• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.325-331
• /
• 2019

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most popular green leafy vegetables, and it contains various beneficial components including polyphenolic compounds and has been known to possess various biological functions such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, we prepared ethanol extract of dried lettuce (DLE) and investigated its anti-inflammatory activity. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of DLE, nitric oxide (NO) production was measured in LPS-activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. DLE significantly suppressed NO production in these cells without affecting cell viabilities while resveratrol was used as a positive control. DLE dramatically decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as iNOS and COX-2 at the mRNA and protein levels and reduced the expression of several cytokines including $IL-1{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-1F6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, CSF2 and CXCL10. In addition, DLE suppressed phosphorylation of MAPKs and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 indicating DLE shows its anti-inflammatory activity via regulating MAPKs pathway and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathways. And also, DLE reduced the production of reactive oxygen species in a dose-dependent manner. DLE increased HO-1 protein expression, and also increased the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Overall, our results suggest that lettuce down-regulate various pro-inflammatory genes and have its anti-inflammatory activity via regulating MAPKs, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.679-687
• /
• 2019

Litsea populifolia, a plant species of the Lauraceae family, is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia. The phylogenetic relationships and botanical characteristics of L. populifolia have been reported; however, its anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer effects of ethanol extracts of L. populifolia (EELP) together with the molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer activity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. EELP showed significant anti-oxidative effects with a 50% inhibitory concentration at $11.71{\mu}g/ml$, which was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. EELP exhibited cytotoxic activity and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas EELP did not have the cytotoxic effect on the normal human lung cell line IMR90. Treatment with EELP also resulted in a decreased expression of G1/S transition-related molecules-including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, CDK6, cyclin D1, and cyclin E-both for the transcription and translation levels. EELP-induced G1 arrest was associated with the phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), p53, cell division cycle 25 homolog A (CDC25A), and the reduction of CDC25A expression in A549 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that EELP may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase through both p53-dependent and p53-independent (ATM/CHK2/CDC25A/CDK2) pathways in A549 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1104-1110
• /
• 2019

Recently, there has been an increase in the elderly population of the world. Consequently, bone metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis are emerging as a social problem. Osteoclasts play a role in bone resorption, and osteoporosis is induced when bone resorption occurs excessively. Because currently used bone resorption inhibitors may cause side effects when used for a long period of time, it is necessary to develop a new material that effectively inhibits osteoclast differentiation. This study aimed to confirm the inhibitory effect of ethanol extract of Locusta migratoria on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and its mechanism. The toxicity and proliferation effects of LME on RAW264.7 osteoclasts were measured by an MTS assay. There was no cytotoxicity or proliferation when the osteoclasts were treated with up to $2,000{\mu}g/ml$ of LME. In order to confirm the effect of LME on the differentiation of osteoclasts, osteoclasts were treated with RANKL alone or with LME for 3 days. As a result of a TRAP (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) assay, the increasing osteoclast differentiation by RANKL decreased in a concentration-dependent manner with the treatment of LME. In addition, LME suppressed the expression of differentiation-related marker genes (TRAP, RANK, NFATc1, and CK) and proteins (NFATc1 and c-Src) that had been increased by RANKL. Also, LME influenced the $NF-{\kappa}B$, ERK and JNK signaling pathways, resulting in the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. These results suggest that LME may be used as a novel functional material for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis by playing a role in inhibiting bone absorption.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2019

In this study, we used extracts obtained from five different solvents (water, ethanol, hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol) of Achyranthes japonica (AJ) and also AJ fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) to confirm effects on the anti-inflammatory activity in RAW264.7 cells. Experiments of measuring nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production were performed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells, and the expression of both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was observed by a western blot method. The cytotoxicity of RAW264.7 was confirmed by the cell counting kit (CCK) assay at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$, which has no toxicity. As a result of the inhibition of NO production, the inhibition rate of AJ-LP extracted with ethanol samples was about 74% higher than that of using the control group. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), which are inflammatory cytokines, also showed an excellent efficacy with inhibition rates of about 57, 70, and 74%, respectively. Comparing to the results of COX-2 and iNOS expression in the AJ group, the inhibition rate of 20-hydroxyecdysone was the highest than others. On the other hand, the COX-2 expression level of AJ-LP group decreased about 16% compared to that of the control group, and the iNOS expression level was also decreased about 7%. These results suggest that the extract of AJ fermented from L. plantarum can be used as an anti-inflammatory natural material.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.11
• /
• pp.1010-1018
• /
• 2021

