• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.542-547
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• 2008

The anti-diabetic effects of water extracts (WE) from medicinal herbs on hepatic glucose-regulating enzymes, such as glucokinase (GCK), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, were studied using the cytosol fraction in liver and mitochondia fraction in heart of a type II diabetic animal (GK rat, Goto-Kakizaki). The free radical scavenging activity of water extracts by DPPH method was also tested. We found that free radical scavenging activity was strong in Corni fructu (CF), Mokdan Bark (MDB), Chenhwabon (CHB) and Sanyack (SY), while that of Backbocreng (BBR), Shuckgihwang (SGH) and Taecsa (TS) was lower. For GCK activity in cytosol of liver, CF and CHB had a more effective activity than other extracts. PDH activity in mitochondria fraction of heart was higher in all of the extracts, expect for the TS extract, than in the control. ACC activity in cytosol fraction of liver was significantly higher in the CF, CHB, SGH, TS and SY extracts than in the control. CF, BBR and MDB led to a decrease in the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity. Therefore, these results suggest that all of the extracts may be used as functional material in the development as anti-diabetic functional food and medicine.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.184-188
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• 2007

The major goal in the treatment of diabetes mellitus is to achieve near-normal glycemic control. To optimize both fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose levels is important in keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. ${\alpha}-Glucosidase$ is the enzyme that digests dietary carbohydrate, and inhibition of this enzyme could suppress postprandial hyperglycemia. The purpose of this study was to test the inhibitory activity of methanol extract of Euonymus alatus on ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ in vitro and in vivo to evaluate its possible use as an anti-diabetic agent. Yeast ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities of methanol extract of E. alatus were measured at concentrations of 0.50, 0.25, 0.10, and 0.05 mg/ml. The ability of E. alatus to lower postprandial glucose was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. A starch solution (1 g/kg) with and without E. alatus extract (500 mg/kg) was administered to diabetic rats by gastric intubation after an overnight fast. Plasma glucose levels were measured at 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min. Plasma glucose levels were expressed in increments from baseline, and incremental areas under the response curve were calculated. Extract of E. alatus, which had an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.272 mg/ml, inhibited yeast ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ activity in a concentration-dependent manner. A single oral dose of E. alatus extract significantly inhibited increases in blood glucose levels at 60 and 90 min (p<0.05) and significantly decreased incremental response areas under the glycemic response curve (p<0.05). These results suggest that E. alatus has an antihyperglycemic effect by inhibiting ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ activity in this animal model of diabetes mellitus.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.571-577
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• 2010

Korean traditional medicinal herbs have been reported to possess antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities. We tested the antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities of 6 kinds of medicinal herbs: Angelica gigas N., Poria cocos, Mori radicis Cortex, Mori folium, Aralia elata Cortex, and Panax ginseng, prepared as hot water, ethanol, and sonication extracts. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were examined by performing total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and ${\alpha}$,${\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. For M. folium, the ethanol extract showed the strongest effects in DPPH radical scavenging activity among the three extraction methods. In addition, sonication extracts of M. radicis Cortex and M. folium showed the highest inhibitory activities for ${\alpha}$-glucosidase among the different extracts. The ethanol extracts of M. folium had the highest inhibition effects against ${\alpha}$-amylase. A direct correlation between antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic inhibition activity was found in the ethanol and sonication extracts. From the results, it is considered that these six medicinal herbal extracts have antioxidative, anti-hyperglycemic, and correlation effects based on different extraction methods.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.808-812
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• 2009

The ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory and antioxidant effects of water chestnut (Trapa japonica Flerov.) were assessed to explore its possible use as an anti-diabetic agent. Methanol extracts of the fruit shell and meat of water chestnut were assayed for inhibitory activity against yeast ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Effect of fruit shell extract on postprandial glucose response was assessed. Compared with fruit meat, shell extract showed stronger inhibition against ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ with an $IC_{50}$ of 273 ${\mu}g/mL$. Oral administration of fruit shell extract (500 mg/kg) significantly lowered the postprandial area under the glucose response curve to starch (1 g/kg) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (p<0.01). Compared with fruit meat, shell extract showed stronger scavenging activity against DPPH, with an $IC_{50}$ of 27.1 ${\mu}g/mL$. The results indicate that the fruit shell of water chestnut was effective in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia and exerted an antioxidant effect. Therefore, water chestnut may be useful in treating diabetes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.888-894
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• 2006

Objectives : For the purpose of developing new anti-HIV agents from natural sources, the extracts of Ricinus communis were tested for their inhibitory effects on essential enzymes reverse transcriptase (RT), protease and alpha-glucosidase. Inhibition activity of major compounds of Ricinus communis were predicted from quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR) in silico. Methods and Results : In the anti-HIV-1 RT using enzyme-linked oligonucleotide sorbent assay (ELOSA) method, water and methanol extracts (100ug/ml) of Ricinus communis showed strong activity of 94.2% and 82.7%, respectively. In the HIV-1 protease and alpha-glucosidase inhibition assay, neither water nor methanol extracts of Ricinus communis inhibited the activity of the enzyme to cleave any substrates as oligopeptides and oligosaccharides. Conclusions : We found that for these samples it is possible that the inhibition of the RT in vitro is due to the secondary metabolites of Ricinus communis such as ricinine and quercetin. It would beof great interest to identify the compounds which are responsible for this inhibition, since all therapeutically useful agents up to date are RT inhibitors.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2012

For the elucidation of action mechanism on anti-HIV of natural resources, the extracts of $Campsis$ $grandiflora$ were tested for their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 replication and its essential enzymes as the reverse transcriptase (RT), protease and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. In the assay of HIV-1-infected human T-cell line, water extracts of stem inhibited the HIV-1-induced cytopathic effects with IC (inhibitory concentration) of 100 ${\mu}g$/ml. Moreover water extracts (100 ${\mu}g$/ml) of stem showed strong activity of 37.9% on anti-HIV-1 RT using Enzyme Linked Oligonucleotide Sorbent Assay (ELOSA) method. In the HIV-1 protease inhibition assay, methanol extracts of stem and leaf extract showed 33.6% and 31.5% inhibition of the enzyme activity to cleave an oligopeptide resembling one of the cleavage sites in the viral polyprotein which can only be processed by HIV-1 protease, but did not exhibited glucosidase inhibitory activities. From these results, it is suggested that the inhibition of the viral replication $in$ $vitro$ is due to the inhibition of reverse transcriptase by water extracts of stem of $Campsis$ $grandiflora$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.325-334
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to compare the content and metabolic activities between fresh pine needle juice (PNJ) and fermented pine needle juice (FPNJ). A variety of factors were measured, including total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity [DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA), total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), cellular antioxidant capacity (CAC)], anti-genotoxic activity, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. The TPC was $17.3{\pm}0.2$ and $4.6{\pm}0.0$ mg GAE/g in PNJ and FPNJ, respectively. The DPPH RSA, TRAP, and ORAC values increased in a dose-dependent manner for both PNJ and FPNJ, with significantly higher activities in PNJ than FPNJ. The CAC against AAPH-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells was protected by both PNJ and FPNJ. Pretreatment with PNJ and FPNJ in human leukocytes produced significant reductions in $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage at a concentration of $50{\mu}g/mL$. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibitory activity was significantly higher in FPNJ than PNJ. The ACE inhibitory activity was about 87.1% and 60.0% in 1:1 diluted PNJ and FPNJ, respectively. This study suggests that the fermentation of PNJ could enhance the regulation of blood glucose metabolism and both PNJ and FPNJ might be a new potential source of natural antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-hypertensive agents applicable to food.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2014

