• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2008

Objectives : Evodia officinalis DODE (EO), an herbal plant, has been widely used in traditional Korean medicine for the treatment of vascular diseases such as hypertension. The crude extract of EO contains phenolic compounds that are effective in protecting liver microsomes, hepatocytes, and erythrocytes against oxidative damage. But EO has been little found to have an anti-inflammatory activity. We investigated anti-inflammatory activity of EO in RAW 264.7 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods : Cytotoxic activity of EO on RAW 264.7 cells was investigated by using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. And proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. The levels of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression were measured by flow cytometer. Results : EO decreased LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory activity of EO on LPS-induced NO release is probably associated with suppressing TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and MCP-1 formation. These results indicate that EO has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. Moreover, EO decreased TNF-${\alpha}$-induced IL-8, IL-6 production, and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in HUVECs. Conclusions : EO inhibits TNF-${\alpha}$-induced inflammation via decreasing cytokines production and adhesion molecules expression. These results indicate that EO has potential as an anti-inflammation and anti-artherosclerosis agent.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.745-754
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and verify the effectiveness of sustainable cosmetic raw materials developed from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a plant native to Ulleungdo, in improving the skin barrier function and treating atopic dermatitis. Cells were derived from adult Gynostemma pentaphyllum plants, and suitable conditions for mass culture of the cells were established in a bioreactor. DNA components and amino acids extracted from this mass culture were identified from the HPLC fraction. In the in vitro efficacy evaluation results, changes in the expression levels of skin barrier-related proteins such as filaggrin (FLG) and Zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) were insignificant. It was confirmed that the expression levels of the proteins thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) were significantly reduced. These results lead to the conclusion that Gynostemma pentaphyllum cell extracts have significant anti-inflammatory effects and that these extracts can be widely used as sustainable, nature-friendly active material in cosmetics with anti-inflammatory effects and targeted at improving atopic dermatitis.They may find use in anti-aging cosmetic products as well.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

Protective effect of medicinal plant extracts against oxidative stress were screened in this study. Methanol extracts from 48 medicinal plants, which were reported to have antioxidative or anti-inflammtory effect were prepared and screened for their protective activity against chemically-Induced and radiation-induced oxidative stress by using MTT assay. Thirty three samples showed protective activity against chemically-induced oxidative stress in various extent Among those samples, extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis revealed the strongest activity (25.9% at $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) with relatively lower cytotoxicity. Seven other samples showed higher than 20% protection at $100{\mg}g/m{\ell}$. These samples were tested for protection activity against radiation-induced oxidative stress. Methanol extract of Alpina officinarum show the highest activity (17.8% at $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Five fractions were prepared from the each 10 methanol extracts which showed high protective activity against oxidative stress. Among those fraction samples butanol fractions of Areca catechu var. dulcissima and Spirodela polyrrhiza showed the highest protective activities (78.8% and 77.2%, respectively, at $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$).

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2011

In order to screen the functional constituents from nature resource, we studied the bioactivities of methanol extract of the Liriodendron tulipifera branch(MLT). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, $Fe^{2+}$ chelating ability, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and cell toxicity of MLT were investigated in this study. We found that the total phenolic and flavonoid content of MLT is 75.34 mg gallic acid/g and 20.15 mg quercetin/g respectively. MLT exhibited the antioxidant activity on DPPH radical with a $EC_{50}$ value of $289.68\;{\mu}g$/mL, the absorbance is 0.388 at $100\;{\mu}g$/mL in reducing power assay, MLT prevented 38.56% lipid peroxidation at $200\;{\mu}g$/mL. Furthermore, MLT exhibits the potent anti-proliferative activity which inhibited 56.94%, 35.73% growth of HT-29 and Hela cell at $200\;{\mu}g$/mL respectively. It showed that the antioxidant activities of MLT were correlated with its total phenolic and flavonoid contents. However further study need to be exploring in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1628-1638
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• 2017

Viola tianshanica Maxim, belonging to the Violaceae plant family, is traditionally used in Uighur medicine for treating pneumonia, headache, and fever. There is, however, a lack of basic understanding of its pharmacological activities. This study was designed to observe the effects of the ethanol extract (TSM) from Viola tianshanica Maxim on the inflammation response in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by LPS and the possible underlying mechanisms. We found that TSM (200 and 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased inflammatory cytokine production and the number of inflammatory cells, including macrophages and neutrophils, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. TSM also markedly inhibited the lung wet-to-dry ratio and alleviated pathological changes in lung tissues. In vitro, after TSM ($12.5-100{\mu}g/ml$) treatment to RAW 264.7 cells for 1 h, LPS ($1{\mu}g/ml$) was added and the cells were further incubated for 24 h. TSM dose-dependently inhibited the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as NO, $PGE_2$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$, and remarkably decreased the protein and mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. TSM also suppressed protein expression of $p-I{\kappa}Ba$ and p-ERK1/2 and blocked nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65. The results indicate that TSM exerts anti-inflammatory effects related with inhibition on $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK (p-ERK1/2) signaling pathways. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that TSM might be a potential agent for the treatment of ALI.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1457-1464
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• 2013

