• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.7
• /
• pp.764-771
• /
• 2016

Extracts from Artemisia annua Linné (AAE) have been known to possess various functions, including anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of those effects of AAE is not well-known. The aim of this study was to analyze the inhibitory effects of AAE on cell proliferation of the human hepatoma cell line (Hep3B) and to examine its effects on apoptosis. Activation by phosphorylation of Akt is cell proliferation through the phosphorylation of TSC2, mTOR, and GSK-3β. We suggested that AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signal pathways and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. For this, we examined the effects of extracts of AAE on cell proliferation according to treatment concentration. Treatment with AAE not only reduced cell viability, but also resulted in the induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). These results were determined with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Furthermore, we determined the effects of apoptosis through Hoechst 33342 staining, annexinⅤ-propidium iodide (PI) staining, 5,5′, 6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining, and Western blotting. Our study showed that the treatment of liver cancer cells with AAE resulted in the inhibition of Akt, TSC2, GSK-3β-phosphorylated, Bcl-2, and pro-caspase 3 and the activation of Bim, Bax, Bak, and cleaved PARP expressions. These results indicate that AAE induced apoptosis by means of a mitochondrial event through the regulate of Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.713-723
• /
• 2023

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that has the highest mortality rate. It is mainly classified into small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Chemotherapy is used to treat lung cancer, but long-term treatment causes side effects and drug resistances. Curcumin is a bright yellow polyphenol extracted from the root of turmeric. It has biological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we observed differential cell death in human lung cancer cells. Based on the results, curcumin at 10, 30, and 50 μM exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition on the cell survival of several lung cancer cells, with minor differential phenotypes. In addition, apoptosis, autophagy, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) regeneration were observed through flow cytometry. Curcumin dose-dependently increased these phenotypes in A549 (NSCLC) and DMS53 (SCLC), which were restored by corresponding inhibitors. Western blotting was performed to measure the level of expression of apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins. The results indicate that Bax, PARP, pro-caspase-3, and Bcl-2 were dose-dependently regulated by curcumin, with seemingly higher Bax/Bcl-2 ratios in DMS53. In addition, autophagic proteins, p-AKT, p62, and LC3B, were dose-dependently regulated by curcumin. ROS inhibition by diphenyleneiodonium reduced the induction of apoptosis and autophagy generated by curcumin. Taken together, it is suggested that curcumin induces apoptosis and autophagy via ROS generation, leading to cell death, with minor differences between human lung cancer cells.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activities and the quality characteristics of 70% ethanol extracts from onion peels with different extraction methods (autoclave extraction, AE; low temperature high pressure extraction, LTPE; reflux extraction, RE; and stirrer extraction, SE). The yields of AE, LTPE, RE and SE were 9.00%, 5.39%, 13.21% and 12.41%, respectively. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in the AE were significantly higher than in the other extracts. The DPPH radical scavenging abilities with a concentration of 100 mg% (w/v) were : AE, 28.9%; RE, 26.07%; LTPE, 24.35%; and SE, 19.53%. The ABTS radical scavenging ability and the nitrite scavenging activity showed the same tendency as that of the DPPH radical scavenging ability. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of the LTPE and AE were higher than those of the RE and SE. The ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of the RE was higher than that of the extracts with other extraction methods. The nitrite scavenging activities with a concentration of 10 mg/mL were: AE. 33.97%; RE, 35.47%; LTPE, 21.86%; and SE, 21.71%. The ferrous ion chelating activity of the LTPE (54.73%) was significantly higher than that of the other extracts. These results suggest that AE is the superior method for the enhancement of anti-oxidant activity, and onion peel can be used as a natural antioxidant material for health foods and can be a good ingredient of functional foods.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.225-233
• /
• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of the present study was to development of neuroprotective antioxidant agents. For the purpose, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of anti oxidant herb, the root of Polygonum cuspidatum on transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods : The roots of Polygonum cuspidatum were extracted by 85% MeOH (PCE). Radical scavenging effects were investigated using DPPH assay and TBARs (Thiobarbituric acid reaction substance) assay in brian homogenates. Neuroprotective effect was investigated using transient focal cerebral ischemia rat model (2 h of ischemia, 22 h of reperfusion) by behavioral test and measurement of brain damage using 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Results : PCE showed potent and dose dependent radical scavenging effects in DPPH and TBARs assay. Oral administration of PCE reduced brain infarct volume by 29.7% and improved the sensory motor functional deficit by 29% compared with vehicle treated group. Conclusions : PCE showed radical scavenging effects and neuroprotective effect on stroke rat model. Therefore, Polygonum cuspidatum could be a candidate for the development of neuroprotective-antioxidant agents.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.291-302
• /
• 2011

The study was to investigate whitening and antioxidation effects by determining the tyrosinase inhibition activity, DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase like activity of essential oils from Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa. The aim of the present study was to suggest preliminary data for research whitening and anti-oxidant effects material of C. japonica and C. obtusa essential oils and confirm supplementary worth of natural volatile organic compounds (nVOCs). Essential oils of C. japonica and C. obtusa leaves were extracted by steam distillation method of clevenger type, and nVOCs were extracted by high-temperature reactor for utilizing nVOCs condensates released during drying of C. japonica and C. obtusa at 80, 100, and $120^{\circ}C$ temperature conditions, respectively. In the activity of whitening and antioxidation, C. japonica oil was more effective than C. obtusa oil. nVOCs of C. japonica and C. obtusa showed highly activity of tyrosinase inhibitory at higher temperature. Antioxidation activity only shown on nVOCs of C. japonica produced at $120^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.439-445
• /
• 2016

