• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.937-942
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects on growth and muscle development during the growing period of the sex-linked dwarf gene in the background of a Taiwan Country chicken strain, L2, selected for egg production. Eight crossbred males, heterozygous for the DW*DW mutation, were each backcrossed to six females of the L2 strain to produce two genotypes of BC females, either normal (DW*N+/-) or dwarf (DW*DW/-). The experiment included 251 normal and 207 dwarf pullets. The effect of the dwarf gene on body weight and shank length was highly significant from 2 weeks of age. The reduction of body weight by the dwarf gene reached 34.8% and 37.4% as compared to normal sibs at 16 and 20 weeks of age, respectively. Parameters of the growth curve were estimated: the age at inflection (TI) was higher in normal pullets (66.9 days) than in dwarf pullets (61.2 days). A significant effect of the dwarf gene on single muscle fiber cross-section area was found from 12 weeks of age onwards, whereas the dwarf gene had no effect on the total number of muscle fibers. Comparing the effect of the dwarf gene on shank length at different ages revealed an earlier effect on skeleton growth, observed from 2 weeks of age, than on muscle development, which was affected from 8 to 12 weeks of age.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.8.1-8.9
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• 2018

Background: Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry farming has caused emergence of new pathogenic strains. The situation has warrented the development of safe and alternative growth promoters and immunity enhancers in livestock. Herbal additives in animal and bird feed is a centuries-old practice. Thus, the present study investigated the efficacy of a standardized formulation of lipophilic turmeric extract containing curcumin and turmerones, (TF-36), as a natural growth promoter poultry feed additive. Methods: The study was designed on 180 one-day old chicks, assigned into three groups. Control group ($T_0$) kept on basal diet and supplemented groups $T_{0.5}$ and $T_1$ fed with 0.5% and 1% TF-36 fortified basal diet for 42 days. Each dietary group consisted of six replicates of ten birds. Body weight, food intake, food conversion ratio, skin colour, blood biochemical analysis and antioxidant status of serum were investigated. Results: Body weight improved significantly in $T_1$ with a 10% decrease in FCR as compared to the control. TF-36 supplementation in $T_1$ enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity significantly (p < 0.05) with a decrease (p < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation. It also caused a slight yellow skin pigmentation without any change in meat color, indicating the bioavailability of curcumin from TF-36. However, no significant change in the concentration of serum creatinine, total protein and liver enzyme activities were observed, indicating the safety. Conclusion: In summary, we concluded that TF-36 can be a natural feed additive to improve growth performance in poultry, probably due to the better antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects contributed by the better bioavailability of curcuminoids and turmerones. Besides, curcuminoids and turmerones were also known to be gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.160-164
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• 2017

Background: This study were performed to determine the effect of root pruning of Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder. Root cutting inhibit vegetative growth and promote reproductive growth as temporarily reducing growth, net assimilation, water potential of leaf and cytokinin level. Methods and Results: The root pruning was treated of the root cutting widths 50, and 80 ㎝ and the root cutting depths 10, and 20 cm. The amount of root pruning and the number of suckers were the highest in the root-pruning treatment at a width of 50 cm and a depth of 20 cm. The blooming time was from June 18 to 20, and no difference was observed in the blooming time among the root-pruning treatments. The number of flowers was rather higher in the root-pruning treatment at a width of 50 cm and a depth of 20 cm and at a width of 80 cm and a depth of 20 cm. The percentage of fruit setting was higher in the plants whose roots were pruned at a depth of 20 cm than in the untreated plants. The fruit size, fruit weight, and sugar content showed no difference among the root-pruning treatments. Conclusions: The results showed that percentage of fruit setting increased with root pruning, while no difference was observed in the growth and fruit quality of plants.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2002

