• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2016

Background: To investigate the effect of pectinase-treated Panax ginseng (GINST) in cellular and male subfertility animal models. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd cells were used as an in vitro model. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. For the in vivo study, GINST (200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered orally for 4 mo, and the changes in the mRNA and protein expression level of antioxidative and spermatogenic genes in young and aged control rats were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results: GINST treatment ($50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, and $200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced ($200{\mu}M$) cytotoxicity in GC-2spd cells. Furthermore, GINST ($50{\mu}g/mL$ and $100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the $H_2O_2$-induced decrease in the expression level of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 3 and 4, glutathione S-transferase m5, and glutathione peroxidase 4), spermatogenesis-related protein such as inhibin-${\alpha}$, and specific sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) in GC-2spd cells. Similarly, the altered expression level of the above mentioned genes and of spermatogenesis-related nectin-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein in aged rat testes was ameliorated with GINST (200 mg/kg) treatment. Taken together, GINST attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 cells and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and of spermatogenic-related proteins and sex hormone receptors in aged rats. Conclusion: GINST may be a potential natural agent for the protection against or treatment of oxidative stress-induced male subfertility and aging-induced male subfertility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.313-318
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• 2010

This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of stevia extracts from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves. Stevia extracts were prepared by three different methods including hot water extraction (HWE) at $120^{\circ}C$ for 4 hr, vacuum extraction (VE) at $65^{\circ}C$ for 4 hr under 0.08 MPa, and fermentation of hot water extract (FHWE) using Lactobacillus buchneri. The antioxidant activities measured by radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing antioxidant potential ability, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance showed the highest values in vacuum extract. Also, the antioxidant activities of all extracts were higher than those of stevioside and rebaudioside at the same concentrations, known as the major active components in stevia. To define the antioxidative compound in stevia extracts, the total phenol content was measured, and it was shown that the highest contents of total phenolic compounds were in vacuum extract. These results suggest that the antioxidant activity of stevia extract was due to the phenolic compound components. In addition, vacuum extraction was the proper method to prepare stevia extract with higher antioxidant activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5117-5121
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• 2014

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to interfere with estrogen signaling. Exposure to these chemicals decreases the immune response and causes a wide range of diseases in animals and humans. Recently, many studies showed that licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (LRE) commonly called "gamcho" in Korea exhibits antioxidative, chemoprotective, and detoxifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of LRE and to determine if and how LRE can alleviate the toxicity of EDCs. LRE was prepared by vacuum evaporation and freeze-drying after homogenization of licorice root powder that was soaked in 80% ethanol for 72 h. We used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as an EDC, which is known to induce tumors or cancers; MCF-7 breast cancer cells were used as a tumorigenic model. These were treated with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE (0, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$) for 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, TCDD stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, but LRE significantly inhibited TCDD-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Expression of TCDD toxicity-related genes, i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator, and cytochrome P450 1A1, were subsequently down-regulated by LRE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of cell cycle distribution after treatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE showed that LRE inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells via G2/M phase arrest. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses also revealed that LRE dose-dependently increased the expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p27 and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data suggest that LRE can mitigate the tumorigenic effects of TCDD in breast cancer cells by suppression of AhR expression and cell cycle arrest. Thus, LRE can be used as a potential toxicity-alleviating agent against EDC-mediated disease.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.731-739
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• 2015

We conducted this study to investigate possibilities of applying cosmetic material about extrats from Sparassis crispa. The extracts of Sparassis crispa conducted a antibacterial activity against Straphylococcus epidermidis, Straphylococcus aureus, Escheri chia coli, Candida albicans by the paper disc method and antioxidative effect and Nitric oxide production inhibitory activity were performed in Raw 264.7 cells. Also, we evaluated of pH, viscosity, particle observation stability of emulsion that are applied of extracts from Sparassis crispa. The antimicrobial activity showed by the paper disc method against Straphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans. The physical stability were stable of pH, viscosity in emulsion included extracts from Sparassis crispa. Emulsion containing Sparassis crispa extracts did not change particles into optical microscope. These results suggest that extracts from Sparassis crispa may have value as the potential cosmetic formulations.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1041-1049
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• 2013

The root of Polygala radix has been widely known as an oriental traditional medicinal stuff that improves memory. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Polygala radix hot water extracts (PRHWE) on cognitive function related to the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) derived from neural cells (PC12) in addition to antioxidant activity was examined both in a cell-free system and live cells. First, in the study on cell viability using an MTT assay, PRHWE did not exhibit any cell toxicity at 0.1% (w/v) or below. It also was observed that PRHWE increased the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, PRHWE had a protective effect on DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, it inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide in neuronal cells. Furthermore, the AchE activity decreased with increasing concentrations. In addition, PRHWE increased the expression level of SOD-1 and NOS-2 in PC12 cells. Moreover, the transcriptional activities of p53 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were reduced in the presence of PRHWE in an experiment using a reporter gene assay. Therefore, these results prove that PRHE has antioxidative and protective effects on neuronal cells, suggesting that it may have great potential as a therapeutic agent for human health.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.979-985
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• 2004

