Jin-Woo Jhoo

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid isolated from Ligularia fischeri leaves

A potent anti-inflammatory compound was isolated and identified from leaves of Ligularia fischeri. The ethyl acetate fraction was used for purification of the compound and yielded 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (DCQA). The identity of the compound was confirmed using 1H, 13C NMR, and MS analysis. DCQA showed strong DPPH (IC50=4.26 μg/mL), ABTS (TEAC value=0.9974) radical scavenging, and FRAP activities (=3.84 mmole of Trolox equivalent/g). DCQA effectively inhibited production of NO in RAW 264.7 cells induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a concentration dependent manner (50–250 μg/mL). DCQA significantly suppressed (p<0.05) up-regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expressions. The isolated DCQA can be useful for development of effective anti-inflammatory agents.

Effect of acetone extract from stem bark of Acacia species (A. dealbata, A. ferruginea and A. leucophloea) on antioxidant enzymes status in hydrogen peroxide-induced HepG2 cells

Acacia species are multipurpose trees, widely used in the traditional systems of medicine to treat various ailments. The major objective of the present study was to determine the gene expression of enzymatic antioxidants by acetone extract from the stem bark of three Acacia species (Acacia dealbata, Acacia ferruginea and Acacia leucophloea) in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. The expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase containing copper–zinc (CuZnSOD)/manganese (MnSOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in HepG2 cells was evaluated by real-time PCR. The results of antioxidant enzyme expression in real-time PCR study revealed that the H2O2 (200 μM) challenged HepG2 cells reduced the expression of enzymes such as SOD, GPx and CAT. However, the cells pre-treated with acetone extracts of all the three Acacia species significantly (P > 0.05) up-regulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes in a concentration dependent manner (25, 50 and 75 μg/mL). In conclusion, the findings of our study demonstrated that the acetone extract of Acacia species effectively inhibited H2O2 mediated oxidative stress and may be useful as a therapeutic agent in preventing oxidative stress mediated diseases.

Ethanol and supercritical fluid extracts of hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) increase gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in HepG2 cells

Objective To determine the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes by hemp seed extracts in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells.

Fragrant Chemicals in the Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extract of Magnolia kobus DC. Flower Buds Increase the Concentration State of Brain Function

Abstract In traditional Korean medicine, flower buds of Magnolia kobus DC. plant is widely used for the treatments of various disorders. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of supercritical carbon dioxide extract (SFE) of M. kobus flower buds on electroencephalographic (EEG) changes of human brain. The extract from the flower buds of M. kobus was obtained by SFE and the yield was 0.27% at 40°C and 400 bar pressure. Subsequently, GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components of the SFE were caryophyllene (19.93%) and α-terpineol (12.49%). A large proportion of the oil was composed in the groups of hydrocarbons (55.09%) and alcohols (31.21%). In addition, fragrance evaluation of extract of M. kobus flower buds showed the characteristics of balsamic, floral, herbal, medicinal, minty, oily and spicy. In EEG study, the data were observed before and during the inhalation of M. kobus fragrance. During the inhalation of M. kobus fragrance, the EEG power spectrum values of absolute theta and alpha decreased in all the frontal, temporal and parietal regions. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) of absolute alpha wave was observed at left parietal (P3) region. The results reveal that the changes in EEG values to awaken and increase the concentration states of brain. The present investigation clearly suggested that the fragrance of M. kobus flower buds could be attributed to the enhancement of psychophysiological activities of human.

Fragrance Chemicals in the Essential Oil of Mentha arvensis Reduce Levels of Mental Stress

The aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition of essential oil from aerial partsof Mentha arvensis L. f. piperascens (MAO) and to evaluate the effect of its fragrant chemicals on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of human brain. The MAO was obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction. The maximum yield was 2.38% at conditions of 70oC and 200 bar. There were 32 volatile chemicals with 6 alcohols (67.11%), 13 hydrocarbons (17.05%), 9 esters (11.50%), 2 ketones (7.16%), 1 oxide (2.77%), and 1 aldehyde (0.56%). The major components were (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol (50.06%), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone (7.50%), and 3,4-dihydro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1H-2-benzopyran- 1-one (6.60%). Results of the EEG study showed that inhalation of MAO significantly changed the EEG power spectrum values of relative gamma, relative fast alpha, and spectral edge frequency 90%. During the inhalation of MAO, the value of relative fast alpha was significantly increased (p<0.05). On the other hand, the values of gamma and the spectral edge frequency 90% were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The present study suggests that fragrant chemicals of essential oil of M. arvensis reduce the level of mental stress and that they could be used in the treatment of psychophysiological disorders.

Effect of Essential Oil from San-Jo-In (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. seeds) on Human Electroencephalographic Activity

Essential oils have been used to treat psychophysiological disorders, but their effects on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity have not been thoroughly investigated. We evaluated the effects of essential oil of Zizyphus jujuba seeds, a Korean folk medicine known as San-Jo-In, on human EEG activity. For this purpose, essential oil was extracted from San-Jo-In by the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction method. The effect of its inhalation on EEG activity was evaluated by measuring the EEG power spectrum (25 indices) in 20 healthy participants. The results of the EEG power spectrum indicated that the values of the theta wave decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the left (from 17.277 to 13.854 μV) and right parietal (from 15.324 to 13.020 μV) regions compared to the other regions. During the inhalation of San-Jo-In oil, the EEG spectrum values of fast alpha, relative gamma, and spectral edge frequency increased 50% compared to those before inhalation. The values of the fast alpha wave increased significantly (p<0.05) in the left prefrontal (from 0.063 to 0.085 μV), right prefrontal (from 0.064 to 0.085 μV), and left frontal (from 0.073 to 0.100 μV) regions following inhalation of the San-Jo-In essential oil. The changes in the EEG activities following inhalation of San-Jo-In suggest that the oil can improve psychological well-being by increasing attention and relaxation.

