• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2018

A diarylheptanoid, (5S)-1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxyheptane-3-one-5-O-${\beta}$-D-xylopyranoside, named oregonin (1), was isolated from the of Alnus japonica (A. japonica), which is a species of the genus Betulaceae, growing throughout Korea, Japan and China. The structure was elucidated by various spectroscopic methods including negative and positive LC/MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR techniques or by comparison with authentic samples. In order to evaluate the anti-oxidative activities of oregonin (1) isolated from A. japonica, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and 2,2'-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid] (ABTS) radical scavenging activity were measured in vitro. Oregonin from A. japonica exhibited potent DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. A. japonica shows not only 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity, but also apoptosis modulative effects. The present results indicate that A. japonica could be a hair-growth-promoting agent for cosmetic products.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2016

Ambroxol is used in COPD and asthma to increase mucociliary clearance and regulate surfactant levels, perhaps through anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. To determine the role and effect of ambroxol in an experimental model of asthma, BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) followed by 3 days of challenge. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), lung cell composition and histology, and cytokine and protein carbonyl levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were determined. Ambroxol was administered either before the first OVA challenge or was begun after the last allergen challenge. Cytokine production levels from lung mononuclear cells (Lung MNCs) or alveolar macrophages (AM) were also determined. Administration of ambroxol prior to challenge suppressed AHR, airway eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia, and reduced inflammation in subepithelial regions. When given after challenge, AHR was suppressed but without effects on eosinophil numbers. Levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in BAL fluid were decreased when the drug was given prior to challenge; when given after challenge, increased levels of IL-10 and IL-12 were detected. Decreased levels of protein carbonyls were detected in BAL fluid following ambroxol treatment after challenge. In vitro, ambroxol increased levels of IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-12 from Lung MNCs and AM, whereas IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 production was not altered. Taken together, ambroxol was effective in preventing AHR and airway inflammation through upregulation of Th1 cytokines and protection from oxidative stress in the airways.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.850-856
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• 2010

An in vivo oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed on hyperglycemic male Sprague-Dawley rats to assess the effect of fruits and vegetables ($1g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ body weight) on blood glucose levels (${\Delta}BGLs$) at different time intervals of 0, 5, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. The areas under glucose curve (${\Delta}AUCs$) were calculated at 120 min of OGTT by trapezoid method. Total phenolic content (TPC) and anti-oxidant activity (AOA) of fruits and vegetables were assayed in vitro by Folin Ciocalteu and DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) methods, respectively. At the end of the experiment the correlations among the parameters TPC, AOA and ${\Delta}AUC$ was estimated by Pearson's correlations. Among fruit crops, tangerine, plum, grape and pear and among vegetables, blue leaf mustard, cabbage, chicory, broccoli and others exhibited significant hypoglycemic effects by reducing ${\Delta}BGLs$ with significant ${\Delta}AUC$. The effective ${\Delta}AUC$ ranged from $5548.2{\pm}462.1$ to $3823.3{\pm}282.0mg-min{\cdot}dL^{-1}$. The TPC and AOA ranged from $0.063{\pm}0.00$ to $0.913{\pm}0.14mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ GAE and $01.05{\pm}0.08$ to $75.46{\pm}0.06%$, respectively. Overall, six fruits and fifteen vegetables exhibited higher TPC and one fruit and four vegetables exhibited higher AOA. There was a better correlation among TPC, AOA and ${\Delta}AUC$ of fruits and TPC & AOA of vegetables. We report that hypoglycemically significant fruits and vegetables investigated in this study have pharmacological importance which reduced ${\Delta}BGLs$ through insulin like activity and AOA in prevention of type-2 diabetes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.444-452
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill exercise on $A{\beta}$-42, cytochrome c, SOD-1, 2 and Sirt-3 protein expressions in brain cytosol and mitochondria in mutant (N141I) presenilin-2 transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mice were divided into four groups (Non-Tg-sedentary, n=5; Non-Tg treadmill exercise, n=5; Tg-sedentary, n=5; Tg treadmill exercise, n=5). To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of treadmill exercise, Non-Tg and Tg mice were subjected to exercise training on a treadmill for 12 wk, after which their brain cytosol and mitochondria were evaluated to determine whether any changes in the cognitive performance, $A{\beta}$-42 protein, cytochrome c protein, anti-oxidant enzymes (SOD-1, SOD-2) and Sirt-3 protein had occurred. The results indicated that treadmill exercise resulted in amelioration in cognitive deficits of Tg mice. In addition, the expressions of mitochondrial $A{\beta}$-42 and cytosolic cytochrome c protein were decreased in the brains of Tg mice after treadmill exercise, whereas antioxidant enzymes, SOD-l and SOD-2 were significantly increased in response to treadmill exercise. Furthermore, treadmill exercise significantly increased the expression of Sirt-3 protein in Non-Tg and Tg mice. Taken together, these results suggest that treadmill exercise is a simple behavioral intervention which can sufficiently improve cognitive performance and inhibit $A{\beta}$-induced oxidative stress in AD.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.455-460
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• 2009

