Kuk-Hyun Shin

Bio: Kuk-Hyun Shin is an academic researcher from Seoul National University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Aldose reductase & Angelica gigas. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 25 publications receiving 433 citations.

Geniposide, an anti-angiogenic compound from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides.

Abstract: The EtOH extract of gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) fruits was previously found to possess potent anti-angiogenic activity in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation and purification of the EtOH extract yielded an active anti-angiogenic compound, which was determined to be an iridoid glucoside, geniposide, by spectral analyses. Geniposide showed anti-angiogenic activity in a dose-dependent manner. It also exhibited an inhibitory effect in the range of 25-100 microM on the growth of the transformed NIH3T3 cell line.

Antioxidant Activities of Decursinol Angelate and Decursin from Angelica gigas Roots

Abstract: The anti-oxidant activities of decursinol angelate (1) and decursin (2) isolated from Angelica gigas were investigated These two coumarins exhibited decrease in serum transaminase activities elevated by hepatic damage induced by in rats They also showed increase in anti-oxidant enzyme such as hepatic cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in rats These results suggest that decursinol angelate (1) and decursin (2) from A gigas possess not only the anti-oxidant, but also the hepatoprotective activities in rats

Antitumor and Immunostimulating Activities of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Fruits

Abstract: The antitumor and immunostimulating activities of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruits were investigated. Polysaccharide isolated from this plant, when administered consecutively for 9 days at 50 and 100 mg/kg i.p. in mice, caused a significant increase in the life span and a significant decrease in the tumor weight and volume in mice inoculated with Sarcoma-180 tumor cells. Polysaccharide was also demonstrated to exhibit phagocytosis-enhancing activity as measured by the carbon clearance in mice. Polysaccharide, when administered i.p. at 50 and 100 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days, exhibited a significant RCtr/RCc [the rate of regression coefficient of the animals teated (RCtr) to that of the control (RCc)], being 1.44 (PI = 1), 1.52 (PI = 2) which was approximately the same with that of enhancement of phagocytosis, its potency as expressed by the regression coefficient ratio of zymosan (RCtr/RCc = 1.55, PI = 2), a typical phagocytosis enhancer. Polysaccharide also caused a significant increase in the acid phosphatase activity representing lysosomal enzymes in macrophages at 1-100 ig/ml in vitro in compliance with in vivo results. These results suggest that the antitumor activity of polysaccharide might be related to the immunostimulating function.

Cactus stems (Opuntia spp.): A review on their chemistry, technology, and uses

Abstract: Although traditionally used as a valuable health supporting nutrient, the vegetative parts of Opuntia spp. plants are scarcely used in modern nutrition and medicine. While all kinds of different Opuntia spp. have been studied, a systematic approach regarding the inter-relationships between the composition and the pre- and postharvest conditions is still missing. Therefore, the present review compiles and discusses literature on the chemical composition of cactus stems, the knowledge on uses in food, medicine, and cosmetics. It is concluded that much research is needed to get an insight into the multitude of bioactivities reported in the traditional literature but also to take advantage of the respective constituents for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Dietary flavonoid aglycones and their glycosides: Which show better biological significance?

Abstract: The dietary flavonoids, especially their glycosides, are the most vital phytochemicals in diets and are of great general interest due to their diverse bioactivity. The natural flavonoids almost all exist as their O-glycoside or C-glycoside forms in plants. In this review, we summarized the existing knowledge on the different biological benefits and pharmacokinetic behaviors between flavonoid aglycones and their glycosides. Due to various conclusions from different flavonoid types and health/disease conditions, it is very difficult to draw general or universally applicable comments regarding the impact of glycosylation on the biological benefits of flavonoids. It seems as though O-glycosylation generally reduces the bioactivity of these compounds - this has been observed for diverse properties including antioxidant activity, antidiabetes activity, anti-inflammation activity, antibacterial, antifungal activity, antitumor activity, anticoagulant activity, antiplatelet activity, antidegranulating activity, antitrypanosomal activity, influenza virus neuraminidase inhibition, aldehyde oxidase inhibition, immunomodulatory, and antitubercular activity. However, O-glycosylation can enhance certain types of biological benefits including anti-HIV activity, tyrosinase inhibition, antirotavirus activity, antistress activity, antiobesity activity, anticholinesterase potential, antiadipogenic activity, and antiallergic activity. However, there is a lack of data for most flavonoids, and their structures vary widely. There is also a profound lack of data on the impact of C-glycosylation on flavonoid biological benefits, although it has been demonstrated that in at least some cases C-glycosylation has positive effects on properties that may be useful in human healthcare such as antioxidant and antidiabetes activity. Furthermore, there is a lack of in vivo data that would make it possible to make broad generalizations concerning the influence of glycosylation on the benefits of flavonoids for human health. It is possible that the effects of glycosylation on flavonoid bioactivity in vitro may differ from that seen in vivo. With in vivo (oral) treatment, flavonoid glycosides showed similar or even higher antidiabetes, anti-inflammatory, antidegranulating, antistress, and antiallergic activity than their flavonoid aglycones. Flavonoid glycosides keep higher plasma levels and have a longer mean residence time than those of aglycones. We should pay more attention to in vivo benefits of flavonoid glycosides, especially C-glycosides.