• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.3 s.138
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• pp.255-258
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• 2004

Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp pekinensis) is one of the most popular green vegetables in Cruciferae family, which consisted in many Korean food. All kinds of Chinese cabbage are used both fresh and cooked with certain varieties being more suitable than others for some uses. A unique dish, Kimchi, has been developed in Korea and elsewhere by fermenting Chinese cabbage and pickling it in salt solution. Though lots of beneficial effect of Kimchi on human health has been published before, it is still debatable and in vague on the active origin of the Kimchi or of the Chinese cabbage responsible for the corresponding biological activities. We have recently conducted photochemical investigation of the Chinese cabbage, which is the main ingredient of the Korean traditional food, Kimchi. The MeOH extract of Chinese cabbage was partitioned with ethylacetate and BuOH, successively. The ethyl acetate soluble part was subjected to column chromatography with silica gel and RP-18, which gave finally five minor components, i.e., ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (1), indole-3-acetonitrile (2), 4-methoxyindole-3-acetonitrile (3), methyl ferulate (4), glycerol 1-(9,12,15-octadecatrienoate) (5). The structures of them were established on the basis of spectral $(^1H-NMR,\;^{13}C-NMR)$ evidences.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2018

Nypa fruticans Wurmb is a species of palm, which is widely distributed in the mangrove forest of Southeast Asia. Various parts of N. fruticans has been used as a traditional medicinal plant. However, the physiological activities of N. fruticans has not yet been clarified well. Therefore, in this study, the 50% ethanol extract and its aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions of young shoots of N. fruticans were investigated for their antioxidant, cytoprotective effect, and antimicrobial activities. Every sample possessed very high free radical and various ROS scavenging capacities assessed by employing different in vitro assays such as $DPPH^{\cdot}$, $O_2^{{\cdot}-}$, ${\cdot}OH$, and $^1O_2$ scavenging activities. Based on these results, the cytoprotective effect was investigated using the oxidative hemolysis of erythrocyte. We found that the extract and fractions provide a greater protective effect compared with (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities were confirmed against skin pathogens by broth microdilution assay. The ethyl acetate fraction had much higher antimicrobial activities than methyl paraben against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Taken together, our results indicated that the young shoots of N. fruticans may have the potential role as a natural active ingredient through their antioxidant, cytoprotective effect, and antimicrobial activities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to explore the role and effect of ginsenosides Rg1 on osteoblasts cultured with Ti particles. Osteoblasts from neonatal rats were cultured with particles and different doses of Rg1, the main active ingredient in ginsenosides Rg1. We found that the COX-2, $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, and IL -6 concentrations in the medium of cells cultured with Ti particles significantly increased as compared with that of the control cells (p<0.05 or p<0.01). In addition, cells cultured with Ti particles alone exhibited the highest concentrations of these molecules. The $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, and IL-6 levels in the medium of cells cultured with Rg1 were in between those of the control cells and the cells cultured with Ti particles alone. The IL-1ra level in the group cultured with Ti and medium-dose Rg1 was the highest followed by the cells cultured with Ti and high-dose Rg1 and those cultured with Ti and low-dose Rg1 (p<0.05). In conclusion, ginsenosides can reduce the levels of infl ammatory cytokines produced by osteoblasts on induction with Ti particles and can prevent prosthesis loosening.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 1998

Kojic acid (KA) is an antimelanogenic agent which has been widely used in cosmetics to whiten the skin color. However, it has the drawbacks of the skin irritancy and the instability against the pH, temperature, and light. In order to overcome these problems, various topical gels and multiple emulsion creams which can control the release of active ingredient, KA, were formulated employing cream bases of mineral oil with caprylic capric triglyceride and hydrophilic polymers such as chitosan, carbopol. and pluronics. Using Franz diffusion cells mounted with a synthetic cellulose membrane (MWCO 12,000), drug release characteristics of the formulations were evaluated by the HPLC assay of KA concentration in the receptor compartment of pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline solution. Drug release from chitosan-based gels (ChitoGel) obeyed to the first order kinetics with a rapid release especially in the initial period. However, pluronic-based gels (PluGel) and carbopol-based gels (CarboGel) revealed controlled release of drug to some extent, followed by the square root-time kinetics. Moreover, the release of KA was further controlled with the W/O/W multiple emulsion creams (MultiCream), showing the apparent zero order release kinetics by virtue of dynamic ratecontrolling membrane of the oil layer. The flux $(J,\;{\mu}g/cm^2/hr)$ of ChitoGel. CarboGel. PluGel. and MultiCream in the initial period of 6hr were 73.30, 28.67. 24.04 and 7.72, respectively. On the other hand, the skin irritancy score of ChitoGel and MultiCream were observed as 2.5 and 2.3 respectively, in the rabbit skin irritation test. Although there were insignificant differences at p<0.05 between those formulations, it was possible to conclude that the W/O/W multiple emulsion creams containing KA might be a good candidate for an antimelanogenic drug delivery system due to the controlled release of acidic drug molecules.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.368-373
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• 2004

