• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2012

Nuruk contributes to the unique characteristics of Korean alcoholic beverages. In this study, the effects of nuruk extracts (NE) on anti-oxidant characters, melanogenesis, and anti-photoaging activity were investigated. NEs were obtained from the 70% ethanol extracts of six types of nuruk, which have been used in brewing of fermented alcohol beverages in Korea. First, various antioxidant characteristics were identified in terms of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiozoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression, and inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity. NE#4 exhibited potent ABTS radical scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ = 19.51 ${\mu}g$/mL). Compared with NE#4, relatively lower levels of activity were observed for NE#3 and NE#6, with $IC_{50}$ values of 90.99 and 76.88 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. According to results of western blot analysis for determination of SOD expression in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells, NE#5 and NE#6 induced a dramatic increase in the expression ratio of SOD, compared to the group treated with $H_2O_2$ only. Activity of xanthine oxidase, which converts xanthine into uric acid, generating superoxide ions, was inhibited by NE#4 and NE#6 in a dose-dependent manner. NE#4 induced significant inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity. A reduction in cellular melanin contents of 80% was observed in B16F1 melanocytes treated with NE#5 and NE#6; these effects were similar to those of arbutin at 100 ${\mu}M$. In addition, gelatin zymography and reverse transcription-PCR analysis were performed for assessment of anti-photoaging activity of Nuruk. Treatment with NE#6 resulted in dramatically inhibited activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9, suppressed expression of MMP-1, and increased expression of type-1 procollagen. Results of gelatin zymography for NE#4 and NE#5 were similar, to a slightly lesser degree. These results suggest the potential of NE#4 and NE#6 as natural ingredients for use in functional foods and cosmetics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-carnitine on growth performance, organ weight, biochemical parameters of blood, heart and liver, and ascites susceptibility of broilers at different ages reared under a low-temperature environment. A total of 420 1-d-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments with fifteen replicates of fourteen broilers each. Treatment diets consisted of L-carnitine supplementation at levels of 0 and 100 mg/kg. At 11-d of age, low temperature stress was used to increase ascites susceptibility. Blood, heart and liver samples were collected at different ages for analysis of boichemical parameters. The results showed that, there was no significant difference in growth performance with L-carnitine supplementation, but the mortality due to ascites was significantly decreased. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced heart index (HI) and ascites heart index (AHI) on d 21, lung index (LUI) on d 35 and liver index (LI) on d 42. The broilers fed diets containing L-carnitine had significantly lower red blood cell counts (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) concentration and hematocrit (HCT) on d 42. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content of heart tissue on d 21 and 35, and significantly increased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of the heart on d 21 and 42. L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced serum triglyceride (TG) content on d 28 and 35 and serum glucose (GLU) on d 35 and 42, and significantly increased serum total protein (TP) and globulin (GLO) content on d 42. L-carnitine supplementation significantly enhanced liver succinodehydrogenase (SDH), malic dehydrogenase (MDH) and $Na^+$-$K^+$-ATPase activity on d 28, and tended to reduce the lactic acid (LD) level of liver on d 35 (p = 0.06). L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced serum uric acid (UA) content on d 28, 35 and 42. Based on the current results, it can be concluded that dietary L-carnitine supplementation reduced organ index, red blood cell counts and hematocrit, enhanced antioxidative capacity of the heart, enhanced liver enzymes activity involved in tricarboxylic acid cycle, and reduced serum glucose and triglyceride. Therefore, it is suggested that L-carnitine can potentially reduce susceptibility and mortality due to ascites.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.63-71
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• 2014

Objectives : Lonicerae japonicae Flos(LJF) has been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-rheumatoid properties. However, it is still largely unknown whether LJF inhibits the ultraviolet(UV)B-induced oxidative damage in human HaCaT keratinocytes. Therefore in this paper, we investigated the anti-oxidative capacity and protective effect of LJF against UVB-induced oxidative demage in human HaCaT keratinocytes. Methods : To evaluate the anti-oxidative activity of LJF extracts, we measured total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, antioxidant capacity, and superoxide scavenging activity. To give an oxidative stress to HaCaT cells, UVB was irradiated with $200mJ/cm^2$ to HaCaT cells. To detect the protective effect of LJF against UVB, we measured cell viability, DNA fragmentation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, we performed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to find a major component of LJF. Results : LJF contained phenolic and flavonoid contents, and showed the anti-oxidant and superoxide scavenging activity. The UVB-induced oxidative conditions led to the cell death, DNA fragmentation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, pretreatment with LJF reduced oxidative conditions, including inhibition of cell death, DNA fragmentation and ROS production. In addition, we found out chlorogenic acid as major component of LJF. Conclusions : These results could suggest that LJF contained anti-oxidative contents and exhibited protective effects against UVB on human HaCaT keratinocytes. And the effective compound of LJF which could show protective activities against UVB is chlorogenic acid. Thus, LJF and chlorogenic acid would be useful for the development of drug or cosmetics treating skin troubles.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2011

