• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.198-205
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• 2006

This study was designed to investigate the possibility of the use of dried mackerel, which is enriched with docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3, DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3, EPA) acids, as a means of increasing the intake of these n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and to investigate the effect of the consumption of mackerel on tissue triglyceride, cholesterol contents and fatty acid compositions. Twenty male mice were fed on 5% palm oil (control group) and 5% dried mackerel (mackerel group) diets for four weeks. Total triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels tended to decrease in serum, heart and kidney of the mackerel group compared to the control group, while HDL-cholesterol levels were increased with the intake of mackerel. In fatty acid compositions of serum and heart, the mackerel group showed increased percentages of n-3 fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA, and decreased percentages of arachidonic (20:4n-6, AA) and docosapentaenoic (22:5n-6, DPAn-6) acids compared to the control group (p<0.05). There was a similar tendency in kidney and adipose tissue but AA levels were not significantly different between the control and mackerel groups. These results indicate that intake of dried mackerel as the n-3 vehicle for increasing tissue n-3 fatty acids may be associated with improvement in lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2015

The use of calcite-forming bacteria (CFB) in crack remediation and durability improvements in construction materials creates a permanent and environmentally-friendly material. Therefore, research into this type of application is stimulating interdisciplinary studies between microbiology and architectural engineering. However, the mechanisms giving rise to these materials are dependent on calcite precipitation by the metabolism of the CFB, which raises concerns about possible hazards to cement-based construction due to microbial metabolic acid production. The aim of this study was to determine target microorganisms that possibly can have bio-corrosive effects on cement mortar and to assess multi-functional CFBs for their safe application to cement structures. The chalky test was first used to evaluate the $CaCO_3$ solubilization feature of construction sites by fungi, yeast, bacterial strains. Not all bacterial strains are able to solubilize $CaCO_3$, but C. sphaerospermum KNUC253 or P. prolifica KNUC263 showed $CaCO_3$ solubilization activity. Therefore, these two strains were identified as target microorganisms that require control in cement structures. The registered patented strains Bacillus aryabhatti KNUC205, Arthrobacter nicotianae KNUC2100, B. thuringiensis KNUC2103 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KNUC2106, reported as multifunctional CFB (fungal growth inhibition, crack remediation, and water permeability reduction of cement surfaces) and isolated from Dokdo or construction site were unable to solubilize $CaCO_3$. Notably, B. aryabhatti KNUC205 and A. nicotianae KNUC2100 could not hydrolyze cellulose or protein, which can be the major constituent macromolecules of internal materials for buildings. These results show that several reported multi-functional CFB can be applied to cement structures or diverse building environments without corrosive or bio-deteriorative risks.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1145-1151
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Sineui-Dae (Sasa coreana Nakai, a kind of bamboo) extracts on the improvement of serum lipid composition by using rats fed a hypercholesterol diet for 4 weeks. The experiment animals were administered with the following diets; high cholesterol diet group (HC diet) as a control and three supplemented groups with high cholesterol diets (HCW, HCM or HCH diet). Three kinds of extracts were prepared by orderly extraction with hexane, methanol, and water. We measured free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, total cholesterol LDL- and HDL-cholesterol triglyceride and phospholipid in the serum of rats in three experimental and control groups. There were no significant differences in body weights and feed intakes between the HC control group and the extract supplemented groups. The levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the serum of extract supplemented groups were lower than that of the group fed with HC diet only. Serum HDL-cholesterol levet which is known as an antiatherosclerosis factor, was higher in all groups supplemented with bamboo extract by 17.2-21.9% compared to the HC control group. All groups supplemented with bamboo extracts showed the lowering effect of atherogenic index compared to the HC control group (HC group: 2.96${\pm}$0.08, HCM group: 1.48${\pm}$0.02, HCW group: 1.69${\pm}$0.04, HCH group: 1.84${\pm}$0.01). Furthermore, serum triglyceride and phospholipid decreased significantly in the HCM diet compared to the HC control diet. These results suggest that Sineui-Dae bamboo extract, especially methanol extract, has improving effects on hyperlipidemia of rats fed a high cholesterol diet.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.396-402
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effects of 4 kinds of plant water extract mixture and garlic extract (PMC) administration on serum lipid metabolism in hypercholestrolemic rats. The normal group was administered a cholesterol free diet, the control group a 1% cholesterol diet, and each experimental group was given a diet of 1% cholesterol, 1% plant mixture and 0.3, 0.5, 0.7% garlic extract (PMC-I, PMC-II, PMC-III), respectively. Each diet was administered orally to SD-male rats for 4 weeks. Total cholesterol content decreased by about 20% with administration of PMC. Triglyceride content also decreased from 9.3 to 15.0% compared to the control group, and phospholipid was similar to triglyceride. There was no significant difference in HDL-cholesterol content between the control and experimental groups. LDL-cholesterol content of the normal group was 9.4 times lower than the control group and its content was significantly lower in the PMC-II ($68.45{\pm}12.83\;mg/dl$) and PMC-III ($66.35{\pm}5.18\;mg/dl$) groups than the PMC-I group. VLDL-cholesterol content of the PMC-II and III groups were similar to the normal group. Atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factor (CRF) were significantly lower in the PMC group. Blood glucose content was the lowest in the PMC-II ($189.37{\pm}12.02\;mg/dl$) group among all groups tested. Total protein content was $9.56{\pm}0.87{\sim}10.05{\pm}2.69\;mg/dl$ in the PMC-I~III groups and was significantly higher than the normal group. CPT activity did not show a significant difference among the experimental groups, while COT activity was effective only in the PMC-I group. Serum TBARS content in the PMC-III group was lower than in the normal group. Serum antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging was $83.75{\pm}2.32%$ in the PMC-III group, which was significantly higher than the control group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2008

