• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.379-383
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• 2013

Portulaca oleracea L. is known to have many biological benefits such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-tumor. The objective of this study is to explore the neuroprotective effect of P. oleracea L. against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. P. oleracea L. 70% ethanol extract and solvent fractions have the potent neroprotective effects on glutamate-induced nerotoxicity by induced the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in HT22 cells. Especially, ethyl acetate fraction showed higher protective effect. In HT22 cell, P. oleracea L. treatment with ERK inhibitor (PD98059) and c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor (SP600125) reduced P. oleracea L. ethyl acetate fraction induced HO-1 expression and P. oleracea L. ethyl acetate fraction also increased ERK and JNK phosphorylation. Furthermore, we found that treatment of P. oleracea L. caused the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of 70% ethanol extract of P. oleracea L. significantly protect glutamate-induced oxidative damage by induction of HO-1 via Nrf2, ERK and JNK pathway in mouse hippocampal HT22. Taken together these finding suggest that P. oleracea L. ethyl acetate fraction is good source for taking active compounds and may be a potential therapeutic agent for brain disorder that induced by oxidative stress and neuronal damage.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.394-399
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• 2013

Astragalus membranaceus Bunge is used in herbal medicine in Eastern Asian countries including Korea. In this study, we assessed the effects of A. membranaceus extract (AM) on the aquaporin-3 (AQP3) protein expression in HaCaT cells. AM did not affect viability of HaCaT cells. AQP3 expression and cell migration seem to be maximal at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitor, PD153035, blocked AM-induced AQP3 expression and cell migration. In addition, an 80% ethanol extracts of herbal prescription, SinhyoTakleesan (ST), which is composed of A. membranaceus, Angelicae gigantis, Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne, and Lonicera japonica Flos also induced AQP3 expression at $20{\mu}g/mL$ in HaCaT cells. Collectively, these results suggest that AM induce AQP3 expression via EGFR pathway.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2022

The imbalance of oxidative stress due to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to the pathogenesis of liver disease. To prevent this, the role of antioxidant mechanisms is important. Antioxidant studies have been reported on the Filipendula glaberrima Nakai. However, studies applied to HepG2 cells, which are human liver cells, have not yet been conducted. In this study, 70% ethanol extract of Filipendula glaberrima Nakai (FGE) was prepared and antioxidant activity was investigated. It was confirmed whether FGE pretreatment could reduce hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. The increase in gene expression of antioxidant biomarkers and the scavenging ability of ROS were measured, and Hoechst 33342 staining was used to know the inhibitory effect of the apoptosis. As a result, FGE significantly increased SOD (2.6-fold), CAT (4.4-fold), MT-1A (3.1-fold), GPx (4-fold), and G6PD (2.4)-fold compared to the H₂O₂-treated group. FGE directly inhibited ROS production from 13.4 to 3.6 (the fluorescence mean of DCF-DA) and also reduced apoptotic cells from 45% to 10% (Hoechst 33342 staining) at 2.5 ㎍/mL. These results demonstrate the excellent antioxidant activity of FGE and show that it can be used as a functional food to prevent liver disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.416-425
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• 2009

Angiogenesis is important for promoting cardiovascular disease, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. We here investigated the pharmacological effects of Korea red ginseng water extract (KRGE) on angiogenesis and its underlying signal mechanism. This study showed that KRGE increased in vitro proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical endothelial cells, as well as stimulated in vivo angiogenesis. KRGE-induced angiogenesis was accompanied by phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) as well as an increase in NO production. Inhibition of PI3K activity by wortmannin completely inhibited KRGE-induced angiogenesis and phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, and eNOS, indicating that PI3K/Akt activation is an upstream event of KRGE-mediated angiogenic pathway. The MEK inhibitor PD98059 completely blocked KRGE-induced angiogenesis and ERK phosphorylation without affecting Akt and eNOS activation. However, the eNOS inhibitor NMA effectively inhibited tube formation, but partially blocked proliferation and migration as well as ERK phosphorylation without altering Akt and eNOS activation, revealing that eNOS/NO pathway is in part involved in ERK1/2 activation. This study first demonstrated the critical involvement of both ERK1/2 and eNOS activation in KRGE-induced angiogenesis, which lie on downstream of PI3K/Akt. Thus, these results indicate that KRGE requires activation of both the PI3K/Akt-dependent ERK1/2 and eNOS signal pathways and their cross-talk for its full angiogenic activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2015

