• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.679-687
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• 2019

Litsea populifolia, a plant species of the Lauraceae family, is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia. The phylogenetic relationships and botanical characteristics of L. populifolia have been reported; however, its anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer effects of ethanol extracts of L. populifolia (EELP) together with the molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer activity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. EELP showed significant anti-oxidative effects with a 50% inhibitory concentration at $11.71{\mu}g/ml$, which was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. EELP exhibited cytotoxic activity and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas EELP did not have the cytotoxic effect on the normal human lung cell line IMR90. Treatment with EELP also resulted in a decreased expression of G1/S transition-related molecules-including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, CDK6, cyclin D1, and cyclin E-both for the transcription and translation levels. EELP-induced G1 arrest was associated with the phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), p53, cell division cycle 25 homolog A (CDC25A), and the reduction of CDC25A expression in A549 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that EELP may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase through both p53-dependent and p53-independent (ATM/CHK2/CDC25A/CDK2) pathways in A549 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1406-1415
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• 2018

Based on the antioxidative effects in organic solvent fractions obtained from the main methanolic extract of Houttuynia cordata Thunb, the cytoprotective effects by oxidative-stress were here analyzed. Regarding the antioxidant activity of organic solvent fractions, the electron-donating ability of DPPH increased in a dose-dependent manner, and $ED_{50}$ exhibited the highest concentration at $175{\mu}g/ml$ in the Hc-EtOAc fraction. The cell viability of Hc-EtOAc fractions on $H_2O_2$-induced HaCaT cell death ($IC_{50}$) increased in a concentration-dependent manner and a visible cell survival rate of 74% was observed at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. Meanwhile, the gene expression patterns in HaCaT cells treated with $100{\mu}g/ml$ of the Hc-EtOAc fraction for 6 and 24 hr were identified with microarray analysis. The genes involved in signal transduction, cell division, antioxidant activity, and epithelial cell proliferation were found to be 2-fold up-regulated genes in HaCaT cells following the Hc-EtOAc fraction treatment. Especially, proinflammatory cytokines (IL1B, TNF, and IL6) were identified as involved in antioxidant activity based on the expression patterns of the HaCaT cells, and pathway analysis indicated that TLR4 might be considered an upstream regulator of these genes. In order to verify the activity of IL1B, TNF, and IL6, qRT-PCR showed that the expression increased more than 2 times in HaCaT cells treated with at least $100{\mu}g/ml$ of the Hc-EtOAc fraction. The activity of the upstream regulator TLR4 protein was also increased by the Hc-EtOAc fraction. As a result, the antioxidative activity of the Hc-EtOAc fraction is predicted to pass from TLR4 through cytokines such as IL1B, TNF, and IL6.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.199-208
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• 2021

Euonymus porphyreus, a species of plant in the Celastraceae family, is widely distributed in East Asia, especially in Southern China. The botanical characteristics of E. porphyreus have been reported, but its antioxidative and anticancer activities remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative and anticancer effects of ethanol extracts of E. porphyreus (EEEP) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The total polyphenol and flavonoid compound contents from EEEP were 115.42 mg/g and 23.07 mg/g, respectively. EEEP showed significant antioxidative effects with a concentration at 50% of the inhibition (IC50) value of 11.09 ㎍/ml, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. EEEP showed cytotoxic activity by increasing the SubG1 cell population of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis in A549 cells treated with EEEP was evident due to increased apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, as detected by Annexin V and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. EEEP-induced apoptosis resulted in increased expression of the First apoptosis signal (Fas), p53, and Bax, with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and subsequent activation of caspase-8, -9, and caspase-3, leading to cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that EEEP may exert an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in A549 cells through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-51
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• 2009

Three different Cordyceps militaris(Paecilomyces tenuipes and Cordyceps militaris from grain or pupae) were analysed for their chemical composition, fatty acids composition and the concentration of amino acids, cordycepin and heavy metal to obtain basic information on them as feed supplements for livestock. The crude protein content of C. militaris from grain and pupae was 76.16 and 75.45%, respectively, being higher than that of P. tenuipes(57.21%). The concentration of linoleic acid was much higher but that of linolenic acid was much lower for C. militaris from grain than for the others. The cordycepin content was significantly higher for C. militaris from grain than for that from pupae (1.64% vs 0.68% on a DM basis). But cordycepin was not detected in P. tenuipes. Heavy metal contents(Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg) for all C. militaris were below the allowance levels recommended by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Republic of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2024

