• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2011

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng, is one of the oldest herbal medicines. It has a variety of physiological and pharmacological effects. Recently, we isolated a subset of glycolipoproteins that we designated gintonin, and demonstrated that it induced transient change in intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ in cells via G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway(s). The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using methanol, butanol, and other organic solvents. In the present study, we developed a much simple method for the preparation of gintonin from ginseng root using 80% ethanol extraction. The extracted fraction was designated edible gintonin. This method produced a high yield of gintonin (0.20%). The chemical characteristics of gintonin such as molecular weight and the composition of the extract product were almost identical as the gintonin prepared using the previous extraction regimen involving various organic solvents. We also examined the physiological effects of edible gintonin on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel activity of Xenopus oocytes. The 50% effective dose was $1.03{\pm}0.3\;{\mu}g$/mL. Finally, since gintonin preparation through ethanol extraction is easily reproducible, gintonin could be commercially applied for ginseng-derived functional health food and/or drug following the confirmations of in vitro and in vivo physiological and pharmacological effects of gintonin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2015

In the present study, the substance that show anti-proliferation of cancer cells as well as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect was searched. As a results, the methanol extract of Pogostemon cablin (P. cablin), is a well-known herb for traditional medicine in Korea and China for treating the digestive disorders, less of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, inhibited the growth of various cancer cells such as A549, HepG2, MCF7 and HT29 cells. Cytotoxic effect of methanol extraction of P. cablin was excellent in A549 cells. P. cablin extract induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase of A549 in a dose dependent manner. And it induced phosphorylation of p38 and Cdc25A and reduced expression of Cdc25A, Cdks, Cyclins and phospho-Retinoblastoma (Rb) proteins. Therefore, P. cablin extract seems to act through the p38 - Cdc25A - Cdk - Cyclin - Rb pathway in A549 cells. In addition, P. cablin extract showed anti-oxidant effect by DPPH free radical scavenging assay and anti-inflammation effect by inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that P. cablin may be used as not only candidate materials for anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, moreover, it would be possible utilized in various health functional food materials.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

Recently, change of Western pattern diet and lifestyle is caused by various metabolic disorders and chronic diseases. These diseases need to take medicine regularly. Also, many people take health functional food, various vitamins and nutritional supplements in order to maintain a healthy life. But, there was no study about affects taking medicines against bacteria with gastrointestinal relevance. This study was performed by antibacterial activity test to evaluate the influence of a long time or commonly used medication. As a result, medicines of Vitamins & Minerals or Central nervous system show antibacterial activity against beneficial enteric bacteria and harmful enteric bacteria. Dexibuprofen of the Anti-inflammatory Drugs that acts on the central nervous system has shown high antibacterial activity at beneficial enteric bacteria strains (Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus) and harmful enteric bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). Also, fenofibric acid of the antilipemic agents that acts on the Cardiovascular & Hematopoietic system has shown high antibacterial activity at beneficial enteric bacteria strains (Lactobacillus casei). Vitamins & Minerals appeared antibacterial activity against most intestinal bacteria. Vitamin B-Complex/with C and vitamin C were especially high with beneficial enteric bacteria strains (Bifidobacterium infantis) and harmful enteric bacteria (E. coli, E. aerogenes, S. flexneri, S. Typhimurium, S. aureus). Therefore, these results indicate that variously taking medicines have generally antibacterial activity against harmful enteric bacteria strains and beneficial enteric bacteria strains.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.1936-1942
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• 2010