Foods of plant origin, especially fruits and vegetables, have attracted attention because of their potential benefits to human health. In this report, Rubi Fructus (RF), the dried unripe fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq (Rosaceae) and ellagic acid (EA) purified from RF were used to test their potential hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen (AAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. RF extract (RFext) and EA reduced the elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum and the content of lipid peroxide in liver by AAP administration, while the increment of the cellular glutathione (GSH) content and the induction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) which were decreased by AAP administration. RFext and EA from RFext did not affect the two major form of cytochrome P450s, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), but downregulated the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) related to the conversion of AAP to N-acetyl-P-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). These results suggest that RFext and EA from RF exhibit a hepatoprotective effect not only by increasing antioxidant activities but also by down-regulating CYP3A4 in the AAP-intoxicated rat.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the whitening effect of aerial part of Pueraria lobata and mechanisms. Aerial part of Pueraria lobata, dose-dependently reduced the melanin content. Aerial part of Pueraria lobata, significantly decreased cellular tyrosinase activity, while there was not any effect on tyrosinase in cell-free conditions. To elucidate the mechanisms behind the aerial part of Pueraria lobata, treated melanogenesis regulation, the expressions of melanogensis related genes, proteins, and the activity of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ were determined. Aerial part of Pueraria lobata, significantly inhibited gene and protein levels of MITF, tyrosinase and TRP-1. It suppressed the ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, leading to inhibition on the maturation of tyrosinase. Also aerial part of Pueraria lobata, was observed to have the high antioxidant activity. These results suggested that whitening effect of aerial part of Pueraria lobata, should be due to the down-regulation of MITF, tyrosinase and TRP-1 expression and the intercepting maturation of tyrosinase through suppressing ${\alpha}-glucosidase$. Another should be the high anti-oxidant activity. The findings show the possibility that aerial part of Pueraria lobata, can be used as a potential skin-whitening agent.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of L-carnitine on the components of serum and liver and the effects on the anti-oxidant system. For this purpose, five experimental groups were setup. For fat source, perilla oil enough with unsaturated fatty acid and beeftallow enough with saturated fatty acid were supplemented together with L-carnitine to the rats. Five experimental groups kept eight Sprague-Dawley rats respectively, They were co group supplemented with basic diet or AIN-93, PO group supplemented with perilla oil, POC group supplemented with perilla oil and L-carnitine, BT group supplemented with beeftallow, and BTC group supplemented with beeftallow and L- carnitine. The results are. 1) Weight gain, food intake and FER were not different significantly among the experimental groups. 2) Significant difference was observed in serum total lipid(P<0.05), serum triglyceride(P<0.05), serum total cholesterol (P<0.05)and serum LDL cholesterol(P<0.05). Serum total lipid and serum triglyceride were significantly low in the groups supplemented with L-carnitine. Serum total cholesterol showed difference with the supplementation of L-carnitine in BTC only. LDL cholesterol showed no significant difference with the supplementation of L-carnatine, but total values of LDL-cholesterol were high in groups supplemented with beeftallow. 3) Total cholesterol in liver was low in POC group with the supplementation of L-carnitine however, there was no difference in BTC group with the supplementation of L-carnitine. In summary, dietary L-carnitine did not influence the weight gain, food intake and food efficiency ratio among the experimental groups, but had an effect of lowering the serum total lipid and triglyceride significantly in both groups which were supplemented with L-carnitine. The effect of lowering of sew total cholesterol with the supplementation of L-carnitine in beeftallow group(BTC) only. The effect of lowering of liver total cholesterol with the supplementation of L-carnitine in perilla oil group(POC) only.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of alcohol or cigarette smoking on seminal parameters in a large group of mice model. Nine groups (n=20/group) of mice were treated intensive noxious materials that abdominal injection of 21% (v/v) of ethanol, cigarette smoke (10, 20, 30 minutes/day), and combination of ethanol and 30 minutes of smoking. In addition, vitamin C and selenium were also treated to mice exposed to combination of alcohol and smoking to identify the recovering effect. Sperm viability and motility were significantly decreased in either alcohol consumption or smoking exposed group, and combination of both materials have additive detrimental effects on seminal parameters. Mice groups that exposed to alcohol and smoking showed statistically significant decrease in motility and increase of static spermatozoa. Moreover, combination of both treatments showed cumulative effect in increase of static spermatozoa. Treatments of either vitamin C or selenium dramatically recovered detrimental effects of alcohol and smoking on seminal quality, although combination of both antioxidant molecules did not show any additive effect. In conclusion, detrimental effects of alcohol and cigarette consumption on sperm quality and motility were identified in mice model, and these detrimental effects can be compensated to uptake of anti-oxidant molecules.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 2021

