• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2016

The seed of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) has been reported to suppress human cancer cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms by which safflower seed inhibits cancer cell proliferation have remained nuclear. In this study, the inhibitory effect of the safflower seed (SS) on the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and the potential mechanism of action were examined. SS inhibited markedly the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, SW480, LoVo and HT-29). In addition, SS suppressed the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). SS treatment decreased cyclin D1 protein level in human colorectal cancer cells and breast cancer cells. But, SS-mediated downregulated mRNA level of cyclin D1 was not observed. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation by MG132 attenuated cyclin D1 downregulation by SS and the half-life of cyclin D1 was decreased in SS-treated cells. In addition, SS increased cyclin D1 phosphorylation at threonine-286 and a point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated SS-mediated cyclin D1 degradation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by PD98059 suppressed cyclin D1 phosphorylation and downregulation of cyclin D1 by SS. In conclusion, SS has anti-proliferative activity by inducing cyclin D1 proteasomal degradation through ERK1/2-dependent threonine-286 phosphorylation of cyclin D1. These findings suggest that possibly its extract could be used for treating colorectal cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.912-918
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• 1999

The chemical compositions of korean and Chinese safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) seed were compared in this study. The proximate compositions were 0.73 and 0.05% of moisture, 19.74 and 18.82% of crude protein, 15.47 and 14.61% of crude fat, 3.78 and 3.87% of crude ash, 14.53 and 10.46% of crude fiber, 46.49 and 52.23% of N-free extracts in the non-roasted safflower seed (NRS) and roasted safflower seed (RS), respectively. Crude fat contents in non-roasted chinese safflower seed (NRCS) and roasted chinese safflower seed (RCS) were 33.30 and 31.22%, which were higher than those of NRS and RS. Unsaturated fatty acid in NRS was 83.2% and 90.9% in NRCS. Linoleic acid was the most predominant fatty acid in NRS (74.0%) and NRCS (74.2%). Sucrose (216.5 mg/100 g) and raffinose (117.5 mg/100 g) were major free sugars in NRS, but sucrose, glucose, fructose and raffinose were in NRCS. Glutamic acid, aspatic acid and arginine were major in total amino acids. 24 kinds of free amino acid were detected in NRS and 11 kinds in RS. Total essential amino acid in NRS ($28.0\;{\mu}g/100\;g$) was higher than that in NRCS ($9.2\;{\mu}g/100\;g$). The organic acids in safflower seed were composed of formic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid and fumaric acid. The content of vitamin E $({\alpha}-tocopherol)$ in NRS and NRCS were 10.5 mg/100 g, 6.2 mg/100 g, NRCS and RCS were 12.8 mg/100 g, 9.4 mg/100 g, respectively. Total carotenoid content in NRCS was $452.0\;{\mu}g/100\;g$ and it was higher than in NRS. The major minerals of safflower seed were K, P, Ca, Mg.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 2002

The therapeutic effect of safflower seed powder on experimental osteoporosis in the rat induced by ovariectomy was evaluated. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized at the age of 12 weeks. Seven weeks postovariectomy, rats were divided into two groups: control and safflower seed powder treated group. Five animals from each group were sacrificed at the following time points: 1, 3, and 5 weeks. Scanning electron microscopic observation and morphometric analysis of the tibiae epiphysis showed that the administration of safflower seed powder significantly prevented reduction of cortical bone width and bone volume compared with the control group. In conclusion, safflower seed powder contains something that prevent bone loss due to estrogen deficiency, and was effective in preventing the osteoporotic decrease of bone mass.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.spc1
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• pp.187-190
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the plant growth and seed yield between rain-shelter plastic house and out-door cultivation, and analysed the effect of harvesting time on seed quality. In rain-shelter plastic house cultivation, emergence date was 3 days and flowering date was 8 days earlier than out-door cultivation. Seed yield of rain-shelter plastic house cultivation was increased $25\%$ compared to out-door cultivation and it's more beneficial than out door cultivation. The crude fat content was higher and seed was whiter and better quality in rain-shelter plastic house cultivation than out-door cultivation. In out-door cultivation, the crude fat content was steadily increased until 40 days after full bloom, but the seed color was getting dark which was harvested at 30 days after full bloom and the color was turn to the dark brown when the seed was harvested at 40 days after full bloom. Harvesting of safflower seed's quality is best between 20 days and 30 days after full bloom.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 1999

Safflower is an important medicinal plant that has been used in China, Korea and Japan for thousands of years. The red and yellow pigments obtained from the petals of safflower can invigorate blood, release stagnation and promote menstruation. In addition, these pigments are used safely in processed foods and soft drinks as naturally harmless rotor additives. On the other hand, the seed of safflower contains 30-40% oil with higher level of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatfy acid profiles and elevated levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol. In this paper, we describe advances in the production of pigments and $\alpha$-tocopherol by cell culture in safflower.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.298-309
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• 2020

