• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 2003

Successful operation of a reactor can be accomplished when it is operated at proper D depending on the state of degradation. Operation at high D leads to the washout of biomass in the reactor while operation at low D leads to product inhibition due to the accumulation of excess VFA. These appear to limit the production of hydrogen to reach a higher level. Operation by D control was performed to improve the efficiency of hydrogen fermentation of food waste. Although simple organic matters were rapidly degraded in the early stage (day 1-2), proper VFA concentration and pH values were kept in the reactor at D of $4.5d^{-1}$, which was previously reported to be optimum initial D. High butyrate/acetate (B/A) ratios over 3.2 were obtained. Without D control, the reduction of simple organic matters after day 2 caused the decrease of VFA production and the increase of pH. Hydrogen production also decreased, as microbial proliferation was less than microbial loss by washout. However, the reactor performance was dramatically improved at D control from 4.5 to $2.3d^{-1}$. It showed the highest B/A ratios over 2.0 among the reactors on day 4-7. The second hydrogen peak appeared on day 4, resulting in the highest fermentation efficiency (70.8%) among the reactors. It was caused by the enhanced degradation of slowly degradable matters. The COD removed was converted to hydrogen (19.3%), VFA (36.5%), and ethanol (15.0%). Therefore, the strategy using D control, depending on the state of degradation, was effective in improving the efficiency of hydrogen fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.568-577
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidative capacity of ethanol extracts from Rumex crispus L. The concentration of R. crispus L. extract at which DPPH radical scavenging activity was inhibited by 50% was 2.15 mg/mL, which was lower than that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (0.43 mg/mL), as compared to 100% by pyrogallol as a reference. Total antioxidant status was examined by total antioxidant capacity against ABTS radical reactions. Total antioxidant capacities of R. crispus L. extract at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/mL were 0.47 and 2.33 mM Trolox equivalents, respectively, which were higher than those of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. Superoxide scavenging activities of R. crispus L. extract at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/mL were 21.5 and 78.9%, respectively, which were not significantly (p>0.05) different from those of catechin. Oxygen radical absorbance capacities of R. crispus L. extract at concentrations of 20 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ were 62.5 and 156.4 ${\mu}M$ Trolox equivalents, respectively, which were lower than those of ascorbic acid. Cupric reducing antioxidant capacities of R. crispus L. extract at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/mL were 0.28 and 1.88 mM Trolox equivalents, which were similar or significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, respectively. R. crispus L. extract prevented supercoiled DNA strand breakage induced by hydroxyl radical and peroxyl radical. Total phenolic contents of R. crispus L. extract at concentrations of 0.5 and 5 mg/mL were 0.58 and 3.85 mM gallic acid equivalents, respectively. R. crispus L. extract at concentration of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/mL inhibited 0.2 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity by 38.5 and 63.5%, respectively, in HepG2 cell culture system. Thus, strong antioxidant and cytotoxicity-inhibiting effects of R. crispus L. extract seem to be due to, at least in part, the prevention from free radicals-induced oxidation as well as high levels in total phenolic contents.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2012

In this study, we investigated the antibacterial activity and stability of a cream containing Hippophae rhamnoides leaf extract. The MIC values of ethyl acetate fraction from an H. rhamnoides leaf on Escherichia coli, Pityrosporum ovale, Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus were 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.25% and 0.06%, respectively. Stability evaluations, pH, viscosity and absorbance of the cream containing 0.25% ethyl acetate fraction of H. rhamnoides, were performed. The cream was measured under 4 different temperature conditions under sunlight at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks. The viscosity and pH were measured by a comparison of the experimental cream with a similar control cream. The H. rhamnoides extract was found to have contributed to the stability of the emulsion product via a protective effect in maintaining the viscosity of the cream against sunlight. The absorbance variations of the experimental cream at 270 nm were, under sunlight; $45^{\circ}C$, $37^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, and $4^{\circ}C$. In addition, any change in color or smell was not observed through the 12 weeks of the experimental period. These results indicated that the cream containing 0.25% ethyl acetate fraction of H. rhamnoides leaf extract was stable. Accordingly, this suggests that further study is needed to provide additional information for manufacturers, who are seeking the application of the extract to improve anti-oxidant and antibacterial activities and the stability of cosmetic products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.404-411
• /
• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant effects of extracts from 9 species of forest plants in Korea. DPPH, ABTS, $NaNO_2$, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity were evaluated to measure the antioxidant activities of plant extracts. As a result, Geranium thunbergii has been identified as the most effective antioxidant resource. Also, total phenolic content was highest in Geranium thunbergii ($303.94{\pm}0.63mg\;GAE/g$) among 9 species extracts. Total flavonoid content was highest in Rosa multiflora ($24.32{\pm}0.22mg\;QE/g$) and proanthocyanidin content was highest in Vitis ficifolia ($279.00{\pm}4.58mg\;CE/g$) among 9 species extracts. In addition, the protective effect of plant extracts in $H_2O_2-induced$ human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell systems were also assessed. Significant protective effects in $H_2O_2-induced$ human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell systems were found in all plant extracts, especially in Geranium thunbergii. These results suggest that Geranium thunbergii could be a potential natural resource for antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.298-304
• /
• 2021