Background: Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), a traditional oriental medicine, has been reported to have anti-tumor properties, but its exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated several of the molecular events that occur in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells and human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Methods: For this purpose, we evaluated the growth-inhibitory effect of SM in association with the expressions of p53, p21, cyclin D1, and pRb, which are known to be involved in cell cycle arrest. The extent of thymidine incorporation was also examined to assess G1/S phase cell cycle arrest in both cells by $^3H$-thymidine incorporation. Results: Our results show that SM inhibits the growth and the proliferation of MCF-7 and A549 cells. Furthermore, we also observed increased expression of p21 via a p53-dependent pathway in both cell lines after treating with SM. In addition, treatment with SM for 24 hours caused the suppression of hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRb) expression and the dephosphorylation of pRb. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the growth inhibitory and the anti-proliferation effects of SM on MCF-7 cells and A549 cells are mediated via the decreased expression and dephosphorylation of pRB by p21 up-regulation in a p53-dependent manner. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report upon the molecular mechanisms involved in SM-induced tumor cell growth inhibition.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.304-311
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng black spot disease resulting from Alternaria panax Whuetz is a common soil-borne disease, with an annual incidence rate higher than 20-30%. In this study, the bacterial strains with good antagonistic effect against A. panax are screened. Methods: A total of 285 bacterial strains isolated from ginseng rhizosphere soils were screened using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and the Oxford cup plate assay. We analyzed the antifungal spectrum of SZ-22 by confronting incubation. To evaluate the efficacy of biocontrol against ginseng black spot and for growth promotion by SZ-22, we performed pot experiments in a plastic greenhouse. Taxonomic position of SZ-22 was identified using morphology, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, 16S ribosomal DNA, and gyrB sequences. Results: SZ-22 (which was identified as Brevundimonas terrae) showed the strongest inhibition rate against A. panax, which showed 83.70% inhibition, and it also provided broad-spectrum antifungal effects. The inhibition efficacies of the SZ-22 bacterial suspension against ginseng black spot reached 82.47% inhibition, which is significantly higher than that of the 25% suspension concentrate azoxystrobin fungicide treatment (p < 0.05). Moreover, the SZ-22 bacterial suspension also caused ginseng plant growth promotion as well as root enhancement. Conclusion: Although the results of the outdoor pot-culture method were influenced by the pathogen inoculum density, the cropping history of the field site, and the weather conditions, B. terrae SZ-22 controlled ginseng black spot and promoted ginseng growth successfully. This study provides resource for the biocontrol of ginseng black spot.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2018

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of masticatory muscle injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on the growth of the mandibular bone in vivo. Methods: Eleven Sprague-Dawley rats were used, and BTX-A (n = 6) or saline (n = 5) was injected at 13 days of age. All injections were given to the right masseter muscle, and the BTX-A dose was 0.5 units. All of the rats were euthanized at 60 days of age. The skulls of the rats were separated and fixed with 10% formalin for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis. Results: The anthropometric analysis found that the ramus heights and bigonial widths of the BTX-A-injected group were significantly smaller than those of the saline-injected group (P < 0.05), and the mandibular plane angle of the BTX-A-injected group was significantly greater than in the saline-injected group (P < 0.001). In the BTX-A-injected group, the ramus heights II and III and the mandibular plane angles I and II showed significant differences between the injected and non-injected sides (P < 0.05). The BTX-A-injected side of the mandible in the masseter group showed significantly lower mandibular bone growth compared with the non-injected side. Conclusion: BTX-A injection into the masseter muscle influences mandibular bone growth.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2017

Background: The production method of ginseng seedlings for ginseng cultivation is very important to ensure healthy rooting system as well as high quality, and yield of the resultant plants. This study was carried out to compare the growth characteristics of 2-year-old ginseng plants that were produced from seedlings grown in self soil nursery (SSN), nursery soil (NS) or hydroponic culture (HC). Methods and Results: The shading prop used was composed of four-layered 4 polyethylene (blue 3 + black 1) shade screen. The management of main field was done by inserting oil cake (1,200 kg/10 a) and then allowing Sudan grass to grow for a year. Seedling transplantation was carried out on April 6. Root growth was measured on October 25. Root weight was observed to be excellent at 6.0 g, following SSN transplantation. Root length was 21.2 cm for HC seedlings, but these plants had a physiological disorder (i.e., rusty root), in 83.5% plants of this treatment. The ratio of PD/PT (protopanaxadiol saponins / protopanaxatriol saponins) was higher in NS seedlings. Plant analysis revealed that Fe content was lower in HC seedlings with high rustiness. The growth of 2-years-old ginseng was different following these varying seedling cultivation methods, but seedlings from NS were not different from those grown in SSN. Conclusions: For the propagation of 2-year-old ginseng plants, NS seedlings may be a good substitute for SSN seedlings.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.404-410
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• 2017

