• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2017

The anti-inflammatory effect of Sargassum patens C. Agardh ethanol extract (SPEE) was examined based on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in this study. SPEE treatment was not cytotoxic to macrophages compared to the control. The production of NO was suppressed by SPEE by approximately 28% at $100{\mu}g/ml$, and levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ decreased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ was suppressed by SPEE treatment. In vivo, croton oil-induced mouse ear edema was attenuated by SPEE and the infiltration of mast cells into the tissue decreased. Based on these results, SPEE inhibits the release of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, suggesting that SPEE is a potential agent for anti-inflammatory therapies.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.452-463
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• 2020

Purpose: Aster tataricus (AT) is one of the Asteraceae perennial herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. The herb contains various bioactive substances, such as flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and phenolic compounds in the roots, and exhibits a range of effects including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study compared the immunomodulatory effects of ethanol and water extracts of whole AT, except the roots, and analyzed the molecular mechanisms for the regulatory effects on cytokine secretion from THP-1 cells. Methods: The effects of AT extract on the cell viability and proliferation of THP-1 cells were analyzed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 method. The concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cell culture supernatant of the AT-treated THP-1 cells were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (IκBα), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in the cell lysates were determined by western blotting. Results: The water extract and the ethanol extract of AT did not affect the cell viability, and increased the proliferation of THP-1 cells significantly compared to the vehicle. The water extract increased the secretion of IL-1β from THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, but the ethanol extract had no effect. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS protein and the phosphorylation of MAPK and Akt were induced in AT-treated cells. In addition, IκBα was degraded by AT in a concentration-dependent manner. IL-1β secretion by AT was reduced by extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors, while TNF-α secretion was decreased by inhibitors of ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK. Interestingly, the p38 MAPK inhibitor increased the production of IL-1β by AT further. Conclusion: The water extract of the above-ground parts of AT contains immunomodulatory bioactive substances that stimulate immune cells through the MAPK signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2015

Citrus and its peels, which are by-products from juice and/or jam processing, have long been used in Asian folk medicine. Citrus peels show an abundant variety of flavanones, and these flavanones have glycone and aglycone forms. Aglycones are more potent than glycones with a variety of physiological functions since aglycone absorption is more efficient than glycones. Bioconversion with cytolase converted narirutin and naringin into naringenin and hesperidin into hesperetin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bioconversion of Citrus unshiu (CU) peel extracts with cytolase (CU-C) in RAW264.7 cells. HPLC chromatograms showed that CU and CU-C had 23.42% and 29.39% total flavonoids, respectively. There was substantial bioconversion of narirutin to naringenin and of hesperidin to hesperetin. All citrus peel extracts showed DPPH scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner, and CU-C was more potent than intact CU. RAW264.7 cells were pre-treated with $0{\sim}500{\mu}g/mL$ of citrus peel extracts for 4 h and then stimulated by $1{\mu}g/mL$ of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 8 h. All citrus peel extracts showed decreased mRNA levels and protein expression of LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in a dose-dependent manner. Especially, CU-C markedly inhibited mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 compared to intact citrus peel extracts. All citrus peel extracts showed decreased NO production by iNOS activity. This result suggests that bioconversion of citrus peel extracts with cytolase may provide potent functional food materials for prevention of chronic diseases attributable to oxidation and inflammation by boosting the anti-inflammatory effects of citrus peels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.819-827
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, alcohol metabolizing, and hepatoprotective effects of hot water (MOW) and 80% ethanol (MOE) extracts from moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf. The total phenol content of MOW and MOE were 45.49 and 63.06 mg tannic acid equivalents/g, respectively. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities of MOW and MOE were remarkably elevated in a dose-dependent manner, and about 60.8% and 71.3% at 1 mg/mL, respectively (P<0.01). Superoxide dismutase-like activities of MOW and MOE were 2.8% and 7.4% at 5 mg/mL, respectively (P<0.05). ${\alpha}-Glucosidase$ inhibitory activity also increased in a dose-dependent manner in both extracts, and MOE was higher about two times than MOW at 5 mg/mL (P<0.001). The effects of MOW and MOE on alcohol metabolizing activity were determined by measuring generation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ADH and ALDH activities significantly increased upon addition of MOW and MOE (P<0.05). Anti-inflammatory activity was examined in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Nitric oxide production was reduced to 32.1% and 81.2% by addition of MOW and MOE at 1 mg/mL, respectively (P<0.05). MOW and MOE showed significant protective effects against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep3B cells at $100{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggest that moringa leaf extracts have great potential as natural health products.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2020

This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, melanin tyrosinase inhibitory, and melanogenesis inhibitory activities of fermented Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. mayuen Stapf. by Hericium erinaceum (Bull.: Fr.) mycelial hot water extract (FCLHE). Additionally, we analyzed β-glucan and ergosterol contents in FCLHE and C. lacryma-jobi hot water extract (CLHE). The ergosterol and β-glucan contents in FCLHE were 740.2 mg% and 245.3 mg%, respectively, whereas these components were not detected in CLHE. FCLHE showed higher cell viability than CLHE. When B16F10 cells were treated with 500 ㎍/mL each of CLHE and FCLHE, the FCLHE treated cells produced 8.9 uM nitric oxide (NO), which was lower than that produced by CLHE treated cells (10.6 uM). The FCLHE treated cells showed significantly greater tyrosinase inhibition and melanin production at all tested concentrations than when compared to the CLHE treated group. Antioxidant parameters such as DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were higher in FCLHE than in CLHE. These results suggest that FCLHE can be used as a raw material for functional foods, for food additives, and in the cosmetic industry.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.424-430
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• 2010

