• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.393-399
• /
• 2013

Asian populations are thought to receive significant health benefits from traditional diets rich in soybeans due to high isoflavone contents. However, available epidemiologic data only weakly support this hypothesis. The present study was carried out to assess the pharmacokinetics of isoflavones in South Korean women after ingestion of soy-based foods. Twenty-six healthy female volunteers (20-30 y old) consumed three different soy products (i.e., isogen, soymilk, and fermented soybeans) with different aglycone/glucoside ratios. Plasma and urine isoflavone concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after ingestion of one of the soy products. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the WinNonlin program. The area under the curve (AUC) for plasma daidzein levels of the soymilk group ($2,101{\pm}352ng{\cdot}h/mL$) was significantly smaller than those of the isogen ($2,628{\pm}573ng{\cdot}h/mL$) and fermented soybean ($2,593{\pm}465ng{\cdot}h/mL$) groups. The maximum plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) of daidzein for the soymilk group ($231{\pm}44$ ng/mL) was significantly higher than those of the isogen ($160{\pm}32$ ng/mL) and fermented soybean ($195{\pm}35$ ng/mL) groups. The half-lives of daidzein and genistein in the soymilk group (5.9 and 5.6 h, respectively) were significantly shorter than those in the individuals given isogen (9.6 and 8.5 h, respectively) or fermented soybean (9.5 and 8.2 h, respectively). The urinary recovery rates of daidzein and genistein were 42% and 17% for the isogen group, 46% and 23% for the fermented soybean group, and 33% and 22% for the soymilk group. In conclusion, our data indicated that soy products containing high levels of isoflavone aglycone are more effective for maintaining plasma isoflavone concentrations. Additional dose-response, durational, and interventional studies are required to evaluate the ability of soy-based foods to increase the bioavailability of isoflavones that positively affect human health.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.469-474
• /
• 2014

DWP208 is a sodium succinate form of ZYM-201 which is a triterpenoid glycoside isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis, a medicinal plant prescribed for various diseases, such as duodenal ulcers and bleeding in East Asian counties. We demonstrated that this compound is able to normalize the altered lipid metabolism induced by hyperglycemia and a high fat diet. In this study, we determined whether hyperlipidemic conditions induced with chronically treated alcohol can also be restored by DWP208. Similar to our previous results, orally administered DWP208 (1 to 10 mg/kg) also ameliorated the hyperlipidemia that was induced by alcohol. This compound reversed the alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia including (i) up-regulated hyperlipidemic parameters such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), atherosclerotic index (AI), triglyceride, and total cholesterol, and (ii) down-regulated hyperlipidemic parameters such as absolute body weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in serum and liver. According to our data, the ameliorative activity of DWP208 is due to its indirect anti-oxidative activity as a result of which lipid peroxide and hydroxyl radical levels were reduced and the activity of SOD was enhanced. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that DWP208 can be used as a remedy against alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.64-67
• /
• 2012

Drosera spathulata Labill., belonging to the family Droseraceae, was recently recorded for the first time in a forest wetland in Busan-si, Gijang-gun, Cheolma-myeon. This plant is distributed from eastern Australia throughout South East Asian, Japan, China, Taiwan, and now, Korea. This species, related by taxa to D. rotundifolia, is distinguished by possessing a smaller leaf size (10-20 mm long, 2.5-4.5 mm wide), racemes that are glandular-hairy, and pinkish petals. The newly given Korean name, 'Jom-kkeun-kkeun-yi-ju-geok' reflects the small size as compared to related taxa. A description of the key characteristics, an illustration, and photographs of the habitats of this plant are provided in this report.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.199-207
• /
• 2018