Background: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a useful medicinal and oil crop in Korea. However, when safflower is cultivated, the flowering period overlaps with the rainy season, and seed maturation is poor. Therefore, this study aimed to use basic research data to develop superior varieties using agronomic characteristics and crossing method. Methods and Results: A total of 34 safflower germplasms were sown and their agronomic characteristics were investigated. Based on these investigations, the cultivar 'ui-san-hong-hwa' was selected as the mother plant, and 'Myanmar safflower' (Hsu Pan) was selected as the father plant. In addition, we developed a floret-protecting cap to cover florets after emasculation during the artificial crossing. When florets were protected by the cap, the seed setting rate increased in comparison to that in the non-covered florets. Conclusions: Agronomic characteristics can contribute to developing suitable varieties. The results suggest that the protection cap will be helpful in breeding without the floral organ drying. This study contributes an efficient breeding method to develop new safflower varieties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.399-406
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of addition ratio(0, 5, 10 and 20%) of various minor ingredients(prosomillet, glutinous barley, oat, wheat, yellow and black soybean, safflower seed, chocolate etc.) on mechanical and sensory characteristics of Sulgiduk. In mechanical evaluation, hardness, cohesiveness and gumminess were increased with increasing the content of prosomillet, glutinous barley, oat and wheat to be added, and did not show any relationship the content of them to be added on yellow and black soybean, safflower seed and chocolate. In sensory evaluation, quality characteristics of Sulgiduk added with prosomillet, oat, yellow and black soybean and chocolate with $5{\sim}10%$, respectively was better than those of Sulgiduk without the minor ingredients. Change of hardness on Sulgiduk added with oat, yellow soybean, black soybean and chocolate was lower than those of Sulgiduk without them during storage of room temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2006

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs on the improvement of blood glucose, lipid peroxides, lipids in the plasma and liver of strpetozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rats in the experimental group were orally administered with combined extract of safflower seed (100 mg, 200 mg/kg B.W.) with herbs (Ophiopogon japonicus Ker-Gaqler, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Mori Folium, Poria cocos, Rehmannia glutinosa, Eriobtrya japonica, Aralia continentalis Kitagawa, Zizyphus jujuba var, Cornus officinalis, Paeonia suffruticosa, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim and Schizandra chinensis Baill) for 4 weeks. Body weight gain and food efficiency ratio were significantly lower in diabetic groups than those of control group. These were no protective effect of the supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs. Concentration of blood glucose was significantly higher in the diabetic groups than those in the control group. Blood glucose concentration was remarkably lower supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed (200 mg/kg B.W.) with herbs. There was no significant difference of plasma lipid peroxides among experimental groups, while liver lipid peroxides of diabetic group was significantly higher in control group. But supplementation of combined extract of safflower seed with herbs was induced markedly lower in liver lipid peroxides in diabetic rats. Diabetic groups had markedly higher levels in triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, while had lower HDL-cholesterol level. Triglyceride levels of plasma and liver were significantly lower with combined extract of safflower seed with herbs. But total cholesterol, phospholipid and free fatty acid were no differing significantly among experimental groups.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.279-283
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• 2006

This study was conducted to examine the effect of polyphenols from safflower seed on HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) activity, LDL oxidation and Apo A1 secretion from Hep3B cell. The safflower seed polyphenols were matairesinol (Iignan), enterolactone (lignan metabolite), acacetin (flavone) and serotonin derivative. In addition to safflower polyphenols, mevastatin, ${\alpha}-estradiol,\;{\alpha}-tocopherol$ and soy genistein were tested as reference compounds depending on the type of the test. HMGR source was liver microsome obtained from rat fed 2% cholestyramine for 10 days. Inhibition of HMGR activity was greater with mevastatin (53%) than safflower serotonin derivatives (45%), followed by genistein (35%), but was very small with matairesinol, enterolactone and acacetin. LDL oxidation induced by $CuSO_4$ was suppressed by all the test material used in the present study and in the order of safflower serotonin derivatives> matairesinol > ${\beta}-estradiol$ > genistein > acacetin > enterolactone. Apo A1 secretion from Hep3B cell was significantly stimulated by mevastatin, but moderately (p<0.1) by ${\beta}-estradiol$ and genistein as well as enterolactone. These results suggest that the safflower polyphenols improve body lipid status via inhibition of cholesterol synthesis and suppression of LDL oxidation.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.689-693
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• 2009

Germination is well-known to enhance the digestibility, functionality, and palatability of plant seeds. To examine the functionality of germinated-safflower seed (GSS), proliferative and differentiative effects of GSS extract on the mouse calvarial bone cells were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolinbromide (MTT) assay and alkaline phosphatase activity, respectively. Water extract of GSS increased dose-dependently proliferative and differentiative effects on calvarial bone cell, and its effects were stronger than those of ungerminated-safflower seeds (UGSS) extract. One major component was isolated from GSS extract by a series of purification procedure of solvent fractionation, Diaion HP-20, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. Its chemical structure was identified as trachelogenin (TC) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) spectral analysis. Trachelogenin showed significant proliferative (125.7%) and differentiative (132.1%) effects on calvarial bone cells at $10^{-8}M$, and its effects were significantly higher than those of $17{\beta}-estradiol\;(E_2)$. TC was found to be a major active compound responsible for high proliferative and differentative effects of the water extract of GSS. Therefore, these results suggest that TC in GSS may be useful as potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of bone loss.