• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 2016

Purpose: Ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress contributes to several adverse biological effects on skin. Many phenolic phytochemicals have been shown to have antioxidant properties and protect skin cells from UV-induced oxidative damage. In this study, we investigated whether or not Aralia elata (AE) has a protective effect against UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately leading to photoaging. Methods: Phenolic content of dried AE and antioxidant properties of AE extract in 70% ethanol weredetermined by measuring DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The effect of AE extract on cellular ROS generation and expression levels of oxidative stress-response proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1, catalase, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)-2, and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in UVB-irradiated ($75mJ/cm^2$) human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were further determined by 2'-7'-dichlorofluoresceine diacetate assay and Western blotting, respectively. Results: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of dried AE were 20.15 mg tannic acid/g and 18.75 mg rutin/g, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ of AE extract against DPPH radical was $98.5{\mu}g/mL$, and ABTS radical scavenging activity and FRAP upon treatment with $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ of AE extract were $41.8{\mu}g\;ascorbic\;acid\;(AA)\;eq./mL$ and $29.7{\mu}g\;AA\;eq./mL$,m respectively. Pretreatment with AE extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05) ROS generation compared to that in UVB-irradiated control HaCaT cells. Pretreatment with AE extract reversed reduction of Nrf-2 and SOD-1 protein expression and induction of HO-1 protein expression caused by UVB exposure in HaCaT cells, whereas it did not affect catalase expression. Conclusion: AE extract in 70% ethanol demonstrated a protective effect against UVB-induced oxidative stress and decreased expression of Nrf-2 and SOD-1 in human keratinocytes. These findings suggest that AE ethanol extract might have potential as a natural resource for a skin anti-photoaging product in the food and cosmetic industry.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.229-237
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• 2015

This study aims to offer basic data to effectively preserve and manage pine forests using more precise pine forests' distribution status. In this regard, this study predicts the geographical distribution change of pine forests growing in South Korea, due to climate change, and evaluates the spatial distribution characteristics of pine forests by age. To this end, this study predicts the potential distribution change of pine forests by applying the MaxEnt model useful for species distribution change to the present and future climate change scenarios, and analyzes the effects of bioclimatic variables on the distribution area and change by age. Concerning the potential distribution regions of pine forests, the pine forests, aged 10 to 30 years in South Korea, relatively decreased more. As the area of the region suitable for pine forest by age was bigger, the decreased regions tend to become bigger, and the expanded regions tend to become smaller. Such phenomena is conjectured to be derived from changing of the interaction of pine forests by age from mutual promotional relations to competitive relations in the similar climate environment, while the regions suitable for pine forests' growth are mostly overlap regions. This study has found that precipitation affects more on the distribution of pine forests, compared to temperature change, and that pine trees' geographical distribution change is more affected by climate's extremities including precipitation of driest season and temperature of the coldest season than average climate characteristics. Especially, the effects of precipitation during the driest season on the distribution change of pine forests are irrelevant of pine forest's age class. Such results are expected to result in a reduction of the pine forest as the regions with the increase of moisture deficiency, where climate environment influencing growth and physiological responses related with drought is shaped, gradually increase according to future temperature rise. The findings in this study can be applied as a useful method for the prediction of geographical change according to climate change by using various biological resources information already accumulated. In addition, those findings are expected to be utilized as basic data for the establishment of climate change adaptation policies related to forest vegetation preservation in the natural ecosystem field.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2013

Dictyophora indusiata is an edible mushroom belongs to Family Phallaceae of Phallales, Basidiomycota. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol and hot water extracts prepared from fruiting bodies of Dictyophora indusiata. Besides measuring of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, a reducing power and a chelating activity on ferrous ions were also measured to evaluate the antioxidant activity for those extracts. To measure the anti-inflammatory activities for the extracts, nitric oxide(NO) production from lipopolysaccharide(LPS) treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and carrageenan-induced acute hind paw edema of rats were investigated. The results showed that the extracts have excellent DPPH scavenging and chelating activity on the ferrous ions compared with positive control. The nitric oxide(NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were decreased as we increased the concentration of the mushroom extracts. Significant reduction of paw edema of rats were observed at 2~6 h after treatment of methanol and hot-water extracts with 50 mg/kg concentration to the rats which are induced acute hind paw edema by carrageenan administration. Therefore, the experimental results suggested that methanol and hot-water extracts of Dictyophora indusiata fruiting bodies might be used for natural sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.429-444
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• 1991

