• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2010

Alginates are polysaccharides isolated from brown algae with gel-forming properties composed of 1,4-linked beta-D-mannuronic acid (M), alpha-L-guluronic acid (G), and alternating (MG) blocks. In this study, we have examined the toxic effects of high M-alginate to activate HepG2 human liver cells. Alginate enhanced the NO production and iNOS protein expression in HepG2 cells. In addition, alginates stimulated the HepG2 to induce IL-1 release and expression of TGF-beta1, which could influence the liver inflammation and chirrhosis. These findings suggest that high M-alginate form brown algae may have toxic effects on liver cells.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2021

Agricultural corrugated fiberboard packaging boxes frequently experience damage due to loading and unloading, vibration during transport, and shock by dynamic distribution condition change. This study was carried out to estimate effect of vibration during distribution process on compression strength of corrugated fiberboard boxes for agricultural products. In order to identify the degradation caused by vibration, after box packaging the agricultural products(tangerine or cucumber), the natural frequencies of the packaging boxes were measured by varying the relative humidity(50, 70 and 90%) at 25℃ temperature. Various types of corrugated fiberboard boxes were packed with tangerines and cucumbers, and the PSD plot vibration tests were conducted by utilizing the actual vibration recording results of the Gyeongbu Expressway section between Seoul and Gimcheon. As a result of the experiment, the decrease in compression strength of the box was relatively low in DW-AB, and the decrease in compression strength of the SW-A 0201(RSC) type box was the highest at 20.49%. In particular, both SW-A and DW-AB showed low compression strength degradation rates for open folder type boxes. The moisture content varies depending on the type of the box or agricultural products, and the enclosed 0201(RSC) type box was generally higher than the open folder or bliss type box, which is believed to be the reason for the decrease in compression strength of RSC type box due to humidity. By the agricultural product, the percentage of decrease in compression strength of box packed with cucumbers was especially high.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2021

Cordycepin is a characteristic bioactive compound of Cordyceps militaris with various beneficial effects. Cordyceps grows on both grains and insects, and the content of cordycepin varies depending on the cultivation conditions. In this study, the effect of culture conditions on the cordycepin content was analyzed and the extraction conditions were optimized. Analysis of cordycepin content in Pupae-Cordyceps found that it was highly affected by temperature in culture conditions. In the case of mycelium, it grows well at 20 and 25 ℃, but not at 30 ℃. However, the content of cordycepin was highest at 30℃ and less at 20 ℃. The fruiting body also showed a similar tendency: growth was 20 ℃ > 25 ℃ > 30 ℃, but the cordycepin content was 30 ℃ > 25 ℃ > 20 ℃. The content of cordycepin decreased after the fruiting bodies were produced. Next, extraction conditions such as solvent and time were optimized for maximum cordycepin content using response surface methodology (RSM). There was a large difference in the content of cordycepin according to the content of ethanol and the extraction temperature. Through RSM, it was confirmed that the optimum condition for extraction of cordycepin was 48.9 ℃ using 49.0% ethanol, and 160.9 mg/g extract could be obtained under this condition. In conclusion, this study suggested the optimized conditions for the cultivation and extraction of Pupae-Cordyceps for maximizing the content of cordycepin, and this may be applied to the discovery of materials using cordycepin.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2021

Sophora flavescens Ait. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant widely founded in Northeast Asia, and its dried root (Kushen) has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The therapeutic effects of Kushen in micturition disorder was not investigated comprehensively yet. In the present study, we examined and compared the efficacy of three batches of Kushen extract using different ethanol content through an in vitro cell-based assay. Among them, we chose the batch with the highest efficacy and augmented the volume of extract for industrial purpose. The bulk extract was examined in its efficacy in the in vitro cell-based assay, and the therapeutic effects through an in vivo behavioral assay of OAB rats. The main components of the extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was investigated by MTT assay. The overall efficacy of the extract was as much as, or more than, kurarinone, a potent BK_Ca channel activator. Thus, the extract was a potent relaxant of urinary smooth muscle by upregulating the activity of BK_Ca channel. The Kushen extract could be explored as an alternative medicine against overactive bladder patients indicating severe dysfunction of BK_Ca channel.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.493-503
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• 2021

