• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 2002

Background : Nowadays a lot of research is based on natural substances or materials world wide since many kinds of side effects are accompanied by anti tumor chemotherapy. In Chinese medicine, Dioscorea bulbifera L is widely used to treat many kinds of cancer, but in Korea it is rarely used. Therefore, we need to scientifically identify anti tumor effects of Dioscorea bulbifera L. Objective : We aimed to identify anti tumor effects of Dioscorea bulbifera L on the stomach cancer cells through molecular biological methods. Materials & Methods : We used AGS, a stomach cancer cell from American Type Culture Collection. We injected the boiled extract of Dioscorea bulbifera L 5 ul(sample 1), 10ul(sample 2) to cultured media(ml) for 0,6,12,18,24 hours. We measured the killing effect on stomach cancer cells through Tryphan blue exclusion test and suppressive effect on viability of stomach cancer cells via MTT assay. Results : Tryphan blue exclusion test showed that each test group killed more stomach cancer cells than the controlled group with a dosage-dependent, but not significantly. MTT assay showed that each test group had a more suppressive effect on viability of stomach cancer cells than the controlled group without a dosage-independent, but not significantly. The cell cycle analysis via flow cytometry showed that the test group extended cell cycle, and there was no peak in M phase, the number of sub G1, G0, G1 phase cells increased a little, but not significantly. Conclusion : This experiment showed that Dioscorea bulbifera L. has an anti-tumor effect, but not significantly. This is in vitro experiment and basic experiment on Dioscorea bulbifera L. We hope more progressive researches on Dioscorea bulbifera L. will be conducted and its anti tumor will be more accurately identified.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.304-320
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• 2007

Objective : To evaluate the effect of Astragalus Membranaceus Extrac (AME) on myelosuppression, activity and immune modulation in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treated mice. Method : We carried out complete blood count, histological analysis of bone marrow, and cell colony forming assay for hematopoietic progenitor to evaluate the effect of AME on myelosuppression and conducted swimming test, survival rate, nitric oxide (NO) assay, 51Cr release assay in natural killer cell, mRNA expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, $TNF-{\alpht}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TGF-{\beta}$ and GM-CSF in spleen cells to evaluate the effect of AME on quality of life (QOL). Results : AME improved 5-FU induced myelosuppression and peripheral blood count was recovered effectively, had significant efficacy to protect against chemotherapy induced marrow-destruction and on hematopoiesis compared with the control group, improved increase survival rate and the swimming time, had a stimulatory effect on macrophage activation and NK cell activity, and up-regulated cytokine gene transcription (IL-2, IL-6, $IFN-{\gamma}$) in murine immunologic system. Conclusion : We can conclude that AM is an effective herbal agent for improvement of myelosuppression and QOL in 5-FU treated mice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2012

Seroepidemiological changes of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the residents of the islands of Gangwha-gun, Incheon for 2 years were surveyed and evaluated by ELISA using a crude extract antigen. In 2010, sera of 919 adult residents in Gyodong-myeon and 313 adults in Samsan-myeon were collected and checked for IgG antibody titers, which showed 14.5% (133 sera) and 19.8% (62 sera) positive rates, respectively. In 2011, sera of 955 adults in Gyodong-myeon and 341 adults in Samsan-myeon were examined, which showed an increase of positive rates to 23.8% (227 sera) and 31.7% (108 sera), respectively. Totally, the seroprevalence of the first year was 15.8% and it increased rapidly to 25.8% in the second year. The positive rates of both sexes increased simultaneously with the significant ratio of males to females by 1.7-2.2 fold (P<0.05). In both myeons, 661 sera were collected every year and showed changes in optical density (OD) in 177 sera; newly found as positives in 73 persons (11.0%), negative conversion in 10 persons (1.5%), and maintained or increased in 94 persons (14.2%). This rapid increase in the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Gangwha islands may be due to in part peculiar changes in the toxoplasmic environment of the islands and presumably the consumption of the pork bred domestically within the islands or imported from high endemic nations. It is necessary to find out symptomatic toxoplasmic patients and confirm the risk factors for further infection in the islands of Gangwha-gun.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2005