Cold stress influence plant growth through a wide range of growth characters. Adverse effects of low temperature to plant growth come from results of colligative and complex physiological responses to cold stress. To evaluate more exactly cold tolerance of crop plant, it is needed to observe physiological changes induced by cold stress and to analyze relationships between intraspecific variations in physiological factors related to cold tolerance and the extent of cold tolerance in the field. Therefore, the composition and unsaturation ratio of fatty acids in phospholipid, a constituent of membrane, the transition-temperature in respiratory activity of mitochodria, the chlorophyll fluorescence as a factor related to photosynthesis were investigated in rice plant and data on these factors were compared with the degree of cold tolerance obtained in the field experiment. Also, effects of hardening and Mn++ treatment were evaluated as a method to reduce chilling injuries. The unsaturation ratio of fatty acids, whether rice plants were grown in a natural condition or under the chilling stress, was higher in the cold- tolerant varieties and was significantly correlated with the degree of cold tolerance (1-9) observed in the field experiment. And it was also increased by chilling treatment or hardening treatment, due to a reduction in palmitic acid content and an increase in linolenic acid content. The transition-temperature of respiratory activity of mitochodria isolated from etiolated rice seedlings ($25^{\circ}C$, two week-grown in the dark), was correlated with the degree of cold tolerance in the field, cold -tolerant varieties showing a lower transition-temperature. It was not influenced by growth stages. The intensity of chlorophyll fluorescence was highly correlated with the degree of cold tolerance, cold-tolerant varieties having a higher fluorescence intensity. By foliar application of Mn, the transition-temperature of respiratory activity was lowered as much as 0-2$^{\circ}C$ in all tested varieties. Soil application of Mn induced more significant effect in cold-susceptible varieties with a possibility of reducing chilling injuries. On the whole, there were high correlationships among the degree of cold tolerance, the unsaturation ratio of fatty acids in phospholipid, the transition- temperature of respiratory activity and chlorophyll fluorescence except for a few varieties. The transition- temperature of respiratory activity appeared to be negatively correlated with the unsaturation ratio of fatty acids. and the chlorophyll fluorescence to be positively correlated with the unsaturation ratio. This implies that these physical and physiological factors were very closely related to cold tolerance and can be used as an effective index of the evaluation of cold tolerance of crop plant. But other factors as well as three factors discussed above are needed to be considered colligatively and altogether with a systematic analysis for the more exact evaluation of cold tolerance. in rice cultivars. in rice cultivars.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2010

