• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.386-396
• /
• 2013

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in tomato plants by Ralstonia solanacearum infection and the role of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and nitric oxide in tomato bacterial wilt control were demonstrated. During disease development of tomato bacterial wilt, accumulation of superoxide anion ($O_2{^-}$) and $H_2O_2$ was observed and lipid peroxidation also occurred in the tomato leaf tissues. High doses of $H_2O_2$ and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) nitric oxide donor showed phytotoxicity to detached tomato leaves 1 day after petiole feeding showing reduced fresh weight. Both $H_2O_2$ and SNP have in vitro antibacterial activities against R. solanacearum in a dose-dependent manner, as well as plant protection in detached tomato leaves against bacterial wilt by $10^6$ and $10^7$ cfu/ml of R. solanacearum. $H_2O_2$- and SNP-mediated protection was also evaluated in pots using soil-drench treatment with the bacterial inoculation, and relative 'area under the disease progressive curve (AUDPC)' was calculated to compare disease protection by $H_2O_2$ and/or SNP with untreated control. Neither $H_2O_2$ nor SNP protect the tomato seedlings from the bacterial wilt, but $H_2O_2$ + SNP mixture significantly decreased disease severity with reduced relative AUDPC. These results suggest that $H_2O_2$ and SNP could be used together to control bacterial wilt in tomato plants as bactericidal agents.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.724-731
• /
• 2012

This study was designed to elucidate whether combination with Korean red ginseng and Morus alba L. (MPM), traditional treatment for diabetes, ameliorates on high fructose-induced steatohepatitis and vascular inflammation. Animals were divided into four groups; Control receiving tap water, fructose-fed, rosiglitazone-treated fructose-fed rats, and MPM-treated fructose-fed rats both receiving supplemented with 60% fructose (n=10). The MPM or rosiglitazone groups initially received a high-fructose diet alone for 8 weeks, with supplementation with MPM or rosiglitazone, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist, occurring during the final 6 weeks. Treatment with MPM significantly prevented the increase in c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the high fructose group. MPM suppressed high fructose diet-induced vascular inflammation marker expression such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. MPM also reduced intima/media thickness of thoracic aorta. Histologic observation and oil red O staining demonstrated hepatic tissue damage and lipid accumulation were severe in high fructose group. Treatment with MPM ameliorated hepatic tissue morphology with minimized steatosis. In addition, MPM attenuated hepatitis by inhibition of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression. MPM-fed group showed lower serum GOT and GPT levels comparing with high fructose group. MPM and rosiglitazone (positive control) significantly decreased the size of epididymal adipocytes. Taken together, the administration of MPM inhibited high fructose-induced steatohepatitis and vascular inflammation. These results suggested that MPM is useful in the prevention or treatment of metabolic syndrome-related disorders such as fatty acid metabolism and vascular homeostasis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.441-449
• /
• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the fine structural changes of rat hepatocytes by repeated treatment of cyclosporin A that has been widely used for immunosuppressive drug in organ transplantation. Sprague-Dawley rats were kept in experimental circumstances for 2 weeks and 50mg/kg B.W of cyclosporin A was injected once a day subcutaneously for 7 days and sacrificed at 1 hour, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days after the last injection. Fine structural changes were observed by transmission electron microscope (JEM 1200EX II) and the results obtained were as follows. 1. Accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes was prominently increased in 1 hour and 1 day lapse groups, and this finding was slightly reduced in 3 days lapse group and remarkably reduced from 7 days lapse group enough to be recovered completely in 14 days lapse group. 2. Dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticule cisternae, detachment of membrane bound ribosomes, proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticula were observed in 1 hour and 1 day lapse groups, and these findings were mild in 3 days lapse group and abruptly reduced from 7 days lapse group enough to be recovered completely in 28 days lapse group. 3. Small myelin figures were observed in 3 days lapse group after CsA-treatment. 4. Swelling of mitochondria and destruction of their cristae were observed in 1 hour and 1 day lapse groups, and these findings were recovered from 3 days lapse group. 5. Dilatation of bile canaliculi and remarkable loss of microvilli in the pericanalicular wall were observed in 1 hour lapse group and the most severe change was shown in 1 day lapse group and lasted to 3 days lapse group, and these findings were reduced gradually from 7 days lapse group enough to recovered completely in 28 days lapse group.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.83-87
• /
• 2010

