• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.268-276
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-cancer effects of different fractions of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: We isolated hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions from crude ethanol extract of AM. The cell death was examined by MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Apoptosis was detected by DAPI staining, annexin V-PI double staining and cell cycle analysis. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was examined by western blot. Results: Among various fractions of AM, the ethyl acetate fraction of AM (EAM) showed the strongest cytotoxic effect in NSCLC cells. EAM reduced the cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner in NSCLC cells. In addition, EAM induced the chromatin condensation, and increased the population of sub-G1 phase and annexin V-positive cells in a time-dependent manner, indicating that EAM induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Consistently, EAM enhanced the expression of cleaved caspase-8 and -9, and induced the accumulation of cleaved- poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Among MAPK proteins, only ERK was dephosphorylated by EAM, suggesting that ERK might be related with EAM-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: Our results clearly demonstrate that EAM exhibited anti-cancer effects in NSCLC cells by induction of apoptosis. We provide a valuable evidence which suggests that AM could be a desirable therapeutic option for treatment of NSCLC.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.251-263
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• 2020

α-mangostin imprinted polymers have been synthesized by a non-covalent imprinting approach with α-mangostin as a template molecule. The α-mangostin molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) prepared by radical polymerization using methacrylic acid, ethlylene glycol dimethacrylate, benzoyl peroxide, and acetonitrile, as a monomer, crosslinker, initiator, and porogen, respectively. The template was removed by using methanol:acetic acid 90:10 (v/v). The physical characteristics of the polymers were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The rebinding studies were carried out by batch methods. The results exhibited that the MIPs was able to adsorb the α-mangostin at pH 2 and the contact time of 180 min. The kinetic adsorption data of α-mangostin performed the pseudo-second order model and followed the Langmuir isotherm model with the adsorption capacity of 16.19 mg·g-1. MIPs applied as a sorbent material in solid-phase extraction, namely molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) and it shows the ability for enrichment and clean-up of α-mangostin from the complex matrix in medicinal herbal product and crude extract of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) pericarp. Both samples, respectively, which were spiked with α-mangostin gives recovery more than 90% after through by MISPE in all concentration ranges.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2021

Human gnathostomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Gnathostoma nematode infection. A rapid, reliable, and practical immunoassay, named dot immuno-gold filtration assay (DIGFA), was developed to supporting clinical diagnosis of gnathostomiasis. The practical tool detected anti-Gnathostoma-specific IgG4 in human serum using crude extract of third-stage larvae as antigen. The result of the test was shown by anti-human IgG4 monoclonal antibody conjugated colloidal gold. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were both 100% for detection in human sera from patients with gnathostomiasis (13/13) and from healthy negative controls (50/50), respectively. Cross-reactivity with heterogonous serum samples from patients with other helminthiases ranged from 0 (trichinosis, paragonimiasis, clonorchiasis, schistosomiasis, and cysticercosis) to 25.0% (sparganosis), with an average of 6.3% (7/112). Moreover, specific IgG4 antibodies diminished at 6 months after treatment. This study showed that DIGFA for the detection of specific IgG4 in human sera could be a promising tool for the diagnosis of gnathostomiasis and useful for evaluating therapeutic effects.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2022

This study assessed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of leaf extracts from grain amaranths (Amaranthus spp.). Among all the extracts, the ethanol extract of Amaranthus cruentus leaves (Ar) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, including the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ORAC. In addition, Ar strongly inhibited nitric oxide production by suppressing the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264 murine macrophages. HPLC analysis revealed 13 polyphenolic compounds in the leaf extracts of grain amaranth and indicated that Ar contained more rutin than the other extracts. Taken together, these results show the impact of species diversity on the phytochemical contents and bioactivities of plant extracts and suggest that the nonedible parts, such as leaves, of A. cruentus should be considered for use as crude drugs and dietary health supplements.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2022

