• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 2017

Pseudolaric acids of Pseudolarix kaempferi (Pinaceae) have been known as diterpenoids with potent anti-fungal-, anti-microbial, and cytotoxic activities. In the present study, the five MeOH extracts were prepared from the five plant part (root bark, stem bark, leaf, the inner part of root, and cone) to find the relation between the concentration of pseudolaric acids and cytotoxicity. Pseudolaric acids B and C were isolated from the root bark of P. kaempferi to use them as standard compounds. The five extracts were tested on cytotoxicity against six cancer cell lines, A549 (lung), HCT116 (colon), MDA-MB-231 (breast), SNU638 (stomach), and SK-hep-1 (liver) by SRB assay, but against K562 (leukemia) by SRB- or MTT assay. HPLC quantification were performed on a Shisheido Capcell PAK C18 column ($5{\mu}m$, $4.6mm{\times}250mm$) using 254 nm wavelength. The cytotoxicity ($IC_{50}$, $0.36{\mu}g/ml$ on K562 cell lines) of the root bark extract was potent and the content (101.1 mg/g extract) of pseudolaric acid B was very high in the root bark. These results suggest that the MeOH extract obtained from the root bark could be developed as the anti-cancer agent with a high quantity of pseudolaric acid B.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.91-91
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• 2019

Hibiscus syriacus L. is widely distributed throughout Eastern and Southern Asia and its root bark has been used as a traditional remedy. Recently, the extracts of H. syriacus L. exerts anti-cancerous, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of anthocyanin-rich fraction of H. syriacus L. petals (PS) has not been studied under excessive oxidative stress. In this study, we evaluated the cellular protective effect of PS in HaCaT human skin keratinocytes under hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced oxidative stress conditions. PS at below $400{\mu}g/ml$ did not show any cell death; however, over $800{\mu}g/ml$ of PS gradually increased cell death. PS at below $400{\mu}g/ml$ significantly inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis in HaCaT cells concomitant with downregulation of Bax and upregulation of pro-PARP and p-Bcl-2. Additionally, PS remarkably reversed $H_2O_2$-induced excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis, and also significantly inhibited mitochondrial ROS production concomitant with suppression of $H_2O_2$-induced mitochondrial depolarization. $H_2O_2$-mediated ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, and caspase-3 activation were markedly abolished in the presence of PS. Moreover, the inhibition of HO-1 function using zinc protoporphyrin, an HO-1 inhibitor, significantly attenuated the cellular protective effects of PS against $H_2O_2$, indicating the significance of HO-1 in PS mediated cytoprotective effect, which was mediated by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). Taken together, our results suggest that cytoprotective effect of PS in HaCaT keratinocytes against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis is mediated by inhibiting cellular and mitochondrial ROS production, which is downregulated by activating Nrf2/HO-1 axis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.989-998
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• 2014

We investigated the characteristics and biological activities of vinegars added with different levels (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%) of young leaves of Akebia quinata. During alcohol fermentation, alcohol and total acidity contents of vinegars increased. During acid fermentation, total acidity and amino acid contents increased. Vinegar added with 3% A. quinata leaf showed the highest total sensory score. The contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannin significantly increased during fermentation according to the amount of A. quinata leaf. After 22 days of fermentation, total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and tannin contents of vinegar added with 3% A. quinata were 4,079.08 mg GAE/100 g, 2,927.08 mg CE/100 g, and 3,618.00 mg TAE/100 g, respectively. ABTS radical scavenging activity of vinegar added with 3% A. quinata was 79.63%. Anti-cancer activities of vinegar added with 3% A. quinata were 48.65% and 52.90% against MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, respectively. Vinegar added with 3% A. quinata showed anti-bacterial activities against Bacillus cereus, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enterica, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Our results demonstrate that the biological activities of vinegar added with 3% A. quinata leaf (22 days of fermentation) were excellent, and their enhanced total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin contents were associated with antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. Thus, A. quinata can be used as a functional material in vinegar and other foods.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 2009

