• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2007

The antioxidant properties of twelve phenolic compounds, including matairesinol 4'-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, 8'-hydroxyarctigenin 4'-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, matairesinol, 8'-hydroxyarctigenin, N-feruloylserotonin 5-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, N-(p-coumaroyl)-serotonin-5-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, N-feruloylserotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, luteolin 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside, luteolin, acacetin 7-O-$\beta$-glucuronide, and acacetin, isolated from defatted safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds were evaluated with regard to the DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, levels of phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC in two cultivars of safflower seeds. Among them, four serotonin derivatives showed potent DPPH ($IC_{50}=10.83-21.75\;{\mu}M$) and hydroxyl ($IC_{50}=75.93-374.63\;{\mu}M$) radical scavenging activities, and their activities were significantly stronger than that of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$. Four flavonoids ($IC_{50}=170.65-275.83\;{\mu}M$) and four lignans ($IC_{50}=114.22-406.10\;{\mu}M$) exhibited significant superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, respectively, whereas these compounds contained less activity toward the DPPH and hydroxyl radicals than serotonin derivatives. The levels of serotonin derivatives, lignans and flavonoids in safflower seeds of two cultivars ranged from 49.30 to 260.40, 3.72 to 158.90, and 11.72 to 214.97 mg% (dry base), respectively. Of the two cultivars, 'Cheongsu' had somewthat higher concentrations of phenolic compounds than 'Uisan'. These results suggest that phenolic compounds in safflower seeds may playa role as protective phytochemical antioxidants against reactive oxygen-mediated pathological diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.245-251
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• 2005

Phytochemical examination of the barks of Actinidia arguta led to the isolation of five flavonoids. Structures of compounds were elucidated as catechin (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), quercetin (3), $quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (4), $quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-galactopyranoside$ (5) by comparison with previously reported spectral evidences. To investigate the anti-oxidative effect and nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activity of these compounds, DPPH radical scavenging activity and nitric oxide production inhibitory activity in $IFN-{\gamma}$, LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cell were examined. The $IC_{50}s$ were determinied as follows : $1\;$IC_{50}=26.61\;{\mu}g/ml$, $2\;IC_{50}=25.30\;{\mu}g/ml$, $3\;IC_{50}=20.41\;{\mu}g/ml$, $4\;IC_{50}=18.23\;{\mu}g/ml$ , $5\;IC_{50}=30.46\;{\mu}g/ml$, $6\;IC_{50}=28.0;{\mu}g/ml$, $7\;IC_{50}=27.24\;{\mu}/ml$. These NO production inhibitory effects were significantly different compared with the positive control, L-NMMA $(IC_{50}=20.77\;{\mu}g/ml)$, respectively. Compound $1\;(IC_{50}=6.19\;{\mu}g/ml)$, $2\;(IC_{50}=8.98\;{\mu}g/ml)$, $3\;(IC_{50}=7.30\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and $4\;(IC_{50}=7.64\;{\mu}g/ml)$ also showed potent antioxidative activities similar level to ascorbic acid $(IC_{50}=9.22\;{\mu}g/ml)$. These results suggest that barks of A. arguta have a potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.392-398
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• 2006

Four flavonoids 1-4 and one phytosterol 5 were isolated from methanol extract of Taekwangkong, one of the soybean cultivars, and the structures of these compounds were fully characterized by physical and spectral analysis. The content of compounds 1-4 as determined by $C_{18}$ reversed phase HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) coupled with diode-array detector were 12.1, 624.6, 18.0, and $219.6\;{\mu}g/g$, respectively, and the total phenolic content of this cultivar was measured as 3.7 mg gallic acid equivalent per g dry material (GAB/g). Also, compound 1 showed strong radical scavenging activity in the 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay ($IC_{50}\;=\;47.6\;{\mu}M$), five-fold higher than seen in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylliydrazyl (DPPH) assay. These results lead to the conclusion that soybean not only has many phytoestrogens but also has potent antioxidant activity.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.43.1-43.13
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• 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 is a contagious disease and had caused havoc throughout the world by creating widespread mortality and morbidity. The unavailability of vaccines and proper antiviral drugs encourages the researchers to identify potential antiviral drugs to be used against the virus. The presence of RNA binding domain in the nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could be a potential drug target, which serves multiple critical functions during the viral life cycle, especially the viral replication. Since vaccine development might take some time, the identification of a drug compound targeting viral replication might offer a solution for treatment. The study analyzed the phylogenetic relationship of N protein sequence divergence with other 49 coronavirus species and also identified the conserved regions according to protein families through conserved domain search. Good structural binding affinities of a few natural and/or synthetic phytocompounds or drugs against N protein were determined using the molecular docking approaches. The analyzed compounds presented the higher numbers of hydrogen bonds of selected chemicals supporting the drug-ability of these compounds. Among them, the established antiviral drug glycyrrhizic acid and the phytochemical theaflavin can be considered as possible drug compounds against target N protein of SARS-CoV-2 as they showed lower binding affinities. The findings of this study might lead to the development of a drug for the SARS-CoV-2 mediated disease and offer solution to treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2019

Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) is an edible wild mushroom with tough fruiting body that belongs to the family Polyporaceae. It is used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of ulcer, anaemia, cough and fever. Recent studies have demonstrated its anticancer, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. However, little or no information is available regarding the bioactive components and toxicological study of wild dried L. squarrosulus. Therefore, this study investigated the bioactive components of aqueous extract of boiled wild dried L. squarrosulus and its toxicological effects in rats. The extract of L. squarrosulus was subjected to GC-MS analysis. The acute toxicity test was performed by oral administration of a single dose of up to 5,000 mg/kg extract of L. squarrosulus. In subacute study, the rats were orally administered extract of L. squarrosulus at the doses of 500, 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg body weight daily for 14 days. The haematological, lipid profile, liver and kidney function parameters were determined and the histopathology of the liver and kidney were examined. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds; 1-tetradecene, fumaric acid, monochloride, 6-ethyloct-3-yl ester, 9-eicosene, phytol, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine and 3-trifluoroacetoxypentadecane. In acute toxicity study, neither death nor toxicity sign was recorded. In the sub-acute toxicity study, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed on creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Whilst no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed on packed cell volume, heamoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell and alkaline phosphatase, in all the tested doses. No histopathological alterations were recorded. Our findings revealed that aqueous extract of L. squarrosulus may have antimicrobial, antinocieptive and antioxidant properties based on the result of GC-MS analysis. Results of the toxicity test showed no deleterious effect at the tested doses, suggesting that L. squarrosulus is safe for consumption at the tested doses.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.229-234
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• 2022

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Indigo Naturalis (IN) is a dark blue powder obtained by processing leaves or stems of indigo plants, its anticancer effects have been reported in several studies. However, the pharmacological mechanism of IN in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not elucidated. In this study, to investigate the anticancer efficacy of IN for SCLC, we presented potential active ingredients, SCLC-related targets, and pharmacological mechanisms of IN that are expected to have anticancer activity for SCLC using a network pharmacological analysis. The phytochemical compounds of IN have been collected through TCMSP, SymMap, or HPLC documents. The active ingredients of IN such as indirubin, indican, isatin, and tryptanthrin were selected through ADME parameters or literature investigations for each compound. Using the Compounds, Disease-Target associations Databases, 124 common targets of IN and SCLC were obtained. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway enrichment analysis was carried out. GO biological processes are associated with response to xenobiotic stimulus, positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, regulation of mitotic cell cycle, and regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway. KEGG disease pathways included Gastric cancer, Bladder cancer, SCLC, and Melanoma. The main anticancer targets of the IN for SCLC were analyzed in 14 targets, including BCL2, MYC, and TP53. In conclusion, the results of this study based on the network pharmacology of IN can provide important data for the effective prevention and treatment of SCLC.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

In the course of screening tyrosinase inhibitory activity, EtOAc-soluble fraction of Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf. (Gramineae) roots showed significant inhibition. Further fractionation of the EtOAc-soluble fraction resulted in six compounds, which were identified as (+)-icariol $A_2$ (1), zhepiresionol (2), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), trans-${\rho}$-coumaric acid (4), N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetamide (5), and coixol (6). The chemical structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods (MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and comparison with literature values. Compound 1 was first reported from this plant. Also, this is the first time that the isolation of compound 5 has been reported from nature source. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 4 and 6 showed enzyme inhibitory activity, with $IC_{50}$ values of 6.5 and $62.4{\mu}M$, respectively, in comparison with these of positive control, arbutin.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2014

