• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.429-436
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• 2016

Purpose: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) overexpression and extracellular matrix depletion, leading to skin photoaging such as wrinkle formation, dryness, and sagging. Activation of MMP is influenced by various molecules such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory cytokines, and transient receptor potential vanilloid type (TRPV)-1, which are increased in UV-irradiated skin cells. Aralia elata (AE) ethanolic extract was reported to inhibit ROS generation caused by UVB-irradiation in keratinocytes. In this study, we investigated the photoprotective effect of AE ethanolic extract on UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). Methods: AE was freeze-dried, extracted in 70% ethanol, and concentrated. Skin cells were treated with AE extract for 24 h and then exposed to UVB ($55mJ/cm^2$). After 48 h of incubation, proinflammatory cytokines, MMP-1, type-1 procollagen, and TRPV-1 levels were measured by ELISA or Western blotting. Results: Treatment with AE extract ($100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited UVB-induced IL-6, IL-8, and $PGE_2$ production in HaCaT by 25.6%, 5.3%, and 70.2%, respectively, and also inhibited elevation of MMP-1 and TRPV-1 caused by UVB irradiation by 20.0% and 41.9%, respectively (p < 0.05). In HDF, AE extract treatment significantly inhibited both elevation of MMP-1 and reduction of type-1 procollagen caused by UVB irradiation (p < 0.05). In addition, type-1 procollagen was elevated by AE extract treatment in normal HDFs (p < 0.05). Conclusion: AE 70% ethanol extract has photoprotective ability via reduction of proinflammatory mediators, TRPV-1 and MMP-1 production, and elevation of collagen synthesis. Our findings suggest that AE extract might be a good natural material to protect against UVB-induced premature skin aging.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.82-93
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• 2004

Phylogenetic relationships among species in Araliaceae were analyzed using PCR-RAPD and sequence of ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA based on samples collected in Korea. RAPD analysis showed various polymorphic bands which were able to differentiate species and genus, and specific bands showing variations among individuals within species. Cluster analysis using gel images revealed high molecular variability within species of Aralia eleta. No significant variation was found among cultivated species of Panax ginseng, but they showed high genetic differences with wild type of the species. In ITS analysis, specific sequences for each genus and species were observed and these were allowed to differentiate species and genus. Phylogenetic analysis using ITS sequences showed that Acanthopanax and Kalopanax had a close relationship, and Aralia and Panax are monophyletic, but genus Hedera is different species from other species in family Araliaceae in this study. The results showing close relationship between genera Aralia and Panax were also observed in RAPD analysis. Contrary to the results of RAPD analysis of Panax ginseng, sequence analysis of ITS showed no significant difference between wild mountain ginseng and cultivated species of P. ginseng. Also, both RAPD and ITS analysis of P. ginseng showed no significant genetic variability among cultivation sites. Results indicate that P. ginseng cultivating in Korea is monophyletic. The molecular analysis used in this study agreed on classification using morphological feature. These results suggest that molecular techniques used in this study could be useful for phylogenetic analysis of Araliaceae.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.710-717
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• 2014

This study was designed to develop dish recipes using Heatsun sprouts to improve the sprouts' utilization and consumption. We created four kinds of dishes with Heatsun sprouts, including Acanthopanacis cortex, Kalopanax pictus, Aralia elata, and Cedrela sinensis, and analyzed their sensory properties and nutrients. In the sensory evaluation, the overall preference for all the dishes was scored higher than 3.0, Unnaumsun-dakgoginaengchae had the highest score (4.48) among the dishes. Unnamusun-dakgoginaengchae contained higher values of protein; vitamin A, E, and B6; and folic acid than the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs). The recipe for Dureupgokgammuchim was created to reduce the bitterness and the astringent taste of Aralia elata, and it was rich in vitamin C, E, and B6, as well as in folic acid and iron. Ogapisunkkonchijolim was cooked to reduce the fishy smell of a saury with the addition of Acanthopanacis cortex. It contained 1.5 times the protein RDAs, and high levels of antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A, C, and E. Chamjugmandu was made by the mixing tofu and various vegetables without adding meat. It had the highest calorie count among the dishes, and its vitamin A, C, and E contents were higher than the corresponding RDAs.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.795-801
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• 2017

