• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.331-341
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• 2016

We analyzed the functional fragrant components of three species of Cymbidium oriental orchids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). For the comparative analysis, C. goeringii 'Minchunran', 'Jugeumhwa', C. forrestii 'Chwigae', 'Songmae', 'Yongja', and C. faberi 'Choemae', 'Namyangmae', 'Hwaja' were investigated. Major fragrant components detected by GC/MS were selected on the basis of more than 3% value according to the analysis of peak area (%). We found that ${\alpha}$-bergamotene, which has a cytotoxic effect on breast cancer, cervical cancer, and glioblastoma, and nerolidol, which induces apoptosis of human hepatoma cells (HepG2), inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans and babesiosis, and has antibacterial properties, are common substances produced by C. goeringii L. Nerolidol and ${\beta}$-bisabolene, which is cytotoxic and suppresses the growth of malignant melanoma cells (B16-F10), HepG2, and leukemia cells (HL-60, K562), are major substances in C. forrestii R. Furthermore, ${\alpha}$-pinene, which inhibits the growth of gliobastoma cells (SF-767) and inhibits the anti-inflammatory action of hepatoma cells (BEL-7402); 1,8-cineole, which is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of gastric ulcers; and 1,3,7-octatriene, which functions as a pheromone, are the most common substances in C. faveri R. Thus, substances identified as major fragrant components in oriental orchid species have multiple beneficial applications in human health. This research forms the basis for further studies of the roles of major fragrant components in oriental orchids.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1132-1136
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• 2014

A yellow-colored pigment is found in turmeric, or Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), a perennial herb distributed mainly throughout tropical and subtropical regions. C. longa has potent antiviral, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. However, pharmacological mechanisms of ethanol extract derived from C. longa remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential acute toxicity of C. longa (Curcuma longa L.) extract in BALB/c mice administered a single oral dose of 0, 20, 200, and 2,000 mg/kg by gavage. After the administration of the agent, signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 hr and every day for 14 days. No mortality, abnormal clinical signs, or pathological changes were observed compared to a control group, and there were no differences in the body weights of the control and treatment groups. Biological serum activities were not significantly changed in the treatment group compared to the control group. These results indicate that a single oral administration of C. longa extract does not exert any toxic effects at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight and that the $LD_{50}$ of C. longa extract is greater than 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Accordingly, C. longa appears to have potential in various functional agents or foods, without toxicity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2017

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; however, its effect on postprandial blood glucose levels remains unknown. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors regulate post-prandial hyperglycemia by impeding carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine. Here, the effect of C3G on ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and ${\alpha}-amylase$ inhibition and its ability to ameliorate postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were evaluated. ICR normal and STZ-induced diabetic mice were orally administered soluble starch alone or with C3G or acarbose. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of C3G for ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and ${\alpha}-amylase$ were 13.72 and $7.5{\mu}M$, respectively, suggesting that C3G was more effective than acarbose. The increase in postprandial blood glucose levels was more significantly reduced in the C3G groups than in the control group for both diabetic and normal mice. The area under the curve for the diabetic mice was significantly reduced following C3G administration. C3G may be a potent ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitor and may delay dietary carbohydrate absorption.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2017

Glycosyl aesculin, a potent anti-inflammatory agent, was synthesized by transglycosylation reaction, catalyzed by Thermotoga neapolitana ${\beta}-glucosidase$, with aesculin as an acceptor. The key reaction parameters were optimized using response-surface methodology (RSM) and $2{\mu}g$ of the enzyme. As shown by a statistical analysis, a second-order polynomial model fitted well to the data (p<0.05). The response surface curve for the interaction between aesculin and other parameters revealed that the aesculin concentration and reaction time were the primary factors that affected the yield of glycosyl aesculin. Among the tested factors, the optimum values for glycosyl aesculin production were as follows: aesculin concentration of 9.5 g/l, temperature of $84^{\circ}C$, reaction time of 81 min, and pH of 8.2. Under these conditions, 61.7% of glycosyl aesculin was obtained, with a predicted yield of 5.86 g/l. The maximum amount of glycosyl aesculin was 6.02 g/l. Good agreement between the predicted and experimental results confirmed the validity of the RSM. The optimization of reaction conditions by RSM resulted in a 1.6-fold increase in the production of glycosyl aesculin as compared to the yield before optimization. These results indicate that RSM can be effectively used for process optimization in the synthesis of a variety of biologically active glycosides using bacterial glycosidases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2016

Neutrophils and lymphocytes are essential inflammatory cells in the pathogenesis of allergy. In this study, we evaluated the role of house dust mite (HDM) in the interaction between allergic lymphocytes and neutrophils. The extract of Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (DP) showed a stronger anti-apoptotic impact on neutrophil apoptosis in the coculture of allergic neutrophils with allergic lymphocytes when compared with that in allergic neutrophils alone. DP increased IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and GM-CSF in allergic lymphocytes, and the increased cytokines were inhibited by rottlerin-an inhibitor of the protein kinase C (PKC) ${\delta}$, as well as by SB202190-a p38 MAPK inhibitor. DP activated p38 MAPK in a time-dependent manner. The activation of p38 MAPK was suppressed by PAR2i, which is a protease-activated receptor (PAR) 2 inhibitor, and rottlerin. Both aprotinin-a serine protease inhibitor-and E64-a cysteine protease inhibitor-were not effective on cytokine secretion of lymphocytes. These results, despite increased cytokines in allergic lymphocytes via DP, did not show any differences between asthma and allergic rhinitis. Molecules, including cytokines, released by DP in lymphocytes inhibited the migration of neutrophils. This finding may further elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of allergic diseases due to HDM.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2001

