• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2001

Safflower has been cultivated in Korea and thought to have excellent effects on bone in oriental medicine and folk remedy and has been taken for a long time. Safflower is thought to be helpful for the development and sustenance of bones according to the result of recent assay of its components. Otherwise, any reliable experimental data have not been suggested so far. We have carried out this study to examine the prophylactic effects of safflower-seed-powder on the prevention of osteoporosis induced by the ovariectomy 12 Weeks-old Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 230 g was kept in the experimental condition and used in this study. Animals were taken 0.3 g of safflower-seed-powder once a day for 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after ovariectomizing both ovaries and observed the fine structure of tibia. Tissues were fixed with traditional SEM preparation methods and decalcified for 10 hours with 10% nitric acid and dehydration, drying, and gold-coating were followed by the routine procedures and observed with scanning electron microscope (Hitachi, S-450). Loss of bone was started just after ovariectomy and thickness of bone from the medullary cavity to the compact bone was reduced and the extension of medullary cavity was serious in the control group of 7 weeks. Experimental groups taken safflower-seed-powder showed similar findings from 1 week to 7 weeks. These results suggest that the safflower-seed-powder is thought to be efficient for the prevention of osteoporosis owing to the deficiency of female sex hormone.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 2002

The therapeutic effect of safflower seed powder on experimental osteoporosis in the rat induced by ovariectomy was evaluated. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized at the age of 12 weeks. Seven weeks postovariectomy, rats were divided into two groups: control and safflower seed powder treated group. Five animals from each group were sacrificed at the following time points: 1, 3, and 5 weeks. Scanning electron microscopic observation and morphometric analysis of the tibiae epiphysis showed that the administration of safflower seed powder significantly prevented reduction of cortical bone width and bone volume compared with the control group. In conclusion, safflower seed powder contains something that prevent bone loss due to estrogen deficiency, and was effective in preventing the osteoporotic decrease of bone mass.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.196-201
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• 2004

Volatile components in flower and seed of safflower were identified. Volatile flavor compounds of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) was extracted by simultaneous steam distillation and extraction method using Likens and Nickerson's extraction apparatus. Concentrated extract was analyzed and identified by gas chromatography and GC-mass spectrometry. Main volatile components in flower were terpene compounds, including p-cymene, limonene, ${\alpha}-phellandrene$, ${\gamma}-terpinene$, camphor, 4-terpineol, selinene, ${\beta}-caryophyllene$, torreyol, ${\beta}-eudesmol$, and 10 acids including 3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, and acids of $C_{2},\;C_{5}-C_{11}$. Main volatile components in seed and safflower were 20 aldehydes including hexanal (7.17%), (E)-2-heptenal (1.10%), (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2010

Hyphenated-HPLC techniques combine the separation power of HPLC with the structural and bioactivity information provided by NMR, ESI/MS, and an on-line antioxidant screening system. The major advantages over the traditional off-line techniques are rapidity and efficiency. In this study, we used hyphenated HPLC techniques including online HPLC-ABTS, LC-NMR, and LC-MS todirectly identify the major antioxidants of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds. The results demonstrated that the major antioxidant compounds from on-line HPLC-ABTS analysis were identified as 8'-hydroxyarcgenin-4'-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, and N-feruloylserotonin. Among them, N-feruloylserotonin accounted for almost 50% of the ABTS radical scavenging activity of the total extract. The results demonstrate that HPLC hyphenated techniques can be used to rapidly screen and structurally identify antioxidants from crude plant extracts.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.647-662
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There is growing interest in herbal medicines for managing age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L. seeds, CTS) and dandelions (Taraxacum coreanum, TC) are widely used to treat bone- or inflammation-related diseases in Oriental countries. This study investigated the protective effect of the CTS-TC combination on scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory deficits through inflammatory response and cholinergic function. Moreover, marker components such as serotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid in the CTS-TC combination were analyzed for their potential benefits on memory function. MATERIALS/METHODS: Water extracts of CTS, TC, and the CTS-TC combination at various ratios (4:1, 1:1, and 1:4) (100 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice for 14 days. Sco (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into the mice before each behavioral test. T-maze and novel object recognition tests were conducted to monitor behavioral changes after the treatment. Western blotting was performed to detect protein expression. In addition, the presence of 5 biomarkers, serotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid, was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Behavioral tests showed that the CTS-TC combination enhanced memory function in Sco-injected mice. Inflammation-related proteins (inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and glial fibrillary acidic protein) were downregulated after treatment with the CTS-TC combination. The acetylcholinesterase protein expression was also downregulated. HPLC analysis revealed that N-feruloylserotonin and chicoric acid were the predominant components, followed by N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, chlorogenic acid, and serotonin. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the CTS-TC combination protects against Sco-induced memory deficits by inhibiting inflammatory responses and cholinergic dysfunction. N-feruloylserotonin and chicoric acid, along with N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, chlorogenic acid, and serotonin, might be biomarkers for the CTS-TC combination, and their effects on memory protection warrant further study.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.spc1
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• pp.255-258
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• 2006

