COMPARISON OF VOLATILE COMPOSITION OF SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE EXTRACT FROM RHIZOMES OF KOREAN MEDICINAL PLANT 'CHUN-KUNG' (CNIDIUM OFFICINALE MAKINO) BY DIRECT-AND SPME-GC/MS

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the volatile composition of supercritical fluid extract (SFE) obtained from Cnidium officinale Makino rhizomes. Methods: GC/MS analyses were carried out with the direct- and solid phase microextraction (SPME) of SFE obtained from rhizomes. In addition, GC/MS analysis was performed for the rhizomes of C. officinale using SPME. Results: SPME-GC/MS analysis of the rhizomes revealed the separation of 23 components. Among these, β-phellandrene (20.38%), dictyotene (12.98%), β-pinene (10.59%), β-selinene (9.45%), eugenol (7.71%) and β-farnesene (7.09%) were found to be major components. In the SFE analyzed by direct-GC/MS, linoleic acid (19.26%), 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (18.98%), hexadecanoic acid (12.15%), and β-selinene (9.44%) were identified as major components. Whereas, 3,4-dihydrocoumarin (16.94%), shyobunone (14.07%), dictyotene (10.65%), p-cresol (10.17%), zierone (6.36%) and umbellulone (5.71%) were major components in the SFE analyzed by SPME-GC/MS. Conclusion: The present study clearly suggested that the SPME-GC/MS analysis of SFE provided the separation of more number with diverse groups of compounds than the direct-GC/MS

Antioxidant, inhibition of α-glucosidase and suppression of nitric oxide production in LPS-induced murine macrophages by different fractions of Actinidia arguta stem

AbstractIn traditional systems of medicine, fruits, leaves, and stems of Actinidia arguta (Sieb. et Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. have been used to treat various inflammatory diseases. The present study determined the proximate composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic potential of A. arguta stem. Phenolic composition of hot water extract and its sub-fractions was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu’s reagent method. In vitro antioxidant activities of the samples were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. Anti-inflammatory activity of different fractions was investigated through the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (1μg/ml) stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, inhibition of α-glucosidase activity of hot water extract was determined using p-nitrophenyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (pNPG) as a substrate. Ethyl acetate (557.23mgGAE/g) fraction contains higher level of total phenolic content. The antioxidant activity evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay showed a strong activity for ethyl acetate (IC50 of 14.28μg/ml) and n-butanol fractions (IC50 of 48.27μg/ml). Further, ethyl acetate fraction effectively inhibited NO production in RAW 264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) than other fractions (nitrite level to 32.14μM at 200μg/ml). In addition, hot water extract of A. arguta stem exhibited appreciable inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase enzyme with IC50 of 1.71mg/ml. The obtained results have important consequence of using A. arguta stem toward the development of effective anti-inflammatory drugs

Korean Version of Mini Mental Status Examination for Dementia Screening and Its' Short Form

Objective We developed a Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) optimized for screening dementia (MMSE-DS) and its short form (SMMSE-DS). Methods We constructed the MMSE-DS using the items of the two current Korean versions of MMSE and then construct the SMMSE-DS consisted of 13 items from the MMSE-DS based on the diagnostic accuracy of individual items for dementia. We investigated reliability and validity of MMSE-DS and SMMSE-DS on 1,555 subjects (1,222 nondemented controls, 333 dementia patients). We compared the diagnostic accuracy of the SMMSE-DS with that of the three full Korean versions of MMSE, and examined its age- and education-specific optimal cutoff scores for dementia. Results The internal consistency obtained by Cronbach`s coefficient alpha was 0.826. The inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability were 0.968 (p<0.001) and 0.825 (p<0.001), respectively. It showed significant correlation with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) (r=-0.698, p<0.05) and the three full Korean versions of MMSE (r=0.839-0.938, p<0.001). The area under the receiver operator curve for dementia of the SMMSE-DS was larger than those of the three full Korean versions of MMSE (p<0.001). Age, education and gender explained 19.4% of the total variance of SMMSE-DS scores. The optimal cutoff scores for dementia of the SMMSE-DS were estimated differently by age and educational attainment of the subjects. Conclusion The SMMSE-DS was found to be accurate, brief and portable instrument for screening dementia in Korean elders, and may be particularly useful for screening dementia in elderly populations with wide variation in educational levels. Psychiatry Investig 2010;7:102-108This study was supported by a research grant from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea (Grant NO. 08-2009-014).Han C, 2008, ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT, V47, P302, DOI 10.1016/j.archger.2007.08.012PARK JH, 2007, PSYCHIAT INVEST, V4, P84Kim KW, 2005, DEMENT GERIATR COGN, V19, P324, DOI 10.1159/000084558JHOO JH, 2005, J KOREAN NEUROPSYCHI, V44, P98KIM HS, 2005, HYEONDAE GUGEO SAYON, V2Boustani M, 2003, ANN INTERN MED, V138, P927KANG Y, 2003, NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SLee JH, 2002, J GERONTOL B-PSYCHOL, V57, pP47LEE DY, 2002, J KOREAN NEUROPSYCHI, V41, P508PARK J, 1999, J KOREAN NEUROPSYCHI, V38, P173Malloy PF, 1997, J NEUROPSYCH CLIN N, V9, P189KANG Y, 1997, J KOREAN NEUROL ASS, V15, P300WOO JL, 1996, J KOREAN NEUROPSYCHI, V35, P122LINN RT, 1995, ARCH NEUROL-CHICAGO, V52, P485MASUR DM, 1994, NEUROLOGY, V44, P1427*AM PSYCH ASS, 1994, DIAGN STAT MAN MENTIMAI Y, 1994, J HONG KONG COLL PSY, V4, P20MORRIS JC, 1993, NEUROLOGY, V43, P2412CRUM RM, 1993, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V269, P2386TOMBAUGH TN, 1992, J AM GERIATR SOC, V40, P922FEHER EP, 1992, ARCH NEUROL-CHICAGO, V49, P87HODGES JR, 1990, J NEUROL NEUROSUR PS, V53, P1089GALASKO D, 1990, ARCH NEUROL-CHICAGO, V47, P49OCONNOR DW, 1989, PSYCHOL MED, V19, P771PARK JH, 1989, J KOREAN NEUROPSYCHI, V28, P508OCONNOR DW, 1989, J PSYCHIAT RES, V23, P87HANLEY JA, 1983, RADIOLOGY, V148, P839HUGHES CP, 1982, BRIT J PSYCHIAT, V140, P566ANTHONY JC, 1982, PSYCHOL MED, V12, P397FOLSTEIN MF, 1975, J PSYCHIATR RES, V12, P198

