• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.351-360
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• 2020

Previous studies have suggested that microbial fermentation is an attractive process to develop food products using seaweed. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are used as starters for seaweed fermentation. The isolation of LAB strains was conducted using kelp Saccharina japonica kimchi, a well-known fermented seaweed in southeastern Korea. Based on the assay of acid tolerance, bile tolerance and antioxidant activity, 15 strains of LAB were selected for further study. The LABs exhibited cholesterol lowering activity in the range of 15.50 to 94.77%. Among the LABs suitable for food production, Lactobacillus plantarum D-11 had the highest antioxidant and cholesterol lowering activities. This probiotic strain will be applied to develop various kelp fermentation products.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.887-896
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• 2015

To develop environment-friendly agricultural products with anti-microbial activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum as a pathogen of sclerotium disease, Usnea longissima was extracted by methanol and its extract was fractionated into several solvent fractions. The chloroform fraction, which showed the highest antimicrobial activity, was separated by silica gel-column chromatography and obtained into nine group subfractions. The nine group fractions were searched the antifungal activities by bioassay. The most active No. 3 subfraction was analyzed by GC-MS. Each mass spectra, corresponding to each peak of chromatogram, was compared to database of Wiley library. As a result, Usnic acid was identified as main compounds. In conclusion, Usnic acid isolated from Usnea longissima was antimicrobial chemical against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum as a pathogen of sclerotium disease.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2017

In the central nervous system, viral infection can induce inflammation by up-regulating pro-inflammatory mediators that contribute to enhanced infiltration of immune cells into the central nervous areas. Celastrol is known to exert various regulatory functions, including anti-microbial activities. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects and the mechanisms of action of celastrol against astrocytes activated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), a synthetic dsRNA, as a model of pro-inflammatory mediated responses. Celastrol significantly inhibited poly(I:C)-induced expression of adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1/VCAM-1, and chemokines, such as CCL2, CXCL8, and CXCL10, in CRT-MG human astroglioma cells. In addition, celastrol significantly suppressed poly(I:C)-induced activation of JNK MAPK and STAT1 signaling pathways. Furthermore, celastrol significantly suppressed poly(I:C)-induced activation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. These results suggest that celastrol may exert its regulatory activity by inhibiting poly(I:C)-induced expression of pro-inflammatory mediators by suppressing activation of JNK MAPK-STAT1/$NF-{\kappa}B$ in astrocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2018

In this study, the quality characteristics of cheonggukjang with addition of different quinoa were investigated. We evaluated the quality and sensory characteristics of cheonggukjang, including the pH, amino nitrogen, slime contents, color value, and total aerobic bacteria. Moreover, The anti-oxidant activities were measured as total polyphenol content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The pH and amino nitrogen content were noted to significantly increase during the fermentation period in all the samples. The slime content of cheonggukjang added with quinoa increased with increased fermentation time, but cheonggukjang with addition of 20% of quinoa was decreased. The L value and b value decreased significantly with increased fermentation time, but the a value increased significantly. The microbial tests of cheonggukjang with addition of quinoa showed that the aerobic micro-organisms count was 7.45~9.10 Log cfu/g. Total polyphenol contents increased in all groups during the fermentation period, and activity increased with an increased percentage of added quinoa. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity of cheonggukjang (with addition of quinoa) were also significantly higher than those of the control. The sensory quality of quinoa 10% cheonggukjang was stronger in flavor, and taste, and demonstrated a higher level of overall acceptability, when compared to the other groups.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.272-276
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• 2011

Paeonia japonica has been widely used as a folk remedy for a long time. This study was performed to investigate antimicrobial substance of P. japonica extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethylacetate, methanol or hot water. The antimicrobial activities of the P. japonica extracts were determined using a paper disc method and liquid culture. The methanol fraction at a concentration of 10 mg/mL showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurim KCCM 11862. The ethylacetate fraction (5 mg/mL) showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphyloccoccus aureus KCCM 11593. In a study using liquid culture, the ethylacetate fraction from P. japonica showed the highest anti-microbial activity against S. aureus KCCM 11593 in a concentration range of 5~10 mg/mL. All fractions prepared from P. japonica inhibited the growth of S. aureus KCCM 11593 under our culture conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.877-884
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• 2022

Probiotics are microorganisms that can benefit host health when ingested in a live state, and lactic acid bacteria are the most common type. Among fungi, Saccharomyces boulardii (SB) is the only strain known to have a probiotic function with beneficial effects on colitis; however, information on other probiotic yeast strains is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to discover yeast strains expressing intestinal anti-inflammatory activities by exhibiting probiotic properties in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice model. Nuruk (Korean traditional fermentation starter) containing various microbial strains was used as a source for yeast strains, and S. cerevisiae 28-7 (SC28-7) strain was selected with in vitro and in vivo characteristics to enable survival in the intestines. After 14 days of pretreatment with the yeast strains, DSS was co-administered for six days to induce colitis in mice. The results revealed that the disease activity index score was lowered by SC28-7 treatment compared to the DSS group, and the colon length and weight/length ratio were recovered in a pattern similar to that of the normal group. SC28-7 administration significantly reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum and modified the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, transforming growth factor-β, and interferon-γ) and proteins involved in gut barrier functions (mucin 2, mucin 3, zonula occludens-1, and occludin) in colon tissues. These results indicate that SC28-7 attenuates DSS-induced colon damage and inflammation, supporting its future use as a probiotic yeast for treating and preventing intestinal inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.726-737
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• 2017

Carotenoids are isoprenoids with a long polyene chain containing 3 to 15 conjugated double bonds, which determines their absorption spectrum. They typically consist of a $C_{40}$ hydrocarbon backbone often modified by different oxygen-containing functional groups, to yield cyclic or acyclic xanthophylls. Much work has also been focused on the identification, production, and utilization of natural sources of carotenoid (plants, microorganisms and crustacean by-products) as an alternative to the synthetic pigment which currently covers most of the world markets. Nevertheless, only a few carotenoids (${\beta}-carotene$, lycopene, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and lutein) can be produced commercially by fermentation or isolation from the small number of abundant natural sources. The market and demand for carotenoids is anticipated to increase dramatically with the discovery that carotenoids exhibit significant anti-carcinogenic activities and play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases. The increasing importance of carotenoids in the feed, nutraceutical food and pharmaceutical markets has renewed by efforts to find ways of producing additional carotenoid structures in useful quantities. Because microorganisms and plants synthesize hundreds of different complex chemical carotenoid structures and a number of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways have been elucidated on a molecular level, metabolic and genetic engineering of microorganisms can provide a means towards economic production of carotenoid structures that are otherwise inaccessible. The aim of this article is to review our current understanding of carotenoid formation, to explain the perceived benefits of carotenoid in the diet and review the efforts that have been made to increase carotenoid in certain microorganisms.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: The urgency of feeding the world's growing population while combating soil pollution, salinization and desertification requires suitable biotechnology not only to improve crop productivity but also to improve soil health through interactions of soil nutrient and soil microorganism. Interest in the utilization of microbial fertilizer has increased. A principle of nature farming is to produce abundant and healthy crops without using chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and without interrupting the natural ecosystem. Beneficial microorganisms may provide supplemental nutrients in the soil, promote crop growth, and enhance plant resistance against pathogenic microorganisms. We mixed beneficial microorganisms such as Bacillus sp. Han-5 with anti-fungal activities, Trichoderma harziaum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum with organic material degrading activity, Actinomycetes bovis with antibiotic production and Pseudomonas sp. with nitrogen fixation. This study was carried out to investigate the mixtures on the soil microflora and soil chemical properties and the effect on the growth of lettuce and cucumber under greenhouse conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The microbial mixtures were used with each of organic fertilizer, swine manure and organic+swine manure and compared in regard to changes in soil chemical properties, soil microflora properties and crop growth. At 50 days after the treatment of microorganism mixtures, the pH improved from 5.8 to 6.3, and the EC, $NO_3$-Na and K decreased by 52.4%, 60.5% and 29.3%, respectively. The available $P_2O_5$ and $SiO_2$ increased by 25.9% and 21.2%, respectively. Otherwise, the population density of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. was accelerated and the growth of vegetables increased. Moreover, the population density of E. coli and Fusarium sp., decreased remarkably. The ratio of bacteria to fungi (B/F) and the ratio of Actinomycetes bovis to fungi (A/F) increased 2.3 (from 272.2 to 624.4) and 1.7 times (from 38.3 to 64), respectively. Furthermore, the growth and yield of cucumber and lettuce significantly increased by the treatment of microorganism mixtures. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that the treatment of microorganism mixtures improved the chemical properties and the microflora of soil and the crop growth. Therefore, it is concluded that the microorganism mixtures could be good alternative soil amendments to restore soil nutrients and soil microflora.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1966-1971
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• 2013

Pholiota adiposa is an edible as well as medicinal mushroom cultured in China and Japan with anti-tumor, anti-microbial, anti-hypertensive, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. This study was carried out to investigate the quality characteristics of cookies added with Pholiota adiposa powder. Chemical composition of Pholiota adiposa powder was as follows: 3.8% moisture, 6.9% ash, 1% crude lipids, 3% protein, 53.3% carbohydrates, and 31.9% crude dietary fiber. To analyze quality characteristics during the manufacture of cookies, pH, texture, color, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, and sensory evaluation were determined. As the content of Pholiota adiposa powder increased, the pH of cookies decreased from 6.7 to 6.02. Hardness of cookies decreased with increasing Pholiota adiposa powder content, and cookies added with 5% powder were softer than the control. Regarding surface color, L-value decreased with increasing powder content compared to that of the control, whereas in surface color among various powder levels was not significantly different. As the content of Pholiota adiposa powder increased, both antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content increased. In the sensory evaluation, cookies added with 3% Pholiota adiposa powder showed remarkably higher values compared to control and other amples in all aspects.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2021

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves, a raw material for health functional foods and cosmetics have abundant polyphenols including oleuropein (major bioactive compound) with various biological activities: antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer activity, and inhibit platelet activation. Oleuropein has been reported as skin protectant, antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-atherogenic, anti-viral, and anti-microbial activity. Despite oleuropein is the important compound in olive leaves, there is still no quantitative approach to reveal oleuropein content in commercial products. Therefore, a validated method of analysis has to develop for oleuropein. In this study, the components and oleuropein content in 10 types of products were analyzed using a developed method with ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, charge of aerosol detector, and photodiode array. The total of 18 compounds including iridoids (1, 3, 4, 14, and 16-18), coumarin (2), phenylethanoids (5, 9, and 11), flavonoids (6-8, 10, 12, and 13), lignan (15), were tentatively identified in the leaves extract based high resolution mass spectrometry data, and the content of oleuropein in each product was almost identical between two detection methods. The oleuropein in three commercial product (A, G, H) was contained more over the suggested content, and it of five products (B, E, H, I, J) were analyzed within 5-10% error range. However, the two products (C, D) were found far lower than suggested contents. This study provides that analytical results of oleuropein could be a potential information for the quality control of leaf extract for a manufactured functional food.