Aralia elata Seemann (AE) has long been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes mellitus, anti-arthritic, and anti-gastric ulcer agent in Korea, Japan, and China. This study was performed to establish a simple and reliable HPLC/UV analytical method for determination of most active anti-hypertensive compound, a 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl($1{\rightarrow}$2)-${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-${\beta}$-D-xylopyranosyl($1{\rightarrow}6$)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosylester (HE) for the standardization of the shoot extract of AE as a health functional food ingredient. The quantitative analytical method of HE was optimized by HPLC analysis using reverse-phase C18 column at $40^{\circ}C$ with $H_2O$ and acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) as an isocratic mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and detection wavelength of UV 205 nm. This HPLC/UV analytical method showed good specificity and high linearity in the tested range of 0.03125-2.0mg/ml with excellent coefficient of determination ($R^2$) of 0.9999. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were $12.0{\mu}g/mL$ and $36.5{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Relative standard deviation (RSD) values of data from intra- and inter-day precision were less than 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. These results indicate that the established HPLC/UV analytical method is very simple, specific, precise, accurate, and reproducible and thus can be useful for the quantitative analysis of HE as a functional anti-hypertensive compound in AE extract.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.328-334
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• 2017

Background: In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer activity and potential molecular mechanism of 70% ethanol extracts of the root of Aralia cordata var. continentalis (Kitagawa) Y. C. Chu (RAc-E70) against human colorectal cancer cells. Methods and Results: RAc-E70 suppressed the proliferation of the human colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. Although RAc-E70 reduction cyclin D1 expression at the protein and mRNA levels, RAc-E70-induced reduction in cyclin D1 protein level occurred more dramatically than that of cyclin D1 mRNA. The RAc-E70-induced downregulation of cyclin D1 expression was attenuated in the presence of MG132. Additionally, RAc-E70 reduced HA-cyclin D1 levels in HCT116 cells transfected with HA-tagged wild type-cyclin D1 expression vector. RAc-E70-mediated cyclin D1 degradation was blocked in the presence of LiCl, a $GSK3{\beta}$ inhibitorbut, but not PD98059, an ERK1/2 inhibitor and SB203580, a p38 inhibitor. Furthermore, RAc-E70 phosphorylated cyclin D1 at threonine-286 (T286), and LiCl-induced $GSK3{\beta}$ inhibition reduced the RAc-E70-mediated phosphorylation of cyclin D1 at T286. Conclusions: Our results suggested that RAc-E70 may downregulate cyclin D1 expression as a potential anti-cancer target through $GSK3{\beta}$-dependent cyclin D1 degradation. Based on these findings, RAc-E70 maybe a potential candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for human colorectal cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.689-696
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• 1997

The effects of Aralia canescens and Phellodendron amurense(AP) extracts on the experimental diabetes in ICR mice were investigated. 96male ICR mice were induced diabetes mellitus by intrape-ritoneal streptozotocin injection(75mg/kg B.W.) and divided into two injection groups which are 5 day injection and 10 day injection group. Then, each injection group was subdivided into 8 groups of 6 animals repspectively. CIC served as control and CI1, CI2 and CI3 were treated with 50, 150, 250mg/kg B.W. of AP extracts powder in 0.9% NaCl solution. Animals of groups DIC, DI1, DI2 and DI3 were strepto-zotocin-induced diabetes. DIC served as diabetic control and the rest groups received 50, 150, 250mg/kg B.W of AP extracts powder in saline solution respectively. The body weight, liver and kiney weight changes and blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride were measured. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS), and glutathione reductase(GR) and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activities were also measured for determining antioxidant effects. AP extracts increased the body weight in diabetic groups. The liver and kidney weight/100g B.W. in DIC group were greater than those of normal ICR group but after AP extracts injection, liver and kidney weight were decreased significantly. These effects were more efficient at 10 days injection group. The total, LDL, VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in DIC group and the extent of decrement responded to AP injection dose. The contents of TBARS and antioxidant enzyme activities were relatively decreased after AP extracts injection. These results suggest that the intraperitoneally administered AP extracts may have not only hypoglycemic effect but act as antioxidants by reducing lipid peroxidation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.302-309
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• 2011

