• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the potential of freeze-dried persimmon powder (Diospyros kaki Thumb.) to protect against dyslipidemia induced by a high-fat/cholesterol diet (HFD) in a rat model. Methods: Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control (NC), high-fat/cholesterol control (HC), tannin in HFD (HT, 1% of diet), immature persimmon in HFD (HI, 7% of diet), and mature persimmon in HFD (HM, 7% of diet). Tannin was used as a positive control. Biochemical, molecular, and histopathological changes were observed in the blood and liver. Results: We confirmed that a high fat/cholesterol diet successfully induced dyslipidemia, which was characterized by significantly altered lipid profiles in the plasma and liver. However, oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels, histopathological damage in the liver, and hepatic triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in all HT, HI, and HM groups compared to those in the HF group. In contrast, plasma apolipoprotein B level was significantly reduced only in the HT and HM groups, whereas reduction of the LDL-C level was detected only in the HI group. Although HF-induced sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) gene expression was significantly reduced in all treated groups, downstream gene expression levels varied among the different groups; significant reduction of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMGCR) gene expression was detected only in the HI group, whereas cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) gene expression was significantly elevated only in the HM group. Conclusion: Taken together, the data suggest that protection of LDL oxidation and hepatic lipogenesis might be, at least partly, attributed to tannin in persimmons. However, the identified mechanisms varied up to the maturation stage of persimmon. In the case of immature persimmon, modulation of FAS and HMGCR gene expression was prominent, whereas in the case of mature persimmon, modulation of CYP7A1 gene expression was prominent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a form of allergic skin inflammatory characterized by late eczematous skin lesions. The incidence of AD is increasing, and it causes problems with administrative costs. Therefore, development of an AD treatment with no side effects is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tuna heart ethanol extract (THEE), a functional extract from by-product of tuna. AD was induced by spreading 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the backside of BALB/c mice. The effect of THEE was tested by measuring skin clinical severity score, secretion of cytokines and IgE, and proliferation. Secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE significantly decreased in a THEE-independent manner. In contrast, levels of IL-10 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ significantly increased in mice sera and splenocytes. In addition, THEE alleviated AD symptoms compared to the DNCB only group. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that THEE has an inhibitory effect on AD and may be a useful substance for the development of cosmeceuticals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1139-1145
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• 2006

In this study, antioxidant activities of enzymatic and methanolic extracts from E. cava stem and leave were evaluated by measuring the scavenging activities on 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and the inhibitory effects on DNA damage induced by oxidative stress of cells. Enzymatic extracts were prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of both stem and leave using food grade five different carbohydrases (Viscozyme, Celluclast, AMG, Termamyl, Ultraflo) and five proteases (Protamex, Kojizyme, Neutrase, Flavourzyme, Alcalase). The enzymatic extracts were lower than methanolic extracts in polyphenol contents, but higher in extraction yield by approximately 30%. The enzymatic extracts were superior to methanolic extracts in DPPH and H2O2 scavenging activities and DNA damage protective effect. There were no significant antioxidant activity difference between stem and leave, but the extracts of leave were relatively better than those of stem. In this study it is suggested that E. cava stem as well as its leave would be a good raw materials for antioxidants compound extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis would be a good strategy to prepare antioxidant extracts from seaweeds.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1133-1138
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• 2006

Smilax china root has been used as traditional medicinal remedy in China and Korea and reported to have various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and antimicrobial activities. In this study, the possibility of development as natural antioxidants of Smilax china root extracts was investigated. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, aqueous- and 25% EtOH extract from Smilax china root were prepared and six different evaluation assay methods, i.e., measurement of total phenolics, radical scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite $(NO_2)$, reducing power, and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity, were used. The total phenolics content of two extracts was high as the level of 36 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 1 g of dried sample tested. The radical scavenging activities of ethanol extract toward DPPH and NO were better than those of aqueous extract (p<0.05). The $NO_2$ scavenging activity of both extracts showed the highest value at pH 1.2 (98%). Especially, the $NO_2$ scavenging activities of EtOH extract were significantly stronger than those of aqueous one at pH 4.2 (51%) and pH 6.0 (32%), respectively. In the reducing power test, both extracts revealed higher ferric ion reducing activity than known antioxidant, vitamin C at the level of $0.05\sim0.1mg/mL$ (p<0.01). The 1 mL of aqueous and 25% EtOH extract showed effective inhibition activity on tyrosinase activity as 45% and 53%, respectively. Therefore, these results suggest that two extracts from Smilax china root may serve as useful natural antioxidants.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.45-55
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• 2010

