• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.90-95
• /
• 2022

In the present work, biochar was prepared using Achyanthes japonica stem as a by-product of herbal medicine. In order to apply the prepared biochar to water treatment process, the adsorption characteristics of zinc and iron ions dissolved in water were investigated. When the experiments were performed for 2 h to remove 70 and 100 mg/L of zinc ions, the adsorption amounts of 32.3 and 31.0 mg/g were obtained, respectively. It was also found that the adsorption amount of Achyanthes japonica stem biochar for the removal process of zinc ion was three times higher than that of the activated carbon. In addition, when the experiments were performed for 2 h to treat 70 and 100 mg/L of iron ions, high adsorption amounts of 50.1 and 54.3 mg/g were achieved, respectively. In order to further enhance the removal efficiency of zinc and iron ions, a steam activation process was performed on the biochar of Achyanthes japonica stem. As a result, the removal efficiencies of 70 and 100 mg/L of zinc ions increased to 80 and 60%, respectively. Also, the removal efficiencies of 70 and 100 mg/L of iron ions were improved to 100 and 82%, respectively. In addition, when the biochar of Achyanthes japonica stem with a steam activation was compared with the untreated biochar of Achyanthes japonica stem, the specific surface area increased 37.3 times, and the total and macroporpous pore volumes were improved by 28.4 and 136 times, respectively. Therefore, the results can be used for economically and practically adsorbing zinc and iron ions contained in water.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.368-377
• /
• 2021

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of radiation mutant Perilla frutescens var. crispa and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi complex extract(Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract) on the mediators related to degenerative arthritis in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat model of degenerative arthritis. Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract was administered orally at doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks before direct injection of monosodium iodoacetate (3 mg/50 µl of 0.9% saline) into the intra-articular space of the rats' right knees. The rats subsequently received the same doses of oral Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract for another 4 weeks. It was evaluated that the treatment effects based on serum bio-markers, and morphological and histopathological analysis of the knee joints. Compared with those in negative control rats, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract treatments significantly reduced the serum levels of inflammation, bone metabolism markers (i.e., TNF-α, MMP-3, COX-2, PGE₂, COMP, and Aggrecan). Otherwise, it was significantly increased the production of CTX-2 in cartilage absorption mediators. In addition, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract treatments effectively preserved the knee cartilage and synovial membrane. As a result, it indicates that the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract improved degenerative arthritis symptoms. Thus, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex can be used in food material for the management of degenerative arthritis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.123-132
• /
• 2023

Background: Pseudotyped virus systems that incorporate viral proteins have been widely employed for the rapid determination of the effectiveness and neutralizing activity of drug and vaccine candidates in biosafety level 2 facilities. We report an efficient method for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus with dual luciferase and fluorescent protein reporters. Moreover, using the established method, we also aimed to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), a valuable Korean herbal medicine, can attenuate infectivity of the pseudotyped virus. Methods: A pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2pv) was constructed and efficiently produced using lentivirus vector systems available in the public domain by the introduction of critical mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of the spike protein. KRG extract was dose-dependently treated to Calu-3 cells during SARS2-pv treatment to evaluate the protective activity against SARS-CoV-2. Results: The use of Calu-3 cells or the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in HEK293T cells enabled SARS-2pv infection of host cells. Coexpression of transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which is the activator of spike protein, with ACE2 dramatically elevated luciferase activity, confirming the importance of the TMPRSS2-mediated pathway during SARS-CoV-2 entry. Our pseudovirus assay also revealed that KRG elicited resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cells, suggesting its beneficial health effect. Conclusion: The method demonstrated the production of SARS-2pv for the analysis of vaccine or drug candidates. When KRG was assessed by the method, it protected host cells from coronavirus infection. Further studies will be followed for demonstrating this potential benefit.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.329-335
• /
• 2014

