• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative potential of Korean wild leaf vegetables in vivo as well as in vitro. The antloxidative activities of Pleurospemum kamtschaticum, Aderophora remotiflor and Aster gfheni were evaluated as a reference for Spinacia oleracea. Fifty rats were find either a control diet or one of several vegetable diets for 4 weeks. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver were compared. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) in plasma were also compared. Also, the contents of $\beta$-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and total phenolic compound, including flavonoid and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value using linoleic acid model system, were measured in Korean wind leaf vegetables. The TBARS values of Aderophora remotiflor and Aster giheni tended to be lower than that of Spinacia olerncea. The SOD activity of Artrr glheffi was significantly higher than that of Spinacia oleracea and reached 265% that of the control animals, whereas there was no difference between the control animals and the vegetable diet animals in terms of catalase activity. Compared to the control animals, TG and TC levels were significantly solver and showed a lower artheriosclerotic index. TBA values of Pleurospemum Kamschaticum and Aderophora remptiflor were only 18% of control value. TBA value of Spinacia olerucra was 41% of control value. These results suggest that Aderophora remotinor and Aster glheni could have antioxidative potency in vivo as well as in vitro and potential value far functional flood to improve the plasma lipid profile. flavonoid and phenolic compounds could be the major contributing factor in the antioxidative potential of Aderophora remotiflor and Aster glheni.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2009

Silibinin is a polyphenolic flavonoid compound isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), with known hepatoprotective, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidant effects. Herein, we show that silibinin inhibits receptor activator of $NF-{\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis from RAW264.7 cells as well as from bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage cells in a dose-dependent manner. Silibinin has no effect on the expression of RANKL or the soluble RANKL decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) in osteoblasts. However, we demonstrate that silibinin can block the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in osteoclast precursors in response to RANKL. Furthermore, silibinin attenuates the induction of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1 and osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR) expression during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. We demonstrate that silibinin can inhibit $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced osteoclastogenesis as well as the expression of NFATc1 and OSCAR. Taken together, our results indicate that silibinin has the potential to inhibit osteoclast formation by attenuating the downstream signaling cascades associated with RANKL and $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.447-456
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• 2008

Limonene, pinene, and isoprene are abundant and ubiquitous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are found in various natural products and also produced from various manufacture processes. Limonene and pinene are major components of food additives and household products for enrichment of good flavors and elimination of malodors, and isoprene is a basal motif of monoterpenes such as limonene and pinene. They have shown many beneficial effects such as chemopreventive, chemotherapeutic, and antioxidant activities. Upon certain conditions, however, adverse effects of these compounds on human health have also been reported. Although they do not seem to have acute and severe toxicity to human, they can easily generate secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) when they react with oxygen and/or ozone, which have shown certain toxic effects on experimental animal models as well as on humans. Numerous household and scented products containing limonene, pinene, and isoprene are widely used in these days. However, biological consequences upon exposure to these products are largely unknown. The aim of this review is to summarize and analyze the current understanding on the biological effects of VOCs, in particular limonene, pinene, and isoprene, as well as their SOAs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.243-249
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• 2007

The French paradox has been attributed to the antioxidant properties of flavonoids present in the red wine. Amentoflavone(AF) is a bi-flavonoid compound with anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory activities. We isolated AF from Selaginella tamariscina, and studied its effects on nuclear factor-B(NF-B)-mediated MMP-9 gene expression in RAW264.7 cells. AF blocked the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced expression of MMP-9. Zymographic and immunoblot analyses showed that AF suppressed LPS-induced MMP-9 expression in a dose-dependent manner. To clarify the mechanistic basis for its inhibition of MMP-9 induction, we examined the effect of AF on the transactivation of MMP-9 gene by luciferase reporter activity using -1.59 kb flanking region. AF potently suppressed the reporter gene activity. This inhibition was characterized by down-regulation of MMP-9, which was transcriptionally regulated at NF-B site and activation protein-1 (AP-1) site in the MMP-9 promoter, two important nuclear transcription factors that are involved in MMP-9 expression. These findings indicate the efficacy of AF in inhibiting MMP-9 expression through the transcription factors NF-B and AP-1 on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2016

Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic pathogen that causes toxoplasmosis, which has very few therapeutic treatment options. The most effective therapy is a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine; however, their utility is limited because of drug toxicity and serious side effects. For these reasons, new drugs with lower toxicity are urgently needed. In this study, the compound, (Z)-1-[(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methyleneamino]-imidazolidine-2,4-dione (nitrofurantoin), showed anti-T. gondii effects in vitro and in vivo. In HeLa cells, the selectivity of nitrofurantoin was 2.3, which was greater than that of pyrimethamine (0.9). In T. gondii-infected female ICR mice, the inhibition rate of T. gondii growth in the peritoneal cavity was 44.7% compared to the negative control group after 4-day treatment with 100 mg/kg of nitrofurantoin. In addition, hematology indicators showed that T. gondii infection-induced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, biochemical parameters involved in liver injury, were reduced by nitrofurantoin significantly. Moreover, nitrofurantoin exerted significant effects on the index of antioxidant status, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). The nitrofurantoin-treated group inhibited the T. gondii-induced MDA levels while alleviating the decrease in GSH levels. Thus, nitrofurantoin is a potential anti-T. gondii candidate for clinical application.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5405-5408
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• 2012

