• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2017

Glutamate-induced oxidative stress results in neuro-degenerative disorders in many central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer's disease, ischemia, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Our study was performed to investigate neuroprotective effects of Allium hookeri extracts (leaf, root, and whole) on glutamate-induced HT22 cells. In this study, ethanol extract of A. hookeri showed the outstanding neuroprotective effect in HT22 cells. In addition, we found that ethanol extract of A. hookeri root increased heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in HT22 cells. Moreover, ethanol extract of A. hookeri root also upregulated nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in HT22 cells. These results demonstrate that ethanol extract of A. hookeri root contributes neuroprotective effects against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells, via Nrf2-mediated HO-1 expression. Our study suggests that ethanol extract of A. hookeri root could be the potential agent for the treatment of many neuro-degenerative diseases.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.98-102
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• 2015

Allium hookeri, a member of the onion family, has long been mainly cultivated for food and medicinal use in Southeast Asian countries, owing to its various biological properties. However, no studies of the anti-oxidative effects of fermented A. hookeri root extracts have been conducted to date. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of different starter cultures on the antioxidant activities of hot water extract of A. hookeri root by using the following five strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterum longum, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, total phenolic acid contents, and total antioxidant capacity were higher in the hot water extract of A. hookeri root fermented with starter cultures than those of A. hookeri root. Among hot water extract of A. hookeri root fermented with starter cultures, fementing with S. cerevisiae showed the highest antioxidant activities. The results of this study provide new evidence of the anti-oxidative properties of A. hookeri root with starter cultures, indicating that it may be highly valuable as a natural product owing to its high-quality functional components.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1808-1816
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of water and ethanolic extracts from Allium hookeri roots and leaves. Antioxidant activities of Allium hookeri extracts were determined based on various radical scavenging activities using an ESR spectrophotometer, ferric reducing antioxidant power, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays. In addition, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of Allium hookeri extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. We also explored the effects of extract from Allium hookeri root on suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ against LPS-induced activation of RAW264.7 cells. Our results demonstrated superior antioxidant activity for leaf extract of Allium hookeri compared to extract from root of Allium hookeri. On the other hand, root extract of Allium hookeri showed better anti-inflammatory activity compared to leaf extract. Our study suggests that Allium hookeri extract exhibits strong antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects and can be developed as a potential therapeutic candidate for diseases involving oxidative stress and inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.625-633
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• 2016

Allium hookeri is known as a healthy food since it contains larger amounts of sulfur compounds than commonly known alliaceous plants. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of A. hookeri were compared between two types of extracts, $80^{\circ}C$ water and 95% ethanol extracts of A. hookeri roots. A. hookeri root 95% ethanol extracts displayed superior total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical scavenging activity], and anti-inflammation activity than those of water extracts (P<0.05). We studied the effects of A. hookeri root 95% ethanol extracts (95% ethanol extracts group: AHE) on acute alcohol-induced intoxication in mice. AHE [250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg body weight (BW)/d] was orally administered to the study group once a day for 1 week. On the last day of AHE treatment, 40% ethanol (10 mL/kg BW) was orally administered to induce acute liver injury. The blood alcohol concentration of mice treated with AHE was significantly lower compared to the control group (P<0.05). The levels of hepatic aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were lower in the AHE-treated group than the control group (P<0.05). The RT-PCR results for alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase measured based on mRNA in liver tissues showed that enzyme activities were higher in the AHE-treated group than in the control group at a low blood alcohol concentration.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.234-242
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• 2015

Allium hookeri (Liliaceae), native to India is widely cultivated in Korea lately as a medicinal plant. This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant and lifespan extending effects of the root of A. hookeri. Methanol extract from the root of A. hookeri was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and H₂O soluble fractions. Antioxidant effects of the fractions were measured by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and superoxide quenching activities. Lifespan extending effects of the fractions were investigated using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. In addition, stress resistant, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also studied. Furthermore, we had investigated aging-related factors such as reproduction, food intake, growth and movement of C. elegans to find any sample-induced significant change. Our results revealed that ethyl acetate soluble fraction from the root of A. hookeri showed the most potent antioxidant and lifespan extending effects, and this fraction elevated the most potent SOD and catalase activities of worms, and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.37-43
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• 2020

Objectives : Allium hookeri is a well-known traditional herbal remedy and its root used for treatment of inflammation and tumor. However, the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of Allium hookeri is still unknown. This study aims to examine the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of Allium hookeri on mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : Anti-oxidant effect of water extract of Allium hookeri (WEAH) was measured by 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay was performed to determine the effect of WEAH on cell viability in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, anti-inflammatory effect of WEAH was investigated in RAW 264.7 cells. Inflammation of RAW 264.7 cells induced by lipopolysarccharide (LPS) treatment and expression levels of inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 β (IL-1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) gene were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (IκBα) after LPS treatment with WEAH-treated RAW 264.7 cells was confirmed by immunoblot analysis. Results : WEAH showed a strong anti-oxidant effect and no cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7 cells up to 2 mg/㎖ concentration. The LPS-induced mRNA expression levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased by WEAH treatment. Furthermore, the LPS-induced phosphorylation of IκBα is attenuated by WEAH treatment. Conclusions : Through experimental demonstration of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of WEAH, we suggest that Allium hookeri is a valuable material for prevention and treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2016

