• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.791-798
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• 2014

Cirsium setidens Nakai, a wild perennial, is widely consumed as a food and traditional medicine in Korea. In addition, diverse functionalities of C. setidens Nakai, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, have been reported. However, whether or not C. setidens Nakai and its major compound, pectolinarin have high nutritional value and functional properties remains unknown. This paper investigated the proximate compositions, mineral contents, hepatoprotective activities, hepatic fat accumulation inhibitory activities, and anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of C. setidens Nakai and its component parts, including of pectolinarin. The result showed that C. setidens Nakai and its major compounds have potential as a functional food material with natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.685-690
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• 2010

Rubiadin, a major compound of noni ($Morinda$ $citrifolia$) adventitious root, is highly valued in pharmaceutical industry due to hepatoprotective activity. To dissect rubiadin's effective extraction condition, extraction process of noni adventitious roots was performed with different solvent types, ratio of water to methanol (water, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% of methanol), extraction time, and extraction method. In contrast, we also developed a reverse- phase HPLC assay method to determine rubiadin from noni adventitious roots. The HPLC assay of rubiadin was performed by C-18 column using a gradient solvent system of methanol and water with UV detector at 280 nm. The extraction efficiency of different types of solvents were increased in order of methanol (0.08%) > ethanol (0.05%) > acetonitrile (0.03%) > acetone (0.02%) and methylene chloride (0.02%). The results of rubiadin extraction using different solvents showed that 1 hour of ultrasonic extraction was effective in order of 60% methanol (0.21%) > 80% methanol (0.13%) > 100% methanol (0.07%), 40% methanol (0.07%) and 2 hours of reflux extraction was effective in order of 60% methanol (0.21%) > 40% methanol (0.17%) > 80% methanol (0.14%). To compare the extraction efficiency of rubiadin according to the extraction methods and time for high rubiadin content, the extracts of rubiadin in noni adventitious roots were isolated with the methods of ultrasonic extraction, shaking extraction and reflux extraction. Rubiadin extracted from the methods of ultrasonic waves and shaking displayed the highest contents at 8 and 24 hours, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.3 s.70
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• pp.461-467
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the biological activity and hepatoprotective effect of DWP-04 [DDB : selenium yeast: glutathione (31.1 : 6.8 : 62.1(w/w/w)] in D-galactosamine (GaIN) intoxicated rats. The DWP-04 (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or its vehicle was orally administered everyday before the start of GaIN injection (400 mg/kg, ip) for two weeks and animal decapitated for 24 hrs after GaIN­injected. The activities of serum enzymes, markers of liver function, were increased in the GaIN group compared to normal group and significantly lowered in the DWP-04 pretreated group than in the GaIN group. Hepatic lipid peroxide level and activities of phase 1 enzymes were significantly higher than those of GaIN group compared to normal group and lower in the DWP-04 pretreated group than in the GaIN group, and phase II enzyme activities in liver were lower in the GaIN group than in the normal group and were increased in the DWP-04 pretreated group than in the GaIN group. Total hepatic glutathione content and glutathione biosynthesis enzymes were lower in the GaIN group than in the normal group and were increased in the DWP-04 pretreated group than in the GaIN group. Therefore, the current results indicated that DWP-04 administration alleviated the GaIN-induced adverse effect through enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.207-217
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• 2011

Objectives : In a previous study, we have shown that Gagam-Gongjin-Dan(GGD) has an inhibitory effect on the ovalbumin-induced immune responses and a hepatoprotective effect on actaminophen-induced liver injury in Balb/c Mice. However, the possible anti-inflammatory effect of GGD extract for inflammatory mediators was not reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate an inhibitory effects of GGD extract against lipopolysaccharides(LPS) induced inflammatory mediators in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Methods : GGD extract was prepared by extracting with methanol for 7 days. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through vacuum distillation system. Accumulated nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide(NO), was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) were measured by Western blot analysis. Results : GGD extract (50-$400\;{\mu}g$/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. GGD extract dose-dependently reduced NO, $PGE_2$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ production and COX-2 activity caused by stimulation of LPS. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions were markedly suppressed by the treatment with GGD extract in a dose dependent manner. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGD extract has an anti-inflammatory effect against LPS-induced inflammatory mediators in peritoneal macrophages, these properties may contribute to inflammation disease care.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.904-912
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• 2013

