• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.392-398
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• 2006

Four flavonoids 1-4 and one phytosterol 5 were isolated from methanol extract of Taekwangkong, one of the soybean cultivars, and the structures of these compounds were fully characterized by physical and spectral analysis. The content of compounds 1-4 as determined by $C_{18}$ reversed phase HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) coupled with diode-array detector were 12.1, 624.6, 18.0, and $219.6\;{\mu}g/g$, respectively, and the total phenolic content of this cultivar was measured as 3.7 mg gallic acid equivalent per g dry material (GAB/g). Also, compound 1 showed strong radical scavenging activity in the 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay ($IC_{50}\;=\;47.6\;{\mu}M$), five-fold higher than seen in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylliydrazyl (DPPH) assay. These results lead to the conclusion that soybean not only has many phytoestrogens but also has potent antioxidant activity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.984-991
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• 2002

Oxidative stability and flavor of sesame oil blended with canola oil (Ca), corn oil (Co), and soybean oil (Sb) at ratios of 90 : 10, 70 : 30, and 50 : 50 (w/w), respectively, were evaluated. Oxidative stability of sesame oil increased with the addition of vegetable oils (10, 30, and 50% of Ca and Co, and 10% of Sb). Pyrazines, pyrroles, pyridines, and thiazoles, good contributors to the characteristic flavor of sesame oil, were also found in sesame oil blended with vegetable oil. The sensory evaluation showed that no difference was observed between sesame oil and sesame oil blended with 10% of Ca, Co or Sb, which showed higher oxidative stability.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oligonol, mainly found in lychee fruit, is an antioxidant polyphenolic compound which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The detailed mechanisms by which oligonol may act as an anti-aging molecule have not been determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the ability of oligonol to modulate sirtuin (SIRT) expression in human lung epithelial (A549) cells. Oligonol was added to A549 cells and reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial superoxide formation, and p21 protein levels were measured. Signaling pathways activated upon oligonol treatment were also determined by western blotting. Furthermore, the anti-aging effect of oligonol was evaluated ex vivo in mouse splenocytes and in vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans. RESULTS: Oligonol specifically induced the expression of SIRT1, whose activity is linked to gene expression, metabolic control, and healthy aging. In response to influenza virus infection of A549 cells, oligonol treatment significantly up-regulated SIRT1 expression and down-regulated viral hemagglutinin expression. Oligonol treatment also resulted in the activation of autophagy pathways and the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Furthermore, oligonol-treated spleen lymphocytes from old mice showed increased cell proliferation, and mRNA levels of SIRT1 in the lungs of old mice were significantly lower than those in the lungs of young mice. Additionally, in vivo lethality assay revealed that oligonol extended the lifespan of C. elegans infected with lethal Vibrio cholerae. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that oligonol may act as an anti-aging molecule by modulating SIRT1/autophagy/AMPK pathways.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.584-591
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• 2021