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a significant risk factor in the global disease burden. The stem bark of the Betulaceae plant Alnus japonica, which is indigenous to Korea, has been used as a popular folk medicine for hepatitis and cancer. However, the preventive effect of Alnus japonica leaf extracts on alcohol-related liver damage has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of the extracts of Alnus japonica leaf (AJL) against ethanol-induced liver damage in HepG2/2E1 cells. Treatment with AJL significantly prevented ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2/2E1 cells by reducing the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This protective effect was likely associated with antioxidant potential of AJL, as evidenced by the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production and restoration of the depleted glutathione (GSH) levels in ethanol-induced HepG2/2E1 cells. Our findings suggest that FCC might be considered as a useful agent in the prevention of liver damage induced by oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant defense mechanism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.464-469
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate a knowledge on food components of muscle and adductor muscle of pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii) as pearl processing byproducts. The concentrations of mercury and chromium as heavy metal were not detected in both pearl oyster muscle and adductor muscle, and those of cadmium and lead were 0.06 ppm and 0.11 ppm in only pearl oyster muscle, respectively. Thus, the heavy metal levels of pearl processing byproducts were below the reported safety limits. The volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) content and pH of pearl oyster muscle were 11.6 mg/100g and 6.31 and those of abductor muscle were 8.6 mg/100 g and 6.33, respectively. It was concluded that pearl oyster muscle and adductor muscle might not invoke health risk in using food resource. The contents of crude protein (16.5%) and total amino acid (15,691 mg/100 g) of adductor muscle were higher than those of muscle (11.2% and 10,131 mg/100 g) and oyster (12.1% and 11,213 mg/100 g) as a control. The contents of calcium and phosphorus were 95.4 mg/100 g and 116.0 mg/100 g in muscle, 75.2 mg/100g and 148.1 mg/100 g in adductor muscle, respectively. The calcium level based on phosphorus was a good ratio for absorbing calcium. The free amino acid contents and taste values were 635.5 mg/100 g and 40.2 in muscle, and 734.9 mg/100 g and 24.1 in adductor muscle, respectively, but that (882.8 mg/100 g and 40.2) of oyster was higher than those of pearl processing byproducts. Based on the results of physicochemical and nutritional properties, pearl oyster muscle and adductor muscle can be utilized as a food resource.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2008

Effects of the various dietary additives on growth and tolerance of abalone Haliotis discus hannai to the stresses were determined in the 16-week feeding trial. Seventy juvenile (an initial body weight of 4.2 g) abalone per container were randomly distributed into 21, 50 L plastic rectangular containers each. The six kinds of experimental diets were prepared: control (CON) with no additive, by-product of green tea (BPG), extract of figs (EF), extract of green tea (EG), commercially available product of Hearok (PH), and Haematococcus (HC). In addition, dry sea tangle (ST) was prepared to compare the efficiency of the experimental diets. Fishmeal, soybean meal and shrimp head meal were used as the protein source, and dextrin, sea tangle powder and wheat flour, and soybean oil and fish oil were used as the carbohydrate and lipid sources, respectively in the experimental diets. The experimental diets were fed to abalone once a day at a satiation level with a little leftover. The feeding trial lasted for 16 weeks. At the end of the 16-week feeding trial, abalone was exposed to the different types of stresses (air exposure, and sudden changes of rearing temperature and salinity). Survival of abalone fed the sea tangle was highest. However, weight gain of abalone fed the EF, EG and PH diets was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of abalone fed the BPG diet or dry sea tangle. Shell length of abalone fed the all experimental diets was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of abalone fed the dry sea tangle. Accumulated mortality of abalone fed the sea tangle was low when exposed to the different types of stresses. Also, relatively low mortality was achieved in abalone fed the HC and EF diets. In considering these results, it can be concluded that the various sources of additives is effective to improve production of abalone, and Haematococcus and extract of figs can be considered as dietary additives to improve resistance of abalone against the different types of stresses.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.315-332
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• 2005

