• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2014

Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides $Rk_3$ and $Rs_4$ exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ in a dose-dependent manner. SF and $Rg_6$ also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.24-30
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• 1998

Inhibitory effects of the new material obtained from Areca catechu seed (CC-516) according to a special process, and its applicability to the skin as a cosmetic raw material in terms of its efficacy were presented. Areca catechu extract out of 150 medicinal plants, exhibited high inhibitory effect on the porcine pancreatic elastase ($IC_{50}$ : $40.8{\mu}$g/ml). It also had an inhibitory effect on the human leukocyte elastase ($IC_{50}$ : 48.1$\mu$g/ml), hyaluronidase ($IC_{50}$ : $416{\mu}$g/ml), antioxidative activity ($IC_{50}$ : $45.4\mu$g/ml) and free radical scavenging activity ($SC_{50}$ : $10.2{\mu}$g/ml). The cream contained 3％ of CC-516 improved skin hydration above 16.5％. Especially, the skin elasticity increases more than 35% and skin wrinkles decreased more than 23％. The CC-516 was designed to be utilized in cosmetology. The cream containing 3％ of this product has not only protecting effect on the skin mechanical properties provided by the collagen and the elastin in the derm but also restructuring effect of scarring or aging tissue.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.360-365
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• 2005

Membrane inositol glycerophospholipid (IGP) is metabolized to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP), phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate ($PIP_2$), and inositol triphosphate ($IP_3$) in signaling transduction. This study was carried out to determine the subclasses of IGP involved in signaling pathway. The acyl chain moieties of the phospholipids are easily modulated by dietary fatty acids. We analyzed acyl chain composition of IGP 3-subclasses, PIP and $PIP_2$ from rat brain after feeding sunflower seed oil enriched with linoleic acid or fish oil high in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were not incorporated into ether-linked IGP (alkenylacylglycerophosphoinositol and alkylacyl-glycerophosphoinositol), PIP and $PIP_2$, while diacyl-glycerophosphoinositol (GPI) contained high LCPUFA. These results suggest that PIP might be phosphorylated from only the ether-linked IGP (alkenylacyl- and alkylacyl species) but not from diacyl subclass for signals to intracellular responses in the plasma membrane of rat brain.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 1961

Ethanol extracts of Mung Bean seeds and seedings were analysed by 2-dimensional and circular paper partion chromatography for Nitrogen compounds as a part of the study on the Amino acids metabolism. In the seeds, 18 ninhydrin positive substances were present, before germination, but the number increased to 21 after germination. There were 3 unknown substances and one of it formed newly after germination. After 2-days germination, the amount of amides, such as Asparagine and Glutamine. where increased very large which were very small amount before it. Those were accumulated more in dark place than in light and the amount of Asparigine were more than that of Glutamine. Through the germination, there were large amount of Glutarmic acid, Aspartic acid and Alanine which seems to be concerned in transamination reaction in seedings. Valine, Leucine, and Phenylalanine increased to considerable amount after germination. This is very remarkable fact as those Amino acids were reported to be concerned in transamination reaction recently. ${\gamma}$-amino butyric acid was detected in both Cotyledon and Embroy through the germination. It seemed that there is no any Nitrogen Metabolism in the unbroken seed even if it is preserved very long period.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2024

The fatty acids content of castor (Ricinus communis L.) seed oil is 80-90% ricinoleic acid, which is a hydroxy fatty acid (HFA). The structures and functional groups of HFAs are different from those of common fatty acids and are useful for various industrial applications. However, castor seeds contain the toxin ricin and an allergenic protein, which limit their cultivation. Accordingly, many researchers are conducting studies to enhance the production of HFAs in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant for oil crops. Oleate 12-hydroxylase from castor (RcFAH12), which synthesizes HFA (18:1-OH), was transformed into an Arabidopsis fae1 mutant, resulting in the CL37 line producing a maximum of 17% HFA content. In addition, castor phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1-2 (RcPDAT1-2), which catalyzes the production of triacylglycerol by transferring HFA from phosphatidylcholine to diacylglycerol, was transformed into the CL37 line to develop a P327 line that produces 25% HFA. In this study, we investigated changes in HFA content when endogenous Arabidopsis PDAT1 (AtPDAT1) of the P327 line was edited using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. The successful mutation resulted in three independent lines with different mutation patterns, which were transmitted until the T4 generation. Fatty acid analysis of the seeds showed that HFA content decreased in all three mutant lines. These findings indicate that AtPDAT1 as well as RcPDAT1-2 in the P327 line are involved in transferring and increasing HFAs to triacylglycerol.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.565-575
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• 2019

The ethanolic seed extracts of the common buckwheat (CB) and tartary buckwheat (TB) were examined for their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, it was observed that the rutin content of TB extracts was 65-78 times higher than the CB extracts, while quercetin was only detected in the TB extracts. In addition, TB extracts were observed to have 1.8-2.0 times higher flavonoid and polyphenolic content than the CB extracts. Cytotoxicity was not observed when both the buckwheat extracts were evaluated at concentrations in the range of 6.25-400 ㎍/mL. The treatment with TB extracts significantly suppressed the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression at the protein and mRNA levels. The TB extracts more potently inhibited the LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 than the CB extracts. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were also significantly inhibited both by the TB and CB extracts in a pattern similar to their production.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2007

