• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.42-49
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional value of domestic cherry tomato varieties (Summerking, Qutiquti, and Minichal). The levels of amino acids, amino acid derivatives, and ${\gamma}-aminobutyric-acid$ (GABA) were analyzed using ion chromatography. In domestic cherry tomatoes, eighteen free amino acids were found including L-glutamic acid (L-Glu), L-glutamine (L-Gln), and L-aspartic acid (L-Asp). L-Glu was the most abundant amino acid, ranging from 1,533.17 mg/100 g to 1,920.65 mg/100 g (dry weight). The next abundant amino acids were L-Gln, ranging from 784.68 mg/100 g to 1,164.36 mg/100 g and L-Asp, ranging from 320.73 mg/100 g to 387.22 mg/100 g. Domestic cherry tomatoes contained eight essential amino acids except tryptophan and the total essential amino acid content was 297.30~432.43 mg/100 g (dry weight), which was 8.92~10.61% of total free amino acid. Several amino acid derivatives were found: L-carnitine (L-Car), hydroxylysine (Hyl), o-phosphoethanolamine (o-Pea), phosphoserine (p-Ser), ${\beta}-alanine$ (${\beta}-Ala$), N-methyl-histidine (Me-His), ethanolamine ($EtNH_2$), and L-citrulline (L-Cit). L-Car, transporting long-chain fatty acid into mitocondrial matrix, was the most abundant amino acid derivative in all domestic cherry tomatoes. A high level of GABA (313.18~638.57 mg/100 g), known as a neurotransmitter, was also found in all three domestic cherry tomatoes. These results revealed that domestic cherry tomatoes have a good balance of nutrient and bioactive compounds. Therefore, cherry tomatoes can be used as a functional food material.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.273-280
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• 2013

