• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.427-434
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• 2007

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal roles in the initiation of T cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive in immuno vaccines. Angelica gigas and Cnidium officinale were a medicinal herb widely used in Asian countries. In this study, we examined the effects of A. gigas and C. officinale extracts on the DCs functional maturation and phono-type. Immature DCs were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, and the generated immature DCs were stimulated with OVA in the presence or absence A. gigas and C. officinale extracts, respectively, for 24 hours. The antigen-presenting capacity of A. gigas and C. officinale extracts-treated DCs as analyzed by $CD4^+$ helper T cell clone (OVA-specific) proliferation and cytokines (IL-2 and $IFN-{\gamma}$) production were significantly increased. But A. gigas and C. officinale extracts were not directly effected $CD4^+$ helper T cell clone function. Also, the expression of surface co-stimulatory molecules, including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, CD86 and CD11c, is increased on DCs that were stimulated with A. gigas and C. officinale extracts. These results indicate the immunomodulatory properties of A. gigas and C. officinale extracts, which might be medical supplies or health foods.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2013

In this study, ethanolic extracts from Hericium erinaceum cultivated with Artemisia capillaris (HEAC) were assessed for their ability to lower the cholesterol levels of male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet. Rats were randomly subdivided into seven test groups. Each group contained eight rats fed a high-fat diet during a growth period lasting 4 wk. Supplementation with the extracts was performed once a day for 2 wk after the high-fat diet. The control group (rats fed a high-fat diet) showed a high efficiency ratio (feed efficiency ratio) value compared to the normal group. Biochemical parameters, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and triglyceride (TG) levels dramatically increased in the control group compared to the normal group. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) content in the control group was also significantly lower relative to the normal group. Two positive control groups, treated with simvastatin and atorvastatin, had lowered TC, LDL-c, and TG levels, and increased HDL-c content compared to the control group. Treatment with the tested extracts, including HEAC, ethanolic extracts from Hericium erinaceum, and ethanolic extracts from Artemisia capillaris reduced TC, LDL-c, and TG levels and elevated HDL-c content in the hyperlipidemia rats. The atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor values for the HEAC-treated group were 0.95 and 1.95, respectively. Simvastatin- and atorvastatin-treated groups showed atherogenic index values of 1.56 and 1.69, respectively, and cardiac risk factor values of 2.56 and 2.69, respectively. These results show HEAC possesses an ability to cure hyperlipidemia in rats and may serve as an effective natural medicine for treating hyperlipidemia in humans.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1399-1406
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of various extracts of Hizikia fusiforme on the anti-obesity effects in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We used H. fusiforme extracts from ethanol (EEHF), dichloromethane (CFHF), ethyl acetate (EAFHF), butanol (BFHF), and water (WFHF). Treatment with these extracts significantly suppressed terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet content through Oil Red O staining; this effect was higher in WFHF than in other extracts. The concentrations of cellular triglyceride were also reduced in 3T3-L1 cells by exposure with these extracts, especially when compared with the controls. Treatment with 200 ${\mu}g/ml$ of WFHF and CFHF caused approximately 42.6% and 23.7% reduction, respectively. In addition, the extracts of H. fusiforme significantly reduced the expression levels of key pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/$EBP{\alpha}$) and C/$EBP{\beta}$ as compared with controls. Accordingly, our data indicated that WFHF has a preeminent effect on inhibition of adipocyte differentiation among various extracts, and H. fusiforme extracts may be an ideal candidate for obesity relief.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2020