Immuno-modulatory activities of peptides from Asterias amurensis were investigated using a nano-encapsulation process. The molecular weights of the peptides in the range of 5-7 kDa were separated using Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. Eighty-five percent of the nano-particles were in the 300 nm range using dynamic light scattering. The cytotoxicity of the A. amurensis nano-particles against CCD-986sk human dermal fibroblast cells was 11.64% after adding 1.0 mg/mL of the samples, which was lower than that from the control (13.28% collagen). The secretion of $NO^-$ from macrophages was estimated as $40\;{\mu}M$ after adding 1.0 mg/mL of gelatin nano-particles, which was higher than the others. Prostaglandin $E_2$ production from UV-induced human skin cells decreased greatly to 860 pg/mL after adding 1.0 mg/mL of the samples. Confocal microscopy revealed that nano-particles effectively penetrated the cells within 1 hour. From these results, we consider that nano-encapsulation of the peptides from A. amurensis can improve their biological functions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.475-480
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• 2010

The fruit of Actinidia polygama, Mock-chun-ryo in Korea, has been used as traditional medicine for abdominal pain, rheumatic arthritis, and stroke. In a previous study, the ethanol extract of A. polygama Max. showed antiinflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerosis effects of supercritical fluid marc extracts from A. polygama Max. Anti-inflammatory extracts were produced from supercritical fluid extraction of the silver vine under the following conditions; pressure, 1,500-4,500 psi, temperature $35-55^{\circ}C$ and extraction time 1-2 hr. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects of the extracts, we studied nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) levels in RAW 264.7 cells and MMP-9 activity in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC). The Marc 11 extract inhibited the production of NO, $PGE_2$, and TNF-$\alpha$ by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, the marc 11 extract inhibited TNF-$\alpha$-induced MMP-9 activity in HASMC. These results indicate that the Marc 11 extract of A. polygama Max. has the potential for use as an anti-atherosclerosis agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.796-804
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• 2011

Microglia are central nervous system (CNS)-resident professional macrophages that function as the principal immune cells responding to pathological stimulations in the CNS. Activation of microglia, induced by various pathogens, protects neurons and maintains homeostasis in the CNS, but severe activation causes inflammatory responses secreting various neurotoxic molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Allium fistulosum, a member of the onion family, is mainly cultivated for consumption, as well as medicinal use in Oriental medicine. It has been reported that A. fistulosum has various biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-fungus and anti-cholesterol synthesis, however there has been no research about the anti-inflammatory effects of A. fistulosum extracts. In this study, it was undertaken to explore the functions of A. fistulosum as a suppressor of neuronal inflammation by using BV2 microglia cells. As a result, it was found that four kinds of extracts of A. fistulosum effectively reduced the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at both mRNA and protein levels, and also attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the mRNA level in BV2 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the extracts of A. fistulosum attenuated the release of NO markedly, as well as resulting in slight decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production, the effects of which were most significant when treated with ethyl alcohol extract from the whole A. fistulosum. In conclusion, the data indicated that the anti-inflammatory actions of A. fistulosum against BV2 microglia cells is through the down-regulation of iNOS, COX2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, and these effects are expected to help in the protection of nerve tissues by suppressions of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2010

In this study, the anti-oxidant, anti-tumorigenic, anti-hypertensive, anti-thrombic, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties of 18 different species of genus Pleurotus were investigated. In addition, the amino acid, $\beta$-glucan, and polyphenol content were also measured. All species contained more than 20 mg% of polyphenol with the highest contents found in Pleurotus cornucopiae var. citrinopileatus (yellow pleurotus) ($39.13{\pm}0.82\;mg%$). The $\beta$-glucan contents was also the highest in yellow Pleurotus ($37.67{\pm}0.22%$) followed by Won-Hyeong1 (C, $28.75{\pm}0.61%$) and Jang-an PK (A, $27.95{\pm}0.33%$). The yellow Pleurotus exhibited the highest antioxidant activity as assessed by the DPPH scavenging rate with an $IC_{50}$ value of $2.94{\pm}0.44\;mg/mL$. Ethanol extracts from the yellow Pleurotus treated at 1% concentration showed cytotoxic activity up to 36.9% in the human embryonic kidney 293T cell lines. The yellow Pleurotus also showed the highest inhibitory effects on ACE activity ($60.52{\pm}0.2%$). Finally, the yellow Pleurotus exhibited anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties as shown by inhibition of $\alpha$-amyloglucosidase activity ($50.5{\pm}0.8%$) and nitric oxide production ($68.4{\pm}0.3%$). Taken together, our data indicate the yellow pleurotus is a promising functional food ingredients.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.876-882
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• 2016

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Corni fructus extracts (CEF, EtOAc extraction; CBF, buthanol extraction; CWF, water extraction) were investigated. The total phenolics of CEF (173.3 mg TAE/g) were significantly higher than those of CWF (26.7 mg TAE/g) and CBF (94.8 mg TAE/g). DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity of CEF (DPPH: $RH_{50}$; $25.1{\mu}g/mL$, ABTS: $RC_{50}$; $36.1{\mu}g/mL$) showed even higher than that of BHA and ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ used as positive control. All three Corni fructus extracts in the concentration of $1{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$ were effective inhibitors of NO and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). NO production was inhibited 71.3~92.2% by CEF, 76.8~85.5% by CBF and 74.4~96.9% by CWF, respectively. CEF, CBF and CWF ($1{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$) inhibited also pro-inflammatory cytokines like $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 very effectively. $TNF-{\alpha}$ was inhibited up to 51.2% by CWF and $IL-1{\beta}$ was inhibited up to 67.1% by CEF. IL-6 was best inhibited by CEF up to 58.9%. This study suggested the potential of Corni fructus for use as an excellent antioxidant substance and inflammatory inhibiting mediators. Therefore CEF, CBF and CWF Corni fructus extracts may be used for therapeutic approach to various inflammatory diseases.