• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.401-407
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• 2016

Background: Salvia has been widely cultivated for use in flavoring and folk medicines in many countries, including Korea and China. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and the underlying active compounds of Salvia extract and its fractions. Methods and Results: The anti-inflammatory activity was measured by assessing the inhibition of cysteinyl leukotriene production in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 mast cells. Salvia plebeia R. Br. was found to have the most potent inhibitory activity on leukotriene production than S. japonica and S. chanroenica had. Fifty percent ethanol extracts of S. plebeia R. Br. were successively partitioned with n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol and water. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than other solvent fractions did. The EtOAc fraction was subjected to silica gel column chromatography elution with a chloroform and methanol gradient system (100 : 1 ${\rightarrow}$ 1 : 1) yielding 10 fractions. Three kinds of fractions (chloroform:methanol = 20 : 1, 10 : 1 and 5 : 1) showed high inhibitory activity on leukotriene production. We confirmed the major compounds with anti-inflammatory activity from S. plebeia R. Br. Conclusions: In this study, the major components of S. plebeia that showed leukotriene production inhibitory activity were isolated using solvent extraction and silica gel column chromatography. Rosmarinic acid, hispidulin and luteolin were identified as the major compounds with anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.515-522
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• 2015

Treculia africana Decne, a breadfruit species, is native to many parts of West and Tropical Africa. The breadfruit belongs to the family Moraceae and is one of the four members of the genera Treculia. The crude extract of T. africana has been used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent for various ailments, such as whooping cough. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of the methanol extract of T. africana Decne (META) and the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects in human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. The META exhibited anti-oxidative activity through a DPPH radical scavenging capacity and inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. META treatment induced apoptosis of HT29 cells, showing an increase in the percentage of both SubG1 cells and Annexin V-positive cells and the formation of apoptotic bodies in a dose-dependent manner. META-mediated apoptosis was associated with the up-regulation of the death receptor FAS and Bax and a decrease in the Bcl-2 expression. META-treated HT29 cells also showed the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, and proteolytic cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). These findings suggest META may exert an anti-cancer effect in HT29 cells by inducing apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.545-552
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• 2017

Julbernardia globiflora, a tropical African tree widespread in Miombo woodland, has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of depression and stomach problems. However, the antioxidative and anticancer activities of J. globiflora remain unclear. The objective of this study is to evaluate the antioxidative and anticancer effects of methanol extract of J. globiflora (MEJG) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. MEJG exhibited significant antioxidative effect with an $IC_{50}$ (concentration at 50% inhibition) value of $1.23{\mu}g/ml$ measuring by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. We found that MEJG induced apoptosis of HT29 cells with the increase of apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies using Annexin V staining and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. The MEJG treatment showed the increase of Fas, a death receptor, and Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, and the decrease of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, resulting in the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol and activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. The apoptotic effects of MEJG were confirmed by cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that MEJG may exert the anticancer effect in HT29 cells by inducing apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2017

Gnaphalium affine D. DON (GA) has been used as a vegetable as well as a folk medicine in East Asia. The antioxidant and anti-complementary activity of GA extract (GAE) has also been reported. However, little is known about its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect and mechanism of action. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of GAE on the production of inflammatory mediators such as NO, $PGE_2$, TLR4, eotaxin-1 and histamine. Our results suggest that GAE inhibits the production of NO and $PGE_2$ by inhibiting transcriptional activation via the involvement of iNOS and COX-2. The LPS-induced expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was also attenuated. In addition, GAE inhibited A23187-induced histamine release from MC/9 mast cells. It also inhibited the production of eotaxin-1 induced by IL-4. Collectively, these results suggest that GAE may have considerable potential as a cosmetic ingredient with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.727-734
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• 2014

To investigate anti-thrombosis and anti-oxidation activities of the root of Arctium lappa L (RALL), which has been used as foodstuff and oriental medicine in Korea, the ethanol extract and its subsequent organic solvent fractions of the RALL were prepared. The yield of ethanol extraction was 10.94%, and the content of total polyphenol and total sugar of ethanol extract were 5.01 and 694.53 mg/g, respectively. The fraction yields of n-hexane, ethylacetate (EA), butanol and water residue were 1.62, 0.42, 5.98 and 85.38%, respectively. In anticoagulation activity assay, the ethanol extract of RALL did not show significant changes in thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), whereas the EA fractions showed 13 folds extended TT, PT, and aPTT respectively. Interestingly, the water residue showed strong activation effect against blood clotting factors with shortened aPTT, which might provide the evidence of coagulation agent of RALL in folk remedy. In anti-platelet aggregation assay, the activity of the ethanol extract and its fractions were comparable to that of aspirin. Especially the EA fraction showed 2-folds higher inhibitory activity than aspirin. In anti-oxidation activity assay, the EA fraction also showed strong in DPPH, ABTS and nitrite scavenging activity, and reducing power activity. The extract and fractions of RALL have ignorable hemolytic activity against human RBC up to 0.5 mg/mL concentration. Our results suggest that the EA fraction of RALL have potentials as safe and novel anti-thrombosis agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2008

