• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2013

This study was conducted in order to compare the biological activities of leaf and root water extracts of Smilax china L. (SC) by measuring the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, anti-oxidant activity, inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, and anti-inflammatory gene expression. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of SC leaf (SCLE) and root (SCRE) water extracts were 127.93 mg GAE/g and 39.50 mg GAE/g and 41.99 mg QE/g and 1.25 mg QE/g, respectively. The anti-oxidative activities of SCLE and SCRE were measured using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity assay and reducing power assay. Both SCLE and SCRE scavenged radicals in a concentration-dependent manner, and SCLE showed stronger radical scavenging activity and reducing power than SCRE; however, both SCLE and SCRE exhibited lower activities than ascorbic acid. Compared to the anti-diabetic drug acarbose, which was used as a positive control, SCLE and SCRE exhibited low ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities; nevertheless, the activity of SCLE was 3.7 fold higher than that of SCRE. Finally, SCLE caused significantly decreased expression of the LPS-induced cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2 mRNA in RAW264.7 cells, indicating anti-inflammatory activity. These results indicate that SCLE might be a potential candidate as an anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.70-73
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• 2007

Antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities of acorn were evaluated by its potential for scavenging stable DPPH free radical, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, reducing power, and inhibiton of ${\alpha}-glucosidase\;and\;{\alpha}-amylase$. The water extract of acorn exhibited strong antioxidant and antidiabetic related activities in the tested model systems. Solvent fractionation of the water extract revealed that the water fraction and the EtOAc fraction had strong antioxidant activity, and inhibitory activity on ${\alpha}-glucosidase\;and\;{\alpha}-amylase$. The water fraction exhibited higher DPPH radical scavenging activity ($EC_{50}=7.19{\mu}g/mL$) than that of ${\alpha}-tocopherol\;(EC_{50}=7.59{\mu}g/mL)$. It is considered that water extract of acorn has the potential for natural antioxidant and anti-diabetic products.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.282-287
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Jerusalem artichoke has inhibitory activity against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and decreases fasting serum glucose levels, which may be related to its fructan content. The biological activity of fructan can be influenced by the degree of polymerization. Thus, in this study, the inhibitory effects of original and fermented purple Jerusalem artichoke (PJA) on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase were compared in vitro. Additionally, the anti-diabetes effect of Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented PJA (LJA) was studied in a non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus animal model (C57BIKsJ db/db). MATERIALS/METHODS: The water extract of PJA was fermented by L. plantarum, and two strains of Bacillus subtilis to compare their anti-${\alpha}$-glucosidase activities in vitro by ${\alpha}$-glucosidase assays. The anti-diabetes effect of LJA was studied in a non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus animal model (C57BIKsJ db/db) for seven weeks. During the experiment, food intake, body weight, and fasting blood glucose were measured every week. At the end of the treatment period, several diabetic parameters and the intestinal ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity were measured. RESULTS: The LJA showed the highest ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro. In the in vivo study, it resulted in a significantly lower blood glucose concentration than the control. Serum insulin and HDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher and the concentrations of triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and total cholesterol were significant lower in mice treated with LJA after seven weeks. In addition, the intestinal ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity was partially inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that LJA regulates blood glucose and has potential use as a dietary supplement.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.602-606
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated total 26 ingredients of Saengshik which will be commercially produced as an anti-diabetic dietary supplement. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Thirteen vegetables, nine cereals, three legumes and one seed were extracted with aqueous ethanol for 2 h at $60^{\circ}C$, and evaluated for their inhibitory effects against ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and for total phenolic and flavonoid contents. RESULTS: All ingredients inhibited ${\alpha}$-amylase activity except cabbage. Strong inhibitory activity of ${\alpha}$-amylase was observed in leek, black rice, angelica and barley compared with acarbose as a positive control. Stronger inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity was found in small water dropwort, radish leaves, sorghum and cabbage than acarbose. All Saengshik ingredients suppressed ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity in the range of 0.3-60.5%. Most ingredients contained total phenols which were in the range of 1.2-229.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract. But, total phenolic contents were not observed in carrot, pumpkin and radish. All ingredients contained flavonoid in the range of 11.6-380.7 mg catechin equivalent/g dried extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Saengshik containing these ingredients would be an effective dietary supplement for diabetes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1331-1335
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• 2009

We have studied the anti-diabetic effects of medicinal plant water extracts on hepatic glucose-regulating enzymes such as glucokinase (GK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). $\alpha$-Glucosidase inhibitor is usually used to prevent and treat type II diabetes; thus, anti-$\alpha$-glucosidase activity of medicinal plant water extracts was assayed. The hepatic cytosol faction of a type II diabetic animal (Goto-Kakizaki rat) was used in GK and ACC activity assays. The medicinal plants were Lycium chinense (JGP), Discorea japonica Thunb. (SY), Pyrus pyrifolia (YSB), Cornus officinalis (SSY), Paeonia suffruticosa ANDR. (MDP), Cordyceps militaris (DCH), and Acanthopanax senticosus (GSO). JGP, SY, YSB, and SSY water extracts increased the hepatic GK activity and all medicinal plant water extracts led to an increase in hepatic ACC activity. YSB, SSY, MDP, and GSO water extracts showed significantly higher anti-$\alpha$-glucosidase activity than control samples. The highest anti-$\alpha$-glucosidase activity was observed in GSO water extract and the anti-$\alpha$-glucoside activity was higher than that of Acarbose (reference $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitor). We suggest that JGP, SY, YSB, and SSY water extracts may exert an anti-diabetic effect by enhancing the glucose metabolism and that YSB, MDP and GSO may be used as natural $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitors in type II diabetic conditions. Increased ACC activity by plant water extracts may provide additional anti-diabetic effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.993-999
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• 2015