Qualitative Characteristics and Determining Shelf-Life of Milk Beverage Product Supplemented with Coffee Extracts

This study was conducted to establish the shelf-life of a milk beverage product supplemented with coffee extracts. Qualitative changes including peroxide value (PV), microorganism content, caffeine content, and sensory evaluation were measured periodically in beverages kept at 10, 20, and 30°C for 8 wk. Lipid oxidation of the product was measured by peroxide value analysis, and apparent changes were observed during a 4 wk storage period. Caffeine analysis revealed that the changes in caffeine content were negligible during the storage period. Total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, yeast, and mold were not detected in the products during an 8 wk storage period. Sensory evaluation revealed that after 4 wk of storage overall acceptance was less than 3 points on a 5-point scale. In this study, PV was used as an indicator of the shelf-life of the milk beverage product. PV analysis revealed that a value of 20 meq/kg was the end of the shelf-life using the Arrhenius equation and the accelerated shelf-life test (ASLT). Assuming that the beverages are kept at 4°C during distribution, calculation of when the PV reached the quality limit point (20 meq/kg) was done with the equation ln(PV) = 0.3644X − 2.21834 and, using that equation, PV = e0.3644X-2.21834 was calculated. Therefore, 14.3086 wk was determined to be the shelf-life of the milk beverage supplemented with coffee when stored at 4°C.

Optimization of Manufacturing Conditions for Improving Storage Stability of Coffee-Supplemented Milk Beverage Using Response Surface Methodology

This study aimed at optimizing the manufacturing conditions of a milk beverage supplemented with coffee, and monitoring its physicochemical and sensory properties during storage. Raw milk, skim milk powder, coffee extract, and emulsifiers were used to manufacture the beverage. Two sucrose fatty acid esters, F110 and F160, were identified as suitable emulsifiers. The optimum conditions for the beverage manufacture, which can satisfy two conditions at the same time, determined by response surface methodology (RSM), were 5,000 rpm primary homogenization speed and 0.207% sucrose fatty acid emulsifier addition. The particle size and zeta-potential of the beverage under the optimum condition were 190.1 nm and - 25.94±0.06 mV, respectively. In comparison study between F110 added group (GF110) and F160 added group (GF160) during storage, all samples maintained its pH around 6.6 to 6.7, and there was no significant difference (p<0.05). In addition, GF110 showed significantly higher zeta-potential than GF160 (p<0.05). The particle size of GF110 and GF160 were approximately 190.1 and 223.1 nm, respectively at initial. However, size distribution of the GF160 tended to increase during storage. Moreover, increase of the particle size in GF160 was observed in microphotographs of it during storage. The L* values gradually decreased within all groups, whereas the a* and b* values did not show significant variations (p<0.05). Compared with GF160, bitterness, floating cream, and rancid flavor were more pronounced in the GF110. Based on the result obtained from the present study, it appears that the sucrose fatty acid ester F110 is more suitable emulsifier when it comes to manufacturing this beverage than the F160, and also contributes to extending product shelf-life.

Effects of Germinated Brown Rice Addition on the Flavor and Functionality of Yogurt

This study aimed to investigate the functional and physicochemical properties of yogurt, supplemented with germinated brown rice (GBR) containing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), during storage. GBR was produced by soaking brown rice at 30℃, and saccharified germinated brown rice (SGBR) was produced by treating brown rice with α- and β-amylase for 1 h, at 80℃ and 60℃, respectively. Yogurt was manufactured using a commercial starter (YC-X11, CHR. Hansen, Denmark) at 37℃ for 12 h. The fatty acids and GABA contents were analyzed using GC and HPLC, respectively. The fatty acids in the cereal samples consisted of oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acid. The portion of oleic acid was the highest, at 35.65% in GBR, and 32.16% in SGBR. During germination, the oleic acid content increased, whereas linolenic and palmitic acid contents from GBR tended to decrease. Although the portion of saturated fatty acids, such as stearic and myristic acid, decreased significantly (p<0.05), that of unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic and linoleic acid, increased with an increase in supplementation of BR, GBR, or SGBR in the yogurt. The yogurt, supplemented with cereal samples, showed a tendency of an increase in the concentration of GABA with an increase in the supplementation of the cereal samples. However, yogurt supplemented with GBR showed the highest concentration of GABA, regardless of the supplementation of the cereal samples. These results indicated that yogurt supplemented with BR, GBR, or SGBR could be a promising dairy product.

Fragrance, Chemical Composition and Toxicity of the Essential Oil in Erect Bur-marigold (Bidens tripartita L.)

The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation from the aerial part of erect bur-marigold (Bidens tripartita L.), one of the noxious weed in paddy field. The composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The fragrance of the essential oil was green, herbal, oily, spicy. There were 42 constituents in the essential oil:17 hydrocarbons, 6 alcohols, 6 acetates, 5 N-containing compounds, 3 ethers, 3 ketones, 1 lactone and 1 S-containing compound. Major constituents were α-phellandrene (22.50%), α-pinene (22.21%), 2,4-dimethyl (2,5-dimethylphenyl) methyl ester benzoic acid (15.11%), limonene (10.66%), β-pinene (35.43%), and β-cubebene (5.27%). The IC50 value in MTT assay using HaCaT keratinocyte cell line was 0.018%. However, a ttachment of patch with 0.1% of the erect bur-marigold essential oil for 24 hr did not show any skin toxicity. Overall results of this study suggest that the essential oil of erect bur-marigold could be used as a source for the development of perfumery industrial products.