• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.192-197
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• 1997

As a part of searching for new antitumor agents from natural products, 94 kinds of Chinese plants were extracted with petroleum ether/ether (1:1), ethyl acetate and methanol, successively and their cytotoxicities were evaluated against A549 (human lung carcinoma) cell line. Among them, six kinds of ether extracts, seven kinds of ethyl acetate extracts and one kind of methanol extracts showed significant cytotoxic activities (above 70% inhibition) at a concentration of $50\;{\mu}g/ml$. These results surest that they may be involved in natural sources with possible anticancer activities.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2019

Herbal medicines have been used as a basic means of clinical trial throughout history, and traditional medicines are targeted to seek functional components. To discover new cosmetic or food ingredients among numerous natural resources from Jeju island, we screened for inhibition activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Although NO formation plays an important role to relax vascular muscles or eliminate tumors, NO produced excessively in inflammatory condition can cause metabolic diseases or inflammatory dysfunctions. Among 52 natural resources ethanol extracts, 5 extracts inhibited NO production over 25% compared to only LPS-treated control at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. In further study, we try to investigate other bio-activities and the phytochemicals of 5 different extracts as useful ingredients for cosmetics or functional foods.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.861-871
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• 2014

This study explored applicability of natural dyeing and functional property of base paper using paper yarn and fabrics with green laver extracts. As a result of measuring dyeability and functional property of cotton, silk, and a blended fabric of cotton/mulberry, $60^{\circ}C$ and 40 minutes was the optimal dyeing condition for the cotton fabric under an alkali condition; $50^{\circ}C$ and 60 minutes for the silk fabric; $60^{\circ}C$ and 50 minutes for the blended fabric of cotton/mulberry. As a result of measuring the color fastness after dyeing cotton, silk and the blended fabric of cotton/mulberry, fastness to washing, water, rubbing, dry cleaning and light was superior. In terms of functional property, the silk and the blended fabric of cotton/mulberry were superior concerning antimicrobial properties of the fabric dyed with green laver extracts while the cotton fabric showed 90% or over. Regarding deodorization, the blended fabric of cotton/mulberry was the most superior. All the fabrics were harmless to the human body as they had heavy metal content below the standard. Considering the research results comprehensively, the green laver extracts possibly has enough applicability and functional property as a natural dyes. Moreover, it has potential to be developed new eco-friendly fashion materials.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2008

Although the number of patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis has increased dramatically since the widespread use of contact lens, it is still very hard to cure the disease. The proteases from the Acanthamoeba were reported to play important role in the pathogenesis of keratitis. In this study, the inhibitors for extracellular serine proteases of A. castellanii were screened from the extracts of 230 mushroom samples collected from various regions of Korea. The mushrooms were extracted with methanol and water ($65^{\circ}C$). Filtered and concentrated extracts (0.3 mg/ml) were preincubated with proteases before addition of peptide substrate N-succinyl-ala-ala-pro-phe p-anilide. The selected extracts showing strong inhibitory effects were characterized. Although inhibition with single extract was not so high enough, the complete inhibition was achieved with combination of two extracts. The selected extract showed little effect on other serine proteases such as thrombin (human and bovine) and on general protease such as protease K.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1242-1248
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• 2017

Several medicinal plants are ethnomedically used in Korea as agents for treating infection, anti-inflammation, and pain relief. However, beyond typical inhibitory effects on cell growth, little is known about the potential anti-biofilm activity of these herbs, which may help to prevent cavities and maintain good oral health. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of the methanol extracts of 37 Korean medicinal plants against dental pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, which synergize their virulence so as to induce the formation of plaque biofilms in the oral cavity. The antimicrobial activities were investigated by broth dilution and disk diffusion assay. The anti-biofilm and antioxidant activities were evaluated based on the inhibitory effect against glucosyltransferase (GTase) and the DPPH assay, respectively. Among 37 herbs, eight plant extracts presented growth and biofilm inhibitory activities against both etiologic bacteria. Among them, the methanol extracts (1.0 mg/ml) from Camellia japonica and Thuja orientalis significantly inhibited the growth of both bacteria by over 76% and over 83% in liquid media, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of these methanol extracts were determined to be 0.5 mg/ml using a disk diffusion assay on solid agar media. Biofilm formation was inhibited by more than 92.4% and 98.0%, respectively, using the same concentration of each extract. The present results demonstrate that the medicinal plants C. japonica and T. orientalis are potentially useful as antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents in preventing dental diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.260-275
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• 2020

Background: We investigated the antioxidant, anti-wrinkles, whitening, and moisturizing properties and amounts of phenolic compounds of ethanol extracts from flowers of 10 resource plants from Namwon and Mt. Jiri., Korea. Methods and Results: We measured antioxidant efficacy based on the total polyphenol, and total flavonoid content, and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. We evaluated the inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity for the whitening effect. Furthermore, we analyzed the elastase and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) inhibition activity for anti-wrinkle capacity. To evaluate the moisturizing effect, we examined hyaluronan synthase (HAS) mRNA expression. In addition, the 19 phenolic compounds were detected using high performace liquid chromatography (HPLC). Among the 10 flowers, the antioxidant effect was high in the order of Rosa multiflora, Nelumbo nucifera, and Elsholtzia splendens. Whitening effect was high in the order of N. nucifera, R. multiflora, and Dendranthema zawadskii. As for the anti-wrinkle property, N. nucifera was the most effective followed by R. multiflora. Taraxacum coreanum was the best for moisturizing effect, followed by D. zawadskii, and E. splendens. Seven phenolic compounds were detected in the extracts of the 10 flowers. Conclusions: Overall, the extracts of five flowers extracts showed strong potential as antioxidant, whitening, anti-wrinkle, and moisturizing functional cosmetic agents.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.228-232
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• 2008

Antidiabetic effects of an aqueous and solvent extract prepared from the root, stem and fruit parts of Acanthopanax senticosus, were investigated in experimental Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats model. The n-butanol and water extracts of A. senticosus were orally administrated once a day for 6 days. The n-butanol extracts of fruit (FB) showed highest efficiency than other groups (water extracts of stem, root and fruit; butanol extracts of stem, root) on serum glucose values in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. We have studied gene expression of glucose transporter genes in C2C12 skeletal muscle cell line during differentiation treated by the n-butanol and water extracts of A. senticosus, SW, RW, FW, SB, RB and FB. The GLUT4 gene was high expressed by FB treatment. These findings suggest that FB of A. senticosus have GLUT4 gene expression activity for glucose homeostasis and may have beneficial effects on blood glucose lowering in the diabetic patients.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.80-82
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• 2003

Since reactive oxygen radicals play an important role in carcinogenesis and other human diseases including neurodegenerative states, antioxidants present in natural products have received considerable attention for alleviation of these disease states. Therefore, in order io identify antioxidants in plant extracts, fifty-seven methanolic extracts derided from indigenous Korean plants were primarily assessed for potential to scavenge stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. As a result, nine plant extracts were found to exhibit the DPPH free radical scavenging activity in the criteria of $IC_{50}<40\;{\mu}g/ml$. In particular, the extracts of Melioma oldhami $(IC_{50}=0.1\;{\mu}g/ml)$, Myrica rubra $(IC_{50}=16.2\;{\mu}g/ml)$, Sympolocos paniculata $(IC_{50}=23.0\;{\mu}g/ml)$, Carpinus laxiflora $(IC_{50}=25.1\;{\mu}g/ml)$, and Cleyera japonica $(IC_{50}=26.2\;{\mu}g/ml)$ showed a potent radical scavenging activity. Further study for the identification of active compounds from these lead extracts might be warranted.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.170-172
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• 2002

In continuous efforts for discovery of novel potent antitumor agents from natural products, fifty-seven methanolic extracts derived from indigenous Korean plants were primarily evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity in cultured human lung (A549) and colon (Col2) cancer cells. As a result, 16 plant extracts were found to be active against A549 cells and 15 extracts were active against Col2 cells in the criteria of $IC_{50}$<$50\;{\mu}g/ml$. In particular, the extracts of Calystegia soldanella $(IC_{50}$<$8.0\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;A549;IC_{50}=27.4\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;Col2)$, Heloniopsis orientalis $(IC_{50}=4.6\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;A549; IC_{50}=4.5\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;Col2)$, and Thuja koraiensis $(IC_{50}=1.2\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;A549;IC_{50}=0.6\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;Col2)$ showed a potent cytotoxic activity. Further study for the identification of active compounds from these lead extracts might be warranted.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2024

The desire of modern people to maintain a healthy and beautiful appearance is increasing day by day along with the increasing interest in skin health and the demand for functional cosmetics. Accordingly, research on functional cosmetic materials with few side effects and excellent efficacy is being actively conducted. Therefore, this study tried to verify the antioxidant and whitening effects of the mixed extracts of Bixa orellana, Ammi majus, and Glycyrrhiza glabra, whose efficacy has been individually verified. Extracts (BAG-1~4) with different extraction methods such as steaming, fermentation, and ultrasonication were prepared for 3 types of natural plants, and antioxidant and whitening effects of these extracts were confirmed. For this purpose, antioxidant, tyrosinase activity, melanin production and stability experiments were conducted. Extracts (BAG-1~4) had no cytotoxicity, and antioxidant and whitening effects were confirmed. BAG-4 extracted by steaming and fermentation showed the best efficacy. It seems that enzymes such as lipase, protease, and amylase increase phenol components by various yeasts involved in the fermentation process, thereby improving antioxidant and melanin production inhibitory effects. It was confirmed that the three types of natural plant extracts could be used as safe and functional cosmetic materials.