• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.751-757
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of mulberry (Morus alba) sugar extracts (MSE) against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. The MSEs was mixed with matured mulberry and sugar at the same ratio (1:1, w/w) and stored at $18{\pm}3^{\circ}C$ for 40 days. In 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test, MSE stored for 40 days showed high activity with a ratio above 66%. Therefore, we selected 40 days as the optimum storage period. After cell viability analysis using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we determined that the optimum concentration of MSE was 0.5%. Our results showed that MSE increased the cell viability and antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells. Moreover, the treatment with MSE inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells. We also observed a reduction in apoptotic bodies in the Hoechst staining. These data show that MSE treatment significantly suppressed caspase-3 activity in HepG2 cells expored to $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress, thereby indicationg the protective effects of MSE in $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2012

Sikhae is a traditional Korean fermented seafood with a 7-10% salt concentration. Consumers have begun to look for low-salt food because excess salt is known to cause hypertension and gastric cancer. The quality characteristics of low-salt squid sikhae were investigated at different fermentation temperatures and periods, so as to determine its shelflife. The shelf-life of the low-salt (5%) squid sikhae at $-1^{\circ}C$ based on pH was 142 days. The functional activities of the ethanol extract of squid sikhae such as its antioxidant activity and inhibitions on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, and elastase were stronger than those of the water extract. Based on the results of sensory evaluation, the low-salted squid sikhae was very similar to fermented seafood. In conclusion, low-salt sikhae is commercially viable.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.1121-1126
• /
• 2010

The oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of methanolic extracts of Prunella Spica (PSE) against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells. The cells exposed to $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress were treated with various concentrations of PSE; this treatment resulted in the induction of a dose-dependent protective effect, which was evidenced by the results of MTT reduction assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, morphological assay, and colony-formation assay. Interestingly, we also observed reduction of apoptotic bodies in the Hoechst staining and flow cytometric analysis. These data show that apoptosis was significantly suppressed in the PC12 cells that were exposed to $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and treated with PSE. These results suggest that Prunella Spica could be a new potential protective agent against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.736-744
• /
• 2010

The root of Playtcodon grandiflorum, called Platycodi radix, has been a favorite edible plant in Asia and contains a large amount of saponins. Melanoma cells (B16F10) were used to investigate the inhibitory effect of aged black Platycodi radix extract (ABPRE) on oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Platycodon radix has been known to have a variety of medicinal effects such as prevention of gastric ulcers, antiallergenic activities, histamine release inhibition, and antioxidant effects. However, the mechanism of its action remains unclear in humans. ABPRE was prepared using ethanol extraction of aged black Platycodi radix. In an antioxidant effect study of ABPRE, it was observed that ABPRE specifically exhibited the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, but did not inhibit the production of malondialdehyde from lipid peroxidation. DNA oxidation was also blocked in the presence of ABPRE. In addition, ABPRE decreased the expression and activation of MMP-2 stimulated by phenazine methosulfate. Furthermore, ABPRE revealed the inhibitory effect on melanin production induced by L-dopa via antioxidant effect and the reduction of tyrosinase expression. Especially, the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD-1 and SOD-2 regulated by Nrf2 was increased in the presence of ABPRE. Therefore, it appears that ABPRE may be a possible chemopreventive agent for the prevention of metastasis related to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.973-980
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to explore new nutraceutical resources from the plant kingdom possessing biological activities. To fulfill this purpose, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Decaisnea insignis ethanol extract (DIEE) were evaluated. First, DIEE possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), similar to ascorbic acid used as a positive control. Moreover, DIEE inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, DIEE induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), in a dose-dependent manner. The modulation of the HO-1 and Nrf2 expressions might be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and their upstream signaling pathways. On the other hand, DIEE suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of the NO formation was the result of the downregulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by DIEE. The suppression of NO and iNOS by DIEE might be modulated by their upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), and activator protein 1 (AP-1) pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights that D. insignis possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it might be utilized as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.648-654
• /
• 2014

Grape pruning stems constitute a scarcely investigated class of byproducts with limited reports on their bioactive polyphenol content and/or industrial applications. Herein we present the outcome of our investigation on grape pruning stems extracts, concerning the assessment of their total polyphenolic content and the detailed evaluation of their antioxidant properties. Results obtained indicate that grape pruning stems are particularly rich in flavonoids and trans-resveratrol. The antioxidant activities was analyzed and expressed as electron donating ability, ABTS cation radical decolorization, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity, the antioxidant activity of Vitis labrusca L. pruning stems extracted (GPSE) was higher than that of BHA and L-ascrobic acid. The whitening and anti-wrinkle activities display an capability. Results herein grape pruning stems used as a valuable resource for the extraction of resveratrol, which would be added to functional cosmetics and food materials.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.1452-1461
• /
• 2017

