• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1667-1678
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• 1999

Certain parts of 190 kinds of medicinal herbs and 171 kinds of original materials of food were extracted by methanol. The extracts were tested their microbial inhibition activities against several food spoilage microorganisms, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. The methanol extracts of Cornus officinalis, Evodia officinalis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Salvia miltiorrhiza. Schizandrae fructus, Coptidis rhizoma, aroma hop and bitter hop were shown inhibitory effect on certain species of gram(+) bacteria. Aroma hop and bitter hop were shown inhibitory effect on certain species of gram(-) bacteria. The methanol extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza exhibited a strong antibacterial activities. It was purified by solvent fractionation, silicagel column chromatography, prep. TLC, prep. HPLC. The purified active substance was identified as cryptotanshinone by EIMS, $1^H-NMR,\;{13}^C-NMR$ and DEPT. Cryptotanshinone showed a strong antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria $(MIC\;:\;3.91{\sim}62.50\;{\mu}g/mL)$. Especially, this compound was the most strong activity against Bacillus subtilis $(MIC\;:\;3.91\;{\mu}g/mL)$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.663-672
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• 2016

The Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson is an annual plant distributed in China and Korea. The fruit of C. monnieri is used as a medicinal herb that is effective for the treatment of carbuncle and pain in female genitalia. However, the anti-cancer effects of CME have not yet been reported. In this study, we assessed the apoptotic effects and cell cycle arrest effects of ethanol extracts from C. monnieri on HCT116 colon cancer cells. The results of an MTT assay and LDH assay demonstrated a decrease in cell viability and the cytotoxic effects of CME. In addition, the number of apoptotic body and the apoptotic rate were increased in a dose-dependent manner through Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V-PI double staining. In addition, cell cycle arrest occurred at the G1 phase by CME. Protein kinase B (Akt) plays an important role in cancer cell survival, growth, and division. Akt down-regulates apoptosis-mediated proteins, such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p53, and Glycogen Synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). CME could regulate the expression levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-GSK-3β, Bcl-2 family members, caspase-3, and PARP. Furthermore, treatment with CME, LY294002 (PI3K/Akt inhibitor), BIO (GSK-3β inhibitor), and Rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) showed that apoptotic effects occurred through the regulation of the AKT/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated CME could induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HCT116 colon cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.887-894
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• 2016

The extract from Artemisia annuain L.(AAE) is known as a medicinal herb that is effective against cancer. Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death, and mitochondria are known to play a central role in cell death control. In this study, we evaluated the p53-independent apoptosis of extract of AAE through downregulation of Bcl-2 and the mitochondrial pathway in A549 (lung cancer cells). AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through regulating p-Akt, Cox-2, p53 and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. p-Akt/cox-2 is known to play an important role in cell proliferation and cell survival. The Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic proteins (such as Bax, Bak and Bim) mediate the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Treatment of AAE reduces p-Akt, p-Mdm2, cox-2 and anti-apoptotic proteins (such as Bcl-2), while tumor suppressor p53 and pro-apoptotic proteins. Activation of Bax/Bak releases cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol to activate a caspase. Caspase-3 is the major effector caspase associated with apoptotic pathways. Caspase-3 generally exists in cytoplasm in the form of a pro-enzyme. In the initiation stage of apoptosis, caspase-3 is activated by proteolytic cleavage and activated caspase-3 cleaves poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). We treated Pifithrin-α (p53 inhibitor) and Celecoxib (Cox-2 inhibitor) to learn the relationship between the signal transduction of proteins associated with apoptosis. These results suggest that AAE induces apoptosis through a p53-independent pathway in A549.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.936-942
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• 2016

