• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.520-528
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• 2019

Objectives: This study assessed the cytotoxicity of the metallic mordant cupric acetate (CA) and the protective effect of Albizzia julibrissin (AJ) leaf extract on CA-induced cytotoxicity in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Methods: For this study, cell viability and antioxidative effects such as the inhibitory activity of lipid peroxidation (LP) and superoxide anion-radical (SAR) scavenging activity were assessed. Results: CA significantly decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and the $XTT_{50}$ value was measured as $55.0{\mu}M$ of CA. The cytotoxicity of CA was determined as highly toxic by Borenfreund and Puerner's toxic criteria. The catalase antioxidant significantly increased cell viability diminished by CA-induced cytotoxicity in these cultures. Regarding the protective effect of AJ leaf extract on CA-induced cytotoxicity, AJ leaf extract remarkably increased the SAR scavenging ability and the inhibitory ability of LP. From these findings, it is suggested that oxidative stress is involved in the cytotoxicity of CA, and AJ leaf extract effectively protected CA-induced cytotoxicity via antioxidative effects. Conclusions: Natural resources like AJ leaf extract may be a putative therapeutic agent for treatment or alleviation of the toxicity induced by CA metallic mordant.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate novel usability as natural anti-obesity supplement of Selaginella tamariscina extract. The total phenol contents and total flavonoid contents were $60.29{\pm}3.11GAE\;mg/g$ and $14.90{\pm}0.34QE\;mg/g$, respectively. To evaluate anti-obesity activity of Selaginella tamariscina extract, pancreatic lipase inhibition activity as well as its inhibition effect of lipid accumulation in adipocytes were conducted by Oil Red O staining and lipolysis assay. The result of pancreatic lipase inhibition activity of S. tamariscina extract showed a wide range between 40 and 73% dose dependently. While the incubation of 3T3-L1 cells with S. tamariscina extract inhibited differentiation of preadipocytes and reduced lipid accumulation, the level of released free glycerol into culturing medium was increased in multiple concentrations. These results showed that S. tamariscina extract inhibit adipogenesis and pancreatic lipase activity. Thus, S. tamariscina extract can be a candidate for regulating lipid accumulation in obesity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.704-712
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• 2022

Research on whitening materials using natural alternatives is actively being conducted. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of Ranunculus chinensis Bunge (RCB) on melanogenesis and associated enzymes, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. We found that RCB extract significantly attenuated melanin synthesis and reduced the activity of intracellular tyrosinase, a rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme. Western blot analysis showed that RCB extract decreased the protein expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In addition, it significantly decreased the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a key regulator of melanogenesis. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation has been reported to be involved in the inhibition of melanogenesis. Thus, we investigated whether the hypopigmentary effects of RCB extract were related to the activation of ERK. RCB extract induced ERK phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, it markedly inhibited body pigmentation in a zebrafish model. Our results suggest that RCB extract inhibits melanogenesis by activating ERK pathway-mediated suppression of MITF and its downstream target genes, including tyrosinase. Therefore, RCB extract can be used as a whitening agent in the development of functional cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.47-53
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• 2023

When exposed to different types of bacteria in the oral cavity, denture based resins are prone to bacteria attachment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical, biological, and antimicrobial properties of denture base resins coated with Peony extract (200, 400, and 600 ㎍/mL). Specifically, the surface properties (microhardness, contact angle, and color change of the coated specimens), cell cytotoxicity (measured using MTT assay), and antimicrobial activity (against S. mutans (Streptococcus mutans) and C. albicans (Candida albicans) using a growth inhibition assay) were evaluated. The polyphenol content was measured using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometry. The experimental groups (specimens coated with Peony extract) and a control group (specimens coated without Peony extract) were statistically compared using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc tests. No statistically significant differences in surface properties or cell cytotoxicity were observed, which demonstrated their biocompatibility. Conversely, a statistically significant difference in antimicrobial activity was observed between the experimental and control groups after 48 h. This confirms the antimicrobial activity of the denture base resin coated with Peony extract and demonstrates that it is a promising dental material for preventing stomatitis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2019

Microbial wound infection prolonged the hospitalization and increase the cost for wound management. Silver is commonly used as antimicrobial wound dressing. However, it causes several adverse side effects. Hence, this study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of Swietenia macrophylla seed extract on clinical wound pathogens. Besides, the bioactive constituents of the seed extract were also determined. S. macrophylla seeds were extracted with methanol by maceration method. The seed extract inhibited 5 test bacteria and 1 yeast on disc diffusion assay. The antibacterial activity was broad spectrum, as the extract inhibited both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. On kill curve analysis, the antibacterial activity of the seed extract was concentration-dependent, the increase of extract concentration resulted in more reduction of bacterial growth. The extract also caused 99.9% growth reduction of Bacillus subtilis relative to control. A total of 21 compounds were detected in gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis. The predominant compounds present in the extract were oleic acid (18.56%) and linoleic acid (17.72%). In conclusion, the methanolic extract of S. macrophylla seeds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity on clinical wound pathogens. Further investigations should be conducted to purify other bioactive compounds from the seeds of S. macrophylla.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2020

