• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.223-229
• /
• 2021

To evaluate the protective effect of Codium fragile on fine dust (PM2.5)-induced cytotoxicity, we investigated its antioxidant activity and cell protective effect on PM2.5-exposed cells. The 40% ethanolic extract of C. fragile showed the highest total phenolic content, whereas the water extract of C. fragile showed the highest total polysaccharide content. The protective effect of the extracts on PM2.5-induced oxidative damage in nasal cavity (RPMI2650), lung (A549), brain (MC-IXC), hippocampus (HT-22), and microglia (BV-2) cells was evaluated by measuring the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and cell viability. The results showed that the 40% ethanolic extract more efficiently inhibited ROS production than the water extract. In contrast, PM2.5-exposed cells treated with the water extract showed higher viability than those treated with the 40% ethanolic extract.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.325-331
• /
• 2019

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most popular green leafy vegetables, and it contains various beneficial components including polyphenolic compounds and has been known to possess various biological functions such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, we prepared ethanol extract of dried lettuce (DLE) and investigated its anti-inflammatory activity. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of DLE, nitric oxide (NO) production was measured in LPS-activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. DLE significantly suppressed NO production in these cells without affecting cell viabilities while resveratrol was used as a positive control. DLE dramatically decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as iNOS and COX-2 at the mRNA and protein levels and reduced the expression of several cytokines including $IL-1{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-1F6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, CSF2 and CXCL10. In addition, DLE suppressed phosphorylation of MAPKs and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 indicating DLE shows its anti-inflammatory activity via regulating MAPKs pathway and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathways. And also, DLE reduced the production of reactive oxygen species in a dose-dependent manner. DLE increased HO-1 protein expression, and also increased the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Overall, our results suggest that lettuce down-regulate various pro-inflammatory genes and have its anti-inflammatory activity via regulating MAPKs, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.407-417
• /
• 2018

In this study, the antioxidant, cytoprotective and antimicrobial activities of 50% ethanol extract of Polygoni multiflori Radix (PMR) and its ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated to confirm the applicability as a functional ingredient. The activities of the major constituent of PMR were verified and 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside (THSG) was confirmed to be the main component of extract and fraction using HPLC-DAD, LC-EIS-MS analysis. The phenolic and THSG contents of the ethyl acetate fraction were 11.1- and 3.0-folds higher than those of the ethanol extract, respectively. As a result of the DPPH assay and that of luminol dependent chemiluminescence assay in $Fe^{3+}$-EDTA/H2O2 system. the ethylacetate fraction was superior to the ethanol extract in free radical and ROS scavenging activities. Especially, the ethyl acetate fraction and THSG exhibited the similar scavenging activity like L-ascorbic acid in ROS scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate fraction perceived the most potent cytoprotective effect against oxidative damage of erythrocytes induced by photosensitization reaction, followed by the ethanol fraction, THSG and that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol, which was used as a positive control. Antimicrobial activities were evaluated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution assay against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. In particular, the antibacterial activity of the extract and fraction against S. aureus was superior to that of methyl paraben. Taken together, our results suggest that PMR could be used as a natural ingredient for antioxidant, cytoprotective and antimicrobial activities.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.500-509
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the worth of extract husk and cobs of the Seakso 1 (EHCS) for the functional foods. We aimed to investigate the proximate composition, fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidant active substance contents, antioxidant activity, inhibitory activity of the ${\alpha}-amylase$ and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$. The proximate composition of the EHCS have represented 6.90% moisture, 7.31% crude ash, 0.52% crude fat and 7.07% crude protein. Among the 17 kinds of amino acids that were analyzed in thd EHCS, the glutamic acid was the highest, with 736.08 mg / 100 g. The fatty acids detected in the EHCS were palmitic acid oleic acid and linoleic acid. The proportion of the unsaturated fatty acids was 83.33%. We determined the contents of the antioxidant active substance by the total polyphenol and flavonoid. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were 99.87 mg/g and 25.02 mg/g, respectively. The antioxidative activity of the EHCS were determined using a DPPH and ABTS assay. In the antioxidative activity determination, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were 95.62% ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$) and 92.00% ($10,000{\mu}g/mL$), respectively. The inhibitory activity of ${\alpha}-amylase$ and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ (10 mg/mL) were 95.86% and 76.92%, respectively. These results suggest that the EHCS could be potentially used as a resource for the bioactive materials for health functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.1406-1415
• /
• 2018

