• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.706-713
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• 2010

Objectives : The source is from the flower of Carthamus tinctorius L., family Compositae. It is used in clinical medicine to promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, promote menstruation and alleviate pain. In the present study, we investigated the genome wide analysis of Carthami Flos on the intra-cranial hemorrhage(ICH) model. Methods : ICH in rat was induced by injection of collagenase type IV and Carthami Flos extract(CFe) was administered orally. The molecular profile of cerebral hemorrhage in rat brain tissue was measured using microarray technique to identify up- or down- regulated genes in brain tissue. Results : Expression profile showed that diverse genes were up- or down-regulated by ICH induction. Administration of CFe restored the expression level of some of altered genes by ICH to normal expressional level. Interestingly, these recovered genes by CFe were involved in the same biological pathways which were significantly activated or suppressed by ICH. Conclusion : The above results might explain the therapeutic mechanism of CFe on ICH. Further, by analyzing interaction network, core genes was identified which could be key molecular targets of CFe against ICH.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.9-15
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• 2002

Compared with synthetic dyes, natural dyes have inferior colorfastness as a result of the exposure of the material to any environment that may be encountered during the processing, testing, storage, display or use of the dyed materials. Especially, colors on fabrics fade excessively after washing. Therefore, it is problem to infer the historic textiles with natural-dyed fabrics. The object of this study is to analyse the factors affected to colorfastness and color change during washing. In experimental, fifteen natural dyes were dyed by the Korean traditional dyeing methods onto natural fiber fabrics: cotton, silk, ramie, and flex. Total 49 dyed fabrics in combination with dyes and fibers were used for the specimen. The Launder-Ometer was used for evaluating the effects of exposure to repetitive washing from 1 to 20 washing cycles (KS K 0430). Color difference(ΔE) in the CIEL＊A＊B＊ color-order system were determined by spectrophotometer at 100 bserver. Washing caused significant changes in the color of natural-dyed fabrics. The degree and nature of color changes on the fabrics were dependent on the combination of fiber and the dye type used. The groups of violet(Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc) and black color(Ailanthus altissima Swingle, Phus trichocarpa Miq) yielded excellent colorfastness to repetitive washing. The group of indigo blue color(Polygonum tinctorium Lour.) was also very resistant to color change in washing except silk. Whereas the dye groups of Red, Yellow, Orange, Brown colors indicated greatest changes in color, particularly Carthamus tinctorius L.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.745-751
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• 2013

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have been used in Korea and China for promoting bone formation and protection. This study was designed to examine the Nrf-2 mediated anti-oxidative effects of Korean and Chinese safflower seeds. Water and ethanol extracts of safflower seeds were treated to RAW 264.7 cells. Nrf-2 transcriptional activity was measured by reporter gene assay and western blot analysis. Semi-quantitive RT-PCR analysis was adopted to measure Nrf-2 dependent gene expressions. Water extracts of safflower seeds have strongly induced the activation of Nrf-2 transcription than ethanol extracts. Especially, water extracts of Korean safflower seeds has more strongly increased the expression of nuclear Nrf-2. Water extracts of Korea and China safflower seeds have also increased the expression of Nrf-2-dependent genes such as GCLC, NQO-1 and HO-1 in RAW 264.7 cells. However, all kinds of safflower seeds extracts did not increase intracellular ROS production. These results demonstrate that the antioxidant effects of safflower seeds are not related with ROS production, rather it is mediated by the direct activation of Nrf-2.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.528-534
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• 2001

Much attention has been given to the role of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed in preventing and treating osteroporosis recently. Although numerous studies were done on effects of safflower oil, no attention was given to the role of dietary fiber of safflower seeds. This study was aimed at investigating physiological significance of defatted safflower seed as a source of dietary fiber. Sprague Dawley female rats were assigned one of 5 groups: ovariectomized control (Ovx-control) group and ovariectomized rats 15% (Ovx-ss15) and 30% defatted safflower seed (Ovx-SS30), sham-operated (Sham) group and a normal group. Cholesterol was supplemented to all diets at 0.5% except the normal diet. Ovariectomized rats were pair-fed isocalorically to the Sham group. Ovariectomy caused heavier body weight, but feeding 30% safflower seed brought back to the level of Sham group. Activities of disaccharidases of jejunal mucosa were significantly lowered in Ovx-control group compared to those of Sham, and supplementation of safflower seed tended to increase the activities. Fecal weight of Ovx-SS15 and Ovx-SS30 were almost twice as those of Ovx-control Sham. Propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations per g of feces of Ovx-SS15 and daily excretion of these fatty acids were significantly increased as compared to those of Sham and Ovx-control. In concentration defatted safflower seed supplementation significantly increased fecal bulk and short chain fatty acid production in large intestine of rats.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2004

