• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2021

In this study, the extract of Cinnamomum yabunikkei leaves were investigated for the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities and their active constituents were identified. In the anti-inflammatory tests using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) without causing cell toxicity. In addition, the EtOAc fraction reduced expression of iNOS protein and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β). Upon the anti-oxidative studies by DPPH and ABTS+ radicals, potent radical scavenging activities were observed in the EtOAc fraction. Five phytochemicals were isolated from the extract of C. yabunikkei leaves; (4S,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methylcyclohex-2-enone (1), methoxy-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanediol (2), afzelin (3), nicotiflorine (4) and narcissin (5). As far as we know, compounds 1-5 were isolated for the first time from this plant. In the anti-inflammatory tests for the isolates, compound 1, 3, 4 and 5 were determined to decrease NO production without causing cell toxicity. Furthermore, compound 1 reduced expression of iNOS protein and exhibited potent inhibitory activities of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6). Based on these results, it was suggested that the extract and isolated compounds from C. yabunikkei leaves could be potentially applicable as natural source for pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic ingredients.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.103-103
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• 2018

Oenothera biennis, commonly known as evening primrose, a potential source of natural bioactive substances: flavonoids, steroids, tannins, fatty acids and terpenoids responsible for a diverse range of pharmacological functions. However, whether extract prepared from aerial part of O. biennis (APOB) protects skin against oxidative stress remains unknown. To investigate the protective effects of APOB against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage and elucidated the underlying mechanisms in the HaCaT human skin keratinocytes. Our results revealed that treatment with APOB prior to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) exposure significantly increased viability, and the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activities and reducing power of HaCaT cells. APOB also effectively attenuated H2O2-induced comet tail formation and inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced phosphorylation levels of the histone ${\gamma}H2AX$, as well as the number of apoptotic bodies and Annexin V-positive cells. In addition, APOB exhibited scavenging activity against intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and restored the mitochondrial membrane potential loss by $H_2O_2$. Moreover, $H_2O_2$ enhanced the cleavage of caspase-3 and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP), a typical substrate protein of activated caspase-3, as well as DNA fragmentation; however, these events were almost totally reversed by pretreatment with APOB. Furthermore, APOB increased the levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which is a potent antioxidant enzyme, associated with the induction of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). According to our data, APOB is able to protect HaCaT cells from $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage and cell death through blocking cellular damage related to oxidative stress through a mechanism that would affect ROS elimination and activating the Nri2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.254-261
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• 2017

Determining the origin of the components in commercially available gelatin, a purified protein derived mostly from pig skin and bovine tissue, is a challenge, leading to concerns on the grounds of religious beliefs and health. Therefore, regular monitoring of labeling compliance by food control authorities is also necessary. In this study, we monitored the origin of gelatin capsules from 181 commercial dietary supplements that were available for purchase on the internet, using species-specific PCR assays. Fifty five products were labeled correctly, declaring that they used bovine-, fish- and plant-derived gelatin, whereas the other 126 capsules were labeled "gelatin" without specifying the origin. Gelatin in these capsules was obtained from cattle (n = 51), pigs (n = 31), or both (n = 44). Therefore, it is important to declare all of the raw materials used to produce gelatin capsules on the labels to best protect consumers' rights, religious beliefs, and health.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 1999

Calli were induced from the petiole explants of Pimpinella brachycarpa on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L BA after four weeks of culture. Compact clusters of small and dense cells among these calli were selected and suspension-cultured as the source of embryogenic calli. When transferred to MS medium with 0.1 mg/L NAA, the suspension-cultured cells grew to embryogenic callus. Somatic embryos derived from these embryogenic calli developed into plantlets. The cDNA library was constructed in the embryogenic callus and in order to screen the cDNA library, these cDNAs were plated at a density 1.5 $\times$ 10^5 plaques per 15 cm petridish. Among 19 clones showing preferential hybridization with petiole HD-Zip gene, five clones were obtained after second screening. Four clones among them, were highly homologous to P. brachycarpa shoot-tip Phz4 gene, but one clone, Phc5 was about 1.5 kb which has an extra 163 bp to 5' upstream of Phz4. The Phc5 was 1,531 bp containing poly A tails of 18 bases. ATG start codon for Phc5, was located at position 284 with an open reading frame of 906 by which encodes a polypeptide of 302 amino acids. The Phc5 protein revealed that the polypeptides between 135 and 195 contain a homeodomain as the `leucine zipper' motif.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.260-267
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• 2016

