• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.343-351
• /
• 2021

Screening was conducted using 200 kinds of plant extracts to explore herbicide-activated components of plant origin. We separated and purified active substances and elucidated chemical structures using Ligularia stenocephala M., which has strong activity and has not yet been studied. When the solvent fractions of the leaves of Ligularia stenocephala M. were tested for their herbicidal activity, ethyl acetate and chloroform layer showed an inhibition rate of 95.2% and 94.1%, respectively. In particular, the chloroform layer exerted more than 50% herbicidal activity at 10 ppm. From the chloroform layer with the highest herbicidal activity, we isolated three herbicidal active compounds using stepwise chromatography, specifically silica gel or octadecyl silica (ODS) column chromatography, Sep-pak cartridges, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Based on the analysis of the active compounds using electron ionization mass spectroscopy (EI-MS), ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR, we identified the active compounds as euparin, 5,6-dimethoxy-2-isopropenylbenzofuran, and liguhodgsonal. When the herbicidal activity of the identified compounds was tested, euparin showed selective herbicidal activity for lettuce at 10^-3 M, and both liguhogsonal and 5,6-dimethoxy-2-isoprophenylbenzofuran exerted selective activity for rice and Echinochloa crus-galli.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2008

The research was conducted to identify the antimicrobial effect, anti-oxidative effect and tyrosinase inhibitory effect of MeOH 80% extract and n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions from the extract of six kinds of compositae plants, which are naturally grown across the nation. In the antimicrobial effect, the extract and chloroform fraction of Arctium lappa and hexane/ethyl acetate fractions of Taraxacum platycarpum exhibited significant inhibition. In case of antioxidant effect, the extract of Artemisia capillaries showed the highest effect and ethyl acetate/butanol fractions of all plants showed about 90%, which fractions were more polar than the fractions that showed antimicrobial effect. In case of tyrosinase activity, only the MeOH 80% of Arctium lappa among the extracts showed a potent inhibition, and butanol fraction of Chrysanthemum indicum, as well as ethyl acetate/water fractions of Artemisia capillaries showed 48, 38, and 37% respectively, which were higher than control group (arbutin). These active fractions in tyrosinase inhibition also were higher polarity than those that showed antimicrobial effect. In MeOH 80% extracts, only Arctium lappa was found to have antimicrobial, anti-oxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity, however there was no fraction to show effects commonly in the three assay system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.1232-1236
• /
• 2006

Crude polysaccharide fractions of commercially available grape wines (red wine, white wine and wild grape wine) were prepared by evaporation and ethanol precipitation to confirm and identify anti complementary polysaccharides in the wines. When these fractions were evaluated for their anti complementary activity, crude polysaccharide fractions of red wine (RW-0) and wild grape wine (WGW-0) showed higher anti-complementary activities than those of white wine (WW-0). RW-0 and WW-0 were further fractionated into RW-1, WW-1 as high-molecular fractions, and RW-2, WW-2 as low-molecular fractions through gel permeation column chromatography on Sephadex G-75. RW-1 had the most potent activity with the highest carbohydrate content (91.3%). Anti-complementary activity of red wine was higher than that of white wine, suggesting that active polysaccharides such as pectin and hemicellulose are mainly distributed in the grape skin which is removed during white wine making. In addition, high molecular fractions, RW-1 and WW-1 with high contents of carbohydrate and high yields showed higher activities than those of low molecular fractions, RW-2 and WW-2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng (i.e., ginseng) root is extensively used in traditional oriental medicine. It is a modern pharmaceutical reagent for preventing various human diseases such as cancer. Ginsenosidesd-the major active components of ginsengd-exhibit immunomodulatory effects. However, the mechanism and function underlying such effects are not fully elucidated, especially in human monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). Methods: We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng root on $CD14^+$ monocytes purified from human adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and on their differentiation into DCs that affect $CD4^+$ T cell activity. Results: After treatment with ginsenoside fractions, monocyte levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 increased through phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). After treatment with ginsenoside fractions, TNF-${\alpha}$ production and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK decreased in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitized monocytes.We confirmed that DCs derived from $CD14^+$ monocytes in the presence of ginsenoside fractions (Gin-DCs) contained decreased levels of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. The expression of these costimulatory molecules decreased in LPS-treated DCs exposed to ginsenoside fractions, compared to their expression in LPS-treated DCs in the absence of ginsenoside fractions. Furthermore, LPS-treated Gin-DCs could not induce proliferation and interferon gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) production by $CD4^+$ T cells with the coculture of Gin-DCs with $CD4^+$ T cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that ginsenoside fractions from the ginseng root suppress cytokine production and maturation of LPS-treated DCs and downregulate $CD4^+$ T cells.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.293-296
• /
• 1995

