• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.334-340
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• 2014

In this study, 23 oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins were isolated from a methanol extract of the roots of Pulsatilla koreana. The NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was measured in $TNF{\alpha}$-treated HepG2 cells using a luciferase reporter system. Compounds 19-23 inhibited $TNF{\alpha}$-stimulated NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in a dose-dependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from $0.75-8.30{\mu}M$. Compounds 19 and 20 also inhibited the $TNF{\alpha}$-induced expression of iNOS and ICAM-1 mRNA. Moreover, effect of the isolated compounds on PPARs transcriptional activity was assessed. Compounds 7-11 and 19-23 activated PPARs the transcriptional activity significantly in a dose-dependent manner, with $EC_{50}$ values ranging from $0.9-10.8{\mu}M$. These results suggest the presence of potent anti-inflammatory components in P. koreana, and will facilitate the development of novel anti-inflammatory agents.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.487-493
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• 2016

The antimicrobial activity of bovine lactoferrin hydrolysates (bLFH) was measured against Pseudomonas strains (P. syringae and P. fluorescens) in vitro. To compare susceptibility to bLFH, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined using chemiluminescence assays and paper disc plate assays. Antimicrobial effect against P. fluorescens was not observed by either assay, suggesting that bLFH did not exhibit antimicrobial activity against P. fluorescens. However, a significant inhibition of P. syringae growth was observed in the presence of bLFH. The addition of bLFH in liquid or solid medium inhibited growth of P. syringae in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a bLFH peptide with antimicrobial activity toward P. syringae was isolated and identified. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of thus obtained antimicrobial bLFH peptides were analyzed by a protein sequencer and were found to be Leu-Arg-Ile-Pro-Ser-Lys-Val-Asp-Ser-Ala and Phe-Lys-Cys-Arg-Arg-Trp-Gln-Trp-Arg-Met. The latter peptide sequence is known to be characteristic of lactoferricin. Therefore, in the present study, we identified a new antimicrobial peptide against P. syringae, present within the N-terminus and possessing the amino acid sequence of Leu-Arg-Ile-Pro-Ser-Lys-Val-Asp-Ser-Ala.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 1986

The smear method developed by Velaskar and Chitre was modified to allow the screening of plant extracts and/or fractions for platelet anti-aggregating activity. The modified smear method was also found suitable for massive screening of pure compounds. Sample fractions prepared from various plant extracts were examined for their effects against ADP, arachidonic acid (AA) or collagen induced platelet aggregations. Several solvent fractions of plant extracts including water fraction prepared from the methanol extract of Acanthopanax sp. was inhibitory against rat platelet aggregations. The activity guided treatments and fractionations of the water fraction from A. senticosus Max yielded two anti-platelet aggregatory substances, 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (I) and its artefact ethyl 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoate(II). The inhibitory activities of I and II against rat platelet aggregation were compared with that of aspirin, a known inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Discussions also included the results of the investigations on the structural activity relationships among the various dihydroxybenzoic acid derivatives against platelet aggregations induced by either one of ADP, AA or collagen.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

The methanol extract of 12 medicinal plants were evaluated for its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (5 strains) and Gram-negative bacteria (10 strains) by assay for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC). The antibacterial activity was determined by an agar dilution method (according to the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute). All the compounds (12 extracts) of the 8 medicinal plants (leaf or root) were active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative showed a more potent action than Gram positive bacteria. The MIC concentrations were various ranged from $0.6\;{\mu}g/ml$ to $5000\;{\mu}g/ml$. The lowest MIC ($0.6\;{\mu}g/ml$) and MBC ($1.22\;{\mu}g/ml$) values were obtained with extract on 4 and 3 of the 15 microorganisms tested, respectively.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.213-216
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• 2008

Continentalic acid (CA, (-)-pimara-8(14), 15-diene-19-oic acid) was isolated from the roots of Aralia cordata (Araliaceae) using bioassay-guided fractionation of a crude chloroform extract. The antibacterial activity of CA against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus gallinarium was estimated by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). CA exhibited potent activity against standard vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (VSE), with MICs and MBCs values between 4 and $8{\mu}g/mL$ and 4 and $16{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. This compound exhibited potent activity against strains of VRE, which are highly resistant to clinically useful antibiotics. These findings suggest that continentalic acid may be useful in controlling enterococcal infection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.693-697
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• 2004

