• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2022

The ascomycete fungus Cordyceps militaris infects lepidopteran insect pupae, forming characteristic fruiting bodies called "Dong Chung Ha Cho" in Korean. They have been used as medicines owing to their anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing effects. This fungus can be grown on the geminated soybeans Rhynchosia nulubilis, which also contains several novel isoflavones. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis to determine core gene sets or pathways contributing to biologically active products such as isoflavone. Initially, we sequenced 2-week-old fungal cultures on different soybean agar media, where different amounts of water agar were implemented to show different surface topology. We selected 830 upregulated and 188 downregulated genes by comparing linear models of the samples (two-fold change threshold). Gene ontology analysis identified that the "IMP biosynthesis" term was significantly found in the upregulated gene sets. The pathway is involved in the synthesis of cordycepin, the reference chemical for C. militaris. This finding in the transcriptome data is consistent with the previous observation: increased cordycepin concentrations in the C. militaris cultured on germinated soybean.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.127-135
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• 2007

Objectives : In this study we investigated the antiobese effects of mixed pills of pickled black soybeans with herbs(herbal Chokong pill, hereafter HCKP) in rats fed high-fat diet. It was evaluated by measuring the changes of body weight, adipose tissues weight and lipid profiles in serum. Methods : Black soybeans were pickled in vinegar for 15 days to prepare Chokong, at room temperature. For treatment group, HCKP was prepared, which five kinds of medicinal herbs(Rhynchosia nulubilis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Zizyphus vulgaris, Atractylodes macrocephala K, Astragalus membranaceus and Cornus officinalis) were added to dried Chokong. Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed different diets during 9 weeks: normal diet containing 5%(w/w) com oil, high-fat diet containing 10%(w/w) lard plus 5%(w/w) corn oil (HF), high-fat diet supplemented with 1%(T1) and 5%(T5) HCKP powder, respectively. Results : The T5 group had markedly lower body weight gain and weights of epididymal adipose tissue when compared with HF group. There were significant differences in visceral adipose tissue weights, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations between the HF and T5 group. Then, the efficacy of powered HCKP on body weight and lipid profiles change in rats fed high-fat diet were induced dose dependantly. Conclusion : These results suggest that the possibility of HCKP, as an antiobese functional formula, by suppression of body weight gain and improved lipid profiles.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 2007

Antithrombotic activities of water extract of cheongkookjang and cheongkookjang fermented with green tea or mugwort were evaluated on some antithrombosis related activities in vitro and thrombotic death inhibition in vivo. Cheongkookjang made of white soybean (Glycine max) or black small soybean (Rhynchosia nulubilis) showed potent antioxidative activities. Addition of green tea or mugwort during cheongkookjang fermentation increased the antioxidative activity, cheongkookjang with green tea showed more drastic increase compared with cheongkookjang with mugwort. Nitrite scavenging effects of the cheongkookjang extracts were prominent but the addition of green tea or mugwort seldom increased the scavenging effects. All the cheongkookjang extracts showed strong inhibitory activities on platelet aggregation. The inhibitory activities of cheongkookjang were increased considerably by addition of green tea or mugwort even with low concentration. Plasmin unit as fibrinolytic activity was not affected considerably by addition of green tea. Addition of mugwort decreased the activity transiently at low concentration ($0.3{\sim}1.0%$) but increased again slowly at higher concentration ($1{\sim}3%$). In vitro thrombotic death inhibition test, the antithrombotic activity of cheongkookjang made of black small bean with green tea was higher by about 1.5 times compared to that without green tea. As results, cheongkookjang might inhibit antithrombosis not only by fibrinolytic action but also by inhibition of platelet aggregation and antioxidative action. The addition of functional materials such as green tea or mugwort could increase the antithrombotic function, even at low concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.618-623
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• 2014