The ethanolic extracts of the leaves and bulbs of Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum (Liliaceae) collected from Daegwallyoung (D) and Ullung Island (U) in Korea were obtained using three different extracting methods. The first extracts, DL-1 DB-1, UL-1 and UB-1, were obtained from leaves (L) and bulbs (B) dried at $90^{\circ}C$, respectively, and the second extracts, DL-2, DB-2, UL-2 and UB-2, were obtained by extracting the leaves and bulbs of fresh plant parts. The third extracts DL-3, DB-3, UL-3 and UB-3 were obtained by incubating leaves and bulbs at $36^{\circ}C$. The six extracts obtained from A. victorialis var. platyphyllum at Daegwanllyoung (cultivated site) were orally administered to examine for a possible antihepatotoxic effect in $CCl_4-induced$ rats. DL-1 exhibited the most pronounced effect. The extracts inhibited serum ALT, AST, SDH, ${\gamma}-GT$, ALP and LDH activities elevated by $CCl_4$ injection and attenuated decreased glutathione S-transferase, glutatione reductase and ${\gamma}-glutamylcysteine$ synthetase activities and a decreased hepatic glutathione. However, the extracts obtained from Ullung Is. (native site) were less active than the extracts from Daegwallyoung, suggesting that A. victorialis var. platyphyllum from the cultivated site is more useful for functional food than of native site. These results also suggest that the antihepatotoxic effect is due to a higher content of hepatic glutathione. Gas chromatography of the twelve extracts showed significantly different sulfides, disulfides or trisulfides contents belonging to volatile sulfur substances (VSS). Nine components were identified on the basis of their mass spectra, namely, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, diallyl disulfide, dipropyl disulfide, allyl methyl sulfide, allyl methyl trisulfide, 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin, 3,4-dihydro-3-vinyl-1,2-dithiin, and allithiamine. Extract DL-1 had the highest VSS content. Dried plant materials contained larger amounts of the VSSs than other extracts, and the leaves contained larger amount than the bulbs. These results suggest that heat treatment increases the antiheaptotoxic ability of A. victorialis var. platyphyllum by increasing the proportion of VSSs.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to isolate a herbicidally active compound from curly dock (Rumex crispus), a native weed in Korea and to identify its' chemistry. The $GR_{50}$ value of methanol extracts which is determined by a seed bioassay using rapeseed (Brassica napus) seedlings was $935\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$. Activity-directed isolation of ethylacetate extract led to the isolation of ECDA fraction with $GR_{50}$ value $53\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$. Based on data of GC-MS, $^1H$-NMR and $^{13}C$-NMR, the chemical structure of ECDA was determined as 2H-furo[2,3-H]-[1]-benzopyran-2-one which is known as angelicin. The $GR_{50}$ values of angelicin to barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli), southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris), and indian jointvetch (Aeschynomene indica) were 426, 66 and $216\;{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$, respectively. Our results suggest that angelicin could be used as a lead compound for the development of new herbicides.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-89
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• 2015

133 Species of medicinal plants were used for the development of natural agrichemicals with anti-microbial activity against Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli, a pathogen of bacterial fruit blotch in watermelon. The MeOH-extracts of these medicinal plants were examined for anti-microbial activity by bioassay. The MeOH-extract of Citrus unshiu Markovich had the strongest antibacterial activity against Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. To identify anti-microbial compounds from Citrus unshiu Markovich, solvent-fractionation was used. The fraction of hexane, which showing the highest value of anti-microbial activity, was analyzed by GC-MS. Each mass spectra, corresponding to each peak of chromatogram, was compared to mass database of Wiley library. As a result, d-Limonene, ${\gamma}$-terpinene, ${\beta}$-linalool, terpineol, palmitic acid, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, Linolenic acid, and stigmasterol were identified. Among them, d-Limonene, ${\gamma}$-terpinene, ${\beta}$-linalool, and terpineol confirmed to be shown the anti-microbial activity by bioassay. Especially, d-Limonene and ${\gamma}$-terpinene found to have strong activity. In conclusion, we thought d-limonene and ${\gamma}$-terpinene from Citrus unshiu Markovich. Latin, had anti-microbial activity against Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli and could be candidates for the control agents for the control of bacterial fruit blotch in watermelon.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.438-444
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• 1999

