• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.314-318
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigated the avaiability of dried Koojongsi persimmon peels (KPP) as a useful mushroom medium using Pleurotus eryngii ASI 2312. Mushroom cultivation medium used in this study was mixed with medium mixture, corn cob and sawdust (220:65:15, v/v). Dried KPP was replaced mushroom cultivation medium (control) with 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50% dried KPP. The T-N content of dried KPP treatments decreased to increase replaced ratio of the dried KPP and C/N ratio was increased to increase replaced ratio of the dried KPP. But T-C content of dried KPP treatments was similar to untreated control. The average cultivating periods of mycelium on dried KPP treatments was delayed to increase replaced ratio of the dried KPP and cultivating periods was delayed over 30% dried KPP treatments. The length of stipe of dried KPP treatments was longer than that of the untreated control to increase replaced ratio of the dried KPP and thickness of stipes was tend to be thinner than that of the untreated control to increase replaced ratio of the dried KPP. The moisture, carbohydrate, crude protein and crude ash content of mycelial were similar to untreated control, but crude fatty acid was increased to increase replaced ratio of the dried KPP. The ${\beta}-glucan$ content of 10% and 15% treatments were higher than untreatment control. The results based on cultivation yield and ${\beta}-glucan$ content indicated that optimal mixture ratio dried KPP was 15%.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2011

Panax ginseng has been used as a traditional medicine for several centuries in Korea. A laboratory experiment using methanol extracts of freeze-dried leaves and roots in the different ages of P. ginseng was conducted to determine the content of phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity. The results indicate that the total phenolics level [mg ferulic acid equivalents (FAE) $kg^{-1}$ DW] was higher in leaves (22.0 to 76.3 mg $kg^{-1}$) than roots (19.0 to 28.3 mg $kg^{-1}$) of P. ginseng. The total content of phenolics in roots increased with increase in age of P. ginseng from one to six years. However, the content of phenolics in P. ginseng leaf decreased with the increase in age. Total flavonoid [mg naringin equivalents $kg^{-1}$ DW] was more detected in the leaves (30.3 to 138.6 mg $kg^{-1}$) than in the roots (0.0 to 10.6 mg $kg^{-1}$) of P. ginseng. The total flavonoid level in leaves decreased with increase in age of P. ginseng. The antioxidant potential of the methanol extracts from the plants dose-dependently increased. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was higher in leaves (36.9 to 82.8%) than in roots (14.8 to 39.4%), and in young plants than in old ones. According to 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the methanol extracts from 5 year-root part showed the highest cytotoxicity against Calu-6, followed by 2 year- and 3 year-roots. However, the methanol extracts from 6 year- and 4 year-roots had lower cytotoxicity. Total phenolics content in both leaves and roots was highly correlated with the DPPH radical scavenging ($r^2=0.7366$ to 0.7870) and nitrite scavenging ($r^2=0.5604$ to 0.8794) activities, suggesting that they contribute to the antioxidant properties of the P. ginseng plants.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2010

Ixeris dentata var. albiflora Nakai, a herbal plant, is often used to make a strong stomach as an antiphlogistic used when dyspepsia and to improve appetite in Korea and China. And also it is used for adult diseases such as diabetes and liver diseases as Korean traditional medicine. In this study, the composition and DPPH radical scavenging activities of the root of Ixeris dentata var. albiflora Nakai and its effects on cell viability on vero and chang cells were investigated. Moisture, crude ash, crude protein and crude lipid were 79.14, 2.49, 8.28 and 2.56 g/100 g respectively. The highest mineral content was K. The major free sugars were glucose, fructose and sucrose. Major fatty acid are linoleic acid, palmic acid and linolenic acid. Major amino acids were glutamic acid, arginine and aspartic acid and the total contents of amino acids were 28.12 mg/g. The methanol extracts were further fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water to get an active fraction. In addition, cell viabilities in each fraction were determined. Methanol extract, butanol, and aqueous fraction showed strong survival rates in vero cell and chang cell viability test, and hexane, chloroform, and ethylacetate fraction were examined for toxin in a cell. The root of Ixeris dentata var. albiflora Nakai had scavenging activities against DPPH radicals in a dose-dependent assay. Ethylacetate fraction's SC50 was $6.8\{\mu}g/mL$, very strong DPPH radical scavenging activities, but water fraction did not show any activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2013

