• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2016

The current study was conducted to evaluate beneficial effects of a new formula (CWC-9) using four traditional Oriental medicinal herbs, Cynanchum wilfordii, Rehmannia glutinosa, Polygala tenuifolia, and Acorus gramineus, on hippocampal cells and memory function. To examine the neuroprotective effects of a new four-herb extract, cell viability, cytotoxicity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were performed in HT22 cells and behavioral tests (Morris water maze and passive avoidance retention), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were performed in a mouse model of focal cerebral ischemia. In HT22 hippocampal cells, pretreatment with CWC-9 resulted in significantly reduced glutamate-induced cell death with suppression of ROS accumulation caused by glutamate. In a mouse model of focal cerebral ischemia, we observed significant improvement of spatial and short-term memory function by treatment with CWC-9. Phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in hippocampus of ischemic mice were decreased by treatment with CWC-9, but phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were significantly enhanced. By immunohistochemical analysis, we confirmed higher expression of phosphorylation of CREB in the hippocampal neurons of CWC-9 treated mice. These results suggest that new multi-herb formula CWC-9 mainly exerted beneficial effects on cognitive function through regulation of neuro-protective signaling pathways associated with CREB.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 1995

The effects of allelochemicals from medicinal plants have been studied as photo-synthetic inhibitor for photoautotrophic(PA) cultured cells. The extracts from 9 plant species were used for measuring the physiological effects on the liverwort cultured cell in following areas; germination inhibition, chlorophyll contents, hill activity, cell viability, photosynthetic oxygen evolution,and protein pattern changes on SDS PAGE. Germination inhibitions were detected in all plant after treating with 10% extract. Especially, treatment with 10% extract from Pulsatilla koreana and Aconitum carmichael inhibited germinations completely. Chlorophyll fornation was inhibited completely by treating PA cells with extract of Pulsatilla koreana, whose effect was similar to that of DCMU 10-3M, inhibitor for photosynthetic electron trans-fer. The treatment with extract from Pulsatilla koreana on PA cell showed the highest hill activity and the lowest cell viability among extracts studied. Oxygen releasing has been decreased down to 14-77% after treating with extracts from Pinellia ternata, Araliacont inentaila, Pulsatilla koreana and Vitex rotundifolia. Especially, 60$\mu$l of Pulsatilla koreana extract into 2ml mixture of PA cell inhibit-ed oxygen release up to 50%. Protein bands on SDS-PAGE, 14kD, 31kD, 41kD, 53kD, and 73kD, were not detected after treating Pulsatilla koreana extract on PA cells.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.633-642
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and preservative effects of Water Chestnut from 70% ethanol extracts. The toxicity of extracts from Water Chestnut investigated using the RAW 264.7 cell showed higher than 90% of cell survival rate. The total content of polyphenol ethanol extract was $353.1{\pm}5.6mg/g$, while the total content of flavonoid was $26.2{\pm}1.4mg/g$. With a concentration level of $1{\sim}1000 ({\mu}g/m{\ell})$ ethanol extract of Water Chestnut the range of removal of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was $17.0{\pm}2.8%{\sim}88.6{\pm}0.6%$ respectively and the range of removal of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals was also $2.3{\pm}0.8%{\sim}93.9{\pm}0.2%$ respectively. There were decreases in reactive oxygen species(ROS) generations ethanol extracts of Water Chestnut 1, 10, $100({\mu}g/m{\ell})$ and significance decrease at $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ (p<.01). As a result of measuring the Nitric Oxide(NO) generation amount of Water Chestnut extract 1, 10, $100({\mu}g/m{\ell})$ concentration exhibited significant (p<.001, p<.01) decreases. For the anti-bacterial features using a paper disk and the preservative features using petri film, no significance was found and therefore water chestnut extracts had not anti-bacterial or preservative features.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.2 s.51
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• pp.197-206
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• 2005

