• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.10
• /
• pp.1397-1403
• /
• 2011

Epimedium koreanum Nakai is a wild medicinal plant commonly consumed in South Korea due to its health beneficial effects. In the present study, the antioxidative, antimutagenic and immunological activities of E. koreanum Nakai extracts were investigated for their use in food. The yields of icariin compounds from the ethanol extract as well as the ethyl acetate, butanol, hexane, water, and chloroform fractions of E. koreanum were 27.9, 2.5, 1.7, 1.4, and 1.3 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively. The icariin components (295.5 ${\mu}g/g$) were collected from the ethyl acetate fraction by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of each fraction were as follows: ethyl acetate (49.0 ${\mu}g/mL$), butanol (59.2 ${\mu}g/mL$), hexane (119.8 ${\mu}g/mL$), water (122.0 ${\mu}g/mL$), and chloroform (138.5 ${\mu}g/mL$), based on $RC_{50}$ ${\mu}g/mL$. Icariin, isolated and identified as the main component, showed strong antioxidant activity with a $RC_{50}$ value of 15.3 ${\mu}g/mL$, which was higher than those of ascorbic acid (19.5 ${\mu}g/mL$) and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (18.2 ${\mu}g/mL$). In an Ames test, none of the fractions produced mutagenic effects on Salmonella Typhimurium TA98 and TA100. In an immunomodulating activity test, the effects of E. koreanum Nakai on B cells (Rhamos) and T cells (Jurkat) were investigated. These results show that the growth and viability of B and T cells were increased by isolated icariin components for 1.27 and 1.28 fold, respectively. These results also provide preliminary data for the development of E. koreanum Nakai as an edible food material.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.250-257
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Aster glehnii (AG) and Aster yomena (AY) are medicinal plants that belong to the family Compositea and grow widely in Korea. Plants in the genus Aster have been used to treat snakebite wounds or bruises in oriental medicine. This study compared the effects of anti-oxidants and anti-adipocyte differentiation according to the species (the aerial parts of AG and AY). Methods: AG and AY were extracted using 70% ethanol (-E) and water (-W) at room temperature. The anti-oxidant activities were measured by total phenol contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), DPPH and $ABTS^+$ assay. In addition, correlation analysis was performed for the anti-oxidant compounds and effect. The level of anti-adipocyte differentiation was assessed using an oil red O assay on pre-adipocytes. Results: AG-W showed higher TPC ($6.92{\mu}g/mL$) and AG-E presented higher TFC ($8.22{\mu}g/mL$) than the other extracts. Furthermore, AG-E exhibited higher radical scavenging activity in the DPPH and $ABTS^+$ assay ($IC_{50}$: 104.88 and $30.06{\mu}g/mL$). In the cytotoxicity assay, AG and AY extracts at concentrations less than $100{\mu}g/mL$ were non toxic. AG-W reduced the lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 cells significantly after differentiation (70.49%) compared to the other extracts. Conclusion: These results show that the water extract of AG has anti-oxidant effects and reduces the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Therefore, AG has utility as a functional food material for its anti-oxidant activities and ability to prevent lipid accumulation.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.9
• /
• pp.1033-1040
• /
• 2016

