• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6541-6548
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• 2013

Pigmented rice is mainly black, red, and dark purple, and contains a variety of flavones, tannin, polyphenols, sterols, tocopherols, ${\gamma}$-oryzanols, amino acids, and essential oils. The present study evaluated the cytotoxic effects of purple rice extracts (PREs) combined with chemotherapeutic drugs on human cancer cells and mechanisms of cell death. Methanolic (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of three cultivars of purple rice in Thailand: Doisaket (DSK), Nan and Payao (PYO), were tested and compared with white rice (KK6). Cytotoxicity was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, prostate cancer LNCaP and murine normal fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. MeOH-PYO-PRE was the most cytotoxic and inhibited HepG2 cell growth more than that of LNCaP cells but was not toxic to NIH3T3 cells. When PREs were combined with paclitaxel or vinblastine, they showed additive cytotoxic effects on HepG2 and LNCaP cells, except for MeOH-PYO-PRE which showed synergistic effects on HepG2 cells when combined with vinblastine. MeOH-PYO-PRE plus vinblastine induced HepG2 cell apoptosis with loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) but no ROS production. MeOH-PYO-PRE-treated HepG2 cells underwent apoptosis via caspase-9 and-3 activation. The level of ${\gamma}$-oryzanol was highest in DCM-PYO-PRE (44.17 mg/g) whereas anthocyanin content was high in MeOH-PYO-PRE (5.80 mg/g). In conclusion, methanolic Payao purple rice extract was mostly toxic to human HepG2 cells and synergistically enhanced the cytotoxicity of vinblastine. Human HepG2 cell apoptosis induced by MeOH-PYO-PRE and vinblastine was mediated through a mitochondrial pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 2011

The dyeing properties of cotton fabrics with bamboo colorants were studied by investigating the analysis of bamboo colorants, the effect of dyeing conditions (dye concentrations, dyeing temperatures and times on dye uptakes), effect of mordants, and color change. The various colorfastness of dyed fabrics were evaluated for practical use; in addition, the antimicrobial ability, ultraviolet-cut ability, and deodorant ability were also estimated. In the UV-Visible spectrum, the wavelength of the maximum absorption for bamboo stems and leaves extracts was found to be 280nm and 295nm, respectively; in addition, bamboo colorants produced a yellow color. From the FT-IR and GC-MS results, it was assumed that the chromophoric substance from bamboo extracts was composed of flavones substances with tricin. An increased dyeing concentration resulted in a larger dye uptake and a Freundlich absorption isotherm was obtained. A larger dye uptake occurred as the dyeing time and temperature increased. The post-mordanting was more effective than pre-mordanting. Mordants, Fe and N.Fe, were effective for an increased dye uptake. The color of fabrics mordanted with Cu and N.Cu changed to GY. Regardless of mordanting, the colorfastness on the washing of dyed fabrics showed a low rating compared to other fastness. Mordanting adversely affected the lightfastness of dyed fabric. The dyed fabric showed very good antimicrobial abilities of 99.9%. In addition, the ultraviolet-cut ability and deodorant ability improved in cotton fabric dyed with bamboo extracts.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.34.1-34.9
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• 2018

Cirsium japonicum belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family and is a medicinal plant in Asia that has a variety of effects, including tumour inhibition, improved immunity with flavones, and antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. Silymarin is synthesized by 4-coumaroyl-CoA via both the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways to produce the immediate precursors taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol. Then, the oxidative radicalization of taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol produces silymarin. We identified the expression of genes related to the synthesis of silymarin in C. japonicum in three different tissues, namely, flowers, leaves, and roots, through RNA sequencing. We obtained 51,133 unigenes from transcriptome sequencing by de novo assembly using Trinity v2.1.1, TransDecoder v2.0.1, and CD-HIT v4.6 software. The differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to the flavonoid pathway was higher in the flowers, whereas the phenylpropanoid pathway was more highly expressed in the roots. In this study, we established a global transcriptome dataset for C. japonicum. The data shall not only be useful to focus more deeply on the genes related to product medicinal metabolite including flavolignan but also to study the functional genomics for genetic engineering of C. japonicum.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 2022

We examined the lung anti-fibrotic properties of flavanones and flavones, which are flavonoid compounds, in bleomycin- and TGF-β1-stimulated A549 cells. Taken together, treatment with Bleomycin and TGF-β1 increased intracellular ROS by increasing the expression of various NOX families in A549 cells; further, the increased ROS levels resulted in increased fibrosis markers and induced pulmonary fibrosis. Flavonoid treatment has been demonstrated to alleviate or inhibit pulmonary fibrosis by modulating Smad-dependent and -non-dependent TGF-β mechanisms by modulating intracellular NOX expression.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1134-1141
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• 2002