We investigated whether 1) the combined capsaicin (75 mg), sesamin (30 mg), and L-carnitine (900 mg) (CCSC) ingestion enhances autonomic nervous system (ANS) activities including thermogenic sympathetic activity as energy metabolic modulator, 2) ${\beta}_3-AR$ polymorphism of each subject influences with ANS activity. Seven healthy males $(22.0{\pm}0.5\;yr)$ volunteered for this study. The cardiac autonomic nervous activities evaluated by means of heart rate variability of power spectral analysis were continuously measured during 5 min every 30 min for total 120 min resting condition with CCSC or placebo oral administration chosen at random. The results indicated that, there are not $Arp/Arg^{64}$ variants of the ${\beta}_3-AR$ genotypes in our subjects. There were not also significant differences in heart rate during rest between both trials. The difference of ANS activity did not reach the statistical significance between both trials. However, the significant improvement showed TOTAL power, HF component, and the indices of SNS and PNS activities before and at 30 min after CCSC ingestion (p<0.05, respectively). In conclusions, although each component of combined CCSC is associated with lipolysis and/or fat oxidation, the combined CCSC consumption is not influenced in stimulation of thermogenic sympathetic activity as modulator of energy metabolism. In rather, our results suggested that CCSC ingestion improves the balance of both SNS and PNS activities. Therefore, it will be considered many combined nutrient components for ergogenic and/or lipolysis effects as well as genetic variants affecting ANS activity in further studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.827-836
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• 2014

There is a rising trend in obesity due to various factors, including changes in eating habits, lack of exercise, and genetic and psychological factors. Citrus peel has been reported to prevent obesity via antioxidative, antihypertensive, and LDL cholesterol-lowering effects. This study investigated the effects of citrus peel extract fermented with or without Aspergillus oryzae in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. The animals were divided into four groups: a high-fat diet group (HFD), a normal fat diet (NFD) group, a citrus peel extract (CP) group, and a citrus peel extract fermented with A. oryzae (CPA) group. The citrus peel extract improved lipid metabolism and weight loss in the high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model. As expected, the body weight was higher in the HFD group compared with the NFD, CP, and CPA groups. However, the concentrations of total cholesterol (TG) and triglyceride (TC) in the serum and liver of the CP and CPA groups were lower than in the HFD group. There were no significant differences in the HDL cholesterol concentration among the groups. Taken together, our results suggest that extract of citrus peel biotransformed with A. oryzae had more antiobesity activity than citrus peel not transformed by A. oryzae through the fermentation of metabolites.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.432-442
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• 2013

