• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.685-692
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• 2017

Mitochondrial biogenesis-a process that leads to an increment in the number and density of mitochondria, improves physical performance and body health by enhancing exercise capacity. In the present study, we investigated the stimulatory effect of Ashitaba and red ginseng complex (ARC) on exercise capacity in L6 skeletal muscle cells and mice. In L6 skeletal muscle cells, ARC increased the mitochondrial contents and ATP production by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) and up-regulating the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). In the animal experiments, mice treated with ARC showed an increment in exercise capacity as compared with mice treated with Ashitaba extract or red ginseng extract alone. These studies indicate that ARC might serve as a potential natural candidate for enhancing exercise capacity by stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.485-491
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• 2013

Rhodiola spp. and red ginseng have been used for food and medicinal applications in disease chemoprevention in many Asian countries. Increased oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed to be a major cause of muscle fatigue. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of a fermented hot-water extract mixture from Rhodiola sachalinensis and red ginseng (MFR) on cell damage and the antioxidant enzyme system in $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in skeletal muscle cells. C2C12 myoblasts were treated with various concentrations of NFR (non-fermented Rhodiola sachalinensis extract), FR (fermented hot-water extract from Rhodiola sachalinensis) and MFR for up to 5 days after the standard induction of differentiation, followed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. MFR treatment dose-dependently protected oxidative damage of C2C12 cells. The treatment with MFR also enhanced mRNA expressions of MyoD, Cu/Zn SOD, Mn-SOD and GPX up to 16%. These results indicate that MFR exerts an anti-oxidative effect through a mechanism (s) that may involve the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes, which may be important for the cellular redox environment in muscle cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.369-375
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• 2010

To evaluate the skin aging inhibition effect of fermented Reynoutria elliptica, skin aging model was produced by the irradiation of UVB to hairless mice for 5 weeks. The skin erythema index for the positive control (PC), not fermented Reynoutria elliptica extract (NFR), and fermented Reynoutria elliptica extract (FR-500, 1000, 2000) groups were lower than that of the control group. However, both lipid and water capacity for the PC and FR groups were higher than those of the control group. Collagen fibers in dermis of the FR groups were almost intact with a regular arrangement which were similar to the normal (NO) group. Also, relatively much less number of mast cells and inflammatory cells were found in FR groups. The skin TBARS contents and XO activity in the FR group were significantly lower than the control group. The activities of GSH, SOD and CAT for the FR groups were significant higher than the control group. Therefore, fermented Reynoutria elliptica extract can be practically useful for the prevention or improvement of skin aging in terms of health promotion and beauty for the people.