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

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2021

This study investigated the acaricidal and repellent activities of various plant extracts and Cnidium officinale-derived materials against Haemaphysalis longicornis. Among the 24 methanolic plant extracts, C. officinale showed the highest acaricidal activity (93.3%) against H. longicornis. Platycodon grandiflorus, Phytolacca americana, Magnolia denudata, Houttuynia cordata, C. officinale, and Pueraria montana showed significant differences in their repellent activity. Consequently, the activity of solvent-fractionated materials and the derived material of the C. officinale, was investigated and a 90% acaricidal effect was observed three days after hexane fraction treatment, indicating that the repellent response was statistically significant. Butylidenephthalide, which is a C. officinale-derived compound, showed 90% acaricidal activity seven days after treatment. Additionally, all H. longicornis moved to the untreated area in the t-tube olfactometer experiment, confirming the repellent activity of butylidenephthalide. Therefore, the results of this study suggest the use of C. officinale crude extract and butylidenephthalide as potent acaricidals and repellents against H. longicornis, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2022

Objectives: Oxidative stress plays a key role in chronic and acute brain disorders and neuronal damage associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegeneration symptoms. The neuroprotective effects of berberine and Berberis vulgaris (barberry) root extract against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the human SH-SY5Y cell line were studied. Methods: The methanolic extraction of barberry root was performed using a maceration procedure. Oxidative stress was induced in SH-SY5Y cells by H₂O₂, and an MTT assay was applied to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of berberine and barberry root extract. The cells were pretreated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each compound (including berberine, barberry root extract, and H₂O₂), and the anti-apoptotic effects of all components were investigated using RT-PCR. Results: The SH-SY5Y cell viability increased in both groups exposed to 75 and 150 ppm barberry extract compared with that in the H₂O₂-treated group. The data showed that exposing SH-SY5Y cells to 30 ppm berberine significantly increased the cell viability compared with the H₂O₂-treated group; treatment with 150 and 300 ppm berberine and H₂O₂ significantly decreased the SH-SY5Y cell viability and was associated with berberine cytotoxicity. The mRNA levels of Bax decreased significantly under treatment with berberine at 30 ppm compared with the control group. A significant increase in Bcl-2 expression was observed only after treatment with the IC₅₀ of berberine. The expression level of Bcl-2 in cells exposed to both berberine and barberry extracts was also significantly higher than that in cells exposed to H₂O₂. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study suggest that treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with barberry extract and berberine could suppress apoptosis by regulating the actions of Bcl-2 family members.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.790-797
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• 2011

