• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.306-313
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• 2024

Given the diversity of vegetables utilized in food fermentation and various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) populations in these materials, comprehensive studies on LAB from vegetable foods, including kimchi, are imperative. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the obesity-related inflammation response of three metabolites-phenyllactic acid (PLA), indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), and leucic acid (LA)-produced by LAB (Companilactobacillus allii WiKim39 and Lactococcus lactis WiKim0124) isolated from kimchi. Their effects on tumor necrosis factor-α-induced changes in adipokines and inflammatory response in adipose-derived human mesenchymal stem cells were examined. The study results showed that PLA, ILA, and LA, particularly PLA, effectively reduced lipid accumulation and triglyceride, glycerol, free fatty acid, and adiponectin levels. Furthermore, the identified metabolites were found to modulate the expression of signaling proteins involved in adipogenesis and inflammation. Specifically, these metabolites were associated with enriched expression in the chemokine signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, which are critical pathways involved in regulating immune responses and inflammation. PLA, ILA, and LA also suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and several inflammatory markers, with the PLA-treated group exhibiting the lowest levels. These results suggest that PLA, ILA, and LA are potential therapeutic agents for treating obesity and inflammation by regulating adipokine secretion and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2004

The purpose of this paper is to review the occurrence, analytical methods and reduction methods of aflatoxins in foods. Aflatoxins are produced by the secondary metabolism of various fungal species and have the highest toxicity among mycotoxins. Due to their toxicity including carcinogenic activity, aflatoxins affect not only the health of humans ana animals but also the economics of agriculture and food. As a food-importing country, because aflatoxins could contaminate raw commodities and foodstuffs, there should be inspection on the exposure and the regulation of risk assessment as a food safety measure. In addition, studies on rapid analytical methods and reduction of toxicity by various processes for aflatoxins should be carried out in conjunction with those of the risk assessment of aflatoxins.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.947-952
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• 2008

The unripe fruit of Momordica charantia (MC) has been shown to possess antidiabetic activity. However, the mechanism of its antidiabetic action has not been fully understood. In this study, the effects of the aqueous ethanolic extract of MC (AEE-MC) were evaluated on the apoptosis in pancreatic $\beta$-cells treated with a combination of the cytokines, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, and interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$. In MIN6N8 cells, the inhibitory effect of AEE-MC was significantly observed at 2 to 50 ${\mu}g/mL$: a 26.2 to 55.6% decrease of cytoplasmic DNA fragments quantified by an immunoassay. The molecular mechanisms, by which AEE-MC inhibited $\beta$-cell apoptosis, appeared to involve the inhibition on the expression of p21, Bax, and Bad, the up-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_L$, and the inhibition on the cleavage of caspase-9, -7, and -3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. This study suggests that MC may inhibit cytokine-induced apoptosis in $\beta$-cells and, thus, may contribute via this action to the antidiabetic influence in diabetes.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2003

Content analysis of food advertisements was undertaken to investigate the nature of the messages related to health, nutrition or consumer-promotion in 2001 women's magazines. Advertisements on baby foods were collected from three women's magazines and the final samples obtained were 42 different copies of advertisements. All the messages in each sample were counted and calculated for their frequency (％). Messages were categorized into four areas (health, nutrition, non-nutrition, consumer promotion), and each area was classified into more detailed categories. Results showed that all the messages in 42 samples and average messages per advertisement were 1288 and 30.7, respectively. The most common type of promotional messages was health related (e.g., appeal to enhanced immune function and disease prevention and brain development), followed by consumer related, nutrition and non-nutrition messages in order. Messages about high quality and all natural ingredients were more emphasized in the consumer related category. Messages on fats (DHA, lecithin and arachidonic acid), proteins (neucleotides, taurine) and mineral (calcium, iron) were most frequently found in nutrition category. Amongst the three kinds of baby foods, formula ads had the most numerous messages related to health and nutrition. There were more consumer related messages in the ads of weaning foods, and more promotional messages about no addition of antiseptic, artificial additives, and food colors in the ads for older infant foods. Messages violating regulation (e.g., exaggerated or inaccurate or non-scientific messages) were frequently found in the advertisements of three kinds of baby foods. In conclusion, tighter supervision of food advertisements and nutrition education is required to protect the consumers from misleading advertisements.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.314-319
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• 2017

To evaluate the longevity property of Allium hookeri (Liliaceae) leaves, this study was performed. Ethanol extract of A. hookeri was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and $H_2O$ soluble fractions, and lifespan-extending effects of the fractions were checked using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. The most active ethyl acetate-soluble fraction elevated heat stress tolerance, and increased expression of stress resistance protein. Further studies were performed to investigate several aging-related factors such as reproduction, food intake, growth and movement of C. elegans. The results revealed that there were no significant changes in aging-related factors including reproduction and food intake, however, ethyl acetate-soluble fraction treatment led to up-regulation of locomotory ability and growth of aged worms, suggesting ethyl acetate-soluble fraction affected healthspan as well as lifespan of nematode.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.436-441
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• 2009

