• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.282-286
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• 2016

Cyanidin-$3{\beta}$-D-glycoside (C3G), which is widely distributed in herbal medicines and functional foods, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-scratching behavioral effects. Orally administered C3G is metabolized to protocatechuic acid (PA) by gut microbiota. Therefore, we compared the anti-colitic effect of C3G to that of PA in mice with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Orally administered C3G and PA preventively and curatively ameliorated TNBS-induced colitis parameters, including macroscopic colitis score, colon shortening, and increase of myeloperoxidase activity. Treatment with C3G or PA also inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2, inducible NO synthatase, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in the colon of mice with TNBS-induced colitis. Furthermore, these also inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression in peritoneal macrophages. The anti-colitic effect of PA was more effective than C3G. Orally administered PA more potently attenuate colitis than C3G by inhibiting $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and the anti-colitic efficacy of C3G may be dependent on the biotransformation of C3G to PA by gut microbiota.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.200-206
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• 2020

The ability of the total extract from Physalis angulata; three fractions after partitioning with n-hexane, ethyl acetate (TBE), and water; and four withanolides (compounds 1 - 4) to phosphorylate 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in HepG2 cells was evaluated. The TBE fraction (50 ㎍/mL) activated p-ACC and p-AMPK expression most strongly. Compounds 1 - 4 (10 μM) upregulated p-ACC expression at different levels. Compound 4 induced the most significant changes in p-AMPK expression, followed by 1 and 2. Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) play a functional role in the transcriptional regulation of the lipogenic pathway, including fatty acid synthase (FAS) and ACC. The effects of compounds 2 and 4 (10 μM) on FAS and SREBP-1c expression under high glucose conditions (30 mM) in HepG2 cells were evaluated further. Both dose-dependently inhibited FAS and SREBP-1c expression as well as lipid accumulation (1 - 10 μM) were compared to high-concentration glucose control, which upregulated FAS and SREBP-1c. These results suggest that compounds 2 and 4 upregulate AMPK, suppress FAS and SREBP-1c, and have potential effects on glucose and lipid metabolism.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.313-323
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• 2015

Lipid peroxidation means the oxidative degradation of lipids. The process from the cell membrane lipids in an organism is generated by free radicals, and result in cell damage. Phlorotannins, well-known marine brown algal polyphenols, have been utilized in functional food supplements as well as in medicine supplements to serve a variety of purposes. In this study, we assessed the potential anti-lipid peroxidation activity of phlorofucofuroeckol-A (PFF-A), one of the phlorotannins, isolated from Ecklonia cava by centrifugal partition chromatography in 2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-stimulated Vero cells and zebrafish system. PFF-A showed the strongest scavenging activity against alkyl radicals of all other reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exhibited a strong protective effect against ROS and a significantly strong inhibited of malondialdehyde in AAPH-stimulated Vero cells. The apoptotic bodies and pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3, which were induced by AAPH, were strongly inhibited by PFF-A in a dose-dependent manner and expression of Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic protein, was induced. In the AAPH-stimulated zebrafish model, additionally PFF-A significantly inhibited ROS and cell death, as well as exhibited a strong protective effect against lipid peroxidation. Therefore, these results suggest that PFF-A has excellent protective effects against ROS and lipid peroxidation induced by AAPH in both an in vitro Vero cell model and an in vivo zebrafish model.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.290-295
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• 2014

