• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2017

Objectives Eucommiae cortex is one of the frequently used herbs for musculoskeletal disorders, with well-known anti-inflammatory effect. Meanwhile, powdered form of herbal drugs is more advantageous than decoction form, in that storing and taking is more convenient. Thus, the authors aimed to investigate whether the drying method affects the index compound level and anti-inflammatory effect of eucommiae cortex water extract. Methods Eucommiae cortex was extracted in distilled water at $100^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours, filtered, and then evaporated under vacuum. One half of the sample was freeze-dried at $-80^{\circ}C$. Another half of the sample was added with dextrin and then spray-dried at $180^{\circ}C$. To assess the possible change in index compound content, pinoresinol diglucoside was selected as the index marker. The content level of the index compound in various extract sample was quantified through high performance liquid chromatography. In addition, iNOS assay in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells was adopted to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of various extract samples. Furthermore, MTT assay was performed to confirm that the result of iNOS assay was not due to cytotoxicity. Results There was no significance difference in index compound content between extract samples obtained through two different drying methods. Anti-inflammatory activity of extract samples were similar at the matching concentration, regardless of the drying methods. Extract samples did not show any significant cytotoxicity. Conclusions Extract samples of eucommiae cortex were obtained through freeze-drying and spray-drying. Neither change in index compound content nor difference in anti-inflammatory activity was observed between drying methods.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Marine microalgae are a promising source of organisms that can be cultured and targeted to isolate the broad spectrum of functional metabolites. In this study, two species of cyanobacteria, Chlorella ovalis Butcher and Nannchloropsis oculata Droop, one species of bacillariophyta, Phaeoductylum tricornutum Bohlin, and one species of Dinophyceae, Amphidinium carterae (Hulburt) were cultured and biomasses used to evaluate the proximate comical compositions. Among the determined proximate chemical compositions of the cultured marine microalgae, the highest content of crude proteins and lipids were exhibited in P. tricornutum and A. carterae, respectively. Solvent-solvent partition chromatography was subjected to fractionate each of the cultured species and separated n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions. Nitric oxide production inhibitory level (%) and cytotoxicity effect on lipo-polysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were performed to determine the anti-inflammatory activity. N. oculata hexane and chloroform fractions showed significantly the strongest anti-inflammatory activity at $6.25{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentration. The cancer cell growth inhibition (%) was determined on three different cell lines including HL-60 (a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line), A549 (a human lung carcinoma cell line), and B16F10 (a mouse melanoma cell line), respectively. Among the extracts, C. ovalis ethyl acetate and A. carterae chloroform fractions suppressed the growth of HL-60 cells significantly at 25 and $50{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentrations. Thus, the cultured marine microalgae solvent extracts may have potentiality to isolate pharmacologically active metabolites further using advance chromatographic steps. Hence, the cultured marine microalgae can be described as a good candidate for the future therapeutic uses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.730-735
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• 2012

Existing pharmaceutical studies show that Magnolia biondii is effective in treating rhinitis and in reducing cholesterol, given its endogenous, volatile ingredients. The study herein seeks to assess the cosmeceutical activities and anti-inflammatory activities of Magnolia biondii extracts for possible application as cosmetic ingredients. The cosmeceutical and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) inhibition, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by Western blotting. Magnolia biondii extracts were identified to have antioxidant activities in hydroxyl free radical scavenging, SOD-like activity, and XO inhibition. In testing the anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts, NO production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, in a dose-dependent manner, the Magnolia biondii extracts were able to suppress iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. From these results, Magnolia biondii showed adequate potential for application in cosmetic production and related industries as well as a functional material.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2010

This study was aimed to investigate the contents of flavonoids and the biological activity of fermented beverage of medical plants, DeulBit (DB). 50 g of Cassia semen (Cassia tora L.), 50 g of Omija (Schisandra chinensis Baillon.), 50 g of Gugija (Lycium chinense Mill), 50g of Menthae herba, 75 g of Chrysanthemum indicum Linne, 25 g of Dioscorea batatas, 5 g of Lindera obtusiloba Blume, 150 g of Polygonatum odoratum, 25 g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 25 g of Acanthopanacis cortex, 100 g of green tea (Camellia sinensis), and 100 g of Laminaria japonica was fermented with sucrose ($50.0{\sim}60.0^{\circ}Brix$.) and 0.5% of deep sea water in 10 L of distilled water for six months at room temperature. Total flavonoids contents of DB was calculated to $3.4{\pm}0.5\;{\mu}g/g$ and antioxidative activity of DB was measured by using DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activity. DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activity of DB was 96% and 29% at 100% of DB, respectively. In addition, DB indicated about 88% and 66% of the xanthine oxidase and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activities at 1% and 10% of DB, respectively and showed fibrinolytic activity. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesis was increased to 15 times by addition of DB. In addition, NO productions of the macrophages RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were reduced to 40.4% by addition of DB. These results suggested that DB is significant role for antioxidative and fibrinolytic activity, and have the strong xanthine oxidase and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.501-508
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Rubus Coreanus Miquel (RCM), used as a traditional Korean medicine, reduces chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. However, its mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we examine the anti-inflammatory effects of RCM and their possible mechanisms using RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Unripe RCM ethanol extract (UE), unripe RCM water extract (UH), ripe RCM ethanol extract (RE), and ripe RCM water extract (RH) were prepared. Inflammatory response was induced with LPS treatment, and expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6) and NO and $PGE_2$ productions were assessed. To determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of RCM, we measured NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK activities. RESULTS: UE and UH treatment significantly reduced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and JNK and p38 phosphorylation and reduced transcriptional activities decreased iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines expressions, and NO and $PGE_2$ productions. RE and RH treatments reduced IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 expressions through suppressions of JNK and p38 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed that RCM had anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of pro-inflammatory mediator expressions. Especially, unripe RCM showed strong anti-inflammatory effects through suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK activation. These findings suggest that unripe RCM might be used as a potential functional material to reduce chronic inflammatory responses.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-43
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• 2017

