• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.301-309
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• 1996

Since it has been reported that the depolarization-induced NE release is inhibited by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor in hippocampus, a large body of experimental data on the post-receptor mechanism of this process has been accumulated. But, the post-receptor mechanism of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ receptor on the NE release has not been clearly elucidated yet. Therefore, it was attempted to clarify the participation of $K^+-channel$ in the post-receptor mechanisms of the $A_1-adenosine$ receptor-mediated control of NE release in this study. Slices from rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $^3H-norepinephrine$ and the release of the labelled products was evoked by electrical stimulation (3 Hz, 5 $VCm^{-1}$, 2 ms, rectangular pulses), and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. Adenosine, in concentrations ranging from $1{\sim}30\;{\mu}M$, decreased the NE release in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the basal rate of release. 4AP $(1{\sim}30{\mu}M)$, a specific A-type $K^+-channel$ blocker, increased the evoked NE release in a dose-related fashion, and the basal rate of release is increased by 10 and $30{\mu}M$. TEA $(1{\sim}10{\mu}\;M)$, a nonspecific $K^+-channel$ blocker, increased the evoked NE release in a dose-dependent manner without affecting basal release. The adenosine effects were significantly inhibites by 3 ${\mu}M$ 4AP and 10 mM TEA treatment. 4AP $(30{\mu}M)-$ and TEA (10 mM)-induced increments of evoked NE release were completely abolished in $Ca^{++} free, but these were recoverd in low $Ca^{++} medium. And the effects of $K^+-channel$ blockers in low $Ca^{++} medium were inhibites and abolishes by $Mg^{++} (4 mM) adding and TTX $(0.3{\mu}M)$ adding medium, respectively. These results suggest that the decrement of the evoked NE-release by $A_1-adenosine$ receptor is mediated by 4AP and TEA sensitive $K^+-channel$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.1057-1064
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of fermented herbal mixtures (FHMs) in HepG2 and PC12 cells. Two different types of fermented herbal mixtures consisted of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ganoderma lucidum, Acanthopanax senticosus, Schisandra chinensis, Hovenia dulcis thumb, and Lycii fructus. FHM-A and FHM-B were separately fermented with Prunellae Spica, Portulaca oleracea (FHM-A) and Acorus gramineus, Pycnostelma paniculatum (FHM-B). Total phenolic content of FHM-B was higher than that of FHM-A. ORAC values in both FHM-A and FHM-B increased in a dose-dependent manner, and antioxidant activities against peroxyl radicals were higher in FHM-A than FHM-B. Both FHM-A and FHM-B effectively ameliorated AAPH- and ethanol-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. They also suppressed lipid formation induced by ethanol treatment. In addition, FHM-A and FHM-B prevented $H_2O_2$-induced PC12 cell death. FHM-B showed a relatively stronger protective effect than that of FMB-A. Taken together, these findings show that a fermented herbal mixture could be used in healthy and functional food design for oxidative stress-related diseases.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.597-603
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• 1997

Orostachys japonicus, Wasong as herb medicine, has been artificially cultivated as an anti-tumor medicinal. The experiment was carried out to examine the effect of natural daylength as control or night-break treatment (NB) imposed at June 20, July 18 or Aug. 15 on its growth, dry weights of leaf and bract, stem, floret and root, and morphological characters including bolting and floret flowering. After a plant was grown in a 15cm plastic pot containing a 2 : 1 soil : peat moss mixture on May 23, three treatments with above differing night-break had been imposed around midnight up to Nov. 7. The plants were sampled 3 times at the same day forced to night-break and then done 6 times by 2-week interval after the final NB. Plant height and inflorescence length of all the NB increased with delayed NB but declined in comparison with the natural daylength. No. of leaves including bracts showed similar response to plant height although NB given before July 18 showed less leaves and bracts. Stem diameters of NB were continuously increased to middle Sept. to middle Oct. while that of natural daylength decreased after middle Oct. Natural daylength or NB given on Aug. 15 had greater fraction, shoot and total dry weights resulting from increment of leaf and bract up to Aug. or of floret, stem and root after Sept. The earlier NB, the later formation of florets and the less number of flowering florets whereas in natural daylength florets on inflorescence begun to be formed from middle Sept. were sharply increased up to middle Oct. when all the plants were flowered. Bolting was not formed in the plant of the earliest NB of June 20, and thereby no anthesis of florets up to early Nov. It was concluded that year-round cultivation of Orostachys japonicus plants was possible through controlling the NB timing because its bolting and flowering of florets separately occurred.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.380-386
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• 2007

