• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.801-809
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• 2015

Homotypic cell adhesion (homotypic aggregation) in activated monocytes plays a central role in physiological and pathological processes including inflammatory responses, differentiation and migration. The extract of the Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. fruit (Maesil) has potential benefits to human health; such as anti-viral, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer activities. Indeed, Maesil extract may modulate inflammatory responses via interference with homotypic aggregation in monocytes. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic efficacy of Maesil extract in inflammatory diseases were investigated. It was found that Maesil extract inhibited homotypic aggregation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated monocytes. This was mediated by reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production, partly via inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in LPS-activated THP-1 cells. It was confirmed that NO inhibition is a key mechanism in Maesil induced blockade of monocyte aggregation through identification of reversal of this inhibitory effect by the NO-producing agent S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP). In addition, Maesil extract significantly attenuated LPS-induced IκB-α phosphorylation and NF-κB translocation into the nucleus. In conclusion, Maesil extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects via inhibition of homotypic aggregation of LPS-activated monocytes through mechanisms involving the suppression of NO production and NF-κB activity, suggesting Maesil extract as a potential therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1477-1486
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• 2012

This study was performed to determine the effect of onion peel extract using 70% ethanol and 95% ethanol on its anti-oxidation activity, small intestine length, and intestinal villi of high-fat fed mice. Five percent of each onion peel extract using 70% and 95% ethanol showed significant decrease of E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes. Total phenolic contents of onion peel extracts using 70% and 95% ethanol were $166.89{\pm}0.03$ mg/g and $160.89{\pm}0.13$ mg/g, respectively. In anti-oxidation activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity of onion peel extracts were higher at 100 ug/ml concentration. The obese mice were fed high-fat diets supplemented by 1, 3, and 5% of the onion peel extracts using 70% and 95% ethanol for 4 weeks. Body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, small intestine weight, length, villi's length, and number of bacteria in intestine were determined. Body weight of mice fed 5% of onion extracts using both 70% and 95% ethanol was significantly lower than that of control (p<0.05). However, feed intake was increased in mice fed 5% of onion extracts at both fermented ethanol levels. Small intestine weight and length of mice showed no significant change with supplementation of the onion peel extracts. However, length of small intestine villi was significantly longer than that of control. Total bacteria counts of Cl. Perfringenes and E. coli in small intestine of the mice were significantly reduced by supplementation of 5% of onion extract using ethanol, while lactic acid bacteria were increased. These results suggest that 5% of onion peel extracts using ethanol at either 70% or 95% concentration have potential to be used as an additive for body weight control and enhanced gut health; however, more research on its effectiveness is needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2013

Formaldehyde (FA) is widely used in industries, and it is an indoor and outdoor pollutant. Exposure to FA may cause inflammation and respiratory oxidative stress. Studies have demonstrated that FA can cause cancer in animal models. During the regeneration process of injured starfish (Asterina pectinifera), several changes have been observed in the expression of cytokines. In particular, higher TGF-${\beta}1$ expression has been detected in arm cut starfish extract after eight days. The current study was designed to elucidate the in-vitro and the in-vivo pharmacological effects of starfish extract on FA exposure. We investigated the protective effects of intact starfish extract and arm cut starfish extract on an IMR-90 cell line and on mouse lung injury in response to FA exposure. In the presence of FA, inhalation of the arm cut starfish extract was associated with more promising cell proliferation, TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$ decrement, and $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ increment. In the experimental group, the pulmonary structure of the arm cut starfish extract-treated group in the presence of FA exposure was similar to the control group, whereas the FA exposure group showed damage to the pulmonary structure. Moreover, the arm cut starfish extracts was more effective than the intact starfish extracts in terms of the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$, $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$, and surfactant protein A. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that arm cut starfish extracts are more effective in protecting pulmonary structure and function against FA exposure than intact starfish extracts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2008

Saussurea lappa (SL) has been used to reduce abdominal pain and tenesmus in traditional oriental medicine. SL and major compounds of SL, sesquiterpene lactones, have been suggested to possess various biological effects, including anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and cardiotonic activities. Recently, it has been reported that ethanol extracts from roots of SL have antiproliferative effects on gastric cancer cells. To explore the possibility that SL has chemopreventive effects on prostate cancer, we examined whether the hexane extract of SL (HESL) inhibits the growth of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Cells were incubated with various concentrations ($0{\sim}4$ mg/L) of HESL in DMEM/F12 containing 5% charcoal stripped fetal bovine serum. HESL substantially decreased viable cell numbers and induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells in dose-dependent manners. HESL increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, -9, -7 and -3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. HESL increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic Bak and truncated-Bid proteins whereas it had no effect on the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, or Mcl-1. The present results indicate that HESL inhibits the growth of human prostate cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, which involves the activation of the caspase cascades.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 1984