The chemical warfare agents (CWAs) have been developed for offensive or defensive purposes and used as chemical weapons in war and terrorism. The CWAs are exposed to the natural environment, transported through the water system and then eventually contaminate soil and groundwater. Therefore, effective decontamination technology to remediate CWAs are needed. The CWAs are extremely dangerous and prodution is strictly prohibited, therefore, it is difficult to use CWAs even in experimental purpose. In this study, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was chosen as a model representative CWA because it is a simulant of anti-plant CWAs and one of the major component of agent orange. The optimum degradation conditions such as oxidant:activator ratio were determined. The effects of hydroxylamine and chelating agents such as citric acid (CA), oxalic acid (OA), malic acid (MA), and EDTA addition to increase Fe2+ activation were also investigated. Scavenger experiments using tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) and ethanol confirmed that although both sulfate (SO4•-) and hydroxyl radical (•OH) existed in Fe2+-persulfate system, sulfate radical was the predominant radical. To promote the Fe2+ activator effect, the effect of hydroxylamine as a reducing agent was investigated. In chelating agents assisted Fe2+-persulfate oxidation, the addition of 2 mM of CA and MA enhanced 2,4-D degradation. In contrast, EDTA and OA inhibited the 2,4-D removal due to steric hindrance effect.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2016

It has been generally accepted that obesity and overweight are associated with metabolic diseases and cancer incidence. In fact, obesity increased risks of cancers i.e. breast, liver, pancreatic and prostate. Celastrol is a pentacyclic triterpenoid isolated from Thunder god vine, was used as a Chinese traditional medicine for treatment of inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, lupus erythematosus and Alzheimer's disease. Also, celastrol has various biological properties of chemo-preventive, neuro-protective, and anti-oxidant effects. Recent studies demonstrated that celastrol has anti-proliferation effects in different type of obesity-related cancers and suppresses tumor progression and metastasis. Anticancer effects of celastrol include regulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, heat shock protein, JNK, VEGF, CXCR4, Akt/mTOR, MMP-9 and so on. For these reasons, celastrol has shown to be a promising anti-tumor agent. In this review, we will address the anticancer activities and multiple mechanisms of celastrol in obesity-related cancers.