• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Curcuma zedoaria R. (Zingiberaceae) has been used to treat headache, fever, and hypertension-related symptoms in Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan. We investigated whether dietary intake of a C. zedoaria extract (CzE) affected atherosclerosis in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice (n = 32) were fed a normal diet (ND), a high-cholesterol diet (HCD), an HCD containing CzE (100 mg/kg/day), or an HCD containing simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks. The anti-atherosclerotic effects were evaluated by observing changes in fatty streak lesions, immunohistochemical analysis, ex vivo fluorescence imaging, lipid profiles, and western blot analysis. RESULTS: The CzE-fed group showed a 41.6% reduction of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, CzE significantly reduced the levels of serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, the chemokine (C-X3-C-motif ) ligand 1, the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin; down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, high mobility group box-1, and cathepsin levels in the aortic sinuses and aortas of ApoE^-/- mice were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the inclusion of a water extract of C. zedoaria in a HCD is closely correlated with reducing the risk of vascular inflammatory diseases in an ApoE mouse model.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2023

Under constant environmental pollution, the incidence of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) caused by air pollutants and allergens has increased. AD is an allergy inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritus, eczema, and skin dryness. In herbal medicine, Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma; AR) has been utilized to treat Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, and inflammation. The purpose of study evaluated the effect of AR in a mouse model of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like skin lesions. After acclimatization for 5 days, the mice (6-week-old, male Balb/c) were divided into five groups (n=6/group): NC (normal control), DNCB (control), Dex (5 mg·kg-1, p.o.), AR100 (100 mg·kg-1, p.o.), and AR300 (300 mg·kg-1, p.o.). On days 1 and 3, 1% DNCB was applied to the skin and ears. After 4 days, 0.5% DNCB was applied once every 2 days for 2 weeks. Then, skin and ears eczema area and severity index (EASI); skin nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels; and plasma immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were examined. The AR groups showed lower EASI, skin and ear thickness, mast cell count, and IgE levels than the control groups. Moreover, AR reduced iNOS, COX-2, and PGE2 levels. Therefore, AR possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can improve skin damage, indicating its therapeutic potential against AD.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.104-108
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• 2001

Aging is a senescence and defined as a normal physiologic and structural alterations in almost all organ systems with age. As Leonard Hayflick, one of the first gerontologists to propose a theory of biologic aging, indicated that a theory of aging or longevity satisfies the changes of above conditions to be universal, progressive, intrinsic and deleterious. Although a number of theories have been proposed, it is now clear that cell aging (cell senescence) is multifactorial. No single mechanism can account for the many varied manifestations of biological aging. Many theories have been proposed in attempt to understand and explain the process of aging. Aging is effected in individual by genetic factors, diet, social conditions, and the occurrence of age-related diseases as diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis. It involves an endogenous molecular program of cellular senescence as well as continuous exposure throughout life to adverse exogenous influences, leading to progressive infringement on the cell's survivability so called wear and tear. So we could say the basic mechanism of aging depends on the irreversible and universal processes at cellular and molecular level. The immediate cause of these changes is probably an interference in the function of cell's macromolecules-DNA, RNA, and cell proteins-and in the flow of information between these macromolecules. The crucial questions, unanswered at present, concerns what causes these changes in truth. Common theories of aging are able to classify as followings for the easy comprehension. 1. Biological, 1) molecular theories - a. error theory, b. programmed aging theory, c. somatic mutation theory, d. transcription theory, e. run-out-of program theory, 2) cellular theories - a. wear and tear theory, b. cross-link theory, c. clinker theory, d. free radical theory, e. waste product theory, 3) system level theory-a. immunologic/autoimmune theory, 4) others - a. telomere theory, b. rate of living theory, c. stress theory, etc. Prevention of aging is theoretically depending on the cause or theory of aging. However no single theory is available and no definite method of delaying the aging process is possible by this moment. The most popular action is anti-oxidant therapy using vitamin E and C, melatonin and DHEA, etc. Another proposal for the reverse of life-span is TCP-17 and IL-16 administration from the mouse bone marrow B cell line study for the immunoglobulin VDJ rearrangement with RAG-1 and RAG-2. Recently conclusional suggestion for the extending of maximum life-span thought to be the calory restriction.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.457-469
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• 2017

Obesity is one of the most serious health problem because it induced numerous metabolic syndrome and increases the incidence of various disease, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and cancer. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, increases in reactive oxygens species (ROS) occur with lipid accumulation. NADPH oxidase, producing superoxide anion, may contribute to the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we elucidated the effect of Chaenomeles sinensis koehne extract (CSE) against the development of obesity and the inhibition mechanisms in 3T3-L1 preadiocytes. CSE decreased triglyceride content and inhibited the expression of adipogenic transcription factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$, CCAT/enhancer binding protein $(C/EBP){\alpha}$ and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP-1). In addition, CSE highly increased antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. CSE remarkably reduced intracellular ROS increase and NAD(P)H oxidase activity, NOX1, NOX4, Rac1 protein expression, and phosphorylation of p47phox and p67phox We also studied the effect of CSE on weight gain induced by high-fat diet. The oral treatment of CSE (500 mg/kg, body weight) in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice showed decrease in triglyceride and adipocyte size. Therefore, these results indicate that the effect of CSE on anti-obese effects, adipocyte differentiation and reducing triglyceride contents as well as adipocyte size in obese mice, may be associated with inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase-induced ROS production and adipose transcription factors. These results showed the potential to inhibit the obesity by CSE treatment through controlling the activation of NAD(P)H oxidase in vitro and in vivo obese model.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2010