In the present study, the Chuncheon buckwheat extracts prepared from its seed coats, seeds and stems were used to determine anti-oxidative effects, the content of rutin and phytic acid, and the protective role against cadmium at the cellular level. futhermore, it was evaluated whether the buckwheat, mainly known as a healthy food source, might be applicable to functional cosmetics. Up to $100 {\mu}g/mL$ of the extract was not toxic in HaCaT and B16F10 cell lines using MTT assay. The anti-oxidative capacity of superoxide radicals was shown in seed coats extracts > stem extracts=seed extracts. Although its content of rutin, known as one of effective anti-oxidants, mainly exists in the stem, any extract did not eliminate hydroxyl radicals. Phytic acid, known as a heavy metal-chelate agent, was highly concentrated in the stem. The Chuncheon buckwheat extract had $10\%$ protective effect against the treatment of $50{\mu}M$ cadmium at which $50\%$ of HaCaT cells survived. Confocal laser scanning microscope revealed the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cadmium treatment. Finally, we identified that the stem extract had the most protective effect on the elimination of ROS.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.338-345
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• 2021

Zizania latifolia has long been used as a tea for both edible and medicinal purposes. However, research into the use of Z. latifolia as a high value-added edible material is lacking. In a previous study, we confirmed that tricin is the major component in Z. latifolia. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of a Z. latifolia extract (ZLE). Toxicity tests of ZLE or tricin on HepG2 cells revealed no toxicity due to ZLE or tricin at all concentrations used. The reduction in cell viability by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was suppressed by treatment with ZLE or tricin. In addition, ZLE or tricin effectively inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (generation of hydrogen peroxide, alkoxy free radicals, and peroxyl free radicals by t-BHP) and oxidative damage. ZLE or tricin treatments also increased the protein expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which are known as antioxidant enzymes, suggesting that the protective effect of ZLE is related to activation of tricin. Taken together, the results indicate that Z. latifolia can be developed as a functional food material for improving liver function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.851-858
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• 2023

Unique cartilage matrix-associated protein (UCMA) is an extrahepatic vitamin K-dependent protein rich in γ-carboxylated (Gla) residues. UCMA has been recognized for its ability to promote osteoblast differentiation and enhance bone formation; however, its impact on osteoblasts under hyperglycemic stress remains unknown. In this paper, we investigated the effect of UCMA on MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells under hyperglycemic conditions. After exposure to high glucose, the MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with recombinant UCMA proteins. CellROX and MitoSOX staining showed that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which initially increased under high-glucose conditions in MC3T3-E1 cells, decreased after UCMA treatment. Additionally, quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed increased expression of antioxidant genes, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and superoxide dismutase 1, in the MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to both high glucose and UCMA. UCMA treatment downregulated the expression of heme oxygenase-1, which reduced its translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, the expression of dynamin-related protein 1, a mitochondrial fission marker, was upregulated, and AKT signaling was inhibited after UCMA treatment. Overall, UCMA appears to mitigate ROS production, increase antioxidant gene expression, impact mitochondrial dynamics, and modulate AKT signaling in osteoblasts exposed to high-glucose conditions. This study advances our understanding of the cellular mechanism of UCMA and suggests its potential use as a novel therapeutic agent for bone complications related to metabolic disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1508-1514
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant contents and antioxidant activities of solvent fractions from methanolic extract of sericea lespedeza. To determine the antioxidant compounds in solvent fractions from methanolic extract, total polyphenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and proanthocyanidin contents were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Solvent fractions were evaluated for antioxidative capacity according to DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Total polyphenolic contents were 12.44, 3.61, 6.39, 27.11, 20.00, and 9.32 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract residue (ER), respectively. Total flavonoid contents were 2.94, 9.92, 7.77, 9.27, 5.11, and 2.66 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g ER, respectively. Total tannin contents were 8.75, 10.04, 7.42, 17.32, 11.65, and 7.61 mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/g ER, respectively. Total proanthocyanidin contents were 346.09, 63.50, 103.76, 288.62, 231.99, and $358.48{\mu}g$ CE/g ER, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activities of solvent fractions from methanolic extract of sericea lespedeza were 20.62, 5.16, 9.29, 20.80, 20.00 and 20.79 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g ER, and ABTS radical scavenging activities were 33.86, 9.24, 17.36, 33.76, 33.49, and 33.86 mg TE/g ER, respectively. SOD-like activities were 4.12, 0.61, 2.01, 9.89, 13.47, and 11.82 units/mL, and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities were 93.85 and 61.64% at concentrations of 50 and $25{\mu}g/mL$ in the water fraction, respectively. The results of this study show that notable antioxidant activities in sericea lespedeza have significant health benefits.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.305-314
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• 2023