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of cordycepin-increased Cordyceps militaris strain on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6) based on six dietary categories: normal (N), $CCl_4$ control (C), $CCl_4$ plus Paecilomyces japonica (CPJ) (3%, w/w), $CCl_4$ plus C. militaris (CCM) (3%, w/w), and $CCl_4$ plus cordycepin-increased C. militaris ($CCM{\alpha}$) (3%, w/w). The activities of the liver marker enzymes ALT, AST, and LDH and the levels of lipid peroxidation were increased in the $CCl_4$-treated groups, but these parameters were significantly decreased in the $CCM{\alpha}$ group. The TBARS content in the liver homogenate, microsome, and mitochondrial fractions of the C group was significantly elevated compared with the N group. However, in the $CCl_4$-treated groups, $CCM{\alpha}$ group was significantly lowered in the TBARS levels of hepatic homogenate and microsomal fractions. The C group showed a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, whereas they were significantly increased in the $CCM{\alpha}$ group. Accordingly, cordycepin-increased C. militaris may be an ideal animal model for studying hepatoprotective effects.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2006

The effects of fermented chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) powder on the lipid concentrations and the activities of liver marker enzymes of serum in genetically diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats were investigated. Rats were fed a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 50 g/kg chaga mushroom powder (CM) or 50 g/kg fermented chaga mushroom powder (FCM) for 8 weeks (26 to 34 weeks of age). Nondiabetic Long-Evans Toknshima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as age-matched nondiabetic control animals. Water consumption was significantly higher in the OLETF control than the LETO rats. Water consumption in the FCM-fed OLETF rats tended to be less than in both the OLETF control and CM-fed OLETF rats. Serum concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly higher in the OLETF control rats than in the LETO rats while within the OLETF rat groups, the consumption of FCM resulted in a significantly lower serum triglyceride concentration and slightly lowered serum total cholesterol concentration when compared to the OLETF control and CM-fed rats. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly higher in the OLETF control than in the LETO rats, but this difference was significantly reduced compared to the CM-fed rats and essentially no difference in the ALT levels was observed between the LETO and OLETF-FCM rats. This observation suggests an adaptive effect of the fermented chaga mushroom in liver function. Livers of the LETO rats showed no histopathological changes, whereas those of the OLETF control rats were characterized by many fat depositions in the central zone of the hepatocytes. The livers of the OLETF CM-fed rats showed less fatty changes compared to the OLETF control rats and fat deposition in the hepatocytes was nearly absent. These results suggest that orally ingested fermented chaga mushroom has a potential beneficial effect on the complications known to occur in the obesity-related non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NlDDM) OLETF rat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of dandelion water extract (DWE) on liver injury induced by D-galactosamine (GalN) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Fifty rats were divided into 5 groups; normal control (C), DWE-control (DWE-C: saline injection after feeding 3% DWE diet), GalN-control (GalN-C: GalN injection after normal diet), DWE I (GalN injection after feeding 1.5% DWE diet), and DWE II (GalN injection after feeding 3% DWE diet). After 2 weeks, the acute hepatitis was induced by GalN (650 mg/kg, i.p.) and 24 hrs later, all rats were sacrificed. The DWE supplement ameliorated the serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (AST, ALT) as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$. Hepatic antioxidative enzyme activities, such as catalase, GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase, and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) were slightly or significantly elevated by the treatment of DWE. Moreover, the histological examination corresponded with these biochemical observations. According to these findings, dandelion could be used as a potential therapeutic material for treating chemically induced acute hepatitis.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.108-109
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• 2003

