This study analyzed the impact of Higher-order resources on profit sustainability for domestic companies using a mathematical statistical model. Higher-order resources refer to resources that do not directly affect profits but influence other resources that directly contribute to profits. As a result of analysis using 30 years of actual data from more than 650 domestic companies, the average duration of competitive advantage including high-order resources was found to be about twice as long as the period suggested by the autoregressive model excluding high-order resources. Through this, if companies want to earn more profits over a long period of time than their competitors, they must not only possess resources that are more valuable, rare, difficult to imitate, and non-substitutable compared to their competitors, but also that higher-order resources can contribute to changes in these resources over time. It was confirmed that it must lead the long-term profit difference. High-level resources include strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) capabilities, and good forecasting.

Background : Scopolamine induces cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress, and the impairment of memory function. Therefore, oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction are important role of the brain pathology of amnesia. In this study, we investigated the impact of Safflower seed against oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction on scopolamine-induced amnesic mice. Methods and Results : Mice were orally pretreated with safflower seed (100 ㎎/㎏ body weight) or vehicle for 7 days, and scopolamine (1 ㎎/㎏ body weight) was injected intraperitoneally, 30 min before the behavior tests such as T-maze and novel objective recognition test on first day. To evaluate learning and memory function, the Morris water maze task was performed for 5 days, consecutively. The results showed that spatial perceptive ability and novel object recognition was significantly increased by preadministration of safflower seed compared with scopolamin-induced control mice in the behavior tests. Consistently, immuno blot revealed the elevated expression of superoxide dismutase 1 in the safflower seed pretreated mice, compared to the control mice. Moreover, protein expression of acetylcholinesterase was decreased in safflower seed pre-treated group. Conclusion : Subsequently, our results suggests that the Safflower seed extract improved memory impairment through inhibition of cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Background : In the previous results, antidepressants and anxiolytic Effects were reported from the leave extracts of Valeriana fauriei. The major compounds of leave were valeranone and valerianate. The purpose of this study was to the investigation of nerve related bioassay correlation and of low-molecular’s chemical constituents from different parts of V. fauriei. Moorover, we proposed the biochemical pathways from the low molecular’s chemical constituents of V. fauriei. Methods and Results : First, in order to investigate the chemical constituents of V. fauriei, we were analyzed the references of V. fauriei. And, we were analyzed the low molecular’s chemical constituents by using GC-MS from extracts of different parts from V. fauriei. As a result, 39 compounds, which are (+)-8-hydroxypinoresinol, (+)-hydroxipinoresinol, 2S (-)hesperidin, 4a, 10a-epoxy-aromadendrane, 6-methylapigenin, 8-hydroxypinoresinol, acetoxy- valerenic acid, acetylvalerenolic acid, actinidine, anismol A, baldrinal, dihydrode hydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9-isovalerate, E- (-)-3,4-Epoxyvalerenal, E- (-)-3,4-Epoxyvalerenyl acetate, E-valerenyl acetate, E-valerenyl isovalerate, hydroxy- valerenic acid, linarin, mononorvalerenone, orientalol C, pinorespiol, pinorespiol, spatulenol, valdiate, valeranone, valerenal, valerenic acid, valerenol, valerenyl hexanoate, valerenyl n-valerate, valerianine, valtrate, volvalelactone A, volvalelactone B, volvalerenone A, volvatrate A, volvatrate B, Z-valerenyl acetate, Z-valerenyl isovalerate. were reported as the chemical constituents of V. fauriei. And also, hexadecane, propanoic acid, 3-β-hydroxypregn-5-ene-20-carb oxylic acid, spiro [cyclopropane-1,8’ (1H’) methano, from flower, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, 1,1-Dimethyl-1-silacyclobutane, oleamide, 3-β-hydroxypregn-5-ene-20-carboxylic acid, per (trimethylsilyl)-D-lyxose from leaf, N- [(-)-jasmonoyl]- (S)-glutamic acid from stem, 9-octadecenamide, 1-ethyl-4- phosphorinanone, thiosemicarbazone, raffinose from root, were detected. We proposed the biochemical pathway from the chemical constituents of V. fauriei. Conclusion : The results of our study suggest that the proposal biochemical pathway of V. fauriei will be useful in the study of correlation of nerve related bioassay.

Background : Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disorder related with oxidative stress and apoptosis leading to cartilage damage. Recently, Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (CJM) was reported to play a protective role in various inflammatory response. However, the role of CJM in cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis progression is still unknown. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the protective effect of CJM in a animal model of osteoarthritis and cartilage degradation. Methods and Results : First, in order to determine active ingredient contents of CJM, we were carried out total polyphenolic content and total flavonoid content analyses. As a result, dried aerial parts of CJM were found to contain 149.2 ± 24.1 ㎎·GAE/g dry weight and 27.9 ± 2.0 ㎎·NE/g dry weight in boiling water extraction. Also, the HPLC analysis of CJM showed major compounds identified as cirsimarin and cirsimaritin. In addition, CJM protected against osteoarthritic cartilage destruction in an osteoarthritis mouse model induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus, as demonstrated by histopathological analysis. Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrate that CJM may protect against the osteoarthritis and cartilage destruction. Further study is needed to identify the mechanism for their improvement effects of osteoarthritis and cartilage destruction.

Background : Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are important features of the brain pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to the antioxidant activity and biochemical characterization of safflower seed. Moreover, we investigated the impact of Safflower seed on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. Methods and Results : First, in order to determine active ingredient contents of safflower seed extract, we were carried out total phenol content and total flavonoid content analyses. As a result, dried safflower seed were found to contain 35.4 ± 0.4 ㎎·GAE/g dry weight and 45.3 ± 7.5 ㎎·NE/g dry weight in boiling water extraction. Also, the major compounds of safflower seed from HPLC analysis were identified as serotonin and serotonin derivatives [N- (p-coumaroyl)serotonin and N-feruloylserotonin]. In addition, the antioxidant activity of safflower seed showed IC50 values of 331.4 and 168.2, respectively, against DPPH and ABTS in vitro. Finally, with regard to the memory improvement activity, the administration of Safflower seed extract significantly restored memory impairments induced by scopolamine in the behavior tests such as novel object recognition and Morris water maze test. Conclusion : The results of our study suggest that the safflower seed extract possess potent memory improvement activity and are also a good source of natural antioxidants. Further study is needed to identify the mechanism responsible for their memory improvement activity.