Objective : This study investigated the inhibitory mechanism of the hypopigmentating effects on ethanol extract of Rosae rugosae Flos (ERR) that has not yet been examined. Methods : We analyzed the anti-melanogenic effects of ethanol extracts from Rosae rugosae Flos by tyrosinase activity, melanin contents. We also examined protein expression levels of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, MITF and ERK by western blot analysis in melanoma cells. Results : In this investigation, ERR effectively reduced ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated melanin synthesis by suppressing expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). On the other hand, the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) were not affected by treatment with ERR. ERR inhibited the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) as a key transcription factor for tyrosinase expression regulating melanogenesis. The upstream signaling pathway including cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and MAPKs were also inhibited by ERR. Pretreatment with PD98059, ERK inhibitor, attenuated the inhibitory effect of ERR on ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced tyrosinase activity. Conclusions : Our study suggested that the anti-melanogenic activity of ERR is correlated with the suppression of tyrosinase gene through CREB/MITF/ERK pathway.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.227-231
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• 1985

The effect of ethanol concentration on saponin composition of red ginseng extract was studied during extraction at $80^{\circ}C$ for 5 times of 8 hours. The increase in ethanol concentration from 0% to 90% resulted a gradual reduction in solids yield and an increase in the recovery of total ginsenosides. All of the ginsenosides determined were also significantly increased, but ginsenoside-$Rb_1.$-$Rb_2$ and -Rd were relatively decreased a little by raising the concentration 70% to 90%. The yield ratio of protopanaxadiol/protopanaxatriol saponin were in the range of 1.69${\sim}$1.95. No significant improvement in pure saponin yield was observed between 70% and 90% ethanol. Extraction with 70% ethanol was suggested for preparation of red ginseng extract from the result of this work.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 1991

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of light intensity using polyethylene (p.E) net shading on the specific gravity, red ginseng quality, sugar and saponin contents of ginseng root. The specific gravity significantly increased in the ginseng roots grown under the P.E net shading as compared with that of common straw shading. The red ginseng quality under the P.E net shading was improved in order of 10, 5, 15, 20, 30% of light intensity and the inside cavity and inside white part decreased remarkably as compared with those of common straw shading. The ginseng roots grown under the P.E net shading at 10% and 15% light intensity showed a significant increase in the total sugar content but a significant decrease in the reducing sugar content at 15% light intensity as compared with those of common straw shading. The amount of total saponin of ginseng roots was increased under the P.E net shading at high light intensity as compared with that of common straw shading and the ginseng roots grown under the P.E net shading at 10% light intensity showed an increase in the diol group saponin but the ratio of PT/PD was decreased. Extract contents of ginseng root under the P.E net shading was higher than those of common straw shading and the roots grown under the P.E net shading at 15% and 20% light intensity resulted in a remarkable increase in extract contents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 1998

A rapid separation of an edible panaxadiol (PD) and panaxatriol (PT) in ginseng saponins has been investigated by benzene ethylene resin adsorption method. Briefly, powdered red ginseng was extracted with water. The obtained ginseng extract were dissolved in suitable volume of distilled water, and adsorbed on the benzene ethylene resin with 200 folds water of the resin weight. Sugars and hydrophilic character compounds not absorbed were washed with water, and eliminated by 10-fold water of the resin weight. An edible panaxadiol and panaxatriol can be perfectly separated from ginseng saponins with the fractions below 40% aqueous ethanol and over 45% as an fluent.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.43-51
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• 2011

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi $H_2O$ fraction (FLLW) on cell proliferation, and the phosphorylation of ERKs and Akt in human dermal fibroblast neonatal (HDFn). Methods : After treatment of HDFn with FLLW, MTT assay was performed to quantitatively determine cellular viability. The ERK and Akt pathways were analyzed in vitro by Western blot in a HDFn. HDFn proliferation after FLLW and minoxidil treatment in the absence or presence of PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, LY294002, and a PI3K inhibitor, was examined by Western blot or MTT assay. Results : FLLW increased cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and minoxidil used as positive control also induced cell proliferation in HDFn. FLLW increased the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt. In addition, minoxidil, too, induced the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt in HDFn. PD98059 and LY294002 significantly attenuated FLLW-inducible p-ERK and p-Akt expression and proliferation in cultured HDFn. Conclusions : Our results suggest that FLLW stimulates the growth of fibroblast cells through ERK and Akt pathways. Therefore, FLLW is a potential agent for the inducer of fibroblast growth.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

A noel automated brain region extraction method in single channel MR images for visualization and analysis of a human brain is presented. The method generates a volume of brain masks by automatic thresholding using a dual curve fitting technique and by 3D morphological operations. The dual curve fitting can reduce an error in clue fitting to the histogram of MR images. The 3D morphological operations, including erosion, labeling of connected-components, max-feature operation, and dilation, are applied to the cubic volume of masks reconstructed from the thresholded Drain masks. This method can automatically extract a brain region in any displayed type of sequences, including extreme slices, of SPGR, T1-, T2-, and PD-weighted MR image data sets which are not required to contain the entire brain. In the experiments, the algorithm was applied to 20 sets of MR images and showed over 0.97 of similarity index in comparison with manual drawing.