• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.38-38
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• 2017

Water stress obstructs rice growth mainly by oxidative damage in biological cells to cause a reduction of leaf photosynthesis and evapotranspiration processes. In this study, exogenous application of vanillic acid (VA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) to improve drought tolerance of two Oryza sativa cultivars, Q2 and Q8 was tested. The drought evaluation based on leaf phenotypes to show that both Q2 and Q8 resulted in remarkable water-stress tolerance induced by leaf spraying pretreatment of mixed solution of $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$. The mixtures of $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treated on Q2 and Q8 in water deficit condition also indicated that total phenols, total flavonoids, and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly greater their controls. In general, the accumulation of individual phenolic acids was increased in exogenous phenolic treatments, as compared with controls. Particularly, Q2 obtained a considerable amount of endogenous PHBA after application of $50{\mu}M\;VA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ (0.18 mg/g DW, 0.71 mg/g DW, and 1.41 mg/g DW, respectively); and a negligible content of VA (0.003 mg/g DW) appeared uniquely in the treatment of $50{\mu}M\;VA$. Similarly, Q8 also absorbed a significant quantity of PHBA in $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treatments (0.15 mg/g DW, 0.15 mg/g DW, and 0.22 mg/g DW, respectively). In addition, the spraying $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ on Q8 leaves induced similar amount of drought tolerance of Q2 and Q8 were improved, paralleled with the increased amounts of endogenous phenolics revealed that VA and PHBA played an important role to enhance drought tolerance in rice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.33-33
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• 2017

Water stress obstructs rice growth mainly by oxidative damage in biological cells to cause a reduction of leaf photosynthesis and evapotranspiration processes. In this study, exogenous application of vanillic acid (VA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) to improve drought tolerance of two Oryza sativa cultivars, Q2 and Q8 was tested. The drought evaluation based on leaf phenotypes to show that both Q2 and Q8 resulted in remarkable water-stress tolerance induced by leaf spraying pretreatment of mixed solution of $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$. The mixtures of $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treated on Q2 and Q8 in water deficit condition also indicated that total phenols, total flavonoids, and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly greater their controls. In general, the accumulation of individual phenolic acids was increased in exogenous phenolic treatments, as compared with controls. Particularly, Q2 obtained a considerable amount of endogenous PHBA after application of $50{\mu}M\;VA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ (0.18 mg/g DW, 0.71 mg/g DW, and 1.41 mg/g DW, respectively); and a negligible content of VA (0.003 mg/g DW) appeared uniquely in the treatment of $50{\mu}M\;VA$. Similarly, Q8 also absorbed a significant quantity of PHBA in $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treatments (0.15 mg/g DW, 0.15 mg/g DW, and 0.22 mg/g DW, respectively). In addition, the spraying $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ on Q8 leaves induced similar amount of VA (0.04 mg/g DW). Meanwhile, there were no trace of VA and PHBA found in controls. The levels of drought tolerance of Q2 and Q8 were improved, paralleled with the increased amounts of endogenous phenolics revealed that VA and PHBA played an important role to enhance drought tolerance in rice.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 1999

The alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, called the comet assay, has been applied to the detection of DNA damage from a number of chemical and biological factors in vivo and in vitro. The comet assay is a novel method to assess DNA single-strand breaks, alkali-labile sites in individual cells. The effect of peach kernel extracts on radiation-induced DNA damage in human blood lymphocytes was evaluated by the SCGE assay. The lymphocytes, with or without pretreatment of the extracts, were exposed to 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 Gy of $^{60}Co$ gamma ray. Significantly increased tail moment, which was a marker of DNA strand breaks in the comet assay, showed an excellent dose-response relationship. The treatment of the peach kernel extracts reduced the DNA damage by 30 % in irradiated groups as compared to that in non-treated control groups. The result indicates that the extracts shows radioprotective effect on lymphocyte DNA when assessed by the comet assay.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.645-661
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• 2009

