Songmun Kim

Screening of α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase and Lipase Inhibitory Activity with Gangwon-do Wild Plants Extracts

We investigated α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase inhibitory activity of extracts collected from wild plants in Gangwon-do. 90 wild plants were collected and their water and ethanol extracts were obtained. Results of measuring α-amylase inhibitory activity indicated more than 80% of activity inhibition in 10 mg/mL concentration for ethanol extracts of three plants and water extracts of two plants. For α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, ethanol extracts of thirteen plants and water extracts of three plants showed more than 80% of activity inhibition in 10 mg/mL concentration. In the experiment of inhibiting lipase activity, ethanol extracts of seven plants and water extracts of one plants showed above 80% of activity inhibition in 10 mg/mL concentration. These results suggest that the selected extracts could be potentially used as a resource of bioactive materials for health functional foods.

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.

Neuroprotective and Cognitive Enhancement Potentials of Angelica gigas Nakai Root: A Review

Angelica gigas Nakai is an important medicinal plant with health promoting properties that is used to treat many disorders. In traditional herbal medicine, the root of this plant is used to promote blood flow, to treat anemia, and is used as sedative or tonic agent. The root contains various bioactive metabolites; in particular, decursin and decursinol (pyranocoumarin type components) have been reported to possess various pharmacological properties. Recently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that the crude extracts and isolated components from the root of A. gigas exhibited neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement effects. Neuronal damage or death is the most important factor for many neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, recent studies have clearly demonstrated the possible mechanisms behind the neuroprotective action of extracts/compounds from the root of A. gigas. In the present review, we summarized the neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement effects of extracts and individual compounds from A. gigas root.

Influence of Fragrances on Human Psychophysiological Activity: With Special Reference to Human Electroencephalographic Response

The influence of fragrances such as perfumes and room fresheners on the psychophysiological activities of humans has been known for a long time, and its significance is gradually increasing in the medicinal and cosmetic industries. A fragrance consists of volatile chemicals with a molecular weight of less than 300 Da that humans perceive through the olfactory system. In humans, about 300 active olfactory receptor genes are devoted to detecting thousands of different fragrance molecules through a large family of olfactory receptors of a diverse protein sequence. The sense of smell plays an important role in the physiological effects of mood, stress, and working capacity. Electrophysiological studies have revealed that various fragrances affected spontaneous brain activities and cognitive functions, which are measured by an electroencephalograph (EEG). The EEG is a good temporal measure of responses in the central nervous system and it provides information about the physiological state of the brain both in health and disease. The EEG power spectrum is classified into different frequency bands such as delta (0.5–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz), beta (13–30 Hz) and gamma (30–50 Hz), and each band is correlated with different features of brain states. A quantitative EEG uses computer software to provide the topographic mapping of the brain activity in frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital brain regions. It is well known that decreases of alpha and beta activities and increases of delta and theta activities are associated with brain pathology and general cognitive decline. In the last few decades, many scientific studies were conducted to investigate the effect of inhalation of aroma on human brain functions. The studies have suggested a significant role for olfactory stimulation in the alteration of cognition, mood, and social behavior. This review aims to evaluate the available literature regarding the influence of fragrances on the psychophysiological activities of humans with special reference to EEG changes.

Herbicidal Activity of Essential Oil from Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini)

The objective of this study was to find herbicidal compounds in the essential oil of palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini). Of essential oils from basil (Ocimum basilicum), blackpepper (Piper nigrum), clary sage (Salvia sclarea), ginger (Zingiber pfficinale), hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), nutmag (Myristica fragrance ), palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), sage (Salvia leucantha), and spearmint (Mentha spicta), the herbicidal activity of palmarosa essential oil, which was determined by a seed bioassay using rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), was highest (GR50 value, 201 μg mL -1 ). In palmarosa essential oil, 11 volatile organic chemicals were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectometry with solid-phase micro-extraction apparatus and the major constituents were geraniol (40.23%), geraniol acetate (15.57%), cis-ocimene (10.79%), and beta-caryophyllene (8.72%). The GR50 values of geraniol, citral, nerol, and geranyl acetate were 151, 224, 452, and 1,214 μg mL -1 , respectively. In greenhouse and field experiments, foliar application of palmarosa essential oil at the level of 80 kg ha -1 controlled weeds effectively. Overall results of this study showed that the herbicidal activity of palmarosa essential oil could be due to geraniol and citral which had lower GR50 values.

