Soo-Muk Cho

Immunostimulatory effects of oriental plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.)

The fruit of the plum tree (Prunus salicina Lindl.) has been used as a traditional medicinal food in humans to enhance immunity against infectious agents and to treat cancers. However, limited information exists on the mechanisms responsible for its immune enhancing properties. In this study, the immunostimulatory effects of a methanol extract of plum fruit following methanol evaporation and dissolving in PBS were assessed by in vitro lymphocyte proliferation, tumor cell cytotoxicity, and nitric oxide (NO) production. The crude methanol extract stimulated spleen lymphocyte proliferation and NO production by cultured macrophages, and inhibited the viability of tumor cells, significantly greater than media controls. Sequential gel filtration chromatographic separation of the extract on Sephadex G-25 and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration columns resulted in a more purified preparation that retained the ability to induce lymphoproliferation, tumor killing, and NO production. These results suggest that Prunus salicina contains immunostimulatory components that potentially may be useful in human and veterinary medicine.

Effects of a Rubus coreanus Miquel supplement on plasma antioxidant capacity in healthy Korean men

Korean raspberry, Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), contains high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which prevent oxidative stress. To determine the effect of RCM on antioxidant capacity in humans, we assessed in vivo lipid oxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities from plasma in 15 healthy men. The subjects ingested 30 g of freeze-dried RCM daily for 4 weeks. Blood was taken at baseline and at the end of the study to determine blood lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose, liver function, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities. RCM supplementation had no effect on blood lipid or fasting plasma glucose concentrations but decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. RCM supplementation increased glutathione peroxidase activities (P < 0.05) but had no effect on lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that short-term RCM supplementation may offer health benefits by enhancing antioxidant capacity in a healthy population.

Screening of Bioactive Compounds from Mushroom Pholiota sp.

Extracts from 63 kinds of Pholiota sp. fruiting bodies were prepared using water and methanol, and then their physiological functionalities were investigated. The methanol extracts from Pholiota adiposa PAD030 showed high fibrinolytic activity and those of P. adiposa ASI PAD-022 showed potential inhibitory activity of 76.8% against reductase. The highest antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities were found in the water extracts of Pholiota sp. PSP-015 (72.7%) and methanol extracts of P. nameko PNA-024 (69.5%), respectively. However, superoxide dismutase(SOD)-like activity and elastase inhibitory activity were low in almost of the extracts. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor from the fruiting body of P. adiposa PAD-022 which showed the highest functionality was extracted maximally when powder of the fruiting body was shaked at for 12 h by methanol and its HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity was 80.2%.

Effects of Acorn (Quercus acutissima CARR.) Supplementation on the Level of Acetylcholine and Its Related Enzyme Activities in the Brain of Dementia Mouse Model

This study was designed to investigate the anti-dementia effects of acorn (Quercus acutissima CARR.) in brain of the mouse. Dementia model was induced by administration of scopolamin (30 mg/kg BW) Male ICR mouse were fed basal diet (control group), and experimental diets (AP-5 and AP-10 groups) added of dried acorn powder to basal diet for 8 months. Acetylcholine content significantly increase in AP-5 and AP-10 groups (, respectively) compared with control group. Acetylcholinesterase activities were significantly inhibited (, respectively) in brain of AP-5 and AP-10 groups. Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activities were significantly inhibited (, respectively) in brain of AP-S and AP-10 groups. These results suggest that acorn (Q. acutissima CARR.) may play an effective role in an attenuating various age-related changes such as dementia including learning and memory impairments in brain.

Characterization of a novel β-hydroxy-β-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase-inhibitor from the mushroom,Pholiota adiposa

This study describes the extraction and characterization of a novel inhibitor against β-hydroxy-β-methyl glutaryl (HMG) Coenzyme A (CoA) reductase from the mushroomPholiota adiposa. Methanol extracts ofP. adiposa PAD-022 fruiting body showed the highest HMG-CoA reductase-inhibitory activity of 55.8%. The HMG-CoA reductase-inhibitor,P. adipos a PAD-022, was maximally extracted when its fruiting body was treated with methanol at 30°C for 12 h. The HMG-CoA reductase-inhibitor was obtained by systematic solvent extraction methods followed by gel column chromatography, and RP-HPLC. The purified product was found to possess an activity of IC50 6.8 μg and a yield of 1.8%. The molecular weight of purified HMG-CoA reductase-inhibitor was deduced to be 412.7 Da. The inhibitor was identified as stigmasterol (C29H46O) by serial instrumental analyses, including LC-Mass. NMR, FT-IR, and UV spectrometry.

