• 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.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.255-269
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• 2020

Objectives : Hemistepta lyrata Bunge (Bunge) is a wild herb that has been used for managing fever and wound in Korean Traditional Medicine. The present study explored the effects of H. lyrata extract on liver X receptor (LXR) α-dependent lipogenic genes in hepatocyte-derived cells. Methods : After HepG2 cells or Huh7 cells were pre-treated with 1-10 ㎍/mL of H. lyrata extract or its fractionated extract for 0.5 h, the cells were subsequently exposed to LXR ligand for 6-24 h. Cell viability, LXR response element (LXRE)-driven luciferase activity, sterol regulatory element binding protein-response element (SREBP-RE)-driven luciferase activity, SREBP-1c expression, and mRNA levels of LXRα and its-dependent target genes were determined. In addition, LC-MS/MS analysis was conducted to explore major compounds in H. lyrata-chloroform fractionated extract #4 (HL-CF4). Results : Of various H. lyrata extracts tested, chloroform extract and its fractionated extract #4, HL-CF4, significantly decreased T0901317-mediated SREBP-1c expression. In addition, HL-CF4 significantly reduced LXRE atransactivation and LXRα mRNA expression without any cytotoxicity. Moreover, HL-CF4 prevented the SREBP-RE-driven luciferase activity and mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 induced by T0901317. Results from LC-MS/MS analysis at positive/negative mode indicated that HL-CF4 contained several compounds showing m/z 197.1176 (C₁₁H₁₇O₃), 693.2913/227.1069 (C₃₈H₄₅O₁₂/C₁₅H₁₅O₂), 203.1797 (C₁₅H₂₃), 181.1225 (C₁₁H₁₇O₂), 591.2957 (C₃₅H₄₃O₈), 379.1040 (C₁₈H₁₉O₉), 409.1509 (C₂₀H₂₅O₉), 309.1348 (C₁₆H₂₁O₆), 391.1404 (C₂₀H₂₃O₈), and 669.2924/389.1248 (C₃₆H₄₅O₁₂/C₂₀H₂₁O₈). Conclusion : Based on its inhibition of the LXRα-dependent signaling pathway, H. lyrata chloroform extract and HL-CF4 have prophylactic potentials for managing non-alcoholic fatty liver.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.432-440
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• 2006