The roots and leaves of Angelica keiskei (AK) have been used for the treatment of various diseases including coronary heartdisease, hypertension, and cancer in the Korean folk medicine. However, the mechanism by which methylenechloride fraction (MF) from AK exerts anti-tumorigenic activity in human prostate cancer cells has not been fully understood. In the present study, we report the MF exerted the highest cytotoxicity against prostate cancer DU145 cells compared with other fractions. Especially, MF caused the accumulation of sub-G1 DNA contents of cell cycle and increased annexin V-positive apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. MF down-regulated several proliferative (Cyclin D1) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-xl, Bcl-2, IAP-1/2, and survivin)gene products in these cells. Hence, MF induced apoptosis through the caspase-3 activation in DU145 cells. We further confirmed that caspase-3 plays an importance role in MF-induced apoptosis in DU145 cells by using caspase-3 inhibitor. Additionally, we observed that MF potentiated Dox-induced apoptosis in DU145 cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate the evidence that MF induces apoptosis depend on caspase-3 activation of and overcomes resistance to chemotherapy in human prostate cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2017

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by chronic lipid accumulation due to dysregulation of lipid metabolism in the liver, and it is associated with various human diseases such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Histone acetylation is a representative epigenetic mechanism regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases. We observed that tartary buckwheat sprout (TBS) suppressed lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells through its anti-HAT activity. We showed that TBS was a novel HAT inhibitor with specificity for the major HAT enzyme p300. Importantly, TBS reduced acetylation of total and histone proteins, H3K9, H3K36, and H4K8, resulting in decreased transcriptional activities of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, ATP citrate lyase, and fatty acid synthase. These results suggest that TBS inhibits the NAFLD transcription-modulating activity of lipogenesis-related genes through modification of histone acetylation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2004

The study was conducted to develop new materials of functional foods from natural resources. Fortyeight medicinal plants were screened on inhibitory activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a protein elevating blood pressure. The water extracts of Armoracia aerial part, Cynanchum radix, Euonymus branch, Phyllostachys stem, Trichosanthes seed, and methanol extract of Silybum aerial part were showed strong inhibitory activity (above 70%) on ACE at the final concentration of $4,000\;{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$. Among the plant extracts, water extracts of Phyllostachys taeniam and Trichosanthes seed were especially showed strong inhibitory activity (above 25%) at $500\;{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$. These two plants are expected good candidate for development into anti-hypertensive materials.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.493-502
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• 2013

In this study, we designed to confirm the dietary effect of anti-obesity of fermented soybean curd residue (FSCR; SCR-Meju; Biji-meju) by A. oryzae, which is well known as a Korean traditional meju microbe. We observed that body weight gain, serum and hepatic lipid profile, as well as the activity of ROS generating enzyme and ROS scavenging enzyme in high-fat diet induced obese mice fed experimental diet (SCR and SCR-meju). Body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of HC (high-fat diet control) was markedly higher than that of NC (Normal control). Conversely, body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of the SCR (Biji) and SCR-meju (Biji-meju) group was significantly lower than that of HC; these of the SCR-meju group was lower than that of the SCR group. Furthermore, serum TG and total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents of SCR and SCR-meju groups were lower than that of HC, and HDL-cholesterol level of the SCR-meju group was significantly higher than that of HC. In conclusion, although precise mechanisms of the antiobese effects of SCR-meju in this study are unknown, the present study provides an experimental evidence that SCR-meju may prevent obesity and obesity related metabolic syndromes, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes, and liver disease by high-fat diet. Nevertheless, further study in this filed will be needed.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.276-280
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• 2013

Obesity, the leading metabolic disease, is a prevalent health problem in industrialized countries and is closely associated with coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of dip-sauce for meat containing Garcinia cambogia extract (GC) on the lipid accumulation and body weight reduction in rats fed high-fat diet for three months. Eighteen Sprague Dawley male rats of five-week-old were randomly assigned to one of three groups; normal chew diet (NCD) group, high-fat diet plus GC-noncontaining dip-sauce (HFD) group, and HFD plus GC-containing dip-sauce (HFD+GC) group. Co-administration of GC-containing dip-sauce (5 g/kg body weight/day) with HFD significantly attenuated cumulative body weight gain, compared with NCD or HFD groups. Both epididymal and perirenal fat pad weights in the HFD plus GC group were significantly lower than those of HFD or NCD groups. Administration of GC-containing dip-sauce also resulted in significant reduction in the serum levels of total cholesterol, total lipid, and triglyceride, compared with NCD or HFD groups. Thus, GC-containing dip-sauce confers beneficial effects to pathological states associated with metabolic disorder via its anti-obesity and lipid lowering properties.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.970-975
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• 2005

Based on their biological activity, phenols from rosemary extract were evaluated for inhibition of Helicobacter pylori. Contents of total phenolic compounds and inhibition zone of water and ethanol extracts from rosemary were 24.3mg/g and 25.7mg/g, and 11mm, 14mm, and, at $200{\mu}g/mL$ phenol content, 20.9% and 78.2% inhibitory activities were observed, respectively. Electron donating abilities and 2.2-Azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid cation radicals of water and ethanol extracts were 89.1% and 62.0% and 98.4% and 96.5%, respectively. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values of all extracts were lower than that of control. Ethanol extract showed 98.8% angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. Xanthin oxidase inhibitory activities of water and ethanol extracts were very high, at 84.8%, 100%, respectively. These results indicated phenolic compounds from rosemary can be utilize as a potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-hypertension and anti-gout sources.