• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2022

Chestnut honey is a sweet dark-colored honey with a distinct bitter aftertaste. It contains numerous phenolic compounds and alkaloids and is noted for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it has been established that there are differences in the composition and activity of chestnut honey constituents depending on the region of origin, the sources of which warrant further research. In this study, we analyzed the kynurenic acid (KA) contents in chestnut honey produced in nine different regions in Korea, using high-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with ultraviolet detection, and validated the analytical method developed. Use of a reverse-phase column and detection at a wavelength of 240 nm were found to be optimal for the detection of KA. Similar evaluation of an optimal method for extracting KA from chestnut honey revealed that extraction using 10% EtOH at 20 times the sample volume over a 6 h period was the most suitable for obtaining a high content of KA. Among the nine regional chestnut honeys assessed, KA content was found to be highest in the "Gongju" sample (1.14 mg/g), followed by that in the "Cheongdo" and "Damyang" samples. Validation of the KA analytical method revealed a good analyte linearity, with a correlation coefficient (r²) of 0.9995, an accuracy of between 92.37% and 107.35%, and good precision (RSD ≤ 1.05%). Our findings in this study, based on a validated quantitative analytical method for KA, could make an important contribution to establishing a data profiling procedure for characterizing chestnut honeys produced in different regions, and may also provide basic data for the identification of functional honey.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.207-211
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• 1981

The effect of plant populations - 16,667, 14,285, 12,499 or 10,7l4/10a on the agronomic characteristics of an aromatic tobacco, Sohyang was investigated for two years. The growth and number of suckers produced decreased as the population increased. The leaf area index (L.A.I) was higher in thinner planting, but there was no significant difference in weight per unit leaf area between treatments. Yield was highest, 1 24 kg/ l0a, in 16,667 plantings per l0a, but quality was not different among densitites tested. Similar trends were observed in monetary value per l0a. Concentrations of total alkaloids and nitrogen were low in denser planting, but no significant difference was observed in total sugar. The results suggest that about 16,000/10a more would be optimum number of plants for Sohyang.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2022

This study aimed to explore the biodiversity of chemical compounds found in the bark of Guibourtia tessmannii from Gabon, commonly called Kévazingo, and evaluate their anti-termite activity to determine their potential values as a source of development of anti-termite products that can be valued in the fields of fine chemicals and wood preservation. Extraction of G. tessmannii bark powders was carried out using the cold maceration method with trichloroethylene, acetone, ethanol, and water. Phytochemical screening made it possible to highlight groups of chemical families present in the extracts. Anti-termite activity was tested on the wild termites "Cubitermes sp" of the genus Isoptera. The yield of the extracts were 17.11% for the buttress and 13.42% for the height at 6 m. Phytochemical tests revealed that alkaloids, polyphenols, sterols, tannins, reducing compounds, flavonoids, saponins, and anthraquinones were present in the extracts. Results of anti-termite activity indicated that anti-termite activity varied with the different parts of the bark studied, extraction solvent, and concentration (50/50) and (25/75) of the extracts used. The extracts at 50/50 concentration showed a slightly better anti-termite activity compared to the 25/75 concentration. In addition, the buttress Kévazingo or buttress showed the strongest anti-termite activity for the aqueous extract with a survival rate of 0% after 2 days.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.405-417
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• 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 the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2012

Vinca alkaloids produced from Catharanthus roseus are one of the most important natural product drugs in treatments of human cancers. These anticancer drugs are derived from coupling of the two monomeric indole alkaloids, catharanthine and vindoline. In order to investigate vindoline biosynthesis, tabersonine-$CD_3$ 1a is synthesized to use as a deuterium labeled precursor, which is distinguished clearly from the natural counterpart. We show that these deuterium labeled tabersonine 1a are successfully incorporated into the vindoline biosynthetic pathway to yield three deuterated vindoline intermediates. 16-Hydroxytabersonine-$CD_3$ (m/z 356) 2a, 16-Methoxytabersonine-$CD_3$ (m/z 370) 3a, 16-Methoxy-2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxytabersonine-$CD_3$ (m/z 388) 4a are produced from the cell suspension culture measured by UPLC/MS at 5 and 13 days after feeding tabersonine. The conversion rates from 1a to 2a and 2a to 3a are fast, whereas that from 3a to 4a is much slower. This indicates that the rate determining step among the first three vindoline biosynthesis is the last step. As a result of the slow conversion rate from 3a to 4a, the accumulation level of 16-Methoxytabersonine-$CD_3$ 3a is significantly increased up to 13 days. The accumulation ratio among 2a, 3a and 4a is 1, 2 and 0.1 at 5 days. However, the peaks of desacetoxyvindoline-$CD_3$ 5a, deacetylvindoline-$CD_3$ 6a and vindoline-$CD_3$ 7a are not found from the cell extracts even after 13 days of incubation which may indicate no presence of their corresponding enzymes.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 1970