A tuber lectin from Arisaema jacquemontii Blume belonging to family Araceae was purified by employing a single step affinity chromatography using column of asialofetuin-linked amino activated silica beads and the bound lectin was eluted with 100 mM glycine-HCl buffer pH 2.5. The purified A. jacquemontii lectin (AJL) showed a single protein band with an apparent molecular mass of 13.4 kDa when submitted to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing as well as non-reducing conditions. The native molecular mass of AJL determined by gel filtration on a Biogel P-200 column was 52 kDa and its carbohydrate content was estimated to be 3.40%. Thus AJL is a tetrameric glycoprotein. The purified lectin agglutinated erythrocytes from rabbit but not from human. Its activity was not inhibited by any of the mono- and disaccharides tested except N-acetyl-D-lactosamine having minimal inhibitory sugar concentration (MIC) 25 mM. Among the glycoproteins tested only asialofetuin was found to be inhibitory (MIC $125\;{\mu}g/mL$). A single band was obtained in native PAGE at pH 4.5 while PAGE at pH 8.3 showed two bands. Isoelectric focusing of AJL gave multiple bands in the pI range of 4.6-5.5. When incorporated in artificial diet AJL significantly affected the development of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) larvae indicating the possibility of using this lectin in a biotechnological strategy for insect management of cucurbits. Larvae fed on artificial diet containing sub-lethal dose of AJL showed a significant decrease in acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity while esterase activity markedly increased as compared to larvae fed on diet without lectin. Out of various human cancer cell lines employed in sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay, this lectin was found to have appreciable inhibitory effect on the in vitro proliferation of HCT-15, HOP-62, SW-620, HT-29, IMR-32, SKOV-3, Colo-205, PC-3, HEP-2 and A-549 cancer cell lines by 82, 77, 73, 70, 41, 41, 37, 29, 21 and 21% respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.862-873
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the physiochemical properties and biological activities of Gangwon-do endemic Makjang (MJ) products (12 types). The pH levels of all samples were in the range of 4.43 to 5.69, and MJ5 showed the highest pH (5.69). The salinities of all samples ranged from 11.1% to 16.9%. Hunter color values for L (lightness), a (redness), and b (yellowness) ranged from 26.2 to 36.9, 3.9 to 11.5, and 6.5 to 16.6, respectively. The amino nitrogen content of MJ2 was highest, whereas the total content of free amino acids of MJ11 (4,657.7 mg%) was highest. Total fatty acid contents of all samples ranged from 1,598.6 mg% to 2,874.4 mg%, with MJ10 showing the highest fatty acid content. The content of total polyphenolic compounds ranged from 401.48 to $746.67{\mu}g$ tannic acid equivalent/mL, with MJ11 showing the highest content. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging effects of MJ11, MJ8, and MJ4 were 51.30% and 82.5%, 41.29% and 67.0%, and 49.88% and 87.7%, respectively. MJ12 showed the strongest growth inhibitory effect on lung cancer A549 cells, whereas MJ5 showed the strongest growth inhibitory effect on AGS gastric cancer cell and MCF-7 breast cancer cell. MJ7 showed greater lipid accumulation inhibitory activity in HepG2 cells than the others. ACE inhibitory activity of MJ11 was the highest among the samples.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of 70% ethanol extract and each fraction from Rhododendron brachycarpum D. Don leaves on cytotoxicity, anticancer, genotoxicity and immunological activity in vitro bioassay. Cytotoxicity for human normal cells (HEL299 and Chang) of the samples was shown below 35% in 0.5 mg/ml concentration of samples except aqueous fraction by SRB assay. DNA damage on the Chang cell of the samples alone in comet assay was observed very weak damage activity even in high concentration (1 mg/ml) of the samples. The anticancer effect of the samples on human cancer cell lines (A549, AGS, Hep3B, MCF7) was indicated that the cancer cells were inhibited gradually in proportion to the increase of the concentration of the samples by MTT assay. The growth of the Raji and Jurkat cells were hastened by adding butanol fraction among the samples. In the genotoxicity on $H_2O_2-induced$ DNA damage in Chang cells using alkaline comet assay, most of samples were shown a strong protective activity from DNA OTM values.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.57-64
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• 2015

Objectives : Oxidative stress is one of the most causes of hepatocyte injury. Gleditsia spina, the thorns ofGleditsia sinensisLam., has been known for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects in Korean medicine. The present study investigated hepatoprotective effect of Gleditsia spina water extract (GSE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA) + iron in HepG2 cells.Methods : To investigate cytoprotective effect of GSE, cells were pretreated with GSE and then subsequently exposed to 10 μM AA for 12 h, followed by 5 μM iron. Cell viability was monitored by MTT assay, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins was examined by immunoblot analysis. To identify responsible molecular mechanisms, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, GSH contents, and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. In addition, effect of GSE on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation was determined by immunoblot and antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven reporter gene assays.Results : GSE pretreatment prevented AA + iron-mediated cytotoxicity in concentration dependent manner. In addition, ROS production, glutathione depletion, and mitochondrial impairment by AA + iron were significantly inhibited by GSE. Furthermore, GSE promoted translocation of Nrf2 to nucleus, which acts as essential transcription factor for induction of antioxidant genes. Increased nuclear Nrf2 that caused by GSE treatment promoted transcriptional activity of ARE. Finally, GSE up-regulated sestrin-2 which was widely recognized as target gene of Nrf2.Conclusions : This study demonstrates that GSE protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress via activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2003

