• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.110-110
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• 2019

Beet (Beta vulgaris) is a crop similar to sugar beet, chard and leaf beets, and its origin is the Mediterranean coast of southern Europe and Central Asia. Among the components contained in beet, betalain, the main component of the root, has been reported to prevent lipid peroxidation induced by active oxygen and free radicals due to its high radical scavenging ability. Among these, the betalain, betanin (Betanidin 5-O-${\beta}$-glucoside) contains both phenolic and cyclic amine groups, all of which are highly electron-donating and act as antioxidants and has tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Betanin accounts for about 75-95% of the total pigment found in the beet. EM stands for effective microorganisms and is a collection of beneficial microorganisms. EM includes yeast, lactic acid bacteria, mycelia, photosynthetic bacteria, actinomycetes, etc. Human patch test according to CTFA guidelines was observed to be a safe source of no stimulation when 5% (v/v) of the EM fermentation liquid was applied to the human body. In addition, beneficial microorganisms are synergistic in the process of co-existence and cultivation and it has the effect of increasing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting corruption. This study confirms the difference in tyrosinase inhibitory activity and betanin content of beetroot extracts and EM fermented beetroot extracts. Hence, these results confirm that EM fermented beetroot extracts are highly beneficial for the human body.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.147-158
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the influences of abnormal high temperature on growth, yield and physiologically active substances of the strawberry. General strawberry cultivars in the $20^{\circ}C$ growth condition showed much better growth of leaf number, length, diameter along with plant height, compared with those in $22.5^{\circ}C$ or $25^{\circ}C$. But the cultivars of both 'Sulhyang' and 'Mehyang' showed good growth and development at $25^{\circ}C$ with the roots showing great growth at $20^{\circ}C$. The quality and yield of the strawberry were best in the $20^{\circ}C$ growth condition, but the merchantability deteriorated in the $25^{\circ}C$ high temperature condition. As for the content of the physiologically active substances of the strawberry, it increased at $20^{\circ}C$, the optimum growth temperature, but decreased at $25^{\circ}C$. The physiologically active substances in the strawberry differed among the cultivars, the contents of cyanidin-3-glucoside, cinchonine, ellagic acid and cinnamic acid higher in the 'Mehyang', whereas the content of fisetin is higher in the 'Sulhyang' cultivar.Consequentially, the high temperature in summer has a negative effect on the physiological active ingredients of the strawberry, which was increased in the strawberry cultivated at proper temperature, and high quality strawberry production was possible.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2019

A simple and reliable analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection was established for the analysis of the flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium (CM). Luteolin-7-O-glucoside (LU7G) was chosen as a target analyte considering its content, availability, and ease of analysis. Chromatographic separation of LU7G was achieved using a Phenomenex Gemini $C_{18}$ column ($250{\times}4.6mm$, $5{\mu}m$) run with a mobile phase consisting of 0.5 % acetic acid in water and 0.5 % acetic acid in acetonitrile at a flow rate of $1.0mL\;min^{-1}$. The detection wavelength and column temperature were set at 350 nm and $40^{\circ}C$, respectively. Method validation was performed according to the AOAC guidelines and the method was specific, linear ($R^2=0.9991$ for $50-300{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$), precise (${\leq}3.91%$RSD), and accurate (100.1-105.7 %). The limits of detection and quantification were 3.62 and $10.96{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, respectively. The established method was successfully applied to determine the contents of LU7G in various batches of bulk CM extracts and labscale CM extract. The developed method is a readily applicable method for the quality assessment of CM and its related products.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.428-434
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• 2020

Background: This study aimed to investigate the quality characteristics of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge leaf (AMBL) fermented with lactic acid bacteria and the applicability of its biologically active compounds. Methods and Results: An assessment of physicochemical properties such as pH, total acidity, free sugars, and isoflavonoid (calycosin-7-o-β-d-glucoside, ononin, calycosin, and formononetin) was conducted. Furthermore, the levels of antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, and radical scavenging activities of the extracts using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate and 2,2-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) were investigated. The calycosin content in the water extract of AMBL fermented with Leuconostoc mesenteroides increased by approximately twice as much as the control. Conclusions: These results indicate that L. mesenteroides can be used to improve biological activity through fermentation, and that AMBL can be used as a functional materials and edible resource in industrial areas.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2021

