• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2017

Background: Chong-Myung-Tang (CMT) extract is widely used in Korea as a traditional herbal tonic for increasing memory capacity in high-school students and also for numerous body ailments since centuries. The use of CMT to improve the learning capacity has been attributed to various plant constituents, especially black ginseng, in it. Therefore, in this study, we have first investigated whether black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts affected spatial learning using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Their molecular mechanism of action underlying improvement of learning and memory was examined in vitro. Methods: We used two types of black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts, designated as CM-1 and CM-2, and evaluated their efficacy in the MWM test for spatial learning behavior and their anti-inflammatory effects in BV2 microglial cells. Results: Our results show that both black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts improved the learning behavior in scopolamine-induced impairment in the water maze test. Moreover, these extracts also inhibited nitric oxide production in BV2 cells, with significant suppression of expression of proinflammatory cytokines, especially inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and $interleukin-1{\beta}$. The protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ pathway factors was also diminished by black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts, indicating that it not only improves the memory impairment, but also acts a potent anti-inflammatory agent for neuroinflammatory diseases. Conclusion: Our research for the first time provides the scientific evidence that consumption of black ginseng-enriched CMT extract as a brain tonic improves memory impairment. Thus, our study results can be taken as a reference for future neurobehavioral studies.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.342-347
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• 2013

In recent years, polyphenol-rich herbs, fruits and processed foods, which are made of plant origin, have attracted much attention due to their potential health benefits. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important source of bioactive compounds and has been used to treat diseases because of its medicinal properties. This research was focused on characterizing Korea's national cultivar and a similar product from California, USA. To evaluate their bioactive compounds and pharmacological activities, their anti-oxidation and cancer inhibition properties, as well as their organic acid and free sugar contents, were investigated. The national cultivar had low total sugar and high organic acid contents, contrary to the imported product. The results showed that the peel of national cultivar had high polyphenol and ellagic acid contents compared to imported product. The free radical scavenging capacity was evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and its positive correlation with the total polyphenol contents was found. The anti-cancer activity of methanol extracts revealed growth inhibition against the prostate cancer cell. These results signify that while pomegranate, national cultivar, is more sour than the imported product, its health benefits could be excellent. Also, the polyphenol compound content of the non-edible part (such as the peel and the seed) was higher than that of the juice. Thus, it is suggested that the byproduct of the juice extraction could be potentially used in other fields such as medicine or dietary agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1672-1678
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• 2009

The purified antifungal substances produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IUB158-03 was positive to ninhydrin but negative to aniline, suggesting that the antifungal substance could be a peptide. FAB-MS, UV adsorption spectrum, and amino acid composition analysis revealed that the molecular weight of the antifungal substance was 1042 and that maximal adsorption was at 220 nm and 277 nm. The antifungal substance was composed of $Asn_3$, $Gln_2$, $Ser_1$, $Gly_1$, and $Tyr_1$. The composition and structural characteristics of antifungal substance were analysed by $^1H$-NMR spectrum, $^1H$-COSY, HMQC, which revealed that the compound belongs to the iturin A family. Temperature and pH had little effect on the stability of the antifungal substance in the ranges of $-70{\sim}121^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0~10.0, respectively. It showed strong antibiotic activity against fungi. An in vitro cytotoxicity test using NIH3T3 cell showed that the antifungal substance does not have cytotoxicity. The number of circulating leukocytes and the hematobiological analysis of the mice administered with the antifungal substances was similar to those of the control group, indicating no cytotoxicity in vivo. Therefore, the antifungal substances extracted from culture broth of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IUB158-03 have future potential as biocontrol agents against plant diseases caused by fungi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1074-1081
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• 2016

Mistletoes are hemi-parasitic plant growing on different host tree and shrubs. They are traditionally used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, cough, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and skin infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the contents of phenolics and antioxidant activity of 70% ethanol, 100% methanol and hot water extracts of Jeju camellia mistletoe (Korthalsella japonica Engl.). Ethanol was most effective in extracting total phenols (7,427 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g) and flavonoid (1,777 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/100 g). The free radical scavenging activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) (EC₅₀ = 7.8 mg/ml) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) (EC₅₀ = 1.4 mg/ml), and the capacity for chelating metal ions (EC₅₀ = 8.0 mg/ml) and reducing power (EC₅₀ = 14.9 mg/ml) of the samples also higher in ethanolic extracts. The strong correlation (r² = −0.996～−0.881) between antioxidant capacities and the phenolic contents implied that phenolic compounds are a major contributor to the antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts of Jeju camellia mistletoe. As conclusions, Jeju camellia mistletoe contains bioactive substances with a potential for reducing the physiological as well as oxidative stress and this could explain the suggested cancer preventive effect of these plants as well as their protective role on other major diseases.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2011

