• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.714-720
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• 2008

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal fungus which has been used for patient suffering from cancer in Oriental medicine. It was previously reported that C. militaris extracts are capable of inhibiting tumor growth and inducing apoptosis; however, the anti-poliferative effects of human cancer cells have been poorly understood. In this study, to elucidate the anti-cancer mechanisms of human cancer cells by treatment with aqueous extract of C. militaris (AECM), we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of AECM in human hepatocarcinoma Hep3B cells. AECM treatment inhibited the growth of Hep3B cells and induced the apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner such as formation of apoptotic bodies and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. The induction of apoptosis by AECM was connected with a proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8. and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and ${\beta}$-catenin proteins. Furthermore, caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, significantly inhibited AECM-induced apoptosis demonstrating the important role of caspase-3 in the bserved cytotoxic effect. Taken together, these findings suggest that AECM-induced inhibition of human hepatocarcinoma cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death via activation of caspase-3 and C. militaris may have therapeutic potential in human cancer.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.107-114
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• 2016

Objectives : Poria cocos Wolf has been widely used in Korean medicine as a medicinal fungus. In this study, we investigated that comparative anti-oxidant effects of ethanol extract from wild Poria cocos (WP) and plastic bag-cultivated Poria cocos (PBP).Methods : Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in WP and PBP extract were monitored. And DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl (·OH) free radical scavenging capacity, reducing power and xanthine oxidase inhibition activities of them were determined at 5, 1, 0.5 mg/ml concentrations.Results : Higher total polyphenol contents were found in the PBP extract (52.07±0.6 mg/TAEg) than in the WP extract (28.44±0.26 mg/TAEg). The flavonoid contents in WP and PBP extract were 17.29±0.30 mg/ RUEg, 21.36±0.40 mg/ RUEg, respectively. Also, DPPH, ABTS and ·OH free radical scavenging capacity of PBP extract in treated concentrations (5, 1, 0.5 mg/ml) significantly increased compared to those of WP-treated group. In particular, DPPH, ABTS free radical scavenging capacity and reducing power of PBP extract at 5 mg/ml concentration were similar to positive control (BHA or vit. C). Xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition rate in both extract increased dose dependently. But it was significantly increased in PBP-treated group, only at 5 mg/ml, compared to those of WP-treated group. Then, their inhibition rate by PBP was similar to positive control (BHA).Conclusions : These results suggest that PBP extract is superior to WP extract in anti-oxidant capacity thus PBP can be applied in variable antioxidative products as a substitute for WP.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2006

Photo-catalytic products have been widely used at home and hospital to prevent bacteria, virus and fungus. Activities of anti-bacteria, anti-viruses and anti-fungi are based upon direct contact of crystals and particles of titanium dioxide with pathogens, into which titanium is catalyzed by photo. Those antimicrobial activities of the photo-catalytic titanium dioxide have been proved in vitro. However, in vivo tests of those activities have not been carried out on dog skin. Aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of the catalytic titanium dioxide in vivo. Ten beagle dogs were divided into two groups. One group was sprayed with 10ml of titanium dioxide(1 mg/ml) whereas the other was not. The treated dogs were exposed under the sunlight for 120 min. A set of three hairs was taken 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after the exposure and the bacteria contaminated in hairs were amplified in, Muller Hilton broth at $35^{\circ}C{\pm}1$ for 3 h. The supernatant of the bacterial culture was diluted 1 : 10 in phosphafe-buffered saline. One milliliter of the diluents was transferred into triphenyltetrazolium medium(TTC) and incubated at $35^{\circ}C{\pm}1$ for 2 days. The number of bacteria was counted. The number of bacteria colonies was decreased compared to control group. To further investigate the longevity effect of titanium dioxide, the dogs were kept in indoor without sun light for 6 and 12 h, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 days after exposure of the chemical during each 15, 30, 60 min. The number of bacteria colony in 1ml was counted. The number of bacterial colonies was decreased. Treated group is exposured by sun light during 15 min, the longevity effect of titanium dioxide is continued by 1 week. Treated group is exposured by sun light during 30, 60 min, the longevity effect of titanium dioxide is continued over 2 weeks. These data indicated that the photo-catalytic titanium dioxide may be used for prevent bacteria on dog skin.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 1998