The final bio-metabolites of lipid peroxidation (LPO) such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) have been suggested to mediate the oxidative stress-linked pathological incidences. Natural phytochemicals such as polyphenolic compounds in green tea have been known in preventing the LPO induced cellular growth inhibition and apoptosis. We investigated that green tea ethanol extracts (GTE) inhibit LPO-induced apoptosis in ECV 304 cells. GTE had time- or dose-dependent anti-apoptotic effects as evidenced by changes in cell morphology, MTT assay, DNA fragmentation, LPO production, and the Western blotting for apoptotic expression. In the 4-HNE-induced apoptosis model, GTE $10-20{\mu}g/mL$ decreased cell death through decreasing LPO production. GTE protected 4-HNE induced apoptosis, as evidence with down regulation of mitochondrial signaling such as cytochrome C and caspase-3 activity. GTE increased bcl2, survival signaling protein, compared to 4-HNE alone within 6 hr incubation. Since polyphenols in GTE are effective antioxidants in endothelial ECV 304 cells, we suggested that natural polyphenols might be anti-atherosclerotic.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the kinds of health food advertised and sold through media like printed matter, TV broadcasting or internet. It was found that fifty three percent of the health food was circulated through internet, 27% through printed matter, 9% through TV Broadcasting. When the health foods was classified, the proportion of special purpose nutritious foods was 36.1%, health aid foods 33.9%, uncooked powdered foods 18.5%, functional foods for health 4.9%, Ginseng products 3.9%, and tea 0.9%. The special purpose nutritious foods was composed of 59% of nutrition supplementary foods, 24% of dietary fiber foods, 9% of weaning foods, 7% of milk formula and 2% of HCA. Vegetable extracts occupied 21.1% of health aid foods, yeast 7.5%, mushroom extracts 7.0%, chitosan 6.2%, aloe 5.3%. Dried powdered type health food occupied the highest proportion. The other type were capsule(18.8%), tablet(18.1%), and liquid type(16.4%). When the health food was classified with health claim, the proportion of "nutrition supplementation" was the highest (23.9%), "diet" 14.9%, "ergogenic"(18.8%), "promoting bowel movement" 7.8%, "growth" 5.7%, "regulation of blood sugar" 4.5%, "improving of immunity"(2.4%) and anti-aging effect(2.4%).

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2013

In recent years, manufacturers of animal-based foods with health claims have encountered difficulties in the labeling of their products because of a lack of regulation on defining the functionality of animal-based foods. Therefore, this study was conducted to establish the basic requirements for the development of a definition for functional animal-based foods by investigating consumer and industry awareness. Survey data were collected from 114 industry representatives and 1,100 consumers. The questions of the survey included items on production status and future production plans, functionality labeling, promotion plans, establishment of definition, the role of the government, consumer perception, and selection of products. The results show that both industry representatives and consumers believe that legislation and the provision of scientific evidence should be improved for the development of a functional animal-based foods market. The results obtained from this study will contribute to consumer trust by supplying correct information and can be utilized in the industry as basic data for the development of functional animal-based food products.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.313-324
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• 2018

As excessive intake of salt is regarded as a reason for health problems, the tendency of people to attempt to reduce intake of salt in their everyday lives is on the rise. In Korea, where many people have a higher intake of salt compared to those in other countries, there have been diverse efforts to improve on this eating habit. Protein hydrolysates are chemically, physically hydrolyzed protein that have been widely utilized as a material for not only regular food but health functional food due to have diverse biological effects such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, prevention of diabetes, and regulation of blood pressure. Various amino acids such as glutamic acid, arginine and arginine dipeptides, which exist in the components of protein hydrolysates, have also been recently recognized as being helpful in decreasing the use of salt in foods as they can greatly enhance salty taste when used concurrently with salt due to having both salty and palatable flavors. In the case of protein hydrolysates that decompose soy protein or fish protein such as anchovy, they could reduce consumption of salt by as much as 50% without affecting people's food preferences when applied to food as they boost salty taste by approximately 10% to 70%. Although there are only a few studies on protein hydrolysates as a salty taste enhancer or salt substitute, the results of several studies are indicative of the potential of protein hydrolysates as a salty taste enhancing ingredient.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.398-403
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• 2024

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is executing a five-year research project called "Establishment of a Safety Management System for Marine Biotoxins" to determine a safety management system for marine biotoxins. This initiative aims to manage public health concerns by proactively addressing the emerging risks of climate change and the diversification of imported foods. By establishing a robust national management system and promptly responding to marine biotoxin incidents, this project aims to prevent the introduction of new toxins and ensure the safety of domestic seafood products, thereby contributing to food safety management in the Korean fishery industry.