• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.75-84
• /
• 2010

This study was performed to investigate change in chemical composition of Acer mono saps collected in Hamyang, Inje, Namyangju and Yeongwol depending on storing period. pH of A. mono sap was in the range of 4.43~5.68, and it was decreased rapidly with the increase of storing period. A. mono sap collected in Yeongwol in Feb. 22 contained 2.06% sucrose. Degradation of sucrose was occurred when storing period was extended, and it caused production of organic acid like pyruvic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and ethanol. Detected minerals in A. mono sap were K, Ca, Na, Mg, P, Si, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn, however, K and Ca content reached 93%. A. mono sap collected in Inje in Mar. 03 contained 131.72 mg/${\ell}$, which was especially high K content among the A. mono sap. 1.55~3.50 mg/${\ell}$ of Ascorbic acid was found in the A. mono sap. Sap collected in early date was less degraded.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.686-702
• /
• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Schisandrae Fructus, the fruit of Schisandra chinensis Baill., has traditionally been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases, and has proven its various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Schisandrae Fructus ethanol extract (SF) on inflammatory and oxidative stress in particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of SF in PM2.5-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, the levels of pro-inflammatory mediator such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of SF, the expression of genes involved in the generation of inflammatory factors was also investigated. We further evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy of SF against PM2.5 in the zebrafish model. RESULTS: The results indicated that SF treatment significantly inhibited the PM2.5-induced release of NO and PGE₂, which was associated with decreased inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. SF also attenuated the PM2.5-induced expression of IL-6 and IL-1β, reducing their extracellular secretion. Moreover, SF suppressed the PM2.5-mediated translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) from the cytosol into nuclei and the degradation of inhibitor IκB-α, indicating that SF exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, SF abolished PM2.5-induced generation of ROS, similar to the pretreatment of a ROS scavenger, but not by an inhibitor of NF-κB activity. Furthermore, SF showed strong protective effects against NO and ROS production in PM2.5-treated zebrafish larvae. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that SF exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects against PM2.5 through ROS-dependent down-regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, and that SF can be a potential functional substance to prevent PM2.5-mediated inflammatory and oxidative damage.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.977-985
• /
• 2019

Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda is an edible vegetable and perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family, and has been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Although leaf extracts of A. yomena are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, accurate efficacy assessments are still inadequate. In this study, we investigated whether the antioxidant efficacy of ethanol extract of A. yomena leaf (EEAY) is correlated with the anti-inflammatory effect in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results showed that EEAY significantly inhibited the hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced growth inhibition in RAW 264.7 cells, which was associated with increased expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). EEAY pretreatment also effectively prevented $H_2O_2$-induced reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis through inhibition of caspase-3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase degradation. Additionally, EEAY significantly increased the expression and production of interleukin-10, a representative anti-inflammatory cytokine, which was associated with increased expression of toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 at transcriptional and translational levels. Furthermore, the increased production of nitric oxide (NO) by lipopolysaccharide was markedly abolished under the condition of EEAY pretreatment, and the inhibitory effect of NO production by EEAY was further increased by hemin, an HO-1 inducer. Overall, our results suggest that EEAY is able to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to protect RAW 264.7 macrophages from oxidative and inflammatory stress.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2024

