• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1346-1353
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• 2011

Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in oriental regions since ancient times. In this study, the effect and mechanism of the MeOH extract of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep (STME) on adipocite differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocites were investigated. Treatment with STME in the concentration range of 0-200 ${\mu}g$/ml significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocites in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by a decrease in intracellular lipid droplets and lipid contents measured by Oil Red O staining. In association with the inhibitory effect of lipid accumulation, the expressions of the proteins concerned with adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocites were also investigated. Treatment with STME reduced the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$), cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ (C/EBP${\alpha}$ and C/EBP${\beta}$) and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), which are adipocyte specific markers. In flow cytometry analysis, the inhibitory effect of differentiation was caused by G1 arrest and following mitotic clonal expansion cease. Therefore, we also investigated the alteration of G1 phase arrest-related proteins. As a result, the expression of p21 protein was significantly increased, while the expressions of Cdk2, E2F-1 and phospho-Rb were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in STME treated 3T3-L1 cells. According to these results, STME might inhibit differentiation through G1 arrest in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes adipogenesis, and further studies, which are in progress, have to be completed to identify the active compounds.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effect of Ecklonia cava (EC) and Eisenia bicyclis (EB) ethanol extract on histamine production in mackerel. Changes in viable cell counts, histamine contents, pH and VBN of mackerel fillet treated with ethanol extracts during 25 days at 4 were measured. Treatments of EC and EB ethanol extract had reduced growth of viable cells by 2 log cycles during storage. Production of histamine was decreased by EC and EB extracts (115 and 96 ppm) when compared to the control at 5 days (384 ppm). The pH of mackerels treated with EC and EB extracts were no different, while the pH of the control increased during storage. Furthermore, the VBN of mackerels treated with EC and EB extracts were significantly decreased when compared to the control. In conclusion, EC and EB extract may reduce scombroid fish poisoning by decreasing histamine production in mackerel during refrigerated storage.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.243-247
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• 2006

The biological activity of functional food source with thyme extracts were examined. Total phenol contents in the 60% ethanol extracts $(26.8{\pm}0.35\;mg/g)$ with thyme leaf was higher than water extracts $(25.7{\pm}0.20\;mg/g)$. This HPLC analysis is significant in that physiological activity is related with phenolic compound content such as rosemarinic acid, quercetin and chlorogenic acid. Electron donating ability was shown as 90.1% in the water extracts and 77.7% in the 60% ethanol extracts. Antioxidant protection factor of 60% ethanol extracts was higher than water extracts. Helicobacter pylori of the water extracts from thyme leaves did not have antimicrobial activity, but the 60% ethanol extracts revealed the high antimicrobial activity as 9 mm of clear zone in $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of phenol content, 10 mm in $100\;{\mu}g/ml$, 13 mm in $150\;{\mu}g/ml$ and 16 mm in $200\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition activity showed no inhibition activity in 60% ethanol extracts but 39.9% inhibition activity in water extracts. Xanthine oxidase inhibition activity showed high inhibition activity at 73.5% in water extracts and 100% in 60% ethanol extracts. The result suggests the development of phenol compound in thyme as anti Helicobacter pylori, antioxidant and anti-gout agents.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2014

To evaluate the improving effects of antioxidant activity, we observed antioxidant capacities such as electron donating ability (EDA), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), inhibitory activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) and aldehyde oxidase (AO), and sensory characteristics on mixture of Smilax china L. root water extract added with water extract of fermented S. china L. leaf by Aspergillus oryzae (FSCL). Those contents of mixture with higher ratio of FSCL were proportionally high. And OD475 of mixture with higher ratio of FSCL was almost proportionally high ($R^2=0.9850$). Antioxidant capacities of EDA and FRAP of the mixture was higher than that of non-mixture. In addition, XO inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$) of A (1.19) was 59.80% higher than that of F (2.96), and the activity of mixture by the higher ratio of FSCL was proportionally low ($R^2=0.9490$). Taste acceptability of A was slightly higher than that of F, whereas that of C was highest. And color acceptability of 40-80% mixture was higher than those of A, F, and B. Overall acceptability of C and D was highest than those of others. Moreover, hot water extract of S. china L. leaf fermented with A. oryzae was maroon color, which looks like Puerh tea style, and mixture of S. china L. root extract added with hot water extract of S. china L. leaf was high acceptability of beverage. These results suggest that mixture of extract of S. china L. root and hot water extract of S. china L. leaf fermented with A. oryzae could improve antioxidant activities.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2000

