• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2017

To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of natural products, we determined the anti-inflammatory activity of purified epigallocatechin (EGC) from Camellia sinensis leaves. In the present study, we found that EGC inhibited the production of proinflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NO, and $PGE_2$) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. Suppression of IL-6 seems to be at least partly attributable to the inhibitory effect of EGC. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a major cytokine produced by LPS-induced macrophages, and they have a wide variety of biological functions including regulation of inflammation. The inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production by EGC may downregulate the acute-phase response to LPS, thereby reducing LPS-induced inflammation. In addition to IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, EGC effectively reduced the production of other key inflammatory mediators, including NO and $PGE_2$. The inhibitory effect of EGC on NO and $PGE_2$ production was supported by the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and COX-2 at protein levels. These results support the traditional use of EGC in the alleviation of various inflammation-associated diseases and suggest that EGC might be useful in the development of new functional foods for inflammatory diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.230-233
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• 2011

To evaluate the potential of naturally occurring aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors from food material, MeOH extract and stepwise polarity fractions from tartary buckwheat and two common Korean buckwheat cultivars, yangjul-maemil and daesan-maemil, were tested on AR inhibition in rat lens in vitro. The EtOAc fraction from tartary buckwheat exhibited good AR inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$ value, $8.19\;{\mu}g$/ml). A portion of the EtOAc fraction from tartary buckwheat led to the isolation of rutin by MeOH recrystalization. Rutin exhibited good AR inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$ value, $9.28\;{\mu}M$). These results suggest that tartary buckwheat could be a useful food material in the development of a novel AR inhibitory agent against diabetic complications.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.145-163
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• 2003

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the depigmentation effects of Aloe, Camellia sinensis and Mel. Methods : Inhibition of tyrosinase activity, melanin production & melanoma cell viability in cultured B16 melanoma cells, UV screen and cytoprotective effects on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide were measured. Results : Aloe has some inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity, on the other hand Camellia sinensis and Mel do not have. They did not show any inhibitory effects on melanin production in melanoma cells and cytoprotective effects on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide. Aloe and Camellia sinensis have some inhibitory effects on UV screen. Conclusions : This study shows that Aloe and Camellia sinensis which were generally used for external application have some depigmentation effects. Following this, We should use them for whitening agents and the depigmentation effects of the other natural subjects which were generally used for external application should be examined.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.173-176
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to improve the palatability of fermented red pepper soybean paste (Kochujang). Five individual models of Kochujang were prepared the following: control, glutinous rice containing 50% (A) and 100% (B) of barley, glutinous rice containing 1.5% (C) and 3.0% (D) of red rice. These Kochujangs were prepared and fermented for 60 days at 30 in a crock, and examined for changes in their physicochemical properties. There were no distinguishable change in their pH, acidity, formol-N content. L (lightness)-, a (redness)- and b (yellowness)-values were decreased rapidly until 20 days of fermentation. After 60 days, the values of L-, a- and b- of A, B Kochujang were increased than those of control, C, D Kochujang. Sensory profiles of color, flayer, taste and overall quality on the final products which fermented for 60 days showed that there were no differences in quality of each models. HMG-Co A reductase inhibitory activities were observed in 1.5% of red rice containing Kochujang.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.136-142
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• 2014

In an attempt to find natural sources of antioxidants and whitening agents, comparisons of the antioxidative and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of various ethanol extracts of Cuscutae Semen, Rubi Fructus and Paeoniae Radix were carried out. Comparison of the three ethanol extracts revealed that, Paeoniae Radix had the highest electron-donating ability(79.3%),; however, Rubi Fructus had the highest SOD-like ability(31.1%). The xanthine oxidase experiment exhibited a hindrance effect of 74.3% in Cuscutae Semen, 80.4% in Rubi Fructus and 60.8% in Paeoniae Radix. A tyrosinase inhibitory activity assay was conducted to evaluate the whitening effects of the extracts, The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was 20.1% in the Cuscutae Semen, 54.2% in the Rubi Fructus, 56.3% in the Paeoniae Radix. Based on these results, we suggest that the ethanol extracts of Cuscutae Semen, Rubi Fructus and Paeoniae Radix can be used as food and cosmetic ingredients.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1088-1092
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• 2009

