• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.499-502
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• 2019

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a nuclear enzyme which is activated in response to DNA damage, and which mediates DNA repair. PARP inhibitors can be used to reduce resistance of cancer cells to anticancer treatments. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of selected phytochemicals and fruit extracts on PARP activation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells subjected to oxidative stress. Pre-incubation with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), apple extract (AE), cranberry extract (CE), or grape extract (GE) for 2 hours at test concentrations reduced PARP activity induced upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). GE was found to be the most efficient PARP inhibitor among the fruit extracts examined. These results suggest that phytochemicals of fruit extracts might be used as PARP inhibitors in order to assist anticancer agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.715-723
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• 2023

Microbial biofilms are resilient, immune-evasive, often antibiotic-resistant health challenges, and increasingly the target for research into novel therapeutic strategies. We evaluated the effects of a nutraceutical enzyme and botanical blend (NEBB) on established biofilm. Five microbial strains with known implications in chronic human illnesses were tested: Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans (coagulase-negative, penicillin-resistant), Borrelia burgdorferi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strains were allowed to form biofilm in vitro. Biofilm cultures were treated with NEBB containing enzymes targeted at lipids, proteins, and sugars, also containing the mucolytic compound N-acetyl cysteine, along with antimicrobial extracts from cranberry, berberine, rosemary, and peppermint. The post-treatment biofilm mass was evaluated by crystal-violet staining, and metabolic activity was measured using the MTT assay. Average biofilm mass and metabolic activity for NEBB-treated biofilms were compared to the average of untreated control cultures. Treatment of established biofilm with NEBB resulted in biofilm-disruption, involving significant reductions in biofilm mass and metabolic activity for Candida and both Staphylococcus species. For B. burgdorferi, we observed reduced biofilm mass, but the remaining residual biofilm showed a mild increase in metabolic activity, suggesting a shift from metabolically quiescent, treatment-resistant persister forms of B. burgdorferi to a more active form, potentially more recognizable by the host immune system. For P. aeruginosa, low doses of NEBB significantly reduced biofilm mass and metabolic activity while higher doses of NEBB increased biofilm mass and metabolic activity. The results suggest that targeted nutraceutical support may help disrupt biofilm communities, offering new facets for integrative combinational treatment strategies.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.291-295
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• 2015

Berry or vegetable juices contain a diverse range of antioxidants. Through oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays, acai berry, aronia, wild grape, blackberry, cranberry, and spinach juices were verified to possess high antioxidant activities. Lactic acid bacteria fermentation was applied to each juice as the sole medium to improve antioxidant activity. After fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum, the antioxidant activities of acai berry, blackberry, and spinach juices increased by 20–30% from 943.2 to 1239.2, from 110.87 to 128.04, and from 77.92 to 107.20 µmol TE/g, respectively. In this study, we found that the antioxidant activities of a number of juices were enhanced through lactic acid bacteria fermentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 2017

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of acid whey and freeze-dried cranberries on the physicochemical characteristics, lipid oxidation and fatty acid composition of nitrite-free fermented sausage made from deer meat and pork fat. Antioxidant interactions between acid whey and cranberry compounds were also explored. Methods: Four formulations of fermented venison sausage were prepared: F1 (control), F2 (with 5% liquid acid whey), F3 (with 0.06% of freeze-dried cranberries), and F4 (with 5% liquid acid whey and 0.06% of freeze-dried cranberries). Each sample was analyzed for pH, water activity ($a_w$), heme iron content, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value and conjugated dienes at the end of the manufacturing process and at 30 and 90 days of refrigerated storage. Fatty acid composition was measured once at the end of the manufacturing process. Results: At the end of ripening, all samples presented statistically different values for a pH range of 4.47 to pH 4.59. The sum of the unsaturated fatty acids was higher, while the conjugated diene and the TBARS values were lower in sausages with freeze-dried cranberries as compared to the control sausage. The highest content of heme iron (21.52 mg/kg) at day 90 was found in the sausage formulation with the addition of freeze-dried cranberries, which suggests that the addition of cranberries stabilized the porphyrin ring of the heme molecule during storage and thereby reduced the release of iron. The use of liquid acid whey in combination with cranberries appears to not be justified in view of the oxidative stability of the obtained products. Conclusion: The results suggest that the application of freeze-dried cranberries can lower the intensity of oxidative changes during the storage of nitrite-free fermented sausage made

