• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.250-255
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• 2010

This study examined the physiological activities as well as the total polyphenol and flavonoid content of water extract (WE), ethanol extract (EE) and hot water extract of Calystegia japonica leaves under high pressure (HWE). The xanthine oxidase inhibitory rate of EE was the highest with a value of 98.89% at a concentration of 1.0 mg/mL, whereas the rate of WE and HWE was over 90% at a concentration of 0.3 mg/mL. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of HWE was the highest at 18.88%. The nitrite scavenging abilities were 64.59-66.46% at conditions of pH 1.2 and 1.0 mg/mL, and 52.78-55.89% at pH 3.0. The electron donating ability of EE was the highest with a value of 84.80% at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. All extracts showed the highest degree of electron donating at the concentration of 0.1 mg/ mL, and this effect decreased as the extract concentration increased. The EE had the highest content of total polyphenol compound (173.89 mg/g) and flavonoid compounds (40.68 mg/g).

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.699-705
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• 2008

This study compared amino acids and effective components of Viola mandshurica produced in Korea with those of Chinese plants, as part of a study on nutritional andfunctional materials, to aid in the development of a valuable food. The contents of reducing sugar, free sugar, polyphenols, and soluble protein in the flowers of V. mandshurica were higher than in other fractions, being 10,485.11 mg%, 118.85 mg%, 1,259.26 mg%, and 23.67 mg%, respectively. Total flavonoid content of Chinese leaves was the highest at 2,370.75 mg%, followed by 1,844.43 mg% in Korean leaves. Free amino acids were highest in Korean leaves (5,345.21 mg%), followed by roots (4,692.24 mg%), flowers (3,807.87 mg%), and leaves of China plants (3,613.81 mg%). Arginine accounted for 55% of free amino acids in the roots, and all plant fractions contained more valine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, and arginine, than other amino acids. The total content of amino acid derivatives was the highest (9,058.80 mg%) in Korean leaves. Especially, $\alpha$-aminoadipic acid constituted over 50% of total amino acid derivatives in all plant parts of V. mandshurica. When mineral contents were analyzed, leaves grown in China showed the highest content of 5,917.57 mg%, and the contents of K, Ca, and Mg were much greater than those of other minerals, together comprising over 95% of total mineral content in leaves and flowers from Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.715-721
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• 2021

Cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease are serious social problems associated with the rising elderly population in Korea. 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-β-ᴅ-glucopyranose (PGG) is a gallotannin isolated from medicinal plants such as Rhus chinensis. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of PGG on biomarkers related to cognitive function in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is considered to be one of the main therapeutic strategies. PGG inhibited AChE activity in the test tube as well as in SK-N-SH cells. In addition, PGG induced protein and mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a mammalian neurotrophin that plays major roles in the development, maintenance, repair, and survival of neuronal populations. As one of the underlying molecular mechanisms that induce BDNF expression, PGG induced the activation of Ca²⁺/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) pathway. In conclusion, PGG may be an useful material for improving cognitive function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Diospyros malabarica stem extract, a natural materials, in oral health material. With this aim in mind, thin layer chromatography (TLC), TLC-bioautography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and real-time qPCR were performed. The antibacterial activity of D. malabarica stem extract against Streptococcus mutans KCTC3065 was confirmed in an n-hexane fraction with low polarity. The molecular weight of the antibacterial compound was estimated to be 188 by ESI-MS analysis. The inhibitory effects of the extract on biofilm formation and gene expression related to biofilm formation of S. mutans were determined by SEM and real-time PCR analysis. The extract inhibited the formation of S. mutans biofilms at D. malabarica stem extract concentrations of 1 mg/ml, as shown by SEM. The real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of the gtfC gene, which is associated with biofilm formation, was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that D. malabarica stem extracts, a natural materials, can be used in oral health products to suppress the formation of biofilms by inhibiting tooth adhesion of S. mutans, a causative agent of dental caries.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.524-529
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• 2019

Medicinal plants resources are becoming important assets since their usages have been expanded to the development of functional foods for human health, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. However, their phylogenetic origins and names are different from each country and quite often they are mixed each other resulting in the confusion for consumers. Particularly when they are very similar based on their morphological characteristics and distributed, it is extremely difficult to differentiate their origins even by specialists. Therefore, identification of each plant species is important for standardizing herbal medicine. Thistle is a medicinal and perennial plant. Obtaining information about the genetic diversity of plant populations is highly important for conservation and germplasm utilization. Although thistle is an important medicinal plant species registered in South Korea, no molecular markers are currently available to distinguish from other similar species from different countries. In this study, we developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from chloroplast genomic sequences to identify distinct Korean-specific thistle species via high resolution melting (HRM) curve analyses. We performed molecular authentication of four different kinds of thistle species from different regions using DNA sequences in the trnL-F and matK chloroplast intergenic region. The SNP markers developed in this study are useful for rapidly identifying specific thistle species from different country.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1100-1109
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• 2021