In Korea, the aerial parts of the halophyte Salicornia europaea, known as hamcho, are used in salads in April–June and in oriental medicine in September–October In this study, with the aim of developing functional foods to aid blood circulation, hot water extract (HWE) and ethanol extract (EE) were prepared using hamcho harvested from the fields of Shinan, Jeonnam, Korea on 5th April (HWE-04, EE-04), 5th July (HWE-06, EE-06), 5th August (HWE-08, EE-08), 5th September (HWE-09, EE-09), and 5th October (HWE-10, EE-10), and their antioxidant and antithrombosis activities were evaluated. Among the HWEs, HWE-10 showed the highest concentration of total polyphenols and total flavonoids (22.4 and 17.6 mg/ml, respectively), and EE-09 had the highest concentration among the EEs (20.1 and 19.3 mg/ml, respectively). Among the HWEs and EEs, HWE-08 and EE-08 had the highest total sugar and reducing sugar content. In the antioxidation assay, HWE-10 and EE-09 showed strong reducing power, as well as DPPH, ABTS, and nitrite scavenging activities. The calculated RC₅₀s of EE-09 against DPPH, ABTS, and nitrite were 578, 277, and 68.8 μg/ml, respectively. The antithrombosis activity assay revealed that HWE-04, HWE-06, EE-04, and EE-06 had anticoagulation activity against coagulation factors and that HWE-08, HWE-09, EE-08, and EE-09 expressed strong thrombin inhibitory activity, which was comparable to the antithrombosis activity of aspirin. In addition, EE-06 and HWE-08 exhibited strong aggregation inhibitory activities against human platelets. The results suggest that extract from hamcho harvested in particular periods and prepared using a defined solvent has strong potential as a novel food ingredient and an antioxidant and antithrombosis agent.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.63-74
• /
• 2022

Objective : Gastritis refers to an inflammatory disease of the gastric mucosa. Alcohol is one of the main aggression factors, causing bleeding and inflammation in the gastric mucosa and it is known to not only increase lipid peroxide levels, but also deplete key antioxidant factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus water extract (URW) in alcohol-induced gastritis. Methods : The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of URW were confirmed through an in vitro experiment. Also, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity were confirmed. For in vivo experiments, mice were divided into 4 groups (n=8). Also, 1 hr after oral administration of each drug, 50% ethanol was orally administered to induce gastritis. Results : As a result of in vitro experiments, URW showed excellent antioxidant activity. In alcohol-induced gastritis, URW alleviated the damage to the gastric mucosa caused by alcohol. Also, URW decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and gastric tissues, and significantly decreased the expression of NADPH oxidases in gastric tissues. In addition, it significantly modulated the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-𝜅B p65 (NF-𝜅B) pathways as well as significantly increased the expression of anti-inflammatory proteins. Conclusions : These results suggest that URW not only reduces oxidative stress through excellent antioxidant activity but also relieves gastric mucosal inflammation as a regulator of Nrf2 and NF-𝜅B pathways.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the difference of growth characteristics and the content of root chemical components in four years old ginseng by paddy and upland cultivation at farmers' field in Korea. Proportions of silt, clay, liquid phase and porosity were higher in paddy soil than upland soil. The range of liquid phase was $17.5{\sim}19.5%$ in paddy and $7.0{\sim}12.8%$ in upland during growth period. EC and the other contents of OM, $NO_3^-,\;K_2O$, and Mg in paddy soil were higher than those of upland soil, while the contents of $P_2O_5$ and Ca were less than those of upland soil. The levels of chemical components of tested soil exceeded recommended range in EC, $NO_3^-$ and Ca of paddy soil, and in $P_2O_5$ and Ca of upland soil. Stem length, fresh root weight and total dry weight per plant in paddy were greater than those of upland. Root weight in paddy-ginseng showed a great increase on September, while it was not increased in upland because of early defoliation. Net assimilation rate and crop growth rate by paddy and upland cultivation showed distinct differences on May and September, and those of paddy-ginseng were higher than those of upland-ginseng. Yield and ratio of red-colored root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation, while significant differences were observed in diameter and length of primary root, contents of crude saponin and 50% ethanol extracts of primary root, and water content of root. Hardness of primary root showed no significant difference by paddy and upland cultivation until August, but it showed distinct difference on September, at which the hardness in upland cultivation was drastically decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.9
• /
• pp.1336-1343
• /
• 2005

