• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2010

Plants extracts are good resources to find functional compounds for human health. The following eight plants were collected and total phenolic contents were determined. Acer psedo-siebolianum showed the highest phenolic contents, 16.4 mg/g, whereas Cercidiphyllum japonica showed the lowest contents, 1.9 mg/g. The DPPH free radical scavenging capacities of the plant extracts showed high activity in following order : Acer ginnala ($21.3\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Cornus walteri ($23.9\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Distylum racemosum ($29.2\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Castanopsis cuspidata var. Thunbergii ($31.7\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Acer psedo-siebolianum ($34.6\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Thuijopsis dolabrata cv. Aurea ($53.1\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Cercidiphyllum Japonica ($115.2\;{\mu}g/mL$). Also the mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activities of total extracts were determined at different concentration. D. racemosum extract showed highest (49.1% at 1,000 mg) in inhibitory activity than other seven extracts. The ethanol fraction $IC_{50}$ value: $118.1\;{\mu}g/mL$) from D. racemosum showed more inhibitory activity than ethyl acetate fraction ($IC_{50}$ value: $203\;{\mu}g/mL$). The ethanol fraction on showed no significant cytotoxicity in B16/F1 cells line up to $60\;{\mu}g/mL$. Over $80\;{\mu}g/mL$ of ethanol fraction showed cytotoxicity in B16/F1 cells. The melanin contents of cells were significantly attenuated by ethanol fraction in a dose-dependent manner. The $IC_{50}$ value of ethanol fraction was $75.4\;{\mu}g/mL$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.406-413
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• 2012

Effect of three additives, chitosan, ferric chloride, and MPE50 on membrane fouling reduction was studied. They were introduced with various dosing rate into activated sludge, and changes in filtration resistance measured by the batch cell filtration test were evaluated. Both the filtration resistance and the specific cake resistance were minimized at 20 mg/g-MLSS with chitosan, 70 mg/g-MLSS with ferric chloride, and 20 mg/g-MLSS with MPE50 addition, respectively. Introduction of the additives into the activated sludge resulted in reduction of not only cake resistance, but also fouling resistance. However, the chitosan addition to three different activated sludge resulted in three different optimal dose of 10, 20, 30 mg/g-MLSS, respectively. This implies that the optimal dose is dependent on sludge characteristics rather than a constant value. Overdose above the optimal dosage always aggravated filterability in all cases. Zeta potential of sludge flocs, relative hydrophobicity, floc size distribution, soluble EPS concentration and supernatant turbidity were measured in order to analyze fouling reduction mechanism. Nearly neutral surface charge along with the largest particle size was observed at the optimal dose. This could be explained by particle destabilization and restabilization mechanism as positively charged additives were injected into sludge flocs of negative surface charge. Both soluble EPS concentration and supernatant turbidity also showed the lowest value at the optimal dose. These foulants are believed to be coagulated and entrapped in sludge flocs during flocculation. Chitosan and MPE50 which are cationic polymeric substances showed higher reduction in both soluble EPS and fine particles comparing with ferric chloride.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1644-1650
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to screen the polymorphisms and distribution of each genotype of insertion/ deletion (indel) markers which were found in a preliminary comparative study of bovine genomic sequence databases. Comparative bioinformatic analyses were first performed between the nucleotide sequences of Bovine Genome Project and those of expressed sequence tag (EST) database, and a total of fifty-one species of indel markers were screened. Of these, forty-two indel markers were evaluated, and nine informative indel markers were ultimately selected for population analysis. Nucleotide sequences of each marker were re-sequenced and their polymorphic patterns were typed in six cattle breeds: Holstein, Angus, Charolais, Hereford, and two Korean native cattle breeds (Hanwoo and Jeju Black cattle). Cattle breeds tested in this study showed polymorphic patterns in eight indel markers but not in the Indel-15 marker in Charolais and Holstein. The results of analysis for Jeju Black cattle (JBC) population indicated an observed heterozygosity (Ho) that was highest in HW_G1 (0.600) and the lowest in Indel_29 (0.274). The PIC value was the highest in HW_G4 (0.373) and lowest in Indel_6 (0.305). These polymorphic indel markers will be useful in supplying genetic information for parentage tests and traceability and to develop a molecular breeding system for improvement of animal production in cattle breeds as well as in the JBC population.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1107-1112
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• 2010