Background: Ginseng is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used in a range of therapeutic and healthcare applications in East Asian countries. Microbial transformation is regarded as an effective and useful technology in modification of nature products for finding new chemical derivatives with potent bioactivities. In this study, three minor derivatives of ginsenoside compound K were isolated and the inducing effects in the Wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway were also investigated. Methods: New compounds were purified from scale-up fermentation of ginsenoside Rb1 by Paecilomyces bainier sp. 229 through repeated silica gel column chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography. Their structures were determined based on spectral data and X-ray diffraction. The inductive activities of these compounds on the Wnt signaling pathway were conducted on MC3T3-E1 cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results: The structures of a known 3-keto derivative and two new dehydrogenated metabolites were elucidated. The crystal structure of the 3-keto derivative was reported for the first time and its conformation was compared with that of ginsenoside compound K. The inductive effects of these compounds on osteogenic differentiation by activating the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway were explained for the first time. Conclusion: This study may provide a new insight into the metabolic pathway of ginsenoside by microbial transformation. In addition, the results might provide a reasonable explanation for the activity of ginseng in treating osteoporosis and supply good monomer ginsenoside resources for nutraceutical or pharmaceutical development.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.201-206
• /
• 2013

Aporia crataegi, an Korean endangered species, was first analyzed for DNA barcode sequences based on 28-year-old dried specimens and compared barcode characters with 36 individuals of ten geographical populations of Eurasia. They were revealed to consist of five different haplotypes. Among them, haplotype I was mostly extensive and high frequency with 75%. The south Korean individuals were confirmed to be belonging to haplotype I and have no genetic isolation on COI gene. By these results, we consider that selection of the identical haplotype from other geographical populations may be a requirement prior to performing for conservation and restoration of the Korean population. We also propose to analyse the additional genetic markers in order to understand a more accurate genetic structures between haplotypes of this species.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2017

The tiny dragonfly, Nannophya pygmaea (Odonata: Libellulidae), is an endangered insect in South Korea. Previously, a partial mitochondrial DNA sequence that corresponded to a DNA barcoding region has been used to infer genetic diversity and gene flow. In this study, we additionally sequenced the barcoding region from N. pygmaea that had been collected from three previously sampled populations (40 individuals) and these sequences were combined with the preexisting data. We also selected and sequenced an additional mitochondrial gene (ND5) to find further variable gene regions in the mitochondrial genome. DNA barcoding sequences of 108 individuals from five South Korean localities showed that genetic diversity was highest in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do Province. Muuido, which was previously occupied by a single haplotype, was also found to have an identical haplotype, which confirmed the low genetic diversity on this islet. Gene flow among populations is highly limited, and no clear distance- or region-based geographic partitioning was observed. Phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes showed that there were no discernable haplotypes in South Korea. ND5 provided slightly more haplotypes compared to the barcoding region in 40 individuals (14 vs. 10 haplotypes in the COI gene). It also had a slightly higher within-locality diversity estimate, which suggested that ND5 had potential as mitochondrial DNA-based marker for population genetic analysis.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.107-118
• /
• 2011

Classified Emergency Materia Medica is a pharmacopoeia published by the government of the Song(宋) dynasty. After publishment, it had a decisive effect on East-Asian herbology of China, Korean & Japan. Sakae Miki(三木榮), Tameto Okanisi(岡西爲人) wrote papers on the subjects of type, publishing process, bibliographic terms of Classified Emergency Materia Medica published in the early and middle years of Joseon Dynasty. Moreover, Sakae Miki claimed that Classified Emergency Materia Medica from China had been a standard of herbology of Joseon Dynasty since its publishment, and herbology based on materia medica from countryside(鄕藥) also had occupied a part of herbology in Joseon Dynasty. Nevertheless the specific influences, from Classified Emergency Materia Medica to the medical books of Joseon Dynasty which established the herbology based on materia medica from countryside has never been handled so far. So I would like to investigate the influence of Classified Emergency Materia Medica to Joseon Dynasty, through a comparison with literature review. The main literatures for comparison are two representative medical books of Joseon Dynasty, Compendium of Prescriptions from the Countryside(1433) & Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine(1613), especially focusing on the pharmacognostic parts. The main comparing points on researching literatures will be the following: publication year of books; order of herbs; and quotations. This paper will show which edition of Classified Emergency Materia Medica was utilized to publish two medical books of Joseon Dynasty, and the process how Korean herbology based on materia medica from countryside was transformed after accepting Chinese herbology.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.21-38
• /
• 1999