This study was conducted to clarify the effective application method, uptake, and translocation of germanium(Ge) in mungbean plants. The foliar application of liquid Ge at 7 mg/l during the flowering period, seeds containing 38.7, $14.1{\mu}g/kg$ of Ge, from the first and second harvesting. It had 2.5 and 2.3 times more Ge than the seeds raised by using granule Ge at 7 mg/kg with basal fertilization. The foliar application of Ge at 3.5, 7, 14 and 28 mg/l during the flowering period, yielded a relatively high record of seeds containing $14.9{\sim}77.8{\mu}g/kg$ and $6.9{\sim}26.7{\mu}g/kg$ of Ge, from the first and second harvesting. However, seeds from the first harvesting contained $2.2{\sim}4.1$ times more Ge than the seeds of from the second harvesting. On the other hand, seeds from first and second harvesting of the non-treatment group Ge contained 1.9 and $3.2{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. When the foliar application of Ge at 7 mg/l was conducted two or three times, the Ge content of the seeds in the first to third harvesting were all over $20{\mu}g/kg$. This indicates that a certain level of Ge can be accumulated. In seeds of mungbean containing $96{\mu}g/kg$ of Ge, cotyledon had $138{\mu}g/kg$ of Ge, which was 79% more than seed coat per unit weight. The growth and quantity of mungbean was not significantly different according to the formulation of Ge, the concentration and the frequency of foliar application of Ge used for in study.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.447-452
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to enhance the colored potatoes utilization and to determine the biological activity of colored potato extracts. In order to understand the factors responsible for the potent antioxidant and antihypertensive ability of colored potatoes, it has been evaluated for anti-oxidative activity using Fenton's reagent/ethyl linoleate system and for free radical scavenging activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical generating system. There were significant differences of antioxidant activities in $50{\mu}g/mL$ extracts treatment among different colored potatoes. About two-fold higher radical scavenging activity was found in 'Daegwan 1-102', 'Daegwan 1-104' and 'Jasim' compared to that in 'Superior'. Based on the flesh color tested, potatoes with purple tuber showed higher radical scavenging activity than red potatoes, while white potato showed the lowest radical scavenging activity. The ability of 80% ethanol extracts from colored potatoes to influence the inhibitory activity of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) and xanthine oxidase(XOase) has also been investigated. Expect 'Jasim', the high levels of inhibition activity of xanthine oxidase in two colored potatoes such as 'Daegwan 1-102' and 'Daegwan 1-104' were highly correlated to $IC_{50}$ values of ACE inhibition activity. The various therapeutic benefit claims in the new functional medicinal usage of colored potatoes ascribed to the phenolic compounds and anthocyanin. This result revealed that the extracts of colored potatoes are expected to be good candidate for development into source of free radical scavengers and anti-hypertentive agent.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2009

A constructed wetland which was composed of aerobic and anaerobic areas was evaluated for 3 years to effectively treat the sewage produced in farming and fishing communities. For 3 years in a constructed wetland, biochemical oxygen demand(BOD), chemical oxygen demand(COD), suspended solids(SS), total nitrogen(T-N), and total phosphorus(T-P) in effluent were 0.2${\sim}$11.8, 1.0${\sim}$41.9, 1.1${\sim}$6.5, 4${\sim}$60 and 0.02${\sim}$3.51 mg/L, respectively. Removal rate of BOD, COD and SS in effluent were 97, 92 and 99%, respectively, in the third year. As time goes by, removal rate of T-N and T-P in treated water in aerobic area and effluent were gradually increased in a constructed wetland. In the third year, removal rate in effluent were 62 and 73%, respectively. By the seasons, removal rate of BOD, COD, SS, T-N and T-P were 97${\sim}$98, 87${\sim}$91, 99, 43${\sim}$61 and 76${\sim}$86%, respectively. Removal rate of BOD, COD, SS and T-P were not affected by the seasons, but that of T-N in winter and spring were decreased than the other seasons.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.1236-1247
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• 2014