Red pine (Pinus densiflora) is widely used traditional medicine, pharmacological and nutritional values from which the phytochemical compounds are derived. The present study was aimed to examine the antibacterial effects in the absence and presence of a immature red pine cone extract against 13 microorganisms. The components in the aqueous extract from immature red pine cone were identified by GC-MS. About 1.4% of total polyphenolic compound was measured in aqueous extract collected from immature red pine cone. Also, the high concentration of ${\beta}$-phellenandrene, ${\alpha}$-pinene, limonene, bornyl acetate and aldehyde was detected in total ion chromatograms. Of total 13 microorganisms, 4 microorganisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholera, Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia were effectively killed by aqueous extract of immature red pine cone. The highest anti-bacterial effect was detected in P. aeruginosa, followed by V. cholera, L. monocytogenes and K. pneumonia. In case of P. aeruginosa, the largest diameter of inhibition zone was maintained to 1/2 solution treated cells and slightly decreased at 1/4 and 1/8 solution treated cells. Also, in test used V. cholera and L. monocytogenes, the inhibition zone was strongly formed in only 1 and 1/2 solution treated cells, while K. pneumonia showed the very small diameter of inhibition zone in all concentrations. Therefore, these results suggested that the aqueous extracts of immature red pine cone should be considered as a new and potentially important anti-bacterial substrate to effectively prevent the microbial infection and penetration.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2019

In this study Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated for the extract of Prunus pendula for. ascendens (Makino) Ohwi by monitoring nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. The P. pendula ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed to decrease the NO synthesis by 76.3% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. The inhibition occurred in a dose-dependent manner without causing cell toxicity. The EtOAc fraction also inhibited the production of $PGE_2$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and expression of iNOS, COX-2 protein in dose-dependent manner. From the phytochemical study to isolate the active constituents, five known compounds were identified, which are ursolic acid (1), prunasin (2), methyl p-coumarate (3), kaempferol (4), astragalin (5). All of the compounds 1 - 5 were isolated for the first time from the P. pendula. Among the isolates, the flavonoids 4 and 5 were verified to inhibit NO production with high efficiency. These results suggested that extract of P. pendula leaves could be useful as anti-inflammatory agents in pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.574-587
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• 2014

In this study, vertical distribution patterns of Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. and Q. serrata Murray in Korea were recognized and possibility of introgressive hybridization and gene flow between Q. mongolica and Q. serrata in Mt. Jiri was inferred by flavonoid analyses. The most critical factor on distribution patterns was the altitude in accordance with temperature condition. A zonal distribution was recognized: Quercus mongolica zone in the upper area and Q. serrata zone in the lower area. In Central Korea, the range of vertical distribution of Q. mongolica was above alt. 100m, almost everywhere, whereas that of Q. serrata was from alt. 0 m to alt. 500(-700) m, and the species is rare above that altitude. But in Southern Korea, Q. serrata is found up to above alt. 1,000 m, whereas frequency of Q. mongolica reduces as elevation in decline and the species is rare below alt. 300 m, even though pure stands being formed on higher mountain slope. Altitudinal distribution of the two species, however, overlaps, where the two species occur together. Thirty-seven individuals of Q. mongolica and Q. serrata in Mt. Jiri and other area were examined for leaf flavonoid constituents. Twenty-three flavonoid compounds were isolated and identified; they were glycosylated derivatives of the flavonols kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, and four compounds among the flavonoid compounds were acylated. Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-galactoside and its acylated compounds were major constituents and present in all individuals. Quercus mongolica is distinguished from Q. serrata by the presence of quercetin 3-O-arabinosylglucoside and by high concentration of three acylated compounds, acylated kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-galactoside, and by relatively low concentration or lacking of rhamnosyl flavonol compounds. There are intraspecific variations in flavonoid profiles for Q. mongolica and Q. serrata, the flavonoid profiles for individuals of two species in hybrid zone (sympatric zone) tend to be similar to each other, qualitatively and quantitatively. These findings strongly suggest that gene exchange or gene flow occurs through the introgressive hybridization between Q. mongolica and Q. serrata in Mt. Jiri. Therefore, Quercus crispula, occupying morphologically intermediate position between Q. mongolica and Q. serrata, is suspected of being a hybrid taxon of two putative parental species.