• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.928-935
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• 2016

Hypsizygus marmoreus (white cultivar), also called white beech mushrooms, are edible mushrooms commercially cultivated in Korea and Japan. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant properties of H. marmoreus. H. marmoreus fruit bodies were divided into pileus and stipe. The pileus and stipe were extracted into water and 80% ethanol and their antioxidant activities were analyzed. The total polyphenol content was highest in the water extract (pileus 1137.39±0.38 mg of GAE (gallic acid equivalents)/100 g, stipe 700.86±0.06 mg of GAE/100 g) compared to the ethanol extract (pileus 923.47±0.18 mg of GAE/ 100 g, stipe 324.05±0.03 mg of GAE/100 g). Ethanol extracts from pileus showed better scavenging ability on DPPH (47.32±0.23% at 10 mg/ml) and ABTS (57.33±0.10% at 10 mg/ml) than the stipe and water extract groups. Water extract from pileus were more effective in reducing power and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value than stipe and ethanol extract. The toxicity of water and ethanol extracts was investigated using WST-1 (Water Soluble Tetrazolium salt) assay on the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Overall, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities of extracts from H. marmoreus increased in a dose dependent manner while pileus was showed better total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities than stipe.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.680-688
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• 2016

Sipyukmiryuki-eum (SYMYKE), Danjacheongpi-tang (DJCPT), Jipae-san Ⅰ (JPS Ⅰ), Jipae-san Ⅱ (JPS Ⅱ), and Chungganhaeul-tang (CGHUT) are representative herb-combined remedies used in traditional Korean medicine for treating breast cancer patients, as mentioned in "Dongeuibogam." In this study, we investigated the total phenolic contents (TPCs) and the anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activities of hot water and 70% ethanol extracts of these herbal prescriptions. Among the five herb-combined remedies, the extraction yields of the hot water extracts and 70% ethanol extracts were the highest in JPS Ⅱ (34.30%) and DJCPT (30.50%), respectively. The TPCs of the hot water extracts from the herb medicines were rich in the order of JPS Ⅰ < CGHUT < JPS Ⅱ < SYMYKE < DJCPT. In addition, the 70% ethanol extracts from the herb medicines were rich in the order of JPS Ⅱ < JPS Ⅰ < CGHUT < SYMYKE < DJCPT. Among them, DJCPT and SYMYKE displayed a strong anti-oxidant capability, which was determined using ferric-reducing anti-oxidant power and scavenging of 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cationic radical activity assays. In addition, anti-microbial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were stronger in the 70% ethanol extracts than in the hot water extracts. Together, these findings reveal a positive relationship between TPCs and their anti-oxidant activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1698-1704
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• 2011

In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of ethanol extracts from Dendranthema indicum on cell and DNA damages induced by oxidative stress. Antioxidant activities of D. indicum extracts are higher than scavenging activities of DPPH free radical and hydroxyl radical by 92.8% and 73.8%, respectively, and higher than ferrous iron chelating effects by 59.4%. D. indicum extracts showed a protective effect on oxidative cell damage by inhibiting lipid peroxidation by 90.3% in the control group, and inhibiting expression level of p21 protein by 79.6% for the control group. This means D. indicum extracts have a great protective effect against oxidative stress. DNA fragmentation inhibition in D. indicum extracts were 89.6% for the control group, which makes the movement of DNA tail reduced, and phosphorylation of H2AX was 20.2% of the radical experiment group. This means that D. indicum extracts effectively inhibit DNA fragmentation and H2AX phosphorylation. Taken together, we suggest that ethanol extract from D. indicum has a role as a useful chemopreventor against oxidative damage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the physiological activities of stings of Gleditsia sinensis extracts. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring total phenolic contents (TPC), comet assay, and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (RSA). Anti-diabetic activity was measured by inhibition activities on $\alpha$-glucosidase. Stings of Gleditsia sinensis extracts were prepared by extracting them with methanol and ethanol. The methanolic extracts showed the highest phenol content (1.12 g/100 g gallic acid equivalents). The $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of methanol extracts were 17.9% higher, and that of ethanol extracts were 10.3% higher at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. These results indicate that stings of Gleditsia sinensis might be potential candidates as antioxidant and anti-diabetic agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.760-767
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• 2010

The oxidative damage of lipids, protein, and DNA is known to be involved in not only chronic inflammations such as arthritis, hepatitis, nephritis, gastritis, colitis, and periodontitis but also metastasis. It has given impetus to searching for natural compounds without toxicity, which prevent the development of these diseases. The direct scavenging effects of aged black garlic extract (ABGE) were evaluated in vitro on DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and genomic DNA damage related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, its antioxidant effect on lipid peroxidation was investigated in human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080), which were exposed to the hydroxyl radical generated by the Fenton reaction. It was observed that ABGE exhibited a greater inhibitory effect on hydrogen peroxide than other reactive oxygen species, and also blocked DNA oxidation and lipid peroxidation induced by the hydroxyl radical. The oxidative stress in live cells was also inhibited in the presence of ABGE. In addition, its inhibitory effects on the activity and expression of MMP-2 and -9 related to metastasis were determined using gelatin zymography and western blot. The data showed that it inhibited MMP-2 and -9 in PMA-stimulated HT1080 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that ABGE show potential as an excellent agent for prevention of metastasis related to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.736-744
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• 2010

