• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate biological activities of Brassica rapa (Turnip) plant callus extracts of Ganghwa-gun of Incheon city using water, ultrasonic wave and ethanol extractions to develop functional materials. DPPH radical scavenging activities of the callus extracts were increased in a concentration-dependent manner, as compared with control. The astringent effects of the ethanol extracts were higher, as compared to water and ultrasonic extracts. In the collagen synthesis assay, the ethanol extract showed significant anti-wrinkle effects of 59% and 78% at a concentration of 5 ppm and 10 ppm, respectively. These results suggested that water, ultrasonic wave and ethanol extracts of turnip plant calluses are natural antioxidant sources. Especially, the ethanol extract can be regarded as a functional, natural cosmetic material with astringent and anti-wrinkle effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.716-728
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: An imbalanced adipokine profile in obesity increases the susceptibility to obesity-related cardiometabolic alterations, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The mulberry plant has been reported to have health benefits, such as hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects. This study examined the effects of a mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit ethanol extract (MBEE) on dyslipidemia, liver steatosis, and adipokine imbalance in response to a high-fat diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of 4 groups containing 6 rats each and fed either a control diet (CON), a high-fat diet (HFD), or a high-fat diet with MBEE of 150 mg/kg/day (LMB) or 300 mg/kg/day (HMB). The triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were measured spectrophotometrically. The leptin, adiponectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The plasma TG levels were similar in the 4 groups. Plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and TC/HDL-C ratio increased in the HFD group compared with the CON group, whereas those values decreased in the LMB group (P < 0.05), indicating that MBEE had a plasma lipid-lowering effect. HDL-C decreased in the HFD group, but MBEE did not affect the HDL-C level. The HFD rats significantly increased hepatic TG and cholesterol levels and plasma ALT and AST activities compared to the CON group. The hepatic TG level and ALT and AST activities were reduced markedly by the MBEE treatment. The HFD group showed a higher PAI-1 level, whereas MBEE treatment, especially in the HMB group, significantly reduced leptin level, and leptin/adiponectin and PAI-1/ adiponectin ratios. These findings suggest that MBEE altered the imbalance between the pro-and anti-inflammatory adipokines to a more anti-inflammatory state. CONCLUSIONS: MBEE could protect against abnormal lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat diet, lowering plasma cholesterol, LDL-C and TC/HDL-C, and hepatic TG. These findings are associated with the regulating effect of MBEE on the leptin/adiponectin and PAI-1/adiponectin ratios.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.574-583
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• 2022

Ficus vasculosa Wall. ex Miq. (FV) has been used as a herbal medicine in Southeast Asia and its antioxidant activity has been shown in previous studies. However, it has not yet been elucidated whether FV exerts anti-inflammatory effects on activated-macrophages. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the ameliorative property of FV methanol extract (FM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses and the underlying molecular mechanisms in RAW264.7 macrophages. The experimental results indicated that FM decreased the production of inflammatory mediators (NO/PGE2) and the mRNA/protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. FM also reduced the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Results also demonstrated that FM improved inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated A549 airway epithelial cells by inhibiting the production of cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, FM suppressed MAPK activation and NF-κB nuclear translocation induced by LPS. FM also upregulated the mRNA/protein expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in RAW264.7 cells. In an experimental animal model of LPS-induced acute lung injury, the increased levels of molecules in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were suppressed by FM administration. Collectively, it was founded that FM has anti-inflammatory properties on activated-macrophages by suppressing inflammatory molecules and regulating the activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.674-679
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• 2008

Scutellaria radix (SR) has been utilized as a traditional medicine for a variety of diseases including Rheumatoid arthritis and its major flavonoids - baicalein, baicalin, and wogonin - have been reported to exert beneficial health effects, including anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and free-radical scavenging. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly understood. The principal objective of this study was to determine the effect of SR on osteoblast and osteoclast cells. SR extract was prepared using 70% ethanol solvent. Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and osteoclast precursor Raw 264.7 macrophage cells were utilized. SR extract increased MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity dose-dependently, 152.0% of the control at concentration $1{\mu}g/mL$. Additionally, SR extract ($1{\mu}g/mL$) stimulated Bone nodule formation activity in MC3T3-E1 cells, approximately 223.3% of the control, 20 days after the exposure. In addition, SR extract significantly reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells from Raw 264.7 cells. In conclusion, SR extract stimulates the proliferation and bioactivities of boneforming osteoblasts, and inhibits the activities of bone-resorbing osteoclasts to a certain degree.

