• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.399-405
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• 2010

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic inhibition is important in the function of the visual cortex. In a previous study, we reported a developmental increase in $GABA_A$ receptor-mediated inhibition in the rat visual cortex from 3 to 5 weeks of age. Because this developmental increase is crucial to the regulation of the induction of long-term synaptic plasticity, in the present study we investigated in detail the postnatal development of phasic and tonic inhibition. The amplitude of phasic inhibition evoked by electrical stimulation increased during development from 3 to 8 weeks of age, and the peak time and decay kinetics of inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) and current (IPSC) slowed progressively. Since the membrane time constant decreased during this period, passive membrane properties might not be involved in the kinetic changes of IPSP and IPSC. Tonic inhibition, another mode of $GABA_A$ receptor-mediated inhibition, also increased developmentally and reached a plateau at 5 weeks of age. These results indicate that the time course of the postnatal development of GABAergic inhibition matched well that of the functional maturation of the visual cortex. Thus, the present study provides significant insight into the roles of inhibitory development in the functional maturation of the visual cortical circuits.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2013

Ginsenosides, one of the active ingredients of Panax ginseng, show various pharmacological and physiological effects, and they are converted into compound K (CK) or protopanaxatriol (M4) by intestinal microorganisms. CK is a metabolite derived from protopanaxadiol (PD) ginsenosides, whereas M4 is a metabolite derived from protopanaxatriol (PT) ginsenosides. The ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid $receptor_C$ ($GABA_C$) is primarily expressed in retinal bipolar cells and several regions of the brain. However, little is known of the effects of ginsenoside metabolites on $GABA_C$ receptor channel activity. In the present study, we examined the effects of CK and M4 on the activity of human recombinant $GABA_C$ receptor (${\rho}$ 1) channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes by using a 2-electrode voltage clamp technique. In oocytes expressing $GABA_C$ receptor cRNA, we found that CK or M4 alone had no effect in oocytes. However, co-application of either CK or M4 with GABA inhibited the GABA-induced inward peak current ($I_{GABA}$). Interestingly, pre-application of M4 inhibited $I_{GABA}$ more potently than CK in a dose- dependent and reversible manner. The half-inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values of CK and M4 were $52.1{\pm}2.3$ and $45.7{\pm}3.9{\mu}M$, respectively. Inhibition of $I_{GABA}$ by CK and M4 was voltage-independent and non-competitive. This study implies that ginsenoside metabolites may regulate $GABA_C$ receptor channel activity in the brain, including in the eyes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2012

The goal of this study was to identify neurotransmitters in endings (p-endings) presynaptic to low-threshold mechanoreceptive vibrissa afferents in the laminae III/IV of cat trigeminal caudal nucleus (Vc). Rapidly-adapting vibrissa afferents were intra-axonally labeled after electrophysiological identification, and postembedding immunogold staining with antisera against ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine was performed, followed by quantitative ultrastructural analysis of p-endings presynaptic to the labeled vibrissa afferent terminals. Sixteen p-endings, which are presynaptic to the HRP-labeled vibrissa afferent terminals, were analyzed in this study: Eight p-endings (50%, 8/16) were immunopositive to GABA but immunonegative to glycine (GABA+ p-ending), and remaining 8 p-endings (50%, 8/16) exhibited immunoreactivity to both GABA and glycine. Bouton volume of the p-endings was not significantly different between the two groups. However, the p-endings differed from each other in relative content of GABA and glycine. These findings suggest that low-threshold mechanoreceptive information conveyed through vibrissa afferent at Vc is presynaptically modulated by GABA and/or glycine, and that degree of presynaptic modulation may differ among each vibrissa afferent terminal.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.336-341
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• 2013

