• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2020

Natural products are widely used due to their various biological activities which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-obesity effects. In this study, we determined the antioxidative and anti-obesity effects of Polygonum cuspidatum 50% ethanol extract (PEE). The antioxidative effect of PEE was evaluated using its radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, and reducing power. The anti-obesity effect of PEE was investigated using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The antioxidative activity of PEE was progressively increased in various concentrations, mainly due to the presence of phenolic compounds. PEE also alleviated lipid accumulation on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and downregulated the mRNA and protein production of adipogenesis-related (SREBP-1c, PPARγ, C/EBPα) and lipogenesis-related (aP2, FAS, ACC) markers. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation via PEE was caused by the alleviation of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, and JNK at the protein level. Taken together, our results imply that PEE is a potential antioxidant that can prevent obesity-associated disorders.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2016

The activity concentrations of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ within phytoplankton-zooplankton-anchovy-mackerel in the coastal water of the Jeju Island were determined to understand their distribution and bio-accumulation along the trophic level. In the surface water, the total activity concentrations of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ were $0.83{\pm}0.004mBq\;kg^{-1}$ and $1.27{\pm}0.03mBq\;kg^{-1}$. And the dissolved activity concentration of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ were $0.75{\pm}0.06mBq\;kg^{-1}$ and $1.22{\pm}0.09mBq\;kg^{-1}$ respectively. In the phytoplankton, the concentration factor (CF) of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ were $1.5{\times}10^5$ and $2.6{\times}10^4$ shows $^{210}Po$ is 5 times higher compared to $^{210}Pb$. The similar CF factor in the zooplankton of $^{210}Po$ was derived as $1.4{\times}10^5$. The CF of $^{210}Po$ in anchovy was increased twice compared to that in plankton. This is the evidence that there is $^{210}Po$ bio-magnification in the trophic level of plankton-anchovy. However the $^{210}Po$ activity concentration in the muscle tissue of mackerel was one-hundred times lower than that in anchovy. This reflects that in the trophic level of anchovy-mackerel, the bio-accumulation of $^{210}Po$ is decreased. The activity concentrations of $^{210}Po$ in the internal organs of anchovy and mackerel were 8 to 38 times higher than those in muscle tissues. In phytoplankton-zooplankton-anchovy, the CF of $^{210}Pb$ was decreased five times along the trophic level in order. In anchovy-mackerel it was decreased by 30-70%.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-136
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• 2008

Cell cultures of Commiphora wightii (Arnott.) Bhandari were grown in shake flasks and a bioreactor and an increase in guggulsterone accumulation up to $18{\mu}g\;l^{-1}$ was recorded in cells grown in the production medium containing a combination of sucrose:glucose (4% total), precursors (phenylalanine, pyruvic acid, xylose, and sodium acetate), morphactin, and 2iP. A yield of $10g\;l^{-1}$ biomass and ${\sim}200{\mu}g\;l^{-1}$ guggulsterone was recorded in a 3-l flask and in a 2-l stirred tank bioreactor compared with 6.6 g biomass and $67{\mu}g\;l^{-1}$ guggulsterone in 250-ml flasks. Increased vessel size was correlated with increased biomass and guggulsterone accumulation. 2iP alone was not effective for biomass and guggulsterone accumulation in cell cultures of C. wightii.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2019

We investigated whether SIRT1 is associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation during CK2 downregulation-mediated senescence. SIRT1 overexpression suppressed ROS accumulation, reduced transcription of FoxO3a target genes, and nuclear export and acetylation of FoxO3a, which were induced by CK2 downregulation in HCT116 and MCF-7 cells. Conversely, overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant SIRT1 (H363Y) counteracted decreased ROS levels, increased transcriptional activity of FoxO3a, and increased nuclear import and decreased acetylation of FoxO3a, which were induced by CK2 upregulation. CK2 downregulation destabilized SIRT1 protein via an ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in human cells, whereas CK2 overexpression reduced ubiquitination of SIRT1. Finally, the SIRT1 activator resveratrol attenuated the accumulation of ROS and lipofuscin as well as lifespan shortening, and reduced expression of the DAF-16 target gene sod-3, which were induced by CK2 downregulation in nematodes. Altogether, this study demonstrates that inactivation of the SIRT1-FoxO3a axis, at least in part, is involved in ROS generation during CK2 downregulation-mediated cellular senescence and nematode aging.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.247-252
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• 2008

There are several branch points in the flavonoid synthesis pathway starting from chalcone. Among them, the hydroxylation of flavanone is a key step leading to flavonol and anthocyanin. The flavanone 3-${\beta}$-hydroxylase (GmF3H) gene was cloned from soybean (Glycine max cultivar Sinpaldal) and shown to convert eriodictyol and naringenin into taxifolin and dihydrokaempferol, respectively. The major flavonoids in this soybean cultivar were found by LC-MS/MS to be kamepferol O-triglycosides and O-diglycosides. Expression of GmF3H and flavonol synthase (GmFLS) was induced by ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation and their expression stimulated accumulation of kaempferol glycones. Thus, GmF3H and GmFLS appear to be key enzymes in the biosynthesis of the UV-protectant, kaempferol.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.236-245
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• 2018

