• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.477-483
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• 2023

The flowers of Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) were extracted with 80% aqueous methanol (CTex) and the concentrates were partitioned into EtOAc (CTE), n-BuOH (CTB), and H₂O (CTW) fractions. Repeated silica gel (SiO₂) and octadecyl silica gel column chromatographies for the EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions led to isolation of four flavonol glycosides. Nuclear magnetic resornance, infrarad spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy revealed the chemical structure of the isolated compounds, astragalin (1), isoquercetin (2), nicotiflorin (3), and rutin (4). Quantitative analysis of four isolated compounds in CTex was performed by HPLC. CTex was found to contain 1 at 0.107, 2 at 0.367, 3 at 6.752, and 4 at 0.991 mg/g, respectively. Through this study, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the protective effect on pancreatic islets of the extract, solvent fractions, and all isolated compounds using a zebrafish larvae damaged by alloxan. Pancreatic islet size treated with EtOAc (CTE), n-BuOH (CTB), and H₂O (CTW) fractions and compounds 1-4 significantly increased compared to the alloxan-induced group. These results indicate that C. tinctorius flowers and its isolated compounds are used as potential anti-diabetic agents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1626-1633
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• 2004

In recent, the roles of oleic acid, most abundant fatty acid in myelin, were investigated in relation to the brain functions. This study examined the effects of diets either with desirable ratios of $\omega$6/ $\omega$9 and P/M/S (mixed oil-fed group: MO) or with defficient in $\omega$3 series fatty acids (safflower oil-fed group: SO) on the oleic acid composition in RBC and brain synaptosomal, mitochondrial & microsomal phospholipids. The desirable fatty acid composition was computer-searched with different fats and oils to meet right ratios of both $\omega$6/ $\omega$3 and P/M/S. Diets were fed 3 weeks before conception and new-born pups were fed maternal milk from the same mothers and same diets until 9 wks of age. At 3 wks of age, the compositions of oleic acid in brain subcellular fractions and red blood cells were constantly remained whatever the composition of dietary fatty acids. But at 9 wks of age, the composition of oleic acid in synaptosome and mitochondria were significantly higher in MO group than SO group. The composition of oleic acid in milk was significantly higher in MO group than SO group, but in case of SO group, that of oleic acid was increased by 48%, in comparison with dietary fatty acid compositions. -9 desaturase index (18:0\longrightarrow8:1) of brain synaptosome was significantly higher in MO group than SO group at 3 and 9 weeks of ages, but that of brain microsome was higher in SO group than MO group at 9 wks of age. Taken together, the presences of oleic acid in the diet was important to maintain brain functions. The origins of oleic acid in brain may suggests two hypotheses; first, the central nervous system has priority for the uptake of oleic acid, and second the nervous system can synthesize all the oleic acid it needs, independently of its presence in the diet.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.897-905
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• 1998

Docosahexaenoic acid(DHA), a $\omega$3 series fatty acid and arachidonic acid(AA). a $\omega$6 series fatty acid were found in relatively high concentrations in the phospholipids(PLs) of cell membranes of nerve tissues, and they can be affected by various factors. The present study examined the effects of dietary $\omega$6 and $\omega$3 fatty acid composition on P/M/S and on $\omega$3/$\omega$6 fatty acid ratios in brain PLs of 2nd generation rats. The expeimental diets consisted of 10% fat(by wt), which were computer- searched mixed oil('M') with P/M/S ratio, 1 : 1.4 : 1 and $\omega$6/$\omega$3 ratio, 6 : 1 and safflower oil('S') poor in $\omega$3 fatty acids. The experimental diets were started 3-4 wks prior to conception. During the lactation period, the feeding mothers were switched 1 wk after birth and provided the pups for 2 wks with milk which had compositions different from that of their natural mother. The same diet as their mothers was provided from weaning to 9 wks of age. The 'M'and 'S' rats were again subdivided into MM, MS, SS, SM rats according to diet which their lactating mothers were fed from the begining of the experiment. The relative percentage of P/M/S fatty acids in brain PLs in all experimental groups converged to a very similar value at 9 wks of age, indicating the existence of a control mechanism for the degree of fatty acids, unsaturation. The $\omega$3/$\omega$6 fatty acid ratios of brain PLs converged to about 1.0 in MM & SM groups and to 0.7 in SS & MS groups, suggesting also the existence of some balance between $\omega$3 and $\omega$6 fatty acids in developing rat brain. The concentrations of $\omega$3 fatty acids, especially DHA, in the SM group were increased and became similar to those in MM group at 9 wks of age. The increase in DHA of brain PLs was counterbalanced b)r a decrease in 22 5$\omega$6. Therefore, the ratios of 22 : 6$\omega$6/22 : 5$\omega$6 were higher in both MM & SM groups than those of SS & MS groups at 9 wak of age. Although dietary $\omega$3 and $\omega$6 fatty acids affected 22 : 6$\omega$S and 22 : 5$\omega$6 contained in rat brain PLs reciprocally, the relative percentage of AA did not appear to be significantly influenced by the diet in all groups at 9 wks of age, suggesting that a mechanism for the maintenance of a certain level of AA in brain PLs exists. In conclusion, the $\omega$3/$\omega$6 fatty acid and 22 : 6$\omega$3/22 : 5$\omega$6 ratios, but not P/M/S ratio, of rat brain PLs were affected by the postnatal dietary changes. Futher studies are required to clarify the mechanism(S) of ensuring a certain level of DHA and of maintaining a similar level of AA in rat brain PLs after. weaning(9 wk) regardless of prenatal and postnatal dietary changes. (Korean J Nutrition 31(5) : 897-905, 1998)