In this study, we examined the biological activity and synergistic effects of an extract powder of 1% and 3%, each fresh (FGP) and black garlic (BGP) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose content was significantly lower in FGP and BGP groups than control group. Glycosylated Hb was significantly higher in streptozotocin induced diabetic control group than normal group, but significantly lower in FGP and BGP groups. Total cholesterol content of the FGP and BGP groups were lower than control group, but not shown the significant difference between garlic fed groups. HDL-cholesterol concentrations of the FGP and BGP fed groups were significantly higher than control group, except of 1% BGP group. LDL and VLDL-cholesterol contents were significantly lower in 3% FGP group, and the same tendency atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. GOT, GPT, and ${\gamma}$-GTP activity of serum were lower in FGP and BGP fed groups than control group. Glycogen contents in liver significantly higher than control group, and has not significantly difference between normal group. TBARS content was no significantly difference in the liver and serum, but in the kidney, 3% FPG and BGP fed groups were significantly lower than other experimental group. DPPH radical scavenging activity of liver has not significant difference among experimental groups, but activity was higher garlic extract powder fed groups in serum and kidney. These results indicate that dietary supplements of fresh and black garlic extract powder was contributed to lower of blood glucose, loss prevention of glycogen in liver and improve of lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1105-1112
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to examine the metabolic adjustment of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) isozymes to the environmental temperature in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). This study included three groups of bluegill collected in April (group Ⅰ), May (group Ⅱ), and September (group Ⅲ). The LDH activities of skeletal muscle, heart, and brain tissues were higher in group Ⅲ than in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ. The citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7, CS) activity was higher in skeletal muscle but lower in heart and brain tissues of group Ⅱ as compared to group Ⅰ. In contrast, the CS activity was lower in skeletal muscle and higher in heart and brain tissues in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅱ. Furthermore, the LDH/CS activity ratio was higher in the skeletal muscle and brain in group Ⅲ than in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ. Accordingly, anaerobic metabolism was increased in group Ⅲ. LDH A₄, A₂B₂, and B₄ isozymes were expressed in skeletal muscle, heart, liver, and brain tissues. The LDH C hybrid was detected in brain tissue. The LDH A₄ isozyme was successfully purified by affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified LDH A₄ isozyme was 136 kDa and its optimal pH for enzymatic activity was 8.0. The K_m^PYR values of LDH in skeletal muscle were 0.161-0.227 mM using pyruvate as a substrate. These kinetic properties of LDH in skeletal muscle are consistent with the fact that bluegill is a cold-adapted species. These results may be useful for predicting the habitat use of this fish.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.600-607
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• 2015

In vitro and in vivo experiments using Achyranthis radix and Drynariae rhizoma extracts were conducted. Antioxidant properties were analyzed and the effects on bone, glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated. Drynariae rhizoma (64.67%) obtained higher DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to Achyranthis radix (19.03%). Similar results were obtained in the reducing power. No differences were observed on the ABTS radical scavenging ability and SOD. In contrast, Achyranthis radix (77.60%) has higher chelating ability compared to Drynariae rhizoma (46.21%). In vivo experiments revealed higher plasma TBARS in OVX-DR than in OVX-AR. Opposite result was seen in erythrocyte TBARS. Hepatic, nephritic and erythrocyte enzymes were considered for the antioxidant enzyme activities. GSH-Px and PON of hepatic enzymes were higher in OVX-AR. While the CAT and GR were higher in OVX-DR. SOD, GSH-Px, GR and PON of nephritic enzymes of OVX-DR were higher compared to OVX-AR. Almost similar values were obtained in CAT using both extracts. The OVX treated rats obtained higher CAT and GR in the erythrocyte enzymes compared to SHAM. The SOD of erythrocyte enzymes in OVX-DR was higher compared to OVX-AR. On the other hand, the GSH-Px was higher in OVX-AR.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Agarum cribrosum on weight change and defecation states in rats with constipation induced by loperamide. Food intake and body weight both decreased in the 5% Agarum cribrosum and loperamide-treated group (SD5) and 10% Agarum cribrosum and loperamide-treated group (SD10), whereas fecal water contents increased by 1.6 and 2.1-fold in the SD5 and SD10 groups, respectively. The concentrations of total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride in the sera of the SD5 and SD10 groups were lower than those in the control (C) group. However, the biochemical parameters, GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase), and glucose levels, were not affected by the level of Agarum cribrosum. In addition, the concentrations of total-cholesterol and triglyceride in the livers of the SD5 and SD10 groups were also lower than those in the control group. The results of the present study demonstrated that Agarum cribrosum might ameliorate constipation symptoms, and lower lipid concentrations in the blood and liver.