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation causes skin diseases by inducing cellular oxidative stress, photoaging, and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of morin against UVB-induced oxidative stress in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Morin has been reported to be a potential therapeutic candidate for oxidative stress-mediated diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammation. Since morin has been identified as a potential antioxidant, we speculated that morin could alleviate UVB-induced apoptosis in NHDFs. Cell viability and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using the MTT assay, H2DCFDA, and the DHE staining method, respectively. Lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl formation were tested using ELISA kits. DNA fragmentation and comet assay were used to assess DNA damage. Apoptotic bodies were analyzed using Hoechst 33342 staining and TUNEL assay. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was examined using Western blot analysis. Morin showed a cyto-protective effect by scavenging UVB-induced ROS, increasing the expression of antioxidant-related proteins and inhibiting UVB-induced oxidative alterations such as lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and DNA damage. Morin protects against UVB-induced cell apoptosis by inhibiting Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-9, and caspase-3 expression, while increasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. These effects of morin were conferred through decreased phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2. The results demonstrated that morin may be developed as a preventive/therapeutic drug to be used to prevent UVB-induced skin damage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1452-1461
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• 2017

Melanin production by melanocytes in human hair follicles decreases with time and leads to the graying process, which is a phenotype of human aging and an index of aging. The reduction in melanin production is the result of decreased tyrosinase activity in hair follicles and an accumulation of active oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide. This study investigated antioxidant effects and melanin-promoting effects in B16F1 cells treated with black sesame ethanolic nonpolar-soluble extract (SBEEO) and black sesame ethanolic polar-soluble extract (SBEEP). In antioxidation experiments, both SBEEP and SBEEO did not eliminate 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, but SBEEO at $64{\mu}g/ml$ showed low reducing power. SBEEP exerted cytotoxic effects at concentrations greater than $8{\mu}g/ml$, whereas SBEEO showed cytotoxic effects at concentrations greater than $4{\mu}g/ml$. SBEEP and SBEEO induced melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity, and DOPA oxidase activity in vitro. In live cells, melanin synthesis was greater in the SBEEP treatment group as compared with that in the SBEEO treatment group. SBEEP stimulated melanin synthesis by modulating the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which is an important enzyme in melanin synthesis. These results imply that SBEEP obtained from black sesame ethanolic extract may have the potential to improve melanin synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2022

Fresh, washed ginseng can be contaminated with microorganism loads as high as 6.5 log CFU/g for total bacteria and 4.3 log CFU/g for mold. The goal of this study was to test eight antibacterial agents on ginseng. Immersing fresh ginseng washed in 1% (w/w) sodium citrate, sodium diacetate, sodium acetate, citric acid, and sodium lactate solution for 1 h resulted in a bactericidal effect of 31.0-97.5% for total bacteria. Among the organic acids, sodium citrate had the best antibacterial effect, with total bacteria reduced from 6.5 log to 4.9 log CFU/g. A 1% (w/w) vitamin B₁ lauryl sulfate solution with surfactant function by hydrophilic and hydrophobic sites can reduce 2.7 log CFU/g (99.8% inactivation) on total bacteria. In the 1% (w/w) calcium oxide solution, total bacteria were reduced by 3 log, showing an excellent inactivation effect of 99.9%. Calcium oxide is a highly useful material for inactivation of microorganisms in fresh ginseng.