The triterpenoids contained in four Rubus species (Rosaceae) were quantitatively analyzed using HPLC to select plants with large quantities of niga-ichigoside $F_1$. Unripe fruits, ripe fruits, and leaves were extracted to estimate the quantity of niga-ichigoside $F_1$, together with Rubus-specific $19{\alpha}$-hydroxyursane-type triterpenoids, euscaphic acid, tormentic acid, and kaji-ichigoside $F_1$, and a dimeric triterpenoid coreanoside $F_1$. Niga-ichigoside $F_1$ was most abundant in the leaves of R. crataegifolius (23.4 mg/g dry weight). The amount of triterpenoid in the black, ripe fruits of R. coreanus was lower than the unripe fruits of the same plant. On the other hand, the ripe fruits of three plants, R. crataegifolius, R. parvifolius and R. pungens var. oldhami, which are reddish, contained higher or similar level of triterpenoids than their unripe fruits. In addition, the concentration of niga-ichigoside $F_1$ in the ripe fruit of R. crataegifolius was 20.5 mg/g, suggesting that the fruits could be used as a functional food. Methyl gallate and ellagic acid were used as quantitative indices of total tannin. Methyl gallate levels were higher in ripe fruits than unripe fruits in R. crataegifolius, R. pungens var. oldhami, and R. parvifolius. In R. crataegifolius, the quantity of methyl gallate was 30.5 mg/g in ripe fruit, but 1.19 mg/g in unripe fruit.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2018

The usage of wild ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has been limited due to short supply and high price. Therefore, sufficient production as well as efficient extraction of mountain ginseng are required for the development as products. In this study, wild ginseng adventitious root cultures were prepared for efficient production with advantages of fast growth and stable production. Treatment of methyl jasmonate (MJ) to wild ginseng adventitious root cultures increased the extraction yield and antioxidative activity. Further investigation on effect of extraction conditions suggested the importance of ethanol concentration on antioxidative activity and extraction yield of MJ-treated wild ginseng adventitious root cultures. Optimized extraction condition of MJ-treated wild ginseng adventitious root cultures for maximum extraction yield and antioxidative activity was determined using response surface methodology with three-level-three-factor Box-Behnken design (BBD). Extraction of 1 g MJ-treated wild ginseng adventitious root culture with 30 ml of 9% ethanol at $30^{\circ}C$ produced 310.2 mg extract with 71.0% antioxidative activity at $100{\mu}g/ml$. Taken together, MJ-treated wild ginseng adventitious root culture is valuable source for wild ginseng usage and optimized extraction condition can be used for the development of functional products or folk remedies.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.707-710
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• 2010

Mt. Jiri, where is located in southwestern area of Korea, can be a treasury of herbal medicine plants grown wild. More than 1200 species currently classified as herbs are grown or cultivated. Recently, the studies on the safflower which attracts the interests in the inhibition of skin aging in the modern people have been actively investigated, and this study aims to confirm that polyphenol compound, the main ingredient of safflower, can be a natural material to cause the delayed effect on the skin aging, inhibiting the generation of wrinkle in the 30 to 40s middle aged females. Primarily, this study is to confirm the anti-oxidizing effect by DPPH assay in vitro, and to evaluate the efficacy of inhibition or improvement on the wrinkle generation in the face skin by clinical trials, additionally. In addition, we are confident to contribute on the improvement of functional cosmetic industry, developing the sample product of anti-aging mask pack which has the main ingredient with the extract of safflower.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2014

In this study, the functional priority of wetlands was determined through analysis of previous research. To determine relative importance, three processes were performed. First, quantitative values from the case studies were normalized. Second, non-quantitative values were prioritized based on standard criteria. Third, equal weight was applied as long as there was no special consideration regarding a particular value's disproportionate priority in the research. Finally, results were grouped into large, medium, and small classes.In this study, the functions of the medium class were found to be the most significant, in the following order of priority: water supply and ground water recharge; culture and recreation; biodiversity; product; water quality control; flood control; erosion control; moderation of climate change; and provision of biochemical matter. To verify these results, we compared our findings with those of an assessment that used the Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) on the same type of study area. Whereas this comparison indicated some correlations by the culture, water storage, and genetic sustainability functions, it suggested a lack of such relationship by the water purification and flood prevention functions.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.343-349
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• 2007