This study was conducted in order to compare the biological activities of water extracts and sugar immersion extracts of green pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler) by measuring total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activities and inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. The contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were higher in water extracts than in sugar immersion extracts. The anti-oxidative activities of water and sugar immersion extracts were measured using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity assay and reducing power assay. All extracts scavenged radicals in a concentration-dependent manner, and water extracts showed stronger radical scavenging activity and reducing power than sugar immersion extract. However, they all exhibited lower activities than ascorbic acid. Compared to the anti-diabetic drug acarbose, which was used as a positive control, the two types of extracts exhibited low ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities, although the activity of sugar immersion extracts were 2-fold higher than that of water extracts. ${\alpha}$-Amylase inhibitory action was not observed for any of the extracts. Finally, by cytotoxicity test, we confirmed that sugar immersion extracts were safer than water extracts. These results indicate that water extracts and sugar immersion extracts of green pepper, purslane and shiitake have different advantages in terms of their antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.616-621
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• 2013

Aconitum pesudo-laeve var erectum has been known to possess anti-inflammatory activity and modulate the intestinal immune system. In addition, it has traditionally been used for the treatment of water retention in the body. In this study, the anti-aging and anti-diabetes effects of water and ethanol extracts from Aconitum pesudo-laeve var. erectum were investigated. The activities of each extract were measured by antioxidant tests such as DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, antioxidant protection factor (PF), TBARs content, and ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity assay. DPPH radical scavenging activity was found in over 50% of water and ethanol extracts at $100{\mu}g/ml$, $50{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The ABTS radical scavenging activity of ethanol extract was $99.8{\pm}0.1$% at $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ in water, which was highest among the ethanol extract concentrations. PFs measured with ${\beta}$-carotene-linoleate model systems were in the order of ethanol (1.49 PF at $1,000{\mu}g/ml$) > ethanol (1.40 PF at $500{\mu}g/ml$) > water (1.33 PF at $1,000{\mu}g/ml$) > water (1.27 PF at $500{\mu}g/ml$). TBARs content in ethanol extracts ($1,000{\mu}g/ml$) was $0.16{\pm}0.03{\mu}M$, which was lower than that of water extracts and other ethanol extract concentrations. The extracts also showed over 90% of ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibition and over 60% of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition ratio in water ($1,000{\mu}g/ml$) and ethanol extracts (100~$1,000{\mu}g/ml$). These results suggest that Aconitum pesudo-laeve var. erectum extracts could be used as a cosmetic source and preventive agent for aging and diabetes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2012

In the present work, we have collected 19 species of macroalgae (9 Phaeophta and 10 Rhodophyta) f rom all around of Korea: Dictyopteris divaricata, D. prolifera, Myelophycus cavus, Papenfussiella kuromo, Petalonia zosterifolia, Petrospongium rugosum, Rugulopteryx okamurae, Sargassum fulvellum, S. muticum, Callophyllis japonica, Gloiopeltis tenax, Gracilaria longissima, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Grateloupia asiatica, Grateloupia lanceolata, Grateloupia sparsa, Grateloupia turuturu, Grateloupia sp, and Polyopes affinis. The macroalgal species were extracted by 70% ethanol (EtOH) for 24 h and evaluated its inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. Among ethanol extracts, Myelophycus cavus showed the most effectively inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$, 2.17 ${\mu}g/ml$) against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, followed by Sargassum fulvellum (<$IC_{50}$, 8.13 ${\mu}g/ml$), Dictyopteris prolifera ($IC_{50}$, 16.66 ${\mu}g/ml$), Rugulopteryx okamurae ($IC_{50}$, 50.63 ${\mu}g/ml$), and Petrospongium rugosum ($IC_{50}$, 101.62 ${\mu}g/ml$). Furthermore, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay showed no cytotoxicity on mouse pre-adipocytes cell line (3T3-L1). These results suggest that some edible macroalgae merit further evaluation for clinical usefulness as anti-diabetic functional foods.