Ursolic acid (UA) and Oleanolic acid (ONA), known as urson, micromerol, prunol and malol, are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds which naturally occur in a large number of vegetarian foods, medicinal herbs, and plants. They may occur in their free acid form or as aglycones for triterpenoid saponins, which are comprised of a triterpenoid aglycone, linked to one or more sugar moieties. Therefore UA and ON A are similar in pharmacological activity. Lately scientific research, which led to the identification of UA and ONA, revealed that several pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperlipidemic could be attributed to UA and ONA. Here, we introduced the effects of UA and ONA on acute barrier disruption and normal epidermal permeability barrier function. To clarify the effects of UA and ONA on skin barrier recovery, both flank skin of 8-12 weeks hairless mice were topically treated with samples (2mg/ml) after tape stripping, then measured recovery rate using TEWL on hairless mice. The recovery rate increased in UA and ONA treated groups at 6h more than 20% compared to vehicle treated group (p <0.05). For verifying the effects of UA and ONA on normal epidermal barrier, hydration and TEWL were measured for 1 and 3 weeks after UA and ONA applications (2mg/ml per day). We also investigated the features of epidermis and dermis using electron microscopy (EM) and light microscopy (LM). Both samples increased hydration compared to Vehicle group from 1 week without TEWL alteration (p<0.005). EM examination using Ru04 and OsO4 fixation revealed that secretion and numbers of lamellar bodies and complete formation of lipid bilayers were most prominent (ONA$\geq$UA>Vehicle). LM finding showed that stratum corneum was slightly increased and especially epidermal thickening and flattening was observed (UA>ONA>Vehicle). Using Masson-trichrome and elastic fiber staining, we observed collagen thickening and elastic fiber increasing by UA and ONA treatments. In vitro results of collagen and elastin synthesis and elastase inhibitory experiments were also confirmed in vivo findings. This result suggested that the effects of UA and ONA related to not only skin barrier but also collagen and elastic fibers. Taken together, UA and ONA can be relevant candidates to improve barrier function and pertinent agents for cosmetic applications.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.934-942
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• 2009

This study was performed to observe the effect of hot-water extracts from garlic and 13 kinds of medicinal plants composites (GMP) on hyperlipidemia and hepatoprotective activity in rats administered with alcohol. Male Sprague-Dawly rats were fed an AIN-93 diet (Normal), a normal diet plus ethanol (control, 10 ml of 40% ethanoljkgjday), a control diet plus 0.5% garlic and 1.0% medicinal plants composites extracts (GMP-I), and a control diet plus 1.0% garlic and medicinal plants composites extracts (GMP-II) for 7 days. Blood glucose was higher than the control, but it was markedly decreased in the GMP-II group. Elevation total lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids in serum were markedly decreased in rats fed with GMP-I. GMP-II also inhibited the increase of lipid content in serum. Activities of GOT, GPT, $\gamma$-GTP and ALP in serum elevated by alcohol were significantly inhibited in the GMP group. TBARS content of serum was significantly decreased in GMP groups administered with garlic and medicinal plant extracts. Extracts of garlic and medicinal plants play an important role in recovering liver function in rats from alcohol induced damage.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2006

The effect of methanol extract from Agaricus blazei Murill on the hepatotoxicity was investigated $CCl_4$ is one of the oldest and most widely used toxins for the induction of hepatic damages and fibrosis in experimental animals. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of the control(C), $CCl_4(T),\;CCl_4$ and high fat group(TL) with matching sub-groups of Agaricus blazei Murill extract-fed groups of CA, TA and TLA. Methanol extracts of Agaricus blazei Murill were fed 50 mg/kg B.W daily via drinking water. A 1.2 mL of $CCl_4/kg$ body weight was administered by oral intubation twice a week for total of six times. The levels of total-cholesterol, TG, LDL and LDL-phospholipids were elevated by $CCl_4$ treatment as compared to the control(C). However, Agaricus blazei Murill methanol extract feeding in the group of TA and TLA significantly(p<0.05) decreased TG by 53.1 % and 17.9% compared to the internal control of T and TL, respectively. Triglyceride of TL was increased by 3.33 times(p<0.05) compared to the control(C) with $CCl_4$ and high fat administration from 3.78 mg/g to 12.60 mg/g liver. The extract(CA) also reduced kidney weight compared to the control(C). With the administration of high fat and $CCl_4$(TLA), the extract reduced the organ weight of both liver and kidney and further, significantly reduced TG, total cholesterol and GTP activity. Hepatoprotective effects of Agaricus blazei Murill on GOT, GPT, AP and LDH activities were enhanced by the extract feeding. Electronmicrograph showed that $CCl_4$ deteriorated the structure of cytoplasmic matrix with its uneven distribution. However, the extract reconstituted the damaged cytoplasm and stimulated mitochondriogenesis. The above results suggest that Agaricus blazei Murill may have a possible protective effect against chemically induced liver damage and further help to reduce the symptoms of fatty liver.