Fig leaves were extracted with methanol and then fractionated with ethyl acetate and various buffers to get active fractions and determined the antimicrobial activities. The acidic and phenolic fractions fractionated from the methanol extract of fig leaves showed the strong antimicrobial activities, but the basic and neutral fractions did not show any activities. The degree of antimicrobial activities of phenolic fraction against tested bacteria was higher than those of acidic fraction, but these against yeasts and mold were almost equivalent to those of acidic fraction. Especially, phenolic fraction was mostly affected on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Four antimicrobial substances purified from the phenolic fraction which showed the strongest antimicrobial activities among the fractions from fig leaves, were identified as psoralen($C_{11}H_{6}O_{3}$, MW. 186), bergapten($C_{12}H_{8}O_{4}$, MW. 216), ${\beta}$-sitosterol($C_{29}H_{50}O$, MW. 414) and umbelliferone ($C_{9}H_{6}O_{3}$, MW. 162).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.363-372
• /
• 2020

Gardenia jasminoides (GJ) is a widely used herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on the ORAI1 channel, which is important in generating intracellular calcium signaling for T cell activation, remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether 70% ethanolic GJ extract (GJ_EtOH) and its subsequent fractions inhibit ORAI1 and determined which constituents contributed to this effect. Whole-cell patch clamp analysis revealed that GJ_EtOH (64.7% ± 3.83% inhibition at 0.1 mg/ml) and all its fractions showed inhibitory effects on the ORAI1 channel. Among the GJ fractions, the hexane fraction (GJ_HEX, 66.8% ± 9.95% at 0.1 mg/ml) had the most potent inhibitory effects in hORAI1-hSTIM1 co-transfected HEK293T cells. Chemical constituent analysis revealed that the strong ORAI1 inhibitory effect of GJ_HEX was due to linoleic acid, and in other fractions, we found that genipin inhibited ORAI1. Genipin significantly inhibited I_ORAI1 and interleukin-2 production in CD3/CD28-stimulated Jurkat T lymphocytes by 35.9% ± 3.02% and 54.7% ± 1.32% at 30 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the same genipin concentration inhibited the proliferation of human primary CD4⁺ T lymphocytes stimulated with CD3/CD28 antibodies by 54.9% ± 8.22%, as evaluated by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester assay. Our findings suggest that genipin may be one of the active components of GJ responsible for T cell suppression, which is partially mediated by activation of the ORAI1 channel. This study helps us understand the mechanisms of GJ in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2019

We investigated the protective effects of antioxidant fractions from a 70% ethanolic extract of Hizikia fusiformis in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Powdered H. fusiformis was extracted with 70% ethanol and then partitioned into three fractions according to polarity using n-hexane (HFH), chloroform (HFC), and ethyl acetate (HFEA). Antioxidant activity was observed in HFEA at 0.66 mg/mL based on the half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and at 0.24 mg/mL based on alkyl radical scavenging. The protective effects of the HFEA antioxidant fraction against 2,2-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-damaged HDFs and the expression of Type I procollagen in HDFs were examined. HFEA caused the proliferation of HDFs with and without AAPH treatment and protected against AAPH damage to HDFs in a dose-dependent manner ($50-200{\mu}g/mL$). This implies that the antioxidant properties of the fractions depended on their proliferative and protective effects. The HFEA antioxidant fraction had significant effects and caused the dose-dependent expression of Type I procollagen, an important anti-wrinkle protein, in HDFs. In conclusion, antioxidant substances in H. fusiformis were found in the ethyl acetate fraction, and the resulting HFEA may have cosmetic applications.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.405-417
• /
• 2023