The Echinacea, which has been commonly known as a species of composite herb of dicotyledonous plant, has been used in native American traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases like colds or other infections in North America. We artificially cultured the adventitious roots of Echinacea angustifolia using the bioreactor culture system from Echinacea angustifolia and evaluated the efficacy as a cosmetic ingredient for skin care. Several studies previously have reported neogenesis, wound healing and inflammatory inhibition effect of Echinacea angustifolia but other efficacies were not well known. In the present study, we investigated the cosmetic efficacy to know applicable value of adventitious roots cultured from Echinacea angustifolia as a cosmetic ingredient. The adventitious roots extract of Echinacea angustifolia has superior anti-oxidant effect and matrix metalloproteinase-2 inhibitory effect, compared to natural Echinacea angustifolia. These results indicate that the adventitious roots extract cultured from Echinacea angustifolia presents a new possibility of being applicable to skin care and anti-wrinkle products as a cosmetic ingredient.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.567-572
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Anti-Thrombotic Activities and Cardiovascular Improvement of Fermented Garlic Extracts. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing rapidly in developed countries, with CVDs now representing the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Natural products and ethnomedicines have been shown to reduce the risk of CVDs. Garlic is a medicinal plant used throughout the world for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiplatelet activities. We hypothesized that fermented preparations of these products may possess stronger antiplatelet effects than the non-fermented forms owing to the increased bioavailability of the bioactive compounds produced during fermentation. Therefore, we compared these compounds via in vitro and ex vivo platelet aggregation assays by using standard light transmission aggregometry and ex vivo granule secretions from rat platelets. We found that fermented preparations exerted more potent and significant inhibition of platelet aggregation both in vitro and ex vivo. Likewise, ATP release from dense granules of platelets was also significantly inhibited in fermented preparation-treated rat platelets compared to that in non-fermented preparation-treated ones. We concluded that fermented preparations exerted more potent effects on platelet function both in vitro and ex vivo, possibly as a result of the increased bioavailability of active compounds produced during fermentation. We therefore suggest that fermented products may be potent therapeutics against platelet-related CVDs and can be used as antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.327-333
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• 2018

Background: Bioactive compounds in plant extracts are able to reduce metal ions to nanoparticles through the process of green synthesis. Panax ginseng is an oriental medicinal herb and an adaptogen which has been historically used to cure various diseases. In addition, the P. ginseng leaves-mediated gold nanoparticles are the value-added novel materials. Its potential as a cosmetic ingredient is still unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, moisture retention and whitening properties of gold nanoparticles (PgAuNPs) in cosmetic applications. Methods: Cell-free experiments were performed to evaluate PgAuNP's antioxidant and moisture retention properties and inhibition activity on mushroom tyrosinase. Furthermore, in vitro cell cytotoxicity was evaluated using normal human dermal fibroblast and murine B16BL6 melanoma cells (B16) after treatment with increasing concentrations of PgAuNPs for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Finally, in vitro cell assays on B16 cells were performed to evaluate the whitening effect of PgAuNPs through reduction of cellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity. Results: In vitro DPPH radical scavenging assay results revealed that PgAuNPs exhibited antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. PgAuNPs exhibited moisture retention capacity and effectively inhibited mushroom tyrosinase. In addition, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide results revealed that PgAuNPs were not toxic to human dermal fibroblast and B16 cells; in addition, they significantly reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and mRNA expression of melanogenesis-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase in B16 cells. Conclusion: Our study is the first report to provide evidence supporting that P. ginseng leaves-capped gold nanoparticles could be used as multifunctional ingredients in cosmetics.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.425-430
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• 2007

To investigate the potential therapeutic value of a plant extract against amyloid ${\beta}-peptide-induced$ cell damage, we first screened extracts of 250 herbs, and finally selected a water extract of Spinacia oleracea for further study. This extractshowed the potential to inhibit the reactions of oxidants. We measured the angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of the extract, and assessed the ability of the extract to protect neuronal cells from chemical-induced cell death. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were used in this assay. The extract exerted protective effects on $H_2O_2-induced$ cell death, when $H_2O_2$ was used at 100 M, 200 M, and 500 M (protection of 87%, 73%, and 58%, respectively). When 50 M of amyloid ${\beta}-peptide$ was added to the test cells, however, the extract had no protective effect on cell death. The extract inhibited ACE activity in a dose-dependent manner, and exhibited potent protection against the deleterious effects of $H_2O_2$. In sum, these results suggest that a water extract of Spinacia oleracea has the potential to afford protection against chemical-induced neuronal cell death, and the extract may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The precise molecular mechanism of neuroprotection is under investigation.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.24 no.2 s.63
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• pp.85-95
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• 1985

It has been tried to find effective biological control measures involved in nature of soil suppressiveness to fusarium wilt of cncumber caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum Owen. Total 28 soil samples were obtained from Jinju, Haman, Namji, Milyang and Suncheon vinyl house area. The disease response of test soil was quantified in terms of DI50 value which caculated from log-probit transformation of diseases response curves. Soils designated 5 from Jinju, 7 from Suncheon, 22 from Namji were recognized as suppressive to fusarium wilt of cucumber. This suppressiveness was completely nullified after autoclave. The disease suppressiveness of tested soil did not indicate any consistency according to either chemical property or texture of soil. Conidial germination, induction and germination of chlamydospore were markedly inhibited in supprerssive soil compared to those in intermediate or conducive soils, however, mycelial lysis did not appear to have direct relationship with disease suppressiveness of given soil. Population density of fluorescent Pseudomonads and Bacillus spp. in the soil originated from different degree of suppressiveness were not different significantly but the number of lytic bacterial plaques measured by triple layer agar method was remarkably higher in suppressive soil than that in intermediate or conducive soil.