Although varieties of silkworms, which have recently attracted attention as a health functional food, are being produced, studies on the differences in the functionality of different silkworm varieties are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, the antioxidant activities of different silkworm breeds bred in domestic farms were analyzed, and the potential for their cultivation as specialized varieties with excellent antioxidant function was investigated. To compare antioxidant activity, four varieties of silkworms, white Bakokjam, Golden silk, Yeonokjam, and Hanseongjam, were bred; water and ethanol extracts of these silkworms were prepared on the 3rd and 5th days of the 5th instar larval stage. The highest extraction yield was seen for the water extract from the Golden silk variety on the 3rd day of the 5th instar; the highest total phenolic compound and flavonoid contents were observed for the water extract (86.11±4.04 ㎍/mg GE) and 70% (v/v) ethanol extract (46.70±2.81 ㎍/mg QE). Bakokjam and Yeonokjam exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity of up to 78% and showed the highest nitrite scavenging activity (85%) at pH 1.2. The maximum SOD-like activity of Yeonokjam was about 47%. Furthermore, 48 ㎍/ml of the Yeonokjam extract showed a reducing power of 0.7 abs, which was the best among the four varieties. Considering these results, the Yeonokjam (on the 3rd day of the 5th instar) had antioxidant activity and represents a silkworm cultivar that would be suitable for cultivation as a health food.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.9
• /
• pp.1155-1162
• /
• 2013

Estrogen like activities were evaluated using ethanol and hot water extracts of gongjindan (GJD) and 3 types of brown algae by an in vitro detection system. Laminaria japonica and Undaria pinnatifida represented statistically significant (p<0.001) estrogen like activities, while GJD and Ecklonia stolonifera did not. Furthermore, activities of hot water extracts ($500{\mu}g/ml$) of Laminaria japonica and three mixture (Ecklonia stolonifera : Undaria pinnatifida : Laminaria japonica, 1: 1: 1) were stronger than that of $10^{-7}M$ $17{\beta}$-estradiol. These results suggest that Laminaria japonica contain estrogen like compounds. Based on these results, the prepared seaweed GJD were used for animal experiments about the effects on inhibition of platelet aggregation and serum lipid levels in ovariectomized rats. 9-week Old female SD-rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups as sham-operated rats, ovariectomized rats and ovariectomized rats that were treated with GJD. The rats were placed on prescribed diets for 5 weeks following ovariectomy. Total cholesterol and triglyceride contents on serum decreased in the SHAM group compared to the OVX-CON group. 5 weeks feeding of GJD resulted in significant lowering of triglyceride and a decreasing tendency of total cholesterol level. The level of HDL-cholesterol on serum increased significantly by feeding diets containing the GJD. The ability of platelet aggregation of group treated with GJD was less than that of the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of seaweed gongjindan may be used to improve menopausal syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.8
• /
• pp.1172-1179
• /
• 2015

This study investigated optimal extraction conditions for application of Ulmus pumila L. as a natural antioxidant. U. pumila L. was extracted using ethanol (EtOH) at various concentrations (0, 40, and 80%) and extraction times (1, 2, and 3 h) at $70^{\circ}C$ and then evaluated for extraction yield, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activities [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and oxygen radical absorbing capacity (ORAC)]. Antioxidant activities were correlated with total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Of the solvent conditions, 80% EtOH extracts for 3 h at $70^{\circ}C$ showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents with strong antioxidant activities, although there were no significant time effects on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power. However, ORAC values of all EtOH extracts remarkably increased in a time-dependent manner. In addition, 80% EtOH extract for 3 h exhibited strong antioxidant effects on HDF and 3T3-L1 cells. Therefore, the antioxidant capacity of U. pumila L., may due to phenolic and flavonoid contents, and extraction conditions were 80% EtOH for 3 h at $70^{\circ}C$. This extract could be a good source for natural antioxidants.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.58 no.4
• /
• pp.367-375
• /
• 2013

