• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to evaluate cytoprotective effect of Korean medicinal plants on alcohol-induced cytotoxicity in liver cells. Out of the 120 plant extracts tested in this study, 53 plant extracts enhanced alcohol-induced cytotoxicity in liver cells by 50~80%, while other 11 plant extracts including Crataegus pinnatifida reduced cytotoxicity by 1~68%. The results of DPPH free radical test and LDL lipid peroxidation test on the plant extracts that sharply reduced cytotoxicity in liver cells shows that Crataegus pinnatifida and Cinnamomum cassia had antioxidative effect. This study reports that the plant extracts that enhance or reduce ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in liver cells can be research objects as cytotoxic plants or cytotoxicity-protective plants.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2010

This study investigated the antioxidant effects of ginseng coffee in L6 muscle cells. Ginseng coffee was prepared by coating and digesting coffee beans with ginseng concentrate. The ginseng coffee water extract potently protected against hydrogen peroxide-induced L6 cell death and adenosine triphosphate reduction in a dose-dependent manner; in fact, these cytoprotective effects were significantly greater than those of normal coffee. However, ginseng coffee did not exhibit significant radical scavenging or catalase-like activity. These results suggest that ginseng coffee might act as a cytoprotective agent in muscles, but that the protective effects are not due to a direct radical-reduction property but rather to another intracellular signaling factor.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1.1-1.7
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• 2013

The present review investigates the role of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in human diseases and explores strategies for its clinical use. In recent years, there has been a growing evidence, for the beneficial effects of some phytoconstituents via induction of HO-1 expression, contained in commonly used spices, fruits, and herbs, in preventing various pathologic conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. HO-1 catalyzes the rate-limiting step in heme catabolism to generate ferrous iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin. HO-1 is reported to play crucial roles in cellular protection, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects. These evidences indicate that HO-1 may functions as a potential therapeutic target in various human diseases. The article highlights the current status of the development of the HO-1 modulation pathway using dietary phytoconstituents.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.48-58
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• 2004

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the depigmentation effects of the extracts of Kamikwibi-Tang. Methods Inhibition of tyrosinase activity, melanin production & cell viability in cultured B16 melanoma cells, UV screen and cytoprotective effects on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide were measured. Results: The extracts of Kamikwibi-Tang did not have any inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity and did not show any inhibitory effects on melanin production in melanoma cells and also did not have any inhibitory effects on UV screen. But the extracts showed high cytoprotective effects on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide. Conclusion : These results suggest that Kamikwibi-Tang indrectly inhibits melanin biosynthesis which is involved in hyperpigmentation and could be used as a whitening agent for the skin.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.244-248
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• 2008

It is well known that excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to oxidative stress, loss of cell function, and ultimately apoptosis or necrosis. To search for natural antioxidants able to modulate cellular oxidative stress, we investigated the protective effect of ethanol extracts of 17 medicinal plants selected from the preliminary antioxidant screening on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH)-induced oxidative stress in human keratinocytes. The result showed that extracts of the four plants, Distylium racemosum, Astilbe chinensis, Cercis chinensis and Sapium japonicum, exhibited significant cytoprotective activity (over 50% protection) against t-BuOOH-induced cellular injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2016

Objectives: To confirm microbiological change and cytoprotective effect of Samjung-hwan (SJH) which fermented by Lactic acid bacteria from natural fermented SJH. Methods: SJH was fermented by Lactobacillus brevis and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis from natural fermented SJH. After 1 week of fermentation, we analysed pH and microbial profiling. We also performed measuring total polyphenol total flavonoid contents and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity to investigate antioxidant ability. Cell viability was performed by using HepG2 cell. Results: pH of lactic acid bacteria inoculated group and non-inoculated group was decreased and total counts of lactic acid bateria for both group was increased after fermentation of SJH. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and DPPH free radical scavenging activity was increased in both group. Total polyphenol contents of lactic acid bacteria Inoculated group is more increased than non-inoculated group. HepG2 cell viability was increased in both group. Conclusions: SJH fermentd by Lactobacillus brevis and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis shows change in microbiological character and has cytoprotective effect. Further studies are required for investigating function of lactic acid bacteria during fermentation of SJH.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2007

