• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.654-660
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• 2018

The dependence on global fossil fuels has been gradually reducing all over the world. Some countries which recognized the important of environmental values were joining to carry out international GHG goals. Our country has also participated with high targets (37% reduction compared to BAU 2030 years). So we need to supply materials of lower GHG value such as a bio-diesel. Bio-alcohol is one of the similar bio-fuels that can be reducing GHG. A lot of countries had tried to commercialize through various R&D for bio-alcohol. In this study, we analyzed the fuel characteristics of bio-alcohol fuel produced by domestic technology. And we evaluated a possibility to use as vehicle fuel through mixing of bio-alcohol and gasoline. The mixed fuels were satisfied with 2.3 wt% of oxygen content that is standard of the petroleum and petroleum alternative fuel business Act. We tried to evaluate a emission characteristic of vehicle by mixed fuel. In accordance with the results we tried to find a correlation between fuel and emission.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2013

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) coating solution containing glutaraldehyde (GA) and maleic anhydride (MA) as crosslinking agents was coated onto hydrolyzed poly acrylonitrile (PAN) hollow fiber membranes. The permselectivities of the resulting composite membranes prepared varying the reaction temperature and the concentration of the crosslinking agents were tested for 90 wt% ethanol aqueous mixtures by the pervaporation technique at $60^{\circ}C$. In general, the flux decreased while the selectivity increased for the increases of the reaction temperature and the crosslinking concentration. In case of GA as a crosslinking, the flux $165g/m^2hr$ and the separation factor 81 were obtained at GA 11 wt% and the reaction temperature $120^{\circ}C$. And for the case of MA, the flux $174g/m^2hr$ and the separation factor 73 were obtained at MA 11 wt% and the reaction temperature $120^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.888-895
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• 2017

Salsola collina (S. collina) is an annual plant widely distributed in drought and semi-drought areas, which has been used for a long time as a kind of folk remedy in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. Previously, the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of S. collina were elucidated in our research group. In this study, the anti-obesity activities of S. collina ethanol extract (SCEE) were evaluated using a pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay and cell culture model. The results showed that SCEE effectively suppressed pancreatic lipase enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, SCEE significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and triglyceride (TG) content, and triggered lipolysis on insulin, dexamethasone, and 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine-treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Its anti-obesity effect was modulated by cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene, as well as protein expressions. Taken together, these results offer the important new insight that S. collina possesses anti-obesity properties, such as pancreatic lipase inhibition and anti-adipogenic and lipolysis effects through the modulation of their upstream signaling pathway. It could become a promising source in the field of nutraceuticals, and the identification of active compounds that confer the biological activities of SCEE may be needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.783-789
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• 2017

Malus melliana (Hand.-Mazz.) Rehder (M. melliana) is a Chinese plant that belongs to the Rosaceae family. There have been no previous reports regarding its bioactivity. In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of M. melliana ethanol extract (MMEE) were evaluated using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity assay, nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity assay, and the analysis of related protein expressions through Western blot hybridization. MMEE showed potent scavenging activity against DPPH, similar to ascorbic acid, a well-known anti-oxidative agent, which was used as a positive control. MMEE also inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced ROS in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, MMEE induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor E2-related factor-2, in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, MMEE was associated with a reduction in NO production, which was induced by the lipopolysaccharide treatment of RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, which is the upstream regulator of NO production, was also inhibited. Taken together, these results suggest that MMEE has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, thus appearing to be a potential anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The further identification of active compounds that confer the biological activities of MMEE may be necessary.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.468-474
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• 2009

Thyme leaves of aerial part in 5 domestic species was extracted by several solvens, and chemical composition of extracts was analyzed by GC-MS to determine the effective solvent for phenol compound extracts. Total phenol contents containing thymol and carvacrol according to methanol extracts of Ulleung island, Jeju middle mountain, Kyeonggido, Jeju alpine species, and Gangwondo were 92.21, 84.92, 77.43, 74.16, and 73.51%, while them of ethanol extracts of Gangwondo, Jeju middle mountain, Kyeonggido, Ulleung island, and Jeju alpine species were in the order of and their contents were 93.64, 93.62, 90.74, 89.52, and 72.65%, separately. Hexane extracts of Gangwondo and Ulleung island thyme were almost composed by phenol contents containing thymol for 100 and 95.71%.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2010

Flavonoids are known to be effective scavengers of free radicals. In particular, proanthocyanidins are flavonoids that possess cardiovascular protection, antioxidative activities, and immunomodulatory activities. Here, we evaluated proanthocyanidin contents in the total polyphenolic compounds of pine needle extracts prepared by hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-hexane (HWH), and hot water-ethanol (HWE). Analysis of each extract indicated that the ethanol extract contained the highest proanthocyanidin concentration. The HWH and hexane extracts also contained relatively high concentrations of proanthocyanidin. On the other hand, proanthocyanidin content analyses out of the total polyphenolic compounds indicated that the HWH extract contained the highest content. These results suggest that HWH extraction is a suitable method to obtain an extract with a high level of pure proanthocyanidins and a relatively high yield. The HWH extract possessed superior activity in diverse antioxidative analyses such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferrous ion chelating (FIC), and ferric-ion reducing power (FRAP) assays. In addition, upon assessing the effects of the pine needle extracts on macrophages (Raw 264.7 cell), the HWH extract exhibited the highest activity. In this study, we discerned an efficient extraction method to achieve relatively pure proanthocyanidins from pine needles and evaluated the biological functions of the resulting extract, which could potentially be used for its efficacious components in functional food products.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2017

