• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.661-667
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• 2010

Astragali Radix (AR) has been used in traditional medicinal herb, which is known to tonify the qi and blood. It has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the function of the lungs, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism, promote healing and reduce fatigue. Also, Plantago asiatica (PA) has the anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic effects, though it is considered to be less powerful than the seed. Recent research is showing that it is promising in lowering cholesterol and controlling diabetes. Obesity is characterized at the cellular level by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from fibroblastic preadipocytes in adipose tissue. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 3 to 7 extracts of mixed medicinal herbs (water and ethanol extract of Astragali Radix; ARW and ARE, water and ethanol extract of Plantago asitica; PAW and PAE, and those mixed extracts; ARW+PAE, ARW+PAW and ARE+PAE) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by MTT assay, Oil-Red-O staining and TUNEL assay. And then, we determined total contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoid compounds in mixed herbal extracts. These result showed that herbal extracts (ARW, PAE and ARW+PAE) affected on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes among 3 to 7 extracts tested. Especially herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) had the highest inhibition on differentiation of preadipocytes and lipoid accumulation of maturing adipocytes. And it did not affect cell viability of mature adipocytes, but herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) increased apoptosis in mature adipocytes, as proved by highest concentration $200\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ using TUNEL assay. In addition, contents of total phenoilc compounds and flavonoids showed the highest level in ARE+PAE and PAE than ARW. These results suggest that this main target for adipocyte functions could be effective in improving the metabolic syndrome including obesity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.222-227
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• 2008

Citrus aurantium var. amara L., commonly known as 'bitter orange' or 'sour orange', of the family Rutaceae, has traditionally been used in the treatment of various ailments, and it possesses different types of pharmacological properties. As a part of our on-going studies on the plantsfrom the Iranian flora, the extract of C. aurantium var. amara has been studied for its weight lossproperties using the mice model. While the Sep-Pak fraction, 20% methanol (MeOH) in water, of the hydro-methanolic extract of the peels of C. aurantium var. amara fruits, when injectedintraperitoneal (i.p.) at a dose of 10 mg/kg, significantly decreased the level of weight gain of the mice in comparison with control the group (P < 0.01), the Sep-Pak fraction 80% MeOH in water decreased the initial weight of mice by 0.44% in six weeks. The administration of the total extract(10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.), and the Sep-Pak fractions, 40% and 60% MeOH in water (10 mg/kg, i.p.)did not show any significant change of weight of the test mice. Of the two active fractions, the80% MeOH in water fraction did not show any noticeable adverse effects on mice, and was therefore analysed by reversed-phase preparative high performance liquid chromatography resulting in the isolation and identification of four major components, two coumarins, meranzin hydrate (1) and bergamottin (2), and two flavonoids, xanthomicrol 5,4'-di-methyl ether (tangeritin, 3) and hymenoxin 5,7-di-methyl ether (nobiletin, 4).

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.602-612
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• 2017

This study was performed to verify various effects of 70% ethanol extract and distilled water extract of pine leaf such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin-lightening effects analysis in cells. The result of antioxidant experiment showed that polyphenol content increased concentration dependently in polyphenol and flavonoid effects. The total content of polyphenols and flavonoids was much higher in ethanol extract than water extract. In all the cells of B16F10, RAW264.7 cytotoxicity at each concentration level didn't appear. The result of measuring NO production inhibition showed that it inhibited NO production led to LPS effectively, so anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed. The result of measuring melanin biosynthesis inhibition showed that there was considerably reduction effect, but it performed western blot, and as a result of MITF, Tyrosinase protein revelation, the inhibition of MITF, Tyrosinase revelation was confirmed concentration dependently, Therefore, in this study pine leaf extract was expected to be used as a cosmetic ingredient.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