Sophora flavescens, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Dictamnus dasycarpus have been widely used in folk medicine for several inflammatory disorders in Korea and China. In this study, we compared the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extracts of S. flavescens (EESF), G. uralensis (EEGU) and D. dasycarpus (EEDS), and their mixtures (medicinal herber mixtures, MHMIXs) on production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Our data indicated that treatment with EESF, EEGU and EEDD significantly inhibited the excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The ethanol extracts and MHMIXs also attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) by suppressing their protein expression, respectively. Interestingly, MHMIX-1, which basic ingredients are EESF, EEGU and EEDS in the proportion 3:1:1, more safely and effectively inhibits the LPS-induced inflammatory status in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages compared to ethanol extracts of each medicinal herb and other MHMIXs without causing any cytotoxic effects. Our study provides scientific evidence to support that a berbal mixture, MHMIX-1 may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases by inhibiting inflammatory regulator responses in activated macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.9
• /
• pp.1346-1353
• /
• 2011

Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in oriental regions since ancient times. In this study, the effect and mechanism of the MeOH extract of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep (STME) on adipocite differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocites were investigated. Treatment with STME in the concentration range of 0-200 ${\mu}g$/ml significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocites in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by a decrease in intracellular lipid droplets and lipid contents measured by Oil Red O staining. In association with the inhibitory effect of lipid accumulation, the expressions of the proteins concerned with adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocites were also investigated. Treatment with STME reduced the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$), cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ (C/EBP${\alpha}$ and C/EBP${\beta}$) and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), which are adipocyte specific markers. In flow cytometry analysis, the inhibitory effect of differentiation was caused by G1 arrest and following mitotic clonal expansion cease. Therefore, we also investigated the alteration of G1 phase arrest-related proteins. As a result, the expression of p21 protein was significantly increased, while the expressions of Cdk2, E2F-1 and phospho-Rb were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in STME treated 3T3-L1 cells. According to these results, STME might inhibit differentiation through G1 arrest in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes adipogenesis, and further studies, which are in progress, have to be completed to identify the active compounds.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.38-46
• /
• 2002

Chrysanthemum boreale M. (hereafter, C. boreale M.), a perennial flower, has been historically used as a natural medicine in Korea. With increasing concerns for health-improving foods, the demand for C. boreale M. has become higher than ever. Howevr, the amount of wild C. boreale M. collected from mountainous areas is not enough to cover all demands. The cultivation system and fertilization strategy are required to meet increasing demand on C. boreale M. with a good quality. We investigated the effects of nitrogen application on plant growth and effective components of C. boreale M. to suggest optimum rate of nitrogen fertilization. C. boreale M. was cultivated in a pot scale (1/2000a scale), and nitrogen applied with rate of 0(N0), 50(N50), 100(N100), 150(N150), 200(N200), and $250(N250)kg\;ha^{-1}$. Phosphate and potassium were applied at the same level ($P_2O_5-K_2O=80-80kg\;ha^{-1}$) in all treatments. Maximum yield achieved in 246 and $226kg\;ha^{-1}$ N treatment on the whole plant and the flower part, a valuable part as a herbal medicine, respectively. Proline was the most abundant amino acid in the flower of C boreal M. and the contents of amino acids increased with increasing nitrogen application rate in flower. Nitrogen recovery efficiency was high more than 41% in all nitrogen treatments and increased to 61.8% in nitrogen N100 treatment. From the nitrogen content, the high nitrogen uptake, the low residue of mineral N and the reasonably good apparent fertilizer recovery, it can be inferred that C. boreale M. made efficient use of the available nitrogen. In flower, contents of Cumambrin A. which is a sesquiterpene compound and has the effect of blood-pressure reduction, decreased with increasing nitrogen application. However, the amount of Cumambrin A in flower increased as nitrogen rate increased, because of increasing flower yield. Conclusively, nitrogen fertilization could increase yields and enhance quality. The optimum nitrogen application rate might be on the range of $225{\sim}250kg\;ha^{-1}$ in a mountainous soil.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.24 no.7
• /
• pp.898-907
• /
• 2017