Fibroblasts are the most common cells in connective tissue and are responsible for the synthesis of extracellular matrix components. The fibrosis associated with chronic inflammation and injury may contribute to cholangiocarcinoma pathogenesis, particularly through an increase in extracellular matrix components, which participate in the regulation of bile duct differentiation during development. Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative metabolism to provide energy to the cell under physiological conditions. Also, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been implicated in cellular senescence and aging. Alternations in mitochondrial structure and function are early events of programmed cell death or apoptosis and mitochondria appear to be a central regulator of apoptosis in most somatic cell. Clonorchis sinensis, one of the most important parasite of the human bile duct in East Asia, arouses epithelial hyperplasia and ductal fibrosis. Isolated fibroblast from the bile ducts of rats infected by C. sinensis showed increase of cytoplasmic process. In addition, decrease of cellular proliferation was observed in fibroblasts which was isolated from normal rat bile duct and then cultured in media containing C. sinensis excretory-secretory product. However, the effects of C. sinensis infection on the mitochondrial enzyme distribution is not clearly reported yet. Therefore, we investigated the structural change of C. sinensis infected bile duct and mitochondrial enzyme distribution of the cultured fibroblast isolated from the C. sinensis infected rat bile duct. As a result, C. sinensis infected SD rat bile ducts showed the features of chronic clonorchiasis, such as ductal connective and epithelial tissue dilatation, or ductal fibrosis. In addition, fibroblast in ductal connective tissue was damaged by physical effect of fibrotic tissue and chemical stimulation. Immunohistochemically detected mitochondrial electron transferase (ATPase, COXII, Porin) was decreased in C. sinensis infected rat bile duct and cultured fibroblast from infected rat bile duct. It can be hypothesized that the reason why number of electron transferase decrease in fibroblast isolated from the rat bile duct infected with C. sinensis is because dysfunction of electron transport system is occurred mitochondrial dysfunction, increase of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and apoptosis after chemical damage on the cell caused by C. sinensis infection. Overall, C. sinensis infection induces fibrotic change of ductal connective tissue, mutation of cellular metabolism in fibroblast and mitochondrial dysfunction. Consequently, ductal fibrosis inhibits fibroblast proliferation and decreases mitochondrial electron transferase on fibroblast cytoplasm. It was assumed that the structure of bile duct could not normalized and ductal fibrosis was maintained for a long period of time according to fibroblast metamorphosis and death induced by mitochondrial dysfunction.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.261-276
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• 2009

Lactacystin, a microbial natural product synthesized by Streptomyces, has been commonly used as a selective proteasome inhibitor in many studies. Proteasome inhibitors is known to be preventing the proliferation of cancer cells in vivo as well as in vitro. Furthermore, proteasome inhibitors, as single or combined with other anticancer agents, are suggested as a new class of potential anticancer agents. This study was undertaken to examine in vitro effects of cytotoxicity and growth inhibition, and the molecular mechanism underlying induction of apoptosis in SCC25 human tongue sqaumous cell carcinoma cell line treated with lactacystin. The viability of SCC25 cells, human normal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human gingiva fibroblasts (HGF-1 cells), and the growth inhibition of SCC25 cells were assessed by MTT assay and clonogenic assay respectively. The hoechst staining, hemacolor staining and TUNEL staining were conducted to observe SCC25 cells undergoing apoptosis. SCC25 cells were treated with lactacystin, and Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, FAScan flow cytometry, MMP activity, and proteasome activity were performed. Lactacystin treatment of SCC25 cells resulted in a time- and does-dependent decrease of cell viability and a does-dependent inhibition of cell growth, and induced apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, lactacytin remarkably revealed cytotoxicity in SCC25 cells but not normal cells. And tested SCC25 cells showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, the reduction of MMP and proteasome activity, the decrease of DNA contents, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, the translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) onto nuclei, the up-regulation of Bax, and the activation of caspase-7, caspase-3, PARP, lamin A/C and DFF45 (ICAD). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that lactacystin resulted in G1 arrest in cell cycle progression which was associated with up-regulation in the protein expression of CDK inhibitors, $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ and $p27^{KIP1}$. We presented data indicating that lactacystin induces G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptois via proteasome, mitochondria and caspase pathway in SCC25 cells. Therefore our data provide the possibility that lactacystin could be as a novel therapeutic strategy for human tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2014

This study was conducted in order to analyze the polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities of hot-water extracts of Aster scaber in the wild field and cultivated field, and through the drying methods for the comparison on the quality characteristics of Aster scaber, according to cultivation and drying methods, and the development of functional materials. The extraction yield was higher in the Aster scaber cultivated field than those of the Aster scaber in the wild field, and high from the dried Aster scaber. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of Aster scaber hot-water extracts from the wild field were higher than those in the cultivated field. The total polyphenol contents were high in the extract of blanched and dried Aster scaber, and the flavonoid content was high in the non-treated Aster scaber. The electron donating ability (EDA) values of Aster scaber hot-water extracts were increased along with the increase of extract concentration, while the EDA of the blanched and dried Aster scaber extracts was higher than the other extracts. Furthermore, the SOD-like activity was increased by the extract concentration, and was high in the extract of the non-treated Aster scaber. The nitrite scavenging ability in pH 1.2 was high in the non-treated, blanched, dried, and natural dried Aster scaber. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities were increased through the increase of extract concentrations, and higher in the hot-water extract from Aster scaber in the wild field (WRA) than those in the other extracts. The inhibition of tyrosinase and reduction of power were increased by the increased extract concentration, and high in the extracts of blanched and dried Aster scaber. The reduced power was higher in the Aster scaber hot-water extracts of cultivated field, and was higher in the extracts of blanched and dried Aster scaber than those in the extracts dried through the use of other drying methods. Aster scaber has a high content of polyphenol and flavonoid, and antioxidant activities, which were developed as functional materials.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.293-298
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• 2015