In the present study, we screened candidates for enhancing insulin action and secretion from Cinnamomum camphora (CC) fractions, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Min6 cells by investigating insulin- stimulated glucose uptake and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, respectively. CC were extracted by $70\%$ ethanol followed by XAD-4 column chromatography with serial mixture solvents of methanol and water, and the fractional extractions were utilized for determining insulin action and secretion, and $\alpha$-glucoamylase suppressing activity, A significant insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving 0.5 or $5{\mu}g/mL$ of $40\%\;and\;60\%$ methanol fractions plus 0.2 nM insulin, compared to the treatment of DMSO plus 0.2 nM insulin. The treatments of $40\%\;and\;60\%$ methanol fractions plus 0.2 nM insulin reached the glucose uptake of 10 nM insulin treatment. The $40\%$ methanol fraction increased triglyceride accumulation by stimulating differentiation and triglyceride synthesis similar to pioglitazone, PPAR-$\gamma$ agonist. No inhibition of $\alpha$-glucoamylase activity of CC fractions was observed. They did not modulate the insulin secretion capacity In either low or high glucose media. These results suggest that $40\%$ methanol fraction contains a potential insulin sensitizer to have a similar function of PPAR-$\gamma$ agonist. Crude CC extract may improve glucose utilization by enhancing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake without elevating glucose stimulated insulin secretion.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.153-170
• /
• 1970

1. Isolation and identification of amylase-producing bacteria. The powerful strain A-12 and S-8 were respectively isolated from air and soil after screening a large number of amylase-producing bacteria. Their bacterial characteristics have been investigated and it has been found that all characteristics of strain A-12 and S-8 are similar to Bac. subtilis of Bergey's manual except for the acid formation from a few carbohydrates and the citrate utilization, i.e., the strain A-12 shows negative in the citrate utilization, and the acid formation from arabinose and xylose, S-8 shows negative in the acid formation from xylose. 2. Amylase production by Liquid cultures with solid materials. Several conditions for amylase production by strain A-12 in stationary cultures have been studied. The results obtained are as follows. (1) The optimum conditions are:temperature $35^{\circ}C$, initial pH 6.5 to 7.0 and incubation time 3 to 4 days. (2) The amylase production is not affected by the preservation period of the stock cultures. (3) Among the various solid material, the defatted soy bean is found to be the best for t1e amylase production. However, the alkali treatment of the defatted soy bean gives no effect contrary to the cage of defatted rape seed. The addition of soluble starch to the alkali extract of defatted soy bean shows the increased amylase production. (4) Up to 1% addition of ethanol to carbon dificient media gives the improved amylase production, whereas the above effect is not found in the case of carbon rich media. (5) The amylase production can be increased 2.5 times when 10% of defatted soy bean is admixed to cheaply available wheat bran. (6) The excellent effect is found for amylase production when 20% of wheat bran is admixed to defatted dry milk which is a poor medium. The activity is found to be $D^{40^{\circ}}_{30'}$ 7,000(L.S.V. 1,800) in 10% medium. (7) No significant effect is observed due to the addition of various inorganic salts. 3. Amylase production by solid cultures. Several conditions for amylase production by strain A-12 in wheat bran cultures have been studied and the results obtained are as follows. (1) The optimum conditions: are temperature $33^{\circ}C$, incubation lime 2 days, water content added 150 to 175% and the thickness of the medium 1.5cm, The activity is found to be $D^{40^{\circ}}_{30'}$ 36,000(L.S.V. 15,000) (2) No significant effect is found in the case of the additions of various organic and inorganic substances.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.793-798
• /
• 2006

