• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.313-319
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• 2009

To improve the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells(hMSCs) under general cell culture conditions(20% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$), we examined the effect of s-allylcysteine(SAC), which is known as an antioxidant and the main component of aged-garlic extract, on hydrogen peroxide-induced cellular stress in hMSCs. We found that SAC blocked hydrogen peroxideinduced cell death and cellular apoptosis, but that SAC did not improve the growth of hMSCs during short-term culture. To evaluate the protective effect of SAC, we examined the endogenous expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione peroxidase(Gpx) in hMSCs. Hydrogen peroxide was found to downregulate the expression of CAT, SOD, and Gpx at the protein level. However, in the pre-treatment group of SAC, SAC inhibited the hydrogen peroxide-induced down-regulation of CAT, SOD, and Gpx. Unfortunately, treatment with SAC alone did not induce the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes and the cell proliferation of hMSCs. Surprisingly, SAC improved cell growth in a single cell level culture of hMSCs. These results indicate that SAC may be involved in the preservation of the self-renewal capacity of hMSCs. Taken together, SAC improves the proliferation of hMSCs via inhibition of oxidative-stress-induced cell apoptosis through regulation of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, SAC may be an indispensable component in an in vitro culture system of human MSCs for maintaining self-renewal and multipotent characterization of human MSCs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6379-6384
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• 2013

S-benzyl-cysteine (SBC) is a structural analog of S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is one of the major water-soluble compounds in aged garlic extract. In this study, anticancer activities and the underlying mechanisms of SBC action were investigated and compared these with those of SAC using human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. SBC significantly suppressed the survival rate of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory activities of SBC were stronger than those of SAC. Flow cytometry revealed that SBC induced G2-phase arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. SBC-treatment dramatically induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$), and enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 whilst hardly affecting caspase-8 activity. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that SBC-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of the expression of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggested that SBC exerts cytotoxic activity involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 pathways in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1712-1717
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• 2012

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) plays an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic disease. In this study, human LDL was isolated and oxidized using $CuSO_4$ in the presence or absence of S-allylmercaptocysteine. Oxidative modification of the LDL fraction was monitored by both the appearance of thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS), an increase in electrophoretic mobility, and conjugated diene formation. The addition of S-allylmercaptocysteine reduced lipid peroxide formation, indicating it to be an effective antioxidant. The inhibition of LDL oxidation by $5{\sim}20{\mu}g/ml$ S-allylmercaptocysteine occurred in a dose-dependent manner, as assessed by the TBARS assay. S-allylmercaptocysteine at $20{\mu}g/ml$ almost completely inhibited the $Cu^{2+}$ induced increases in electrophoretic mobility of LDL and almost completely inhibited conjugated diene formation. A more potent antioxidative activity was observed for S-allylmercaptocysteine than for either Vitamin C or $d{\ell}-{\alpha}$-tocopherol. Thus, S-allylmercaptocysteine aid in preventing the development and progression of atherosclerotic disease.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2009

To improve the functional and organoleptic properties of the fermented soymilk with Bacillus subtilis 2829PNU015 which has chungkukjang like flavor, functional materials from the edible plant extracts with well-known health promoting effects were examined by fibrinolytic activity and sensory evaluation. Among five samples such as Corni fructus, garlic, purple sweet potato, aged garlic, and pumpanini were tested, Corni fructus showed the highest fibrinolytic activity. The appearance and taste of the fermented soymilk (FS) was varied to the amount of Corni fructus added, and the highest acceptability of FS was observed from FS containing 1% Corni fructus extracts ($10^{\circ}$Brix) in it. Best way of applying Corni fructus to the fermented soymilk (FFS) was found to be incubating the mixture of soymilk and Corni fructus with Bacillus subtilis. FFS demonstrated dose dependent radical scavenging activities and these activities were found to be higher than those of FS at designated concentration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.92.2-92.2
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.124-128
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• 2004

We have assessed amyloid ${\beta}-peptide$ $(A{\beta})-induced$ neurotoxicity in primary neurons and organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHC) in rat. Exposing cultured hippocampal and cerebellar granule neurons to $A{\beta}$ resulted in a decrease of MTT reduction, and in destruction of neuronal integrity. Treatment of these neurons with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), also decreased MTT reduction in these neurons. S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC), an active organosulfur compound in aged garlic extract, protected hippocampal but not cerebellar granule neurons against $A{\beta}$- or tunicamycin-induced toxicity. In the hippocampal neurons, protein expressions of casapse-12 and GRP 78 were significantly increased after $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ or tunicamycin treatment. The increase in the expression of caspase-12 was suppressed by simultaneously adding $1{\mu}M$ SAC in these neurons. In contrast, in the cerebellar granule neurons, the expression of caspase-12 was extremely lower than that in the hippocampal neurons, and an increase in the expression by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ or tunicamycin was not detected. In OHC, ibotenic acid (IBO), a NMDA receptor agonist, induced concentration-dependent neuronal death. When $A{\beta}$ was combined with IBO, there was more intense cell death than with IBO alone. SAC protected neurons in the CA3 area and the dentate gyrus (DG) from the cell death induced by IBO in combination with $A{\beta}$, although there was no change in the CA1 area. Although protein expression of casapse-12 in the CA3 area and the DG was significantly increased after the simultaneous treatment of AI3 and IBO, no increase in the expression was observed in the CA1 area. These results suggest that SAC could protect against the neuronal cell death induced by the activation of caspase-12 in primary cultures and OHC. It is also suggested that multiple mechanisms may be involved in neuronal death induced by AI3 and AI3 in combination with IBO.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2013