We investigated the optimal conditions for keratinase production by feather-degrading Pseudomonas geniculata H10 using one variable at a time (OVT) method. The optimal medium composition and cultural condition for keratinase production were determined to be glucose 0.15% (w/v), beef extract 0.08% (w/v), $KH_2PO_4$ 0.12% (w/v), $K_2HPO_4$ 0.02% (w/v), NaCl 0.07% (w/v), $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ 0.03%, $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$ 0.04% along with initial pH 10 at 200 rpm and $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. The production yield of keratinase was 31.6 U/ml in an optimal condition, showing 4.6-fold higher than that in basal medium. The strain H10 also showed plant growth promoting activities. This strain had ammonification activity and produced indoleacetic acid (IAA), siderophore and a variety of hydrolytic enzymes such as protease, lipase and chitinase. Therefore, this study showed that P. geniculata H10 could be not only used to upgrade the nutritional value of feather wastes but also useful in situ biodegradation of feather wastes. Moreover, it is also a potential candidate for the development of biofertilizing agent applicable to crop plant soil.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2017

This study examined the anti-inflammatory and whitening effects of Amaranth (Amaranthus spp L.) seed extract. Amaranthus spp L. seeds were extracted using 70% ethanol and then fractionated sequentially with n-hexane, dichloromethan, ethyl acetate and butanol. For the study of anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds significantly inhibited nitrogen oxide production as well as the protein level of iNOS. Furthermore, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds inhibited expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, PGE2 and the protein level of COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Inaddition, the tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the Amaranthus spp L. seed 70% ethanol extract and subfractions were also measured to see if these extracts can be used as an ingredient for whitening cosmetics. Tyrosinase is an oxidase that is a rate-limiting enzyme for controlling the production of melanin. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have become increasingly important in cosmetics and medical products with regards to hyperpigmentation. EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds showed mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. This activity was more potent than that of a positive control cynandione A. These results suggest that Amaranthus spp L. seeds may be a valuable natural ingredient for the food and cosmetics industries.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.433-442
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• 2021

The fermented red ginseng by microorganism is known to increase pharmacological activity in vivo. To evaluate the bioavailablity of red ginseng fermented by probiotics, we conducted the pharmacokinetic study of ginsenoside Rb1, Rd and total ginsenosides (TG, ginsenosides Rb1 + Rd + Rg1 + F2 + Rg3 + compound K) in BALB/C mice. The AUC value of ginsenoside Rb1 in mice serum administered with 600mg/kg drugs showed 21.93 ± 14.68 ng·h/mL (RGw, water extract), 275.211 ± 110.04 ng·h/mL (RGe, 50% ethanol extract) and 404.91 ± 162.57 ng·h/mL (fRGe, fermented red ginseng extract). Analysis of ginsenoside Rd also showed a higher ACU value in fRGe than in RGw or RGe. And the AUC value of total ginsenosides in mice serum treated with 600 mg/kg were observed 42.12 ± 23.44 ng·h/mL (RGw), 321.44 ± 133.5 ng·h/mL (RGe) and 537.33 ± 229.01 ng·h/mL (fRGe), respectively. C_max value of ginsenoside Rb1 in mice administered with 600mg/kg were observed 3.67 ± 3.34 ng/mL (RGw), 23.27 ± 8.81 ng/mL (RGe) and 25.52 ± 7.29 ng/mL (fRGe). These results can be considered that the fermented red ginseng has more bioavailability than that of unfermented red ginseng. In quantitative analysis of the inflammation-related cytokines IL-1β and TNF, no significant difference was found between the fermented red ginseng (fRGe) and the red ginseng (RGe).

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.51-51
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• 2023

The world-wide rate of obesity is increasing continuously, representing a serious medical threat since it is associated with a variety of diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and numerous cancers. Sophora japonicais used as a traditional herb for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. However, the anti-obesity effects of S. japonicafruit have not been explored. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by an ethanol extract of S. japonicafruit (EESF) in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Our results demonstrate that EESF suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. EESF significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which was associated with a significant inhibition of the levels of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including PPARγ, C/EBPα and C/EBPβ. In addition, EESF potentially down regulated the expression levels of adipocyte-specific proteins, including aP2 and leptin. In particular, EESF treatment effectively enhanced the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway; however, the co-treatment with compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, significantly restored the EESF-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and adipocyte-specific genes. These results indicate that EESF may exert an anti-obesity effect by controlling the AMPK signaling pathway, suggesting that the fruit extract of S. japonica may be a potential anti-obesity agent.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.271-276
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• 2012

To develop antiobese food materials from medicinal plants, isolation of antiobese active compounds in $Yukeuigambitang$ of which activity was already proved in the previous study by animal experiments was performed. Antiobese effect of stepwise solvent fractions from 70% ethanol extract of $Yukeuigambitang$ was determined by the differentiation inhibition activity on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. CH2Cl2 fraction had significant antiobese activity, and n-Hexane and EtOAc fractions were the next. Three phenolic compounds from $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction were identified by GC/MS analysis and one compound was finally isolated by HPLC. It was revealed as a new compound presumed to be one of the derivatives produced from the medicinal plants mixture in $Yukeuigambitang$.