• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.764-770
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• 2013

Stevia rebaudiana is a traditional herb used as a sweetener in Brazil and Paraguay as well as Korea and China. This study investigated the efficacy of Stevia rebaudiana methanol extract (SRE) to protect cells against the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in hepatocyte. To determine the effects of SRE on oxidative stress, we used the human derived hepatocyte cell line, HepG2 cell. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron in HepG2 cells synergistically amplified cytotoxicity, as indicated by the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial permeability transition by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and immunoblot analysis. Treatment with SRE protected hepatocytes from AA+iron-induced cellular toxicity, as shown by alterations in the protein levels related with cell viability such as procaspase-3. SRE also prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA+iron, and showed anti-oxidant effects as inhibition of $H_2O_2$ production and GSH depletion. Moreover, we measured the effects of SRE on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator in determining cell survival or death. Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC), a direct downstream target of AMPK. SRE increased phosphorylation of ACC, and prevented the inhibition of ACC phosphorylation by AA+iron. These results indicated that SRE has the ability to protect cells against AA+iron-induced $H_2O_2$ production and mitochondrial impairment, which may be mediated with AMPK-ACC pathway.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.147-167
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• 2000

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of life threatening conditions such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke. In this study, the effect of Sunghyangchungisan (SHCS) as a cytoproctant against ROS-induced cell injury was studied by investigating its effect on $H_{2}O_2-induced$ cell injury in cultured endothelial cells derived from the human umbilical vein. SHCS effectively proteced the cells against $H_{2}O_2-induced$ injury determined by trypan blue exclusion ability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The effect of SHCS was concentration-dependent and the concentrations to inhibit by 50% the cell death and LDH release were $0.9{\pm}0.1$ and $1.2{\pm}0.1\;mg/ml$, respectively. In addition, SHCS effectively protected the cells against t-butylhydroperoside- and menadione-Induced injury as well. SHCS inhibited lipid peroxidation determined by malondialdehyde production. SHCS exerted as an effective scavenger of ROS produced by exposing the cells to $H_{2}O_2$ The activities of the intracellular ROS scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were not Influenced by SHCS.These results indicate that SHCS might exert as an effective cytoprotectant against ROS-induced cell injury. Further intensive studies would provide us insights into mechanisms of the pharmacological actions of SHCS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.679-687
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• 2018

Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) is one of the major Pinus species in Korea. Red pine bark is removed prior to the chipping process in the wood industry and discarded as waste. However, red pine bark contains a considerable amount of naturally occurring phenolics, including flavonoids, and therefore may have a variety of biological effects. In this study, we investigated if Korean red pine bark extract (KRPBE) could protect neuronal PC-12 cells from oxidative stress and inhibit cholinesterase activity. Analysis of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography results revealed four phenolics in KRPBE: vanillin, protocatechuic acid, catechin, and taxifolin. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of KRPBE were 397.9 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight (DW) and 248.7 mg catechin equivalents/g DW, respectively. The antioxidant capacities of KRPBE measured using ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC assays were 697.3, 521.8, and 2,627.7 mg vitamin C equivalents/g DW, respectively. KRPBE and its identified phenolics protected against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, which degrade the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to terminate neurotransmission in synaptic clefts, were inhibited by treatment with KRPBE and its identified phenolics. Taken together, these results suggest that KRPBE and its constituent antioxidative phenolics are potent neuroprotective agents that can maintain cell viability under oxidative stress and inhibit cholinesterase activity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of black rice extract (BRE) on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Methanolic extract from black rice was evaluated for the protective effect on TBHP-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells. Several biomarkers that modulate cell survival and death including reactive oxygen species (ROS), caspase-3 activity, and related cellular kinases were determined. RESULTS: TBHP induced cell death and apoptosis by a rapid increase in ROS generation and caspase-3 activity. Moreover, TBHP-induced oxidative stress resulted in a transient ERK1/2 activation and a sustained increase of JNK1/2 activation. While, BRE pretreatment protects the cells against oxidative stress by reducing cell death, caspase-3 activity, and ROS generation and also by preventing ERKs deactivation and the prolonged JNKs activation. Moreover, pretreatment of BRE increased the activation of ERKs and Akt which are pro-survival signal proteins. However, this effect was blunted in the presence of ERKs and Akt inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that activation of ERKs and Akt pathway might be involved in the cytoprotective effect of BRE against oxidative stress. Our findings provide new insights into the cytoprotective effects and its possible mechanism of black rice against oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.313-319
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• 2008

