• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.140-151
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• 2022

Background: Essential oils are of great interest for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to study the content of the essential oil of the Origanum vulgare of the Armenian highlands (OVA) in different periods of vegetation and to investigate its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice (in vivo) and cytotoxic action in cultured cells (in vitro). OVA essential oil was extracted from fresh plant material by hydro-distillation. Methods: For OVA essential oil contents determination the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used. Formalin and hot plate tests and analysis of cell viability using the methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay were used. Results: The maximal content of β-caryophyllene and β-caryophyllene oxide in OVA essential oil was revealed in the period of blossoming (8.18% and 13.36%, correspondently). In the formalin test, 4% OVA essential oil solution (3.5 mg/mouse) exerts significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects (P = 0.003). MTT assay shows approximately 60% cytotoxicity in HeLa and Vero cells for 2.0 µL/mL OVA essential oil in media. Conclusions: The wild oregano herb of Armenian highlands, harvested in the blossoming period, may be considered as a valuable source for developing pain-relieving preparations.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2019

Objectives : In this study, various biological effects of Curcuma longa L. have been studied, however, beneficial effect of Curcuma longa L. in skin health remain still unclear. In this study, Curcuma longa L. water extract (CLE) was prepared. Inhibitory effect of CLE on melanin accumulation of B16F10 cells and expression levels of skin fibril-related proteins of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) were evaluated. Methods : The cytotoxic effect of CLE in B16F10 cells and HSF were examined by MTT assay. Inhibitory effect of CLE on the ${\alpha}-MSH-$ and IBMX-induced melanin accumulation and tyrosinase activity were evaluated in B16F10 cells. The expression levels of connective tissue growth factor (CCN2), Smad2, procollagen $1{\alpha}2$, collagen $1{\alpha}2$, and fibronectin in CLE-treated HSF were analyzed by western blotting. Results : The CLE treatment (concentrations 10 to $400{\mu}g/ml$) for 72 h did not affect to the B16F10 viability. However, 200 and $400{\mu}g/ml$ of CLE treatment for 24 h showed cytotoxic effect in HSF. Therefore, the concentrations 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of CLE were chosen in this study. The CLE treatment for 72 h dose dependently and significantly suppressed melanin accumulation and tyrosinase activity of B16F10 cells. In addition, the CLE treatment up-regulated expression levels of skin fibril-related proteins such as CCN2, Smad2, procollagen $1{\alpha}2$, collagen $1{\alpha}2$, and fibronectin. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that the CLE could be used as a natural material for skin health.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.160-164
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• 2008

