Helicobacter pylori are known as a causative agent of gastritis, gastric duodenum and peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer, and multiple drug use is associated with various side effects in patients. The discovery of antibacterial substances against H. pylori from Korean resource plants is an important substitute for antibiotics. 52 species of Korean resource plants were collected and extracted with 50% ethanol, and antibacterial activity against H. pylori was measured using the disk diffusion method. The toxicity of plant extracts to human gastric adenocarcinoma(AGS) cells was measured by MTT assay, and the level of IL-8 secreted when gastric epithelial cells were inoculated with H. pylori was measured. As a result of measuring the antibacterial activity of H. pylori, antibacterial activity was confirmed in 38 plant extracts. The plant species with the strongest antibacterial activity were Chrysanthemum indicum, Rheum rhabarbarum, Patrinia scabiosaefolia and Petasites japonicus. C. indicum was not cytotoxic to H. pyroli-infected AGS cells and showed anti-inflammatory effects. This study's results can be used to develop healthy, functional foods and medical materials.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect on oxidative stress induced PC12 cells, and volatile flavor composition of essential oils derived from medicinal plant seeds- Gossypium hirsutum L. (G. hirsutum), Coix lachryma-jobi (C. lachryma-jobi) and Oenothera biennis (O. biennis). The essential oils were obtained by the solvent (hexane) extraction method from the seeds. The essential oils of the seeds were analyzed by the solid-phase micro-extraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). The major compounds of G. hirsutum, C. lachryma-jobi and O. biennis were cyclonexanol (16.65%), β-asarone (14.29%) and ylangene (50.01%). The DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50) was the highest value of 8.52 mg/mL in the O. biennis. Additionally, IC50 values of G. hirsutum and C. lachryma-jobi were 26.76 mg/mL and 36.81 mg/mL. For the oxidative stress on PC12 cells, we treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The pretreatment of oxidative stress induced PC12 cells with all the essential oils preserved or increased their cell viability and G. hirsutum and O. biennis attenuated the ROS generation (by 68.75% and 56.25% vs. H2O2 control). The results of this study suggest that the essential oils derived from medicinal plant seeds could be used as valuable back data as a natural essential oil material to prevent neurodegenerative diseases by protecting neuro-cells.

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, requires the nutritional endosymbiont, Buchnera, for the production of essential amino acids. However, it is unclear if host plant diet that varies in essential amino acids influences aphid regulation of its nutritional symbioses. We hypothesized that aphid genes respond to host plant diet when aphids feed on their specialized (alfalfa) compared to universal host plant diet (fava), which vary in essential amino acid concentrations. Using RNA-Seq and whole genome bisulfite sequencing, we compared the gene expression profiles and DNA methylation distributions of specialized aphid cells that harbor Buchnera (bacteriocytes) when aphids feed on their specialized compared to their universal host plant diets. Our results show that bacteriocyte transcription and methylation patterns differ between host plant diets. When aphids feed on their specialized host plant, they significantly up-regulate and/or hypo-methylate key aphid genes in bacteriocytes related to the amino acid metabolism, including glutamine synthetase (GS) and the glutamine transporter ApGLNT1. Moreover, regardless of which host plant aphids feed on, we observed significant up-regulation and differential methylation of the key genes in the amino acid metabolism and the glycine/serine metabolism in aphid bacteriocytes. We suggest that the regulatory response of key symbiosis genes in bacteriocytes allows aphids to feed on a specialized host plant diet with suboptimal nitrogen concentrations.

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant activities and protective effects on PC12 cells of the extract of Epimedium koreanum and its main constituents icariin and icariside I. After screening the seven identified flavonoid glycosides from E. koreanum through DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) assay, E. koreanum, Icariin and Icariside I exhibited significant effect on radical scavenging activity. E. koreanum, icariin and icariside I were examined using DPPH, ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and FRAP (ferric reducing ability power) assay. In all antioxidant assays, E. koreanum, icariin and icariside I showed high radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner. Protective effects against H2O2-induced PC12 cells were assessed with MTT assay. The results indicated that cell viability and protection on PC12 cells of icariside I and icariin increased dose dependently. These study results suggest that E. koreanum, icariin and icariside showed high antioxidant capacities and cell protective effects. Icariside I, one of the metabolites of icariin, may be a new and effective flavonoid compound as a functional component.

