• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.46-46
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• 2021

The first purpose of this study was to evaluate the scavenging capacity (SC) of DPPH and ABTS free radicals for ethanol extract (STR-E) and its active fractions from Sophora tonkinensis root (STR). Four different fractions from STR-E were prepared by using different types of solvents such as chloroform (STR-E-C), ethyl acetate (STR-E-EA), n-butanol (STR-E-B), and water (STR-E-W). STR-E-C showed the highest value of total phenolic content, while STR-E showed the highest value of total flavonoid and terpenoid content. In STR-E and its four fractions, STR-E-EA showed the strongest SC with the lowest SC50 values of the DPPH radicals and ABTS radicals. The second purpose of this study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages treated with STR-E, STR-E-C, and STR-E-EA, respectively. No cytotoxic effect to RAW 264.7 cells was observed at 20 ~ 25 ㎍/ml of STR-E, 10 ㎍/ml of STR-E-C, and 5 ㎍/ml of the STR-E-EA, presenting cell viability values close to that of the untreated control (100%). STR-E, STR-E-C, and STR-E-EA significantly suppressed the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) in a dose-dependent manner. Results of reverse-transcription (RT)-qPCR analysis showed that the peak mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, IL-6, and IL-10 were observed in the LPS-stimulated macrophages at 4 h, 2 h, 12 h, 12 h, and 12 h, respectively. The peak mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and IL-6 were significantly reduced in the LPS-stimulated macrophages co-treated with 20 ㎍/ml and 25 ㎍/ml of STR-E, respectively. In the case of IL-10, its peak mRNA level slightly increased without statistical significance. Compared with the LPS-stimulated macrophages, the peak mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and IL-6 reduced in the LPS-stimulated macrophages co-treated with 10 ㎍/ml and 20 ㎍/ml of STR-E-C, respectively. In contrast, the peak mRNA level of IL-10 significantly increased at 8 h. Compared with the LPS-stimulated macrophages, the peak mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and IL-6 reduced in the LPS-stimulated macrophages co-treated with 5 ㎍/ml and 10 ㎍/ml of STR-E-EA, respectively. In contrast, the peak mRNA level of IL-10 increased at 4 h. Taken together, our data indicated that STR-E, STR-E-C, and STR-E-EA activate macrophages to secrete both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.978-986
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• 2023

Inflammation by the innate immune system is a protective mechanism of the organism against infection-mediated environmental factors. It is also responsible for the pathogenesis of various human diseases, including the progression of cancer. Lichens are receiving increasing attention as a source of bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential for a variety of diseases. Additionally, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer potential of lichen and its secondary metabolites have been widely reported. However, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, to investigate molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammation and anti-cancer activity in the Antarctic lichen, Usnea aurantiaco-atra, methanol extract of Usnea aurantiaco-atra (MEUS) was used in vitro assays in RAW 264.7 macrophages cell and HCT116 colon cancer cells. Based on our data, MEUS had the anti-inflammatory activity through the modulation of main inflammatory indicators such as COX-2, IL-6, iNOS, TNF-α and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, we observed that MEUS had cytotoxic activity against HCT116 colon cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, leading to a significantly reduced proliferation of the cancer cells through apoptotic induction by activating caspase-3. Taken together, this work firstly reported the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of an Antarctic lichen, Usnea aurantiaco-atra, and MEUS may provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying a link between inflammation and cancer.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.369-378
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• 2023

Smilax sieboldii is one of the Smilax species. A number of Smilax plants have multiple physiologically-active components and anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant effects. Antiobesity effects induced by Smilax sieboldii have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of anti-obesity activity of 70% ethanol Smilax sieboldii extract (SSE). The anti-obesity effect of SSE was determined using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We confirmed that SSE was not cytotoxic to murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, we evaluated SSE dose-dependently decreased the accumulation of lipids via an Oil Red O assay and triglyceride assay. These anti-obesity activities of SSE were mediated by the inhibition of adipogenesis-related marker genes (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α, and SREBP1c) and lipogenesis-related marker genes (fatty acid synthase and aP2). These results suggest that SSE has the potential to exert anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemia effects by regulating adipogenic transcription factors and inhibiting the expression of adipogenic markers.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.891-896
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• 2008

