• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.395-411
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated the anti-obesity effect of the flavonoid rich fraction (FRF) and its constituent, rutin obtained from the leaf of Morus alba L., on the lipid accumulation mechanism in 3T3-L1 adipocyte and C57BL/6 mouse models. Methods and Results: In Oil Red O staining, FRF (1,000 ㎍/㎖) treatments showed inhibition rate of 35.39% in lipid accumulation compared to that in the control. AdipoRedTM assay indicated that the triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with FRF (1,000 ㎍/㎖) was reduced to 23.22%, and free glycerol content was increased to 106.04% that of the control. FRF and its major constituent, rutin affected mRNA gene expression. Rutin contributed to the inhibition of Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) gene expression, and inhibited the transcription factors SREBP-1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). In addition, the effect of FRF administration on obesity development in C57BL/6 mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) was investigated. FRF suppressed weight gain, and reduced liver triglyceride and leptin secretion. FRF exerted potential anti-inflammatory effects by improving insulin resistance and adiponectin levels, and could thus be used to help counteract obesity. The mRNA expressions of PPAR-γ, FAS, ACC, and CPT-1 were determined in liver tissue. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was also performed to evaluate the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in epididymal adipose tissue. Compared to the control group, mice fed the HFD showed the up-regulation in PPAR-γ, FAS, IL-6, and TNF-α genes, and down-regulation in CPT1 gene expression. FRF treatement markedly reduced the expression of PPAR-γ, FAS, IL-6, and TNF-α compared to those in HFD control, whereas increased the expression level of CPT1. Conclusions: These results suggest that the FRF and its major active constituent, rutin, can be used as effective anti-obesity agents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.393-399
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• 2012

In this study, the antioxidant and anti-wrinkling effects of extracts from Aruncus diocius var. kamtschaticus (ADV) were investigated. According to the results, the ethanol extract has better antioxidant and anti-wrinkling effects than the water extract. The amounts of total polyphenol and flavonoid compounds in the ethanol extract were 122 and 36 mg/g, respectively, while those in the water extract were 87 and 26 mg/g. The antioxidant activities of the ethanol and water extracts were 395 and 4,682 ${\mu}g/mL$ as the $RC_{50}$ values for the DPPH radical scavenging activity, and 227 and 366 ${\mu}g/mL$ for the $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity, respectively. The reducing power of the ethanol extract (1.58 at 2 mg/mL) was higher than that of the water extract (0.88 at 2 mg/mL). The astringent activities of the ethanol and water extracts were 91.27 and 16.35% at 10 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ADV ethanol extract treatment of the fibroblast cell after UV irradiation resulted in increased cell viability (10% at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$) and collagen biosynthesis (33% at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$), with a lowering in the MMP-1 expression level (16.8 % at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$). These results demonstrate that AVD provides a remarkable and significant tensor and anti-wrinkling effect on the skin, which could be of a great use in anti-aging skin care products.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.435-441
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• 2009

Activity-guided isolation from the ethylacetate (EtOAc)-soluble portion of a methanolic extract of the seeds of Eriobotrya japonica, using several bioassays, led to the isolation and identification of six phenolic compounds of previously known structure: benzaldehyde (1), chlorogenic acid (2), caffeic acid (3), benzoic acid (4), ferulic acid (5), and amygdalin (6). Of these, benzaldehyde (1) exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity in a bioassay. In addition, chlorogenic acid (2) and caffeic acid (3) were found to have strong antioxidative effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.848-854
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• 2016

Cymbidium is one of perennial herbs belonging to the Orchidaceae and is known as a medicinal plant. However, its scientific data are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to extract from root and stem of Cymbidium, to investigate the biological effects of them. Cymbidium antibacterial effects of the extracts were performed by antibacterial test against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus saphrophyticus (S. saprophyticus), Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia). Antioxidant effects of the extracts were carried out by DPPH radical scavenging. Total phenolic contents were also determined. Moreover, Cell viability of extracts against MTT assay was cell viability against HepG2 cell and also measures Cholesterol adsorptivity of extracts. In this study, the extracts inhibited the growth of bacteria. Particularly Cymbidium root extracts by only ethanol extraction showed highest antimicrobial effect against S. aureus. The Cymbidium stem extracts by both ethanol extraction and sonication for 1 hour had higher antioxidant activites as well as total phenolic contents. Cell cytotoxicity showed higher than $50{\mu}g/mL$. Cholesterol adsorptivity showed lower than 20%. These results suggest that the Cymbidium might be a source of anti-bacterials and anti-oxidants.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2010