Scutellaria barbata was examined to evaluate its modulatory effects on the functional activation of macrophages under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. To do this, hot water extract (Sb-HWE) was prepared from Scutellaria barbata and several inflammatory parameters such as nitric oxide (NO) production, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination and intracellular signaling pathway were selected to be tested. Sb-HWE strongly blocked NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, it did not suppress inducible NO synthase (iNOS). In agreement, Sb-HWE did not diminish inflammatory signaling composed of NF-${\kappa}B$ and its upstream activation signaling enzymes such as Akt and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Sb-HWE protected RAW264.7 cells from LPS-induced cytotoxicity up to 80% at 400\;{\mu}g/ml$. Furthermore, this extract blocked phagocytic uptake of FITC-dextran, while sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced ROS generation in RAW264.7 cells was not decreased. Therefore, our data suggest that Sb-HWE may have differential immunoregulatory function depending on macrophage-mediated immune responses.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2015

Phenolic rich ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) from lotus leaves was prepared and its bioactive components, antioxidant and cytoprotective effects were investigated. EAF showed high total phenolic content and flavonoid content and contained rutin ($11,331.3{\pm}4.5mg/100g\;EAF$), catechin ($10,853.8{\pm}5.8mg/100g\;EAF$), sinapic acid ($1,961.3{\pm}5.6mg/100g\;EAF$), chlorogenic acid ($631.9{\pm}2.3mg/100g\;EAF$), syringic acid ($512.3{\pm}2.5mg/100g\;EAF$), and quercetin ($415.0{\pm}2.1mg/100g\;EAF$). EAF exerted the $IC_{50}$ of $4.46{\mu}g/mL$ and $5.35{\mu}g/mL$ toward DPPH and ABTS cation radicals, respectively, and showed strong reducing power, which was better than that of ascorbic acid, a positive control. Additionally, EAF protected hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage indicated by the conversion of supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA to the open circular form and inhibited lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid in a linoleic acid emulsion. In cultured hepatocytes, EAF exerted a cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress by inhibiting intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and membrane lipid peroxidation. In addition, depletion of glutathione under oxidative stress was remarkably restored by treatment with EAF. The results suggest that EAF have great potential to be used against oxidative stress-induced health conditions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.888-894
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• 2009

It has been reported that silibinin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid, induces cell death in various cancer cell types. However, the underlying mechanisms by which silibinin induces apoptosis in human glioma cells are poorly understood. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the effect of silibinin on glioma cell apoptosis and to determine its underlying mechanism in human glioma cells. Apoptosis was estimated by FACS analysis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Psi}m$) were measured using fluorescence dyes DCFH-DA and $DiOC_6$(3), respectively. Cytochrome c release from mitochondria and caspase-3 activation were estimated by Western blot analysis using specific antibodies. Exposure of cells to 30 mM silibinin induced apoptosis starting at 6 h, with increasing effects after 12-48h in a time-dependent manner. Silibinin caused ROS generation and disruption of ym, which were associated with the silibinin-induced apoptosis. The silibinin-induced ROS generation and disruption in ym were prevented by inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport chain. The hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase blocked ROS generation and apoptosis induced by silibinin. Silibinin induced cytochrome c release into cytosolic fraction and its effect was prevented by catalase and cyclosporine A. Silibinin treatment caused caspase-3 activation, which was inhibited by DVED-CHO and cyclosporine A. Pretreatment of caspase inhibitors also protected against the silibinin-induced apoptosis. These findings indicate that ROS generation plays a critical role in the initiation of the silibinin-induced apoptotic cascade by mediation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway including the disruption of ${\Psi}m$, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.447-476
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• 2014

