• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.269-277
• /
• 2015

Herbal plant extracts are good resources to find functional compounds for cosmetic ingredient. In this study, the extract of Areca semen (A. semen) was studied for melanogenesis inhibition and antioxidant activity. The results showed that ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen contained phenolic contents, $301.35{\pm}0.88{\mu}g/mg$, and exhibited potent antioxidant activity with $IC_{50}$ value of $1.02{\pm}0.07{\mu}g/mg$. Further, FRAP value exhibited potent antioxidant activity with $9.07{\pm}0.36mM$. Disk diffusion assay was performed for antibacterial activity. Ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) at $80{\mu}g/mL$, whereas it showed no significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results of cell viability indicated that ethyl acetate fraction did not show cytotoxicity to B16/F1 cells at $80{\mu}g/mL$ and showed significant cytotoxicity at $100{\mu}g/mL$ of concentration and showed inhibition of melanin synthesis inhibitory, $29.78{\pm}0.31%$ at $80{\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, mRNA expressions of tyrosinase and MITF were decreased after treatment with ethyl acetate fraction in a dose-dependent manner. As a result, the ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen could be considered as potential as whitening agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.627-636
• /
• 2020

Background: Cultivation of medicinal crops, which synthesize hundreds of substances for curative functions, was focused on the synthesis of secondary metabolites rather than biomass accumulation. Nutrition is an important restrict factor for plant growth and secondary metabolites, but little attention has been given to the plasticity of nutrient uptake and secondary metabolites synthesis response to soil nitrogen (N) change. Methods: Two year-field experiments of Sanqi (Panax notoginseng), which can synthesize a high level of saponin in cells, were conducted to study the effects of N application on the temporal dynamics of biomass, nutrient absorption, root architecture and the relationships between these parameters and saponin synthesis. Results: Increasing N fertilizer rates could improve the dry matter yields and nutrient absorption ability through increasing the maximum daily growth (or nutrient uptake) rate. Under suitable N level (225 kg/ha N), Sanqi restricted the root length and surface and enhanced the root diameter and N uptake rate per root length (NURI) to promote nutrient absorption, but the opposite status of Sanqi root architecture and NURI was found when soil N was deficient. Furthermore, increasing N rates could promote the accumulation of saponin in roots through improving the NURI, which showed a significant positive relationship with the content of saponin in the taproots. Conclusion: Appropriate N fertilizer rates could optimize both root architecture and nutrient uptake efficiency, then promote both the accumulation of dry matter and the synthesis of saponins.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.62-72
• /
• 2002

This study has investigated the biosynthesis and function of the heavy metal binding peptides, the phytochelatins, in plants. PCs are synthesised enzymatically from glutathione by the enzyme PC synthase in the presence of heavy metal ions. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism cadmium-sensitive, phytochelatin-deficient mutants have been isolated and characterised in previous studies. The cadl mutants have wildtype levels of glutathione, are PC deficient and lack PC synthase activity. Thus, the CADl gene has been proposed to encode PC synthase. The CADl gene was isolated by a positional cloning strategy The gene was mapped and a candidate identified. Each of four cadl mutants had a single base pair change in the candidate gene and the cadmium-sensitive, cadl phenotype was complemented by the candidate gene. This demonstrated the CADl gene had been cloned. A homologous gene in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe was identified through database searches. A targeted-deletion mutation of this gene was constructed and the mutant, like cadl mutants of Arabidopsis, was cadmium-sensitive and PC-deficient. A comparison of the redicted amino acid sequences reveals a highly conserved N-terminal region Presumed to be the catalytic domain and a variable C-terminal region containing multiple Cys residues proposed to be involved in activation of the enzyme by metal ions. Similar genes were also identified in animal species. The Arabidopsis CADl/AtPCSl and S. pombe SpbPCS genes were expressed in E. coli and were shown to be sufficient for glutathione-dependent, heavy metal activate PC synthesis in vitro, thus demonstrating these genes encode PC synthase enzymes. Using RT-PCR, AtPCSl expression appeared to be independent of Cd exposure. However, at higher levels of Cd exposure a AtPCSl-CUS reporter gene construct appeared to be more highly expressed. Using the reporter gene construct, AtPCSl was expressed most tissues. Expression appeared to be greater in younger tissues and same higher levels of expression was observed in some regions, including carpels and the base of siliques. AtPCS2 was a functional gene encoding an active PC synthase. However, its Pattern of expression and the phenotype of a mutant (or antisense line) have not been determined. Assuming the gene is functional then it has clearly been maintained through evolution and must provide some selective advantage. This implies that, at least in some cells or tissue, it is likely to be the dominant PC synthase expressed. This remains to be determined

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.462-469
• /
• 2013

Withaferin A is a steroidal lactone purified from the Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera. It exhibits a wide variety of activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and immunomodulation properties. In this review, we focused on the anti-cancer effects of withaferin A. Withaferin A inhibits cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis in cancer cells. Furthermore, it sensitized irradiation, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-, and doxorubicin-mediated apoptosis. The results showed that multiple mechanisms were involved in withaferin A-mediated anti-cancer effects. First, withaferin A increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induced ER stress- and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Second, withaferin A inhibited the signaling pathways (Jak/STAT, Akt, Notch, and c-Met), which are important in cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis. Third, it induced apoptosis and inhibited cancer cell migration through the up-regulation of prostate apoptosis protein-4 (Par-4). Finally, withaferin A up-regulated pro-apoptotic protein expression levels through the inhibition of proteasome activity. Our findings suggested that withaferin A is a potential, potent therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.345-350
• /
• 2006

