• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.408-419
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK), the main active metabolite in Panax ginseng, has shown good safety and bioavailability in clinical trials and exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemic stroke. However, its potential role in the prevention of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of ginsenoside CK against cerebral I/R injury. Methods: We used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, including oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion induced PC12 cell model and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion induced rat model, to mimic I/R injury. Intracellular oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rate were analyzed by Seahorse multifunctional energy metabolism system; ATP production was detected by luciferase method. The number and size of mitochondria were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and MitoTracker probe combined with confocal laser microscopy. The potential mechanisms of ginsenoside CK on mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy were evaluated by RNA interference, pharmacological antagonism combined with co-immunoprecipitation analysis and phenotypic analysis. Results: Ginsenoside CK pretreatment could attenuate mitochondrial translocation of DRP1, mitophagy, mitochondrial apoptosis, and neuronal bioenergy imbalance against cerebral I/R injury in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our data also confirmed that ginsenoside CK administration could reduce the binding affinity of Mul1 and Mfn2 to inhibit the ubiquitination and degradation of Mfn2, thereby elevating the protein level of Mfn2 in cerebral I/R injury. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that ginsenoside CK may be a promising therapeutic agent against cerebral I/R injury via Mul1/Mfn2 mediated mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2007

From the total methanolic extract of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. var. spatiosum (Compositae), nitrite scavenging ability and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity were analyzed as antioxidative characteristics. After successive partitioning with chloroform, n-butanol, and water, the chloroform fraction showed the most significant nitrite scavenging ability with an $IC_{50}$ value of 39 ppm compared with the values of vitamin C and chlorogenic acid, 15 ppm and 36 ppm, respectively. The active fraction was subjected to silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and the compound was isolated and identified as ${\beta}-sitosterol-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside$ using $^{1}H-NMR$ and $^{13}C-NMR$ spectral data. The glucoside was further hydrolyzed and confirmed as a glycosylated ${\beta}-sitosterol$. The compound and its aglycone, ${\beta}-sitosterol$, showed different nitrite scavenging and SOD-like activity. The $IC_{50}$ value of nitrite scavenging ability of the compound was 335 ppm at pH 1.5, while that of its aglycone was 41 ppm. As for the SOD-like activity, the $EC_{50}$ values of the sterol and the glucoside were 1,291 ppm and >2,000 ppm, respectively, compared with those of vitamin C and chlorogenic acid, 38 ppm and 449 ppm, respectively.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Licorice has been shown to possess cancer chemopreventive effects. However, glycyrrhizin, a major component in licorice, was found to interfere with steroid metabolism and cause edema and hypertension. The roasting process of licorice modifies the chemical composition and converts glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhetinic acid. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-carcinogenic effects of the ethanol extract of roasted licorice (EERL) and to identify the active compound in EERL. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of roasted and un-roasted licorice were prepared. The active fraction was separated from the methylene chloride (MC)-soluble fraction of EERL and the structure of the purified compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The anti-carcinogenic effects of licorice extracts and licochalcone A was evaluated using a MTT assay, Western blot, flow cytometry, and two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. RESULTS: EERL was determined to be more potent and efficacious than the ethanol extract of un-roasted licorice in inhibiting the growth of DU145 and MLL prostate cancer cells, as well as HT-29 colon cancer cells. The aqueous extracts of un-roasted and roasted licorice showed minimal effects on cell growth. EERL potently inhibited growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast, B16-F10 melanoma, and A375 and A2058 skin cancer cells, whereas EERL slightly stimulated the growth of normal IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells and CCD118SK fibroblasts. The MC-soluble fraction was more efficacious than EERL in inhibiting DU145 cell growth. Licochalcone A was isolated from the MC fraction and identified as the active compound of EERL. Both EERL and licochalcone A induced apoptosis of DU145 cells. EERL potently inhibited chemically-induced skin papilloma formation in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Non-polar compounds in EERL exert potent anti-carcinogenic effects, and that roasted rather than un-roasted licorice should be favored as a cancer preventive agent, whether being used as an additive to food or medicine preparations.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.965-976
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• 2023

Reynoutria japonica is a perennate plant belonging to Polygonaceae and grows wild in East Asia containing Korea. Roots of Reynoutria japonica (R. japonica), part of roots of Reynoutria japonica, has been used for anti-inflammation and antispasmodics and contains emodin as active compound. Epidermis of skin is crucial roles to defense our body against stimulants, harmful substance and prevent water loss. In this study, we examined the effect of R. japonica and emodin, its active compound, on skin-barrier and moisturizing on HaCaT cells. First, antioxidant effect of R. japonica was prominent by scavenging ABTS⁺ radicals. Next, we conducted real time PCR and expression of filaggrin mRNA which is crucial role in differentiation of keratinocyte increased by R. japonica and emodin dose-dependently. In addition, R. japonica and emodin significantly elevated the expression of HAS-2 mRNA which play a role in hyaluronic acid synthesis on HaCaT cells. Taken together, R. japonica containing emodin, as active compound has potential as a cosmetic material for enhancing the function of skin-barrier and moisturizing in epidermis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.956-964
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• 2020

