• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.21-33
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of antioxidant vitamins on the cellular oxidant damage by observing the mitogenicity in the mouse spleen and the strand breaks of DNA in mouse blood induced by $AFB_2$. Intraperitoneal(i.p.) injections of vitamin C(VC) of 10 mg/kg and vitamin E(VE) of 63.8 mg/kg were repeatedly administered to male ICR mice of 6 weeks old at intervals of 4 times every 2 days. After one hour vitamin treatments, $AFB_1$ of 0.4 mg/kg was injected into the $AFB_2$ plus vitamin treated groups in the same way. On the other hands, into the $AFB_2$ only treated group, only $AFB_2$ was injected without vitamins in the same method as above. The results of the experiment are as follows ; as regard to comet assay, DNA strand breaks were clearly present and they formatted a typical comet tail in the mice blood of the $AFB_2$ only treated groups. However, comet tails apparently disappeared in $AFB_2$ plus antioxidant vitamins treated groups since oxidant damage was controlled in an almost similar level to the control group. Mitogenicity of the spleen also showed a similar tendency as before, and these differences were more remarkably observed in the reaction against Con-A, which is a T-cell mitogen. In these data, the statistical significance was p<0.01. The LDL and VLDL levels were 408.72, 504.47 mg/dl respectively in the $AFB_2$ only treated groups. Compared with the $AFB_1$ only treated groups, those of $AFB_2$ plus antioxidant vitamin treated groups decreased to 272.06(VC), 305.28 mg/dl(VE), respectively. On the other hand, HDL levels were diminished to 32.60, 29.60 mg/dl in $AFB_2$ only treated groups, compared to 42.23, 41.14 mg/dl in the $AFB_2$ plus antioxidant vitamins treated groups. But, blood glucose levels were not statistically significant.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6457-6461
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• 2015

MicroRNAs directly and indirectly influence many biological processes such as apoptosis, cell maintenance, and immune responses, impacting on tumor genesis and metastasis. They modulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and are associated with progression of liver disease. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cancer which mostly occurs in males. There are many factors affect HCC development, for example, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), co-infection, environmental factors including alcohol, aflatoxin consumption and host-related factors such as age, gender immune response, microRNA and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus is the major factor leading to HCC progression since it causes the liver injury. At present, there are many reports regarding the association of SNPs on miRNAs and the HCC progression. In this research, we investigated the role of miR-149 (rs2292832) and miR-101-1 (rs7536540) with HCC progression in Thai population. The study included 289 Thai subjects including 104 HCC patients, 90 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) and 95 healthy control subjects. The allele and genotype of rs2292832 and rs7536540 polymorphisms were determined by TaqMan real-time PCR assay. Our results revealed no significant association between miR-149 (rs2292832) and miR-101-1 (rs7536540) and the risk of HCC in our Thai population. However, this research is the first study of miR-149 (rs2292832) and miR-101-1 (rs7536540) in HCC in Thai populations and the results need to be confirmed with a larger population.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity, antimutagenic and anticancer effects and dyeing properties of the fermented indigo extract. The physiological effects of natural color extracts from colorant plants(gardenia, beet and indigo) were studied. The methanol extract of indigo showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli and Staph. aureus, and also showed a strong antimicrobial effect on Trich. mentagrophytes compared to others. The methanol extract of indigo showed antimutagenic activities against aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium TA 100. The proliferation of Clone M-3 mouse melanoma cells and A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells was inhibited by the methanol extract of indigo. So we decided to use natural indigo for dyeing the fabrics because of those effects. Dried indigo leaves were fermented at variouss temperature and the fermented indigo was reduced by using alkaline(NaOH, Ca(OH)2) and glucose to dye the fabrics. The values of K/S fermented indigo showed the highest value when it was fermented at 3$0^{\circ}C$. The indigo fermented at 3$0^{\circ}C$ had the greatest number of total bacterial counts and we identified one of the main microorganisms as Aspergillus niger. This microorganism was responsible for the indigo fermentation and accelerated indigo fermentation. So it can be supposed to reduce the fermentation period of indigo by inoculating Aspergillus niger into the indigo leaves at 3$0^{\circ}C$.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2017