Objectives : Licorice has been commonly used as a detoxification agent. We previously reported that licorice and its component, liquiritigenin, exhibits cytoprotective activity against Pb-induced toxicity. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of liquiritigenin on the lead-induced cytotoxicity in PC-12 cells. Methods : PC-12 cells were pre-treated with liquiritigenin, and further incubated with lead 100 ${\mu}M$ for $12^{\sim}48$ hours. The viability of PC-12 cells was measured by MTT assay, and the levels of proteins were analysed by western blot. Results : Severe cytotoxicity was induced and nitric oxide (NO) production was augmented by the exposure of lead. Liquiritigenin protected cells from lead-induced cytoxicity and reduced NO production in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of NO production was due to the suppression of iNOS protein via the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation, determined by western blot analysis. Conclusions : These results suggest that liquiritigenin may exert cytoprotective effect against lead toxicity by inhibiting NO production.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2013

Objectives : Artemisia princeps is used as moxa in moxibustion and traditional herbal medicine. And its extracts or compounds is known to have an efficacy of antioxidant, anti-diabete, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and neuroprotection. This study was performed to investigate the cytoprotective effect of Artemisia princeps extract (APE) against arachidonic acid (AA)+iron-induced oxidative stress on HepG2 cell. Methods : The effects of APE on cell viability has been assessed using MTT assay. And flow cytometric analysis was performed to estimate APE's effects on mitochondrial function. To investigate its underlying mechanism, related protein was analysed by using immunoblot analysis. Results : Treatment of APE increased relative cell viability, prevented a decline of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and procaspase-3, and also protected mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) against oxidative stress induced by AA+iron. In addition, APE treatment increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) exerts a cytoprotective effect. Conclusions : This results demonstrate that APE has an ability to activation of AMPK which protects cells from AA+iron-induced oxidative stress and restores MMP.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.79-100
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• 2010

Objective: Production of ROS from glucose toxicity results in injury of pancreatic $\beta$-cells in diabetes models. This study was undertaken to examine the influence of Lespedeza Cuneata extract (LCE) on cytoprotective effects on glucose toxicity, insulin secretion and gene expression in RIN-m5F cells. Methods: First, we measured LCE's antioxidant activity by DPPH free radical-scavenging activity and SOD activity. After the various concentrations of LCE were added to the RIN-m5F cells, we measured cell viability with glucose stimulation by MTT assay and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. We analyzed gene expression with Agilent whole mouse genome 44K oligo DNA microarray and searched for related pathways in KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes). Lastly we measured INS-1, INS-2, INS-R, IRS-1, IRS-2, IRS-3, GLP-1R, and GLP-2R mRNA expression by real time RT-PCR. Results: Free radical-scavenging activity, SOD activity and insulin secretion increased dependent on LCE concentration, but LCE did not show considerable cytoprotective effect on RIN-m5F cells. More than twice expressed gene was 6362 in Oligo DNA chip. In KEGG, the most related pathway was the metabolic pathway. In the insulin signaling pathway, up expressed genes were Irs1, Mapk8, Akt1, and Lipe and down expressed genes were Rhoq, Fbp2, Prkar2b, Gck, and Prkag1. In real time RT-PCR, IRS-2, and IRS-3 expression increased significantly compared to the control group on LCE $12{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration and GCK expression decreased significantly compared to the control group. Conclusions: These results show that LCE encourages insulin secretion and insulin metabolism by complicated gene mechanisms. Further mechanism study and clinical study seem to be necessary about Lespedeza Cuneata.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2005

Isoflavones are reported to playa role in menopausal women as a phytoestrogen, which can replace estradiols in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Recently; due to the risk of breast cancer by HRT, phytoestrogens (e.g. isoflavones) have been focused as an alternative therapy in menopause. In the study, we investigated whether isoflavones derived from Sophorae fructus (SISO) have more benefit than that of soybean isoflavones in estrogen deficient rats. We found that SISO effectively controled $H_2O_2$ comparing with the baseline (p<0.01 vs. post value of OVX-Cont), and the blood sugar and weight were also controlled with decreasing patterns. Additionally, in LDH assay for cytoprotective effect in Neuro-2a cell line, SISO protected cells from the damage by SNAP (p<0.05). In conclusion, SISO may have more beneficial effect in enhancing the menopausal signs than that of soybean isoflavones and the cytoprotective effect in neuron cells suggests that SISO can play a certain role in neuroprotection after menopause.