Vaccinium angustifolium, commonly known as the lowbush blueberry, is a rich source of flavonoids, with which various human physiological activities have been associated. The present study focuses on the investigation of the effect of the methanolic extract of V. angustifolium root extract (VAE) on high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor ($Fc{\varepsilon}RI$) ${\alpha}$ chain antibody (CRA-1)-induced allergic reaction in human basophilic KU812F cells. The total phenolic content of VAE was found to be $170{\pm}1.9mg$ gallic acid equivalents/g. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the cell surface expression of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner upon culture with VAE. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the mRNA level of the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner as a result of VAE treatment. Western blot analysis revealed that the protein expression of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 were concentration-dependently inhibited by VAE. We determined that VAE inhibited anti-CRA-1-induced histamine release, in addition to the elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i), in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that VAE may exert an anti-allergic effect via the inhibition of calcium influx and histamine release, which occurs as a result of the down-regulation of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression through inhibition of ERK 1/2 activation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2011

Opuntia humifusa contains high levels of antioxidants including vitamin C, flavonoids and polyphenols, which may provide beneficial effects such as hypolipidemic activity and the reduction of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to determine if the intake of O. humifusa seeds powder (OHS) regulates lipid concentrations, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in the serum of ovariectomized rats. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to either a sham-operated group (Sham) or one of the following four ovariectomy (OVX) subgroups: OVX with vehicle (OVX), OVX with 100, 200, and 500 mg/kg/day OHS (OHS100, OHS200, OHS500). Daily oral administration of OHS was initiated one week after ovariectomy and continued for seven weeks. Upon completion of treatments, organs were weighed and GOT, GPT, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were determined enzymatically. No significant differences in feed intake and organ index were observed among the groups. Significant decreases in GPT, TC and LDL-C (p<0.05) were observed in all of the OHS groups (OHS100, 200 and 500), while no significant changes in HDL-C were observed. In addition, the OHS200 and OHS500 treatment groups exhibited a lower level of serum GOT compared to the OVX group. These results indicate that supplementation with O. humifusa seeds could induce favorable changes in serum lipoprotein and lipid profiles, which frequently worsen with inadequate estrogen availability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.807-811
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• 2009

In this study, the antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activities of Geumjong brown rice were measured to evaluate functional properties and to compare with white rice and Chuchung brown rice. The content of polyphenolics, flavonoids and $\gamma$-oryzanol were measured by spectrophometric methods and tocopherol and tocotrienol analyses were carried out by HPLC. ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power were used to measure antioxidant activity. The extraction yield of Chuchung white rice, Chuchung brown rice, and Geumjong brown rice were 1.5, 2.3, and 3.5%, respectively. The high level of antioxidant activity (69.77 mg TEAC/100 g) and total polyphenolic content (69.1 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g) were found in Geumjong brown rice, whereas the reducing power of Geumjong brown rice was lower than that of Chuchung brown rice.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.374-380
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• 2018

Aronia has low preference because of astringent and bitter taste. Appropriate processing is essential for eating aronia. For the processing of aronia, the aim of this study is to provide basic information on the cultivar and ripening stages. Three varieties (Viking, Nero and McKenzie) were studied. We divided the stages of maturity into four levels based on color. The physicochemical properties were analyzed. In the case of hardness, the first stage of maturity was the highest, and there was no difference between varieties. As maturation progressed, brightness and yellowness gradually decreased, and redness was highest at the second stage. The sugar content was the lowest in the Viking and significantly increased with the maturity stage. The acidity was highest in the Viking. Nero showed the highest radical scavenging ability. Total polyphenols and flavonoids were the highest in Nero. The highest level was shown at the first stage by the ripening stage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.929-936
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to compare the chemical components and biological activities of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB) from different cultivation regions (Gochang, Yeongyang, Jangheung, and China). Proximate compositions and contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were measured. Depending on the cultivation region, proximate composition of SMB showed significant variations. Total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were highest in Yeongyang SMB and Gochang SMB, respectively. We prepared hot water and 75% ethanol extracts of SMB from different cultivation regions and also investigated the biological effects of extracts on anti-oxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Extracts of Yeongyang SMB were the most effective at scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals, and hot water extract showed better scavenging activity than 75% ethanol extract. We observed that extracts of Yeongyang SMB exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, and 75% ethanol extract showed better antibacterial activity than water extract. Anti-inflammatory activities of SMB extracts from different cultivation regions were investigated through evaluation of their inhibitory effects on production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharides-induced RAW 264.7 cells. At $50{\mu}g/mL$, extract of China SMB showed the highest NO inhibitory activity of 34% among water extracts, and extract of Gochang SMB showed the highest NO inhibitory activity of 68% among 75% ethanol extracts. Salvianolic acid B level was the highest in extract of Yeongyang SMB with values of 110.59 mg/g for water extract and 111.93 mg/g for 75% ethanol extract.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.1476-1483
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• 2015