Effects of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf extracts on factors related to blood circulation were studied using rats fed high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Rats were randomly divided into five groups, and plant extracts were orally administered. Green tea extract increased bleeding time in rat tails, suggesting it could prevent platelet aggregation. Administration of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf extracts decreased total cholesterol level in liver. Grape leaf extracts decreased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in plasma, whereas buckwheat and grape leaf extracts decreased the substances in liver. These results showed extracts of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf were effective for improving lipid composition in blood and liver and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in animal tissue, suggesting they may have potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.453-462
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• 2013

Recently, two formulas of sulgidduk added to pine needle juice (PNJ) with various physiological activities were developed for metabolic syndrome patients in our lab. According to previous studies, cooking may alter antioxidant properties by initiating destruction, release or transformation of antioxidant compounds contained in food. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant activities and antigenotixic effects of sulgidduk with/without PNJ and to note changes in these activities after cooking. The ingredients of sulgidduk was added on the basis of 100% rice flour as follows: conventional sulgidduk (S): 1.5% salt, 30.0% sugar; PNJ added to sulgidduk A (PS-A): 1.4% salt, 30.0% sugar, and 1.0% PNJ; PNJ added to sulgidduk B (PS-B): 1.5% salt, 21.4% sugar, and 1.4% PNJ. Ethanol and water extracts of sulgidduk were analyzed for the total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (DPPH RSA), total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and antigenotoxic effect by comet assay. The ethanol extracts PS-A and PS-B showed higher TPC and antioxidant activities (DPPH RSA, TRAP, and ORAC) than did the S ethanol extract before cooking. The more PNJ was added, the higher TPC and anitoxidant activities were observed in sulgidduk (PS-A$200{\mu}M$ of $H_2O_2$. Taken together, this study suggests that sulgidduk added to 1.44% of pine needle juice may be a good option antioxidant and antigenotoxic source.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2009

The freezed Mulberry (10 kg) was extracted with 80% EtOH, concentrated, and fractionated with a series of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and water on a separatory funnel. A portion of ethyl acetate soluble (22 g) was chromatographed on a Sephadex LH-20 column using a series of aqueous methanol as eluents. The isolated compounds were identified by cellulose TLC, $^1H-$,$^{13}C$-NMR, FAB, and EI-MS. Quercetin-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (Compound I), protocatechuic acid (Compound II), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (Compound III) were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction. In antioxidative activities of the fractionated extractives using DPPH radical scavenging test, EtOAc and water soluble fractions indicated better than BHT as contro and in in vitro tests using MTT assay, there was no cytotoxicity. Also, tyrosinase inhibition and anticancer activities were not so good, but there may be a potential as a cosmetic raw material because the cell extension effect was excellent.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1098-1106
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate antioxidant activities from 11 forest plants, and determine their total phenolics, flavonoids and proantocyanidins contents. In addition, the antioxidant activities were correlated with antioxidant compounds. Among the samples, Cornus officinalis, Castanea crenata, Lindera erythrocarpa, Carpinus laxiflora and Pourthiaea villosa showed significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) ($IC_{50}=21.12{\sim}28.93{\mu}g/mL$) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothia zoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) ($IC_{50}=28.18{\sim}52.55{\mu}g/mL$) radical scavenging ability with reducing power ($IC_{50}=59.91{\sim}93.64{\mu}g/mL$) than other plants; and C. crenata, L. erythrocarpa and Rubus coreanus showed strong nitric oxide (NO) inhibition activity (${\geq}60%$). In addition, L. erythrocarpa, C. laxiflora and P. villosa showed higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values (${\geq}1,100{\mu}M$ TE/g sample) than other samples. High total phenolic contents were observed in C. crenata (429.11 mg GAE/g), L. erythrocarpa (437.11 mg GAE/g), C. laxiflora (408.67 mg GAE/g) and P. villosa (404.11 mg GAE/g). The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity with reducing power were significantly correlated with total phenolic contents ($R^2=0.71{\sim}0.79$), but total phenolic contents were not correlated with NO inhibition and ORAC ($R^2=0.35{\sim}0.43$). Therefore, these results suggested that C. officinalis, C. crenata, L. erythrocarpa, C. laxiflora and P. villosa are potential natural antioxidative candidate ingredients.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.751-756
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• 2012

Antioxidant capacity and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of the aqueous methanolic extract of Rhus javanica were investigated in vitro. The antioxidant properties was measured by radical scavenging assays using DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radicals. The AChE inhibitory efficacy of R. javanica was tested by Ellman's assay and the total phenolic content was determined using a spectrophotometric method. All tested samples showed a dose-dependent AChE inhibitory and radical scavenging activities. In particularly, ethyl acetate (EtOAc)-soluble portion from the methanolic extract of R. javanica showed significantly higher inhibitory activity than other organic solvent soluble-portions in an AChE and radical scavenging assay systems. These results suggest that R. javanica may be possess potential benefits which might be useful in development of antioxidant and anti-alzheimer's disease ingredient.