The radical scavenging activity measurement system linked with liquid chromatography (LC) is a useful tool for identifying the radical scavenging active compound in a sample composed of numerous compounds such as plant extracts. Using this system, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity were measured on extracts of Ulmus pumila cortex, which is known as an herbal medicine with antioxidant activity. Mass spectrometry (MS) was performed on the identified radical scavenging active compounds to identify the four components estimated to be procyanidin B2, procyanidin B3, catechin-7-O-β-D-apiofuranoside, and catechin-5-O-β-D-apiofuranoside, respectively. In order to compare the relative contents between extract samples, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode analysis conditions were set for the four compounds in order to examine the possibility of comparing the content of radical scavenging active compounds in Ulmus pumila cortex extract using LC-MS/MS. As a result of the relative content comparison, it was found that the higher the ethanol concentration of the extraction solvent, the higher the content of radical scavenging active compounds. As with the results of measuring the radical scavenging activity of each extract, it was confirmed that the content difference of three of the compounds (all except the compound estimated as procyanidin B3) was not significantly observed in the extracts with an ethanol concentration of 50% or more.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to analyze volatile and aroma-active compounds in Korean wild chive (Allium monanthum Maxim.) cultivated in open-fields or greenhouse systems using solvent-assisted flavor evaporation-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry and GC-olfactometry. Aroma-active compounds were evaluated using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). Twenty-two aroma-active compounds with log₂ flavor dilutions (FD) of 1-10 were detected in Korean wild chive, which was cultivated in an open-field or a greenhouse. 2-Isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine ("earthy"), 2-sec-butyl-3-methoxypyrazine ("earthy", "musty"), and dipropyl disulfide ("sulfurous") were the most predominant aroma-active compounds with log₂FD of 9-10; this was followed by dimethyl trisulfide ("onion-like") and (E)-1-propenyl propyl disulfide ("fresh onion-like"). The "sulfurous", "earthy", "pungent", and "cabbage-like" aroma notes were strong in Korean wild chive. More intense "pungent" odors were detected in Korean wild chive cultivated in an open-field, whereas more intense "cabbage-like" odors were detected in Korean wild chive cultivated in a greenhouse.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.225-236
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• 2013

Among several bacteria examined, an antibacterial-producing Lactobacillus strain with probiotic characteristics was selected and identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Subsequent purification and mode of action of the antibacterial compounds on target cells including E. coli were investigated. Maximum production of the antibacterial compound was recorded at 18 h incubation at $30^{\circ}C$. Interestingly, antibacterial activity remained unchanged after heating at $121^{\circ}C$ for 45 min, 24 h storage in temperature range of $70^{\circ}C$ to room temperature, and 15 min exposure to UV light, and it was stable in the pH of range 2-10. The active compounds were inactivated by proteolytic enzymes, indicating their proteinaceous nature, and, therefore, referred to as bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances. Isolation and partial purification of the effective agent was done by performing ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography. The molecular mass of the GFC-purified active compound (~3 kDa) was determined by Tris-Tricine SDS-PAGE. To predict the mechanisms of action, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of ultrathin sections of E. coli before and after antibacterial treatment was carried out. TEM analysis of antibacterial compounds-treated E. coli demonstrated that the completely altered bacteria appear much darker compared with the less altered bacteria, suggesting a change in the cytoplasmic composition. There were also some membrane-bound convoluted structures visible within the completely altered bacteria, which could be attributed to the response of the E. coli to the treatment with the antibacterial compound. According to the in vivo experiments oral administration of L. plantarum HKN01 resulted in recovery of infected BALB/c mice with Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.104-107
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• 1984

The essential oil fraction of Leonurus sibiricus was analyzed by TLC and gas chromatography. By utilizing silica gel column, a ketone compound, m.w. 167, was isolated from the essential oil. The essential oil showed considerably the diuretic action, but the water extract exhibited weak action. This diuretic action of the water extract was potentiated by combined administration of essential oil. On the isolated rabbit's uterus the essential oil decreased spontanous movement and showed relaxation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.426-430
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• 2003

A range of methine dyes has been synthesized by condensation of highly electronegative active methylene compound dicyanomethylenecyclopentane derived from cyclopentanone with the formyl group of substituted benzaldehydes. The electronic absorption spectroscopic properties of the dyes were investigated. In general, substituents on the aromatic aldehyde moiety have a significant effect on the visible absorption maxima of the dyes; increasing the solvent polarity also showed a pronounced effect on the absorption maxima.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.233.3-234
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• 2002

SB31, an extract of Pulsatilla koreana, has been tried as an antitumor agent by traditional medicine pratitioner in Korea for the past 30 years, SB31 was evaluated for cytotoxic and antitumor activity against a variety of cancer cell lines. The SB31 exhibited 5-6 fold less cytotoxic activity against normal mononuclear cells (ED$\sub$50/. 1.1 mg/$m\ell$) than against cancer cell lines (ED$\sub$50/ 0.14-0.19mg/$m\ell$). (omitted)