• Global Cultural Contents
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• no.39
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• pp.44-65
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• 2019

Ecological nature was independently established in cultural content before the industrial society. Cultural contents started to be distributed as products in the industrial society, and since then there has been the coexistence of ecological and anti-ecological nature. Despite this change, community-based festivals and performances as ecological cultural contents encompassing both the time before and after the industrial society are still transmitted in some agricultural and fishing villages in today's Korea. Based on this aspect, ecological cultural contents can be defined as cultural contents that is practiced in various ways for symbiotic relations between men, man and impersonal being, and further beings surrounding cultural contents as well as man and nature. A basic plan for ecological cultural contents would pursue the three following directions: first, establishing a symbiotic system of cultural contents to create synergic effects among elements; second, building a distribution structure of virtuous cycle for cultural contents by reinforcing the productive abilities of consumers and users; and finally, expanding the base of cultural contents to exercise ecological nature. The perception and development of this ecological cultural contents will propose practical acts to help the human society move forward to an environment-friendly future in today's situations where the Earth's self-purification mechanism has collapsed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.406-415
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities and compared other physiological properties including anti-cancer and antimicrobial effects of several traditional Korean herb-combined remedies such as Gilgyung-tang (GGT), Daihwangmokdan-tang (DHMDT), Sagan-tang (SGT), Socheonryongtang (SCRT), Sihocheonggan-tang (SHCGT), Sipyukmiyuki-eum (SYMYKE) and Hwangheuk-san (HHS), which were recorded in “Dong-eui-bo-gam” for “Ongjeo”. Total phenolic contents of the herb medicines were in a rich order of GGT ＜ SYMYKE ＜ SCRT ＜ SHCGT ＜ DHMDT ＜ SGT ＜ HHS. Among them, HHS appeared highest in superoxide dismutase-like activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, scavenging of 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cationic radical activity. Interestingly, there was a positive relationship between their total phenolic contents and their antioxidant activities. Although all of them showed anti-proliferative activities in human colon cancer HCT-116 cells, HHS was seven times higher than GGT. Antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori were revealed only on SGT, SCRT, SYMYKE and HHS. Taken together, these findings reveal the potential use of traditional Korean herbal formulas as functional ingredients in antioxidant and physiological materials.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2019

Inflammatory and oxidative stimuli play a critical role not only in the process of transforming normal cells into cancer cells, but also in the proliferation process of cancer cells. Sipyukmiryukieum (SYMRKU), a traditional Korean herb-combined remedy, is composed of 16 kinds of herbal medicines, which were recorded for "Ongjeo" treatment in "Dongeuibogam". In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of SYMRKU against inflammatory and oxidative responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that SYMRKU significantly inhibited LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ without showing any significant cytotoxicity. Consistent with these results, SYMRKU down-regulated LPS-induced expression of their regulatory enzymes such as inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. SYMRKU also inhibited LPS-induced production and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. In addition, SYMRKU significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species by LPS and showed a strong, which was associated with induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 expression. Although further studies are needed to fully understand the anti-inflammatory effects associated with the antioxidant capacity of SYMRKU, the findings of the current study suggest that SYMRKU may have potential benefits by inhibiting the onset and/or treatment of inflammatory and/or oxidative diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.317-331
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• 2014

Objectives: The root of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) has been known to possess a range of pharmacological activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects. The present study was designed to investigate whether or not PG-induced cell death was connected with autophagy and apoptosis in NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells. Methods: Effects on the cell viability and apoptotic activity were quantified using MTT assays and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Protein activation was measured by immunoblotting. Autophagy was measured by LC3 immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. ROS production and loss of mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) were checked with flow cytometry analysis. Results: Following exposure to PG, NCI-H460 cell proliferation decreased simultaneously inducing autophagic vacuoles and up-regulation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 and beclin-1 protein expressions. Interestingly, pre-treated with autophagy inhibitors, 3-methyladenin or bafilomycin A1 further triggered reduction of cell viability. PG treatment also induced apoptosis that was related modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, death receptors and activation of caspases. In addition, PG stimulation clearly enhanced loss of MMP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PG elicited both autophagy and apoptosis by increasing loss of MMP and ROS production. PG induced-autophagy may play a cell protective role.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2009

We investigated the predation behavior of larval damselfly on Daphnia pulex and D. galeata, and compared the life history and morphological defenses in two Daphnia species against larval damselfly and fish kairomones. Larval damselflies showed size-dependent predation behavior and preyed upon smaller daphnids easily regardless light condition. Overall, small D. galeata juveniles were more vulnerable than D. pulex to the larval damselfly predation. D. pulex displayed life history and morphological changes as the anti-predator defenses against larval damselfly as well as large mouth bass, while D. galeata showed the anti-predator defenses to the large mouth bass. Thus, our results revealed that two Daphnia species exhibits different anti-predator defense strategy to increase survivorship.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.269-278
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• 2019

Objectives: Naesohwangryeon-tang (NHT) is a type of traditional herbal formula, however, little is known about its antitumor activity. In this study, the antitumor properties of NHT was evaluated in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Methods: To check the inhibitory effect of NHT, MTT assay was performed. Cell cycle analysis and detection of ROS production were conducted by flow cytometry. To evaluate the signaling pathway, Western blotting was conducted. Results: Our results showed that the decrease of cell proliferation by NHT stimulation occurred more significantly in A549 cells than in NCI-H460 cells. In addition, NHT-induced apoptosis was associated with the activation of caspases and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NHT-induced apoptosis was attenuated after pretreatments with z-VAD-fmk or N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that NHT-induced apoptosis was caspaseand ROS-dependent. Interestingly, NHT treatment led to the development of autophagic vesicular organelles and upregulation of several autophagy-related genes. The pretreatment of bafilomycin A1 decreased apoptosis slightly but increased cell viability in the presence of NHT. Conclusion: These findings indicated that NHT induces both apoptosis and cell-protective autophagy in human lung cancer cells. This data suggests that NHT might be a novel herbal drug for lung cancer.