In this study, the proximate compositions, minerals, free amino acids, total polyphenol and flavonoids of figs were analyzed according to their cultivars. The proximate compositions showed moisture at 85.37~87.28%, crude ash at 0.38~0.43%, crude lipid at 0.20~0.26%, crude protein at 0.39~0.81%, carbohydrate at 11.23~13.66% and crude fiber at 5.12~7.55% (dry base). The amount of the following minerals in the figs were highest, in this order: K > Ca > Mg > Na. The total polyphenol contents were highest in this order: Dauphine (198.91~261.64 mg/kg), Banane (211.07 mg/kg) and Horaish (169.90~174.33 mg/kg). The total flavonoid contents were highest in this order: Banane (84.52 mg/kg) > Dauphine (60.47~68.71 mg/kg) > Horaish (44.12~44.60 mg/kg). The quercetin contents were highest in this order: Dauphine, 2.40~3.54 mg/kg; Banane, 3.54 mg/kg; and Horaish, 2.40~2.75 mg/kg; but the flavonoid contents were lowest in this order: Dauphine, 1.11~1.16 mg/kg; Banane, 1.14 mg/kg; and Horaish, 1.09~1.11 mg/kg. The free amino acid content of the figs was 199.70~328.77 mg/100 g; their essential free amino acid contents, 46.45~67.46 mg/100 g; and their GABA (${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid) contents, 13.57~26.69 mg/100 g.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated the effect of adding a 1, 3, or 5% solution of germinated brown rice concentrate (GBRC) to fermented kimchi. During fermentation, the concentration of free amino acids and essential amino acids increased with increasing concentrations of GBRC. In particular, higher levels of free amino acids were associated with a sweet taste compared with controls. The ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of kimchi containing the 5% GBRC solution was 3 times higher than that of controls. The total phenolic compound content (130 mg%) did not change significantly in the control group, but increased in 10 mg% increments as the GBRC concentration rose from 1 to 3 to 5%. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and superoxide radical scavenging activity also increased with the GBRC concentration, with maximum activity during the ripe stage with GBRC measured at 79 to 82% compared with controls (30 to 71 %). The nitrite scavenging activity was 10% higher with GBRC compared with controls and was highest when the pH was 1.2. These results showed that the addition of GBRC is effective in improving the function of kimchi.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.276-286
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• 2011

Morus alba (Mulberry) leaves were exposed to fermentation for varying amounts of time: no fermentation (0 min, MANF), medial fermentation (10 h, MAMF), and full fermentation (24 h, MAFF). The chemical compositions of the teas were determined and compared with those of commercial Camellia sinensis teas. The results showed that mulberry leaf teas contained significantly higher amounts of ash and fat than Camellia sinensis tea. Compared with Camellia sinensis teas, all mulberry leaf teas contained significantly more total free amino acids (24.26~54.25mg L-glutamic acid equivalent $g^{-1}$), but the concentration of caffeine was relatively low for mulberry leaf teas. High thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin contents were found in all mulberry leaf teas, but ascorbic acid and pyridoxine were found at higher levels in Camellia sinensis teas than in mulberry leaf teas. Color measurements demonstrated that mulberry leaf tea infusions generally had lower $a^*$ (greenness) and $b^*$ (yellowness) values than Camellia sinensis tea infusions. All infusions exhibited low turbidity levels (less than 10%). The contents of total phenols were measured as 71.8 and 74.9mg 100 $ml^{-1}$ infusion in MANF and MAFF, respectively, but the MAMF tea infusion showed significantly lower total phenols (64.6mg 100$ml^{-1}$ infusion). The total flavonoid contents of mulberry leaf tea infusions were lower (8.9~20.6mg 100 $ml^{-1}$ infusion) than those of Camellia sinensis teas and thus had lower antioxidant capacities (DPPH: 326.8~526.9 ${\mu}M$ trolox equivalent $g^{-1}$ and FRAP: 364.6~387.6 ${\mu}M$ trolox equivalent $g^{-1}$) than Camellia sinensis teas. The amounts of ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and rutin were higher in fermented mulberry leaf teas; the level of GABA increased with increasing fermentation time and the content was highest in MAFF, but rutin content was highest in MAMF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.573-578
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• 2015