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium which causes chronic gastritis and is associated with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and gastric carcinoma. In the process of screening of antibacterial activities against H. pylori from soil microorganisms, fungus No. 60686 was isolated. After fermentation of No.60686, the antibacterial compound was isolated, purified and followed by extraction of mycelium with organic solvents, acetone and ethyl acetate, through silica gel chromatography, LH-20 gel chromatography and HPLC. As a result of the structural analyses of the compound by IR, $^1$H- and $^{13}$C-NMR, FAB/Mass spectrophotometer, the compound having the antimicrobial activity was identified as chaetoglobosin A ($C_{32}H_{36}N_2O_5$), a cytochalasan derivative. The antimicrobial activity of chaetoglobosin A was tested against Gram-positive and negative bacteria by paper disk method. Among the test strains of 9 Gram-positive bacteria and 18 Gram-negative bacteria containing 4 H. pylori strains, the growth of 4 H. pylori strains and 3 S. aureus strains (SG 511, 285 and 503) was only inhibited by chaetoglobosin A. Also it was shown that its growth inhibition against H. pylori strains was stronger than that against S. aureus strains at the treatment of the same concentration. Therefore it was concluded that chaetoglobosin A has a specific growth inhibition against H. pylori of the tested bacteria.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.372-379
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• 2020

Snow fungus (Tremella fuciformis) with functional contents has satisfactory effects on various diseases, including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, healthy skin, cancer, diabetes, and anti-inflammation. In this study, the extraction yield and functional contents (ergothioneine and 𝛽-glucan) of white jelly fungus were compared based on the extraction conditions using response surface methodology. Results revealed the extraction conditions for optimization of the dependent variables to be 60℃ and 4.33 h, when 16.6 mg/mL of sample concentration was used. Under these conditions, the extraction yield was 24.9%, including ergothioneine (66.8 ㎍/g) and 𝛽-glucan (34.9 g/100 g). These results can be useful in understanding the functional ingredients and mass extraction process in mushroom.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.148-155
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• 2023

This study was aimed to isolate bacterial inoculants producing chitinase and evaluate their application effects on corn silage. Four corn silages were collected from four beef cattle farms to serve as the sources of bacterial inoculants. All isolates were tested against Fusarium graminearum head blight fungus MHGNU F132 to confirm their antifungal effects. The enzyme activities (carboxylesterase and chitinase) were also measured to isolate the bacterial inoculant. Based on the activities of anti-head blight fungus, carboxylesterase, and chitinase, L. buchneri L11-1 and L. paracasei L9-3 were subjected to silage production. Corn forage (cv. Gwangpyeongok) was ensiled into a 10 L mini silo (5 kg) in quadruplication for 90 days. A 2 × 2 factorial design consists of F. graminearum contamination at 1.010⁴ cfu/g (UCT (no contamination) vs. CT (contamination)) and inoculant application at 2.1 × 10⁵ cfu/g (CON (no inoculant) vs. INO (inoculant)) used in this study. After 90 days of ensiling, the contents of CP, NDF, and ADF increased (p<0.05) by F. graminearum contamination, while IVDMD, acetate, and aerobic stability decreased (p<0.05). Meanwhile, aerobic stability decreased (p<0.05) by inoculant application. There were interaction effects (p<0.05) on IVNDFD, NH3-N, LAB, and yeast, which were highest in UCT-INO, UCT-CON, CT-INO, and CT-CON & INO, respectively. In conclusion, this study found that mold contamination could negatively impact silage quality, but isolated inoculants had limited effects on IVNDFD and yeast.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.796-804
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• 2011

Microglia are central nervous system (CNS)-resident professional macrophages that function as the principal immune cells responding to pathological stimulations in the CNS. Activation of microglia, induced by various pathogens, protects neurons and maintains homeostasis in the CNS, but severe activation causes inflammatory responses secreting various neurotoxic molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Allium fistulosum, a member of the onion family, is mainly cultivated for consumption, as well as medicinal use in Oriental medicine. It has been reported that A. fistulosum has various biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-fungus and anti-cholesterol synthesis, however there has been no research about the anti-inflammatory effects of A. fistulosum extracts. In this study, it was undertaken to explore the functions of A. fistulosum as a suppressor of neuronal inflammation by using BV2 microglia cells. As a result, it was found that four kinds of extracts of A. fistulosum effectively reduced the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at both mRNA and protein levels, and also attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the mRNA level in BV2 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the extracts of A. fistulosum attenuated the release of NO markedly, as well as resulting in slight decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production, the effects of which were most significant when treated with ethyl alcohol extract from the whole A. fistulosum. In conclusion, the data indicated that the anti-inflammatory actions of A. fistulosum against BV2 microglia cells is through the down-regulation of iNOS, COX2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, and these effects are expected to help in the protection of nerve tissues by suppressions of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.134-137
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• 2004

This study was carried out to determine the optimum culture conditions for Phellinus spp. known as white rot fungi showing anti-cancer activity. The optimum solid medium for mycelial growth at $25^{\circ}C$ was potato dextrose agar medium and optimum pH range was $6.0{\sim}8.0$, while all species showed reduced or no growth at pH 4.0. Most species showed good growth at $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$. Out of 10 species of Phellinus examined, P. biscuspidatus was the best growing fungus in the range of pH $6.0{\sim}7.0$ based on mycelial density. Three species such as P. biscuspidatus, P. johnsonianus and P. lloydii could be grouped in mesophile fungi, showing $30{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ optimum temperature.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1053-1060
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• 2010

Cordyceps militaris, an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the class Ascomycetes, has been reported to have beneficial biological activities such as hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimetastatic, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant effects. In this study, the crude water-soluble polysaccharide CMP, which was obtained from the fruiting body of C. militaris by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation, was fractionated by DEAE-cellulose and Sepharose CL-6B column chromatographies. This process resulted in three polysaccharide fractions, termed CMP Fr I, CMP Fr II, and CMP Fr III. Of these fractions, CMP Fr II, with an average molecular mass of 127 kDa, was able to upregulate effectively the phenotypic functions of macrophages such as NO production and cytokine expression. The chemical property of the stimulatory polysaccharide, CMP Fr II, was determined based on its monosaccharide composition, which consisted of glucose (56.4%), galactose (26.4%), and mannose (17.2%). Its structural characteristics were investigated by a combination of chemical and instrumental analyses, including methylation, reductive cleavage, acetylation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Results indicated that CMP Fr II consisted of the (1${\rightarrow}$4) or (1${\rightarrow}$2) linked glucopyranosyl or galactopyranosyl residue with a (1${\rightarrow}$2) or (1${\rightarrow}$6) linked mannopyranosyl, glucopyranosyl, or galactopyranosyl residue as a side chain. The configuration of the ${\beta}$-linkage and random coil conformation of CMP Fr II were confirmed using a Fungi-Fluor kit and Congo red reagent, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.832-838
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• 1999

Two different types of lipases (lipase I and lipase II) secreted into culture medium by Rhizopus sp. L-I were purified using a hydrophobic chromatography and were partially characterized. Both enzymes were monomeric as revealed by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. The molecular masses of the enzymes were identified as 45 kDa (lipase I) and 69 kDa (lipase II). The isoelectric points were estimated to be 3.6 and 5.2 for lipase I and lipase II, respectively. pH and temperature activity optima for lipase I were as 7.5 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively, whereas the corresponding parameters for lipase II were 6.0 and $45^{\circ}C$. The amino terminal sequences of lipase I and lipase II, determined by Edman degradation, were found to be Leu-Val-Met-Ile-Gln-Arg and Leu-Val-Met-Lys-Gln-Arg, respectively. By western blotting analysis, the two lipases were found to have a common antigenic determinant. Immuno-electron cytochemistry conducted with polyclonal anti-lipase I antibody indicated the enzyme located in both the periplasm and the adjacent vesicles of fungal hyphae. Fortunately, the sites on the cell envelope where lipase was exported into the culture medium was also identified.