The antifungal activity of isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from a locally fermented cereal, "Kunu", was tested against toxigenic Aspergillus flavus. The liquid refreshment, "Kunu", was prepared under hygienic condition using millet, sorghum, and the combination of the two grains. The antifungal potential of isolated LAB against toxigenic A. flavus was carried out using both in vitro and in vivo antifungal assays. The LAB count from prepared "Kunu" ranged from $2.80{\times}10^4CFU/mL$ to $4.10{\times}10^4CFU/mL$ and Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus fermentum, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were the isolated bacteria. Inhibitory zones exhibited by LAB against toxigenic A. flavus ranged from 5.0 mm to 20.0 mm. The albino mice infected with toxigenic A. flavus showed sluggishness, decrease in body weight, distortion of hair, and presence of blood in their stool, while those treated with LAB after infection were recovered and active like those in control groups. Except for the white blood cell that was increased in the infected mice as $6.73mm^3$, the packed cell volume, hemoglobin, and red blood cell in infected animals were significantly reduced (P<0.05) to 29.28%, 10.06%, and 4.28%, respectively, when compared to the treated mice with LAB and control groups. The antifungal activity of LAB against toxigenic A. flavus can be attributed to the antimicrobial metabolites. These metabolites can be extracted and used as biopreservatives in food products to substitute the use of chemical preservatives that is not appealing to consumers due to several side effects.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.105-110
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• 1996

Mugwort has been known as a traditional substitutive foodstuff and as showing a physiologically beneficial function to a human being. Therefore, effect of mugwort extract in terms of mutagenicity and desmutagenicity was investigated to berify its function. Ethanol extract from mugwort did not exhibit any mutagenicity. On the contrary, inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract were observed on mutagenicity induced by aflatoxin $B_{1}(AFB_1)$, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole(Trp-P-1), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole(Trp-P-2) and 2-nitroflourene(2NF) using Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay. On direct-acting mutagen(2NF, 3${\mu}$g/plate), ethanol extract showed a slight inhibitory effect of 19.7~22.9%, however on indirect-acting mutagen such as AFB1(2${\mu}$g/plate), Trp-P-1(1${\mu}$g/plate) and Trp-P-2(1${\mu}$g/plate), we observed higher inhibitory effect of 47.9~61.2%, 64.1~70.7%, 67.4~78.7%, respectively. Step-wise fractionation of the ethanol extract was done by using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water to obtain effective fraction. Among them, hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions showed high inhibition of 63.0~80.0%, 77.5~82.1%, and 68.5~83.1%, respectively on the mutagenicity of $AFB_1$ in Sal. typhimurium TA98. Consequently, these results indicated that mugwort extract contains some compound(s) which may show desmutagenicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.167-182
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• 1990

Dietary restriction (caloric restriction) is the only intervention which has been reliably shown to extend the maximum life span of warm-blooded animals and delay the many phenomena associated with aging. It is also one of the most effective modulators of toxicity, especially cancer endpoints. In spite of the known modulator effects of caloric restriction, the biological mechanisms responsible for these effects had not been in vestigated until recently. The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), in a collaborative effort with the National Institute of Aging (NIA), initiated a project whereby nine (9) combinations of rodent species/strains and diets were fed both restricted and ad libitum. The NIA's initiative was to identify biomarkers of aging whereas NCTR's initiative was to identify the biological effects associated with the profound effects caloric restriction has in protecting against both spontaneous (age-related) and chemically-induced toxic endpoints. Independent of sex or species, caloric restriction has similar effects on body temperature, oxygen consumption and $CO_2$production. Caloric restriction also decreased lipid glycolysis and metabolism in rats and mice, which suggest decreased production of metabolites which could lead to fatty acid epoxide formation. The age-associated loss of ciradian regulation of intermediate enzymes is also significantly reduced. Moreover, caloric restriction reduced the age-associated feminization of sexually dimorphic liver isozymes, increased several glucocorticoid responsive isozymes, elevated glucagon/insulin ratios, produced less microsomal superoxide and enhanced the capacity for utilzing detoxicating metabolic pathways. Calorically restricted rats have less than half the number of aflatoxin ($AFB_1$)-DNA adducts than ad libitum animals and urinary excretion of $AFB_1$ was increased significantly. Finally, DNA repair mechanisms are enhanced and oncogene expression is decreased in calorically restricted animals.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 1990

