• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.617-629
• /
• 2023

Reactive oxygen species are the byproducts of metabolic processes in the body, However, excessive amount may cause side effects such as cancer. Therefore, to reduce the production of these species, but their long-term administration at high doses may induce side effects. Hence, natural materials with antioxidant activities are attracting attention. Two of these natural materials are soybean sprouts and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. fruits, but few studies have evaluated the effects of their combination. Thus, we prepared a soybean sprout extract containing 1.5% H. dulcis Thunb. fruit concentrate (BHM) to develop a functional food material derived from natural products and then confirmed its physicochemical properties and physiological activity. Among the organic acids detected in BHM, malic acid exhibited the highest content of 1,451.03 ppm, and the main free sugars were glucose (645.48 ppm) and fructose (738.11 ppm). Taurine was the most abundant free amino acid at a concentration of 11.95 ppm, followed by those of arginine (10.97 ppm) and glutamic acid (10.16 ppm). Analyses of the mineral components revealed large amounts of Zn and Fe in BHM, and the respective total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in BHM were 957.16 and 601.93 ppm. The DPPH radical and H₂O₂ scavenging activities and reducing power indicated excellent antioxidant efficacy compared to the positive controls. Furthermore, blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were measured to confirm the hangover-relieving effects of BHM, with both significantly decreased (p<0.05). BHM displays potential for development as a functional food, and the results of this study may be used as basic data in further research.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.230-243
• /
• 2023

Objective: High temperatures can trigger cellular oxidative stress and disrupt spermatogenesis, potentially leading to male infertility. We investigated the effects of retinoic acid (RA), chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs), and retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (RACHNPs) on spermatogenesis in mice induced by scrotal hyperthermia (Hyp). Methods: Thirty mice (weighing 25 to 30 g) were divided into five experimental groups of six mice each. The groups were as follows: control, Hyp induced by a water bath (43 ℃C for 30 minutes/day for 5 weeks), Hyp+RA (2 mg/kg/day), Hyp+CHNPs (2 mg/kg/72 hours), and Hyp+RACHNPs (4 mg/kg/72 hours). The mice were treated for 35 days. After the experimental treatments, the animals were euthanized. Sperm samples were collected for analysis of sperm parameters, and blood serum was isolated for testosterone measurement. Testis samples were also collected for histopathology assessment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluation, and RNA extraction, which was done to compare the expression levels of the bax, bcl2, p53, Fas, and FasL genes among groups. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining was performed. Results: Treatment with RACHNPs significantly increased stereological parameters such as testicular volume, seminiferous tubule length, and testicular cell count. Additionally, it increased testosterone concentration and improved sperm parameters. We observed significant decreases in ROS production and caspase-3 immunostaining in the RACHNP group. Moreover, the expression levels of bax, p53, Fas, and FasL significantly decreased in the groups treated with RACHNPs and RA. Conclusion: RACHNPs can be considered a potent antioxidative and antiapoptotic agent for therapeutic strategies in reproductive and regenerative medicine.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 1999.07a
• /
• pp.211-211
• /
• 1999