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the cholesterol-lowering effect of S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC) derived from aged garlic. Rat hepotocytes and HepG2 cells were used to determine the short-term effects of SAMC on [$^{14}C$] acetate incorporation into cholesterol, and several enzymatic steps. The cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and treated with 20, 40, 60 and 80 ${\mu}g/ml$ of SAMC. At concentration of 20~40 ${\mu}g/ml$, no significant cells viability effect was noted during those incubation periods. However, at a concentration 60 ${\mu}g/ml$, cell viability decreased approximately 50% compared with the control. The treatment of cells with 5, 10, 15, and 20 ${\mu}g/ml$ of SAMC resulted in a marked of [$^{14}C$]-acetate incorporation into cholesterol. At concentration of 15 ${\mu}g/ml$, the cholesterol synthesis was inhibited 79% in cells. The activities of lipogenic enzymes, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) were measured in culture hepatocytes treated with the inhibitors. The activity of FAS in cells treated with 0.95 nmol SAMC was 19% lower than that of nontreated cells, and no affected G6PDH activity, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Co A activity was decreased at concentration dependant manner. The present study demonstrates that SAMC is effective in inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.406-412
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• 2012

The purpose of this research is to develop functional food with garlics(Allium sativum var. pekinense) as a healthy food. Fermented garlic broth(FGB)s were prepared with whole bulb of garlics preserved in sugar and sugar syrup, then fermented and aged at room temperature for 36 months. Biological activities of FGBs were tested antibacterial, antioxidative, fibrinolytic activities and analyzed for polyphenol contents. The total polyphenol contents of FGBs in 12~36 month fermented broth(870~885 mg/100 mL of broth) had significantly higher than those of 1~6 months fermented broths(p<0.001). The electron donating abilities(EDAs) and SOD-like activities of 24~36 month fermented broth had significantly higher than those of 1~6 months fermented broths(p<0.05). FGBs had shown strong antibacterial activities against four kinds of pathogenic bacteria(L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, E. coli O157:H7, and Sal. typhimurium). The fibrinolytic activities of 24~36 months fermented broth had more than twice of the fibrinolytic activity of plasmin. FGBs had increasing activities in antibacterial, antioxidative and fibrinolytic activity as the progress of fermentation period. FGBs can be used as natural antioxidant to prevent oxidative damage on normal cells probably because of their antibacterial, antioxidative and fibrinolytic activities.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.399-407
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• 2015

Sumaeyaksuk (Artemisia Argyi H.) is one of the original mugwort spices in Namhae-gun, Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the physicochemical characteristics and biological activities of water extracts from dried and aging Sumaeyaksuk samples during the May-July harvest season. One (SD) was dried under shade for 12 days, while the other (AD) was aged for 7 days at $60^{\circ}C$ and then roasted for 220 minutes at over $90^{\circ}C$. Glucose was solely detected as a free sugar, and its SD and AD content were $0.42{\pm}0.02{\sim}0.43{\pm}0.01g/100g$, and $0.41{\pm}0.02{\sim}0.47{\pm}0.04g/100g$, respectively. The total phenolic contents of SD were $1.85{\pm}0.09{\sim}3.45{\pm}0.14g/100g$, which were higher than those of AD ($1.29{\pm}0.08{\sim}2.90{\pm}0.08g/100g$). The antioxidant activities of the water extract powder from each Sumaeyaksuk were assessed by different in vitro methods, such as the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, FRAP, and decoloration prevention activity in ${\beta}$-carotene linoleic system. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity of AD extract were significantly higher than those of the SD extract (p<0.05). Moreover, at the concentrations of 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, $500{\mu}g/mL$, the FRAP of the SD-May extract showed $1.67{\pm}0.58{\sim}489.90{\pm}7.59{\mu}M$, while the AD-July extract showed $9.70{\pm}1.07{\sim}590.40{\pm}7.45{\mu}M$. The ${\beta}$-carotene decoloration prevention activity of the SD-May and AD-July extracts were $25.53{\pm}2.85{\sim}81.43{\pm}2.56%$, $35.98{\pm}2.22{\sim}79.00{\pm}1.42%$, respectively. Based on these results, the extracts of SD-May and AD-July were promising as a functional food source due to their high antioxidant activites.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.553-559
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to define a one-portion size of food frequently consumed by the Koreans aged 65 years or over. From the original 8,631 people who took part in the Forth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES IV-2) 2008, we analyzed the data on 1,458 persons (16.9%) aged 65 and over, and selected food items consumed based on the intake frequency of 30 or more by all participant. A total of 158 varieties of food items were selected. The portion size of food items was set on the basis of the median amount (50 percentile) in a single intake by a single person. In the cereals category, 13 items were selected, of which the most frequently consumed item was well-polished rice with portion size of 75 g. Among legumes, 7 items were selected, of which the most frequent item was dried black soybean with a portion size of 6 g. Among the 16 groups, the most varied food group (49 items) was vegetables, and among these the most frequently occurring item was garlic (5 g), while among the fruit group, only 11 items were selected, as their intake frequency was low. Fish and shellfish were more frequently consumed by the elderly than meats. The most frequently consumed meat was pork loin, with a portion size of 30 g. In fish and shellfish, the most frequently consumed item was dried and boiled large anchovy with a portion size of 2 g. Portion sizes for food items consumed regularly by the elderly may be conveniently and effectively used in dietary planning and in nutritional education programs, and in assessing the diet intake status of the elderly.