For the purpose of investigating the in vitro antidiabetic activity of a medicinal herb and herb mixture extracts prepared through traditional antidiabetic prescription, this study examined ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Tyrosinase, a type I membrane glycoprotein, is synthesized and glycosylated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi. The enzyme is subsequently transported to melanosomes, where it participates in melanogenesis. Previous studies showed that disruption of early ER N-glycan processing by an ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor suppresses tyrosinase enzymatic activity and melanogenesis. According to the results, most oriental medicinal herbal extracts were stronger than acarbose and N-butyldeoxynojirimycin, known as an ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor. Interestingly, ethyl acetate layer of enzyme hydrolyzed Cheongsimyeonjaeum had an inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis in B16F1 cells, although it did not inhibit tyrosinase activity directly. Together, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity could be used to evaluate anti-melanogenesis, although cross-checking with melanin inhibitory assay is recommended.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.174-179
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• 2015

For development a new anti-diabetic compound from edible mushroom, antihyperglycemic ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus cornucopiae, Pleurotus salmoneostramineus, Pleurotus eryngii and Neolentinus lepideus were investigated on its water and ethanol extracts. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of Neolentinus lepideus fruiting body showed the highest at 86.3% in the 95% ethanol extracts and water extract from Pleurotus cornucopiae was also higher at 48.5% among water extracts. Therefore, Neolentinus lepideus which showed very high ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity was selected as a new anti-diabetic agent-containing mushroom and the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor was maximally extracted when treated with 95% ethanol at $30^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr. The ethanol extracts from Neolentinus lepideus fruiting body showed dosage-dependent hypoglycemic action after administration to 120 min in the SD-rat and streptozotocin-induced diabetic SD-rat.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Objectives : The heartwood of Sappan Lignum has been used since ancient times as an ingredient in folk medicines against anti-bacterial and anti-anemia purposes. Many bioactive constituents have been derived from this biomass such as chalcones and homoisoflavonoids. In the current investigation, the antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties using DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radicals scavenging, ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inhibition assays were evaluated by different extraction methods of Sappan Lignum. Methods : In our continuing investigation for bioactive natural ingredients, the antioxidant and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory properties of Sappan Lignum extracts were prepared from different extraction methods and the biological efficacies were investigated in vitro. The antioxidant properties were evaluated employing radical scavenging assays using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) ($ABTS^+$) radicals. In addition, the anti-diabetic effects of Sappan Lignum extracts were tested via ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and AGEs formation inhibitory assay. The total phenolic contents were determined using a spectrophotometric method. Results : All the tested samples showed dose-dependent radical scavenging and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities. Among the tested extracts, the 80% methanolic extract of Sappan Lignum was showed the most potent activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $82.3{\pm}1.7{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ against DPPH radical scavenging assay. While, $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity of 80% methanolic extract was higher than those of other extracts. Also, ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory and AGEs formation effects of each extacts and total phenolic contents were evaluated. Conclusions : These results suggested that Sappan Lignum can be considered as a new effective source of natural antioxidant and anti-diabetic materials.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2010

This study was performed to the activity of antioxidant and anti-diabetic from Zanthoxylum schnifolium fruit. The Zanthoxylum schnifolium fruits were extracted with water, 100% methanol, 100% ethanol, 70% methanol and 70% ethanol. The activities of each extracts were measured by antioxidant tests, such as total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, hydroxyl radical activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power and $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibition activity assay. The water extract represented the highest activity in the antioxidants properties in vitro, including hydroxyl radical activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power. Furthermore, water extract also showed significantly high total phenolic contents but the 100% methanol extract showed high total flavonoid contents estimated as $196.48{\mu}g/mg$. The $IC_{50}$ values for $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibition activity of the 100% ethanol and 100% methanol extracts were $275.66{\mu}g/mg$ and $261.44{\mu}g/mg$. Our results indicated that the Zanthoxylum schnifolium fruit expected to be useful as antioxidants.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Asia, various medicinal plants have been used as the primary sources in the health care regimen for thousands of years. In recent decades, various studies have investigated the biological activity and potential medicinal value of the medicinal plants. In this study, 100 methanol extracts from 98 plant species were evaluated for their biological activities. MATERIALS/METHODS: The research properties, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-pic-rylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-tyrosinase inhibitory effects, anti-inflammatory activity, and anticancer activity were evaluated for the selected extracts. RESULTS: Fifteen of the extracts scavenged more than 90% of the DPPH radical. Among the extracts, approximately 20 extracts showed a strong inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, while most had no effect on ${\alpha}$-tyrosinase. In addition, 52% of the extracts showed low toxicity to normal cells, and parts of the extracts exhibited high anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities on the murine macrophage cell (RAW 264.7) and human colon cancer cell (HT-29) lines, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may contribute to further nutrition and pharmacological studies. Detailed investigations of the outstanding samples are currently underway.