• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2019

The mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of bioconversion on different components of the mulberry tree, and determined changes in the physiological activities. Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions of five different segments (fruit, Mori Fructus; leaf, Mori Folium; twig, Mori Ramulus; root, Mori Cortex; and mistletoe, Loranthi Ramulus) of the mulberry tree show enhanced anti-oxidant effects in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylvenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, after being treated with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus kawachii, in the following order of activity: Mori Folium>Mori Cortex>Mori Ramulus>Mori Fructus>Loranthi Ramulus. Ethyl acetate- soluble fraction of mulberry leaves (Mori Folium) that underwent bioconversion was most effective, and was devoid of any cytotoxicity. The fraction was also effective against mRNA expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6. In addition, the fraction was effective in LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and IKK, and $I{\kappa}B$ degradation, followed by translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Thus, bioconversion increased the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of the mulberry leaf.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.57-64
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• 2015

Objectives : Oxidative stress is one of the most causes of hepatocyte injury. Gleditsia spina, the thorns ofGleditsia sinensisLam., has been known for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects in Korean medicine. The present study investigated hepatoprotective effect of Gleditsia spina water extract (GSE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA) + iron in HepG2 cells.Methods : To investigate cytoprotective effect of GSE, cells were pretreated with GSE and then subsequently exposed to 10 μM AA for 12 h, followed by 5 μM iron. Cell viability was monitored by MTT assay, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins was examined by immunoblot analysis. To identify responsible molecular mechanisms, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, GSH contents, and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. In addition, effect of GSE on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation was determined by immunoblot and antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven reporter gene assays.Results : GSE pretreatment prevented AA + iron-mediated cytotoxicity in concentration dependent manner. In addition, ROS production, glutathione depletion, and mitochondrial impairment by AA + iron were significantly inhibited by GSE. Furthermore, GSE promoted translocation of Nrf2 to nucleus, which acts as essential transcription factor for induction of antioxidant genes. Increased nuclear Nrf2 that caused by GSE treatment promoted transcriptional activity of ARE. Finally, GSE up-regulated sestrin-2 which was widely recognized as target gene of Nrf2.Conclusions : This study demonstrates that GSE protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress via activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Purpose: Lycopene is abundantly contained in Tomatoes and is known for diverse biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. In this study, the antioxidative potential of lycopene was investigated through the induction of hemeoxygenase (HO)-1 by nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor2 (Nrf2) and upstream signaling molecules, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Aktin RAW 264.7 cells. Methods: The antioxidative potential of lycopene against oxidative stress and its molecular mechanisms were determined by the cell viability assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation assay, and Western blot analysis in RAW 264.7 cells. Results: Lycopene treatment significantly attenuated tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced intracellular ROS formation in a dose-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. In addition, 50 µM of lycopene for 6 h treatment induced potent HO-1 expression and its transcription factor, Nrf2. MAPK and PI3K/Aktwere also analyzed due to their critical roles in the regulation of cellular redox homeostasis against oxidative damage. As a result, phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) was significantly induced by lycopene treatment while the activated status of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and Akt, were not given any effect. To confirm the antioxidative mechanism of HO-1 mediated by ERK activation, each selective inhibitor was employed in a protection assay, in which oxidative damage occurred by t-BHP. Lycopene, SnPP, and CoPP treatments reflected accelerated HO-1 expression could be a protective role against oxidative damage-initiated cell death. A selective inhibitor for ERK significantly inhibited the lycopene-induced cytoprotective effect but selective inhibitors for other signaling molecules did not attenuate the rate of t-BHP-induced cell death. Conclusion: In conclusion, lycopene potently scavenged intracellular ROS formation and enhanced the HO-1 mediated antioxidative potential through the modulation of Nrf2, MAPK signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.395-404
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• 2024