YH-1715R, (2R,3R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(3-methoxy-1,2,4-isothiazol-3-yl-thio)-1-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-l-yl)-2-butanol, a new triazole derivative obtained by the structural modification of fluconazole, was found to exhibit potent anti-Candida activity against a wide variety of Candida albicans (C. albicans) (MIC: 0.4-12.5 mg/l). To investigate the mode of action of YH-1715R, its effect on ergosterol biosynthesis in cell-free extracts and whole cells of C. albicans was examined. The inhibitory activity of YH-1715R was approximately ten-fold higher than that of fluconazole. To determine the primary action mechanism of YH-1715R, its inhibitory activity against lanosterol $14\alpha$-demethylase (14$\alpha$-DM), a major target for azole, was measured using gas-liquid chromatography. YH-1715R and fluconazole were found to inhibit 14a-DM with an $IC_{50}$ of 0.015 $\mu$M and 0.01$8\mu$M, respectively, plus the mode of inhibition of YH-1715R and fluconozole was noncompetitive with a $K_i$ of 0.0533$\mu$M and 0.0975$\mu$M.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2014

Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides $Rk_3$ and $Rs_4$ exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ in a dose-dependent manner. SF and $Rg_6$ also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.4 s.143
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• pp.273-277
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• 2005

In mammalian melanocytes, melanin synthesis is controlled by tyrosinase, the key enzyme in the pigment synthesis. In this study, to develop a new whitening agent, we have investigated the antioxidant and the inhibitory effect of Artemisia anomala extract on tyrosinase activity and melanigenesis in the B16/F1 melanoma cells. The inhibition ratio of tyrosinase activity of butanol fraction from A. anomala was higher than that of arbutin ($97.5{\pm}0.5%$ at the concentration of 2 mg/ml). The butanol fraction was shown scavenging activities of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and superoxide anion radicals in a dose dependent manner. The highest inhibitory activity of melanogenesis was also butanol fraction ($25.0{\pm}3%$ at the concentration of $200\;{\mu}g/ml$). From these results, we suggest that the A. anomala extract might be used to be a potential agent for skin whitening.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2012

In this study, a medicinal herbal plant, Meliae fructus, was examined and screened for anti-Helicobacter (H.) pylori activity. Seventy percent ethanol was used for herbal extraction. For anti-H. pylori activity screening, inhibitory zone tests as an in vitro assay and in vivo study using a Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) model were performed. Also, the safety of herbal compounds was evaluated by animal study. As a result of inhibitory zone test, Meliae fructus extract demonstrated strong anti-H. pylori activities. Also, as results of in vivo animal studies, Meliae fructus demonstrated strong therapeutic effects against H. pylori infection according to the criteria of histological examination and rapid urease test. As results of the safety study, after 28 days treatment of the Meliae fructus extract, the animals were not detected any grossly and histological changes. These results demonstrate that it can be successfully cured against H. pylori infection and protected from H. pylori-induced pathology with Meliae fructus. It could be a promising native herbal treatment for patients with gastric complaints including gastric ulcer caused by H. pylori.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.634-638
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• 1998

The effects of MeOH extracts from 88 herbal medicines on monoamine oxidase (MAO) acitivity were investigated. MAO was purified from mouse brain and its activity was determined by fluorospectrophotometer using kynuramine as a substrate. The $K_m\;and\;V_{max}$ values (n=4) of MAO were $78.2{\pm}4.0\;{\mu}M$ and $0.65{\pm}0.05$ nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Four MeOH extracts from Melilotus sauvelolens, Eupatorium lindleyanum Bupleurum longiradiatum and Sorbaria sirbiforia showed a strong inhibitory effect with less than $100{\mu}g/ml$ in their $IC_{50}$ values on MAO activity. Six MeOH extracts including Agastache rugosa showed a mild inhibitory effect with 100~200${\mu}$g/ml in their $IC_{50}$ values. Twenty-two MeOH extracts including Melandryum seoulense exhibited a week inhibition of MAO activity with 200~300${\mu}$g/ml in their $IC_{50}$ values.