Amino acids in the plant were intermediate metabolites which produced by uptake and assimilation of nitrogen and these extracts which gained by bio-chemical digestion from protein of plant or animal were a source of functional fertilizer. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of keratin amino acid fertilizer (KAF) gained from animal hair or hoof on changes of turfgrass quality and growth by investigating turf color index, chlorophyll index, shoot number, clipping yield, and nutrient content in the turfgrass tissue. Treatments were designed as follows; non-fertilizer (NF), compound fertilizer (CF), keratin amino acid fertilizer treatments [CF + KAF $0.26ml\;m^{-2}$ (CKF), CF + KAF $0.52ml\;m^{-2}$ (2CKF)], and only keratin amino acid fertilizer treatment (KF). Shoot number, clipping yield, and nitrogen uptake of KF were higher than those of CF. As compared with CF, soil chemical properties, turf color index, chlorophyll index and clipping yield of keratin amino acid fertilizer were not significant, but shoot number and uptake of N and K were increased significantly. These results show that the application of keratin amino acid fertilizer increased shoot number and growth by increased uptake of nitrogen and potassium.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.176-185
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• 2011

Rice is one of the most important crop in the world, in particular for food resources. With its small genome size of 383 Mb, the Oryza sativa is a model plant for genome research. Indeed, it's grain provides human with a source of carbohydrates and proteins. Rice grain has relatively low protein contents (around 8%) compared to other legume seeds (around 40%). Osborne classified seed proteins into water soluble albumin, salt soluble globulin, alcohol soluble prolamin and acidic/alkaline solution soluble glutelin. Glutelin and prolamin are the major storage proteins in rice. For the gene expression study of seed storage proteins, we analyzed 33,192 EST clones at immature stages in a rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L. cv. 'Ilpum'). Based on the expression analysis, we cloned 11 glutelin genes and figured out the 8 genes are located on Chromosome 2. The expression of glutelin genes appears to be about 28.2% of total level in immature seeds. Interestingly, glu-04 is duplicated as inverted sequences on the same chromosomes as far 4.5 kb. Our results indicate that glutelin genes, evolutionarily, were replicated on the chromosome and thus expressed as specific manners. In a whole protein composition analysis, glu05 (type B7) contains the highest lysin contents (4.51%) among the 11 rice glutelin genes. It will be an interesting future work to increase lysin contents by the gene overexpressor strategy with the aim of improved diet nutritionally fortified.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.382-390
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• 2015

Momordica charantia L. is a valuable food and medicinal plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) that is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Physicochemical properties of M. charantia based on cultivars, parts and growing stage were investigated. Crude protein contents of leaf were 27.5%, 26.9%, and 23.6% in native leaf (NL), cv. Erabu leaf (EL), and cv. Dragon leaf (DL), respectively. In particular, the crude protein content was the highest in leaves. The crude fat content was in the order of developmental stage 1 of cv. Erabu fruit (EF1) and developmental stage 1 of native fruit (NF1) with values of 4.0%, and 3.9%, respectively. There was also high amount of crude fiber in stem of all three cultivars. The crude ash content was in the order of cv. Erabu leaf, cv. Dragon leaf, and developmental stage 3 of native fruit (NF3) with values of 23.2%, 17.4%, and 13.6%, respectively. The major minerals found in M. charantia were K, Ca, and Mg. The potassium contents of developmental stage 3 of native fruit (NF3), developmental stage 3 of cv. Dragon fruit (DF3), cv. Dragon stem (DS), and developmental stage 2 of native fruit (NF2) were 498.37, 339.21, 314.30, and 307.34 ㎎ /100g, respectively, while the calcium contents were decreased of EL, DL, and NL with values of 513.45, 371.69, and 209.43 ㎎/100g, respectively. The calcium content was higher in leaves and stems than fruits. On the otherhand, the highest magnesium content was measured in EL (69.92 ㎎/100g). The highest contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll were found in NL (442.9 ㎎/100g dw), EL (759.6 ㎎/100g dw), and EL (1164.9 ㎎/100g dw), respectively. The vitamin C contents from developmental stage 2 of cv. Erabu fruit (EF2), NF3, developmental stage 3 of cv. Erabu on fruit (EF3), and NF2 were found with values of 2849.9, 2330.5, 1985.1, and 1844.5 ㎎/㎏, respectively, and found to be higher in Korean cultivar and Erabu fruit than in Dragon. The charantin contents of leaf were higher than the fruit found to be 547.71, 506.04 and 395.62 ㎍/g dw in DL, EL and EF2, respectively. According to the results, mineral contents, total chlorophyll and charantin contents of M. charantia were higher in the leaves (EL and DL) than the fruits. And, vitamin C content was the highest in the fruit (EF2 and EF3). Therefore, much more research needs to be undertaken to use of the leaves as well as fruits. The data showed that M. charantia can be considered a good source of nutrient for application in food system.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.134-144
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• 2003