Background: Ginsenoside Rg₁ (Rg₁) is one of the main active components in Chinese medicines, Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng. Research has shown that Rg₁ has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, including anti-myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, anti-apoptosis, and promotion of myocardial angiogenesis, suggesting it a potential cardiovascular agent. However, the protective mechanism involved is still not fully understood. Methods: Based on network pharmacology, ligand-based protein docking, proteomics, Western blot, protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis (UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra) techniques, potential targets and pathways for Rg₁ against myocardial ischemia (MI) were screened and explored. Results: An important target set containing 19 proteins was constructed. Two target proteins with more favorable binding activity for Rg₁ against MI were further identified by molecular docking, including mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) and adenosine kinase (ADK). Meanwhile, Rg₁ intervention on H9c2 cells injured by H₂O₂ showed an inhibitory oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The inhibition of Rg₁ on MAPK1 and OXPHOS pathway was confirmed by Western blot assay. By protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis, the binding reaction between ADK and Rg₁ was also evaluated. Conclusion: Rg₁ can effectively alleviate cardiomyocytes oxidative stress injury via targeting MAPK1 and ADK, and inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The present study provides scientific basis for the clinical application of the natural active ingredient, Rg₁, and also gives rise to a methodological reference to the searching of action targets and pathways of other natural active ingredients.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the anti oxidative and antitumor activities of medicinal plants for the purpose of developing a functional food. The methanol extracts of Agrimonia pilosa was fractionated with five solvents and examined anti oxidative activities and enzyme inhibitory activities in addition to growth inhibitory activity of human cancer cell. The contents of total phenol compounds in EtOAc and BuOH fraction were 39.89% and 39.56%, respectively. Strong electron donating abilities(>90%) were shown in these fractions and its abilities were 92.90% ($500\;{\mu}g/ml$), 94.47% ($1000\;{\mu}g/ml$) in EtOAc fraction and 93.77% ($500\;{\mu}g/ml$), 92.90% ($1000\;{\mu}g/ml$) in BuOH fraction, respectively. These fractions exhibited more than 50% nitrite scavenging ability and potent inhibition activities to XOase activity (93.06%, 91.73%) at concentration of $1000\;{\mu}g/ml$. In antitumor activity test, hexane fraction showed the strongest growth inhibition activity against HT-29, SNU-1 and HeLa cells. Inhibition levels were 51.50, 90.09% in HT-29, 88.19, 95.11 % in SNU-1 and 42.66, 96.40% in HeLa at the concentration of 50, $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.115-127
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of the Lycopene cultivar of cherry tomatoes as a functional food and food material by measuring the total polyphenol and flavonoid content, anti-oxidative and anticancer activity. The contents of polyphenol and flavonoid were $12.28{\pm}1.78mg$ and $3.89{\pm}0.54mg$ per one g of dried cherry tomatoes respectively. The anti-oxidative activity of the cherry tomato was verified by measuring ${\alpha}$-${\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (DSA), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity (ASA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). 50% of radical scavenging concentrations ($IC_{50}$) of DSA and ASA were $328.64{\pm}4.190{\mu}g/mL$ and $350.61{\pm}3.300{\mu}g/mL$ respectively. FRAP value was $26.92{\pm}0.68{\mu}mol$ $Fe^{2+}/g$. The effects of the cherry tomato extract on the growth of a normal lung cell (Hel299), lung cancer cell (A549), cervical cancer cell (HeLa) and a liver cancer cell (HepG2) were investigated using MTT assay. The cherry tomato extract showed a significantly strong growth inhibition effects against A549 cell and $IC_{50}$ was $375.46{\pm}33.670{\mu}g/mL$. The extract also inhibited growths of HeLa and HepG2 cells weakly. In this study we found that Lycopene cultivar of cherry tomato had anti-oxidative activity and strong inhibition effect against lung cancer cells. These results indicate that the Lycopene cultivar of cherry tomato would be a functional food and food material.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.59-78
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• 2009

