• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2024

Previous studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling pathway in stimulating cancer metastasis induced by chronic stress. According to the theory of traditional Korean medicine, chronic stress can induce Qi stagnation. Based on the traditional role of premature citrus unshiu peel in moving Qi, we hypothesized that an ethanol extract of premature citrus unshiu peel (EPCU) can attenuate chronic stress-induced cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EPCU on modulating the adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic properties of liver cancer cells. Our findings revealed that adrenergic agonists, including norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and isoproterenol (ISO), augmented the migratory capacity of Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which was completely abrogated by EPCU treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently, EPCU inhibited the E-induced invasive property of Hep3B cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EPCU efficiently attenuates adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic abilities of liver cancer cells. As a molecular mechanism, EPF suppressed the phosphorylation of major components of β-AR signaling pathway, including Src, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and ERK, induced by E treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrate that EPCU impedes the adrenergic agonists-driven metastatic potential of cancer cells by inhibiting β-AR signaling pathway. This study provides basic evidence supporting the probable use of premature citrus unshiu peel to prevent metastasis in liver cancer patients under chronic stress.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2007

We examined the depigmentation effect on Korean traditional citrus 17 species. With B16 melanoma cells, we have seen inhibition of the tyrosinase and melanin formation, which eventually were dose dependently decreased by three citrus fruits, immature Citrus unshiu, Citrus hassaku, and Citrus sinensis ${\times}$ reticulata as compared with positive control. Also, we examined expression of tyrosinase, DOPAchrome tautomerase (TRP-2), and DHICA oxidase (TRP-1) which affect melanin synthesis. Especially, immature Citrus unshiu decreased the protein levels of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In conclusion, immature Citrus unshue showed the strongest activity in all the experiments mentioned above and we expect that it can be used for preventing UV-induced pigmentation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.268-279
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• 2021

Citrus scab, caused by the fungal pathogen Elsinoë fawcettii, is one of the most important fungal diseases affecting Citrus spp. Citrus scab affects young tissues, including the leaves, twigs, and fruits, and produces severe fruit blemishes that reduce the market value of fresh fruits. To study the molecular responses of satsuma mandarin (C. unshiu) to E. fawcettii, plant hormone-related gene expression was analyzed in response to host-compatible (SM16-1) and host-incompatible (DAR70024) isolates. In the early phase of infection by E. fawcettii, jasmonic acid- and salicylic acid-related gene expression was induced in response to infection with the compatible isolate. However, as symptoms advanced during the late phase of the infection, the jasmonic acid- and salicylic acid-related gene expression was downregulated. The gene expression patterns were compared between compatible and incompatible interactions. As scabs were accompanied by altered tissue growth surrounding the infection site, we conducted gibberellic acid- and abscisic acid-related gene expression analysis and assessed the content of these acids during scab symptom development. Our results showed that gibberellic and abscisic acid-related gene expression and hormonal changes were reduced and induced in response to the infection, respectively. Accordingly, we propose that jasmonic and salicylic acids play a role in the early response to citrus scab, whereas gibberellic and abscisic acids participate in symptom development.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2011

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease that is associated with Th2 cell-mediated allergy. The process that leads to infiltration of inflammatory cells into an AD lesion is remarkably dependent on various chemokines, especially TARC (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/CCL17) and MDC (macrophage-derived chemokine/CCL22). Serum levels of these chemokines are over-expressed in AD patients. Citrus unshiu, which is known as Satsuma mandarin, has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation, and anti-microviral activity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EtOH extract of premature C. unshiu on AD. We did this using a DNCB-induced AD mouse model. We also tried to confirm an inhibitory effect for premature C. unshiu on the expression of inflammatory chemokines in IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ stimulated HaCaT human keratinocytes. We found that extract of premature C. unshiu reduced DNCB-induced symptoms such as hyperkeratosis, increased skin thickness, and infiltrated mast cells, in our AD-like animal model. The extract decreased levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 in ConA-stimulated splenocytes isolated from DNCB-treated mice. Also, extract of premature C. unshiu inhibited mRNA expression and protein production of TARC and MDC through the inhibition of STAT1 phosphorylation. These results suggest that C. unshiu has anti-atopic activity by regulating inflammatory chemokines such as TARC and MDC.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.143-146
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• 2001

Eight flavonoids, including rutin, naringin, hesperidin, quercetin, hesperetin, nobiletin, 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-methoxylated flavone, and tangeretin, in the peels of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu) species of Halla, Gungcheon, Hungjin, Namgam-20, Illnam-1, and Chungdo harvested between August and December were analyzed through HPLC. Hesperidin content of Halla harvested during early maturation was 28.70 mg/g, and was the highest among the tested citrus fruits. Rutin content of Hungjin harvested during early maturation was 2.66 mg/g. Naringin in all citrus species and hesperetin in Halla, Gungchun, Namgam-20, and Chungdo were only detected in the peel of fruits harvested during early maturation. Hesperidin and rutin were detected mainly in all citrus species, and other flavonoids in trace. Flavonoid content in the peel of fruits was high during early maturation. Flavonoid contents in the peels of all fruit samples were generally high in the early stage of maturation, which then decreased rapidly.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 1998

