• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.273-277
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• 1979

Free sugars in various ginseng products, Korean and Russian Acanthopanaxes were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. Ginseng products included Korean red ginseng, white ginseng with skin produced in Korea, Canada, and America, and extracts of red and white ginseng. ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-fructoses,\;{\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-glucoses$, galactose, sucrose, and ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-maltoses$ were identified in Korean and American white ginsengs with skin, and in Korean red ginseng. However ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-maltoses$ were not detected in Canadian white ginseng with skin. Total amount of sugars identified in white ginseng with skin was higher than that in red ginseng. ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-fructoses,\;{\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-glucoses$, galactose, sucrose and ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-maltoses$ were identified in red and white ginseng extracts. Fructose was a major sugar in red ginseng extract while it was sucrose in white ginseng extract. ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-glucoses$, galactose, sucrose and ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-maltoses$ were identified in Russian Acanthopanax, and their patterns were similar to that of ginseng, while ${\beta}-fructose,\;{\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-glucoses$ and sucrose were identified in Korean Acantopanax and total amount of sugars was only one third of that in Russian Acanthopanax.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2007

Purpose : The ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors are pharmacologically classified into ${\beta}_1$-, ${\beta}_2$- and ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor. The gene of each subtype has polymorphisms related to their function (${\beta}_1$-adrenoceptor: Ser49Gly, ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor: Gln27Glu, ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor: Trp64Arg). The objectives of this study were to analyse the allelic and genotypic distribution of the representative polymorphism of ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors in preeclampsia and to investigate whether combined genotype of ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors may be associated with preeclampsia. Methods : Blood samples were collected from a Korean population (159 preeclamptic pregnancies and 168 normotensive pregnancies). The ${\beta}_1$-, ${\beta}_2$- and ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor genotypes was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results : There were no differences in allelic and genotypic distribution of ${\beta}_1$- and ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor polymorphisms between the two groups. However, the Arg allele of ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor polymorphism were more frequent in preecalmpsia than in controls (P<0.05, OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.01-2.46). Moreover, prevalence of genotype carrying heterozygote of ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor polymorphism was increased in preeclampsia compared with controls (P<0.05, OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06-2.92). When combination of the three polymorphisms were evaluated, pregnancies with the particular combined genotype that is consisted of heterozygote of ${\beta}_1$-, ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor and wild homozygote of ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor (Ser/Gly, Gln/Gln, Trp/Arg), showed a significant increase in the risk of preeclampsia (P<0.05, OR=3.01, 95% CI 1.12-8.08). Conclusion : A particular combined genotype (Ser/Gly, Gln/Gln, Trp/Arg) of - adrenoceptors was associated with the risk of preeclampsia.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1164-1170
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• 1999

The physicochemical characteristics of ${\beta}-glucan$ isolated from waxy and non-waxy barley were investigated. The hull-less waxy and non-waxy barley containing 6.5% and 5.3% of total ${\beta}-glucan$ respectively, were used as a starting material. The yield and ${\beta}-glucan$ content of crude ${\beta}-glucan$ from waxy barley was 5.54% and 62.9%, respectively, and those were higher than 3.34% and 59.2% from non-waxy barley. The crude ${\beta}-glucan$ purified with selective precipitation and enzymatic treatment to obtain the ${\beta}-glucan$ isolate of high purity (>99%). The total yield of purified ${\beta}-glucan$ from waxy and non-waxy barley was 4.46% and 2.59%, respectively. The surface appearance of the purified ${\beta}-glucan$ by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed randomly entangled multi-net structure of ${\beta}-glucan$ microfibrils. The melting temperature of ${\beta}-glucan$ from waxy and non-waxy barley measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was $184.6^{\circ}C$, and $180.3^{\circ}C$, respectively. DSC endotherm of ${\beta}-glucan$ solution showed 2 peaks near $68^{\circ}C$ and $84^{\circ}C$. Enthalpy of phase transition was higher in non-waxy ${\beta}-glucan$ than waxy ${\beta}-glucan$, and the intrinsic viscosity of ${\beta}-glucan$ solution from waxy barley was higher than that of non-waxy ${\beta}-glucan$. The pasting viscosity of barley starch with the purified ${\beta}-glucan$ determined by Rapid Visco-Analyzer was higher than that of barley starch without ${\beta}-glucan$, and the effect of ${\beta}-glucan$ on increasing the paste viscosity was greater in non-waxy barley starch.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1363-1370
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• 2006

