• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 1999

At the beginning, researches on the biology of depression or affective illness have focused mainly on the receptor functions and neuroendocrine activities. And the studies of the past years did not break new theoretical background, but the recent advances in the research on the molecular mechanisms underlying neural communication and signal transduction do add some insights to many established ideas. This article will overview some of the more recent advances in the clinical researches of depression. Our major concerns to be presented here include the followings : (1) alterations in the post-synaptic neural transduction ; (2) changes in the neurons of hypothalamic neuropeptides ; (3) decreased peptidase enzyme activities ; (4) associations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis abnormalities with serotonin neurotransmission ; (5) role of serotonin transporter ; (6) changes in the responsiveness of intracellular calcium ion levels ; (7) the inositol deficiency theory of lithium and depression ; (8) the transcription factors including immediate early genes ; (9) recent genetic studies in some families. This brief overview will suggest that changes in DNA occur during antidepressant therapy. These changes at the DNA level initiating a cascade of events underlying antidepressant modality will give us the insights on the molecular biological basis of the pathogenesis of depression and cues for a new class of antidepressants.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Asia, various medicinal plants have been used as the primary sources in the health care regimen for thousands of years. In recent decades, various studies have investigated the biological activity and potential medicinal value of the medicinal plants. In this study, 100 methanol extracts from 98 plant species were evaluated for their biological activities. MATERIALS/METHODS: The research properties, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-pic-rylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-tyrosinase inhibitory effects, anti-inflammatory activity, and anticancer activity were evaluated for the selected extracts. RESULTS: Fifteen of the extracts scavenged more than 90% of the DPPH radical. Among the extracts, approximately 20 extracts showed a strong inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, while most had no effect on ${\alpha}$-tyrosinase. In addition, 52% of the extracts showed low toxicity to normal cells, and parts of the extracts exhibited high anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities on the murine macrophage cell (RAW 264.7) and human colon cancer cell (HT-29) lines, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may contribute to further nutrition and pharmacological studies. Detailed investigations of the outstanding samples are currently underway.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.132-139
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• 2015

In order to use the symbiotic bacteria from ethomophatogenic nematodes as a biological control agent for agriculture, the cultural condition for maintaining phase I and antifungal activity was investigated. Symbiotic bacteria (SB) 1 stain from nematodes were selected from the three strains isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes. The growth of the SB 1 strain in NB, TSB, TY and YS medium was higher than that of the SB 2 and SB 3 strain. The packed cell volume of the SB 1 strain was reduced in NB medium which showed radical pH change. Phase I of the SB 1 strain was maintained in TSB medium after being stored for 2 weeks at $4^{\circ}C$. Culture broth with the SB 1 strain in TSB medium for 6 days and 7 days showed antifungal activities against Rhizoctonia solani KACC 40142, Botrytis cinerea Pers. KACC 40854, and Botrytis cinerea Pers. KACC 41008. Culture broth with the SB 1 strain in TSB medium containing 100 mM L-proline for 5 days showed antifungal activities against Rhizoctonia solani KACC 40142, and Botrytis cinerea Pers. KACC 40854.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 1986

Among the Araliaceae plants indigenous to Korea, those whose medicinal usage are comparatively high have been selected in this serial studies. Chiisanoside and acanthoside D were isolated and identified from the Acanthopanax chinensis leaves and root bark. Chiisanoside and acanthoside D have been found to have the lowering S-GPT, S-GOT value and BSP-retention rate and survival rate, anti-histaminic effect in the toxic state through the bio-pharmacological experiments. ${\alpha}-hederin$, hederagenin pentaglycoside were isolated both stem bark of Kalopanax pictum Nakai var. magnificum and Kalopanax pictum Nakai var. Max. respectively. Syringoside, acanthoside D were also isolated from the root bark of Acanthopanax koreanum. The biological activity of ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rg_1$, Re were examined. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rg_1$, Re promotes the antileaking effect in X-ray (Co 60) irradiated toxic state.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.141-147
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• 2004