The cholesterol-lowering effects of soymilk fermented with Bacillus subtilis KCCM42923 were studied in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice and compared to the cholesterol-lowering effects of soymilk to which cheonggukjang powder had been added. ApoE KO mice were divided into 3 groups (n=7/group). Animals were fed either an atherogenic diet only (AD, control group), an AD supplemented with fermented soymilk containing Corni fructus (FSM group), or an AD supplemented with soymik to which cheonggukjang (CGJ) powder had been added at 5% (w/v) (CPS group) for 8 weeks. The amount of FSM or CPS supplementing the AD was 20.8 mL/kg BW. There were no differences in either body weight gain or organ weights among three groups. In the FSM group, the concentration of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDLC) were significantly decreased by 26.2% and 30.3% compared with the values of the control group (p<0.05). However, the triglyceride (TG) and HDL-cholesterol (HDLC) levels were not affected. These beneficial effects of FSM on suppressing the increase in plasma cholesterol level by AD were greater than those of CPS, which revealed 15.4% and 16.4% inhibition for TC and LDLC, respectively. However, these differences between FSM and CPS groups were not significantly different. A preventative effect of FSM or CPS on the accumulation of hepatic TC, but not on TG, was observed. FSM and CPS did not demonstrate any effects on fecal lipid excretion. In conclusion, the cholesterol-lowering effects of the soymilk fermented with Bacillus subtilis KCCM42923 were comparable to CGJ powder-added soymilk. These results suggest that drinking FSM might provide beneficial effects on controlling plasma cholesterol levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.837-843
• /
• 2013

Sasa borealis is a major source of bamboo leaves used for traditional medicine in Korea. Obesity is a serious health problem in industrialized countries that has been implicated in various diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and coronary heart disease. Recent reports have proposed mechanisms to reduce obesity by decreasing preadipocyte differentiation, and proliferation in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte. The preadipocytes play a key role by differentiation into mature adipocytes and increasing fat mass. In this study, we investigated whether ethanol-soluble extracts and ethyl acetate-soluble fractions from Sasa borealis inhibits intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets in a dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells (an important model system for studying adipogenesis). The down-regulation of PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$ (key adipogenic transcription factors) were confirmed by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions from Sasa borealis attenuated the expression of PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$. These results suggest that Sasa borealis inhibits adipogenic differentiation by regulating adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 cells. Therefore, Sasa borealis extracts may be a good candidate for the management of obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.124-135
• /
• 2010

Background and Objective: Atherosclerosis is a diffuse, systemic disease that affects the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral arterial trees. Clopidogrel is widely used antiplatelet agent and its efficacy has been proven in cardiac and extracardiac vascular diseases, but it has several side effects. Therefore we investigated whether Sopunghwalhyeoltang, which is widely used for treating the blood stasis syndrome in traditional medicine, could decrease the side effect of antiplatelets and have a synergic effect. Methods & Materials: Male $ApoE^{(-/-)}$ mice were randomly divided into three different experimental groups, non-treated group (Control group), clopidogrel-treated group (CP group) and clopidogrel with Sopunghwalhyeol-tang treated group (CPS group). The control group was fed with only an atherogenic diet, the CP group an atherogenic diet plus clopidogrel 25mg/kg and the CPS group an atherogenic diet plus clopidogrel 25mg/kg with Sopunghwalhyeol-tang 100 mg/kg. We investigated plasma lipids with liver function test, and performed a histological investigation of liver and abdominal aorta. Results: 1. Photomicrographs of liver and abdominal aorta tissue showed lower histological injury and lipid accumulation in the CP and CPS groups than those in the Control group. 2. In the CPS group, plasma triglyceride level was significantly lower than in the Control and CP groups. 3. In the CPS group, the plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was significantly lower than in the CP group. Conclusions: The above results shows that a combined treatment of Sopunghwalhyeol-tang and clopidogrel have a synergic effect through inhibiting vessel injury and decrease the side effects of clopidogrel alone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.745-752
• /
• 2007