Potential antioxidant activities of methanol and water extracts of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense (CJ) leaves were examined. The reducing power and hydroxyl raical-scavenging activity assays showed that the methanol extract had a significantly higher activity than the water extract. In addition, the methanol extract showed a concentration-dependent reducing power, ranging from 0.228 to 1.072($0.1{\sim}0.5\;mg/mL$), as well as a high DPPH free radical-scavenging activity($EC_{50}=40.25\;{\mu}/mL$). The total phenolic(as tannic acid) and flavonoid(as quercetin) contents of the extract were 62.41 mg/g and 13.48 mg/g, respectively. The cytotoxic activity indicated that the methanol extract has an inhibition activity in the stomach carcinoma cell (35.40%), suggesting that the methanol extract of CJ leaves could be used as a potential source of pharmaceutical material.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.133-146
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• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of persimmon leaf extracts on human gastric cancer cells. In vitro anticancer effects of persimmon leaf extracts (water extract at 8$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours, water extract at room temperature for 48 hours, 50% ethanol extract at 8$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours, 50% ethanol extract at room temperature for 48 hours, 75% ethanol extract at 8$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours and 75% ethanol extract at room temperature for 48 hours) on SNU16 (Korean gastric cancer cell) were investigated by MTT assay. Persimmon leaf extracts exhibited strong in vitro anticancer effects. We found that the higher the ethanol content of the solvent, the stronger the in vitro anticancer effects. Extraction yields, contents of flavonoids, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E were measured. We found that the higher the ethanol content of the solvent, the higher the extraction yields and the contents of flavonoids, vitamin A and vitamin E. Among persimmon leaf extracts, 75% ethanol 8$0^{\circ}C$ extract showed the highest extraction yield, the highest contents of flavonoids, vitamin A and vitamin E and exhibitied the strongest in vitro anticancer effect on SNU16. Therefore, 75% ethanol 8$0^{\circ}C$ extract was chosen as the material to investigate in vivo anticancer effects. In vivo anticancer effect of persimmon leaf 75% ethanol 8$0^{\circ}C$ extract was investigated in SNU16 transplanted nude mice. Twenty five female nude mice (BALB/c) were blocked into five groups according to body weight and raised for 4 weeks with diets containing 4% (w/w), 8% (w/w) persimmon leaf 75% ethanol 8$0^{\circ}C$ extract, with IT (intratumoral) injection treatment with 1.65 mg/100 $\mu$1, 3.3 mg/100 $\mu$1 concentration every other day 3 weeks after SNU16 was transplanted. Persimmon 75% ethanol 8$0^{\circ}C$ extract significantly lowered tumor weight and tumor volume in SNU16 transplanted nude mice. Tumor weight and tumor volume in all experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. Helper T cell (CD4) levels of mice injected with 3.3 mg/100 $\mu$1 extract significantly increased. Cytotoxic T cell (CD8) levels in all experimental groups significantly increased and helper/cytotoxic T cell ratios in all experimental groups significantly decreased. Natural killer cell and MHC class II molecule in all experimental groups significantly increased. In conclusion, persimmon leaf 75% ethanol 8$0^{\circ}C$ extract exhibited strong in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects against SNU16 cells and it increased cytotoxic T cell, natural killer cell and MHC classII molecule in experimental groups in SNU16 transplanted nude mice.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2012

Biological activities of the hot water and ethanol extracts from Opuntia humifusa cladodes were investigated. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hadrazyl (DPPH) electron donating ability of hot water and ethanol extracts was 79.07 and 82.54%, respectively. Hot water extract generally showed better cytotoxic activity than ethanol extract against each cell line. HeLa and AGS cell lines treated with hot water extract had more than 50% cytotoxic activities. Based on the antimicrobial activities against four microbial strains, both extracts inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus KCCM 11593, whereas affected cell growth of three other microorganisms, Escherichia coli (KCCM 11234), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 11862), in proportion to the concentration of extracts. The inflammatory activities against hot water extract (34.31%) showed higher than that of ethanol extract (25.59%). The effect of extracts on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation showed that differentiation of treated group with 80 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ of hot and ethanol extracts were increased more than treated group with isobutyl methyl xanthine (IBMX) + dexamethasone. These results indicate that the O. humifusa cladodes extracts can be used as a functional material due to their effective biological activities.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.2_3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2013

Mistletoe (Viscum album) has been widely used as a functional food material for various therapeutic purposes from ancient time. In this study, we examined anti-diabetic and cytotoxic activities of heated-treated mistletoe and the effects of gamma-irradiation on its activities. Heat-treated mistletoe extract was prepared by heating during different time (3, 6, 9 and 12 h) and gamma-irradiated with different doses of 0, 10, 30, 50, 70 and 100 kGy. Heat-treated mistletoe extracts showed a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity on rat insulinoma RINm5F cells and the effect was gradually decreased as heating time increased up to 12 h. 12 h heat-treated extract was no cytotoxic. Gamma-irradiation enhanced the reduction of heat-treated mistletoe-induced cytotoxicity and the decreasing effect was an irradiating dose-dependent. In particular, all of 70 kGy irradiated and heat-treated mistletoe extracts did not showed the cytotoxicity and the effect was comparable to 12 h heat-treated mistletoe extract. Among those extracts, 3 h heat-treated mistletoe extract gradually increased the insulin secreting activity by gamma-irradiation and the effect was the best at 70 kGy, whereas 12 heat-treated extract was no effect. On the test of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, 3 h heat-treated mistletoe extract showed the concentration dependent effects and gamma-irradiation induced more activity at 70 kGy, compared to non-irradiated 3 h and 12 h heated mistletoe extracts. These results suggest that the combination of heat treatment and gamma-irradiation might be more effective than only heat-treatment for improving the anti-diabetic activity of mistletoe extract and reducing its cytotoxicity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1251-1257
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• 2009