In this study, the stable maintenance of bioactivity in alkaline ionized water (AIW) and antibacterial effects of AIW were evaluated to confirm benefits of AIW. As controls, purified water (PW) and tap drinking water (DW) were used. The pH and ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) of AIW, PW and DW used were 9.5 and 120 mV, 7.2 and 144 mV, and 7.3 and 564 mV, respectively. High level of minerals was observed in DW (DW>AIW>PW of mineral contents). Concentrations of $Ca^{++}$ and $Na^+$ in DW were 14.5, and 8.4 mg/l, respectively, while no $Ca^{++}$, $Mg^{++}$, $K^+$, and $Na^+$ were detected in PW. Evaluation of antioxidant activities for AIW, PW and DW showed that the waters did not act as antioxidants. However, the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) or superoxide radical scavenging activities or reducing power of vitamin C were stably maintained in AIW and PW, though not in DW, against heat treatment ($60^{\circ}C$) or vigorous shaking (120 rpm) at $37^{\circ}C$. Similarly, after aspirin treatment at $60^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr, the antithrombosis activity in PW and AIW was 62.6% and 55.3%, while that of DW was 52.1%. Furthermore, cell growth analysis and viable cell count of Escherichia coli H7:O157 in PW, AIW and DW showed that AIW and DW, not DW, have antibacterial activities. Our results suggest that the state of water, for example pH, ORP and mineral contents of water, should be considered in medicine or food industries, and that AIW has high potential for utilization in various fields.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the antifungal activity of a synthetic peptide consisting of 15 amino acids at the C-terminus of human ${\beta}$-defensin 3 (HBD3-C15) with calcium hydroxide (CH) and Nystatin (Nys) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm. Materials and Methods: C. albicans were grown on cover glass bottom dishes or human dentin disks for 48 hr, and then treated with HBD3-C15 (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and $300{\mu}g/mL$), CH ($100{\mu}g/mL$), and Nys ($20{\mu}g/mL$) for 7 days at $37^{\circ}C$. On cover glass, live and dead cells in the biomass were measured by the FilmTracer Biofilm viability assay, and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). On dentin, normal, diminished and ruptured cells were observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results were subjected to a two-tailed t-test, a one way analysis variance and a post hoc test at a significance level of p = 0.05. Results: C. albicans survival on dentin was inhibited by HBD3-C15 in a dose-dependent manner. There were fewer aggregations of C. albicans in the groups of Nys and HBD3-C15 (${\geq}100{\mu}g/mL$). CLSM showed C. albicans survival was reduced by HBD3-C15 in a dose dependent manner. Nys and HBD3-C15 (${\geq}100{\mu}g/mL$) showed significant fungicidal activity compared to CH group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Synthetic HBD3-C15 peptide (${\geq}100{\mu}g/mL$) and Nys exhibited significantly higher antifungal activity than CH against C. albicans by inhibiting cell survival and biofilm.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2020

In this study, the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of hot-water extracts from 10 kinds of macroalgae in Korea were investigated. It was selected materials in consideration of biological activity and industrial potential as follows: Caulerpa okamurae; Codium fragile; Ulva australis; Ishige foliacea; Saccharina japonica; Sargassum horneri; Undaria pinnatifida; Gloiopeltis tenax; Gracilaria verrucosa; Porphyra tenera. Results showed that S. japonica and G. tenax significantly decreased NO productionn in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells at concentrations of 100, 1000 ㎍/mL and 1000 ㎍/mL, respectively. However, most of the other macroalgae used in the experiment did not affect NO production. It was observed that all macroalgae extracts except for the highest concentration (1000 ㎍/mL) treatment group of P. tenera did not affect the viability in Raw 264.7 cells. In addition, there was not significant decrease in cell viability by macroalgae extracts treatment in HINAE cells. These results suggest that S. japonica and G. tenax could be used as potential safe natural anti-inflammatory agents for food and feed additives. Also, the results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for the development of functional materials for 10 kinds of macroalgae resources in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.929-937
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• 2022