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) is a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid pathway, which synthesizes numerous secondary metabolites to participate in development and adaption. Two C4H isoforms, the 2192-bp BnC4H-1 and 2108-bp BnC4H-2, were cloned from oilseed rape (Brassica napus). They both have two introns and a 1518-bp open reading frame encoding a 505-amino-acid polypeptide. BnC4H-1 is 57.73 kDa with an isoelectric point of 9.11, while 57.75 kDa and 9.13 for BnC4H-2. They share only 80.6% identities on nucleotide level but 96.6% identities and 98.4% positives on protein level. Showing highest homologies to Arabidopsis thaliana C4H, they possess a conserved p450 domain and all P450-featured motifs, and are identical to typical C4Hs at substrate-recognition sites and active site residues. They are most probably associated with endoplasmic reticulum by one or both of the N- and C-terminal transmembrane helices. Phosphorylation may be a necessary post-translational modification. Their secondary structures are dominated by alpha helices and random coils. Most helices locate in the central region, while extended strands mainly distribute before and after this region. Southern blot indicated about 9 or more C4H paralogs in B. napus. In hypocotyl, cotyledon, stem, flower, bud, young- and middle-stage seed, they are co-dominantly expressed. In root and old seed, BnC4H-2 is dominant over BnC4H-1, with a reverse trend in leaf and pericarp. Paralogous C4H numbers in Brassicaceae genomes and possible roles of conserved motifs in 5' UTR and the 2nd intron are discussed.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

Objectives : The objective of the paper was to study cutting method of Gardeniae frutus, that tends to show symptom of separations in a packing, in accordance with the comparison experiment of quantification and antioxidant effect proceed with the intact Gardeniae fructus(Gf), seed of Gardeniae fructus (Gs) and the pericarp of Gardeniae fructus (Gp) separately. Methods : The Gf, Gs, and Gp were extracted using 80% MeOH, followed by quantizing geniposide contained in each group. A MTT assay was conducted and ROS generation and NO production were measured for comparing its antioxidant effect. Results : As a result of quantizing geniposide contained in the Gf, Gp, and Gs, respectively, the geniposide content was shown to be the highest in the Gs. MTT assay showed that no cytotoxicity was observed in the groups treated with Gf, Gp, and Gs, respectively, at a dose of 500 ${\mu}g/ml$. The ROS generation was shown to have more significantly decreased in the group pretreated with Gf 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ than in the group treated with LPS. The NO level was shown to have more significantly decreased in the group pretreated with Gp 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ than in the group treated with LPS. Conclusion : As the geniposide content and antioxidant effect of Gf varies according to its each part, it is recommended that Gf should be distributed as an intact form other than segregation in packing.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.207-215
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• 2018

Inflammatory response and oxidative stress play critical roles in the development and progression of many human diseases. Therefore, a great deal of attention has been focused on finding functional materials that can control inflammation and oxidative stress simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Socheongja and Socheong 2, Korean black seed coat soybean varieties, on the inflammatory and oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our data indicated that the extracts of Socheongja (SCJ) and Socheong 2 (SC2) significantly suppressed LPS-induced production of nitrite oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$, key pro-inflammatory mediators, by suppressing the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. It was also found that SCJ and SC2 reduced the LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$, which was concomitant with a decrease in the protein levels. In addition, SCJ and SC2 markedly diminished LPS-stimulated intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, and effectively enhanced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression. Furthermore, LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was abrogated by SCJ and SC2. Taken together, these data suggest that SCJ and SC2 may offer protective roles against LPS-induced inflammatory and oxidative responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages through attenuating MAPKs pathway, and these effects are mediated, at least in part, through activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Given these results, we propose that SCJ and SC2 have therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders caused by over-activation of macrophages.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.6
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• pp.402-409
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to compare and estimate the severity of pitch canker of individual trees of Pinus rigida and Pinus rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda in two seed orchards in Jeju island, in which the orchards have been damaged by the pitch canker for seven years. Wind-pollinated two-year-old seedlings of P. rigida and P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda, in which the seedlings of P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda were from seeds of phenotypically selected, uninfected(but untested) trees, were inoculated with the pathogenic fungus, Fusarium circinatum, isolated from P. rigida and P. thunbergii. The virulence of the isolates was also identified. Statistically significant difference was found in 'stem cankers'(SC; ${\chi}^2=7.76$, P=0.05) among 4 plantations of P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda of two seed orchards. P. rigida was higher in 'top kill' (TK) and 'branch tip symptoms' (BT) than those of P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda. In artificial inoculation tests, mortality of the seedlings from the resistant candidates was 14% higher than that of the seedlings from the susceptible candidates. This result may becaused by unknown pollen trees and/or candidate tree selection based only on phenotype. Two of five fungal isolates, C-6-L(9) and C-6-L(19), showed significantly higher mortality (68% and 60%, respectively) than others, suggesting that these isolates can be used as virulent isolates for a mass artificial inoculation. Resistance candidate seedlings that were selected from this study can be utilized as useful materials for fundamental studies of genetics and biochemistry to breed resistance varieties to pitch canker.