• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2015

Background: Gut microflora play a crucial role in the biotransformation of ginsenosides to compound K (CK), which may affect the pharmacological effects of ginseng. Prebiotics, such as NUTRIOSE, could enhance the formation and consequent absorption of CK through the modulation of gut microbial metabolic activities. In this study, the effect of a prebiotic fiber (NUTRIOSE) on the pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside CK, a bioactive metabolite of ginsenosides, and its mechanism of action were investigated. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given control or NUTRIOSE-containing diets (control diet + NUTRIOSE) for 2 wk, and ginseng extract or vehicle was then orally administered. Blood samples were collected to investigate the pharmacokinetics of CK using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fecal activities that metabolize ginsenoside Rb1 to CK were assayed with fecal specimens or bacteria cultures. Results: When ginseng extract was orally administered to rats fed with 2.5%, 5%, or 10% NUTRIOSE containing diets, the maximum plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve values of CK significantly increased in a NUTRIOSE content-dependent manner. NUTRIOSE intake increased glycosidase activity and CK formation in rat intestinal contents. The CK-forming activities of intestinal microbiota cultured in vitro were significantly induced by NUTRIOSE. Conclusion: These results show that prebiotic diets, such as NUTRIOSE, may promote the metabolic conversion of ginsenosides to CK and the subsequent absorption of CK in the gastrointestinal tract and may potentiate the pharmacological effects of ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1997

Following ginsenoside-Rb1-hydrolyzing assay, strictly anaerobic bacteria were isolated from human feces and identified as Prevotella oris. The bacteria hydrolyzed ginsenoside Rb1 and Rd to $20-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol$ (I), ginsenoside Rb2 to $20-O-[{\alpha}-L-arabinofuranosyl (1{\rightarrow}6)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl] - 20(S)-protopanaxadiol$ (ll) and ginsenoside Rc to $20-O-[{\alpha}-L-arabinofuranosyl (1{\rightarrow} 6){\beta}-D-g1ucopyranosyl]-20(S)-protopanaxadiol$ (III) like fecal microflora, but did not attack ginsenoside Re nor Rgl (Protopanaxatriol-type). Pharmacokinetic studies of ginseng saponins was also performed using specific pathogen free rats and demonstrated that the intestinal bacterial metabolites I-111, 20(S)- protopanaxatriol(IV) and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol(V) were absorbed from the intestines to $blood(0.4-5.1\;{\mu}g/ml)$ after oral administration with total saponin(1 g/kg/day).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.153-157
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• 1999

The effececl of levanoclaose produced by levanase Croni Pseuc/olol~~o!!n.s sp. K-52 on pnnciple inlesimal microflorawas investigated. The reaction product, levanoctaose, was used as a carbon source for various intestinalmicroflora. Especially. Bijidobacteriulolr~ adolescentis and Lnctohaciilrrs ocidophilus grew effectively in vitroexpeiiments, whereas Clostridiunz per.frilol~gerzs, Bactetvid,~ngilis, Eschericlzin. coli, and Stnplzylococcus nureirsdid not. Therefore, levanoctdose seemed to proinole selectively the growth ol" B. ndo1escenti.r and L. acidol~hi-/us. In Lhe in viva experiments, the effects of levanoctaose on inlestinal nucroflora were examined on heirgrowth. $\beta$-fri~ctosidase acliviiy. and butyrate concenuation in rats. Appuently, die number of fecal Bifidobacteria.the amount of bulyrate, and $\beta$-hctosidase activity were increased, whereas total aerobes 'and pH werereduced in rals Eed leviu~octaose diets, cornpxed with hose of the control diets. We concluded hat those effecismay be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health.astrointestinal health.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.351-355
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• 1995