In order to investigate whether or not the alcohol-treated rat liver cells can be protected by Korean Citrus junos and medicinal herbs, We compared the serum biochemistry of rats administered both alcohol and the complex of Korean Citrus junos and medicinal herbs to control rats treated with alcohol alone. The activities of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the citron 3 (Citron 3, less mellowed citron which was ripened for three months)＋Phellinus linteus, Alnus japonica, Dendropanax morbifera and citron 4 (Citron 4, completely mellowed citron which was ripened fer four months)＋Phaseolus radiatus, Cordyceps militaris group were significantly low when compared with the negative control group (p<0.05). The levels of triglyceride (TG) in all experimental groups were significantly lower than the negative control group (p<0.05). The concentrations of total cholesterol in the citron 3＋Phellinus linteus, Atnus japonica, Dendropanax morbifera and citron 4＋Phaseolus radiatus, Cordyceps militaris, Phellinus linteus were lower than the negative control group (p<0.05). The activities of alcohol dehydyogenase (ADH) in all experimental groups were significantly high when compared with the normal control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that the complex of Korean Citrus junos and medecinal herbs could be an excellent candidate for protecting vat liver cell damage induced by alcohol.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2015

Curcumin is widely used as a traditional medicine. This work was aimed to investigate its possible protective effect against chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Fifty male albino rats were divided into five groups (n=10, each). The control group received a single dose of normal saline, the diethylnitrosamine (DENA) group received a single intra-peritoneal dose at 200mg/kg body weight, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th groups were given DENA and daily administrated curcunine (CUR) via intra-gastric intubation in doses of 300, 200 and 100 mg/kg b.wt. respectively for 20 weeks. Serum, and liver samples were used for determination of alpha feto-protein (AFP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukine-6 (IL-6), serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) levels as well the activities and gene expression of glutathione peroxidise (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and super oxide dismutase (SOD). Curcumin significantly lowered the serum levels of AFP, IL-2 and IL-6, ALT, ALT, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well gene expression of IL-2 and IL-6. In contrast it increased the gene expression and activities of Gpx, GRD, CAT and SOD. The protective effect of CUR against DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in albino rats was proven.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1997

Three strains capable of degrading a chlorophenol were isolated by selective enrichment from soils contaminated with industrial wastewater. A Pseudomonas solanacearum TCP114 could use 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) as sole carbon and energy source, while two strains of Pseudomonas testosteroni CPW301 and Arthrobacter ureafaciens CPR706 could use 4-CP. All isolates also grew well on phenol. The degradation of one component by a pure strain was strongly affected by the presence of other compounds in the medium, CPW301 and CPR706 entirely lost the ability to degrade 4-CP and phenol in the presence of TCP. TCP114 also lost the ability to degrade phenol when 4-CP was added to the culture medium. These restrictions on the degradability could be overcome by employing defined mixed cultures (TCP114 and one strain of 4-CP degrading strains). All three components were successfully degraded by defined mixed cultures through their cooperative activities. It was also demonstrated that defined mixed cultures could be immobilized by using calcium alginate for the semi-continuous degradation of the three component mixture. Immobilization could not only accelerate the degradation rate, but also allowed the reuse of the cell mass several times without loss of the cells' degrading capabilities.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.145-148
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• 2006

Biological activities and application of Prunus sargentii Rehder were investigated. In the physiological activities, the electron donating ability (EDA) of ethanol extracts of Prunus sargentii Rehder was 85% in 100 ppm. SOD-like activity was inhibition about 50% in 1,000 ppm, it was gradual increased. As inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidase, it was more than 70% in 1,000 ppm and inhibitory effect of tyrosinase was a little low as 20% below 1,000 ppm.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.540-543
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• 2003

Antibacterial activities of garlic and heat-treated garlic juices on food-poisoning and lactic acid bacterial were examined. Aqueous extract of garlic juice showed bacteriocidal effect against both types of bacteria. Food-poisoning and lactic acid bacterial counts decreased at over 0.5 and 1.5% (w/v) garlic juice. Heat-treated garlic juice, which showed lower antibacterial effect than garlic juice against food-poisoning bacteria, had no significant antibacterial effect against Bifidobacterium, but instead increased Bifidobacterium count.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2005

Ginseng root is an important remedy in oriental countries, which has been used for thousands of years. Saponins of ginseng root has been known to be the major component which mediate diverse pharmacological actions of the ginseng. Heat processing of ginseng root potentiates its biological activity such as anti-tumor and anti-oxidative activities. The butanol fraction of heat-processed ginseng (HGB) induced the production of nitric oxide in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner with IFN-${\gamma}$(30 U/ml) priming. The active component was identified as ginsenoside-$Rg_5$ from the activity-guided purification. Ginsenoside $Rg_5$ is one of major components of heat-processed ginseng and red ginseng that is responsible for the potentiated biological activities of processed ginseng. The induction of NO production by heat-processed ginseng might contribute to the potentiated biological activity of heat-processed ginseng.