• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1076-1083
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• 2013

Seventeen compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) were tested for their antiviral activity against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in vitro. Visualization with the cytopathologic effect (CPE) assay and the 3-(4, 5-dimethyithiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide test were used to determine the 50% cytotoxic concentration ($CC_{50}$) and 50% effective concentration ($EC_{50}$) in cultured Marc-145 cells. Among the tested compounds, chlorogenic acid and scutellarin showed potential anti-PRRSV activity. The $EC_{50}$ values were $270.8{\pm}14.6{\mu}g/ml$ and $28.21{\pm}26.0{\mu}g/ml$ and the selectivity indexes were >5.54 and 35.5, respectively. The time-of-addition and virucidal assay indicated that the anti-PRRSV activity of the two compounds could be due to their inhibiting the early stage of virus replication and/or inactivating the virus directly. The inhibition of the virus attachment was not observed in the adsorption inhibition assay. The inhibition ratios of chlorogenic acid and scutellarin were, respectively, 90.8% and 61.1% at the maximum non-cytotoxic concentrations. The results have provided a basis for further exploration of their antiviral properties and mechanisms in vivo. We believe that the chlorogenic acid and scutellarin have a great potential to be developed as new anti-PRRSV drugs for clinical application.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.3 s.58
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• pp.161-171
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated the whitening and anti-oxidant activity of 37 Jeju island native plants. The active ingredients of the plants were prepared by methanol extraction. Whitening activity of plant extracts was examined from the inhibitory effect of tyrosinase and the inhibition of melanin synthesis of the B16-F1 cell line. Their anti-oxidant activity was measured by electron donating ability of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging activity in V79-4 lung fibroblast cells using DCF-DA (dichlorofluorescin diacetate). Cytotoxicity of the extracts on cell s based experiments was investigated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay. Also, the toxicity test using a rabbit and the human skin patch test were carried out for examining the safety of the extracts which showed the high whitening activity. It is interesting that the extracts of Lespedeza cuneata, Ligustrum lucidum (stem), Morus bombycis (stem) and Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina showed both potent whitening and anti-oxidant activities.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2013

Seven medicinal plant extracts were tested for antifungal activities against six species of the major turfgrass pathogenic fungi (Colletotrichum graminicola, Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia cerealis, Rhizoctonia solani AG1-1, Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2, and Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) using paper disk diffusion method. Three medicinal plant extracts, including Pinus densiflora showed antifungal activities. In suppression of mycelium growth test, on medium adding P. densiflora extract showed that inhibition rate of mycelium growth were above 80% in 10 mg/10 ml concentration of the extract. The inhibition rate of Pythium spp. was 100% and C. graminicola was 84.3% in 10 mg/10 ml concentrations of P. densiflora extract, respectively. In particularly, the inhibition rate of Pythium spp. was 89.5% in 2 mg/10 ml concentrations of P. densiflora extract. As a result, P. densiflora extract showed high antifungal activity to Pythium spp. and C. graminicola of the turfgrass pathogen in in vitro test.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.371-385
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavone (SIF) and soy lecithin (SL) have beneficial effects on many chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Regretfully, there is little evidence to show the combined effects of these soy extractives on the impairment of cognition and abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF). This study examined the optimal combination dose of SIF + SL to provide evidence for improving CBF and protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: In vivo study, SIF50 + SL40, SIF50 + SL80 and SIF50 + SL160 groups were obtained. Morris water maze, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to detect learning and memory impairment, CBF, and damage to the cerebrovascular tissue in rat. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were detected. The anti-oxidative damage index of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the serum of an animal model was also tested. In vitro study, an immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEND.3 cells) was used to confirm the cerebrovascular endothelial cell protection of SIF + SL. In this study, 50 µM of Gen were used, while the 25, 50, or 100 µM of SL for different incubation times were selected first. The intracellular levels of 8-OHdG, SOD, GSH, and GSSG were also detected in the cells. RESULTS: In vivo study, SIF + SL could increase the target crossing times significantly and shorten the total swimming distance of rats. The CBF in the rats of the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group was enhanced. Pathological changes, such as attenuation of the endothelium in cerebral vessels were much less in the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group. The 8-OHdG was reduced in the SIF50 + SL40 group. The GSSG showed a significant decrease in all SIF + SL pretreatment groups, but the GSH showed an opposite result. SOD was upregulated by SIF + SL pretreatment. Different combinations of Genistein (Gen)+SL, the secondary proof of health benefits found in vivo study, showed they have effective anti-oxidation and less side reaction on protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cell. SIF50 + SL40 in rats experiment and Gen50 + SL25 in cell test were the optimum joint doses on alleviating cognitive impairment and regulating CBF through protecting cerebrovascular tissue by its antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: SIF+SL could significantly prevent cognitive defect induced by β-Amyloid through regulating CBF. This kind of effect might be attributed to its antioxidant activity on protecting cerebral vessels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2004

