• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1355-1363
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• 2011

Many clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on general cardiovascular health. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is known to display diverse biological activities such as in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. However, few studies have been directed on the effect of AGE on cardiovascular function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of AGE and its components on platelet activation, a key contributor in thrombotic diseases. In freshly isolated rat platelets, AGE and its components have shown inhibitory activities on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. These in vitro results were further confirmed in an in vivo platelet aggregation measurement where tail vein injection of garlic oil and S-Allylmercapto-cysteine (SAMC) significantly reduced thrombin and ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Potential active components for antiplatelet effects of AGE were identified to be SAMC and diallyl sulphide through agonist-induced platelet aggregation assay. These results indicate that aged garlic extract can be a novel dietary supplement for the prevention of cardiovascular risks and the improvement of blood circulation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.372-376
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• 2018

To investigate the bio-activities of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner), ethanol extracts were prepared from different parts of lotus, including lotus root, node of root (NR), leaf, pod of seed (PS), seed (S), and embryo of seed (ES), respectively. Anti-thrombosis activities were evaluated. NR, S, and PS extracts displayed strong anti-coagulation activities, as evidenced by the inhibition of thrombin, prothrombin, and coagulation factors, respectively. NR, leaf, S, and PS extracts displayed strong platelet aggregation inhibitory activities. The aggregation inhibition of S and PS extract was comparable to that of aspirin. The extracts of NR, S, and PS did not show hemolysis activity up to 1.0 mg/ml.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.501-505
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• 2009

In this study, we evaluated the effect of soluble EPCR(Soluble Endothelial Protein C Receptor, sEPCR) on the anti-inflammatory activities by activated protein C(APC) in endothelium. We demonstrated that sEPCR inhibited the barrier protective activity, the inhibition of neutrophils adhesion toward endothelial cells and the inhibition of transendothelial migration by APC in endothelial cells. Interestingly, sEPCR also blocked the mechanism by which APC inhibited the expression of cell adhesion molecules(CAM) by TNF-alpha in endothelial cells. These results suggested that the anti-inflammatory activities of APC was inhibited by sEPCR which blocked the binding motifs of Gla domain of APC to membrane bound EPCR. This finding will provide the important evidence in the development of new medicine for the treatment of severe sepsis and inflammatory diseases and good clue for understanding unknown mechanisms by which APC showed the anti-inflammatory activities in endothelium.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.164-172
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• 2019

In Korea, shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes, is cultivated on artificial medium containing oak sawdust and wheat bran. The annual production of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) of shiitake, a byproduct of the mushroom industry, is estimated to reach over 50,000 tons per year. This study aimed to improve the use of SMS as a novel bioresource. Hot water extracts of SMS after the first and third harvest were prepared and their bioactivities evaluated. Hot water extracts of uninoculated medium and shiitake were used as controls. Extracts of SMS showed higher radical scavenging of DPPH anions, ABTS cations, nitrites, and a higher reducing power than those of shiitake or medium extracts. After the first and third harvests at 0.5 mg/disc, SMS extracts showed no antibacterial or antifungal activities against the pathogenic and food-spoilage bacteria and fungi. However, they showed good inhibitory activities against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase at 0.5 mg/ml. In addition, SMS extracts had strong anti-coagulation activities via their inhibition of thrombin, prothrombin, and blood coagulation factors without platelet aggregation activity. Our results suggested SMS should no longer be perceived as a useless byproduct but should be understood as a novel bioresource, the extracts of which could be developed as antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antithrombosis agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2024

Dioscorea alata L, commonly known as "tropical yam" is the most widely consumed yam species among the 650 yam species belonging to the Dioscoreacea family. It is extensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions and is a major food source in Africa and India. Also, it is used for medicinal purposes, particularly in China and Taiwan, for its anti-inflammatory properties. In comparison to other yam varieties such as D. batatas or D. opposita, the tropical yam has gained popularity in Korea due to its higher yield per unit area. In this study, the nutritional characteristics and anti-thrombosis activity of the aerial bulbils of D. alata L. tropical yam were compared to those of D. opposita. The results showed that the aerial bulbils of tropical yam exhibited nutritional characteristics and potent anticoagulant activity compared to those of domestic yam varieties. The bulbils extract of tropical yam showed superior anticoagulant activities against thrombin, prothrombin and blood coagulation factors. Furthermore, the bulbils extract of tropical yam exhibited strong platelet aggregation inhibition at 0.25 mg/ml and showed no hemolytic activity up to a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml. These findings suggest the potential development of high-value anti-thrombosis agents utilizing the aerial bulbils of tropical yam.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.501-509
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• 2022

