• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1656-1663
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• 2009

The antioxidant activities of water extracts from wild vegetables such as Ligularia fischeri (GC), Capsicum annuum L. (GCY), Aster scaber (CNM), Petasites japonicus S. et Z. Max (MYD), Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam) (GGM) were evaluated and compared with water extracts from freeze dried block. The antioxidant properties of water extracts from wild vegetables and their freeze dried block were evaluated using different antioxidant tests; 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging and nitrite scavenging activities. The water extracts from wild vegetables were found to have a higher total phenolic content than water extracts from freeze dried block. Total phenolic contents of water extracts from GC, GCY, CNM, MYD, and GGM were $471.66{\pm}3.52\;{\mu}g/mg,\;141.33{\pm}2.51\;{\mu}g/mg,\;177.33{\pm}2.88\;{\mu}g/mg,\;238.66{\pm}9.50\;{\mu}g/mg\;and\;122.67{\pm}3.51\;{\mu}g/mg$, respectively. At the concentrations of 1000 ppm, water extracts from GC, GCY, CNM, and GGM showed higher activities than water extracts from their freeze dried block on DPPH radical scavenger activity. The activity of water extracts from CNM, GC, GCY, MYD, and GGM were 90.9%, 89.9%, 76.6%, 71.1%, and 57.4%, respectively. When 10000 ppm of GC, GCY, CNM, MYD, and GGM water extracts tested for hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, activities were increased by 38.8%, 33.4%, 35.9%, 34.3%, and 33.8%, respectively and a similar effect was found with water extracts from GCY, CNM, and GGM freeze dried block at 10000 ppm concentration. However, the water extracts from GC and MYD was slightly more effective than freeze dried block extracts. The water extracts from wild vegetables and their freeze dried block had effective DPPH radical scavenger activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity at all tested concentrations. Nitrite scavenging activity of GC water extract significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner and the extract had higher nitrite scavenging activity than extracts freeze dried block extracts. We found that freeze dried block maintained antioxidant activities of the wild vegetables.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.851-858
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• 2016

The effective components of Schisandra chinensis are lignans (schizandrins and gomisins), which have various physiological functionalities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. This study was carried out to determine the different parts of fruits in Schisandra chinensis to elevate their usefulness. Schisandra chinensis was separated into skin (epicarp), pulp (mesocarp), and seeds, and raw Omija and hot-dried Omija (HDO) were used as control. The most abundant component was nitrogen free extract (6.88~56.70%) followed by crude lipids (1.65~19.04%). The main mineral was K (383.10~2,024.10 mg/100 g), except in seeds where P was the main mineral. The main lignan in all parts of fruit was schizandrin, and the highest content of schizandrin was 9.46 mg/g in dried seeds. Total lignan content was 25.97 mg/g and 14.97 mg/g in dried seeds and HDO, respectively. A total of 17 components of fatty acids in seeds and HDO were detected, of which linoleic acid (72.66~73.78%), oleic acid (14.78~17.39%), palmitic acid (2.88~3.54%), and capric acid (1.70~4.93%) were determined as the major components. Main lignans and fatty acids of Schisandra chinensis fruit contain mainly seeds. Therefore, it is more efficient to use seeds than pulp and extract of fruit itself to use the components of Omija.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.1079-1085
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• 2012

Obesity is an important issue worldwide as it may associated with increased prevalence of metabolic diseases. Mung bean is known as a functional food for decreasing the glycemic index and lipid profile of plasma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of vitexin from mung bean on the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and adipocytokine secretion. When 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with vitexin from days 0 to 14 at various levels of 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}M$, there was no change in cell viability. Vitexin treatment at 50, 100, and $200{\mu}M$ decreased triacylglycerol levels in cells, but only $100{\mu}M$ vitexin induced lipolysis. At $200{\mu}M$ of vitexin, phosphorylation of p38 and ERK, which causes secretion of inflammatory adipocytokines, was depressed, whereas there was an increase in expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, the key regulator of adipocyte differentiation. Phosphorylation of AMPK increased at $100{\mu}M$ vitexin. TNF-${\alpha}$ and aP2 mRNA expression increased at $25{\mu}M$ vitexin, whereas only TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expression increased at $200{\mu}M$ vitexin. Further, the mRNA levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and aP2 decreased at other concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Since we observed that mRNA expression of C/EBP, SREBP1, and $PPAR{\gamma}$ did not change upon vitexin treatment, our future studies will investigate other genes such as mTOR, which is related with apoptosis signaling, or SIRT1, which is associated with inhibition of adipogenesis. Our results indicate that vitexin at concentrations between 100 and $200{\mu}M$ is suitable in vivo for the development of mung bean as an anti-obesity therapy or functional food.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.669-675
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• 2007

