• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.153-157
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the applicability of functional materials by examining a variety of physiological activities with the extract of Cleyera japonica leaf. Cleyera japonica extract showed a low cytotoxicity against murine melanoma B16F10 cells. In little or no cytotoxicity at concentrations, we showed that the treatment with Cleyera japonica extract resulted in a significant increase in the DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀, 22.90 ㎎/L), similar to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀, 18.65 ㎎/L) and anti-microbial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. In particular, anti-microbial activities against Gram-positive bacteria was high. These results suggest that Cleyera japonica extract could be used as a natural preservative. Additionally, Cleyera japonica extract showed the inhibition of tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀, 178.90 ㎎/L), similar to kojic acid (IC₅₀, 89.13 ㎎/L) and decreased melanin content (IC₅₀, 101.90 ㎎/L) higher than the control arbutin level (IC₅₀, 100.65 ㎎/L), especially. Therefore, these results indicate that Cleyera japonica extract may be an effective material for functional cosmetics such as skin whitening materials.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.315-326
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• 2019

This study is a review of research articles on the characteristics of probiotics. Probiotics are effective at ameliorating immune disease, alleviating glucose intolerance, and improving constipation and diarrhea. Furthermore, they have anticancer and antitumor effects, preventive effects against cardiovascular disease, antidiabetic effects, antioxidant effects, antibacterial effects, and they produce useful metabolites. It has been demonstrated that oral probiotics are effective in eliminating halitosis and forming a favorable oral ecosystem, by creating an environment that is not readily inhabited by harmful bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, which produces lactic acid and causes tooth decay, or Porphyromonas gingivalis, which causes gum disease.As a result, oral probiotics are being considered not only as therapeutics against diseases, but also as preventive agents for the maintenance of a healthy oral balance. In spite of some limitations, clinical trials are currently underway, and this study can provide evidence to support the use of probiotics to improve oral health conditions, including dental caries, periodontal disease, and Candida colonization.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2018

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is characterized by increased susceptibility to chronic and recurrent infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and nails by Candida species. It is a primary immunodeficiency disorder that is difficult to diagnose because of its heterogeneous clinical manifestations and genetic background. A 20-month-old boy who did not grow in height for 3 months was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism and he had hepatitis which was found at 5 years old. He presented with persistent oral thrush and vesicles on the body, the cause of which could not be identified from laboratory findings. No microorganism was detected in the throat culture; however, the oral thrush persisted. Immunological tests showed that immunoglobulin (Ig) subclass IgG and cluster of differentiation (CD)3, CD4, and CD8 levels were within normal limits. We prescribed oral levothyroxine and fluconazole mouth rinse. The patient was examined using diagnostic exome sequencing at the age of 6 years, and a c.1162A>G (p.K388E) STAT1 gene mutation was identified. A diagnosis of CMC based on the STAT1 gene mutation was, thus, made. At the age of 8 years, the boy developed a malar-like rash on his face. We conducted tests for detection of antinuclear antibodies and anti-dsDNA antibodies, which showed positive results; therefore, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was also suspected. Whole exome sequencing is important to diagnose rare diseases in children. A STAT1 gene mutation should be suspected in patients with chronic fungal infections with a thyroid disease and/or SLE.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.307-316
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• 2022

