• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2007

Helicteres isora is medicinally important plant effective against asthma, diabetes, hypolipidemia, HIV, besides a good source of diosgenin. Seed dormancy and low rate of natural fruit production make this plant a perfect candidate for developing an in vitro method useful for its clonal propagation and further biotechnological developments. This is the first report on in vitro production of this plant. Nodal explants obtained from aseptically germinated seedlings were cultured on MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962) fortified with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) ($0.57-22.83\;{\mu}M$), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) ($0.41-16.58\;{\mu}M$), 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) ($0.44-17.75\;{\mu}M$) and kinetin (Kin) ($0.46-13.94\;{\mu}M$) either singly or in combinations of IAA + BA, IAA + Kin and BA + Kin. Combinations of cytokinins (BA and Kin) were most suitable for multiple shoot induction and $13.94\;{\mu}M\;Kin\;+\;13.31\;{\mu}M\;BA$ was optimum (79% frequency) associated with high number of microshoots (7.1 shoots per explant) after 20 days of culture. Maximum shoot elongation and proliferation (10 shoots per explant with 4.8 cm average height) was achieved on MS media containing $2.32\;{\mu}M\;Kin\;+\;2.22\;{\mu}M\;BA\;+\;2.85\;{\mu}M\;IAA$. High rooting frequency (70%) was achieved on MS medium (1/2 basal strength) fortified with $4.14\;{\mu}M$ IBA, while activated charcoal showed inhibitory effects on rooting. Hardening was done with 76% survival rate and these plants were growing without any visual defects and morphologically mimicking the naturally growing plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2007

Tuber yield and content of general component and diosgenin which is a main bioactive property were investigated in order to determine the growth characteristics of round typed yam (Dungeon-ma, Dioscorea opposita L.) and the potential of artificial culture at Suwon, Korea. Sprouting rates of segmented small tubers such as 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12g were respectively 60.3, 80.5, 85.3, 98.6 and 99.3% when they were investigated 30 days after planting. Segmented small tubers of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12g enlarged respectively to 66, 87, 98, 120, and 140g in the green-house cultivation. Segmented small tubers of 3, 7, 12, 18, and 23g enlarged respectively to 35.2, 124.7, 142.7, 174.8, and 200,7g in the open-air field cultivation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.395-401
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• 2021

Extended inflammation and cytokine production pathogenically contribute to a number of inflammatory disorders. Formosanin C (FC) is the major diosgenin saponin found in herb Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae), which has been shown to exert anti-cancer and immunomodulatory functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of FC and the underlying molecular mechanism. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pretreated with FC prior to being stimulated with LPS. Thereafter, the macrophages were subjected to analysis of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, as well as two relevant enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The analysis revealed that FC administration blunted LPS-induced production of NO and PGE in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at both mRNA and protein levels was inhibited in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with FC. Moreover, LPS stimulation upregulated mRNA expression and medium release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas this effect was blocked upon FC pre-administration. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibitory effects of FC on LPS-induced inflammation were associated with a downregulation of IκB kinase, IκB, and p65/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that FC possesses an inflammation-suppressing activity, thus being a potential agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2005

Tuber yield and content of general component and diosgenin which is a main bioactive property were investigated in order to determine the growth characteristics of round typed yam(Dungeun-ma, Dioscorea opposita L.) and the potential of artificial culture at Suwon, Korea. Sprouting rates of segmented small tubers such as 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12g were respectively 60.3, 80.5, 85.3, 98.6 and 99.3% when they were investigated 30 days after planting. Segmented small tubers of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12g enlarged respectively to 66, 87, 98, 120, and 140g in the green-house cultivation. Segmented small tubers of 3, 7, 12, 18, and 23g enlarged respectively to 35.2, 124.7, 142.7, 174.8, and 200,7g in the open-air field cultivation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.479-491
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• 2024

Improving liver regeneration (LR) remains a medical issue, and there is currently a lack of safe and effective drugs for LR. Rhizoma Dioscoreae (SanYak, SY) is a traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying action mechanism of SY treatment for LR is yet to be fully elucidated. To explore the mechanism by which SY affects LR, we have conducted a series of methods for network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo experimental validation in mice. Overall, 9 compounds and 30 predicted target genes of SY were found to be associated with the therapeutic effects of LR. Compared with the model group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the mice with preoperative drug intervention possessed fewer postoperative hepatocyte bubbles and relatively regular morphology. Furthermore, the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reduced, immunohistochemistry revealed elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity rate, and Western blotting demonstrated that the phospho-protein kinase B (AKT)/AKT ratio was downregulated and that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels were upregulated. This study explored dioscin, the main active ingredient of SY, and its potential therapeutic effects on LR. It repairs damaged liver following surgery and promotes liver cell proliferation. The action mechanism comprises reducing AKT phosphorylation levels and upregulating VEGFA expression levels. Thus, this study provides a new direction for further research on the mechanism of SY promoting LR.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.565-575
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate shelf-life and quality of fresh-cut Dungkunma (Dioscorea bulbifera) in order to elevate utilization of Dungkunma a fresh food. Before vacuum-packaging (in polyethylene/polypropylene film ($100{\mu}m$, $15{\times}20cm$, $75{\pm}2cmHg$) and storaging at $2^{\circ}C$, Dungkunma was peeled out and cut to dice type ($2.0{\pm}0.5cm^3$), and then washed and blanched using hot water (at $90{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ with 2% NaCl solution for 30 sec). Blanched Dungkunma was pre-dried at room temperature, $40^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$ for removing surface water. Each peeled dice Dungkunma was packed 50 g in polyethylene/polypropylene film ($100{\mu}m$, $15{\times}20cm$) with vacuum treatment ($75{\pm}2cmHg$) and stored at $2^{\circ}C$ for 90 days. Hardness and adhesiveness of Dungkunma blanched by 2% NaCl and pre-dried at $50^{\circ}C$ (SB50) were the highest, but changes were the least during storage. Lightness and yellowness of stored Dungkunma in all treatments decreased slightly while redness increased during storage. Changes of color of SB50 was the least. Total concentration of aerobic bacteria in SB50 was $1.88{\pm}0.18log\;CFU/g$ during 90 days and E. coli was detected in all treatments during whole storage periods. Dioscin and allantoin contents of SB50 were virtually unchanged during the storage. Consequently, the results of this study suggest that vacuum packaged Dungkunma after blanching using 2% NaCl solution could be effective to prolong the quality of fresh-cut Dungkunma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2017

Two byproducts, brewer's spent grain (BSG; germinated rice and malt) and brewer's spent material (BSM; Achyranthes japonica Nakai), were collected during the manufacture of pilsner beer using A. japonica Nakai and germinated rice. Water extracts of BSG and BSM were prepared at different temperatures ($25^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, and $100^{\circ}C$) for 5 h, and their nutritional and functional properties were investigated. ${\gamma}-Aminobutyric$ acid (GABA), saponin, and niacin contents were higher in extracts prepared at $60^{\circ}C$ for more than 3 h than the other extracts, whereas total polyphenol content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and reducing power were higher in samples extracted at $100^{\circ}C$ for 1 h compared to the other ones. Overall, water extraction at $60^{\circ}C$ for 3 h was desirable to effectively collect both nutritional and functional components from BSG and BSM. Under these conditions, BSM extracts showed 4~18 times high niacin and folate contents, 1.4 times high total phenolic content, and 11~60 times high antioxidant activities compared to BSG extracts. This study shows that pilsner beer byproducts would be good sources of health beneficial components, especially GABA, saponin, water soluble vitamins, and polyphenolics.