The water extract of Dohongsamul-Tang(DHSMT) has been traditionally used to stroke and brain injuries in Oriental Medicine. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of DHSMT on the gene expression profile of cerebral infarction by cDNA microarray in photothrombotic ischemia mouse model. Photothrombotic ischemia was induced in stereotactically held male BALB/c mice using rose bengal and cold light. MRI was performed 24 hours after inducing photothrombosis using 1.5 T MRI and 47 mm surface coil to obtain T2-weighted, and contrast-enhanced images. After MRI test, animal was sacrificed and the brain sections were stained for hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry. MRI and histological analysis revealed that lesion of thrombotic ischemia was well induced in the cortex with the evidence of biological courses of infarction. The target area of thrombotic infarction was 1 mm anterior to bregma and 3 mm lateral to midline with 2 mm in diameter, which were decreased by administration of DHSMT. To assess gene expression pattern of cerebral infarction, mRNA was isolated and reacted with microarray chip(Agilant's DNA Microarray 44K). Scatter and MA plot analysis were performed to clustering of each functional genes. M value [M=log2(R/G), A={log2(R ${\times}$ G)}/2] was between -0.5 and +0.5 with 40% difference. After pretreatment with DHSMT, the expression levels of mRNA of many genes involved in various signaling pathway such as apoptosis, cell cycle, cell proliferation, response to oxidative stress, immune response, angiogenesis, and inflammatory cytokine were markedly inhibited in photothrombotic ischemia lesion compared to the control group. These results suggest that DHSMT prevent ischemic death of brain on photothrombotic ischemia model of mice through modulation of gene expression at the transcriptional level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2007

The water treatment plants in Seoul Metropolitan Area, which are under Korea Water Resources Corporation(KOWACO)'s management, take water from Paldang Reservoir in Han River System for drinking water supply. There are taste and odor (T&O) problems in the finished water because the conventional treatment processes do not effectively remove the T&O compounds. As part of countermeasures for taste and odor control, KOWACO is planning to introduce advanced water treatment process such as ozone and GAC in near future. This study evaluated the removal characteristics of T&O and dissolved organic matter (DOM) to find design and operation parameters of advanced water treatment processes in a pilot-scale treatment plant. The GAC adsorption capacity for DOC in the two GAC system (GAC and $O_3$-GAC) at an EBCT of 14min was mostly exhausted after 9months. The differency of the removal efficiency of DOC between $O_3$-GAC and GAC increased with increasing operation time because the bioactivity in $O_3$-GAC process was enhanced by post-ozone process. Removal by conventional treatment was unable to reach the target TON(threshold odor number) of 3 but GAC systems at an EBCT(empty bed contact time) of 14 min were able to archive the target with few exception. During the high T&O episodes, PAC as a pretreatment together with GAC could be useful option for T&O control. However, substantial TON removal continued for more than two year (> 90,000 bed volumes). At the spiking of less concentration 26 to 61 ng/L in the influent of GAC systems, GAC absorber and $O_3$-GAC processes could meet the treatment target. The better spike control after 12 and 19 months of operation compared to that after 7 months of operation is a strong indication of biological control. The results presented in this study had shown that $O_3$-GAC process was found to be more effective for T&O control than GAC process. And the main removal mechanism in GAC systems were adsorption capacity and biodegradation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.622-628
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• 2013

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), one of the major organosulfur components of garlic (Allium sativum), has various biological effects such as anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of growth inhibition related to cell cycle arrest are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of DATS on cell cycle progression in U937 human leukemia cells. Treatment with DATS in U937 cells resulted in inhibition of cell viability through G2/M arrest and apoptosis. DATS-induced G2/M arrest was associated with up-regulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). DATS also significantly increased levels of phospho-histone H3, which is a mitosis-specific marker, indicating that DATS induced mitotic arrest but not G2 arrest in U937 cells. DATS treatment also generated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in U937 cells; however, pretreatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, significantly attenuated DATS-induced mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Taken together, our data indicate that DATS exhibits anti-cancer effects through mitotic arrest and apoptosis in a ROS-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.228-236
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• 2016