We investigated the effects on the cytotoxicity against several cancer cells of the hydrolysis and molecular weight fractionation of crude laminaran from E. bicyclis, a brown seaweed collected from Uleung island in Korea, was extracted with boiling water and then crude laminaran was prepared by ethanol precipitation of extract obtained after elimination of calcium alginate by calcium chloride. Crude laminaran was hydrolyzed by enzyme (Econase CE), acid (0.1 N HCl) and autoclaving ($121^{\circ}C$, 180 min), and the molecular weight fractions by ultrafiltration to generate molecular weight fractions. Total sugar and sulfate contents of hydrolyzed laminaran were 72.3 and 3.5% (enzyme hydrolysate), 68.5 and 3.0% (acid hydrolysate), 70.2 and 3.2% (autoclaved), and monosaccharides of which consisted of glucose (74.7-78.5%), mannose (9.9-11.5%), galactose (8.5-9.6%) and fucose (3.1-4.5%), respectively. When the cytotoxicity of hydrolyzed laminaran on SNU-1, HeLa and SW cells was evaluated by MTT assay, growth-inhibitory activity of the enzyme hydrolysate against cancer cells was higher than that of acid hydrolysate or autoclaved laminaran. Furthermore, the fraction at a molecular weight range of 10 to 50 kDa revealed higher anti-proliferative activities. The $IC_{50}$ values of 10-50 kDa fraction at a molecular weight range of 10 to 50 kDa revealed higher anti-proliferative activities. The $IC_{50}$ values of 10-50 kDa fractions on SNU-1, HeLa and SW cells were 60.4, 58.6 and 53.9 ${\mu}g/mL$ for enzymatic hydrolysate, 75.6, 73.5 and 77.4 ${\mu}g/mL$ for acid hydrolysate, and 61.7, 68.2 and 60.8 ${\mu}g/mL$ for autoclaved, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.15-24
• /
• 2023

To examine the antitumor effect of proso millet grains, whether proso millet grains exert apoptotic activity against human cancer cells was investigated. When the cytotoxicity of 80% ethanol (EtOH) extract of proso millet grains was tested against various cancer cells using MTT assay, more potent cytotoxicity was observed against human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells than against other cancer cells. When the EtOH extract was evaporated to dryness, dissolved in water, and then further fractionated by sequential extraction using four organic solvents (n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol), the BuOH fraction exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells. Along with the cytotoxicity, TUNEL-positive apoptotic nucleosomal DNA fragmentation and several apoptotic responses including BAK/BAX activation, mitochondria membrane potential (Δψm) loss, mitochondrial cytochrome c release into the cytosol, activation of caspase-8/-9/-3, and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were detected. However, human normal mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells exhibited a significantly lesser extent of sensitivity compared to malignant MDA-MB-231 cells. Irrespective of Fas-associated death domain (FADD)-deficiency or caspase-8-deficiency, human T acute lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells displayed similar sensitivities to the cytotoxicity of BuOH fraction, excluding an involvement of extrinsic apoptotic mechanism in the apoptosis induction. These results demonstrate that the cytotoxicity of BuOH fraction from proso millet grains against human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells is attributable to intrinsic apoptotic cell death resulting from BAK/BAX activation, and subsequent mediation of mitochondrial damage-dependent activation of caspase cascade.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.154-167
• /
• 1989

This study was conducted to determine the influence of various extracts from 21 medicinal plants including Bupleurm falcatum on the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa, Oryza native and E. crus-galli var. crus-galli, and the amount of their phenolic acids, fatty acids and organic acids, Water extract(5%) of all the medicinal plants, particularly Acorus gramineus, Cnidium officinale, Aconitum carmicheali, Bulpeurum falcatum, Zingiber officinale, Angelica gigas and Curcuma zeodaria inhibited over 90% of the lettuce seed germination and growth, indicating that medicinal plants contained the biologically active substances. The highest amount of phenolic compounds was observed in Prunus crmenica var, ansu(30.6013mg/g) followed by Aconitum ciliare(29.1008mg/g) and Cnidium officienale(27.2943mg/g) which inhibited markedly the germination of testing plants, showing the close relation of phenolic compounds to inhibitory effects. Cnidium officinale contained the highest amount of fatty acids(24.10mg/g) and organic acids(21.04mg/g) which may be partly related to inhibitory effects.