• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2001

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a thistle-like annual plant mainly grown in dry hot climates as an oilseed or birdseed. Traditionally, the oil has mainly been sold in the health food market because it is unsaturated having high linoleic and oleic acid levels. With increased health consciousness in recent years, the oil quality has become a more general health issue. This study was designed to understand whether safflower seed powder has positive effects on the fracture healing in rats. Simple transverse fracture of rat fibula was made with a rotating diamond disc saw. The histologic changes of rats were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The fractured fibulae showed a complete fusion at the fracture site in the 4th to 5th week after a simple transverse fracture. Administration of safflower seed powder facilitated the speed of histologic changes without affecting qualitative changes. These results suggest that safflower seed powder nay have substances that help the fracture healing process.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2007

The antioxidant properties of twelve phenolic compounds, including matairesinol 4'-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, 8'-hydroxyarctigenin 4'-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, matairesinol, 8'-hydroxyarctigenin, N-feruloylserotonin 5-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, N-(p-coumaroyl)-serotonin-5-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, N-feruloylserotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, luteolin 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, luteolin, acacetin 7-O-$\beta$-glucuronide, and acacetin, isolated from defatted safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds were evaluated with regard to the DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, levels of phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC in two cultivars of safflower seeds. Among them, four serotonin derivatives showed potent DPPH ($IC_{50}=10.83-21.75\;{\mu}M$) and hydroxyl ($IC_{50}=75.93-374.63\;{\mu}M$) radical scavenging activities, and their activities were significantly stronger than that of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$. Four flavonoids ($IC_{50}=170.65-275.83\;{\mu}M$) and four lignans ($IC_{50}=114.22-406.10\;{\mu}M$) exhibited significant superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, respectively, whereas these compounds contained less activity toward the DPPH and hydroxyl radicals than serotonin derivatives. The levels of serotonin derivatives, lignans and flavonoids in safflower seeds of two cultivars ranged from 49.30 to 260.40, 3.72 to 158.90, and 11.72 to 214.97 mg% (dry base), respectively. Of the two cultivars, 'Cheongsu' had somewthat higher concentrations of phenolic compounds than 'Uisan'. These results suggest that phenolic compounds in safflower seeds may playa role as protective phytochemical antioxidants against reactive oxygen-mediated pathological diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.298-309
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• 2020

Background: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a useful medicinal and oil crop in Korea. However, when safflower is cultivated, the flowering period overlaps with the rainy season, and seed maturation is poor. Therefore, this study aimed to use basic research data to develop superior varieties using agronomic characteristics and crossing method. Methods and Results: A total of 34 safflower germplasms were sown and their agronomic characteristics were investigated. Based on these investigations, the cultivar 'ui-san-hong-hwa' was selected as the mother plant, and 'Myanmar safflower' (Hsu Pan) was selected as the father plant. In addition, we developed a floret-protecting cap to cover florets after emasculation during the artificial crossing. When florets were protected by the cap, the seed setting rate increased in comparison to that in the non-covered florets. Conclusions: Agronomic characteristics can contribute to developing suitable varieties. The results suggest that the protection cap will be helpful in breeding without the floral organ drying. This study contributes an efficient breeding method to develop new safflower varieties.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1764-1771
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• 2010

Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae) is an herb primarily distributed throughout in the world. The species is regarded as ecologically important in the world. Safflower was used for medicines, as well as making red (carthamin) and yellow dyes. We have used the RAPD technique to investigate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of C. tinctorius. We obtained 123 bands from all the 26 cultivars. The average number of bands was 9.5 per primer. The genetic diversity of safflower is found among cultivars and there is a high among-cultivar differentiation. The OPC18-01 band is the specific marker for Syria cultivar, whereas no products were detected in individuals from other country cultivars. We found seven phenetic bands for determining the specific marker of cultivars with SCAR markers. Though the number of individuals sampled for analysis was small and probably not fully representative of the total available diversity in C. tinctorius, this study demonstrates that the regions (Morocco, Syria, and Turkey) of the Mediterranean Sea were more variable than other regions with the exception of India. In this result, although only simple result of RAPD is difficult to assert the center of species diversity of C. tinctorius, the regions of the Mediterranean Sea may be the most probable candidate for the origin of safflower. India was also the candidate of the center or secondary center of species diversity of C. tinctorius. RAPD markers were effective in classifying cultivar levels of safflower.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2006

Phenolic compounds in safflower seeds were recently found to stimulate bone formation and increase plasma HDL cholesterol levels in estrogen deficient rats, and to inhibit melanin synthesis. Nine phenolic compounds: $N-feruloylserotonin-5-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside,\;8'-hydroxyarctigenin-4'-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside,\;luteolin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside$, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, 8'-hydroxy arctigenin (HAG), luteolin (LT), $acacetin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucuronide$ (ATG) and acacetin (AT), were quantified by HPLC in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds during growth and processing. During growth, levels of the nine phenolic compounds in the seeds increased progressively with increasing growth stages, reached a maximum on July 30 (42nd day after flowering), and then remained relatively constant. During the roasting process, levels of phenolic compounds, except HAG, LT and AT, generally decreased with increased roasting temperature and time, whereas those of HAG, LT and AT increased progressively with increased roasting temperature and time. During the steaming process, levels of other phenolic compounds except HAG and AT generally tended to increase with increased steaming time, whereas those of HAG and AT were scarcely changed. During the microwave treatment, quantitative changes of phenolic compounds were similar to the roasting process, although there were some differences in levels of phenolic compounds between two heat treatments. These results suggest that the steamed safflower seeds after harvesting on late July may be useful as potential dietary supplement source of phenolic compounds for prevention of several pathological disorders, such as atherosclerosis and osteoporosis and aging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1127-1132
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• 2000