Melanin production by melanocytes in human hair follicles decreases with time and leads to the graying process, which is a phenotype of human aging and an index of aging. The reduction in melanin production is the result of decreased tyrosinase activity in hair follicles and an accumulation of active oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide. This study investigated antioxidant effects and melanin-promoting effects in B16F1 cells treated with black sesame ethanolic nonpolar-soluble extract (SBEEO) and black sesame ethanolic polar-soluble extract (SBEEP). In antioxidation experiments, both SBEEP and SBEEO did not eliminate 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, but SBEEO at $64{\mu}g/ml$ showed low reducing power. SBEEP exerted cytotoxic effects at concentrations greater than $8{\mu}g/ml$, whereas SBEEO showed cytotoxic effects at concentrations greater than $4{\mu}g/ml$. SBEEP and SBEEO induced melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity, and DOPA oxidase activity in vitro. In live cells, melanin synthesis was greater in the SBEEP treatment group as compared with that in the SBEEO treatment group. SBEEP stimulated melanin synthesis by modulating the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which is an important enzyme in melanin synthesis. These results imply that SBEEP obtained from black sesame ethanolic extract may have the potential to improve melanin synthesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.721-729
• /
• 2013

To improve the quality and functionality of the low salt squid Jeot-gal, extracts from three types of medicinal and edible plants (bay leaf, green tea, pine needle) were added. The quality characteristics, bioactivities, and shelf-lives of these preparations were determined at three different fermentation temperatures. The pH decreased more rapidly at higher temperatures, while the amount of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), total viable cells, and amino nitrogen ($NH_2$-N) increased. The shelf-lives of Jeot-gal with natural plant extracts at $10^{\circ}C$ were 34~35 days, similar to the control. The major free and compositional amino acids of Jeot-gal were glutamic acid, proline, and alanine, while the major nucleotides (and related compounds) were hypoxanthine and inosine. In bioactivity assays, samples supplemented with plant extracts showed higher bioactivities than the control. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of ethanol extracts from Jeot-gal were stronger than the water extracts; in contrast, the water extracts were stronger for hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. However, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity and ${\beta}$-glucuronidase inhibitory activity were moderately low at 20 mg/mL. Based on sensory evaluation results, the quality of low salt squid Jeot-gal with natural plant extracts is similar to the control. Therefore, low salt squid Jeot-gal with natural plant extracts can be commercialized as a functional fermented food.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2006

Enzymatic extracts were prepared from the blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) collected in Jeju, Korea. Five carbohydrases namely AMG, Celluclast, Termamyl, Ultraflo and Viscozyme, and five proteases namely Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Kojizyme, Neutrase and Protamex were used to prepare the enzymatic extracts. Antioxidant properties of each extracts were studied using stable 1,1-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, metal chelating assays and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity in hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid system. The phenolic content of all enzymatic extracts was in the range of 517.85-597.96 mg/100 g dried sample. DPPH and NO${\cdot}$scavenging, and metal chelating assays exhibited prominent activities. Viscozyme showed the highest DPPH activity $(0.046{\pm}0.002\;mg/mL)$ while AMG Showed the highest activity in NO${\cdot}$scavenging $(0.339{\pm}0.011\;mg/mL)$. All the extracts exhibited strong metal chelating activities. Blueberry enzymatic extracts also showed relatively good activity in hydrogen peroxide scavenging. AMG showed the highest lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity $(0.28{\pm}0.01\;mg/mL)$ in hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid system. In this results, the blueberry, which has potential antioxidant components, may be a good candidate as a natural antioxidant source.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.1073-1081
• /
• 2000

The photo-oxidation of an aqueous humic acid solution using $TiO_2$ sols. which is transparent in visible range, was studied. The $TiO_2$ sols were prepared by a process wherein hydrogen peroxide was added to a gel of $TiO(OH)_2$ originated from hydrolysis of $TiCl_4$, and the resulting titanium peroxo solution(TPS) was heated. The concentration of $TiO_2$ used for photo-oxidation was about 100ppm, determined by comparing the photoluminescence(PL) intensity measured as a function of $TiO_2$ concentration. $TiO_2$ sols aged at $100^{\circ}C$ for more than 12h were found to exhibit a maximum rate in photocatalytic decomposition of humic acid. and the efficiency was better than that of Degussa P25. In addition, the resulting aqueous humic acid after photocatalytic decomposition with sols had an excellent transmittance of visible light, while that treated with Degussa P25 was still turbid. caused by $TiO_2$ particles.