• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of the ethanol extracts from various medicinal herbs against plant pathogens to understand the possible the crop protection agents.METHODS AND RESULTS: Among the tested medicinal herbs, Zizyphus jujuba ethanol extract had the potent antimicrobial activity against Phytophthora capsici, Erwinia carotovorum subsp. carotovora, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum. The major constituents of Z. jujuba were identified to eugenol(40.45%), dodecanoic acid(18.40%), β-caryophyllene (10.05%) and isoeugenol(9.85%) by GC/MS. Eugenol and isoeugenol had strong inhibitory activity on spore germination against P. capsici and growth against E. carotovorum subsp. carotovora, P. syringae pv. syringae and R. solanacearum.CONCLUSION: In this regard, eugenol and isoeugenol were found to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of Z. jujuba ethanol extract against plant pathogens. In addition, Z. jujuba ethanol extract, eugenol and isoeugenol can be used the potent antimicrobial agents.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2015

Lactic acid-producing bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. function to ferment carbohydrates and produce ATP. Such Lactobacillus spp. are used for the production of commercial yogurts. Lactobacillus spp. are beneficial to the intestinal tract, and Lactobacillus acidophilus-containing yogurts have received considerable attention because of their preventive effects against early-stage cancer of the large intestine. In this study, lactic acid-producing bacteria were cultured from three different groups: commercial solid yogurt (for eating), commercial liquid yogurt (for drinking), and Lactobacillus acidophilus-containing yogurt. We first determined the optimum culture conditions for Lactobacillus spp. and then analyzed turbidity and pH in order to compare the growth abilities and lactic acid-production capacities among the groups. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the lactic acid content in the culture supernatants, and the antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were compared among the three groups. The optimum culture conditions for Lactobacillus spp. were MRS medium at $25^{\circ}C$, for 24 h. The highest turbidity was found in L. acidophilus-containing yogurt, followed by liquid yogurt and solid yogurt. Similarly, the highest lactic acid production ability was found in L. acidophilus-containing yogurt, followed by liquid yogurt and solid yogurt. Culture supernatants from the three groups did not show any antibacterial activity towards S. aureus; however, supernatants derived from L. acidophilus-containing yogurt resulted in a 1.8 mm inhibitory zone against E. coli in a paper disk diffusion test. These results revealed the high level of lactic acid-production capacity and antibacterial activity in L. acidophilus-containing yogurt.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1330-1335
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• 2016

Sasa species leaves have been used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic properties. Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai is a small bamboo grass that grows only on Mt. Halla on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. This small bamboo grass has recently been the focus of much attention due to its potential biomass as well as its beneficial health effects. In this study, to promote the efficient utilization of the S. quelpaertensis leaf, we established a simple preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) by comparing phytochemical contents and biological activities according to extraction methods. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the contents of two major phytochemicals such as, tricin (5.35 mg/g) and p-coumaric acid (44.10 mg/g) contained in PRE were higher than those in fresh hot water extract (SQH, p-coumaric 23.39 mg/g, tricin 0.18 mg/g) and ethanol extract (SQE, p-coumaric 10.8 mg/g, tricin 0.38 mg/g). The antioxidant activities [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity] of PRE were higher than those of SQH and SQE. PRE effectively inhibited NO production in LSP- stimulation RAW 264.7 cells, and the growth of human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. These results suggest that PRE has a potential as a promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.945-955
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• 2016

To date, chemical managements of plant bacterial diseases are complicated by limitations on use of antibiotics in agriculture, antibiotic resistance development, and limited efficacy of alternative control agents. In this study, thus, we performed screening of eco-friendly farming material (notice no. 2-4-064) containing tannic acid as new antibacterial-activity against 7 plant bacterial pathogens: Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc), Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (Aac), Xanthomonas cirti pv. citri (Xcc), Erwinia pyrifoliae (Ep), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), and Streptomyces scabies (Sc), Initial screening of antibacterial effects of eco-friendly farming material was performed using the paper disk diffusion method and co-cultivation in broth culture. Tannic acid based eco-friendly farming material showed inhibitory effect against Pcc, Rs, Aac, Xcc, Cmm, and Ss, whereas it did not show inhibition zone against Ep. However, when it tested by co-cultivation in broth culture, it showed strong inhibition effect against all pathogens that declined growth curve compared to bacterial pathogen only. Interestingly, when we observed morphological changes on those pathogens by SEM, cell morphologies of 7 pathogens were slightly changed that seem to be malfunction in their cell envelope.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.711-717
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• 2013

Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini) is a well-known causative agent of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in humans. CCA is very resistant to chemotherapy and is frequently fatal. To understand the pathogenesis of CCA in humans, a rodent model was developed. However, the development of CCA in rodents is time-consuming and the xenograft-transplantation model of human CCA in immunodeficient mice is costly. Therefore, the establishment of an in vivo screening model for O. viverrini-associated CCA treatment was of interest. We developed a hamster CCA cell line, Ham-1, derived from the CCA tissue of O. viverrini-infected and N-nitrosodimethylamine-treated Syrian golden hamsters. Ham-1 has been maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Essential Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for more than 30 subcultures. These cells are mostly diploid (2n=44) with some being polyploid. Tumorigenic properties of Ham-1 were demonstrated by allograft transplantation in hamsters. The transplanted tissues were highly proliferative and exhibited a glandular-like structure retaining a bile duct marker, cytokeratin 19. The usefulness of this for in vivo model was demonstrated by berberine treatment, a traditional medicine that is active against various cancers. Growth inhibitory effects of berberine, mainly by an induction of G1 cell cycle arrest, were observed in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we developed the allo-transplantable hamster CCA cell line, which can be used for chemotherapeutic drug testing in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1587-1594
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Artemisia capillaris extracts on the intestinal microflora. In agar diffusion method, the solvent fractions of Artemisia capillaris showed growth inhibition against the intestinal microflora. In particular, the chloroform fraction of Artemisia capillaris had strong antibacterial activity against Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Eubacterium limosum, and Bacteroides fragilis, but did not show antibacterial activity against Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Most chloroform fraction of Artemisia capillaris inhibitory activities were not reduced by heat treatment or pH variation against C. perfringens, C. difficile, E. limosum, and B. fragilis. MICs of the chloroform fraction were 1.25 mg/mL against C. perfringens, E. limosum and B. fragilis and 2.5 mg/mL against C. difficile. MBCs of chloroform fraction were 5 mg/mL against C. perfringens, E. limosum and 2.5 mg/mL against C. difficile, B. fragilis. The ethyl acetate fraction of Artemisia capillaris showed $3.08{\pm}0.03$ mg/10 mg total polyphenol and $1.91{\pm}0.03$ mg/10 mg total flavonoid contents. In vivo tests were performed to investigate the influence of Artemisia capillaris extract on the intestinal microflora in rats. The results showed the possibilities of utilizing Artemisia capillaris extracts as a functional food component to control intestinal microflora.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.365-370
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• 2015

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an important hematopoietic growth factor and immune modulator. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GM-CSF on the development and cell number of porcine parthenotes, as well as on their expression of implantation-related genes. In the present study, porcine parthenogenatic activated embryos were cultured in a protein-free culture medium in the absence or presence of 5, 10 and 20 ng/ml GM-CSF for 7 days. The percentage of blastocyst formation, total cell number and gene expressions were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of 20 ng/ml GM-CSF to protein-free culture medium significantly increased the blastocoel formation ($26.14{\pm}2.03%$ vs. $3.55{\pm}0.51%$, p < 0.05). In addition, the cell number also increased when they were cultured in the presence of 20 ng/ml GM-CSF ($43.51{\pm}3.6%$ vs. $30.68{\pm}5.51%$, p < 0.05). A real time reverse transcripts polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that GM-CSF enhances mRNA expression of the interleukin-6, but does not influence the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor mRNA expression in blastocyst stage parthenotes. These results suggest that GM-CSF may enhance the viability of porcine embryos developing in vitro in a defined culture medium.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1174-1179
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• 2005