Titanium nitride (TiN) thin films have useful properties including high hardness, good electrical conductivity, high melting point, and chemical inertness. The applications have included wear-resistant hard coatings on machine tools and bearings, decorative coating making use of the golden color, thermal control coatings for widows, and erosion resistant coatings for spacecraft plasma probes. For all these applications as feature sizes shrink and aspect ratios grow, the issue of good step coverage becomes increasingly important. It is therefore essential to manufacture conformal coatings of TiN. The growth of TiN thin films by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is of great interest for achieving conformal deposition. The most widely used precursor for TiN is TiCl4 and NH3. However, chlorine impurity in the as-grown films and relatively high deposition temperature (>$600^{\circ}C$) are considered major drawbacks from actual device fabrication. To overcome these problems, recently, MOCVD processes including plasma assisted have been suggested. In this study, therefore, we have doposited Ti(C, N) thin films on Si(100) and D2 steel substrates in the temperature range of 150-30$0^{\circ}C$ using tetrakis diethylamido titanium (TDEAT) and titanium isopropoxide (TIP) by pulsed DC plamsa enhanced metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (PEMOCVD) method. Polycrystalline Ti(C, N) thin films were successfully grown on either D2 steel or Si(100) surfaces at temperature as low as 15$0^{\circ}C$. Compositions of the as-grown films were determined with XPS and RBS. From XPS analysis, thin films of Ti(C, N) with low oxygen concentration were obtained. RBS data were also confirmed the changes of stoichiometry and microhardness of our films. Radical formation and ionization behaviors in plasma are analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) at various pulsed bias and gases conditions. H2 and He+H2 gases are used as carrier gases to compare plasma parameter and the effect of N2 and NH3 gases as reactive gas is also evaluated in reduction of C content of the films. In this study, we fond that He and H2 mixture gas is very effective in enhancing ionization of radicals, especially N resulting is high hardness. The higher hardness of film is obtained to be ca. 1700 HK 0.01 but it depends on gas species and bias voltage. The proper process is evident for H and N2 gas atmosphere and bias voltage of 600V. However, NH3 gas highly reduces formation of CN radical, thereby decreasing C content of Ti(C, N) thin films in a great deal. Compared to PVD TiN films, the Ti(C, N) film grown by PEMOCVD has very good conformability; the step coverage exceeds 85% with an aspect ratio of more than 3.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2010.08a
• /
• pp.173-173
• /
• 2010

$Bi_4Ti_3O_{12}$ ($B_4T_3$) is a unique ferroelectric material that has a relatively high dielectric constant, high Curie temperature, high breakdown strength, and large spontaneous polarization. As a result this material has been widely studied for many applications, including nonvolatile ferroelectric random memories, microelectronic mechanical systems, and nonlinear-optical devices. Several reports have appeared on the use of Mn dopants to improve the electrical properties of $B_4T_3$ thin films. Mn ions have frequently been used for this purpose in thin films and multilayer capacitors in situations where intrinsic oxygen vacancies are the major defects. However, no systematic study of the optical properties of $B_4T_3$ films has appeared to date. Here, we report optical data for these films, determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). We also report the effects of thermal annealing and Mn doping on the optical properties. The SE data were analyzed using a multilayer model that is consistent with the original sample structure, specifically surface roughness/$B_4T_3$ film/Pt/Ti/$SiO_2$/c-Si). The data are well described by the Tauc-Lorentz dispersion function, which can therefore be used to model the optical properties of these materials. Parameters for reconstructing the dielectric functions of these films are also reported. The SE data show that thermal annealing crystallizes $B_4T_3$ films, as confirmed by the appearance of $B_4T_3$ peaks in X-ray diffraction patterns. The bandgap of $B_4T_3$ red-shifts with increasing Mn concentration. We interpret this as evidence of the existence deep levels generated by the Mn transition-metal d states. These results will be useful in a number of contexts, including more detailed studies of the optical properties of these materials for engineering high-speed devices.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.64-72
• /
• 2004

We measured the vertical profiles of $O_2$, H$_2$S, and pH in sediment pore water beneath marine cage fish farms using a microsensor with a 25 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ sensor tip size. The sediments are characterized by high organic material load. The oxygen consumption, hydrogen sulfide oxidation, and sulfate reduction rates in the microzonations (derived from the vertical distribution of chemical species concentration) were estimated by adapting a simple one-dimensional diffusion-reaction model. The oxygen penetration depth was 0.75 mm. The oxic microzonations were divided into upper and lower layers. Due to hydrogen sulfide oxidation within the oxic zone, the oxygen consumption rate was higher in the lower layer. The total oxygen consumption rate integrated with reaction zone depth was estimated to be 0.092 $\mu$mol $O_2$cm$^{-2}$ hr$^{-1}$ . The total hydrogen sulfide oxidation rate occurring within 0.7 mm thickness was estimated to be 0.030 $\mu$mo1 H$_2$S cm$^{-2}$ hr$^{-1}$ , and its turnover time in the oxic sediment layer was estimated to be about 2 minutes. This suggests that hydrogen sulfide was oxidized by both chemical and microbial processes in this zone. The molar consumption ratio, calculated to be 0.84, indicates that either other electron accepters exit on hydrogen sulfide oxidation, or elemental sulfur precipitation occurs near the $O_2$- H$_2$S interface. Total sulfate reduction flux was estimated to be 0.029 $\mu$mol cm$^{-2}$ hr$^{-1}$ , which accounted for more than 60% of total $O_2$ consumption flux. This result implied that the degradation of organic matter in the anoxic layer was larger than in the oxic layer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.526-535
• /
• 1992

