• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.373-377
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out in order to investigate the functional properties of 50% methanol extracts from four parts (root, stem, leaf and fruit) of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus by means of measuring the contents of eleutheroside B, E, and total polyphenols as well as determining electron donating ability (EDA), nitrite scavenging ability (NSA), and anticancer activity. The highest contents of eleutheroside B and E were found in the fruit (538.99 ${\mu}g/g$) and the stem (556.00 ${\mu}g/g$). The root extract demonstrated the highest polyphenol content (2.97 mg/g). EDA of the stem and root extracts were 90.21% and 85.71%. All of the extracts showed 81.5-93.0% of NSA at pH 1.2. In addition all extracts indicated no cytotoxicity to normal cell line (DC2.4). The root extract had a 23% inhibitory effect against the stomach cancer cell line (SNU-719). These results revealed that 50% methanol extracts from A. sessiliflorus can be used as a potential resource of nutraceuticals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.559-566
• /
• 2017

This aim of this study was to examine the immunomodulatory activities of crude polysaccharides from Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo (PCP) in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) and splenocytes. The immunomodulatory activity was determined by cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) production, cell surface marker expression (CD 80/86 and MHC class I/II), and cytokine production in BMDC, and cell viability, and cytokine production in splenocytes. Cell proliferation and cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor; TNF-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-12) tested in BMDC were significantly increased by PCP treatment. Additionally, the cell surface markers (CD 80/86, MHC class I/II) were highly increased by PCP treatment. For cytokine production in splenocytes, PCP treatment significantly increased the production of Th 1 cytokines [IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$], but not Th 2 cytokines (IL-4). Therefore, PCP can induce immune cell activation and is a potential candidate for the development of nutraceuticals to boost the immune system.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.7
• /
• pp.713-720
• /
• 2014

In this study, the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Ardisia arborescens ethanol extract (AAEE) were evaluated using in vitro assays and a cell culture model system. AAEE exhibited potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), similar to ascorbic acid, which was used as a positive control. Moreover, AAEE effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, AAEE induced the expression of antioxidative enzymes, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1), in addition to their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), in a dose-dependent manner. The upstream signaling pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) might regulate the modulation of HO-1, TrxR1, and Nrf2 expression. On the other hand, AAEE inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, without cytotoxicity. Suppression of NO formation was the result of AEEE-induced down-regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The suppression of NO and iNOS by AAEE might be modulated by their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, and activator protein (AP)-1 pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of A. arborescens. AAAEE might represent a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.157-166
• /
• 2009

Purpose: There are numerous reports about the usefulness of antibiotics such as doxycycline or metronidazole in the conventional treatment for the patients with chronic periodontal diseases. However, seldom are the reports about effects of vitamins or nutraceuticals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nutrient supplement including multiple vitamins and neutraceuticals with PRF-K2 from plants and seaweed in treatment of the patients with chronic periodontitis which is needed a nonsurgical or a surgical treatment by evaluating the clinical parameters and the gingival crevicular fluid volume. Methods: The systemically healthy and nonsmoking patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were divided into a nonsurgical group and a surgical group. They were also divided into the test group with nutrient supplements and the control group without nutrient supplements. In the nonsurgical group, the clinical parameters (probing depth, clinical attachment level, sulcus bleeding index, and plaque index) and the gingival crevicular fluid volume were checked on baseline, at 1 week, at 3 week and at 9 week after a supplement treatment. In the surgical group, the clinical parameters and the gingival crevicular fluid volume were also checked at 15 week after a surgical treatment. Results: In both nonsurgical and surgical groups, reduction of pocket depth and increment of clinical attachment level were revealed in the test group compared with the control group, but there was not statistically significant difference (p>0.05), and sulcus bleeding index was decreased with statistically significant difference (p<0.05). In addition, plaque index was decreased with statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the nonsurgical group. Gingival crevicular fluid volume was decreased with statistically significant difference (p<0.05) at week 9 in both non-surgical and surgical groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, our results demonstrate that providing nutrient supplement in both nonsurgical or surgical periodontal treatments may improve gingival inflammation and gingival crevicular fluid.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Scutellariae Radix extract (SRE) on lipids metabolism, oxidation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats fed highly oxidized fat. Methods: To induce obesity, male Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed a highly oxidized fat diet for 10 weeks. SRE at 100 mg/kg were administered orally to obesity-induced rats for 6 weeks, and their lipid metabolism, oxidation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined. Results: The concentrations of free fatty acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol in plasma decreased in SRE-treated groups, although the difference was not significant between control and SRE-treated groups, while that of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly increased in SRE group. The concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver were tended to decrease in SRE-treated group. The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid in plasma and liver were lower in SRE group than in control group. The levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in plasma were decreased in SRE group. Activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in liver were tended to increase in the SRE group. The plasma concentrations of interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 were lower in SRE group than in control group, while that of IL-10 was higher. The liver concentrations of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6 were tended to decrease while that of IL-10 tended to increase in SRE group. Conclusions: Finally SRE could be used in the production of nutraceuticals for lowering lipids and exerting anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory effects in obesity rats fed highly oxidized rat.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2015