In this study, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and neuronal cell protective effects of water, 100% methanol and dichlromethane extracts from garlic were investigated. We found that dichloromethane extract of garlic resulted in a dose-dependent manner on AChE inhibition ($IC_{50}$: $36.1{\mu}g/mL$). In cell viability assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT), cell viabilities of water, 100% methanol and dichlromethane extracts were lower (almost under 40%) than amyloid ${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}$)-induced neurotoxicity. Because $A{\beta}$ is also known to increase neuronal cell membrane breakdown, neuronal apoptosis was further confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neutral red uptake (NRU) assay. Water extract presented relative protection against $A{\beta}$-induced membrane damage in LDH assay. However all garlic extracts showed significant problem with decrease of cell viability in NRU assay, especially at dichloromethan extract. To determine active compounds in column fractions (98:2 fraction) from dichloromethane extract which showed significant AChE inhibitory effect, we performed HPLC and LC-MS analysis. It was supposed that garlic may contain allyl methyl disulfide, diallyl monosulfide, and diallyl disulfide as active compounds.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2005

Ginseng Radix, the root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has been used in Eastern Asia for 2000 years as a tonic and restorative, promoting health and longevity. Two varieties are commercially available: white ginseng(Ginseng Radix Alba) is produced by air-drying the root, while red ginseng(Ginseng Radix Rubra) is produced by steaming the root followed by drying. These two varieties of different processing have somewhat differences by heat processing between them. During the heat processing for preparing red ginseng, it has been found to exhibit inactivation of catabolic enzymes, thereby preventing deterioration of ginseng quality and the increased antioxidant-like substances which inhibit lipid peroxide formation, and also good gastro-intestinal absorption by gelatinization of starch. Moreover, studies of changes in ginsenosides composition due to different processing of ginseng roots have been undertaken. The results obtained showed that red ginseng differ from white ginseng due to the lack of acidic malonyl-ginsenosides. The heating procedure in red ginseng was proved to degrade the thermally unstable malonyl-ginsenoside into corresponding netural ginsenosides. Also the steaming process of red ginseng causes degradation or transformation of neutral ginsenosides. Ginsenosides $Rh_2,\;Rh_4,\;Rs_3,\;Rs_4\;and\;Rg_5$, found only in red ginseng, have been known to be hydrolyzed products derived from original saponin by heat processing, responsible for inhibitory effects on the growth of cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis. 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was also formed in red ginseng and was shown to exhibit vasorelaxation properties, antimetastatic activities, and anti-platelet aggregation activity. Recently, steamed red ginseng at high temperature was shown to provide enhance the yield of ginsenosides $Rg_3\;and\;Rg_5$ characteristic of red ginseng Additionally, one of non-saponin constituents, panaxytriol, was found to be structually transformed from polyacetylenic alcohol(panaxydol) showing cytotoxicity during the preparation of red ginseng and also maltol, antioxidant maillard product, from maltose and arginyl-fructosyl-glucose, amino acid derivative, from arginine and maltose. In regard to the in vitro and in vivo comparative biological activities, red ginseng was reported to show more potent activities on the antioxidant effect, anticarcinogenic effect and ameliorative effect on blood circulation than those of white ginseng. In oriental medicine, the ability of red ginseng to supplement the vacancy(허) was known to be relatively stronger than that of white ginseng, but very few are known on its comparative clinical studies. Further investigation on the preclinical and clinical experiments are needed to show the differences of indications and efficacies between red and white ginsengs on the basis of oriental medicines.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.4 s.54
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• pp.349-357
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• 2005