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Ultrasonication-Assisted (UA) extraction on the functionality of the herbaceous biennial plant maca (Lepidium meyenii). The specific objectives include comparison of the antioxidant activities among various maca extracts, determination of the macamide B content of the extracts, and in vitro evaluation of maca on cell viability and creatine kinase (CK) activity. The antioxidant activities of the water, ethanol, and UA extracts were compared by determining the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the extracts. The macamide B content of maca extracts were analyzed by HPLC. The effects of the extracts on muscle cell viability and creatine kinase activity were also determined using C2C12 myoblasts. UA extraction significantly increased the total phenolic content (2.90 GAE ㎍/mg, p < 0.05), without affecting the flavonoid content. DPPH radical scavenging activity did not exhibit any statistical difference among the extracts. The ethanol and UA extracts exhibited significantly higher FRAP than the water extract (p < 0.05). The macamide B content of ethanol and UA extracts were 0.087 and 0.083 ㎍/mg, respectively. The water and UA extracts exhibited higher C2C12 muscle cell viability than the ethanol extract, and both extracts resulted in a significantly lower CK level than the H₂O₂-treated control group. This research suggests that the maca extract can protect muscle cells and serve as an antifatigue agent under oxidative stress conditions.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.106-113
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• 2023

Plant extracts have been studied due to their potential as photoprotective agents against UV and blue light exposure. Previous studies have revealed that several plant extracts have photoprotection capacities and synergistic effects with synthetic products. However, such results for pu'er tea and Curcuma longa L. have not been reported yet for a cosmetic formulation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate photoprotection capacities of pu'er tea and C. longa L. extracts for a sunscreen compound. The pu'er tea extract improved sun protection factor value of 2-ethyl-hexyl methoxycinnamate (a synthetic sunscreen compound) by 46% and showed a high antioxidant capability that could help skin recover from photo-induced damage. C. longa L. extract also showed a potential to protect skin from blue light-induced damage because it not only had a maximum absorption peak at the blue light range, but also protected human fibroblasts from blue light-induced damage. The addition of both extracts shifted the critical wavelength of 2-ethyl-hexyl methoxycinnamate from 350 nm to 386 nm, giving it a broad-spectrum feature. Thus, pu'er tea and C. longa L. extracts may enhance the photoprotection ability of synthetic sunscreen products.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.252-259
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• 2006

Extracts which were prepared by four different extractions - 80% methanol extracts (ME) at high ($70^{\circ}C$) and a room temperature ($20^{\circ}C$), respectively and aqueous extracts (AE) at both temperatures with the residue after the methanol extracts - of 10 green, 19 brown and 25 red seaweeds collected in Jeju Island coast were examined for their DPPH free radical scavenging activity using a ESR (electron spin resonance) spectroscopy. A variety of the extracts showed positive scavenging effect against DPPH free radical (except the green seaweeds). Among the extracts, the brown seaweed extracts exhibited the highest scavenging activity. Especially, Sargassum spp. of the brown seaweeds have remarkable scavenging activities - both methanolic and aqueous at the both temperatures ($20^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$). On the other hand, ME showed better scavenging activity than AE in the red seaweed extracts. These results indicate that autogenous seaweeds in Jeju will be potential natural antioxidants for functional food compounds.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2010

