• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.569-578
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermentation can increase functional compounds in fermented soybean products, thereby improving antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory activities. We investigated the changes in the contents of phenolics and isoflavones, antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity of Doenjang during fermentation and aging. MATERIALS/METHODS: Doenjang was made by inoculating Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus licheniformis in soybeans, fermenting and aging for 1, 3, 6, 8, and 12 months (D1, D3, D6, D8, and D12). Doenjang was extracted using ethanol, and sequentially fractioned by hexane, dichloromethane (DM), ethylacetate (EA), n-butanol, and water. The contents of total phenolics, flavonoids and isoflavones, 2,2-diphenyl-1 picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured. Anti-inflammatory effects in terms of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin (PG) E2 and pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expressions were also measured using LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed a gradual increase during fermentation and 6 months of aging and were sustained thereafter. DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP were increased by fermentation. FRAP was further increased by aging, but DPPH radical scavenging activity was not. Total isoflavone and glycoside contents decreased during fermentation and the aging process, while aglycone content and its proportion increased up to 3 or 6 months of aging and then showed a slow decrease. DM and EA fractions of Doenjang showed much higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and DPPH radical scavenging activity than the others. At $100{\mu}g/mL$, DM and EA fractions of D12 showed strongly suppressed NO production to 55.6% and 52.5% of control, respectively, and PGE2 production to 25.0% and 28.3% of control with inhibition of iNOS or COX-2 protein expression in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve month-aged Doenjang has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with high levels of phenolics and isoflavone aglycones, and can be used as a beneficial food for human health.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.921-929
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• 2011

Stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling followed by increase of glucose uptake in L6 myotubes were studied with organic solvent extract of Malva verticillata (MV) seeds. Ethanol extract of M. verticillata seeds (MVE) significantly increased the phosphorylation level of AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and glucose uptake in L6 myotube cells. The MVE was fractionated with n-hexane (MVE-H), chloroform (MVE-C), ethylacetate (MVE-E), n-butanol (MVE-B), and water (MVE-W). MVE-H (150 ${\mu}g$/ml) showed the highest phosphorylating activity and increased glucose uptake by 2.3-fold. Oral administration of MVE-H (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks to type 2 diabetic (db/db) mice reduced non-fasting and fasting blood glucose levels by 17.1% and 23.3%, respectively. Phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC in the soleus muscle and liver tissue of db/db mice were significantly increased by the administration of MVE-H. MVE-H was further fractionated using preparative HPLC to identify the AMPK-activating compounds. The NMR and GC-MS analyses revealed that ${\beta}$-sitosterol was a major effective compound in MVE-H. Phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC, and glucose uptake were significantly increased by the treatment of MVE-S (${\beta}$-sitosterol) isolated from M. verticillata to L6 cells, and these effects were attenuated by an AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) pretreatment. These results, taken together, demonstrate that increased glucose uptake in L6 myotubes by MVE-H treatment is mainly accomplished through the activation of AMPK. Our finding suggests that the extract isolated from M. verticillata seed would be beneficial for the treatment of metabolic disease including type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.602-606
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated total 26 ingredients of Saengshik which will be commercially produced as an anti-diabetic dietary supplement. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Thirteen vegetables, nine cereals, three legumes and one seed were extracted with aqueous ethanol for 2 h at $60^{\circ}C$, and evaluated for their inhibitory effects against ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and for total phenolic and flavonoid contents. RESULTS: All ingredients inhibited ${\alpha}$-amylase activity except cabbage. Strong inhibitory activity of ${\alpha}$-amylase was observed in leek, black rice, angelica and barley compared with acarbose as a positive control. Stronger inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity was found in small water dropwort, radish leaves, sorghum and cabbage than acarbose. All Saengshik ingredients suppressed ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity in the range of 0.3-60.5%. Most ingredients contained total phenols which were in the range of 1.2-229.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract. But, total phenolic contents were not observed in carrot, pumpkin and radish. All ingredients contained flavonoid in the range of 11.6-380.7 mg catechin equivalent/g dried extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Saengshik containing these ingredients would be an effective dietary supplement for diabetes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.525-530
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• 2011