Background: The oxygen radicals released by alveolar macrophages contribute to killing of microorganisms including M. tuberculosis. Macrophages are "primrd" for enhanced oxygen radical release by macrophage activator like IFN-$\gamma$ and LPS, which do not themselves cause release of oxygen radicals. Actural production of oxygen radicals is "triggered" by phagocytosis or by exposure to chemical stimuli like PMA or FMLP. There has been debates about the priming effect of alveolar macro phages because they are exposed to usual environmental particles unlike blood monocytes. Therefore we examined priming effect of IFN-$\gamma$ in human alveolar macrophages comparing with that in blood monocytes and rat alveolar macrophages. And we observed the alterations of superoxide production in both human and rat alveolar macrophages after exposure to M. tuberculosis H37Ra bacilli itself and its lysate. Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was processed to isolate alveolar macrophages by adherence and the adherent cells were removed by cold shock method. After exposure to M. tuberculosis H37Ra strain, alveolar macrophages were incubated for 24 hours with IFN-$\gamma$. The amount of superoxide production stimulated with PMA was measured by ferricytochrome C reduction method. Results: 1) The priming effect in human alveolar macrophages was not observed even with high concentration of IFN-$\gamma$ while it was observed in blood monocytes and rat alveolar macrophages. 2) Both human and rat alveolar macrophages exposed to avirulent H37Ra strain showed triggering of superoxide release and similar results were shown with the exposure to H37Ra lysate. Conclusion: The priming effect in human alveolar macrophages is not observed because of its usual exposure to environmental particles and avirulent H37Ra strain does not inhibit the activation of alveolar macrophages.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.620-626
• /
• 2016

In this study, we investigated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity and cellular protective effects against oxidative stress on human skin cells in 50% ethanol extract and its fractions of Calendula officinalis (C. officinalis) flowers. We measured the antioxidant effects of 50% ethanol extract and its fractions of C. officinalis flowers on the free radical scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$), the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) and the inhibition of intracellular ROS generation in human skin cells. These results showed that the antioxidant effect of the ethyl acetate and aglycone fraction was more than the 50% ethanol extract of C. officinalis flowers. We also investigated the cellular protective activity and the results showed that treatment of the ethyl acetate fraction ($0.05-3.13{\mu}g/mL$) protects human skin cells in a concentration-dependent manner when the skin cell damages were induced by treating them with $H_2O_2$. In addition, the aglycone fraction ($1.56-3.13{\mu}g/mL$) shows cellular protective effects on the UV-induced cell damages in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the fractions of C. officinalis flowers can function as a natural antioxidant agent of cosmetics in human skin cells exposed to oxidative stress by ROS scavenging effects.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.287-294
• /
• 2015

