• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.392-397
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• 2007

We investigated whether ethanol extracts of the safflower seeds containing phenolic compounds were responsible for the bone-protecting effects. Crude ethanol extract (CEE) of the safflower seeds was fed for 4 weeks at the level of 1% in diet to female Sprague-Dawley rats that had been subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). The CEE effects (OVX+CEE) were evaluated by comparing results obtained from OVX, Sham, and OVX injected with $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($OVX+E_2$) groups. OVX resulted in a dramatic reduction in the trabecular bone mass of the proximal tibia (approximately 40% of the Sham group) and an increase in fat deposition in bone marrow. In $OVX+E_2$ group, the bone loss was completely prevented as well as marrow adiposity. In OVX+CEE group, approximately 80% of the bone mass was maintained compared with Sham group and fat deposition in the bone marrow was prevented. Meanwhile, the partially purified ethanol extract containing the phenolic compounds stimulated proliferation of the ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells in a dose-dependent manner, as potently as positive controls of $E_2$ and genistein. The present data demonstrate that the ethanol extracts of safflower seeds reduced bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency. The bone-protecting effect of safflower seeds seems to be mediated, at least partly, by the stimulating effect of the phenolic compounds on the growth of osteoblasts.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.284-295
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) on the alveolar bone metabolism in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model in mice to enhance the understanding of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated alveolar bone loss. Following the induction of CIA in animals (mice, n=16), mandibles were retrieved for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and isolation of alveolar bone cells (ABCs). In vitro osteogenic potentials of ABCs were evaluated and the mRNA expression of downstream effector genes was assessed. CIA was successfully induced in all animals, and micro-CT data showed that alveolar bone loss was significantly increased in the CIA group while the treatment of EGCG prevented the alveolar bone resorption. Osteogenesis by ABCs was significantly increased in the CIA+EGCG group in vitro. The analysis of mRNA expressions showed that osteoclastogenesis-associated genes were increased in CIA group while bone protecting genes were upregulated in EGCG treated group. The results demonstrate that EGCG downregulated the alveolar bone resorption in a CIA model in mice, and upregulation of bone protecting genes appear to be involved. Further studies are warranted.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.417-422
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• 2017

Cisplatin is the most effective and widely used chemotherapeutic agent for many types of cancer. Unfortunately, its clinical use is limited by its adverse effects, notably bone marrow suppression leading to abnormal hematopoiesis. We previously revealed that neuropeptide Y (NPY) is responsible for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function by protecting the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) fibers survival from chemotherapy-induced bone marrow impairment. Here, we show the NPY-mediated protective effect against bone marrow dysfunction due to cisplatin in an ovarian cancer mouse model. During chemotherapy, NPY mitigates reduction in HSC abundance and destruction of SNS fibers in the bone marrow without blocking the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin, and it results in the restoration of blood cells and amelioration of sensory neuropathy. Therefore, these results suggest that NPY can be used as a potentially effective agent to improve bone marrow dysfunction during cisplatin-based cancer therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1551-1558
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• 2009

The management of skeletal health in the twenties is the number one priority for preventing fracture or osteoporosis occurrence in later life cycle. Therefore, the factors influencing bone mineral density were examined by anthropometric measurements, food intakes, bone mineral density and biochemical nutritional indexes in blood among college students. Among the students who received health examinations from May to December, 2007, 532 male and 507 female students who agreed to participate in the study were selected. Nutritional intakes were estimated with 3-day 24-hour recall method. Bone mineral density was measured by ultrasonic attenuation passing through right calcaneus bone and expressed as broadband ultrasound attenuation and t-score was calculated by WHO criteria. Red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit values were measured by whole blood analysis, and alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium and serum iron were used as indexes for biochemical nutritional status. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 14.0 program, and protecting and risk factors on bone health status were analyzed by logistic regression analysis between normal bone health group (t-score$\underline{\geq}$ -1.0) and osteopenia group (t-score<-1.0). The results showed that more people belong to the normal bone health group probably because this study was conducted among those with their peak bone density. Biochemical nutritional status and nutrition intakes of both groups for normal and osteopenia did not show statistically significant difference except MCHC, animal protein and animal iron intakes in female. According to the results of logistic regression analyses, dietary intakes of animal protein, animal iron and zinc showed protecting effects against osteopenia. Therefore, dietary nutritional intakes of micronutrients, especially iron and zinc are important for bone health of young people.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2011