Pine needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the antioxidant activity, and proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. Pine needle extracts were examined using hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-ethanol, and hot water-hexane. The effects of the pine needle extracts were examined by comparing the results with that of a commercial agents, proanthocyanidin. Analysis of each extract indicated that hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts contained the highest total polyphenol concentrations. The hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts also showed relatively the highest SOD-like activity. The proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells treated with pine needle extracts was decreased by lower than 70%. In addition, the hot water and ethanol extracts of pine needle significantly reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive ($TRAP^+$) multinucleated cells from osteoclatic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that pine needle extracts had an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation, suggesting that they could be used for the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2016

Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud., a flowering plant, has been widely cultivated in Asian countries including Korea. It has been reported that B. nivea exhibits health beneficial effects for the prevention of inflammation, oxidative stress, and virus-related diseases. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of B. nivea on adipocyte differentiation and angiogenesis. DPPH radical scavenging activities of 70% ethanol extract of B. nivea (EBN) and water extract of B. nivea (WBN) were $90.8{\pm}1.1%$ and $20{\pm}6.9%$, respectively. EBN was also effective in the reduction of adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. We next examined the transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$), a pivotal target for anti-obesity. We found that treatment with rosiglitazone induced the transactivation of $PPAR-{\gamma}$. Under the same condition, $800{\mu}g/mL$ EBN reduced the transactivation of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ in rosiglitazone-induced cells. These results demonstrate that EBN-inhibited adipocyte differentiation was accompanied by $PPAR-{\gamma}$ inhibition. The study also tested whether EBN exhibits an anti-angiogenic effect by inhibiting tube formation in HUVECs. We found that EBN effectively inhibits tube formation, suggesting that EBN exhibited an anti-angiogenic effect. Taken together, B. nivea can be used as a functional food for the prevention of obesity and angiogenesis-related diseases including cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.783-790
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• 2020

The present study investigates the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Mangifera indica L. leaf extract. The total polyphenol content was measured using the Folin-Denis method. Results showed that the M. indica L. leaf extract of water and 70% ethanol showed a content of 440.83±1.02, 475.63±1.3 mg/100 g tannic acid equivalent. To assess antioxidant activity and electron-donating ability, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging activity were measured, and all extracts were found to be highly efficacious. To assess cell viability of the extract from M. indica L. leaf on macrophage cells (RAW 264.7), a 3-[4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2- yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide assay was performed. The following experiments were conducted in section where cells was not shown of toxicity. In order to effectively determine anti-inflammatory activity, inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells was examined using a Griess assay. The result showed that M. indica L. leaf extract concentration-dependently inhibited NO production. M. indica L. leaf extract was measured using Western blot, reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that to find the production of pro-inflammatory factor on stimulated RAW 264.7 cells of LPS. According to the results of this study, the M. indica L. leaf extract showed excellent effectiveness in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, thus confirming its usability as a natural material and a functional raw material for cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.209-219
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• 2005

In this study, we carried out the preparing standardization and regulation of processed Glycyrrhizae Radix (PGR) which have been widely used in oriental medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix(GR) have been generally prepared by the stir-frying, or mix-frying with honey for the purpose of decreasing sweetness and augmenting vitality. Firstly, we tried to standardize PGR prepared by the stir-frying. We purchased 14 kinds of PGR and non-processed GR(NPGR) at oriental physician's offices and oriental pharmacies on a nation scale, respectively. The amounts of dry on loss, water extract, diluted ethanol extract, ether extract, total ash, acid insoluble ash, glycyrrhizin(GL), glycyrrhetic acid(GA) and liquiritin(LQ) of them were examined. The amounts of dry on loss, GL and LQ in commercial PGRs showed remarkable decrease, while GA showed increased as compared with NPGR. In order to standardize preparing method of PGR, the effect of heating time on physico-chemical parameters and biological activities were examined. Physico-chemical parameters such as dry on loss, extract amount, GL and LQ contents in PGRs showed decrease, however, GA was increased with heating time as compared with NPGR. Also, GA, obtained from heat-treated GR, was found as an artifact in PGRs. PGR was more effective than NPGA in vitro test of DPPH scavenging effect and TBA-Rs reducing effect. PGR and NPGR showed potent hepatoprotective effect on $CCl_4-intoxicated$ rats. Especially, PGR prepared by 80 min of heating was the most effective. Considering these results, the optimal condition for PGR preparation was $150^{\circ}C$ for 80 min.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2017