This study examined the effects of different levels of evening primrose oil (EPO) on the accumulation of ${\gamma}$-fatty acids in broiler meat. Six hundred one-day-old male chicks (Ross strain) from commercial broilers were divided randomly into 6 groups${\times}$4 repeat pens. The broilers were fed experimental diets containing 4.0% tallow (control), 0.5% EPO, 0.7% mixed oil (EPO 70:soy bean oil 30), 1.5% EPO, 3.0% EPO or 4.0% EPO for two weeks of broiler finisher. There was a significant difference in body weight gain between the control and treatment groups except for the 0.5% EPO group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the percentage of thigh and breast weight against the carcass weight between control and treatment groups except for the 0.5% EPO group in the thigh and 0.5% EPO and 4.0% EPO groups in the breast weight (p<0.05). The saturated fatty acid levels of the skin and breast muscle lipid of the broilers fed diets containing EPO were significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.05), while the level of unsaturated fatty acid was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The ${\gamma}$-fatty acid (GLA, gamma.linolenic acid, 18:3n-6) level was particularly higher in the chicken meat lipids from the broilers fed EPO than in the control group (p<0.05). This shows that feeding EPO to chicks can produce novel functional broiler meat that is enriched in gamma-linolenic acid.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.430-437
• /
• 2012

The effects of low temperature and starvation on the physiochemical characteristics of the muscle of the olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, were examined. Fish were deprived of feed for 28 days at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and $20^{\circ}C$ in order to establish suitable conditions for live fish transportation. Throughout most of the 4 weeks of feed restriction, the physiochemical characteristics of the muscle of olive flounder were found to be dependent on the acclimation temperature. The breaking strength of muscle did not show a significant reduction during feed restriction at 2 and $4^{\circ}C$. With increasing temperatures, however, the breaking strength of muscle differed significantly according to the individual and feed restriction period (P<0.05). The moisture content in muscle acclimated at 10, 12, and $20^{\circ}C$ increased steadily over the feed-restriction period, while the crude lipid content decreased during the same period (P<0.05). At water temperatures above $2-8^{\circ}C$, no significant differences were shown during the same period. After it reached 6, 8, 10, 12, and $20^{\circ}C$, the muscle had an accumulation of lactate, and a loss of ATP. There was no change in the lactate or ATP content during the feed restriction period at 2 and $4^{\circ}C$, although there were differences among the water temperature groups. These results clearly show that temperature can have an important influence on the of muscle of physiochemical characteristics of muscle during live fish transportation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.341-349
• /
• 2013

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities of two medicinal herb extracts, Tetrapanax papyriferus (TP) and Siegesbeckia pubescens (SP), were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, lipase enzyme inhibition assay, and the cell culture model system. Both methanol extracts of TP and SP showed DPPH radical scavenging activities dose-dependently, and the $IC_{50}$ of DPPH radical scavenging activities of the two medicinal herbs were 65.23 and 47.79 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Furthermore, both extracts suppressed effectively lipase enzyme activity dose-dependently. Moreover, TP and SP extracts significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, triglyceride (TG) contents on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Their anti-obesity effect was modulated by cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expressions. Furthermore, TP and SP possessed a synergistic effect on anti-obesity activity. The identification of the active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activity of TP and SP might be needed.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.356-363
• /
• 2013

Clinical and preclinical trials of involving drugs with anti-obesity effects have focused on screening for herbal medicines suspected to have anti-obesity activities. In this study, an extract of Aster scaver Thunb., which was prepared in 80% methanol (ASE), was assessed for its total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity ability to scavenge the ${\alpha}-{\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid radical, and anti-adipogenic effects. The anti-adipogenic effect of ASE on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes to adipocytes was investigated by assaying the suppression of adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation by using western blot analysis and the Oil Red-O assay, respectively. The staining results showed that ASE significantly inhibited 3T3-L1. Western blot analysis results showed that ASE decreased the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c. These results demonstrate that ASE directly inhibits the differentiation of preadipocytes, and might be an important adjunct in the therapeutic efforts to reduce adipogenesis.