This study was conducted to verify the potential of Allium hookeri to control blood glucose metabolism in diabetes model. We fed the experimental diets(ALE, ARE) supplemented with the extract of Allium hookeri leaf or root at 1% of diet to the diabetic mice (C57BLKS/J, db/db) for 8 weeks. Hetero and control mice were fed the control diet without any extract of Allium hookeri leaf or root. At 8th week of feeding the diets, we measured body weight, blood glucose, HbA1c, and plasma insulin levels and conducted an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and staining insulin immunoreactive cells in islets of pancreas. ARE group treated with the root of A. hookeri showed significantly lower blood glucose levels than the Cont group at 120 min in the OGTT. However, HbA1c level was significantly reduced in both ALE and ARE groups, and higher serum insulin levels and increased density of insulin immunoreactive cells compared with the Cont group were found in these 2 groups. Based on these results, A. hookeri is considered to be effective in improving glucose tolerance by partially affecting insulin secretion and it may be used to prevent and treat diabetic disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.242-249
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• 2015

This study examined the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of 70% ethanol extracts and water extracts of Allium hookeri root. We evaluated the effects of water extracts of A. hookeri root on storage of seasoned pork added with water extracts at $4^{\circ}C$ for 21 days in order to evaluate its potential as a functional food material. A. hookeri root water extracts displayed antioxidant activities (total polyphenol content and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities) that were superior to those of 70% ethanol extracts. The 70% ethanol extracts and water extracts of A. hookeri root showed antimicrobial activities against food-borne Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that were about 1/400 times greater than that of vancomycin. Chemical composition analysis was conducted on pork seasoned with sauce containing 5%, 10%, and 15% water extracts. Moisture and crude ash contents significantly decreased as the amount of water extracts increased (P<0.05), and the highest crude protein content was in the 10% group. Acidity of seasoned pork increased proportionally in the early stages of storage, whereas it significantly decreased as the amount of water extracts increased after day 12 (P<0.05). Although the total number of bacteria in seasoned pork continuously increased during storage, growth of bacteria was significantly restricted as level of A. hookeri root water extracts increased (P<0.05). In the sensory evaluation, pork seasoned with 10% A. hookeri root water extracts showed the highest scores for taste, texture, and overall acceptance (P<0.05). In summary, A. hookeri water extracts display antioxidant and antimicrobial activities that can improve quality characteristics of seasoned pork and have potential as natural preservatives to restrict bacteria growth. Regarding the amount of extracts, 10% was determined to be the most appropriate level to minimize changes in seasoned pork during storage and improve sensory quality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1645-1648
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• 2012

Allium hookeri, a member of the onion family, has long been mainly cultivated for food and medicinal use in Southeast Asia countries owing to its various biological properties. However, no studies of the anti-inflammatory effects of A. hookeri extracts have been conducted to date. Therefore, this study was investigated the potential of the methanol extract of A. hookeri to suppress the inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. This study was performed on macrophage cells that were pretreated with $0{\sim}500{\mu}g/mL$ of methanol extract of A. hookeri root prior to LPS treatment. Treatment with methanol extract of A. hookeri root significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide formation in dose-dependent manner. Treatment of A. hookeri root also significantly decreased LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production. The results of this study provide new evidence of the anti-inflammatory properties of A. hookeri and indicate that it may have a potential therapeutic use for the prevention and treatment of macrophage derived chronic immune diseases.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.694-701
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• 2014

Allium hookeri L. (Alliaceae family) is an important ethnomedicinal plant native to the Himalayan region of Asia. The aim of this research was to establish a high-frequency plant regeneration system for in vitro propagation of A. hookeri. Among the tissue types examined, receptacle explants derived from immature flower buds showed the highest regeneration rate of shoots ($93.33{\pm}4.63%$), roots ($76.67{\pm}7.85%$), and calli ($80.00{\pm}7.43%$) when cultured on Gamborg B5 (B5) medium containing $10{\mu}M$ 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) + $1{\mu}M$ naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), $0.5{\mu}M$ BA + $5{\mu}M$ NAA, and $1{\mu}M$ BA + $10{\mu}M$ NAA, respectively. Shoot multiplication was superior when cultured in liquid rather than on solid medium and relatively high concentrations of BA, ranging from 5 to $10{\mu}M$. Efficient bulblet formation following root induction from shoot clumps was achieved with culture in liquid B5 medium containing 7% (w/v) sucrose. Regenerated bulblets were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro conditions with a greater than 95% survival rate. By this method, a maximum of 62 plantlets per receptacle could be propagated within 9 weeks of initial culture. The in vitro propagation system established in this study will promote A. hookeri biotechnology, including large-scale production of healthy and aseptic clones, preserving parental genotypes with desirable traits, and genetic manipulation to enhance medicinal value.