• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.501-510
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• 2018

This study examined the neurotoxicity induced by lead acetate (LA) on cultured C6 glioma cells and the protective effects of Euphorbiae humifusae L. (EH) extract against LA-induced cytotoxicity. In this study, LA exhibited neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control, and was determined to be highly-toxic according to the toxic criteria. The $XTT_{50}$ value of LA was calculated at a concentration of $38.6{\mu}M$ after C6 glioma cells were incubated for 72 hours in the media containing $30{\sim}50{\mu}M$ of LA, respectively. In addition, LA-induced neurotoxicity was suggested to correlate with the level of oxidative stress because vitamin E, an antioxidant, increased the cell viability damaged by LA-induced cytotoxicity. The EH extract effectively prevented cell injury from LA-induced cytotoxicity via its antioxidative effects, such as inhibitory ability of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase-like activity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activity. These antioxidative effects may result in components, such as polyphenol or flavonoids including gallic acid or quercetin. In conclusion, natural resources, such as EH extracts, may be a useful putative agent for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as lead neurotoxicity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2019

In this study Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated for the extract of Prunus pendula for. ascendens (Makino) Ohwi by monitoring nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. The P. pendula ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed to decrease the NO synthesis by 76.3% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. The inhibition occurred in a dose-dependent manner without causing cell toxicity. The EtOAc fraction also inhibited the production of $PGE_2$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and expression of iNOS, COX-2 protein in dose-dependent manner. From the phytochemical study to isolate the active constituents, five known compounds were identified, which are ursolic acid (1), prunasin (2), methyl p-coumarate (3), kaempferol (4), astragalin (5). All of the compounds 1 - 5 were isolated for the first time from the P. pendula. Among the isolates, the flavonoids 4 and 5 were verified to inhibit NO production with high efficiency. These results suggested that extract of P. pendula leaves could be useful as anti-inflammatory agents in pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.461-469
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a mixture of ethanol extracts of Black oryzasativa, Sesamum indicum, Oryza sativa, Rhynchosia Nulubilis, and Polygoni multiflori radix (MIXEE) on melanogenesis to develop a natural product for black hair growth. An accumulation of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in hair follicles, which reduces melanin synthesis, is responsible for hair graying. In the present study, MIXEE showed scavenging activity against DPPH radicals and reducing power. In addition, it reduced the cellular $H_2O_2$ level, indicating that it could inhibit oxidation and promote melanin synthesis, which was decreased by $H_2O_2$. On the other hand, it did not affect tyrosinase activity in vitro but promoted the turnover of L-DOPA into melanin. MIXEE promoted melanin synthesis at the cellular level in B16F1 cells. Furthermore, MIXEE increased the expression levels of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and SOD3 in western blot analysis. In addition, MIXEE increased the expression levels of tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-2, which promoted melanin synthesis from L-DOPA. The results suggested that MIXEE could promote melanogenesis. Therefore, MIXEE may have potential as a natural product for promotion of melanin production and reversal of gray hair to black hair.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.312-321
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• 2018

Recently, consumer demand for functional cosmetics containing natural ingredients has been greatly expanded. To develop the natural cosmetic materials, we selected 3 plants, Chrysanthemum zawadskii Herbich (CZ), Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. acuta Kudo (PF), and Rosa multiflora Thunberg (RM) which showed high total flavonoid contents (TFC), total polyphenol contents (TPC), and strong DPPH radical scavenging effect. We determined astragalin, chlorogenic acid, and rosmarinic acid as a marker compound for quantitative analysis of the content of each material and standardization of the quality standards and manufacturing standards through LC/MS analysis. HPLC-DAD was used to simultaneously analyze these marker components of three natural product complexes (Mix) and to validate the analytical method through experiments such as linearity, accuracy and precision. The detection wavelengths were set at 210, 265, and 330 nm. The detected 3 compounds from extract of CZ, PF, RM showed significant linearity ($R^2${\geq_-}$0.9947). The limit of detection (LOD) of chlorogenic acid, astragalin and rosmarinic acid were $8.29{\mu}g/ml$, $2.28{\mu}g/ml$, and $27.00{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of chlorogenic acid, astragalin and rosmarinic acid were $25.11{\mu}g/ml$, $6.92{\mu}g/ml$, and $81.83{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The contents of the three indicators of Mix were 19.82-24.71 mg/g of chlorogenic acid, 43.80-46.02 mg/g of astragalin, and 46.33-48.57 mg/g of rosmarinic acid.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.427-436
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial constituents from Daucus carota var. sativa (carrot) areal parts. For the extract and solvent fractions, the anti-inflammatory activities were examined by measuring the nitric oxide (NO) production using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Among them, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction decreased the NO level in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate further anti-inflammatory mechanisms, EtOAc fraction was evaluated by estimating their effects on the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). As a result, the EtOAc fraction was determined to inhibit the production of $PGE_2$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and reduce the iNOS, COX-2 protein expression. Upon the anti-bacterial tests using Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes, n-hexane (Hex) and EtOAc fractions showed the most potent activities. Three phytochemicals were isolated form the EtOAc fraction; diosmetin (1), diosmin (2), cynaroside (3). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on the spectroscopic data including $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectra, as well as comparison of the data to the literatures. Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects were studied for the isolates. All of the compounds (1 - 3) decreased the NO production, effectively. Also, compound 3 showed anti-bacterial activity on P. acnes. Based on these results, D. carota var. sativa extract could be potentially applicable as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients in cosmetic formulations.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1023-1026
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the estrogen-like activities of eight oriental medicines, including red ginseng, fenugreek, and dandelion. Hot water and ethanol extracts were prepared from Cervus nippon temminck (Nokgaksang), Cynanchum wilfordii (Baeksuo), Lespedeza cuneata (Yagwanmun), Panax ginseng (red ginseng), Smilax china (Toryeong), Taraxacum platycarpum (Mindeulre, dandelion), Tribulus terresteis (Namgase), and Trigonella foenum-graecum (Horopa, fenugreek). Then, estrogen-like activities were verified by the in vitro transcriptional activity assay. The extracts showing estrogen-like activities were red ginseng, Baeksuo, fenugreek, Yagwanmun, and dandelion in the ethanol extracts, and red ginseng, fenugreek, and Baeksuo in the hydrothermal extracts. Red ginseng extract showed a higher activity than the standard $10^{-8}M$ $17{\beta}$-estradiol in both the hydrothermal and ethanol extract at $500{\mu}g/ml$, while the $50{\mu}g/ml$ of the red ginseng ethanol extract and the $500{\mu}g/ml$ of the Baeksuo hydrothermal extract showed estradiol activities between $10^{-9}$ and $10^{-8}M$ $17{\beta}$-estradiol. This shows that it would be possible to contribute to the development of functional materials using red ginseng, Baeksuo, fenugreek, and dandelion.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.144-151
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• 2019

