• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.280-285
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• 2006

Methanol extract of the rhizomes of turmeric, Curcuma longa L., effectively controlled the development of red pepper anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum coccodes. In addition three antifungal substances were identified from the methanol extract of C. longa rhizomes as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin using mass and $^{1}H-NMR$ spectral analyses. The curcuminoids in a range $0.4-100\;{\mu}g/ml$ effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of three red pepper anthracnose pathogens, C. coccodes, C. gloeosporioides, and C. acutatum. The three curcuminoids inhibited mycelial growth of C. coccodes and C. gloeosporioides to an extent similar to the synthetic fungicide dithianon did, but the synthetic agent was a little more effective against C. acutatum. The curcuminoids also effectively inhibited spore germination of C. coccodes, and bisdemethoxycurcumin was the most active. Among the three curcuminoids, only demethoxycurcumin was effective in a greenhouse test in suppressing red pepper anthracnose caused by C. coccodes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2014

Curcumin is naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in turmeric and has many pharmacological activities. The present study was undertaken to evaluate anti-allergic inflammatory activity of curcumin, and to investigate its inhibitory mechanisms in immunoglobulin E (IgE)/Ag-induced mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and in a mouse model of IgE/Ag-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA). Curcumin inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) dependent prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) dependent leukotriene $C_4$ ($LTC_4$) generation dose-dependently in BMMCs. To probe the mechanism involved, we assessed the effects of curcumin on the phosphorylation of Syk and its downstream signal molecules. Curcumin inhibited intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx via phospholipase $C{\gamma}1$ ($PLC{\gamma}1$) activation and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) pathway. Furthermore, the oral administration of curcumin significantly attenuated IgE/Ag-induced PSA, as determined by serum $LTC_4$, $PGD_2$, and histamine levels. Taken together, this study shows that curcumin offers a basis for drug development for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2013

Quantum dots (QDs) have received considerable attention due to their potential role in photosensitization during photodynamic therapy. Although QDS are attractive nanomaterials due to their novel and unique physicochemical properties, concerns about their toxicity remain. We suggest a combination strategy, CdSe/ZnS QDs together with curcumin, a natural yellow pigment from turmeric, to reduce QD-induced cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to explore a potentially effective cancer treatment: co-exposure of HL-60 cells and human normal lymphocytes to CdSe/ZnS QDs and curcumin. Cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and DNA damage induced by QDs and/or curcumin with or without ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation were evaluated in both HL-60 cells and normal lymphocytes. In HL-60 cells, cell death, apoptosis, ROS generation, and single/double DNA strand breaks induced by QDs were enhanced by treatment with curcumin and UVA irradiation. The protective effects of curcumin on cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS generation were observed in normal lymphocytes, but not leukemia cells. These results demonstrated that treatment with QD combined with curcumin increased cell death in HL-60 cells, which was mediated by ROS generation. However, curcumin acted as an antioxidant in cultured human normal lymphocytes.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 1994

Nepal, with its unique geographical and ecological features due to its abrupt rise in altitude, plays significant role in biological evolution. Existence of numerous wild relatives of the present-day cultivated agricultural crop plants in this small Himalayan nation may serve as a potential source of several yet unidentified desirable genes that are needed for future incorporation in the improvement of cultivated crop plants. This report includes 82 different wild relatives of 41 genera under 19 families of 37 agricultural crops of Nepal(Table 1). It serves as the sample of the glossary of these wild relatives of crop plants in Nepal. Under food grain crop plants of gramineae, leguminoceae and polygonaceae families, 16 different wild species namely wild rices(7 species), wild relatives of wheat plant(3 species), wild arhar(3 species), wild fingermillets(1 species) and wild buckwheat(2 species) have been identified in different parts of the country. Similarly, under vegetable crop plants of Araceae, Amaranthaceae, Crucifereae, Cucurbitaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Labiteae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Malvaceae, Polygonaceae, Solanaceae and Umbellifereae, 37 different wild species-wild colocasia(1 species), wild amaranths(3 species), wild leafy vegetables(2 species), wild gourds(3 species), wild cucumber(1 species), wild yams(4 species), wild mints(3 species), wild fenugreeks(4 species), wild pea(1 species), wild beans(3 species), wild garlics(2 species), wild spinach(3 species), wild lady's finger(1 species), wild spinach(3 species), wild eggplants(2 species) and wild carrot(one species) have also been identified. In case of wild relatives of cultivated orchard plants, 11 different wild species namely wild mango(one species), wild banana(one species), wild strawberry(one species), wild pear(one species), wild cherries(2 species), wild apple(one species) and wild grapes(3 species) have been identified, Among 19 different wild species of economic crop plants, five wild species of sugarcane, one species of wild sunhemp, two wild relatives of cotton, three wild relatives of rose, two wild species of tobacco, four wild species of turmeric and two wild species of tea have also been identified. This report includes only sample of the total wild species of the present-day cultivated agricultural crop plants. Further exploration on this economic botany will help the country in cataloging the wild relatives of cultivated crop plants and their future use in crop improvement.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.289-295
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• 2016

