• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.338-342
• /
• 2002

Antimicrobial activity of yellow pigment produced by Monascus anka Y7 (Y7) was studied. The crude yellow pigment of Y7 showed antimicrobial activity against some bacteria and yeasts. The diameter of inhibition zone against gram-positive bacteria was a little smaller t]fan that of gram-negative bacteria to the crude yellow pigment. Especially, E2 fraction obtained from the crude yellow pigment by TLC method showed high anti-microbial activity against E. coli.. The fraction had bright yellow pigment, showing fluorescent light and having the maximum absorption at 373 nm. Citrinin, a mycotoxin which had been characterized as an antimicrobial substance from a Monascus strain, was not detected in the E2 fraction and in the crude yellow pigment by the results of TLC and HPLC. This indicates that the antimicrobial activity of Y7 pigments did not any relationship with citrinin. Yellow degree (b/a of Hunters color value) of Y7 pigment was much higher than that of other natural colorants such as annatto, gardenia yellow and carthamus yellow. But the colors of all of the yellow pigments were similar by panels. Thus, the yellow pigment of Y7 could be used as a useful alternative colorant for food industry, having the advantage of antimicrobial activity.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2005

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is known as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the neurons of the central nervous system. However, its detailed action mechanisms in the rostral gustatory zone of the nucleus tractus solitarius (rNTS) have not been established. The present study was aimed to investigate the distribution, role and action mechanisms of GABA in rNTS. Membrane potentials were recorded by whole cell recordings in isolated brain slices of the rat medulla. Superfusion of GABA resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in input resistance in the neurons in rNTS. The change in input resistance ws accompanied by response to a depolarizing pulse were diminished by GABA. Superfusion of the slices with either $GABA_A$ agonist, muscimol, $GABA_B$ agonist, baclofen or $GABA_C$ agonist, TACA, decreased input resistance and reduced the nerve activity in association with membrane hyperpolarization. It is suggested that inhibitory signals playa role in sensory processing by the rNTS, in that GABA actions occur through activation of $GABA_A,\;GABA_B\;and\;GABA_C$ receptor. These results suggest that GABA has an inhibitory effect on the rNTS through an activation of $GABA_A,\;GABA_B\;and\;GABA_C$ receptors and that the GABAergic inhibition probably plays an important role in sensory processing by the rNTS.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2011

Insect lysozymes are basic, cationic proteins synthesized in fat body and hemocytes in response to bacterial infections and depolymerize the bacterial cell wall. The c-type lysozyme of the insect Spodoptera litura (SLLyz) is a single polypeptide chain of 121 residues with four disulfide bridges and 17 rare codons and is approximately 15 kDa. The full-length SLLyz cDNA is 1039 bp long with a poly(A) tail, and contains an open reading frame of 426 bp long (including the termination codon), flanked by a 54 bp long 5' UTR and a 559 bp long 3' UTR. As a host for the production of high-level recombinant proteins, E. coli is used most commonly because of its low cost and short generation time. However, the soluble expression of heterologous proteins in E. coli is not trivial, especially for disulfide-bonded proteins. In order to prevent inclusion body formation, GST was selected as a fusion partner to enhance the solubility of recombinant protein, and fused to the amplified products encoding mature SLLyz. The expression vector pGEX-4T-1/rSLLyz was then transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS for soluble expression of rSLLyz, and the soluble fusion protein was purified successfully. Inhibition zone assay demonstrated that rSLLyz showed antibacterial activity against B. megaterium. These results demonstrate that the GST fusion expression system in E. coli described in this study is efficient and inexpensive in producing a disulfide-bonded rSLLyz in soluble, active form, and suggest that the insect lysozyme is an interesting system for future structural and functional studies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.490-496
• /
• 2006

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro effects of Rheum undulatum L. root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects on viability, dental plaque formation, and glycolytic acid production of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. root and its fractions were prepared and tested. Among the test extract and fractions, dichloromethane fraction (DF) showed the most active antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 13-17 mm) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in a disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of DF against these bacteria ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, DF significantly inhibited the caries-inducing factors of these bacteria. At sub-MIC levels, DF inhibited in vitro dental plaque formation by S. mutans and S. sobrinus ($IC_{50}$= 0.079 and 0.142 mg/mL, respectively), which was caused, in part, by the inhibitory effect on the activity of glucosyltransferases. A significant reduction of glycolytic acid production was found at the concentration as low as 0.032 mg/mL for S. mutans and 0.063 mg/mL for S. sobrinus. The possible bioactive compounds that are inducing in vitro anti-cariogenic activity of DF are unknown. Based on the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the activity of DF may be related to the presence of anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarines, sterols/terpenes, and phenolics. These results indicate that DF is probably useful for the control of dental plaque formation and subsequent dental caries development.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2011

Objective : This study was performed to compare anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-bacterial effects of Cuscutae Semen(CS) extracted with two kinds of solvents, ethanol and distilled water. Methods : Two kinds of CS extractions were prepared 20, 50, 100 ${\mu}l/mg$. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-inflammation effect was measured by inhibitory efficacy of NO Production in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-oxidation effect was measured by DPPH Radical scavenging ability in HaCaT cell. The anti-bacterial effect was measured by inhibition zone diameter on Propionibacterium acnes. Results : 1. Two kinds(100 ${\mu}l/mg$) of CS extraction groups had 50% cytotoxicity in Raw 264.7 cell. 2. All of CS extraction groups were not showed significantly inhibitory effect on NO production. 3. All of CS extracted with ethanol only showed dose-dependently significantly scavenging effect of DPPH radicals. 4. Two kinds of CS extractions did not have a inhibitory effect on Propionibactrium acnes. Conclusion : Two kinds(100 ${\mu}l/mg$) of CS extraction groups have 50% cytotoxicity. Two kinds of CS extractions have not the inhibitory effect on NO production and Propionibactrium acnes. CS groups extracted with ethanol only have a significantly scavenging ability of DPPH radicals. This study suggests that CS extracted with ethanol was effective in anti-oxidation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 2011

