• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.137-141
• /
• 2008

The present study reports the protective properties of a total methanol extract of B. platyphylla var. japonica against ultraviolet (UV)-C irradiation. Pretreatment of Chinese hamster fibroblast (V79-4) cells with a total methanol extract significantly increased cell survival following $300\;J/m^2$ of UV-C irradiation. The total methanol extract was further fractionated into 5 fractions: n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water fractions. Among these fractions, B. platyphylla var. japonica ethylacetate, butanol and water fractions showed significant protective effects against the cellular damage induced by UV-C irradiation. In order to elucidate the mechanism underlying this protective effect, DPPH (Editor note: abbreviations should be spelled out at first use.) radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity were measured. Significant radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities were observed for the ethylacetate fraction. In summary, the present data demonstrate that an extract of B. platyphylla var. japonica has a significant protective effect against UV-C irradiation. The underlying mechanism of this protective effect may involve radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by the B. platyphylla var. japonica extract.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.190-198
• /
• 2007

Alzheimer's disease, a representative neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the presence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accompanied by neuronal damages. b-Amyloid peptide is considered to be responsible for the formation of senile plagues that accumulate in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. There has been compelling evidence supporting that b-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity is mediated through generation of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we have investigated the possible protective effect of Rehmannia glutihosaagainst b-amyloid-induced oxidative ceil death in cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. SH-SY5Y cells treated with b-amyloid underwent apoptotic death as determined by morphological features and positive in situterminal end-labeling (TUNEL staining). Rehmannia glutinosawater extract, wine, and vinegar pretreatments attenuated b-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar exhibited maximum protective effect by increasing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. in addition to oxidative stress, b-amyloid-treatment caused nitrosative stress via marked increase in the levels of nitric oxide, which was effectively blocked by Rehmannia glutinosa. To further explore the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of Rehmannia glutinosa, we assessed the mRNA expression of cellular antioxidant enzymes. Treatment of Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar led to up-regulation of heme oxygemase-1 and catalase. These results suggest that Rehmannia glutinosa could modulate oxidative neuronal cell death caused by b-amyloid and may have preventive or therapeutic potential in the management of Alzheimer's disease. Particularly, Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar can augment cellular antioxidant capacity, there by exhibiting higher neuroprotective potential.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2023.04a
• /
• pp.54-54
• /
• 2023

Nypa fruticans Wurmb (N. fruticans) is a plant that belongs to Araceae and N. fruticans is mainly found in tropical mangrove systems. The parts (leaves, stems, and roots) of N. fruticans are traditionally used for asthma, sore throat, and liver disease. N. fruticans contains flavonoids and polyphenols, which are substances that have inhibitory effects on cancer and oxidant. In previous studies, some pharmaceutical effects of N. fruticans on melanogenesis and inflammation have been reported. The present study is conducted to investigate the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of N. fruticans (ENF) on oxidative DNA damage and UVB-induced DNA damage. DNA damage response (DDR) pathway is important in research on cancer, apoptosis, and so on. DDR pathways are considered a crucial factor affecting the alleviation of cellular damage. ENF could reduce oxidative DNA damage derived from reactive oxygen species by the Fenton reaction. Also, ENF reduced the intensity of intracellular ROS in the live cell image by DCFDA assay. UVB is known to cause skin and cellular damage, then finally contribute to causing the formation of tumors. As for the strategies of reducing DNA damage by UVB, inhibition of p53, H2AX, and Chk2 can be important indexes to protect the human body from DNA damage. As a result of confirming the protective effect of ENF for UVB damage, MMPs significantly decreased, and the expression of apoptosis-related factors tended to decrease. In conclusion, ENF can provide protective effects against double-stranded DNA break (DSB) caused by oxidative DNA damage and UVB-induced DNA damage. These results are considered to be closely related to the protective effect against radicals based on catechin, epicatechin, and isoquercitrin contained in ENF. Based on these results, it is thought that additional mechanism studies for inhibiting cell damage are needed.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.46-51
• /
• 2005

The protective effect of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) extract on alloxan-induced pancreatic β-cell damage was investigated in HIT T-15 cells, a Syrian hamster pancreatic β-cell line. Alloxan caused the pancreatic β-cell damage through the generation of reactive oxygen free radicals, increased DNA fragmentation, and decreased cellular NAD/sup +/ levels. The β-cell damage was significantly prevented by the pretreatment with water soluble extract of AS roots. These results suggest that the protective effect of AS extract, on alloxan-induced β-cell damage, is primarily due to the inhibition of the generation of reactive oxygen free radical species (ROS) by alloxan.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.520-526
• /
• 2017

Carnosine was recently reported to protect against the DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of eel Anguilla japonica carnosine extracts prepared using different methods (heat treatment extracts, HTEs; ion exchange chromatography, IEC; ultrafiltration permeation, UFP) on leukocyte DNA damage using the comet assay. Human leukocytes were incubated with extracts of eel carnosine at concentrations (of 10, 50, $100{\mu}g/mL$), and then subjected to an oxidative stimulus [$200{\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)]. Pretreatment of the cells for 30 min with carnosine significantly reduced the genotoxicity of $H_2O_2$ measured as DNA strand breaks. The protective effects of the three types of extract (HTE, IEC, and UFP) increased with concentration. At the highest concentration (100 g/mL). there were no statistical differences in oxidative damage between each extract treatment and PBS-treated negative controls. When leukocytes were incubated with carnosine for 30 min after exposure to $H_2O_2$. the protective ability of each extract changed. Therefore, eel carnosine inhibits the $H_2O_2$ induced damage to cellular DNA in human leukocytes, supporting the protective effect of this compound against oxidative damage.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.183-189
• /
• 2012

