• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.91-98
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• 2005

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is known as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the neurons of the central nervous system. However, its detailed action mechanisms in the rostral gustatory zone of the nucleus tractus solitarius (rNTS) have not been established. The present study was aimed to investigate the distribution, role and action mechanisms of GABA in rNTS. Membrane potentials were recorded by whole cell recordings in isolated brain slices of the rat medulla. Superfusion of GABA resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in input resistance in the neurons in rNTS. The change in input resistance ws accompanied by response to a depolarizing pulse were diminished by GABA. Superfusion of the slices with either $GABA_A$ agonist, muscimol, $GABA_B$ agonist, baclofen or $GABA_C$ agonist, TACA, decreased input resistance and reduced the nerve activity in association with membrane hyperpolarization. It is suggested that inhibitory signals playa role in sensory processing by the rNTS, in that GABA actions occur through activation of $GABA_A,\;GABA_B\;and\;GABA_C$ receptor. These results suggest that GABA has an inhibitory effect on the rNTS through an activation of $GABA_A,\;GABA_B\;and\;GABA_C$ receptors and that the GABAergic inhibition probably plays an important role in sensory processing by the rNTS.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.75-78
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• 2003

We analyzed the ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of a selection of uncooked foods. Foods with GABA concentrations in excess of 100 nmole per g dry weight included: brown rice germ, brown rice sprouts, barley sprouts, bean sprouts, beans, corn, barley, brown rice, spinach, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, kale and chestnuts. Cereals included: brown rice germ, brown rice sprouts, barley sprouts, bean sprouts, beans, corn, barley, and brown rice and had GABA concentrations of 718, 389, 326, 302, 250, 199, 190, and 123 nmole per g dry weight (DW), respectively. The vegetables: spinach, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams and kale contained 414, 166, 137, 129, 122 nmole GABA per g DW, respectively. The GABA concentration of chestnut was 188 nmole per g DW. However, oatmeal, adlay, broccoli, squash, carrots, onion, apples, lentinus edodes, green laver, and lactobacillus had GABA concentrations of less than 100 nmole per g DW. These results show that brown rice germ, sprouted cereals and spinach are good sources of plant-derived GABA. These data will be useful in selecting foods for the manufacturing of uncooked foods containing a relatively high concentrations of GABA.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2007

In our study, lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-fermented whey solutions were applied in the soybean soaking process to minimize bacterial contamination and to enrich the biologically functional components of isoflavone and $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Among the 11 LAB tested, Bifidobacteria infantis and a mixed culture (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteria lactis, and Streptococcus thermophilus; ABT-3) displaying the greatest $\beta$-glucosidase activity were selected to produce improved biologically functional soybean preparations. In the soybean soaking processing (without water spraying), the LAB-cultured 10% whey solution was used to soak and to ferment the soybeans and the fermented soybeans were finally dried by heat-blowing at $55^{\circ}C$. The processing conditions used in this study demonstrated that the final soybean product had a reduced contamination by aerobic and coliform bacteria, compared to raw soybeans, likely due to the decrease in pH during LAB fermentation. The aglycone content of the isoflavone increased up to 44.6 mg per 100 g of dried soybean by the processing method, or approximately 8-9 times as much as their initial content. The GABA contents in the processed samples increased as the processing time of soaking-fermentation proceeded as well. The soybean sample that fermented by ABT-3 culture for 24 hr showed the greatest increase in GABA content (23.95 to 97.79 mg/100 g), probably as a result of the activity of glutamate decarboxylases (GAD) released from the soybean or produced by LAB during the soaking process.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and a probiotic mixture on egg production and quality, blood parameters, and stress levels (corticosterone) in Hy-Line parent stock during summer in Korea. A total of 105 Hy-Line parent stock aged 24 weeks were randomly divided into three groups, each containing thirty-five birds: control, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and probiotics (1 × 10⁸/g Bacillus licheniformis, 1 × 10⁷/g Lactobacillus plantarum, and 1 × 10⁷/g Corynebacterium butyricum). The hens were fed a diet containing 50 ppm GABA or 0.1% probiotics for 6 weeks. Compared with the control group, the hen-day egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio over the total period were significantly higher in the probiotic group (P<0.05). In contrast no significant differences were detected among groups with respect to egg weight, albumen height, Haugh units, yolk color, shell thickness or shell strength. Similarly, no significant difference were observed among groups with regards to biochemical profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, and inorganic phosphorus). However, compared with the control group, we did detect significant reductions in corticosterone levels in the GABA and probiotics groups (P<0.05). On the basis of our findings in this study, it would appear that dietary GABA and probiotics can alleviate heat stress in Hy-Line parent stock, with probiotics in particular being found to promote significant improvements in the hen-day egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion of laying hens during the summer season in Korea.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 1997