Vitis amurensis Rupreche, a sort of grape, grows naturally in Asian countries. It is known for important biological effects such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis inhibition. Although its root is used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea, the root's biological activities are poorly studied. In the present study, the effects of V. amurensis root methanol extract (VARM) and its solvent fractions on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. The VARM significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the triglyceride (TG) content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. To identify active molecules, the VARM was fractionated with a series of organic solvents including dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). All the fractions also showed inhibition of lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction showed the most powerful anti-obesity effect through the modulation of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosinethymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expression. Oleanolic acid was one of the main active compounds involved in the anti-obesity activity of the V. amurensis root. These results provide important new insight into the potential potent anti-adipogenic effect of the V. amurensis root and illustrate that one of the main compounds involved in this effect is oleanolic acid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.790-800
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• 2017

As men get older, total testosterone levels decline gradually, and concentrations of free and bioavailable testosterone decline sharply with each decade beyond their 30s. Andropause or testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is defined as a decrease in sexual satisfaction or decline in general well-being accompanied by low levels of testosterone in older men. This male climacteric is characterized by nervousness, reduced potency, decreased libido, irritability, fatigue, depression, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and hot flushes. Cirsium japonicum (CJ) is used as a traditional medicine for hemorrhage, blood congestion, and inflammation in Korea. However, there is no report on the efficacy of CJ treatment for TDS. In this study, we observed the mitigating effect of CJ extract (CE) and fermented CJ extract (FCE) on symptoms of TDS. In elderly male rats, total and testosterone levels, hind limbs muscles, forced swimming time, and total and motile sperm counts significantly increased after daily intake of CE and FCE for 6 weeks. In contrast, sex hormone binding globulin, retroperitoneal fat, total serum cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in CE and FCE groups. However, there was no difference in prostate specific antigen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels among all groups, which means CE and FCE did not have putative adverse effects. In a cell experiment, we also observed that CE and FCE enhanced expression of genes related to testosterone biosynthesis but reduced genes involved in testosterone conversion. On the whole, these positive effects on TDS were greater in FCE compared to CE. Thus, these results suggest the potential of FCE as a promising natural product for recovering testosterone levels and alleviating TDS.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.426-431
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• 2013

With the objective of developing a functional food source, we established optimal processing conditions for the larvae of Allomyrina dichotoma, which have been used in traditional medicine to treat hepatic disorders in Korea. Without suitable processing, the larvae are difficult to consume as a food because of their disgusting taste and smell; moreover, in this form they might be a potential microbial hazard. In this study, we investigated the effect of feeding material, sterilization, and powdering after freeze-drying on the food quality of the larvae of A. dichotoma and on cytotoxicity against Raw 264.7 cells. Three to five days feeding with the sawdust from discarded oak-trees is sufficient for the breeding process. The sawdust was sterilized by vapor for five minutes. Sterilization of the larvae at a high temperature ($115^{\circ}C$ for 5 min, 0.9 $kgf/cm^2$) is necessary to eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The results of the cytotoxicity assay showed no toxicity in the prepared extract from larvae of A. dichotoma. In addition, to prepare the larvae for human consumption, various feeds were used and the smell, color, and taste were evaluated. Our results suggested that larvae of A. dichotoma could be developed as food source when a suitable processing method is established.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.568-573
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• 2015

Arabis glabra is a localized common rhizomatous flowering plant, This plant is often used in Korean traditional systems of medicine as a remedy for blood cleaning, detoxification, abscess, gastrospasm, arthritis, contraction and diarrhea. Generally drugs that are used for arthritis have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, validity of the anti-inflammatory activity has not been scientifically investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of A. glabra using the ethanolic extract and its sub-fractions. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) on RAW 264.7macrophages. Our results indicated that hexane and chloroform fraction significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO and PGE₂ production in the cells. The hexane fraction inhibitory activity for NO tests with IC₅₀ values showed in 21.0 ㎍/㎖. The chloroform fraction inhibitory activity for PGE₂ tests with IC₅₀ values showed in 18.0 ㎍/㎖. These efficacy are expected to be able to present the potential for the development of health functional food for the prevention inflammatory diseases because it has sufficient preventive medical possibilities. Further, it is determined that it is necessary to further study the mechanism of cytokine and protein expression associated with inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.652-658
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• 2005