Background: Sedum takesimense Nakai has been used as folk medicine in Korea. The present study aimed to determine the biological activity of S. takesimense by investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of S. takesimense water extract (SKLC) on the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. Methods and Results: Cytotoxicity of SKLC on RAW 264.7 cells was determinded by performing MTS assay was found to have no cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration range of $62-500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Further, pretreatment of SKLC inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner. To determined the inhibitory mechanisms of SKLC on inflammatory mediators, we assessed the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygnease-2 (COX-2) pathways. The activities of these pathways were decreased in a dose-dependent manner by SKLC. The production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 were also reduced. Conclusions: These results suggest that the down regulation of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 expression by SKLC are mediated by the down regulation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) activity, a transcription factor necessary for pro-inflammatory mediators. This might be the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of SKLC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.599-607
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• 2000

In this research, ${NH_4}^+-N$ and ${PO_4}^{3-}-P$ in wastewater were removed by crystallization. Nitrogen and phosphate have been regarded as key nutrients in the eutrophication of rivers and lakes. Struvite, $MgNH_4PO_4{\cdot}6H_2O$, is insoluble in alkaline solutions. Fertilizer industry wastewater contains organic and nitrogen concentration of 330 mg/L and 550 mg/L, respectively. Nitrogen in this wastewater cannot be treated by conventional biological treatment without physicochemical pretreatment, because nitrogen concentration is relatively high compared to organic concentration. Magnesium ions used in this study were from bittern and commercial magnesium salts of $MgCl_2$ and $Mg(OH)_2$. Bittern obtained as a by-product of seasalt manufacture contains $8,000mg\;Ca^{2+}/L$ and $32,000mg\;Mg^{2+}/L$. Optimum initial pH was 10.5~11.0 and the reaction was complete or done in 2 min. Nitrogen removal efficiency using bittern, $MgCl_2 $ and $Mg(OH)_2$ (as source of $Mg^{2+}$) was 71 %, 81% and 83%. respectively. Phosphate removal efficiency was 99%, 98% and 93%, respectively. Therefore, bittern, $MgCl_2$ and $Mg(OH)_2$ can be efficiently used as $Mg^{2+}$ source for crystallization of nitrogen and phosphate. However, bittern is economically favorable $Mg^{2+}$ source for removing nitrogen and phosphate in wastewater.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Purpose: Neuroinflammation is mediated by activation of microglia implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of neuroinflammation may be an effective solution to treat these brain disorders. Petalonia binghamiae is known as a traditional food, based on multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidant and anti-obesity. In present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Petalonia binghamiae was investigated in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was examined using Griess reagent. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was detected by Western blot analysis. Activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) signaling was examined by nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$. Results: Extract of Petalonia binghamiae significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO production and iNOS/COX-2 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with Petalonia binghamiae suppressed LPS-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$. Co-treatment with Petalonia binghamiae and pyrrolidine duthiocarbamate (PDTC), an $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, reduced LPS-stimulated NO release compared to that in PB-treated or PDTC-treated cells. Conclusion: The present results indicate that extract of Petalonia binghamiae exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling. These findings suggest that Petalonia binghamiae might have therapeutic potential in relation to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.686-702
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Schisandrae Fructus, the fruit of Schisandra chinensis Baill., has traditionally been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases, and has proven its various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Schisandrae Fructus ethanol extract (SF) on inflammatory and oxidative stress in particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of SF in PM2.5-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, the levels of pro-inflammatory mediator such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of SF, the expression of genes involved in the generation of inflammatory factors was also investigated. We further evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy of SF against PM2.5 in the zebrafish model. RESULTS: The results indicated that SF treatment significantly inhibited the PM2.5-induced release of NO and PGE₂, which was associated with decreased inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. SF also attenuated the PM2.5-induced expression of IL-6 and IL-1β, reducing their extracellular secretion. Moreover, SF suppressed the PM2.5-mediated translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) from the cytosol into nuclei and the degradation of inhibitor IκB-α, indicating that SF exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, SF abolished PM2.5-induced generation of ROS, similar to the pretreatment of a ROS scavenger, but not by an inhibitor of NF-κB activity. Furthermore, SF showed strong protective effects against NO and ROS production in PM2.5-treated zebrafish larvae. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that SF exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects against PM2.5 through ROS-dependent down-regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, and that SF can be a potential functional substance to prevent PM2.5-mediated inflammatory and oxidative damage.