• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1458-1465
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• 2016

We investigated the neuroprotective effect of an ethanol extract from Asparagus cochinchinensis (AC) against glutamate-induced toxicity in the HT22 hippocampal cell, which is an ideal in vitro model for oxidative stress. The neuroprotective effects of AC in HT22 cells were evaluated by analyzing cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), flow cytometry for cell death types, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), and Western blot assays. In the cell death analysis, AC treatment resulted in significantly attenuated glutamate-induced loss of cell viability with a decrease in LDH release. AC treatment also reduced glutamate-induced apoptotic cell death. In the ROS and MMP analysis, AC treatment inhibited the elevation of intracellular ROS induced by glutamate exposure and the disruption of MMP. In oxidative stress-related proteins analysis, AC treatment inhibited the expression of poly ADP ribose polymerase and heme oxygenase-1 by glutamate. These results indicate that AC exerts a significant neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced hippocampal damage by decreasing ROS production and stabilizing MMP. Thus, AC potentially provides a new strategy for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2004

Two genes, SinIFS1 and SinIFS2 from Korean soybean cultivar, Sinpaldalkong known as one of isoflavonerich cultivars, were cloned with PCR and degenerate primers. The sequences of two genes were analyzed with previously reported IFS genes of leguminous plants and their expression pattern in various environmental conditions was surveyed. The genomic clone of SinIFS1 contained 1,828bp nucleotides and encoded a polypeptide of 521 amino acids, and 1912bp nucleotides and a polypeptide of 521 amino acids for SinIFS2. Both genes included several conserved motifs, oxygen binding and activation (A/G-G-X-E/D-T-T/S), ERR triad (E...R....R), and heme binding (F-X-X-G-X-R-X-C-X-G) domain, which are typical in any member of cytochrome P45O superfamily. Very high sequence homology (>98%) was observed in the comparison with other IFSs of legumes. In the northern blot analysis to check the expression and increase of SinIFS1 to various environmental renditions (low temperature, light, dark, UV, and fungal elicitor), the most significant induction, more than 6 times of transcript level compared to the dark treatment as a control, was observed from the fungal elicitor treatment. The next up-regulated expression was from UV treatment (4${\times}$), low temperature and light conditions.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.493-501
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status of iron of the elderly residing in the Jeonju area. The anthropometric parameters, nutrient intake and biochemical status of iron, were measured for 60 korean elderly(23 elderly men and 37 elderly women aged 60 - 79 years old). The level of hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrint(Hct), serum iron(Fe), total iron binding capacity(TIBC) and serum ferritin(Ferritin) were measured and transferrin saturation(TFsaturation) was calculated. Mean values of Hb, Hct, Fe, TIBC, TFsaturation and Ferritin were 14.49$\pm$0.93g/이, 42.47$\pm$2.59%, 125.48$\pm$52,.46$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 338.13$\pm$45.92$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 193.00$\pm$125.03$\mu\textrm{g}$/l in elderly men and 12.82$\pm$0.99$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 37.66$\pm$2.90%, 100.08$\pm$42.82$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 356.41$\pm$54.65$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, and 99.35$\pm$117.22$\mu\textrm{g}$/l in elderly women, respectively. Prevalence of iron deficiency varied greatly with biochemical indices of iron. It was 13.0% when judged by Fe(60 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl) and TFsaturation(15%) whereas 34.78% by Hct(41%) in elderly men. However 13.5% of the elderly women showed iron depletion(Ferritin<20$\mu\textrm{g}$/l) and 43.2% showed suppressed erythropoiesis with iron deficiency(TIBC>360$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl). The anemic subjects assessed with TFsaturation(<15%) represented 13.5% of the elderly women, whereas 18.9% of the subjects possessed less than 12g/dl of Hb. The Hb concentration was positively correlated with Hct(r=0.980, p<0.001), Fe(r=0.384, p<0.01) and TFsaturation(r=0.349, p<0.01). On the other hand, Ferritin concentration showed a significantly negative correlation with TIBC(r=0.349, p<0.05) and a positive correlation with TFsaturation(r=0.362, p<0.01). Major food groups of iron intake in the elderly were vegetables, cereals, and fish. The mean daily intake of iron was not significantly different between elderly men and women(12.82mg vs 10.35mg). Intake of heme iron however, was significantly higher(p<0.01) in elderly men(1.03mg) than women(0.42mg). Total absorbable iron caculated by the method of Monsen was 0.55mg, 0.40mg in elderly men and women, respectively and bioavailability of dietary iron 4.29% and 3.87%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.713-720
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• 2014