In order to determine the optimmum harvest time of Citrus unshiu Marc. var. miyagawa and C. unshiu Marc. var. okitsu produced in Cheju, citrus fruits sampled at packing houses or harvested directly on citrus tree in south and north area of Cheju were analyzed. The fruits were grown in size till middle of October, and soluble solids were increased continuously after that. The fruits size were different by positional directions on the tree, the quality of citrus fruits in central southern positions on the tree was good for fresh fruit consumptions. Compared with only the quality of citrus fruits as a factor of soluble solids, total sugar, pH, and color index, the optimum harvest time were supposed to be reasonable at late of November for C. unshiu Marc. var. okitsu, and at early of December for C. unshiu Marc. var. miyagawa. The results obtained from citrus fruits sampled at packing houses were supposed to be not suitable for determing the optimum harvest time, because of storage after harvest at ordinary harvesting time.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 2020

Two new compounds, 3-methyl-but-2-en-1-yl-1-O-β-xylopyranosyl-(1"→2')-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and 1-O-β-glucopyranosyl-6-hydroxy-2-methyl-hep-2-enoic acid (2), along with sixteen known terpenoids were isolated from the peels of Citrus unshiu Markov. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive NMR analyses (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, all isolates (1 - 18) were tested their effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells. Limonin (15) showed to inhibit LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2015

Processing of medicinal plants is one of the processing methods for reducing of toxicity or improving of effect on medicinal plants. In this study, we studied the changes in the constituents and antioxidant activity in accordance with the processing conditions by the salt water of Citrus unshiu Markovich. Changes in antioxidant activity was measured by the DPPH method and changes in the components were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. As a result, the content of the main constituents (narirutin, hesperidin) and total polyphenol were increased by increasing the concentration of salt water. Moreover, antioxidant activity was increased gradually in proportion to the increase of the total polyphenol content.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.502-508
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the methods of identifying zygotic seedlings of crosses between 'Morita unshiu' (Citrus. unshiu Marc.) and 'Ponkan' (C. reticulata Blanco). In order to investigate the frequency and position of zygotic seedlings and to determine the efficiency of zygotic seedling identification, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) were performed using UBC (9, 27, 229, 230, and 254) primers and F4/R27, F7/R14, F12/R10, and F44/R62 primer sets, respectively. A total of 37 putative zygotic seedlings out of 55 individuals were selected by RAPD and SRAP. The F7/R14 primer pair showed a screening ability of 45.5% (25/55), whereas the primer UBC27 revealed the highest efficiency of zygotic seedling identification (50.9%, 28/55). When both UBC27 and F7/R14 were properly used for selection of hybridized seedlings of 'Morita unshiu' (C. unshiu Marc.) and 'Ponkan' (C. reticulata Blanco), screening efficiency was increased to 60% (33/55) for putative zygotic seedlings. Thus, it is possible to select putative hybrid zygotic seedlings in an accurate and effective manner by RAPD and SRAP.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidative activities of the methanol extracts of Citrus sunki, C. unshiu and C. natsudaidai peels before and after drying. Total polyphenolic content was high in the citrus peels before drying compared to the dried peels, and highest in the order of C. sunki, C. natsudaidai and C. unchiu. On the other hand, flavonoid content was high in the dried citrus peels than in the citrus peels before drying, and was highest in the order of C. unshiu, C. natsudaidai, C. sunki, but in dried peels it was highest in the order of C. natsudaidai, C. unshiu, C. sunki. DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest in the order of C. natsudaidai, C. unchiu, C. sunki, and that in the citrus peels before drying was higher than in the dried peels. Inparticular, C. natsudaidai peels before drying showed higher activity than vitamin C in 0.5 or 1.0 mg/100 g. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was highest in the order of C. unshiu, C. natsudaidai, and C. sunki in the citrus peels before drying. The dried peels were highest in the order of C. unshiu, C. natsudaidai, C. sunki at 0.5 mg/100 g, but high in order of C. natsudaidai, C. unshiu and C. sunki at more than 1.0 mg/100 g. Inparticular, all C. natsudaidai peels displayed high activity more than 87% at 2.0 mg/100 g. Clear patterns in alkyl radical scavenging activity could not be confirmed in Citrus species whether before or after drying of peels. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was highest in the order of C. natsudaidai, C. unshiu and C. sunki but was relatively low compared to the scavenging activity of other activated oxygen species.