We have obtained fertile transgenic rice plants resistant to the broad spectrum herbicide Bast $a^{(R)}$ (active ingredient phosphinothricin, PPT) by PEG-mediated transformation procedure. The plasmid pCaMV35S::Bar was used to deliver the bar gene into embryogenic suspension culture-derived protoplasts of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Transformed plants were regenerated and selected on medium containing 15 mg/l of phosphinothricin. Stable integration and expression of the bar gene in transgenic rice plants was confirmed by Southern and Northern blot analysis. Transgenic $R_1$ plants were also confirmed by assays for phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) activity. The bar gene was expressed in the primary transgenic rice plants and in the next generation progeny, in which it showed a 3 : 1 Mendelian inheritance pattern. Transgenic $R_1$ and $R_2$ plants were resistant to the herbicide Bast $a^{(R)}$ when sprayed at rates used in field practice.ice.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives : The pathophysiology of acute spinal cord injury(SCI) may be divided into primary and secondary mechanisms of injury. The secondary mechanism involves free radical formation, excitotoxicity, inflammation and apoptotic cell death, and sets in minutes after injury and lasts for weeks or months. During this phase the spinal tissue damages are aggravated. Therefore, secondary mechanisms of injury serve as a target for the development of neuroprotective drug against SCI. The present study investigated the effect of tetramethylpyrazine(TMP), an active ingredient purified from the rhizome of Ligusticum wallichii(川芎, chuanxiong), on neuronal apoptosis in spinal cord compression injury in rats. Methods : SCI was subjected to rats by a static compression method(35 g weight, 5 mins) and TMP was treated 3 times(30 mg/kg, i.p.) during 48 hours after the SCI. Results : TMP ameliorated the tissue damage in peri-lesion of SCI and reduced TUNEL-labeled cells both in gray matter and in white matter significantly. TMP also attenuated Bax-expressed motor neurons in the ventral horn and preserved Bcl-2-expressed motor neurons. Conclusions : These results indicate that TMP plays a protective role in apoptotic cell death of neurons and oligodendrocytes in spinal cord injury. Moreover, it is suggested that TMP and TMP-containing chuanxiong may potentially delay or protect the secondary spinal injury.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.105-110
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• 1997

Mixture study of bifenthrin and prothiofos was conducted to control insecticide resistant diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, which had shown 581, 18, 19, 11 fold resistance to fenvalerate, cypermethrin, furathiocarb, and prothiofos in Chinju strain, respectively and 38 and 9 fold resistance to fenvalerate and furathiocarb in Seosang strain, respectively. Optimal mixture ratios of bifenthrin and prothiofos was selected against Seosang strain of DBM by leaf dipping method in laboratory and by field test. Maximum co-toxicity coefficient by dipping method was shown at a ratio of 1:50 mixture of bifenthrin 1EC and prothiofos 50EC in active ingredient(a.i.) by 243.2 and then suddenly decreased. The mixed formulation from the dipping test was examined at the cabbage field of Seosang, Hamyang. Although insecticides were reduced to half, control efficacy was similar to farmer's conventional method. In addition, the mixture combination was also more effective against Chinju DBM population which had very high level of resistance to several representative insecticides. Mixture methods of insecticides will be effective countermeasures to the resistance problem of pests.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2010

We reported previously that the administration of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) protected the guinea pig testis against damage induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (a potent endocrine disruptor). We also found that crude saponin from ginseng was the active ingredient responsible for this protection. Here, we examined the biological role of KRG-WE in an animal model of age-induced dysfunction of spermatogenesis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (six 2-month-old and eighteen 12-month-old) rats were used. The young and old control groups received only vehicle. The ginseng saponin (GS)- and KRG-WE-treated groups received GS (40 mg/kg body weight/day) and KRG-WE (200 mg/kg body weight/day), respectively, for 4 months. The number of cells, Sertoli cell index, Johnsen's score, and sex hormone levels decreased significantly with age. However, the administration of KRG-WE and GS markedly improved the number of germ cells, seminiferous tubular size, and Johnsen's score in the old rats. Ginseng produced a distinct testicular histological improvement in old rats. KRG-WE and GS elevated testosterone levels, while attenuating the aberrant increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. Sperm kinematics evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer demonstrated improvement in the percentage of motile sperm, progressive sperm motility, and curvilinear velocity associated with sperm quality, supporting the beneficial role of red ginseng in senile spermatogenesis. Overall, the total water extract had a more potent effect than the corresponding saponin fraction. In conclusion, Korean red ginseng rejuvenated age-induced testicular dysfunction. Additionally, the total water extract was more potent than the corresponding saponin fraction.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.125-142
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• 2011

Solid dispersion, defined as the dispersion of one or more active ingredient in a carrier or matrix at solid state, is an efficient strategy for improving dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs for enhancement of their bioavailability. Compared to other conventional formulations such as tablets or capsules, solid dispersion which can be prepared by various methods has many advantages. However, despite numerous studies which have been carried out, limitations for commercializing these products remain to be solved. For example, during the manufacturing process or storage, amorphous form of solid dispersion can be converted into crystalline form. That is, the dissolution rate of solid dispersion would continuously decrease during storage, resulting in a product of no value. To resolve these problems, studies have been conducted on the effects of excipients. In fact, modification of the solid dispersions to overcome these disadvantages has progressed from the first generation to the recent third generation products. In this review, an overview on solid dispersions in general will be given with emphasis on the various manufacturing processes which include the use of polymers and on the stabilization strategies which include methods to prevent crystallization.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2013

To develop a new whitening agent for cosmetics, we investigated the inhibitory effects of biochanin A on melanogenesis. The biochanoin A is an active component in the extracts of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen. It reduced melanin contents of B16F1 melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and decreased to about 48% at a concentration 10 ${\mu}g/mL$. It also inhibited the expression in microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF), Tyrosinase, Tyrosinase related protein 1 (Trp-1), and Tyrosinase related protein 2 (Trp-2) in melanocytes. The results suggested that biochanin A has considerable potential as a cosmetics ingredient with a whitening effect.