Soybean-urease induced carbonate precipitation (EICP), as an alternative to microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), was employed for soil improvement. Meanwhile, soluble calcium produced from industrial waste carbide slag powder (CSP) via the acid dissolution method was used for the EICP process. The ratio of CSP to the acetic acid solution was optimized to obtain a desirable calcium concentration with an appropriate pH. The calcium solution was then used for the sand columns test, and the engineering properties of the EICP-treated sand, including unconfined compressive strength, permeability, and calcium carbonate content, were evaluated. Results showed that the properties of the biocemented sand using the CSP derived calcium solution were comparable to those using the reagent grade CaCl₂. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that spherical vaterite crystals were mainly formed when the CSP-derived calcium solution was used. In contrast, spherical calcite crystals were primarily formed as the reagent grade CaCl₂ was used. This study highlighted that it was effective and sustainable to use soluble calcium produced from CSP for the EICP process.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether or not a pretreatment with Portulaca oleracea has an antioxidant effect in HCl-ethanol induced gastric mucosal damage. Methods : We elucidated the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and two important constituents of antioxidant defense such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) in these effects. Results : The oral administration of crude extract from P. oleracea attenuated the gastritic lesion area, submucosal edema and hemorrhage, and mucosal necrosis induced by HCl-ethanol. The MDA levels of control group were higher than those in the rats given the P. oleracea pretreatment. While the GSH levels of control were decreased, the GSH activity on the gastric mucosal layer maintain normal level in rats given the Portulaca oleracea pretreatment before HCl-ethanol induced gastritis significantly increased. However, the SOD activites were not altered by P. oleracea. Conclusions : The administration of Portulaca oleracea have a protective antioxidant effect against the gastric lesion induced by HCl-ethanol and may therefore be a promising drug for gastritis and gastric ulcer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1302-1309
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate physicochemical and functional properties of dried Brassica campestris ssp rapa (BR) sprouts. The proximate compositions of BR sprouts as dry matter basis were 2.35% of moisture content, 22.51% of crude protein, 21.60% of crude lipid, 4.35% of crude ash, and 49.19% of carbohydrate, respectively. The free sugars were identified as glucose and fructose. Analyzing total amino acids, 18 kinds of components were isolated from BR sprouts. The essential amino acid contained in BR sprouts accounted for 47.00% of total amino acid, while the non-essential amino acid accounted for 53.00%. The contents of vitamin A and vitamin E were 0.09 mg% and 3.06 mg%, respectively. Tartaric acid was the major organic acid. Among the minerals in dried BR sprouts, the content of potassium was the highest (882.50 mg%) and those of magnesium and calcium were comparatively high (342.85 mg%, 274.30 mg%). BR sprouts ethanol extract significantly inhibited the HMG-CoA reductase activity in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. Furthermore, nitrite scavenging ability and DPPH radical scavenging activity of the ethanol extract of BR sprouts were 64.25% and 69.29% at a concentration of 1,000 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. These results suggest that BR sprouts possess potential antioxidative capacity and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2010

Ixeris dentata var. albiflora Nakai, a herbal plant, is often used to make a strong stomach as an antiphlogistic used when dyspepsia and to improve appetite in Korea and China. And also it is used for adult diseases such as diabetes and liver diseases as Korean traditional medicine. In this study, the composition and DPPH radical scavenging activities of the root of Ixeris dentata var. albiflora Nakai and its effects on cell viability on vero and chang cells were investigated. Moisture, crude ash, crude protein and crude lipid were 79.14, 2.49, 8.28 and 2.56 g/100 g respectively. The highest mineral content was K. The major free sugars were glucose, fructose and sucrose. Major fatty acid are linoleic acid, palmic acid and linolenic acid. Major amino acids were glutamic acid, arginine and aspartic acid and the total contents of amino acids were 28.12 mg/g. The methanol extracts were further fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water to get an active fraction. In addition, cell viabilities in each fraction were determined. Methanol extract, butanol, and aqueous fraction showed strong survival rates in vero cell and chang cell viability test, and hexane, chloroform, and ethylacetate fraction were examined for toxin in a cell. The root of Ixeris dentata var. albiflora Nakai had scavenging activities against DPPH radicals in a dose-dependent assay. Ethylacetate fraction's SC50 was $6.8\{\mu}g/mL$, very strong DPPH radical scavenging activities, but water fraction did not show any activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.1378-1387
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• 2012

