• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1156-1162
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• 2018

To investigate the anti-thrombotic activities of the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner), various hot-water extracts were prepared from the leaf, pod of seed (PS), seed, embryo of seed (ES), root, and the node of root (NR) of the lotus. The highest extraction ratio was found in the NR (20.3%), followed by the seed, root, leaf, ES, and PS. These extracts had pH and acidity levels ranging from 5.6~6.5 and 0.06~0.20%, respectively. The seed extract showed 70% brix, whereas the leaf and PS extracts showed less than 0.1% brix. The highest contents of total polyphenol (179.7 mg/g), total flavonoids (161.4 mg/g), and reducing sugar (161.4 mg/g) were observed in the leaf extract, and the highest total sugar content (873.0 mg/g) in the seed extract. Anti-coagulation assay of the extracts of NR, leaf, and PS showed strong activities. In particular, at a concentration of 5 mg/ml, the PS extract had 15-fold extended thrombin, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin times. However, only the ES extract showed activities inhibitory to platelet aggregation, with treatment with 0.25 mg/ml of ES extract decreasing platelet aggregation to 25.1%, a reduction comparable to that effected by aspirin. The extracts other than the seed extract showed no hemolysis activities against human RBC at treatments of up to 1 mg/ml. These results suggest that the NR, PS, seed, and ES, all byproducts of the lotus agriculture industry, have high potential as novel sources of anti-thrombotic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.18-25
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• 2001

Ethanol extracts from 46 plants were tested for their fungicidal activity against six plant diseases consisting of Maynaporthe grisea, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita, and Erysiphe graminis in the greenhouse studies. Strong activity at 5 and 10 mg/pot was produced from the extracts of Helianthus annuus flowers and Zea mays leaves against P. grisea. In a test with B. cineara, extracts of H. annuus leaves, H. annuus flowers, Chrysanthmum coronarium var. spatiosum, Cucurbita moschata seeds, Lycopersicon esculentum, Z. mays, and Z. mays leaves had strong activities at 5 mg/pot. In a test with P. recondita, strong activity was obtained from the extracts of Capsicum frutescens, C. moschata seeds, H. annuus seeds, L. esculentum, and Malva veticillata at 5 mg/pot. Against E. graminis, extracts of Cucumis sativus, H. annuus seeds, Salanum tuberosum, Z. mays, and Z. mays leaves produced strong activities at 10 mg/pot. All the extracts were ineffective against P. infestans and R. solani. Among seven extracts tested, the extracts of H. annuus leaves and flowers were highly effective against all the strains of B. cinerea resistant to carbendazim, procymidone, and diethofencarb. Furthermore, potent fungicidal activity was produced from the extracts of C. coronarium var. spatiosum and C. moschata seeds against the SSR, SRR, and RSR strains of B. cinerea, and Z. mays and Z. mays leaves against SSR and RSR. Extract of L. esculentum showed very strong activity only against RRS of B. cinerea.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2007

Objectives : Effects of Fructus Foeniculi extract on liver function were investigated in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) intoxicated rats. Methods : Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats with mean weight of $227.28{\pm}7.92g$ were used in these experiments and housed with food and water ad libitum. Fructus Foeniculi extract was administerd at dose 100mg/kg/day and 200mg/kg/day p.o. for 2 weeks after that CCl4 was treated 3 times at dose of 2.5ml/kg, p.o. in alternate day basis. Then serum AFP(${\alpha}$-Fetoprotein), Total protein, Albumin, Triglyceride, Total cholesterol concentrations and ALP (Alkaline phosphatase), AST(Aspartate Aminotransferase), ALT(Alanine Aminotransferase), ${\gamma}$-GT( ${\gamma}$-Glutamyl transferase), LDH(Lactate Dehydrogenase) activities were determined with commercial kit by autoanalyzer. Results : Plasma ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein and total protein concentration showed a tendency to decrease in Fructus Foeniculi extract-treated groups. However, plasma albumin concentration showed no significant differences in all treatment groups. Activity of plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in Fructus Foeniculi extract-treated groups showed a lower value than that of control group. Alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities showed a tendency to decrease in Fructus Foeniculi treated groups. However, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase activity showed no significant difference in all treated groups. Concentration of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol showed a high level in CCl4 intoxicated rats but not in Fructus Foeniculi treated groups. Conclusion : Reviewing these experimental results, it appears that Fructus Foeniculi extract have recovering effect against liver injury.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2009

