• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2010

To evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of a water extract (KMF-WE) of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) fruit, we examined its ability to induce humoral and cellular immune response against keyhole limpet hemocyanine (KLH). Immunized mice with KLH admixed with KMF-WE (KLH/KMF-WE) showed significant induction of KLH-specific antibodies compared to mice immunized with KLH alone. The assay for determining isotypes of antibodies revealed that KMFWE augmented KLH-specific-IgG1 and -IgG2a production. In vitro T lymphocyte proliferation analysis against KLH revealed that the splenocytes of mice immunized with KLH/KMF-WE showed a significantly higher proliferative ability than those from mice immunized with KLH alone. The culture supernatants of splenocytes, which were harvested from mice immunized with KLH/KMF-WE, showed higher levels of both Th-1 type (IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$) and Th-2 type (IL-4) cytokines in response to KLH stimulation compared to those from mice immunized with KLH alone. Also, in delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay, mice immunized with KLH/KMF-WE showed a significantly higher reaction to KLH than mice treated with KLH alone. These results suggest that KMF-WE possess immunoadjuvant activity to enhance both antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses against protein antigens (KLH).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2010

Crataegii Fructus is commonly used as a improving digestion, removing retention of food, promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis agent in East Asia. Cadmium (Cd) is widely distributed in the environment due to its use in industry. An exposure to Cd causes dysuria, polyuria, chest pain, hepatic and renal tubular diseases. The liver is the most important target organ when considering Cd-induced toxicity because Cd primarily accumulates in the liver. This study investigated the protective effect of Crataegii Fructus water extract against cadmium ($CdCl_2$, Cd)-induced liver toxicity in H4IIE cells, a rat hepatocyte-derived cell line and in rats. Cell viability was significantly reduced in Cd-treated H4IIE cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. However, Crataegii Fructus water extract (CFE) protected the cells from Cd-induced cytotoxicity via inhibition of PARP cleavage. To induce acute toxicity in rats, Cd (4 mg/kg body weight) was dissolved in normal saline and intravenously injected into rats. The rats then received either a vehicle or silymarin (as a positive control) or CFE (50, 100 mg/kg/day) for 3 days, and were subsequently exposed to a single injection of Cd. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly increased by Cd treatment. In contrast, pretreatment with CFE reduced ALT, AST and LDH. In histopathological analysis, CFE reduced the hepatic degenerative regions and the number of degenerative hepatocytes. These are considered as direct evidences that Crataegii Fructus has favorable inhibitory effects on the Cd-intoxicated liver damages. The efficacy of Crataegii Fructus shows slight lower than that of silymarin in the present study.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2020

Objectives : Tetragonia tetragonioides is one of the traditional herbal medicines that can be used to protect the stomach and treat cancer. However, its mechanism of overcoming gastrointestinal disorders is unclear. In this study, we investigated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Tetragonia tetragonioides Water Extract (TTWE) on RAW264.7 cells. Methods : The cell viability by TTWE was measured by using MTT assay. The free radical scavenging ability and cytokine production were analyzed by using ELISA Kit. SPSS version 25 was used for statistical analysis. Results : According to the results of this study, the cell viability measurement of TTWE significantly affected the cell viability. The radical scavenging ability of TTWE showed the highest effect compared to the positive control group when the concentration was 3.1-12.5 ㎍/ml, and significantly inhibited NO production induced by LPS. In addition, the inhibitory effect of TTWE on the production of IL-6 and TNF-α induced by LPS was significant at both TTWE concentrations of 12.5 ㎍/ml [p <0.01 (IL-6), p <0.05 (TNF-α)]. Conclusion : In conclusion, it is suggested that the antioxidant function of Tetragonia tetragonioides Water Extract could be used to prevent and treat inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2006