This study was aimed to test harvest time effect with polyethylene (PE) film liner, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) treatments on fruit quality attributes in 'Sangjudungsi' persimmon fruit during cold storage. The fruits were harvested 10 days earlier in 2016 than the mature harvest time in 2015. The ethylene production was significantly lower in early harvested fruits than in mature harvested ones. Flesh firmness was maintained higher in 1-MCP treated fruit than in other treatments during cold storage. The rate of fruit weight loss was significantly inhibited by PE film liner treatment during storage, regardless of harvest time. 1-MCP treatment showed less change in fruit peel color variables ($L^*$ and $b^*$) from the calyx-end and equatorial regions during cold storage, compared with those from the control and PE film treatments. The incidence rate of fruit decay and softening was higher in PE film treated fruits than in the other treatments. However, there was no decay detected in AVG treated fruit. The early harvested fruits were maintained higher flesh firmness, compared with mature harvested fruits. Nevertheless, the mature harvested fruits showed much higher soluble solids content, the redness (Hunter a value) of the fruit peel and respiration rate, compared with early harvested fruits. Furthermore, the rate of weight loss in the fruit was remarkably inhibited in the PE film treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.1297-1303
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the anticancer (in vitro) and antiallergy effects of rice bran extracts. In an anticancer test using Hep3B cells and HeLa cells, water and 60% ethanol extracts of rice bran inhibited the growth of Hep3B and HeLa cell lines and morphological changes were also observed. In Hep3B cell lines, water extract of rice bran showed a higer antiproliferating effect than 60% ethanol extract. The growth-inhibitory effect against HeLa cells were 30.9% for $1,000{\mu}g/mL$, 88.8% for $3,000{\mu}g/mL$ rice bran water extract. The expressions of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ mRNA and c-kit in HMC-1 (human mast cell) were decreased by 60% ethanol treatment but tryptase mRNA was not changed. The extracts of rice bran inhibited histamine release from RPMC (rat peritoneal mast cell) activated by compound 48/80. Rice bran water extract showed inhibitory effect of 87% at $0.01{\mu}g/mL$ concentration and 60% ethanol extract inhibited the release of histamine by 86% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.329-336
• /
• 2016

Cutaneous microvasculature plays a critical role in age-associated skin changes. A considerable reduction of number and size of vessels has been observed in the upper dermis of elderly skin. Forsythiae fructus (FF), the dried fruit of plant Forsythia suspensa (F. suspensa), has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and bacterial diseases. However, its regulatory effect on angiogenic responses has not been elucidated in skin. Therefore, we analyzed secretory profiles upon treatment of FF extract using array designed to detect angiogenesis-associated mediators in human keratinocytes. Because keratinocyte-derived VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) has been regarded as a potent factor for new microvasculature under the epidermis, we further investigated the effect of FF extract on VEGF production. We observed that the VEGF expression of mRNA and protein level was increased by about 2 folds in a dose-dependent manner after FF extract treatment. In signaling experiments, FF extract induced rapid p38 MAPK activation within 5 min, and the activation was totally abrogated by pretreatment with a p38 MAPK specific inhibitor. The FF-induced VEGF upregulation was also significantly attenuated by a p38 MAPK inhibition. Taken together, FF extract induces VEGF production via p38 MAPK activation in human epidermal keratinocytes. These novel findings suggest that FF is useful as a potential agent with pro-angiogenic activity and may help to improve age-dependent reduction of the microvasculature in aged skin or to heal skin wound.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2019

Herbal medicines are widely used as therapeutic products in many countries. Corni fructus (CF), the dried ripe sarcocarp of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Cornaceae), has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and has been reported to be effective for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as kidney diseases and diabetes. Recent research on CF has documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, which include anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, there is no information on its safety. Therefore, in this study, the toxicity of water extract of CF to ICR mice was investigated. The mice received a single dose of water extract of CF (1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg of body weight) via the oral route. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, and weights of the principal organs after 14 d were then assessed. The results revealed no adverse effects of CF as determined by clinical signs, body weights, or organ weights and no gross pathological findings in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximated lethal dose of CF extract is over 5,000 mg/kg. The findings provide scientific evidence for the safety of CFs.