This experimental was carried out to evaluate the clinical effects of Ophicephalus argus and Crubita moschate which have been traditionally applied to postpartum care in Korea, and compare them with the effect of Saenghwtang. Fifty Sprague-Dawley female rats weighing $250\~280$ g were divided into five groups: a normal saline-treated group (NSG), a Saenghuatang-treated group (STG), an Ophicephlus argus-treated group (OTG), and a Crubita moschate-treated group (CTG), also non-pregnant group (NPG). Except for the NPG, each extract was administered for one week to each group after delivery. We measured the WBC, RBC, serum levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit, the platelet count, serum levels of fibrinogen, albumin, thyroxine and urine levels of sodium and potassium. STG showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease of WBC count, fibrinogen content and urine levels of sodium and potassium and a significant (p<0.05) increase of RBC, hemoglobin, albumin and thyroxine in comparison with those of the NSG. OTG showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease of WBC count, fibrinogen and the significant (p<0.05) increase of albumin and thyroxine in comparison with those of the NSG. CTG showed a significant (p<0.05) increase of albumin and thyroxine in comparison with that of NSG. These results suggest that Saenghwatang is more effective than Ophicephalus argus and Crubita moschate for postpartum recuperation although they also have some effects on recuperation of deteriorative blood components after delivery. Therefore, these findings indicate that futher investigation for the other effects of Ophicephalus argus and Crubita moschate is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 2017

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson is distributed in China and Korea, and the fruit of C. monnieri is used as traditional Chinese medicine to treat carbuncle and pain in female genitalia. In this study, we examined the anti-proliferation and cell cycle arrest effects of ethanol extracts from C. monnieri (CME) in AGS gastric cancer cells. Our results show that CME suppressed cell proliferation and induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in AGS cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and LDH assay. Cell morphology was altered by CME in a dose-dependent manner. In order to identify the cell cycle arrest effects of CME, we investigated cell cycle analysis after CME treatment. In our results, CME induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Protein kinase B (Akt) plays a major role in cell survival mechanisms such as growth, division, and metastasis. Akt protein regulates various downstream proteins such as glycogen synthase kinase-$3{\beta}$ (GSK-$3{\beta}$) and tumor protein p53 (p53). Expression levels of p-Akt, p-GSK-$3{\beta}$, p53, p21, cyclin E, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) were determined by Western blot analysis. Protein levels of p-Akt, p-GSK-$3{\beta}$, and cyclin E were reduced while those of p53, p21, and p-CDK2 (T14/Y15) were elevated by CME. Moreover, treatment with CME, LY294002 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitor), BIO (GSK-$3{\beta}$ inhibitor), and Pifithrin-${\alpha}$ (p53 inhibitor) showed that cell cycle arrest effects were mediated through regulation of the Akt/GSK-$3{\beta}$/p53 signaling pathway. These results suggest that CME induces cell cycle arrest at G1 phase via the Akt/GSK-$3{\beta}$/p53 signaling pathway in AGS gastric cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.957-963
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• 1998

Several medicinal herbs, which are nontoxic and have been used widely in traditional folk medicine, were extracted and antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated against various foodborne pathogens or food poisioning microorganisms. The ethanol extract of Sansa, Hwangryun, Cheukbaek, and Seokchangpo showed strong antimicrobial activities against Gram postive and Gram negative bacteria, whereas those of Sakunja, Sukjihwang and Baekji had little antimicrobial activities on microorganisms tested. Among medicinal herb extracts, ethanol extract of Coptis chinensis Franch (hwangryun) showed the strongest antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract of Coptis chinensis Franch was not destroyed by heating at $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 min and at $121^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, which is very stable over heat. The pH effect on minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extract of Coptis chinensis Franch indicated that MIC was reduced with increasing the pH value of the medium. The inhibitory effect of partially purified substance from the ethanol extract of Coptis chinensis Franch on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. Growth of those strains occurred at the concentration of $100{\;}{\mu}g/mL$ and were inhibited at $500{\;}{\mu}g/mL$, whereas those strains was completely inactivated in the presence of $1000{\;}{\mu}g/mL$.