The biological activities of extracts from Rosa rugosae Radix were compared. About 78% of the growth of human hepato- carcinoma and 68% of human gastric cancer cell was inhibited in adding 0.5 mg/ml of the extracts of Rosa rugosae Radix respectively. The growth of human breast cancer cells was also inhibited in adding 0.5 mg/ml of the extracts as well as 66% of the human cancer cells. It was proved that the growth of human normal lung cell, scored as 20% for the extracts. Overall selectivity of the extracts on several human cancer cell line was over 4, which is higher than those from the Rosa rugosae Radix. The growth of both human immune B and T cells was enhanced up to 1.2 to 1.5 times by adding the extracts, compared to the controls. The secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha$(TNF-{\alpha})$ from T cell was also increased up to 61.9 pg/ml in adding the ethanol extract (0.5 mg/ml). Ethanol extract also increased up to about 61.3 pg/ml of interleukin-6(IL-6) from B cell.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.465-478
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• 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of target messenger RNA (mRNA) complementary to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) at the post-transcriptional level. Hsa-miR-422a, which is commonly known as miRNA derived from transposable element (MDTE), was derived from short interspersed nuclear element (SINE). Through expression analysis, hsa-miR-422a was found to be highly expressed in both the small intestine and liver of crab-eating monkey. AT-Rich Interaction Domain 5 B (ARID5B) was selected as the target gene of hsa-miR-422a, which has two binding sites in both the exon and 3'UTR of ARID5B. To identify the interaction between hsa-miR-422a and ARID5B, a dual luciferase assay was conducted in HepG2 cell line. The luciferase activity of cells treated with the hsa-miR-422a mimic was upregulated and inversely downregulated when both the hsa-miR-422a mimic and inhibitor were administered. Nuclear factor erythroid-2 (NF-E2) was selected as the core transcription factor (TF) via feed forward loop analysis. The luciferase expression was downregulated when both the hsa-miR-422a mimic and siRNA of NF-E2 were treated, compared to the treatment of the hsa-miR-422a mimic alone. The present study suggests that hsa-miR-422a derived from SINE could bind to the exon region as well as the 3'UTR of ARID5B. Additionally, hsa-miR-422a was found to share binding sites in ARID5B with several TFs, including NF-E2. The hsa-miR-422a might thus interact with TF to regulate the expression of ARID5B, as demonstrated experimentally. Altogether, hsa-miR-422a acts as a super enhancer miRNA of ARID5B by collaborating with TF and NF-E2.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2023

Sucrose (suc) is a disaccharide that consists of glucose (glu) and fructose (fru). It is a carbohydrate source that acts as a nutrient molecule and a molecular signal that regulates gene expression and alters metabolites. This study aimed to evaluate whether suc-specific signaling induces an increase in bioactive compounds by exogenous suc absorption via roots or whether other factors, such as osmotic stress or biotic stress, are involved. To compare the osmotic stress induced by suc treatment, 4-week-old cultured mugwort plants were subjected to Hoagland nutrient solution with 10 mM, 30 mM, and 50 mM of suc or mannitol (man) for 3 days. Shoot fresh weight in suc and man treatments was not significantly different from the control. Both man and suc treatments increased the content of bioactive compounds in mugwort, but they displayed different enhancement patterns compared to the suc treatments. Mugwort extract treated with suc 50 mM effectively protected HepG2 liver cells damaged by ethanol and t-BHP. To compare the biotic stress induced by suc treatment, 3-week-old mugwort plants were subjected to microorganism and/or suc 30 mM with Hoagland nutrient solution. Microorganisms and/or suc 30 mM treatments showed no difference about the shoot fresh weight. However, sugar content in mugwort treated with suc 30 mM and microorganism with suc 30 mM treatment was significantly higher than that of the control. Suc 30 mM and microorganism with suc 30 mM were effective in enhancing bioactive compounds than microorganism treatment. These results suggest that mugwort plants can absorb exogenous suc via roots and the enhancement of bioactive compounds by suc treatment may result not from osmotic stress or biotic stress because of microorganism, but by suc-specific signaling.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.606-621
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• 2024

This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of fermented Protaetia brevitarsis larvae (FPB) in ethanol-induced liver injury mice. As a result of amino acids in FPB, 18 types of amino acids including essential amino acids were identified. In the results of in vitro tests, FPB increased alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities. In addition, FPB treatment increased cell viability on ethanol- and H₂O₂-induced HepG2 cells. FPB ameliorated serum biomarkers related to hepatoxicity including glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamine pyruvic transaminase, total bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase and lipid metabolism including triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Also, FPB controlled ethanol metabolism enzymes by regulating the protein expression levels of ADH, ALDH, and cytochrome P450 2E1 in liver tissue. FPB protected hepatic oxidative stress by improving malondialdehyde content, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase levels. In addition, FPB reversed mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP levels. FPB protected ethanol-induced apoptosis, fatty liver, and hepatic inflammation through p-AMP-activated protein kinase and TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, FPB prevented hepatic fibrosis by decreasing TGF-β1/Smad pathway. In summary, these results suggest that FPB might be a potential prophylactic agent for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease via preventing liver injury such as fatty liver, hepatic inflammation due to chronic ethanol-induced oxidative stress.