We investigated the growth inhibitory effect of internal organs of Todarodes pacificus (TP) on proliferation in human cancer cell lines in vitro. The internal organs of TP were extracted with methanol (TPM), which was then further fractionated into four subfractions by using a solvent partition method, resulting in hexane (TPMH), methanol (TPMM), butanol (TPMB), and aqueous (TPMA) soluble fractions. We determined the cytotoxic effect of these four fractions in three kinds of cancer cell lines - HepG2, MCF-7 and HT-29 - by MTT assay. Among the four subfractions of TPM, TPMH showed the strongest cytotoxic effects at a concentration of $300{\mu}g$/ml, displaying 91.56% on the HepG2 cell line and 85.93% on the MCF-7 cell line. Morphological changes such as membrane shirinking and blebbing of cells were also observed during TPMH treatment of HepG2 cells. In addition, we also observed quinone reductase (QR) induced effect in the methanol (TPMM) layer of HepG2 cells. TPMM showed the highest induction activity of quinone reductase on HepG2 cells among the other partition layers. The QR induced effect of TPMM was determined to be 2.7 at a level of $360{\mu}g$/ml with a control value of 1.0. Although further studies are needed, the present work suggests that internal organs of Todarodes pacificus (TP) may be a chemopreventive agent for the treatment of human cells.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.208-216
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigated the biological activities such as cytotoxic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory using Mentha arvensis L. extracts. Mentha arvensis L. was prepared by extracting with DW and 80% ethanol, after cell viability was assessed by MTT assay using RAW 264.7 cells. Antioxidant activities, and Anti-inflammatory activities measured through changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), leukotrien B4 (LTB4), and anti- or in-flammatory cytokines($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and IL-10) on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. All test measured by ELISA reader and Luminex. Mentha arvensis L. was no cytotoxic in water and 80% ethanol extracts, and Concentration of 100 ug/ml of 80% ethanol extract was suppressed the productions of ROS in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Also, Productions of NO, LTB4, inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines showed efficacy change that dose-independent of all extracts. In other words, Mentha arvensis L. showed significant biological activities showing anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant. These results may be developed as a raw material for new health food and therapeutics to ease the symptoms mentioned above.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.275-278
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• 2014

We deposited TiAgN and ZrAgN nanocomposite coatings on pure Titanium specimens, by using arc ion plating (AIP) with single alloy targets. TiAg ZrAg alloy targets of 5 wt.%, 10 wt.% silver content by vacuum arc remelting (VAR), followed by homogenization for 2 hours at $1,100^{\circ}C$ in non-active Ar gas atmosphere and characterized these samples for morphology and chemical composition. We investigated the biocompatibility of TiAg and ZrAg alloys by examining the proliferation of L929 fibroblast cells by MTT test assay, after culturing the cells ($4{\times}10^4cells/cm^2$) for 24 hours; and exploring the antibacterial properties of thin films by culturing Streptococus Mutans (KCTC3065), using paper disk techniques. Our results showed no cytotoxic effects in any of the specimens, but the antibacterial effects against Streptococus Mutans appeared only in the 10 wt.% silver content specimens.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.283-289
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• 2015

The half-dried leaves of Stewartia. pseudocamellia were extracted with hot water (SPE) and partitioned with n-hexane (SPEH), dichloromethane (SPED), and ethyl acetate (SPEE) successively. SPE and SPEE showed significant inhibitory effects against melanogenesis and tyrosinase activities. By bioassay-guided isolation, ten phenolic compounds were isolated by column chromatography from SPEE. The whitening effect of the isolated compounds from SPEE were tested for the inhibitory activities against melanogenesis using B16 melanoma cells, in vitro inhibition of tyrosinase, and L-3,4-dihydorxy-indole-2-carboxylic acid (L-DOPA) auto-oxidation assay. A cytotoxic activity assay was done to examine the cellular toxicity in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. Of the compounds isolated, gallic acid and quercetin revealed significant inhibitory activities against melanogenesis compared to arbutin. In particular, quercetin exhibited similar inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and L-DOPA oxidation without cytotoxicity. These results suggested that SPE could be used as a potential source of natural skin-whitening material in cosmetics as well as in food products.