Objectives : Increased oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested as a major cause of muscle fatigue. Although several studies have demonstrated the various biological properties of Sophora flavescens Aiton, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer and Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz, but the antioxidative potentials have not been clearly demonstrated. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of their water and ethanol extract mixtures (medicinal herbal mixtures, MHMIXs) on hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced cell damage and apoptosis in C2C12 myoblasts. Methods : Cytotoxicity was assessed by an MTT assay. Quantitative evaluation of apoptosis induction and ROS production was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. Expression levels of apoptosis regulatory and DNA-damage proteins were detected by Western blotting. Result : The inhibition of $H_2O_2$-induced cell proliferation was effectively blocked in extracts of 3: 1: 1 (EMHMIXs-1) or 2: 2: 1 (EMHMIXs-2) of S. flavescens, G. uralensis and D. dasycarpus Turcz, ethanol extracts from various complex extracts in C2C12 myoblasts. EMHMIXs-1 and EMHMIXs-2 also effectively attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced C2C12 cell apoptosis, which was associated with the restoration of the upregulation of Bad and death receptor 4, and downregulation of XIAP and cIAP-1 induced by $H_2O_2$. In addition, these herbal mixtures significantly blocked the $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation and phosphorylation of $p-{\gamma}H2A.X$, which suggests that they can prevent $H_2O_2$-induced cellular DNA damage. Conclusions : The results suggest that EMHMIXs-1 and EMHMIXs-2 could block the DAN damage and apoptosis of C2C12 myoblasts by oxidative stress through blocking ROS generation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2003

To determine the properties for juice preperation of Black Omija (Schizandra nigra Max.) and Omija (Schizandra chinensis), yield of extraction, chromaticity and lightness, pH and soluble solid of the extract were investigated. The rate of extract yield from Schizandra nigra was highest when extracted for 3 hours at 80$^{\circ}C$ in 20％ ethanol solution. For the desirable chromaticity coordinates, the optimum extraction time and temperature of Schizandra nigra extract were 3 hours at 80$^{\circ}C$. The lightness of the extract was low of the value when extraction time and temperature was long and high. The sugar content of the extract of S. nigra was 2.0­2.6％ Brix, lower than that of S. chinensis, but the difference was insignificant. The pH of the extract from S. nigra was 0.1­0.2 higher than that of S. chinensis. Although the pH of the extract from S. nigra was a little low when extracted by water, the pH range was enough to maintain the stability of color of extract from the S. chinensis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.15-35
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• 2015

Objectives This study was performed to investigate the effects of Bujasasim-tang ethanol extract (BST) on oxidative stress, inflammation and osteoarthritic rat model. Methods To ensure safety of BST, heavy metal levels were measured and cytotoxicity test was done. In vitro, To evaluate antioxidative effects of BST, total phenolic contents, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Also, to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of BST treated group, total nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) levels were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo, We injected MIA $50{\mu}l$ (60 mg/ml) into knee joints of rats to induce osteoarthritis. Rats were divided into total 3 groups (normal, control, BST treated group, each n=7). Normal group was not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis and taken normal diet. Control group was induced osteoarthritis by MIA and taken with 2 ml of distilled water once a day for 4 weeks. BST treated group was induced osteoarthritis by MIA and taken BST 2 ml (200 mg/kg/mouse) once a day for 4 weeks. We evaluated dynamic weight bearing with the Incapacitance Test Meter. At the end of experiment, the rats were sacrificed to observe the functions of liver and kidney, changes of WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte levels in blood, to evaluate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tissue inhibitor of metallopreteinases-1 (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), leukotriene $B_4$ ($LTB_4$) within serum. We observed change of articular structures by Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E), safranin-O staining method and measured amount of cartilage by micro CT-arthrography. Statistical analysis was done by unpaired student's t-test with significance level at p<0.05 in SPSS 11.0 for windows. Results 1. Safety of the BST was identified. 2. AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine levels of BST treated group were within normal limit. In vitro, 1. DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities of BST showed dose-dependent increase. 2. ROS production were significantly decreased. 3. Total nitric oxide (NO) and IL-$1{\beta}$ production were decreased. 4. IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production were significantly decreased. In vivo, 1. Weight bearing ability was significantly increased. 2. WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte levels in blood were decreased. 3. IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels in serum were significantly decreased. and the IL-6 level was decreased. 4. TIMP-1, MMP-9, $LTB_4$, $PGE_2$ levels in serum were significantly decreased. 5. Cartilage volume of BST treated group was significantly increased. Also changes of cartilage, synovial membrane, fibrous tissue were suppressed. Conclusions The results obtained in this study Bujasasim-tang have effects of antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, relieve pain and protection of cartilage. Therefore we expect that Bujasasim-tang is effective treatment for osteoarthritis.