This study was carried out to find the effect of the pinching and planting density on yield of petal and grain in safflower (Caythamus tinctorius L.). The planting density was high effective branch number per $m^2$ compared with pinching, and effective flower bud was most in $270ea/m^2$ in three line planting density, but in case of pinching was few at $186{\sim}223ea/m^2$ Grain yield was increased with 231 kg/10a at double line planting density compared with in 220 kg/10a of control. Petal yield of double line and three line planting density was 25.4 kg/10a and 26.9 kg/10a, it was increased 15, 22% compared with 22.0 kg/10a of control, respectively.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.745-751
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• 2013

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have been used in Korea and China for promoting bone formation and protection. This study was designed to examine the Nrf-2 mediated anti-oxidative effects of Korean and Chinese safflower seeds. Water and ethanol extracts of safflower seeds were treated to RAW 264.7 cells. Nrf-2 transcriptional activity was measured by reporter gene assay and western blot analysis. Semi-quantitive RT-PCR analysis was adopted to measure Nrf-2 dependent gene expressions. Water extracts of safflower seeds have strongly induced the activation of Nrf-2 transcription than ethanol extracts. Especially, water extracts of Korean safflower seeds has more strongly increased the expression of nuclear Nrf-2. Water extracts of Korea and China safflower seeds have also increased the expression of Nrf-2-dependent genes such as GCLC, NQO-1 and HO-1 in RAW 264.7 cells. However, all kinds of safflower seeds extracts did not increase intracellular ROS production. These results demonstrate that the antioxidant effects of safflower seeds are not related with ROS production, rather it is mediated by the direct activation of Nrf-2.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.528-534
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• 2001

Much attention has been given to the role of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed in preventing and treating osteroporosis recently. Although numerous studies were done on effects of safflower oil, no attention was given to the role of dietary fiber of safflower seeds. This study was aimed at investigating physiological significance of defatted safflower seed as a source of dietary fiber. Sprague Dawley female rats were assigned one of 5 groups: ovariectomized control (Ovx-control) group and ovariectomized rats 15% (Ovx-ss15) and 30% defatted safflower seed (Ovx-SS30), sham-operated (Sham) group and a normal group. Cholesterol was supplemented to all diets at 0.5% except the normal diet. Ovariectomized rats were pair-fed isocalorically to the Sham group. Ovariectomy caused heavier body weight, but feeding 30% safflower seed brought back to the level of Sham group. Activities of disaccharidases of jejunal mucosa were significantly lowered in Ovx-control group compared to those of Sham, and supplementation of safflower seed tended to increase the activities. Fecal weight of Ovx-SS15 and Ovx-SS30 were almost twice as those of Ovx-control Sham. Propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations per g of feces of Ovx-SS15 and daily excretion of these fatty acids were significantly increased as compared to those of Sham and Ovx-control. In concentration defatted safflower seed supplementation significantly increased fecal bulk and short chain fatty acid production in large intestine of rats.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.48-56
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• 2000

Yellow dye-stuffs in natural plant were extracted from a gardenia, saffron, safflower, amur tree and pagoda. And then they were used to color Korean handmade paper(Hanji) on using a mordant. The results of the degree of discoloration are as follows. 1. As for a gardenia(Gardenia jasminodes Ellis for. grandiflora Makino), the effects of coloring were outstanding in the acid area. But for the preservation, it might be desirable that used a lye in a dye-stuff obtained at $40{\pm}5^{\circ}C$. 2. As for saffron(Curcuma longa L.), when used alum as a mordant, it was colored to a medium yellow color with green color. But easily discolorated and was not desirable. And, it didn't fit in a dye-stuff of Hanji. 3. For safflower(Carthamus tinctorius L.), when pH was in the low acid it was colored to the cleaner yellow color. It was the distinction of discoloration that the degree of brightness's increase was low. 4. For amur cork-tree(Phellodendron amurense Rupr.), the effects of yellow coloring were great in the areas of acidity and alkali. But, when used alum, the degree of the discoloration was high and was not effective. 5. For pagoda tree(Styphnolobium Japonica L.), using a calcium hydroxide as a mordant, enabled the more than average yellow to be gained. The degree of discoloration was good.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

Eight flavonoids, apigenin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranosy l-8-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (AGG), quercetin 7-O-β-D­glucopyranoside (QG), luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (LG), quercetin 7-O-(6'-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (QAG), luteolin 7-O-(6'-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside(LAG), quercetin (Q), luteolin (L) and acacetin 7-O-β­D-glucuronide (AG) were determined by HPLC in the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) leaf during growth and processing. During growth, levels of five flavonoid glycosides (AGG, QG, LG, QAG, & LAG) in the leaf increased progressively at over time according to growth stages, reached a maximum before June 11, and then decreased sharply, while those of three flavonoid aglycones (Q, L, & AG) increased greatly at the early stage of growth, reached a peak before May 28, and then decreased rapidly. During the steaming process, contents of five flavonoid glycosides increased rapidly with increased steaming time, reached a maximum after 5 min of steaming, and then decreased, whereas those of flavonoid aglycones except for AG decreased sharply with increased steaming time. During the roasting process, contents of three flavonoid glycosides decreased rapidly with increased roasting time, whereas those of two acetylflavonoid glycosides (QAG & LAG) and three flavonoid aglycones increased progressively with increased roasting time, reached a maximum after 3 min of roasting, and then decreased. These results suggest that appropriate steamed and roasted safflower leaves are a rich source of flavonoids, and may be a good source of bioactive components as a functional leaf tea.