This paper is concerned with analyzing the role of Northeast Asia intercity networks in Northeast Asia in creating regional networks. For the purpose of this paper, we have followed Choe's (1996) definition of Northeast Asia which includes the Russian Fat East, the Northeast region of China, South Korea, North Korea and Japan. The central hypothesis of the paper is that the geopolitical conditions of Northeast Asia compared for example with Southeast Asia, favor bilateral rather than multilateral linkages between nation states. In these circumstances, it is our hypothesis that cities will play an important role in developing a "local image" of regio-nalism and intercity networks. In order to analyze this hypothesis, the paper is divided into three parts. Part A analyzes the emerging urban system of the Northeast Asia region using Choe's concept of the BESETO corridor and updating his data from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s just prior to the financial crisis. This analysis is further supported by the analysis of economic and transportation linkages within the urban system of the region with some discussion of emerging urban nodes. Part B looks at the specific case studies of the region including the Bohai Sea region, the Japan Sea and case studies of Sapporo, the Japan Sea and case studies of Sapporo, Pusan and Shandong province cities. Part C summarizes this preceding analysis and that the development of regionalism and servicing urban nodes is move likely to emerge from a myriad of linkages developed between the region's cities than from a supra-regional role of nation states. This finding has important implications for regional policy formation suggesting that there should be considerate national support for international linkages between cities.en cities.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.143-146
• /
• 2011

Some of men have been suffered from the insufficient secretion of testosterone causing by physical factors, social and psychological factors. Testosterone is an essential steroid hormone controlling male reproductive function. Alternative medicines in plants, fungi, and insects have been studied to enhance sexuality. $Cordyceps$ species including $Cordyceps$ $sinensis$ (CS) and $C.$ $militaris$(CM) has been used as for the enhancement of sexual functionfor hundreds of years in Far East Asian. In the present study, we determined the effect of fruiting bodies of $C.$ $militaris$ which cultured on bee drone medium (CMD) and brown rice medium (CMB) on testosterone concentration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Eighteen rats per group were housed to regular diet or diet supplemented with CMB and CDD, respectively for 4 weeks. Serum was collected from 6 rats per group. Results showed that changes of the body weight, food and water intake of the rats were not observed in this study. However, both CMB and CDD increased the serum testosterone concentration in rats. Furthermore, CMD significantly stimulated testosterone production (p <0.05) compared to the control. Hence, it suggests that $C.$ $militaris$ fruiting bodymight be developed as a complementary medicine to improve sexual hormones.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.109-121
• /
• 2011

This study revisits the definition of Changma, which is the major rainy season in Korea and corresponds to a regional component of the East Asian summer monsoon system. In spite of several decades of researches on Changma, questions still remain on many aspects of Changma that include its proper definition, determination of its onset and retreat, and relevant large-scale dynamical and thermodynamical features. Therefore, this study clarifies the definition of Changma (which is a starting point for the study of interannual and interdecadal variability) using a basic concept of air mass and front by calculating equivalent potential temperature (${\theta}_e$) that considers air temperature and humidity simultaneously. A negative peak in the meridional gradient of this quantity signifies the approximate location of Changma front. This front has previously been recognized as the boundary between the tropical North Pacific air mass and cold Okhotsk sea air mass. However, this study identifies three more important air masses affecting Changma: the tropical monsoon air mass related to the intertropical convergence zone over Southeast Asia and South China Sea, the tropical continental air mass over North China, and intermittently polar continental air mass. The variations of these five air masses lead to complicated evolution of Changma and modulate intensity, onset and withdrawal dates, and duration of Changma on the interannual time scale. Importantly, use of ${\theta}_e$, 500-hPa geopotential height and 200 hPa zonal wind fields for determining Changma onset and withdrawal dates results in a significant increase (up to~57%) in the hindcast skill compared to a previous study.