The halophyte Artemisia scoparia is an edible medicinal plant, with insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, anticholesterol, antipyretic, and antibacterial effects. The aim of this study was to assess the inhibitory effect of crude extract and solvent-partitioned fractions obtained from A. scoparia on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells using four different activity tests: gelatin zymography, MMP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), wound healing assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot assay. A. scoparia samples were extracted twice with methylene chloride (MC) and twice with methanol (MeOH). After the MC and MeOH crude extracts were combined, the combined crude extracts showed a significant inhibitory effect against MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzymes. They were then fractionated into n-hexane, 85% (v/v) aqueous methanol (85% (v/v) aq.MeOH), n-butanol, and water according to solvent polarity. Among the four solvent-partitioned fractions, n-hexane and 85% (v/v) aq. MeOH fractions significantly inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity and cell mobility. In addition, the n-hexane and 85% (v/v) aq.MeOH fractions effectively inhibited MMP-2 and -9 activity in the gelatin zymography and MMP ELISA assay. In the wound healing assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot assay, all solvent-partitioned fractions, except the H₂O fraction, significantly suppressed cell migration, as well as the expression levels of MMP-2 and -9 mRNA and proteins.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.71-78
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was fulfilled to investigate nominee materials as anti-inflammatory agent from ethanol extract of Chinese medicinal plants in Yanjin. Among the 20 candidates, we selected most effective one, the ethanol extract of Cicuta virosa L. (CVL). The mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of CVL is not clearly identified as yet. Accordingly, we clarified the anti-inflammatory effects of CVL and its underlying molecular mechanisms in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Methods : RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with CVL (12.5, 25, or $50{\mu}M$) and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ($1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Cytotoxicity was determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and the level of nitric oxide (NO) production was measured with Griess reagent. The prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production was measured with enzyme immunoassay kits and the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined using Western blot analysis. Results : Among the 20 ethanol extract of Chinese medicinal plants of Yanjin tested, CVL significantly reduced the production of NO in a dose-dependent manner via inhibition the protein expressions of iNOS without cytotoxicity on the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, CVL also effectively declined the production of $PGE_2$ in LPS-simulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Conclusions : Taken together, these data presented in this study demonstrate that CVL possesses anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators NO and $PGE_2$, and pro-inflammatory protein iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2022

Dystaenia takesimana is an endemic plant found only in Korea, especially on Ulleung Island. The leaves and roots of D. takesimana have been used as food, forage, and oriental medicine. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibition biological activities have been reported in the plant's root extract. However, studies concerning the anti-thrombosis activities of D. takesimana are still in the rudimentary stage. In this study, the extracts of the leaf (DT-L), stem (DT-S), and root (DT-R) of D. takesimana were prepared using 70% ethanol, and their anti-thrombosis activities were evaluated. DT-L extracts (0.25 mg/ml) showed strong inhibitions against platelet aggregation, comparable to aspirin, with strong radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the DT-L extract did not show any RBC hemolysis up to 1 m/ml. The ant-coagulation and antioxidant activities of the DT-S extract were ignorable. While the DT-R extract showed inhibitions against thrombin and blood coagulation factors, it also showed strong platelet aggregation. This is a first report of the anti-thrombosis activities of D. takesimana, and our results suggest that DT-L could be developed as a valuable bioresource for high value-added products.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2022

This study was conducted to determine the optimal composition of sex attractant for monitoring adults of the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura, in Korea. Lures of different compositions from the two sex pheromone components the female, (Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9E11-14:Ac) and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9E12-14:Ac), were compared for male attraction using synthetic chemicals, rubber septa, and funnel traps in soybean and peanut fields. After sequential tests were conducted using three sets of the two components different ranges from 5:5 to 10:1, from 9:1 to 99:1, and from 9:1 to 39:1, the 19:1 ratio was identified as the most efficient composition. However, S. litura males were barely caught in the trap of the Z9E11-14Ac single component lure. The results show that both the sex attractant compounds are necessary for monitoring adults S. litura males. The higher the pheromone amount in the dispenser in the range from 0.1 to 10 mg, the more males were attracted. Furthermore, the trap height of 1.5 m was optimal for male capture.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of rhubarb extract on osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). Osteoclasts are vital for bone resorption and remodeling. Osteoclast dysregulation can contribute to various bone-related disorders that directly affect oral health. Rhubarb, a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory properties, has been shown to modulate bone metabolism. Methods: BMMs were isolated from the femurs and tibias of 5-week-old C57BL/6 mice and cultured in the presence of mouse macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) for 3 days. Subsequently, BMMs were treated with M-CSF and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) to induce osteoclast differentiation. Results: Rhubarb extract effectively suppressed osteoclast differentiation in BMMs. Furthermore, rhubarb extract inhibited the mRNA expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K (CTSK), which are essential for osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, it inhibited the RANKL-induced expression of nuclear factor of activated T cell c1 (NFATc1), a crucial transcription factor in osteoclast differentiation. Conclusions: These results suggest that rhubarb extract promotes oral health by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis in BMMs. Thus, rhubarb extract shows promise as a therapeutic agent for bone-related disorders that directly affect oral health, particularly those associated with abnormal osteoclast activity. Further research and exploration of the underlying mechanisms are warranted to fully understand their potential clinical applications.