Based on the antioxidative effects in organic solvent fractions obtained from the main methanolic extract of Houttuynia cordata Thunb, the cytoprotective effects by oxidative-stress were here analyzed. Regarding the antioxidant activity of organic solvent fractions, the electron-donating ability of DPPH increased in a dose-dependent manner, and $ED_{50}$ exhibited the highest concentration at $175{\mu}g/ml$ in the Hc-EtOAc fraction. The cell viability of Hc-EtOAc fractions on $H_2O_2$-induced HaCaT cell death ($IC_{50}$) increased in a concentration-dependent manner and a visible cell survival rate of 74% was observed at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. Meanwhile, the gene expression patterns in HaCaT cells treated with $100{\mu}g/ml$ of the Hc-EtOAc fraction for 6 and 24 hr were identified with microarray analysis. The genes involved in signal transduction, cell division, antioxidant activity, and epithelial cell proliferation were found to be 2-fold up-regulated genes in HaCaT cells following the Hc-EtOAc fraction treatment. Especially, proinflammatory cytokines (IL1B, TNF, and IL6) were identified as involved in antioxidant activity based on the expression patterns of the HaCaT cells, and pathway analysis indicated that TLR4 might be considered an upstream regulator of these genes. In order to verify the activity of IL1B, TNF, and IL6, qRT-PCR showed that the expression increased more than 2 times in HaCaT cells treated with at least $100{\mu}g/ml$ of the Hc-EtOAc fraction. The activity of the upstream regulator TLR4 protein was also increased by the Hc-EtOAc fraction. As a result, the antioxidative activity of the Hc-EtOAc fraction is predicted to pass from TLR4 through cytokines such as IL1B, TNF, and IL6.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.413-421
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is an important traditional medicinal herb. Pharmacological research has indicated that AM has various physiological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, and hepatoprotective activities. The bioactive substances responsible for the physiological activities in AM, including many antioxidant substances, change during the roasting process. This study investigated and compared the changes in the antioxidant constituents of AM caused by roasting. Methods: DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and $ABTS^+$ (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) radical scavenging activities and their total phenolic content (TPC) were measured. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to confirm any changes in the isoflavonoids of roasted AM (R-AM),. The cell viability of UVB-induced HDF (Human dermal fibroblast) cells treated with AM and R-AM extracts was investigated. The comet assay was used to examine the inhibitory effects of R-AM extracts on DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. Results: The DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activities were $564.6{\pm}20.9$ and $108.2{\pm}3.1$ ($IC_{50}$ value) respectively, from the 2R-AM. The total phenol content was $47.80{\pm}1.40mg$ GAE/g from the 1R-AM. The values of calycosin and formononetin, which are the known isoflavonoid constituents of AM, were $778.58{\pm}2.72$ and $726.80{\pm}3.45{\mu}g/g$ respectively, from the 2R-AM. Treatment of the HDF cells with R-AM ($50{\sim}200{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect the cell viability. Furthermore, the R-AM extracts effectively protected against UVB-induced DNA damage. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that R-AM increases its isoflavonoid constituents and protects against UVB-induced DNA damage in HDF cells.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.57-67
• /
• 2019

