• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2020

Objective : The aim of present study was to clarify the effect of Areca Semen and Toosendan Fructus Mixture (AT-mix) on chronic reflux esophagitis (CRE) in rats. Methods : The antioxidant activity of AT-mix was measured through DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities in vitro. CRE was induced in SD rats (5 weeks, male) by ligating the border forestomach and granular portion with 2-0 silk and the duodenum near the pyloric portion was covered with 2-mm wide piece of 18-Fr Nélaton catheter. And then rats were treated AT-mix 200 mg/kg one daily for 14 days. The anti-oxidant and inflammatory protein levels were evaluated using western blotting. Results : Gross lesion of esophageal mucosa after AT-mix treatment showed a superior enhancement compared with that of CRE control rats. AT-mix treatment strongly reduced both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities (DPPH, IC₅₀ 8.15±0.14 ㎍/mL; ABTS, IC₅₀ 24.69±0.03 ㎍/mL, repspectively). Levels of the NADPH oxidase subunit including NOX4 and p22^phox increased in CRE control rats. Otherwise, AT-mix treatment significantly reduced. The activation of Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) led to significantly the up-regulation of HO-1. The inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation led to NF-κB inactivation. Subsequently, NF-κB inactivation significantly induced the decrease of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6 protein expressions. Conclusion : Taken together, these results suggest that AT-mix treatment can attenuate the esophageal mucosal ulcer though inhibiting NF-κB pathway and enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Thus, the additional mechanism study about AT-mix would need for the development as a safe herbal therapy for CRE.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.510-515
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• 2018

In the present study, we investigated the anti-oxidant activities of selenium-treated Spinacia oleracea L. by utilizing experiments in vitro assays. The selenium content of non-treated spinach in this study was noted at $61.19{\mu}g/kg$, whereby the selenium-treated spinach which was treated by a 2000 mg/kg selenium was 1000-fold diluted, and was reported to be about 4 times higher than that of non-treated spinach. In this case, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity in the concentration of selenium-treated spinach, 0.1~1.0 mg/mL was measured as stronger than that of the identified non-treated spinach. By the same token, the DPPH radical activity of non-treated spinach and selenium-treated spinach was recorded as 46.05~52.75% and 49.52~59.09% respectively. It is emphasized that the 2,2'-azino-di-2-ethyl-benzthiazoline-sulphonate (ABTS) radical scavenging activity as revealed in the concentration of selenium-treated spinach, 0.1~1.0 mg/mL was noted as being stronger than that of non-treated spinach. The ABTS radical activity of non-treated spinach and selenium-treated spinach was 11.85~52.01% and 27.14~53.59% respectively. In this respect, the nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity in the concentration of selenium-treated spinach, 0.1~1.0 mg/mL was identified and noted as stronger than that of non-treated spinach. These results suggest that selenium-treated spinach could possibly be more useful as a potential antioxidant to improve human health outcomes, than the non-treated spinach.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.152-162
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• 2020

Cerebral ischemia exhibits a multiplicity of pathophysiological mechanisms. During ischemic stroke, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration rises to a peak during reperfusion, possibly underlying neuronal death. Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) supplementation is one method of treating neurodegenerative disease by reducing the generation of ROS. We investigated the therapeutic effect of PEGylated EPO (P-EPO) on ischemic stroke. Mice were administered P-EPO (5,000 U/kg) via intravenous injection, and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion was performed to induce in vivo ischemic stroke. P-EPO ameliorated MCAO-induced neurological deficit and reduced behavioral disorder and the infarct area. Moreover, lipid peroxidation, expression of inflammatory proteins (cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase), and cytokine levels in blood were reduced by the P-EPO treatment. In addition, higher activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was found in the brain after MCAO, but NF-κB activation was reduced in the P-EPO-injected group. Treatment with the NF-κB inhibitor PS-1145 (5 mg/kg) abolished the P-EPO-induced reduction of infarct volume, neuronal death, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Moreover, P-EPO was more effective than EPO (5,000 U/kg) and similar to a tissue plasminogen activator (10 mg/kg). An in vitro study revealed that P-EPO (25, 50, and 100 U/mL) treatment protected against rotenone (100 nM)-induced neuronal loss, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and NF-κB activity. These results indicate that the administration of P-EPO exerted neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia damage through anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting NF-κB activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.1418-1424
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• 2010

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts were examined by in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts on expression of melanogenic enzyme proteins including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16BL6 cells. Inhibitory effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex onto free radical generation were determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Our results indicated that Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts effectively inhibited free radical generation. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. They significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Also, Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex suppressed the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 in B16BL6 melanoma cells. These results show that Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex inhibited melanin production on the melanogenesis. The underlying mechanism of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex on whitening activity may be due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2 expression. We suggest that Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex may be contain new natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.65-83
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• 2011

Various related factors and tissue changes in vitro and in vivo were observed to investigate the efficacy of HYBH on atopic dermatitis. The results are described below. HYBH improved the atopic dermatitis symptoms by naked eye examination, and significantly decreased dermatitis clinical index at 14 weeks. HYBH significantly decreased CD4+/CD45+, CD4+, CD8+, CD3+/CD69+ immune cell ratios in PBMC by 28%, 16%, 30%, 26% and 22% respectively. HYBH significantly decreased CD11b+/Gr-1+, CD3 immune cell ratios in dorsal skin by 35.3% and 67.5% respectively. HYBH significantly decreased the expression of IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ in spleen by 23% and 15% respectively. HYBH significantly decreased the production rate of IL-5, IL-13 and histamine in serum by 17%, 23%, and 8.8% respectively and increased IL-17 production by 17%. HYBH significantly decreased immunoglubulins IgG1 and IgE production in serum. The results above indicated that treatment of HYBH improved atopic dermatitis symptoms by anti-oxidant activity and immune modulation activity as a clinical evidence. Also, different fermentation conditions using various microbial strains should be accumulated as the clinical evidence for broad application in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.650-656
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• 2013

Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays a pivotal role in augmenting Protein C activation through the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. EPCR activity is markedly changed by ectodomain cleavage and released as the soluble protein (sEPCR). EPCR shedding is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ converting enzyme (TACE). Lycopene found in tomatoes and tomato products has anti-oxidant, anti- cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known about the effects of lycopene on EPCR shedding. We investigated this issue by monitoring the effects of lycopene on the phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and on the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-mediated EPCR shedding. Data showed that lycopene potently inhibited the PMA, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and CLP-induced EPCR shedding by suppressing TACE expression. Furthermore, lycopene reduced PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of p38, extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Given these results, lycopene should be viewed as a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of various severe vascular inflammatory diseases via inhibition of the EPCR shedding.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2013

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of protopectinase enzymes and mechanical maceration from soybeans on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration were examined by an in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and by assessing markers in B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effects on the expression of melanogenic enzymes, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16BL6 cells. Inhibitory effects on free radical generation were determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. There was also an inhibition in the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Our results show that soybean protopectinase treatment inhibits melanogenesis, with the underlying mechanism possibly due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expression. We suggest that soybean protopectinase should be contained as natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.499-505
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• 2012

Chemoprevention represents a strategy designed to protect cells or tissues against various carcinogens and carcinogenic metabolites derived from exogenous or endogenous sources. Recent studies indicate that plant-derived triterpenoids, like oleanolic acid, may exert cytoprotective functions via regulation of the activity of different transcription factors. The chemopreventive effects may be mediated through induction of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor. Activation of Nrf2 by triterpenoids induces the expression of phase 2 detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes such as NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) - proteins which can protect cells or tissues against various toxic metabolites. On the other hand, inhibition of other transcription factors, like NF-${\kappa}B$ leads to the decrease in the pro-inflammatory gene expression. Moreover, the modulation of microRNAs activity may constitute a new mechanism responsible for valuable effects of triterpenoids. Recently, based on the structure of naturally occurring triterpenoids and with involvement of bioinformatics and computational chemistry, many synthetic analogs with improved biological properties have been obtained. Data from in vitro and in vivo experiments strongly suggest synthetic derivatives as promising candidates in the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic strategies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.819-825
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• 2005

The Antioxidative accvities of the cell free extracts containing high glutathione by Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 were tested in vitro experimental models : DPPH method for radical scavenging activity, ferric TBA method and ferric thiocyanate method using linoleic acid and tissue microsome for lipid peroxidation inhibitions. The concentration of intercellular glutathione by cultivating S. cerevisiae FF-8 in the YM optimal medium obtained $204\mug/ml$, which was increased by 2.76-fold from $74\mug/ml$ in the YM basal medium. A comparition between the YM basal medium and the YM optimal medium on antioxidative substance produced by S. cerevisiae FF-8 was investigated. In DPPH ($\alpha, \alpha-diphenyl-\beta-picrylhydrazyl$) method, the electron donating activity of the glutathione produced by S. cerevisiae FF-8 cultured in the YM optimal medium was as high as that of BHT ($ 0.05\%w/v $). The antioxidative a.tivity was measured by inhibition against lipid peroxidation of rat tissues' microsomes. The results of anti-oxidant activity of the cell free extracts by S. rerevisiae FF-8 cultured in the YM optimal medium was shown in the following order . $ liver 60.98\% > kidney 56.43\% > heart 52.91\% > brain 52.13\% > testis 45.57\% > spleen 42.95\% $. In antioxidative activities determined by ferric thiocyanate method and TBA methods against lipid peroxidation, the lipid peroxidation in the control mixture increased more rapidly than the typical peroxidation curve of linoleic acid from one day. The antioxidative activity of the cell free extracts by cultivating S. cerevisine FF-8 in the YM optimal medium were higher than that of the YM basal medium. These data indicate that the cell free extracts containing a high intercellular glutathione of S. cerevisiae FF-8 cultured in YM optimal medium showed strong antioxidative capacities by DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric thiocyanate and TBARS measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2015

Citrus and its peels, which are by-products from juice and/or jam processing, have long been used in Asian folk medicine. Citrus peels show an abundant variety of flavanones, and these flavanones have glycone and aglycone forms. Aglycones are more potent than glycones with a variety of physiological functions since aglycone absorption is more efficient than glycones. Bioconversion with cytolase converted narirutin and naringin into naringenin and hesperidin into hesperetin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bioconversion of Citrus unshiu (CU) peel extracts with cytolase (CU-C) in RAW264.7 cells. HPLC chromatograms showed that CU and CU-C had 23.42% and 29.39% total flavonoids, respectively. There was substantial bioconversion of narirutin to naringenin and of hesperidin to hesperetin. All citrus peel extracts showed DPPH scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner, and CU-C was more potent than intact CU. RAW264.7 cells were pre-treated with $0{\sim}500{\mu}g/mL$ of citrus peel extracts for 4 h and then stimulated by $1{\mu}g/mL$ of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 8 h. All citrus peel extracts showed decreased mRNA levels and protein expression of LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in a dose-dependent manner. Especially, CU-C markedly inhibited mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 compared to intact citrus peel extracts. All citrus peel extracts showed decreased NO production by iNOS activity. This result suggests that bioconversion of citrus peel extracts with cytolase may provide potent functional food materials for prevention of chronic diseases attributable to oxidation and inflammation by boosting the anti-inflammatory effects of citrus peels.