Isolation of Anti-inflammatory Active Substance β-Sitosterol from Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Stem

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify anti-inflammatory chemicals in Hippophae rhamnoides L. which was grown in Chuncheon, Korea. Treatment of ethanol extracts from stems, leaves, roots, and fruits to RAW 264.7 cells reduced amounts of nitrite by 56.0, 31.9, 49.1, and 18.9% respectively, compared to only lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment which is well-known as a inflammation-inducing agent. The stems were extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water and their nitrite contents in RAW 264.7 cells were measured. The dichloromethane extracts showed the highest inflammatory activity, exhibiting 80% reduction of the nitrite content at 1 mg/mL treatment. Activity-directed fractionation of dichloromethane extracts led to the identification of -sitosterol as the anti-inflammatory chemical. 0.1 mg/mL treatment of -sitosterol inhibited strongly the production of nitrite by 65%, compared to only LPS treatment. These results suggest that stem of H. rhamnoides L. may be useful for inflammation treatment.

Eupatorium makinoi suppresses toll-like receptor signaling pathways

ABSTRACT Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbial molecules that are widely presented by pathogens and initiate the innate immune system. TLR signaling is divided into two different signaling pathways, the myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathways. Eupatorium makinoi, a plant species in Asteraceae, is used for medicinal purposes in China, Korea, and Japan. Through our previous research, we found that an ethanol extract of E. makinoi (EEM) suppresses inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. In this study, we investigated the effect of EEM on TLRs signaling pathways. EEM suppresses NF-κB activation and iNOS and COX-2 expressions induced by TLR2 or TLR4 agonists. Also, EEM suppresses the activation of interferon (IFNs) regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) induced by TLR3 or TLR4 agonists. All results indicate that EEM suppresses myeloid differentiation primary-response protein 88 (MyD88) and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways of TLRs and the expressions of target genes derived from the activation of TLRs GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

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.

Influence of Binasal and Uninasal Inhalations of Essential Oil of Abies koreana Twigs on Electroencephalographic Activity of Human

Objectives. The present work investigates the effect of essential oil from the twigs of Abies koreana on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of human brain in order to understand the influence of binasal and uninasal inhalations. Methods. To accomplish this study, the essential oil from the twigs of A. koreana (AEO) was isolated by steam distillation and the EEG readings were recorded using QEEG-8 system from 8 grounding electrodes according to the International 10-20 System. Results. D-Limonene (25.29%), bornyl acetate (19.31%), camphene (12.48%), α-pinene (11.88%), β-pinene (6.45%), and eudesm-7(11)-en-ol (5.38%) were the major components in the essential oil. In the EEG study, the absolute alpha (left frontal and right parietal) and absolute fast alpha (right parietal) values significantly increased during the binasal inhalation of AEO. In the uninasal inhalation, absolute beta and theta values decreased significantly, especially in the right frontal and left and right parietal regions. The results revealed that the AEO produced different EEG power spectrum changes according to the nostril difference. Conclusion. The changes in EEG values due to the inhalation of AEO may contribute to the enhancement of relaxation (binasal inhalation) and alertness/attention (right uninasal inhalation) states of brain which could be used in aromatherapy treatments.

Eupartoium makinoi suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression

Inflammation is involved in numerous diseases including cancer. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) play important roles in the development of certain inflammatory diseases. Eupatorium makinoi, which belongs to a family of Asteraceae plants, is used medicinally in East Asia. We investigated the effects of an ethanol extract of E. makinoi (EEM) on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and the expression of iNOS and COX-2 with lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 agonist) in murine macrophages. EEM suppressed NF-κB activation and iNOS and COX-2 expression induced by LPS. These results suggest that EEM may regulate TLR4 signalling pathways and this may be a useful strategy for anti-inflammatory therapies.