This study was conducted in order to compare changes in the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of mulberries depending on the degree of ripeness between greenhouse (GH) and open field (OF) cultivation. The mulberries were divided into five degrees of ripeness. Quality characteristics such as pH, acidity, antioxidant activity, and contents of free sugar, organic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins were investigated. pH level increased slightly while acidity decreased depending on the degree of ripeness. Fructose and glucose were detected in mulberries as the major free sugar. Fructose and glucose increased rapidly during ripening. Citric acid was major acid and decreased considerably during ripening. Contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins increased considerably in the last stage of ripening. Contents of polyphenols, and flavonoids in mulberry from OF were higher than from GH. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities increased rapidly in mulberries of the last degree. Contents of functional components were not greatly different between GH and OF, whereas content of free sugar in GH was higher than that in OF.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2014

To evaluate the inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidase (XO) and aldehyde oxidase (AO), and antihyperuricemic effect by Aspergillus oryzae fermented Smilax china L. leaf extracts and fractions, we observed extracted yield by each solvent, the content of total polyphenol and total flavonoid (TF), the activities of XO and AO, and serum uric acid level. Extracted yield (g/kg) by 80% ethanol (EtOH) was 13.56, those of n-hexane, dichloromethane (DICM), ethylacetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol fraction (BuOH) were 1.35-3.33. Furthermore, total polyphenol content (mg/g-extract) of EtOAc fraction, BuOH fraction, DICM fraction and EtOH fraction is 478.07-501.26, 259.49-289.02, 165.03-232.27, 134.02-196.54, respectively. Those of fermented EtOAc and DICM fraction was 4.85 and 40.74% higher than that of non-fermented fraction, respectively, while the other fermented fractions were lower than those of non-fermented fractions. And total flavonoid content (mg/g-extract) of EtOAc fraction was higher than those of other fractions. Additionally, TF of fermented EtOAc and BuOH fraction is 10.56 and 60.17% higher, than that of fermented fraction, respectively, although those of the other fermented fractions was lower than that of non-fermented fractions. On the other hand, XO inhibitory activities of all fermented fractions was significantly higher than that of all non-fermented fraction, while those of fermented EtOAc (75.02%) and BuOH fraction (65.59%) was markedly higher than that of non-fermented fraction (39.42 and 5.34%), respectively. In addition, AO inhibitory activities of DICM and EtOAc fraction was 81.82 and 77.93% higher, respectively, than those of the other fractions, and those of fermented fractions as with XO were significantly higher than that of non-fermented fractions. Meanwhile, serum uric acid level (SU) of hyperuricemic control mice (HC, 6.98 mg/dL) was 1.83 folds higher than that of normal control (NC, 3.82 mg/dL). Furthermore, SU in the group treated with EtOAc fraction decreased in a dose dependent manner compared with the allopurinol control group, although those of fermented fractions were significantly lower than those of non-fermented fractions. This study suggests that fermented Smilax china L. leaf extracts may regulate the XO and AO inhibitory activities and antihyperuricemic effect due to aglycone components from glycoside form flavonoids by fermentation of A. oryzae.