• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2005

Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is known as a key regulator of ARE-mediated gene expression and the induction of Phase II detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant enzymes, which is also a common property of many chemopreventive agents. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory role of different chemopreventive agents including sulforaphane (SUL), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), indole-3-carbinol (I3C), and parthenolide (PTL), in the expression and degradation of Nrf2 and the induction of the antioxidant enzyme HO-1. SUL strongly induced Nrf2 protein expression and ARE-mediated transcription activation, retarded degradation of Nrf2 through inhibiting Keap1, and thereby activating the transcriptional expression of HO-1. AITC was also a potent inducer of Nrf2 protein expression, ARE-reporter gene and HO-1 but had little effect on delaying the degradation of Nrf2 protein. Although PTL and I3C could induce ARE reporter gene expression and Nrf2 to some extent, they were not as potent as SUL and AITC. However, PTL dramatically induced the HO-1 expression, which was comparable to SUL, while I3C had no effect. In addition, when treated with SUL and PTL, inhibition of proteasome by MG132 did not cause additional accumulation of Nrf2, suggesting the involvement of other degradation mechanism(s) in the presence of these compounds such as SUL and PTL. In summary, the results of our current study indicated that different chemopreventive compounds have different regulatory properties on the accumulation and degradation of Nrf2 as well as the induction of cellular antioxidant enzyme HO-1.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.165-171
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• 1999

Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in carcinogenesis and other several human diseases, antioxidants present in consumable fruits, vegetables, and beverages have received considerable attention as cancer chemopreventive agents. Thus, in order to identify antioxidants in plant extracts, potential activity was assessed by determining with inhibition of a xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay system. Approximately 170 plant extracts of Korean herbal medicines were primarily evaluated for the potential of antioxidant activity. As a result, 13 plant extracts were found to be active $(IC_{50}$<$100\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Especially, Juncus effusus, Selaginella tamariscina, Pueraria thunbergiana and Sedum albroseum showed strong inhibitory activity in this process. Further studies for the identification of active principles from these active lead plant extracts might be warranted.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.122-124
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• 1999

Induction of NAD(P)H : (quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase (QR) which obligatory two electron reduction of quinones and prevents their participation in oxidative cycling and thereby the depletion of intracellular glutathione, has been used as a marker for chemopreventive agents. We postulated that vitamin E, an antioxidant, which induces QR as the gene of QR was reported to contain antioxidant reponsive element in the 5'-flanking region. Vitamin E resulted in significant induction of QR in both hepalclc7 cells and mouse tissues. QR induction was observed; to be maximal at 25uM vitamin E for hepalclc7 cells while it was maximal in the level of 2.5∼5 μmoles vitamin E/㎏ BW for mouse tissues. Thus the cancer-preventive effect of vitamin E may be exerted by it induction of intracellular detoxifying enzymes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2022

In Asia, the roots of Paeonia lactiflora and Astragalus membranaceus have been used as therapeutic agents for thousands of years. Once the medicinal plants are harvested, they are dried and their ingredients are extracted by heat-mediated reflux extraction. However, the condensed structure of organic products (especially roots) limits the extraction of bioactive components. In this study, we assessed the effect of the puffing method (using high temperature and pressure) before the extraction process in relation to the profile and antioxidant capacity of active ingredients. We demonstrated that the additional puffing process before extraction methods improves the yield of polyphenol concentrations and antioxidant activities from the roots of P. lactiflora and A. membranaceus.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2023

Eurya emarginata is an evergreen tree growing in the southern regions of Korea including Jeju Island. In this study, antioxidant and anti-photoaging effects were investigated with the extracts of E. emarginata leaves. As comparative studies with the extract and five solvent fractions, the EtOAc fraction showed the most effective DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities. The EtOAc fraction also inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production most effectively. Phytochemical study on the EtOAC fraction resulted in the isolation of three compounds; eutigoside C (1), eutigoside B (2) and quercitrin (3). Among the isolates (1-3), quercitrin (3) showed excellent antioxidant activities and inhibitory properties on MMP-1 production. Based on these results, it was suggested that extracts of E. emarginata leaves could be developed as natural anti-photoaging agents in cosmetic formulations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.266-275
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• 2024