Several compounds and extracts isolated from a brown alga, Ishige (I.) okamurae, exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated whether the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of I. okamurae (EFIO) could ameliorate carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_{4}$)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered with EFIO at 10 or 50 mg/kg per day for 2 consecutive days before $CCl_{4}$ injection (3.3 mL/kg, i.p.). Twenty four hours later, the rats were anesthesized with diethyl ether and dissected. Pretreatment with EFIO significantly reduced the increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in $CCl_{4}$-treated rats. Pretreatment with EFIO also significantly inhibited the reduced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the $CCl_{4}$-injured liver. Histopathological evaluations showed that hemorrhage, hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fatty degeneration induced by $CCl_{4}$ treatment were ameliorated by the administration of EFIO. Additionally, liver immunohistochemical analyses revealed the marked reduction in ED1-positive monocyte-like macrophages in EFIO-pretreated rats given $CCl_{4}$. These results suggest that EFIO ameliorates $CCl_{4}$-induced liver injury, possibly through the inhibition of oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.936-942
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• 2012

Prunus mume has been traditionally used as a medicinal food in Korea, Japan, and China. In particular, this fruit has been reported to have beneficial biological effects on gastritis and gastric ulcers. However, its action in relation to skin whitening has remained unclear. Accordingly, the effects of fruit extract of P. mume related to antioxidation and skin whitening were examined in this study. First, using the MTT assay, it was observed that fruit extract of P. mume below 0.1% has no cytotoxicity in B16-F1 cells as a result of cell viability. Second, the direct scavenging effects and the reducing power of the fruit extract of P. mume were evaluated in vitro on DPPH radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide. It exhibited high reducing power and scavenging activity on the aforementioned reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, we found that its protective effect against genomic DNA damage related to oxidative stress was increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the fruit extract of P. mume had an inhibitory effect on melanin production induced by L-dopa. In addition, it reduced the expression level of NRF-2, SOD-1, and SOD-2 related to antioxidation in western blot analysis. These results suggest that fruit extract of P. mume could exert a whitening effect through inhibition of melanin production by its antioxidant effect.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2004

The deficiency of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine(ACh) is responsible for the initiation of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, there is a simple evidence that oxidative stress significantly increases in persons with Parkinson's disease compared to age-matched healthy persons. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the neurodegeneration inhibitory effect of soybean(Glycine Max) and Yak-Kong(Rhynchosia Nolubilis) by measuring the degree of inhibiting Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catabolizing the ACh and the free radical scavenger effect in vitro. AChE was measured by the minor modified Ellman assay. Free radical scavenging activity was measured using l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). First, the MeOH extracts of Soybean and Yak-Kong showed the AChE inhibiting activity of 62.0$\pm$2.43％ and 65.0$\pm$3.29％ at the 5 mg/$m\ell$ concentration. The 50％ inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$/) of AChE was 1.96 and 1.31 mg/$m\ell$ in the MeOH extracts of soybean and Yak-Kong. Second, the MeOH extracts of soybean and Yak-Kong showed the free radical scavenger activity of 23.1$\pm$4.26％ and 80.7$\pm$4.61％ at the 5 mg/$m\ell$. IC50 of free radical scavenger activity in Soybean and Yak-Kong was 13.00 and 1.41 mg/$m\ell$ in MeOH extracts and was 5.95 and 2.74 mg/$m\ell$ in hot-water extracts, respectively. In this study, the extracts of Soybean and Yak-Kong showed powerful effects in the AChE inhibition and free radical scavenging. The extracts of Soybean and Yak-Kong were expected to prevent the many neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2016