A series of 2-alkyl or 2-arylthio-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (2-Thio-DMNQ, 5a-s) and 2-alkylamino-5,8- dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (2-Amino-DMNQ, 6a-k) was synthesized and evaluated for their ACAT inhibitory activities. Among them, the 2-dodecylthio-DMNQ 5l and 2-isobutylamidoundodecylthio-DMNQ 5r showed the most potent ACAT inhibitory activities with $IC_{50}$ value of 22.8 and 24.4 ${\mu}M$, respectively. In a structure-activity relationship study, 2-thio-DMNQs with side chains of carbon number 11 $\sim$ 15 exhibited significant ACAT inhibitory activities.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.622-628
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• 2014

The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) seeds for the management of type 2 diabetes by controlling glucose absorption. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory effects of the hexane extracts from oriental melon seeds were investigated. A bioassay-guided fractionation technique was used to elucidate the principal active components. The results show that the hexane extract from oriental melon seeds exhibited high inhibitory activities against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase. The hexane extract was further fractionated into four sub-fractions. Among them, the sub-fraction F-1 exhibited the most potent anti-diabetic effect. The active components were isolated and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Free fatty acids showed significant hypoglycemic activity (p < 0.001) and fatty acid composition influenced enzyme inhibitory activities. These results suggest that oriental melon seeds could be used to prevent type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.102-108
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• 1996

Inhibitory effects of tannic acid on the lipid peroxidation induced by UVB were investigated. Tannic acid was administered either topically or orally for 3 days to hairless mice, which were previously irradiated with UVB, and inhibitory effects of tannic acid were measured. The UVB was found to cause skin erythema and hemolysis. When tannic acid was administered either topically or orally, hemolysis was decreased. After the skin was irradiated by UVB, the production of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased in erythrocyte and skin tissue, and the activities of SOD and catalase were significantly increased in plasma and skin tissue. In case of oral treatment, catalase activity was not significantly increased. The inhibitory effects of tannic acid on malondialdehyde production, SOD inhibition and catalase inhibition were more prominent in orally administerd groups than in topically administerri groups. However, the difference between two groups was not statistically significant. In conclusion, tannic acid decreased lipid peroxidation possibly by free radical scavenger action. The route of administrations, topical or oral, did not affect the antioxidative activity of tannic acid.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.531-537
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• 2006

Lactic acid-producing bacteria (LABs) are known to have various beneficial properties for health. However, they are generally considered to have an adverse effect on teeth, since they produce acid. Nonetheless, milk and cheese containing specific LAB strains were recently found to have an inhibitory effect on dental caries in children, with an inhibitory activity towards the growth of Streptococcus mutans suggested as the responsible mechanism. Accordingly, the current study selected a probiotic candidate for oral health and studied its inhibitory mechanism against dental caries. Twenty-two LAB species belonging to eleven genuses were screened for promoting bone nodule formation using direct microscopic examination. Only one isolate, Weissella kimchii strain PL9001, increased the bone nodule formation significantly. The addition of W. kimchii strain PL9001 to bone cells prepared from mouse calvaria increased the bone nodule formation, calcium accumulation, and activity of alkaline phosphatase (the osteoblastic marker). Moreover, W. kimchii strain PL9001 inhibited the invasion of Streptococcus mutans into bone cells, and an organic extract of the culture supernatant of W. kimchii strain PL9001 inhibited the growth of Strep. mutans. Therefore, the results suggest that W. kimchii strain PL9001 can be used as a preventive measure against dental caries. This is the first time that a LAB has been shown to promote bone nodule formation and prevent the invasion of Strep. mutans into bone cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.156-161
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• 2006

The essential oil of Nardostachys jatamansi (Valerianaceae), which has been used for a long time in aroma therapy, was investigated after inhalation or oral administration for its analgesic effect, anticonvulsant action, hypnotic effect and in vitro inhibitory activity on monoamine oxidase. This fragrance oil showed a significant analgesic effect in the phenylquinone-induced .writhing test, suppressed the convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole and lengthened the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in a time-dependent manner after fragrance inhalation or dose-independently by oral administration. Its inhibitory activity on monoamine oxidase was remarkable, showing $49.4\%$ inhibition at a concentration of 5.0 mg/ml. Six new terpenes with seven known compounds were detected by our GC-MS analytical conditions used. As a result, the essential oil fragrance of Nardostachys jatamansi would be clinically useful for a sedative by either inhalation or oral administration.