We studied the antioxidant, the anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and antiobesity activities of seven different kinds of edible plants. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS radical scavenging activities were determined as a measurement of antioxidant activity. NO production inhibition by the macrophage cell line (Raw 264.7) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was carried out to assess anti-inflammatory activity. Thrombin inhibitory activity was measured for its antithrombotic function and inhibition of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation was evaluated as a measurement of antiobesity activity. Total phenolic components and total flavonoid contents were measured to determine functional materials in medicinal plants. Common sage, Japanese lady bell, and hairy agrimony showed high antioxidant activity ($IC_{50}$) of less than $100{\mu}g/mL$. All samples used in this study showed anti-inflammatory activity. Common sage, hairy agrimony, and hooker chives showed antithrombotic effects. Hairy agrimony showed the highest antithrombotic effect (98.1%). Common sage, Japanese lady belly, hairy agrimony, and hooker chives showed reduced 3T3-L1 cell differentiation and hooker chives strongly inhibited lipid accumulation in the cells compared to other medicinal plants. Common sage and hairy agrimony contained more than 1 mg GAE/g of phenolic compounds and more than 1 mg CE/g of flavonoids. Functional activities were different by plant part and extraction method from each sample. These results suggest that common sage, Japanese lady belly, hairy agrimony, and hooker chives may be used as healthy food sources with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and antiobesity activities, and appropriate extracting methods from each plant need to be developed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.479-487
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• 2016

Recently, various marine algae have been considered as a natural resource for anti-inflammation. In this research, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of Ulva pertusa Kjellman ethanol extract (UPKEE). This study showed that UPKEE inhibited the secretion of cytokines including IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$, and reduced the expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as iNOS and COX-2. In the formation of mouse ear edema test, three doses (10, 50, 250 mg/kg body weight) of UPKEE showed inhibitory activity after inducing inflammation using croton oil. In conclusion, we found that UPKEE showed an inhibitory effect on $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPKs, and reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. This result suggests that UPKEE can be used as a natural anti-inflammatory resource in food industry.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.680-685
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• 2015

Phytochemicals in Codonopsis lanceolata leaves were saponins, triterpenes, tannins, and flavonoids, not alkaloids. The levels of total polyphenols and flavonoids in Codonopsis lanceolata leaves were measured to evaluate the antioxidant activity. C. lanceolata leaves showed strong 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and potent reducing power. In addition, C. lanceolata leaf extracts inhibited production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells. To examine active phytochemical for antioxidant activity, aglycone fraction of C. lanceolata leaves was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Luteolin was identified as a main component of aglycone fraction and showed potent antioxidant activity as determined by a DPPH radical scavenging assay and reducing power test. These results suggest that C. lanceolata leaves are a good source of antioxidants.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.710-713
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• 2017

This study evaluates the ability of corn silk (Zea mays L.) extract to function as a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic therapeutic agent. The anti-inflammatory effects of corn silk were evaluated by measuring the inhibitory activities of nitric oxide (NO) and production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$. Anti-atopic effects were assessed by measuring the repression of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC). These results indicated that NICS-1 (corn silk ethanol extract) and NICS-3 (high maysin corn silk ethanol extract) functioned as anti-inflammatory agents by down-regulating LPS-induced NO and TNF-${\alpha}$. Additionally, two extracts showed weak repression of TARC expression levels in tumor necrosis factor TNF-${\alpha}$ plus IFN-${\gamma}$ induced HaCaT cells, respectively. These results suggest that corn silk extracts have anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic activities, and thus have the potential to reduce and alleviate the symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.549-554
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• 2018

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts from common and tartary buckwheat milling fractions (hull, bran, and flour). The results indicated that total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were higher in tartary buckwheats than in common buckwheats, which was related to high rutin levels. In particular, the highest rutin content was detected in the bran fraction. ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities of tartary buckwheats were higher than those of common buckwheats, especially in bran. Cellular antioxidant activity of tartary buckwheat milling fractions was more pronounced than that of common buckwheat in both Caco-2 and Raw 264.7 cells, demonstrating the higher cellular antioxidant effect of tartary buckwheat bran. The cytotoxic effect of both common and tartary buckwheat milling fractions on cell proliferation was not significant. These results suggest that tartary buckwheat bran may have much potential for usefulness in protective and therapeutic antioxidant applications.