The main constituent of green tea, catechins have been reported to have numberous biological anti-vites including antimutagenic, antibacterial, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant and antitumor properties. In the present study, we examined the protective effect of catechin on UVB-induced skin damage. Catechin (3 mg/mouse) was topically treated to dorsal area of SHK-1 hairless mouse daily for 2 weeks. UVB (100 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$) was also treated soon after application of catechin alone or with catechin for 2 weeks. Catechin reduced UVB-induced infiltration of inflammatory cells, fibrosis of cells and collagen-fiber formation. In addition, catechin also prevented UVB-induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis cell number, but not changed p53 level. Furthermore catechin inhibited UVB-induced cell proliferation. There results showed that catechin have preventive effect aganinst UVB-induced skin damages. and these effects could contribute to the antitumor promoters activity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.248-251
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• 2014

Dryopteris crassirhizoma is one of the naturally occurring substance wood ferns and is known for having anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anthelmintic activities. However, there is less report about its anticancer effect in human cancer cell lines. In the present study, the effect of methanol extract of dryopteris crassirhizoma (MEDC) on apoptosis in human oral cancer cell lines (MC3 and HN22 cells) was investigated. MEDC inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis. MEDC significantly increased Bak and truncated Bid proteins in MC3 cells and elevated only truncated Bid compared to the control while other Bcl-2 family proteins were not altered. MEDC has anticancer activity by inducing apoptotic cell death through the regulation of either Bak or Bid. These findings suggest that its extract possibly may be used for treating oral cancer.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2005

Background:Several reports have suggested that cytokine alterations could be related to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study, we measured plasma level of interleukin-12(IL-12), a proinflammatory T helper 1(Th1) cytokine and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$(TGF-${\beta}1$), an anti-inflammatory Th3 cytokine before and after antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic patients. Methods:The plasma concentrations of IL-12 and TGF-${\beta}1$ were measured by using quantitative ELISA in 23 schizophrenic patients and 31 normal controls at admission and 8 weeks later. The psychopathology was measured by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS). Results:IL-12 and TGF-${\beta}1$ levels were significantly higher in schizophrenic patients than in controls before treatment. At the 8 week of treatment, the TGF-${\beta}1$ levels returned to control values, while IL-12 levels were not significantly changed. There were no significant correlations between the changes of BPRS scores and the changes of IL-12 or TGF-${\beta}1$ levels in schizophrenic patients. Conclusion:Cytokine abnormalities in schizophrenia might be involved in the pathophysiology of the illness. It is possible that TGF-${\beta}1$ plays an important role in the schizophrenia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.272-278
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• 2002

To investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Herba Chelidoniie, the extracts of Herba Chelidoniie treated in arthritic rat model. Complete Freund,s Adjuvant(CFA) were injected in the subcutaneous tissue of left foot paw of rats to induce arthritis. Herba Chelidonii extracts(HC) was administered immediately into the peritoneal cavity after CFA injection for 12 days. The immunohistochemical stainings for calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) and substance P in the L4, L5 and L6 spinal dorsal horn and ganglia were done, and the paw swelling was measured with a micrometer and the blood leukocytes were counted. The results were as follows : The paw swelling of HC treated group was significantly decreased in 12th day after CFA injection compare to control group. The change of differential leukocytes counts of HC treated group increased the ratio of lymphocytes, and decreased the ratio of neutrophils compare to control group. The extent of CGRP immunoreactive nerve fiber of dorsal horn of HC treated group was weakly stained compare to control group. The number of CGRP immunoreactive neurons of L6 spinal cord of HC treated group was significantly decreased compare to control group. The extent of substance P immunoreactive nerve fiber of dorsal horn of He treated group was weakly stained compare to control group. The number of substance P immunoreactive neurons of L4, L5 and L6 spinal cord of HC treated group was significantly decreased compare to control group. These experimental results suggest that Herba Chelidonii extracts reduce the number of CGRP and substance P immunoreactive neurons and nerve fibers of spinal dorsal horns and ganglia, and decrease paw swelling in arthritic rat model, which may be closely related to analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of Herba Chelidonii.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.156-164
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• 2015

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive memory loss and neuronal cell death. Although numerous previous studies have been focused on disease progression or reverse pathological symptoms, therapeutic strategies for AD are limited. Alternatively, the identification of traditional herbal medicines or their active compounds has received much attention. The aims of the present study were to characterize the ameliorating effects of spinosin, a C-glucosylflavone isolated from Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa, on memory impairment or the pathological changes induced through amyloid-${\beta}_{1-42}$ oligomer ($A{\beta}O$) in mice. Memory impairment was induced by intracerebroventricular injection of $A{\beta}O$ ($50{\mu}M$) and spinosin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was administered for 7 days. In the behavioral tasks, the subchronic administration of spinosin (20 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated $A{\beta}O$-induced cognitive impairment in the passive avoidance task or the Y-maze task. To identify the effects of spinosin on the pathological changes induced through $A{\beta}O$, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses were performed. Spinosin treatment also reduced the number of activated microglia and astrocytes observed after $A{\beta}O$ injection. In addition, spinosin rescued the $A{\beta}O$-induced decrease in choline acetyltransferase expression levels. These results suggest that spinosin ameliorated memory impairment induced through $A{\beta}O$, and these effects were regulated, in part, through neuroprotective activity via the anti-inflammatory effects of spinosin. Therefore, spinosin might be a useful agent against the amyloid ${\beta}$ protein-induced cognitive dysfunction observed in AD patients.