The anti-aging and anti-inflammatory activities of hot-water (Ca-HW) and 70% ethanol (Ca-E70) whole-plant Calamagrostis arundinacea extracts, as well as their bioactive potentials, were investigated using cell-free and cell-mediated experimental systems. Use of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical decolorization assay to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the Ca-HW and Ca-E70 extracts revealed DPPH radical scavenging activities of 27% and 48%, respectively. Neither extract caused significant cytotoxicity, and both showed cell proliferation and promotion effects using RAW 264.7, B16F10, and CCD986sk cells. B16F10 melanoma cells showed higher melanin synthesis when treated with 100 mg/ml Ca-HW or Ca-E70 than with arbutin, indicating a stronger inhibitory effect of arbutin on melanin synthesis. Ca-HW and Ca-E70 increased pro-collagen biosynthesis in the human fibroblast CCD986-SK cell line by 24.69% and 12.55%, respectively. Analysis of the anti-inflammatory effects of different concentrations of Ca-HW and Ca-E70 in RAW264.7 cells revealed that Ca-E70 appeared to inhibit the lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and IL-6, a proinflammatory cytokine; therefore, Ca-E70 showed an anti-inflammatory effect. These results suggested that C. arundinacea extracts could have skin anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.17-27
• /
• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant activities of subfractions of Peucedanum insolens Kitagawa root in various organic solvents and their anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. First, P. insolens Kitagawa roots were dried at room temperature for one week, chopped, and extracted with 70% ethanol. The resulting extracts were successively sub-fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water. The antioxidant potential of the fractions was evaluated using a DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay and by measuring total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. The anti-inflammatory potency of the fractions was evaluated by measuring the inhibition levels of the expressions of inflammatory-mediated genes and proteins (e.g., iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, and IL-6) in RAW264.7 cells. The results clearly showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of the P. insolens Kitagawa root contained relatively high total flavonoid (34.08±1.68 ㎍ of quercetin equivalents per mg) and total polyphenol (154.1±3.2 ㎍ of gallic acid equivalents per mg) contents. The DPPH assay results showed that the P. insolens Kitagawa root possessed strong free radical scavenging activity in the ethyl acetate fraction. Both the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions showed strong inhibitory potencies to nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide (1 ㎍/ml) treatment for 24 hr in RAW264.7 cells. The results also showed that both the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of the P. insolens Kitagawa root strongly inhibited mRNA levels of iNOS, IL-1β, and IL-6, which were overexpressed by LPS treatment for 24 hr in the RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that P. insolens Kitagawa root may contain compounds that possess strong potency for anti-inflammatory activity. Further studies are needed to discover more detailed modes of action of P. insolens Kitagawa root fractions against inflammation modulation, such as the regulation of cytokine signaling and inflammatory signaling pathways.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.23-33
• /
• 2023

Sucrose (suc) is a disaccharide that consists of glucose (glu) and fructose (fru). It is a carbohydrate source that acts as a nutrient molecule and a molecular signal that regulates gene expression and alters metabolites. This study aimed to evaluate whether suc-specific signaling induces an increase in bioactive compounds by exogenous suc absorption via roots or whether other factors, such as osmotic stress or biotic stress, are involved. To compare the osmotic stress induced by suc treatment, 4-week-old cultured mugwort plants were subjected to Hoagland nutrient solution with 10 mM, 30 mM, and 50 mM of suc or mannitol (man) for 3 days. Shoot fresh weight in suc and man treatments was not significantly different from the control. Both man and suc treatments increased the content of bioactive compounds in mugwort, but they displayed different enhancement patterns compared to the suc treatments. Mugwort extract treated with suc 50 mM effectively protected HepG2 liver cells damaged by ethanol and t-BHP. To compare the biotic stress induced by suc treatment, 3-week-old mugwort plants were subjected to microorganism and/or suc 30 mM with Hoagland nutrient solution. Microorganisms and/or suc 30 mM treatments showed no difference about the shoot fresh weight. However, sugar content in mugwort treated with suc 30 mM and microorganism with suc 30 mM treatment was significantly higher than that of the control. Suc 30 mM and microorganism with suc 30 mM were effective in enhancing bioactive compounds than microorganism treatment. These results suggest that mugwort plants can absorb exogenous suc via roots and the enhancement of bioactive compounds by suc treatment may result not from osmotic stress or biotic stress because of microorganism, but by suc-specific signaling.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.15-25
• /
• 2023

Myriophyllum spicatum L. has been used as an ornamental in ponds and aquariums, and as a folk remedy for inflammation and pus. Nevertheless, the biological activity and underlying mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects are unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract of Myriophyllum spicatum L. (EMS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Antioxidant activity of EMS was assessed by radical-scavenging effects on ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. As inflammatory response parameters produced by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were quantified to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of EMS. Our results showed that EMS increased FRAP and DPPH radical-scavenging activity. In EMS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, the production of NO, PGE₂, TNF-α and IL-1β was significantly inhibited at the non-cytotoxic concentration. In addition, EMS significantly attenuated LPS-stimulated the toll-like receptor (TLR) 4/myeloid differentiation protein (MyD) 88 signaling pathway, and inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB). Positive correlations were noted between anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, it was indicated that EMS suppresses the transcription of inflammatory factors by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby suppressing LPS-stimulated inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells. This study highlights the potential role of EMS against inflammation and associated diseases.