• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2010

The neuroprotective effects of extracts from various parts of peanut sprouts on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in N18-RE-105 cells were investigated. This study was performed to evaluate the neuroprotective activity of methanolic extracts from the whole (WME), heads (HME), and stems (SME) of peanut sprouts. The neuroprotective effects of these extracts were measured by MTT reduction assay, LDH release assay, phase-contrast microscopy, and flow cytometric analysis on the N18-RE-105 cells. Among these extracts, the HME showed the greatest neuroprotective effects, and was further fractionated with hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and water, according to degree of polarity. Out of the fractionated extracts, the diethyl ether layer showed the highest activity on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in N18-RE-105 cells. The sub-G1 DNA contents of the glutamate-induced severely apoptotic N18-RE-105s were measured by flow cytometric analysis to confirm the HME's anti-apoptotic activity. Interestingly, after incubation with 100 mg/ml of the HME, the proportion of sub-G1 cells of the glutamate-stressed N18-RE-105s had been greatly reduced, from 58.5% to 9.1%. These results imply that HME may have strong potential as a chemotherapeutic agent against neuronal diseases.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.45-55
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• 2010

In this study, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and neuronal cell protective effects of water, 100% methanol and dichlromethane extracts from garlic were investigated. We found that dichloromethane extract of garlic resulted in a dose-dependent manner on AChE inhibition ($IC_{50}$: $36.1{\mu}g/mL$). In cell viability assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT), cell viabilities of water, 100% methanol and dichlromethane extracts were lower (almost under 40%) than amyloid ${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}$)-induced neurotoxicity. Because $A{\beta}$ is also known to increase neuronal cell membrane breakdown, neuronal apoptosis was further confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neutral red uptake (NRU) assay. Water extract presented relative protection against $A{\beta}$-induced membrane damage in LDH assay. However all garlic extracts showed significant problem with decrease of cell viability in NRU assay, especially at dichloromethan extract. To determine active compounds in column fractions (98:2 fraction) from dichloromethane extract which showed significant AChE inhibitory effect, we performed HPLC and LC-MS analysis. It was supposed that garlic may contain allyl methyl disulfide, diallyl monosulfide, and diallyl disulfide as active compounds.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.821-828
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• 2012

In an attempt to identify the neuroprotective effect of Cudrania tricuspidata (CT) leaves against ROS (reactive oxygen species)-induced oxidative stress in neuronal cells, the extracts from CT leaves were investigated using PC12 cells and N18-RE-105 cells. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts from CT were denoted as CTM (Cudrania tricuspidata Leaves methanolic extracts) and CTE (Cudrania tricuspidata Leaves ethanolic extracts), respectively. The neuroprotective effects of the extracts were measured by DCF-DA assay, MTT reduction assay, and LDH release assay. The PC12 cells exposed to $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and the N18-RE-105 cells exposed to glutamate-induced oxidative stress were treated with various concentrations of CTM and CTE. The results, CTM treatments resulted in the induction of a dose-dependent protective effect in PC12 cells and N18-RE-105 cells. Interestingly, CTE also showed neuroprotective effect in PC12 cells and N18-RE-105 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that CTM and CTE could be a new potential candidate as neuroprotective agents against ROS-induced oxidative stress in neuronal cells.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2005

The objectives of present study were to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects of onion extracts. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated with 1.5 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide(t-BHP), potent oxidizing agent for liver injury for 1 hr in the presence or absence of various concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 or 0.3 mg/ml) of onion extract. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined by measuring glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activity, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) value. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) assay. Effects on antioxidant system were determined by measuring catalase, glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), glutathione reductase(GSH-Rd) activities as well as DNA strand breaking assay. Incubation with t-BHP alone increased GOT and LDH activities and TBARS concentration but decreased MTT reduction. Onion extracts at the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml began to decrease GOT and LDH activities induced by 1.5 mM t-BHP. Decreased MTT reduction began to be increased by onion extract at the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml. Onion extracts at the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml began to decrease TBARS concentration induced by t-BHP. Taken together, onion extracts prevented t-BHP-induced hepatocyte injury and lipid peroxidation. Catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd activities of hepatocytes were significantly decreased by 1.5 mM t-BHP for 1 hr incubation. Onion extracts, on the other hand, at the concentration of 0.1 mg/ml began to prevent t-BHP-induced decrease in catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd activities. Onion extracts prevented hydroxyl radical-induced single-strand breakage in dose-dependent manner when plasmid DNA was incubated with various concentrations of onion extracts in the presence of Fenton regents producing hydroxyl radical. These results demonstrate that onion extracts suppressed t-BHP-induced cytoctoxicity, decreased viability and lipid peroxidation and increased GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and catalase activities. Thus hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of onion extract seem to be due to, at least in part, the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities as well as prevention from hydroxyl radical-induced oxidation, followed by inhibition in lipid peroxidation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate effects of mixed extract from korean medicinal herbs (MIX) on oxidation/reduction reaction-related and aging-related enzyme in vitro. Methods : We performed MTT assay, collagenase inhibition assay, elastase inhibition assay, tyrosinase inhibition assay, DPPH free radical scavenging assay, SOD-like activity and xanthine oxidase inhibition assay. Results : Recently, many studies have reported that elastin is also involved in inhibiting or repairing wrinkle formation, although collagen is a major factor in the skin wrinkle formation. The MIX showed 97% inhibition of collagenase activity, and 64% inhibition of elastase activity at 1 mg/ml concentration of MIX, next only to positive control, which indicate good efficacy for anti-wrinkle ingredient. Also it's treatment showed 34% inhibition of tyrosinase activity, to relate whitening effect, at the same dose of MIX. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH radical scavenging, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibiting activity and SOD-like activity. Also these scavenging, XO-inhibiting and SOD-like activities were measured in 91%, 80%, and 63% inhibition, respectively, at a treated dose of 1 mg/ml, compare to control. Conclusions : These results suggest that possibility of mixed korean medicinal herbs as a functional ingredient for anti-wrinkle and whitening, anti-oxidation and anti-aging cosmetic formula.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.792-802
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• 2009