This study was designed to compare the quality characteristics of freeze and spray dried red ginseng extract powders(RGEPs) by drying methods, which have been required to maintain the stability for the quality. Chemical compositions, major ginsenoside contents and color intensities of these Products were compared by drying conditions. The moisture absorption rates and optical densities also were compared during storage under maltreatment conditions of a various relative humidities (75, 86and 92 RH) and two different temperatures (37 and $50^{\circ}C$). It was found that decreases of total major ginsenosides contents in freeze and spray dried RGEPs were 5.4 % to 6.7 % during storage for 6 months at $37^{\circ}C$, 75 % RH. When these products packaged with inner seal of Al-foil laminate paper (Al-foil; 9 ${\mu}m$) were stored for 6 months at $37^{\circ}C$, 75 % RH. the moisture absorption rates of freeze and spray dried RGEPs were ranged 42 % to 82 %, 8 % to 16 %, respectively. In storage for 6 months at $37^{\circ}C$, 86 % RH, spray dried RGEP was higher in brown pigment($400{\sim}490nm$) than freeze dried RGEP while freeze dried was higher in pyrazine (278 nm), HMF and furfural (285 nm) than spray dried RGEP. It was found that RGEPs showed a strong anti-oxidative activity by electron donating ability to DPPPH, but there was no significant difference between freeze and spray dried RGEPs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1107-1112
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• 2010

In this study, the stable maintenance of bioactivity in alkaline ionized water (AIW) and antibacterial effects of AIW were evaluated to confirm benefits of AIW. As controls, purified water (PW) and tap drinking water (DW) were used. The pH and ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) of AIW, PW and DW used were 9.5 and 120 mV, 7.2 and 144 mV, and 7.3 and 564 mV, respectively. High level of minerals was observed in DW (DW>AIW>PW of mineral contents). Concentrations of $Ca^{++}$ and $Na^+$ in DW were 14.5, and 8.4 mg/l, respectively, while no $Ca^{++}$, $Mg^{++}$, $K^+$, and $Na^+$ were detected in PW. Evaluation of antioxidant activities for AIW, PW and DW showed that the waters did not act as antioxidants. However, the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) or superoxide radical scavenging activities or reducing power of vitamin C were stably maintained in AIW and PW, though not in DW, against heat treatment ($60^{\circ}C$) or vigorous shaking (120 rpm) at $37^{\circ}C$. Similarly, after aspirin treatment at $60^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr, the antithrombosis activity in PW and AIW was 62.6% and 55.3%, while that of DW was 52.1%. Furthermore, cell growth analysis and viable cell count of Escherichia coli H7:O157 in PW, AIW and DW showed that AIW and DW, not DW, have antibacterial activities. Our results suggest that the state of water, for example pH, ORP and mineral contents of water, should be considered in medicine or food industries, and that AIW has high potential for utilization in various fields.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.145-154
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of natural antioxidants as stabilizers for meat by-products to prevent lipid oxidation. The white internal organs were evaluated using different treatments: no antioxidant (control), ascorbic acid (T1), Artemisiacapillaris Thunb. (T2), Opuntia (T3), Schisandra chinensis (T4), and Saururuschinensis (Lour.) Baill (T5). Antioxidant activities were analyzed by measuring DPPH contents, superoxide anion radical levels, nitrate scavenging activities, and total polyphenol contents. T1 and T2 showed higher antioxidant activities and total polyphenol contents (p<0.05). Additionally, changes in physicochemical properties (pH, color, volatile basic nitrogen [VBN], and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]) and microbiological aspects in white internal organs processed with antioxidants were investigated. As storage time increased, the CIE $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of the white internal organs processed with natural antioxidants were decreased (p<0.05), and CIE $L^*$ values were low, particularly for the T3 sample relative to that in the control. Moreover, the pH, VBN, and TBARS values of samples T2-T5 were increased after 7 days of storage, but showed low values compared with those of the control (p<0.05). Moreover, compared with the control group, the treatments showed antimicrobial effects. Our results indicated that these natural antioxidants could be used as lipid oxidation stabilizers of meat by-products during storage and that Artemisiacapillaris Thunb. and Opuntia may have applications as natural antioxidants in the meat by-product industry.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1383-1392
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• 2021

