• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2013

This study was conducted in order to compare the biological activities of leaf and root water extracts of Smilax china L. (SC) by measuring the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, anti-oxidant activity, inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, and anti-inflammatory gene expression. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of SC leaf (SCLE) and root (SCRE) water extracts were 127.93 mg GAE/g and 39.50 mg GAE/g and 41.99 mg QE/g and 1.25 mg QE/g, respectively. The anti-oxidative activities of SCLE and SCRE were measured using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity assay and reducing power assay. Both SCLE and SCRE scavenged radicals in a concentration-dependent manner, and SCLE showed stronger radical scavenging activity and reducing power than SCRE; however, both SCLE and SCRE exhibited lower activities than ascorbic acid. Compared to the anti-diabetic drug acarbose, which was used as a positive control, SCLE and SCRE exhibited low ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities; nevertheless, the activity of SCLE was 3.7 fold higher than that of SCRE. Finally, SCLE caused significantly decreased expression of the LPS-induced cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2 mRNA in RAW264.7 cells, indicating anti-inflammatory activity. These results indicate that SCLE might be a potential candidate as an anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2010

In order to evaluate anti-wrinkle activity of Carex humilis extract, free radical scavenging activity, elastase inhibitory activity and reduction of expression Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) mRNA and MMP-1 protein were investigated. The roots of Carex humilis were extracted with 95 % ethanol and successively partitioned with organic solvents with increasing polarity of the solvents. Each fraction of organic solvent were investigated by using free radical scavenging activity and elastase inhibitory activity test. Among them, EtOAc fraction showed antioxidant activity ($SC_{50}$=4.89 ${\mu}g/mL$) and elastase inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$=23.5 ${\mu}g/mL$). EtOAc fraction was developed on silica gel by open-column chromatography and consecutively re-developed on C18 resin by prep-HPLC to give ${\alpha}$-viniferin as a major component, which was confirmed by spectrometric analysis. In the assay on expression of MMP-1 mRNA by RT-PCR and protein by western-blot, EtOAc layer (10 ~ 100 ${\mu}g/mL$) was reduced about 50 ~ 60 %, 50 ~ 65 % respectively and ${\alpha}$-viniferin (0.5 ~ 2 ${\mu}g/mL$) was inhibited about 60 ~ 75 %, 55 ~ 65 % respectively in human fibroblast. Therefore, our findings suggest that EtOAc layer of Carex humilis containing ${\alpha}$-viniferin can be useful as an active ingredient for cosmeceuticals of anti-wrinkle effects.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 1998

This study was performed to obtain a large quantity of $\alpha$-lactalbumin ($\alpha$-LA) from milk by an improved separation and purification method. Functional properties-solubility viscosity, emulsifying activity, foamability surface hydrophobicity and gelation-of the purified $\alpha$-LA were investigated, $\alpha$-LA was purified in a large quantity by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography using 0.15M NaCl in 20mM Tris-HCl buffer(pH 7.2), as an eluent. The yield and purity of the purified $\alpha$-LA were 23.6%, 92.5%, respect-ively. The solubility viscosity and emulsifying activity of the purified $\alpha$-LA were 92.2$\pm$2% 3.46$\pm$0.19 cP and 345$\pm$5.0m^2$-/g respecively. The foamability of $\alpha$ -LA was 762 after 5min whipping which was lower than that of WPC and showed decreasing tendency with whipping time. The relative surface hydrophobicity of the $\alpha$-LA was formed when a 10% $\alpha$-LA solution containing 100mM NaCl and 20 mM $CaCl_2$ was heated at 92$^{\circ}C$for 40min. The $\alpha$-LA gel showed 31.5 as hardness and showed low springiness and cohesiveness.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1 s.28
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• pp.33-39
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• 1981

In this paper, the influences of adrenergic neuronal blockades of different mode: guanethidine and ${\alpha}$-methyl-para-tyrosine on the changes induced by carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ of hepatic total lipid, glycogen, and lipid peroxide contents and serum lactic dehydrogenase activity were investigated in male mice. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1) The hepatic total lipid and lipid peroxide contents and serum lactic dehydrogenase activity were markedly increased by $CCl_4$, but hepatic glycogen content were decreased. 2) The hepatic total lipid and lipid peroxide contents and serum lactic dehydrogenase activity were not significantly changed by guanethidine(20mg/kg) or ${\alpha}$-methyl-para-tyrosine (5 mg/kg) injection. 3) The increase of hepatic total lipid induced by $CCl_4$ was inhibited by the pretreatment of guanethidine or ${\alpha}$-methyl-para-tyrosine, and the increase of hepatic lipid peroxide content induced by $CCl_4$ was slightly inhibited by them. But the decrease of hepatic glycogen content and the increase of serum lactic dehydrogenase activity induced by $CCl_4$ were not affected by them.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Asia, various medicinal plants have been used as the primary sources in the health care regimen for thousands of years. In recent decades, various studies have investigated the biological activity and potential medicinal value of the medicinal plants. In this study, 100 methanol extracts from 98 plant species were evaluated for their biological activities. MATERIALS/METHODS: The research properties, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-pic-rylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-tyrosinase inhibitory effects, anti-inflammatory activity, and anticancer activity were evaluated for the selected extracts. RESULTS: Fifteen of the extracts scavenged more than 90% of the DPPH radical. Among the extracts, approximately 20 extracts showed a strong inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, while most had no effect on ${\alpha}$-tyrosinase. In addition, 52% of the extracts showed low toxicity to normal cells, and parts of the extracts exhibited high anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities on the murine macrophage cell (RAW 264.7) and human colon cancer cell (HT-29) lines, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may contribute to further nutrition and pharmacological studies. Detailed investigations of the outstanding samples are currently underway.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.573-579
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• 1995

