• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.138-144
• /
• 2024

Crocin is a major carotenoid of the Gardenia jasminoides fruit and Crocus sativus stigma (saffron), which are used in various cuisines as flavoring and coloring agents, as well as in phytomedicine for the treatment of several disorders, including headache, fever, edema, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, respiratory disease, menstruation disorders, insomnia, and hypertension. Crocin (C₄₄H₆₄O₂₄) is a chemical diester composed of the dicarboxylic acid crocetin and disaccharide gentiobiose. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted about the biological and pharmacological function and toxicity of crocin. Crocin has been revealed to have no genotoxicity and pathological manifestation. Crocin acts as an antioxidant, anti-cancer, memory enhancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, anti-atherosclerotic, cardioprotector, and hepatoprotector. Here, an inclusive review of crocin is introduced based on previously explored studies referred to in the literature. Different studies have confirmed the protective role of crocin in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, gastritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. It is surmised that crocin suppresses inflammatory, antioxidant, and apoptotic processes through multiple mechanisms. Crocin is considered a safe and effective therapeutic choice for patients with inflammatory conditions, although more research investigating its mechanisms and results acquired in clinical trials are needed.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.95-106
• /
• 2024

Taraxacum coreanum, known as the native Korean white dandelion, has been historically used in traditional medicine due to its various therapeutic properties. However, the specific benefits and mechanisms of white dandelion in alleviating particular symptoms or diseases remain uncertain due to the complexity of its phytochemical profile. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the phytochemical profiles of methanolic extracts of different parts of the white dandelion (flower, leaf, stem, and root) using hybrid ion-mobility Q-TOF MS. Using the trapped ion mobility-based PASEF technique, 3715 and 2114 molecular features with MS2 fragments were obtained in positive and negative ion modes, respectively, and then a total of 360 and 156 phytochemical compounds were annotated by matching with a reference spectral library in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Subsequent feature-based molecular networking analysis revealed the phytochemical differences across the four different parts of the white dandelion. Our findings indicated that the methanolic extracts contained various bioactive compounds, including lipids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and sesquiterpenes. In particular, lipids such as linoleic acids, lysophosphatidylcholines, and sesquiterpenoids were predominantly present in the leaf, while flavonoid glycosides and lysophosphoethanolamines were notably enriched in the flower. An assessment of the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the methanolic extracts revealed that the majority of phytochemicals were concentrated in the flower. Interestingly, despite the root extract displaying the lowest TPC and TFC values, it exhibited the highest radical scavenging rate when normalized to TPC and TFC, suggesting a potent antioxidant effect. These findings and further investigations into the biological activities and medicinal potential of the identified compounds, particularly those exclusive to specific plant parts, may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic agents derived from white dandelion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.510-517
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of eriodictyol compound against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells by measuring expression levels of antioxidant enzymes, liver function index enzyme activities, and inhibitory effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. HepG2 cell viability was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. In the concentration range of $10{\sim}50{\mu}g/mL$, eriodictyol displayed over 98% cell viability in HepG2 cells. The effects of increased gene expression on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress were analyzed by monitoring antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GPx) gene expression levels using real-time PCR. Eriodictyol compound significantly increased gene expression levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx in a dose-dependent manner ($10{\sim}50{\mu}g/mL$). Hepatoprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress were analyzed by monitoring glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities in HepG2 cell culture medium using a biochemistry analyzer. Eriodictyol compound significantly reduced GOT, LDH, and GGT activities in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. ROS level in HepG2 cells was analyzed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence diacetate assay, and eriodictyol compound effectively reduced the intracellular ROS level in HepG2 cells. The results reveal that eriodictyol compound can be useful for development of effective antioxidant and hepatoprotective agents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.11
• /
• pp.1767-1775
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the total polyphenol and antioxidant activities of radish buds (Raphanus sativus L.) based on sprouting periods and extraction solvents in order to present basic data that are needed for using the radish buds as functional food material. The antioxidant activities were assessed by using various antioxidant models (DPPH, TBARS, Rancimat method, POV). The total polyphenol contents according to the extraction solvents were 84.11 and 296.51 mg/g, and the ethanol extract on day 4 of showed the highest value as 296.51 mg/g. As for DPPH radical-scavenging activity, on the day 4 of sprouting, water extracts indicated the highest scavenging activity by 86.67%, and the acetone extracts indicated a rather low scavenging activity as 77.23%. As for TBARS measurement of the radish bud extracts on day 4 of sprouting the extract of 70% ethanol was highest (71.48%). On day 8 of sprouting the TBARS value was increased and the methanol extract was highest (78.99%). As for the oxidative induction period on day 4 of sprouting in Rancimat measurement, the methanol extract was highest (6.07 hours) on day 4 and the antioxidant index was 1.16. On day 12 of sprouting, the general oxidative induction period tended to be reduced to 5.25 to 5.91 hours. In the peroxide value measurement on day 4 of sprouting and beginning of the storage, the extracts showed no difference between 3.02 meq/kg oil and 4.12 meq/kg oil, and on the day 60 of storage, the water extract (43.83 meq/kg oil) and the methanol extract (45.42 meq/kg oil) were lowest with higher antioxidant effect. In conclusion, the radish bud extract with higher total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities may serve as functional material for food additives, such as natural antioxidants and food preserving agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.269-278
• /
• 2016

