In-Jae Park

Antioxidant and anti-ageing activities of citrus-based juice mixture

The production of excessive reactive oxygen species by exposure to oxidative stress and solar radiation are primary factors in skin damage. We examined the effects of a citrus-based juice mixture and its bioactive compounds on antioxidant and anti-ageing activities in human dermal fibroblasts and hairless mice via the regulation of antioxidant enzymes and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The citrus-based juice mixture reduced H2O2-induced cell damage and intracellular reactive oxygen species production in human dermal fibroblasts. Citrus-based juice mixture pretreatment suppressed the activation of the H2O2-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by activating the expression of activator protein 1 and matrix metalloproteinases. Moreover, it increased the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione reductase, catalase and manganese superoxide dismutase. In addition, oral administration of the citrus-based juice mixture decreased skin thickness and wrinkle formation and increased collagen content on an ultraviolet light B-exposed hairless mouse. These results indicate that the citrus-based juice mixture is a potentially healthy beverage for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced premature skin ageing.

Antioxidant and Nitrite Scavenging Activities of Acanthopanax senticosus Extract Fermented with Different Mushroom Mycelia

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities (ORAC value, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, FRAP activity, and reducing power) and nitrite scavenging activities of Acanthopanax senticosus extracts fermented with the mycelia of three different mushroom species: Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus linteus, and Hericium erinaceus. The highest total phenol content (42.09 GAE mg/g) and ORAC value (74,912 µM TE/g) were observed in a hot water extract of A. senticosus fermented with G. lucidum. The highest DPPH radical and nitrite scavenging activities were observed in a 70% ethanol extract of A. senticosus fermented with G. lucidum. In addition, ABTS radical scavenging activity (8-88%), FRAP activity (0.1-0.2), and reducing power (0.3-0.7) were increased by ethanol addition in all samples in a dose-dependent manner. These results provide a basic understanding of the antioxidant and nitrite-scavenging activities of A. senticosus extracts fermented with different mushroom mycelia.

Antioxidant Activities of Green and Purple Kohlrabi Juices

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of green kohlrabi juice (GKJ) and purple kohlrabi juice (PKJ) using various in vitro methods. The results of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), reducing power, and nitrite scavenging activities showed that GKJ possessed higher antioxidant activity than PKJ. Green kohlrabi powder (GKJP) and purple kohlrabi powder (PKJP) inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death in human dermal fibroblasts. In addition, GKJP and PKJP suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by hydrogen peroxide in human dermal fibroblasts. These results suggest that green and purple kohlrabi juices are potential natural sources of antioxidants.