• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1245-1250
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• 2009

Beimu (Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel), a bulbous plant of Liliaceae found in Korea, Japan and China, has been used as an antitussive and expectorant agent, and is also useful in alleviating stonsillitis and bronchiolitis. Most researches have been focused on micro-propagation and plant regeneration, component analysis, and dormancy relieving of beimu. Reports regarding the biological activity of beimu, such as anti-Helicobacter pyroli or platelet aggregation inhibition activity, are few and not widely available. In this study, methanol extract and its organic solvent fractions were prepared from Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel and their antimicrobial, antithrombin, and antioxidant activities were evaluated, respectively. The methanol extract contained lots of water-soluble materials (58.98%) and hexane-soluble oils (14.85%). The ethylacetate and butanol fraction at $500{\mu}g$/disc concentration showed strong antibacterial activity against tested bacteria, except Escherichia coli. Antifungal activity was not observed in methanol extract and its fractions. The hexane, ethylacetate and butanol fractions showed strong antithrombin activity at 4.8 mg/ml concentration. Especially, the ethylacetate fraction showed 95.4 sec of thrombin time at a concentration of 1.2 mg/ml, which is comparable to aspirin, a widely used antithrombosis agent. For antioxidation activity, the ethylacetate and butanol fraction showed good 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ of $344{\sim}368{\mu}g$/ml). In superoxide dismutase-like activity and reducing power, the fractions showed $20{\sim}25%$ of vitamin C, and $51{\sim}54%$ of butyl hydroxytoluene, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2011

In the course of a study in relation to the production of taste, and functional enhancements in root crop chips, which were prepared by soaking dried yam slices in fruit juices, we investigated the physiological characteristics and biological activities of 8 different commercially available juices including; apple, omija (fruit of Maximowiczia typica), grape, wild grape, orange, tomato, red ginseng and black garlic juice. The average water contents, pH, brix and acidity of the juices used were $85.59{\pm}5.80%$, $3.90{\pm}0.64$, $12.19{\pm}4.70%$, and $0.49{\pm}0.19%$, respectively. The polyphenol content of black garlic and grape juice were 1.50 and 1.21 mg/ml, respectively, and those were higher than the average content (0.57 mg/mL) of the juices. Evaluation of anticoagulation activity showed that only omija juice has a strong thrombin inhibition, which is comparable to that of aspirin (1.5 mg/mL). Omija, grape and orange juice all exhibited antibacterial activity, but no antifungal activity. The 8 different juices, and in particular grape and black garlic juice, showed strong antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity assays, with wild grape juice demonstrating potent nitrite scavenging activity. These results suggest that omija, grape and black garlic juice can be used as soaking solutions to produce taste, and other functional enhancements, for root crop chips.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.417-424
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• 2011

Ketoconazole (KET) is an antifungal drug with a broad spectrum of activity that also induces reproductive toxicity in humans and animals. KET inhibits C17-20 lyase which blocks the conversion of 17 ${\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione. The effect of Cuscutae semen(CS) extract against KET-induced testicular damage was evaluated in male rats. CS extract was administered orally (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 26 days. Three weeks after CS extract administration, KET was CS-administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 100 mg/kg once a day for 5 days. KET-induced reproductive toxicity was associated with clear reductions of the weights of testes and epididymides, sperm indices and serum testosterone levels. In addition, marked oxidative damage to testicular lipids and alterations of natural antioxidant enzymes were reported in association with KET toxicity. Most of the KET-induced effects were greatly decreased with the concomitant application of CS extract. This study suggests a protective role of Cuscutae semen extract that could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.541-546
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• 2010

Wild-garlic (Allium victorialis L.) is a perennial plant found in worldwide and has been considered as a favorite vegetable due to its particular smell and taste. However, the study of biological activity of wild-garlic and the development of processed food are in rudimentary. In this study, we evaluated several biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and inhibitory activities against human thrombin, $\alpha$-amylase and $\alpha$-glucosidase, of Ulrung wild-garlic. Analysis of the composition showed that Ulrung wild-garlic is nutritive although it is perishable. The color of fresh juice was stably maintained during 10 days-storage at $4^{\circ}C$, but rapidly discolored by heat treatment at $70^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. During heat treatment, the contents of total sugar and total polyphenol were decreased to 75% and 50%, respectively, and acidity was increased from 0.069% to 0.111%. In a while, the brix, reducing sugar, and total flavonoids showed minor changes. The fresh juice showed strong DPPH scavenging activity, reducing power and antibacterial and antifungal activity, but the heat-treated juice lost the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The inhibitory activities against human thrombin and $\alpha$-amylase and $\alpha$-glucosidase was negligible in both fresh juice and heat-treated juice. These results suggested that the antioxidant and antimicrobial components in wild-garlic are heat-liable and volatile. Based on our results, we propose non-heat treatment products for processed wild-garlic, for example, fresh juice-added beverage or fermented liquors using wild-garlic.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.32-41
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• 2000

Antimicrobial and antioxidative activities on heartwood extractives from Zelkova serrata were investigated to develop a natural fungicide or preservative. The ethanol extract from Z. serrata was fractionated in the order of petroleum ether, diethylether and ethylacetate to determine antimicrobial activity. The highest antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms was found in the petroleum ether soluble fraction. An active antimicrobial compound was isolated from petroleum ether soluble fraction, and identified as 7-hydroxy-3-methoxycadalene by $^1H$-, $^{13}C$-NMR and EI-MS spectrometry. This compound showed higher antifungal activity, but lower antibacterial activity than hinokitiol(${\beta}$-thujaplicin), strong antimicrobial compound isolated from Thujopsis dolabrata. Antioxidative activity was also higher than ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and similar to BHT(butylated hydroxytoluene), one of the strongest synthetic antioxidant. As a result, it was concluded that 7-hydroxy-3-methoxycadalene isolated from Z. serrata had strong antifungal and antioxidative activities.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