A rhizobacterium Pseudomonas cholororaphis O6 produced several secondary metabolites, such as phenazines, protease, and HCN that may be involved in inhibition of the growth of phytopathogenic fungi. In field study, P. chlororaphis O6 treatment on wheat seed suppressed root rot disease caused by Fusarium culmorum. The major organic acids of cucumber root exudates were fumaric acid, malic acid, benzoic acid, and succinic acid. Glucose and fructose were major monosaccharides in cucumber root exudates. The total amount of organic acids was ten times higher than that of the sugars. P. chlororaphis O6 grew well on cucumber root exudates. The dctA gene of P. chlororaphis O6 consisted of a 1,335 bp open reading frame with a deduced amino acid sequence of 444 residues, corresponding to a molecular size of about 47 kD and pI 8.2. The deduced dctA sequence has ten putative transmembrane domains, as expected of a membrane-embedded protein. Our results indicated that organic acids in cucumber root exudates may play an important role in providing nutrient source for root colonization of biological control bacteria, and the dctA gene of P. chlororaphis O6 may be an important bacterial trait that is involved in utilization of root exudates.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

An International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program based at the University of Illinois at Chicago initiated its activities in 1998, with the following specific objectives: (a) inventory and conservation of of plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and of medicinal plants of Laos; (b) drug discovery (and development) based on plants of Vietnam and Laos; and (c) economic development of communities participating in the ICBG project both in Vietnam and Laos. Member-institutions and an industrial partner of this ICBG are bound by a Memorandum of Agreement that recognizes property and intellectual property rights, prior informed consent for access to genetic resources and to indigenous knowledge, the sharing of benefits that may arise from the drug discovery effort, and the provision of short-term and long-term benefits to host country institutions and communities. The drug discovery effort is targeted to the search for agents for therapies against malaria (antimalarial assay of plant extracts, using Plasmodium falciparum clones), AIDS (anti-HIV-l activity using HOG.R5 reporter cell line (through transactivation of the green fluorescent protein/GFP gene), cancer (screening of plant extracts in 6 human tumor cell lines - KB, Col-2, LU-l, LNCaP, HUVEC, hTert-RPEl), tuberculosis (screening of extracts in the microplate Alamar Blue assay against Mycobacterium tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra\;and\;H_{37}Rv),$ all performed at UIC, and CNS-related diseases (with special focus on Alzheimer's disease, pain and rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma), peformed at Glaxo Smith Kline (UK). Source plants were selected based on two approaches: biodiversity-based (plants of Cuc Phuong National Park) and ethnobotany-based (medicinal plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and medicinal plants of Laos). At mc, as of July, 2001, active leads had been identified in the anti-HIV, anticancer, antimalarial, and anti- TB assay, after the screening of more than 800 extracts. At least 25 biologically active compounds have been isolated, 13 of which are new with anti-HIV activity, and 3 also new with antimalarial activity. At GSK of 21 plant samples with a history of use to treat CNS-related diseases tested to date, a number showed activity against one or more of the CNS assay targets used, but no new compounds have been isolated. The results of the drug discovery effort to date indicate that tropical plant diversity of Vietnam and Laos unquestionably harbors biologically active chemical entities, which, through further research, may eventually yield candidates for drug development. Although the substantial monetary benefit of the drug discovery process (royalties) is a long way off, the UIC ICBG program provides direct and real-term benefits to host country institutions and communities.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.72-77
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• 1993

This study was conducted to evaluate coated urea complex fertilizer (CUC) application for rice growth and its grain quality on clay loam (Deogpyeong series) and sandy loam (Gangseo series) in southern region of Korea, 1992. The coated urea complex fertilizer used in the experiment was CUC I and II. The CUC I is a complex fertilizer consisting of 18-12-13 for $N-P_2O_5-K_2O$ including 50% of coated urea as nitrogen source, and CUC II is the same complex fertilize as mentioned above but it contains 25% of coated urea. Seventy percent of conventional fertilizer for nitrogen level was applied as basal dose of side-band placement (SBP) and whole plowlayer placement (WPP). Greenish degree of rice leaf color at the late growth stage was high in CUC plots regardless of application method and soil series. Amount of nitrogen uptaken by the rice plant at harvesting stage was mush more in the CUC treatment compared to convential fertilizer, and also much more in CUC I than that of CUC II. In the WPP on clay loam, harvest index of CUC treatment was showed very low level, which was reduced more in CUC II plot. In the CUC treatments, perfect rice grain ratio decreased remarkably, and the notched-belly rice kernel ratios among imperfect rice grain increased drastically. In rice grain, Hon-value(Mg to K.N ratio) decreased, protein and amylose contents increased in CUC application plots in WPP. In addition, gel consitency and alkali spreading value related to eating quality in CUC plots were getting longer and lower, respectively. The yield in CUC plot was similar to conventional fertilizing, but significant decreased in SBP. As a result, the rice grain quality became poor with the coated urea complex fertilizer application, but it could be improved by incorporation with fast-release fertilizer.