Both fresh Codonopsis lanceolata and lactic acid bacteria fermented Codonopsis lanceolata were extracted with water at $100^{\circ}C$, and tested for anticancer activity using several human cancer cell lines. The fermented extracts inhibited the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells up to 90%, compared to 75% for fresh Codonopsis lanceolata. The extracts of cytotoxicity on human normal lung cells (HEK293) were as low as 15%. Especially, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell were more efficiently inhibited than other cells. This extract also inhibited $\alpha$-glucosidase activity up to 60% at 1.0mg/$m{\ell}$. This fermented extracts showed the inhibition potency on tyrosinase by 25% at 1.0mg/$m{\ell}$. From the results, the fermented Codonopsis lanceolata enhanced several biological activities up to $20{\sim}30%$, compared to those from fresh Codonopsis lanceolata. It implies that fermentation process could be one of useful methods of utilizing low quality Codonopsis lanceolata. Because this process could yield high amounts of biologically active compounds by the help of microbial growth.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2017

In this study, for the efficient use of the byproduct of the omija (Schizandra chinensis Baillon: SC) processing industry, the ethanol extracts of the fruit (F), seed (S), and pomace (P) of SC were prepared, and their useful bioactivities were evaluated. For F-SC, S-SC, and P-SC, the extraction yields were 28.3%, 22.1%, and 7.2%, respectively, and the polyphenol contents were 8.81, 37.22, and 9.20 mg/g, respectively. The total flavonoid content in P-SC (4.31 mg/g) was 3.5-fold higher than that in F-SC (0.76 mg/g). In an antioxidation activity assay, P-SC showed stronger radical scavenging activities against DPPH anion, ABTS cation, and nitrite and stronger reducing power activities than the other extracts. The calculated concentration required for 50% radical scavenging activity, $RC_{50}s$, of P-SC for DPPH anion, ABTS cation, and nitrite was 226.2, 192.5, and $92.5{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In an antimicrobial activity assay, F-SC, S-SC, and P-SC showed similarly strong growth inhibitions against Bacillus subtilis and P. vulgaris at a concentration of 0.5 mg/disc. F-SC and P-SC showed 15-fold extended time in thrombin, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin time assays at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. The anticoagulation activity of P-SC (2.5 mg/ml) was comparable to that of aspirin (1.5 mg/ml). Furthermore, F-SC and S-SC showed very good platelet aggregation inhibitory activities. F-SC, S-SC, and P-SC did not show significant hemolysis against human red blood cell up to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. These results suggest that S-SC and P-SC, both of which are byproducts of the omija processing industry, show strong potential as novel antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antithrombosis agents.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2009

This study was conducted to gather the basic data on the increase of utilization for the Japanese staunton vine (Stauntonia hexaphylla), native plants which were grown in the southern districts in Korea. We have also determined their partial physical and chemical compositions and their physiological activities. Vitamin C contents in fruit skin was 85.23 mg/100 g, and that in flesh was 61.67 mg/100 g. Total amino acids contents in fruit skin increased much more by 762.72 mg/100 g DW compared to that in flesh by 434.05 mg/100 g DW. Inorganic matter contents were more increased in the fruit skin (108.48 mg/$\ell$) and its main components were K (76.53 mg/$\ell$), Ca (20.20 mg/$\ell$) and Mg (6.22 mg/$\ell$). Total phenol compound and flavonoid contents in 1,000 mg/$\ell$ methanol extracts were 7.3-9.6 mg/$\ell$ and 5.1-6.7 mg/$\ell$. Nitrite radical scavenging activity in 4,000 mg/$\ell$ methanol extracts of fruit skin and flesh for Stauntonia hexaphylla were 79.5% and 77.8%, however, that in seeds was 17.1%. Overall mushroom tyrosinase inhibition activity (% of control) was less than 10.8%. Anti-microbial activities of methanol extracts from the fruit skin against the gram negative and positive microbial strains were not significant in the lower concentration of extracting solution, however, that from flesh and seeds in terms of the inhibition diameter were $8.91{\sim}12.25\;mm$.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2005

