• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2011

Plantago asiatica L. (PA), which is widely distributed in Korea, Japan and China, has traditionally been used as a popular folk medicine for the treatment of liver diseases. A variety of activities of PA was reported, that is hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation and anti-oxidant effect. Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) is a potent nephrotoxic agent and has been reported to induce renal proximal tubular necrosis. In the present study, pre-treatment with PA extract (PAE) in Wistar rat followed by Fe-NTA i.p. treatment (13.5 mg Fe/kg body weight) was performed to detect the renal protective effect of PAE. Only Fe-NTA treated group showed increases in the level of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr), and renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), product of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the level of biomarkers indicate the antioxidants status, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were decreased. However, PAE pre-treated group showed decreases in the levels of serum BUN, serum Cr and renal tissue MDA in concentration dependent manner and increases in the level of GSH, GST and GR. These results are significantly different (p < 0.05) to the other groups. Our data suggest that PAE may be used as an chemopreventive material against Fe-NTA-mediated renal oxidative stress.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2020

Quercetin is a polyphenol compound with excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, little has been reported about the efficacy of quercetin to control psoriasis. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin to regulate psoriatic dermatitis with HaCaT cell lines activated by TNF-α and IL-17A, which are in vitro psoriasis skin models. When quercetin was treated with TNF-α-activated HaCaT cell line, inflammatory cytokine expressions such as IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-6 were reduced by 49.1±7.14, 42.8±8.16, and 34.5±2.52%, respectively. In addition, mRNA expression levels of IL-8 and CCL20 the chemokines that attract immune cells such as Th17 cells and dendritic cells to the inflammatory reaction site, were also reduced by 38.4±5.83 and 52.9±4.59% compared to the TNF-α treatment group. The expression of proteins KRT6A and KRT16, which was nonspecifically increased in psoriatic skin was also significantly suppressed. Moreover, phosphorylation of IκBα and STAT3 proteins activated by TNF-α was also significantly inhibited. After stimulating the HaCaT with IL-17A, known as another psoriasis-inducing cytokine, it was observed that IκBα mRNA expression decreased by 55.8±5.28%, and STAT3 phosphorylation was downregulated by 36.3±6.81%. Finally, after co-activation by TNF-α/IL-17A, quercetin inhibited all of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and CCL20 gene expression. The above results strongly suggest that quercetin is a material that has not only anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but also has an activity in improving psoriasis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.764-771
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• 2016

Extracts from Artemisia annua Linné (AAE) have been known to possess various functions, including anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of those effects of AAE is not well-known. The aim of this study was to analyze the inhibitory effects of AAE on cell proliferation of the human hepatoma cell line (Hep3B) and to examine its effects on apoptosis. Activation by phosphorylation of Akt is cell proliferation through the phosphorylation of TSC2, mTOR, and GSK-3β. We suggested that AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signal pathways and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. For this, we examined the effects of extracts of AAE on cell proliferation according to treatment concentration. Treatment with AAE not only reduced cell viability, but also resulted in the induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). These results were determined with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Furthermore, we determined the effects of apoptosis through Hoechst 33342 staining, annexinⅤ-propidium iodide (PI) staining, 5,5′, 6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining, and Western blotting. Our study showed that the treatment of liver cancer cells with AAE resulted in the inhibition of Akt, TSC2, GSK-3β-phosphorylated, Bcl-2, and pro-caspase 3 and the activation of Bim, Bax, Bak, and cleaved PARP expressions. These results indicate that AAE induced apoptosis by means of a mitochondrial event through the regulate of Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathways.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.441-447
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• 2011