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.381-395
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• 2011

Present work aims to establish an integrated management system of environmental data base for nine typical wind holes or air holes in Korea. It basically deals with definition, geographical distribution, morphological pattern, physical characteristics and anthropogenic environments of wind hole to propose systematic preservation strategy of their periglacial landscape and flora, which are known to be sensitive to global warming. Wind hole, in which cool air blows out during the summer, but mild air comes out during the winter from a cave or hole, is frequently found on northwest- and north-facing slopes on the terminal point of steep talus, block field, and block stream, and can be categorized into three types, i.e., talus, cave and sink types. Environmental characteristics of nine wind holes are analyzed on the basis of their geology, landform, climate, soil, hydrology, vegetation, road, footpath, land-use, and management system, and relevant DB are prepared. Wind hole areas with unique landscape and ecological values need to be designated as a nature reserve, and zoning of core, buffer, and transitional zones are required for the multi-dimensional preservation of periglacial landscape and ecosystem. Phytogeographical values of glacial relict plants, including mountain cranberry(Vaccinium vitis-idaea) at its global southernmost limit at Bangnaeri wind hole, Hongchon County, Gangwon Province of Korea are discussed in detail as a floristic refugia in connection with climate change during the Pleistocene Epoch and potential in-situ and ex-situ preservation sites in the future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.966-976
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• 2019

Objective: The methane mitigating potential of various plant-based polyphenol sources is known, but effects of combinations have rarely been tested. The aim of the present study was to determine whether binary and 3-way combinations of such phenol sources affect ruminal fermentation less, similar or more intensively than separate applications. Methods: The extracts used were from Acacia mearnsii bark (acacia), Vitis vinifera (grape) seed, Camellia sinensis leaves (green tea), Uncaria gambir leaves (gambier), Vaccinium macrocarpon berries (cranberry), Fagopyrum esculentum seed (buckwheat), and Ginkgo biloba leaves (ginkgo). All extracts were tested using the Hohenheim gas test. This was done alone at 5% of dry matter (DM). Acacia was also combined with all other single extracts at 5% of DM each, and with two other phenol sources (all possible combinations) at 2.5%+2.5% of DM. Results: Methane formation was reduced by 7% to 9% by acacia, grape seed and green tea and, in addition, by most extract combinations with acacia. Grape seed and green tea alone and in combination with acacia also reduced methane proportion of total gas to the same degree. The extracts of buckwheat and gingko were poor in phenols and promoted ruminal fermentation. All treatments except green tea alone lowered ammonia concentration by up to 23%, and the binary combinations were more effective as acacia alone. With three extracts, linear effects were found with total gas and methane formation, while with ammonia and other traits linear effects were rare. Conclusion: The study identified methane and ammonia mitigating potential of various phenolic plant extracts and showed a number of additive and some non-linear effects of combinations of extracts. Further studies, especially in live animals, should concentrate on combinations of extracts from grape seed, green tea leaves Land acacia bark and determine the ideal dosages of such combinations for the purpose of methane mitigation.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2023

To increase antioxidant activity and physicochemical quality characteristics, four kinds of berries (blueberry (BEB), blackberry (BKB), cranberry (CNB), raspberry (RSB)) with antioxidant activities were used to replace beet (B) in existing ABC juice. In the experimental group, the pH was decreased while the content of soluble solids was increased significantly. Total polyphenol content was significantly increased in all experimental groups compared to that in the control group. The control group had the lowest polyphenol content at 14.723 ㎍ GAE/g, whereas the blackberry replacement group had the highest polyphenol content at 67.12 ㎍ GAE/g. The total flavonoid content was the lowest in the control group at 8.98 ㎍ QE/g but the highest in the blackberry group at 50.47 ㎍ QE/g. All experimental groups showed significantly higher antioxidant activities than the control group. DPPH & ABTS radical scavenging activities were the lowest in the control group at 15.69% and 19.55%, respectively, but the highest in the blackberry group at 48.24% and 59.43%, respectively. SOD-like activity was also the lowest in the control group at 14.12%, but the highest in the blackberry group at 48.18%. When comparing experimental groups, antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, SOD) and antioxidant components (total polyphenols and total flavonoids) were in the order of BKB > CNB > RSB > BEB > Control. In conclusion, the new ABC juice containing four types of berries is enriched in antioxidants with significantly improved antioxidant activities and physicochemical quality characteristics.