We investigated the biological activities of ethanol extract from the seawater algae, Chlorella elliposidea C020 such as antibacterial activity, anti-oxidant activity, tyrosinase inhibitory activity and hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. Extract was obtained from various solvent, methanol, ethanol, acetone and ethanol + acetone (1:1, v/v%), 95% ethanol proved to be best extraction solvents. The contents of ethanol extract were higher in freeze-dried sample than that in frozen-thawing. Antibacterial activities of ethanol extract showed strong inhibitory effect against Bacillus subtilis PM125, Bacillus licheniformis and fish pathogenic bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus KCTC2471 and Edward tarda NUF251. However, this extract didn't worked against antifungal activity against Candida albicans KCTC1940. And, ethanol extract was without hemolytic activity against human erythorocytes. The ethanol extract showed 75% of free radical scavanging effect on 2.0 mg/mL using DPPH method. In tyrosinase inhibition assay of ethanol extract, $IC_{50}$ (Inhibition Concentration) was measured as 10.87 mg/mL. Conclusionally, ethanol extract of Chlorella elliposidea C020 has good candidate for bioactive materials.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.350-357
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• 2013

Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of fungi, algae, or cyanobacteria which are able to survive in extreme environmental conditions ranging from deserts to polar areas. Some lichen symbionts produce a wide range of secondary metabolites that have many biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory etc. Among the symbionts of lichens, of the bacterial communities of lichen symbionts little is known. In this study, we isolated 4 microbial species from the Arctic lichen Stereocaulon spp. and evaluated their antioxidant properties using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay as well as 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay. Total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents were also measured. A potent radical scavenging activity was detected in a number of the lichen extracts. Among the 4 species tested in this study, the ethyl acetate extract of Bosea vestrisii 36546(T) exhibited the strongest free radical scavenging activity, with an inhibition rate of 86.8% in DPPH and 75.2% in ABTS assays. Overall, these results suggest that lichen-bacteria could be a potential source of natural antioxidants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.208-217
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• 2016

Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. (P. densiflora) contains several phenolic compounds that exhibit biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of P. densiflora on skin has rarely been reported. Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) is a commensal microbe that induces skin inflammation and is associated with several chronic disorders, such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, papillomatosis, and sepsis. The aim of our study was to identify the anti-inflammatory effects of P. densiflora needle extracts on skin health subjected to M. furfur-induced inflammation. The methanolic extract of the pine needles was partitioned into n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and water layers. We measured the anti-inflammatory effects (in macrophages) as well as the antioxidant, antifungal, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of each of these layers. The antioxidant activity of the individual layers was in the order EtOAc layer > n-BuOH layer > water layer. Only the n-BuOH, EtOAc, and n-hexane layers showed antifungal activity. Additionally, all the layers possessed tyrosinase inhibition activity similar to that of ascorbic acid, which is used as a commercial control. The EtOAc layer was not cytotoxic toward the RAW 264.7 cell line. Interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression levels in M. furfur-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with the EtOAc layer were decreased markedly compared to those in cells treated with the other layers. Taken together, we believe that the needle extracts of P. densiflora have potential application as alternative anti-inflammatory agents or cosmetic material for skin health improvement.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2014

Chios Gum Mastic (CGM) is a natural resin extracted from the leaves of Pistacia lentiscus, a plant endemic to the Greek island of Chios. It has been used by traditional healers, and it has antibacterial, antifungal properties, and therapeutic benefits for the skin. The CGM reduces the formation of dental plaque and bacterial growth in oral saliva, and recent studies have demonstrated the role of antioxidant activity of CGM. Although CGM has been widely investigated, its protective effect against oxidative-damage to keratinocytes, as well as the relationship between CGM and autophagy, has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of CGM against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and to evaluate the autophagic features induced by CGM in human keratinocytes. The pretreatment with CGM significantly reduced apoptosis in $H_2O_2$-exposed HaCaT cells. It promoted the degradation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9; and it induced the formation of the processed PARP. The treatment with CGM caused an increase in vesicle formation compared to control group. The level of p62 was reduced and the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II was increased in CGM treated HaCaT cells. Also, the treatment with CGM increased cleavage of ATG5-ATG12 complex. In summary, CGM helps the cells to survive under stressful conditions by preventing apoptosis and enhancing autophagy. Besides, the present investigation provides evidence to support the antioxidant potential of CGM in vitro and opens up a new horizon for future experiments.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2023

This study was conducted to confirm the utilization of Pleurospermum camtschaticum root extract as an organic agricultural material. Antioxidant activity of P. camtschaticum root extract, closely related to antibacterial activity, increased in a dose-dependent manner. In mycelial growth inhibitory activity, 100% P. camtschaticum root extract supressed over 70% for Colletotrichum coccodes and over 68% for Colletotrichum dematium. In the pepper fruit anthracnose development test, the size of the lesion decreased in a dose-dependent manner, which showed the same tendency as the previous results in inhibitory activity on mycelial growth. In the pepper seed germination and red pepper growth promotion test of P. camtschaticum root extract, oposite results was confirmed. The lower the concentration, the more the seed germination and growth promotion effects were shown. The phenol content of pepper leaves was also measured after pepper growth promotion test have been completed. The phenol content related to antibacterial activity increased in all treated groups compared to the untreated group. Therefore, the results of this study showed the possibility of development as an organic material.