To assess the estrogenicities of Korean arrowroot (Pueraria thunbergiana) the contents of nine phytochemicals which are known to present were analyzed by HPLC. Also the estrogenecities of these phytochemicals were assayed using estrogen receptor dependent transcriptional expression assay. Daidzein and puerarin are major compounds in arrowroot, which were contained in the order of: root>stem>leaf>flower>seed. Among the assayed phytochemicals daidzein, genistein, biochanin A, formononetin, puerarin and genistin were highly estrogenic. The total estrogenicities in different parts of arrowroot and those by regions in Korea were also assessed. Roots had the highest estrogenic effects. The estrogenicities also were shown in stem and leaf. The differences in the estrogenicities of arrowroots by regions in Korea were shown. These results demonstrated that the estrogenic phytochemicals content was the highest in Korean arrowroot and also present in stem and leaf.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.362-368
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• 2008

In order to isolate novel oligotrophic bacteria exhibiting antifungal activities, soils were collected from pepper-cultivated fields of Yeongyang, Jecheon, Nonsan, Eumsong and Goesan area in Korea. From soils in pepper cultivated area, a total of 9,354 strains were isolated as oligotrophic bacteria by the R2A dilution method. Among 9,354 oligotrohic bacteria candidates, 1A strain was selected by screening against Phytophthora capsici causing phytophthora blight of hot pepper in the greenhouse and field. The strain was identified as Bacillus vallismortis based on its 16S rDNA sequence and key characteristics as compared with those of authentic cultures of B. vallismortis(KACC 12149) and B. mojavensis(KACC 12096). The strain showed broad spectrum of antibiotic activity in vitro test, as revealed in its strong inhibitory activity to the genera Phytophthora, Collectotrichum, Botrytis and Fusarium, but not to Rhizoctonia and Magnaporthe. In pot experiments, infection rate of hot pepper in the non-treated pots was about 89%, while it was only 29% in the pots treated with 1A strain. The result indicated B. vallismortis 1A is a potential biocontrol agent for phytophthora blight of hot pepper

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2001

To determine if micronucleus (MN) assay could be used to predict the absorbed dose of victims after accidental radiation exposure, we carried out to assess the absorbed dose depending on the numerical changes of MN in human peripheral blood lymphocytes after $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}-rays$ exposure in the range of 0.25 to 1 Gy, respectively. The MNs were observed at very low doses, and the numerical changes according to doses. Satisfactory dose-effect calibration curve is observed after low dose irradiation of human lymphocytes in vitro. When plotting on a linear scale against radiation dose, the line of best fit was $Y=(0.02{\pm}0.0009)+(0.033{\pm}0.010)D+(0.012{\pm}0.012)D^2$. The dose-response curve for MN induction immediately after irradiation was linear-quadratic and has a significant relationship between the frequencies of MN and dose. These data show a trend towards increase of the numbers of MN with increasing dose. The number of MN in lymphocytes that were observed in the control group is $0.1610{\pm}0.0093/cell$. Accordingly, MN assay in human peripheral lymphocytes could be a useful in viva model for studying radio-protective drug sensitivity or screening test, microdosimertic indicator and radiation-induced target organ injury. Since MN assay is simple, rapid and reproducible, it will also be a biodosimetric indicator for individual dose assessment after accidental exposure.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2019