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in the muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Schisandrae fructus (SF) extract of the fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baillon has been used as a tonic in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Although a great deal of work has been carried out on the therapeutic potential of SF, its pharmacological mechanisms of action in muscle diseases actions remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of SF ethanol extracts on the production of muscle atrophy factors in C2C12 myotubes stimulated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleotide (AICAR), an AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) activator, and sought to determine the underlying mechanisms of action. AICAR upregulated atrophy-related ubiquitin ligase muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF-1) and stimulated the levels of the forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) transcription factor in the C2C12 myotubes. SF supplementation effectively and concentration- dependently counteracted AICAR-induced muscle cell atrophy and reversed the increased expression of MuRF-1 and FoxO3a. Our study demonstrates that SF can reverse the muscle cell atrophy caused by AICAR through regulation of the AMPK and FoxO3a signaling pathways, followed by inhibition of MuRF-1.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 1996

The experiment was conducted to clarify the effect of water stress treatment on growth character of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. The water stress treatment was imposed artificially on seedling, flowering and rhizome enlargement stage of the plant. The decrease ratio of leaf area compare with control decreased to 24.4% by water stress treatment at seedling stage and to 41.6% at rhizome enlargement stage. The reduction rate of chlorophyll content at the end of water stress treatment was 41.2% at the see­dling stage and no difference at the flowering stage. The chlorophyll content of water stress treatment on seedling and flowering stage was recovered to 95% at harvest time. The ratio of rootlet distribution from top soil to l0cm depth showed maximum to 90% at the seedling stage and to 20cm depth showed max­imum to 6.4% at the rhizome enlargement stage. The dry weight of rootlet was decreased to $19.3{\sim}40.3%$ by water stress treatment. Dry weight of aerial part and underground part of the plant decreased in the order of seedling, flowering, rhizome enlargement and control and the dry weight of aerial part decrease more severely than underground part.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.579-588
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• 2016

This study analyzed nonmetallic inclusions in iron swords with a ring pommel excavated in the Ipbuk-dong, Suwon. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy(SEM-EDS) was used to estimate the iron-making temperature, and we compared the oxide with $SiO_2$ to investigate the heat-treatment technology in the production of iron swords with a ring pommel by investigating the artificial insertion of a slag former and the metallurgical structure. From the wustite observed in most of the specimens, it is judged that these swords were produced by heating and forging iron smelted at a low temperature using the solid reduction method. In addition, judging from the partial presence of $P_2O_5$, it is assumed that they were smelted directly with natural ore, not calcined. From the ratios of $CaO/SiO_2$ and $TiO_2/SiO_2$, it is judged that the raw material for iron-making was iron ore and that a calcareous slag former was not artificially inserted. The structure of the blade part on the front end was pure iron. From the high carbon content of the blade part on the ring pommel and the formation of a martensitic structure and pearlite colony, it is judged that they were tempered after carburizing and that the back, handle part, and ring pommel were unintentionally carburized. Judging from the structure of these specimens, it was noted that they were produced by applying artificial partial heat-treatment technology. This study attempted to present a more scientific analysis by using the method of interpretation through component analysis of nonmetallic inclusions appearing in one relic by the ratio of the oxide divided by $SiO_2$. It is judged that reinterpreting the arguments by the results of the existing analysis and research in this way can obtain different interpretations.