Marine algae (seaweed) encompass numerous groups of multicellular organisms with various shapes, sizes, and colors, and serve as important sources of natural bioactive substances. The brown alga Ecklonia cava Kjellman, an edible seaweed, contains many bioactives such as phlorotannins and fucoidans. Here, we evaluated the antioxidative, neuroprotective, and anti-apoptotic effects of E. cava extract (ECE), E. cava phlorotannin-rich extract (ECPE), and the phlorotannin dieckol on neuronal PC-12 cells. The antioxidant capacities of ECPE and ECE were 1,711.5 and 1,050.4 mg vitamin C equivalents/g in the ABTS assay and 704.0 and 474.6 mg vitamin C equivalents/g in the DPPH assay, respectively. The dieckol content of ECPE (58.99 mg/g) was approximately 60% higher than that of ECE (36.97 mg/g). Treatment of PC-12 cells with ECPE and ECE increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Intracellular oxidative stress in PC-12 cells due to ECPE and ECE decreased dose-independently by up to 63% and 47%, respectively, compared with the stress control (323%). ECPE reduced the production of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 more effectively than ECE. Early and late apoptosis in PC-12 cells were more effectively decreased by ECPE than ECE treatments. From the results obtained in this study, we concluded that ECPE, which is rich in phlorotannins, including the marker compound dieckol, may be applied to the development of functional materials for improving cognition and memory.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis (AC) and fermented AC (fAC) on microorganisms and efficacies. Methods: AC was fermented for four weeks without using any bacterial strains. Then we investigated fermentation characteristics including potential of hydrogen (pH), total sugar, microbial profiling and antioxidant compound contents such as total polyphenol and total flavonoid. The anti-obesity effects of AC and fAC were evaluated by using Oil Red O staining in 3T3-L1 adipocyte. Also anti-diabetic effects of them were evaluated by using 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG) uptake in C2C12 skeletal muscle cell. Results: Both pH and total sugar of fAC were decreased significantly compared to unfermented AC. And the abundance of total bacteria and lactic acid bacteria increased during fermentation, especially Lactobacillus plantarum. Also fermentation of AC increased the content of total polyphenol. On the metabolic aspects, we found that AC and fAC suppressed fat accumulation. Conclusions: After four weeks of fermentation, AC increased concentrations of active compounds, altered microbial composition, and inhibited fat accumulation such as triglyceride. These results indicate that fermentation of AC might be a beneficial therapeutic approach for obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2019

This study investigated the sensory characteristics and antioxidative activity of the reduced salt dried bulgogi bibimbap containing AF-343, a dandelion-derived compound extract. A sample with a 30% reduced salt had a sodium amount of 659.01 mg, which was significantly lower than that of the sample before the reduction (p<0.05). The textural hardness of the SW (Standard sample with the AF-343), showed the lowest value of $1.03N/cm^2$, indicating that the AF-343-containing sample could have a slightly softer texture than the non-containing sample. In the analytical sensory test, the AF-343-containing samples showed a synergistic effect on the aroma and flavor of bulgogi, with values of 5.7 and 8.4, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the non-containing sample group (4.3 and 4.4, respectively). The hardness by the sensory test was slightly hard with values of 7.2-8.1 in all samples, indicating that textural improvement was needed. In the acceptance test, all the samples scored with slightly lower values of 4-5 points, highlighting the need for future studies to improve the sensory characteristics of dried bibimbap. The flavonoid contents of AF-343-containing SW and RW sample groups were 68.21 and 64.31 mg GAE/100 g, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the samples without AF-343 (49.06 and 44.82 mg GAE/100 g, respectively) (p<0.05). The ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities were similar to those of the flavonoid contents. As a result, in the production of AF-343-containing reduced-salt dried bulgogi bibimbap, more study on the textural improvement will be needed to achieve better palatability.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2021

Neuroinflammation―a common pathological feature of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease―is mediated by microglial activation. Thus, inhibiting microglial activation is vital for treating various neurological disorders. 7,3',4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone (THIF)―a secondary metabolite of the soybean compound daidzein―possesses antioxidant and anticancer properties. However, the effects of 7,3',4'-THIF on microglial activation have not been explored. In this study, antineuroinflammatory effects of 7,3',4'-THIF in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells were examined. 7,3',4'-THIF significantly suppressed the production of the proinflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Moreover, 7,3',4'-THIF markedly inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Western blotting revealed that 7,3',4'-THIF diminished LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Overall, 7,3',4'-THIF exerts antineuroinflammatory effects against LPS-induced microglial activation by suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-κB signaling, ultimately reducing proinflammatory responses. Therefore, these antineuroinflammatory effects of 7,3',4'-THIF suggest its potential as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.473-481
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• 2021