Objective : This study was performed to compare anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-bacterial effects of Ligustici Rhizoma (LR) extracted with two kinds of solvents, ethanol and distilled water. Methods : It is prepared two kinds of LR extracts 20, 50, 100 ${\mu}l/mg$ by first. MTT assay way to measure cytotoxicity is formed in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-inflammation effect is measured by ability to inhibit production of NO in Raw 264.7 cell. The anti-oxidation effect was measured by DPPH Radical scavenging ability in HaCaT cell. The anti-bacterial effect was measured by inhibition zone diameter on Propionibacterium acnes. Results : 1. LR (20 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol was showed 80% cytotoxicity, LR (50 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol and LR (20, 50 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with water were showed 70% cytotoxicity, LR (100 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol and LR (100 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with water were showed 60% cytotoxicity in Raw 264.7 cell. 2. LR (100 ${\mu}l/mg$) extracted with ethanol was showed more significantly inhibitory effect on NO production than the water extraction. 3. Two kinds of LR extraction groups did not show significantly scavenging effect of DPPH radicals. 4. Two kinds of LR extractions did not have a inhibitory effect on Propionibactrium acnes. Conclusion : Two kinds of LR extracts have not cytotoxicity, statistically significant ability to scavenge DPPH radicals and effect to inhibit Propionibactrium acnes. LR extracted with ethanol only have a little effect to inhibit NO production. This study proposes that LR extracted with ethanol is more effective in anti-inflammation.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.176-176
• /
• 2000

Recently developed Austenite stainless steel,309L was to overlay on 3Cr-1Mo-V-Ti-B steels, using Electroslag welding process, which wide electrodes were adopted. Transition region in welding interlayer relating to disbonding crack was investigated. Also. the effect of welding condition on the width of transition region and coarsening grains of the austenite were studied.1) With increasing welding speed the width of martensite at transient region was increased, but the amount of delta ferrite in weld metal was reduced, being fine grained.2) The form of martensite at the transition region was occured by reversible transition region, leading to increasing Ms point.3) With increasing welding speed, the grain of austenite formed at the welding interface was finer. With increasing welding current under the same welding speed, the grain size of the austenite was finer. At high current, original grain size of the austenite is coarse, but the austenite has fine grains because the austenite was transformed to martensite during cooling.4) In the case of high welding speed, the width of martensite at the welding interface was increased, but the grain size of austenite at the welding interface was finer. This indicates that the inhibition of disbonding crack may be achieved through dispersening fine carbides in the grain boudary.(Received August 3, 1999)

• Journal of Welding and Joining
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2000

Recently developed Austenite stainless steel, 309L was used to overlay on 3Cr-1Mo-V-Ti-B steels, using Electroslag welding process, which wide electrodes were adopted. Transition region in welding interlayer relating to disbonding crack was investigated. Also, the effect of welding condition on the width of transition region and coarsening grains of the austenite were studied. 1) With increasing welding speed the width of martensite at transient region was increased, but the amount of delta ferrite in weld metal was reduced, being fine grained. 2) The form of martensite at the transition region was occurred by reversible transformation during cooling since the interdiffusion of Cr and Ni from weld metal and Fe and C from base metals at the transition region, causes to lowering the concentration of Cr and Ni at the transition region, leading to increasing Ms point. 3) With increasing welding speed, the grain of austenite formed at the welding interface was finer. With increasing welding current under the same welding speed, the grain size of the austenite was finer. At high current, original grain size of the austenite is coarse, but the austenite has fine grains because the austenite was transformed to martensite during cooling. 4) In the case of high welding speed, the width of martensite at the welding interface was increased, but the grain size of austenite at the welding interface was finer. This indicates that the inhibition of disbonding crack may be achieved through dispersening fine carbides in the gain boundary.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.244-253
• /
• 2018

This study was carried out to evaluate effects of antimicrobial substances produced by isolated soil bacteria. Among two thousands of bacterial isolates Paenibacillus elgii DS381 exhibited high antimicrobial activities against several microbial residents on human skin and pathogenic bacteria. DS381 showed 15.3~26.0 mm inhibition zone diameter against all target bacteria and yeast in agar well diffusion test. Antimicrobial peptide produced by DS381 indicated low minimum inhibitory concentration (0.039-5.000 mg/ml). DS381 produced biosurfactant such as lipopeptide, and surface tension of culture supernatant of DS381 reduced from 60.0 to 40.3 mN/m. DS381 also showed $1.56{\pm}0.13U/ml$ of chitinase activity. These results suggest that Paenibacillus elgii DS381 may be utilized as an efficient biocontrol agent against some important human skin microbes and pathogenic bacteria.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.373-379
• /
• 2012

This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobiological effects of supercritical fluid extracts (SFEs) and Marc methanol extracts (SFMs) from Cinnamomum verum. Reducing effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and ABTS radical scavenging were investigated. SFM exhibited higher antioxidant activities in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay. Measurements of the antimicrobial activity were used for Gram-positive bacteria (four strains) and Gram-negative bacteria (four strains). The antimicrobial activities of the SFE and SFM against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria revealed that SFE had a higher inhibition zone than SFM. Cinnamaldehyde, the active compound of C. verum, had a higher content in SFM (35% at 300 bar, $30^{\circ}C$) than methanol extracts from C. verum (0.5%). These results indicate that not only SFE oil, but also SFM, could be a good source for the food industry.