• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.745-751
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• 2013

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have been used in Korea and China for promoting bone formation and protection. This study was designed to examine the Nrf-2 mediated anti-oxidative effects of Korean and Chinese safflower seeds. Water and ethanol extracts of safflower seeds were treated to RAW 264.7 cells. Nrf-2 transcriptional activity was measured by reporter gene assay and western blot analysis. Semi-quantitive RT-PCR analysis was adopted to measure Nrf-2 dependent gene expressions. Water extracts of safflower seeds have strongly induced the activation of Nrf-2 transcription than ethanol extracts. Especially, water extracts of Korean safflower seeds has more strongly increased the expression of nuclear Nrf-2. Water extracts of Korea and China safflower seeds have also increased the expression of Nrf-2-dependent genes such as GCLC, NQO-1 and HO-1 in RAW 264.7 cells. However, all kinds of safflower seeds extracts did not increase intracellular ROS production. These results demonstrate that the antioxidant effects of safflower seeds are not related with ROS production, rather it is mediated by the direct activation of Nrf-2.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2023

Safflower seeds, classified as a member of the Asteraceae family, a dicotyledonous plant, contain linoleic acid as a major component, known for its pharmacological effect of strengthening bones. Additionally, safflower seeds have been reported to have pharmacological effects on vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of safflower seed extract by examining its impact on adipocyte differentiation using Oil Red O staining, triglyceride quantification, and GPDH activity measurement. The results showed that safflower seed extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, we confirmed that safflower seed extract improved body weight, liver weight, adipose tissue size, glucose, and triglyceride levels in a high-fat diet-induced mouse model. These findings suggest that safflower seed extract exhibits potent anti-obesity activity both in vitro and in vivo and has the potential to be developed as a material for future anti-obesity therapies.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.454-461
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the chemical properties of safflower seeds cultivated at some areas in Korea. Safflower was used as one of the functional foods and medicinal plants for many centuries. Porximate compositions of safflower seeds were moisture, 4.8~8.1%, crude protein 16.5~19.5%, crude ash 2.7~3.3%, curde fiber 38.5~43.4%, and crude fat 16.6~24.4%, respectively. Glutamic acid, aspartic acid and arginine were the major amino acids and their contents were 2,587.4~3,143.5 mg%, 1,315.8~1,654.8 mg%, and 1,171.9~1,484.2 mg%. K, P, Ca, and Mg were major minerals and their contents were 611.6~886.3 mg%, 501.5~596.7 mg%, 208.5~641.2 mg%, and 530.6~639.5 mg%, respectively. The free sugars that were identified include raffinose, sucrose, glucose, fructose. ${\alpha}$-tocopherol content was 0.14~3.82 mg%. Contents of vitamin C was 0.43~3.39 mg%. The safflower seeds fatty acids were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linoleic acid. The major fatty acid was linoleic acid it's content was 74.8~82.9%.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 1999

Antioxidative compounds contained in roasted safflower seeds were investigated. Six phenolic compounds, N-feruloylserotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, matairesinol, 8'-hydroxyarctigenin, acacetin 7-Ο-β-D-glucoside(tilianine) and acacetin were isolated and identified from the extract of seeds. The inhibitory effects of six phenolic compounds on 1,1-dipheny1-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radical and lipid peroxidation induced by H₂O₂/FeSO₄in rat liver microsomes were determined. Two serotonins showed more potent DPPH radical scavenging activity, and a stronger inhibitory effect on the lipid peroxidation than that of α-tocopherol. In addition, acacetin and matairesinol also considerably inhibited lipid peroxidation, while 2-hydroxy-arctigenin and tilianine were inactive. These results suggest that phenolic compounds, including serotonins, lignans and flavonoids in the roasted safflower seeds can be used as potential dietary natural antioxidants.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.91-104
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• 2000

Many synthetic bone materials have been studied for their potential of regenerative effects in periodontal tissue. Safflower seeds have been traditionally used as a drug for the treatment of fracture and blood stasis in oriental medicines. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the osseous responses in rat calvarial defects between bone substitutes such as calcium carbonate and bovine-derived hydroxyapatite and feeding of safflower seeds. The calvarial defects were made with 8 mm trephine bur in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats. Two graft materials were implanted in each experimental groups, whereas the control and safflower seed feeding groups were sutured without any other treatment. And then the rats of safflower seed feeding group were supplied with 3 g/day of safflower seeds. Each group was sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. To study a histopathology related to bone healing and regeneration, Goldner's Masson Trichrome stain was done at each weeks. The tissue response was evaluated under light microscope. There were more osteoblastic activity, new bone formation, dense bony connective tissues in bovine-derived hydroxyapatite group compared to other groups at 8 weeks. The osseous defect area of safflower seed feeding group was filled with prominent fibrous tissues, where less inflammatory infiltration and new capillary proliferation. In the early phase of bone healing, safflower seed feeding reduces the inflammatory response and promotes the proliferation of connective tissue. These results suggest that natural bovine-derived HA and safflower seed feeding could enhance the regenerative potential in periodontal defects.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.364-369
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• 2015

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds are wellknown traditional oriental medicines that have long been used for the remedies of blood stasis and bone formation in east Asia. In this study, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) was used for extraction of the main chemical compounds from C. tinctorius seeds. Four major compounds were identified, acacetin, cosmosiin, N-feruloyl serotonin and N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin. Each compound was evaluated for its inhibitory activity against the inflammatory process of macrophages. All compounds significantly inhibited production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were dramatically decreased by serotonins in a dose-dependent manner in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results suggest that serotonin derivatives from safflower seeds may reduce inflammation-related diseases.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2007