Although cryopreservation of sperm is routinely used for clinical requirement, it has some problems, such as high generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cold-shock. To reduce the detrimental damage in sperm, anti-oxidants were added to cryoprotectant for sperm. Curcumin is one of anti-oxidants, which are added in cryoprotectants. However, recent studies have demonstrated that curcumin decreases sperm viability and motility. This study was performed to identify the effect of curcumin on hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-exposed bovine sperm, which were cryopreserved-thawed. In $H_2O_2$-exposed bovine sperm, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly reduced by treatment with curcumin in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Among tested concentrations of curcumin (1 to $50{\mu}M$), 30 and $50{\mu}M$ curcumin showed anti-oxidant effect on $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation. On the other hand, combination of 30 or $50{\mu}M$ curcumin with anti-oxidant $H_2O_2$ increased the percentage of apoptotic sperm compared to only $H_2O_2$ treatment. Sperm viability was also decreased in the combination of 30 or $50{\mu}M$ curcumin with $H_2O_2$ as judged by FDA/PI staining. $H_2O_2$-induced decrease in sperm progressive motility was recovered by treatment with $1{\mu}M$ curcumin. These results show that high concentration of curcumin has anti-oxidant effect, but it has also cytotoxic effect on bovine sperm. Sperm viability and motility might be more affected by cytotoxic signals of curcumin compared to antioxidant signals.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2006

Cadmium, a human carcinogen, can induce toxicity in various cell lines and organs. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms of cadmium-induced cell toxicity and estrogenic potential in human are not clear. This study was performed to investigate cadmium-induced toxicity on human breast cancer cells: MCF-7 cells, an estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cells, and MDA-MB-231 cells, an ER negative breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells was proved to be more sensitive than the other cell lines (IC50 = $50\;{\mu}M$ at MCF-7 cells and $120{\mu}M$ at MDA-MB-231). The expression of JNK and AP-1 transcription factors such as c-Jun and c-Fos dependent transcription were increased by cadmium treatment. Inhibition of ER activation by ER antagonist (tamoxifen or ICI 182,780) significantly recovered the viablity and inhibited apoptotic cell death. This suggested that cadmium-induced cell death in ER (+) cells was mediated by JNK/AP-1 pathway and this pathway was more stimulated by ER activated by cadmium. Co-treatment of antioxidants such as selenium (Se), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), glutathione (GSH), or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) recovered the cadmium-induced cell death in MCF-7 cells. Cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation was decreased by GSH, NAC, or BHA in MCF-7 cells. The expression of SOD protein was decreased by cadmium ($100{\mu}M$) but recovered by GSH, NAC, BHA, or Se. Our data showed that the cadmium-induced cell toxicity in human breast cancer cells could be protected by the antioxidants (Se, BHA, NAC, GSH, or NAC) and ER antagonist (tamoxifen or ICI 182,780). Therefore, toxicity of cadmium in breast cancer were mediated by oxidative stress and $ER{\alpha}$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2005

Although the sesame lignans, sesamol, have been shown to possess antioxidative activity, less is known about the metabolism and antioxidative properties of sesamol, a major constituent of sesame oil. To determine the ability of sesamol to act as an antioxidant in vivo, we fed rats a diet containing 0.5% sesamol for 3 wk and studied its metabolism and its effects on oxidative stress. Body weight gain and weight of liver, kidneys were significantly higher in the rats fed sesamol than in rats fed the control diets. GST and GST-Px activities in rat liver microsomes were higher in rats fed sesamol and CAT activities were found to be significantly increased in rats fed sesamol. The formation of TBARS was decreased in the liver of rat fed the 0.5% sesamol diet than in controls. We detected sesamol metabolites in liver and kidneys of rats fed sesamol and its metabolites were present as conjugated glucuronides and sulfates. In contrast, not detected sesamol peak in other organs such as colon, small intestine and pancreas.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.700-705
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• 2009

Several studies have demonstrated that chlorophyll has many beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant properties. Chlorophyll has been also shown to have an excellent chemopreventive potential against skin tumor. Its preventive mechanism against skin tumor, however, has not been examined in detail. Furthermore, the effects of chlorophyll on UVB-induced cellular responses have not been investigated. Solar UV radiation, in particular its UVB component, is the primary cause of many adverse biological effects, which is responsible for the photoaging and skin cancer. We investigated the preventive effects of chlorophyll a on UVB-mediated responses in human immortalized HaCaT kerationocytes and normal human fibroblast. We found that treatment of chlorophyll a markedly inhibited UVB-induced generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Chlorophyll a also prevented UVB-induced MMP-1 expression and MMP-2 activation and increased Type I pN collagen synthesis. These results suggest that chlorophyll a is a potent candidate for the prevention and treatment of UVB-induced skin cancer and photoaging.