• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2009

This study investigated the beneficial effects of crude saponins from soybean cake on body weight and glucose tolerance in high-fat (37% calories from fat) diet fed C57BL/6 mice. The mice were supplemented with three doses of saponins (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, wt/wt) and 1.0% Garcinia cambogia (wt/wt), positive control for 9 weeks. The body weight, visceral fat weight and epididymal adipocyte area were significantly reduced in the saponin supplemented groups in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Saponins did not significantly affect food intake; however, cambogia significantly lowered food intake compared to the high-fat fed control group. The crude saponins from soybean cake supplement significantly lowered plasma leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, whereas they significantly elevated the fecal excretion of triglyceide in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Cambogia did not affect the fecal excretion of lipid in the diet-induced obese mice. Supplementation of 1.5% saponin reduced the hepatic triglyceride content compared to the high-fat group. High-fat induced glucose intolerance with the elevation of blood glucose levels compared to the normal group; however, the saponins supplement significantly improved postprandial glucose levels. After 9 weeks of being fed a high-fat diet, the mice presented with significantly increased activities of hepatic fatty acid synthase and fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation; however, saponins and cambogia normalized these activities. These results indicate that saponins from soybean cake exhibit a potential anti-obesity effect and may prevent glucose intolerance by reducing body weight and plasma lipids, increasing fecal lipid excretion and regulating hepatic lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2009

Doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste) is a unique fermented food in Korea. It has been traditionally manufactured from soybeans, by Jang Yang process. We focused on the newly formed compound in highly aged Doenjang and its biological activity. One new o-dihydroxyisoflavone, 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone and two known o-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives were isolated from 5-year-old Doenjang and evaluated as potent antioxidant and whitening effect by comparing with other known isoflavone. 7,8,4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone (compound 1), 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (compound 2) and 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (compound 3) inhibited DPPH (diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) formation by 50 % at a concentration of $21.5{\pm}0.2$, $28.7{\pm}0.4$ and $32.6{\pm}0.6$ ($IC_{50}$) respectively, whereas daidzein showed weak DPPH radical scavenging activity. In superoxide scavenging effect were measured in one assay. Compound 1 ($IC_{50}=18.10{\pm}0.2{\mu}M$) and 2 ($IC_{50}=10.54{\pm}0.4{\mu}M$) show significant inhibitory activity and greater effect than L-ascorbic acid. But compound 3 and daidzein showed lower inhibition activity. Also, o-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives evaluated as potent inhibitors on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in melan-a cells. Compound 1 ($IC_{50}=11.21{\pm}0.2{\mu}M$), compound 2 ($IC_{50}=5.23{\pm}0.6{\mu}M$) exhibited significant inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, those compounds are significantly suppressed the cellular melanin formation by 50 % at a concentration of $12.23{\pm}0.7{\mu}M$ (1) and $7.83{\pm}0.7{\mu}M$ (2). This result suggests that 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone from highly aged Doenjang could be used as an active ingredient for cosmetics.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1332-1339
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• 2002

Purpose : Through a survey undertaken among doctors practicing pediatric patients in primary medical facilities on nutrition during infancy, the present study was done to determine whether these doctors were giving appropriate advice on infant nutrition. Methods : We visited pediatric specialists(group one) and non-pediatric specialists or general practitioners(group two) who were practicing in Daegu to ask them to fill out a questionaire on infant nutrition. Results : When 10 points were given to each question for a total of 100 points, the results of the evaluation showed that the score in group one was $73.0{\pm}15.8$ points and $45.1{\pm}18.4$ points in group two, showing a significant difference. No statistical difference was seen in the scores between non-pediatric specialists and general practitioners. Each answer to each question on the feeding period of breast milk, on loose stools during breast milk feeding, methods to deal with jaundice during breast milk feeding, choice of commercial baby food, criteria on directing soy milk, and criteria of guiding infant cereal was different between group one and two. Conclusion : The results of the present investigation showed that specialists in other fields or general practitioners were giving inappropriate advice on nutrition during the infant stage compared with pediatric specialists; thus, we need to confirm methods to prevent inappropriate consultations by specialists of other fields, together with continued education of pediatric specialists.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1683-1690
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• 2010