Purpose : Skin is the primary barrier to protect the body from various exogenous factors. Among them, UVB exposure can cause the induction of not only excessive inflammatory responses but also the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), including collagen and elastin. This study tried to investigate the ameliorative effect of Persicaria perfoliata ethanol extract (PPEE) on UVB-irradiated photodamage through the regulation of activator protein (AP)-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules in HaCaT cells. Methods : The cytotoxicity of PPEE on HaCaT cells was evaluated by the WST-1 assay. The 80 mJ/cm² of UVB (312 nm) was irradiated on HaCaT cells to induce the photodamage. Western blot analysis was conducted to investigate the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 for ameliorative status by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. In addition, the activated status of the inflammatory transcription factor, AP-1, as well as upstream signaling molecules, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK, were also evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results : Any cytotoxic effect was not induced at the concentration up to 200 ㎍/ml by PPEE treatment. Protein expression levels of COX-2 and MMP-9 were significantly down- and up-regulated by PPEE treatment. The inflammatory transcription factor AP-1, stimulated by UVB irradiation, was also significantly attenuated by PPEE treatment. The phosphorylated status of PI3K/Akt and MAPK were mitigated by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. Moreover, PPEE treatment potently accelerated the expression of HO-1 and its transcription factor, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)2, which is known for its anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion : Consequently, PPEE treatment significantly regulated COX-2 and MMP-9 expressions in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. The inflammatory transcription factor AP-1, along with upstream signaling molecules PI3K/Akt and MAPKs, were also attenuated by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. Additionally, PPEE treatment exaggerated HO-1 expression and Nrf2 activation, which might have contributed to the anti-inflammatory activity of PPEE. These results indicate that PPEE could be a candidate for attenuating UVB-induced photodamage in human skin.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2024

Skin aging progresses due to external factors such as ultraviolet rays and infections. These factors cause skin fibroblasts to secrete proteolytic enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs induce the degradation of collagen located in the extracellular matrix, directly influencing aging. The stems of Akebia quinata Decaisne have been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the anti-aging effect of Akebia quinata Decaisne stem ethanol extract (AQSEE) is not known. Therefore, we studied the TNF-α-induced MMP-1 inhibitory effect in human fibroblasts. When the cell viability of AQSEE was confirmed through MTT asaay, it showed no toxicity up to 400 ㎍/mL. The inhibition of MMP-1 mRNA and protein secretion was confirmed through RT-qPCR and ELISA, and results showed a significant decrease at concentrations of 100, 200, 400 ㎍/mL. We also confirmed by Western blotting that phosphorylation of MAPKs signaling pathway and transcription factors was reduced. As a result, phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun, p65 was significantly decreased at all concentrations. DPPH and ABTS assays were performed to confirm the radical scavenging ability of AQSEE, and the results showed a significant decrease at all concentrations. The results of this study confirmed the MMP-1 inhibitory effect and radical scavenging ability, which suggests that it can be used as an anti-aging substance.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.62-69
• /
• 1999

Clostridium butyricum NCIB 9576 evolved hydrogen gas and produced various organic acids from glucose, lactose, starch, and glycerol. Total amount of hydrogen gas produced from 1 and 2% glucose were 630 and 950ml $H_2$/l-broth, respectively, for the first 24 hrs of incubation and the maximum hydrogen production rates were 42 and 94ml $H_2$/hr/1-broth, respectively. Teh initial pH 6.8 decreased to 4.2~4.5 during the first 12~16 hrs of fermentation when the pH was not controlled, resulting in ceasing the cell growth and hydrogen evolution and in degradation of 82 and 40% glucose after 24hrs of incubation from 1 and 2% glucose, respectively. When pH was controlled to 5.5, glucose was consumed completely and resulted in increasing hydrogen production approximately 38~50% compared to the experiments without the pH control. C. butyricum NCIB 9576 produced hydrogen gas approximately 644, 1,700 and 3,080 ml $H_2$/l-broth with 0.5, 1 and 2% lactose, respectively and the maximum hydrogen production rates were 41, 141 and 179ml $H_2$/hr/l-broth, respectively. All of the lactose added was degraded completely during fermentation even though pH was not controlled. C. butyricum NCIB 9576 produced 183 and 709ml $H_2$/l-broth with 0.1 and 0.5% starch for 48 hrs, respectively, when pH was not controlled. The maximum rates of hydrogen gas production were 43 and 186ml $H_2$/l-broth, respectively and 80~100% of starch added was fermented. Approximately 107ml $H_2$/l-broth was produced using 1% glycerol by C. butyricum NCIB 9576 and the pH was maintained higher than 6.1 during fermentation without pH control. The degradation of glucose, lactose, starch and glycerol by C. butyricum NCIB 9576 were affected by the pH of fermentation broth and the organic acids released during fermentation. The pH of feremtntation broth dropped to 4.2~4.6 after 12~14 hrs incubation when glucose was used as a substrate while pHs were maintained above pH 5 under the same experimental conditions when lactose, starch and glycerol were used. The organic solvents and acids produced during glucose fermentation were mainly ethanol, butyrate, acetate and a little of propionate, while butyrate was the main organic acids during the lactose, starch, and glycerol fermentation by C. butyricum NCIB 9576.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2004