Ingredients of soy and fermented soy products have been widely utilized as food supplements for health-enhancing properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fermented soymilk (FSM) and soymilk (SM) on free fatty acid-induced lipogenesis in the hepatocellular steatosis model. HepG2 cells were incubated with palmitic acid (PA) for 24 h to induce lipogenesis and accumulation of intracellular lipid contents. The PA-treated cells were co-incubated with FSM, SM, genistein, and estrogen, respectively. Lipid accumulation in the PA-treated HpG2 cells was significantly decreased by co-incubation with FSM. Treatment of HepG2 cells with PA combined with genistein or estrogen significantly increased the expression of SREBP-1. However, FSM co-incubation significantly attenuated SREBP-1 expression in the PA-treated HepG2 cells; in addition, expression of NRF-2 and phosphorylation of ERK were significantly increased in the PA and FSM co-incubated cells. PA-induced ROS production was significantly reduced by FSM and SM. Our results suggested that the bioactive components of FSM could protect hepatocytes against the lipid accumulation and ROS production induced by free fatty acids. These effects may be mediated by the inhibition of SREBP-1 and the activation of NRF-2 via the ERK pathway in HepG2 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.130-142
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• 2021

This study examined the antioxidative and lipid accumulation inhibitory effects of 14 plants from Mongolia and Myanmar on 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) of 14 plant extracts were measured, and the antioxidative activities were analyzed using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC. After measuring the pancreatic lipase levels and performing the thiobarbituric acid assay, the degree of lipid accumulation was determined by lipid (Oil Red O) staining and triglyceride assay in 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells. M. paniculate (259.43 mgGAE/g) and C. benghalensis (130.78 mgNAE/g) had the highest TPC and TFC, respectively, among the 14 plants. R. acicularis Lindl. had the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH. The ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC results showed that the antioxidant activity of 11 species was higher than that of the positive control. The pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect of C. angustifolium Scop. was reduced to 23.65% at 0.1 mg/mL, and the level of lipid peroxidation of C. abrorescens Lam. was 0.63 nmol/mg. Five selected plants inhibited the lipid accumulation and triglyceride content, respectively, in 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells. These results provide scientific evidence for developing functional foods using 14 plants from Mongolia and Myanmar, which have antioxidant activities and lipid accumulation reduction effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.627-636
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• 2020

Background: Cultivation of medicinal crops, which synthesize hundreds of substances for curative functions, was focused on the synthesis of secondary metabolites rather than biomass accumulation. Nutrition is an important restrict factor for plant growth and secondary metabolites, but little attention has been given to the plasticity of nutrient uptake and secondary metabolites synthesis response to soil nitrogen (N) change. Methods: Two year-field experiments of Sanqi (Panax notoginseng), which can synthesize a high level of saponin in cells, were conducted to study the effects of N application on the temporal dynamics of biomass, nutrient absorption, root architecture and the relationships between these parameters and saponin synthesis. Results: Increasing N fertilizer rates could improve the dry matter yields and nutrient absorption ability through increasing the maximum daily growth (or nutrient uptake) rate. Under suitable N level (225 kg/ha N), Sanqi restricted the root length and surface and enhanced the root diameter and N uptake rate per root length (NURI) to promote nutrient absorption, but the opposite status of Sanqi root architecture and NURI was found when soil N was deficient. Furthermore, increasing N rates could promote the accumulation of saponin in roots through improving the NURI, which showed a significant positive relationship with the content of saponin in the taproots. Conclusion: Appropriate N fertilizer rates could optimize both root architecture and nutrient uptake efficiency, then promote both the accumulation of dry matter and the synthesis of saponins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.799-803
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• 2006

It was reported that an accumulation of Sadenosyl-L-methionine increases production of actinorhodin in Streptomyces lividans and induces antibiotic biosynthetic genes. We also obtained the same result in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Therefore, in order to identify proteins changed by the addition of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in S. coelicolor A3(2), LC/MS/MS analyses were carried out. Thirteen proteins that were not observed in the control were found.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.360-366
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• 2006

To investigate the effect of culture conditions on growth and ginsenosides accumulation, we cultured the ginseng hairy root under three different media, white light or ultra-violet irradiation. The MS/B5 medium containning MS basal salt and B5 vitamin was good for the growth and ginsenoside accumulation. The light during the culture period of ginseng hairy root was irradiated. The growth was abundant in the ginseng hairy root cultured in dark. But the ginsenosides accumulation was higher than in the ginseng hairy root cultured in the light irradiation. When the ginseng hairy root was cultured in 20 L bioreactor, the ginsenosides accumulation was observed at 34% higher than the hairy root cultured in dark. UV irradiated the ginseng hairy root during the culture period. The long time irradiation of UV was caused decreasing the growth of ginseng hairy root, but the accumulation of ginsenosidess was increased as to the irradiated time.