The process of the forced aging of flue-cured tobacco leaves were studied extensively from various scientific points of view. The Flue-cured tobacco leaves were inoculated and fermented with nicotine resistant Hansenula yeast, or the leaves were subjected under simple forced aging. The above two processes of forced aging were studied from the summarized points of microbiology, physics, chemistry, and biochemistry, and the resulted products ware compared in their physical, chemical and biochemical quality determining factors with that of raw material tobacco leaves (dried-tobacco leaves) and 2 years aged high quality tobacco leaves. The summary results were as follows. 1) The Korean flue-cured tobacco leaves, were forcedly aged under the basic optimum aging condition, temperature $40^{\circ}C$, moisture contents 18%, relative humidity 74%. It was found that this aging condition was the best in bringing the quality of forcedly aged tobacco leaves to the utmost state. 2) Under this optimum temperature and moisture condition of forced aging in about 20 days the forcedly aged tobacco leaves both with yeast inoculation and without yeast inoculation showed the equivalent tobacco qualities comparable with that of more than 2 years aged tobacco leaves. 3) The forcedly aged tobacco leaves both with and without yeast inoculation under $40^{\circ}C$ temperature and $74^{\circ}C$ relative humidity achieved the necessary quality determining physical and chemical changes in about 20 days. 4) The microbial changes during the forced aging were as follows. The population of yeasts and bacteria increased until to 15 days of aging, then decreased thereafter. Whereas the molds grew continously until the end of fermentation. 5) The tobacco quality determing physico-chemico-properties of yeast inoculated aged and simple forcedly aged tobacco leaves, progressed as the follows in time. As the forced aging progresses, swelling and combustibility properties were improved. The pH, total reducing materials, total sugars, alkaloids contents decreased. The contents of organic and ether extractable materials increased. The total nitrogen, protein, crude fiber, ash contents showed no changes. The color properties, excitation purity, luminance, main wave length, showed equivalent changes comparable with that of 2 years aged tobacco leaves. 6) The changes in chemical components in yeast treated and simple forcedly aged tobacco leaves during $15{\sim}20{\;}days$ of forced aging were as follows. The following chemical components decreased as the aging. Sugars-sucrose. rhamnose, glucose. Pigments-chlorophyll, carotenes, xanthophyll and violax anthine. Polyphenols-rutin, chlorogenic and, coffeic acid. Organic acids-iso-butylic, crotonic, caprylic, galacturonic, tartaric, succinic, citric acid. Alkaloids-nicotine, nornicotine. The following components increased as the forced aging progressed. Sugars-frutose, maltose, raffinose. Amino acids-proline, cystine. Organic acids-formic, acetic, propionic, n-butyric, iso-valeric, n-valeric, malic, oxalic, malonic, ${\alpha}-ketoglutaric$, fumaric, glutaric acid. 7) During the forced aging of tobacco Leaves the oxygen-uptake decreased gradually. The enzyme activities of polyphenol oxidase, ${\beta}-amylase$ ${\alpha}-amylase$ decreased gradually. The activities of the enzymes, catalase, and invertase increased once then decreased at the later stage.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 2008

Korean traditional medicine has been used for the treatment of the various diseases based on both oriental medicinal theory and clinical trials. Thus, the prescriptions of Korean traditional medicine would be useful for the development of new therapeutics. This research focuses on the fundamental study in Korean traditional prescriptions for the development of new hepatoprotective agents. We found two prescriptions. Injinho-Tang and Osumogwa-Tang, showed the significant DPPH free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective effect, respectively. It is well-known that free radical scavenging effect is related to the prevention of various pathological events including liver injury. This paper deals with hepatoprotective effects on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells, free radicals scavenging on both DPPH and superoxide of above two prescriptions. Hot water extract of Injinho-Tang did not show the significant hepatoprotective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells, however, it shows the significant scavenging effects for both DPPH and superoxide radicals. On the other hand, all of the hot water extracts of constituent herbal drugs in Injinho-Tang exhibited the promising protective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Of these, water extract of Rhei Rhizoma showed the most prominent effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of Rhei Rhizoma extract has furnished four compounds, and their chemical structures have been identified by comparison of their spectral data with those of literature as chrysophanol (1), emodin (2), 3,5-dihydroxy-4'- methoxystilbene (3), and rhapontigenin (4), respectively. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 2-4 revealed the significant hepatoprotective effect in vitro when their $EC_{50}$ values compare with that of silybin, as a positive control. It also exhibited that emodin possessed the most hepatoprotective effect among these active compounds. In case of Osumogwa-Tang, its hot water extract showed the moderate protective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Hot water extract of Chaenomelis Fructus, one of the constituent herbal drug of this prescription, exhibited the significant hepatoprotective effect with $EC_{50}$ value of $7.8{\pm}0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$, however, it showed strong cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells above the concentration of $25\;{\mu}g/ml$. It was revealed that both hot water extract of Evodiae Fructus and its butanol soluble fraction showed the moderate hepatoprotective effect but concentration-dependent activity in Hep G2 assay system. Two quinolone alkaloids, evocarpine and dihydroevocarpine, also tested for their hepatoprotective effects on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells, however, these two compounds derived from the Evodiae Fructus as the major constituents did not show in vitro hepatoprotective effect. From these results, it would be necessary to further isolation of its hepatoprotective compounds from the butanol soluble fraction of the hot water extract of Evodiae Fructus.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2001

