• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.253-261
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• 2004

Ginsenosides and green tea extracts show a variety of biomedical efficacies such as anti-aging, anti-oxidation and anti-tumor-promotion effects. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been reported to inhibit the UVB-induced apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2-to-Bax ratio. We have previously shown that ginsenoside Fl protects human HaCaT cells from ultraviolet-B (UVB)-induced apoptosis by maintaining constant levels of Bcl-2 and Brn-3a. Here, we investigate the combined effect of ginsenoside Fl and EGCG on the protection of human HaCaT keratinocyte against UVB-induced apoptosis. When treated individually, although 5 ${\mu}$M ginsenoside Fl and 50${\mu}$M EGCG protected cells from UVB-induced apoptosis, 2${\mu}$M ginsenoside Fl or 10${\mu}$M EGCG treatment showed very little protection effect. However, cotreatement of 2${\mu}$M ginsenoside Fl and 10${\mu}$M EGCG successfully protected HaCaT cells from UVB-induced cell death. As expected, combining ginsenoside Fl and EGCG efficiently prevented UVB-induced decrease of Bcl-2 and Brn-3a expression. In addition, cotreatment with ginsenoside F1 and EGCG prevented the dephosphorylation of Rb, whereas individual treatment with ginsenoside Fl or EGCG failed to prevent the dephosphorylation of Rb even at high concentrations.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1149-1157
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• 2017

Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation in our body. The use of medicinal plants has been widely applied as an alternative source for drug development. One of marine natural resources, the anti-inflammatory effect of Ishige sinicola ethanol extract (ISEE), was evaluated by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell and mice model. As a result, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) were inhibited with increasing concentration of ISEE without any cytotoxicity. Furthermore, ISEE suppressed the expression of not only inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a dose-dependent manner. In mice ear edema test, the formation of edema was reduced at the highest dosage of ISEE and the reduction of the number of infiltrated mast cells was observed in histological analysis. These results indicate that ISEE has a potent anti-inflammatory activity and can be used as a pharmaceutical material for many kinds of inflammatory disease.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.425-433
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• 2000

The stochiometric mix of evaporating materials for the $CuGaTe_2$single crystal thin films was prepared from horizontal furnance. Using extrapolation method of X-ray diffraction patterns for the $CuGaTe_2$polycrystal, it was found tetragonal structure whose lattice constant $a_0 and c_0$ were 6.025 $\AA$ and 11.931 $\AA$, respectively. To obtain the single crystal thin films, $CuGaTe_2$mixed crystal was deposited on throughly etched semi-insulator GaAs(100) substrate by the Hot Wall Epitaxy (HWE) system. The source and substrate temperature were $670^{\circ}C$ and $410^{\circ}C$ respectively, and the thickness of the single crystal thin films is 2.1$\mu\textrm{m}$. The crystalline structure of single crystal thin films was investigated by the photoluminescence and double crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXD). Hall effect on this sample was measured by the method of van der Pauw and studied on carrier density and mobility dependence on temperature. The carrier density and mobility of $CuGaTe_2$single crystal thin films deduced from Hall data are $8.72{\times}10{23}$개 $\textrm m^3$, $3.42{\times}10^{-2}$ $\textrm m^2$/V.s at 293K, respectively. From the photocurrent spectrum by illumination of perpendicular light on the c-axis of the $CuGaTe_2$single crystal thin film, we have found that the values of spin orbit coupling $\Delta$s.o and the crystal field splitting $\Delta$cr were 0.0791 eV and 0.2463 eV at 10 K, respectively. From the PL spectra at 10 K, the peaks corresponding to free bound excitons and D-A pair and a broad emission band due to SA is identified. The binding energy of the free excitons are determined to be 0.0470 eV and the dissipation energy of the donor-bound exciton and acceptor-bound exciton to be 0.0490 eV, 0.0558 eV, respectively.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.661-674
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the level of MMP-2, MMP-8 in the healthy, inflammed gingival tissue and inflammed gingival tissue associated with type 2 DM. We investigate whether expression of MMP-2, MMP-8 is increased by chronic periodontitis associated with type 2 DM. Gingival tissue samples were obtained during periodontal surgery or tooth extraction. Based on patient's systemic condition & clinical criteria of gingiva, each gingival samples were divided into three groups. Group l(n=8) is clinically healthy gingiva without bleeding and no evidence of bone resorption or periodontal pockets, obtained from 8 systemically healthy patients. Group 2(n=8) is inflammed gingiva from patients with chronic periodontitis. Group 3(n=8) is inflammed gingiva from type 2 diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis. Tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting. The quantification of MMP-2, MMP-8 was performed using a densitometer and statistically analyzed by ANOVA. MMP-2, MMP-8 was expressed in all samples including healthy gingiva and increased in group 3 compared to group 1 and 2, and showed that significant variation was observed between group 1 & 3 in MMP-8 results. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that human gingival tissue with chronic periodontitis associated to type 2 diabetes showed slightly elevated MMP-2, MMP-8 levels compared to healthy gingiva and non-diabetic inflamed gingiva.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1992