As the incidence of environmental diseases is increasing due to harmful environmental factors, there is a rising interest in developing eco-friendly materials for housing. In this study, we sought to develop antimicrobial interior fabric blind materials by employing ethanol extract of a medicinal plant Zanthoxylum piperitum DC. As determined by the disc diffusion method, the zones of inhibition of the pericarp ethanol extract at a concentration of 5 mg/disc against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans were 13.5±1.5 mm, 14.0±0.5 mm and 15.0±0.1 mm, respectively, whereas the leaf ethanol extract (5 mg/disc) against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and S. mutans were 12.8± 0.3 mm, 13.5±1.0 mm, and 12.0±0.1 mm, respectively. The IC₅₀ of the leaf ethanol extract against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus and S. mutans were about 0.5 mg/ml, 0.1 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml respectively. To examine whether the leaf ethanol extract possessing antibacterial activity of Z. piperitum DC can be applicable to production of antimicrobial fabric blind materials, the fabrics treated with either 1.0% or 2.0% of the leaf ethanol extract were tested for antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus using International Standard Fabrics Test Method. The results indicate that the fabric treated with the ethanol extract of Z. piperitum DC possesses an excellent antimicrobial activity against both pathogenic bacteria. These results suggest that Z. piperitum DC may be applicable to producing functional fabrics which are effective in reducing the harmful bacterial factors in indoor environments.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.750-759
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• 2010

The bioactive materials (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals, decursin and decursinol angelate) and biological activities (DPPH [$\alpha,\alpha$'-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl] free radical scavenging capability, reducing power, and tyrosinase activity) in the extracts of leaf, stem mixture (AGLS), and root (AGR) from Angelica gigas Nakai were examined by using water, hot water and ethanol solvent. The highest extract yield (21.89%) was found in the water extract of AGR. The highest concentrations of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the ethanol extracts of AGLS and AGR were 14.99% and 14.79%. Major minerals of AGLS and AGR were K, Mg, Fe, Na and Ca. Decursin and decursinol angelate were the major ingredients of Angelica gigas, detected at 18.71 and 18.89 min of retention time by HPLC analysis, respectively. The highest concentrations of decursin and decursinol angelate in the Angelica gigas ethanol extract were found in root ($41.7\;{\mu}g/g$) and leaf ($34.04\;{\mu}g/g$). The highest free radical scavenging activity was found in the hot water extracts of AGLS and AGR, and its activity was stronger in all extracts of AGLS than AGR. The highest reducing power was found in the ethanol extracts of AGLS and AGR and this was dependent on the sample concentration. The hot water extracts of AGLS and AGR revealed the highest inhibition activity on tyrosinase. Overall, these results may provide the basic data needed to understand the biological activities of bioactive materials derived from Angelica gigas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.935-945
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• 2014

Persimmon leaves were commonly consumed as beverages, but were also used as popular folk medicine in Asia. The purpose of this work was to assess the biological activities of Diospyros Lotus L. extracts (DLLE). Various solvent extracts, including n-Hexnae, $CHCl_3$, EtOAc, and n-BuOH fractions, were obtained from the methanol extract of Diospyros Lotus L. leaves. The increasing interest in the powerful biological activity of plant phenolics and flavonoids outlined the necessity for determining their content in medicinal herbs. In this study, the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) in the EA fraction were higher than those of other fractions. The biological activities of DLLE were tested using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity assay, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as an anti-oxidant effect and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity as an anti-diabetic effect. The EA fraction with high TPC and TFC values showed the highest anti-oxidant effect and high ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition. The EA fractions were further purified into eight fractions using open column chromatography. Higher anti-oxidant and anti-${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity were observed in polar fractions. The content of the flavonoids, including quercein-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, myricetin, luteolin, and kaempferol, were analyzed in effective fractions using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results suggest that DLLE have anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic effects and thus, have the potential as anti-diabetic materials and as a source for natural health products.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.6 s.89
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• pp.471-477
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• 2004

Oldenlandia diffusa is a Chinese medicinal herb with antitumor activity capable of suppressing the growth of some cancer cell lines. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid are triterpenoid compounds that exist in Oldenlandia diffusa. Recently, these have been noted for anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and hepato-protective effects. Application of both plant growth regulators, 2,4-D and kinetin, was found to be essential for the initiation of callus and suspension cells. Leaf blades of Oldenlandia diffusa was transformed into callus on Schenk and Hildebrandt medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L kinetin, while optimum initiation condition for suspension cells of Oldenlandia diffusa was determined to be 0.75 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L kinetin. Chromatographic separation of oleanolic acid from its derivatives was achieved using Rexchrom S5-100-ODS column. Analytical conditions for oleanolic acid were determined as follows: flow rate at 1.0 mL/min, UV length at 200 nm and mobile phase of $80\%$ acetonitrile and $20\%$ water. Production of secondary metabolites was found to be increased by the treatment with elicitors or signal transducers. The maximum production of oleanolic acid was 99.6 mg/L in cultures with 0.5 mM salicylic acid. It is 1.74 times higher than that of control.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.784-789
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• 2005