A Bacillus strain capable of producing an extracellular malto-oligosaccharides forming $\alpha $-amylase was isolated from soil and designated as Bacillus sp. SUH4-2. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Toyopearl and Mono-Q HR 5/5 column chromatographies using a FPLC system. The specific activity of the enzyme was increased by 16.1-fold and the yield was 13.5%. The optimum temperature for the activity of $\alpha $-amylase was 60-65$\circ$C and more than 50% of initial activity was retained after the enzyme was incubated at 60$\circ$C for 40 min. The enzyme was stable over a broad pH range of 5.0-8.0 and the optimum pH was 5.0-6.0. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be about 63.6 kD and isoelectric point was around 5.8. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by Mn$^{2+}$, Ni$^{2+}$, and Cu$^{2+}$ ; slightly by Ca$^{2+}$. The purified enzyme produced starch hydrolyzates containing mainly maltose and maltotriose from soluble starch. The starch hydrolyzates were composed of 11% glucose, 59% maltose, 25% maltotriose and 5% maltotetraose.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 1999

An experiment was carried out to find out the changes in morphology, sugars, and $\alpha$-amylase activity during the priming of rice seeds (Oryza sativa L. cv. ＇Ilpumbyeo＇). For priming, seeds were soaked in -0.6 MPa PEG solution at 15$^{\circ}C$ for 4 days (properly primed) and at $25^{\circ}C$ for 4 and 10 days (over-primed) and dried at room temperature. The size of coleoptile and differentiated leaves of properly primed seeds were bigger and coleoptile was separated from the other part of embryo compared with non-primed and over-primed seeds. As priming of seeds advanced, compound starch grains in the endosperm disintegrated into tiny starch granules, and small holes were found in the tiny starch granules and a cavities developed between embryo and endosperm. The radicle and plumule of properly primed germinating seeds developed faster than non-primed and overprimed germinating seeds. Sucrose, maltose, and raffinose contents of properly primed seeds decreased, while content of glucose and fructose and $\alpha$-amylase activity increased. However, sugar content and $\alpha$-amylase activity of over-primed seeds were lower compared with non-primed seeds or properly primed seeds.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2014

Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides $Rk_3$ and $Rs_4$ exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ in a dose-dependent manner. SF and $Rg_6$ also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.459-463
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• 2006

Previous studies on the anticonvulsant activity of $N-Cbz-{\alpha}-aminoglutarmides$ have shown that the derivatives of $N-Cbz-{\alpha}-amino-N-alkoxy$ glutarimide have significant anticonvulsant activity. In addition, their anticonvulsant activities are dependent on the presence of N-alkoxy groups. Based on these results, a series of $N-Cbz-{\alpha}-amino-glutarimidooxy$ carboxylates derivatives (3a-e) were synthesized in moderate yield using a known synthetic procedure. Their anticonvulsant activities were evaluated using the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test, the pentylene tetrazole induced seizure (PTZ) test, and the strychinine (Str) threshold test with the ultimate aim of developing more active anticonvulsants. None of the compounds (3a-e) tested showed anticonvulsant activity in the MES and PTZ test. However, all the compounds tested exhibited significant anticonvulsant activity in the Str. test. The most active compound in the Str. test was the methyl ester of $N-Cbz-{\alpha}-amino-glutarimidooxy$ acetic acid 3a $(ED_{50}\;=\;42.9\;mg/kg)$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3709-3714
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• 2013

Based on the Debye-H$\ddot{u}$ckel equation, a semi-empirical equation for activity coefficients was derived through empirical and theoretical trial and error efforts. The obtained equation included two parameters: the proportional factor and the effective radius of an ionic sphere. These parameters were used in the empirical and regression parameter fitting of the calculated values to the experimental results. The activity coefficients calculated from the equation agreed with the data. Transforming to a semi-empirical form, the equation was expressed with one parameter, the ion radius. The ion radius, ${\alpha}$, was divided into three parameters, ${\alpha}_{cation}$, ${\alpha}_{anion}$ and ${\delta}_{cation}$, representing parameters for the cation, anion and combination, respectively. The advantage of this equation is the ability to propose a semi-empirical equation that can easily determine the activity coefficient with just one parameter, so the equation is expected to be used more widely in actual industry applications.