Backgoound : Sprout vegetables are rich source of nutrients for human health. The safflower seeds contained various functional compounds and nutritions, and can be used as food material without restriction. Therefore, this study was performed to compare the antioxidant properties of sprouts from safflower seeds according to germination periods. Methods and Results : The safflower seeds were sterilized and steeped with distilled water, then incubated at 25℃ for 1 - 7 days. These sprouts and seeds were extracted with methanol, and used as samples for antioxidant properties (total phenolics, total flavonoids contents, DPPH, and ABTS radical scavenging activities). Total phenolics, total flavonoids contents, and antioxidant activities were higher in safflower seed than sprouts. Among sprouts with various germination periods, the sprouts incubated 4 - 7 days were higher in total phenolics, total flavonoids contents, and antioxidant activities than other sprouts. The levels of antioxidant activities were similar in sprouts incubated for 4 - 7 days. Conclusion : These results indicated that the antioxidant properties of sprouts differed according to germination periods, and the optimal germination period of safflower seed as sprout vegetables are 4 days.

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.

Background : The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant activities of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed extracts using various solvents. Method and Results : The safflower seed extracts was obtained using methanol (50, 75, 100%), ethanol (50, 75, 100%) and water. Total phenolic content (TPC) w as determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activities w ere estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and reducing power (RP). Average TPC of safflower seed extracts were 72.03 ㎍·GAE·㎎-1 DE in methanol, 50.16 ㎍·GAE·㎎-1 DE in ethanol, and 28.47 ㎍·GAE·㎎-1 DE in water. TPC were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the solvents. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and RP a average activities of methanol extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity, with value of 62.95 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, 123.48 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, 171.68 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, and 76.07 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, respectively. Values of Ethanol extracts showed DPPH 32.26 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, ABTS 81.02 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, FRAP 159.24 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, and RP 34.83 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE. There was no significant difference between extracts of ethanol and methanol in FRAP value. The 75% ethanol extracts showed higher antioxidant activity than 50% and 100% ethanol extracts (p < 0.05). The 75% ethanol extracts had TPC 68.98 ㎍·GAE·eq/㎎ DE, DPPH 70.07 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, ABTS 166.59 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, FRAP 208.78 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE, and RP 82.16 ㎍·ASC·eq/㎎ DE. Conclusion : Although ethanol extracts had lower antioxidant activity compared to methanol, it was suggested to be more suitable for further studies as it is less toxic and a recommended food grade solvent. It is estimated that the bioactive substance is extracted extensively from 75% ethanol with high antioxidant activity.

Background: To obtain useful safflower resources for breeding and research of functional materials, the present study was conducted to determine fatty acid compositions and antioxidant activities of 281 safflower accessions collected from East Asia including South Korea. Methods and Results: Lipid contents and fatty acids compositions were evaluated using soxhlet extraction and gas chromatography, respectively. A antioxidant activities were analyzed using a spectrophotometer. The evaluation range of safflower accessions showed very wide variation. In terms of lipid contents, the China accessions were higher than the collection from other regions, whereas antioxidant activities did not differ among regions. The result of the principal component analysis showed that the first and second principal component cumulatively explained 90.6% of the total variation. In clustering the safflower accessions, the tree showed four major clades. Group II (16 accessions) was high in lipid content, oleic acid and linoleic acid, whereas group III (50 accessions) exhibited higher antioxidant activities than other groups. Conclusions: It was recommended that the China collections be utilized as a useful resource for research on functional oil materials. These results provided valuable information for safflower breeders and researchers of functional food.

Background : In this study, we investigated the renoprotective effects of serotonin and its derivatives, on the renal function and expression of inflammation and apoptosis in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity mice. Methods and Results : Serotonin and its derivatives were orally administered at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg body weight for 5 days before the intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin 20 mg/kg body weight, and the effects were compared with those of vehicle-treated nephrotoxicity control and normal groups. In the serum and kidney, renal function parameters, reactive oxygen species and expression of protein related to pro-oxidant, antioxidant, inflammation and apoptosis were examined. As a result, serotonin and its derivatives administrations to nephrotoxicity mice lowered serum BUN and creatinine concentrations. These results were derived, at least in part, from attenuation the expression of antioxidant enzymes-related proteins, SOD and GPx. In the cisplatin-induced renal condition, augmented p-p38, p-ERK and p-JNK (mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway) were reduced with a increase in antioxidant enzymes on serotonin and its derivatives treatment. Moreover, in the serotonin and its derivatives-treated groups, NF- κB-induced inflammatory factors and apoptotic protein expressions were regulated in the kidney. Conclusion : The present study indicates that serotonin and its derivatives exerts a renoprotective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through the recovery of kidney function deterioration and attenuation of renal inflammation and apoptosis by regulating oxidative stress condition.

