• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.10
• /
• pp.1353-1360
• /
• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effects against food-borne pathogens and antioxidant activity of Rhododendron brachycarpum ethanol-extract. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was determined using a paper disc-diffusion method, and the diameter of the clear zone was measured. The diameter of the clear zone in the presence of 10 mg of extract was maximal against Bacillus cereus among the three tested Gram-positive bacteria and against Escherichia coli O157:H7 among the five tested Gram-negative bacteria. Analysis of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed that the extract exhibited a similar efficacy as that of sorbic acid, a well-known chemical preservative. The growth inhibitory effects of the extract at concentrations of 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/L on food-borne pathogens were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Growth of the microorganisms was not affected by the extract at concentrations up to 250 mg/L, but it was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited by the extract at concentrations higher than 1,000 mg/L. The antioxidant effects of the extract were examined via measurement of DPPH radical scavenging activity, inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using fluorescent dichlorofluorescien (DCF) assay, and prevention of peroxyl radical- and hydroxyl radical-induced supercoiled DNA breakage. The $IC_{50}$ of the extract for DPPH radical scavenging activity was about half that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, which was used as a positive control. DCF fluorescence intensity decreased as the concentration of the extract increased, demonstrating that ROS generation was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. The ROS inhibitory effect of the extract was higher than that of ascorbic acid. The extract prevented supercoiled DNA strand breakage induced by peroxyl radical and hydroxyl radical. Thus, the results of the present study demonstrate that the extract exhibits antimicrobial effects against food-borne pathogens as well as potent antioxidant capacity, suggesting that R. brachycarpum could be used as a natural antibacterial agent and effective antioxidant in food.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1987

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) was known to play a key role in the regulation of cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation of mammalian cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC's) in vivo and in vitro. The present experiments were conducted to know how intracellular level of cAMP in these cells is controlled. Intracellular cAMP level was modulated by culturing mouse CGC's with an adenylate cyclase stimulator, forskolin, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methyixanthine (IBMX), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The rate of cumulus expansion and germinal vesicle break-down (GVBD) was checked after culture and used as a biological end point. Forskolin in the medium began to stimulate the expansion of the complexes at 1 nM and induced maximum expansion (80~90%) at 0 1~10 $\mu$M. The expansion rate was reduced to 60% when forskolin concentration was increased to 100 $\mu$M. Oocyte GVBD occurred normally (75~82%) in the presence of 10 $\mu$M of forskolin, but partial suppression was appeared at 100 pM of the drug (40%). IBMX also stimulated the expansion from the concentration of 0.01 pM and induced full expansion (81~89%) between the concentration of 1-1000 $\mu$M. Meiotic resumption was occurred normally under 10 $\mu$M of IBMX, but suppressed drastically from the concentration of 100 $\mu$M. The minimum exposing time to hormone or drugs required to trigger cumulus expansion was two minutes with HCG, 15~30 minutes with FSH and fors kolin, and two hours with IBMX. The data presented here seemed to imply that intracellular cAMP level in cumulus cells is regulated by both adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase and cumulus expansion is induced by a peak of cAMP while meiotic arrest is maintained by continuous presence of cAMP.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.190-195
• /
• 1994

Studies were conducted to determine the potential of sodium hypochlorite(SHC) on the control of bacterial yellow blotch in cultivated oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. SHC at the concentration of 80 ppm was effective on the control of Pseudomonas agarici causing yellow blotch in oyster mushroom except number 916 isolate. In vitro the mycelial growth was slightly inhibited at the concentration higher than 100 ppm of sodium hypochlorite, but retardation of the mycelial growth was soon recovered. Spray of SHC solution at the concentration of 40-50 ppm per day significantly reduced the incidence of the yellow blotch without impairing the growth of oyster mushroom in field culture. However, the higher concentration of SHC(67 ppm) induced yellow brown or dark gray in color and deformed cap and elongated stripe in morphology of fruiting body. Results indicate that periodical spray of sodium hypochlorite seems to be the recommendable method for protection against bacterial yellow blotch disease in oyster mushroom without reducing food quality.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.570-576
• /
• 2014