The rice bran, a by-product of rice milling process, is well known for various functional components, such as tocopherol, tocotrienol, ${\gamma}$-oryzanol, carrying antioxidant activities. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant components and antioxidant activities in rice bran of different Korean rice cultivars. The 8 isomers of vitamin E, ${\gamma}$-oryzanol, flavonoids, and polyphenolics in rice bran from 16 Korean premium and high quality rice cultivars were quantified. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power of the ethanol extracts of rice bran were measured. 'Hopum' showed the highest total vitamin E content, $221.47{\mu}g/g$ among the cultivars, and 'Hanseol' showed the lowest content. The rice bran showed different compositions of ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$, ${\gamma}-$, ${\delta}-$ tocopherol and tocotrienol among rice cultivars. The antioxidant contents were also different by cultivar; the ${\gamma}$-oryzanol contents ranged from 1.99 mg/g (Unkwang) to 4.30 mg/g (Chilbo), the polyphenol contents ranged from 427.22 mg gallic acid eq./100 g (Odaebyeo) to 775.80 mg gallic acid eq./100 g (Hopum). 'Hopum' also had the highest DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities, 9.82% and 187.5 AEAC mg/100 g, respectively. In vitro, the rice bran extracts from 'Hopum' had significantly higher antioxidant activities than that of other cultivars.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.200-207
• /
• 2015

Various natural products or their derivatives, mostly originating from plants, fungi, and bacteria, have been exploited as therapeutic drugs to treat various human diseases. In addition to previously explored organisms, research on natural compounds has now expanded into unexamined living organisms in order to identify novel bioactive substances. Here, we determined whether or not the larval form of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle, contains cytotoxic substances that exclusively affect cancer cell viability. Ethanol extract and its solvent partitioned fractions, hexane and ethyl acetate fractions, showed anticancer effects against various human cancer cells derived from the prostate (PC3 and 22Rv1), cervix (HeLa), liver (PLC/PRF5, HepG2, Hep3B, and SK-HEP-1), colon (HCT116), lung (NCI-H460), breast (MDA-MB231), and ovary (SKOV3). Cell death induced by the fractions was a mix of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. The hexane fraction was administered intraperitoneally to nude mice bearing a hepatocellular carcinoma SK-HEP-1 and showed inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, we concluded that worm extracts contain cytotoxic substances, which can be enriched by proper fractionation protocols, and further separation and purification could lead to the identification of novel molecules to treat human cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.651-663
• /
• 2016

Corn silk, Job's tears, Lentinus edodes, and apple peel 70% ethanol extracts (CS, JT, LE, and AP) were studied for their antioxidant activities. CS among all extracts showed the highest antioxidant activities based on total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, 2,2-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical scavenging activity, and reducing power. Adipocyte differentiation was investigated by Oil Red O staining assay using CS, JT, LE, AP, and extract of developed bread containing corn silk, Job's tears, Lentinus edodes, and apple peel (DB) treated to 3T3-L1 adipocytes. DB1 and DB2 showed anti-adipogenic and antioxidant effects. Triglyceride (TG) accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was measured, and among the samples tested (CS, JT, LE, and AP), CS was found to have the highest inhibitory activity against TG accumulation of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and regulated factors associated with adipogenesis. CS suppressed lipid droplet formation and adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. We examined the effects of CS on the levels of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein ${\beta}(C/EBP{\beta})$, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}(PPAR{\gamma})$, and adipocyte-specific lipid binding protein (aP2) mRNA as well as protein levels in 3T3-L1 cells treated with CS at various concentrations (0, 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$) during adipocyte differentiation and treatment with CS in 3T3-L1 adipocytes down-regulated expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and aP2 mRNA. CS also significantly inhibited up-regulation of $C/EBP{\beta}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, and aP2 proteins during adipocyte differentiation. These data indicate that DBs have anti-adipogenic activity induced by CS in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and CS exerts anti-adipogenic activity by inhibiting expression of $C/EBP{\beta}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, and aP2 signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. JT, LE, and AP had no inhibitory effects on differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes but displayed strong antioxidant effects. These results suggest that the developed bread may be a health beneficial food that can prevent or treat obesity and diseases induced by oxidative stress.