Curcumin is a flavonoid found in the rhizome of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa L.) and has recently attracted interest because it has numerous biological functions and therapeutic properties. In the present study, we attempted to incorporate curcumin into medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) nanoemulsions (0.15 wt% curcumin, 10 wt% MCT oil, and 10 wt% emulsifiers) with various emulsifiers [polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween-20), sorbitan monooleate (SM), and soy lecithin (SL)]. The physicochemical properties of the nanoemulsions including the Ostwald ripening stability were investigated. The initial droplet size was found to be 89.08 nm for the nanoemulsion with 10 wt% Tween-20 (control), and when Tween-20 was partially replaced with SM and SL, the size decreased: 73.43 nm with 4 wt% SM+6 wt% Tween-20 and 67.68 nm with 4 wt% SL+6 wt% Tween-20 (prepared at 15,000 psi). When the nanoemulsions were stored for 28 days at room temperature, the droplet size increased as the storage time increased. The largest increase was observed for the control nanoemulsion, followed by the 4 wt% SL+6 wt% Tween-20 and 4 wt% SM+6 wt% Tween-20 systems. The Turbiscan dispersion stability results strongly supported the relationship between droplet size and storage time. The time-dependent increase in droplet size was attributed to the Ostwald ripening phenomenon. Thus, the Ostwald ripening stability of curcumin-loaded MCT nanoemulsions with Tween-20 was considerably improved by partially replacing the Tween-20 with SM or SL. In addition, curcumin may have acted as an Ostwald ripening inhibitor.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.979-986
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate the dyeability, and the hand of soybean/cotton blended fabric after dyeing with natural and synthetic dyes. Soybean/cotton blended fabrics dyed with extracted solution from turmeric, sappan wood, gardenia and synthetic dyes(weak-acid dyes, reactive dyes, direct dyes). The hand value of soybean/cotton blended fabrics dyed with 6 different dyes was measured using Kawabata Evaluation System. The results are as follows; 1. The K/S value of the soybean/cotton blended fabric dyed with sappan wood extracts was the highest. 2. The color fastness of the soybean/cotton blended fabric dyed with reactive dyes was excellent. The fastness to the light of the same fabric was much better than the other fabrics. 3. Linearity of load-extension and tensile energy of the soybean/cotton blended fabric dyed with sappan wood extracts showed very high. Shear stiffness of the soybean/cotton blended fabric dyed with weak-acid dyes was much higher than that of fabric of dyed with reactive dyes. Bending property of the fabrics dyed with natural colorants(sappan wood, gardenia) showed very high, but that the fabric dyed with reactive dyes was very poor. 4. In the primary hand value, stiffness and anti-drape stiffness of the fabric dyed with weak-acid dyes showed the highest. Fullness and softness of the fabric dyed with weak-acid dyes showed very low.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.96-103
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• 2016

The influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as swine flu is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality since 2009. There is a need to explore novel anti-viral drugs for overcoming the epidemics. Traditionally, different plant extracts of garlic, ginger, kalmegh, ajwain, green tea, turmeric, menthe, tulsi, etc. have been used as hopeful source of prevention and treatment of human influenza. The H1N1 virus contains an important glycoprotein, known as neuraminidase (NA) that is mainly responsible for initiation of viral infection and is essential for the life cycle of H1N1. It is responsible for sialic acid cleavage from glycans of the infected cell. We employed amino acid sequence of H1N1 NA to predict the tertiary structure using Phyre2 server and validated using ProCheck, ProSA, ProQ, and ERRAT server. Further, the modelled structure was docked with thirteen natural compounds of plant origin using AutoDock4.2. Most of the natural compounds showed effective inhibitory activity against H1N1 NA in binding condition. This study also highlights interaction of these natural inhibitors with amino residues of NA protein. Furthermore, among 13 natural compounds, theaflavin, found in green tea, was observed to inhibit H1N1 NA proteins strongly supported by lowest docking energy. Hence, it may be of interest to consider theaflavin for further in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2016

Purpose: Curcuma aromatica Salisb., commonly known as turmeric, has long been used as a powerful health-promoting anti-inflammatory or antioxidant that supports cellular health of the human body. The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the samples with or without fermentation. Methods: Antioxidant activities of the samples were compared using total phenol, flavonoid contents, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) cation radical scavenging activity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Antimicrobial activities were also examined using the paper disc method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results: Organic acid content of the C. aromatica Salisb. fermented with Aspergillus oryzae (FCAS) showed a significantly higher value of 0.41% than that of the typical sample without fermentation (CAS) which showed a value of 0.27% (p<0.001). Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the CAS and FCAS did not show significant differences. However, ABTS cation radical scavenging activity and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly increased in the samples with fermentation (p<0.001, p<0.01), respectively. The samples of the disc showed inhibited growth of gram positive Bacillus cereus (FCAS 3.70 cm and CAS 2.73 cm) and Staphylococcus aureus (FCAS 2.70 cm and CAS 1.97 cm). MIC of the FCAS (0.25-0.50, 0.5-1.00 mg/mL) was higher than that of the CAS (1.00-2.00, 2.00-3.00 mg/mL), respectively. Conclusion: C. aromatica Salisb. with fermentation showed higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in this study. Thus we conclude that fermentation can be a helpful process for more effective application of C. aromatica Salisb. with fermentation in the health-promoting food industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.335-341
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• 2000

In order to search for blood anticoagulant substance from herbal extracts, we extracted with cold water (Fr. I), methanol (Fr. II) and hot water (Fr. III) from 93 commercially available herbs. The anticoagulant activity of herbal extracts was examined through the intrinsic pathway by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), the extriansic pathway by prothrombin time (PT) and the common pathway by thrombin time (TT). Onion, garlic, clove, fenugreek, mugwort, thyme and sage had on anticoagulant activity with intrinsic pathway and mint, italian seasoning, rosemary, turmeric, tarragon and wasabie had on anticoagulant activity with common pathway. Nobody had on anticogulant activity with extrinsic pathway. Among commerical herbs tested, clove cultivated in holland was selected because it showed the most potent anticoagulant activity among the samples investigated.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.509-513
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• 2021

Curcumin is known to possess diverse beneficial physiological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-microbial, and anti-neoplastic activities, as well as immune-modulating, metabolism-regulating, and neuroprotective effects. However, despite more than 13,000 research papers published during the last ten years regarding the health benefits of curcumin, curcumin has not been introduced in the market as a pharmaceutical agent in any country. Despite the abundance of positive findings, most investigations that tout its health benefits are based on in vitro and in vivo studies that fail to consider the protean chemical behaviors of curcumin, which is known to be a pan-assay interference compound and an invalid metabolic panacea. Therefore, human clinical trials, despite rigorous study design, have been unable to prove specific benefits. This article reviews the pleiotropic properties of curcumin so that they can be balanced against its beneficial effects and suggests potential research avenues to better understand its health benefits.