Sulfur containing compounds in garlic have all be used as one of the traditional folk medicine as well as food source. The present study was performed to investigate the antioxidative compounds of 1-methyl-1-cysteine, dimethyl trisulfide and 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin. The antioxidative activity of sulfur containing compounds on human LDL was investigated by monitoring a thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS). Sulfur containing compounds inhibited on oxidation of LDL mediated by $CuSO_4$ and macrophages in dose dependent manner with almost completely inhibition at $80{\mu}g/ml$. Antioxidant activities of sulfur containing compounds on LDL oxidation were 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin, 1-methyl-1-cysteine, and dimethyl trisulfide in order. Inhibitory effects of sulfur containing compounds on oxidation of LDL mediated by $CuSO_4$ and macrophages were degraded at much greater rate than native LDL, the LDL oxidation process was arrested as shown by the lower conjugated dienes formation at the concentration of $60{\mu}g/ml$. Sulfur containing compounds in garlic revealed at high antioxidative activity at low physiological concentration for human LDL oxidation in vitro specially, it was indicated that the antioxidative activity of 3-viny l-4H-1,2-dithiin was higher than that of the other sulfur containing compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2014

Dried Citrus unshiu peels (Aurantii Nobilis Pericarpium; ANP) are used as a traditional folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders in East Asia, including Korea. In the present study, an ethanolic extract of ANP (ANP-E) exhibited no significant toxicity in mice, even at an oral dose of 5 g/kg. The effects of ANP-E on GI motor function were investigated by measuring the intestinal transit rate (ITR) of Evans blue in normal mice and mice with experimental GI motility dysfunction (i.e., peritoneal irritation by acetic acid; PIA). In normal mice, ANP-E significantly increased the ITR in a dose-dependent manner. The ITR in the PIA mice was significantly retarded compared to that in the normal mice. However, ANP-E significantly inhibited this retardation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, in all the models, the potency of ANP-E appeared to be same or higher than that of cisapride, which was used predominantly for the treatment of various GI motility disorders in humans in the 1900s but was removed from the market in 2000 due to fatal side effects. The results suggest that ANP-E has potential as a new prokinetic agent that could be used as a substitute for cisapride.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.795-801
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• 2001

Effects of Mucilage fraction from Yam (Dioscorea batatas DECENE), which has long been used as a wild vegetable and folk medicine, on blood glucose and lipid composition in alloxan-induced diabetic mice were investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male ICR mice by the injection of alloxan into the tail vein at a dose of 75 mg/kgBW. Alloxan-induced diabetic mice were administered the yam mucilage fraction1 orally ; y500F1 group (500 mg/kgBW/day fraction1) and y750F1 group (750 mg/kgBW/day fraction1); and the normal and alloxan-control group were orally administered with saline for 10 days. The body weight gain and food intake were monitored every day. The concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol of serum and liver levels of glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol were determined. Also weight of liver, heart, spleen and kidney were measured. The fraction 1 of yam mucilage lowered body weight gain significantly (p<0.05) and decreased serum glucose levels in alloxan-induced diatetic mice compared to that of alloxan-control group. In alloxan induced diabetic mice serum triglyceride level was lowered and liver HDL-cholesterol level increased significantly (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was assumed that yam mucilage fraction 1 has anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obesitic effects by reducing body weight gain and decreasing serum glucose and triglyceride level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.899-904
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• 2002

Aloe and propolis are extensively used in folk medicine. Ethanol extracts of Aloe vera (AE), ethanol extract of propolis (PE) and waxfree extract of propolis (PW) were prepared to test antimicrobial activities against five oral microorganisms (Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Enteococcus hirae, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans). Antimicrobial activities were tested by serial broth dilution method and expressed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The AE showed relatively weak antimicrobial activities, while both of PE and PW greatly inhibited all microorganisms tested. To investigate the antimicrobial effects of the combined extracts of aloe with propolis, the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was determined by checkerboard assay for each strain. The combination of AE with PE or PW resulted in Synergistic effect against oral microorganisms tested (FICI=0.375) except Escherichia coli (FICI=1.0 for PE, FICI=0.75 for PW).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2017

Salvia plebeia R. Br. (Lamiaceae) has been used in folk medicines in Asian countries, including Korea and China, to treat inflammatory diseases. The focus of our research was on the anti-adipogenic activity of ethanol extract from Salvia plebeia R. Br. (SPE) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This study investigated inhibition of differentiation and lipogenesis upon SPE treatment in 3T3-L1 cells. The results reveal that SPE at non-cytotoxic concentration significantly suppressed triglyceride accumulation and reduced expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein as adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared to non-treated control cells. Inducible phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, acetyl CoA carboxylase, and hormone-sensitive lipase as well as carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 mRNA expression increased upon SPE treatment, which suppressed expression of fatty acid synthase. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that SPE can inhibit expression of adipogenic genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our study suggests that SPE has potential anti-obesity effects and is a novel therapeutic functional agent with anti-adipogenic activity via reduction of lipogenesis.