In searching for novel agents for skin anti-aging from natural resources, we found that the extract of the fruiting bodies of Ramaria formosa (R. formosa) had significant antioxidant and human neutrophil elastase (HNE) inhibitory activities. R. formosa extract exhibited a considerable DPPH radical scavenging activity with an antioxidant content of 117.0mg/mL (ascorbic acid equivalents) at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$. The capacity of R. formosa extract to scavenge peroxy radicals measured by ORAC assay also showed dose-dependent antioxidant effect with $ORAC_{Roo}$ (trolox equivalents, $1{\mu}M$) values of 0.8, 5.2, and 7.8 at the concentrations of 1, 10, and $20{\mu}g/mL$. The cellular antioxidant capacity of R. formosa extract was investigated by assaying the cellular fluorescence intensity using dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF). The cellular oxidative stress induced by AAPH, $Cu^{2+}$ or $H_2O_2$ in HepG2 cells was significantly attenuated by more than 30% at $20{\mu}g/mL$ of R. formosa extract. HNE activity was reduced by treatment with R. formosa extract in a dose-dependent manner, and the $ED_{50}$ value for the ethanol extract of R. formosa was $42.9{\mu}g/mL$. R. formosa extract did not exhibited antimicrobial activity against four microorganisms including Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Candida albicans (C. albicans), Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae). Furthermore, the extract did not affect the inflammatory cytokine production of interleukin-10 and interferon-${\gamma}$ in NK92 cells. From the above results, we found that R. formosa extract has considerable antioxidant and elastase inhibitory effects, and does not stimulate immune cells. These findings suggest that R. formosa extract may be used as a bioactive component in cosmetic composition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.824-831
• /
• 2009

