• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2022

Objectives: The chemical composition of cactus pear seed oil (Opuntia ficus-indica [L.] Mill.) was analyzed in terms of its fatty acid composition, tocopherol content, phenolic identification, and the oil's phenolic-rich fraction antioxidant power was determined. Methods: Fatty acid profiling was performed by gas chromatography coupled to an FI detector. Tocopherols and phenolic compounds were analyzed by LC-FLD/UV, and the oil's phenolic-rich fraction antioxidant power was determined by phosphomolybdenum, DPPH assay and β-carotene bleaching test. Results: Fatty acid composition was marked by a high unsaturation level (83.22 ± 0.34%). The predominant fatty acid was linoleic acid (66.79 ± 0.78%), followed by oleic acid (15.16 ± 0.42%) and palmitic acid (12.70 ± 0.03%). The main tocopherol was γ-tocopherol (172.59 ± 7.59 mg/kg. In addition, Tyrosol, vanillic acid, vanillin, ferulic acid, pinoresinol, and cinnamic acid were identified as phenolic compounds in the analyzed seed oil. Moreover, the oil's phenolics-rich fraction showed a significant total antioxidant activity, scavenged DPPH up to 97.85%, and effectively protected β-carotene against bleaching (97.56%). Conclusion: The results support the potential use of cactus pear seed oil as a functional food.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.719-732
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• 2003

A kojic acid derivative, kojic acid 7-O-$\beta$-D-tetraacetylglucopyranoside(KTG) was synthesized. Regio-and stereo-selective glycosylation at 7-postion in kojic acid with $\beta$-D-pentaacetylglucose was achieved with high yield(80％) by the use of Lewis acid and organic base in nonpolar solvent. KTG was hydrolyzed in methanol by the aid of sodium methoxide to give kojic acid 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside(KGP). KGP is freely soluble in water and soluble in methanol and ethanol. Its structure was comfirmed by $^1$H-NMR and $^{13}$ C-NMR. Tyrosinase activity inhibition of KGP was measured with mushroom tyrosinase compared with ascorbic acid, kojic acid and arbutin. KGP showed higher tyrosinase inhibition activity($IC_{50}$/=33.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) than ascorbic acid(63.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and arbutin(91.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) but lower inhibition activity than kojic acid(8.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). To test free-radical scavenging activity, we used 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) as a free-radical source. Free-radical scavenging activity of KGP was very low($SC_{50}$/>1000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) compared with ascorbic acid($SC_{50}$/=2.68 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and arbutin($SC_{50}$/=180$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). Melanin formation inhibition of KGP was measured in B16 melanoma, compared with kojic acid, arbutin and Vitamin C. Inhibition activity of KGP for melanin formation was not found within test concentrations.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2022

We utilized Fas21, a resveratrol analog, to modulate the function of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) during the angiogenic phase of murine liver metastasis by B16 melanoma and 51b colorectal carcinoma. Preangiogenic micrometastases were treated with Fas21 (1 mg/kg/day) or vehicle during the development of intra-angiogenic tracts. Mice treated with Fas21 showed reduced liver tumor foci in both liver metastasis models. Micrometastases were classified immunohistochemically, as well as according to their position coordinates and connection to local microvasculature. The volume of liver occupied by sinusoidal-type foci, containing infiltrating angiogenic capillaries, decreased by ~50% in Fas21-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated ones in both tumor metastasis models. The volume of portal foci, containing peripheral neoangiogenesis within a discontinuous layer of myofibroblasts, was similar in all experimental groups in both tumor metastasis models, but displayed enhanced necrotic central areas devoid of angiogenesis following Fas21 treatment. As a result, sinusoidal tumors from mice treated with Fas21 showed a 50% reduction in desmin(+)/asma(+) HSCs and CD31(+) vessel density, and a 45% reduction in intrametastatic VEGF mRNA compared with sinusoidal tumors from vehicle-treated mice. Necrotic portal metastases increased 2-4-fold in treated mice. In vitro, Fas21 reduced VEGF secretion by HSCs and 51b cells dose-dependently. Additionally, HSCs migration in response to tumor soluble factors was dose-dependently diminished by Fas21, as was LSEC migration in response to HSCs and tumor soluble factors. Resveratrol analog Fas21 inhibits the proangiogenic response of HSCs and LSECs during the development of murine liver metastasis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.396-407
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• 2023

The golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) has been utilized as a natural and eco-friendly control of weeds in rice paddy fields. However, P. canaliculata can damage other crops. In this study, the effectiveness of plant extracts from various natural sources that are reportedly effective against pests in the control of P. canaliculata was investigated. The four plant extracts were effective against P. canaliculata and ranked in descending order as green tea seed (Camellia sinensis) > root of red spider lily (Lycoris radiata) > leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) > root of sophora (Sophora flavescens). The mortality rate of P. canaliculata was increased using 200 to 2000 mg/kg of green tea seed powder. However, shrubby sophora root extract did not significantly increase the mortality rate. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ of green tea seed, tobacco leaves, shrubby sophora root, and red spider lily root were 900 and 2800 mg/L, 956 and 2320 mg/L, 2162 and 5325 mg/L, and 512 and 1054 mg/kg, respectively. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ of ground powder of C. sinensis, N. tabacum, S. flavescens and L. radiata were 248 and 646 mg/L, 403 and 733 mg/L, 409 and 905 mg/L, and 493 and 1141 mg/L, respectively. The findings indicate the remarkable control potency of green tea seeds against the golden apple snail. An organic material incorporating the four plant powders may help control green apple snail in an ecosystem-friendly manner.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.216-226
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• 2024

This study screened the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of three extracts [1% acetic acid (HAc), distilled water (D.W.), and ethanol] from the common stalked barnacle Pollicipes mitella. Among the extracts, the 1% HAc extract showed the strongest antibacterial activity against several bacteria, but exhibited no activity against Candida albicans. To improve the degree of separation of the 1% HAc extract, solid-phase extraction was performed using a C18 cartridge with three solvents (D.W., 60A, and 100A). The 1% HAc 60A eluate showed the strongest antibacterial activity and enzyme, salt, and temperature stability, with no hemolytic activity. In addition, strong DNA-binding ability but no bacterial membrane permeability was observed. These results indicate that the P. mitella 1% HAc 60A eluate may contain antibacterial organic compounds that target intracellular components but not bacterial membranes. In addition, the 1% HAc 60A eluate exhibited potent inhibitory activity to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β) with no cytotoxicity. Therefore, the P. mitella 1% HAc 60A eluate has anti-inflammatory activity. Collectively, our results suggest that the P. mitella 1% HAc 60A eluate can be used as a bioactive source with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2024

Modification of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) characteristics and performance were investigated via post treatment using different oxidants. sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and potassium persulfate (KPS). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) results revealed no structural differences after post treatment. Cross-sectional micrographs show finger-like structures at the outer and inner walls of the HFMs and sponge-like structures in middle, where NaOCl and KPS post treated fibers exhibited a decrease in finger-like structures in addition to aggregates appearing on the surface, consequently leading to an increase in the surface roughness (Ra) from 48 nm to 52.8nm and 56 nm, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide post treatment only was observed to decrease the water contact angle from 98° to 81.4°. It was also observed that the elongation at break and the modulus deceased after NaOCl post treatment from 34.5 to 28.5% and from 19.3 Mpa to 16.6 Mpa, respectively. Moreover, pure water flux after H₂O₂ post treatment increased from 87.8 LMH/bar to 113 LMH/bar at 0.45 bar, while no changes were detected for the methylene blue dye rejection (74%) between raw and hydrogen peroxide post treated fibers at the same pressure. According to the findings hydrogen peroxide post treated PVDF HFMs have the most uniform surfaces, with almost no alterations in structural and mechanical properties or porosities with enhanced hydrophilicity and pure water flux maintaining appropriate rejection. Therefore, it is considered an efficient surface modifying agent for UF/NF membranes or low-pressure separators.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2006

In this study, effects of influent C/N(COD/Nitrate) ratio and dissolved oxygen(DO) concentration on biological nitrate removal from groundwater were investigated in the fixed-type biofilter. Influent nitrate of 30 mg/L was removed completely by biological denitrification at the C/N ratio of 10 and 4.0, while residual nitrate of 5 mg/L occurred at the C/N ratio of 2.0, which resulted from deficiency of organic electron donor. Furthermore, nitrite was accumulated up to about 5 mg/L as the C/N ratio decreased to 2.0. Increase in DO concentration also inhibited denitrification activity at the relatively high C/N ratio of 5.0, which decreased the nitrate removal efficiency. Although the influent DO concentration was reduced as low as 0.3 mg/L using sodium sulfite($Na_2SO_3$), effluent nitrite was up to 3.6 mg/L. On the other hand, nitrate was completely removed without detection of nitrite at the DO concentration of 0.3 mg/L using nitrogen gas($N_2$) sparging. The organic matter for denitrification in biofilter were in the range from 3.0 to $3.5gSCOD/g{NO_3}^--N$, while utilized these values increased at the high DO concentration of 5.5 mg/L. In addition to the high DO concentration and the low influent C/N ratio, DO control by chemical such as sodium sulfite affected on biological denitrification, which resulted in the reduction of nitrate removal efficiency and nitrite build-up in a biofilter.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.248-257
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• 2009

