• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.207-215
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• 2018

Inflammatory response and oxidative stress play critical roles in the development and progression of many human diseases. Therefore, a great deal of attention has been focused on finding functional materials that can control inflammation and oxidative stress simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Socheongja and Socheong 2, Korean black seed coat soybean varieties, on the inflammatory and oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our data indicated that the extracts of Socheongja (SCJ) and Socheong 2 (SC2) significantly suppressed LPS-induced production of nitrite oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$, key pro-inflammatory mediators, by suppressing the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. It was also found that SCJ and SC2 reduced the LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$, which was concomitant with a decrease in the protein levels. In addition, SCJ and SC2 markedly diminished LPS-stimulated intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, and effectively enhanced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression. Furthermore, LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was abrogated by SCJ and SC2. Taken together, these data suggest that SCJ and SC2 may offer protective roles against LPS-induced inflammatory and oxidative responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages through attenuating MAPKs pathway, and these effects are mediated, at least in part, through activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Given these results, we propose that SCJ and SC2 have therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders caused by over-activation of macrophages.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.608-620
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• 2008

Objectives : This study investigated the protective effects of the water extracts of Chongmyung-tang, Polygalae Radix, and Acori Graminei Rhizoma in an in vivo Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model. Methods : Memory impairment was induced by an intraventricular injection of $A{\beta}25-35$ peptides and subsequently Chongmyung-tang, Polygalae Radix, or Acori Graminei Rhizoma extract were administered orally for 14days. Results : In the water maze task, Chongmyung-tang, Polygalae Radix, and Acori Graminei Rhizoma extracts improved learning ability during the acquisition period and significantly increased memory scores during the retention period versus $A{\beta}-injected$ controls. Furthermore, the toxicity of $A{\beta}25-35$ on hippocampus was assessed immunohistochemically (Tau, MAP2, TUNEL, Bax) and by in vitro study. Chongmyung-tang, Polygalae Radix, and Acori Graminei Rhizoma demonstrated significant neuroprotective effects against oxidative damage and apoptotic cell death of hippocampal neurons damaged by $A{\beta}25-35$. Conclusions : These results suggested that Chongmyung-tang, Polygalae Radix and Acori Graminei Rhizoma extract improve memory impairment and reduce Alzheimer's dementia via anti-apoptotic effects and by modulating the expressions of Tau and MAP2 protein in the hippocampus.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 2007

The protective effects of Rubus coreanum Miquel (RCM) extract against LPS-induced hepatotoxicity were studied in rats. Squrague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally administered the RCM at 100 mg/kg per day for three weeks. Then single dose of LPS (5 mg/kg) was injected into rats. Four hours later, they were anesthesized with ether and dissected. We examined the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in sera, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mitochondrial fraction and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver homogenate. LPS-treatment markedly increased the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and significantly decreased those of SOD, CAT and GPx. But RCM-pretreatment decreased the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and LDH by 57.9%, 37.4%, 62% and 69% respectively and increased those of SOD, CAT and GPx by 82.9%, 64.2% and 96.7% respectively. Subsequently, the protective effects of RCM was evaluated through histopathological examination of liver tissue. The LPS treatment increased the state of necrosis and cirrhosis surrounding the central veins (CV) and sinusoid, but RCM-treatment decreased the state of necrosis and cirrhosis in the liver tissue. These results demonstrated that protective effects of RCM against LPS-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.243-249
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng (KRG), the steamed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has a variety of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects. Aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) produced by the Aspergillus spp. causes acute hepatotoxicity by lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage, and induces liver carcinoma in humans and laboratory animals. This study was performed to examine the protective effects of KRG against hepatotoxicity induced by $AFB_1$ using liver-specific serum marker analysis, histopathology, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. In addition, to elucidate the possible mechanism of hepatoprotective effects, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde were analyzed. Rats were treated with 250 mg/kg of KRG (KRG group) or saline ($AFB_1$ group) for 4 weeks and then received 150 ${\mu}g/kg$ of $AFB_1$ intraperitoneally for 3 days. Rats were sacrificed at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, or 1 wk after $AFB_1$ treatment. In the KRG pre-treatment group, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde levels were low, but superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were high as compared to the $AFB_1$ alone group. Histopathologically, $AFB_1$ treatment induced necrosis and apoptosis in hepatocytes, and led to inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver. KRG pre-treatment ameliorated these changes. These results indicate that KRG may have protective effects against hepatotoxicity induced by $AFB_1$ that involve the antioxidant properties of KRG.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2008