Total phenolics and flavonoids, and the antioxidant capacity of plum cultivar wines (Prunus salicina L. cv. Soldam and P. salicina L. cv. Formosa) were determined using spectrophotometric methods. The total phenolic and flavanoid contents of Soldam wine were $478.4\;{\pm}\;5.6\;mg$ GAE and $202.4\;{\pm}\;7.5\;mg$ CE per L,respectively, and in Formosa wine were $200.6\;{\pm}\;7.5\;mg$ GAE and $64.4\;{\pm}\;6.8\;mg$ CE per L, respectively. Neutral and acidic phenolics in Soldam wine were extracted with ethyl acetate and 0.01 N HCl, respectively. In the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, neutral phenolics (64.5 EDA%) had $3{\sim}4$ times higher antioxidant activity than acidic phenolics (21.5 EDA%) and other related phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid (15.5 EDA%) and quercetin (24.6 EDA%) at a concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$. The antiviral activities of neutral and acidic phenolics in Soldam wine were investigated in vitro using a virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay. Results showed that neutral and acidic phenolics at concentrations of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ inhibited porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) replication at rates of 78.12% and 58.37%, respectively. The inhibition rate of 10 g/mL neutral phenolics (69.42%) was higher than that of ribavirin as an antiviral reagent (57.86%). At concentrations of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ or less, neutral and acidic phenolics of Soldam wine had no cytotoxic effect against vero cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.1015-1021
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• 2013

Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal, an important species of licorice, is one of the most widely used medicinal plants for over 4000 years. Glycyrrhiza plant species has been well known for its various therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-ulcer. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal ethanol extracts (GBE) on adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation. Mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells were treated with sub-cytotoxic doses of GBE, and its effects on adipocyte differentiation were assessed. We found that GBE dose-dependently increased lipid accumulation and also induced the expression of adipocyte markers, such as $PPAR{\gamma}$ and its target genes, aP2, and adiponectin, in C3H10T1/2 cells. Consistently, similar effects of GBE on lipid accumulation were also observed in preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells that further supports the pro-adipogenic activities of GBE. We also investigated the effects of GBE on osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells. As a results, we found that GBE increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase in a dose-dependent manner and also promoted the expression of osteoblast markers, such as ALP and RUNX2, during osteoblast differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells. Similar pro-osteogenic effects of GBE were also observed in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. Finally, our data show that a major bioactive compound found in Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal, licochalcone A (LA) but not glycyrrhizic acid (GA), can mediate the pro-adipogenic and pro-osteogenic effects of GBE. Taken together, this study provides data to show the possibility of GBE and its bioactive component LA as putative strategies for type 2 diabetes and bone diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.838-847
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• 1999

Based on the results that the extract of Korean mistletoe (KM-110) has immunological and anti-tumor activities and its main component is lectin called KML-U, this study was carried out to investigate the immunostimulatory and anti-tumor activities of FKM-110, fermented KM-110 with lactobacillus, as a basic study for the development of functional food with anti-tumor activity. The amount of lectin after fermentation determined by ELISA was varied with the fermentation time and kinds of lactobacillus. Cytotoxic effects of FKM-110 on the various tumor cells was significant and dependent on the concentration of KML-U and the kinds of lactobacillus. FKM-110 stimulated macrophage and resulted in the secretion of some cytokines such as IL-1 and $IFN-{\gamma}$, but this effect was not correlated with the concentration of lectin. FKM-110 fermented with Marshall Lactobacillus casei showed the most potent antitumor activity in experimental and spontaneous metastasis models. When yoghurt produced with KM-110, Marshall Lactobacillus casei and skim milk was administered orally to mouse, the metastasis of tumor cells was significantly inhibited.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.247-266
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• 2017