A soil enrichment LYF-1 culture from a contaminated site, which could reductively dechlorinate 900 $\mu$M (ca. 150 mg/L) of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) stoichimetrically into cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE), was established and characterized. The enrichment culture can use yeast extract, peptone, formate, acetate, lactate, pyruvate, citrate, succinate, glucose, sucrose, and ethanol as electron donors for dechlorination of PCE. Addition of NO$_2$$^{[-10]}$ and NO$_3$$^{[-10]}$ as alternative electron acceptors showed complete inhibition of PCE dechlorination, but S$_2$O$_3$$^{-2}$ , SO$_3$$^{-2}$ and SO$_4$$^{-2}$ had no significant effect on PCE dechlorination. The enrichment culture was attached to ceramic media in an anaerobic fixed-bed reactor. The fixed-bed reactor showed more than 99％ of PCE degradation in the range of PCE loading rate of 0.13-0.78 $\mu$moles/L/hr. The major end product of PCE dechlorination was cis-DCE.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.197-202
• /
• 2007

This research was basically carried out to extend the application of $CO_2$ absorption processes for flue-gas system, which are mainly applied to a reforming process in petro-chemical industries. In general, MEA absorbent has some problems in flue-gas treatment, such as, degradation, regeneration energy and absorption capacities. As we known, sterical hindered amine, typically AMP (2-amino 2-methyl 1-propanol), have a good potential to improve these problems. In this paper, the characteristics of $CO_2$ absorption in aqueous AMP solution were measured and compared with that of MEA. It has been found that the $CO_2$ absorption capacity in AMP is double than that of MEA in the low $CO_2$ partial pressure system such as flue-gas. Also, the equilibriums of $CO_2$-AMP system were partially suggested, which are essentially needed to design the absorption process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.16
• /
• pp.7053-7060
• /
• 2015

In the present work, novel orange peel was extracted with 100%EtOH (ethanol) and fractionated into four fractions namely F1, F2, F3, F4 which were eluted from paper chromatographs using 100%EtOH, 80%EtOH, 50%EtOH and pure water respectively. The crude extract and its four fractions were evaluated for their total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and radical scavenging activity using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Their cytotoxic activity using WST assay and DNA damage by agarose gel electrophoresis were also evaluated in a human leukemia HL-60 cell line. The findings revealed that F4 had the highest TPC followed by crude extract, F2, F3 and F1. However, the crude extract had the highest TFC followed by F4, F3, F2, and F1. Depending on the values of $EC_{50}$ and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, F4 possessed the strongest antioxidant activity while F1 and F2 displayed weak antioxidant activity. Further, incubation HL-60 cells with extract/fractions for 24h caused an inhibition of cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. F3 and F4 exhibited a high antiproliferative activity with a narrow range of $IC_{50}$ values ($45.9-48.9{\mu}g/ml$). Crude extract exhibited the weakest antiproliferative activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $314.89{\mu}g/ml$. Analysis of DNA fragmentation displayed DNA degradation in the form of a smear-type pattern upon agarose gel after incubation of HL-60 cells with F3 and F4 for 6 h. Overall, F3 and F4 appear to be good sources of phytochemicals with antioxidant and potential anticancer activities.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.211-217
• /
• 2018

Hibiscus syriacus (H. syriacus) as the national flower of Korea has been used as the herbal medicine in Asia. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of 70% ethanol extracts from the root of Hibiscus syriacus (RHS-E70) and elucidated the potential signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 dose-dependently suppressed NO production by inhibiting iNOS and IL-${\beta}$ expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, which contributed to the inhibition of p65 nuclear accumulation and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Furthermore, RHS-E70 suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38, which results in the inhibition of ATF2 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear accumulation. These results indicate that RHS-E70 may exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK/ATF2 signaling. From these findings, RHS-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for the inflammatory diseases.