Soybean leaves, a Korean edible plant material, have been reported to prevent the development of osteoporosis and breast cancer. Based on this rational, soybean fallen leaves ethanolic extract (SBFL) was used for the experiment of cell invasion related to metastasis and antioxidant activity. The effect of SBFL on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human fibrosarcoma cells, HT1080 as well as its anti-oxidant activity was investigated in this study. The effect of SBFL on scavenging activity of reactive oxygen species was evaluated in vitro using lipid peroxidation assay,DPPH radical and reducing power assay. SBFL showed the positive effects on antioxidant activity, compared with vitamin C and vitamin E used as positive controls. Furthermore, SBFL showed cytotoxicity above 16 µg/ml in MTT assay. In particular, it was found that SBFL decreased the activation of MMP-9 stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetae (PMA) and phenazine methosulfate (PMS). SBFL treatment increased the expression levels of p-FoxO-1 and SOD-1. Moreover, SBFL inhibited cell invasion stimulated by vascular endothelial growth Factor (VEGF). These results indicate that SBFL could inhibit cell invasion related to the activation of MMP-9 and oxidative stress, suggesting that it could be available as a main ingredient for prevention of metastasis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.796-801
• /
• 2002

To investigate the effects of Ewomia ulmoides olivon extract on the serum and hepatic lipid status and anti-oxidant enzyme activities, male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were given high fat diets and Eucomia ulmoides olivon ethanol extracts for 6 weeks. Rats were divided into (our groups consisting the control (C), Eucomia ulmoides oliuon extract fed group (CE), high fat diet group (CL) and the extract and high fat fed group (CLE). Eucomia ulmoides oliuon ethanol extract lowered total cholesterol, but increased HDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol of the serum compared to the control. On the other hand, the ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total cho-lcsterol (HTR) was increased by 55% (p<0.05). High fat diet significantly increased serum cholesterol contents, but decreased HDL-cholesterol level and HTR (p<0.05). Atherogenic index (AI) of CL group was increased by almost four times of the control (p<0.05). Triglycerides (TG) and phospholipids were also increased by high fat diet. Eucomia ulmoides oliuon ethanol extract decreased the levels of TG (p<0.05) and phospholipids (p<0.05). Although liver antioxidant engyme activities including glutathione sulfur transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were decreased by high fat diet, those were stimulated by the administration of Eucommia ulmoides olivon ethanol extract.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.355-362
• /
• 2013

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of protopectinase enzymes and mechanical maceration from soybeans on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration were examined by an in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and by assessing markers in B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effects on the expression of melanogenic enzymes, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16BL6 cells. Inhibitory effects on free radical generation were determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. There was also an inhibition in the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Our results show that soybean protopectinase treatment inhibits melanogenesis, with the underlying mechanism possibly due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expression. We suggest that soybean protopectinase should be contained as natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.356-362
• /
• 2019

Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) has widely used in the treatment for various brain diseases in the field of Oriental medicine. Biofermantation of SB can make major chemical constituents of SB to pass blood-brain barrier easily and to have more potent anti-oxidant ability. There is a little information about the contribution of fermented SB (FSB) to the formation or maintenance of the neural plasticity in the hippocampus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of FSB extract on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) - induced impairments of the induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP), an electrophysiological marker for the neural plasticity in the hippocampus. From hippocampal slices of rats, the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were evoked by the electrical stimulation to the Schaffer collaterals - commissural fibers in the CA1 areas and LTP by theta-burst stimulation by using 64 - channels in vitro multi-extracellular recording system. In order to induce oxidative stress to hippocampal slices two different concentrations (200, 400 μM) of H₂O₂ were given to the perfused aCSF before and after the LTP induction, respectively. The ethanol extract of FBS with concentration of 25 ㎍/ml, 50 ㎍/ml was diluted in perfused aCSF that had 200 μM H₂O₂, respectively. Oxidative stress by the treatment of H₂O₂ resulted in decrease of the induction rate of LTP in the CA1 area with a dose - dependent manner. However, the ethanol extract of FSB prevented the reduction of the induction rate of LTP caused by H₂O₂ - induced oxidative stress with a dose - dependent manner. These results may support a potential application of FSB to ameliorate impairments of hippocampal dependent neural plasticity or memory caused by oxidative stress.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.259-268
• /
• 1993

When activity of peroxidase in auld Pnrqfonimn westermqni was monitored using o-dianisidine and $H_2O_2$ as substrates, its specific activity was 1.5 times higher In excretory-secretory product (ESP) than in crude extract. The one was purified by two purification steps of Sephacryl S-300 Superfine gel permeation and DEAE-Trisacryl M anion exchange chromatographies. Its activity increased 16.9 fold with 32.3% recovery. The enzyme was inhibited totally by 1 millimoles of dithiothreitol (DTT), 2-mercaptoethanol and azide. Molecular mass was 16 kDa in reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) or 19 kDa in TSK-Blue gel filtration high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). respectively. Special staining for peroxidase by diaminobenzidine on SDS-PAGE confirmed the activity. The peroxidase was less reactive to a paragonimiasis serum when observed by SDS-PAGE/immunoblot. In addition, specific activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were also identified in the ESP. High activities of these antioxidant enzymes in ESP indicate that they are parts of defense mechanisms against reactive oxygen intermediates from host.