Yeasts play an important role in spontaneous fermentation of traditional alcoholic beverages. Our previous study revealed that a mixed-consortia of both Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts were responsible for fermentation of khadi, a popular, non-standardized traditional beverage with an immense potential for commercialization in Botswana. Functional characterization of isolated fermenting yeasts from mixed consortia is an indispensable step towards the selection of potential starter cultures for commercialization of khadi. In this study, we report the characterization of 13 khadi isolates for the presence of brewing-relevant phenotypes such as their fermentative capacity, ability to utilize a range of carbon sources and their ability to withstand brewing-associated stresses, as a principal step towards selection of starter cultures. Khadi isolates such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomycodes ludwigii and Candida ethanolica showed good brewing credentials but Lachancea fermentati emerged as the isolate with the best brewing attributes with a potential as a starter culture. However, we were then prompted to investigate the potential of L. fermentati to influence the fruity aromatic flavor, characteristic of khadi. The aroma components of 18 khadi samples were extracted using headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and identified using a GC-MS. We detected esters as the majority of volatile compounds in khadi, typical of the aromatic signature of both khadi and L. fermentati associated fermentations. This work shows that L. fermentati has potential for commercial production of khadi.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.244-250
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine effects of culture conditions on the growth and antibacterial activity of Streptococcus salivarius K12. Materials and Methods: S. salivarius K12 was cultivated in medium containing animal and plant protein or in medium of neutral and acidic conditions. The growth of S. salivarius K12 was measured every 2 hours by a spectrophotometer. The antimicrobial activity of S. salivarius K12 against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis was investigated by the susceptibility assay using the spent culture medium. Results: the growth of S. salivarius K12 showed faster in medium containing plant protein and neutral pH condition. The antimicrobial and antifungal activity of S. salivarius K12 appeared stronger in medium containing plant protein than animal proteins. Conclusion: For application of S. salivarius K12 to bacterial oral disease, co-substances may be needed for S. salivarius K12 to colonize in the oral cavity and enhance the antimicrobial activity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.255-269
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• 2022

Actinomycetes isolated from marine habitats represent a promising source of bioactive substances. Here, we report on the isolation, identification, productivity enhancement and application of the bioactive compounds of Streptomyces qinglanensis H4. Eighteen marine actinomycetes were isolated and tested for resistance to seven bacterial diseases. Using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis (GenBank accession number MW563772), the most powerful isolate was identified as S. qinglanensis. Although the strain produced active compound(s) against a number of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, it failed to inhibit pathogenic fungi. The obtained inhibition zones were 22.0 ± 1.5, 20.0 ± 1, 16.0 ± 1, 12.0 ± 1, 22.0 ± 1 and 24.0 ± 1 mm against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Escherichia coli ATCC 19404, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, respectively. To maximize bioactive compound synthesis, the Plackett-Burman design was used. The productivity increased up to 0.93-fold, when S. qinglanensis was grown in optimized medium composed of: (g/l) starch 30; KNO₃ 0.5; K₂HPO₄ 0.25; MgSO₄ 0.25; FeSO₄·7H₂O, 0.01; sea water concentration (%) 100; pH 8.0, and an incubation period of 9 days. Moreover, the anticancer activity of S. qinglanensis was tested against two different cell lines: HepG2 and CACO. The inhibition activities were 42.96 and 57.14%, respectively. Our findings suggest that the marine S. qinglanensis strain, which grows well on tailored medium, might be a source of bioactive substances for healthcare companies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.989-1002
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• 2022

Cephalopods, in particular octopus (Octopus vulgaris), have the ability to alter their appearance or body pattern by showing a wide range of camouflage by virtue of their chromatophores, which contain nanostructured granules of ommochrome pigments. Recently, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ommochromes have become of great interest; therefore, in this study, the pH-dependent redox effect of the extraction solvent on the antioxidant potential and the structural characterization of the pigments were evaluated. Cell viability was determined by the microdilution method in broth by turbidity, MTT, resazurin, as well as fluorescence microscopy kit assays. A Live/Dead Double Staining Kit and an ROS Kit were used to elucidate the possible inhibitory mechanisms of ommochromes against bacterial and fungal strains. The results obtained revealed that the redox state alters the color changes of the ommochromes and is dependent on the pH in the extraction solvent. Natural phenoxazinone (ommochromes) is moderately toxic to the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella Typhimurium and Candida albicans, while the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and the filamentous fungi Aspergillus parasiticus, Alternaria spp. and Fusarium verticillioides, were tolerant to these pigments. UV/visible spectral scanning and Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) suggest the presence of reduced ommatin in methanol/ HCl extract with high intrinsic fluorescence.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.927-937
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• 2021