We conducted this study to examine the effects of safflower seed granular tea containing physiologically active polyphenols on antioxidative activities and bone metabolism. Forty postmenopausal women ages 49 to 64-years were recruited from Daegu and Gyeongbuk and were randomly assigned to either a safflower tea supplement (Saf-tea) group (n=27) or a placebo group (n=13). The Saf-tea group received 20 g of safflower seed granule tea per day containing a 13% ethanol extract of defatted safflower seeds, whereas the placebo group received a similar type of tea that lacked the ethanol extract. No significant changes in nutrient intake for either the placebo or Saf-tea groups were observed before or after the study period, except vitamin A intake increased after 6 months in the Saf-tea group. Dietary phytoestrogen intakes were similar in the Saf-tea group (60.3 mg) and placebo group (52.5 mg). Significant increases in plasma genistein and enterolactone were observed in the Saf-tea group. After 6 months of supplementation, serum levels of antioxidant vitamins such as a-tocopherol and ascorbic acid increased significantly, and TBARS levels decreased in the Saf-tea group compared to the placebo group. Serum osteocalcin levels were reduced (P<0.05) in the Saf-tea group after 6 months, whereas serum osteocalcin did not change in the placebo group. Urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine excretion was not different between the two groups at baseline, and did not change in either group after 6 months. Bone mineral density decreased significantly in the placebo group (P<0.01) but not in the supplemented group. It was concluded that polyphenols (72 mg/day), including serotonin derivatives, in the Saf-tea had both antioxidant and potential bone protecting effects in postmenopausal women without liver toxicity.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2002

In review of "invigorating spleen and supplementing qi" of clinical and experimental studies on malignant tumor, we obtained the conclusions as follows 1. Asthenic splenic qi is an important factor in mutation, occurrence and development of tumor. 2. The anti-tumor mechanism of "invigorating spleen and supplementing qi" is improvement of immune suveillance, controling cell proliferating period and enhancing body metabolism. 3. "Invigorating spleen and supplementing qi" is often used with "nourishing kidney" or "expelling pathogen" for treating cnacer. 4. In experimental studies, "invigorating spleen and supplementing qi" has effects on inhibiting occurrence and development of tumor, protecting mutation, inhibiting recurrence and metastasis, immune activity, enhancing metabolism, promoting bone marrow hemopoietic cell proliferation, increasing anti-tumor effect and protecting normal cells. 5. In clinical studies, "invigorating spleen and supplementing qi" has effects on prolonging the survival period of cancer patients, improving clinical symptoms and quality of life of cancer patients, degrading the side effects of western therapie(operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy). 6. "Invigorating spleen and supplementing qi" is an extensive discipline of syndrome differentiation used to inhibit occurence, development, recurrence and metastasis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.278-285
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• 1993

The anticlastogenic effect of N-acetylcysteine was tested in vivo in mouse bone-marrow micronucleus assay. The frequencies of micronuclei induced by adriamycin (5 mg/kg i.p.) in bonemarrow cells were decreased by the oral administration of N-acetylcysteine at 12 h before adriamycin injection. The observed suppressing effect was not a reflection of a delay in the formation of micronuclei by the cytotoxic effect of N-acetylcysteine. The anticlastogenic effects of SH compound including N-acetylcysteine, cysteine, cystine, S-carboxy methylcysteine and glutathione were also investigated by the multiple pretreatment. Each SH compound was administered orally every day for 5 days and adriamycin (5 mg/kg i.p.) was injected at 24h after the last dose of test compound. N-acetylcysteine and glutathione showed significantly the suppressive effect at dose of 10 and 25 mg/kg for N-acetylcysteine and at the dose of 25 mg/kg for glutathione. Our study suggests that N-acetylcysteine is capable of protecting the chromosomal damages in the normal cells during cancer chemotherapy by adriamycin, and may act as an anticlastogen against induction of micronuclei by superoxide generating agent such as adriamycin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.529-534
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• 2003