To examine the effect of overdosed functional food in liver-injured patients, we tried to investigate the dose effect of Allium sativum L. (also called garlic) extract on rats with CCl4-induced liver damage, by comparatively examinating the hepatic function of each group. 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and divided equally (n=7) into normal, control, positive control, and three experimental subgroups (E1, E2 and E3), respectively. For each kg of body weight, hepatic injury was induced by intraperitoneal administration of $0.5\;m{\ell}$ (0.20 g/kg/day) $CCl_4$, which was diluted in equal amount of olive oil, once a day on every other day for total 5 times. Hot water extraction was performed using domestically cultivated organic garlics, and the obtained extract was injected by sonde, once daily during 4 weeks, to each experimental subgroups by different dosage of 0.35 g/kg(E1), 0.70 g/kg(E2), 1.40 g/kg(E3), respectively. Results showed that the injection of garlic extract positively influenced the physiological activation which lowered the oxidative stress, changed the toxicity, and functionally improved the hepatic condition. Comparing the dose effect between the three experimental subgroups (E1, E2, E3), results of the maximal-dosed subgroup (E3) showed less significance compared with the lower-dosed subgroups(E1 and E2), which seems to resulted from the (increased) toxicity of garlic.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate antioxidant component content during maturity for judgement of optimum harvest time in black soybean. For high-functional black soybean production, accumulation pattern of isoflavone and saponin contents and anti oxidative activity according to maturity stage were investigated. Varieties used in this experiment were Ilpumgemojeongkong and heukcheongkong, which are the recommended black soybean in Korea. Isoflavone and saponin contents during maturity period in black soybean was the highest at $6{\sim}7$ days earlier than general harvesting time. It was indicated that optimum harvesting time for high quality soybean were $3{\sim}7$ days earlier than harvesting time for higher yield. As a result of investigation about accumulation pattern of antioxidant components by maturity stages in seed, total isoflavone content was the highest at 61 DAF in Ilpumgeomjeongkong and at 77 DAF in Heukcheongkong. Contents of total saponin were the highest at 61 DAF and at 71 DAF, respectively. In case of leaf, total isoflavone content was the highest at 55 DAF in Ilpumgeomjeongkong and Heukcheongkong. Contents of total saponin were the highest at 18 DAF and at $55{\sim}71$ DAF, respectively. It showed that black soybean's leaf could be developed as a new health food material, owing to high contents of antioxidant components and biological activity and it's suitable harvest time was at $R_7$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.361-367
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• 2013

Hizikia fusiformis has been widely used in Oriental herbal medicine and health food. To identify antioxidation properties that contain natural bioactive substances, we investigated the distribution of active compounds existing in batches of organic solvent fractionation. A dried form of H. fusiformis was subjected to sequential fractionation using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-BuOH, and aqueous n-BuOH. The results showed that among the four isolated fractions, the n-BuOH fraction showed the highest antioxidation activities. The n-BuOH fraction was applied to reserve-phase silica gel column chromatography, which produced three fractions: BA, BB, and BC. Among these fractions, BB showed the highest antioxidation activities, which increased in a concentration-dependent manner. At a concentration of 1.0 mg/ml n-BuOH fraction, the activities of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and reducing power were approximately $45{\pm}0.14%$ and $1.34{\pm}0.23$, respectively. In addition, the activities of ${\beta}$-carotene-linoleic acid, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) radical scavenging were $76{\pm}0.12%$, $82{\pm}0.06%$, and $65{\pm}0.17%$, respectively. These findings suggest that the BB fraction contains potent antioxidation properties and that it could be used in the production of natural and functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.471-475
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• 2017

Freezing pretreatment can destroy the cell membrane of garlic and may improve some food-quality of garlic. Therefore we investigated the effect of freezing pretreatment at $-20^{\circ}C$ and $-70^{\circ}C$ on quality of aged black garlic, compared with traditional processing methods. Our results showed that freezing pretreatment at $-70^{\circ}C$ had the greatest impact on qualities and antioxidant activities of black garlic. Browning degree and pH of black garlic after both the freezing pretreatment and aging process were 3.14 and 3.55, respectively. Furthermore, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and reducing power of aged black garlic can be enhanced by pre-freezing processing. Reducing sugar and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) contents of freezing pretreated and aged black garlic were increased by 1.69 and 1.14 fold, respectively, compared with the control samples. The results indicated that freezing pretreatment had improved the overall qualities (such as browning degree, pH, reducing sugar) and functional materials of black garlic.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.100-112
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• 2014