Adhesion of leukocytes to the activated vascular endothelium and their subsequent recruitment/migration into the artery wall are key features in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases. These features have been mediated by cell adhesion molecules including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and in tracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This study examined whether flavonoids inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-$\alpha$-induced monocyte adhesion via a modulation of the protein expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). TNF-$\alpha$ markedly increased the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to endothelial cells and induced the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin proteins in HUVECs. Micromolar concentrations of the flavones luteolin and apigenin and the flavonol quercetin near completely blocked the monocyte adhesion to the activated endothelial cells and the induction of these adhesion molecules. However, equimicromolar catechins of (-)epigallocatechin gallate and (+)catechin, the flavonol myr- icetin and the flavanones of naringin and hesperidin had no effect on TNF-$\alpha$-activated monocyte adhesion. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate, (+) catechin, and naringin did not attenuate the TNF-$\alpha$ induction of these adhesion molecules. Furthermore, culture with luteolin and apigenin strongly blocked the expression of TNF-$\alpha$-induced VCAM-1 mRNA and modestly attenuated ICAM-1 mRNA. Quercetin modestly decreased the TNF-$\alpha$-activated VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNAs. These results demonstrate that flavonoids classified as flavones and flavonols may inhibit monocyte adhesion to the TNF-$\alpha$-activated endothelium, most likely due to a blockade of expression of functional adhesion molecules down-regulated at the transcriptional level, indicating a definite linkage between the chemical structure of flavonoids and the expression of cell adhesion molecules. Furthermore, the antiathero-genic feature of flavonoids appears to be independent of their antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.507-518
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the association of food security with the total and individual flavonoid intakes among Korean adults. Methods: Study subjects were 13,454 men and 19,563 women aged 19 years and older who participated in the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects were classified into food-secure and food-insecure groups using the answers to a self-reported question on food sufficiency of subjects' household. The total and individual flavonoid intakes were calculated by linking 24-h dietary recall data of subjects with a flavonoid database. Mean differences in dietary outcomes by food security status, and major food sources of total flavonoids were examined. Results: In this cross-sectional study, 5.8% of male adults and 6.6% of female adults were in food insecure households. Mean daily intakes of total flavonoids, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, isoflavones, and proanthocyanidins were significantly lower in food-insecure groups than food-secure groups among both male and female adults. The differences were maintained in total flavonoids, flavones, flavanones, and flavan-3-ols after adjusting for total energy intake. Mean intakes of fruits and vegetables were significantly lower in food-insecure groups and the total flavonoid intake from fruits and vegetables was also significantly lower in food-insecure groups. The major food sources of total flavonoids were apples (20.7%), mandarines (12.0%), and tofu (11.5%) in the food-secure group, and apples (14.9%), tofu (13.3%), and mandarines (12.6%) in the food-insecure group. Conclusion: This study showed that food insecurity was associated with lower intakes of flavonoids and reduced intakes of fruits and vegetables in a representative Korean population.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.578-586
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• 2008

Phytochemicals study from the leaves of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], one of Korean edible plant materials were investigated through various chromatographic procedures. The methanolic leaves extracts of soybean yielded 16 phytochemicals, including 5 isoflavones 1-5, 3 flavones 6-8, 1 flavonol 9, 2 pterocarpans 10 and 11, 2 phenolic compounds 12 and 13, 2 phytosterols 14 and 15, and 1 sugar alcohol 16. The structures were fully characterized by analysis of physical and spectral data and were defined clearly as 4,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone (1), 4,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (2), 4,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflavone (3), 4,7-dihydroxyisoflavone (4), 4,7-dihydroxyisoflavone-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (5), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone (6), 3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone (7), 3',4',5-trihydroxyflavone-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (8), 3,4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavonol (9), coumestrol (10), glyceofuran (11), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (12), methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (13), soyasapogenol B (14), stigmasterol (15), and D-mannitol (16), respectively. Among them, phytochemicals 7-16 were reported for the first time on the isolation and confirmation from the leaves of this species. These results suggest that the leaves extracts of soybean may possess possible health related benefits to human due to the isolated phytochemicals 1-16 which have been well known potential effects on various chronic diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.22-39
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• 2003