In this study, the cellular protective effect and antioxidative property of peanut sprout root extracts were investigated. Cellular protective effects of peanut sprout root extracts on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction of extracts exhibited a cellular protective effect in a concentration dependent manner. Particularly, the aglycone fraction of extracts showed prominent cellular protective effects in a concentration range (5~50 ${\mu}g/mL$). They are more effective than that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol, known as a lipid peroxidation chain blocker. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of peanut sprout root extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}$-EDTA/$H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ethyl acetate fraction of extracts ($OSC_{50}$; 1.59 ${\mu}g/mL$) showed a similar ROS scavenging activity compare with that of L-ascorbic acid (1.50 ${\mu}g/mL$), known as a strong antioxidant. On the other hand, the order of free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydraxyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) was (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol > 80% MeOH extract > aglycone fraction > ethyl acetate fraction. These results indicate that peanut sprout root extracts can function as an antioxidant in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to solar UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and to protect cellular membranes against ROS.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.427-437
• /
• 2019

Oxidative stress and overproduction of free radicals have been reported to be a major pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. Samultang has been known as a beneficial agent to treat liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. However, the anti-oxidant activities and neuro-protective effects of Samultang against oxidative stress still have not been evaluated yet. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-oxidant and protective effects of Samultang and its four herbal plants, Paeonia lactiflora (PL), Ligusticum striatum (LS), Rehmannia glutinosa (RG), and Angelica gigas (AG), in vitro system and in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. The extracts of Samultang strongly increased the radical scavenging activities of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical (${\cdot}OH$), and nitric oxide (NO) in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, we investigated the protective effects of Samultang on cellular damage against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in SH-SY5Y cells. Treatment with Samultang alleviated the oxidative stress from $H_2O_2$ by increasing the cell viability and decreasing the intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Based on these results, we further investigated the radical scavenging effects of PL, LS, RG, and AG. In our results, PL had the highest DPPH, ${\cdot}OH$, and NO radical scavenging activities. Thus, PL has a crucial role in Samultang, which has anti-oxidative and neuro-protective effects. The present research suggests that Samultang and PL have protective roles against oxidative stress from $H_2O_2$-induced neuronal cell death.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.184-194
• /
• 2014

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effect on lipoapoptosis of Alisma orientale extract against free fatty acid-induced cellular injury. Methods : HepG2 cells were used in an vitro model. HepG2 cells were treated with free fatty acids to generate a cellular model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Using this cellular model, the anti-apoptotic effect and reducing steatosis of Alisma orientale extract against free fatty acid-induced cellular injury was evaluated by measuring steatosis and apoptosis. Results : Alisma orientale extract significantly attenuated free fatty acid-induced intracellular steatosis. Alisma orientale extract inhibited free fatty acid-mediated activation of pJNK, PUMA, BAX, caspase-3, and -9, and apoptotic kinases that are correlated with NAFLD. Alisma orientale extract also promoted Bcl-2, a anti-apoptotic protein. Conclusions : From the above, the Alisma orientale extract decreased the hepatocyte steatosis and showed the hepatocelluar protective effect by the regulation of apoptosis-related protein. It proposes the possibility of Alisma orientale extract to the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in clinics.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2009

The availability of effective vaccines has had the most profound positive effect on improving the quality of public health by preventing infectious diseases. Despite many successful vaccines, there are still old and new emerging pathogens against which there is no vaccine available. A better understanding of how vaccines work for providing protection will help to improve current vaccines as well as to develop effective vaccines against pathogens for which we do not have a proper means to control. Recent studies have focused on innate immunity as the first line of host defense and its role in inducing adaptive immunity; such studies have been an intense area of research, which will reveal the immunological mechanisms how vaccines work for protection. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a family of receptors for pathogen-associated molecular patterns on cells of the innate immune system, play a critical role in detecting and responding to microbial infections. Importantly, the innate immune system modulates the quantity and quality of long-term T and B cell memory and protective immune responses to pathogens. Limited studies suggest that vaccines which mimic natural infection and/or the structure of pathogens seem to be effective in inducing long-term protective immunity. A better understanding of the similarities and differences of the molecular and cellular events in host responses to vaccination and pathogen infection would enable the rationale for design of novel preventive measures against many challenging pathogens.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2019.10a
• /
• pp.91-91
• /
• 2019

Hibiscus syriacus L. is widely distributed throughout Eastern and Southern Asia and its root bark has been used as a traditional remedy. Recently, the extracts of H. syriacus L. exerts anti-cancerous, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of anthocyanin-rich fraction of H. syriacus L. petals (PS) has not been studied under excessive oxidative stress. In this study, we evaluated the cellular protective effect of PS in HaCaT human skin keratinocytes under hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced oxidative stress conditions. PS at below $400{\mu}g/ml$ did not show any cell death; however, over $800{\mu}g/ml$ of PS gradually increased cell death. PS at below $400{\mu}g/ml$ significantly inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis in HaCaT cells concomitant with downregulation of Bax and upregulation of pro-PARP and p-Bcl-2. Additionally, PS remarkably reversed $H_2O_2$-induced excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis, and also significantly inhibited mitochondrial ROS production concomitant with suppression of $H_2O_2$-induced mitochondrial depolarization. $H_2O_2$-mediated ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, and caspase-3 activation were markedly abolished in the presence of PS. Moreover, the inhibition of HO-1 function using zinc protoporphyrin, an HO-1 inhibitor, significantly attenuated the cellular protective effects of PS against $H_2O_2$, indicating the significance of HO-1 in PS mediated cytoprotective effect, which was mediated by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). Taken together, our results suggest that cytoprotective effect of PS in HaCaT keratinocytes against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis is mediated by inhibiting cellular and mitochondrial ROS production, which is downregulated by activating Nrf2/HO-1 axis.