• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of chronic hyperglycaemia affecting normal kidney functioning. The ayurvedic medicine curcumin (CUR) is pharmaceutically accepted for its vast biological effects. Objectives: The Curcuma-derived diferuloylmethane compound CUR, loaded on Poly (lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles was utilized to combat DN-induced renal apoptosis by selectively targeting and modulating Bcl2. Methods: Upon in silico molecular docking and screening study CUR was selected as the core phytocompound for nanoparticle formulation. PLGA-nano-encapsulated-curcumin (NCUR) were synthesized following standard solvent displacement method. The NCUR were characterized for shape, size and other physico-chemical properties by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy studies. For in vivo validation of nephro-protective effects, Mus musculus were pre-treated with CUR at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. and NCUR at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.w. (dose 1), 12.5 mg/kg b.w (dose 2) followed by alloxan administration (100 mg/kg b.w) and serum glucose levels, histopathology and immunofluorescence study were conducted. Results: The in silico study revealed a strong affinity of CUR towards Bcl2 (dock score -10.94 Kcal/mol). The synthesized NCUR were of even shape, devoid of cracks and holes with mean size of ~80 nm having -7.53 mV zeta potential. Dose 1 efficiently improved serum glucose levels, tissue-specific expression of Bcl2 and reduced glomerular space and glomerular sclerosis in comparison to hyperglycaemic group. Conclusion: This study essentially validates the potential of NCUR to inhibit DN by reducing blood glucose level and mitigating glomerular apoptosis by selectively promoting Bcl2 protein expression in kidney tissue.

• Journal of Web Engineering
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• v.14 no.17
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• pp.3604-3622
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• 2022

The fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides has been widely used for medicinal purposes because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiplatelet, and antimicrobial effects. Since there are no clear reports on the therapeutic efficacy of H. rhamnoides in osteoporosis, this study aimed to confirm the potential use of H. rhamnoides for the treatment of osteoporosis through its osteogenic differentiation-promoting effect in ovariectomized mice. Through an in vitro study, we compared the effects of the EtOH extract of H. rhamnoides fruits (EHRF) on the differentiation of C3H10T1/2, a mouse mesenchymal stem cell line, into osteoblasts based on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and the relative expression of osteogenesis-related mRNAs. The EHRF significantly stimulated the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts and showed 7.5 times (^* p < 0.05) higher osteogenesis than in the untreated control. A solvent fractionation process of EHRF showed that the hexane-soluble fraction (HRH) showed 10.4 times (^** p < 0.01) higher osteogenesis than in the untreated control. Among the subfractions derived from the active HRH by preparative HPLC fractionation, HRHF4 showed 7.5 times (^* p < 0.05) higher osteogenesis than in the untreated naïve cells, and HRH and HRHF4 fractions showed 22.6 times (^*** p < 0.001) stronger osteogenesis activity than in the negative control. Osteoporosis was induced by excision of both ovaries in 9-week-old female ICR mice for in vivo analysis, and two active fractions, HRH and HRHF4, were administered orally for three months. During the oral administration period, body weight was measured weekly, and bone mineral density (BMD) and body fat density were measured simultaneously using a DEXA machine once a month. In particular, during the in vivo study, the average BMD of the ovariectomized group decreased by 0.0009 g/cm², whereas the average BMD of the HRH intake group increased by 0.0033 g/cm² (^* p < 0.05) and that of the HRHF4 intake group increased by 0.0059 g/cm² (^** p < 0.01). The HRH and HRHF4 intake groups significantly recovered the mRNA and protein expression of osteogenic genes, including ALP, Osteopontin, Runx2, and Osterix, in the osteoporosis mouse tibia. These findings suggest that the active fractions of H. rhamnoides fruit significantly promoted osteoblast differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells and increased osteogenic gene expression, resulting in an improvement in bone mineral density in the osteoporosis mouse model. Taken together, H. rhamnoides fruits are promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2024

This study investigated the optimal conditions for efficiently removing caffeine from green coffee beans using supercritical fluid extraction while preserving the key flavor compounds, trigonelline and chlorogenic acid. The results of the experiments conducted under various pretreatment and supercritical fluid extraction conditions revealed that the highest caffeine extraction rate was 90.6% and it was achieved when green coffee beans with a moisture content of 35% were soaked in hot water. However, this condition also showed a tendency to slightly reduce the retention rates of trigonelline and chlorogenic acid. In the supercritical fluid extraction time experiments, the caffeine content decreased as the extraction time increased. Furthermore, extraction at a temperature of 60 ℃ and a pressure of 40 MPa was the most effective in terms of both caffeine removal and flavor compound preservation. As the amount of water added increased, the caffeine extraction rates increased, but there was also an increase in the loss of flavor compounds. With an increase in the solvent-to-material ratio, the caffeine removal rates improved. The optimal results were observed at a ratio of 250, which achieved a caffeine extraction rate of 91.0% and retention rates of trigonelline and chlorogenic acid of 99.9% and 85.9%, respectively.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.385-389
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• 2024