Up-flow sludge blanket(USB) reactors were used to investigate the effects of N/C(${NO_3}^--N/COD$) ratio on simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis processes. Without nitrate feeding, 84% of the influent COD was converted into methane. With the increase of N/C ratio, nitrogen gas increased while methane production decreased and stopped finally at the N/C ratio over 0.20. Influent nitrate was completely denitrified into nitrogen gas while nitrate removal efficiency dropped below 40% at N/C ratio of 0.40 because of deficiency in organic carbon. Fraction of COD utilized by denitrification increased at higher N/C ratios. Methanogenesis started to be effected at N/C ratio of 0.05, which could explain the competition for organic carbon between these microorganisms such as denitrifiers and methanogens, rather than inhibitory effect of nitrate and its intermediates. Critical N/C ratio for simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis was found to be 0.20. Influent COD was removed over 92% by denitrification, methanogenesis and other biochemical reactions including cell growth at these N/C ratios.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1201-1209
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to isolate probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that produce bile salt hydrolase (BSH), and to evaluate its effects on serum cholesterol level. One-hundred-twenty bacterial colonies were initially isolated from human feces, and five strains were selected after screening based on their resistance to acids, tolerance against bile salts, and inhibitory activity on Escherichia coli. The Lactobacillus plantarum strain with the highest level of BSH activity was identified using 16S rRNA sequences, and was named L. plantarum CK 102. L. plantarum CK 102 at a level of 1.36$\times$10$^8$cfu/ml survived in pH 2 buffer for 6 h and exhibited excellent tolerance for bile salt. Coculturing the strain with E. coli in MRS broth resulted in strong inhibition against growth of E. coli at 18 h. Furthermore, the potential effect of CK 102 on serum cholesterol level was evaluated in rats. Thirty-two rats [Sprague-Dawley (SD) male, 129$\pm$l g, 5 weeks old] were divided into four groups of eight each. For six weeks, Group 1 was fed a normal diet (negative control); Group 2 was fed a cholesterol-enriched diet (positive control); Group 3 was fed a cholesterol-enriched diet plus L. plantarum CK 102 at 1.0$\times$10$^7$cfu/ml; and Group 4 was fed a cholesterol-enriched diet plus L. plantarum CK 102 at 5.0$\times$10$^7$cfu/ml. Blood samples were collected, serum lipids were analyzed, and weights of the organs were measured. Total blood cholesterol level, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and free-cholesterol values were lower in rats that were fed 1. plantarum CK 102 than in those not fed L. plantarum CK 102. This cholesterol lowering effect implies that L. plantarum CK 102 could be utilized as an additive for health-assistance foods. In conclusion, these results suggest that the 1. plantarum CK 102 isolated could be used commercially as a probiotic.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 2010

Brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani AG1-1), dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa), pythium blight (Pythium spp.), anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola), yellow patch (Rhizoctonia cerealis) and Zoysia patch (Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2) are the major turfgrasses diseases in Korea. In this study, 23 medicinal plant extracts were tested for antifungal activities against turfgrass pathogenic fungi. In paper disk diffusion method, 12 medicinal plant extracts, including Sophora flavescens, showed antifungal activity. Also, in the test of antifungal activity on media contained the extracts of S. flavescens, Curcuma longa, Rheum undulatum, Coptis chinensis and Asiasarum sieboldi showed above 80% inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth in 110 mg/10 ml concentration of the extracts. S. flavescens, in particularly, showed antifungal activity against the six turfgrass pathogenic fungi. The inhibition rate of S. homoeocarpa was 100% in 10 mg/10 ml, 5 mg/10 ml and 2 mg/10 ml concentrations of C. longa extract. In case of Pythium spp., the extracts of S. flavescens, R. undulatum and C. chinensis showed 100 % inhibition rate on the test media.