Noni has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 2,000 years in South Pacific Polynesia, China and India, and has been heavily ingested as an extract for its excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, a recent study found that the noni extract causes digestive disorders, kidney problems, and liver diseases, which made it necessary to use it for other purposes than as an extract. In this study, we want to evaluate the potential of noni as an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkling agent. Methods: Noni was freeze-dried, extracted in water, and concentrated. Skin cells were treated with the noni extract for 24 hrs and then were exposed to UVB (55 mJ/cm²). After 48 hrs of incubation, pro-inflammatory cytokine, elastase, MMP-1 and type-1 procollagen levels were measured by ELISA. Results: To find out the antioxidant effect of the noni extract, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity experiments were conducted and the noni extract showed 97.0 % and 92.0 % antioxidant efficacy at 200 ㎍/mL respectively. The noni extract (50 and 100 ㎍/mL) decreased IL-6 and TNF-α in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS in a concentration-dependent manner. In the RT-PCR experiment involving NO production, the noni extract (50 and 100 ㎍/mL) inhibited NO production by strongly inhibiting iNOS mRNA expression, and also inhibited the elevation of MMP-1 and elastases caused by UVB irradiation by 25.0 % and 7.0 % respectively. In addition, type-1 procollagen was elevated by 20.0 % by the noni extract treatment in HaCaT cells. Conclusion: The noni extract has photoprotective ability by reducing proinflammatory mediators, elastase and MMP-1 production, and elevation of collagen synthesis. Our findings suggest that the noni extract might be a good natural substance to protect against UVB-induced premature skin aging.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.28
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• pp.9-15
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• 2010

Extraction Efficiency of colorants from sorghum and its storage stability were examined according to the various extracting and storage conditions in this study. The obtained results were as follows ; The absorbance values of extracted colorants were increased with increasing extract time and temperature. The extraction at pH 4 extract was most efficient among the various pH conditions. In the juice extractor system, the amount of extracted colorant was more in distilled water pre-treatment than pH 5, but it was more in pH 5 in the long time pre-treatment above 20 hour. The color of extract solutions changed through variation of the pH. Its color changed from light yellow to heavy yellow finally red ton by pH increasing. The Methionine addition gave an effect on the storage stability of colorant solution and then had better storage stability. And so it delayed the color change up to storge period 18th day and the stabilizing effect was revealed in order of Methionine 10mmol-addition>20mmol-addtion>non-addtion.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2000

This study was carried out to evaluate cytotoxic effects of the roots of Sophora flavescens Ait. extracts on murine leukemia tumor cells lines $(P388D_1\;and\;L1210)$. Disruptions in cell organelles were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The comparison of $IC_{50}$ values of the ethyl acetate of Sophora flavescens Ait. extract in leukemia cell lines showed that their susceptibility to these extracts decreased in the following order : Adriamycin>Fr.4>Fr.5>Fr.3>Fr.1>Fr.2 by the MTT assay. These results suggest that the fraction 4 of the ethyl acetate soluble extract of Sophora flavescens Ait. may be a valuable choice for the studies on the treatment of murine leukemia cell lines.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.5
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• 2013

Previous reports showed that Compound Astragalus and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract (CASE), which was mainly composed of astragalosides, astragalus polysaccharide and salvianolic acids, inhibited hepatic fibrosis by mediating transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$)/Smad signaling. Our aim was to examine the effects of CASE on D-galactosamine (D-GalN) treated liver injury in mice and carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. CASE was administered to mice with D-GalN-induced liver injury and to rats with $CCl_4$-induced liver fibrosis, respectively. Liver injury was routinely evaluated by relative liver weight, serum levels of ALT, AST, hyaluronic acid (HA), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, hydroxyproline (HYP) and histopathologic changes. Treatment of mice with CASE (60, 120, and 240 mg/kg, ig) significantly lowered ALT, relative liver weight, and MDA levels when compared with D-GalN treated mice. CASE (120, 240 mg/kg) significantly lowered ALT, AST, HA, HYP, and MDA levels against $CCl_4$ treated rats. Decreased SOD level was reversed with CASE treatment. Upon histopathological examination, CASE treatment had significantly inhibitory effect on the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats. These results indicate that CASE might be effective in treatment and prevention of acute and chronic hepatic injury due to its antioxidant activity.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2009

Green tea seed was extracted with absolute ethanol,and the green tea seed extract(GTSE)was subjected to assays for toxicity, antioxidant ability, angiogenesis inhibitory effects and cell adhesion, as well as western blotting, and an in vivo experiment against 4 high-ranking adult cancers in Korea. Our series of experimental data demonstrated that GTSE has an antioxidant ability superior to that of EGCG in the green tea leaf, and also exhibits a profound high tumor growth inhibitory activity on a variety of cancer cell lines, as well as nude mice infected with cancer cells. GTSE was identified as a natural anticancer compound showing excellent angiogenesis inhibition and cancer cell suppression abilities. Our preliminary observations also indicate that GTSE may be another potential source of natural dietary antioxidants and also may be applicable as a novel natural anticancer agent.