• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2012

This study was designed to explore new nutraceutical and cosmetic resources possessing biological activities from the plant kingdom. To fulfill this purpose, we analyzed the anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Zanthoxylum schinifolium extract (ZSE) and its solvent fractions using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. Three kinds of ZSE treated with methanol, ethanol, and water exhibited potent anti-oxidative activities through DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and inhibited in vitro DOPA oxidation. Furthermore, Z. schinifolium methanol extract (ZSME) inhibited the ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone, which induces melanin contents in B16F10 cells. Its anti-melanogenic activity originates from the inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity and melanogenesis related protein expression. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in the RAW 264.7 cell line was also ameliorated by ZSME treatment in a dose dependent manner. Among the four solvent fractions of ZSME treated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water, three fractions, except water, showed significant anti-melanogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into Z. schinifolium, indicating that it possesses numerous biological activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it may well serve as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 1996

Background: Endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide(LPS) can prime phagocytic cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes or animal peritoneal macrophages to generate increased amounts of secretory products such as oxygen free radicals and tumor necrosis factor, which play an important role in developing adult respiratory distress syndrome in gram negative sepsis. Human alveolar macrophages(HAM) are continuously exposed to various stimuli inhaled into the alveoli, and the response to LPS might be different in HAM. Therefore, we investigated the effect of LPS pre-exposure on HAM adhered to plastic surface and A549 cell(type II human alveolar epithelial cell line) monolayer. Methods: HAM were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from normal lung of the patients with localized lung cancer and esophageal cancer. LPS was exposed to HAM for 2hrs before or after adherence to plastic surface of 24-well Linbro plate and A549 cell monolayer. And then HAM was stimulated with PMA(phorbol myristate acetate) or fMLP(N-formyl-methionylleucyl-phenylalanine). The amount of hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) production in the supernatant was measured on the principle of peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenol red by hydrogen peroxide. Results: LPS pre-exposure could not enhance $H_2O_2$ production in neither HAM adhered to plastic surface nor one to A549 cell monolayer. But LPS even in the absence of PMA or fMLP stimulation directly increased $H_2O_2$ release in HAM if added after the adherence to A549 cell monolayer. Conclusion: Endotoxin does not prime HAM, but may directly activate HAM adhered to alveolar epithelial cells. Further investagation will be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1226-1232
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• 2003

Bamboo trees have been used for a long time as folk remedies for treatment of hypertension and stroke symptoms in Oriental regions. These pharmaceutical effects of bamboos look like to be related to its antioxidant capacity and phytochemicals in bamboos. To evaluate the antioxidative effects of bamboo trees, five kinds of bamboo varieties dominant in Korean peninsular were chosen and determined its total antioxidaive activities, free radical scavenging activities and nitrite scavenging activities by TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) assay, DPPH and Griess reagent assay using in vitro system, respectively. To evaluate the correlation between antioxidative activities and Maillard reaction during hot water extraction, contents of reducing sugar and total nitrogen and brown color intensity at 420 nm were determined. When total antioxidative activities, free radical scavenging activities and nitrite scavenging activities of five kinds of bamboo trees were compared, wang-dae (Phyllostachys bambusoides S. et Z.) showed the strongest effect among samples, although all kinds of extracts showed relatively strong effects against oxidation. The bamboo culms extract showed stronger antioxidative effects than that of bamboo leaves. In each fraction obtained from 70% ethanol extract, antioxidative effect were increased in order of dichloromethane>ethyl acetate>butanol>water>hexane fraction. In reducing sugar analysis of extracts, reducing sugar contents of water extracts were higher than that of 70% ethanol extracts and wang-dae water extract showed the highest level which was 708.92 mg/g. Total nitrogen contents of the extracts were $1.785{\sim}2.605\;mg%$ and contents in water extracts were lower than that in 70% ethanol extracts. Brown color intensity at 420 nm showed similar tendency with results in reducing sugar contents.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.384-394
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• 2009

This study was performed to determine the antioxidative and anticancer effects of extracts from Adenophora remotiflora leaves. The antioxidative effects of the extracts were measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging activity and hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid oxidative inhibition assays. The results indicated that the extracts had stronger effects than the synthetic antioxidant BHT at the same concentration. The $SC_{50}$ values (50% radical scavenging effect on $1{\times}10^{-4}$ M DPPH) of the methanol fraction, water extract, and BHT were 47.5 ${\mu}g$/mL, 74.6 ${\mu}g$/mL and 102.2 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. In addition the $IC_{50}$ values (hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid oxidation inhibition) of the methanol fraction, water extract, and BHT were 120.8 ${\mu}g$/mL, 135.6 ${\mu}g$/mL, and 150.2 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. This research also assessed decreases in the survival of BNLcl2 cells (normal liver cells) by solvent fractions of the A. remotiflora leaf extracts at various concentrations (1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 ${\mu}g$/mL). The water extract did not decrease survival at any of the concentrations when compared to the control group. The hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol fractions decreased survival as compared to the control group by inducing cell toxicity at a concentration of 1,000 ${\mu}g$/mL and above. Therefore, an anticancer activity experiment was conducted using concentrations below 500 ${\mu}g$/mL. At 500 ${\mu}g$/mL, the methanol fraction decreased A549 cell (human lung carcinoma cells) survival by 46% as compared to the control group, presenting the greatest effect against cell survival. All extracts showed greater anticancer activity in Hep G2 cells (human liver carcinoma cells) as compared to the A549 cells. For the Hep G2 cells, the methanol extract decreased survival by 28% as compared to the control group at the concentration of 500 ${\mu}g$/mL, thus restraining lung cancer cell growth.