홍화(Carthamus tinctorius L.)의 씨. 순 및 꽃잎의 수용성 및 메탄올 추출물에 대하여 in vitro 실험계에서 항산화 활성을 비교 검토하였다. 성장기 흰쥐의 뇌 micro-some을 이용한 생테막 지질 과산화 억제정도는 꽃잎 수용성 추출물(97.19%)>순 메탄올 추출물(81.38%)>꽃잎 메탄올 추출물(64.99%)>씨 메탄올 추출물(64.95%) 순으로 나타났다. Limoleic acid 산화 실험계에서는 홍화씨 메탄올 추출물과 홍화씨 수용성 추출물에서 비교적 높은 항산화 활성을 보였다. DPPH 에 의한 수소공여능은 특히 순의 0.1% 메탄올 추출물에서 매우 높은 수소공여작용이 나타나 대조구인 BHT와 거의 비슷한 수준의 항산화 활성을 보였다. 이들 추출물의 폴리페놀 화합물 함량은 홍화 꽃잎 수용성 및 MeOH 추출물은 12.70% 및 8.05% 홍화씨 수용성 및 메탄올 추출물은 6.96% 및 12.34%, 홍화순 수용성 메탄올 추출물 및 메탄올 추출물이 8.75% 및 5.10%로 나타났다.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.143-149
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) ethanolic extract fractions (CFEFs). Butanol fraction had the strongest antioxidant activity, and all CFEFs, except for chloroform fraction, partly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in RAW 264.7 cells. In the cell-free system, hexane and butanol fractions chemically quenched nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the iNOS mRNA transcription was suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effect of CFEFs on NO production from LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, might be due to both the chemical NO quenching activity and the suppression of iNOS mRNA transcription partially. The synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was potently inhibited by ethanol extract to below basal label, and the transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involving in $PGE_2$ synthesis, was partially suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction. Based on these results, CFEFs may be useful as an alternative medicine for the relief and retardation of immunological inflammatory responses through the reduction of inflammatory mediators, including NO and $PGE_2$ production.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.4 s.48
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• pp.449-456
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• 2004

Phytoestrogens derived from plants and foods, which are diphenolic compounds with structural similarities to natural and synthetic estrogens, have been shown to estrogenic and antiestrogenic actions. Particularly, recent study revealed that phenolic compounds in safflower seed, such as serotonin derivatives, lignans and flavonoids, could be acted as phytoestrogens. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed extract (SID C.SE), therefore, are receiving a renewed interest as potential therapeutic source against skin wrinkles induced by estrogen deficiency. This study was conducted to investigate the anti-wrinkle effect of SID C.SE on normal human fibroblasts through the expression of type I procollagen and UVA-induced MMP-1 in vitro. The SID C.SE increased the type I procollagen expression, comparable to trans-retinol and reduced UVA-induced MMP-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. The clinical study indicated that cream group treated with $0.1\%$ SID C.SE significantly reduced a skin wrinkles, as compared with a control (non-treated cream group) (p<0.05). These results suggest that the safflower seed extract may be useful as potential source of anti-wrinkle cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2004

Anti-wrinkle Effect of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed extract (CTSE) was evaluated by determination of the anti-oxidation, collagen synthesis and elastase inhibition in normal human fibroblast. CTSE showed anti-oxidation and collagen synthesis ability as much as or greater than other phytoestrogenic compounds such as genistein or resveratrol. Consistent with collagen synthesis promotion, CTSE also showed inhibitory effect on elastase activity. In the human skin irritation test, 0.2％ CTSE did not show any adverse effect. These results demonstrate that CTSE can be useful as an anti-wrinkle cosmetic ingredient.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.928-935
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the addition of safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius L.) on the physicochemical properties of ground pork as an animal fat replacer. Three types of ground pork were evaluated: 20% pork fat added (control), 10% pork fat and 10% safflower seed powder added (10% SS), and 20% safflower seed powder added (20% SS). The moisture, protein, and ash contents were highest in 20% SS, and the fat content was highest in the control (p<0.05). The cooking yield, moisture retention, fat retention, and water-holding capacity were highest in 20% SS, and the control showed a reduction in the diameter (p<0.05). The external and internal L-, a-, and b-values of the control were higher than those of the 10% SS and the 20% SS (p<0.05). The cholesterol content of the control, the 10% SS, and the 20% SS was 50.85, 21.77, and 17.91 mg/100 g, respectively, and that of the 20% SS was lowest among the samples (p<0.05). The linoleic acid content of the control, the 10% SS, and the 20% SS was 28.68%, 41.04%, and 54.26%, respectively. The total unsaturated fatty acid content of the control, the 10% SS, and the 20% SS was 50.53%, 55.76%, and 64.93%, respectively. The linoleic acid and the total unsaturated fatty acid content were highest in the 20% SS (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in amino acid composition.