• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.525-530
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• 2011

Pine needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the antioxidant activity, and proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. Pine needle extracts were examined using hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-ethanol, and hot water-hexane. The effects of the pine needle extracts were examined by comparing the results with that of a commercial agents, proanthocyanidin. Analysis of each extract indicated that hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts contained the highest total polyphenol concentrations. The hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts also showed relatively the highest SOD-like activity. The proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells treated with pine needle extracts was decreased by lower than 70%. In addition, the hot water and ethanol extracts of pine needle significantly reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive ($TRAP^+$) multinucleated cells from osteoclatic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that pine needle extracts had an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation, suggesting that they could be used for the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.208-217
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• 2016

Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. (P. densiflora) contains several phenolic compounds that exhibit biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of P. densiflora on skin has rarely been reported. Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) is a commensal microbe that induces skin inflammation and is associated with several chronic disorders, such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, papillomatosis, and sepsis. The aim of our study was to identify the anti-inflammatory effects of P. densiflora needle extracts on skin health subjected to M. furfur-induced inflammation. The methanolic extract of the pine needles was partitioned into n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and water layers. We measured the anti-inflammatory effects (in macrophages) as well as the antioxidant, antifungal, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of each of these layers. The antioxidant activity of the individual layers was in the order EtOAc layer > n-BuOH layer > water layer. Only the n-BuOH, EtOAc, and n-hexane layers showed antifungal activity. Additionally, all the layers possessed tyrosinase inhibition activity similar to that of ascorbic acid, which is used as a commercial control. The EtOAc layer was not cytotoxic toward the RAW 264.7 cell line. Interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression levels in M. furfur-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with the EtOAc layer were decreased markedly compared to those in cells treated with the other layers. Taken together, we believe that the needle extracts of P. densiflora have potential application as alternative anti-inflammatory agents or cosmetic material for skin health improvement.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 1998

An experiment to make mixed juices carrying the freshness and other specific characteristics of vegetables and fruits which are useful for the prevention and treatment of various diseases was attempted on the emphases of pretreatment methods, combination of fruits and vegetables, and elimination of microorganisms. Blanch in boiling water prior to extraction for green vegetables, addition of ascorbic acid during extraction for tomatoes and apples, or addition of ascorbic acid after blanch in 3% acetic acid for carrots was effective to keep colors and suspended solids in liquid extract. On the basis of sensory evaluation the extracts from tomatoes, apples. carrots. mallows, watercreses+pine needles, Angelica keiskei Koiz, jujubes and lemons were selected and mixed at the ratio of 3 : 3 : 3 : 1/2 : 1/2 : 1/2 : 1/2 : 1/5. The mixed extracts were pasteurized for 15sec at $96^{\circ}C$ or filtered through a ultramembrane filter. While the centrifuge precipitation and retentates on the membrane filter were autoclaved and combined with ultrafiltrates. The mixed juices showed $pH\;4.07{\sim}4.10$ titratable acidity $66.35{\sim}84.08$, soluble solid $7{\sim}9^0Brix$, reducing sugar $5.42{\sim}6.97%$, glucose $1.96{\sim}2.30%$, fructose $3.46{\sim}4.14%$ and high content of K, Mg and Ca. Ultrafiltration showed better quality scores in color, juice. Peroxidase and microorganisms were inactivated by thermal treatment and ultrafiltration.