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered to be a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics for future generations. We identified four novel hexapeptides with antimicrobial activity: KCM11 (TWWRWW-$NH_2$), KCM12 (KWRWlW-$NH_2$), KCM21 (KWWWRW-$NH_2$), and KRS22 (WRWFIH-$NH_2$), through positional scanning of a synthetic peptide combinatorial library (PS-SCL). The ability of these peptides to inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria and unicellular fungi was evaluated. KCM11 and KRS22 preferentially inhibited the normal growth of fungal strains, whereas KCM12 and KCM21 were more active against bacterial strains. Bactericidal activity was addressed in a clear zone assay against phytopathogenic bacteria, including Pectobacterium spp., Xanthomonas spp., Pseudomonas spp., etc. KCM21 showed the highest activity and was effective against a wide range of target organisms. Application of KCM21 with inoculation of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum on detached cabbage leaves resulted in an immune phenotype or a significant reduction in symptom development, depending on the peptide concentration. Cytotoxicity of the four hexapeptides was evaluated in mouse and human epithelial cell lines using an MTT test. The results revealed a lack of cytotoxic effects.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.160-163
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• 2006

A total number of 31 types of seaweed were assessed with regard to their effects on the proliferation of mouse spleen and thymus cells in a culture, using an MTT reduction assay. Acetone:dichloromethane (1:1) extracts of three seaweed plants: Derbesia marina, Sargassum sp., and Hisikia fuziformis, exhibited significantly positive effects on the survival of mouse spleen and thymus cells in vitro. The acetone:dichloromethane (1:1) extracts of Sargassum sp., in particular, much more potent effects on thymus cell activation than did any of the other types of seaweed. However, the methanol extracts of Sargassum ringgoldianium and Chondrus crispus exerted a stimulatory influence only on the proliferation of mouse spleen cells, whereas the methanol extracts of Grateloupia lanceolata exhibited significant cell proliferation properties in both spleen and thymus cells.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 1999

The anticancer effect of the bark of Broussonetia kazinoki root extracts (hexane. chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol, aqueous) were studied. The cytotoxicity by MTT assay and inhibitory effect on the growth of sarcoma 180 cells were tested in vitro. The reduction rate of the tumor formation and spleen/body weight rate on BALB/c mouse were tested in vivo. From the tests, each fraction showed the cytotoxic effect against the sarcoma 180 cells. In addition, as the concentration of the fractions increased, cytotoxic effect tendency increased as well. The cytotoxic rate of the hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and aqueous fractions showed by 58.7%, 40.1%, 75.7%, 52.6% and 62.7% respectively after testing by MTT assay system. And sarcoma 180 cells were incubated for 6 days at 37$^{\circ}C$ with various concentrations of each fraction. As the incubation days go on, the number of cells increased, while the inhibition rate on the growth of sarcoma 180 cells were decreased. Especially the ethylacetate fraction at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml strongly inhibited the growth of sarcoma 180 cells by 74% compared with the control for a day 37$^{\circ}C$ The hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and aqueous fractions inhibited on the growth of sarcoma 180 cells by 31%, 19%, 60%, 30% and 42% respectively, when sarcoma 180 cells has been incubated for 6 days at 37$^{\circ}C$. The each fraction exhibited the antitumor effect in vivo. The ethylacetate fraction reduced the tumor formation by 41% compared with the control, when sarcoma 180 cells were injected subcutaneously into the left groin of BALB/c mice. Also spleen/body weight rate of ethylacetate fraction was increased by 2.10% compared with the control (1.08%). And it is considered that there would be no toxic effect caused by each fraction of body weight and organ as there was on more changes in mouse' weight compared with the control.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.343-348
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• 2008

In this study, antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (GUE) against $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytcs and cell death in PC12 cells was determined. The effect of GUE on $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytcs was evaluated by the comet assay, where GUE ($1-50\;{\mu}g/mL$) was a dose dependent inhibitor of DNA damage induced by $H_2O_2$. The protective effect of GUE against $H_2O_2$-induced damage on PC12 cells was investigated by MTT reduction assay and lactate dehydrogenase release assay. A marked reduction in cell survival induced by $H_2O_2$ was significantly prevented by $1-50\;{\mu}g/mL$ of GUE. The enzyme activity of caspase-3 was elevated in $H_2O_2$-treated PC12 cells, while preincubation with GUE for 30 min inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced caspase-3 activation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, GUE ameliorates $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytes and has neuroprotective effect by preventing cell death in PC12 cell, suggesting that GU may be a potential candidate for novel therapeutic agents for neuronal diseases associated with oxidative stress.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine the antioxidant activity in the germ cells of the extract of Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (RR). Methods : The extract was studied for diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, GC-1 cell viability by a modified MTT assay, the effects on H2O2-induced cytotoxicity by MTT assay and lipid peroixidation by malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, respectively. Results : The results showed that the extract scavenged DPPH radical in a dose-dependent manner by up to 43.1%. The extract at concentrations of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ showed peak level of 136.5% in growth of GC-1 cell. The hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity was blocked by the extract at concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. The extract (50 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$) also displayed a dose-dependent reduction of MDA formation on hydrogen peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusions : In conclusion, the extract of Rehmanniae Radix Preparat has strong antioxidant activity.