To investigate the pharmacological activity of chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) on extraction conditions, chaga was extracted using water (reflux at $50^{\circ}C$, decoction over $90^{\circ}C$, pressure at $121^{\circ}C$) or ethanol (reflux at 50, 70, or $90^{\circ}C$). When water extract was further fractionated into crude polysaccharide (IO-CP), yields of IO-CP (4.8~16.8%) were higher than those of ethanolic extracts (IO-E, 1.9~2.7%) at increased temperature. For antioxidant activity, crude polysaccharide (IO-CP-121) obtained by pressurized extraction showed the highest polyphenolic and flavonoid contents (35.10 mg TAE/g and 18.48 mg QE/g, respectively) as well as DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities (26.08 and 27.99 mg AEAC/100 mg, respectively). Meanwhile, IO-CP-D (decoction) and IO-CP-50 (reflux) had more potent mitogenic effects (2.10- and 1.95-fold of saline control at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$) as well as intestinal immune system modulating activities (6.30- and 5.74-fold) compared to IO-CP-121, whereas ethanolic extracts showed no activity. Although no IO-CP showed cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells at 0.1 mg/mL, IO-CP-121 significantly inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$ and NO production as pro-inflammatory factors in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (29.2 and 63.5%, respectively). Ethanolic extracts also showed no cytotoxicity at 0.1 mg/mL, whereas inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ and NO production was significantly low compared to that of IO-CP-121. In addition, active IO-CP-D was further fractionated into an unadsorbed (IO-CP-I) and seven adsorbed fractions (IO-CP-II~VIII) by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography in order to isolate immunostimulating polysaccharide. IO-CP-II showed the most potent mitogenic effect and macrophage stimulating activity (4.51- and 1.64-fold, respectively). IO-CP-II mainly contained neutral sugars (61.86%) in addition to a small amount of uronic acid (2.96%), and component sugar analysis showed that IO-CP-II consisted mainly of Glc, Gal, and Man (molar ratio of 1.00:0.55:0.31). Therefore, extraction conditions affect the physiological activity of chaga, and immunostimulating polysaccharide fractionated from chaga by decoction is composed mainly of neutral sugars.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.399-407
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties of different batches of Saururus chinensis using different roasting temperature that were dried at different using different roasting temperatures and their were determined the antioxidative activities of water and 70% ethanol extracts. Methods: Extracts were examined for the total phenolic acid content, the and flavonoids contents and the antioxidant properties, including DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTs scavenging activity and, the reducing power. Results: Moisture content was significantly higher in the LSC and the crude ash content was significantly higher in the HSC. The crude protein content was higher in the LSC (although not significantly), and the crude fat and carbohydrate contents were higher in the HSC (although not significantly). The total phenolic content was lower in the samples extracted with water, but there was no significant difference. However, the extracts extracted with 70% ethanol at a high drying temperature were significantly higher. The low temperature and high drying temperature batches of Saururus chinensis were significantly higher in the samples extracted with 70% ethanol than those extracted with 70% ethanol. The total phenolic acid content, the total flavonoid content and the electron donating ability were highest in the ethanol extract of Saururuschinensis treated at a high temperature. However, the ABTs radical activity was highest in the water extracted, high-temperature treated Saururuschinensis. The 70% ethanol extract of high temperature roasted Saururuschinensis had the highest antioxidative activities of all the Saururuschinensis batches. Conclusion: The total phenolic acid contents, total flavonoid contents, electron donating activity and reducing power activity were highest in all the 70% ethanol extraction batches of the high-temperature treated samples.