Background: Panax ginseng, as one of the most widely used herbal medicines worldwide, has been studied comprehensively in terms of the chemical components and pharmacology. The proteins from ginseng are also of great importance for both nutrition value and the mechanism of secondary metabolites. However, the proteomic studies are less reported in the absence of the genome information. With the completion of ginseng genome sequencing, the proteome profiling has become available for the functional study of ginseng protein components. Methods: We optimized the protein extraction process systematically by using SDS-PAGE and one-dimensional liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The extracted proteins were then analyzed by two-dimensional chromatography separation and cutting-edge mass spectrometry technique. Results: A total of 2,732 and 3,608 proteins were identified from ginseng root and cauline leaf, respectively, which was the largest data set reported so far. Only around 50% protein overlapped between the cauline leaf and root tissue parts because of the function assignment for plant growing. Further gene ontology and KEGG pathway revealed the distinguish difference between ginseng root and leaf, which accounts for the photosynthesis and metabolic process. With in-deep analysis of functional proteins related to ginsenoside synthesis, we interestingly found the cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase expression extensively in cauline leaf but not in the root, indicating that the post glucoside synthesis of ginsenosides might be carried out when growing and then transported to the root at withering. Conclusion: The systematically proteome analysis of Panax ginseng will provide us comprehensive understanding of ginsenoside synthesis and guidance for artificial cultivation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the Rhododendron weyrichii flower extract fermented using Shindari, a traditional Jeju barley Nuruk-based fermentation. In this study, we examined the antioxidant potential of R. weyrichii flower extracts (RF) and R. weyrichii flower extracts fermented with Nuruk or Shindari (RFFN or RFFS, respectively) using various in vitro antioxidant assays including DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, total phenol content and FRAP assays. We also evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of the RF and RFFS on murine RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by treating the RAW 264.7 cells with various concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 ㎍/ml) of RF or RFFS. As a result, we observed that the ABTS radical scavenging activity and total phenol content of RFFS was higher than that of RF and RFFN. Additionally, lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was significantly lower in RFFS-treated cells when compared to the LPS-treated control. In addition, RFFS-treated cells exhibited decreased expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) proteins and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting showed that both the quercetin and quercetin glucoside (quercitrin and isoquercitrin) levels were affected by the fermentation process. In conclusion, our data suggests that traditional fermentation could be an important strategy in improving the biological properties of raw materials including their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Finally, RFFS may be a candidate for developing topical antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2021

Aging is the process spontaneously occurred in living organisms. Cardiac fibrosis is a pathophysiological process of cardiac aging. Mangiferin is a well-known C-glucoside xanthone in mango leaves with lots of beneficial properties. In this study, rat model of cardiac fibrosis was induced by injected with 150 mg/kg/d D-galactose for 8 weeks. The age-related cardiac decline was estimated by detecting the relative weight of heart, the serum levels of cardiac injury indicators and the expression of hypertrophic biomakers. Cardiac oxidative stress and local inflammation were measured by detecting the levels of malondialdehyde, enzymatic antioxidant status and proinflammatory cytokines. Cardiac fibrosis was evaluated by observing collagen deposition via masson and sirius red staining, as well as by examining the expression of extracellular matrix proteins via Western blot analysis. The cardiac activity of profibrotic TGF-β1/p38/MK2 signaling pathway was assessed by measuring the expression of TGF-β1 and the phosphorylation levels of p38 and MK2. It was observed that mangiferin ameliorated D-galactose-induced cardiac aging, attenuated cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis, as well as inhibited the activation of TGF-β1/p38/MK2 signaling pathway. These results showed that mangiferin could ameliorate cardiac fibrosis in D-galactose-induced aging rats possibly via inhibiting TGF-β/p38/MK2 signaling pathway.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2021

Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) causes meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and bacteremia in neonates and children and has a high mortality rate. For rapid E. sakazakii detection, various differential and selective media containing α-glucosidase substrates, such as 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (BCIG) or 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-D-glucoside (α-MUG), have been developed as only E. sakazakii exhibits α-glucosidase activity in the genus Enterobacter. However, Escherichia vulneris (family: Enterobacteriaceae) can also utilize α-glucosidase substrates, thereby resulting in false positives. Various iron sources are known to promote the growth of gram-negative bacteria. This study aimed to develop a selective medium containing α-glucosidase substrates for E. sakazakii detection that would eliminate false positives, such as those of E. vulneris, and to determine the role of iron source in the medium. Three previously developed (TPD) media, i.e., Oxoid, OK, and VRBG, and the medium developed in this study, i.e., NGTE, were evaluated using 58 E. sakazakii and 5 non-E. sakazakii strains. Fifty-four E. sakazakii strains appeared as fluorescent or chromogenic colonies on all four media that were assessed. Two strains showed colonies on NGTE medium and not on TPD media. In contrast, the remaining two strains showed colonies on TPD media and not on NGTE medium. None of the non-E. sakazakii strains showed fluorescent or chromogenic colonies on any of the evaluated media except E. vulneris, which showed colonies on TPD media and not on NGTE medium. This study demonstrated that the newly developed NGTE medium was not only equally efficient in promoting the growth of bacterial colonies when compared with the currently available media but also eliminated false positives, such as E. vulneris.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-446
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• 2022

In this study, to obtain icaritin with high pharmacological activities from icariin, which has a content ratio of over 58% in the total flavonoids of Epimedium herb, a special Epimedium flavonoid-glycosidase was produced, purified and characterized from Aspergillus sp.y848 strain. The optimal enzyme production was gained in a medium containing 5% (w/v) wheat bran extract and 0.7% (w/v) Epimedium leaf powder as the enzyme inducer, and strain culture at 30℃ for 6-7 days. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 73.2 kDa; the optimal pH and temperature were 5.0 and 40℃. The enzyme Km and Vmax values for icariin were 15.63 mM and 55.56 mM/h. Moreover, the enzyme hydrolyzed the 7-O-glucosides of icariin into icariside II, and finally hydrolyzed 3-Orhamnoside of icariside II into icaritin. The enzyme also hydrolyzed 7-O-glucosides of epimedin B to sagittatoside B, and then further hydrolyzed terminal 3-O-xyloside of sagittatoside B to icarisiede II, before finally hydrolyzing 3-O-rhamnoside of icarisiede II into icaritin. The enzyme only hydrolyzed 7-O-glucoside of epimedin A or epimedin C into sagittatoside A or sagittatoside C. It is possible to prepare icaritin from the high-content icariin in Epimedium herb using this enzyme. When 2.5% icariin was reacted at 40℃ for 18-20 h by the low-cost crude enzyme, 5.04 g icaritin with 98% purity was obtained from 10 g icariin. Also, the icaritin molar yield was 92.5%. Our results showed icaritin was successfully produced via cost-effective and relatively simple methods from icariin by crude enzyme. Our results should be very useful for the development of medicines from Epimedium herb.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2022

Background: Verbenalin is an iridoid glucoside, which is among the active components of some medicinal herbs such as Verbena officinalis Linn, and Cornus officinalis Siebold and Zucc. Previous studies have confirmed the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective potential of verbenalin. To confirm the safety of verbenalin, an approximate lethal dose was determined based on a single oral dose toxicity study. Methods: Institute of Cancer Research mice were randomly assigned to three verbenalin exposure groups (250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg) and a control group (5% methylcellulose solution). There were (5 male and 5 female mice per group). Mortality, clinical signs, and body weight were monitored for 14 days, and necropsies were conducted. Results: No mortalities were observed in the control group or the verbenalin 250 mg/kg group, whereas mortalities were observed in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg verbenalin groups. During the observation period, stool abnormalities such as mucous stools were observed. Clinical signs such as loss of locomotor activity were observed in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg verbenalin groups. During the study period, significant changes in body weight were observed in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg verbenalin groups; however, no gross abnormalities were observed at necropsy. Overall, no toxicity was found in the 250 mg/kg group. Conclusion: The approximate lethal dose of verbenalin was estimated to be 500 mg/kg. For a more accurate assessment of the safety of verbenalin, other types of studies such as repeated-dose toxicity studies should also be conducted.