Natural dyes have poor colorfastness as a result of the exposure of the dyed fabric to sunlight encountered during the display or wearing. As colors on fabrics fade excessively under sunlight, it is a problem to infer and restore the historic textiles with natural-dyed fabrics to original colors. The object of this study is to analyse the factors affected to color change under light. In experimental, fifteen natural dyes were dyed by the Korean traditional dyeing methods onto natural fiber fabrics: cotton, silk, ramie, and flex. Total 49 dyed fabrics in combination with dyes and fibers were used for the specimen. The Weather-O-meter was used for evaluating the effects of exposure to light for 2.5 to 450 hours. The process of color changes in the CIEL *A*B* color-order system to the exposure time were determined by spectrophotometer at 10$^{\circ}$ observer. Sunlight exposure caused significant changes in the color of natural-dyed fabrics. The degree and nature of color changes on the fabrics were dependent on the combination of fiber and the type of dye used. The groups of violet(Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc.) and black color(Ailanthus altissima Swingle, Phus trichocarpa Miq) yielded excellent colorfastness to light. The group of indigo blue color(Polygonum tinctorium Lour.) was also very resistant to fading in both exposure except silk. Whereas the dye groups of Red, Yellow, Orange, Brown colors indicated greatest changes in fading, particularly Carthamus tinctorius L.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.spc1
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• pp.187-190
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the plant growth and seed yield between rain-shelter plastic house and out-door cultivation, and analysed the effect of harvesting time on seed quality. In rain-shelter plastic house cultivation, emergence date was 3 days and flowering date was 8 days earlier than out-door cultivation. Seed yield of rain-shelter plastic house cultivation was increased $25\%$ compared to out-door cultivation and it's more beneficial than out door cultivation. The crude fat content was higher and seed was whiter and better quality in rain-shelter plastic house cultivation than out-door cultivation. In out-door cultivation, the crude fat content was steadily increased until 40 days after full bloom, but the seed color was getting dark which was harvested at 30 days after full bloom and the color was turn to the dark brown when the seed was harvested at 40 days after full bloom. Harvesting of safflower seed's quality is best between 20 days and 30 days after full bloom.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.704-709
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• 2015

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have long been clinically used in Korea to promote bone formation and prevent osteoporosis. In addition, the safflower buds (SB) were found to have more useful functional ingredients than safflower seed. Thus, we investigated the preventive effects of SB diet in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats were divided into five groups; sham operated group, OVX alone group, OVX plus 17β-estradiol (E₂ 10 μg/kg, i.p.) and OVX plus SB diet feeding group (0.3% or 1%). Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats markedly increased trabecular formation in femur compared to OVX rats. Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats also decreased TRAP activity compared to OVX rats. These results suggest that SB diets have bone sparing effects by the decrease of osteoclast activity. We also observed that OVX rats fed with SB diet (0.3% or 3%) exhibited the decrease of calcium and phosphorus in serum compared to OVX-induced rats. Therefore, SB may be beneficial for the patients of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 1981

This study was conducted to examine the best population density and agronomic characteristics affected by different row-widths and planting-spaces within row in safflower. As both row-width and spacing were narrowed, plant height and height to first branch were increased, and the number of branch per plant showed decrease. Plant height showed negative correlation with row-width, height to first branch showed negative correlation with row-width x spacing, and number of branch per plant had positive correlation with row width, and row-width x spacing but negative correlation with plant height. Yield was affected by spacing and row-width x spacing. In spacing, 5cm plot performed the best yield, and 30 x 5cm population density was the best cultural method to increase safflower yield. Yield had negative correlation with spacing and row-width x spacing, but positive correlation with height to first branch.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.122-134
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• 2021

Recently, yogurt has been extensively studied to further enhance its functions using edible plant extracts. This study was conducted to investigate whether safflower petal (SP) as a natural food additive can be used to develop functional yogurt with improved health benefits. SPs were extracted with ethanol (SPE) and hot water (SPW), and then safflower yogurt was prepared by adding 0%-1.0% of those extracts to plain yogurt. With an increase in the fermentation duration, the pH of SPE and SPW yogurt samples was decreased, whereas titratable acidity and microbial counts were increased. The concentration of total polyphenols and total flavonoids, the activity of antioxidants, and the inhibitory effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) were higher in SPW yogurt than SPE yogurt. Furthermore, α-glucosidase and lipase activity inhibitory effects of SPW yogurt were higher than those of SPE yogurt. In particular, free radical-scavenging activities, ROS inhibitory effect, and α-glucosidase activity inhibitory effects were significantly increased in SPW yogurt in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, these results suggest that SP extract possesses antioxidant activities and that it can downregulate α-glucosidase and lipase activities. The SP extract may have potential benefits as a natural food additive for the development of functional yogurt.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.433-452
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• 2018

This study was conducted to select candidates from plant resources for the purpose of improving or treating Alzheimer's disease, a type of dementia. One hundred and eighty-four plant extracts at a final concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$ were screened to determine their capacity to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by in vitro assay. From this AChE assay, seven plant extracts - including methanol ext. and water ext. of Phellaodendron amurense Rupr. (bark), methanol ext. of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn (stamen/ovary), methanol ext. of Persicaria tinctoria H. GROSS (flower), methanol ext. of Coptis chinensis (rhizome), ethanol ext. of Cinnamomum cassia Blume(bark) and ethanol ext. of Carthamus tinctorius L. (fruit) - showed effective inhibition activity ranging from 18.7% to 63.1%. The selected extracts were testified their inhibition activities on AChE and BuChE (butyrylcholinesterase) at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, $200{\mu}g/ml$. In the AChE assay, five extracts including methanol ext. of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (stamen/ovary), methanol ext. of Persicaria tinctoria H. GROSS (flower), methanol ext. of Coptis chinensis (rhizome), methanol ext. and water ext. of Phellaodendron amurense Rupr. (bark) showed inhibition activity of 15.0%~73.5%, 19.5%~63.5%, 81.6%~58.5%, 69.9%~80.5%, and 54.8%~78.3%, respectively, at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, $200{\mu}g/ml$. In the BuChE assay, the extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (stamen/ovary), Persicaria tinctoria H. GROSS (flower), and Coptis chinensis (rhizome) showed inhibitory capacities of 58.9~81.6%, 45.8%~72.4%, and 33.1%~55.4% at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, $200{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In conclusion, it is suggested that Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (stamen/ovary), Persicaria tinctoria H. GROSS, Coptis chinensis (rhizome) and Phellaodendron amurense Rupr. (bark) could be selected as candidate materials for improving or treating Alzheimer's disease on the basis of further study.