Analysis of the Chemical Constituents of Agaricus brasiliensis

This study examined the chemical composition of A. blasiliensis and the chemical structural properties of an immuno-stimulating polysaccharide. The amino acids, free sugars, and organic acids by HPLC and fatty acids by GC were analyzed. The immuno-stimulating substance from A. blasiliensis was extracted with hot water and purified by ethanol precipitation. It underwent ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 65 F. Through GP-HPLC, the substance was found to be homogeneous. Its chemical structure was determined by 13 C-NMR. Fatty acids, organic acids, and sugar alcohol composition consisted exclusively of linoleic acid, fumaric acid and mannitol, respectively. The amino acids were mainly glutamic acid, glycine, and arginine. By 13 C-NMR analysis, the immuno-stimulating substance was identified as β-(1→3) (1→6)-glucan, composed of a backbone with (1→3)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues branching a (1→6)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residue. The β-glucan from A. blasiliensis showed pronounced immuno-stimulating activity on the antibody-production ability of B-lymphocytes by the hemolytic suspension assay. In these results, A. blasiliensis was estimated to have potent pharmacological properties and potential nutritional values.

Characterization and quantification of γ-oryzanol in grains of 16 Korean rice varieties

Abstract γ-Oryzanol, a mixture of ferulic acid esters of triterpene alcohols and sterols, is a nutritionally important group of rice secondary metabolites. A library of 27 γ-oryzanol was assembled from existing data and used to assist identification and quantification of γ-oryzanol isolated from 16 Korean rice varieties (11 white and 5 pigmented). γ-Oryzanol was analyzed with liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Nineteen different γ-oryzanol were observed and identified as stigmasterol, campesterol and sitosterol or common and hydroxylated triterpene alcohols. In the 16 varieties, the total γ-oryzanol content averaged 43.8 mg/100 g (range, 26.7–61.6 mg/100 g), which Josaengheugchal exhibited the highest level (61.6 mg/100 g). The Korean rice varieties were classified based on qualitative and quantitative γ-oryzanol data by multivariate statistical analysis. Clusters of specialty rice varieties exhibited higher γ-oryzanol levels than those of common rice varieties.

Inhibitory and anti‐inflammatory effects of the Helicobacter pylori‐derived antimicrobial peptide HPA3NT3 against Propionibacterium acnes in the skin

An effective treatment strategy for acne vulgaris is the reduction of Propionibacterium acnes in the skin. The Helicobacter pylori‐derived synthetic antimicrobial peptide HPA3NT3 is a customized α‐helical cationic peptide with antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory activity.

Bioavailability of plant pigment phytochemicals in Angelica keiskei in older adults: A pilot absorption kinetic study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Angelica keiskei is a green leafy vegetable rich in plant pigment phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids. This study examined bioavailability of flavonoids and carotenoids in Angelica keiskei and the alteration of the antioxidant performance in vivo. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS Absorption kinetics of phytochemicals in Angelica keiskei were determined in healthy older adults (> 60 y, n = 5) and subjects with metabolic syndrome (n = 5). Subjects consumed 5 g dry Angelica keiskei powder encapsulated in gelatin capsules with a low flavonoid and carotenoid liquid meal. Plasma samples were collected at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h. Samples were analyzed for flavonoids and carotenoids using HPLC systems with electrochemical and UV detection, respectively, and for total antioxidant performance by fluorometry. RESULTS After ingestion of Angelica keiskei increases in plasma quercetin concentrations were observed at 1-3 and 6-8 hr in the healthy group and at all time points in the metabolic syndrome group compared to baseline (P < 0.05). Plasma lutein concentrations were significantly elevated in both the healthy and metabolic syndrome groups at 8 hr (P < 0.05). Significant increases in total antioxidant performance were also observed in both the healthy and the metabolic syndrome groups compared to baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Findings of this study clearly demonstrate the bioavailability of phytonutrients of Angelica keiskei and their ability to increase antioxidant status in humans.

Erratum to: Differentiation of black raspberry fruits according to species and geographic origins by genomic analysis and 1H-NMR-based metabolic profilin

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and NMR techniques were used to differentiate and identify species of black raspberry (BR) of different geographic origins. BR leaf samples from five geographic origins were identified as Rubus japonicus and R. coreanus by RAPD. 1H-NMR analysis was also performed for BR fruit extracts from different geographic origins. Major compounds assigned in 1H-NMR spectra of BR fruits were amino acids, organic acids, sugars, phenolic acids, and purine derivatives. In addition, relative levels of total phenolic compounds, flavanols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins in the BR fruits were further analyzed. Hierarchical cluster analyses (HCA) based on the genetic (RAPD of leaf samples) and metabolic (1HNMR, total phenolic compounds, flavanols, flavonoids and anthocyanins of fruit samples) datasets were independently performed. The HCA dendrogram pattern derived from RAPD genetic fingerprinting of BR leaf samples matched that from the 1H-NMR data of BR fruit samples. This research demonstrates that metabolic profiling of BR fruit based on 1H-NMR is a promising method for differentiating BR fruits of various species and geographic origins.