• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2000

Many natural products elicit diverse pharmacological effects. Using two classes of potential chemopreventive compounds, the phenolic compounds and the isothiocyanates, we review the potential utility of two signaling events, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the ICE/Ced-3 proteases (caspases) stimulated by these agents in mammalian cell lines. Studies with phenolic antioxidants (BHA, tBHQ), and natural products (flavonoids; EGCG, ECG, and isothiocyanates; PEITC, sulforaphane), provided important insights into the signaling pathways induced by these compounds. At low concentrations, these chemicals may activate the MAPK (ERK2, JNK1, p38) leading to gene expression of survival genes (c-Fos, c-Jun) and defensive genes (Phase II detoxifying enzymes; GST, QR) resulting in survival and protective mechanisms (homeostasis response). Increasing the concentrations of these compounds will additionally activate the caspase pathway, leading to apoptosis (potential cytotoxicity). Further increment to suprapharmacological concentrations will lead to nonspecific necrotic cell death. The wider and narrow concentration ranges between the activation of MAPK/gene induction and caspases/cell death exhibited by phenolic compounds and isothiocyanates, respectively, in mammalian cells, may reflect their respective therapeutic windows in vivo. Consequently, the studies of signaling pathways elicited by natural products will advance our understanding of their efficacy and safety, of which many man become important therapeuitc drugs of the future.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2009

We evaluated total phenolics and antioxidative activities of water extracts from different parts of Cudrania tricuspidata (specifically, the leaves, stems, roots, and fruits). The antioxidative activities of these samples were determined using five methods, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging, reducing power, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and $\beta$-carotene/linoleic acid system. The water extract of leaves exhibited the higher DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activities, reducing power, and FRAP than water extract of stem, roots, and fruits. Inhibition values on linoleic oxidation of water extracts from leaves, stems, roots, and fruits were calculated as 45.98%, 33.03%, 39.73%, and 25.48% at 10 mg/mL, respectively. The water extract of C. tricuspidata leaves had the highest amount of toal phenolics (73.60$\pm$0.28 mg/g). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that quercetin is the predominant phenolic compound in water extract of leaves. Thus, our study verified that the water extract of leaves has strong antioxidant activities which are correlated with its high level of phenolic compounds, particularly quercetin. This water extract of C. tricuspidata leaves can be used as an effective and safe source of antioxidants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.704-711
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• 2016

Tomatoes are considered as one of the main components of daily meals in most households. Thus, it is important to invest in studies enhancing their yield and nutritional value. The study evaluated the effect of wood vinegar (WV) on tomato under greenhouse conditions. Data on fruit number, fruit weight, and plant height were recorded. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of tomato were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, respectively. FRR-CF+500x-WV significantly increased the fruit number (86.11%) and fruit weight (81.78%) over the control. Results were comparable to HRR-CF+250x-WV, indicating that conventional fertilizer and WV may have synergistic effect on each other. TPC and scavenging effect on DPPH radical was improved by 250x-WV application. The increase in the phenolic compounds can be attributed to WV as a direct source or as a factor triggering the plants to produce more secondary metabolites with the purpose of increasing natural defenses. The significant effect obtained by applying the full recommended rate of conventional fertilizer on the carotenoid content was due to the availability of the major nutrients needed by the plant. Correlation analysis showed that carotenoids have negative correlation with TPC and DPPH. However, TPC and DPPH showed that these are positively correlated with each other. Tomatoes are excellent source of antioxidants associated with the reduction of some human diseases and improved health. The results provided evidence that WV alone and/or its combination with conventional fertilizers has favorable effects on the quality of tomato.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.338-345
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• 2019

The selection of a suitable solvent is very important when preparing an extract. However, the effect of ethanol solvent concentration in the extraction of sweet wormwood tea has not been reported. Thus, extracts were prepared from sweet wormwood tea using water and various ethanol concentrations, and the phenolic compounds, antioxidants and anti-enzyme activities of the extracts were analyzed. The phenolic acid and flavonoid components differed according to extraction solvent, which also resulted in different antioxidant and antienzyme activities. In particular, flavonoid rhamnetin was not extracted using 80% and 99.5% ethanol and was highest when 60% ethanol was used for extraction. In the case of chlorogenic acid, the highest extraction efficiency was obtained with 80% ethanol. These results suggest the need for research to increase specific extraction efficiency by targeting major compounds that affect physiological activity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.345-349
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• 2009

This study measured the amounts of uronic acid, total sugars, non-cellulosic neutral sugars, phenolic compounds as well as antioxidants activity in cell wall materials (CWM) derived from different parts of deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata). The values of the uronic acid (UA): neutral sugars (NS) ratio in polymers extracted from the CWM of the flesh and skin were 4 and 6, respectively. The total sugar contents of the flesh and skin were 788.6 and 824.9 ${mu}g/mg$ of CWM, respectively. Galactose and arabinose were the main noncellulosic neutral sugars. The chemical structure of five phenolic compounds from the CWM were analyzed and identified as vanillic acid, p-OH-benzaldehyde, vanillin, ferulic acid, and 8-O-4' diferulic acid by HPLC spectral data. Among them, p-OH-benzaldehyde, vanillin, and 8-O-4' diferulic acid were the first compounds identified from the deodeok. The content of 8-O-4' diferulic acid in the skin CWM was 56.1 ${mu}g/g$ AIR (alcohol insoluble residue). The ethanol-NaOH fractions from CWM had the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) activities, followed by the AIR fractions and ethanol fractions.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1218-1223
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• 2009

