• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.396-402
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• 2012

The chemical composition, anti-porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) activity and antimicrobial activity of Artemisia dubia essential oil were evaluated in this study. Fifty eight compounds from A. dubia essential oil were identified through analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major constituents of the oil were camphor (17.18 %), germacrene-D (15.70%), trans (${\beta}-$) racaryophyllene (6.79%), ene thujones (6.57%), 1, 8-cineole (5.94%) and camphene (5.08%). The essential oil was evaluated for antiviral activity against PEDV in Vero cells using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method. The oils actively inhibited PEDV replication with a 50% inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of 43.7 ${\mu}^3/mL$. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration ($CC_{50}$) of the oils was over 100 ${\mu}/mL$ and the derived therapeutic index was >2.3. Similar analysis of the ribavirin revealed that they have a relatively weaker efficacy when compared to the oils. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil against 5 microorganisms was evaluated by the disc diffusion method. The essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against 5 tested microorganisms with a clear zone of 8-22 mm. Among the tested microorganisms, Streptococcus pyogenes was the most sensitive and Candida albicans the least. Therefore, in can be concluded that essential oils of A. dubia may have interesting applications for microbial control or the control of PEDV-derived diseases.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.350-357
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• 2013

Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of fungi, algae, or cyanobacteria which are able to survive in extreme environmental conditions ranging from deserts to polar areas. Some lichen symbionts produce a wide range of secondary metabolites that have many biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory etc. Among the symbionts of lichens, of the bacterial communities of lichen symbionts little is known. In this study, we isolated 4 microbial species from the Arctic lichen Stereocaulon spp. and evaluated their antioxidant properties using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay as well as 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay. Total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents were also measured. A potent radical scavenging activity was detected in a number of the lichen extracts. Among the 4 species tested in this study, the ethyl acetate extract of Bosea vestrisii 36546(T) exhibited the strongest free radical scavenging activity, with an inhibition rate of 86.8% in DPPH and 75.2% in ABTS assays. Overall, these results suggest that lichen-bacteria could be a potential source of natural antioxidants.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2008

Objective : Herb medicines are potential sources of useful edible and medicinal plants. They are used as a drug because of their various biological activities such as immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antitumor functions. Nelumbo nucifera have been applied in Chinese herbal prescriptions to improve tissue inflammation. However, it has not been elucidated on the effect of the flower of Nelumbo nucifera in cells. Method : In the present study, to examine the effect of that on glioma cells, U87, the essential oil was extracted from the flower of Nelumbo nucifera (NN essential oil). U87 cells were exposed to different concentrations of 2-40 ug/ml of NN essential oil in ethanol. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay at 24 h. To find out the intracellular target signal molecule(s) for this antiproliferative activity of NN essential oil, phosphorylation of Akt, ERM, MAPK or p38 proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. To study long term effect of NN essential oil in U87 cells, the image of cells treated with NN essential oil for 4 days were obtained. Results and Conclusion : NN essential oil was shown to exhibit antitumor activity in glioma cells, at a broad range of concentrations of 10-40 ug/ml. The phosphorylation of Akt and Endoplasmic Reticulum Matrix (ERM) proteins which known to be involved in the cell death, were gradually decreased to 2 hours after addition 20 ug/ml of NN essential oil. However, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) and p38 was found to increase in NN essential oil treated cells. NN essential oil treated cells showed decreased glioma cell number. These results provide a possible NN essential oil-induced inhibitory signal for tumor cell proliferation that is initiated by the decrease in Akt activity. Moreover, it is likely that the activation of p38 is required for the NN essential oil-induced inhibition of tumor proliferation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.518-528
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• 2013

Scutellaria baicalensis, belonging to the family Labiatae, is widely distributed in Korea, China, Mongolia, and eastern Siberia. It has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases, such as dysentery, pyrexia, jaundice, and carbuncles. In addition, S. baicalensis is reported to possess various beneficial pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiviral, antihypertension, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of its anticancer activity have not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the proapoptotic effects of ethanol extract of S. baicalensis (EESB) on human renal cell carcinoma Caki-1 cells. The anti-proliferative activity of EESB was associated with apoptosis induction, which was associated with the up-regulation of death receptor 4, the Fas ligand, and Bax and the down-regulation of Bid, XIAP, and cIAP-1 proteins. EESB treatment also induced mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and degradation of caspase-3 substrate proteins, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, ${\beta}$-catenin, and phospholipase C-${\gamma}1$. However, pretreatment of a pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, significantly attenuated the EESB-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that EESB may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent. Further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anticancer activity of S. baicalensis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.371-377
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• 1996