Deer velvet antler was subjected to the extraction process using boiling water at three different temperatures (100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$) and 70% ethanol solution. Functional components such as uronic acid, sulfated-glycosaminoglycans (sulfated-GAGs) and sialic acid in the extracts were analyzed, and their antioxidant activities were investigated using several in vitro models. Uronic acid and sulfated-GAGs content of each extract significantly decreased with increasing extraction temperature (p<0.05), while the residues obtained from the upper and middle part of the antler had a higher uronic acid content than the residues obtained from the base section. Sialic acid contents were highest in compounds extracted at $110^{\circ}C$, followed by 120 and $100^{\circ}C$. The 70% ethanol extracts also had a high levels of uronic acid content, but not for sulfated-GAGs and sialic acid. All extracts showed good antioxidant ability in a dose-dependant manner, with the $100^{\circ}C$ residue exhibiting the strongest activity compared to the 110 and $120^{\circ}C$ extracts. In relation to the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and reduction power, the 70% ethanol extract exhibited the strongest activity. Furthermore, the velvet antler extracts inhibited apoptosis in hydrogen peroxide-induced PC-12 cells.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Objectives This study was to investigate the antioxidative capacity, antiobesity effect and anti-diabetes effects of Mori Fructus and dried Mori Fructus in Raw 264.7 cells and 3T3-L1 cells. Methods 3 different types of Mori Fructus extracts (water 100%, ethanol 30%, ethanol 100%) were used in this study. And 3 different types of dried Mori Fructus extracts (water 100%, ethanol 30%, ethanol 100%) were used in this study. Total polyphenol compund, total favonoid compound, DPPH radical scavenging, ROS activity, NO, cell proliferation were measured in the experiment. Expressions of adipogenic transcription factors including $C/EBP-{\alpha}$, $C/EBP-{\beta}$, $PPAR-{\alpha}$, $PPAR-{\gamma}$, $AMPK-{\alpha}$ were analyzed by Real time PCR. Results Mori Fructus extracts measurements are higher than dried Mori Fructus extracts measurements at Total flavonoid compound and total flavonoid compound. Mori Fructus extracts measurements are lower than dried Mori Fructus extracts measurements at DPPH radical scavenging, ROS activity, NO. In RT-PCR analysis, there is a tendency that dried Mori Fructus extracts inhibit the expression of $C/EBP-{\alpha}$, $C/EBP-{\beta}$ genes. In RT-PCR analysis, there is a tendency that dried Mori Fructus extracts promote the expression of $PPAR-{\alpha}$, $PPAR-{\gamma}$, $AMPK-{\alpha}$ genes. Conclusions Mori Fructus is effective on inhibiting the oxidation and dried Mori Fructus is effective on inhibiting the obesity and diabetes.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2014

Laver is one of the most consumed edible red algae seaweeds in the genus Porphyra. Laver is primarily prepared in the form of dried, roasted, and seasoned products. We investigated the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of laver products, and evaluated the in vitro antioxidant properties of solvent extracts from commercially processed laver products. Significant differences in the concentration of phenolic compounds were found among differently processed laver. The total phenolic content for laver extracts ranged from 10.81 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract to 32.14 mg GAE/g extract, depending on extraction solvent and temperature. Laver extracts contained very few flavonoids (0.55 mg catechin equivalent/g extracts to 1.75 mg catechin equivalent/g extracts). 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion scavenging assays were used to determine the radical scavenging capacities of laver extracts. These assays revealed that the processing method and extraction condition affected the antioxidant potentials of laver. Antioxidant activity of dried laver, roasted laver, and seasoned laver increased in a concentration-dependent manner ($100{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$). The radical scavenging activities of $37^{\circ}C$ and $100^{\circ}C$ water extracts were lower than that of a $37^{\circ}C$ 70% ethanol extract. The highest radical scavenging capacity was observed in the $37^{\circ}C$ 70% ethanol extracts of dried laver, roasted laver, and seasoned laver. Overall, these results support that notion that laver contains bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which may have a positive effect on health.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) has been known for having strong anti-oxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic activities. The free radical theory of aging, also known as the oxidative stress theory of aging, claims that cellular oxidative damage accumulated with time is a major causal factor of aging. In the present study, we investigated the effect of buckwheat extracts on resistance to oxidative stress and aging using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Survival under an oxidative-stress condition induced by paraquat increased markedly following 500mg/L buckwheat extracts treatment, suggesting lower cellular oxidative damage by buckwheat extracts. A lifespan assay also revealed that treatment of buckwheat extracts significantly extended both the mean and maximum lifespan in C. elegans. Interestingly, this lifespan-extension by buckwheat extracts was not accompanied by reduced fertility. These findings suggest that buckwheat extracts can confer longevity phenotype to C. elegans through its strong anti-oxidant activity and support the aging theory which emphasizes a pivotal role of oxidative stress during aging.