This study was conducted to assess the nutritional value and the safety of the fermented food wastes (FFW) made by adding lactobacillus spp. and bacillus spp. at the ratio of 3:7, respectively to food wastes collected everywhere, and also to determine effects on the performances, carcass characteristics and economical profitability when FFW was fed to pigs. For swine trial, FFW was formulate to pellet by utilizing different feed ingredients, and its formulated FFW pellet was used in this feeding trial. Treatments were consisted of different ratios (T1: $100+0\%$, T2: $75+25\%$, T3: $50+50\%$, T4: $25+75\%$, T5: $0+100\%$) of FFW pellet to commercial diet. A total of 20 male pigs were allotted to treatments of five groups of four pigs per pen. Experimental period lasted for 4 months. The nutritional composition of FFW was 56.7, 19.5 and $19.5\%$ for moisture, crude protein and ether extract, respectively. Salt content was $0.39\%$. Noxious microorganisms such as salmonella and E. coli were not detected in FFW, and contents of heavy metal and aflatoxin B1 were lower than the standard. Nutritional values of FFW pellet satisfied over $100\%$ of requirements presented in official Korean feeding standard for swine. Feeding trial for pigs showed that feed intakes were significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing levels of FFW pellet. T2 treatment was ideal ratio under the consideration of economical value of feeds and body weight gain of pigs. For carcass characteristics, dressing rate ($\%$) was highest in T3, and carcass grades for T2, T3 and T4 treatments were estimated as 'A'. Feed cost for FFW per kg was ${\won}167.95$, which implies $52\%$ of commercial feed cost (${\won}350/kg$). Thus, this result implied the decreased feed cost in the swine farm. Conclusively, the utilization of food wastes as feed source may lead to the reduced environmental pollution and the practice of organic livestock farming. However, our results showed that excessive amount of fermented food wastes supplementation to pigs might give rise to their reduced palatability and delayed growth.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 1996

Water extract of Coix locrvmn seeds (Co-Ex) was separated into several components; dissolved with Tris-Cl buffer and the supernatant (WC 1), ammonium sulfate treatment supernatant (WC2) and the pellet nvc31,9AE column chromatography of WC 1 and the peak portions; WC4, WCS and WC6. Murine peritoneal macrophages in DMEM containing 10% heat-inactivated FCS were infected with tachyzoites of ToxopIQsmc gondii, RH strain, in uifo. By adding modulators such as Co-Ex, WC 1,2,3,4.5,6 and LPS or IFN-γ for 24 hrs . toxoplasmastatic activity of macrophages was examined in relation to nitrite production. Nitrite production of macrophages was enhanced especially in the series of WC2, WC1 and the combination sample (WC1 + WC2 + WC3) by order than other components or fractions (WC4, WC5, WC6) tested . Toxoplasmastatic actions such as percentage of the inacrophages infected by T. gonnii and fold increase of T gondii in macrophages showed retroverse relations with the amount of nitrite production; i.e. as nitric oxide (NO) increased the phagocytic index of macrophages and the fold increase of tachyzoites in macrophages decreased . Nitrite (NO-2) production was increased by adding IFN-γ in all cases together with enhancement of biostatic effects. Through the results obtained, it is speculated that some components other than the non-proteinous and defatted components in Coix lacrwmn seeds may contribute to activate macrophages through induction of NO for the biostatic activity.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.672-677
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• 2012

Lipids in microalgal biomass were recovered by using pyrolysis method. The pyrolysis experiments of two Chlorella sp. KR-1 samples, which have triglyceride contents of 10.8% and 36.5%, respectively were carried out at $600^{\circ}C$ to investigate the effects of lipid contents in the cells on the reaction characteristics. The conversion and liquid yield of the lipid-rich sample were higher than those of the lipid-lean sample since its carbon to hydrogen ratio was low. There were low molecular weight organic acids, ketones, aldehydes and alcohols in the liquid products from both KR-1 samples, but the pyrolysis oil of the lipid-rich sample was abundant in free fatty acids, particularly palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid while the content of nitrogen containing organic compounds was low. The microalgal pyrolysis oil had two layers composed of the light hydrophobic fraction and the heavy hydrophilic fraction. The light fraction might be originated from triglycerides and the heavy fraction might be from carbohydrates and proteins. In the light fraction of the liquid products, there were considerable linear alkanes such as pentadecane and heptadecane as well as free fatty acids, implying that deoxygenation reaction including decarboxylation was occurred during the pyrolysis. The yield of the liquid products from the pyrolysis of the KR-1 sample having triglyceride content of 36.5% was 56.9% and the light fraction in the liquid products was 68.2%. Also more than 80% of the light fraction was free fatty acids and pure hydrocarbons, thus showing that most triglycerides could be extracted in the form of suitable raw materials for biofuels.