The root of Playtcodon grandiflorum, called Platycodi radix, has been a favorite edible plant in Asia and contains a large amount of saponins. Melanoma cells (B16F10) were used to investigate the inhibitory effect of aged black Platycodi radix extract (ABPRE) on oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Platycodon radix has been known to have a variety of medicinal effects such as prevention of gastric ulcers, antiallergenic activities, histamine release inhibition, and antioxidant effects. However, the mechanism of its action remains unclear in humans. ABPRE was prepared using ethanol extraction of aged black Platycodi radix. In an antioxidant effect study of ABPRE, it was observed that ABPRE specifically exhibited the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, but did not inhibit the production of malondialdehyde from lipid peroxidation. DNA oxidation was also blocked in the presence of ABPRE. In addition, ABPRE decreased the expression and activation of MMP-2 stimulated by phenazine methosulfate. Furthermore, ABPRE revealed the inhibitory effect on melanin production induced by L-dopa via antioxidant effect and the reduction of tyrosinase expression. Especially, the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD-1 and SOD-2 regulated by Nrf2 was increased in the presence of ABPRE. Therefore, it appears that ABPRE may be a possible chemopreventive agent for the prevention of metastasis related to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.775-781
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• 2010

The antioxidant activities of hot water extracts from fresh, red and black garlic processed in low temperatures were compared. The chromaticity value of browning garlic was between that of fresh and black garlic. Red garlic was similar in browning intensity to fresh garlic. Also, total phenol, flavonoids, total pyruvate and thiosulfate contents were similar between fresh and black garlic. DPPH, ABTs, NO radical scavenging activity and reducing power of red garlic were significantly higher than fresh garlic, but lower than those of black garlic. $\alpha$-Glucosidase inhibitory activity in red garlic was similar to that in black garlic. Antioxidant activities of red garlic were higher than fresh garlic but lower than black garlic, and it was confirmed that antioxidant activity by production of browning material through the thermal process was the main parameter of the biological activity in the aged red garlic.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.973-980
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• 2014

This study was conducted to explore new nutraceutical resources from the plant kingdom possessing biological activities. To fulfill this purpose, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Decaisnea insignis ethanol extract (DIEE) were evaluated. First, DIEE possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), similar to ascorbic acid used as a positive control. Moreover, DIEE inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, DIEE induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), in a dose-dependent manner. The modulation of the HO-1 and Nrf2 expressions might be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and their upstream signaling pathways. On the other hand, DIEE suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of the NO formation was the result of the downregulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by DIEE. The suppression of NO and iNOS by DIEE might be modulated by their upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), and activator protein 1 (AP-1) pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights that D. insignis possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it might be utilized as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.946-951
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• 2014

Melanin plays a key role in the protection of skin from ultraviolet light that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. However, the ROS leading to the oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA are involved in the overproduction of melanin that is known to cause melasma, age spots and freckles. Among the herb medicines, Ulmus macrocarpa used in this study was reported to contain flavonoids as a main component. The aim of this study is to investigate the whitening and anti-oxidant effects of Ulmus macrocarpa ethanolic extracts (UMEE) in B16F1 cells. UMEE below $3.12{\mu}g/ml$ did not show cytotoxicity. In an anti-oxidant experiment, UMEE showed not only high reducing power and scavenging activity on DPPH, but it was also observed that UMEE exhibit an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. UMEE did not display an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in vitro. However, UMEE inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F1 cells. In addition, UMEE reduced the expression levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which are key enzymes in melanogenesis. These results indicate that UMEE exert a whitening effect through the inhibition of both tyrosinase and TRP-2 expressions as well as anti-oxidant activity, suggesting that UMEE could have the functional potential for a whitening effect on the skin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.655-663
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• 2014

Woosul (Achyranthis radix), a widely used material in food and oriental medicinal industry, has different origins of plant species in Korea, Japan and China. In Korea, woosul is designated as the radix of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) and Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB) in the regulation of The Korean Pharmacopoeia. However, the comparative study of hot water (HW) extracts between AJN and ABB is still rudimentary. In this study, HW extracts and its subsequent organic solvent fractions of AJB and ABB were prepared, and their in-vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-diabetes activities were evaluated. The HW extract of ABB has higher sugars and polyphenol compounds, and higher lightness and lower yellowness compared than those of AJN. Analysis of biological activities showed that the ethylacetate (EA) fraction of AJN and n-hexane fraction of ABB have antibacterial activities, and the EA fractions of AJN and ABB has strong antioxidation activities determined by radical scavenging activity and reducing power. In anti-diabetes activity assay, the EA fractions of AJN and ABB showed ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activities, while the butanol fractions of AJN and ABB showed ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Our results suggest that the HW extracts of AJB and ABB have different components and extraction yields, and their subsequent fractions have different biological activity. Therefore it was concluded that the EA fraction of AJN is appropriate to develop as natural medicine, and the HW extract of AJN is suitable to woosul-tea or woosul-sikhye production.