Our aim was to investigate the genotoxicity of ambient air in the Krakow area after Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident and compare with results from Chernobyl fallout. For the detection of ambient air genotoxicity the technique for scr

Background: Hair loss related syndromes are increasing due to environmental pollution and stress. Hair care products are mainly prepared by mixing chemicals and natural extracts, such as those obtained from medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 70% ethanol extracts from the flowers of Calendula officinalis, fruit body of Phellinus linteus, and the whole plant of Houttuynia cordata on the growth of CCD-986 cells, hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), and 3T3-L1 cells. Methods and Results: All sample extracts at all concentrations, except for that from P. linteus fruit body at 500㎍/㎖, were cytotoxic to CCD-986 cells. However, none of the sample extracts were cytotoxic to HFDPC. The lipid differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells regulates hair regeneration via secretion of platelet derived growth factor. The 70% ethanol extract of H. cordata whole plant promoted hair growth. Adipogenesis rate significantly increased in a treatment concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions: These results suggest that 70% ethanol extracts of C. officinalis flower, P. linteus fruit body and H. cordata could be used for the development of hair care products.

8종의 잿빛곰팡이병 균주를 순무잎에 접종하여 병반의 크기를 확인한 결과 가장 강한 감염력을 보인 ‘포도-01’ 균주와 병반의 확산이 가장 적은 ‘오랜지’를 선발하였다. 순무잎이 저항성을 보인 ‘오랜지’균주를 처리한 잎이 감수성을 보인 ‘포도-01’균주를 처리한 잎보다 indole-3-ylmethyl glucosinolate (I3M-GLS) 함량이 무처리 보다 2.5배 이상 높았으나 ‘포도-01’ 균주를 처리한 잎에서는 무처리 보다 낮은 함량을 보였다. 균주의 메탄올 추출액과 물추출물을 식물배양세포에 처리한 결과 ‘오랜지’균 주의 추출물이 ‘포도-01’ 균주의 추출물보다 배양세포의 생장을 더 강하게 억제 한 것으로 나타났는데 ‘오랜지’ 균주의 메타놀 및 물 추출물 처리에서 배양세포의 활력은 각각 22.7% 및 16.5% 감소시키는 것으로 나타났다. 한편 ‘오랜지’균주 추출물을 처리 한 배양세포에서 I3M-GLS의 생합성이 ‘포도-01’ 균주 추출물 보다 현저히 높은 것으로 나타났다. 본 결과로 보아 식물체내에 생합성되는 I3M-GLS 함량은 잿빛곰팡이균에 대한 식물세포의 저항성과 밀접한 관계가 있는 것으로 판단된다.

Background : This study was carried out to investigate the cytotoxicity in 9 extracts from 8 medicinal plants, such as leaf extract of Lonicera maackii (Llm), leaf extract of Platycarya strobilacea (Lps), flower extract of Fagopyrum dibortryis (Fdf), stem extract of Physostegia virginiana (Spv), root extract of Allium senescence (Ras), aerial part extract of Allium schoenoprasum (Aas), aerial part extract of Artemisia japonica var. manshurica (Aaj), stem extract of Caryopteris incana (Sci), and leaf extract of Caryopteris incana (Lci), on human cancer cell lines. Methods and Results : Dried plant extracts were granted from National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Sciences. The extracts of each plant were dissolved in DMSO and stored in deep freeze at –20℃. The cell viabilities were examined by MTT assay. On SK-OV-3 cell line, Lps, Aas, Sci ans Lci showed dose-dependent cytotoxic effect. On A549 cell line, almost samples show dose-dependent cytotoxic effect, but especially Aaj showed relatively high cytotoxic effect. In case of HCT-15 cell line, Llm and Aas showed relatively high cytotoxic effect. Conclusion : These results suggested that Lonicera maackii, Platycarya strobilacea, Fagopyrum dibortryis, Physostegia virginiana, Allium senescence, Allium schoenoprasum, Artemisia japonica var. manshurica, and Caryopteris incana can be utilized as potential sources of anticancer agent due to their cytotoxicity.

