• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.874-885
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• 2012

In the present study, the possibility of whether the pharmacological effects of Scutellariae Radix Aqueous Extracts(SR) were favorably changed by report that lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced rat acute lung injury was treated with Red-Koji(Monascus purpureus 12002) fermentation. Three different dosages of Red-Koji fermented SR extract(fSR), 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 28 days before LPS(Escherichia coli 0111:B4) treatments, and then 5 hours after LPS treatment(500 ${\mu}g$/head, intra trachea instillation), all rats were sacrificed. Changes in the body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters(pH, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) protein, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$) contents, total cell numbers, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), proinflammatory cytokine TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents were observed with histopathology of the lung, changes on luminal surface of alveolus(LSA), thickness of alveolar septum, number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs). As results of LPS-injection, dramatical increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit increases in $PaCO_2$, decreases in pH of arterial blood and $PaO_2$, increases of BALF protein, LDH, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung MDA, MPO, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents increases were detected with decreases in LSA and increases of alveolar septum and PMNs numbers, respectively as compared with intact control. Especially fSR 125 mg/kg showed quite similar favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injuries as compared with 60 mg/kg of ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid and 250 mg/kg of SR. The results suggest that over 125 mg/kg of fSR extracts showed favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injury mediated by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, increases of the pharmacological effects of SR on LPS-induced acute lung injury were observed by Red-Koji fermentation in this study, at least 2-fold higher.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1032-1040
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• 2013

The comparative effects of fibrinolytic, antioxidative activity and electrophoretical protein patterns with Cordyceps militaris powder (CM) and cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris JLM0636 powder (CCM) and fermented cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris JLM0636 powder by several microscopic organisms were investigated. In addition, nutritional materials such as mineral, protein, and fatty acids were also measured. The protein concentration was higher in CCM than that in CM. The protein concentration in fermented CCM was the highest in CCM treated by Aspergillus kawachii among the various samples. When total protein patterns of CM, CCM, and both fermented CCMs were analyzed by native- and SDS-PAGE, there were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns. Major minerals were K, Ca, Mg, and Zn. Major fatty acids were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid. Fibrinolytic activity was the highest in the fermented CCM by Bs treatment among the various samples. The ${\alpha},{\alpha}^{\prime}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in the CCM treated with Aspergillus kawachii among the various samples; however, these samples all exhibited relatively low levels of activity compared with the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). These results may provide the basic data necessary to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of Cordyceps militaris JLM0636 powder fermented by several microscopic organisms to develop functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.743-749
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to identify the effect of fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (A. gigas) on lipid metabolism in orotic acid-induced fatty liver model rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four dietary groups (n=6 per group): a normal (N) group fed a standard diet only, OA control, OA acid plus 5% (w/w) A. gigas (OAG), and OA plus 5% (w/w) fermented A. gigas (OFAG). OA treatment induced enlargement of the liver and accumulation of hepatic triglycerides. The consum ption of fermented A. gigas reduced triglyceride concentrations in the liver and increased the serum lipid concentrations to normal levels. Furthermore, OA treatment significantly decreased serum triglyc eride concentrations without diminishing mRNA expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protei n (MTP) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Hepatic MTP mRNA expression increased 1.08-fold in response to OA treatment, despite triglyceride accumulation in the liver relative to that of the normal group. OFAG administration was slightly lower as compared to the OA treatment. This result suggests that MTP mRNA expression is not always correlated with hepatic triglyceride accumulation in the OA-induced fatty liver model. However, PDI mRNA expression was significantly increased in the OAG and OFAG groups (1.62-fold and 1.63-fold, respectively) compared with the normal group. The hepatocytes in the OA group contained numerous large fat droplets. These were slightly reduced in the OFAG group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2015

The comparative effects of the fibrinolytic action, antioxidative activity, and tyrosinase inhibition of Cordyceps militaris powder and fermented Cordyceps militaris powders were investigated using several microscopic organisms. The nutritional components such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and minerals were also measured. The total phenolic compounds and flavonoid concentrations were highest in the Cordyceps militaris powder fermented by Aspergillus oryzae. Major minerals were K, Ca, Mg, and Zn. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE) analysis of the total protein patterns of Cordyceps militaris powder and fermented Cordyceps militaris powders revealed slight varietal differences. Fibrinolytic activity was highest in the Cordyceps militaris powder fermented by Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus kawachii. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in the powder fermented by Monascus purpureus; however, these samples all exhibited a relatively low activity when compared with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Tyrosinase inhibition activity was stronger in the powder fermented by Aspergillus oryzae than in unfermented powder. These results may provide basic data for understanding the biological activities and chemical characteristics of Cordyceps militaris powder fermented by several microscopic organisms for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1022-1027
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• 2004

The monacolin K content was determined to investigate the stability of monacolin K from red yeast rice after heating (20∼8$0^{\circ}C$), adjusting the pH (2∼8) by adding 3 N HCl or 3 N NaOH, adding the organic acid (6.0% acetic acid, 0.6% citric acid, 1.5% lactic acid) to pH 4.0 and adding the water (0∼80%). And the monacolin K was isolated from red yeast rice by conducting open column chromatography using neutral aluminum oxide. As a result, the stability of monacolin K decreased with increasing the temperature. The stability for pH was in the order of the unadjusted pH (pH 5.9)>8>4 and pH 2>10. The stability for organic acid was high in the order of lactic acid>citric acid>acetic acid, and the stability of monacolin K under acid was different according to the acid type. The degradation rate of monacolin K increased with increasing the water content. Moreover monacolin K was able to isolate from red and pink pigments as well as the other noncoloric compounds in red yeast rice. The yield of monacolin K was found to be 70%.