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Agaricus blazei $\beta-glucan$ and egg shell calcium complex on bone metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty Sprague-Dewley female rats, 10 weeks of age $(248{\pm}1.7g)$, were divided into 4 groups and fed on the experimental diets for 6 weeks: sham operated control treated with normal diet containing 0.5% calcium (Sham-C), OVX-control treated with normal diet containing 0.5% calcium (OVX-C), $OVX-\beta-glucan$ group treated with $\beta-glucan$ diet containing 0.5% calcium (OVX-G), and $OVX-\beta-glucan$ egg shell calcium complex treated with $OVX-\beta-glucan$ egg shell calcium complex containing 0.5% calcium (OVX-GE). Bone weight of femur was higher in the OVX-GE group than in the other OVX groups. Bone mineral density of femur was significantly different (p<0.05) among the experimental groups and showed the highest level in the OVX-GE group. Calcium absorption rate and retention were higher in the $\beta-glucan$ supplement groups than in the other groups (p<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activities and osteocalcin levels of serum showed lower in the $\beta-glucan$ supplement groups than in the OVX-C group. Deoxypyridinoline crosslink values of urine, indicator of bone absorption, showed the lowest in the OVX-GE group. The $\beta-glucan$ supplemented groups had a lower bone resorption ratio than in the OVX-C group. We concluded that bioavailability of calcium is higher in $\beta-glucan$ supplement groups compared to those in OVX rats. From the above results, these findings suggest the possibility of using $\beta-glucan$ egg shell calcium complex as a functional food material related to bone metabolism, even though there is no significant difference between the groups of $\beta-glucan$ and $\beta-glucan-egg$ shell calcium complex supplementation.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 1996

The $\beta$-glucosidase enzyme was purified from E. coli carrying Cellulomonas fimi $\beta$-glucosidase gene. SDS-PAGE and analytical gel filtration revealed that molecular weight of this enzyme was 56,000 dalton and consisted of a single polypeptide.Inhibition caused by heavy metals and activation by dithiothreitol suggest the existence of essential thiol group in the enzyme. The enzyme was not active on maltose (glucose $\alpha$-1,4-glucose) which has a $\alpha$-linkage, whereas it was active on lactose (glucose $\beta$-1,4-glucose), PNPG (p-nitrophenyl $\beta$-D-glucopyranoside) and PNPC (p-nitrophenyl $\beta$-D-cellobioside), although its reaction rates were different.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 1987

A bacterium K-4-3, producing $\beta$-glucan hydrolyzing enzyme, was isolated from soil and identified to be Bacillus subtilis by its morpholohical and physiological characteristics. $\beta$-glucan was coloured using cibacron blue 3G-A and cross linded by the addition of 1, 4-butanedioldiglycidyl ether. This substrate was used for the isolation of $\beta$-glucanase producing microorganism. The $\beta$-glucan hydrolyzing enzyme actibity from isolated K-4-3 strain was also measured using the modified substrate. Bacillus subtilis K-4-3 produced the highest extracellular $\beta$-glucan hydrolyzing activity in the basal medium containing $\beta$-glucan as a carbon source, peptone and tryptone as a nitrogen source, and magnesium sulfate as an inorganic salt. The optimum temperature and initial pH for $\beta$-glucanase production by Bacillus subtilis K-4-3 were $37^{\circ}C$ and pH6. The highest enzyme activity was obtained at the culture age of 54 hrs with rotary shaking at $37^{\circ}C$. The crude enzyme showed the highest activity at pH 7.5-8.0 and $65^{\circ}C$.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2001

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and no cure is known so far. Extensive genetic works and in vitro experiments combined with clinical observations link amyloid $\beta$--protein (A$\beta$-) to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It was hypothesized that $A\beta$- becomes toxic when it adopts a fibrillar conformation. Recently, non-fibrillar form of $A\beta$- was observed and the potential role in the pathogenesis of AD became an interesting subject. In this study, the cytotoxicity of non-fibrillar $A\beta$- and fibrillar $A\beta$- was compared on oxidative stress, membrane damage, or nucleosome break down. Non-fibrillar $A\beta$- was not toxic in peripheral nervous system-derived cells but significantly toxic in central nervous system-derived cells while fibrillar $A\beta$- was non-selectively toxic in both cell culture. The neurotoxicity of non-fibrillar $A\beta$- was reproduced in semi-in vivo culture of mouse brain slice. In conclusion, non-fibrillar $A\beta$- could be more relevant to the selective neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's brains than fibrillar $A\beta$- and further research needs to be done for identification of the cause of AD.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.38.1-38.9
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• 2018

