• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.509-518
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• 2016

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a medical plant that has long been used to treat fever, cough, kidney disease, breast cancer, inflammatory disease and brain disease in northeast Asian countries. Although several studies have been conducted on the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of A. cochinchinensis, the correlation between these effects and nerve growth factor (NGF) has not yet been examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (AEAC) on the secretion and action mechanism of NGF in neuronal cells. The concentration of the NGF protein in the supernatant collected from cultured cells increased significantly in B35 cells treated with AEAC in comparison with the vehicle-treated group without any specific cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of NGF showed a very similar pattern to its protein concentration. To examine the bioactivity of NGF secreted from B35 cells, undifferentiated PC12 cells were cultured in an AEAC-conditioned medium and neuritic outgrowth was observed. The dendrite length of PC12 cells in the AEAC-treated group was significantly higher than that in the vehicle-treated group. Moreover, the level of the downstream effectors p-TrkA and p-ERK of the high-affinity NGF receptor was significantly higher in the AEAC-treated group, while the expression of the downstream effectors of the low-affinity NGF receptor was significantly lower in the same group. These results suggest that AEAC may contribute to the regulation of NGF expression and secretion in neuronal cells; it is therefore an excellent candidate for further investigation as a therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1214-1218
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• 2011

We investigated the fruits of Rubus crataegifolius Bge, a plant which has been traditionally used in Korea in phytotherapy, to describe antioxidant materials from plant sources. R. crataegifolius fruits were extracted with methanol and further fractionated into n-hexane, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. The antioxidant activity of each fraction and the residue was assessed using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), $H_2O_2$ radical scavenging method, and their cytotoxicity on human primary kerationcyte (HK) was determined by an MTS assay. The R. crataegifolius fruit methanol extract showed strong antioxidant activity (75.04%, 50%) compared with vitamin C (79.9%, 54.1%) by the DPPH, and $H_2O_2$ method, respectively. The measured activity from the subsequent extracts of the methanol extract were 20.3% for n-hexane fraction (HF), 68.8% for diethyl ether fraction (DF), 67.1% for ethyl acetate fraction (EF), and 67.1% for the residue fraction (RE) by DPPH and 2.2% for HF, 1.6% for DF, 10% for EF, and 50% for the RE by $H_2O_2$ assay. An oxidative stress model of HK was established under a suitable concentration (1 mM). The cell viability of the RE treated group increased and the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased at concentrations of 0.005-0.02% RE compared with the $H_2O_2$ treated group. Fruit extracts of the medicinal plant R. crataegifolius showed potent antioxidant activity and the ability to relieve cell damage from $H_2O_2$ induced injury to HK.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.98-104
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• 2011

We investigated inhibitory effects of ginseng extracts against compound 48/80-induced responses in rat peritoneal mast cells. Initially, we optimized extraction condition with various temperature and time for recovery of high saponin contents in extracts. Using a primary rat peritoneal mast cells, we examined whether ginseng extracts inhibit compound 48/80-induced histamine release form rat mast cells. High red ginseng-spercific saponin containing extracts were recovered at $85^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr, and had no cytotoxicity with relatively high dose of extracts on rat peritoneal mast cells(<0.5 mg/ml). For examine of ameliorate effects of mast cells responses by ginseng extract, we pre-treated the extracts or saline to mast cells and treated compound 48/80. In results, compound 48/80 treatment was increased histamine release (approximately 30%) from mast cells than normal group, whereas ginseng treatment was completely inhibited histamine release. These results suggested that ginseng extracts inhibits the compound 48/80-induced mast cell activation, and ginseng extracts is a candidate for effective therapeutic tools of allergic diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1433-1442
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• 2010