Objectives : The effect of water extract of the pilose antler of Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe (Nokyong), a traditional immuno-suppressive and immuno-activating Korean oriental medicine, on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model was studied. Identification of common Nokyong capable of affording protection or modulating the onset and severity of arthritis may have important human health implications. Methods : Nokyong has shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties in experimental animals. In this study we determined the effect of DAE on collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Results : In three independent experiments mice given DAE in water exhibited significantly reduced incidence of arthritis (33% to 50%) as compared with mice given no DAE in water (84% to 100%). The arthritis index also was significantly lower in DAE-fed animals. Western blot analysis showed a marked reduction in the expression of inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), $Interferon-{\gamma}\;(INF-{\gamma})$, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ in arthritic joints of DAE-fed mice. The neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity was approximately 6-fold higher in arthritic joints of non-DAE-fed mice in comparison to nonarthritic joints of nonimmunized mice whereas it was only 2-fold higher in the arthritic joints of DAE-fed mice. Additionally, total IgG and type II collagen-specific IgG levels were lower in the arthritic joints of DAE-fed mice. Conclusion : Taken together our studies suggest that DAE may be useful in the prevention of onset and severity of arthritis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Measurement of electrical conductivity of saturated soil paste ($EC_e$) for assessment of soil salinity is time-consuming, and thus conversion of EC of 1:5 soil-water extract ($EC_{1:5}$) to $EC_e$ using a dilution factor may be of help to monitor salinity of huge number of soil samples. This study was conducted to evaluate the dilution factor for reclaimed tideland (RTL) soils of South Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: Soil samples (n=40) were collected from four RTLs, and analyzed for $EC_{1:5}$, $EC_e$, and cation compositions of 1:5 soil-water extract. The dilution factor (8.70) was estimated by regression analysis between $EC_{1:5}$ and $EC_e$, and the obtained dilution factor was validated by applying to an independent data set (n=96) of $EC_{1:5}$ and $EC_e$. The $EC_e$ measured and predicted was strongly correlated ($r^2=0.74$, P<0.001), but $EC_e$ was overestimated by 16% particularly for the soils with high clay content and low sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that using the dilution factor to convert $EC_{1:5}$ to $EC_e$ is feasible method to monitor changes in the soil salinity of the study RTL. However, overestimation of $EC_e$ should be cautioned for the soils with high clay content and low SAR.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.195-202
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• 2022

Soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves have been researched as functional food stuff actively, but there is no validation method to control quality of soybean leaves (SL). In this study, we annotated seven kaempferol derivatives to confirm camelliaside A as index metabolite in SL using UHPLC-ESI-TOF-MS. HPLC-UVD validation method of camelliaside A in hot-water extract of SL was established according to validation guideline of functional foods from the Ministry of Food and Safety of Korea. The HPLC-UVD method was validated with reliable parameters for examining specificity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and quantification and linearity. The established method gave the suitable ranges to qunatitate camelliaside A from the hot-water extract of soybean leaves.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) at high concentrations induce oxidative stress, an imbalanced redox state that is a prevalent cause of neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extract on oxidative stress-induced impairment of cognitive function in models of neurodegenerative diseases. CF was extracted with subcritical water and several solvents and H₂O₂ (0.25 mM) or aluminum chloride (AlCl₃; 25 µM) as an inducer of ROS was treated in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. All statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett's test using GraphPad Prism. H₂O₂ and AlCl₃ were found to significantly induce ROS production in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. In addition, they strongly affected intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. However, treatment of H₂O₂-induced PC12 cells or AlCl₃-induced zebrafish larvae with CF subcritical water extract at 90℃ and CF water extract effectively regulated excessive ROS production, intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, and mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxide, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, β-amyloid, tau, AChE, BDNF, and TrkB. Our study suggested that CF extracts can be a potential source of nutraceuticals that can improve the impairment of cognitive function and synaptic plasticity by regulating ROS generation in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.529-541
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• 2016

Under the interaction between dam body, dam foundation and external environment, the dam structural behavior presents the time-varying nonlinear characteristics. According to the prototypical observations, the correct identification on above nonlinear characteristics is very important for dam safety control. It is difficult to implement the description, analysis and diagnosis for dam structural behavior by use of any linear method. Based on the rescaled range analysis approach, the algorithm is proposed to identify and extract the fractal feature on observed dam structural behavior. The displacement behavior of one actual dam is taken as an example. The fractal long-range correlation for observed displacement behavior is analyzed and revealed. The feasibility and validity of the proposed method is verified. It is indicated that the mechanism evidence can be provided for the prediction and diagnosis of dam structural behavior by using the fractal identification method. The proposed approach has a high potential for other similar applications.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.335-341
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• 2019

Spirulina was cultured in Selenium solution and the total concentration was determined with isotope dilution technique. Low-molecular-weight-Selenium species for the water extract of Spirulina were separated and quantified with HPLC ICP/MS. Water extraction was used first and then protein enzyme (protease XIV) was used to digest and extract for the Se species in both water extract and residue. The total Se was $414.9{\pm}4.0{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ and 77% existed in water extract while 22% remained in residue. Se species in supernatant was mostly inorganic selenate ($222.7{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$). After hydrolysis of protein, SeCys ($15.20{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) and SeMet ($12.13{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) were found. In residue, SeCys and SeMet were found with little inorganic Se. After protein hydrolysis of residue, more of Selenoamino acids SeCys ($9.35{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) and SeMet ($18.23{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) in addition to MeSeCys ($1.5{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) were found. It is thought that inorganic selenium is mostly adsorbed on the surface of spirulina and can be easily removed by a simple distilled water extraction while most of organo-seleniums are remained in residue.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2010

A simple and reliable reverse phase HPLC method was developed to determine pharmacologically active marker compounds of Ephedrae Herba, Phytolaccae Radix and Polyporus. The stability test of water-extract of three natural medicines were examined for six months. However, no significant change in the content of the marker compounds of each extract observed during the time of investigation.