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disturbing and advanced neurodegenerative disease and is characterized pathologically by the accumulation of amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) and the hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in the brain. The deposition of $A{\beta}$ aggregates triggers synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration, which lead to cognitive disorders. Here, we found that FF isolated from an eatable perennial brown seaweed E.bicyclis protect against $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells stably transfected with two amyloid precursor protein (APP) constructs: the APP695 cDNA (SH-SY5Y-APP695swe). The FF demonstrated strong inhibitory activity for ${\beta}$-secretase ($IC_{50}$ $16.1{\mu}M$) and its inhibition pattern was investigated using Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots, and found to be non-competitive. Then, we tested whether FF could inhibit production of $A{\beta}$ in SH-SY5Y-APP695swe. FF inhibited the production of $A{\beta}$ and soluble-APP, residue of APP from cleaved APP by ${\beta}$-secretase. Our data show that FF can inhibit the production of $A{\beta}$ and soluble-$APP{\beta}$ via inhibition of ${\beta}$-secretase activity. Taken together these results suggest that FF may be worthy of future study as an anti-AD treatment.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2013

Beta-lapachone (${\beta}$-Lap; 3,4-dihydro-2, 2-dimethyl-2H-naphthol[1, 2-b]pyran-5,6-dione) is a novel anti-cancer drug under phase I/II clinical trials. ${\beta}$-Lap has been demonstrated to cause apoptotic and necrotic death in a variety of human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms underlying the ${\beta}$-Lap toxicity against cancer cells has been controversial. The most recent view is that ${\beta}$-Lap, which is a quinone compound, undergoes two-electron reduction to hydroquinone form utilizing NAD(P)H or NADH as electron source. This two-electron reduction of ${\beta}$-Lap is mediated by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), which is known to mediate the reduction of many quinone compounds. The hydroquinone forms of ${\beta}$-Lap then spontaneously oxidizes back to the original oxidized ${\beta}$-Lap, creating futile cycling between the oxidized and reduced forms of ${\beta}$-Lap. It is proposed that the futile recycling between oxidized and reduced forms of ${\beta}$-Lap leads to two distinct cell death pathways. First one is that the two-electron reduced ${\beta}$-Lap is converted first to one-electron reduced ${\beta}$-Lap, i.e., semiquinone ${\beta}$-Lap $(SQ)^{{\cdot}-}$ causing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which then causes apoptotic cell death. The second mechanism is that severe depletion of NAD(P)H and NADH as a result of futile cycling between the quinone and hydroquinone forms of ${\beta}$-Lap causes severe disturbance in cellular metabolism leading to apoptosis and necrosis. The relative importance of the aforementioned two mechanisms, i.e., generation of ROS or depletion of NAD(P)H/NADH, may vary depending on cell type and environment. Importantly, the NQO1 level in cancer cells has been found to be higher than that in normal cells indicating that ${\beta}$-Lap may be preferentially toxic to cancer cells relative to non-cancer cells. The cellular level of NQO1 has been found to be significantly increased by divergent physical and chemical stresses including ionizing radiation. Recent reports clearly demonstrated that ${\beta}$-Lap and ionizing radiation kill cancer cells in a synergistic manner. Indications are that irradiation of cancer cells causes long-lasting elevation of NQO1, thereby sensitizing the cells to ${\beta}$-Lap. In addition, ${\beta}$-Lap has been shown to inhibit the repair of sublethal radiation damage. Treating experimental tumors growing in the legs of mice with irradiation and intraperitoneal injection of ${\beta}$-Lap suppressed the growth of the tumors in a manner more than additive. Collectively, ${\beta}$-Lap is a potentially useful anti-cancer drug, particularly in combination with radiotherapy.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 1999

Transforming growth factor $\beta$1(TGF-$\beta$1) has potentials to be used as a new therapeutic agent. However, studies with TGF-$\beta$ were hindered by its high cost. In this study, we developed an improved method to purify TGF-$\beta$1 from human platelets, for which four purification steps were used: platelet extraction, gel filtration, cation exchange chromatography, and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. After a final step of purification, a pure protein with a molecular weight of 25,000 corresponding to the commercially available TGF-$\beta$1 was obtained, which were confirmed by silver staining and Western blotting after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). It was confirmed by the inhibitory effects of TGF-$\beta$1 on a mink lung epithelial cell line that the purified TGF-$\beta$1 had its biological activity, whose activity is slightly higher than that of the commercially available TGF-$\beta$1. About 3.7$\mug of the purified TGF-$\beta$1 was obtained from 10 units of concentrated human platelets, the final yield of which is about 21%.