There is an increasing interest in the potential of isoflavone in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, however, although several effects of isoflavone as a component of soy protein are well established, the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of purified isoflavone are still controversial. This study was to investigate the effects of isoflavone on serum lipid profiles and antioxidant status in rats. 7-week old male Sprague Dawley rats were fed one of the following diets for 8 weeks: basal diet (B), basal+0.3% isoflavone (BI), basal+0.5% cholesterol (BC), or basal+0.3% isoflavone +0.5% cholesterol (BIC). Two-way ANOVA was used to test the effects of dietary isoflavone and cholesterol supplementation and their interaction on variables. Serum lipid profiles and total antioxidant status (TAS) were examined spectrophotometrically. Degree of serum lipid peroxidation was measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) assay. The activities of serum antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px, total-SOD) was determined. Levels of serum total cholesterol, VLDL+LDL-cholesterol and Atherogenic index were significantly lower in BI than those levels in group B (p=0.0002, p<0.0001, and p=0.0042, respectively). Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were significantly higher, in both isoflavone supplemented groups (BI, BIC) compared to those levels in each control group (B, BC) (p<0.0001). Activity of total-SOD was significantly higher in BI compared to the activities in group B (p=0.0317). There was no interaction between isoflavone and cholesterol supplementation. In conclusion, isoflavone supplementation showed positive effects on the serum lipid profiles and total antioxidant activities in both conditions, either when fed a diet with or without cholesterol. These effects of isoflavone were independent of cholesterol supplementation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1310-1317
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• 2003

Effects of dietary cholesterol and/or taurine supplementation on plasma and hepatic lipid peroxidation status and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated in rats fed one of the following semisynthetic diets for 5 weeks: control diet (CD, cholesterol-free and taurine-free diet); high cholesterol diet (HCD, CD+1.5% cholesterol): high taurine diet (HTD, CD+1.5% taurine): high cholesterol and high taurine diet (HCHTD, HCD + 1.5% taurine). Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level was not influenced by dietary cholesterol or taurine supplementation, while hepatic MDA level was 70% higher in rats fed HCD compared to the value for CD rats (p<0.05). Our observation that taurine supplementation significantly decreased the hepatic MDA level of rats fed HCD, but failed to decrease lipid peroxidation of rats fed CD indicates that the protective effect of taurine in the liver against lipid peroxidation is manifested only under the hypercholesterolemic environment. Plasma and hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were not affected by dietary supplementation of cholesterol or taurine. However, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly reduced by dietary taurine supplementation (p <0.05), and thus significantly lower in rats fed HTD compared to the value for CD (p<0.05). Plasma total cholesterol concentration was positively correlated with hepatic cholesterol concentration as expected (r=0.712, p<0.001). Plasma (r=0.399, p<0.05) and hepatic cholesterol levels (r=0.429, p<0.05) showed a significantly positive correlation with hepatic MDA concentration, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration was negatively correlated with hepatic SOD activity (r=-0.481, p<0.01), and tended to be negatively correlated with hepatic GSH-Px activity without showing statistical significance (r=-0.188, p<0.05). These results indicate an antioxidative effect of taurine in rats with elevated level of lipid Peroxidation due to high intake of dietary cholesterol. Future application of taurine as a safe candidate for a hypolipidemic agent without adversely affecting body's antioxidant defense system is speculated.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.380-389
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• 2007

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were analyzed in suspended particulate organic matter, macroalgae and macrobenthic invertebrates in order to determine the importance of primary organic matter sources in supporting food webs of rocky subtidal and intertidal macroalgal beds in the Korean coasts. Investigations were conducted at the inter tidal sites within Gwangyang bay, a semi-enclosed and eutrophicated bay, and the subtidal sites of the east coast, a relatively oligotrophic and open environment, in May and June 2005. Water-column suspension feeders showed more negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the other feeding guilds, indicating trophic linkage with phytoplankton and thereby association with pelagic food chains. In contrast, animals of the other feeding guilds, including interface suspension feeders, herbivores, deposit feeders, omnivores and predators, displayed relatively less negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the water-column suspension feeders and similar with that of macroalgae, indicating exclusive use of macroalgae-derived organic matter and association with benthic food chains. Most the macrobenthic species were considered to form strong trophic links with benthic food chains. In addition, the distribution of higher $\delta^{15}N$ values in macrobenthic consumers and macroalgae at the intertidal sites of Gwangyang Bay than those at the subtidal sites of the east coast suggests that anthropogenic nutrients may enhance the macroalgal production at the intertidal sites and in turn be incorporated into the particular littoral food web in Gwangyag Bay. These results confirm the dominant role of macroalgae in supporting rocky subtidal and intertidal food webs in the Korean coasts.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2009