Parameters related to dissolved oxygen for the production of pullulan by Aureobasidium pullulans HP-2001 were optimized in 7 l and 100 l bioreactors. The optimal concentrations of glucose and yeast extract for the production of pullulan were 50.0 and 2.5 g/l, respectively, and its conversion rate from glucose was 37% at a flask scale. The optimal initial pH of the medium and temperature for cell growth were 7.5 and $30^{\circ}C$, whereas those for the production of pullulan were 6.0 and $25^{\circ}C$. The optimal agitation speed and aeration rate for cell growth were 600 rpm and 2.0 vvm in a 7 l bioreactor, whereas those for the production of pullulan were 500 rpm and 1.0 vvm. The production of pullulan with an optimized agitation speed of 500 rpm and aeration rate of 1.0 vvm was 18.13 g/l in a 7 l bioreactor. Maximal cell growth occurred without inner pressure, whereas the optimal inner pressure for the production of pullulan was 0.4 kgf/$cm^2$ in a 100 l bioreactor. The production of pullulan under optimized conditions in this study was 22.89 g/l in a 100 l bioreactor, which was 1.38 times higher than that without inner pressure.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2018

Background: Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed neuropsychiatric diseases, but the underlying mechanism and medicine are not well-known. Although Panax ginseng has been reported to exert protective effects in various neurological studies, little information is available regarding its antidepressant effects. Methods: Here, we examined the antidepressant effect and underlying mechanism of P. ginseng extract (PGE) in a chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depression model in mice. Results: Oral administration of PGE for 14 d decreased immobility (depression-like behaviors) time in forced swim and tail suspended tests after CRS induction, which corresponded with attenuation of the levels of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone, as well as attenuated c-Fos expression in the amygdala. PGE enhanced messenger RNA expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor but ameliorated microglial activation and neuroinflammation (the level of messenger RNA and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase) in the amygdala of mice after CRS induction. Interestingly, 14-d treatment with celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and $N_{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated depression-like behaviors after CRS induction. Additionally, PGE inhibited the upregulation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 pathways. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that PGE exerts antidepressant-like effect of CRS-induced depression by antineuroinflammatory and antioxidant (nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 activation) activities by inhibiting the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis mechanism. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of components of P. ginseng as an alternative treatment of depression, including clinical trial evaluation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.980-986
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• 2021

Natural products have always been an attractive source in terms of novel anti-metastatic compounds which can hinder MMP expression and activity. Corydalis heterocarpa is a salt marsh plant found in the seashores throughout Korea. Its yellow flowers and spikes have been an ingredient in folk medicine to treat spasm and contractions. The present study assessed the potential of different solvent-based fractions from the crude extract of Corydalis heterocarpa (CHE), a halophyte with reported bioactivities, to suppress the PMA-induced MMP expression in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. The solvent fractions which were named after the solvent used for fractionation (n-hexane, 85% aqueous (aq.) methanol (MeOH), n-butanol (BuOH), and H₂O were shown to inhibit the both elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and simultaneously relieved the suppression on the expression of the endogenous MMP inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Results indicated that the CHE fractions might intervene with the PMA-induced activation of the MAPK signaling which is the upstream activator of MMP overexpression. Among tested samples, 85% aq. MeOH and n-hexane fractions of CHE was determined to be the most active and future studies to isolate the bioactive substances responsible for the regulation of the MMP expression are, therefore, urged. In conclusion, C. heterocarpa was shown to be a potential source of anti-metastatic compounds and n-Hexane and MeOH fractions might yield lead molecules to develop novel MMP inhibitors.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.567-576
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functionality of ethanol extract of Aster scaber by analyzing anti-oxidant components and anti-oxidant activities, which was grown in wild and culture field. The yields of Aster scaber ethanol extracts were high after blanching treatment. The polyphenol content of dried Aster scaber grown in wild was 35.59 mg/g, which was higher than that of Aster scaber grown in culture field. The electron donating ability in all Aster scaber extracts were increased with increase in extract concentration, and the electron donating ability was the highest in extracts of the dried Aster scaber after blanching. The SOD-like activity of Aster scaber was the highest in its extract grown in wild field. In addition, the SOD-like activities of extracts of the dired Aster scaber after blanching were highest among the extracts of cultivated Aster scaber. The nitrite scavenging ability of extracts was increased at pH 1.2, and those was the highest in wild fresh Aster scaber. The inhibition effects on xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase were increased with increase in extract concentration, and the inhibition effects of extracts of Aster scaber in wild field were higher than those grown in culture field. Therefore, the consumption of Aster scaber would provide beneficiary effects due to its antioxidant activities and prevention of aging. The development of various processed food using Aster scaber will promote the consumption and its values.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.568-573
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• 2015