The seed of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) has been reported to suppress human cancer cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms by which safflower seed inhibits cancer cell proliferation have remained nuclear. In this study, the inhibitory effect of the safflower seed (SS) on the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and the potential mechanism of action were examined. SS inhibited markedly the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, SW480, LoVo and HT-29). In addition, SS suppressed the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). SS treatment decreased cyclin D1 protein level in human colorectal cancer cells and breast cancer cells. But, SS-mediated downregulated mRNA level of cyclin D1 was not observed. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation by MG132 attenuated cyclin D1 downregulation by SS and the half-life of cyclin D1 was decreased in SS-treated cells. In addition, SS increased cyclin D1 phosphorylation at threonine-286 and a point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated SS-mediated cyclin D1 degradation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by PD98059 suppressed cyclin D1 phosphorylation and downregulation of cyclin D1 by SS. In conclusion, SS has anti-proliferative activity by inducing cyclin D1 proteasomal degradation through ERK1/2-dependent threonine-286 phosphorylation of cyclin D1. These findings suggest that possibly its extract could be used for treating colorectal cancer.

Background : Oxidative stress-related iflammatory mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed is a crude drug rich in serotonin derivatives to exhibit several biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the renoprotective effects of Safflower seed, using cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity mice. Methods and Results : Safflower seed was orally administered at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 5 days before the intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin 20 mg/kg body weight, and the effects were compared with those of vehicle-treated cisplatin administered to control and normal mice. In the serum and kidney, renal function parameters reactive oxygen species and expression of protein related to oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation and apoptosis were examined. Safflower seed treatment attenuated serum BUN, createinine and renal oxidative stress through reduction of reactive oxygen species and increase in the protein expression level of catalase. Safflower seed reduced renal protein expression of p-p38 and p-JNK (mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway), pro-apoptotic factors (such as Bax and caspase 3) and nuclear factor-kappa B-targeting pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. In addition, Safflower seed treatment led to significantly attenuated histological damage in the kidney. Conclusion : These renoprotective effects of Safflower seed were achieved through attenuation of oxidative stress and its sensitive protein expression associated with inflammation and apoptosis in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity mice.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have long been clinically used in Korea to promote bone formation and prevent osteoporosis. In addition, the safflower buds (SB) were found to have more useful functional ingredients than safflower seed. Thus, we investigated the preventive effects of SB diet in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats were divided into five groups; sham operated group, OVX alone group, OVX plus 17β-estradiol (E2 10 ㎍/㎏, i.p.) and OVX plus SB diet feeding group (0.3% or 1%). Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats markedly increased trabecular formation in femur compared to OVX rats. Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats also decreased TRAP activity compared to OVX rats. These results suggest that SB diets have bone sparing effects by the decrease of osteoclast activity. We also observed that OVX rats fed with SB diet (0.3% or 3%) exhibited the decrease of calcium and phosphorus in serum compared to OVX-induced rats. Therefore, SB may be beneficial for the patients of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.

In order to evaluate the effect of seed weight on different aspect of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed germination and growth characteristics. Quantity of sinapine leaked from seed was greater as the viability of seeds was dropped by the time elapsed of seed aging model and long storage condition in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). The cultivar of safflower was Jin-Sun and the seeds that are separated to three different weights of small, middle, and large were used in this experiment. Large seeds revealed the highest germination percent, coleoptiles fresh weight, coleoptiles dry weight, radicle fresh weight and 1000 seed weights than other seed weight. Seed weight had little effect on yield while seed number exerted a positive influence. Interestingly, yield per plant and its major components, number of capsules and capsule weights, revealed a negligible relationship with oil content.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a herb primarily distributed throughout in the world. We have used the inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) technique to investigate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of C. tinctorius. Of all germplasms, 88.7% were polymorphic among all germplasms. Mean genetic diversity within germplasms was very low (0.048). The Turkey germplasm had the highest expected diversity (0.082) and Australia germplasm was the lowest (0.020). These values indicate that most of the genetic diversity of safflower is found among germplasms and there is a high among-germplasm differentiation. We found eight phenetic bands for determining the specific marker of germplasm with SCAR markers. The regions of the Mediterranean Sea and India may be the most probable candidates for the origin of safflower. The tree showed four major clades: (1) European germplasms, (2) Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, (3) Australia, and (4) America.

홍화종자의 메탄올 추출물에서 preparative HPLC(u -Bondapak C18 column(7.8×300mm ) 분석을 통하여 DPPH radical 소거 활성도가 높은 두 종류의 항산화 물질(CA와 CB)을 확인하였다. 확인된 항산화물질의 대량 추출을 위하여 hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate 그리고 butanol 등의 유기용매를 이용하였으며 이 중 ethyl acetate 분획에서 DPPH radical 소거 활성이 높은 물질이 추출되었다. Ethyl acetate 분획물을 silica gel chlomatography하여 CA와 CB를 분리하였고, 1H -NMR과 13C -NMR 분석에 의하여 CA는 N-(p-Coumaroyl) serotonin, 그리고 CB는 N-feruoylserotonin으로 동정되었다. 홍화종자에서 N-(p-Coumaroyl) serotonin과 N-feruoylserotonin의 함량을 u -Bondapak C18 column(3.9×300mm )으로 300nm에서 acetonitrile의 용매로 10%에서 분석을 시작하여 30분 동안 50%까지 기울기 모드로 분석한 결과 N-(p-Coumaroyl)serotonin의 함량은 4.11 mg/gDW, N-feruoylserotonin의 함량은 7.29 mg/gDW이었으며, 이 두 가지 항산화 물질은 모두 종자껍질에서만 추출되었다.