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, is a significant but neglected tropical public health issue in Latin America due to the diversity of its genotypes and pathogenic profiles. This complexity is compounded by the adverse effects of current treatments, underscoring the need for new therapeutic options that employ medicinal plant extracts without negative side effects. Our research aimed to evaluate the trypanocidal activity of Bidens pilosa fractions against epimastigote and trypomastigote stages of T. cruzi, specifically targeting the Brener and Nuevo León strains-the latter isolated from Triatoma gerstaeckeri in General Terán, Nuevo León, México. We processed the plant's aerial parts (stems, leaves, and flowers) to obtain a methanolic extract (Bp-mOH) and fractions with varying solvent polarities. These preparations inhibited more than 90% of growth at concentrations as low as 800 ㎍/ml for both parasite stages. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values for the Bp-mOH extract and its fractions were below 500 ㎍/ml. Tests for cytotoxicity using Artemia salina and Vero cells and hemolytic activity assays for the extract and its fractions yielded negative results. The methanol fraction (BPFC3MOH1) exhibited superior inhibitory activity. Its functional groups, identified as phenols, enols, alkaloids, carbohydrates, and proteins, include compounds such as 2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde (50.9%), pentadecyl prop-2-enoate (22.1%), and linalool (15.4%). Eight compounds were identified, with a match confirmed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST-MS) software through mass spectrometry analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.515-521
• /
• 2014

The oriental traditional medicine, Aruncus dioicus var kamtschaticus (ADK) is used for hemostasis (blood stopping) and the promotion of blood circulation. Recently, the demands of the aerial part of ADK as edible mountain herbs are rapidly increased due to its unique fragrance and bioactivity. In this study, to evaluate the anti-thrombosis activity of ADK, ethanol extract and organic solvent fractions were prepared from aerial parts of ADK, and their anticoagulation and anti-platelet aggregation activities were determined. In an anticoagulation activity assay, the ethanol extract of ADK increased the thrombin time, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) 1.4-2.3 times at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. Among the fractions, the ethylacetate fraction showed strong inhibitory effects against blood clotting factors, as shown in an extension of the aPTT. In contrast, the butanol fraction strongly promoted blood clotting. In an anti-platelet aggregation assay, the activity of the ethanol extract was comparable to that of aspirin, a commercial anti-platelet aggregation agent, and the butanol fraction showed 2-fold higher aggregation inhibitory activity than aspirin. The aforementioned ethanol extract and active fractions have ignorable hemolytic activity against human red blood cells up to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. Considering the high content of total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and total sugar of the ethylacetate and butanol fractions, the purified active substances have potential as safe and novel anti-thrombosis agents. This report provides the first evidence of anti-thrombosis activity of ADK.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 1981

The membrane-bound ATPases were separated on sucrose gradient from corn roots and characterized by pH optima, sensitivity to monovalent salt, Km and Vmax. The pH optima for the activity of all the ATPases associated with 13, 000g pellet and 13, 000~80, 000g pellet were 5 and 9, respectively. The ATPases in Fractions B and C of the 13, 000 g pellet were more active at pH 5 than pH 9. While, in the case of Fractions D, E and F, they were reverse. The activities of the ATPase in Fractions A and C of the 13, 000~80, 000 g pellet were greater at pH 5 than pH 9. On the other hand, the ATPases in Fractions B, D, E, and F were more active at pH 9 than pH 5. The optimum concentraction of ATP for the assay was about 3 to 5 mM. The Km's for the membrane-bound ATPases in 13, 000g pellet and in 13, 000~80, 000 g pellet were 0.25 mM. While Vmax values for 13, 000g pellet were from 8.0 to 12.5 $\mu$M Pi/mg protein/hr. according to pH values, those for 13, 000~80, 000 g pellet were from 35.7 to 55.6 $\mu$M Pi/mg protein/hr. Activities of the membrane-bound ATPases in both 13, 000 g pellet and 13, 000~80, 000 g pellet were stimulated with increasing the concentration of $K^+$.