Biological activity of phenolic compounds in seeds and leaves of safflower (Carthamu tinctorius L.) were evaluated using several in vitro and in vivo assays. Six phenolic constituents were isolated from the seeds and identified as N-feruloylserotonia, N- (p-coumaroyl)serotonin, matairesinol, 8′-hydroxyarctigenin, acacetin 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside (tilianine) and acacetin. Six phenolic compounds exhibited considerable antioxidative activity, and especially two serotonins showed potent DPPH radical scavenging activity and antiperoxidative activity against rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by the hydroxyl radical generated via a Fenton-type reaction. Additionally, six phenolic compounds possessed comparable cytotoxicity against three cancer cells, Hela cell, MCF-7 and HepG2 cell, and particularly acacetin and its glycosides had the most potent cytotoxicity. Moreover, we found that feeding safflower seeds attenuated bone loss, and lowered levels of plasma and liver lipids in ovariectomized rats. Serotonins, lignans and flavones stimulated proliferation of the osteoblast-like cells in a dose-dependent manner (10$^{-15}$ ~10$^{-6}$ M), as potently as E$_2$ (17$\beta$-estradiol). Particularly, serotonins were mainly responsible for bone-protecting and lipid lowering effects in ovariectomized rats. Meanwhile, eight flavonoids, including a novel quercetin-7-O-(6"-O-acetyl)-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside and seven kown flavonoids, luteolin quercetin, luteolin 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-(6"-O-acetyl)-$\beta$-D-gluco-pyranoside, quercetin 7-O- -glucopyranoside, acacetin 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucuronide and apigenin-6-C-$\beta$-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside were first isolated and identified from safflower leaf. Among these flavonoids, luteolin-acetyl-glucoside and $\beta$quercetin- acetyl-glucoside showed potent antioxidative activities against 2-deoxyribose degradation and lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. Luteolin, quercetin and their corresponding glycosides also exhibited strong antioxidative activity, while acacetin glucuronide and apigenin-6, 8-di-C-glucoside were relatively less active. Finally, changes in phenolic compositions were also determined by HPLC in the safflower seed and leaf during growth stages and roasting process to produce standardized supplement powerds. These results suggest that phenolic compounds in the roasted safflower seed and leaf may be useful as potential sources of therapeutic agents against several pathological disorders such as carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.379-384
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• 2020

Exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) light induces photoaging of skin, leading to wrinkles and sunburn. The perennial herb Humulus japonicus, widely distributed in Asia, is known to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects. However, the physiological activities of isolated compounds from H. japonicus have rarely been investigated. This study focused on the isolation of active compounds from H. japonicus and the evaluation of their effects on photoaging in UVB-irradiated human fibroblast (Hs68) cells. When the extract and four fractions of H. japonicus were treated respectively in UVB-irradiated Hs68 cells to investigate anti-photoaging effects, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed the strongest inhibitory effect on MMP1 secretion. From EtOAc fraction, we isolated luteolin-8-C-glucoside (1), apigenin-8-C-glucoside (2), and luteolin-7-O-glucoside (3). These compounds suppressed UVB-induced MMP-1 production by inhibiting the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). When the antioxidant activity of the compounds were estimated by conducting western blot, calculating the bond dissociation energies of the O-H bond (BDE) at different grade, and measuring radical scavenging activity, we found luteolin-8-C-glucoside (1) showed the strongest activity on the suppression of UVB-induced photoaging. These results demonstrate the inhibitory effect of three flavone glycosides derived from H. japonicus on MMP-1 production, MAPK and AP-1 signaling, and oxidative stress; this could prove useful in suppressing UVB induced photoaging.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.496-506
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate dietary flavonoids intake of Korean adolescents. Methods: Using data from the 2007-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 3,957 subjects aged 12-18 were included in this study. We estimated individual daily intake of total flavonoid and six flavonoid classes including flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanidins, and isoflavones by linking food consumption data with the flavonoids in the commonly consumed food database. The distribution of sociodemographic, health-related, and dietary factors according to flavonoids intake was examined. Results: Average dietary flavonoids intake of the study subjects was 195.6 mg/d in girls, and 189.4 mg/d in boys. The highest flavonoids intake group consumed significantly more fiber, vitamin C, legumes, fruits, and vegetables (p < 0.01) and less fat, grains, meats and dairy foods than other lower consumption groups (p < 0.001). Dietary flavonoid intake showed negative correlation with waist circumference and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provided basic data for estimation of flavonoids intake of Korean adolescents. Further research will be required for analysis of the association of flavonoids intake and health-related factors such as cardiovascular risk factors.