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a rare subpopulation of cancer cells that exhibit stem cell-like characteristics, including self-renewal and differentiation in a multi-stage lineage state via symmetric or asymmetric division, causing tumor initiation, heterogeneity, progression, and recurrence and posing a major challenge to current anticancer therapy. Despite the importance of CSCs in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, currently available anticancer therapeutics have limitations for eradicating CSCs. Moreover, the efficacy and therapeutic windows of currently available anti-CSC agents are limited, suggesting the necessity to optimize and develop a novel anticancer agent targeting CSCs. Ginseng has been traditionally used for enhancing immunity and relieving fatigue. As ginseng's long history of use has demonstrated its safety, it has gained attention for its potential pharmacological properties, including anticancer effects. Several studies have identified the bioactive principles of ginseng, such as ginseng saponin (ginsenosides) and non-saponin compounds (e.g., polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, and phenolic compounds), and their pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifatigue, and neuroprotective effects. Notably, recent reports have shown the potential of ginseng-derived compounds as anti-CSC agents. This review investigates the biology of CSCs and efforts to utilize ginseng-derived components for cancer treatment targeting CSCs, highlighting their role in overcoming current therapeutic limitations.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.236-240
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of the water extract from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. using linoleic acid as lipids. The extract exhibited antioxidative effect at all concentrations tested. With metal ion(Fe3+) present, the extract showed strong antioxidative effect. These result indicated that the extract can be used for antioxidative agents in oriental medicine.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2010

Low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites from plants play an important role in reproductive processes and in the defense against environmental stresses or pathogens. In the present study, we isolated various volatiles and phenolic compounds from white Rosa rugosa flowers, and evaluated the pharmaceutical activities of these natural products in addition to their ability to increase survival in response to environmental stress and pathogen invasion. The DPPH and hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation assay revealed that the white rose flower extract (WRFE) strongly scavenged free radicals in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, WRFE inhibited the growth of E. coli and fatally attacked those cells at higher concentration (>0.5 mg/mL). FITC-conjugated Annexin V stain provided further evidence that WRFE had strong antimicrobial activity, which may have resulted from a cooperative synergism between volatiles (e.g. 1-butanol, dodecyl acrylate and cyclododecane) and phenolic compounds (e.g. gallic acid) retained in WRFE. In conclusion, secondary metabolites from white rose flower hold promise as a potential natural source for antimicrobial and non-chemical based antioxidant agents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2563-2569
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• 2012

Oxidative stress is a common mechanism contributing to initiation and progression of hepatic damage in a variety of liver disorders. Hence there is a great demand for the development of agents with potent antioxidant effect. The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera as a hepatoprotective and an antioxidant against 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induced hepatocellular damage. Single oral administration of DMBA (15 mg/kg) to mice resulted in significantly (p<0.001) depleted levels of xenobiotic enzymes like, cytochrome P450 and b5. DMBA induced oxidative stress was confirmed by decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the liver tissue. The status of hepatic aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which is indicative of hepatocellular damage were also found to be decreased in DMBA administered mice. Pretreatment with the Moringa oleifera (200 and 400 mg/kg) orally for 14 days significantly reversed the DMBA induced alterations in the liver tissue and offered almost complete protection. The results from the present study indicate that Moringa oleifera exhibits good hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential against DMBA induced hepatocellular damage in mice that might be due to decreased free radical generation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.188-193
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• 2001

Free radical scavengers or quenching agents for reactive oxygen species (ROS) present in consumable fruits, vegetables, and beverages have received considerable attention as potential antioxidants, and thus uses for treatment of several human diseases. In this study, grapevine shoot extract (GSE) containing high concentration of resveratrol and viniferine was evaluated for antioxidant potential and inhibition of pro-inflam-matory mediator production. Utilizing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibition assay the GSE showed inhibitory effects of DPPH radical scavenging and XOD activity with the $IC_{50}$/ values of 34.5 and 155 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. In addition, GSE also exhibited the inhibition of prostaglandin E$_2$ (PGE$_2$) and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells with the $IC_{50}$/ value of 6.4 and 14.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. This result suggests that grapevine shoot extract has the potential activity as a natural antioxidant or antiinflammatory agent.