• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.738-744
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• 2018

Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai is a native Korean plant that grows only on Mt. Halla of Jeju Island. Its leaf is used for a popular bamboo tea due to its various health-promoting properties, and it has been increasingly used as food and cosmetic ingredients. To utilize the S. quelpaertensis leaf efficiently, the preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) using the leaf's residue was previously reported, which was produced after hot water extraction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of PRE and its solvent fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction of PRE (EPRE) showed higher DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide radical scavenging activities, and it effectively inhibited intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. EPRE also induced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by increasing the level of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in a nuclear fraction. The inhibiting effect of EPRE on LPS-induced NO production was partially reversed by the HO-1 inhibitor (zinc protoporphyrin, ZPP), suggesting that HO-1 is involved in suppressing NO production. Taken together, the results suggest that EPRE has potential as a promising anti- oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2014

To develop effective and safe acne vulgaris therapies with a continuing demand for new solutions, we investigated unique efficacy of an antibacterial agent from marine brown alga Eisenia bicyclis in treating acne vulgaris. The methanolic extract of E. bicyclis exhibited potential antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest antibacterial activity against the bacteria among solvent fractions. Six compounds (1-6), previously isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of E. bicyclis, were evaluated for antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria. Among them, compound 2 (fucofuroeckol-A [FF]) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 32 to $128{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$. Furthermore, FF clearly reversed the high-level erythromycin and lincomycin resistance of Propionibacterium acnes. The MIC values of erythromycin against P. acnes were dramatically reduced from 2,048 to $1.0{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ in combination with MIC of FF ($64{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$). The fractional inhibitory concentration indices of erythromycin and lincomycin were measured from 0.500 to 0.751 in combination with 32 or $64{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of FF against all tested P. acnes strains, suggesting that FF-erythromycin and FF-lincomycin combinations exert a weak synergistic effect against P. acnes. The results of this study suggest that the compounds derived from E. bicyclis can be a potential source of natural antibacterial agents and a pharmaceutical component against acnerelated bacteria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2014

The fruit of Gleditsia sinensis has been extensively used as a key ingredient of an herbal remedy for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases in traditional Korean Medicine. However, the reason of using the fruit of G. sinensis for the remedy is unclear. Since Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a key anti-inflammatory transcription factor, which is activated by the fruit of G. sinesis, we examined whether other plant parts of G. sinensis are also capable of suppressing inflammatory responses by activating Nrf2. Water extracts of various parts of G. sinensis were prepared and tested for Nrf2 activation by reporter assay and western blot analysis. Our results show that the hull of G. sinensis is the most potent in activating Nrf2. Sequential organic solvent extraction of the hull show that all the fractions had a higher potency in activating Nrf2 than the water extract, albeit differential degrees. The hull originated from Korea in general activated Nrf2 strongly compared to that of China. Chloroform fraction of the hull was further examined, showing that the fraction induced nuclear localization of Nrf2, indicative of activated Nrf2, and Nrf2-dependent gene expression including NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO-1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and heme oxygenase - 1 (HO-1). Therefore, our results show that, among other plant parts examined in this study, the hull of G. sinensis is the most potent, providing the experimental basis for the use of the hull of G. sinensis as an active ingredient for an anti-inflammatory remedy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.378-383
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• 2016

The glasswort is an edible halophyte demonstrating various physiological effects including anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, the effects of glasswort extracts on inflammatory events and interactions of THP-1 monocytes with intestinal epithelial cells were investigated. Five solvent fractions, including the ethylether fraction (Fr.E), were prepared from a 70% methanol extract of glasswort. THP-1 monocytes underwent differentiation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment and were then activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. None of the glasswort fractions tested alone induced COX-2 in differentiated THP-1 cells. Fr.E, however, enhanced LPS-induced COX-2 expression in differentiated THP-1 cells. Culture media of THP-1 cells treated with each fraction stimulated the growth of normal intestinal INT-407 cells more prominently than that of HT-29 colon cancer cells. COX-2 expression in HT-29 cells was inhibited when the cells were exposed to the THP-1 culture medium treated with Fr.E. Thus, glasswort could modulate the interaction between immune cells and intestinal cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.266-272
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• 2009

The annual productions of yam and its aerial bulbils are estimated to 5,000 and 2,500 ton, respectively. But the majority of bulbils had been discarded without specific use. In this study, methanol extract and its organic solvent fractions were prepared from bulbils of Dioscorea batatas Decne, and their antimicrobial, antithrombin, and antioxidant activities were evaluated, respectively. The methanol extract contained 58.98% of water-soluble materials as like yam's extract. But the bulbils's extract contained 12-folds of total polyphenol and 3.4-folds of total flavonoids compared than yam's extract, respectively. For antimicrobial activity the hexane and ethyl acetate fraction showed strong antibacterial activity at $500{\mu}g/disc$ concentration against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Antifungal activity was not observed in any fractions. Strong antithrombin activity was found in the hexane fractions. At 4.8 mg/mL concentration thrombin time (TT) was over 300 sec, which is 4-folds extended than the TT of yam. In a while, the ethyl acetate fraction showed strong DPPH scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ of $38.1{\mu}g/mL$), SOD-like activity and reducing power, which are comparable to vitamin C or BHT. Our results suggest that the bulbils of yam as yam tuber have useful bio-activities, such as antibacterial, antithrombosis, and antioxidant activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2017