Chrysanthemum zawadskii, a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Compositae, grows wild in Asian countries, including Japan, China, and Korea. The biological, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities of C. zawadskii have been reported, its antiobesity activity has not been elucidated. In the present study, the effect of C. zawadskii methanol extract (CZME) on pancreatic lipase enzyme activity, adipocyte differentiation, and adipogenesis was investigated using an in vitro assay and a cell model system. CZME effectively suppressed lipase enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. CZME also inhibited insulin, dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (MDI)-induced adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the level of triglyceride in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. The antiobesity effect of CZME might be modulated by gene and protein expression of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) α, C/EBPβ, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ). CZME also triggered lipolysis in a dose-dependent manner in MDI-induced 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into the antiobesity activities of C. zawadskii, showing that they involve pancreatic lipase inhibition, as well as antiadipogenic and lipolysis effects. CZME might be a promising source in the field of nutraceuticals. However, the active compounds that confer the antiobesity activities of CZME need to be identified.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.354-360
• /
• 2014

In this study, the anti-obesity activity of Smilax china methanol extract (SCME) was evaluated using a pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay, and a cell culture model system. Results indicated that, SCME effectively inhibited pancreatic lipase enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, SCME significantly suppressed insulin, dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine-induced adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and triglyceride contents on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-adipogenic effect was modulated by cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) ${\alpha}$, $C/EBP{\beta}$, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ gene and protein expressions. Moreover, SCME triggered lipolysis effects dose-dependently on adipocyte. Taken together, these results provide an important new insight into SCME, indicating that it possesses anti-obesity activity through pancreatic lipase inhibition, anti-adipogenic and lipolysis effects. SCME may therefore be utilized as a promising source in the field of nutraceuticals. The identification of active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activities of SCME may be a logical next step.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.275-284
• /
• 2014

This study was orchestrated with the purpose of uncovering new nutraceutical resources possessing biological activities in the plant kingdom. To fulfill our objective, we analyzed several Chinese plants and selected three possessing powerful anti-oxidative activities. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects these three Chinese plants, Malus hupehensis, Ophiorrhiza cantonensis, and Psychotria rubra ethanol extracts were then evaluated. First of all, they possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, similar with that of ascorbic acid, used as a positive control. Moreover, they inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species, in a dose-dependent manner, in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, they induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2. Furthermore, they suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The suppression of NO and iNOS by the three extracts might be the result of modulation by the upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1. Taken together, these results indicate that these three Chinese plants possess potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, they might be utilized as promising materials in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.249-257
• /
• 2014

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities of Amomum cardamomum L. methanol extract (ACME) were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay, and the cell culture model system. ACME exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activities dose-dependently, with $IC_{50}$ of DPPH radical scavenging activities of ACME being $25.15{\mu}g/ml$. Furthermore, ACME effectively suppressed pancreatic lipase enzyme activity dose-dependently. ACME also significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, triglyceride (TG) contents, and triggered lipolysis activity on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. Their anti-obesity effect was modulated by the cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$ and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expressions. Taken together, these results provide an important new insight that A. cardamomum L. possesses anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities such as pancreatic lipase inhibition, anti-adipogenic, and lipolysis effects. There is therefore potential for its use as a promising component in the field of nutraceuticals and the identification of the active compounds that confer the anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities of ACME might be an appropriate next step.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 2015

The objective of this research was to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of muscadine grape extracts. Three different cultivars of muscadine grapes including Higgings, Jumbo, and Noble were selected. The skin/pulp and seed parts of three selected muscadine grape cultivars were used for extraction. The total phenolic contents of muscadine grape extracts were expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The antioxidant activity of muscadine grape extracts were determined by scavenging activity of diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and expressed as effective concentration ($EC_{50}$), which represented the concentration of the extract exhibiting 50% DPPH radical scavenging. The antimicrobial activity against E. coli K12 was determined and expressed as the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC). The seed extracts exhibited greater total phenolic contents than the skin/pulp extracts, ranging from 231.24 to 294.81 mg/mL GAE. The seed extracts exhibited greater antioxidant activities than the skin/pulp extracts ($EC_{50}$ of Higgins seed extract=0.026 mg/mL). However, the skin/pulp extracts exhibited greater antimicrobial activities than the seed extracts, exhibiting the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) in Higgins skin/pulp extract (MIC=4.0 mg/mL). This research indicated that the seed part and skin/pulp parts of the muscadine grapes possessed antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that muscadine grapes possess the potential to be utilized as functional foods or nutraceuticals.