In this study, the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Ardisia arborescens ethanol extract (AAEE) were evaluated using in vitro assays and a cell culture model system. AAEE exhibited potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), similar to ascorbic acid, which was used as a positive control. Moreover, AAEE effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, AAEE induced the expression of antioxidative enzymes, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1), in addition to their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), in a dose-dependent manner. The upstream signaling pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) might regulate the modulation of HO-1, TrxR1, and Nrf2 expression. On the other hand, AAEE inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, without cytotoxicity. Suppression of NO formation was the result of AEEE-induced down-regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The suppression of NO and iNOS by AAEE might be modulated by their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, and activator protein (AP)-1 pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of A. arborescens. AAAEE might represent a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.783-789
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• 2017

Malus melliana (Hand.-Mazz.) Rehder (M. melliana) is a Chinese plant that belongs to the Rosaceae family. There have been no previous reports regarding its bioactivity. In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of M. melliana ethanol extract (MMEE) were evaluated using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity assay, nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity assay, and the analysis of related protein expressions through Western blot hybridization. MMEE showed potent scavenging activity against DPPH, similar to ascorbic acid, a well-known anti-oxidative agent, which was used as a positive control. MMEE also inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced ROS in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, MMEE induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor E2-related factor-2, in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, MMEE was associated with a reduction in NO production, which was induced by the lipopolysaccharide treatment of RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, which is the upstream regulator of NO production, was also inhibited. Taken together, these results suggest that MMEE has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, thus appearing to be a potential anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The further identification of active compounds that confer the biological activities of MMEE may be necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to compare the food behavior and nutrient intakes, and the analysis of constituent parts of blood related to iron nutrition conditions and to investigate the correlation between iron nutrition conditions and obesity. Each subject was assigned to one of such as normal(n=55) and obese groups(n=60) according to their obesity index. Their nutritional status, serum iron status were evaluated based in 24-hr dietary recalls, questionnaire and blood analysis. The mean age of the normal group(10.76 years) and that of the obese group(10.95 years) made little difference. The height(p<0.05), weight(p<0.001), and obesity index(p<0.001) in the obese group were higher than those of the normal group in every respect. The 63.55% of the subject of this study gave an answer 'They eat breakfast daily', and the frequency of eating breakfast made little difference. The average intakes of energy were 1669.44 kcal(84.19% of EER) in the obese group and 1673.59 kcal(86.72% of EER) in the normal group respectively, which made little difference between two groups. The intake of nutrients such as calcium and folate was as insufficient as below 75% of RI. The heme iron intake of the obese group was low that of the normal group(p<0.05). Among the major 20 iron resources the iron intake through animal food intake were 1.43 mg(12.00%) in the obese group and 1.93 mg(17.72%) in the normal group respectively. The rating of iron condition in the blood showed that the number of red blood cell(p<0.01), the hemoglobin(p<0.001), and hematocrit(p<0.01) of the obese group were lower than those of the normal group. These results suggest that there should be the right choice of food according to its bioavailability and nutritive guidance to appropriate food behavior, in addition to increasing iron intake to improve iron nutrition conditions of obese male elementary school students.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.378-389
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of magnesium, iron, copper and zinc nutrition in 28 normal and 28 obese male elementary school students who have over 30% obesity index. The anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes and serum levels of magnesium, iron, copper and zinc were determined by 24-hr recall method and blood analysis, respectively. The mean age, height, weight, and obesity index were 10.9years, 147.4cm, 61.1kg, and 50.5% in obese group and 10.8years, 145.4cm, 40.2kg, and 3.3% in normal group. There was no significant difference in average daily food intake between obese and normal group, but meats(p＜0.05) intake of obese group was significantly lower than that of normal group. The intakes of energy, magnesium, iron, copper were not significantly difference between obese and normal group, but heme iron(p＜0.05) intake of obese group was significantly lower than that of normal group. Zinc(p＜0.05) intake of obese group was significantly higher than that of normal group. Serum magnesium(p＜0.001) level of obese group was significantly higher than that of normal group, but there were no significant differences in serum iron, copper, zinc levels between obese and normal group. There was a significantly positive correlation between serum magnesium and weight(p＜0.05), and obesity index(p＜0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation between serum magnesium and energy intake(p＜0.05), protein intake(p＜0.05), animal protein intake(p＜0.05), phosphorus intake(p＜0.05) and animal iron intake(p＜0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation between serum magnesium and seaweeds intake(p＜0.05), milks intake(p＜0.001). Also, there was significantly positive correlation between serum copper and oils and fat intake(p＜0.05). These results suggest that there should be careful considerations for micronutrients nutrition status among male obese elementary school students.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.423-430
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• 2016