The inhibitors against Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing (QS) signaling were developed by modifying the molecular structure of the major signal, N-3-hydroxybutanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-OH-$C_4$-HSL). A series of structural derivatives, N-(3-hydroxysulfonyl)-L-homoserine lactones (HSHLs) were synthesized by the solid-phase organic synthesis method. The in vivo QS inhibition by these compounds was measured by a bioassay system using the V. harveyi bioluminescence, and all showed significant inhibitory effects. To analyze the interaction between these compounds and LuxN, a 3-OH-$C_4$-HSL receptor protein of V. harveyi, we tentatively determined the putative signal binding domain of LuxN based on the sequence homology with other acyl-HSL binding proteins, and predicted the partial 3-D structure of the putative signal binding domain of LuxN by using ORCHESTRA program, and further estimated the binding poses and energies (docking scores) of 3-OH-$C_4$-HSL and HSHLs within the domain. In comparison of the result from this modeling study with that of in vivo bioassay, we suggest that the in silica interpretation of the interaction between ligands and their receptor proteins can be a valuable way to develop better competitive inhibitors, especially in the case that the structural information of the protein is limited.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.89-99
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• 2005

The golf courses more than about 200 are operating in Korea. From the golf courses, a great amount of turfgrass clippings tend to increase, steadily. Materials used in the experiment were Creeping Bentgrass(CB), Kentucky Bluegrass(KB), Korean Lawngrass(KL), rice bran and composted chicken drop. Treatments are CB, KB, and KL. The temperature during the composting of all treatments increased rapidly and reached at the highest temperature($57.9^{\circ}C$, $67.8^{\circ}C$, $74.3^{\circ}C$) within 20 days, and then stabilized to the range of $35.2{\sim}41.6^{\circ}C$ at the 30th day. The pH values of all treatments decreased on the first day. However, they were increased rapidly after three days and decreased again on 10~20 days. The pH values of all treatments at the final day were stabilized to the low alkali levels. The contents of total carbon during the period of composting tend to decrease and total nitrogen was increased for factor of reduction of volume. CEC value of all treatments during the period of composting tends to increase. The round paper chromatogram of extracted solution of KL sample was the sharpest and clearest among all treatments. The G.I. values of CB, KB, and KL in 30th day of composting were about 95.1, 77.7, and 98.7 in germination test using chinese cabbage, respectively. Conclusively, all turfgrass clippings used in this experiment were composted well, suitable as composting products standardized by KSC. The maturity of the final compost samples is best in KL, followed by CB and KB treatments. The turfgrass compost can contribute to the plant cultivation for environment-friendly farm, and the results of this study can become the basic data of turfgrass clippings compost. Further research on the mixing ratio of each material is required to produce compost of good quality.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.12
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• pp.89-97
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• 1969

These studies were made on coating of fresh fruits and vegetables with PVC under view on preservation of fresh fruits and vegetables due to restrain water evaporation of them and control gas metabolisms. The results obtained, as selection of PVC materials availble for preservation of them, procedure of the coating, useful organic solvents, concentration of PVC solution and the time of dipping, and effects of the preservation of them, were summarized as follows: 1) PVC powder 222 and PVC powder 443 were surveyed as suitable materials for coating apple, and later was excellent in lustrous aspect. 2) The coating procedure which dipt into PVC solution was suitable to treat much within a short space of time, and using of ventillator accelerate rather evaporation of the organic solvent. 3) Aceton and methyethylketon as solvent of the PVC were, in purpose of storage only, avaible, while aceton was, in view ef taste, better. 4) 10% of the PVC solutions were better to preserve the freshness of apple and 5, 4, 1 and 0.5% of them in order were gradually decreased in preservability, and 15% of them as high concentration were looked like fermentation in one week after the coating. 5) The dipping time was also better n minute than 10 seconds in a preservation but 1-2 minutes could be applied owing to be not affected of the taste due to coating. 6) The freshness of treatment groups were extend about 48 days after coating in room temperature but control lost market value with 12 days. 7) Weight of control was decreased to 10-13% but treatment which was dipped into 10% of coating solution for one minute was decreased to 3.5-4.6% and treatment for four minutes was did to 2.9-3.0%. 8) Change in respiration was less is treatment groups than control in exhaustion of $CO_2$, and water soluble sugar, reduced sugar and pH were not changed almost due to coating. 9) Pannel discussion of the taste was indicated that control was better than treatments soon after coating, but treatments were rather than control last period of storage and treatment with aceton solvent specially was better than others.