This study was conducted to examine the antioxidative effect and nitrite scavenging ability of extract from Acanthopanax cortex shoot. The total phenolic compound and flavonoids contents of extract from Acanthopanax corex shoot were 116.33±6.09 ㎎ GAE/g and 65.07±4.10 ㎎ RE/g, respectively. Antioxidative activities were measured by various in vitro models such as DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP, reducing power, ABTS radical scavenging activity, ORAC assay. This results showed that the extract of Acanthopanax cortex shoot was effective in scavenging radicals and protecting oxidation when assessed various in vitro systems. Similarly, the nitrite scavenging ability of extract was increased in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, ORAC value at a concentration of 0.1 ㎎/㎖ was 103.4±5.6μM TE/g. Considering high consumer demand beneficial health effects, Acanthopanax cortex shoot can be utilized to develop functional food health-promoting and natural antioxidant agents.

The purpose of current study is to investigate the beneficial effect of enzyme (Alcalase) hydrolysates of silk protein in rat. Alcalase-treated silk protein hydrolysate (ATSH) itself did not show any cytotoxicity on the hepatic tissues and blood biochemistry, similar to the normal condition. ATSH played a protective role in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity and liver damage. The values of AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase), which are the indicators of the liver function, were effectively alleviated with the ATSH treatment in a dose dependent manner. The level of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA), which were increased with t-BHP treatment, were significantly reduced by ATSH. High dose of ATSH (2 g/kg) reduced the t-BHP-induced LDH release by 48%. Antioxidant and antioxidant enzymes in liver cells were significantly increased by ATSH treatment in their level and activities. ATSH (2 g/kg) increased glutathione (GSH), an intracelluar antioxidant, by 2.5-fold compared with the t-BHP treated group. The activities of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase were also elevated by 38%, 60%, and 45%, respectively, with ATSH (2 g/kg) treatment. The antioxidative effect of ATSH was recapitulated to the protection from t-BHP induced liver damages in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Thus, ATSH might be used as a hepatoprotective agent.

동물실험에서 실크단백질 산 가수분해물을 투여하고 t-BHP투여한 군의 혈액 생화학적 검사 결과t-BHP만 투여한 군과 비교하였을 때 AST, ALT 그리고 LDH가 실크단백질 산 가수분해물의 투여 농도가 높아질수록 수치가 감소하는 것으로 나타났고 세포가 손상할 시에 증가하는 MDA를 간 조직을 대상으로 측정한 결과 실크단백질 산 가수분해물의 농도가 높아질수록 수치가 대조군과 유사한 정도로 감소하는 것으로 보아 간 손상에 관여하는 효소의 누출 억제효과가 있는 것으로 사료된다. HPLC로 간 조직에서의 GSH측정결과t-BHP만 투여한 군과 비교하였을 때 유의적으로 증가하였고 조직학적 검사 결과 t-BHP만 투여한 군과 비교하였을 때 실크단백질 산 가수분해물을 투여한 군이 대조군과 가까운 모습을 보이는 것으로 관찰되어 실크단백질 산가수분해물이 산화적 스트레스로부터의 간 보호 효과가 있는 것으로 사료된다. 따라서 실크단백질 산 가수분해물의 기능적 소재로서의 이용가능성이 확대될 것으로 사료된다.

Obesity, a strong risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, is characterized by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from precursor cells, preadipocytes. Recent research suggests that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in 3T3-L1 adipocyte facilitates adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation. This study was to investigate whether reduced ROS production by Sargassum micracanthum extract (SME) could protect the development of obesity through inhibition of adipogenesis. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated SME for up to 8 days following standard induction of differentiation. The extent of differentiation reflected by amount of lipid accumulation and ROS production was determined by Oil red O staining and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. Treatment of SME significantly inhibited ROS production and adipocyte differentiation that is depend on down regulation of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), a major ROS generator, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), a key adipogenic transcription factor. These results indicate that SME can inhibit adipogenesis through a reduced ROS level that involves down-regulation of NOX4 expression or via modulation of adipogenic transcription factor.

Recently, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was proposed to accelerate adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cell. We have previously shown that Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation via downregulation of PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) gene expression. In this study, we focused on the molecular mechanism(s) of NOX4, G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and antioxidant enzymes in anti-oxidative activities of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results indicate that Cheonnyuncho extracts markedly inhibits ROS production during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Cheonnyuncho extracts suppressed the mRNA expression of the pro-oxidant enzyme such as NOX4 and theNADPH-producing G6PDH enzyme. In addition, treatment with Cheonnyuncho extract was found to upregulate mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes such as Mn-SOD (manganese-superoxide dismutase), Cu/Zn-SOD (copper/zinc-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathion reductase (GR), and catalase, all of which are important for endogenous antioxidant responses. These data suggest that Cheonnyuncho extract may be effective in preventing the rise of oxidative stress during adipocyte differentiation through mechanism(s) that involves direct down regulation of NOX4 and G6PDH gene expression or via upregulation of endogenous antioxidant responses.

In this study, 80% ethanolic extracts of tartary and common buckwheats were assessed for their total phenol content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power), and anti-adipogenic effects. Our results show that total phenol contents of 80% ethanolic extract from tartary and common buckwheats were 17.35±0.41 and 8.20±0.28 μg GAE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities of 80% ethanolic extract from tartary buckwheat were significantly higher than that of common buckwheat extract (p<0.05). During adipocyte differentiation, 80% ethanolic extracts of tartary and common buckwheat significantly inhibited lipid accumulation compared to control cells. We further evaluated the effect of buckwheat extracts on the changes of key gene expression associated with 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and ROS production. Tartary buckwheat extract was more suppressed the mRNA expressions (PPARγ and aP2) than that of common buckwheat extract. Moreover, tartary buckwheat inhibited the mRNA expression of both NOX4 (NADPH oxidase 4) and G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). These results indicate that anti-adipogenesis effect of tartary buckwheat can be attributed to phenolic compound that may potentially inhibit ROS production.