The antioxidant properties of twelve phenolic compounds, including matairesinol 4'-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, 8'-hydroxyarctigenin 4'-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, matairesinol, 8'-hydroxyarctigenin, N-feruloylserotonin 5-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, N-(p-coumaroyl)-serotonin-5-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, N-feruloylserotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, luteolin 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, luteolin, acacetin 7-O-$\beta$-glucuronide, and acacetin, isolated from defatted safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds were evaluated with regard to the DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, levels of phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC in two cultivars of safflower seeds. Among them, four serotonin derivatives showed potent DPPH ($IC_{50}=10.83-21.75\;{\mu}M$) and hydroxyl ($IC_{50}=75.93-374.63\;{\mu}M$) radical scavenging activities, and their activities were significantly stronger than that of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$. Four flavonoids ($IC_{50}=170.65-275.83\;{\mu}M$) and four lignans ($IC_{50}=114.22-406.10\;{\mu}M$) exhibited significant superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, respectively, whereas these compounds contained less activity toward the DPPH and hydroxyl radicals than serotonin derivatives. The levels of serotonin derivatives, lignans and flavonoids in safflower seeds of two cultivars ranged from 49.30 to 260.40, 3.72 to 158.90, and 11.72 to 214.97 mg% (dry base), respectively. Of the two cultivars, 'Cheongsu' had somewthat higher concentrations of phenolic compounds than 'Uisan'. These results suggest that phenolic compounds in safflower seeds may playa role as protective phytochemical antioxidants against reactive oxygen-mediated pathological diseases.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.392-397
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• 2007

We investigated whether ethanol extracts of the safflower seeds containing phenolic compounds were responsible for the bone-protecting effects. Crude ethanol extract (CEE) of the safflower seeds was fed for 4 weeks at the level of 1% in diet to female Sprague-Dawley rats that had been subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). The CEE effects (OVX+CEE) were evaluated by comparing results obtained from OVX, Sham, and OVX injected with $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($OVX+E_2$) groups. OVX resulted in a dramatic reduction in the trabecular bone mass of the proximal tibia (approximately 40% of the Sham group) and an increase in fat deposition in bone marrow. In $OVX+E_2$ group, the bone loss was completely prevented as well as marrow adiposity. In OVX+CEE group, approximately 80% of the bone mass was maintained compared with Sham group and fat deposition in the bone marrow was prevented. Meanwhile, the partially purified ethanol extract containing the phenolic compounds stimulated proliferation of the ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells in a dose-dependent manner, as potently as positive controls of $E_2$ and genistein. The present data demonstrate that the ethanol extracts of safflower seeds reduced bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency. The bone-protecting effect of safflower seeds seems to be mediated, at least partly, by the stimulating effect of the phenolic compounds on the growth of osteoblasts.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.297-313
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• 1999

The ultimate goal of periodontal treatment is the regeneration of periodontal tissues which have been lost due to periodontal disease. Recently, many natural medicines have been studied for their potential of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects in periodontal tissues. Safflower seeds have been traditionally used as a drug for treatment of fracture and blood stasis in oriental medicine. The objective of the present study is to examine the biologic effects of safflower seeds extract on bone formation and regeneration of rat calvarial defects. The calvarial defects were made with 8mm trephine bur and extract of safflower seeds were placed directly at these defects. 24 rats were divided into control and experimental groups, and each group was sacrificed at 1 week, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. To study a histopathology related to bone regeneration, Goldner's Masson Trichrome stain and histomorphologic measuring was done at each weeks. In the early phase of bone healing, less inflammatory infiltration and capillary proliferation was found in experimental group compared to control. Dense bony tissues and matured bone structures in defect areas were found in experimental groups. And area of new bone formation was significantly increased at 8 weeks in experimental group. These results indicate that direct local application of safflower seeds extract reduces the early inflammatory response and promotes the regeneration of new bone in calvarial defects of rats.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2006

Phenolic compounds in safflower seeds were recently found to stimulate bone formation and increase plasma HDL cholesterol levels in estrogen deficient rats, and to inhibit melanin synthesis. Nine phenolic compounds: $N-feruloylserotonin-5-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside,\;8'-hydroxyarctigenin-4'-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside,\;luteolin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside$, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, 8'-hydroxy arctigenin (HAG), luteolin (LT), $acacetin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucuronide$ (ATG) and acacetin (AT), were quantified by HPLC in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds during growth and processing. During growth, levels of the nine phenolic compounds in the seeds increased progressively with increasing growth stages, reached a maximum on July 30 (42nd day after flowering), and then remained relatively constant. During the roasting process, levels of phenolic compounds, except HAG, LT and AT, generally decreased with increased roasting temperature and time, whereas those of HAG, LT and AT increased progressively with increased roasting temperature and time. During the steaming process, levels of other phenolic compounds except HAG and AT generally tended to increase with increased steaming time, whereas those of HAG and AT were scarcely changed. During the microwave treatment, quantitative changes of phenolic compounds were similar to the roasting process, although there were some differences in levels of phenolic compounds between two heat treatments. These results suggest that the steamed safflower seeds after harvesting on late July may be useful as potential dietary supplement source of phenolic compounds for prevention of several pathological disorders, such as atherosclerosis and osteoporosis and aging.