This study examined the effective utilization of pearl processing by-products. Three extracts of hot-water extract (WE), hydro-cooked extract (HE), and two-step enzymatic hydrolysate (EH) were prepared from pearl oyster muscle, and their characteristics were examined. The moisture, crude protein, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), and amino-N contents were 97.5-98.0%, 0.5-1.3%, 2.1-4.9 g/100 mL, and 35.0-74.5 g/100 mL, respectively. EH had the lowest VBN and highest amino-N contents. In addition, EH had the highest yields. In terms of its functional properties, EH inhibited angiotensin-I converting enzyme ($IC_{50}$, 1.39 mg/mL) more strongly than the other extracts ($IC_{50}$, 4.17-7.95 mg/mL). The free amino acid contents of WE, HE, and EH were 661, 470 and 1,150 mg/100 mL, respectively. Major amino acids were taurine and glutamic acid. Major inorganic ions were Na, Mg, and Ca. Contents of taste compounds, such as free amino acids, inorganic ions, and quaternary ammonium bases, differed significantly according to the extract methods. Based on the results of chemical experiments and sensory evaluation, the quality of EH was superior to the other extracts, and EH is suitable for use in natural flavoring materials.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2015

To understand the metabolism of flavonoid rhamnoglycosides by human intestinal microbiota, we measured the metabolic activity of rutin and poncirin (distributed in many functional foods and herbal medicine) by 100 human stool specimens. The average α-L-rhamnosidase activities on the p-nitrophenyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, rutin, and poncirin subtrates were 0.10 ± 0.07, 0.25 ± 0.08, and 0.15 ± 0.09 pmol/min/mg, respectively. To investigate the enzymatic properties, α-L-rhamnosidase-producing bacteria were isolated from the specimens, and the α-L-rhamnosidase gene was cloned from a selected organism, Bifidobacterium dentium, and expressed in E. coli. The cloned α-L-rhamnosidase gene contained a 2,673 bp sequcence encoding 890 amino acid residues. The cloned gene was expressed using the pET 26b(+) vector in E. coli BL21, and the expressed enzyme was purified using Ni²⁺-NTA and Q-HP column chromatography. The specific activity of the purified α-L-rhamnosidase was 23.3 µmol/min/mg. Of the tested natural product constituents, the cloned α-L-rhamnosidase hydrolyzed rutin most potently, followed by poncirin, naringin, and ginsenoside Re. However, it was unable to hydrolyze quercitrin. This is the first report describing the cloning, expression, and characterization of α-L-rhamnosidase, a flavonoid rhamnoglycosidemetabolizing enzyme, from bifidobacteria. Based on these findings, the α-L-rhamnosidase of intestinal bacteria such as B. dentium seem to be more effective in hydrolyzing (1 →6) bonds than (1 →2) bonds of rhamnoglycosides, and may play an important role in the metabolism and pharmacological effect of rhamnoglycosides.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2012

In the present work, we have collected 19 species of macroalgae (9 Phaeophta and 10 Rhodophyta) f rom all around of Korea: Dictyopteris divaricata, D. prolifera, Myelophycus cavus, Papenfussiella kuromo, Petalonia zosterifolia, Petrospongium rugosum, Rugulopteryx okamurae, Sargassum fulvellum, S. muticum, Callophyllis japonica, Gloiopeltis tenax, Gracilaria longissima, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Grateloupia asiatica, Grateloupia lanceolata, Grateloupia sparsa, Grateloupia turuturu, Grateloupia sp, and Polyopes affinis. The macroalgal species were extracted by 70% ethanol (EtOH) for 24 h and evaluated its inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. Among ethanol extracts, Myelophycus cavus showed the most effectively inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$, 2.17 ${\mu}g/ml$) against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, followed by Sargassum fulvellum (<$IC_{50}$, 8.13 ${\mu}g/ml$), Dictyopteris prolifera ($IC_{50}$, 16.66 ${\mu}g/ml$), Rugulopteryx okamurae ($IC_{50}$, 50.63 ${\mu}g/ml$), and Petrospongium rugosum ($IC_{50}$, 101.62 ${\mu}g/ml$). Furthermore, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay showed no cytotoxicity on mouse pre-adipocytes cell line (3T3-L1). These results suggest that some edible macroalgae merit further evaluation for clinical usefulness as anti-diabetic functional foods.