• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.1063-1072
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• 2011

This study analyzed the functional components and antioxidant activities of pomegranate juice and pomegranate husk, endocarp and seed extracts by comparing Korean and Iranian pomegranates. Korean pomegranate husk (KPH) had the highest total polyphenol content among the pomegranate extracts, and total phytoestrogen content was highest in Korean pomegranate endocarp (KPE). Iranian pomegranate endocarp (IPE) and Iranian pomegranate husk (IPH) showed the highest flavonoid levels. Overall, Korean pomegranate had more functional components than those in Iranian pomegranate. KPE had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase like-activity among all of the extracts, and KPH had the highest nitrite scavenging activity. IPE showed the highest superoxide anion scavenging activity. The ABTS$^+$ assay also indicated that IPH had the highest antioxidant activities. This study also showed that the more total polyphenols, flavonols, and phytoestrogens the pomegranate contained, the higher antioxidant activities. A positive correlation was observed between total polyphenol, flavonol and phytoestrogen levels and antioxidant activities. Korean pomegranates contained more functional components and had higher antioxidant activity than those of Iranian pomegranates. Additionally, pomegranate endocarp and seed extracts were better than pomegranate juice in terms of functional components and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that pomegranate husk, endocarp and seed extracts as well as pomegranate juice may have value as natural antioxidants with their high quality functional components and antioxidant activity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.709-715
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• 2007

Korean green tea has been claimed to have health-promoting effects, which may be related to the antioxidant activity in vitro. Korean green teas (Woojeon, WJ ; Sejak, SJ ; Jungjak, JJ ; Daejak, DJ) were subjected to different harvested times and yet little research has examined their bioactive compounds. To assess the effect of this different harvested times on nutritional and health-related properties such as Korean green tea polyphenols, flavonoids, theanine and free amino acids, antioxidant activities and radical scavenging activities were determined. Total polyphenols in JJ (37.16 mg/g) was higher than in other products (WJ, 19.55 ; SJ 24.65 ; DJ, 23.28 mg/g). Contents of flavonol and flavone glycosides were the highest at DJ (350.83 mg%) as compared to WJ (220.81), SJ (256.88) and JJ (270.36 mg%). Contents of theanine and total free amino acids were the highest at WJ (14.11, 23.62 mg/g, respectively), but decreased thereafter. Antioxidant activities were higher in JJ and DJ, using the linoleic acid peroxidation, DPPH and ABTS free radical-scavenging activities. However, WJ and SJ had less active antioxidant activity and free radical-scavenging activity. Reducing powers were increased depend on the concentration of extracts. Antioxidant activity and free radical-scavenging activity of JJ and DJ seemed to relate with total polyphenol and flavonoid contents.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 1998

When the contents of the constituents such as total amino acids, free amino acids, volatile organosulfuric compounds and steroidal saponins among three origins in the aerial-and underground parts of Allium victorialis, it was suggested that the characteristic components regarding to quality evaluation could be differed according to the purpose of utilization. For the utilization of amino acids, underground parts of this plant was shown to be better than aerial part. In addition, Ulung island origin was found to contain the highest amino acids content among the three origins though the difference was small. The amino acids showing remarkably high contents were appeared to be arginine, glutamine and asparagine. In the volatile organosulfuric compounds, the origina of Mt. Odae and Mt. Chiri positioned in inland showed higher contents than Ulung island origin geographically positioned in the ocean. Inland origins were shown to contain higher organosulfurie component contents in aerial parts than in underground parts while those of Ulung island origin were higher in underground parts than aerial parts. Underground parts, regarding to saponin constituents, showed higher contents than aerial parts. Underground parts of Ulung island origin were shown to contain more saponins than those of other two origins and the sequence of the contents was in the order of Ulung island>Mt. Chiri>Mt Odac.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2007