Arabis glabra is a localized common rhizomatous flowering plant, This plant is often used in Korean traditional systems of medicine as a remedy for blood cleaning, detoxification, abscess, gastrospasm, arthritis, contraction and diarrhea. Generally drugs that are used for arthritis have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, validity of the anti-inflammatory activity has not been scientifically investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of A. glabra using the ethanolic extract and its sub-fractions. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) on RAW 264.7macrophages. Our results indicated that hexane and chloroform fraction significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO and PGE₂ production in the cells. The hexane fraction inhibitory activity for NO tests with IC₅₀ values showed in 21.0 ㎍/㎖. The chloroform fraction inhibitory activity for PGE₂ tests with IC₅₀ values showed in 18.0 ㎍/㎖. These efficacy are expected to be able to present the potential for the development of health functional food for the prevention inflammatory diseases because it has sufficient preventive medical possibilities. Further, it is determined that it is necessary to further study the mechanism of cytokine and protein expression associated with inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2014

Curcuma longa L. (CL) is a well known traditional medicinal plant that is also used in curries and mustards as a coloring and flavoring agent. However, CL is not usually used as a food source due to its bitter taste. We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of CL fermented by Aspergillus oryzae (FCL) on RAW 264.7 cells. FCL was extracted with cold water (CW), hot water (HW), 20% ethanol (20% EtOH) and 80% ethanol (80% EtOH), after which its effects on phagocytic activity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), nitric oxide (NO) production, natural killer (NK) cell activity and mRNA expression of LP-BM5 eco were investigated. Phagocytic activity was increased in HW and 20% EtOH when compared to the control. The secretion of nitric oxide (NO) from RAW 264.7 cells did not change significantly relative to the control. However, TNF-${\alpha}$ was significantly increased by the addition of FCL extracts. Moreover, FCL 20% ethanol extract showed a four fold increase in NK cell cytotoxity relative to the control group. Finally, we observed suppressed mRNA expression of LP-BM5 eco in FCL extracts, especially in the 20% ethanol extracts group. These results indicate that the FCL extracts can be used as a functional material due to their effective immunomodulating activities.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.394-400
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• 2010

Insecticidal activities of methanol extracts of the different parts of Prunus mume were investigated against the larvae of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (C. medinalis) by topical application. The mortalities of the larvae of C. medinalis were 34% at the concentration of 4,000 ppm, 36% of 8,000 ppm, 40% of 16,000 ppm and 58% of 32,000 ppm of the extracts from the fruits, and 38% of 4,000 ppm, 45% of 8,000 ppm, 58% of 16,000 ppm and 75% of 32,000 ppm from the stem + flower of Prunus mume (P. mume), respectively. The rates of pupation of C. medinalis treated with either fruit or stem+flower were gradually low according to the concentration of extracts increased. The weight of pupae of C. medinalis has no significantly different in between the control and the treated groups of the extracts from both of fruit and stem+flower. However, the differences of the pupal weight and the rate of pupation of C. medinalis treated with the extracts from the stem+flower and fruit of P. mume were significant as the level of 56% ($R^2$=0.56363, P=0.4364). Both of stem+flower and fruit extracts of P. mume showed good effects of anti-feeding against C. medinalis. The extracts of the stem+flower of P. mume could be advocated for developing as birational agent for the control of C. medinalis.