This study was done to investigated the phytosterol compositions of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed. The phytoestrogen activity was also determined using CAT-ELISA Kit in ethanol extract of safflower seed. The phytosterol of safflower seeds was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after saponification of the oils. The phytosterol content and composition of safflower seed oils were 4% and identified stigmast-5-en-3-ol (3$\beta$, 24S)-form, ${\gamma}$-sitosterol (clionasterol) with Wiley MS spectrum library. The synergistic effect of human estrogen receptor (hER) has been investigated using a minimal chimeric promoters composed of the TATA region of the adenovirus-2 major late promoter (A22MLP) and two consensus perfectly polindromic Xenopus vitellogenin A2 gene estrogen responsive elements (XVEREl19). Transient transfection experiments in tile human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7, which is known to express the estrogen receptor endogenously, revealed that phytoestrogen from Carthamus tinctorius L. acts as estrogen. We have observed the transcriptional activities stimulated methanol and ethanol extract of safflower seed in MCF-7, were 0.43 and 0.37 respectively, compared to that by $\beta$-estradiol as 1.0. Our data showed that safflower seeds have estrogenic activity methanol and ethanol extracts and ethanol lower than that of $\beta$-estradiol. This result provides the first evidence that the beneficial effect of safflower seeds may be mediated, at least in part, by the stimulating effect of phytoestrogen ell bone-protecting.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.88-105
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• 2020

This study examined existing theories of the characteristics of the abandoned tumulus site located at the east side of the Silla era Hwang Bok Sa (皇福寺) site and attempted an archaeological approach based on the derived facts, combining both the results of this study and those of a recently conducted excavation survey. The results of this investigation exhibited the following outcomes. First, the excavation survey revealed that the huge rounded stones discovered on the surface of a rice paddy field located at the east side of the Silla era Hwang Bok Sa were all protecting stones, processed on the front side in the form of a bow, designating a royal tomb. Most of these protecting stones had deviated from their original positions due to subsequent farming practices and some had been re-cycled for construction purposes as fences or foundations for structures built in the Silla era. Considering the prevailing belief in the concept of reincarnation, the bone rank system, and royal authority in the Silla era at that time, it would seem likely that the royal tombs were not intentionally destroyed. Therefore, it is speculated that the stones in this royal tomb were abandoned during construction of the tomb of the King at that time and then naturally re-cycled as building components used in construction sites in later years. Second, this study comparatively analyzed the scale and quality of the supporting stones at the royal tomb site in Guhwang-dong. The analysis results verified that those supporting stones were the same stones from the royal tomb used as supporting stones for statues symbolizing the twelve earthly branch spirits that were restored at the site of the tower at the royal tomb. This confirmed that the statues of the twelve earthly branches spirits sitting at the Hwang Bok Sa site were the protecting stones from a different royal tomb. Accordingly, the conclusion that has been generally accepted to date-that the protecting stones of the statues of twelve earthly branches spirits sitting at Hwang Bok Sa site were probably moved from the royal tomb site in Guhwang-dong-must inevitably be modified. Third, based on the structure of the protecting stones and type of the royal tomb, it is speculated that the individual buried in the royal tomb at Guhwang-dong is one of the kings who followed King Heungdeok and similar times of the buried person of the tomb that was considered as King Gyeongdeok, and who was before the buried person of the tomb that was considered as Kim Yu-sin. In addition, when considering the historical art patterns on the supporting stones of the statues that symbolize the twelve earthly branches spirits, which were moved to the site of the tower at the royal tomb, it is reasonable to believe that the person buried at the royal tomb at Guhwang-dong is likely one of the Kings of the late Silla era of the 9^th century.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.743-749
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• 2005

Estrogen is known to play an important role in maintaining bone mass, since the concentration of serum estrogen decrease after menopause and the estrogen deficiency results in bone loss. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds with estrogen-like biological activity, In this study, to investigate the bioactivities of phytoestrogen, which act on bone metabolism, we examined the effect of selected food-borne phytoestrogens (genistein, daidzein and resveratrol) on osteoblast proliferation and IGF-I production using MC3T3-El cells, a mouse calvaria osteoblast-like cell line. Cells were cultured in a serum free medium for 48 hr in the presence of genistein $(10^{-5}\;M)$, daidzein $(10^{-5}\;M)$ and resveratrol $(10^{-5}\;M)$. The effects of genistein, daidzein and resveratrol on the cell proliferation and growth were evaluated by total cell numbers, MTS assay and cell migration assay. Their effect was compared with the $17\beta-estradiol$. Genistein, daidzein and resveratrol exhibited stimulatory effects on the growth of MC3T3-El cells, and the most pronounced effect was shown with daidzein. In addition, these phytoestrogen increased alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-El cells. These effects were similar to that of $17\beta-estradiol$ effects. Moreover, treatment with genistein, daidzein and resveratrol increased production of insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in conditioned media, indicating that the growth promoting effects of these phytoestrogen were related to the changes in production of IGF-I by MC3T3-El cells. These results show that genistein, daidzein and resveratrol have a stimulatory effect on osteoblast function, and that these findings in a cell model may prove relevant to protecting against the loss of bone mass and the development of osteoporosis in human subjects.