Since NNK is one of the most abundant tobacco-specific alkaloids and a strong carcinogenic nitrosamine, it has been used for evaluating a potential of carcinogenicity in the animal models. The present study has attempted to examine the potential of carcinogenicity of NNK in human epithelial cells, from which the cell type the most of cancers including oral cancer and nasal cavity cancer are originated. The cellular model used for the study is a human keratinocyte cell system immortalized by Ad12-SV40 hybrid virus. The cellular system has successfully been used for the carcinogenicity studies because of its limitless life span, epithelial morphology and nontumorigenicity. When cells were treated with a variety of NNK concentrations, levels of saturation density and soft agar colony formation were increased in a dose-dependent fashion. Colonies of large cell aggregates were above 5 at the higher doses. The results indicate that exposure of human cells with NNK induced loss of contact inhibition and increases of anchorage independence and cellular adhesion, which are typical characteristics of the neoplatically transformed cells. When cells were exposed with 100uM NNK for 2hr, mRNA levels of IL-1 and PAI-2 were increased in a dose-dependent manner, but expression of TGF- 1 was not affected. While expression of growth regulatory factors were altered with a short-term exposure, there was no alteration of these factors in the NNK-transformed cells. However, mRNA levels of fibronectin were increased both in the short-term treatment and in the transformation. The results suggest that altered expression of extracellular matrix such as fibronectin following short-term exposure might be fixed in the genome and these altered properties be continuously transfered throughout the cell division. Western blot analysis showed a translocation of PKC- from cytosolic fraction to the particulate fraction, indicating a possible role of NNK in the signal transduction pathway. The present study provided an evidence that NNK in the smoking may be associated with epithelial origin cancer such as oral and nasal cavity cancers. In addition, this study suggested that altered expression of extracellular matrix and PKC may play an important role in the carcinogenic mechanism of NNK.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1998

This experiment has conducted to evaluate whether single injection of red ginseng extract including 50% ethanol extract, crude saponin, and lipid soluble fraction can induce oxidative burst of mouse peritoneal macrophages with use of fluorescence spectrophotometer. To optimize conditions of fluorescent spectrophotometry, concentrations of DCFH-DA(2', 7' -dichlorofluorescin diacetate) was 1.6 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and control oxidative burst by Zymosan A and PMA(phorbol myristate acetate) were 100$\mu\textrm{g}$, 250ng, respectively. Though in vitro macrophages failed to induce increment of H2O2 production, but 50% ethanol extract group induced significant enhancement of H2O2 production when zymosan A triggered oxidative burst. On the other hand, lipid soluble fraction enhanced significantly H2O2 production than that of control group. These findings consisted with the other reports which showed ginsenosides inhibited nitric oxide production and lipid soluble fraction activated colony stimulating factor(granulocyte - monocyte) activity in bone marrow stem cells. As is well known, lipid soluble fraction contains phenol compound, polyacetylene compound and alkaloids. Further study would unravel which component of it can induce H2O2 production of macrophages. Key words : Red ginseng(Panax ginseng), H2O2 production, macrophages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1705-1709
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• 2010

Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are a rich source of phytochemicals including polyphenolics, flavonoids, capsaicinoids and ascorbic acid. Capsaicinoids are a group of 12 or more related alkaloids responsible for the pungent sensation in the fruits of the genus Capsicum. Ascorbic acid is another functional and nutritional constituent of peppers. In this study, the contents of two major capsaicinoids (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) and ascorbic acid in 131 pepper breeding lines were quantified by HPLC. In 131 pepper breeding lines, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin contents were in the range of 0.0 to 219.6 and 0.0 to 110.8 mg/100 g, respectively. The breeding lines with higher capsaicin content contained higher dihydrocapsaicin content as well. Ascorbic acid contents were 264.9 to 1695.5 mg/100 g for the 131 pepper breeding lines. The analytical method validation parameters including accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility were calculated to ensure the method's validity. This study provides basic information to plant breeders and biotechnologists who are planning to breed genotypes with high content of phytochemicals.