• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.199-208
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• 2021

Euonymus porphyreus, a species of plant in the Celastraceae family, is widely distributed in East Asia, especially in Southern China. The botanical characteristics of E. porphyreus have been reported, but its antioxidative and anticancer activities remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative and anticancer effects of ethanol extracts of E. porphyreus (EEEP) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The total polyphenol and flavonoid compound contents from EEEP were 115.42 mg/g and 23.07 mg/g, respectively. EEEP showed significant antioxidative effects with a concentration at 50% of the inhibition (IC50) value of 11.09 ㎍/ml, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. EEEP showed cytotoxic activity by increasing the SubG1 cell population of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis in A549 cells treated with EEEP was evident due to increased apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, as detected by Annexin V and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. EEEP-induced apoptosis resulted in increased expression of the First apoptosis signal (Fas), p53, and Bax, with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and subsequent activation of caspase-8, -9, and caspase-3, leading to cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that EEEP may exert an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in A549 cells through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1214-1218
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• 2011

We investigated the fruits of Rubus crataegifolius Bge, a plant which has been traditionally used in Korea in phytotherapy, to describe antioxidant materials from plant sources. R. crataegifolius fruits were extracted with methanol and further fractionated into n-hexane, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. The antioxidant activity of each fraction and the residue was assessed using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), $H_2O_2$ radical scavenging method, and their cytotoxicity on human primary kerationcyte (HK) was determined by an MTS assay. The R. crataegifolius fruit methanol extract showed strong antioxidant activity (75.04%, 50%) compared with vitamin C (79.9%, 54.1%) by the DPPH, and $H_2O_2$ method, respectively. The measured activity from the subsequent extracts of the methanol extract were 20.3% for n-hexane fraction (HF), 68.8% for diethyl ether fraction (DF), 67.1% for ethyl acetate fraction (EF), and 67.1% for the residue fraction (RE) by DPPH and 2.2% for HF, 1.6% for DF, 10% for EF, and 50% for the RE by $H_2O_2$ assay. An oxidative stress model of HK was established under a suitable concentration (1 mM). The cell viability of the RE treated group increased and the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased at concentrations of 0.005-0.02% RE compared with the $H_2O_2$ treated group. Fruit extracts of the medicinal plant R. crataegifolius showed potent antioxidant activity and the ability to relieve cell damage from $H_2O_2$ induced injury to HK.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.243-247
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• 2006

The biological activity of functional food source with thyme extracts were examined. Total phenol contents in the 60% ethanol extracts $(26.8{\pm}0.35\;mg/g)$ with thyme leaf was higher than water extracts $(25.7{\pm}0.20\;mg/g)$. This HPLC analysis is significant in that physiological activity is related with phenolic compound content such as rosemarinic acid, quercetin and chlorogenic acid. Electron donating ability was shown as 90.1% in the water extracts and 77.7% in the 60% ethanol extracts. Antioxidant protection factor of 60% ethanol extracts was higher than water extracts. Helicobacter pylori of the water extracts from thyme leaves did not have antimicrobial activity, but the 60% ethanol extracts revealed the high antimicrobial activity as 9 mm of clear zone in $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of phenol content, 10 mm in $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, 13 mm in $150\;{\mu}g/ml$ and 16 mm in $200\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition activity showed no inhibition activity in 60% ethanol extracts but 39.9% inhibition activity in water extracts. Xanthine oxidase inhibition activity showed high inhibition activity at 73.5% in water extracts and 100% in 60% ethanol extracts. The result suggests the development of phenol compound in thyme as anti Helicobacter pylori, antioxidant and anti-gout agents.