Particulate matters with a diameter of < $10{\mu}m$ (PM10) exert oxidative stress and inflammatory events in various organs. The purpose of this study was to examine the molecular mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by PM10 in the human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs). When cultured HEKs were exposed to PM10, ROS production was induced and it was inhibited by apocynin, an antioxidant. The mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) family was analyzed in order to examine their role in PM10-induced ROS production. PM10 increased the mRNA expression of NOX1, NOX2, dual oxidase (DUOX) 1 and DUOX2. HEKs expressed DUOX1 and DUOX2 at higher levels compared to other NOXs. The mRNA expression of dual oxidase maturation factors, DUOXA1 and DUOXA2, was also increased by PM10. We examined whether these calcium-dependent enzymes, DUOX1 and DUOX2, mediate the PM10-induced ROS production. A selective intracellular calcium chelator, BAPTA-AM, attenuated ROS production induced by PM10 or calcium ionophore A23187. The small intereference RNA (siRNA)-mediated down-regulation of DUOX2, but not DUOX1, attenuated the ROS production induced by PM10. PM10 increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8 and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$. SiRNA-mediated down-regulation of DUOX2 suppressed the PM10-induced expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ but not other cytokines. This study suggests that DUOX2 plays a crucial role in ROS production and inflammatory response in PM10-exposed keratinocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 2019

In general, specific gravity (SG) and urinary creatinine (CR) have been used to adjust urinary cadmium (Cd) concentrations. However, the validity of correction methods has been controversial. We compared the two adjustments to evaluate associations between urinary Cd and various renal damage markers and to evaluate the relationship between urinary Cd concentration and renal disease markers, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), in a relatively large general population sample. Among the 1,086 volunteers who were enrolled in this study, 862 healthy volunteers who did not have kidney disease were included in the final analysis. Urinary Cd, malondialdehyde (MDA), and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) concentrations were measured, the creatinine-based eGFR was calculated, and the relationships between these markers were subsequently analyzed. This study showed the use of urinary Cd concentration adjusted with SG rather than with urinary creatinine may be appropriate in studies evaluating renal function based on Cd exposure. Urinary Cd concentration adjusted with SG had a positive correlation with urinary MDA levels and a negative correlation with eGFR. This relationship was relatively stronger in women than in men. This study showed that urinary Cd level was associated with decreased eGFR in the general population, and oxidative stress was likely to act as an intermediator in this process. These results suggest that eGFR can be a very good indicator of kidney damage caused by Cd exposure in the general population.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 2019

Amyloid ${\beta}$-protein ($A{\beta}$) is the principal component of senile plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and elicits a toxic effect on neurons in vitro and in vivo. Many environmental factors, including antioxidants and proteoglycans, modify $A{\beta}$ toxicity. It is worthwhile to isolate novel natural compounds that could prove therapeutic for patients with AD without causing detrimental side effects. In this study, we investigated the in vitro neuroprotective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of Ophiophogon japonicas (OJEA fraction). We used an MTT reduction assay to detect protective effects of the OJEA fraction on $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells. We also used a cell-based ${\beta}$-secretase assay system to investigate the inhibitory effect of the OJEA fraction on ${\beta}$-secretase activity. In addition, we performed an in vitro lipid peroxidation assay to evaluate the protective effect of the OJEA fraction against oxidative stress induced by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ in PC12 cells. The OJEA fraction had strong protective effects against $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells and was strongly inhibitory to ${\beta}$-secretase activity, which resulted in the attenuation of $A{\beta}$ generation. In addition, the OJEA fraction significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which is induced by the exposure of PC12 cells to $A{\beta}_{25-35}$. Our results suggested that the OJEA fraction contained active compounds exhibiting a neuroprotective effect on $A{\beta}$ toxicity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2019

Herbal medicines are widely used as therapeutic products in many countries. Corni fructus (CF), the dried ripe sarcocarp of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Cornaceae), has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and has been reported to be effective for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as kidney diseases and diabetes. Recent research on CF has documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, which include anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, there is no information on its safety. Therefore, in this study, the toxicity of water extract of CF to ICR mice was investigated. The mice received a single dose of water extract of CF (1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg of body weight) via the oral route. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, and weights of the principal organs after 14 d were then assessed. The results revealed no adverse effects of CF as determined by clinical signs, body weights, or organ weights and no gross pathological findings in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximated lethal dose of CF extract is over 5,000 mg/kg. The findings provide scientific evidence for the safety of CFs.