Background: The induction of cellular defensive genes such as phase II detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes is a highly effective strategy for protection against carcinogenesis as well as slowing cancer development. Transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor E2-related factor 2) is responsible for activation of phase II enzymes induced by natural chemopreventive compounds. Methods: Red ginseng oil (RGO) was extracted using a supercritical $CO_2$ extraction system and chemical profile of RGO was investigated by GC/MS. Effects of RGO on regulation of the Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway were determined by ARE-luciferase assay, western blotting, and confocal microscopy. Results: The predominant components of RGO were 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (31.48%), bicyclo[10.1.0] tridec-1-ene (22.54%), and 22,23-dihydrostigmasterol (16.90%). RGO treatment significantly increased nuclear translocation of Nrf2 as well as ARE reporter gene activity, leading to upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1. Phosphorylation of the upstream kinases such as apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK)1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MKK)4/7, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK were enhanced by treatment with RGO. In addition, RGO-mediated Nrf2 expression and nuclear translocation was attenuated by JNK inhibitor SP600125 and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190. Conclusion: RGO could be used as a potential chemopreventive agent, possibly by induction of Nrf2/ARE-mediated phase II enzymes via ASK1-MKK4/7-JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2003

Food intake patterns and iron nutritional status of male and female college students were studied based on dietary iron density. Dietary data were collected using the method of 24-hour recalls for 3 consecutive days from 106 students, and fasting blood were drawn to measure iron nutritional status indicators such as total iron binding capacity, serum iron, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red blood cell count. Mean daily iron intakes of male and female students were 13.3㎎ and 10.0㎎, which were 107% and 63% of the RDA, respectively. However, dietary iron density were similar between male and female students as 5.9㎎/1,000㎉ and 5.7㎎/1,000㎉, respectively. The diets were divided into two groups according to iron density; high iron density group (6㎎/1,000㎉ or more) and low iron density group (less than 6㎎/1,000㎉). The students in high density group had lower intakes of energy, especially fat, than those in low density group. Female students in high density group showed significantly higher intakes of iron, and non-heme iron and folate than those of low density group. The students in high density group consumed more rice, hamburger, and eggs, while those in low density group consumed more Ra-myon and alcoholic beverages. The students in high density group consumed greater proportions of iron from plant-origin foods. Vegetables, legumes and seasonings were the food groups that female students in high density group consumed significantly more than those in low density group. Also the percentages of female students with iron deficiency were higher in low density group. These results suggest that diet with high iron density is important to improve iron nutritional status of women, and further research about the effective way to increase iron density in our diet is needed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2014

This study was orchestrated with the purpose of uncovering new nutraceutical resources possessing biological activities in the plant kingdom. To fulfill our objective, we analyzed several Chinese plants and selected three possessing powerful anti-oxidative activities. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects these three Chinese plants, Malus hupehensis, Ophiorrhiza cantonensis, and Psychotria rubra ethanol extracts were then evaluated. First of all, they possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, similar with that of ascorbic acid, used as a positive control. Moreover, they inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species, in a dose-dependent manner, in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, they induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2. Furthermore, they suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The suppression of NO and iNOS by the three extracts might be the result of modulation by the upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1. Taken together, these results indicate that these three Chinese plants possess potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, they might be utilized as promising materials in the field of nutraceuticals.