Some flavonoids have spasmolytic activities in various smooth muscles, but structure-activity relationships on their spasmolytic activity and its mechanism are unclear. In this study, effects of flavones (flavone and apigenin) and flavonols (quercetin and rutin) on the rat ileal smooth muscle contraction were studied in vitro and in vitro. In the electric stimulation-induced contraction, all of four flavonoids inhibited concentration-dependently the rat ileal smooth muscle contraction induced by electric stimulation (10 mV, 0.1 cps, 0.1 msec duration), IC$_{50}$ of quercetin, apigenin, flavone and rutin were 0.98${\times}$10$^{-5}$, 1.20${\times}$10$^{-5}$, 1.55${\times}$10$^{-5}$ and 1.85${\times}$10$^{-5}$ M, respectively. Flavonoids at a concentration of 2${\times}$10$^{-5}$ M also significantly inhibited the anaphylactic contraction and decreased concentration-dependently the mast cell degranulation by anaphylactic reaction, IC$_{50}$ of quercetin, apigenin, flavone and rutin were 4.0${\times}$10$^{-5}$, 7.5${\times}$10$^{-5}$, 8.0${\times}$10$^{-5}$ and 9.5${\times}$10$^{-5}$ M, respectively. These results indicated that flavones and flavonols inhibited the rat ileal smooth muscle contraction induced by electric stimulation because of their antagonism against acetylcholine and have spasmolytic activities on anaphylactic contraction which may be due to their mast cell-stabilizing activities. Furthermore, double bond of C$_{2,3}$ in benzene ring of flavonoids may be important in the their antispasmodic activities on the rat ileal smooth muscle contraction induced by electric stimulation and anaphylactic reaction.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.565-573
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• 2010

Thinning of apple fruitlets is one of the most laborious and important works for the improvement of fruit quality and for the promotion of sufficient flower bud formation to prevent alternate bearing in commercial cultivars. Lateral fruits of self-thinning apple cultivars fall naturally within 30 days after full bloom and only central fruit remains to mature. Differences of gene expression between central fruit and lateral fruit were investigated by differential display (DD) PCR. Partial cDNAs of 30 clones from the central fruit and 24 clones from the lateral fruit were selected for nucleotide sequence determination and homology searches. The levels of transcripts coding for proteins involved in pathogenesis related proteins, senescence, temperature stress, protein degradation, fruit browning, sorbitol metabolism were significantly higher in pedicels of lateral fruit than in pedicels of central fruit. On the other hand, the up-regulation of proteins involved in anthocyanin and flavanol biosynthesis and ethylene synthesis were observed in pedicels of central fruit. In Real time PCR analysis, cytochrome P450 gene was confirmed as showing a higher expression level in lateral fruit than in central fruit. The results of this study indicate that differentially expressed genes are related to self-thinning characteristics in apple tree.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.501-510
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• 2018

This study examined the neurotoxicity induced by lead acetate (LA) on cultured C6 glioma cells and the protective effects of Euphorbiae humifusae L. (EH) extract against LA-induced cytotoxicity. In this study, LA exhibited neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control, and was determined to be highly-toxic according to the toxic criteria. The $XTT_{50}$ value of LA was calculated at a concentration of $38.6{\mu}M$ after C6 glioma cells were incubated for 72 hours in the media containing $30{\sim}50{\mu}M$ of LA, respectively. In addition, LA-induced neurotoxicity was suggested to correlate with the level of oxidative stress because vitamin E, an antioxidant, increased the cell viability damaged by LA-induced cytotoxicity. The EH extract effectively prevented cell injury from LA-induced cytotoxicity via its antioxidative effects, such as inhibitory ability of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase-like activity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activity. These antioxidative effects may result in components, such as polyphenol or flavonoids including gallic acid or quercetin. In conclusion, natural resources, such as EH extracts, may be a useful putative agent for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as lead neurotoxicity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.591-599
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• 2023

Fisetin is a bioactive flavonol molecule and has been shown to have antioxidant potential, but its efficacy has not been fully validated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective efficacy of fisetin on C2C12 murine myoblastjdusts under hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative damage. The results revealed that fisetin significantly weakened H₂O₂-induced cell viability inhibition and DNA damage while blocking reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Fisetin also significantly alleviated cell cycle arrest by H₂O₂ treatment through by reversing the upregulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression and the downregulation of cyclin A and B levels. In addition, fisetin significantly blocked apoptosis induced by H₂O₂ through increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and attenuating mitochondrial damage, which was accompanied by inactivation of caspase-3 and suppression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Furthermore, fisetin-induced nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of Nrf2 were related to the increased expression and activation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in H₂O₂-stimulated C2C12 myoblasts. However, the protective efficacy of fisetin on H₂O₂-mediated cytotoxicity, including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction, were greatly offset when HO-1 activity was artificially inhibited. Therefore, our results indicate that fisetin as an Nrf2 activator effectively abrogated oxidative stress-mediated damage in C2C12 myoblasts.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.230-237
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• 2009