Fifty percent ethanol extract of Lythrum salicaria Linne root (LSR) was tested in vitro on antioxidant activity, and furthermore was investigated on antioxidative and fibrosis protecting activities in $CCL_4$-induced liver fibrosis rat model. Ratio of hepatic GSH/GSSG (reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione) as bio-parameter of antioxidant level in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-treated rats for 6 weeks significantly increased from 2.8- to 5.7-fold than that of $CCL_4$-treated rats at p < 0.05. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) contents in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-treated rats ranged from 1.57- to 2.19-fold of normal rats and were lower than those in $CCL_4$ plus silymarin-treated rats ($1.78{\sim}2.46$-fold of normal rats) (p < 0.05). Amounts of hydroxyproline of liver tissue showing the content of total collagen, a parameter of fibrosis, in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-administrated rat livers were $4.9{\sim}8.8{\mu}g$/mg ($-47{\sim}-71%$, compared with that in $CCL_4$-treated rat livers ($16.6{\mu}g$/mg tissue), which were significantly lower than those in $CCL_4$ plus silymarin-administrated rats being $8.4{\sim}11.7{\mu}g$/mg ($-30{\sim}-50%$). This collagen reducing effect of liver tissue in $CCL_4$ plus LSR-treated rats was supported by histological observation using microscopy assay. From the results, we conclude that the root of L. salicaria have efficient antioxidant potential and effective antifibrotic activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.2 s.75
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• pp.259-265
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• 2006

This study is investigated the effect on mechanism of nephrotoxicity formation of methotrexate(MTX) by hyperglycemic by streptozotocin(STZ). MTX was injected daily at two doses of 3, 6 mg/kg for 1 week in STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats. Activities of BUN, creatinine and LDH were significantly increased by treatment with MTX in STZ-induced diabetic group when compared to MTX treatment group in normal rats' Renal lipid peroxide content and activities of cytosolic enzyme were significantly increased in the treatment of MTX in diabetic group. The concentration of glutathione and glutathione biosynthesis enzymes were decreased by treatment with MTX in STZ-induced diabetic group. These results suggest that nephrotoxicity of MTX in STZ-induced hyperglycemic rat was caused by activation of renal metabolizing enzymes in cytosol and decrease of glutathione concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1740-1746
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the nutritional and functional constituents as well as quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of Korean cultivated wild ginseng (KG). The chemical compositions and amino acid content of KG were 7.56% water, 73.01% carbohydrates, 12.58% protein, 1.99% lipids, and 5.54% ash as well as 16.17 mg/g of amino acids, respectively. The major ginsenoside and minor ginsenoside contents of KG were 15.94 mg/g and 0.04 mg/g, respectively. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of KGE (Korean cultivated wild ginseng with 70% ethanol extract) were 8.93 mg GAE/g and 3.96 mg RHE/g, respectively. KGE also showed higher antioxidant activity than the other extracts (KGW, Korean cultivated wild ginseng with water extract) with regard to DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities (57.75% and 70.73%, respectively), nitrite oxide scavenging activity (44.01%), SOD-like activity (78.05%), reducing power activity ($1.08OD_{700nm}$), and ferrous ion-chelating activity (65.33%). Additionally, KGE had higher elastase, collagenase, and tyrosinase inhibition activities than KGW. These results suggest that KGE can be used as a bioactive and functional material in the food industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1838-1842
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• 2016