In order to investigate the quality characteristics of powdered teas using Compositae species flower, the samples of Chrysanthemum indicum L. (CI), Chrysanthemum boreale Makino (CB), and Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (Maxim.) Kitam (CZ) were extracted with hot water and concentrated, and then mixed with different forming agents of dextrin (D) and maltodextrin (MD). The mixing ratio of D and MD was ranged from 9:1 (DMD91) to 8:2 (DMD82) or D and MD only. The solubility of the powdered tea was higher in added dextrin. The highest total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the powdered tea were 6.75 and 3.24 mg/g at CBDMD91, respectively. Total antioxidant activities of C. indicum, C. boreale, and C. zawadskii powdered tea ranged at $2.51{\sim}2.63$, $4.37{\sim}4.50$, and $3.44{\sim}3.55\;mg$ AA eq/g, respectively. In sensory evaluation, the C. indicum and C. zawadskii powdered teas obtained higher sensory score of all evaluation items than C. boreale powdered tea. The optimal mixing ratio at 36% of D and 4% of MD in forming agent was selected to enhance the sensory characteristics and antioxidant activities of powdered tea.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.793-799
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the antioxidative effect and nitrite scavenging ability of extract from Acanthopanax cortex shoot. The total phenolic compound and flavonoids contents of extract from Acanthopanax corex shoot were $116.33{\pm}6.09mg\;GAE/g$ and $65.07{\pm}4.10mg\;RE/g$, respectively. Antioxidative activities were measured by various in vitro models such as DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP, reducing power, ABTS radical scavenging activity, ORAC assay. This results showed that the extract of Acanthopanax cortex shoot was effective in scavenging radicals and protecting oxidation when assessed various in vitro systems. Similarly, the nitrite scavenging ability of extract was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ORAC value at a concentration of $0.1mg/m{\ell}$ was $103.4{\pm}5.6{\mu}M\;TE/g$. Considering high consumer demand beneficial health effects, Acanthopanax cortex shoot can be utilized to develop functional food health-promoting and natural antioxidant agents.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.771-781
• /
• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf tea(PLT) in hairless mice(SKH-1) exposed to UVB irradiation. The animals were divided into non-treated group (normal, N) and UV-radiated groups. UV-radiated groups were divided into only UV-radiated group(control, C) and UV-radiated and PLT treated experimental groups[first extraction treated group(PLT-I), second extraction treated group(PLT-II), and third extraction treated group(PLT-III)]. Three PLT treated experimental groups of mice were treated with both oral administration(300 mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical application (100 ul of 2% conc./mouse/day) for 4 weeks. Anti-photoaging effects of Persimmon leaf were evaluated by anti oxidative reaction, stereomicroscopic and microscopic observations. The expression of photoaging skin related factors including mast cell tryptase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Treatment of PLT-I, -II, -III prevented the wrinkle formation as well as epidermal hyperplasia, inflammatory cells, disruption of collagen in photoaged skin induced by UVB radiation. It also reduced the PCNA and VEGF expression in the UVB irradiated dorsal skin. Furthermore, it significantly decreased the number of mast cells in the UVB irradiated dermis(p<0.05 and p<0.01). On the effects of oxidative stress and antioxidant function on the treatment with water extract from Persimmon leaf tea(PLT), the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) was significantly increased in PLT-III group(p<0.05), and catalase(CAT) was significantly increased in PLT-I and PLT-III groups(p<0.05), and PLT-II group(p<0.001). These extracts showed relatively antioxidant activity and protective effect on UVB-induced oxidative stress in hairless mice(SKH-1). Our results suggest that Persimmon leaf tea may serve as an useful radical scavenging antioxidant and anti-photoaging skin agents in the UVB irradiated skin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.23
• /
• pp.10439-10444
• /
• 2015

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been successfully used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the development of chemoresistance in liver cancer cells usually results in a relapse and worsening of prognosis. It has been demonstrated that DNA methylation and histone modification play crucial roles in chemotherapy resistance. Currently, extensive research has shown that there is another potential mechanism of gene expression control, which is mediated through the function of short noncoding RNAs, especially for microRNAs (miRNAs), but little is known about their roles in cancer cell drug resistance. In present study, by taking advantage of miRNA effects on the resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line to cisplatin, it has been demonstrated that miR-340 were significantly downregulated whereas Nrf2 was upregulated in HepG2/CDDP (cisplatin) cells, compared with parental HepG2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays of Nrf2-3'-untranslated region-based reporter constructor indicated that Nrf2 was the direct target gene of miR-340, miR-340 mimics suppressing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway and enhancing the sensitivity of HepG2/CDDP cells to cisplatin. Interestingly, transfection with miR-340 mimics combined with miR-340 inhibitors reactivated the Nrf2 related pathway and restored the resistance of HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP. Collectively, the results first suggested that lower expression of miR-340 is involved in the development of CDDP resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, at least partly due to regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.7
• /
• pp.966-972
• /
• 2016

We investigated that methanolic extracts of 20 kinds of seaweeds from Jeju Island for their antioxidant activities, acetylcholinesterase and ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory activities, and neuronal survival in order to evaluate their potentials as anti-dementia agents. Ecklonia cava extracts had the highest total polyphenol content among the 20 seaweed extracts. The antioxidant activity of seaweed extracts was measured by using 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. It was found that Ecklonia kurome extracts had the highest ABTS scavenging activity ($IC_{50}=0.07{\pm}0.01mg/mL$). As a result, Ecklonia cava, Ecklonia kurome, and Myelophycus simplex extracts were found to be the most effective in terms of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. In the ${\beta}$-secretase activity assay, Ecklonia cava and Ecklonia kurome extracts were effectively inhibited ($84.41{\pm}1.70%$ and $81.17{\pm}2.43%$, respectively). As expected, neuronal cell death induced by $H_2O_2$ in SH-SY5Y cells was diminished by Ecklonia cava, Ecklonia kurome, and Sargassum yezoense extracts. Taken together, these results showed that Ecklonia cava extract has potential anti-dementia activity, which suggests that it might provide an effective strategy for improving dementia.