The phenolic contents, antioxidant effects, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of hot water extracts prepared from various Korean commercial teas(green tea, puer tea, oolong tea, and black tea) were investigated. Total phenolic contents were in the range 72.03-85.62 mg/g. Flavonol contents of hot water extracts from green tea, puer tea, oolong tea, and black tea were 350.96, 254.17, 334.48, and 240.23 mg/100 g, respectively. Catechin contents were 2,920.35 mg/100 g in green tea, 1,016.23 mg/100 g in puer tea, 2,824.22 mg/100 g in oolong tea, and 1,006.51 mg/100 g in black tea. The highest caffeine content was in the green tea extract. All four extracts scavenged $ABTS^{{\cdot}+}$ radicals in a concentration-dependent manner, and the green tea extract was the most potent in this regard. The highest reducing power was observed in the green tea extract. All four extracts exhibited considerable antioxidative activities in linoleic acid autoxidation, $\beta$-carotene bleaching, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition assays; the effects were concentration-dependent and decreased in the order green tea > oolong tea > puer tea > black tea.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.265-275
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• 2002

Flavonoid biosynthesis is one of the most extensively studied areas in the secondary metabolism. Due to the study of flavonoid metabolism in diverse plant system, the pathways become the best characterized secondary metabolites and can be excellent targets for metabolic engineering. These flavonoid-derived secondary metabolites have been considerably divergent functional roles: floral pigment, anticancer, antiviral, antitoxin, and hepatoprotective. Three species have been significant for elucidating the flavonoid metabolism and isolating the genes controlling the flavonoid genes: maize (Zea mays), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and petunia (Prtunia hybrida). Recently, many genes involved in biosynthesis of flavonoid have been isolated and characterized using mutation and recombinant DNA technologies including transposon tagging and T-DNA tagging which are novel approaches for the discovery of uncharacterized genes. Metabolic engineering of flavonoid biosynthesis was approached by sense or antisense manipulation of the genes related with flavonoid pathway, or by modified expression of regulatory genes. So, the use of a variety of experimental tools and metabolic engineering facilitated the characterization of the flavonoid metabolism. Here we review recent progresses in flavonoid metabolism: confirmation of genes, metabolic engineering, and applications in the industrial use.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to identify and compare the main phenolic compounds (anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids) in blueberry and black raspberry cultivated in Korea using ultra-performance liquid chromatography diode array detection-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-QTOF/MS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-nine flavonoids were identified by comparison of ultraviolet and mass spectra with data in a chemical library and published data. Blueberry contained flavonols including kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, and syringetin aglycones. Isorhamnetin 3-O-robinobioside, kaempferol 3-O-(6"-O-acetyl)glucoside, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-arabinofuranoside (avicularin), quercetin 3-O-(6''-O-malonyl) glucoside, and quercetin 3-O-robinobioside were detected for the first time in blueberry. The flavonoids in raspberry consisted of quercetin aglycone and its glycosides. The mean total flavonoid content in blueberry [143.0 mg/100 g dry weight (DW)] was 1.5-times that in raspberry (95.4 mg/100 g DW). The most abundant flavonoid in blueberry was quercetin 3-O-galactoside (hyperoside, up to 76.1 mg/100 g DW) and that in raspberry was quercetin 3-O-glucuronide (miquelianin, up to 55.5 mg/100 g DW). Miquelianin was not detected in blueberry. CONCLUSION: Flavonol glycosides were the main flavonoids in blueberry and black raspberry cultivated in Korea. The composition and contents of flavonoids differed between blueberry and black raspberry, and may be affected by the cultivar and cultivation conditions.