• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.283-293
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• 2023

Objectives : Native to East Asia, Japan, and Korea, Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold (CJ) is renowned for its aromatic leaves and bark. We previously assessed the antioxidant activity of fractionated CJ branches (CJB:70% EtOH extract), including hexane (CJB1), chloroform (CJB2), ethyl acetate (CJB3), butanol (CJB4), and water (CJB5). Our findings revealed that CJB3 exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Here, we aimed to investigate whether CJB3 possesses cytoprotective effects and induces the activity of antioxidant enzymes in hepatocytes. Methods : As HepG2 cells were the first to exhibit the key characteristics of hepatocytes, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of CJB3 on HepG2 cells. Results : Before conducting the cell experiment, we checked that CJB3, up to a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL, did not exhibit cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells. ROS production increased because of t-BHP treatment decreased in a concentration-dependent manner upon CJB3 treatment. We confirmed that CJB3 inhibited t-BHP-induced cell death. CJB3 was found to reverse the expression of proteins associated with t-BHP-induced apoptosis. We also observed that CJB3 induced Nrf2 phosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. And, CJB3 treatment caused a time-dependent enhancement of GCL and NQO1 protein expression. We further confirmed that CJB3 increased the expression of Nrf2 target genes, and this effect was associated with the activation of JNK, p38, and AMPK. Conclusion : CJB3 prevents t-BHP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and enhances the expression of Nrf2 target genes via JNK, p38, and AMPK activation. These results suggest that CJB3 is a promising candidate for the treatment of liver diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.774-781
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• 2015

The objective of the present study was to determine the total phenol and flavonoid contents and to evaluate the antioxidant potential, of different solvent extracts (ethyl acetate, n-butanol, chloroform, and water) from Robus idaeus in various radical scavenging models (DPPH activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, reducing power, and nitrite scavenging activity), along with their antimicrobial potential. Measurement of total phenol and flavonoid content of the ethyl acetate extract of R. idaeus was found to be significantly higher than those of the other extracts. The ethyl acetate extract (at a concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$) showed significantly higher reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity as compared to the other extracts. Results were dose-dependent. Moreover, the ethyl acetate extract of R. idaeus ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$) showed potent antioxidant efficacy ($85.5{\pm}1.18%$) as evidenced by nitrite scavenging ability at pH 1.2. All solvent extracts of R. idaeus showed lower SOD-like activity (13.72~20.54%). In addition, the antimicrobial activity of all solvent extracts except water extract showed strong inhibition (inhibitory zones in mm) of Staphylococcus aureus ($19.40{\pm}1.00mm$) and Bacillus cereus ($20.50{\pm}0.21mm$) growth. In particular, ethyl acetate extracts (100 mg/mL) showed antimicrobial activity comparable to that of tetracycline (0.01 mg/mL), which was used as a positive control. The results of this study indicate that the ethyl acetate extract of R. idaeus is a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial, with enriched phenols and flavonoids concentration, that has potential in the development of health-enhancing food products.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.450-455
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• 1998

Pine has been known as a traditional medicinal plant and as showing a physically beneficial function to a human being. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the physiological activities of main pine neddles. Ethanol extracts from pinus needles did net exhibit any mutagenicity. On the contrary, inhibitory effects of ethanol extract were observed on mutagenicity induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido-(4,3-b)indol (Trp-P-1) and benzo(a)pyrene $(B({\alpha})P)$ using Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay. On direct-acting mutagen (MNNG, 4NQO) and indirect-acting mutagen (Trp-P-1, $(B({\alpha})P)$, we observed higher inhibitory effect. Stepwise fractionation of the ethanol extract was done by using ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water to obtain effective fraction. Among them, water fractions $(100\;{\mu}g/plate)$ of Pinus thunbergii, Pinus rigida, Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis showed high inhibition of 91.65%, 94.7%, 84.22% and 79.02%, respectively, on the mutagenicity of MNNG in Salmonella typhimurium TA100.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2014