홍화의 생장해석을 위하여 3월 1일, 4월 1일, 5월 1일 및 7월 1일에 파종한 홍화의 생육상황과 생장분석에 관한 결과는 다음과 같다. 가. 홍화의 발아기간은 저온기 3월 1일 파종에서 발아까지의 소요기간은 24일이었으며, 4월 1일은 8일이었고 고온기로 갈수록 빨라졌다. 나. 개화소요일수도 3월 1일 파종에서는 104일, 4월 1일에서는 79일, 5월 1일과 7월 1일 고온기 파종에서는 각각 65일과 58일로 단축되었으며 파종기별 생육은 3월 1일에 조기 파종한 것이 가장 좋았다. 다. T/R(Top/Root ratio)율은 줄기 신장기부터 수확기까지 완만하게 증가하였으며 7월 1일 파종은 전반적으로 3월 1일파종과 4월 1일 파종에 비하여 T/R율이 낮았다. 라. RGR(Relative Growth Rate)은 줄기가 신장하는 시기에 가장 높았고 개화기 이후는 급격히 생장량이 둔화되었다. 마. CGR(Crop Growth Rate)은 분지시기에 증가하다가 개화직전에 증가속도가 다소 떨어졌으며 개화기에 다시 증가하여 가장 높았다가 그 이후는 둔화되었다. 바. NAR(Net Assimilation Rate)은 줄기신장기에 가장 높았으며 3월 1일에 조기 파종한 것이 가장 높았다.

홍화 재배시 종실의 수량 감소가 적으면서 꽃잎 수량을 증가시키기 위해 밀식과 적심을 통하여 시험한 결과를 요약하면 아래와 같다. 개화기는 관행이 6월 23일인데 비해 적심 처리구는 2일 늦은 6월 25일에 개화하였으며 밀식처리구는 같았다. 유효분지수는 2열 밀식재배와 3열 밀식재배가 적심이나 대조구에 비해 많았으며, 유효화두수는 3열밀식재배에서 270개/m2 로 가장 많았으나 적심은 186~223 개/로 적었다. 종실 수량은 대조구 10a당 220 kg에 비해 2열밀식재배는 231 kg으로 5% 증수 되었다. 채화 화두수는 3열밀식이 가장 많았으나 건조된 꽃잎 수량은 2열밀식과 3열밀식이 10a당 25.4 kg, 26.9 kg으로 대조구의 22.0 kg에 비해 각각 15%, 22% 증수되었다.

개화후 강우 시기가 홍화의 생육과 종실의 품질에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위해 시험을 수행한 결과는 다음과 같다. 개화후 강우 시기에 따른 지상부 및 꽃 봉오리 병해 발생 정도는 각각 3.3, 1로서 영향을 미치지 않았다. 등숙 비율은 주경은 개화후 1~5일 강우시 37.4%, 1차 분지는 개화후 6~10일 강우시 63.0%로서 가장 낮았다. 10a당 수량은 무강우의 327kg/10a에 비해 개화후 6~10일과 개화후 11~15일 강우시 282~281kg/10a으로서 각각 14% 감소되었다. 종실의 색도(명도=L)는 개화후 21~25일 강우시 73.5, 26~30일 강우시 69.9로서 무강우 79.3에 비해 크게 낮아졌다. 이상의 결과에서 볼때 수확기 강우에 의한 종실의 품질 손실 방지를 위해서는 개화후 25일까지는 수확을 해야 할 것으로 사료된다.

홍화 수집종의 RAPD 분석을 통한 유전적 다양성 및 유연관계를 밝히고 품종군을 분류하여 품종육성의 기초자료로 활용코자 시험한 결과는 아래와 같다. RAPD 분석에 적용한 37개의 Primer 중 25개의 적정 primer를 선발하였고, 증폭원 PCR산물은 0.1~4.0kb에서 재현성있는 band를 보였으며 각 primer에 의해 증폭된 band의 수는 1~9개로 다양하였고 평균 4.8개였다. PCR 반응에 사용된 25개의 primer에서 120개의 band가 관찰되었으며 다형성을 보이는 band될 수는 23개(19.2%)였다. RAPD-PCR에 의해 얻어진 dendrogram에서 유연계수 0.042를 기준으로 합을 했을 때 6개 군으로 분류되었고 II군과 III군은 각각 12종(38%)씩 속하였다.