• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.250-260
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• 2012

In the present study, the antioxidative and antibacterial activities of Artemisia princeps Pampanini (A. princeps Pamp.) extract were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction of A. princeps Pamp. showed the most prominent free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}=12.27{\mu}g/mL$). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of A. princeps Pamp. extract on $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ systems were investigated using a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ethyl acetate fraction of the extract ($OSC_{50}=0.33{\mu}g/mL$) had a 5 times greater ROS scavenging activity than L-ascorbic acid ($1.50{\mu}g/mL$), known as a water soluble antioxidant. The cellular protective effects of fractions of A. princeps Pamp. on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were examined. The aglycone fraction of extracts suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of A. princeps Pamp. extract on tyrosinase were investigated to assess their whitening efficiency. The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated a 7 times higher tyrosinase inhibitory effect ($IC_{50}=29.20{\mu}g/mL$) than albutin, known as a whitening agent. The antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate fractions against various normal skin flora were measured. The results showed that the antibacterial activity of the fraction was the highest on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Propionibacterium acnes. Antioxidant substances were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate fractions. Eupatilin and jaceosidin were identified. These results indicate that the extract/fractions of A. princeps Pamp. can function as antioxidant and/or antibacterial agents for the skin.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate various aspects of Vitex negundo L. leaf extract, such as the antioxidative activity, tyrosinase inhibitory effects, and inhibitory activities on ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis, and active component analysis. The DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of the ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction of V. negundo L. leaf extract were $14.51{\mu}g/ml$ and $13.96{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. A luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay revealed that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity ($OSC_{50}$) of the aglycone fraction of V. negundo L. leaf extract on ROS generated in an $Fe^{3+}$-$EDTA/H_2O_2$ system was the most prominent at $0.22{\mu}g/ml$. The protective effects of the extracts fractions of V. negundo L. leaf against the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were increased in a concentration dependent manner ($1{\sim}50{\mu}g/ml$). In particular, there were greater protective effects of the aglycone fraction on the cellular membrane than that of the fat-soluble antioxidant (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol. The inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$) on mushroom tyrosinase were the highest for the ethyl acetate fraction ($IC_{50}$ = $48.58{\mu}g/ml$). The inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells was 41.80% at $50{\mu}g/ml$ of ethyl acetate fraction. Active component analyses by TLC, HPLC and LC/ESI-MS revealed luteolin and isoorientin. These results indicate that V. negundo L. leaf extract can be used as an antioxidant for ROS scavenging. Particularly, the luteolin and isoorientin of the ethyl acetate fraction may be applicable to new whitening cosmetics because of its inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase and ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.767-776
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate key properties of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OFI) ie, levels of key chemicals (carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds as well as phenolic acid) and its antioxidative potential, depending on where the plant had been cultivated in Korea. The levels of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds in OFI were 55.45~65.32 mg (+)-catechin/g and 149.00~181.15 mg gallic acid/g, respectively. Protocatechuic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid in the ON1 and ON2 (161.90 and $196.25{\mu}g/g$ DW (dry weight)). Nineteen flavonoids were identified and analyzed by LC-ESI-MS in cladodes from OFI. Narcissin was the most abundant flavonoid in all of the samples ($1,241.89{\sim}1,775.10{\mu}g/g$ DW). Capxanthin and zeaxanthin were the most abundant carotenoids in OFI (64.88~128.08 and $48.10{\sim}93.82{\mu}g/g$ DW). The level of DPPH radical and ABTS radical scavenging activities in OFI were 10.78~25.35 and 16.85~34.16 mg AA eq/100 g, respectively. OFI by cultivar has different kind of phenolic acid, flavonoids, and carotenoids. Therefore, dietary intake of cladodes from OFI may be helpful for improving human health.