Gamma irradiated-treatment of natural medicinal plants can be used to improve extraction transference number and for qualitative improvement of color when applied to functional material exploration. This study investigated the biological activities of Aralia elata cortex extracts upon gamma irradiation. In addition, different physical techniques [photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL)] were used for irradiation identification of Aralia elata cortex. In PSL analysis, non-irradiated (0 kGy) sample showed a negative result of 400 photon counts (PCs), whereas irradiated (5, 10, and 30 kGy) samples showed positive results of 90,100.00, 312,614.33, and 321,661.67 PCs, respectively. In the TL method, growth curve showed very unusual behaviors around $200^{\circ}C$ upon natural-irradiation of the non-irradiated (0 kGy) sample and around $150{\sim}250^{\circ}C$ for the irradiated (5, 10, and 30 kGy) samples. The TL ratio was 0.1 in non-irradiated samples at 0.011, whereas the values of irradiated samples (5, 10, and 30 kGy) were 0.1 at 1.105, 1.009, and 2.206, respectively. For phenolics of gamma-irradiated Aralia elata cortex, water and 50% ethanol extracts had the highest amounts, $17.30{\pm}0.40mg/g$ and $18.87{\pm}0.46mg/g$ at 10 kGy irradiation, respectively. The inhibitory activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme and xanthin oxidase were higher in both irradiated water and 50% ethanol extracts than in non-irradiated ones. For pancreatin ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities, water and 50% ethanol extracts containing $200{\mu}g/mL$ of phenolics showed high inhibitory activities of 60~100% at all irradiation doses (0~30 kGy). This result confirmed that Aralia elata cortex extracts have greater anti-diabetic effects than acabose as a diabetic remedy. Gamma-irradiated Aralia elata cortex extracts are useful as a functional material with anti-diabetic effects. Thus, Aralia elata cortex extracts can be used as a functional material with various biological activities, and gamma-irradiation can be used to amplify biological activities in plants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.437-442
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• 2012

Red yeast rice (RER) has been used in China for centuries for its medicinal properties and is an increasingly popular alternative lipid-lowering treatment. This study was carried out to estimate the antioxidant properties of RER extracts. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the DPPH radical scavenging activity of 85% at 0.2 mg/mL and $IC_{50}$ 0.13 mg/mL. A significant proportion of hydroxyl radicals in a cuvette were scavenged: 44.2% at 2.5 ${\mu}g$/mL, 74.1% at 5.0 ${\mu}g$/mL, and >100% at 10 ${\mu}g$/mL. The $HepG_2$ cells pre-treated with RER ethyl acetate extract reduced the hydroxyl radicals significantly compared to the control cells. Oxidative DNA damage was measured using a Comet assay. The RER ethyl acetate extract did not induce any DNA damage per se, and appeared to enhance the resistance to DNA damage caused by an oxidant challenge with $H_2O_2$, whereas lovastatin increased the level of DNA damage in the cells in both the unstressed (no oxidant) and those stressed with $H_2O_2$. The relative gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes in $HepG_2$ cells were also affected by the RER ethyl acetate extract. The $HepG_2$ cells were pre-incubated with the RER ethyl acetate extract, and then stressed with $H_2O_2$ or left unstressed (no oxidant). In the unstressed cells, superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were increased significantly 3.25-fold and 2.67-fold, respectively, whereas in the stressed cells, the catalase (CAT) level was increased by 4.64-fold and 7.0-fold at 5 ${\mu}g$/mL and 10 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively, compared to those of the control. From these results, RER appears to be effective in suppressing oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.525-530
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• 2011

Pine needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the antioxidant activity, and proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. Pine needle extracts were examined using hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-ethanol, and hot water-hexane. The effects of the pine needle extracts were examined by comparing the results with that of a commercial agents, proanthocyanidin. Analysis of each extract indicated that hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts contained the highest total polyphenol concentrations. The hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts also showed relatively the highest SOD-like activity. The proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells treated with pine needle extracts was decreased by lower than 70%. In addition, the hot water and ethanol extracts of pine needle significantly reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive ($TRAP^+$) multinucleated cells from osteoclatic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that pine needle extracts had an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation, suggesting that they could be used for the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.393-399
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• 2012

In this study, the antioxidant and anti-wrinkling effects of extracts from Aruncus diocius var. kamtschaticus (ADV) were investigated. According to the results, the ethanol extract has better antioxidant and anti-wrinkling effects than the water extract. The amounts of total polyphenol and flavonoid compounds in the ethanol extract were 122 and 36 mg/g, respectively, while those in the water extract were 87 and 26 mg/g. The antioxidant activities of the ethanol and water extracts were 395 and 4,682 ${\mu}g/mL$ as the $RC_{50}$ values for the DPPH radical scavenging activity, and 227 and 366 ${\mu}g/mL$ for the $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity, respectively. The reducing power of the ethanol extract (1.58 at 2 mg/mL) was higher than that of the water extract (0.88 at 2 mg/mL). The astringent activities of the ethanol and water extracts were 91.27 and 16.35% at 10 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ADV ethanol extract treatment of the fibroblast cell after UV irradiation resulted in increased cell viability (10% at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$) and collagen biosynthesis (33% at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$), with a lowering in the MMP-1 expression level (16.8 % at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$). These results demonstrate that AVD provides a remarkable and significant tensor and anti-wrinkling effect on the skin, which could be of a great use in anti-aging skin care products.