Potential health promoting effects such as antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer and anticarcinogenic properties have been ascribed to citrus flavonoids. Dietary fibers have also been used as functional food components due to the various beneficial physiological activities. Two kinds of flavonoids, naringin and hesperidin, were identified both in the pulp and in the peel of Korean tangerine. The contents of naringin and hesperidin in the pulp were 2.95 mg/100 g and 0.53 mg/100 g, respectively. However, the contents of naringin and hesperidin in the peel were much higher (10.77 mg/100 g and 38.90 mg/100 g) thanthose of two identified flavonoids in the pulp. The content of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) in the pulp of tangerine was 1.90%, insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) 0.37%, and total dietary fiber (TDF) 2.27% based on wet matter, respectively. The content of SDF was 1.09%, IDF 4.77% and TDF 1.86% in the peel of tangerine. The total pectin content was 1.53% in the pulp and 0.94% in the peel of tangerine. The peel of Korean tangerine, a by product in tangerine processing, would be a good source for the production of naringin, hesperidin and pectin.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate antioxidant properties in microbial fermentation products of Lonicera japonica Thunb extract. The bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum NHP1 was isolated from conventional fermented foods. Modern pharmacological studies show that Lonicera japonica Thunb and its active principles of wide pharmacological actions. For instance, they show a strong efficacy in antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-endotoxin, blood fat reducing, antipyretic, and antioxidant activities. The extract of Lonicera japonica Thunb was obtained by extracting dried Lonicera japonica Thunb using either hot water or 70% ethanol as a solvent. Fermentation was performed in a 2L fermentor containing 1.2 L of extractat conditions of $30^{\circ}C$ and 100 rpm for 48 hr. The amount of cholorogenic acid was $2.65{\mu}g/g$ in hot water extract. The total phenolic content (GAE, gallic acid equivalent) in hot water and 70% ethanol were $56.5{\pm}4.9$ GAE mg/g and $72.7{\pm}5.3$ GAE mg/g, respectively. After fermentation, the phenolic content increased to 30.2% in hot water and 12.9% in ethanol extract. In the same manner, flavonoid content increased to more than 75% regardless of extract solvent. ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) value noticeably increased to 50% after fermentation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.279-287
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• 2017

The chemical property of cinnamaldehyde is unstable in vivo, although early experiments have shown its obvious therapeutic effects on viral myocarditis (VMC). To overcome this problem, we used cinnamaldehyde as a leading compound to synthesize derivatives. Five derivatives of cinnamaldehyde were synthesized: 4-methylcinnamaldehyde (1), 4-chlorocinnamaldehyde (2), 4-methoxycinnamaldehyde (3), ${\alpha}$-bromo-4-methylcinnamaldehyde (4), and ${\alpha}$-bromo-4-chlorocinnamaldehyde (5). Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and HeLa cells infected by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) were used to evaluate their antiviral and cytotoxic effects. In vivo BALB/c mice were infected with CVB3 for establishing VMC models. Among the derivatives, compound 4 and 5 inhibited the CVB3 in HeLa cells with the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations values of $11.38{\pm}2.22{\mu}M$ and $2.12{\pm}0.37{\mu}M$, respectively. The 50% toxic concentrations of compound 4 and 5-treated cells were 39-fold and 87-fold higher than in the cinnamaldehyde group. Compound 4 and 5 effectively reduced the viral titers and cardiac pathological changes in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, compound 4 and 5 significantly inhibited the secretion, mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in CVB3-infected cardiomyocytes, indicating that brominated cinnamaldehyde not only improved the anti-vital activities for VMC, but also had potent anti-inflammatory effects in cardiomyocytes induced by CVB3.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.140-149
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• 2021