This study investigated the removal of recalcitrant organics in dyeing wastewater using a fluidized bed reactor(FBR) that contained cell-immobilized pellets. The pellets were manufactured and condensing the gel phase by mixing PEG-polymer and cells to form micro-porous PEG-polymer pellets whose size were ${\Phi}\;4mm{\times}H\;4mm$ on average. An industrial activated sludge without any pre-adaptation was used for the cell immobilization because it gave an equivalent removal efficiency to a pre-adapted sludges. The feed was obtained from an effluent of a biological treatment plant, which contained $SCOD_{Cr}$ of 330 mg/L and $SBOD_5$ of 20 mg/L. The $SCOD_{Cr}$ removal efficiency was over 45% and the effluent $COD_{Mn}$ concentration was less than 100 mg/L at HRTs from 6 to 24 hrs. The optimum HRT in the FBR was determined as 12 hrs considering the removal efficiency and cost. When a raw wastewater containing 768 mg/L of $COD_{Cr}$ was fed to the FBR, the effluent $COD_{Cr}$ concentration increased only slightly, giving a 70% of $COD_{Cr}$ removal or a 97% of $BCOD_5$ removal. This indicated that the FBR had an excellent capability of biodegradable organics removal also. In conclusion, the FBR could be applied to textile wastewater treatment in place of an activated sludge process.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.275-284
• /
• 2014

This study was orchestrated with the purpose of uncovering new nutraceutical resources possessing biological activities in the plant kingdom. To fulfill our objective, we analyzed several Chinese plants and selected three possessing powerful anti-oxidative activities. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects these three Chinese plants, Malus hupehensis, Ophiorrhiza cantonensis, and Psychotria rubra ethanol extracts were then evaluated. First of all, they possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, similar with that of ascorbic acid, used as a positive control. Moreover, they inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species, in a dose-dependent manner, in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, they induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2. Furthermore, they suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The suppression of NO and iNOS by the three extracts might be the result of modulation by the upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1. Taken together, these results indicate that these three Chinese plants possess potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, they might be utilized as promising materials in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.78-83
• /
• 2005

Recently, much attention has been focused on plant antioxidants, because they are expected to protect against oxidative damage, possibly preserving biological functions of cells. Antioxidant compounds were isolated from Angelica keiskei through extraction with 80% EtOH, and fractionations were carried out sequentially with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. Two active compounds were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction by silica gel column chromatography, and were identified as isoquercitrin ($quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucose$) and hyperoside ($quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucose$). Isoquercitrin and hyperoside showed strong antioxidative potency, as revealed by evaluation of their ABTS, DPPH, OH, and $H_{2}O_{2}$ radical-scavenging activities, and ex vivo DNA damage-protecting effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.642-648
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the capsaicinoid and antioxidant compounds and to evaluate the biological activity of 40 different pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) breeding lines. Capsaicinoid and ascorbic acid content were measured with HPLC. Total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity were measured with spectrophotometric methods. The antiproliferative qualities of the samples against human breast tumor cells (MCF7) were assessed with a MTT assay. The nitric oxide content in the culture media was measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory qualities of the samples using Raw264.7 macrophages. The capsaicinoid, ascorbic acid, polyphenolic and flavonoid content of the 40 pepper breeding lines were 0.1~204.2 mg/100 g (dry weight basis, DWB), 279.1~1695.5 mg/g (DWB), 2.6~10.2 mg/g (DWB), and 1.4~5.7 mg/g (DWB), respectively. The highest antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory qualities were found in breeding line numbers 2500, 3201, and 3232, respectively. This study provides basic information useful to plant breeders and biotechnologists who are planning to breed pepper genotypes with high phytochemical content.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.157-164
• /
• 2004

The study was conducted to investigate the tissue and chemical characteristics of rusty root epidermal cells. In histological study, the rusty symptoms were frequently observed in the epidermis of ginseng root and to be yellow under microscopic observation. Disks of the epidermal cell tissue of the rusty root were usually 2 and 3 times greater in the number of cell layer and thickness of cell wall than the healthy root, respectively. The color degree of methanol extracts from the rusty root epidermis was 5.5 times higher than that of the healthy root. And the extracts of rust matter in the root epidermis were easily dissolved in polar solvents compared to nonpolar solvents. UV-absorption spectra of methanol extracts in various fractions of phenolics showed a maximum peak between 275∼280 nm. The crude lipids and phenolic compounds such as acid insoluble bound phenolics, acid insoluble esterified phenolics, acid insoluble condensed phenolics, insoluble bound phenolics and free phenolics were also more in the rusty root epidermis than in the healthy one. Fe content in the rusty root epidermis was 2.7 times higher than that of healthy one. It was presumed that the phenolic compounds(precursor of the rusty) in association with lipid and iron in the root epidermis might defence the root when ginseng root was depressed by the unfavorable conditions in soil and/or portions of a root system were subjected to anoxic conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.71 no.1
• /
• pp.45-49
• /
• 1985

Protoplast-source meterial and enzyme strength had a significant influence on protoplast yield from hybrid poplar, Populus alba ${\times}$ P. grandidentata. The yield of protoplasts from in vitro culture of 1 month-old plantlets was more than that from greenhouse grown 4 month-old stock plant. In vitro cultured plantlets regulary produced more viable protoplasts with E-I enzyme solution (0.5% cellulase and 0.1% macerase) than those with E-II enzyme solution (1.0% cellulase and 0.2% macerase) after overnight incubation. The mean yield of protoplasts from in vitro cultured plantlets was $4{\times}10^6$ with E-I enzyme solution. Cell division was observed in these protoplast cultures after 7-10 days. Protoplast-derived hybrid poplar cells survived over 3 weeks in culture and some continuous cell divisions were evident. Other aspects associated with protoplasts from in vitro cultured plantlet are also discussed.