Tricholoma matsutake (Pinus mushroom, PM) is one of the most valued ectomycorrhizal fungi in Asia because it is an expensive forest product with a unique flavor and taste. Therefore, many studies have tried to successfully cultivate Tricholoma matsutake artificially in Korea and other countries. However, its physiological and ecological characteristics are still unknown. Thus, we need to understand the diversity and clusters of microorganisms related to Tricholoma matsutake and to identify their core microorganisms related to their growth and production. In this study, we obtained an average of 11,661 fragments from three pine mushrooms with metagenome (an assemblage of genes of all microorganisms in the natural world) analysis from a pine forest located in Pohang, Gyeongsang-Bukdo. Of these, the valid reads were on average 5,073 per sample available for analysis, and the average length of a read was 456 bp. There were an average of 33.3 phyla in the metagenome analysis. Firmicutes phylum made up on an average 46% of the phyla and was dominant among the phyla. The next dominant phylum was Proteobacteria at 27% followed by Bacteroidetes at 17%, Actinobacteria at 5% and Verrucomicrobia at 2%. The Proteobacteria phylum consisted of the γ-proteobacteria class at 54% followed by β-proteobacteria at 37%, α-proteobacteria at 6%, δ-proteobacteria at 2% and ζ-proteobacteria at 0%. The metagenome consisted of the Ruminococcaceae family at 17% followed by Pseudomonadaceae at 13%, Burkholderiaceae at 7%, Bacteroidaceae at 7%, Lachnospiraceae at 7% and Clostridiaceae at 6%.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

We have previously reported that Acer tegmentosum extract, which is traditionally used in Korea to reduce alcohol-related liver injury, suppresses liver inflammation caused by excessive alcohol consumption and might improve metabolism. The active ingredient, 6-O-galloylsalidroside (GAL), was isolated from A. tegmentosum, and we hypothesized that GAL could provide desirable pharmacological benefits by ameliorating physiological conditions caused by alcohol abuse. Therefore, this study focused on whether GAL could ameliorate alcoholic fat accumulation and repair liver injury in mice. During chronic alcohol consumption plus binge feeding in mice, GAL was administered orally once per day for 11 days. Intrahepatic lipid accumulation was measured in vivo using a noninvasive method, ¹H magnetic resonance imaging, and confirmed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin and Oil Red O. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured using a Konelab system, and the triglyceride content was measured in liver homogenates using an enzymatic peroxide assay. The results suggested that GAL alleviated alcohol-induced steatosis,e as indicated by decreased hepatic and serum triglyceride levels in ethanol-fed mice. GAL treatment also correlated with a decrease in the Cd36 mRNA expression, thus potentially inhibiting the development of alcoholic steatosis via the hepatic de novo lipogenesis pathway. Furthermore, treatment with GAL inhibited the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 and attenuated hepatocellular damage, as reflected by a reduction in ALT and AST levels. These findings suggest that GAL extracted from A. tegmentosum has the potential to serve as a bioactive agent for the treatment of alcoholic fatty liver and liver damage.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2021