Recently, the rapid growth of the companion animal market has led to the development of animal disease diagnosis kits. Therefore, the utility of the introduction of biomarkers for the development of animal molecular diagnostics is being reevaluated. A good biomarker should be precise and reliable, distinguish between normal and diseased states, and differentiate between different diseases. Recently reported genetic markers, tumor markers (cell free DNA, circulating tumor cells, granzyme, and skin tumors), and others (brucellosis, programmed death recovery-1, symmetric dimethylarginine, periostin, and cysteinyl leukotrien) have been developed. The biomarkers are used for risk prediction or for the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease progression. The most important criteria for related biomarkers are disease specificity. Many potential biomarkers have emerged from laboratory and test studies, but they have not been validated in independent or large-scale clinical studies. Candidate biomarkers evaluate disease associations, verify the effectiveness of biomarkers for early detection and disease progression, and incorporate them into humans and animals. In the future, it will be necessary to reevaluate the utility of well-structured biomarker-based research and study the development of kits that can be used in on-site tests in accordance with the trends introduced in the diagnosis of animal diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2014

Synthetic cannabinoids (CBs) such as the JWH series have caused social problems concerning their abuse liability. Because the JWH series produces euphoric and hallucinogenic effects, they have been distributed illegally under street names such as "Spice" and "Smoke". Many countries including Korea have started to schedule some of the JWH series compounds as controlled substances, but there are a number of JWH series chemicals that remain uncontrolled by law. In this study, three synthetic CBs with different binding affinities to the $CB_1$ receptor (JWH-073, 081, and 210) and ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (${\Delta}^9$-THC) were evaluated for their potential for psychological dependence. The conditioned place preference test (unbiased method) and self-administration test (fixed ratio of 1) using rodents were conducted. $K_i$ values of the three synthetic cannabinoids were calculated as supplementary data using a receptor binding assay and overexpressed $CB_1$ protein membranes to compare dependence potential with $CB_1$ receptor binding affinity. All mice administered JWH-073, 081, or 210 showed significantly increased time spent at unpreferred space in a dose-dependence manner in the conditioned place preference test. In contrast, all tested substances except ${\Delta}^9$-THC showed aversion phenomenon at high doses in the conditioned place preference test. The order of affinity to the $CB_1$ receptor in the receptor binding assay was JWH-210 > JWH-081 >> JWH-073, which was in agreement with the results from the conditioned place preference test. However, no change in self-administration was observed. These findings suggest the possibility to predict dependence potential of synthetic CBs through a receptor binding assay at the screening level.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.424-427
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• 2015

Damping-off is a critical disease on ginseng seedling, which caused by the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. The disease has been prevented by tolclofos-methyl for the last 20 years. However, the tolclofos-methyl usually detected on the harvested roots of 6-year-old ginseng. Herein, we tried to select an alternative pesticide which not only must be safe but also efficiently inhibits the fungal pathogen. Four fungicides (fludioxonil, flutolanil, pencycuron, and thifluzamide) were applied to their inhibition efficacy against the pathogen. In in vitro test, fludioxonil treatment showed 80% inhibition activity for 25 days. Thifluzamide and flutolanil showed the activity for 10 days. Pencycuron showed for 1 days. In addition, the fludioxonil was more effective to control the pathogen comparing to other three fungicides in field. The incidence of damping-off was reduced to 71% by fludioxonil treatment. The level of the fungicide residue in seedling was 0.44 mg/kg, which value will be a negligible level in final products after 5 years. Consequently, the fludioxonil is a conceivable alternative for tolclofos-methyl to cope with R. solani.