Cordyceps is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb well-known in China, Korea and Japan since B.C. 2,000. The original entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps sinensis belonging to the genus Cordyceps could not be found inside Korean peninsula due to the absence of the host insect for the corresponding entomogenous fungus. The development of artificial production methods of Korean type Cordyceps using the silkworm Bombyx mori as in vivo culture medium for the the entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces tenuipes is the first, and wonderful occasion in the research history of insect industry of this global world. The aim of this article is to review the historical research background, mass-production methods, and pharmacological effects of the silkworm-dongchunghacho (Paecilomyces tenuipes) which is a newly developed Korean medicinal insect-borne mushroom, and another non-insect-borne medicinal mushroom (Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps pruinosa). Their biological actions include anti-tumor, immunostimulating, anti-fatigue, anti-stress, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombosis, hypolipidaemic and insecticidal effects. The bioactive principles are protein-bound polysaccharides (hexose, hexosamin), cordycepin, D-manitol, acidic polysaccharide etc. Protein-bound polysaccharides and n-butanol fractions were demonstrated to show a significant anti-tumor activities but did not show a cytotoxicities. D-mannitol exhibited a significant prolongation of the life span in tumor bearing mice. Ergosterol did not show an efficient anti-tumor activity, but showed a significant phagocytosis enhancing activity. Anti-tumor activity of silkworm-dongchunghacho might be attributed to immuno-stimulating activities rather than cytotoxic effects [164]. Also this review comprises the breeding of Dongchunghacho varieties, optimization of culture conditions, improvement of learning and memory by Dongchunghacho, application of them as foods and chemical constituents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.965-972
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• 2020

Sambucus sieboldiana var. miquelii (Nakai) Hara is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan, and has been used as an anti-rheumatic in folk medicine in oriental countries. The present study aims to investigate the potential use of this species in health functional foods, cosmetics, and food preservatives. Methanol extracts of leaves and branches from this plant were prepared to quantitatively analyze the total phenol and flavonoid contents, and to investigate the antioxidative and enzyme inhibitory activities, and the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production activity. The results showed that the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the crude extract were 1.52±0.1 mg/g and 1.73±0.1 mg/g, respectively. S. sieboldiana polyphenols exhibited potent scavenging activity shown by 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and 2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation assay. The crude extract also exhibited significant α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 183.5 ㎍/ml and 323.9 ㎍/ ml, respectively. Additionally, the crude extract exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity determined through the nitric oxide inhibition assay in a dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of 36.7 ㎍/ml and no cytotoxic effect on the macrophages. Therefore, we demonstrated that the leaves and branches of S. sieboldiana extract possess antioxidant, anti-diabetic, depigmentation potential, and NO production inhibitory activities. According to recent research, S. sieboldiana has great potential as a source of the bioactive compound which could be used as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical agents.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2014

Salsola collina, also known as Russian thistle, is widely distributed in and around waste facilities, roadsides, and drought and semi-drought areas, and is used as a traditional folk remedy in Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of the ethanol extract of S. collina Pall. (EESC), and the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects on human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. EESC exhibited anti-oxidative activity through DPPH radical scavenging capacity and showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. After EESC treatment, HT29 cells altered their morphology, becoming smaller and irregular in shape. EESC also induced cell accumulation in the G2/M phase in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a decrease of cell population in the G1 phase. The G2/M arrest by EESC was associated with the increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 and Wee1 kinase, which phosphorylates, or inactivates, Cdc2. EESC treatment induced the phosphorylation of Cdc2 and Cdc25C, and inhibited cyclin A and Cdc25C protein expression. In addition, S arrest was induced by the highest concentration of EESC treatment, associated with a decrease of cyclin A and Cdk2 expression. These findings suggest that EESC may possess remarkable anti-oxidative activity and exert an anti-cancer effect in HT29 cells by cell cycle regulation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.199-208
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• 2021

Euonymus porphyreus, a species of plant in the Celastraceae family, is widely distributed in East Asia, especially in Southern China. The botanical characteristics of E. porphyreus have been reported, but its antioxidative and anticancer activities remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative and anticancer effects of ethanol extracts of E. porphyreus (EEEP) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The total polyphenol and flavonoid compound contents from EEEP were 115.42 mg/g and 23.07 mg/g, respectively. EEEP showed significant antioxidative effects with a concentration at 50% of the inhibition (IC50) value of 11.09 ㎍/ml, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. EEEP showed cytotoxic activity by increasing the SubG1 cell population of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis in A549 cells treated with EEEP was evident due to increased apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, as detected by Annexin V and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. EEEP-induced apoptosis resulted in increased expression of the First apoptosis signal (Fas), p53, and Bax, with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and subsequent activation of caspase-8, -9, and caspase-3, leading to cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that EEEP may exert an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in A549 cells through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.