The present study was conducted to explore the anti-inflammatory action of $2-hydroxyethyl-{\beta}-undecenate$ (HPS) purified from Cumin (Cuminum cymium L.) seed against periodontitis. From the study in which human leukocyte was employed to detect the inhibiting effects of 5-lipokygenase and cyclooxygenase, enzymes generating carriers of infection like $LTB_4$ and PGs, as well as of collagenase and elastase, organ-destroying enzymes, following conclusions could be drawn: HPS was found to inhibit leukotrien $B_4$ biosynthesis by stimulating more than 97% of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) with addition of $5\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;M$ when $IC_{50}$ was set at $2\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;M$. Ninety-two percent of enzyme activation turned out to be inhibited when $5\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;M$ was added in a test to prove inhibiting effects of HPS against activation of PMNL 5-lipoxygenase from homogeneous humans and purified 5-lipoxygenase on the market. Besides, $IC_{50}$ for enzyme activation was valued at $2.5\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;M$, while the value of $IC_{50}$ for purified 5-lipoxygenase was $2.3\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;M$. The $IC_{50}$ values of COX-activated leukocyte and purified collagenase were $5.1\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;M$ and $2.3\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;M$, respectively. Moreover, the value of $IC_{50}$ for activation of leukocyte collagenase was $2\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;M$, whereas that for purified collagenase was $5\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;M$. In case of leukocyte elastase, addition of $5\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;M$ inhibited its activation by 66%. In case of purified one, however, activation of enzyme was inhibited by 25% with addition of $5\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;M$. Furthermore, the $IC_{50}$ value for activation of leukocyte elastase was revealed to be $7.5\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;M$. From the virulence test with human gingiva cell, it was shown that, on the second day of cultivation, 47.83% of the cell had been activated when HPS was added by $5\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;M$. Even the addition of HPS by $1\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;M$ featured 68.53% of cell activation, suggesting relatively strong toxicity of the substance against gingiva cell.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2016

The root bark of Ulmus macrocarpa has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as edema, infection and inflammation. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effects remain unclear. In this study, as part of our ongoing screening program to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of new compounds from traditional medicinal resources, we investigated the effects of U. macrocarpa water extract (UME) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the productions of as nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines such tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 were evaluated. Although the release of IL-1β remained unchanged in UME-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, the productions of NO, TNF-α and IL-10 were significantly increased, along with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase, TNF-α and IL-10 expression at concentrations with no cytotoxicity. UME treatment also induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) indicating that UME activated macrophages through the activation of NF-κB, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and MAPKs signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, pre-treatment with UME significantly attenuated the production of NO, but not TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells suggesting that UME may be useful in preventing inflammatory diseases mediated by excessive production of NO. These findings suggest that the beneficial therapeutic effects of UME may be attributed partly to its ability to modulate immune functions in macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

Ulmi cortex is the elm bark or root bark of Ulmus macrocarpa Hance and has been used as an ingredient of traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-cancer and wound healing on both the East and the West. This study investigated whether the Ulmus macrocarpa Hance Water extract (UMWE) has the in vivo and in vitro immune activating effect. Animals were orally administrated for 14 days as follows: no treat group with distilled water, cyclophosphamide (CY) group with 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 100+CY group with 100 mg/kg of UMWE and 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 200+CY group with 200 mg/kg of UMWE and 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 100 group with 100 mg/kg of UMWE and UMWE 200 group with 200 mg/kg of UMWE. The immunosuppressive drug CY was intraperitoneally injected to induce immune suppression. Spleen indices showed small changes in CY injected groups but splenocyte indices showed greater decrease in the same groups. However, UMWE appeared to relieve CY’s immunosuppression. UMWE also delayed in vitro splenocyte death increasing its longevity. These data obtained by MTT assay and 7-amino-actinomycin D which stains preferentially dead than live cells. UMWE alone did not show cytotoxicity based on its apoptototic effect on splenocytes in vitro and in vivo. Splenic NK cell activity was maintained by UMWE under the presence of CY in vitro. The data indicated that UMWE protects splenocytes from the immunosuppressive drug CY under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.851-859
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• 2014