Kombucha (K) is a fermented beverage made from black tea by symbiotic micro-organisms of bacteria and yeasts. To enhance bio-activities of K, we produced citrus/green tea Kombucha (CK) by adding extracts of citrus peel and green tea obtained from Jeju Island. ORAC assays showed that anti-oxidative capacity of CK increased by approximately 3-folds compared to K. We examined anti-cancer properties of extracts from citrus peel and/or green tea using 5637 human bladder cancer cells and B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Proliferation of B16F10 cells was markedly inhibited at concentrations higher than $10{\mu}L/mL$. At a concentration of $20{\mu}L/mL$, anti-cancer activities of extracts were in the order of citrus peel< green tea< combination of both. Interestingly, a combination of both extracts showed a synergistic effect on inhibition of growth of cancer cells. CK fermented with citrus peel and green tea extracts showed enhanced anti-cancer activity compared to K. Cytotoxicity of CK on RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was negligible up to $100{\mu}L/mL$. Taken together, these results indicate that citrus Kombucha is safe to be developed as a functional beverage.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.402-409
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• 2016

It has been found that 4-isopropyl-2,6-bis(1-phenylethyl)phenol (KTH-13), a novel compound isolated from Cordyceps bassiana, is able to suppress tumor cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis. To mass-produce this compound, we established a total synthesis method. Using those conditions, we further synthesized various analogs with structural similarity to KTH-13. In this study, we aimed to test their anti-cancer activity by measuring anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities. Of 8 compounds tested, 4-methyl-2,6-bis(1-phenylethyl)phenol (KTH-13-Me) exhibited the strongest anti-proliferative activity toward MDA-MB 231 cells. KTH-13-Me also similarly suppressed the survival of various cancer cell lines, including C6 glioma, HCT-15, and LoVo cells. Treatment of KTH-13-Me induced several apoptotic signs in C6 glioma cells, such as morphological changes, induction of apoptotic bodies, and nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation. Concordantly, early-apoptotic cells were also identified by staining with FITC-Annexin V/PI. Moreover, KTH-13-Me highly enhanced the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and decreased the protein level of Bcl-2. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of Src and STAT3 were diminished in KTH-13-Me-treated C6 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that KTH-13-Me can be developed as a novel anti-cancer drug capable of blocking proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and blocking cell survival signaling in cancer cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2010

This study was aimed to investigate the contents of flavonoids and the biological activity of fermented beverage of medical plants, DeulBit (DB). 50 g of Cassia semen (Cassia tora L.), 50 g of Omija (Schisandra chinensis Baillon.), 50 g of Gugija (Lycium chinense Mill), 50g of Menthae herba, 75 g of Chrysanthemum indicum Linne, 25 g of Dioscorea batatas, 5 g of Lindera obtusiloba Blume, 150 g of Polygonatum odoratum, 25 g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 25 g of Acanthopanacis cortex, 100 g of green tea (Camellia sinensis), and 100 g of Laminaria japonica was fermented with sucrose ($50.0{\sim}60.0^{\circ}Brix$.) and 0.5% of deep sea water in 10 L of distilled water for six months at room temperature. Total flavonoids contents of DB was calculated to $3.4{\pm}0.5\;{\mu}g/g$ and antioxidative activity of DB was measured by using DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activity. DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activity of DB was 96% and 29% at 100% of DB, respectively. In addition, DB indicated about 88% and 66% of the xanthine oxidase and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activities at 1% and 10% of DB, respectively and showed fibrinolytic activity. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesis was increased to 15 times by addition of DB. In addition, NO productions of the macrophages RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were reduced to 40.4% by addition of DB. These results suggested that DB is significant role for antioxidative and fibrinolytic activity, and have the strong xanthine oxidase and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1573-1579
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• 2010

This research was performed to determine the antioxidant activity, nitrite scavenging activity, and its inhibitory activity on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), xanthine oxidase, $\alpha$-glucosidase, and elastase of hot water extract from pine bud (WPB). Antioxidant activity of WPB was measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. DPPH radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity of WPB were remarkably increased in a dose-dependent manner, and were about 71.4 and 85.4% at 2 mg/mL, respectively. The xanthine oxidase and ACE inhibitory activities were about 70.9 and 51.9% at 2 mg/mL of WPB, respectively. Nitrite scavenging activity of WPB was about 59.1, 53.8, and 39.5% on pH 1.2, 3.0, and 6.0 at 2 mg/mL, respectively. The WPB also showed elastase and $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory effects. These results revealed that pine bud have strong antioxidant activity and positive effects on the inhibition of xanthine oxidase, ACE, and elastase.