Background: We investigated the antioxidative and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of 70% ethanol extract, and its fractions, of the root of Rumex japonicus HOUTT. Methods and Results: The total phenolic compound contents of the 70% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction were 168.99 mg/g and 651.78 mg/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity was compared through the DPPH radical and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assays. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest DPPH radical and NO scavenging abilities, which confirmed the antioxidant activity. Specifically, the ethyl acetate fraction showed a higher DPPH radical scavenging ability than ascorbic acid. These results were related to the total phenolic compound content of the ethyl acetate fraction. Moreover, in the tyrosinase inhibition assay, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited stronger inhibitory activity than arbutin, which was used as the positive control. The cell viability of L929 cells was analyzed by MTT assay after treatment with 70% ethanol extract and all fractions; no changes in viability were observed, which demonstrated the nontoxic nature of the extract and fractions. Conclusions: These results suggested that the extract from the root of R. japonicus and its ethyl acetate fraction could be a novel resource for the development of a cosmetic with antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2012

In the present work, we have collected 19 species of macroalgae (9 Phaeophta and 10 Rhodophyta) f rom all around of Korea: Dictyopteris divaricata, D. prolifera, Myelophycus cavus, Papenfussiella kuromo, Petalonia zosterifolia, Petrospongium rugosum, Rugulopteryx okamurae, Sargassum fulvellum, S. muticum, Callophyllis japonica, Gloiopeltis tenax, Gracilaria longissima, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Grateloupia asiatica, Grateloupia lanceolata, Grateloupia sparsa, Grateloupia turuturu, Grateloupia sp, and Polyopes affinis. The macroalgal species were extracted by 70% ethanol (EtOH) for 24 h and evaluated its inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. Among ethanol extracts, Myelophycus cavus showed the most effectively inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$, 2.17 ${\mu}g/ml$) against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, followed by Sargassum fulvellum (<$IC_{50}$, 8.13 ${\mu}g/ml$), Dictyopteris prolifera ($IC_{50}$, 16.66 ${\mu}g/ml$), Rugulopteryx okamurae ($IC_{50}$, 50.63 ${\mu}g/ml$), and Petrospongium rugosum ($IC_{50}$, 101.62 ${\mu}g/ml$). Furthermore, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay showed no cytotoxicity on mouse pre-adipocytes cell line (3T3-L1). These results suggest that some edible macroalgae merit further evaluation for clinical usefulness as anti-diabetic functional foods.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.190-198
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• 2016

Application of fuel cell to produce renewable energy for commercial purpose is limited by the high cost of Pt based electrode materials. Development of inexpensive, high energetic electrode is the need of the hour to produce pollution free energy using bio-fuel through a fuel cell. Ni-Cu and Ni-CeO₂-Cu electrode materials, electro synthesized by pulse current have been developed. The surface morphology of the electrode materials is controlled by different deposition parameters in order to produce a high current from the electro-oxidation of the fuel, the ethanol. The developed materials are electrochemically characterized by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Chronoamperometry (CA) and Potentiodynamic polarization tests. The results confirm that the high current is due to their enhanced catalytic properties viz. high exchange current density (i₀), low polarization resistance (R_p) and low impedance. It is worthwhile to mention here that the addition of CeO₂ to Ni-Cu has outperformed Pt as far as the high electro catalytic properties are concerned; the exchange current density is about eight times higher than the same on Pt surface. The morphology of the electrode surface examined by SEM and FESEM exhibits that the grains are narrow and sub spherical with 3D surface, containing vacancies in between the elongated grains. The fact has enhanced more surface area for electro oxidation of the fuel, giving rise to an increase in current. Presence of Ni, CeO₂, and Cu is confirmed by the XRD and EDXS. Fuel cell fabricated with Ni-CeO₂-Cu material electrode is expected to produce clean electrical energy at cheaper rates than conventional one, using bio fuel the derived from biomass.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.130-135
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• 2014

To develop a natural antioxidant and anti-hemolytic agents, we investigated the effects of ethanol extracts of Rubus coreanus Miquel (crude extracts). Crude extract was extracted with ethanol. Antioxidant activity of crude extracts was evaluated by employing two different assays, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and super oxide dismutase(SOD)-like activity. Also, anti-hemolytic activity of crude extract was determined using $H_2O_2$-induced hemolysis in normal rat red blood cells (RBC) or plasma. The extracts obtained from crude extract dose-dependently increased the scavenging activity on DPPH-induced radicals and SOD-like activity. RBC oxidative hemolysis induced by $H_2O_2$ was significantly suppressed by the extracts of Rubus coreanus Miquel in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that crude extracts may have value as the potential antioxidant and anti-hemolytic medicinal plant.