Estrogens induce pronounced structural and functional changes in male and female reproductive system, but the exact mechanisms of estrogen are not fully understood. In relation to estrogen's function, the present study was designed to identify effects of estrogen receptor agonist, 4,4',4"- (4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)tris phenol (PPT) in the reproductive organ of the female mouse. The PPT was subcutaneously given to adult female mice at a weekly dosage of 3 mg in a volume 0.06 mL of vehicle for 3, 5 or 8 weeks whereas controls received weekly injections of the castor oil vehicle. Effects of PPT on reproductive organs were analyzed using a light microscope. PPT induced decreases of body, ovary and adipose tissue weights with experimental time. Ovary diameter of PPT treatment group was reduced as compared with control group. The number of Graffian follicle and corpus luteum was reduced in PPT treatment group. The luminal diameter of uterus was increased in relation with decrease of myometrium and endometrium height by PPT administration. The number of uterine glands was decreased by PPT treatment. These data indicate that PPT treatment induced morphological change of female reproductive organs resulting in alteration of fertility.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.261-270
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• 2014

Purpose: To study the effect of an artificially induced dioptric blur on acuity and contrast sensitivity using the $Optec^{(R)}$ 6500. Methods: Healthy 31 subjects aged $22.90{\pm}1.92$ (male 16, female 15) who were recruited from university students with 6/6 (20/20) or better corrected visual acuity and normal binocularity. They were measured objective and subjective refraction for full correction and dioptric blur using 0.00 ~ +3.00 D (+0.50 D steps) trial lenses and trial frame. They were measured binocularly visual acuity and contrast sensitivity with the $Optec^{(R)}$ 6500 (Stereo Optical Co., Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) under day conditions (photopic condition, $85cd/m^2$). Results: The higher dioptric blur, the less distance visual acuity and decrease rate of visual acuity. The higher dioptric blur, the less contrast sensitivity at all frequencies, and the peak of contrast sensitivity was shifted from middle frequency (6 cpd) to low frequency (1.5 cpd). When the visual acuity was best visual acuity to 0.77, there was the peak point at 6 cpd which was normal contrast sensitivity peak point. Conclusions: If the low refractive error is uncorrected or the refractive error is inappropriate, the contrast sensitivity is decreased and the peak point of contrast sensitivity frequency is shifted abnormally though small uncorrected refractive error. So it will be considered that regular eye test and decision of refractive error correction is important.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2013

This study focused on the promotion of the insecticidal activity of eco-friendly insecticidal materials against four major insect pest in the organic Chinese cabbage cultivation area. Among insecticidal materials mixture, BT+Matrine+Neem against leaf beetle larva, Phaedon brassicae, showed the highest 94.1% at 0.05% which is the lowest concentration of three treated concentrations. The insecticidal activity of Matrine, Neem, and BT alone (0.1%, w/v) or the mixtures (0.05%, w/v) against Cabbage worm larva, Artogeria rapae, was investigated by leaf disc spray method. The insecticidal efficacy of the mixtures of two or three eco-friendly materials was higher than the single treatment of each material with 94.3%, 100% and 100%. Control efficacy of 0.3% COY+0.05% (95.3%) against the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae was higher than that of 0.3% COY+0.05% Neem (90.2%) and lasted for more than 21 days after one time treatment. At 35 days after treatment, the effect of 0.05% BT+0.05% Matrine and 0.05% BT+0.05% Matrine+0.05% Neem treatments against diamondback moth showed very high insecticidal activity with more than 90% of control value. Therefore, BT, Neem, and Matrine where are properly treated could be effective eco-friendly materials for controlling major insect pests in an organic Chinese cabbage field.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 2007

In this study, the effects of concept mapping on the preservice elementary teachers' achievement, conceptual understanding, anxiety toward science, and science teaching efficacy belief were investigated in the undergraduate general chemistry course. The aptitude-treatment interaction (ATI) between preservice teachers' learning approach and concept mapping strategy was also investigated. Sixty-nine freshmen from a university of education were assigned to a control group and a treatment group. Tests regarding students' learning approach, anxiety toward science, and science teaching efficacy belief were administered as pretests. Treatment lasted for 9 weeks. In every class, students in the treatment group constructed concept maps, while those in the control group solved the problems of the textbook after the lecture. After the instructions, tests of achievement, conceptual understanding, anxiety toward science, and science teaching efficacy beliefs were administered. The results indicated that students in the treatment group significantly outperformed those of the control group in the achievement test. In the conceptual understanding and the science teaching efficacy beliefs, however, no statistically significant differences were found between two groups. Students of the treatment group showed significantly higher anxiety than their counterpart in the test of anxiety toward science. No aptitudetreatment interaction between students' learning approach and the concept mapping strategy was found.