Melanin synthesis inhibition activities were investigated for the extracts prepared from the leaves of Carpinus turczaninowii (C. turczaninowii) by using B16F10 melanoma cells. As a result, the ethanol extract ($100{\mu}g/mL$) showed 72.2% inhibition activities without cell toxicities in MTT assays. For the solvent fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water), the most potent activities were observed at the ethyl acetate fraction. To isolate the active constituents, the ethyl acetate fraction was further purified to afford four compounds; ethyl gallate (1), quercetin rhamnose (2), kaempferol rhamnose (3) and quercetin galloylrhamnose (4). The identification of the isolates was made by spectroscopic data including NMR spectra, and all of the compounds 1-4 were isolated for the first time from the leaves of C. turczaninowii. Anti-melanogenesis activities were studied for the isolates 1-4, and the compound 4 was determined to decrease the melanin synthesis dose-dependently without causing cell toxicities. ELISA measurement indicated that the isolate 4 decreased the contents of cell tyrosinase, a critical enzyme in melanogenesis. Based on these results, the extracts of C. turczaninowii were found to be applicable as whitening ingredients in cosmetic formulations.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.131-138
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• 2010

To obtain basic data on the use of lotus as a raw material in functional food, antioxidant and anticancer activities of the leaf and root were investigated. Total flavonoid and total phenolic contents, at 12.84 mg/g and 24.33 mg/g respectively, were higher in white lotus leaf (WLL) than in any other part of the plant. The radical-scavenging activity of different tissues of lotus, measured in the DPPH radical-scavenging assay, increased with higher concentrations of solvent fractions. The butanol fraction of white lotus leaf showed the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity. The reducing power of fractions increased in a dose-dependent manner. The butanol fraction of WLL had the greatest reducing power, and showed strong antioxidant activity in the linoleic acid system, and high-level inhibition of tyrosinase. Fractions from lotus were also capable of scavenging nitrite, depending on the concentration of the fractions. Butanol fractions of the leaf of white and red lotus scavenged 95.61% and 92.15% of available nitrite, respectively, when used at 1 mg/mL concentrations. Butanol fractions from leaf of white and red lotus exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on human lung and colon cancer cells.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial constituents from Rhododendron weyrichii leaves. DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities were screened for the ethanol extract and solvent fractions. Potent scavenging activities were appeared from the extract, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (BuOH) fractions. Upon the anti-bacterial tests using Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes, extract, n-hexane (Hex) and EtOAc fractions showed strong activities. To isolate the active constituents, the EtOAc fraction was further purified to afford five phytochemicals; ursolic acid (1), corosolic acid (2), asiatic acid (3), astragalin (4) and isoquercetin (5). All of the compounds 1-5 were isolated for the first time from this plant. Among the isolates, the compound 4 and 5 showed strong DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities. Also, compound 3 exhibited the most potent anti-bacterial activity. In addition, the content of astragalin isolated from this plant was determined by UPLC and the quantity was about 8.1 mg/g for the 70% ethanol extract and 34.8 mg/g for the EtOAc fraction. Based on these results, it is concluded that R. weyrichii extract could be potentially applicable as anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial ingredients in cosmetic formulations.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.206-212
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• 2013

In the current study, antioxidant properties of extracts from different parts of Taraxacum officinale were determined by measuring the radical scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). The antioxidant activity of aerial and root parts of this plant was measured in extracts obtained from various solvents, e.g., water, 50, 70, 100% ethanol, and hot-water. The hot-water extracts had the highest radical scavenging activities. A further study was conducted to determine the total antioxidant activity of hot-water extract fractions obtained from different solvents, e.g., chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. The ethyl acetate fraction of this extract displayed the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity and the highest total phenolic contents. The inhibitory effect of individual solvent fractions on the production of nitric oxide in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was measured. The results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of aerial and roots part extracts significantly reduced nitric oxide productions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1182-1187
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• 2003

This study was performed to evaluate the potentiality of Reynoutria elliptica Migo., being used as a folk remedy and a herb medicine for urethritis, cystitis, etc., on growth inhibition of Helicobacter pylori which is known as the ulcerogenic pathogen. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of methanol extract from Reynoutria elliptica Migo, was determined to be 120 ppm for H. pylori and urease activity derived from H. pylori was inhibited over 80% by the extract at 2 mg/mL in urea broth. Among various solvent fraction of the methanol extract, the hexane fraction showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of H. pylori reducing both its growth and urease activity. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs of H. pylori treated with the methanol extract at 2 mg/mL for 3 hr showed that the cell walls and membranes were disrupted so that the cytoplasmic components were leaked from the body. These results suggest that Reynoutria elliptica Migo. possesses a therapeutic potential on the gastric disease caused by H. pylori.