The frequencies of KCCH cyclotron neutron (30 cGy/min) or $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}-rays$ (210 cGy/min)-induced asymmetrical interchanges (dicentrics and centric rings) and acentric fragments (deletion) at several doses were measured in the normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes Chromosome aberrations were scored at the first nitosis after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. The neutron and y-ray data were analysed on linear, power-law, quadratic and linear-quadratic model . When the dicentrics and centric rings of ${\gamma}-rays$ datas were pooled and fitted to these model, good fits were obtained to power-law $[Y=(5.81{\pm}1.96){\times}10^6D^{1.93+0.06},\; P=0.931]$, quadratic $[Y=(3.91{\pm}0.09){\times}10^{-6}D^2,\;P=0.972]$ an linear-Quadrati model $[Y=(6.55{\pm}6.83){\times}10^{-5}D+(3.72{\pm}0.22){\times}10^{-6}D^2\; P=0.922]$, except for linear model (P=0.067) As in the case of neutron data, the best fit was obtained to the linear model $(Y=(6.12{\pm}0.17){\times}10^{-3}\;D-0.22,\;P=0.987]$ and good fits were obtained to power-law$[Y=(5.36{\pm}3.02) {\times}10^{-4}D^{1.42+0.11},\; P=0.601]$ and linear-quadratic model$[Y=(2.43{\pm}0.70){\times}10^{-3}D+(1.21{\pm}0.39){\times}10^{-7}D^2$, \;P=0.415], except for quadratic model (P<0.005). The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutron compared with y-ray was estimated by best fitting model. In the asymmetrical interchanges range between 0.1 and 1.5 per cell, the RBE was found to be $2.714{\pm}0.408$.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

Essential oils of various plants have been known for potential biological effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic, antiplasmodial activities and insect-repellent property. Recently, the essential oils have attracted considerable interest in oral disease therapy. This essential oil has been known as being effective on easing sick house syndrome, giving forest aroma therapy effect and acting as repellent against pest. The essential oil of Pinus koraiensi, a native plant from Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, was obtained by hydrodistillation. In light of its medicinal importance, in this study its composition, antibacterial activity and the reducing effect of offensive odor have been analyzed. The composition of essential oil was determined by GC and GC-MS. We have identified 14 compounds, of which 1R-${\alpha}$-pinene (19.38 %), 3-carene (10.21 %), camphene (9.82 %), limonene (9.00 %), bicyclo[2,2,1] heptan-2-ol (8.76 %) and ${\beta}$-phellandrene (7.98 %) were the main components. Essential oils from P. koraiensis, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Abies holophylla and Pinus densiflora were compared in terms of alleviating effect of malodors caused from formaldehyde, ammonia, trimethylamine and methylmercaptan. P. koraiensis essential oil was found to decrease the amounts of ammonia and trimethylamine by 75.17 % and 77.36 %, respectively. Antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which were known as oral cavity inducer, was investigated using the paper disc agar diffusion method. The inhibition zone was observed against S. mutans (5.97 mm) and S. sobrinus (1.40 mm), respectively. P. koraiensis essential oil shown effective deodorization and inhibitory activity against oral cavity in this study might be potential material in oral sanitary industry.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 2005