The research was conducted to identify the antimicrobial effect, anti-oxidative effect and tyrosinase inhibitory effect of MeOH 80% extract and n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions from the extract of six kinds of compositae plants, which are naturally grown across the nation. In the antimicrobial effect, the extract and chloroform fraction of Arctium lappa and hexane/ethyl acetate fractions of Taraxacum platycarpum exhibited significant inhibition. In case of antioxidant effect, the extract of Artemisia capillaries showed the highest effect and ethyl acetate/butanol fractions of all plants showed about 90%, which fractions were more polar than the fractions that showed antimicrobial effect. In case of tyrosinase activity, only the MeOH 80% of Arctium lappa among the extracts showed a potent inhibition, and butanol fraction of Chrysanthemum indicum, as well as ethyl acetate/water fractions of Artemisia capillaries showed 48, 38, and 37% respectively, which were higher than control group (arbutin). These active fractions in tyrosinase inhibition also were higher polarity than those that showed antimicrobial effect. In MeOH 80% extracts, only Arctium lappa was found to have antimicrobial, anti-oxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity, however there was no fraction to show effects commonly in the three assay system.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense. It has a wide spectrum of clinical applications such as in anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is still unknown that berberine related with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In the present study, we are examined the molecular mechanism of ROS- and p38 MAP kinase-mediated apoptosis by berberine in HepG2 cells. Berberine increased cytotoxicity effects by time- and does-dependent manner. $LD_{50}$ was detected 50 ${\mu}M$ at 48h of exposure to berberine. Nuclei cleavage and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were observed in cells treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ of berberine for 48h. Moreover, berberine induced the activating of caspase-3, p53, p38 and Bax expression, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, Bcl-2, was decreased. Additionally, berberine-treated cells had an increased level of generation of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicated that berberine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream change, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation, p38 and p53 activation, caspase-3 activation, and consequent leading to apoptosis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2012

$Schizandra$ $chinensis$ Baillon is a traditional folk medicine plant that is used to treat and prevent several inflammatory diseases and cancer in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. This study was designed to investigate mechanisms of anti-allergic activity of a $Schizandra$ $chinensis$ Baillon water extract (SCWE) in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells and to assess whether gastric and intestinal digestion affects the anti-allergic properties of SCWE. Oxidative stress is an important consequence of the allergic inflammatory response. The antioxidant activities of SCWE increased in a concentration-dependent manner. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) specific IgE, treated with SCWE, and challenged with the antigen DNP-human serum albumin. SCWE inhibited ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release and expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) mRNA and protein in IgE-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. We found that digested SCWE fully maintained its antioxidant activity and anti-allergic activity against the IgE-antigen complex-induced activation of RBL-2H3 cells. SCWE may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, such as asthma. Thus, SCWE could be used as a natural functional ingredient for allergic diseases in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated anti-oxidative effects of Duchesnea indica extracts by using Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). The extracts were prepared with 0 %, 30 %, 50 %, 70 % and 100 % aqueous ethanol respectively. The 30 % EtOH D. indica extract showed higher ORAC activity than the other extracts. Therefore, we performed in vitro studies on cytotoxicity of NIH-3T3 cells and MMP-8 collagenase inhibition using by the 30 % EtOH extract. The 30 % EtOH extract showed no cytotoxicity and significant inhibition on MMP-8 collagenase. And we performed clinical studies for the anti-wrinkle effect of the Di-Wrinkle Free Cream. The cream formula was prepared with 2 % arbutin and 1 % D. indica extract. Twenty one healthy women volunteers, ages of 35 and 50, applied the cream on their faces twice a day for 8 weeks. The skin was evaluated with PRIMOS (phaseshift rapid in vivo measuring of human skin) system and analyzed by the student's paired t-test. The wrinkles on the eye region were reduced by 13 % based on the PRIMOS system after 8 weeks. In the safety study of the Di-Wrinkle Free Cream, no symptoms were observed such as erythema, edema, scaling, itching, stinging, burning, tightness and prickling by visual observation and medical examination of volunteers for 8 weeks. Moreover, there was no noticeable skin disorder during experience period. These results suggested that D. indica extracts could be applied as cosmeceuticals effective for anti-wrinkle.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the antioxidative activity and inhibitory effects on elastase and tyrosinase of Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts. The free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of ethyl acetate fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. was $5.23\;{\mu}g/mL$. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of some Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}$-EDTA/$H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol - dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ROS scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of ethyl acetate fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. was $0.40\;{\mu}g/mL$. The protective effects of extract / fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration dependent manner ($1\;{\sim}\;10\;{\mu}g/mL$). Inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$) on tyrosinase of aglycone fraction of Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts was $8.90\;{\mu}g/mL$. Inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$) on elastase of aglycone fraction of Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts was $2.37\;{\mu}g/mL$. These results indicate that extract / fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. can function as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by anti-oxidative activity and protect cellular membranes against ROS. Persicaria hydropiper L. extract / fractions could be used as a new cosmeceutical for whitening and anti-wrinkle products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1315-1323
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• 2017

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa (CL)) of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. A yellow-pigmented fraction isolated from the rhizomes of CL contains curcuminoids belonging to the dicinnamoyl methane group. Curcumin is an important active ingredient responsible for the biological activity of CL. However, CL is not usually used as a food source due to its bitter taste. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the CL fermented by Rhizopus oryzae (FCL) on pro-inflammatory factors such as nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cell line. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of FCL 80% EtOH extracts, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by ELISA kit. Also, the amount of $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured using the $NO/PGE_2/NF-{\kappa}B$ detection kit and the iNOS/COX-2 expression was measured by Western blotting. The results showed that the FCL reduced NO, $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that FCL extracts may be a developed the functional food related to anti-inflammation due to the significant effects on inflammatory factors.