The inhibitory effects of hot water extracts of Rhus verniciflua Stokes pith and peel roasted at 170, 200 and $220^{\circ}C$ on lipid peroxidation, formation of DPPH free radicals and growth of four human cancer cells such as HepG2 (liver cancer), SNU-1 (stomach cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer) and Widr (colon cancer) were examined. The antioxidant activities and growth inhibitory effects on cancer cells of hot water extracts of peel were higher than those of pith, and the activities were dose-dependent. The roasting temperature showing the highest antioxidant activities and growth inhibitory effects on cancer cells was in the range of $170\~200^{\circ}C$ The lipid peroxidation and formation of DPPH free radicals of hot water extracts of roasted pith and peel were inhibited to 50.9, $56.5\%\;and\;79.0,\;78.4\%$ at the concentration of $500\mu g/mL$, respectively. The growth inhibitory effects of roasted pith and peel on cancer cells were in the order of Widr (41.5, $36.0\%$) > HepG2 (61.5, $44.0\%$) > MCF-7 (92.0, $69.2\%$)> SNU-1 (100, $100\%$) cells at the concentration of $1,000\mu g/mL$ as compared with the control, respectively. These results suggest that roasted Rhus verniciflua Stokes could be an useful natural medicinal plant for colon cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1026-1038
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• 1995

Although aloe lost a lot of its previous popularity in modern clinical uses as medicine numerous scientific researches still have claimed the beneficial properties(curing and general tonic effect) of aloe gel. Whereas considerable contradictory reports have helped to confuse the aloe gel issue and continually aroused controversy about aloe gel efficacy. However health food, cosmetic and medicinal products made from aloe gel are widely available in the world market especially in U.S.A. so the growing of Aloe plant and the processing of A. vera gel have become big industries in some countries. In some previous papers the salicylic acid, one of the common trace gel components, was thought to have an analgetic and antinflammatory effect. Large amount of Mg ion in the gel was suggested to act as anesthetic, Mg-lactate as antihistamic, and Aloctin A(a glycoprotein) as wound healer by promoting the cell growth. The carboxypeptidase and bradykinase activity in the gel were proposed to have the pain relieving and antiinflammatory effect. But any of thes etheories concerining the physiological action of the trace gel components has not been demonstrated by modern pharmacology, and failed to be supported by clinical research. It was suggested by some research workers that trace amount of anthraquinone compounds in the gel play an important role to act as false substrate inhibitors for PG and TX production(antiprostanoid effect), by which, they believed, inflammation, burn and frostbite, and infected wound could be healed. This hypothesis has not been substantiated. Butthe suggested antimicrobial action, antidiabetic, and antidotic effect of aloe gel are likely to be attributed to the trace anthraquinone compounds. In a lot of recent experimental reports it has been claimed that aloe gel polysaccharides(acetylglucomannan, acetylmannan, and glycoprotein) have the antimicrobial, antinflammatory, antitumour, and infected wound healing effect by immunoenhancement. It is hoped that these effects will be soon documented in clinical studies, then the controversy on aloe gel beneficial effect will cease. In the 30 days subchronic toxicity test the lowest observed adverse effect level of acemannan(acetylmannan) on dog was 5.0 mg/kg, IP. But the aloe gel is generally agreed to be harmless and non toxic even for the internal use such as health food. In the case of idiosynrasy one must keep the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction of aloe gel in mind. In conclusion it seem to be impossible to simply refuse a lot of evidences made by research workers who have claimed aloe gel's beneficial effects and to deny the fact that there had been long therapeutic histories of Aloe plants.