• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.381-389
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• 2015

Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent intracellular degradation process that allows recycling of cytoplasmic constituents into bioenergetic and biosynthetic materials for maintenance of homeostasis. Since the function of autophagy is particularly important in various stress conditions, perturbation of autophagy can lead to cellular dysfunction and diseases. Accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates, a common cause of neurodegenerative diseases, can be reduced through autophagic degradation. Recent studies have revealed defects in autophagy in most cases of neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, deregulated excessive autophagy can also cause neurodegeneration. Thus, healthy activation of autophagy is essential for therapeutic approaches in neurodegenerative diseases and many autophagy-regulating compounds are under development for therapeutic purposes. This review describes the overall role of autophagy in neurodegeneration, focusing on various therapeutic strategies for modulating specific stages of autophagy and on the current status of drug development.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.197-199
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• 2015

The composition of the essential oil of Ligustrum japonicum leaves was determined by GC-MS analysis. The major constituents of L. japonicum leaf oil were germacrene D (40.50%), ${\alpha}$-pinene (13.63%), (-)-${\beta}$-elemene (6.42%), ${\beta}$-caryophyllene (5.73%), and $\delta$-cadinene (5.47%). The acaricidal activities of L. japonicum oil were evaluated against acaridae and pyroglyphid mites. In the fumigant bioassay, the $LD_{50}$ values of L. japonicum oil were 16.48, 12.38, and $15.63{\mu}g/cm^3$ against Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Dermatophagoides farinae, and D. pteronyssinus, respectively. In the contact bioassay, the $LD_{50}$ values of L. japonicum oil were 8.02, 5.02, and $7.67{\mu}g/cm^2$ against T. putrescentiae, D. farinae, and D. pteronyssinus, respectively.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 1971

The hypothesis that the grain having the same specific gravity has the same content in some chemical constituents as a genetic constant of a variety without being affected by the environmental conditions which affect only the percent distribution of grain in specific gravity was tested on nitrogen. Also the applicability of hypothesis on phosphorus, potassium, calcium and physiological significance of hypothesis were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.459-461
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• 2000

From the n-hexane layer of the MeOH extract of the roots of Polygala tenuifolia, three compounds (2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy benzophenone, 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid ethyl ester and 1,2,3,6,7- pentamethoxyxanthone) were isolated. 2-Hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxybenzophenone and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid ethyl ester were first isolated from Polygala genus. Their structures were elucidated employing 2D-NMR, IR, UV, and MS techniques.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2014

Saururus chinensis has been reported to contain compounds such as lignans, alkaloids, diterpenes, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and lipids. Fermentation is commonly used to break down certain undesirable compounds, to induce effective microbial conversion, and to improve the potential nutraceutical values. Previous studies have reported that the fermentation process could modify naturally occurring constituents, including isoflavons, saponins, phytosterols, and phenols, and could enhance biological activities, specifically antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The probiotic strains used for fermentation exert beneficial effects and are safe. In this study, the antioxidative effects of the Bacillus subtilis fermentation of Saururus chinensis were investigated in a rat model with Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia by comparing the measured antioxidative biological parameters of fermented Saururus chinensis extract to those of nonfermented Saururus chinensis extract. Fermentation played a more excellent role than nonfermentation in ultimately protecting the body from oxidative stress in the liver of the experimental rats with Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2021

Qantitative analysis of six compounds: (+)-catechin, benzoic acid, gallic acid methyl ester, paeonol, paeoniflorin, and albiflorin from Paeonia lactiflora extracts was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography and an ultraviolet (UV) detector, following different extraction methods. A reverse-phase column was used in a gradient elution system, and UV detection was performed at 280 nm. The results showed that the quantity of paeoniflorin was the highest in ethanol and water extracts (73.89 and 57.87 mg/g, respectively) among the six compounds. This study contributes a good analysis method for the contents of P. lactiflora and would be propitious for developing medicines and functional foods.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.3-14
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• 2022

Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br, commonly called dagga, klip dagga, or lion's ear, has been used to effectively treat various diseases and other health problems for a long time because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic activities. Several studies have attributed these biological activities to L. nepetifolia's constituent secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, glycosides, coumarins, anthocyanins, and saponins. This review aims to examine the evidence-based ethnopharmacological uses of L. nepetifolia in the treatment of bronchial asthma, diarrhea, skin diseases, malaria, burns, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatism. However, although L. nepetifolia has great potential to treat these diseases, further isolation and identification of its therapeutic phytochemical constituents are required. In addition, the performance of its extracts and phytochemicals should be thoroughly tested in preclinical and clinical trials in order to ascertain their safety and efficacy, which will prove valuable in developing new medicines.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2023

Lavender oil is a prolonged history in ancient medicine and has a wide range of biological effects. The lavender essential oil has 50 different constituents that have different therapeutic significance. The compounds that are separated from essential oil can be used for the anticancer treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. ROS1 is one of the major targets for NSCLC. The compounds from lavender essential oil are separated through GC-MS. From 91 compounds the top compounds that are having high retention values are taken for Molecular docking study against the ROS1 target protein. The binding affinity and the docked pose for those compounds are studied. Later, the chemical reactivity of the compounds is studied by Density Functional Theory. The potent compounds must be validated by in vivo study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.590-598
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• 2011

Bacterial assimilation of $CO_2$ into stable biomolecules using electrochemical reducing power may be an effective method to reduce atmospheric $CO_2$ without fossil fuel combustion. For the enrichment of the $CO_2$-fixing bacteria using electrochemical reducing power as an energy source, a cylinder-type electrochemical bioreactor with a built-in anode compartment was developed. A graphite felt cathode modified with neutral red (NR-graphite cathode) was used as a solid electron mediator to induce bacterial cells to fix $CO_2$ using electrochemical reducing power. Bacterial $CO_2$ consumption was calculated based on the variation in the ratio of $CO_2$ to $N_2$ in the gas reservoir. $CO_2$ consumed by the bacteria grown in the electrochemical bioreactor (2,000 ml) reached a maximum of approximately 1,500 ml per week. Time-coursed variations in the bacterial community grown with the electrochemical reducing power and $CO_2$ in the mineral-based medium were analyzed via temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) of the 16S rDNA variable region. Some of the bacterial community constituents noted at the initial time disappeared completely, but some of them observed as DNA signs at the initial time were clearly enriched in the electrochemical bioreactor during 24 weeks of incubation. Finally, Alcaligenes sp. and Achromobacter sp., which are capable of autotrophically fixing $CO_2$, were enriched to major constituents of the bacterial community in the electrochemical bioreactor.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 1995

For the quality management of ginseng root extracts and their products, the effective constituents contents, physical properties (pH, turbidity, viscosity, optical density) and color intenties of the extracts from white ginseng roots of different cultivating years. The sugar contents, lightness and yellow intensity of extracts from white ginseng roots increased with increased their cultivating years. The crude ash contents turbidity and optical density of extracts from white ginseng roots decreased with increased their cultivating years. Therefore, the extracts from white ginseng root of 5 or 6 cultivated years showed higher quality than the extracts from ginseng root of 4 cultivated years.