Palmitoyl tripeptide (M330) showed higher antimicrobial activities than methyl paraben or phenoxy ethanol through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. However, when the M330 was added into cosmetic formulation, white precipitates formed due to the electrostatic interaction between M330 and carbopol (carboxy vinyl polymer) as a thickener in cosmetics, and the viscosity of cosmetics decreased sharply. Also, the antimicrobial activities of M330 in cosmetics became lower than those of methyl paraben or phenoxy ethanol. Thus, the encapsulation of M330 in ethosome vesicle was attempted in order to recover the declined antimicrobial activities of M330 in cosmetics and prevent the precipitates from forming. When ethosome-encapsulated M330 was added into cosmetics, the precipitates did not form, and the decrease in the viscosity of cosmetics was not large compared to the addition of unencapsulated M330. Challenge tests showed that antimicrobial activities against gram negative bacteria were improved by the encapsulation of M330, but the encapsulation was not effective against gram positive bacteria and fungus. A combination of M330 with EDTA showed synergistic inhibitory potential against C. albicans. After coencapsulation of M330 and EDTA in ethosome, antimicrobial activities proved to be higher than those of unencapsulated M330 and EDTA.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.491-496
• /
• 2006

Antimicrobial activity of 18 different traditional medicinal herbs extracts against Staphylococcus aureus was determined by a paper disc method. The Prunella vulgaris, Caesalpinia sappan and Rhus javanica extracts in 5 mg/ml, Poncirus trifoliata, Lonicera japonica and Seutellaria baicalensis extracts in 10 mg/ml and Schizandra chinensis, Alpinia katsumadai, Siegesbeckia orientalis extracts in 30 mg/ml showed a significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of medicinal herbs extracts were in the range of $1{\sim}34\;mg/ml$ and $1{\sim}46\;mg/ml$, in the case of MeOH extracts and EtOH extracts, respectively. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of each solvent fraction was most significant with EtOAc layer. Optical density at 620nm after 24 hours incubation of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of 100, 300 or 500 ppm of Caesalpinia sappan extract ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 compared to 0.4 in the absence of Caesalpinia sappan extract, indicating that growth of Staphylococcus aureus was significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 100 ppm of Caesalpinia sappan extract. Optical density at 620 nm after 24 hours incubation of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of 300 ppm of Rhus javanica extract ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 compared to 0.4 in the absence of Rhus javanica extract, indicating that growth of Staphylococcus aureus was also significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 300 ppm of Rhus javanica extract. Optical density at 620 nm after 24 hours incubation of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of 300 ppm of Seutellaria baicalensis extract ranged from 0.02 to 0.07 compared to 0.4 in the absence of Seutellaria baicalensis extract, indicating that growth of Staphylococcus aureus was also significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 300 ppm of Seutellaria baicalensis extract. In conclusion, these findings suggest that extracts from medicinal herbs may play important roles for antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2008

Antimicrobial activity of Zanthoxylum piperitum was investigated against Streptococcus mutans that causes dental caries. Although the methylene chloride extract of seeds exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than other organic solvent extracts, including methanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane extracts of pericarps or seeds of Z. piperitum, essential oils prepared from both seeds and pericarps possessed more potent inhibitory activity than the methylene chloride extract of seeds. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the essential oils of seeds and pericarps were 0.3 mg/ml and 4.0 mg/ml against S. mutans, respectively. When the seed essential oil was further separated into seven fractions (CS-SD-A${\sim}$CS-SD-G) by thin layer chromatography (TLC), all fractions exhibited lower antimicrobial activity than the essential oil. To understand the antimicrobial ingredients of Z. piperitum, seeds the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) data of the methylene chloride extract of seeds was compared with those of the seed essential oil (CS-SD). Whereas the methylene chloride extract of seeds contained carvacrol (0.24%), ${\beta}$-caryophyllene (1.72%), and ${\alpha}$-humulene (0.88%), which were previously known to inhibit growth of S. mutans, the seed essential oil contained sabinene (1.57%), linalool (1.55%), citronellal (13.67%), terpinene-4-ol (0.45%), citronellol (3.69%), geraniol (0.9%), linalyl acetate (1.35%), ${\beta}$-caryophyllene (1.35%), ${\alpha}$-humulene (0.78%), and ${\delta}$-cadinene (0.67%) in this regard. These results indicate that Z. piperitum seeds possess various inhibitory substances against S. mutans, and an effective method to isolate the active ingredients from the seeds is to prepare the essential oil. These results also suggest that the essential oil of Z. piperitium seeds may be applicable to preventing dental caries.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.669-675
• /
• 2002

Introduction of sliced raw fish meat(SRFM) to fast food business has been considered seriously. However bacteria causing food poisoning should be controlled. Organic acids such as vinegar and lactic acid used in the sauce for SRFM were evaluated for their antibacterial activities. At low concentration levels of vinegar and lactic acid exerted strong antibacterial activities toward Vibriu sp.. In contrast, in case of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 low anitbacterial activities were observed even at relatively high concentrations. Minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC) of vinegar for V. vulnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 were 16, 18, 16, 12, 26, and $20{\mu}\ell /m\ell, respertively. MIC of lactic acid for V. vilnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 were 20, 25, 25, 25, 40, and $35{\mu}\ell /m\ell, respectively. In case of vinegar bactericidal concentration upon 10 second contact for V. vulnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaenolyticus, V. mimicus and E. coli O157:H7 were 8, 14, 10, 4, and 48%, respectively; however, even at 50% colony of S. typhimurium was observed. In case of lactic acid any colony was observed for V. vulnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 at the concentration of 2, 3, 4, 3, 14, and 17%, respectively. Vinegar and lactic acid of low concentration inhibited the growth of Vibrio sp., food poisoning pathogen in SRFM; in contrast, at high concentration these organic acids inhibited Salmonella sp. and Escherichia sp., food poisoning pathogen in other than SRFM.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.953-958
• /
• 2009

The antimicrobial activities, antioxidant effects, and total polyphenol contents of extracts of Prickly Pear Opuntia ficus indica, were investigated. In antimicrobial activity assays of solvent extract fractions, methanol and butanol extracts showed higher activities than did hexane and ether extracts. The stem showed a higher antimicrobial activity than did the fruit. When the antimicrobial activities of fruit and stem extracts was tested using 10 bacterial strains, strong activity was evident against Escherichia coli, with a lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 100 mg/disk. However, no antimicrobial activities against lactic bacteria or yeasts were evident, even with disks containing more than 500 mg extract/disk. Antimicrobial substances in butanol extracts of fruit and stem maintained activity after heating at $100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min and were not affected by changes in pH. DPPH free radical-scavenging activities of solvent extracts were in the order of water, ethyl acetate, butanol, ether, and ethanol. The stem showed greater DPPH free radical-scavenging activity than did the fruit. The total polyphenol contents in fruit and stem were 520.57 and 203.26 mg%, respectively.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.175-180
• /
• 2016

Tyrosinases catalyze the hydroxylation of a monophenol (monophenolase activity) and the conversion of an o-diphenol to o-quinone (diphenolase activity), which are mainly involved in the modification of tyrosine residues into 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-alanine (DOPA) and DOPA/DOPAquinone-derived intermolecular cross-linking. Previously, we obtained a slightly acidic and cold-active tyrosinase, tyrosinase-CNK, by our recombinant protein approach. The enzyme showed optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 20 ℃ with an abnormally high monophenolase/diphenolase activity ratio and still had approximately 50% activity compared with the highest activity even in ice water. Here, we investigated reaction stability of the recombinant tyrosinase-CNK as a psychrophilic enzyme. The enzyme showed remarkable thermal stability at 0 ℃ and the activity was well conserved in repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Although water-miscible organic solvent as reaction media caused the activity decrease of tyrosinase-CNK as expected, the enzyme activity was not additionally decreased with increased concentration in organic solvents such as ethanol and acetonitrile. Also, the enzyme showed high salt tolerance in chaotropic salts. It was remarkably considered that 2⁺ metal ions might inhibit the incorporation of Cu²⁺ into the active site. We expect that these results could be used to design tyrosinase-mediated enzymatic reaction at low temperature for the production of catechols through minimizing unwanted self-oxidation and enzyme inactivation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.297-302
• /
• 1998

$\beta$-Xylosidase B was produced by Escherichia coli HB101/pKMG12 carrying the xylB gene of Bacillus stearothermophilus No.236 on its recombinant plasmid. The $\beta$-xylosidase B produced was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, Sephacryl S-200 and Superdex 200 HR gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed the highest activity at pH 6.5 and 5$0^{\circ}C$. But, the enzyme was observed to be very sensitive to the pH and temperature of the reaction mixture. The enzyme was activated about 35% of its original activity in the presence of 1 mM of $Mn^{2+}$ but it was completely inhibited by $Ag^{+}$, $Cu^{2+}$and $Hg^{2+}$ions. In contrast with the $\beta$-xylosidase A, the B enzyme was found to have $\alpha$-arabinofuranosidase activity though the activity was fairly low compared with the $\alpha$-arabinofuranosidase produced from the arfI gene of the same Bacillus stearothermophilus. Therefore, $\beta$-xylosidase B is considered to be more suitable than $\beta$-xylosidase A at least for the biodegradation of arabinoxylan. The $K_{m}$ and V$_{max}$ values of the $\beta$-xylosidase B for o-nitrophenyl-$\alpha$-D-xylopyranoside were 6.43 mM and 1.45 $\mu$mole/min, respectively. Molecular mass of the enzyme was determind to be about 54 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 160 kDa by Superdex 200HR gel filtration, indicating that the functional $\beta$-xylosidase B was composed of three identical subunits.s.