This study was performed to screen the antimicrobial activities of the extract from the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas against skin pathogens and to purify the relevant antibacterial peptide. The acidified extract showed potent antibacterial activities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but showed no activity against Candida albicans and no significant cell toxicity. Among acne-causing pathogens, the acidified extract showed potent antibacterial activity only against Staphylococcus aureus, and its antibacterial activity was completely abolished by treatment with trypsin or chymotrypsin, and was inhibited by salt treatment. The acidified extract showed strong DNA-binding ability but did not show bacterial membrane permeabilizing ability. Based on antimicrobial activity screening and cytotoxic effects, a novel antibacterial peptide was purified from the acidified gill extract using solid-phase extraction, cation-exchange, and reversed-phase HPLC. The resulting peptide had a molecular weight of 4800.8 Da and showed partial sequence homology with the carbonic anhydrase 4 (CA4) protein in the hard-shelled mussel. Overall, we purified a novel antibacterial peptide, named cgCAFLP, which is related to carbonic anhydrase 4 (CA4) protein, against skin pathogens. Our results suggest that the Pacific oyster extract could be used as an additive to control some acne-related skin pathogens (S. aureus).

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.13-20
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• 2014

Objectives : Atotang was composed of 10 kinds of traditional medicinal herb. This research was performed to examine biological effects of Atotang for the development of prescription on atopic dermatitis. Methods : Atotang was extracted with 80% EtOH. Free radical scavenging assay has tested for anti-oxidative activity as well as the contents of total polyphenol. We observed the production of ROS, nitric oxide(NO) and the inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta(IL-${\beta}$), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-${\alpha}$), Prostaglandin E2($PGE_2$) in Raw 264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. We used Disc diffusion method to investigate antibacterial activity on Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermis. Result : Content of total phenolic compound of Atotang was 36.3 mg/g ext. DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities were 77% and 46% at 200 ug/ml respectively, showing dose-dependent increase. The amounts of ROS and NO in RAW 264.7 cells were decreased by 30% and 19% at 200 ug/ml, respectively, showing dose-dependent decrease. The prodcution of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in RAW 264.7 cells were decreased dose-dependently by 81%, 67%, and 20% at 200 ug/ml, respectively. Atotang was reduced LPS-stimulated production of $PGE_2$ by 33%. Atotang on C. albicans, S. aureus and S. epidermis was selected by a disc diffusion method and inhibition effect of the Atotang on the growth of S. epidermis was the greatest. Conclusion : The results indicated that Atotang showed biological activities showing anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Based on these results, it is concluded that Atotang can be applied to the prescription on atopic dermatitis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.45-51
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was conducted to measure the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of water- and ethanol-extracts from Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Punica granatum and Rhus javanica against various species of anaerobic bacteria. Methods : In order to evaluate the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of water- and ethanol-extracts, DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities were measured in various species such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Propionibacterium acnes that induce skin inflammation. Also the total amount of phenol in each water- and ethanol-extract was measured to identify its role in the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of water- and ethanol-extracts from Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Punica granatum and Rhus javanica. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was measured by confirming the lowest concentrations in disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests. Results : It was observed that RJE (Rhus javanica-EtOH extracts) show the highest content of total phenol. In addition, for RJE the total phenol content was higher from samples taken from domestic sources than from samples taken from foreign sources. DPPH radical scavenging activity was increased by treatment with PGE (Punica granatum-EtOH extracts), RJE and RJW (Rhus javanica-water extracts). It was observed that SOD-like activity was highest in the treatment with PGE. All of the extracts showed antimicrobial activity on S. epidermidis, S. aureus, P. acnes and E. coli, including those from Punica granatum, and it was noted that the activity was higher with RJE than with RJW. Conclusions : These results provide evidence that ethanol extracts of Punica granatum and Rhus javanica may have a beneficial role as antioxidants and antibiotics. Extracts from domestic samples of Betula platyphylla var japonica appeared to have a greater efficacy than extracts from foreign samples.