The anti-oxidant activities and ${\beta}$-glucan contents of wild mushrooms collected from Songnisan, Soi-myeon, Joryeongsan, and Ganghwado, Korea, were investigated. Among the wild mushroom extracts, Pycnoporus sanguineus (OK1071), Piptoporus soloniensis (OK1090), and Daedalea dickinsii (OK1094) extracts showed the highest DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activities. The nitrite scavenging activity and total polyphenol content of the extract of P. sanguineus (OK1071) was 74.2% and 37.7 mg GAE/g, respectively, and these values were much higher than those of the other mushrooms analyzed in this study. The Pearson's correlation coefficients of the DPPH radical and nitrite scavenging activities with the total polyphenol contents of the wild mushroom extracts were r = 0.758 (p < .01) and r = 0.951 (p < .01), respectively. The ${\beta}$-glucan contents of Lenzites betulina (OK1040), Trametes versicolor (OK1044), and P. sanguineus (OK1071) were 47.8%, 43.9%, and 41.8%, respectively, which were higher than those of the other mushrooms. Therefore, the wild mushrooms analyzed were confirmed to have excellent antioxidant activities and high ${\beta}$-glucan contents. Accordingly, the fundamental data provided in this study can be used to isolate useful compounds from these wild mushrooms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1144-1151
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• 2019

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with various metabolic syndromes, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Cudrania tricuspidata is a medicinal plant distributed widely in Asia and has been used in clinical practice to treat various diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the lipid-lowering effects of C. tricuspidata fruit extract (CTE) using a cell model induced by free fatty acids (FFAs). HepG2 cells were exposed to 1mM FFAs (palmitic acid:oleic acid = 2:1) for 24 hr to simulate the conditions of NAFLD in vitro. CTE attenuated the increases of lipid accumulation, intracellular triglyceride, and cholesterol content and inhibited 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) activity in the HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Also, CTE inhibited the protein expression of lipogenesis-related genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1/-2 (SREBP-1/-2), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) in FFAs-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. In addition, CTE-induced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that CTE attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation by inhibiting lipogenesis through the modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway on FFAs-induced lipogenesis in HepG2 cells and may potentially prevent NAFLD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1111-1119
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• 2019

Prunus mume, known as maesil in Korea, has been widely cultivated in East Asia and used as medication and food. However, because most of the previous studies concerning P. mume had been investigated its under extract state, detailed studies are still required for its extensive utilization. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities of solvent fractions of P. mume ethanol extracts. The ethyl acetate fraction showed higher DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity than other fractions. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of ethyl acetate fraction was 67.79%; ABTS radical scavenging activity was 60.03%; reducing power ($OD_{670}$) was 1.26; and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was 93.18% at $500{\mu}g/ml$. Also, the ethyl acetate and methanol fraction showed effective levels of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibition activity (69.25% and 72.29% at $500{\mu}g/ml$). Total polyphenol contents and total flavonoid contents of the ethyl acetate fraction were 88.28 mg/g (gallic acid equivalent) and 70.38 mg/g (quercetin equivalent), respectively. These results suggest that the physiological activities of the ethyl acetate fraction are associated with its polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Therefore, this study can be used as basic data for developing natural antioxidants and potential functional material using P. mume.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.821-829
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of the extracts from nipa palm, molokhia, and finger root in functional cosmetics as a natural active ingredient. The extracts were obtained through the processes of heating under reflux with ethanol, filtration, concentration, and freeze-drying. UV absorption and blocking effects of the extracts were examined by using the UV-vis spectrophotometer equipped with an integrating sphere. Antioxidant activity and its stability between the extracts were compared using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Also, total polyphenol content in the extracts was determined quantitatively using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, with gallic acid as the standard. Antibacterial activity of the extracts was investigated by the disc diffusion test against Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (gram-negative). Finally, collagenase inhibitor assay was performed to examine the anti-wrinkle effect of the extracts. From the results of this study, the extract of nipa palm showed the potential for use in cosmetics as an antioxidant and anti-wrinkle agent, and the extract of finger root as a sunscreen and antibacterial agent.