To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the grains of sorghum, three Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench variants (Hwanggeumchal, Huinchal, and Chal) being cultivated in Korea, the 80% ethanol (EtOH) extracts of individual sorghum grains were compared for their inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Among them, the EtOH extract of sorghum Hwanggeumchal grains could exert the highest inhibitory effect on the LPS-induced NO production. However, under these conditions, the viability of RAW264.7 cells was not affected. When the EtOH extract of sorghum Hwanggeumchal grains was sequentially fractionated with n-hexane, methylene chloride (MC), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol, the anti-NO production activity was predominantly detected in both MC and EtOAc fractions. In particular, treatment with the MC fraction reduced dose-dependently the expression levels of iNOS, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Simultaneously, the MC fraction could prevent LPS-induced activating phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). HPLC analysis of the MC fraction showed gentisic acid and naringenin as the major phenolic components. Both gentisic acid and naringenin commonly exhibited a potent inhibitory activity against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Together, these results provide the evidence of the inhibitory activity of Hwanggeumchal grains on LPS-induce inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells and also suggest that sorghum grains possess beneficial health effects which can be applicable in development of the grain-based functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 2022

The subventricular zone (SVZ) in the brain contains neural stem cells (NSCs) that generate new neurons throughout one's lifetime. Many extracellular and intracellular factors that affect cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation of NSCs are already well-known. Recently, L-type calcium channels have been reported to regulate neural development and are present in NSCs, differentiating neuroblasts, and mature neurons in the SVZ. Nifedipine, a blocker of L-type calcium channels, has been long used as a therapeutic drug for hypertension. However, studies on the use of nifedipine to inhibit L-type calcium channels of NSCs are lacking. Herein, we treated NSCs cultured from mouse postnatal SVZ with nifedipine during neuronal differentiation. Nifedipine increased the number of Tuj1-positive neurons but did not significantly change the number of Olig2-positive oligodendrocytes. Nifedipine increased cell division during early differentiation, which was detected using the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay and immunocytochemistry assessment by staining the cells with phosphorylated histone H3, a mitosis marker. Nifedipine increased the transcription of Dlx2, a neurogenic transcription factor, and the level of Mash1, a marker for early neurogenesis. In addition to nifedipine, verapamil, which is also an L-type calcium channel blocker, showed a slight increase in neurogenesis, but its statistical significance was very low. In contrast, pimozide, a T-type calcium channel blocker, did not affect neurogenesis, although T-type calcium channel genes Cav3.1, Cav3.2, and Cav3.3 were expressed. In summary, nifedipine might promote the neuronal fate of NSCs during early differentiation and calcium signaling through L-type calcium channels might be involved in neuronal differentiation, especially during the early stages of differentiation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1727-1734
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• 2005