This study was carried out to analyze ecophysiological responses for seedling of Quercus serrata, Quercus mongolica and Quercus variabilis that are the typical species of deciduous broadleaved forests in Korea. And executed experiments in the climatic control room to provide necessary information to ecological forest management and methods of natural regeneration through the analysis of seedling responses. The details of experimental analysis were growth processes of 4 months after seeding that vary with the condition of three light intensity[relative light intensity(RLI) 8%, 20%, 52%] and three soil moisture[water suction(WS) Ψ=100 hPa, Ψ=280 hPa, Ψ=330 hPa] gradient, growth factors after harvesting and the nutrition condition of leaves. The results of this study are followings: 1) Early growth was prosperous after germination for the species which have more weight of acorn. 2) The formation of lammas shoot was favourable with Q. variabilis and Q. mongolica. And the rate of the occurrence was the highest in the RLI 20%, and it was remarkably reduced in the RLI 8%. 3) As the height growth of seedling of all 3 species were greater in the RLI 20% and 8% than that of the RLI 52%, they showed strong shade tolerance. 4) The increase of light intensity promoted the diameter at root collar growth, and development of main and lateral roots with all 3 species. 5) It showed that the increase of light intensity in the experimental radiation condition raised special leaf area weight(mg/cm$^2$) and leaf area productivity(mg/cm$^2$). Consequently, these resulted in the increase of leaf thickness and total dry biomass per the unit area of leaf. 6) As the increase of light intensity, the minerals contents of leaves such as N, P and K were lowered, and the increase of soil moisture resulted in the increase of P, K, Ca and Mg.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2009

In this study, Paeonia japonica powder was extracted with ethanol, and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. The ethanol extract of the P. japonica had antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zones of the P. japonica ethanol extract (3 mg/disc) against B. subtilis, E. coli and S. aureus were 10, 11, 8.5 mm, respectively. To test the food preservation effect of P. japonica and determine the optimal ratio of the P. japonica extract in the formulation, Sulgidduk samples were prepared with substitutions of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% P. japonica extract, and the quality characteristics of the samples were then investigated over 4 days of storage. In these experiments, total cell counts tended to decrease as the amount of added P. japonica extract increased. Moisture contents were not significantly different among the Sulgidduk samples. As the content of the P. japonica extract increased, the L-values of the samples decreased and the a- and b- values increased. In regards to the textural characteristics, the hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of the Sulgidduk samples decreased as the amount of P. japonica extract increased; however, they increased with the progression of storage time. Adhesiveness, springiness and cohesiveness were not significantly different at the different P. japonica extract concentrations and decreased with storage time. In the sensory evaluation, the control group had significantly higher scores for color, flavor and after taste as compared to the P. japonica extract added groups. When the P. japonica extract content was increased, the flavor and overall acceptability decreased, while Bakjakyak flavor, bitterness and off-flavor increased. Softness was not significantly different among the samples. In conclusion, the results indicate that substituting $0.25{\sim}1%$ P. japonica extract in Sulgidduk is optimal for quality and provides a product with reasonably high overall acceptability.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.741-751
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• 2010

We evaluated the nutritional value of a Monascus pilosus mycelial ethanolic extract (MEM) and culture filtrate (CFM) by determining the contents of monacolin K and citrinin, and by measuring antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The yields of freeze-dried MEM and CFM powder were 4.02% and 3.35% of wet weight, respectively. Pigment content ($OD_{500}$ value) of MEM (0.79) and CFM (0.63) were lower than those of commercial rice beni-koji ethanolic extracts (EERB) (0.87), but were in good agreement with the L*, a*, and b* values and the hue angles of the products. The total monacolin K content of MEM (24.91 mg%) was higher than those of CFM (1.27 mg%) and EERB (14.65 mg%). However, the active monacolin K content of EERB (5.48 mg%) was higher than those of MEM (3.35 mg%) and CFM (0.4 mg%). Citrinin was not detected in any sample. The total polyphenol content of MEM (4.68%, w/w) was similar to that of CFM (4.29%, w/w), thus 13.75.20.94% higher than that of EERB. The total flavonoid content of EERB was 6.8.7.0-fold higher than those of MEM (0.64%, w/w) and CFM (0.66%, w/w). The total antioxidant capacity of CFM (3.51%, w/w) was 1.62.2.08-fold higher than those of MEM (2.74%, w/w) and EERB (1.69%, w/w). The electron-donating capacities of 1% (w/v) solutions of CFM, MEM, BHT, and EERB were 86.20%, 77.25%, 77.25%, and 44.82%, respectively, and the corresponding reducing powers ($OD_{700}$ values) were 2.1, 2.4, 1.1, and 1.6, respectively. SOD(superoxide dismutase)-like activities were in the order MEM (39.85%) > BHT (37.68%) > EERB (26.70%) > CFM (21.5%). Although the TBARS (% value) of MEM was a little lower than that of BHT, it was higher than those of CFM and EERB. The antibacterial activities of CFM acting on Bacillus brevis and Escherichia coli were somewhat higher than those of MEM, whereas the activities of MEM on Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Salmonella enteritidis were higher than those of CFM. However, the antibacterial activities of MEM and CFM were less than those of EERB and BHT. In conclusion, although further studies are needed, we offer experimental evidence that the by-products of M. pilosus MEM and CFM contain significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities that may be useful in the development of healthy foods.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.136-144
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• 2018