Bamboo salt, a Korean folk medicine, is prepared with solar salt (sea salt) and baked several times at high temperatures in a bamboo case. In this study, we compared the preventive effects of bamboo salt and purified and solar salts on hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with purified and solar salts, bamboo salts prevented hepatic damage in rats, as evidenced by significantly reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05). Bamboo salt (baked $9{\times}$) triggered the greatest reduction in these enzyme levels. In addition, it also reduced the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. Histopathological sections of liver tissue demonstrated the protective effect of bamboo salt, whereas sections from animals treated with the other salt groups showed a greater degree of necrosis. We also performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses of the inflammation-related genes iNOS, COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ in rat liver tissues. Bamboo salt induced a significant decrease (~80%) in mRNA and protein expression levels of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$, compared with the other salts. Thus, we found that baked bamboo salt preparations could prevent $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damage in vivo.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.35-58
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Curcuma longa rhizoma extract in an experimental rat model of osteoarthritis. Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced in rats by injecting monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the knee joint cavity of rats. The rats were divided into 5 groups (Normal, Control, positive comparison, low (CL) and high (CH) concentration groups). Rats in the low concentration (CL) group had MIA-induced osteoarthritis; they were treated with Curcuma longa rhizoma extract at a dose of 50mg/kg body weight. Rats in the high concentration (CH) group had MIA-induced osteoarthritis; they were treated with Curcuma longa rhizoma extract at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight. Hind paw weight distribution and ROS levels were measured. At the end of all treatments, changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels were analyzed. In addition, inflammatory protein levels were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results: In this study, hind paw weight distribution significantly improved in the CL and CH groups, while. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production significantly decreased in both. The levels of ALT, AST, BUN, and creatinine did not significantly change in either group. The production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4), $p47^{phox}$, and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) decreased in both. Catalase, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased in the CL and CH groups, respectively. Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2) increased, but there were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups. Inflammatory cytokines, including nuclear factor-kappa Bp65 (NF-${\kappa}Bp65$), interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), decreased significantly in both the CL and CH groups. Conclusions: Our results showed that Curcuma longa rhizoma extract has anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-inflammatory activity is regulated by the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and mediators, such as NF-${\kappa}B$, therefore, it suppresses cartilage damage as well.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.92-99
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• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pharmacopuncture and dermal application of Sebalgukhwa-san extracts on hair growth in an alopecia mouse model. Methods: Twenty-one C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups; control group-normal saline injection or vehicle solution application, positive control group-minoxidil (MNXD), experimental group-pharmacopuncture and applied Sebalgukhwa-san (SGS) extract. The effects of the treatment on hair growth, were determined through photographs, and phototrichogram analysis by folliscope. Hair follicle morphometry by hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed, and hair growth-related protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin like growth factor-1, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 were monitored by Western blotting. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were measured for liver function test. Results: Body weight increased consistently in all groups. Hair growth was improved in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control. Hair density and thickness improved statistically significantly in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control p < 0.05. The number of hair follicles improved in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control but the size did not. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin like growth factor-1 increased, and there was a decrease in the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control, however, there was no significant difference. Sebalgukhwa-san treatment had no toxicity in liver function tests. Conclusion: Pharmacopuncture and dermal application of Sebalgukhwa-san extract may be therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of alopecia.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.173-193
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most representative neurodegenerative disease mainly caused by the excessive production of amyloid beta (Aβ). Several studies on the antioxidant activity and protective effects of Populus tomentiglandulosa (PT) against cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal damage have been reported. Based on this background, the present study investigated the protective effects of PT against cognitive impairment in AD. MATERIALS/METHODS: We orally administered PT (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 14 days in an Aβ_25-35-induced mouse model and conducted behavioral experiments to test cognitive ability. In addition, we evaluated the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and measured the production of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tissues. RESULTS: PT treatment improved the space perceptive ability in the T-maze test, object cognitive ability in the novel object recognition test, and spatial learning/long-term memory in the Morris water-maze test. Moreover, the levels of AST and ALT were not significantly different among the groups, indicating that PT did not show liver toxicity. Furthermore, administration of PT significantly inhibited the production of lipid peroxide, NO, and ROS in the brain, liver, and kidney, suggesting that PT protected against oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that administration of PT improved Aβ_25-35-induced cognitive impairment by regulating oxidative stress. Therefore, we propose that PT could be used as a natural agent for AD improvement.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.238-244
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• 2001

The study was performed to investigate the changes of components and volatiles in citrus sudachi juice heated at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and $90^{\circ}C$. Total acidity, $^{\circ}Brix$, pH, organic acids, free amino acids, vitamin C, naringin, hesperidine, neohesperidin and volatiles were analyzed in fresh and heated citrus sudachi juices. The major organic acids were citric, malic and oxalic acids and their total contents were 5.27-5.48%. Citric acid content exceeded 92%, malic and oxalic acids were 3.6 and 3.2% in total orgainc acids. The organic acids decreased as heating temperature increased, but the their decreasing contents were 0.3% of total oraganic acids. Sixteen kinds of free amino acids presented in citrus sudachi juice. Major free amino acids were alanine, threonine, proline, aspargine, aspartic acid, serine, tyrosine, and trytophane and minor free amino acids were arginine, valine, glycine, lisoluecine, leucine and histidine. Free amino acids contents decreased as heating temperature increased. Vitamin C contents also decreased from 21.3 mg% to 17.3 mg% as heating temperature increased. Naringin, hesperidine and neohesperidin also slightly decreased from 304 mg% to 297.0 mg% as heating temperature increased. In the fresh and heated juices, a total of 50 volatiles were separated, of which 31 were identified. Limonene dominated in volatiles, followed by ${\gamma}-terpinene,\;{\alpha}-phellandrene$, myrcene and ${\alpha}-pinene$. ${\alpha}-Thujene$ presented in the fresh jucie but did not present in the heated juice above $50^{\circ}C$. However, ${\alpha}-Terpinolene$, terpinene-1-ol, ${\beta}-terpineol$, $cis-{\beta}-terpineol$, ${\alpha}-muurolene$, bicyclo(3.2.0)hept-6-ene, and mentha-1.4.8-triene did not presented in the fresh jucie but newly formed in the juice heated at $90^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 1971