Objective : This study was designed to examine the effects of stem bark extracts of Cornus walteri Wanger on the lipid lowering, anti-oxidative activity and concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in hyperlipidemic rat. Methods : Male rats weighing $195.21{\pm}5.85g$ fed high fat diet for 8 weeks and 40 rats(above 400 g) were divided into 4 groups. Each groups were divided into a control group and 3 experimental groups. We fed a control group of rats a basal diet and administered normal saline(100 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 4 weeks. And we fed each experimental group of rats Basal diet and administered an extract of Cornus walteri Wanger(100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed to determine their chemical composition. We measured lipid of plasma and liver, concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, anti-oxidative activity and gene expression. Results : 1. Concentration of plasma free fatty acid, LDL-cholesterol showed a tendency to decrease in Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. Concentration of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol showed a significantly decrement in all Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group than that of control group. HDL-cholesterol showed a significantly increment in the 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group. 2. Concentration of liver total cholesterol showed a tendence to decrease in Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. Concentration of triglyceride liver showed a significantly decrement in all Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group than that of control group. 3. Concentration of plasma and liver TBARS showed a tendence to decrease in Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. The values of GSH-Px, SOD and CAT activity showed a significantly increment in the 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group than that of control group. 4. The values of plasma AST and ALT activity showed no significantly different in all treatment groups. 5. Concentration of plasma $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed a tendency to decrease in the Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. However the concentration of IL-10 in the 200 and 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups showed a significantly increment than that of control group. Concentration of liver $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-10 showed no significantly difference in all treatment groups. However concentration of IL-6 in the 200 and 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups showed a significantly decrement than that of control group. 6. In the analysis of RT-PCR, gene expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, Apo-B, Apo-E and leptin in the Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups showed a lower expression than that of control group. 7. The ratio of $TNF-{\alpha}$, Apo-E and leptin expression per $\beta$-actin expression in the 200 and 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. showed a significantly decrement than that of control group. The ratio of Apo-B expression per $\beta$-actin expression in the 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. showed a significantly decrement than that of control group. Conclusions : According to above results, in lowering lipid effect, antioxidative activity and antiinflammatory effect, the Cornus walteri Wanger ext. gives positive effect.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 2014

To explore marine microorganisms with medical potential, we isolated and identified marine bacteria from floats, marine algae, animals, and sponges collected from Jeju Island, Korea. We isolated and identified 21 different strains from the marine samples by 16S rRNA analysis, cultured them in marine broth, and extracted them with ethyl acetate (EtOAc) to collect secondary metabolite fractions. Next, we evaluated their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Among the 21 strains, the secondary metabolite fraction of Bacillus badius had both strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and thus was selected for further experiments. An antioxidant compound detected from the secondary metabolite fraction of B. badius was purified by preparative centrifugal partition chromatography (n-hexane:EtOAc:methanol:water, 4:6:4:6, v/v), and identified as diolmycin A2. Additionally, diolmycin A2 strongly inhibited nitric oxide production. Thus, we successfully identified a significant bioactive compound from B. badius among the bacterial strains collected from Jeju Island.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1224-1233
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• 2016

The present study assessed the effects of an aqueous extract of Acanthopanax koreanum root (AE) and of AE following fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum) (AEF) on human skin fibroblast HS68 cells exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and oxidative stress. AEF effectively antagonized the senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining and upregulation of p53 and p21^Cip1/WAF1 induced by UVB or H₂O₂ treatment in HS68 cells. It also exhibited excellent antioxidant activities in radical scavenging assays and reduced the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species induced by UVB or H₂O₂ treatment. The antioxidant and antisenescent activities of AEF were greater than those of nonfermented A. koreanum extract. AEF significantly repressed the UVB- or H₂O₂-induced activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and -3, overexpression of MMP-1, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation. This repression of NF-κB activation and MMP-1 overexpression was attenuated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase activator, suggesting that this AEF activity was dependent on this signaling pathway. Taken together, these data indicated that AEF-mediated antioxidant and anti-photoaging activities may produce anti-wrinkle effects on human skin.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.61-66
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• 2016

The frequency of obesity has risen dramatically in recent years but only few safe and effective drugs are currently available. In addition, obesity can induce type 2 diabetes (T2DM), hyperlipidemia and fatty liver disease. Recently, protective effect of purslane extract (PE) on obesity has been reported, but little is known about the role and mechanism of PE in obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PE on obesity and diabetes in obese mice. In addition, the effect of PE was compared with anti-obesity and diabetes drugs. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice were treated for 8 weeks with drugs as follows: PE, orlistat, metformin, voglibose or pioglitazone. While PE mixed with normal diet did not have any effects on BW in non-obese mice, PE mixed with HFD significantly reduced BW gain, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance, without affecting food intake and appetite in obese mice. The effect was comparable to the effects of anti-obesity and diabetes drugs. Furthermore, PE significantly increased the activity of hepatocellular anti-oxidant enzymes, leading to protection of liver from oxidative stress in obese mice. These results suggest that PE treatment may be a useful tool for preventing obesity and complication of obesity.