It has been reported that emodin, a major pharmacologically active ingredient of herbal medicines such as Polygonum cuspidatum, Polygonum multiflorum, Rheum palmatum, and Aloe vera, is effective in antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and liver protection. In this study, to investigate the potential of emodin to be used as a skin disease and functional material, the activity related to the improvement of inflammation and skin barrier function was confirmed. To observe the anti-inflammatory effect on HaCaT cells, which are human keratinocytes, cytokine inhibition was confirmed by ELISA kit and protein expression by western blot. In HaCaT cells activated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL)/IFN-γ (10 ng/mL), emodin was treated with each concentration (5, 10, 20, 40) µM. As a result, It was confirmed that the production amount of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 decreased as the concentration of emodin increased. In the experimental results on the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins iNOS and COX-2, it was confirmed that 48% of iNOS and 29% of COX-2 were inhibited compared to control at a concentration of 20 µM of emodin. As an indicator of skin barrier function improvement, the mRNA expression level of filaggrin, involucrin, and loricirn and the production amount of filaggrin, involucrin, and loricirn were confirmed. and excellent results were obtained with an emodin concentration-dependent increase. In particular, filaggrin, which was produced twice as much as the control at a concentration of 20 µM, is a protein involved in the formation of NMF, a natural moisturizing factor, and is known to play an important role in moisturizing the stratum corneum. In conclusion, it was confirmed that emodin can be used as a material for improving inflammation and improving skin barrier function, which is part of the potential for use as a skin disease and functional material. It is believed that if additional research is performed in the future, the scope of its application can be further expanded.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2024

Songla (Usnea diffracta Vain.) is one of the lichens belonging to the genus Usnea, and pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and cardiovascular protection have been reported in previous studies, but its efficacy in skin and hair is not well known. In this study, the effect of Usnea diffracta extract (UDE) on anti-aging and dermal papilla cell proliferation was verified in vitro. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the UDE significantly reduced the expression of MMP-1 and the activity of MAPKs (ERK, p38, JNK) and AP-1 (c-Fos, c-Jun), which were increased by UVA in HDFn. In addition, the UDE significantly increased the proliferation of HFDPC and significantly increased the mRNA expression of VEGF and KGF, which are hair growth factors. Accordingly, the phosphorylation of ERK/CREB involved in hair proliferation and expression of growth factors was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. The main component represented by the main peak was separated and purified using Prep LC by concentrating the UDE, which was confirmed as diffractaic acid through NMR and Mess analysis. Isolated diffractaic acid significantly reduced the expression of MMP-1 increased by UVA in HDFn and increased the proliferation of HFDPC in a concentration-dependent manner. The result suggest that UDE proved its usability as a natural cosmetic material with anti-aging and dermal papilla cell activation effects.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.7
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• pp.83-97
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• 1989

This study was carried out to obtain basic information necessary for aggregation and in-vitro culture of mouse embryos by treating phytohemagglutinin-p (PHA-P). The 4-, 8-cell and morula embryos were obtained from female mice of albino BALE/C, CBA and C57BL strains, those were injected 5 i.u pregenant mare serum gonadotrophin and 5 i.u human chorionic gonadotrophin to superovulation. The zona pellucidia was removed by placing the embryos in Acidic Tyrode solution containing 1.0% protease or/and 5 ug/ml PHA-P. The pairs of zona free embryos were subjected to aggregation by glassneedle in BMOC-3 containing 5 ug/ml PHA-P. The aggregation embryos were cultured in Brinster's mouse ova culture-3(BMOC-3) medium under the gas phase of 5% $CO_2$ in air $37^{\circ}C$ for 13 to 50 hours. The results obtained in this study are summarised as follows : 1. When 4-, 8-cell and morula embryos were zona-freed in acidic Tyrode solution containing 1.0% protease or/and 5 ug/ml PHA-P, and cultured in vitro to blastocysts, the 4- and 8-cell embryos showed slightly less development rates than the morula one did, and solution of 5 ug/ml PHA-P brought some higher development rate than negative control. 2. As 2, 5 or 10 ug/ml PHA-P was added to the solution to aggregate 4-, 8-cell or morula embryos, 2 ug/ml solution represented slightly lower aggregation rate than the higher levels solutions, and 4- and 8-cell embryos showed higher rates than morula one did (P<.05). 3. In respect to the development rates of aggregated embryos to morula no significant difference was found among PHA-P levels and between 4-and 8-cell embryos. With respect to those of aggregated embryos to blastocysts the different levels of PHA-P showed similar results, however, the 4- and 8-cell embryos represented higher rates than the morula one did (P<.05). 4. The mean time necessary for development of aggregated 4-, 8-cell and morula embryos to blastocysts were 38.5-40, 26-27 and 19-20hrs. Respectively in solution for aggregation. 5. The aggregation rates of embryos were 34-94%, when treated protease or/and PHA-P. Supplementation of 5 ug/ml PHA-P to the solution for aggregation showed a trend demonstrating higher aggregation rate compared to negative control, although no significance was found. However, 4- and 8-cell embryos represented significantly higher aggregation rates than the morula one did (P<.05). 6. The development rates of 4- and 8-cell embryos to morula were 52.7-84.7 and 73.8-87.2%, respectively, showing no significant difference between two cell stages. However, the aggregation rates of embryos treated with solution containing PHA-P were higher than negative control (P<.05). 7. The development rates of 4- and 8-cell and morula embryos to blastocysts were 41.7-77.7 78.7-83.0 and 0-19.2%, respectively. The rates of 4-cell embryos treated with PHA-P were significant higher than the negative control (P<.05). The 8-cell and morula embryos also showed more rates when treated PHA-P.