The natural full-fat rice bran is reported to contain 8.4 to 14.7 wt % Lipids, but the amount and composition of bran depend on the type of rice, quality of paddy, pretreatments to paddy such as parboiling, type of milling system employed, and the degree of polishing. These lipids are usually mixtures of several class fatty acids containing palmitic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, tocopherol, squalene, etc. In this study the oil rich essential fatty acid (EFA) including squalene was extracted from the domestic brown rice bran using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and cosolvent induced SFE process, respectively. And the extracts were analyzed with GC-MSD. The extracted amount of rice bran oil was dependent upon the operating pressure and temperature, and the fatty acid composition of oil was varied with the reduced density (${\rho}_{\gamma}$) of supercritical carbon dioxide. About 70~80% of rice bran oil was extracted in 4hrs. The cosolvent induced SFE process shortened the total extraction time, extracted greater amount of oil than SFE process. Especially squalene which was not found in solvent extract phase was identified in SFE and cosolvent induced SFE process.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1370-1376
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• 2015

The 1, 1- diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl (DPPH) is a well-known radical and a trap (scavenger) for other radicals. Hyaluronidase (HAase) is an enzyme that depolymerizes the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid (HA) in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue. Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme was reported to convert the arachidonic, linoleic and other polyunsaturated fatty acid into biologically active metabolites involved in the inflammatory and immune responses. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate plant extracts as sources of natural antioxidants and to examine whether Achyranthes japonica having significant DPPH, HAase and LOX inhibitory activity. The inhibitory effect of HAase by A. japonica was assayed using a Morgan microplate assay. The antioxidant activity of the A. japonica extracts was measured on the basis of the scavenging activity of the stable 1, 1- diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl (DPPH) free radical. DPPH scavenging activity of matured roots of A. japonica was evaluated at 4.0 mg/ml was 87.8% and that of young roots was 86.2% at same concentration. The roots of A. japonica showed maximum inhibition of HAase activity (IC₅₀ = 27.7 μg/ml). The highest LOX inhibition was recorded in the root extract among three vegetative parts. Inhibition of HAase activity of roots may contribute towards the development of herbal medicines. Although percent inhibition of lipoxygenase by Achyranthes japonica for all young and matured groups for leaves, stems, and roots at different concentrations, there were not show a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1071-1076
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• 2012

To investigate the antimicrobial and anti-halitosis effects of Alnus firma extracts and gallic acid (GA) isolated from A. firma, we measured their antimicrobial activities against oral pathogens and their inhibitory effects on the cell adhesiveness and acid production of oral pathogens. In addition, the levels of volatile sulfur compounds were determined by using oral chroma. The dichloromethane (DCM) fraction has broad antimicrobial activity, and the ethylacetate (EA) fraction showed a relatively high level of antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromons gingivalis. Especially, the GA and DCM fractions had significant inhibitory effects on the attachment and acid production of S. mutans and Streptococcus salivarius, respectively. The 2% MeOH extract of A. firma showed a significant inhibitory effect on the production of volatile oral compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide, which can cause bad breath and halitosis. Two percent GA also had a significant inhibitory effect on the production of hydrogen sulfide. Our study showed that the active fractions and GA of A. firma could be suitable resources for development as a natural antibiotic agent for the treatment of infectious oral diseases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2016

Anti-oxidant activity of 600 medicinal plants from Jeju was analyzed. Extracts from the leaves of Distylium racemosum have the highest anti-oxidant activity. D. racemosum is an oriental medicinal plant belonging to the Hamamelidacea and grows in the wild in Jeju. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and cell viability of different fractions (n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, buthanol, DW) from D. racemosum. Anti-oxidant activity was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity test and total phenolic content. Cell viability was determined by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay on HepG2 and A549 cells. Among various extracts, the ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, reaching approximately 93% at 0.5 mg/mL, higher than that of quercetin used as a positive control. Ethyl acetate fractions showed the highest total phenolic content at 505 mg GAE/g. The phenolic content of each extract showed association with DPPH radical scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate extracts were resistant against hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) treatment in the MTT cell viability assay and showed a higher cell protective effect than other fraction extracts. These results suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction might be a source of anti-oxidants of D. racemosum.