For high-purity purification of indole (IN) contained in crude methylnaphthalene oil (CMNO), this study was reviewed by adopting the re-extraction method using n-hexane as an enrichment method of IN contained in the extract phase recovered from equilibrium extraction of CMNO and formamide aqueous solution. The raw material (extract phase) contained three types of nitrogen-containing compounds (NCCs): quinoline (QU), isoquinoline (IQU), and IN; and four types of bicyclic aromatic compounds (BACs): naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and biphenyl (BP). The distribution coefficient and selectivity of IN showed almost constant values regardless of the change in the initial volume fraction of the re-extraction solvent to the raw material. Compared to the distribution coefficient of IN, those of two types NCCs excluding IN and three types BACs excluding BP, respectively, are about 4~7 times and 190~394 times higher. In addition, the concentration of IN in the raffinate oil recovered through equilibrium n-hexane re-extraction run of the batch co-current five-stage under constant re-extraction was 54.6%, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than that of the raw material. From the excellent IN enrichment efficiency of this study, the re-extraction method using n-hexane was expected to be a new IN enrichment method that can be an alternative to the distillation method.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.311-315
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• 2019

The cation extraction and impurity separation were studied in order to investigate the recyclability of a slag produced from the steel refinery industry. Two types of slag (Slag-A, B) were collected and characterized in this study. The initial characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) confirmed the existence of various kinds of ions in the slag such as Ca²⁺ (30 ~ 40%), Fe³⁺ (20 ~ 30%), Si⁴⁺ (15%), Al³⁺ (10%), Mn²⁺ (7%), and Mg²⁺ (3 ~ 5%). Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis on the extracted slag using 2 M HCl as a solvent indicated that a higher concentration of Ca²⁺ was extracted as the S/L ratio was increased. The Ca²⁺ extraction concentration were found to be 8,940 mg L^-1 (Slag-A) and 10,690 (Slag-B) mg L^-1 when the S/L ratio for Ca²⁺ extraction was 0.1. However, the extract was strongly acidic ( < pH 1) at 0.1 S/L. Also the other ions (impurities) were extracted simultaneously in addition to Ca²⁺. To increase the purity of Ca²⁺ in order to transform the slag to a high value resource, a pH-swing was conducted. The impurities tended to precipitate at higher rate as the pH was increased. Notably, the Ca²⁺ rapidly precipitated above a certain pH and at a pH of 10.5, while the selectivity of Ca²⁺ was over 99%. It is expected that the aqueous solution in which high contents of Ca²⁺ was selectively dissolved in this study would be suitable for the carbonation process for reducing CO₂ and for the production of calcium carbonate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1407-1413
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the usage and management of flavorings inside or outside (Europe, Japan, JECFA and USA) for that establish a legislation about the flavoring management in Korea. Also, this study contributed to prevent confusion when manufacturers produce flavorings used in food industry. 6,434 among 8,386 flavorings authorized by Korea Food and Drug administration are compound flavorings, and 618 among 6,434 compound flavorings are synthetic flavorings. Many other substances except for flavorings are using as solvent in flavoring manufacture. Flavorings used in food industries of Korea are listed at least one among FEMA, JECFA, CoE and JFFMA except for isooctyl acetate and tricyclene. 493 items out of total 618 synthetic flavorings have completed safety evaluation by JECFA. 106 synthetic flavorings out of the rest listed FEMA as GRAS and 20 synthetic flavorings used in Japan. The replier answered that the most frequently used flavorings are strawberry, grape, orange, plum, lemon and vanilla flavor and that the usage of flavoring added to foodstuffs is less than 0.5%.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2013

This study was conducted not only to analyze ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity with fronds and rhizomes of nine Pteridophyte species, but also to select the plant materials suitable for natural ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor. Harvested rhizomes and fronds were washed, freeze-dried and grinded. After conducting ultrasonification extraction for 30 minutes in ultrasonic water tank with 100% methanol solvent, and vacuum filtration, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity was measured. Acarbose was used as the positive control. After mixing $100{\mu}L$ of 0.7 unit ${\alpha}$-glucosidase enzyme solution into $50{\mu}L$ of extract and reacting them at $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes, $50{\mu}L$ of 1.5 mM ${\rho}$-NPG solution was taken and reacted at $37^{\circ}C$ for 20 minutes. The reaction was stopped with 1 mL of 1 M $Na_2CO_3$ and absorbance was measured in 405 nm. With the regression analysis, the content of solubility solids (the value of $IC_{50}$) which can inhibit 50% of 0.7 unit ${\alpha}$-glucosidase solution's activity was investigated. The frond ($IC_{50}=14.00{\sim}913.33{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$) and rhizome extracts ($IC_{50}=12.93{\sim}205.84{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$) of nine Pteridophyte species showed higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity in comparison with acarbose ($IC_{50}=1413.70{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$). The extracts of fronds and rhizomes showed higher value than acarbose by 1.55~100.98 and 6.87~109.33 times each. Especially, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities of Pyrrosia lingua in fronds and Osmunda cinnamomea var. fokiensis in rhizomes were the highest. The necessary biomass of fronds and rhizomes for inhibiting 50% of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity showed the lowest value, 0.35, 0.27 mg each, in O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis. $IC_{50}$ value of P. lingua was the highest among fronds of nine Pteridophyte species, but content of soluble solids was 2.4 times less than O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis. So frond of O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis is more economic in comparison with P. lingua. As the result of this study, O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis showed high ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity even with small biomass. Therefore it was considered to be high-valued economic material as natural ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2013