The nitrogen content and free amino acids were determined from the saute of mong bean paste which is one of the important protein sources on Korean diet. During the saute' process of mong-bean paste, valine, r-aminobutyrate, glutamine, arginine, methionine, and unknown acids were lost, but, proline, lysine, homoserine, and tyrosine were detected.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.369-374
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• 2006

To characterize benzimidazole-resistant and -sensitive Monilinia fructicola populations, the fungal isolates were obtained from peach plants showing brown rot and bloosom blight. Benzimidazole-sensitive isolates did not grow on potato dextrose agar(PDA) amended with $\geq1.0{\mu}g$ active ingredient(a.i.)/ml of the fungicides. However, benzimidazole-resistant isolates grew on PDA regardless of the tested concentrations of fungicides. Benzimidazole-resistant isolates did not grow on diethofencarb-PDA, but sensitive isolates grew on the same PDA. In the nucleotide sequences of $\beta$-tubulin gene, only codon 198(GAG: glutamic acid), a target site for benzimidazole, was replaced with GCG(alanine) in all of the resistant isolates, and this substitution seems to play an important role in the development of resistance. Other interesting codons such as 165(GCT), 200(TTC), and 241(GCT) were not changed among the isolates. Benzimidazole-resistant and -sensitive isolates were clustered clearly in random amplified polymerphic DNA analyses and the results revealed that low levels of genetic diversity between benzimidazole-sensitive and -resistant isolates of M. fructicola in the investigated regions.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2015

This study was to investigate the preventive effect of taemyeongcheong (TMC, a Korean traditional health drink) on acetaminophen (APAP, 800 mg/kg BW)-induced hepatic damage in ICR mice. TMC is prepared from Saururus chinensis, Taraxacum officinale, Zingiber officinale, Cirsium setidens, Salicornia herbacea, and Glycyrrhizae. A high dose of TMC (500 mg/kg BW) was found to decrease APAP-induced increases in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase. TMC pretreatment also increased the hepatic levels of hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione, and reduced serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6 in mice administered APAP (P<0.05). TMC (500 mg/kg BW) reduced hepatic mRNA levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS by 87%, 84%, 89%, 85%, and 88%, respectively, in mice treated with APAP (P<0.05). Furthermore, histological observations suggested TMC pretreatment dose-dependently prevented APAP-induced hepatocyte damage. These results suggest that TMC could be used as a functional health drink to prevent hepatic damage.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.197-200
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• 2006

We analyzed total protein (TP), albumin (AL), aspartic aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (CRE) and serum protein electrophoretic fractions in sera of rural elderly patients to evaluate the health status in rural elderly patients. We observed that the frequencies of patients showed lower level of total protein, albumin, and both total protein and albumin than them of reference range were 20.3%, 22.8% and 19.0%, respectively. The rates of patients showed higher level of AST, ALT, both of AST and ALT, UN, creatinine and both of UN and creatinine than them of reference range were 33.8%, 40.0%, 30.0%, 17.7%, 15.2% and 7.9%, respectively. Comparison of protein fractions of each patient to reference range showed that 77.2% of patients showed normal in all of patterns. Few of patients showed abnormal pattern in albumin (13.6%), ${\alpha}1-globulin (0.0%),\;{\alpha}_2-g10bulin(1.1%),\;{\beta}-globulin(1.9%)\;and\;{\gamma}-globulin(6.2%)$. These data suggest that many of rural elderly patients may suffer from heart, liver and kidney diseases. The serum protein fractions are not typical criterion to evaluate the disease, but production of proteins in rural elderly patients may be affected by liver disease and kidney disease.