Background : As a part of ongoing research to elucidate and characterize anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals, six kinds of plant extracts (aerial part of Nepeta cataria, leaves of Lonicera maackii, leaves of Platycarya strobilacea, flower of Fagopyrum dibotrys, flowers and fruits of Solanum nigrum, stem of Physostegia virginiana) were tested for their ability to suppress inflammation. The anti-inflammatory has been studied in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells which cells synthesized nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In this study, NO synthesis inhibitory activity of six kinds of plant extracts on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages was evaluated. Methods and Results : Six kinds of plant extracts were parceled out from RDA (Rural Development Administration). RAW 264.7 cells (1.5×105 cells/well) were seeded onto 96-well plates with DMEM media containing 10% FBS and 1% antibiotics. The cells were pretreated with the extracts and LPS-stimulated cells for 24 h. Cellular NO production was stimulated by adding 1 μg/mL of LPS. After incubation, Griess reagent was used to determine NO production. Absorbance was measured at 520 nm by microplate reader. NO synthesis inhibitory activity potential of these extracts was evaluated by assessing NO production by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in the presence. As a result, inhibition rate of NO production was about 40% of L. maackii, 33% of F. dibotrys, 23% of P. strobilacea and 17% of P. virginiana. Meanwhile, there was no significant results in aerial part of N. cataria and flowers and fruits of S. nigrum. Conclusion : From the above results, we be able to confirm that leaves of L. maackii and flower of F. dibotrys appeared dose-dependent NO synthesis inhibitory activity and leaves of P. strobilacea appeared NO synthesis inhibitory activity in low-concentration. As screening NO synthesis inhibition of six extracts, they may be a good candidate for delaying the progression of human inflammatory diseases and warrants further studies.

The aim of this study was to enhance the proliferation efficiency of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In order to improve the proliferation efficiency, we investigated new factors that promote the proliferation of SSCs using in vitro culture method with natural plant extracts. Germ cell populations containing SSCs were collected 6- to 8-days-old from C57BL/6-TG-EGFP (C57GFP) mice and SSCs were isolated from the collected cells via magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). Since then, SSCs were cultured for a week with culture medium containing natural plant extracts at concentration of 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/mL. After a week of culture, we looked for an increase, especially a dose-dependent increase, in the number of cells compared to that of the control group. A dose-dependent increase, in the number of cells was observed in the Petasides japonicus-treated groups. Furthermore, we carried out repeated experiment that is process consisting of selection and additional segmentation to explore new factors for activating SSCs at the molecular level. As a results, Petasides japonicus butanol fraction significantly increased the proliferation rate of SSCs in a dose-dependent manner among Petasides japonicus fraction samples. We identified normal expression level of PLZF in SSCs cultured with plant extracts using immunocytochemistry method. Furthermore, we also carried out qRT-PCR and identified normal expression level of Lhx1 and GFRα1. The finding of this study could contribute to improvement of proliferation and activation for SSCs, using culture method with natural plant extracts.

식물세포에 마(Dioscorea batatas Dence) 추출액의 전처리가 방사선 스트레스에 노출된 배양세포의 활력, 생장 및 핵 DNA 손상에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 마의 분획추출물 중 EtOAc 분획추출물을 식물세포에 전처리하고 20 Gy의 방사선에 노출시키면, 마 추출물을 전처리하지 않고 방사선 20 Gy만 처리한 세포보다 세포의 활력과 생체중이 20%이상 증가하였다. Comet 분석에서 꼬리부분의 길이 (T)와 머리부분의 길이 (H)를 측정하여 T/H 비율을 조사하였다. 무처리 세포와 방사선 20 Gy를 처리한 세포의 T/H 비율은 각각 1.05 및 1.68로 나타났고, head DNA 량은 각각 86.7% 및 71.3%로 무처리 세포와 방사선을 처리한 세포간에는 큰 차이를 보여, 방사선에 의한 심각한 핵 DNA 손상을 관찰할 수 있었다. 그러나 마 추출물 중 MeOH, EtOAc 및 n-BuOH 분획추출물을 식물세포에 전처리하고 20 Gy 방사선을 처리하면, T/H 비율은 각각 1.37, 1.01 및 1.10이었고, head DNA량은 81.5%, 87.6% 및 88.7%로 방사선을 처리 하지 않은 무처리 세포 수준으로 회복되었다.