New antioxidative substances for cosmeceuticals were screened from natural resources such as microbial metabolites, mushrooms, and medicinal plants. Four antioxidants were isolated from the fungal metabolite of Eupenicillium shearii and their structures were determined to be new phenolic compounds. The compounds were designated as melanocins A, B, C, and D. Melanocins $A{\sim}D$ exhibited free radical scavenging activity on DPPH and superoxide with $EC_{50}$ values of $21{\sim}94\;and\;7{\sim}84{\mu}M$, respectively, which were stronger activity than those of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ and BHA. Melanocin A showed anti-wrinkle effects on the UV-irrated hairless mouse skin. A novel hispidin antioxidative compound designated as inoscavin A was isolated from the fruiting body of the mushroom, Inonotus xeranticus. Inoscavin A scavenged superoxide radical with $EC_{50}$ values of $0.03{\mu}g/mL$, and inhibited rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation with $EC_{50}$ values of $0.3{\mu}g/mL$. Benzastatins $A{\sim}G$, the novel antioxidants isolated from the culture of Streptomyces nitrosporeus showed potent lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity with $EC_{50}$ values of $3{\sim}30{\mu}M$. A cyclopentene compound with strong hypopigmentary effect was isolated from the fungal metabolite of Penicillium sp. and identifed as terrein. Terrein significantly reduced melanin levels in a melanomacyte cell line, Mel-Ab. It showed 10 times stronger activity than kojic acid, but exhibited no cytotoxic effect even in $100{\mu}M$. It was suggested that terrein reduced melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production by MITF down-regulation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.905-912
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• 2021

In this study, four common food-borne bacteria, namely, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, were targeted via irradiation with 270 nm UV C-LED, 365 nm UV A-LED, 465~475 and 620~630 nm visible-LED, and 850 and 5,000~7,000 nm infrared-LED light. The effect on the growth of each bacterial species was investigated. In the case of 270 nm UV C-LED, all four strains showed inhibitory effects compared with the control group when irradiated for 10 or 30 min. Furthermore, when irradiated with 365 nm UV A-LED for 1 or 3 hr, B. subtilis showed 100% growth inhibition. When irradiated with 465~475 nm visible-LED for 1 hr, all four strains showed no significant difference from the control group but showed significant growth inhibition when irradiated for 3 hr. S. aureus and B. subtilis treated with 620~630 nm visible-LED; S. typhimurium and S. aureus treated with 850 nm infrared-LED; and E. coli, S. typhimurium, and S. aureus treated with 5,000~7,000 nm infrared-LED were confirmed to significantly proliferate compared with the control group. The results of this experiment show the potential of the use of various LED light sources as a food preservation and application technology by examining their effect on the inhibition and growth of food-borne bacteria and by grasping the characteristics of each wavelength.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.332-336
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• 2019

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of many diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The flowers of Chrysanthemum boreale have been used as traditional medicines for the treatment of diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of C. boreale Makino flower essential oil (CFEO) on adipocyte differentiation using preadipocyte cell line 3T3-L1. CFEO at concentrations between 0.1 and $5{\mu}g/ml$ did not affect 3T3-L1 cell viability. A CFEO concentration of between 0.1 and $1{\mu}g/ml$ significantly inhibited lipid accumulation during MDI-induced differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, reaching a maximal level at $1{\mu}g/ml$ ($28.94{\pm}2.01%$; approximately 30% of control treated with MDI alone). Western blot analysis revealed that CFEO concentrations between 0.1 and $1{\mu}g/ml$ suppressed the activations of three adipogenic transcription factors in the MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 cells: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$; CCATT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$; and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1. Moreover, the expressions of lipogenic enzymes, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase were also inhibited by treatment with CFEO between 0.1 and $1{\mu}g/ml$. CFEO may therefore be a promising functional material for obesity prevention.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1361-1368
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• 2018

Inflammation is the most common condition in the human body. Tissue damage triggers inflammation, together with vasodilation and increased blood flow at the inflamed site, resulting in edema. Inflammatory responses are also triggered by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Toll-like receptor Enterococcus faecalis, a gram-positive organism, has been reported to possess immunomodulatory and preventive activities; however, its use may present risks of sepsis and other systemic infections. Heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis (EF-2001) has been reported to induce antitumor activity, but its effects on inflammation are not known. In the present study, we investigated the effect of EF-2001 on LPS-induced macrophage inflammatory responses. EF-2001 treatment reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, indicating suppression of inflammatory reactions. EF-2001 showed no cytotoxicity in macrophages. Further investigation of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of EF-2001 indicated that EF-2001 reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. EF-2001 also reduced f the LPS induction of several inflammatory molecules involved in the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, including ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation, in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, EF-2001 inhibited Akt phosphorylation and increased the expression of the inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ ($I{\kappa}B$) protein, an inhibitor of $NF-{\kappa}B$. EF-2001 also inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65. These results suggest that EF-2001 has anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful for treating inflammatory diseases.