In this study, we investigated the antioxidative effects of brown seaweed Ecklonia cava extract and its subfractions. All experiments were performed with 50% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction of E. cava. The free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of ethyl acetate fraction ($FSC_{50}=6.98{\mu}g/mL$) and aglycone fraction ($7.03{\mu}g/mL$) are similar to that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol ($8.98{\mu}g/mL$) which is a reference control. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity (total antioxidant capacity, $OSC_{50}$) of the aglycone fraction ($OSC_{50}=14.48{\mu}g/mL$) on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay was the strongest among all extract and fractions. However, all samples showed lower antioxidant activities than that of L-ascorbic acid ($6.88{\mu}g/mL$) known as a powerful antioxidant. The protective effect of 50% ethanol extract on the $^1O_2$-induced cellular damage of human erythrocytes was dependent on the concentration from 5 to $50{\mu}g/mL$. Both ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction showed strong cellular protective activities at $10{\mu}g/mL$, where the cellular protective effects (${\tau}_{50}$) of each fraction were recorded 442.0 min and 539.9 min, respectively. Three kinds of extract/fractions of E. cava showed much greater cellular protective activities at $10{\mu}g/mL$ than that of liposoluble antioxidant (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol (40.6 min) which is a reference control. These results suggest E. cava extracts and its fractions can be applied as an antioxidant ingredient in a field of cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2010

In this study, the antioxidative effects, inhibitory effects on tyrosinase of Cedrela sinensis extracts were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction of extract ($3.54\;{\mu}g/mL$) and aglycone fraction of extract ($2.15\;{\mu}g/mL$) showed more excellent free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) than the activity of (+)-$\alpha$-tocopherol ($8.98\;{\mu}g/mL$). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of Cedrela sinensis extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}$-EDTA/$H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ethyl acetate fraction of extract ($0.15\;{\mu}g/mL$) and aglycone fraction of extract ($0.12\;{\mu}g/mL$) showed 10 times more excellent ROS scavenging activity than activity of L-ascorbic acid ($1.50\;{\mu}g/mL$). The protective effects of fractions of Cedrela sinensis on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction of extract and aglycone fraction of extracts suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration dependent manner ($5{\sim}25\;{\mu}g/mL$). The inhibitory effect of Cedrela sinensis extracts on tyrosinase was investigated to assess their whitening efficacy. Inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$) on tyrosinase were determined with ethyl acetate fraction of Cedrela sinensis extract ($48.00\;{\mu}g/mL$) and aglycone fraction of extract ($5.88\;{\mu}g/mL$). The aglycone fraction showed 40 times more remarkable tyrosinase inhibitory effect than whitening agent, arbutin ($226.88\;{\mu}g/mL$) These results indicate that fractions of Cedrela sinensis can be used as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and protect cellular membranes against ROS. The fractions of Cedrela sinensis can be applicable to new functional cosmetics for antioxidant and whitening.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.30-37
• /
• 2013

This study was carried out to assess the spatial and tidal effects on the water quality in the lower reaches of Taewha River, Ulsan, Korea and to understand the environmental factors affecting winter algal bloom in the river. From May, 2010 to January, 2011, water samples were collected at five locations (New Samho Bridge, Old Samho Bridge, Mungjung Stream, Taewha Bridge, and Mungchon Bridge) along the river at high and low tides of spring tide. We measured environmental parameters including salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorophyll a (Chl a) and various nutrient concentrations. Salinity increased towards the downstream direction. Average values of Chl a concentrations ranged $10-26mg/m^3$ at high tide and $11-53mg/m^3$ at low tide depending on sampling locations. It was noteworthy that there were strong increases in Chl a concentrations during the November 21 to December 22 sampling period especially at the Taewha Bridge. At the location, Chl a concentrations were measured as $138-296mg/m^3$ for the period; Rhodomonas lacustris of class Cryptophyceae was the dominant algal species. Chl a concentrations at the Taewha Bridge were positively correlated with such parameters as salinity, BOD, DO, COD, pH, and T-N, and negatively correlated with temperature and $NO_3{^-}$-N. On the other hand, at the Mungchon Bridge the highest concentration of Chl a was $55mg/m^3$ on August 25, and Chl a concentrations were positively correlated with $NH_3$-N, T-N, $PO_4{^{3-}}$-P, T-P, and heterotrophic plate counts. The results suggested that water quality in the lower Taewha River fluctuated a lot with the sampling locations and the patterns of algal blooms were different between Taewha Bridge and Mungchon Bridge sampling locations.