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the significant reasons for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ginsenosides, natural molecules extracted from Panax ginseng, have been demonstrated to exert essential neuroprotective functions, which can ascribe to its anti-oxidative effect, enhancing central metabolism and improving mitochondrial function. However, a comprehensive analysis of cellular mitochondrial bioenergetics after ginsenoside treatment under Aβ-oxidative stress is missing. Methods: The antioxidant activities of ginsenoside Rb₁, Rd, Re, Rg₁ were compared by measuring the cell survival and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Next, the protective effects of ginsenosides of mitochondrial bioenergetics were examined by measuring oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in PC12 cells under Aβ-oxidative stress with an extracellular flux analyzer. Meanwhile, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial dynamics were evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: Ginsenoside Rg₁ possessed the strongest anti-oxidative property, and which therefore provided the best protective function to PC12 cells under the Aβ oxidative stress by increasing ATP production to 3 folds, spare capacity to 2 folds, maximal respiration to 2 folds and non-mitochondrial respiration to 1.5 folds, as compared to Aβ cell model. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 enhanced MMP and mitochondrial interconnectivity, and simultaneously reduced mitochondrial circularity. Conclusion: In the present study, these results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg₁ could be the best natural compound, as compared with other ginsenosides, by modulating the OCR of cultured PC12 cells during oxidative phosphorylation, in regulating MMP and in improving mitochondria dynamics under Aβ-induced oxidative stress.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

Objective: The chief outcome of testicular torsion in clinical and experimental contexts is testicular ischemia. Curcumin, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has fascinated researchers and clinicians for its promise in the treatment of fertility diseases. Methods: Thirty-five fully grown male mice were randomly classified into five groups: control, sham, testicular torsion, treatment group 1 (testicular torsion+short-term curcumin), and treatment group 2 (testicular torsion+long-term curcumin). Thirty-five days later, spermatozoa from the right cauda epididymis were analyzed with regard to count and motility. Toluidine blue (TB), aniline blue (AB), and chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining assays were used to evaluate the sperm chromatin integrity. In addition, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) test was used to assess apoptosis. Results: Treatment group 1 exhibited a remarkably elevated sperm count compared to the testicular torsion group. Additionally, notably lower sperm motility was found in the testicular torsion group compared to the control, treatment 1, and treatment 2 groups. Staining (CMA3, AB, and TB) and the TUNEL test indicated significantly greater testicular torsion in the torsion group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The data also revealed notably lower results of all sperm chromatin assays and lower apoptosis in both treatment groups relative to the testicular torsion group (p<0.05). Significantly elevated (p<0.05) AB and TB results were noted in treatment group 1 compared to treatment group 2. Conclusion: Curcumin can compensate for the harmful effects of testicular ischemia and improve sperm chromatin quality in mice.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1624-1631
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• 2021

Prodigiosin as a high-valued compound, which is a microbial secondary metabolite, has the potential for antioxidant and anticancer effects. However, the large-scale production of functionally active Hahella chejuensis-derived prodigiosin by fermentation in a cost-effective manner has yet to be achieved. In the present study, we established carbon source-optimized medium conditions, as well as a procedure for producing prodigiosin by fermentation by culturing H. chejuensis using 10 L and 200 L bioreactors. Our results showed that prodigiosin productivity using 250 ml flasks was higher in the presence of glucose than other carbon sources, including mannose, sucrose, galactose, and fructose, and could be scaled up to 10 L and 200 L batches. Productivity in the glucose (2.5 g/l) culture while maintaining the medium at pH 6.89 during 10 days of cultivation in the 200 L bioreactor was measured and increased more than productivity in the basal culture medium in the absence of glucose. Prodigiosin production from 10 L and 200 L fermentation cultures of H. chejuensis was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses for more accurate identification. Finally, the anticancer activity of crude extracted prodigiosin against human cancerous leukemia THP-1 cells was evaluated and confirmed at various concentrations. Conclusively, we demonstrate that culture conditions for H. chejuensis using a bioreactor with various parameters and ethanol-based extraction procedures were optimized to mass-produce the marine bacterium-derived high purity prodigiosin associated with anti-cancer activity.