Total phenolics and antioxidant activities of water and 80% methanol extract of chestnut inner skin were investigated. The antioxidant properties of both extracts of chestnut inner skin were evaluated using different antioxidant tests, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, reducing power, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and inhibitory effects on ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching. The 80% methanol extract of inner skin exhibited the higher DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activities, reducing power, and FRAP than water extract of inner skin and did also in a concentration-dependent manner. However, inhibitory effects on ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching of 80% methanol extract was similar to those of water extract, 35.09 and 39.07% at 1 mg/mL, respectively. The total phenolic contents of water and 80% methanol extract from chestnut inner skin were 5,801.42 and 9,735.56 mg/100 g, respectively. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that gallic acid was the predominant phenolic compound in water and 80% methanol extract from inner skin. These water and 80% methanol extracts of chestnut inner skin can be utilized as an effective and safe source of antioxidants.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.744-748
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• 2004

Effects of Monascus anka and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on wine brewing were investigated. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in cell-free extracts of M. anka was 56.89% as compared to 100% of S. cerevisiae. Although initial fermentation was low, M. anka exhibited very similar fermentation pattern and ethanol production to those of S. cerevisiae. Acidity and reducing sugar content of red wine produced by M. anka were higher than those of S. cerevisiae-produced one. During fermentation, color value increased, whereas turbidity decreased in both red wine. M. anka-produced wine showed higher color value than S. cerevisiae-produced one. During fermentation, phenolic compounds known as antioxidants of red wine decreased. Total phenolic content (1608.01 mg/L) of M. anka-produced red wine was significantly higher than that (1337.60 mg/L) of S. cerevisiae-produced one (p<0.05). These results suggest quality of red wine could be improved using M. anka.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.817-823
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• 2011

Angelicae gigas Nakai has been used as a traditional medicine as well as an edible vegetable in South Korea. In this study, the total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidants of A. gigas Nakai leaves were examined in vitro via hydroxyl-radical-scavenging activity, reducing power activity, metal chelating assay, and DPPH-free -radical-scavenging assay. Among all the extracts from A. gigas Nakai leaves, the ethanol extract showed the strongest effects in all of the assays. The $EC_{50}$ values for the DPPH-radical-scavenging activities of ethanol, methanol, and water extracts were 31.47, 42.14, and $58.47{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Among the extracts from A. gigas Kakai leaves, the ethanol extract had the highest levels of total phenolics ($7.84{\pm}1.46$ mg TAN/g) and total flavonoids ($4.23{\pm}0.03$ mg QE/g), which correlated strongly with the individual phenolic-compound (p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillin, and trans-ferulic acid) contents. The ethanol extract also showed stronger antioxidant activity than tocopherol in hydroxyl- radical-scavenging activity assay. These results indicate that the ethanol extract of A. gigas Kakai leaves possesses significant antioxidant properties, which suggests its great potential as a functional-food ingredient in the food industry.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2019

Rice bran is considered a natural source of antioxidants. In this study, rice bran was fermented with lactic acid bacteria to increase its antioxidant activity. Four strains isolated from fermented food, Lactobacillus plantarum MJM60383, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis MJM60392, Lactobacillus fermentum MJM60393, and Lactobacillus paracasei MJM60396, were confirmed as safe through stability tests such as safety assessment for biogenic amine production, hemolytic activity, and mucin degradation, and showed high reducing capacity. The antioxidant activity of rice bran fermentation altered by these strains was evaluated using several methods including measurement of $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity and scavenging activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and nitric oxide assays. In this study, the total phenolic content and ${\gamma}$-oryzanol were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Compared to non-fermented rice bran and a commercial product, rice bran fermented with Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis MJM60392 showed the highest phenolic content (844.13 mg GAE/g). Moreover, the content of ferulic acids, ${\rho}$-coumaric acid, and ${\gamma}$-oryzanol in rice bran increased after fermentation with L. lactis subsp. lactis MJM60392 and L. fermentum MJM60393 compared to other samples. Indeed, the DPPH radical scavenging activity and NO scavenging activity were also found to be high in these fermented rice brans. These results indicated that fermentation with lactic acid bacteria increases the active compound levels and the potent antioxidant activities of rice bran.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.92-94
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• 2005

The flavonoids kaempherol and epicatechin, and a proanthocyanidin fraction were isolated from the seed of allspice (Pimenta dioica). Their structures were determined by chemical and spectral analyses. Antioxidant activities of kaempherol, epicatechin and the proanthocyanidin fraction were tested using the reaction with the stable radical diphenyl-p-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and exhibited IC/sub 50/ values of 7.83, 4.27 and 2.92 g/mL, respectively. These results demonstrate that allspice proanthocyanidins and flavonoids might act as effective antioxidants.