We evaluated the antioxidant compounds and activity of the methanolic extracts of foxtail millet (FM), proso millet (PM), and sorghum (SG) using different pulverizing methods (pin mill and ultra fine). The particle size of the FM, PM, and SG were 102.12, 89.52, and $102.25\;{\mu}m$, respectively, using the pin mill pulverizer. The sizes were 9.43, 9.52, and $10.18\;{\mu}m$, respectively, using the ultra fine pulverizer. There was no difference in moisture, crude fat, ash, or protein content between the two different pulverizing methods. The total ${\gamma}$-oryzanol content of the FM using the pin mill and ultra fine pulverizers was 116.07 and $145.30\;{\mu}g$/g, respectively. The total polyphenol content of the SG using the pin mill and ultra fine pulverizers was 14.58 and 15.03 mg/g extract residue, respectively. There was no difference in total flavonoid or tannin content of the methanol extracts between the two different pulverizing methods. The major phenolic compounds in FM were pyrogallol, gallic acid, (+)-catechin, salicylic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin; in PM, they were pyrogallol, rutin, gallic acid, kaempfrol, and salicylic acid; in SG, they were (+)-catechin, salicylic acid, pyrogallol, myricetin, hesperidin and chlorogenic acid. SG had a higher radical scavenging activity than FM or PM extracts. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the SG extracts using the ultra fine pulverizer were 178.10 and 251.56 mg TE/g extract residue, respectively. We noted a significant correlation between free radical scavenging activity and polyphenolic compound.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1674-1680
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of methanolic extracts of cooked mixed grain rice samples, including grain rice (sorghum, black bean, proso millet, and Job's tears) mixed with fermented brown rice (GR), GR added with 0.5% water extract of Sanghwang mushroom (GRS) or 0.1% curry (GRK), and traditional five grain mixed rice (TMR, Ohgokbap), on $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative injury in LLC-PK1 pig renal epithelial cells. White rice (WR) was used as a positive control. Cells were first exposed to $H_2O_2$ ($250{\mu}M$) for 4 hr, followed by treatment with $100{\mu}g/mL$ of different GR extracts for 24 hr. $H_2O_2$ significantly induced cell damage (P<0.05). Cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), were measured. In addition, mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes were determined by RT-PCR assay. Mixed grain rice, particularly GRS and GRK, were able to reduce cellular levels of ROS, decrease lipid peroxidation, and also increase mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes compared to other samples. These results suggest that mixed grain rice, specifically GRS and GRK, have strong protective effects against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative injury in LLC-PK1 cells through inhibition of lipid peroxidation, reduction of ROS levels, and elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.662-670
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of methanolic extracts of graviola, Annona muricate leaves (AMME) on antioxidant activity and melanin production. First of all, DPPH radical and reducing power were performed to determine the antioxidant effect of AMME and organic solvent fractions. AMME and organic solvent fractions showed antioxidative activity in a concentration dependent manner. The ethyl acetate fraction of AMME among organic solvent fractions showed the highest antioxidant activity. Moreover, tyrosinase activity was performed to confirm the effect of organic fractions on melanin production. AMME, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions increased tyrosinase activity a dose dependent manner. Next, the hexane fraction with the best effect on melanin synthesis in AMME organic solvent fraction was divided into 12 fractions by silica column chromatography. Among them, the fraction 7 and 8 showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power. In addition, the fraction 7 and 8 at $64{\mu}g/ml$ showed melanin synthesis by 260% and 184%, respectively. Finally, the fraction 8 at $4{\mu}g/ml$ showed melanin synthesis by 34% in B16F1 cells. LC-MS analysis showed that fraction 7 and fraction 8 have a molecular weight of 617 and 619, respectively. FT-IR analysis showed that fractions 7 and 8 is similar to bis(2-hydroxyethly)dimerate. Above results suggest that graviola leaves extracts could be applicable to the development of natural antioxidants or hair cosmetics which are related to the promoting effect of melanin production.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.1235-1241
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• 2012

Antioxidant properties and antioxidant compound contents in different parts of 14 commercial mushrooms were evaluated. Methanolic extracts from the entire mushroom, the pileus and the stipe, separately, were screened for their DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities. Total ubiquinones (Coenzyme Qs; CoQs), total phenolic, and flavonoid contents were determined, in order to assess the extract's antioxidant activity. The portion of the mushroom selected had an effect on the results, with pileus methanolic extract exhibiting the greatest antioxidant effect (p<0.05). The analyzed mushrooms contained powerful antioxidants such as phenols (144.5~536.6 mg of gallic acid equivalents, mg GAE/100 g of dried weight, dw), flavonoids (3.7~31.2 mg of quercetin equivalents, mg QE/100 g dw) and ubiquinones (65.6~485.1 ${\mu}g$/100 g dw). Content of CoQ9 and CoQ10 in the 14 commercial mushrooms varied from 23.1 to 256.2 ${\mu}g$/100 g and from 16.1 to 238.3 ${\mu}g$/100 g, respectively. Phellinus linteus showed the highest antioxidant activity among all species due to the contribution of antioxidants such as phenols (530.5 mg GAE/100 g dw) and ubiquinones (308.8 ug/100 g dw). A positive linear correlation was demonstrated between free radical scavenging activity and total phenolic ($R^2=0.79$) and ubiquinone ($R^2=0.59$) contents in the pileus of mushrooms (p<0.05). Our data indicate that commercial mushrooms have potential as dietary sources of CoQs and phenolic antioxidants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.484-489
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• 2016