The fecal tryptophanase activities were $0.267{\pm}0.10$ for rats and $0.185{\pm}0.01{\;}{\mu}mole/min/g$ wet feces for humans. The activities of indole pyruvate degradation to indole, indole pyruvate lyase, of these feces were $0.051{\pm}0.02$ and $0.046{\pm}0.01{\;}{\mu}mole/min/g$ wet feces, respectively. The optimal pH values of tryptophanase and indole pyruvate lyase were 5.5-7.5 and 5.5-6.5, respectively. When the intestinal flora or E. coli HGU-3 was cultured in GAM broth having six different pH values (5 to 10), the activities of tryptophanase and indole pyruvate IYilse in the medium adjusted at pH 6 were dramatically induced by elevating the pH to 9. However, when intestinal microflora were inoculated in the medium containing lactulose, the pro¬ductions of these enzymes were dramatically inhibited and the pH of the medium was lower than that of the control.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary supplementation of two different types of multiple probiotics in broiler chicks. Four hundred one day old male broiler chicks(Ross ${\times}$ Ross) were raised in the floor pen with five treatments(0, A: 0.10, 0.20%, B: 0.10, 0.20% of probiotics), consisting of 5 replicates for 5 weeks. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were measured weekly, Total Lactobacillus, yeast, E. coli, Salmonella were examined from ileum and cecum at the end of experiment. Sera protein, cholesterol and ND vaccine titer were measured and fecal COD, CO$_2$ and NH$_3$ were detected in 24 hours after collection. Weight gain of chickes fed both types of probiotics increased for the first three weeks and showed significantly higher for the rest two weeks. Feed intake tended to be high in probiotics treatments compared with contro(P<0.05)1. Feed conversion improved significantly in B types of 0.2% probiotics compared with control. Total number of Salmonella was not consistent in ileum among treatments, whereas E. coli tended to be decreased in both types of probiotics compared with control. NH$_3$ and CO$_2$ emission of feces were decreased in both types of probiotics, but it was not statistically different(p>0.05). COD of chicks fed both probiotics was lower than control. There were no significantly different breast meat(P>0.05). Total cholesterol decreased in probiotics groups regardless of it's type. ND antibody vaccine titer was prone to be a small increments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.556-562
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• 2007

A total of 126 crossbred weanling pigs (average body weight of $6.3{\pm}0.3$ kg) were used to investigate the effect of chito-oligosaccharide (COS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, pH of gastro-intestinal tract (GI), intestinal and fecal microflora of young piglets. Pigs were allocated to three dietary treatments based on body weight and gender in a single factorial arrangement. Treatments were control (No COS), T1 (0.2% COS during starter (6-13 kg) and 0.1% COS during grower (13-30 kg) phases, and T2 (0.4% COS during starter (6-13 kg) and 0.3% COS during grower (13-30 kg) phases, respectively. Each treatment had 3 replicates and 14 pigs were raised in each pen. COS is a low molecular weight water-soluble chitosan that can be obtained from chitin of the crab shell after deacetylation with concentrated sodium hydroxide at high temperature and then further decomposition by chitosanase enzyme in the presence of ascorbic acid. For the starter and grower periods, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) and feed to gain ratio among treatments. However, during the overall period (6-30 kg), T2 showed better (p<0.05) feed to gain ratio than other treatments. A digestibility study was conducted at the end of grower phase which showed improvement (p<0.05) in DM and crude fat digestibility in T2 over the control. At 25 kg body weight, 6 pigs per treatment (2 per replicate) were sacrificed to determine the effect of diets on pH and microbial count at different sections of the GI tract. The pH of the cecal contents in pigs fed 0.1% COS was higher (p<0.05) than in the other treatments. Total anaerobic bacterial number increased from cecum to rectum in all treatments. The weekly total bacterial counts showed higher (p<0.05) in feces of pigs fed COS than that of untreated pigs at the $8^{th}$ week. The number of fecal E. coli in untreated pigs at $4^{th}$ wk was 7.35 log CFU/g compared to 6.71 and 6.54 log CFU/g in 0.1 and 0.3% COS-treated pigs, respectively. Similarly, at $8^{th}$ wk, fecal clostridium spp. were lower in pigs fed 0.3% COS (5.43 log CFU/g) than in untreated pigs (6.26 log CFU/g). In conclusion, these results indicated that chito-oligosaccharide could improve feed efficiency in young pigs and inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2003

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding Aspergillus oryzae(AO) ferment on performance, intestinal microflora, serum components, ammonia generation and litter dampness in broiler chicks. In experiment I, three hundred sixty, one day old broiler chicks, Abor Acres, were fed 0 and 0.1% of Aspergiilus oryzae short conidia ferment(AOS) and 0.1% of Aspergillus oryzae long conidia ferment(AOL) for five weeks. In experiment II, three hundred sixty, one day old broiler chicks, Abor Acres were fed 0, 0.1 and 0.2% of Aspergillus oryzae long conidia ferment(AOL) for five weeks. In experiment I, growth rates were not statistically different among dietary treatments. AOS and AOL showed increased tendency in weight gain and feed intake compared to those of control, whereas feed conversion was not different. Litter dampness of AOS and AOL was also tended to decrease compared to that of control, but was not significantly different. Fecal ammonia gas generation was decreased in feeding AOS and AOL, and maintained 1/2 to 3/4 compared to the control. In serum metabolites, AOS and AOL increased glucose and calcium, and decreased total protein, blood urea nitrogen and total cholesterol. In experiment II, body weight of chicks fed 0.1 and 0.2% AOL were heavier than the control(P<0.05). Feed intake of chicks fed 0.1 and 0.2% AOL also were higher than the none, but feed conversion ratio was not different among treatments. Ileal and cecal microflora showed increased tendency in lactic acid bacteria compared to those of the control. Salmonella and E. coli were decreased in ileum of chicks fed 0.1 and 0.2% AOL. In conclusion, feeding AO ferment increased growth performance and improved intestinal microflora of broiler chicks and environments of broiler house.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2003

A feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding Lactobacillus reuteri culture(LRC) on the performance, nutrients digestibility, intestinal microflora, serum metabolites, ammonia generation and litter dampness in broiler chicks. Four hundred eighty, one day old male chicks were fed into none, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% of LRC supplementation fer seven weeks. Basal diets excluded antibiotics contained ME 3,100, 3,100 kcal/kg, and CP 22.0, 20.0% for starter and grower, respectively. Weight gain of chicks fed LRC was significantly higher than no supplemental group in overall period(P<0.05). Feed intake was the highest in the 0.1% LRC, but not statistically different from other treatments. Feed conversion showed no significance among treatments. Viable Lactobacillus spp. number of chicks fed 0.2 and 0.4% LRC was significantly higher in cecum at seven weeks of age compared to the none(P<0.05). The tendency of anaerobes number was similar to Lactobacillus spp in ileum and cecum. Total number of E. coli and Salmonella were no difference in all treatments. In serum metabolites, feeding LRC increased triglyceride, and inorganic phosphorus, but no different total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, glucose, blood urea nitrogen and Ca. Nutrients digestibility improved significantly in 0.4% LRC compared to that of none(P<0.05). Fecal NH$_3$, gas generation was greatly decreased in the LRC supplemental groups(P<0.05). Moisture contents of bedding was also significantly decreased in LRC feeding group. It was concluded from the present study that feeding Lactobacillus reuteri culture improved the growth performance and nutrients digestibility of broiler chicks and minimize the fecal noxious gas emission.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.390-405
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• 2020

Purpose: The effect of prebiotics intake after administration of a synbiotics mixture (a probiotic, Bifidobacterium longum, and a prebiotic, xylooligosaccharide containing sugar [XOS]) on human intestinal microflora and defecation characteristics was investigated in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-five healthy young volunteers (11 males and 14 females) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (BL2XO2 and BL2XO6). The synbiotics mixture was orally administered to both groups for 2 weeks, and the prebiotics were subsequently administered to the BL2XO6 group for 4 additional weeks. The daily dose of the synbiotics mixture comprised 10¹⁰ colony-forming unit of Bifidobacterium longum and 10 g of XOS, and during the prebiotics period, the daily dose of prebiotics comprised only 10 g of XOS. The fecal pH, microflora, and defecation characteristics were analyzed at baseline and at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. Results: The counts of B. longum and Bifidobacterium spp. in the BL2XO6 group exhibited a steady, increasing trend during the synbiotics and prebiotics periods, whereas those of the BL2XO2 group exhibited considerable variation in each week of the study period. Although there was no significant difference, the counts of fecal Bifidobacterium in the BL2XO6 group tended to be higher than those of the BL2XO2 group at week 6. The growth of Lactobacillus spp. exhibited a time-dependent variation, peaking at week 6 in both groups. Low counts of Clostridium spp. were observed after treatment with the synbiotics and prebiotics in the BL2XO6 group (p < 0.05) throughout the study, whereas the inhibitory effect on Clostridium spp. was maintained only during the synbiotics period in the BL2XO2 group. The defecation characteristics did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: Administration of XOS after a synbiotics mixture containing B. longum and XOS can exert a prebiotic effect in healthy young volunteers by stimulating Bifidobacteriun spp. growth and inhibiting growth of Clostridium spp.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2004

A study was conducted to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of multiple probiotics (EM) on growth performance, blood cholesterol, intestinal micro flora, and fecal gas emission in broiler chicks. A total of 450 one day old male broiler chicks (Ross $\times$ Ross) were divided into six treatments with five replications in each treatment for five weeks. Treatments were factorially designed with two levels of diet containing probiotics (DW; 0, $0.2\%$) and three levels of drinking water containing probiotics (DW; 0, 0.01, $0.1\%$). Basal diets contained $21.5\%$ CP and 3,100 kcal/kg ME for starting and $19\%$ CP and 3,100 kcal/kg ME for finishing period. Weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversions of birds fed with probiotics were not significantly different between Ds. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) in birds fed with DW $0.01\%$ or $0.1\%$ compared with no probiotics group, but there was no significant difference between D treatments. The number of E. coli, Salmonella and Lactobacillus in the ileum and cecum of the birds fed multiple probiotics were not significantly different from those of no probiotic groups. There were no significant differences in the $CO_2$ gas emissions of fecal between birds fed with Ds or among birds fed with DW. However, $NH_3$ gas emissions of DW $0.1\%$ were significantly lower (P<0.05) than DW $0\%$. In the results of this study, supplementation of probiotics tended to decrease the serum cholesterol and triglyceride compared to those of control groups and reduction of fecal $NH_3$ gas emission.