Nicotinamide and GABA(${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid) contents in sericultural products, Mori Folium, Mori Fructus, Mori Cortex Radicis, silkworm podwer, Bombycis Exerementum and Bombycis Corpus were analyzed by HPLC. Nicotinamide content was higher in silkworm derived-products than in mulberry derived-products. Nicotinamide contained Bombycis Excrementum was the highest by 0.31 mg/g DW among the sericultural products. GABA content showed the highest by 1.68 mg/g DW in Mori Cortex Radicis among the sericultural products.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2018

${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has antihypertensive and anti-stress effects on humans. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of glutamate concentration, bran content, and barley cultivars on GABA production and determine the optimal reaction condition. Barley bran resulted in higher GABA productivity compared with that of rice bran. The higher the bran content, the higher was the GABA productivity. Furthermore, high glutamate concentration resulted in high GABA production. However, there was a decrease in the glutamate conversion rate. The production of GABA varied with temperature and barley cultivar. The optimal condition for GABA production using barley bran was 0.15 g/mL barley content, 10 mM glutamate concentration, and $20^{\circ}C$ reaction temperature. Under optimal condition, the GABA concentration was 10.34 mM, and glutamate conversion rate was 75.1%. Furthermore, the GABA productivity of the GABA production reaction using barley bran differed depending on the cultivar. Dasong and Yeongbaekchal showed higher GABA productivity than that by other cultivars.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.527-532
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• 2023

Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is a waste product of the beer industry, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a physiologically active substance important for brain and neuron physiology. In this study, we used the bacterial strains Bacillus velezensis DMB06 and B. licheniformis 0DA23-1, respectively, to ferment BSG and produce GABA. The GABA biosynthesis pathways were identified through genomic analysis of the genomes of both strains. We then inoculated the strains into BSG to determine changes in pH, acidity, reducing sugar content, amino-type nitrogen content, and GABA production, which was approximately doubled in BSG inoculated with Bacillus compared to that in uninoculated BSG; however, no significant difference was observed in GABA production between the two bacterial strains. These results provide the experimental basis for expanding the use of BSG by demonstrating the potential gain in increasing GABA production from a waste resource.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1592-1596
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• 2014

To evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus brevis G-101 on absorption of monosodium glutamate (MSG), we orally administered MSG with or without G-101 in mice and measured the maximum concentration (Cmax) and blood concentration curve (AUC) of MSG and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Oral administration of G-101 ($1{\times}10^9CFU/mouse$) potently inhibited Cmax and AUC of MSG by 97.8% and 94.3%, respectively (p < 0.05), but increased those of GABA by 32.1% and 67.7%, respectively (p < 0.05). G-101 inhibited the absorption of MSG. These results suggest that G-101 may reduce the side effect of MSG by inhibiting the absorption of MSG.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of a microbial fermentation procedure to improve the functional qualities of seaweeds. Aspergillus oryzae, which has been used in traditional Korean fermented foods, was inoculated and cultivated in an aqueous extract of sea tangle (Laminaria japonica). Fermentation of the sea tangle extract by A. oryzae for 4 days resulted in a 3-fold increase in $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content. GABA is known to be a bioactive compound. Fungal fermentation of the extract also enhanced its antioxidant activity and increased its total content of phenolic compounds. It was assumed that these changes stemmed from the biodegradation of active compounds of the sea tangle packaged within its rigid structural matrix or occurred as result of fungal fermentation. These results suggested that the application of microbial fermentation to the processing of seaweeds will help in the development of processed foods to meet consumer demands.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2013

Polygalae radix (PR) has traditionally been used as a sedative and anti-stress agent in oriental countries for a long time. PR which contains many ingredients is especially rich in saponins. This study was performed to investigate whether ethanol extract of PR enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors. In addition, possible mechanisms also were investigated. PR inhibited locomotor activity in mice. PR increased sleep rate and sleep time by concomitant administration with sub-hypnotic dose of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg). PR prolonged total sleeping time, and shortened sleep latency induced by pentobarbital (42 mg/kg). In addition, PR increased intracellular chloride concentration in primary cultured neuronal cells. The expression level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were increased, and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid $(GABA)_A$ receptors subunits were modulated by PR, especially increasing ${\gamma}$-subunit expression. In conclusion, PR augments penobarbital-induced sleep behaviors through activation of $GABA_A$ receptors and chloride channel complex.