This study aimed to provide basic evidence regarding the development of materials by analyzing the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of Streptococcus thermophilus KCCM 3782 strain-fermented Cordyceps militaris grown on Tenebrio molitor. Among the solvents tested, DPPH radical scavenging activity was the highest in the hot water-extracted sample after 30 min of extraction. Moisture content decreased, whereas crude protein and fat content increased, after lactic acid bacteria-mediated fermentation. Sodium, magnesium, calcium, and zinc contents increased, with potassium levels attaining the maximum value, whereas free amino acid content decreased after the fermentation. Among Hunter's color values, a value increased to $66.7{\rightarrow}149.92$ after fermentation, whereas the L and b values decreased to $15.79{\rightarrow}-15.75$ and $54.45{\rightarrow}0.01$, respectively. Cordycepin content assay increased from 7.02 mg% to 8.66 mg%. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the fermented product was 91.92 EDA%, which was higher than that of the extract (84.69 EDA%). The ABTS free radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were also higher in the fermented products.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2011

Durum wheat semolina was added into wet-milled rice flour in order to improve chewy texture, firm bite ("al dente"), and resistance to overcooking of the ordinary rice noodles. Wet noodles were prepared by mixing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20% (w/w) of semolina per semolina and rice flour mixtures. Vital gluten (4%, w/w) and salt (2%, w/w) were added to form the pliable strands of wet noodles and final moisture contents of the raw mixtures were equalized at 45%. Pasting properties of the suspended flour mixtures as measured by the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) showed slight increases (up to $1.2^{\circ}C)$ in pasting temperatures along with the considerable decreases in peak viscosities as semolina increased at over 15%. Reduced shear thinning and retrogradation of the starch solution that leads to hardening of the cooked noodles were indicated by lowered breakdown viscosities and gaps between finaland setback viscosities from the RVA viscogram as semolina increased at over 10%. Reduced water uptake and turbidity increases of the cooking water as caused by the soluble starches from the noodle were also noted as the content of semolina increased. More or less significant (p<0.05) decreases in colorimetric L (lightness) value of the raw- and cooked noodles were observed as semolina increased while a- (redness) and b (yellowness) values were rather increased at the same moment. Textural properties of the cooked noodles such as hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness from TPA tests were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by added semolina, even at 5%-levels or more. It can be concluded that addition of semolina into rice flour could provide easy handling of the wet noodles without distortion during transportation, integrity and firm bite of the cooked noodles, and less loss of starch to the cooking water in comparison with the ordinary rice noodle. It was finally suggested that optimum level of the semolina in the product was approximately 10% for the quality wet rice noodle products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

The health benefits associated with consumption of fresh produce have been clearly demonstrated and encouraged by international nutrition and health authorities. However, since fresh produce is usually minimally processed, increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has also led to a simultaneous escalation of foodborne illness cases. According to the report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 10 people suffer from foodborne diseases and 420,000 die every year globally. In comparison to other processed foods, fresh produce can be easily contaminated by various routes at different points in the supply chain from farm to fork. This review is focused on the identification and characterization of possible sources of foodborne illnesses from chemical, biological, and physical hazards and the applicable methodologies to detect potential contaminants. Agro-chemicals (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides), natural toxins (mycotoxins and plant toxins), and heavy metals (mercury and cadmium) are the main sources of chemical hazards, which can be detected by several methods including chromatography and nano-techniques based on nanostructured materials such as noble metal nanoparticles (NMPs), quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles or nanotube. However, the diversity of chemical structures complicates the establishment of one standard method to differentiate the variety of chemical compounds. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables contain high nutrient contents and moisture, which promote the growth of unwanted microorganisms including bacterial pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli O157: H7, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) and non-bacterial pathogens (norovirus and parasites). In order to detect specific pathogens in fresh produce, methods based on molecular biology such as PCR and immunology are commonly used. Finally, physical hazards including contamination by glass, metal, and gravel in food can cause serious injuries to customers. In order to decrease physical hazards, vision systems such as X-ray inspection have been adopted to detect physical contaminants in food, while exceptional handling skills by food production employees are required to prevent additional contamination.