Living organisms can maintain or extend their territories by producing allelochemicals that influence the growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. To identify natural biostimulants of positive allelochemicals, we screened 18 common seaweed extracts for enhancement of rhizoid and blade production in a convenient Porphyra suborbiculata monospore assay. By addition of methanolic extract from the most potent green seaweed, Codium fragile, 100% and 50% enhancement doses reflecting the amount of C. fragile extract required to enhance rhizoid formation (in terms of number of spores with rhizoids per total spores tested) were approximately 100 and 50 μg/ml, respectively, in the P. suborbiculata monospore culture. The C. fragile extract quickly enhanced rhizoid formation, rhizoid numbers per rhizoid-holding spore, rhizoid length, blade formation (in number of spores with blade per total spores tested), and blade length from most monospores at early culture days. The extract enhanced rhizoid formation after 2 days of culture significantly, rhizoid numbers per rhizoid-holding spore after 3 days, rhizoid length after 3 days, blade formation after 2 days, and blade length after 1 day, respectively, from most monospores. The allelochemicals that enhanced favorite seaweed species may be efficacious for new seaweed management technologies, including the development of biostimulant agents based on natural products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1311-1318
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• 2015

The effects of fruit maturation on changes in the total phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids of methanolic extracts of Citrus sudachi, in addition to its antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, were determined. Generally, the concentration of these chemical constituents increased as C. sudachi reached maturity. C. sudachi contained high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids at maturity, contributing 6339.5 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g, 2364.2 mg of rutin equivalent per 100 g, and 678.7 mg/ml, respectively. The scavenging activities of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide radicals and the reducing power of mature fruits were significantly higher at all data points than those of immature fruits (p<0.05). In contrast, the ferrous ion chelating activity of mature and immature C. sudachi fruits was similar. The 50% effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of mature fruits were 4.1±0.10 mg/ml for scavenging DPPH radicals, 3.1±0.02 mg/ml for scavenging hydrogen peroxide, 3.9±0.01 mg/ml for scavenging nitric oxide, and 3.8±0.02 mg/ml for chelating ferrous ion. The antidiabetic activity of C. sudachi was studied in vitro using the α-glucosidase inhibitory method. The inhibitory activity of mature C. sudachi fruits on α-glucosidase was higher than that of immature fruits. These results suggest that the content of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of C. sudachi change during maturation. These findings can be further extended to exploit them for their possible application for the preservation of food products, as well as their use as health supplements and nutraceuticals.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.277-287
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• 2016

Five fractions separated from Nannochloropsis oculata using solvent-solvent partition chromatography of 80% methanolic extract of N. oculata (NOM) followed by the open silica column chromatography of its hexane fraction (NOMH) for the anti-inflammatory on RAW 264.7 cells and anti-cancer activities on HL-60, A-549, HEP-3B, HCT-116, and SW-480 cancer cells. All the five fractions showed potential anti-inflammatory activities against lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages cells with IC₅₀ values less than 6.25 μg mL⁻¹. Moreover, 90% n-hexane column elution of NOMH (NOMH90) down-regulated lipopolysaccharide-stimulated protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Furthermore, NOMH90 showed marked cytotoxic effect on the HL-60 cells with IC₅₀ value of 23.58 ± 0.09 μg mL⁻¹. In addition, Hoechst 33342 cell permeable dye used to visualize the apoptosis nucleus and cell cycle analysis measured Sub-G1 DNA contents to confirm reduction of the cell viability in NOMH90 treated cells due to induction of apoptosis in HL60. These results are quite related to the phytosterol contents of the NOMH fractions and the results suggest N. oculata extracts might be useful as potential sources of natural anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compounds. In conclusion, the sterol content in N. oculata might provide a promising role in future medicines in anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer.