• CELLMED
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1.1-1.6
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• 2020

Since times immemorial, people have been dependant on plants for the various nutritional and pharamacological properties. Folk and traditional medicine recognizes thousands of plant species having miraculous benefits. Fig (Ficus carica Linn.) has been part of folk-lore since centuries. Ficus carica Linn. (Moraceae) is a huge deciduous tree, with more than 800 species. Different parts of Ficus carica like bark, root, leaves, fruit and latex have their own valuable importance and are frequently used for the treatment of various illnesses. Fruit of Ficus carica is commonly called as fig (anjeer) has various medicinal properties used in Unani, Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional system of medicines. Fig fruit is mostly used in gastro intestinal and respiratory disorders. In Unani medicine, fig is used as a diuretic, mild laxative and expectorant. Phytochemical studies on the leaves and fruits of the plant have shown that they are rich in Phenolics, Flavonoids, Vitamin C, Alkaloids, Saponins, Coumarins, tannins, organic acids, and volatile compounds due to which it is having great antioxidant property. Most interesting therapeutic effects include hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial and hypolipidemic activities.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.101-101
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• 2018

최근 들어서 대기오염의 변화, 미세먼지, 황사, 각종 중금속 오염, 방사능 등의 대기오염으로 인하여 인간의 질병에 대한 면역기능이 떨어지고 있다. 또한 바이러스 침입에 의한 면역기능의 약화는 심각한 문제로 대두되고 있다. 따라서 항염, 항균, 항암, 항바이러스에 대한 관심이 매우 고조되고 있다. 이러한 문제들을 해결하고 인체의 면역기능을 활성화시키기 위해서는 정신수양과 먹거리의 환경변화가 절실히 요구되어지고 있다. 면역기능을 활성화 시키는데 가장 좋은 식품으로는 야생에서 자생하는 동충하초로 알려져 있다. 이러한 동총하초는 가격이 매우 비싸서 일반적으로 식품으로 활용하기에는 많은 어려움이 따르고 있다. 중국의 해발 3000m 이상에서 야생하는 동충하초를 실험한 결과는 다음과 같다. 동충하초를 메탄올과 에탄올에서 농축하여 실험을 하였던 결과 에탄올 처리구보다는 메탄올 처리구에서 훨씬 더 양호한 결과를 나타내었다. 이러한 현상은 총 폴리페놀 함량, 항산화, 항균, 항암활성에서 같은 반응을 보였다. 동충하초의 항균활성은 일반적으로 실험에 사용된 5종(Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium ammoniagenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa)의 균에서 대부분 억제활성을 나타내었다.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.905-922
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• 2021

Novel bioactive metabolites have been developed through a bioconversion of dairy products or other foods using probiotics isolated from dairy products or other fermented foods. These probiotics-mediated bioconversion (PMB) metabolites show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, epithelial barrier, and anticancer activities. In addition, the effect of PMB metabolites in periodontitis is recently reported in several studies. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by infections, and the tooth support tissue is destroyed. Common treatments for periodontitis include scaling and root planning with systemic antibiotics. However, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms and disturbs the beneficial bacteria, including lactobacilli in the oral cavity. For this reason, PMB metabolites, such as fermented milk, have been suggested as substitutes for antibiotics to reduce periodontitis. This paper reviews the recent studies on the correlation between periodontitis and PMB metabolites and classifies the efficacy of major PMB metabolites for periodontitis. The review suggests that PMB is effective for periodontitis, and further studies are needed to confirm the therapeutic effect of PMB metabolites on periodontitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2023

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kimchi (a traditional Korean dish typically made of fermented cabbage) can provide various health benefits, including anti-obesity, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial effects. In this study, we examined the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WiKim0125 cultured in de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium containing vegetable waste. Live bacterial cells were eliminated via supernatant filtration or heat treatment. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) obtained from culture broth containing kimchi cabbage waste (KCW), cabbage waste (CW), or onion waste (OW) showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity against skin pathogens (Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus) and foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium), with inhibition zones ranging between 4.4 and 8.5 mm, compared to that in conventional MRS medium (4.0-7.3 mm). In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, both supernatant and heat-inactivated Lb. plantarum WiKim0125 from culture media containing KCW and CW suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines (72.8% and 49.6%, respectively) and nitric oxide (62.2% and 66.7%, respectively) without affecting cell viability. These results indicate that vegetable waste can potentially increase the antimicrobial and immunoregulatory potency of LAB while presenting a molecular basis for applying postbiotics to health products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.538-546
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• 2024

Cinnamaldehyde is a natural compound extracted from cinnamon bark essential oil, acclaimed for its versatile properties in both pharmaceutical and agricultural fields, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Although potential of cinnamaldehyde against plant pathogenic bacteria like Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae causative agents of crown gall and bacterial canker diseases, respectively has been documented, in-depth studies into cinnamaldehyde's broader influence on plant pathogenic bacteria are relatively unexplored. Particularly, Pectobacterium spp., gram-negative soil-borne pathogens, notoriously cause soft rot damage across a spectrum of plant families, emphasizing the urgency for effective treatments. Our investigation established that the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of cinnamaldehyde against strains P. odoriferum JK2, P. carotovorum BP201601, and P. versatile MYP201603 were 250 ㎍/ml, 125 ㎍/ml, and 125 ㎍/ml, respectively. Concurrently, their Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) were found to be 500 ㎍/ml, 250 ㎍/ml, and 500 ㎍/ml, respectively. Using RNA-sequencing analysis, we identified 1,907 differentially expressed genes in P. carotovorum BP201601 treated with 500 ㎍/ml cinnamaldehyde. Notably, our results indicate that cinnamaldehyde upregulated nitrate reductase pathways while downregulating the citrate cycle, suggesting a potential disruption in the aerobic respiration system of P. carotovorum during cinnamaldehyde exposure. This study serves as a pioneering exploration of the transcriptional response of P. carotovorum to cinnamaldehyde, providing insights into the bactericidal mechanisms employed by cinnamaldehyde against this bacterium.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1501-1510
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• 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammation of the gut, is caused by several factors. Among these factors, microbial factors are correlated with the gut microbiota, which produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) via anaerobic fermentation. Fermented foods are known to regulate the gut microbiota composition. Ganjang (GJ), a traditional fermented Korean soy sauce consumed worldwide, has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, anti-colitis, and antihypertensive activities. However, its effects on the gut microbiota remain unknown. In the present study, we aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of GJ manufactured using different methods and investigate its effect on SCFA production in the gut. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of GJ in the gut, we performed animal experiments using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. All GJ samples attenuated DSS-induced colitis symptoms, including reduced colonic length, by suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, GJ administration modulated SCFA production in the DSS-induced colitis model. Overall, GJ exerted anti-inflammatory effects by reducing DSS-induced symptoms via regulation of inflammation and modulation of SCFA levels in a DSS-induced colitis model. Thus, GJ is a promising fermented food with the potential to prevent IBD.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.8-8
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• 2018

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Many conditions are associated with muscle atrophy, such as aging, denervation, disuse, starvation, severe injury and inflammation, prolonged bed rest, glucocorticoid treatment, sepsis, cancer, and other cachectic diseases. On the other hand, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and is wide spread in the elderly population and is characterized by erosion of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. The cytokine network plays an important role in the development and progression of OA with the inflammatory cytokine. Schisandrae Fructus (SF) derived from the ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Magnoliaceae) has been extensively used in traditional herbal medicines in Asia. It was originally used as a tonic and has been traditionally used for the treatment of many uncomfortable symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, dysentery, insomnia, and amnesia for a long time. Previous reports have shown that SF and its related compounds possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-microbial, antiseptic, anti-aging, hepatoprotective and immunostimulating effects. However, the therapeutic effects of SF on muscle atrophy and OA has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether extracts of SF, the dried fruit of S. chinensis, mitigates the development of muscle atrophy and OA.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.467-473
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the potential protective effects of (+)-afzelechin (AZC), a natural compound that is derived from Bergenia ligulata, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses. AZC is known to have antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, and cardiovascular protective properties. However, knowledge regarding the therapeutic potential of AZC against LPS-induced inflammatory responses is limited. Thus, we investigated the protective attributes of AZC against inflammatory damage caused by LPS exposure. We examined the effects of AZC on heme oxygenase (HO)-1, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, the effects of AZC on the expression of iNOS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β were analyzed in the lung tissues of LPS-injected mice. Data revealed that AZC promoted the production of HO-1, inhibited the interaction between luciferase and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and reduced the levels of COX-2/PGE2 and iNOS/NO, thereby leading to a decrease in the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1 phosphorylation. Moreover, AZC facilitated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, increased the binding activity between Nrf2 and the antioxidant response elements (AREs), and lowered the expression of IL-1β in the LPS-treated HUVECs. In the animal model, AZC significantly reduced the expression of iNOS in the lung tissue structure and the TNF-α level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings demonstrate that AZC possesses anti-inflammatory properties that regulate iNOS through the inhibition of both NF-κB expression and p-STAT-1. Consequently, AZC has potential as a future candidate for the development of new clinical substances for the treatment of pathological inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1373-1380
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• 2023

This study investigated the effects of coumarin, a flavonoid known for various physiological activities like antiviral, anticancer, and antibacterial properties, on anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory processes, aiming to explore its application in functional cosmetics. The results are as follows: Cell toxicity experiments using RAW 264.7 cells showed no significant cytotoxicity for coumarin at any concentration, indicating its safety for skin application. Observing coumarin's antioxidant activity through DPPH radical scavenging showed concentration-dependent effectiveness, though not significantly varied with concentration. The inhibition of silica-induced ROS production in cells was concentration-dependent. Both NO production inhibition and histamine release measurements showed concentration-dependent suppression. These findings suggest that Coumarin can be effectively used as a natural ingredient in cosmetic development for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2005

The effect of 12 edible mushroom species on the antioxidant and cytotoxicity on cancer cells were studied Methanol extract of Lyophyllum ulmarium, Cordyceps militaris and Sarcodon aspratus showed $30\~60\%$ DPPH radical scavenging activity and $39\~53\%$ protective effects against the cytotoxicity of $B_2O_2$. Methanol extracts of Sarcodon aspratus, Lyophyllum ulmarium, Cordyceps militaris, Agaricus blazei and Ganoderma lucidum revealed high inhibitive activities in cytotoxicity on human leukemia tells such as promyelocytic leukemia cell (HL60) and histiocytic lymphoma cell (U937). Highest toxicity was observed against HL60 cells in Sarcodon aspratus methanol extract showing $70.5\%$ inhibition at 1mg/mL whereas Cordyceps militaris methanol extract showed $81.5\%$ inhibition against U937 cells. Most water extracts of edible mushrooms exhibited the lowest effect against HL60 and U937 cells compared to methanol extract. These extract did not show cytotoxic effects against human lymphocyte. Results revealed 5 kinds of edible murshroom (Cordyceps militaris, Agaricus blaxei, Lyophyllum ulmarium, Ganoderma lucidum and Sarcodon aspratus) have strong antioxidative and in vitro anticancer efforts.