Styela clava tunic is generated in large amounts as a waste from S. clava processing plants and causes environmental problem. Although biological activities of S. clava were reported by many investigators, study on S. clava tunic was little. In this study, therefore, tyrosinase inhibition and antioxidative activities of extracts from S. clava tunic using different solvent were investigated for recycling of the fishery waste. Among extraction methods tested, autoclaved extraction (25.7%) and hot water extraction (18.2%) appeared to be effective for extraction. The highest total phenolic content was 46.6 mg/g in autoclaved extract while the highest flavonoid content was 23.0 mg/g in chloroform extract. All extracts possessed tyrosinase inhibition activity and the inhibition activity was concentration-dependent. Inhibition concentration ($IC_{50}$) against tyrosinase activity was $0.36{\times}10^4$ mg/ml in ethanol extract, $0.11{\times}10^3$ mg/ml in acetone extract and 0.27 mg/ml in n-butanol extract. Among extracts tested, hot water and autoclaved extracts displayed higher antioxidative activity than organic solvent extracts. Therefore, our data suggest that extract from S. clava tunic may potential candidate for cosmetic product with whitening effect and medicine for diseases caused by various oxidative stresses.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2015

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme to control the biosynthesis of melanin pigments and has two enzyme activities, namely of 1-tyrosine hydroxylase and of 1-dopa oxidase. Thus, tyrosinase is regarded as a target in skin-whitening and therapeutic intervention of local hyperpigmentation diseases. We have tested tyrosinase inhibitory activity on the water extracts of 50 species oriental medicinal plant. Among them, five medicinal plants, Linderae Radix, Clematidis Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus and Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae were investigated strong inhibition effect. Five medicinal plants were fractionated using organic solvents (methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water). Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (ethyl acetate fraction) was investigated strong inhibition effect. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity below $IC_{50}\;40{\mu}g/ml$ is confirmed in five herbal plants that are Linderae Radix, Clematidis Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus and Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae. Tyrosinase inhibitory levels ($IC_{50}\;{\mu}g/ml$) of each plants were 15.56, 35.02, 25.14, 15.20 and 39.77. We also investigate the effect of effective plant's fraction. in dose of $100{\mu}g/ml$, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (P-36) EtOAc fraction significant inhibitory effect over 50%. Clematidis Radix (P-35) and Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (P-36) MC fraction inhibit tyrosinase each 36.60% and 43.21%. inhibitory rates of Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (P-40) EtOAc and $H_2O$ fraction are 31.40% and 31.51%. Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae (P-45) BuOH fraction regulate tyrosinase activity to 37.71%. We examined tyrosinase inhibitory activity of natural products and these results suggest that several herbs have potential as a new whitening material.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.247-252
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• 2022

The arial parts of Artemisia argyi were extracted with methanol : water (70:30), and the concentrates was partitioned into EtOAc (ethyl acetate), n-BuOH (normal butanol), and H₂O (water) fractions. The repeated silica gel and ODS (octadecyl silica gel) column chromatographies for EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions led to isolation of four flavonoids without any ambiguity based on intensive interpretation of several spectroscopic data including nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry. The chemical structure of the isolated compounds revealed to (2S)-naringenin (1), 3-methylkaempferol (2), 3,3'-dimethylquercetin (3), and 3,3',4'-trimethylquercetin (4). These four compounds were first isolated from A. argyi through this study. In this study, four compounds isolated from A. argyi showed an increase in glutathione mean and a decrease in glutathione heterogeneity so that the compounds uniformly raised the intracellular glutathione (GSH) level. Based on these results, it is considered that it can be used as a functional pharmacological material.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.865-872
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• 2002