The present study was conducted to accomplish management efficiency by preparing preemptive measures for consumer dissatisfaction and overcome risks caused by Global Warming through studies of model cases in packaging. Through this study, we made it possible to find a way for companies to prepare for Global warming and consumer dissatisfaction. By contributing to eco-friendly packaging, we are trying to preemptively respond to recent major issues through packaging. Through this experiment, we tried to measure the degree of penetration of Plodia interpunctella H. larva into the insect repellent film produced by printing Ink containing a natural repellent. The control experiment was conducted with an untreated LDPE film to which no insect repellent was applied. The numbers decreased from 17 to 7 when the film was processed with repellent to show experimental results verifying effects of repellent by decrease in 10 (58.8% Decrease). Such results show that it is safe when the film is unfolded but in the case where the film is folded, the Plodia interpunctella H. punches through the film to lead to consumer dissatisfaction and it suggests that this can bring on risks to corporate management. Considering that most of the film is folded in the case of PE bag packaging, the direction which the corporations should take in terms of preparing for climate change countermeasures and consumer dissatisfaction has been clarified. Due to it receiving satisfactory results in safety rest results for printing film applied with pest repellent as well as the Quality analysis to test repellent contents of repellent film, it is certain that the importance of repellent method in packaging will increase in preparing for consumer dissatisfaction and actions against climate change henceforth.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2021

Global warming affects critical natural resources, one of which is the oceans that occupy 70% of the total cover of the earth. In other words, ocean warming is a subset of global warming which needs to be addressed urgently. Purple laver (pyropia spp.) is one of the most vulnerable items to climate change although it is a major export product of Korean fisheries. The purpose of this study is to analyze the causality of how climate change caused by global warming affects the increase or decrease of PLP (purple laver production). The target area for analysis was set to Maro-hae between Jindo-gun and Haenam-gun. We selected marine environmental factors and meteorologic factors that could affect PLP as variables, as well as co-integration tests to determine long-term balance, and the Granger causticity tests. As a result, PLP and marine environmental factors WT (water temperature), pH, and DO confirmed that long-term equilibrium relationships were established, respectively. However, there is only causality with WT and it is confirmed that there is only a correlation between pH and DO (dissolved oxygen). There was no long-term equilibrium relationship between PLP and HDD (heating degree days) and there is a causal effect that HDD affects PLP; however, it was less clear than that of WT. The relationship between PLP and RF (rainfall), WS (wind speed), SS (percentage of sunshine), and FF (farm facilities) was all balanced in the long term, and causality exists. Based on the results of the analysis, policy proposals were made.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2019

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a typical nitrogen disinfection by-product, which has posed a potential threat to human health during drinking water disinfection. Because of the well-known effects of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and teratogenesis, the high detection rate in water engineering systems (such as coagulation, membrane filtration and biological systems), and difficulty to remove, it has received wide concern in the field of water engineering systems. The NDMA is a low molecular weight hydrophilic organic substance, which is difficult to remove. Also, the mechanism for NDMA formation is also recognized to be complex, and many steps still needed to be further evaluated. Therefore, the mechanistic knowledge on NDMA formation potential and their removal processes is of particularly interest. Few papers summarize the occurrence and control of NDMA in water engineering systems. It is for this reason that the content of this paper is particularly important for us to understand and control the amount of NDMA thus reducing the threat of disinfection by-products to drinking water. Four parts including the mechanisms for the NDMA formation potential, the factors affecting the NDMA formation potential, the technologies for removal of NDMA are summarized. Finally, some definite suggestions are given.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2019

Albizzia julibrissin (AJ) is an herbal medicine that shows low toxicity, promotes promoting blood circulation and mitigates the inflammation and has mild side effects. Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases that occurs in older males and often results in lower urinary tract symptoms. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of AJ against BPH using LNCaP cells and Sprague Dawley rats treated with testosterone. Treatment with AJ extract reduced the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in vitro. In vivo, rats were divided into 6 groups: 1 (Normal Control); 2 (Testosterone propionate (TP) alone); 3 (TP + finasteride); 4 (TP + AJ 10 mg/kg); 5 (TP + AJ 50 mg/kg); 6 (TP + AJ 300 mg/kg). The groups treated with AJ showed reduced the relative prostate weights and BPH-related proteins were altered, with decreased AR, PSA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) observed by western blot. Histopathological analysis revealed the therapeutic effect of AJ, with a decreased thickness of epithelial cells and reduced level of PCNA and $5{\alpha}$-reductase type 2. These results suggest that AJ extract could ameliorate testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia.