• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2017

The objective was to examine the antifungal activity of Pinus densiflora extract for the control of turfgrass fungal diseases. Antifungal activities of the various fractions of n-hexane, methylene chloride (Ch), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol from P. densiflora were evaluated against Rhizoctonia solani AG1-1B, R. solani AG2-2IV, Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, R. cerealis, Pythium spp., and Colletotrichum graminicola. The Ch and EtOAc fractions showed antifungal activity against Pythium sp. and C. graminicola in paper disc assay. The effective concentration to produce 50% mycelial inhibition ($EC_{50}$) using five discriminatory concentrations of pinosylvin (1) from the Ch fraction of P. densiflora was evaluated on R. solani AG1-1B, R. solani AG2-2IV, R. cerealis, and S. homoeocarpa. S. homoeocarpa showed the highest sensitivity with the lowest mean $EC_{50}$ value ($8.426{\mu}g/mL$) among the four pathogens. Among the three Rhizoctonia pathogens, R. cerealis had the highest mean $EC_{50}$ value ($99.832{\mu}g/mL$) and R. solani AG2-2IV, with the lowest sensitivity, had the lowest $EC_{50}$ value ($39.696{\mu}g/mL$). These results suggested that pinosylvin (1) from P. densiflora could be a valuable lead compound in the improvement of a novel antifungal agent.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.69-71
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• 2012

During search for novel bioactive materials from natural resources with the potential as health food and alternative medicine, the culture broth of Cordyceps longissima (CL) J106, J144 and C. scarabaeicola (CS) J94, J123 were prepared, and their effect on cytotoxicity and nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells were investigated. Whereas the culture broth of CL J144 and CS J123 had cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells, that of CL J106 and CS J94 did not. The culture broth of CL J106 and CS J94 suppressed NO production in RAW 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that culture broth, a by-product of Cordyceps, may have active compounds with anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, it appears that their biological activity is dependent on the strains in spite of the same species.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 1998

In order to investigate the reducing effect of velvet antler water extract (VAWE) on the toxicity of anti-cancer drug, cis-platin (CDDP) and mitomycin C (MMC), we examined effects of co-administration with VAWE and anti-cancer drugs on their toxicities. We recognized that $LD_{50}$ of CDDP/MMC were increased by co-administration with VAWE and them in mice. It was found that co-administration of VAWE and MMC increased the survival rate in mice treated by lethal dose of MMC. Also, co-administration of VAWE and CDDP/MMC inhibited decrease of the body weight and organ weight in mice intoxificated by CDDP/MMC. The increase of serum blood urea and serum creatinine levels in rats intoxicated by CDDP were significantly inhibited by the co-administrationin with VAWE and CDDP. The decrease of RBC and WBC in rats intoxificated by MMC were significantly inhibited by the co-administration with VAWE and MMC. These results suggest that the combined usage of VAWE and CDDP/MMC drugs may be a new method for prevented or minimized the toxicity of them.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2006

Phytochemical examination of the fruits of Actinidia arguta has led to the isolation three organic acids, one coumarin, and three flavonoids. Structures of these compounds were elucidated as protocatechuic acid (1), caffeic acid (2), $caffeoyl-\beta-D-glucopyranoside$ (3), esculetin (4), quercetin (5), quercetin $3-O-\beta-D-galactopyranoside$ (6), and quercetin $3-O-\alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl$ $(1\rightarrow6)-O-\beta-D-glucopyranoside$ (7) by comparisons with previously reported spectral data. To investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of these compounds, nitric oxide production inhibitory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and DPPH radical scavenging activities were examined. Nitric oxide productions were reduced significantly by the addition of compounds $[1(IC_{50}=59.27{\mu}g/ml),\;2(IC_{50}=27.95{\mu}g/ml),\;3(IC_{50}=73.09{\mu}g/ml),\;4(IC_{50}=67.44{\mu}g/ml),\;5(IC_{50}=17.40{\mu}g/ml),\;6(IC_{50}=41.99{\mu}g/ml),\;7(IC_{50}=54.46{\mu}g/ml)]$, and extracts $(IC_{50}=56.21{\mu}g/ml)$ compared with positive control, L-NMMA $(IC_{50}=14.48{\mu}g/ml)$. The phenolic compounds also showed anti-oxidative activities. Especially, Compounds $1(IC_{50}=8.87{\mu}g/ml),\;4(IC_{50}=3.41{\mu}g/ml),\;and\;5(IC_{50}=6.06{\mu}g/ml),\;$, showed potent anti-oxidative activities similar to L-ascorbic acid $(IC_{50}=5.89{\mu}g/ml)$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2006

The antitumor activity of crude saponin mixture obtained from Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.) (Fam; Cucurbitaceae) hairy roots (CSLT) in mice transplanted with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) was investigated. The EAC-bearing mice receiving 150 and $300{\mu}g/kg$ body weight, (i.p) of CSLT have shown a dose dependent elevation in tumor-tree survival and a highest number of survivors were observed after administration of CSLT $(300{\mu}g/kg)$, which was considered as an optimum dose for its antineoplastic action. The mean survival time (MST) for this dose was approximately $47.1{\pm}0.74d$, when compared with $19.0{\pm}0.36d$ of untreated control. Administration of $300{\mu}g/kg$ CSLT resulted in 130% long-term increased survival time. The measurement of body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, viable and non-viable count indicated the efficacy of CSLT in tumor-bearing mice, there was a significant recovery in hematological profiles, and there was depletion in lipid peroxidation levels, and the antioxidant enzyme activities such as GSH, SOD and CAT were restored to near the normal levels. The CSLT was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when animals were intraperitoneally injected with 250, 500, 750 and $1000{\mu}g/kg$ bodyweight. The treated mice showed conspicuous toxic symptoms only at a dose of $1500{\mu}g/kg$. Mortality of the animals was monitored up to 14 d post drug treatment, $1/7^{th}$ of the $LD_{50}$ dose has been considered for the optimal antineoplastic activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.44-47
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• 2002

The effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on masculine copulatory behaviour were studied in the middle aged male Sprague-Dawley rats, 9 months old and retired breeders after dosing them with 500 mg/kg twice daily for 10 days prior to test. The test lasted for 30 minutes after a 20 minute adaptation period, was carried out on the 11th day during the dark phase of the light-dark cycle (2000-0700 hours) and in subdued light, using a modified copulation cage but with the presence of a piece of mirror of appropriate size to facilitate observation. Results showed that the mean values of EL-1, EL-2 and EL-3 of the control middle aged male rats were 103.20 sec, 91.21 sec and 80.00 sec but were significantly (p<0.05) increased to 118.40-120.20 sec, 101.24-171.28 sec and 100.42-110.21 sec respectively in the methanol-chloroform, methanol-butanol-water and methanol-butanol treated middle aged male rats. However, further results also showed that PEI-1 and PEI-2 of the control middle aged male rats were 182.30 sec and 257.2 sec but were significantly (p<0.05) decreased to 100.42-121.31 sec and 40.21-132.31 sec respectively in the methanol-chloroform-butanol-water and methanol-butanol treated middle aged male rats. In conclusion, this study showed that although E. longifolia Jack continued to enhance the sexual activity of the middle aged male rats by extending the duration of coitus and decreasing the refractory period between the different series of copulation, but to a smaller degree as compared to sexually active, adult male rats (Ang and Sim, 1997).

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.68-72
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• 2003

Quercetin and its sugar conjugates are the most abundantly distributed bioflavonoids and represent the largest proportion of flavonols in the plant kingdom. The present study was undertaken to demonstrate the effect of quercetin on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the development of gastric ulcers in rats. Administration of quercetin in doses of 50, 100 and $200\;mg\;kg^{-1}$ twice daily for 5 days, showed dose dependent significant protection against ethanol (EtOH), aspirin (ASP), cold-restraint stress (CRS) and pylorus ligation (PL) -induced gastric ulcer models and the results were comparable with those elicited by sucralfate. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the stomach mucosa, an index of lipid peroxidation and regulation of plasma corticosterone were significantly increased in CRS-induced gastric ulceration. The queroetin $(100\;mg\;kg^{-1})$ and reduced glutathione effectively inhibited gastric lesions induced by CRS with a significant decrease in the lipid peroxidation and plasma corticosterone. These results indicate that quercetin a bioflavonoid exerts its antiulcer effect in light of free radical scavenging and plasma corticosterone in cold restraint stress ulcers.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.258-264
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• 2017

This study analyzed the seeds of Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis commonly used as a remedy in traditional Chinese medicine, in order to determine its various biologically active compounds. Through process 3-pentadecylcatechol, ${\rho}$-menth-8-ene, and ${\gamma}$-bisabolene were isolated and identified for the first time which are urushiol, monoterpenoidal, and sesquiterpenoidal compounds, respectively. Also, found were another sesquiterpenoidal compounds, vomifoliol, and four steroidal compounds, ${\beta}$-sitosterol, stigmasterol, stigmasta-5,23-dien-$3{\beta}$-ol, and stigmast-4-en-3-one. In addition, fourteen triterpenoidal compounds were isolated and identified. These were lupeol, betulinic acid, betulinaldehyde, alphitolic acid, 3-O-cis-${\rho}$-coumaroyl-alphitolic acid, 3-O-trans-${\rho}$-coumaroyl-alphitolic acid, 2-O-cis-${\rho}$-coumaroyl-alphitolic acid, 2-O-trans-${\rho}$-coumaroyl-alphitolic acid, zizyberanalic acid, ceanothic acid, oleanolic acid, maslinic acid, 3-O-cis-${\rho}$-coumaroyl-maslinic acid, and 3-O-trans-${\rho}$-coumaroyl-maslinic acid. The structures were identified by comparing of the spectroscopic experiments, NMR and MS, and then compared that reported data, respectively. Three extracts of water, methanol, and chloroform from the seeds showed a weak anti-proliferative effect, anti-microbial activity, and anti-oxidant effect, respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 2017

Pseudolaric acids of Pseudolarix kaempferi (Pinaceae) have been known as diterpenoids with potent anti-fungal-, anti-microbial, and cytotoxic activities. In the present study, the five MeOH extracts were prepared from the five plant part (root bark, stem bark, leaf, the inner part of root, and cone) to find the relation between the concentration of pseudolaric acids and cytotoxicity. Pseudolaric acids B and C were isolated from the root bark of P. kaempferi to use them as standard compounds. The five extracts were tested on cytotoxicity against six cancer cell lines, A549 (lung), HCT116 (colon), MDA-MB-231 (breast), SNU638 (stomach), and SK-hep-1 (liver) by SRB assay, but against K562 (leukemia) by SRB- or MTT assay. HPLC quantification were performed on a Shisheido Capcell PAK C18 column ($5{\mu}m$, $4.6mm{\times}250mm$) using 254 nm wavelength. The cytotoxicity ($IC_{50}$, $0.36{\mu}g/ml$ on K562 cell lines) of the root bark extract was potent and the content (101.1 mg/g extract) of pseudolaric acid B was very high in the root bark. These results suggest that the MeOH extract obtained from the root bark could be developed as the anti-cancer agent with a high quantity of pseudolaric acid B.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors isolated from Korean native plants. The MeOH extract and stepwise polarity fractions of dandelions were tested on rat lens AR inhibition in vitro. Of these, the EtOAc fractions from the leaves of dandelions (Traxacum coreanum, T. officinale, and T. ohwianum) exhibited an AR inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$ values, 2.37, 1.73 and 2.68 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively). A chromatography of the EtOAc fraction from the leaves of T. coreanum led to the further isolation of two flavonoids identified as luteolin and luteolin 7-O-glucopyranoside. These compounds exhibited strong AR inhibitory activity, with $IC_{50}$ values of 0.15 and 1.05 ${\mu}M$, respectively. These results suggested that luteolin is a potent AR inhibitor within dandelions and that it could be a useful lead compound in the development of a novel AR inhibitory agent against diabetic complications.