degradation of obesity in liver tissue was improved. These results suggest that betaone extract is a useful substance for improving obesity and is an excellent material for health functional food.

Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease caused by insulin resistance, and abnormally elevated hepatic gluconeogenesis is characterized. Phillyrin, one of the major active constituents of Forsythia suspense, is known to possess the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. However, the anti-diabetes mellitus effect of phillyrin and its molecular mechanisms are unclear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of phillyrin on gluconeogenesis in insulin resistant HepG2 cells. Phillyrin suppressed high glucose (HG)-induced glucose production. In addition, phillyrin reduced HG-induced the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase), major genes in hepatic gluconeogenesis. Phillyrin treatment attenuated HG-induced nucleus protein levels of FOXO1 and HDAC5 and increased the phosphorylation of Akt, AMPK, HDAC5, and FOXO1. The block of AMPK and Akt activity did not exert the inhibitory effect of phillyrin on gluconeogenesis in insulin resistant HepG2. Taken together, these results suggest that phillyrin inhibits gluconeogenesis of hepatocytes to improve glucose metabolism, through the regulation of LKB1/AMPK/HDAC5 and PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 pathway. These results indicate that phillyrin may be useful in improving hepatic gluconeogenesis associated with insulin resistant and T2DM.

Cotoneaster mongolicus Pojark. (CM), in the family Rosaceae is an endemic plant to the Mongolian region (its name: Moнroл чapraй). In Mongolia, Cotoneaster species as a crude drug is mainly used for inflammatory diseases, diarrhea, and stomach indigestion. In this study, we evaluated the gastro-protective activity underlying mechanism of CM. For in vivo experiments, mice were divided into 5 groups; normal mice (Normal), gastritis mice (Control), gastritis mice treated with sucralfate 10 mg/kg (SC), gastritis mice treated with CM 100 mg/kg (CML), gastritis mice treated with CM 200 mg/kg (CMH). Gastritis was provoked by HCl/ethanol (60% ethanol in 150 mM HCl). After oral administration of each drug, HCl/ethanol was orally administered 90 mins later to induce gastritis. CM alleviated the damage to the gastric mucosa caused. As a result of confirming the expression of protein in gastric tissue through western blot, CM significantly reduced the expression of NF-κB activated due to gastritis. Also, it significantly modulated the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway. These results indicate that CM not only inhibits the nuclear metastasis of NF-𝛋B but also modulates the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway to relieve inflammation of the gastric mucosa.

This study investigated the mycotoxins (aflatoxin B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂, fumonisin B₁, B₂, ochratoxin A and zearalenone) contained in edible and medicinal plants in Seoul Yangnyeong market during 2020-2021. We analyzed contamination of mycotoxins using LC-MS/MS and evaluated risk assessment. The method was validated by assessing matrix effects, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification(LOQ) and recovery. Matrix-matched standard calibration was used for calibration curves showed good linearity (r²>0.999). The LOD, LOQ and recovery were 0.01-0.23 ㎍/kg, 0.04-0.71 ㎍/kg and 75.5-117.9% respectively. Mycotoxins were detected in 22 of 171 samples; aflatoxin B₁ (6.66 ㎍/kg), fumonisin (7.54-64.68 ㎍/kg), ochratoxin A (4.21-10.56 ㎍/kg) and zearalenone (7.31-60.76 ㎍/kg). In the risk assessment, the MOE (Margine of Exposure) of aflatoxin B₁ and ochratoxin A were in the range of 1.48×10³-2.36×10⁵. No items exceeded 100% in %TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) of fumonisin (B₁+B₂) and zearalenone.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) contents were analyzed by measuring benz(a)anthracene(BaA), chrysene(Chr), benzo(b)fluoranthene(BbF) and benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), and the related risk characterization was conducted for 113 samples out of 14 different agricultural products used for food and medicine. Detection rate of PAHs was 90.3% as a whole, and the highest one was 80.5% for BaP. The detection rate of BaP exceeding the maximum permitted concentration of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Rehmanniae Radix, 5.0 ㎍/kg was 1.8%, and the detection rates of BaA, Chr and BbF were within the range of 2.7~10.6%. The highest average concentration of BaA was 3.41 ㎍/kg detected from Lycii Fructus, while those of Chr, BbF, BaP and PAH4(sum of detected BaA, Chr, BbF and BaP) were 5.00, 1.79, 2.36, 12.36 ㎍/kg, respectively, detected from Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. As for the risk characterization on PAHs, the overall MOE(Margin of Exposure) values were measured within the range of 10⁵~10⁷, which is unlikely to cause direct health concerns, but the worring values of MOE were measured 6.57×10⁴ for BaP and 6.10×10⁴ for PAH4 from Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, which may require an improvement plan to reduce BaP contents.