The development of microbial inoculant was conducted using a by-product of oriental herbal medicine. The constituent of the by-product, which was high in organic matter, was 11.3% of crude protein, 5.1% of crude lipid, 49.7% of NDF (neutral detergent fiber), and 33.8% of ADF (acid detergent fiber). Microorganisms isolated from the by-product of oriental herbal medicine were 35 species. Among them, 6 bacterial species, 4 fungal species, 2 actnomycetes species, and 1 yeast species were effective in the utilization of the by-products. The 13 strains screened were tested for the plant growth-promoting effect in soybean seedling. BL-333 strain was found to increase the soybean yield by about 23% as compared with control. The strain BL-333 was identified as Paenibacillus marcerans. P. marcerans BL-333 showed high anti-fungal activities against virulent fungi, especially Fusarium sp. and Collectotrichum sp. Yields of plants which were inoculated with microbial inoculant prepared with P. marcerans BL-333 and by-product of oriental herbal medicine were found to be higher than control by $3{\sim}24%$. The yield was especially promoted in lettuce, radish, chinese cabbage and cucumber plants.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2021

Obesity is associated with impaired intestinal epithelial barrier function, which contribute to host systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Korean traditional foods, fiber-rich bean products, have been various biological activities in anti-inflammatory responses, but has not reported the large intestinal health. In this study, we investigated the intestinal health promoting effect of cooked soybeans (CSB) on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity model. SD rat were fed either a HFD or HFD supplemented with 10.6% CSB (HFD+CSB) for animal experimental period. CSB treatment significantly decreased the HFD-induced weights of body and fat. Also, CSB treatment improved HFD-reduced tight junction components (ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin-1) mRNA expression in large intestine tissue. Additionally, histopathological evaluation showed that CSB treatment attenuated the HFD-increased inflammatory cells infiltration and epithelial damages in large intestine tissue. At the genus level, effects of CSB supplement not yet clear, while dietary effects showed differential abundance of several genera including Lactobacillus, Duncaniella, and Alloprevotella. NMDS analysis showed significant microbial shifts by HFD, while CSB did not shift gut microbiota. CSB increased the abundance of the genera Anaerotignum, Enterococcus, Clostridium sensu stricto, and Escherichia/Shigella by linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis, while reduced the abundance of Longicatena and Ligilactobacillus. These findings indicate that CSB supplement improves HFD-deteriorated large intestinal health by the amelioration of tight junction component, while CSB did not shift gut microbiotas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2019

The leave of Polygonum tinctorium (LPT) have been used for centuries as a traditional medicine and as a food ingredient and natural dye. The aim of the current study was to develop high-value added products using LPT. Hot water extract (HWE) and ethanol extract (EE) of LPT were prepared, respectively, and their bioactivity was evaluated. The extraction ratio for the HWE was 27.6%, which was two-fold higher than that of the EE. The contents of total polyphenol in the HWE and total sugar in the EE were 51.2 mg/g and 297.8 mg/g, respectively. The total flavonoid and reducing sugar contents were similar in the extracts, irrespective of the extraction solvent. The HWE did not show antimicrobial activity in a disc-diffusion assay, but the EE showed strong growth inhibition against gram-positive bacteria. The EE exhibited stronger DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power than those of the HWE. The HWE was particularly effective as a scavenger of nitrite ($RC_{50}$ of $6.0{\mu}g/ml$). In an antithrombosis activity assay, the EE showed significant anticoagulation activity as determined by an extended blood coagulation time (thrombin time, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time), in addition to platelet aggregation activity. The HWE also showed platelet aggregation inhibitory activity. This report provides the first evidence of antithrombosis activities of LPT. Our results suggest that LPT has potential as a new antioxidant and antithrombosis agent.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.51-55
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• 2005

Objectives: Literary investigation of existing data was conducted to verify effects of Bezoar Bovis and its herbal acupuncture, and determine quality management through component analysis. Results: Following results were obtained through literary investigation. 1. Bezoar Bovis is dried cystic stone from a cattle. Its characteristics are cool, no toxicity, and bitter taste. Known actions are: quells heat and detoxifies Fire Poison, extinguishes internal movement of Liver Wind and stops convulsion, vaporizes phlegm, and opens orifice. It is mainly used for treating tremor, stroke, delirium, sore throat, oral furuncle, boil, and others. 2. Bezoar Bovis is effective for eliminating liver toxicity, protecting against brain damage, and has anti-microbial activities. 3. Bezoar Bovis is mixed with bear gall bladder and deer musk to be used as herbal acupuncture, and this mixture is effective is invigorating liver functions as well as treating arthritis, headache, and etc. 4. Principal components of Bezoar Bovis are bilirubin-type pigments and cholic acids. The amount of bilirubin can be used as a standard to determine the quality of Bezoar Bovis.