The fermentation characteristics and mono- and di-saccharides compositions during the early stage of ensiling were studied with a temperate grass, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and a tropical grass, guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.). The laboratory silos were kept in the room set at 25$^{\circ}C$, and then were opened on 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days (14 days in Italian ryegrass) after ensiling, respectively. The Italian ryegrass silage showed a fast and large pH decrease caused by a fast and large production of lactic acid during the first 5 days of ensiling and succeeded to achieve lactic acid type fermentation; high lactic acid/acetic acid and lactic acid content at the end of ensiling (14 days), low values of pH (3.74), acetic acid, ethanol and ammonia-N/total nitrogen, none or only small amounts of Butyric acid, valeric acid and propionic acid. The guineagrass silage showed a slow decrease in pH and a slow increase in lactic acid content during the full ensiling period, causing a high final pH value, low contents of lactic acid, acetic acid, total volatile fatty acids and total organic acids. In Italian ryegrass silage, mono- and di-saccharides compositions decreased largely within the initial 0.5 day (12 h) of ensiling. Sucrose disappeared rapidly within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, but fructose and glucose contents showed an initial rise by the activity of enzymes in plant tissues, and then decreased gradually. On the other hand, the contents of monoand di-saccharides in guineagrass showed the largest decreases due mainly to plant respiration within the initial 0.5 day of ensiling, and no initial rises in fructose and glucose contents during the early stage of ensiling because of the absence of fructans which are hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose in temperate grasses. In both silages, the rate of reduction in mono- and di-saccharides compositions within the initial 5 days of ensiling was ranked in the order of glucose>fructose>sucrose, suggesting that glucose and fructose might be more favorably utilized than sucrose by microorganisms and glucose is the first fermentation substrate. It was concluded that the silage made from Italian ryegrass with high moisture content had a good fermentation quality owing to the dominance of lactic acid bacteria and active lactic acid fermentation during the initial stage of ensiling. These results can be explained by rapid plant sap liberation and the high activity of plant enzyme hydrolyzed fructans into fructose and glucose within the initial 2 days of ensiling, which stimulate the homofermentative lactic acid bacteria growth. In ensiling a temperate grass, the physical characteristics may ensure the rapid onset of fermentation phase, which results from the smaller losses of water-soluble carbohydrates during the initial stage of ensiling and providing sufficient water-soluble carbohydrates for lactic acid bacteria. The silage made from guineagrass with intermediate dry matter and high initial mono- and di-saccharides content was stable silage. This could be explained by the higher incorporation of air during the very early stage of ensiling and the restriction of cell breakdown and juice release due to the properties of a tropical grass with coarse porosity and stemmy structures. These physical characteristics delayed the onset of lactic acid bacteria fermentation phase by extending the phases of respiration and aerobic microorganisms activity, causing the higher loss of water-soluble carbohydrates and the shortage of lactic acid bacteria fermentation substrates.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2005

The objectives of present study were to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects of onion extracts. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated with 1.5 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide(t-BHP), potent oxidizing agent for liver injury for 1 hr in the presence or absence of various concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 or 0.3 mg/ml) of onion extract. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined by measuring glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activity, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) value. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) assay. Effects on antioxidant system were determined by measuring catalase, glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), glutathione reductase(GSH-Rd) activities as well as DNA strand breaking assay. Incubation with t-BHP alone increased GOT and LDH activities and TBARS concentration but decreased MTT reduction. Onion extracts at the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml began to decrease GOT and LDH activities induced by 1.5 mM t-BHP. Decreased MTT reduction began to be increased by onion extract at the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml. Onion extracts at the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml began to decrease TBARS concentration induced by t-BHP. Taken together, onion extracts prevented t-BHP-induced hepatocyte injury and lipid peroxidation. Catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd activities of hepatocytes were significantly decreased by 1.5 mM t-BHP for 1 hr incubation. Onion extracts, on the other hand, at the concentration of 0.1 mg/ml began to prevent t-BHP-induced decrease in catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd activities. Onion extracts prevented hydroxyl radical-induced single-strand breakage in dose-dependent manner when plasmid DNA was incubated with various concentrations of onion extracts in the presence of Fenton regents producing hydroxyl radical. These results demonstrate that onion extracts suppressed t-BHP-induced cytoctoxicity, decreased viability and lipid peroxidation and increased GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and catalase activities. Thus hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of onion extract seem to be due to, at least in part, the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities as well as prevention from hydroxyl radical-induced oxidation, followed by inhibition in lipid peroxidation.