Pollen corrected from Quercus species is abundant in Korea and has been used to treat anemia and inflammation of the prostate gland. It is also used for hemostasis in oriental medicine. In this study, the ethanol extract of the acorn pollen and its subsequent organic solvent fractions using hexane, ethylacetate, butanol, and water residue were prepared, and their antioxidant, anti-thrombosis, and hemolysis activities were evaluated. The ethylacetate fraction of acorn pollen (EF-AP) showed the highest polyphenol content (225.0 mg/g) and strong antioxidant activity among the solvent fractions. The RC₅₀ of EF-AP against DPPH, ABTS, and nitrite radicals was 72.2, 27.7, and 62.6 ㎍/ml, respectively. The blood coagulation activities of the all-solvent fractions determined by thrombin time, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were negligible up to 5 mg/ml. Platelet aggregation inhibitory activities were observed in the EF-AP, butanol fraction, and water residue, whereas hexane fraction induced strong platelet aggregation. The EF-AP has no hemolysis activity against human RBC up to 1 mg/ml. UPLC/MS/MS analysis of the EF-AP revealed that rutin, isoquercitrin, and astragalin are major compounds for antioxidant and anti-thrombosis activities. Our results suggest that EF-AP could be developed as a noble antioxidant and anti-thrombosis agent.

• 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 Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1400-1408
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• 2016

The black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) is belong to the Grossulariaceae family, and has piquant berries, which can be eaten as raw or as processed foods, such as jams, jelly, juice and syrups. In this study, the fresh juice of black currant (FJBC) from Austria and its subsequent organic solvent fractions, such as hexane fraction, ethylacetate (EA) fraction, butanol fraction and water residue, were prepared and their in-vitro anti-oxidant, anti-coagulation and anti-platelet aggregation activities were evaluated. The FJBC and EA fraction, which has concentrated polyphenol and flavonoid, showed strong radical scavenging activities and reducing power. The $RC_{50}s$ of EA fraction against DPPH anion, ABTS cation, nitrite were 136.3, 66.2 and $115.5{\mu}g/ml$, respectively, those are 1/10, 1/16, and 1/7.7 of $RC_{50}s$ of vitamin C. In anti-coagulation assay, the FJBC, EA and butanol fraction showed significant inhibitory activities against thrombin, prothrombin and coagulation factors. Furthermore, the anti-platelet aggregation activities of EA and butanol fraction were the stronger than that of aspirin. The concentrations required for 50% platelet aggregation inhibition of aspirin, EA and butanol fraction were 0.395, 0.192 and 0.261 mg/ml, respectively. The EA and butanol fraction have no hemolysis activities up to 0.5 mg/ml against human red blood cells. The results suggest that the FJBC and its EA and butanol fraction have high potentials as novel anti-thrombosis agents. This report provides the first evidence of anti-thrombosis activity of black currant.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.357-362
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• 2008

The dried roots of Aralia continentalis Kitagawa is known to have the potential for anti-inflammation and anti-rheumatic, but their effects on thrombosis are not clear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-platelet and antioxidative activities of A. continentalis Kitagawa. Methanol extract and its various fractions of A. continentalis Kitagawa inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and EtOAc fraction showed strongest inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner with a $IC_{50}$ value of 217.7 ${\mu}g/ml$. Moreover, the EtOAc fraction contained 77.7% of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 43.1% of 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical-scavenging activity at 0.1 mg/ml. In addition, the methanol and EtOAc fraction dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-stimulated platelet adhesion to collagen or fibrinogen. Collectively, these results suggest that the polyphenol-rich EtOAc fraction from A. continentalis Kitagawa can reduce platelet hyperactivation by scavenging free radicals. Thus, the EtOAc fraction of A. continentalis Kitagawa is a potential source for inhibition of platelet-dependent thrombosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.581-586
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• 2021

The high fatality of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) is closely related to acute pneumonia and severe blood clot formation in brain, heart, kidney and lung. The use of low-molecular weight heparins has been shown to reduce the risk of thrombosis and reduce fatality rates among COVID-19 patients. In this study, we investigated the antithrombotic activity of different parts of C. sativa extracts to determine its potential in preventing blood clots in patients with thromboprophylaxis. The extracts of leaf, stem, root, immature flower and seed of C. sativa showed strong inhibitory activities on blood clot formation. In particular, the flower extract showed the strongest inhibitions against blood coagulation factors and thrombin. Strong hemolysis activities were observed in flower extract and seed extract, suggested that removal of the hemolysis active compounds in th extracts is necessary. This is a first report of anti-thrombosis activities of different parts of C. sativa extracts, and our results suggest that C. sativa extract has potential has a valuable bioresource for high-value products.