Mushroom-derived polysaccharides, which are the primary bioactive constituents, are beneficial for human health. Polysaccharides have immuno-modulation, antitumor, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, they have antiviral properties and protect against chronic radiation stress. In this study, high yield water-soluble polysaccharides were obtained from Pleurotus djamor var. roseus basidiocarps. The crude polysaccharide (CP) was extracted sequentially by hot water and ethanol precipitation. The yield of the brown CPs was 5.6% dw. Diethylaminoethyl cellulose and Sepharose-6B column chromatography of CPs generated several fractions. Total glucan content was determined in all the fractions. The F1 fraction displayed the highest sugar content and was considered as a purified polysaccharide (PP). The total glucan and β-glucan content in the four fractions ranged between 76.85-2.95% and 75.08-1.46%, respectively. The yield of the PPs was 300 mg, and it was obtained as a white powder. The PPs were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thin-layer chromatography. The FTIR spectral details confirmed the presence of a xylopentose polysaccharide. The antioxidant activity of the PPs was evaluated using in vitro 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and superoxide radical scavenging assay. The PPs showed strong DPPH free radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner. Purified PPs free of phenolics, protein, and carbohydrates were mainly responsible for the radical scavenging activity. The data suggest the potential of PPs as natural antioxidants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.430-441
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• 2021

Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) are terpenoids found mostly in the Asteraceae family and are known for their strong cytotoxic properties, among other notable bioactivities. Some STLs, such as artemisinin and mipsagargin, are already commercially available and are used to fight malaria and tumor growth, respectively. Although the interest in STLs was low for a time after their discovery due to their toxic nature, past decades have witnessed a soar in STL-based studies focused on developing novel pharmaceuticals via chemical diversification. These studies have reported several promising physiological effects for STLs, including lower toxicity and diverse modes of action, and have demonstrated the antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antiprotozoal, phytotoxic, antitumor, and antiaging properties of STLs. STLs are mainly considered as valuable natural molecules for the fight against cancer since most STLs induce death of different types of cancer cells, as shown by in vitro and in vivo studies. Some STLs can also enhance the effects of drugs that are already in clinical use. Medicinal chemists use various STLs as starting molecules for the synthesis of new STLs or different bioactive compounds. All these developments warrant future research to provide more information on STLs, their bioactivities, and their mode of action. In this context, this review has summarized the bioactivities of some of the widely studied STLs, namely artemisinin, costunolide, thapsigargin, arglabin, parthenolide, alantolactone, cynaropicrin, helenalin, and santonin.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.404-412
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• 2018

The influenza neuraminidase (NA, E.C. 3.2.1.18), an antiviral, has been the target of high pharmaceutical companies due to its essential role in viral replication cycle. Perilla frutescens (P. frutescens) is used in traditional Chinese medicine for various diseases, such as cold due to wind-cold, headache and cough. In this context, four major polyphenolic compounds including rosmarinic acid-3-O-glucoside (1), rosmarinic acid (2), luteolin (3), and apigenin (4) isolated from P. frutescens were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on recombinant virus H1N1 neuraminidase (rvH1N1 NA). Among the test compounds, rosmarinic acid and luteolin inhibited the rvH1N1 NA with an $IC_{50}$ of 46.7 and $8.4{\mu}M$, respectively. The inhibition kinetics analyzed by the Dixon plots indicated that rosmarinic acid and luteolin were noncompetitive inhibitors and that the inhibition constant, $K_I$, was established as 43.9 and $14.3{\mu}M$, respectively. In addition, 578 genetically diverse accessions and 39 cultivars of P. frutescens were analyzed using HPLC to characterize the diversity of polyphenolic composition and concentration. The individual and total compositions exhibited significant difference (P < 0.05), especially rosmarinic acid which was detected as the predominant metabolite in all accessions (58.8%) and cultivars (62.8%). Yeupsil and Sangback cultivars exhibited the highest rosmarinic acid ($3,393.5{\mu}g/g$) and luteolin ($383.3{\mu}g/g$) content respectively. YCPL177-2 with the high concentration ($889.8{\mu}g/g$) of luteolin may be used as a genetic resource for breeding elite cultivars.