This study was performed to elucidate the fermentation and sensory characteristics of Korean traditional rice wine, makgeolli, made from GABA rice, which has a high content of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA rice is a brown rice that is not easily fermented by general makgeolli manufacturing methods. Thus, the Geupchungju method, which is a Korean traditional manufacturing method for makgeolli using a fermentation starter and additional malt, was considered for making makgeolli from GABA rice. We confirmed that Geupchungju method showed a high saccharification and stable alcohol fermentation ability in the early stages of fermentation. However, malt addition more than 2% resulted in a lower score in the sensory evaluation of the final product. It was also confirmed that GABA content of GABA makgeolli was higher than that of commercial makgeolli by 2.3-fold. Our result provides useful information toward improving quality of brown rice makgeolli.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.542-549
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical properties and functionality of probiotic potato juice fermented by Lactobacillus casei. Free sugar content (especially glucose) of potatoes decreased by fermentation, but organic acid contents increased by fermentation. Although the free amino acid content of Superior juice significantly decreased after fermentation, Haryeong significantly increased after fermentation. ${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid, a functional amino acid, was detected at high levels in all samples and slightly decreased with fermentation, but not significantly. The total polyphenol content of potato juice showed insignificant changes in all samples by fermentation. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of all samples was more than 90%, and most of the activity was maintained after fermentation. The nitrite scavenging ability of all samples greatly decreased with fermentation; however a SOD-like activity slightly increased with fermentation, except for Haryeong. There was a significant xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect in fresh potato juice (more than 45%) and a low loss by fermentation. From our results, most of the chemical properties and functionality of potato juice are maintained after fermentation, although free sugar content and nitrite scavenging activity decline. Thus probiotic potato juice fermented by lactic acid could be used as a functional beverage.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.506-512
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• 2006

Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is a traditional herbal plant that has been used in Asian countries for centuries as an anticonvulsant analgesic, and a sedative for treating general paralysis, epilepsy, vertigo, and tetanus. This study was designed to optimize conditions for ethanol extracts or GEB by analyzing and monitoring the extraction characteristics with response surface methodology. The extract was used for analysis of the effective components of GEB. The estimated optimal conditions were 63.62% in ethanol of 5.06 mL/g in solvent per sample, and 6.25 hr in extract time. The optimal extraction conditions for $ \gamma-aminobutyric$ acid, were 45.52%, 5.67 mL/g, and 6.04 hr, while those for $\rho-hydroxybenzyl$ alcohol were 62.73%, 5.02 mL/g, and 5.95 hr. Regression equation was generated for each variables and then superimposed them, such as soluble solid, $ \gamma-aminobutyric$ acid and $\rho-hydroxybenzyl$ alcohol content thereby resulting in superimposed values of extinction conditions like $45\sim65%,\;5\sim7mL/g$ and $5\sim7$ hr, respectively.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.498-506
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• 2016

A croquette added with heat-treated kimchi at 20% showing higher sensory preferences was analyzed for its physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity using a croquette without kimchi as a control. Compared with the control, kimchi-added croquette had 3.3-fold higher organic acids content (p<0.001), resulting in a significant reduction of pH (p<0.001) and higher metal chelating activity (p<0.001). Upon addition of kimchi, total reducing capacity increased from 109.4 to $139.4{\mu}g/g$ gallic acid equivalents (p<0.01), and DPPH radical scavenging activity also increased 2-fold, which corresponded to 54% of the electron-donating ability of 0.35 mM gallic acid. In addition, contents of free amino acids and ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA) appreciably increased by 1.6-fold (p<0.01) and 10-fold (p<0.001), respectively. This could be attributed to the ingredients of kimchi and/or enzymatic transformation of precursors by microorganisms during kimchi fermentation. Kimchi-added croquette was determined to be a good source of dietary fiber relative to its calorie content. Texture profile analysis showed no significant differences in hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness between the two croquettes with or without kimchi. Taken together, this study shows that utilization of heat-treated kimchi as a filling for croquette could be a good strategy to improve both the nutritional quality and antioxidant activity of croquette.