Background: Hair loss related syndromes are increasing due to environmental pollution and stress. Hair care products are mainly prepared by mixing chemicals and natural extracts, such as those obtained from medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 70% ethanol extracts from the flowers of Calendula officinalis, fruit body of Phellinus linteus, and the whole plant of Houttuynia cordata on the growth of CCD-986 cells, hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), and 3T3-L1 cells. Methods and Results: All sample extracts at all concentrations, except for that from P. linteus fruit body at $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, were cytotoxic to CCD-986 cells. However, none of the sample extracts were cytotoxic to HFDPC. The lipid differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells regulates hair regeneration via secretion of platelet derived growth factor. The 70% ethanol extract of H. cordata whole plant promoted hair growth. Adipogenesis rate significantly increased in a treatment concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions: These results suggest that 70% ethanol extracts of C. officinalis flower, P. linteus fruit body and H. cordata could be used for the development of hair care products.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2020

Background: Centella asiatica is a well-known medicinal plant having a wound healing effect. In this study, the growth, asiaticoside content, and antioxidant components and activity were investigated in C. asiatica resources under different cultivation and irrigation conditions. Methods and Results: The cultivation and irrigation methods were divided as greenhouse and open field, and sprinkler and sub irrigation. respectively. Growth characteristics were measured in aerial parts of C. asiatica. Asiaticoside content was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Total polyphenol, total flavonoid and 2,2-diphenyl-1picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were analyzed for antioxidant activities. Growth was higher under greenhouse and sub irrigation than open field and sprinkler conditions. In the leaves, asiaticoside content was 53.45 mg/g (open field) and 34.38 mg/g (sub irrigation), total polyphenol was 41.14 mg/g (open field) and 25.73 mg/g (sub-irrigation), and total flavonoid was 27.26 mg/g (open field) and 23.72 mg/g (sub-irrigation). DPPH radical scavenging activity in the leaves was 85.97 mg·ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g (open field) and 54.83 mg·AAE/g (sub irrigation). Conclusions: Asiaticoside and antioxidant components and activity were not accompanied with high yield, although high growth was observed under greenhouse conditions. Therefore, cultural requirements of C. asiatica should be sufficiently considered to suit each purpose.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Salinity is one of the major limiting factors in agriculture that affect the growth and productivity of crops. It is economically difficult to artificially purify the soil affected by salt. Therefore, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in an effort to reduce stress caused by salt is emerging as a cost-effective and environment-friendly method. In this study, the purpose was to isolate the salt-tolerant bacteria from the rhizosphere soil and identify their ability to promote plant growth under salt stress condition. METHODS AND RESULTS: The isolates KST-1, KST-2, AST-3, and AST-4 that showed plant growth-promoting activity for barley in salt conditions were close to Bacillus cereus (KST-1, KST-2, and AST-4) and Bacillus thuringiensis (AST-3) and showed high salt tolerance up to 7% of additional NaCl to the media. When inoculated to barley, the strains had only minor effect on the length of the barley. However, the concentrations of chlorophyll in the barley leaves were found to be higher from the bacteria-inoculated pots than those from the uninoculated control. In particular, the chlorophyll concentration in Bacillus cereus AST-4 experiment was 5.45 times higher than that of the uninoculated control under the same experimental condition. CONCLUSION(S): The isolated salt-tolerant bacteria were found to influence on chlorophyll concentration of the barley. As represented by the strain AST-4, microbes may suggest a cost-effective and environmentally benign method to alleviate salt stress of crops cultivated in salt-accumulated soils such as reclaimed lands.