To discover new functional materials using edible plants, antioxidant activities of methanol extracts from various parts of seven wild vegetables were investigated in vitro. Total polyphenol contents, determined by Folin-Denis method, varied from 16.74 to $130.22{\mu}g/mg$. Radical-scavenging activities of methanol extracts were examined using ${\alpha},\;{\alpha}-diphenyl-{\beta}-pirrylhydrazyl$ (DPPH) radicals and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Inhibition effects on peroxidation of linoleic acid determined by ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method and on oxidative degradation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose in Fenton-type reaction system were dose-dependent. Athyrium acutipinulum Kodama (leaf and rood), Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai (seed), and Solidago virga-aurea var. gigantea Nakai (root) showed relatively high antioxidant activities in various systems.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1672-1679
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• 2012

The effect of high stocking density (HSD) on the expression of stress and lipid metabolism associated genes in the liver of broiler chickens was examined by chicken genome array analysis. The chickens in a control group were randomly assigned to a $495cm^2/bird$ stocking density, whereas the chickens in a HSD group were arranged in a $245cm^2/bird$ stocking density with feeding ad libitum for 35 days. The chickens assigned to the HSD group had a significantly lower body weight, weight gain, and feed intake compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). The mortality of chickens was higher in the HSD group than in the control group. The microarray analysis indicated up-regulation of stress associated genes such as HMGCR, $HSP90{\alpha}$, HSPA5 (GRP78/Bip), DNAJC3 and ATF4, and down-regulation of interferon-${\gamma}$ and PDCD4 genes. The endoplasmic reticulum stress associated genes, HSPA5 (GRP78/Bip), DNAJC3 and ATF4, were highly expressed in the HSD group. The genes, ACSL5, TMEM195 and ELOVL6, involved in fatty acid synthesis, were elevated in the HSD group. The genes, ACAA1, ACOX1, EHHADH, LOC423347 and CPT1A, related to fatty acid oxidation, were also activated in the HSD group. These results suggest that a HSD rearing system stimulates the genes associated with fatty acid synthesis as well as fatty acid oxidation in the liver of broiler chickens.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.750-759
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• 2010

The bioactive materials (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals, decursin and decursinol angelate) and biological activities (DPPH [$\alpha,\alpha$'-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl] free radical scavenging capability, reducing power, and tyrosinase activity) in the extracts of leaf, stem mixture (AGLS), and root (AGR) from Angelica gigas Nakai were examined by using water, hot water and ethanol solvent. The highest extract yield (21.89%) was found in the water extract of AGR. The highest concentrations of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the ethanol extracts of AGLS and AGR were 14.99% and 14.79%. Major minerals of AGLS and AGR were K, Mg, Fe, Na and Ca. Decursin and decursinol angelate were the major ingredients of Angelica gigas, detected at 18.71 and 18.89 min of retention time by HPLC analysis, respectively. The highest concentrations of decursin and decursinol angelate in the Angelica gigas ethanol extract were found in root ($41.7\;{\mu}g/g$) and leaf ($34.04\;{\mu}g/g$). The highest free radical scavenging activity was found in the hot water extracts of AGLS and AGR, and its activity was stronger in all extracts of AGLS than AGR. The highest reducing power was found in the ethanol extracts of AGLS and AGR and this was dependent on the sample concentration. The hot water extracts of AGLS and AGR revealed the highest inhibition activity on tyrosinase. Overall, these results may provide the basic data needed to understand the biological activities of bioactive materials derived from Angelica gigas.