Ultraviolet is the one of the main environmental factors promoting aging process via increased intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and molecules. Therefore, in this study, we tried to search for natural skin-protective antioxidant materials from marine origins (Porphyra Thalli, Laminariae japonicae thallus, Ostreae Concha, Sargassum Thallus, Undaria thallus, Haliotidis Concha, Codium thalli, Syngnathoides biaculeatus, Hippocampus, Stichopus Stichopus, Thalli, Hizikia fusiforme thalli) which exhibit free radical scavenging activity and protect against UVB-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative cell death. Free radical scavenging activity was shown in order of Undaria thallus. Sargassum Thallus, Laminariae japonicae thallus, Hippocampus, Haliotidis Concha, Ostreae Concha, Syngnathoides biacuJeatus. In another experiment, UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were effectively suppressed by treatment of Sargassum Thallus, Haliotidis Concha, Codium thalli, or Hippocampus water extract. Furthermore, UVB-induced cell death was mediated by intracellular accumulation or ROS, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with aforementioned extracts. The protective effect of these marine natural products seemed to be mediated by increased expression of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and heme oxygenase-1. These results suggest that Sargassum Thallus, Haliotidis Concha, Codium thalli, and Hippocampus may have preventive and protective potentials as new functional cosmetics against oxidative stress-mediated skin damages and aging with antioxidant properties.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.486-493
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The honeysuckle berry (HB) contains ascorbic acid and phenolic components, especially anthocyanins, flavonoids, and low-molecular-weight phenolic acids. In order to examine the potential of HB as a hepatoprotective medicinal food, we evaluated the in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Korean HB (HBK) and Chinese HB (HBC). MATERIALS/METHODS: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts were examined in HepG2 and RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. The anti-oxidant capacity was determined by DPPH, SOD, CAT, and ARE luciferase activities. The production of nitric oxide (NO) as an inflammatory marker was also evaluated. The Nrf2-mediated mRNA levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (Nqo1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gclc) were measured. The concentrations of HB extracts used were 3, 10, 30, 100, and $300{\mu}g/mL$. RESULTS: The radical scavenging activity of all HB extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). SOD (P < 0.05) and CAT (P < 0.01) activities were increased by treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of each HB extract, when compared to those in the control. NO production was observed in cells pretreated with 100 or $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBC and HBK (P < 0.01). Treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBC significantly increased Nqo1 (P < 0.01) and Gclc (P < 0.05) mRNA levels compared to those in the control. Treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBK (P < 0.05) and HBC (P < 0.01) also significantly increased the HO-1 mRNA level compared to that in the control. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the Korean and Chinese HBs were found to possess favorable in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Nrf2 and its related anti-oxidant genes were associated with both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in HB-treated cells. Further studies are needed to confirm these in vivo effects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.300-316
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• 1998

The various oriental herbal medicines, which have usually been used for treatment of reducing fever, purging intense heat and detoxication, were screened to determine the antibacterial activity and the minimal inhibitory concentration against antibiotics-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Among the 23 oriental medicines tested, the water-soluble extract of Coptis japonica showed very excellent antibacterial activity against antibiotics-sensitive and -resistant S. aureus. A little activity was found in the extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis, Eriobotrya japonica and Prunus mume against antibiotics-sensitive S. aureus and in that extracts of P. mume, Schizandra chinensis and S. baicalensis against antibiotics-resistant S. aureus. When C japonica was used, the high antibacterial activity was shown against Bacillus subtilis and other extracts showed a little or no antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and E. coli as a control. 2. The highest antibacterial activities against antibiotics-resistant S. aureus were found in the ethanol-soluble extract of C japonica. Other ethanol-soluble extracts of S, baicalensis, S. chinensis and P. mume showed a little activity against both antibiotics-sensitive and antibiotics-resistant S. aureus. 3. Among the medicinal herbs tested, the water- and ethanol extracts of C. japonica showed very excellent antibacterial activity against the pathogenic S. aureus and both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis used as a control. 4. When the water-soluble extracts of C. japonica and S. baicalensis, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against antibiotics-sensitive S. aureus were $20mg/m{\ell}\;and\;30mg/m{\ell}$, respectively. The MICs of the ethanol-soluble extracts of C. japonica and P. scabriosaefolia were $7.5mg/m{\ell}\;and\;12mg/m{\ell}$, respectively. 5. For the MICs against antibiotics-resistant S. aureus, the water-soluble extracts of C. japonica and P. mume showed $15mg/m{\ell}\;and\;10mg/m{\ell}$, respectively. The MICs of the ethanol-soluble extracts of C. japonica and P. mume were $13mg/m{\ell}\;and\;20mg/m{\ell}$, respectively. As a result, the highest antibacterial activity was found in both water- and ethanol-soluble extracts of C. japonica against antibiotics-resistant S. aureus. And the water- and ethanol-soluble extracts of S. baicalensis, S. chinensis and P. mume showed comparatively high antibacterial activities against both antibiotics-sensitive and -resistant S. aureus.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2016