This study was performed to analyze the physicochemical and sensory properties of Acanthopanacis cortex and Aralia elata according to their blanching conditions and thawing methods. In terms of their Hunter colors, the A. cortex and A. elata that were blanched without adding salt to them for 7 min and 4 min, respectively, had the highest L values. The chlorophyll content (148.7 mg%) of A. cortex that was blanched with 1% salt for 4 min was higher than those of the other samples, and the chlorophyll content of A. elata was 32.4 mg% when it was blanched for 4 min without salt addition. The sensory test results showed the highest overall preference for the sample that was blanched without salt for 4 min among all the samples. The Hunter color of A. cortex did not significantly differ with different thawing methods, but the value of A. elata that was thawed in a microwave oven was higher than those of the other samples. The chlorophyll contents of A. cortex and A. elata that were thawed in a microwave oven were the highest among all the samples. As for the overall preference for the samples according to the thawing method, A. cortex and A. elata scored highest in the case of thawing at $25^{\circ}C$ and in a microwave oven, respectively.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2019

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of mixed extracts of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (Aj) and Aralia continentalis Kitagawa (Ac) (ratios of 1 : 2, 1 : 3, 1 : 5, 2 : 1, 3 : 1 and 5 : 1) on RAW264.7 macrophages. Cell toxicity was determined using a cell counting kit (CCK) assay. We evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of the mixed extracts of Aj and Ac by measuring interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF){\alpha}$ using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit assay. The mixed extracts of Aj and Ac inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$ in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Comparing different ratios of the mixed extracts, the 2 : 1 ratio of Aj and Ac has much more potency and inhibited the production of $TNF{\alpha}$ in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. The results of the present study showed that the mixed extracts of Aj and Ac have potential anti-inflammatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages. Therefore, these extracts may be used as a good source of functional foods for the protection against inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1438-1447
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• 2018

We investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of various organic solvent extracts with and without Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation of Aralia continentalis Kitagawa which has hypotensive effects in addition to excitatory effects on the central nervous system. It has been used to treat arthritis, colds, neuralgia, rheumatism, and itchy skin. Our extracts were tested for their anti-inflammatory potential on NO production and the expression of inflammatory factors in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Extracts with and without L. plantarum fermentation were prepared using water, ethanol, hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol. The RAW264.7 cells were tested for toxicity and the anti-inflammatory activity of each extract was determined at a concentration with no toxicity to the cells. The extracts used in this study significantly inhibited both the production of NO and the mRNA expression of COX-2 and iNOS, the major inflammatory factors. The production of inflammation-related cytokines $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ was also significantly reduced. These results suggest that the extracts involving fermentation by L. plantarum can inhibit cytokines by controlling the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes. It is considered that the water, ethanol, and butanol extracts after fermentation with L. plantarum could be useful as functional natural materials with anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.538-548
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• 2023

The research has been conducted on the isolation of antimicrobial compounds from plant natural extracts and their potential application in oral health care products. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial mechanism by analyzing the changes in gene expression of Streptococcus mutans, a major oral pathogen, in response to complex compounds extracted from Aralia continentalis and Arctii Semen using organic solvents. Transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) revealed that both natural extracts commonly upregulated or downregulated the expression of various genes associated with different metabolic and physiological activities. Three genes (SMU_1584c, SMU_2133c, SMU_921), particularly SMU_921 (rcrR), known as a transcription activator of two sugar phosphotransferase systems (PTS) involved in sugar transport and biofilm formation, exhibited consistent high expression levels. Additionally, component analysis of the A. continentalis extract was performed to compare its effects on gene expression changes with the A. Semen extract, and two active compounds were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the active fraction. The n-hexane fraction (ACEH) from the A. continentalis extract exhibited antibacterial specificity against S. mutans, leading to a significant reduction in the viable cell counts of Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus gordonii among the tested multi-species bacterial communities. These findings suggest the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of the A. continentalis extract and provide essential foundational data for the development of customized antimicrobial materials by elucidating the antibacterial mechanism of the identified active compounds.