The study aim is to investigate the free radicals scavenging and spermatogenic potentials, as well as to analyze any reproductive toxicity of ethanolic extract of Mucuna prureins (M. pruriens) Linn. in spermatozoa, under different dosages in normal male rat. Normal rats were randomly selected and suspension of the extract was administered orally at the dosages of 150, 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight of the different groups of male rats (n=6) once in a day for 60 days and grouped as group II, III and IV respectively. Saline treated rats served as control -group I. On the $60^{th}$ day the animals were sacrificed and the epididymal sperm were subjected to various analyses like level of ROS production, LPO, enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant, morphology, morphometry, chromosomal integrity and DNA damage. Results showed significant reduction in ROS production and peroxidation and significant increase in both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in all concentration treated groups when compared with control. Results from all the drug treated groups showed good sperm morphology, increased sperm count and motility. There was no DNA damage and showed normal chromosomal integrity even in 250 mg/kg dose. When compared with control all the three extract treated groups showed increased ROS scavenging activity. However, group II (200 mg/kg) showed significant changes in all the parameters. From the present study it was confirmed that the M. pruriens has potential to improve the sperm qualitatively and quantitatively through scavenging the excess ROS with any adverse side effects. These observations suggest that ethanolic seed extract of M. pruriens may serve as anti-oxidant that can exploit to treat the oxidative stress mediated male factor infertility.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.205-210
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• 2018

Salvianolic acid B, which is a compound in the Salvia miltiorrhiza, has diverse biological activities, In particular, the antioxidative effects were reported to be involved in the protection of hepatocytes, neurons, and various cell types. On the other hand, some phenolic compounds, such as ferulic acid, which is regarded as an antioxidant, plays a pro-oxidative role in the specific transitional metal environment, which could explain the anticancer effect. This study examined the pro-oxidative effects of salvianolic acid B in the presence of $Cu^{2+}$. Treatment with both salvianolic acid B and $Cu^{2+}$ induced the transition of supercoiled DNA to the open circular or linear form but not in the sole salvianolic acid B or $Cu^{2+}$ treatments. Salvianolic acid B reduced the $Cu^{2+}$ to $Cu^+$ using neocuproine, a $Cu^+$ specific chelator. In addition, catalase, an enzyme that breaks down the $H_2O_2$ to water and molecular oxygen, inhibited the DNA breakage. $H_2O_2$, a reactive oxygen species, has detrimental effects on biological molecules, particularly DNA. Overall, the reduction of $Cu^{2+}$ by salvianolic acid B could lead to the production of $H_2O_2$ followed by DNA breakage. These results suggest that the pro-oxidative effects could be the one of the anti-cancer mechanisms of salvianolic acid B, which remains to be explained.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2014

Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation includes induction of inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-8 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which are mediated by oxidant-sensitive transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$. High levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) and increased activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), a biomarker of neutrophil infiltration, are observed in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa. Panax ginseng Meyer, a Korean herb medicine, is widely used in Asian countries for its biological activities including anti-inflammatory efficacy. The present study aims to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) inhibits H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation in Mongolian gerbils. One wk after intragastric inoculation with H. pylori, Mongolian gerbils were fed with either the control diet or the diet containing RGE (200 mg RGE/gerbil) for 6 wk. The following were determined in gastric mucosa: the number of viable H. pylori in stomach; MPO activity; LPO level; mRNA and protein levels of keratinocyte chemoattractant factor (KC, a rodent IL-8 homolog), IL-$1{\beta}$, and iNOS; protein level of phospho-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$(which reflects the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$); and histology. As a result, RGE suppressed H. pylori-induced mRNA and protein levels of KC, IL-$1{\beta}$, and iNOS in gastric mucosa. RGE also inhibited H. pylori-induced phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and increases in LPO level and MPO activity of gastric mucosa. RGE did not affect viable H. pylori colonization in the stomach, but improved the histological grade of infiltration of poly-morphonuclear neutrophils, intestinal metaplasia, and hyperplasia. In conclusion, RGE inhibits H. pyloriinduced gastric inflammation by suppressing induction of inflammatory mediators (KC, IL-$1{\beta}$, iNOS), MPO activity, and LPO level in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.878-885
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Metaplexis japonica by using hot-water and ethanol extracts of its leaf and stem. Yields of hot-water and ethanol extracts of M. japonica leaf were high at 6.89 and 6.23%, respectively. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents in ethanol extracts of M. japonica leaf (ALEE) were high (86.96 and 60.73 mg/g, respectively). The electron-donating ability of all M. japonica extracts increased with an increase in extract concentration, with the highest electron-donating ability of 36.20~68.19% shown by hot-water extracts of M. japonica leaf (ALWE). The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of ALWE and ALEE increased with an increase in extract concentration. The nitrite-scavenging ability of the extracts was the highest at pH 1.2 and that of ALWE was higher than that of ALEE. The reducing power of $62.5{\mu}g/mL$ ALEE was 0.09 and that of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ was 0.44. The inhibitory effect of an ethanol extract of M. japonica stem (ASEE) on tyrosinase was 13.81% at a concentration of $62.5{\mu}g/mL$ and that of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ ALEE was 57.04%.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2015