We have investigated the flora of Daebudo Island in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do and Seonjaedo Island in Ongjin-gun, Incheon. Thirty-three separate field trips were carried out from March 2012 to October 2013. As a result, 518 taxa including 103 families, 316 genera, 451 species, 9 subspecies, 56 varieties and 16 forms were identified. Among them, a plant protected by the wildlife protection law, 7 Korean endemic plants and 5 threatened plants by National Arboretum and National Institute of Biological Resources were included. The floristic indicator plants were 38 taxa including 3 taxa of grade V, 4 taxa of grade IV, 4 taxa of grade III, 10 taxa of grade II and 17 taxa of grade I. Sixty-seven naturalized plants with naturalization rates of 12.9% were also found.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.597-613
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• 1996

The tonnage of copper and tungsten produced at Dalseong mine by Taehan Tungsten Mining Company from 1961 to 1971 was 48,704 tons (M/T) of 4 wt.% Cu and 1,620 tons (S/T) of 70wt.% WO, but the mine was closed in 1974. Kyeongsan mine is a small abandoned cobalt mine with no data of production. To investigate the pollution level of the mine areas, soils, plants (Ohwi and Pampanini), stream waters and stream sediments were taken and Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cd and Cr were analysed by ICP. Soils are considerably contaminated by the heavy metals related to ore deposits, The heavy metal contents in plants vary with the species and parts of plants. Stream waters are anomalously high in heavy metals in the vicinity of the mines but the contents decrease downstream in the process of dilution and precipiation. However, heavy metal contents increase very high in stream sediments due to precipiation. To protect environmental damages caused by acid mine drainages wetlands must be constructed outside pits, and it is necessary to fill pits with waters, limestone chips and organic materials, which give reducing and alkaline condition to ores. Under the condition pyrite is protected from oxidation and aqueous iron sulphates precipitate to form stable secondary pyrite.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.109-130
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• 2013

This study is to offer the raw data for conservation and restoration of national park by surveying and analysing the vascular plants in the Gayasan national park. The flora were summarized as 102 families, 328 genera, 469 species, 4 subspecies, 59 varieties and 9 forms. The endangered plants designated by Ministry of Environment were 2 taxa; Pedicularis hallaisanensis Hurus. and Gymnadenia conopsea for. albiflora Y.N.Lee. The rare plants designated by Korea Forest Service were 13 taxa; Crypsinus hastatus (Thunb.) Copel., Ligusticum tachiroei (Franch. & Sav.) M. Hiroe & Constance, Primula modesta var. fauriae (Franch.) Takeda, Lilium distichum Nakai ex Kamibay and so forth. The korean endemic plants were 15 taxa; Betula ermanii Cham., Carpinus laxiflora (Siebold & Zucc.) Blume, Stewartia pseudocamellia Maxim., Galium koreanum (Nakai) Nakai, Heloniopsis koreana Fuse, N.S. Lee & M.N. Tamura and so forth. The specific plants by floristic region were 66 taxa; Betula chinensis Maxim., Spiraea fritschiana Schneid., Vaccinium hirtum var. koreanum (Nakai) Kitam., Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom., Adoxa moschatellina L. and so forth. The plants with approval for delivering oversea were 22 taxa; Salix hallaisanensis H.L$\acute{e}$v., Sanguisorba argutidens Nakai, Viola albida Palib., Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L.H.Bailey and so forth. The naturalized plants were 30 taxa; Chenopodium album L., Lepidium apetalum Willd., Trifolium pratense L., Bidens frondosa L., Helianthus tuberosus L. and so forth.