This study investigates the characteristics of cookies added with yacon. The addition of yacon powder did not affect the density of the cookies and decreased pH level. The moisture content was the highest in the cookies with 12% of yacon. Spread ratio was the highest in the cookies containing yacon powder. The loss rate and leavening rate of the cookies decreased with increasing amounts of yacon powder. Lightness and yellowness decreased significantly while redness increased significantly with a high content of yacon powder in the formulation. The hardness of the control group was higher than that of the cookies prepared with different levels of yacon powder. The antioxidant activity was estimated by DPPH free radical scavenging activity and the total phenolic acid content in yacon powder and cookies. The consumer acceptability score for the 6% yacon cookie group ranked significantly higher than the other groups in overall preference, appearance, flavor, taste and color. Through this experiment, this study exhibited both the functional and health based benefits of yacon when it is added to cookies and confirmed the development feasibility of yacon cookies considering consumer satisfaction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.398-405
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng has been used as a tonic for invigoration of the human body. In a previous report, we identified a novel candidate responsible for the tonic role of ginseng, designated gintonin. Gintonin induces $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient in animal cells via lysophosphatidic acid receptor activation. Gintonin-mediated $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient is linked to anti-Alzheimer's activity in transgenic Alzheimer's disease animal model. The previous method for gintonin preparation included multiple steps. The aim of this study is to develop a simple method of gintonin fraction with a high yield. Methods: We developed a brief method to obtain gintonin using ethanol and water. We extracted ginseng with fermentation ethanol and fractionated the extract with water to obtain water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. The water-insoluble precipitate, rather than the water-soluble supernatant, induced a large $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient in primary astrocytes. We designated this fraction as gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF). Results: The yield of GEF was approximately 6-fold higher than that obtained in the previous gintonin preparation method. The apparent molecular weight of GEF, determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was equivalent to that obtained in the previous gintonin preparation method. GEF induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient in cortical astrocytes. The effective dose (ED50) was $0.3{\pm}0.09{\mu}g/mL$. GEF used the same signal transduction pathway as gintonin during $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transient induction in mouse cortical astrocytes. Conclusion: Because GEF can be prepared through water precipitation of ginseng ethanol extract and is easily reproducible with high yield, it could be commercially utilized for the development of gintoninderived functional health food and natural medicine.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2020

Objectives: Obesity is becoming more popular disease worldwide. Because of the side effects of conventional obesity treatment modality, herbal medicine treatment is becoming more preferred. Gambihwan which including Ephedra sinica Staph is widely used in traditional Korean Medicine practice for obesity treatment. Garcinia cambogia is a kind of health functional food that has body fat reducing effect. Nowadays, ephedra and Garcinia cambogia are often used simultaneously in clinical practice of Korean Medicine. However, the effectiveness and safety of combination therapy in obesity treatment is not well established. Methods: We conducted retrospective observational study to explore effectiveness and safety of combination therapy. We evaluated effect of combined treatment of Gambihwan and Garcinia cambogia on body weight, body mass index, body fat mass, and waist hip ratio reduction. We also assessed safety via liver function test and adverse event. Results: Finally, 23 patients were included. In paired t-test, body weight significantly decreased from 64.50±14.50 kg to 62.94±13.85 kg (P<0.001) and body mass index were also significantly decreased from 24.43±3.79 kg/㎡ to 23.83±3.59 kg/㎡ (P<0.001). Body fat mass was also reduced. Aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase were not significantly increased. There were no drug-induced liver injury and no severe adverse event. Conclusions: In our retrospective review, we found combination therapy of Gambihwan and Garcinia cambogia reduce body weight, body mass index and body fat mass. There were no severe adverse event and drug induced liver injury which indicated safety of combination therapy in obesity treatment.