The present study was designed to investigate whether ethanol extracts of Sophora flavescens (GS), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GC), Dictamnus dasycarpus (BSP), and their mixtures (GGB-1, -2, -3, and -4) inhibit 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in a mouse model. DNCB was topically applied on the dorsal surface of Balb/c mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. The pathological phenotypes of AD, such as erythema, ear thickness, edema, scabs, and discharge, were significantly decreased in the GGB (DNCB + GS:GC:BSP = 3:1:1 mixture)-1-treated groups compared with the other treated groups. The weight of the spleen in immune organs was significantly decreased in the GGB-1-treated groups, whereas the weight of the liver in a control group was similar to that of the groups treated with the samples. Furthermore, toluidine blue staining analysis, a method used to specifically identify mast cells, showed that master cell infiltration into the dermis of the GGB-1-treated group was significantly decreased. The immunoglobulin E concentration was lower in the GGB-1-treated group. In addition, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin-1, 4, 5, 6, and 13, $1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$) were also significantly reduced in the GGB-1-treated group. Taken together, these results suggest that a mixture of GS, GC, and BSP in a proportion of 3:1:1 (GGB-1) may contribute to the relief of AD symptoms and may be considered an excellent candidate for an AD therapeutic drug.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2013

Formaldehyde (FA) is widely used in industries, and it is an indoor and outdoor pollutant. Exposure to FA may cause inflammation and respiratory oxidative stress. Studies have demonstrated that FA can cause cancer in animal models. During the regeneration process of injured starfish (Asterina pectinifera), several changes have been observed in the expression of cytokines. In particular, higher TGF-${\beta}1$ expression has been detected in arm cut starfish extract after eight days. The current study was designed to elucidate the in-vitro and the in-vivo pharmacological effects of starfish extract on FA exposure. We investigated the protective effects of intact starfish extract and arm cut starfish extract on an IMR-90 cell line and on mouse lung injury in response to FA exposure. In the presence of FA, inhalation of the arm cut starfish extract was associated with more promising cell proliferation, TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$ decrement, and $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ increment. In the experimental group, the pulmonary structure of the arm cut starfish extract-treated group in the presence of FA exposure was similar to the control group, whereas the FA exposure group showed damage to the pulmonary structure. Moreover, the arm cut starfish extracts was more effective than the intact starfish extracts in terms of the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$, $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$, and surfactant protein A. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that arm cut starfish extracts are more effective in protecting pulmonary structure and function against FA exposure than intact starfish extracts.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.2 s.43
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• pp.205-232
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• 2003

Ursolic acid (UA) and Oleanolic acid (ONA), known as urson, micromerol and malol, are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds which naturally occur in a large number of vegetarian foods, medicinal herbs, and plants. They may occur in their free acid form or as aglycones for triterpenoid saponins, which are comprised of a triterpenoid aglycone, linked to one or more sugar moieties. Therefore UA and ONA are similar in pharmacological activity. Lately scientific research, which led to the identification of UA and ONA, revealed that several pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperlipidemic could be attributed to UA and ONA. Here, we introduced the effect of UA and ONA on acutely barrier disrupted and normal hairless mouse skin. To evaluate the effects of UA and ONA on epidermal permeability barrier recovery, both flanks of 8-12 week-old hairless mice were topically treated with either 0.01-0.1 mg/ml UA or 0.1-1 mg/ml ONA after tape stripping, and TEWL (Transepidermal water loss) was measured . The recovery rate increased in those UA or ONA treated groups (0.1 mg/ml UA and 0.5 mg/ml ONA) at 6 h more than $20\%$ compared to vehicle treated group (p<0.05). Here, we introduced the effects of UA and ONA on acute barrier disruption and normal epidermal permeability barrier function. For verifying the effects of UA and ONA on normal epidermal barrier, hydration and TEWL were measured for 1 and 3 weeks after UA and ONA applications (2mg/ml per day). We also investigated the features of epidermis and dermis using electron microscopy (EM) and light microscopy (LM). Both samples increased hydration compared to vehicle group from f week without TEWL alteration (p<0.005). EM examination using RuO4 and OsO4 fixation revealed that secretion and numbers of lamellar bodies and complete formation of lipid bilayers were most prominent $(ONA{\geq}UA>Vehicle)$. LM finding showed that thickness of stratum corneum (SC) was slightly increased and especially epidermal thickening and flattening was observed (UA>ONA>Veh). We also observed that UA and ONA stimulate epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;\alpha$. Protein expression of involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin increased at least 2 and 3 fold in HaCaT cells treated with either $ONA\;(10{\mu}M)$ or UA $(10{\mu}M)$ for 24h respectively. This result suggested that the UA and ONA can improve epidermal permeability barrier function and induce the epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;{\alpha}$. Using Masson-trichrome and elastic fiber staining, we observed collagen thickening and elastic fiber elongation by UA and ONA treatments. In vitro results of collagen and elastin synthesis and elastase inhibitory activity measurements were also confirmed in vivo findings. These data suggested that the effects of UA and ONA related to not only epidermal permeability barrier functions but also dermal collagen and elastic fiber synthesis. Taken together, UA and ONA can be relevant candidates to improve epidermal and dermal functions and pertinent agents for cosmeseutical applications.