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-characterized medicinal herb listed in the classic oriental herbal dictionary as "Shin-nong-bon-cho-kyung." Ginseng has diverse pharmacologic and therapeutic properties. Black ginseng (BG, Ginseng Radix nigra) is produced by repeatedly steaming fresh ginseng nine times. Studies of BG have shown that prolonged heat treatment enhances the antioxidant activity with increased radical scavenging activity. Several recent studies have showed the effects of BG on increased lipid profiles in mice. In this study report the effects of water and ethanol extracts of BG on hypercholesterolemia in rats. To our knowledge, this is the first time such an effect has been reported. Methods: Experiments were conducted on male Sprague Dawley rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with the water and ethanol extracts of BG (200 mg/kg). Their blood cholesterol levels, serum white blood cell levels, and cholesterol-metabolizing marker genes messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were determined. Liver and adipose tissues were histologically analyzed. Results: We found that BG extracts efficiently reduced the total serum cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels with increased food efficiency ratio and increased number of neutrophil cells. It also attenuated the key genes responsible for lipogenesis, that is, acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) acetyltransferase 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, at the mRNA level inside liver cells. Furthermore, the BG extract also reduced the accumulation of fat in adipose tissues, and inhibited the neutral fat content in liver cells stained with hematoxylin and eosin and oil red O. Conclusion: Administration of BG extracts to Sprague Dawley rats fed with high-cholesterol diet ameliorated hypercholesterolemia, which was mediated via modulation of cholesterol-metabolizing marker genes. This data throw a light on BG's cardioprotective effects.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Objectives: Osteoporosis is considered a serious human disease. We developed an extract of mixed herbs containing root of Platycodon grandiflorum (ExMH-PGR), which is expected to be effective in preventing or treating osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-osteoporotic effect of ExMH-PGR in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. Methods: To examine the anti-osteoporotic effect of ExMH-PGR, osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation were induced and cultured with various concentrations of ExMH-PGR. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis, osteocalcin production, and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells were analyzed. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and the formation of actin ring in RAW 264.7 cells were analyzed. Results: ExMH-PGR at concentration up to $25{\mu}g/mL$ significantly increased ALP activity, collagen synthesis, osteocalcin production, and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells. ExMH-PGR at 50 to $200{\mu}g/mL$ significantly inhibited TRAP activity and the formation of actin ring in RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that ExMH-PGR stimulates osteoblastic activities and inhibits osteoclastic activities in in vitro systems, suggesting that ExMH-PGR might be considered as an anti-osteoporotic candidate for treatment of osteoporosis disease.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2022

Objectives: Herbal medicine is a worldwide health topic. Vitex agnus-castus L. (VAC) is a popular plant used for gynecologic problems due to its hormonal effects. The aim of this study is to reveal VAC extract effect on fetus when this herb is used started from antenatal period or during pregnancy. Methods: Performed from starting day of January 2019 till February 2019, 48 rats were assigned in randomly divided eight-member six groups: control (C1), treated group with 365 mg/kg VAC from initiation of insemination (T1) and 30 days prior to pregnancy (T2), control that underwent caesarean section on 15^th day of gestational age (C2) and treated group with 365 mg/kg VAC from initiation of insemination (T3) and 30 days prior to pregnancy (T4) that underwent caesarean section. Weight, sex and number of fetuses, abortion and still birth rate and estradiol level were evaluated using t-test by SPSS software. Results: We showed increased weight among T1 group considering totally and sex-dependent which is significant (all p-value < 0.05). We also detected significantly decreased weight in T2 in total (p-value < 0.0001) and when considering female fetuses (0.043) but not males (0.17). Although the results showed slightly non-significant increased weight among fetuses of T3 (totally or based on the fetus sex) compared to the control group (C2), T4 group had statistically decreased weight compared to control group. Pregnancy rate and pregnancy outcome were affected by VAC usage. The time of VAC initiation also affected live birth and abortion rates. Conclusion: VAC extract may affect pregnancy rate, live birth rate, abortion and stillbirth rates. Its effect on the weight and the sex showed dual pattern depends on the time of initiation and pregnancy trimester of evaluation. Prescribing this medicinal plant for patients being prone to pregnancy should be with caution. Further study is recommended.