In this study, antioxidative effects of the extracts of different species and flowering periods of Inula britannica were investigated. According to the free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity of the extracts, The I. britannica var. chinensis flower extract (500 ${\mu}g/mL$) was measured in a 79.89% free radical scavenging activity, but the flower extracts of similar species (I. britannica var. linariaefolia Regel, I. britannica var. ramosa, I. salicina var. asiatica) did not show any effect on the free radical scavenging activity. The effects of the free radical scavenging activity of I. britannica var. chinensis flower extracts were exhibited in the order of full bloom (93.68%), bud (43.28%), and fallen blossom (14.11%). Next, we established optimum condition of extract solvent, temperature, extraction time. The extract from ethanol at $60^{\circ}C$ showed the most free radical scavenging activity among other conditions and extraction time not relevant in free radical scavenging activity. The protective effects of the extract of I. britannica var. chinensis flower on the photohemolysis of human erythrocytes by using rose bengal were increased in a concentration-dependent manner (5 ~ 50 ${\mu}g/mL$). In particular, the extract in 50 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration exhibited better protective activity (${\tau}_{50}$ = 116.1 min) than (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol (${\tau}_{50}$ = 73.44 min), which is a known lipophilic antioxidant. Principle component of I. britannica var. chinensis flower was identified as quercetin of flavonoids by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These results indicate that the extract of I. britannica var. chinensis flower can function as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by scavenging free radical and $^1O_2$, and protect cellular membranes against ROS. It is concluded that the antioxidative effects of the extract of I. britannica var. chinensis flower could be applicable to functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.750-759
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• 2010

The bioactive materials (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals, decursin and decursinol angelate) and biological activities (DPPH [$\alpha,\alpha$'-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl] free radical scavenging capability, reducing power, and tyrosinase activity) in the extracts of leaf, stem mixture (AGLS), and root (AGR) from Angelica gigas Nakai were examined by using water, hot water and ethanol solvent. The highest extract yield (21.89%) was found in the water extract of AGR. The highest concentrations of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the ethanol extracts of AGLS and AGR were 14.99% and 14.79%. Major minerals of AGLS and AGR were K, Mg, Fe, Na and Ca. Decursin and decursinol angelate were the major ingredients of Angelica gigas, detected at 18.71 and 18.89 min of retention time by HPLC analysis, respectively. The highest concentrations of decursin and decursinol angelate in the Angelica gigas ethanol extract were found in root ($41.7\;{\mu}g/g$) and leaf ($34.04\;{\mu}g/g$). The highest free radical scavenging activity was found in the hot water extracts of AGLS and AGR, and its activity was stronger in all extracts of AGLS than AGR. The highest reducing power was found in the ethanol extracts of AGLS and AGR and this was dependent on the sample concentration. The hot water extracts of AGLS and AGR revealed the highest inhibition activity on tyrosinase. Overall, these results may provide the basic data needed to understand the biological activities of bioactive materials derived from Angelica gigas.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.428-434
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-hypertensive effect of Lactobacillus sp. isolated from Kimchi by examining its effects on renal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, lipid components and blood pressure using the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) system. Most Lactobacillus sp. extracts (lysozyme, sonication and ethyl acetate extracts) showed higher capacities for the inhibition of ACE activity than those of cultured media. Particularly, LG 7, 8 and 42 of Lactobacillus sp. showed the strongest inhibitory activity among the Lactobacillus sp. extracts. The concentrations of total cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum were lower in the Lactobacillus sp. administration groups than in the control group, but these differences were not significant. The HDL-cholesterol concentrations of the LG 42 administration groups (IX, X) were significantly higher than that of the control group. At 4 weeks, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the LG 42 Lactobacillus sp. ($1{\times}10^9$ cfu/mL) group (XI) was about 27% lower than that of the control group (V). No adverse effects were observed on the liver and there was no difference in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values among groups. The results of this study suggest that long term consumption of LG 42 Lactobacillus sp. may be beneficial to the prevention of high blood pressure.