Jae-Chul Chun

Antioxidant property of an active component purified from the leaves of paraquat-tolerant Rehmannia glutinosa

Abstract Acteoside extracted from the leaves of Rehmannia glutinosa was examined to determine the mechanism(s) of its antioxidant properties. The deoxyribose assay system showed that acteoside has a high redox potential as electron donor, which generates hydroxyl radicals in an Fe3+-dependent manner similar to ascorbic acid. However, the antioxidant properties of acteoside differ from those of ascorbic acid in that the superoxide anion-mediated reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium was actively inhibited by acteoside but not by ascorbic acid. Acteoside protected cells against glucose oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, acteoside had immune stimulating effects, as shown by the acteoside-mediated increase in the level of DNA synthesis, viability, and cytokine secretion in mouse splenocytes. Moreover, acteoside inhibited the gelatinolytic activity of MMP proteins in a dose-dependent manner. Considering these results and the fact that acteoside is a water-soluble natural product, acteoside might have potential as a preventative treatment for oxidative stress-mediated diseases and have possibilities in the cosmetic industry.

Acteoside inhibits melanogenesis in B16F10 cells through ERK activation and tyrosinase down-regulation

Objectives  Acteoside is a phenylpropanoid glycoside extracted from the leaves of Rehmannia glutinosa that displays various biological activities. In this study, we tested the effects of acteoside on tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. We also explored molecular mechanisms for the inhibition of melanogenesis observed, focusing on the signalling pathway of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK).

Herbicidal Activity of Natural Product Chrysophanic Acid

Herbicidal characterisitcs of natural product chrysophanic acid were investigated in a greenhouse condition. At early- and middle-stage post-emergence treatments, several grasses and broadleaf weeds appeared to be very susceptible to chrysophanic acid. However, any significant herbicidal activity treated by pre-emergence did not occur at concentration ranges from 31.3 to 1,000 ug . Herbicidal activity of chrysophanic acid estimated by visual injury for large crabgrass was much higher when applied at 7 to 14 days after seeding than at 21 and 28 days after seeding. By post-emergence treatment, chrysophanic acid caused very considerable phytotoxicity on several grasses and broadleaf crops. In herbicidal interaction experiments determined by Colby`s method, the effect of chrysophanic acid and caryophyllene oxide tank-mixture showed very high synergistic activity. Although chrysophanic acid did not give any pre-emergence effect, herbicidal spectrum tended to be very wide and strong when treated by post-emergence. These results suggest that chrysophanic acid possesses a possible potential to develop as a natural herbicide.