Suppressive effects of acetone extract from the stem bark of three Acacia species on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Objective: To compare the inhibitory effects of acetone extracts from the stem bark of three Acacia species (Acacia dealbata, Acacia ferruginea and Acacia leucophloea) on nitric oxide production. Methods: The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were used to investigate the regulatory effect of acetone extracts of three Acacia stem barks on nitric oxide production and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Further, the phenolic profile of acetone extracts from the Acacia barks was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis. Results: All the three extracts significantly decreased LPS-induced NO production as well as the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α in a concentration dependent manner (25, 50 and 75 μg/mL). In the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis, acetone extract of Acacia ferruginea bark revealed the presence of 12 different phenolic components including quercetin, catechin, ellagic acid and rosmanol. However, Acacia dealbata and Acacia leucophloea barks each contained 6 different phenolic components. Conclusions: The acetone extracts of three Acacia species effectively inhibited the NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and the presence of different phenolic components in the bark extracts might be responsible for reducing the NO level in cells

Influence of prebiotic biopolymers on physicochemical and sensory characteristics of yoghurt

Yoghurts were prepared by fermentation in the absence (control) or presence of different concentrations of inulin, tragacanth gum, or gellan gum, and effects of the biopolymers on physicochemical and sensory characteristics of yoghurts during cold storage were examined. No significant difference in pH, colour, total solid, and bacterial viability was observed among all the yoghurts prepared. Rheological analysis revealed that yoghurts prepared with biopolymers were pseudoplastic, and firmness and apparent viscosity were greater in yoghurts with added biopolymer than in control. Syneresis was weaker in yoghurts with added biopolymer, and showed a decreasing trend with biopolymer concentration but an increasing pattern with storage time due to gel shrinkage. Yoghurts with added biopolymer showed homogeneous and more compact microstructures than control. Yoghurt prepared with 0.01% tragacanth gum exhibited the best sensory scores. Results demonstrated that small amounts of tragacanth gum could effectively replace gellan gum as a thickener of synbiotic yoghurt. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.N

Ethanol and supercritical fluid extracts of hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) increase gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in HepG2 cells

Objective: To determine the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes by hemp seed extracts in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Methods: Ethanol and supercritical fluid (SF) extracts obtained from de-hulled hemp seed were used for the evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes. In vitro antioxidant activities of the samples evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. The expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) in HepG2 cells was evaluated by real-time PCR. Results: In the antioxidant assay, SF extract of hemp seed exhibited higher ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities (IC50 of 66.6 µg/mL and 9.2 mg/mL, respectively) than ethanol extract. The results of antioxidant enzyme expression in real-time PCR study revealed the H2O2 (200 µM) challenged HepG2 cells reduced the expression of enzymes such as SOD, GPx and CAT. However, the cells treated with ethanol and SF extracts were up-regulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes in concentration dependent manner. When compared to ethanol extract, the SF extract exhibited higher activity in the expression of all the antioxidant enzymes at the concentration of 500 µg/mL. Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings of our study demonstrated that the hemp seed effectively inhibited H2O2 mediated oxidative stress and may be useful as a therapeutic agent in preventing oxidative stress mediated diseases

White matter changes associated with psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease patients

This study explored the relationship between white matter changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease patients. Fifty-five probable Alzheimer's disease patients were assessed with Behavioral Rating Scale for Dementia (BRSD) and MRI. White matter changes in the bilateral frontal or parieto-occipital region and left basal ganglia significantly corresponded with the score of the Psychotic Symptoms subscale of BRSD. Secondary analyses revealed that white matter changes were not associated with paranoid delusion and hallucination, but only with delusional misidentification. Our results suggest that white matter changes in Alzheimer's disease patients probably contribute to the development of specific psychotic symptoms, namely delusional misidentification

A normative study of the Trail Making Test in Korean elders

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of age, education and gender on the performance of the Trail Making Test (TMT) and provide normative information in Korean elders. METHODS: The TMT was administered to 997 community-dwelling volunteers aged 60-90. People with serious neurological, medical and psychiatric disorders, including dementia, were excluded. RESULTS: Education and age had significant effects on both parts of the TMT. Gender also had an effect on part A of the TMT (Trail A). Based on these results, the norms of Trail A stratified by age (four overlapping tables), education (four strata) and gender, and the norms of part B of TMT (Trail B) stratified by age (four overlapping tables) and education (three strata). CONCLUSIONS: Age and educational level had a considerable influence on both Trail A and B. Our normative information on the Trail A will be useful in the elders with poor educational attainment and can be utilized for cross-cultural comparison of the Trail A performance. The fact that a large number of elders fail to complete Trail B indicates a limited applicability of Trail B in elderly population, particularly with poor educational background