In the course of the investigations of natural antioxidants, we examined the antioxidant activities of the methanol (MeOH) extracts of some selected Prunus species, including P. buergeriana, P. davidiana, P padus, P. pendula for. ascendens, P. sargentii, P. serrulata var. spontanea and P. yedoensis by three methods as represented by the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, total ROS (reactive oxygen species) and the peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$) scavenging activity tests. We also evaluated the activities of the organic solvent-soluble fractions, including the dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH) fractions and the water ($H_2O$) layer of P. serrulata var. spontanea leaves. By means of bioassay-directed fractionation, we isolated eleven known flavonoids (1-11) from the EtOAc soluble fraction of the MeOH extract of the Prunus serrulata var. spontanea leaves, exhibiting strong antioxidant activity and characterized as prunetin (1), genistein (2), quercetin (3), prunetin $4'-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (4), kaempferol $3-O-{\alpha}-arabinofuranoside$ (5), prunetin $5-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (6), kaempferol $3-O-{\beta}-xylopyranoside$ (7), genistin (8), kaempferol $3-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (9), quercetin $3-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (10) and kaempferol $3-O-{\beta}-xylopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (11). Compounds 3 and 10 showed good activities in all tested model systems. Compounds 2 and 8 showed scavenging activities in the DPPH and $ONOO^-$ tests, while compounds 5, 7, 9 and 11 were active in the $ONOO^-$ and ROS tests. On the other hand, compounds 1, 4 and 6 did not show any activities in the tested model systems.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2009

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including nitric oxide (NO), could be associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammation. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are known to play key roles in the development of these diseases. Cedrela sinensis leaves have been used in Asian countries as a traditional remedy for enteritis, dysentery and itching. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Cedrela sinensis leaves in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Powder of C. sinensis leaves was extracted with 95% ethanol and fractionated with a series of organic solvents including n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. The dichloromethane (DCM) fraction strongly inhibited NO production possibly by down-regulating iNOS and COX-2 expression, as determined by Western blotting. Hydrogen peroxide-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also effectively inhibited by the DCM fraction from C. sinensis leaves. In addition, C. sinensis inhibited LPS-mediated p65 activation via the prevention of IκB-$\alpha$ phosphorylation. Furthermore, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as ERK 1/2 and p38 were found to affect the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in the cells. Taken together, our data suggest that leaves of C. sinensis could be used as a potential source for anti-inflammatory agents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.121-134
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• 2008

Objectives: Melia toosendan(MT) has been used as a traditional Korean herbal medicine, and today it is used as a medication for colic, side aches, heartache and other disorders of liver. The aim of this study was to determine whether fractionated extracts of MT inhibit free radical generation such as DPPH radical, superoxide radical and nitric oxide, production of nitrite, an index of NO, PGE2, iNOS, COX-2 and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Methods: MT extract prepared with methanol, and then fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water. Inhibitory effect of MT onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH, superoxide anions and nitric oxide scavenging activities in vitro. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt(MTS) assay. Intracelluar oxidation was analysed by DCF-DA assay. The nitric oxide(NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 expression were confirmed by western blot. And pro inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. Results: Our results indicated that fractionated extracts, especially dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts, significantly inhibited free radical generation, the LPS-induced $H_2O_2$, NO, $PGE_2$ production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$ and IL-6 formation in macrophages. Conclusions: These results indicate that dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of MT have potential as an agent of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.347-351
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• 2008

The methanol (MeOH) extract of the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum Hance (Zingiberaceae) demonstrated a potent inhibition on the proliferation of cultured human tumor cell lines such as MES-SA (human uterine carcinoma cell line), MESSA/DX5 (multidrug resistant subline of MES-SA), HCT-15 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line), HCT15/CL02 (multidrug resistant subline of HCT15). The MeOH extract was fractionated into four portions by serial solvent partition, ie., methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) soluble part, ethylacetate (EtOAc) soluble part, n-butanol (BuOH) soluble part and remaining water layer. Among them, the $CH_2Cl_2$ soluble part of the extract exhibited a most potent inhibition on the proliferation of tested tumor cell lines. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the $CH_2Cl_2$ soluble part led to the isolation of five diarylheptanoid and two flavonoid constituents, i. e., galangin (1), 7-(4"-hydroxy-3"-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenylhept-4-en-3-one (2), 1,7-diphenyl-5-hydroxy-3-heptanone (3), trans,trans-1-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-5-ol-4,6-dien-3-heptanone (4), 5-methoxy-7-(4"-hydroxy-3"-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (5), kaempferide (6), 5-hydroxy-7-(4"-hydroxy-3"-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (7). Structures of the isolated active components (1 - 7) were established by chemical and spectroscopic means.