The ability of many toxigenic fungi to invade and develop in a wide variety of raw ingredients of human diet renders human exposure to mycotoxing very difficult to avoid. Most of the energy-rich commodities, such as cereal grains, oil seeds, tree nuts, and dehydrated fruits, are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. Mycotoxins therefare have been recognized as an important class of hazardous substances in the human food chain. Although human exposure to mycotoxins is largely through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact may also be significant under conditions other than consumption of foods. Human ingestion of mycotoxins is due to consumption of contaminated dietary ingredients and the edible tissues and products of domestic animals that have been exposed to mycotoxins in moldy feed. Large scale acute human mycotoxicoses, such as ergotism in France, alimentary toxic aleukia in Russia, yellow rice syndrome in Japan, endemic nephropathy in Balkan countries, and acute aflatoxin poisonings in India and Taiwan, have been well documented, indicating that mycotoxicosis is a global problem. In some incidents, hundreds of victims were killed and many more became seriously ill. The mycotoxins that have been implicated in the etiology of these human diseases include aflatoxins, citreoviridin, cyclopiazonic acid, ergot alkaloids, moniliformin, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, tenuazonic acid, and zearalenone. Among these, aflatoxins have been also implicated in the etiology of human primary liver cancer in those high-incidence countries in Africa and southeast Asia. It is well recognized that cause-effect relationship between mycotoxins and human diseases is very difficult to establish, especially for the cancer connection. Careful risk assessment must be performed to determine whether a mycotoxin indeed warrants costly regulatory actions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.432-438
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• 2001

Various lactic acid bacteria were isolated from Korean Dongchimi (whole radish Kimichi with added water) in order to study their antimutagenic activity. Ames test using Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium TA98 and TA100 showed the strain DLAB19 to have the highest antimutagenic activity among the 300 isolated strains against MNNG(N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine), NPD (4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine), 4-NQO(4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide) and AFB$_{1}$(aflatoxin B$_{1}$). The strain was identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris according to the Bergeys Mannual Systematic Bscteriology based on its morphological, cultural, physiological characteristics and biological system Antimutagenic activity of Leu. mesenteroides subsp. cremoris DLAB19 was found in the culture supernatant suggesting the bacterium secretes, the antimutagenic substance in the media. The antimutagenic activity of Leu. mesenteroides subsp. cremoris DLAB19 was reconfirmed by the spore-rec assay using spores of Bacillus subtilis H17 (Rec$^{+}$) and M45 (Rec$^{[-10]}$ ).).

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2015

Asexual reproduction or conidiation in aspergilli is a primary mean to produce their progenies that is environmentally and genetically controlled tightly. Previously, intensive researches in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans disclosed some genes playing important roles in asexual and sexual development. Among them, one gene encoding a putative helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factor, named ndrA, has been isolated and characterized as a downstream regulator of developmental master regulator NsdD. By using comparative genome search of A. niduans NdrA protein, its orthologues have been identified in A. fumigatus and A. flavus, respectively (AfudrnA and AfldrnA). Deletion of the ndrA genes in both Aspergillus species made them unable to produce the conidia yet abundant production of sclerotia in A. flavus. Complementation of ndrA deletion strains by intact ndrA ORFs has restored the conidiation as in the control strains. In A. fumigatus, ndrA deletion also resulted in loss of conidiation phenotype. Northern analyses showed that the ndrA genes in both Aspergillus species are highly expressed at the early stage of the conidiation. Interestingly, the ndrA genes were found to be necessary for the proper expression of brlA genes. Antifungal sensitivity test revealed that the ndrA genes might be responsible for the sensitivity or resistance to some antifungal agents. However, ndrA deletion did not greatly influence the growth in both strains. And the A. flavus ndrA gene did not affect the aflatoxin production. Taken together, ndrA genes in Aspergillus species could be an important positive regulator of conidiation under the regulation of the nsdD gene yet upstream of the brlA gene.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 1986

Sterigmatocystin bears a close structural relationship to aflatoxin $B_1$ and is a carcinogenic compound that has been shown to affect various species of experimental animals. Reaction and toxicity of sterigmatocystin in the artificial gastric juice were investigated. Sterigmatocystin was degraded in artificial gastric juice and extracted by the method of A.O.A.C. After cleaned up by silica gel column chromatography, this substance was detected and characterized by thin layer chromatography, UV, IR and mass spectra. It showed $R{\mathcal{f}}$ 0.4 and brick-red color by TLC. Especially, in the mass spectrum of it, fragment peak at m/e 327 was due to the loss of the $-CH_3$ and $-H_2O$, fragment peak at m/e 341 was due to the loss of the $H_2O$ and $-H^+$, and fragment peak at m/e 239 was due to the loss of the 2-chloro-tetrahydrofuran and methyl group from the parent molecule. Therefore, a degraded substance of sterigmatocystin reacted in artificial gastric juice (Sub. K) was estimated with additional formation of hydrochloric acid. In four-day-old chicken embryos, the mean lethal dose $(LD_{50})$ was $140\;{\mu}g/egg$, and 90 to 100% of the embryos were killed with 1 mg/egg. This $LD_{50}$ $140\;{\mu}g/egg$ compared with an $LD_{50}$ $14.69\;{\mu}g/egg$ for sterigmatocystin (acute toxicity) showed the substance to be much less toxic than sterigmatocystin.