Curcumin (CM), a biphenyl compound, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs which regulate gene expression and the molecular mechanisms of several biological processes. Liver fibrosis is a major cause of hepatic dysfunction and cancer and there are few effective therapies emphasizing the need for new approaches to control. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of curcumin (CM) on liver fibrosis through modulating the expression level of miRNAs (199 and 200), the main miRNAs associated with liver fibrosis. Induction of liver fibrosis by carbon tetrachloride ($CCL_4$) was confirmed by histopathological examination. Mice were divided into 3 groups: group 1 were i.p injected with 10% $CCL_4$ twice weekly for 4 weeks and then once a week for the next 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks with olive oil only. Group 2 were i.p injected with 10% $CCL_4$ twice weekly for 4 weeks and then once a week for the next 4 weeks followed by curcumin (5 mg/mouse/day) once daily for the next 4 weeks. The third group was injected with olive oil. The expression level of miR-199 and miR-200 and some of their targeted genes were measured by real time PCR. miRNA (199 and 200) levels were significantly elevated in liver fibrotic tissues compared to control groups. Curcumin was significantly returned the expression levels of mir-199 and -200 with their associated target gene nearly to their normal levels. This is the first study that highlighted the effect of curcumin on liver fibrosis through regulation of miRNAs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2016

(-)-Epicatechin gallate (ECG) is a polyphenol compound of green tea exhibiting biological activities, such as antioxidant and anticancer effects. To examine the effect of ECG on porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM), oocytes were treated with 0-, 5-, 15-, and $25{\mu}M$ ECG. After maturation, we investigated nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). After 42 hours of IVM, the $5{\mu}M$ group exhibited significantly increased (p< 0.05) nuclear maturation (89.8%) compared with the control group (86.1%). However, the $25{\mu}M$ group observed significantly decreased (p< 0.05) nuclear maturation (83.5%). In intracellular maturation assessment the 5-, 15-, and $25{\mu}M$ groups had significantly increased (p< 0.05) GSH levels and decreased ROS levels compared with the controls. The 5- and $15{\mu}M$ group showed significantly increased (p< 0.05) embryo formation rates and total cell number of blastocysts after PA (18% and 68.9, 15% and 85.1 vs. 12% and 59.5, respectively) compared with controls. Although the $25{\mu}M$ group observed significantly lower blastocyst formation rates after PA (27.6% vs. 23.2%) than control group, the $5{\mu}M$ group showed significantly increased blastocyst formation rates after PA (37.2% vs. 23.2%) compared to the control group. Furthermore, the $5{\mu}M$ group measured significantly increased blastocyst formation rates (20.7% vs. 8.6%) and total cell number after IVF ($88.3{\pm}1.5$ vs. $58.0{\pm}3.6$) compared to the control group. The treatment of $5{\mu}M$ ECG during IVM affectively improved the porcine embryonic developmental competence by regulating intracellular oxidative stress during IVM.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidative and antitumor activities of Saussurea lappa for the purpose of developing a functional food. The methanol extract of Saussurea lappa was fractionated with five solvents (hexane, chloroform, EtOAc, BuOH, water) and examined for antioxidative activities and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity in addition to growth inhibitory activity of human cancer cell (HT-29, SNU-1, HeLa). Total phenol compound contents were higher in EtOAC fraction than other fractions. Also, electron donating ability was over 90% at $500{\mu}g/ml$ (93.1 %) and $1000{\mu}g/ml$ (94.3%). The hexane fraction revealed stronger nitrite scavenging ability than the positive control (ascorbic acid) and its abilities were 22.4% and 42.8% at $500{\mu}g/ml$ and $1000{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity had similar tendency to electron donating ability. The EtOAc fraction showed high inhibition to xanthien oxidase activities at $500{\mu}g/ml$(81.9%) and $1000{\mu}g/ml$(90.4%). In the antitumor activity test, the hexane fraction exhibited potent growth inhibition activity against HT-29, SNU-1 and HeLa cells. Therefore, we believe that Saussurea lappa can be developed into a functional food with antioxidant activity. Additional studies are required for the hexane and chloroform fractions of Saussurea lappa to develop them into therapeutic supplements for stomach cancer, colon cancer, and cervical cancer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1095-1101
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• 2016

Ginsenoside Rg1 is a natural compound with various efficacies and functions. It has beneficial effects on aging, diabetes, and immunity, as well as antioxidant and proliferative functions. However, its effect on porcine embryo development remains unknown. We investigated the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the in vitro development of preimplantation porcine embryos after parthenogenetic activation in high-oxygen conditions. Ginsenoside treatment did not affect cleavage or blastocyst formation rates, but did increase the total cell number and reduced the rate of apoptosis. In addition, it had no effect on the expression of four apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer, B-cell lymphoma-extra large, Caspase 3, and tumor protein p53) or two metabolism-related genes (mechanistic target of rapamycin, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B), but increased the expression of Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), indicating that it may increase glucose uptake. In summary, treatment with the appropriate concentration of ginsenoside Rg1 ($20{\mu}g/mL$) can increase glucose uptake, thereby improving the quality of embryos grown in high-oxygen conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.946-950
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• 2009

Chemical components and antioxidative activities of white ginseng, red ginseng and extruded white ginseng (EWG) were evaluated. Extrusion condition was 20% moisture content, 100 and $140^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature. The results showed that total sugar and acidic polysaccharide contents of white ginseng powder were increased after extrusion treatment of which EWG at $140^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature had higher value than EWG at $100^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature. Free radical scavenging activity of EWG at $140^{\circ}C$ barrel temperature was 80.2 and 45.6% respectively. The butanol fraction of polyphenolic compound and acidic polysaccharide were $27.2{\pm}0.1\;mg/g$ and $217.6{\pm}0.7\;mg/g$, respectively. The ginsenosides were quantified by HPLC and the yield of ginsenoside-Rg3s and Rg3r were achieved by extrusion process.