In the present study, antioxidant activities and tyrosinase inhibition of Perilla frutescens, Houttuynia cordata and Camellia sinensis extracts and the extract mixtures (PHC) were investigated. PHC showed 80.2% and 98.0% of free radical scavenging activity in DPPH and ABTS analysis, respectively, and 50% tyrosinase inhibition in $1000{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. HaCaT cells did not show cell toxicity in $100{\mu}g/mL$ of the PHC. Furthermore, HaCaT cell viability by co-culture with extract H. cordata was increased more than 10% compared with untreated cells. However, the cell viability was decreased in $500{\mu}g/mL$ of the extract C. sinensis and the PHC. These results suggested that about $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration of the PHC showed proper tyrosinase inhibitory effect and antioxidant activities. The PHC could be used as multifunctional cosmeceutical agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2011

The moisturizing effect and stability of a cream containing 0.25 % Inula britannica flower ethyl acetate fraction were investigated. The pH, viscosity, and absorbance were measured under 4 different temperature conditions(4, 20, 37, and $45^{\circ}C$) and under the sun light at 2 week intervals for 12 weeks. The variations in pH and viscosity of all experimental creams were similar to those of control cream. The absorbance variations of the extract from experimental cream at 330 nm were in the order: under the sun > 45 > 37 > 25 > $4^{\circ}C$. It shows that ethyl acetate fraction in the cream can be oxidized under the sun. In addition, any change in color or smell was not observed through 12 weeks of the experimental period. These results showed that the cream were stable. Accordingly, it is suggested that further study is needed to provide more information to the manufacturers, who are seeking for the application of the extract to improve the anti-oxidant and antibacterial activities and stability of cosmetic products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.347-353
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to research the cosmeceutical activity of 70% ethanol extracts when Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck (BO) was dried under red lighting (RLD), blue lighting (BLD), red+blue lighting (RBLD), or white lighting (WLD). The electron-donating abilities of 70% ethanol extracts from drying BO under RLD, BLD, RBLD, and WLD were 62.8%, 68.1%, 60.9%, and 69.9%, respectively, at a concentration of 500 ppm. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of 70% ethanol extracts from drying BO under RLD, BLD, RBLD, and WLD were 39.2%, 47.2%, 19.6%, and 21.6%, respectively, at a concentration of 1,000 ppm. In terms of xanthine oxidase inhibition effects, the proportions of 70% ethanol extracts after drying BO under RLD, BLD, RBLD, and WLD were 45.1%, 56.2%, 38.8%, and 53.3%, respectively, at a concentration of 1,000 ppm. The tyrosinase inhibition effects of 70% ethanol extracts when BO was dried under RLD, BLD, RBLD, and WLD were 21.0%, 13.1%, 26.0%, and 19.1%, respectively, at a concentration of 1,000 ppm. The collagenase inhibition effect of 70% ethanol extracts when BO was dried under RLD, BLD, RBLD, and WLD were 47.4%, 20.8%, 54.6%, and 37.2%, respectively, at a concentration of 1,000 ppm. The astringent inhibition effects of 70% ethanol extracts when BO was dried under RLD, BLD, RBLD, and WLD were 21.5%, 39.6%, 40.0%, and 51.6%, respectively, at a concentration of 5,000 ppm. All of these findings suggest that BO extracts dried under RLD, BLD, RBLD, and WLD have great potential as a cosmeceutical ingredient with good biological activity.