Sarijang, a soy sauce made from fermented black soybean (Rhynchosia nulubilis), sulfur fed duck, dried bark of Ulmus davidiana, Allium sativum, and bamboo salt, has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. However, the antioxidant properties of Sarijang have not yet been elucidated. In this study, the antioxidant effects of Sarijang were investigated by determining total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (DPPH RSA), total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and cellular antioxidant capacity (CAC). The inhibitory effects of Sarijang on oxidative stress-induced DNA damage (200 ${\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$, 250 ${\mu}M$ Fe-NTA, and 200 ${\mu}M$ HNE) in human leukocytes were evaluated by comet assay. The TPC of Sarijang was $1.04{\pm}0.01$ mg GAE/mL. DPPH RSA, TRAP, and ORAC values of Sarijang increased in a dose-dependent manner. The $IC_{50}$ for DPPH RSA of Sarijang was $11.2{\pm}0.3$ mg/mL, whereas $IC_{50}$ of TRAP was $209.5{\pm}2.0$ mg/mL. 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells were effectively abrogated by all tested concentrations of Sarijang (1~100 ${\mu}g/mL$). These results suggest that Sarijang has antioxidative activity and protective effects against oxidative DNA damage.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.451-456
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• 2018

The current study was conducted to confirm the anti-cancer effect of Sarijang, which is a mixture of extracts from purple bamboo salt, Rhynchosia nulubilis, garlic, and Ulmi cortex. Nude mice were injected with a human-derived colorectal cancer cell (HCT116 cell line) and subsequently administered Sarijang for 4 weeks, following which the body weight, organ weight, and tumor size were measured. To evaluate the anti-cancer mechanism of Sarijang, the levels of p16 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), cell cycle regulators in colorectal cancer, were measured. To evaluate the toxicity of Sarijang on liver and kidney, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were analyzed. Sarijang not only reduced the tumor size by enhancing p16 and suppressing ERK, but also showed no side-effect in the liver and kidneys. Taken together, Sarijang has the potential to inhibit tumor growth without side effects, and may be used as a useful functional food.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.745-752
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• 2018

Melanogenesis is involved in the pigmentation of the hair, eyes, and skin in living organisms. Various signaling pathways stimulated by ${\alpha}-MSH$, SCF/c-Kit, $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$, nitric oxide and ultraviolet activate melanocyte, leading to melanin production by tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 expressed via the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). However, the abnormal regulation of melanogenesis causes dermatological issues such as graying hair and vitiligo. Therefore, the activators that promote melanogenesis are crucial for the prevention of graying hair and the treatment of hypopigmentary disorders. Many melanogenesis stimulators have been studied for the development of novel drugs derived from synthesized compounds and natural products. Here, in addition to providing a description of a common signaling pathway in the melanogenesis of graying hair and the vitiligo process for the development of novel anti-hair graying agents, this article reviews natural herbs and the active ingredients that promote melanin synthesis as a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of vitiligo. In particular, compounds such as Imatinib and Sugen with a stimulating effect on melanogenesis as a side effect of the drugs, are also introduced. Recent advances in research on natural plant extracts such as Polygonum multiflorum, Rhynchosia Nulubilis, Black oryzasativa, and Orysa sartiva, widely known as traditional and medicinal extracts, are also reviewed.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2006

Beans are well known to be high-protein diets. Bean seeds contain arginine, lysine, or glycine-rich proteins which are effective to maintain lower glucose levels. In this study, the synergistic effect of fermented small soybean (Chounggukjang) and mulberry leaf on metabolism and hexokinase activity was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We divided 8 groups as follows: non-diabetic rat group fed with only water diet (NC: control), and STZ-induced diabetic rat groups fed with water (DC), fermented Rhynchosia Nulubilis (Bbc), fermented Glycine max Merr (Ybc), Bbc and YBc (BYbc), mulberry leaf and Bbc (MBbc), mulberry leaf and Ybc (MYbc), or the mulberry leaf, Bbc, and Ybc (MBYbc). Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by subcutaneous STZ administration (70 mg/kg of body weight). All diet groups were fed with Chounggukjang in a powder form. Three ml of Chounggukjang solution (0.75 mg per gram of body weight) dissolved in distilled water was orally administered to all rat groups after STZ administration except for NC rat group. In groups fed with fermented soybeans, the body weight (increased), food efficiency ratio (FER) (increased), glucose level (decreased) and hexokinase (HK) activity (increased) significantly differed to NC. Among them, particularly in the groups fed with both fermented soybeans and mulberry leaf, kidney weight significantly decreased, whereas HK activity significantly increased compared to DC. These results suggest that Chounggukjang of both fermented soybeans and mulberry leaf is potentially used as an effective functional food to prevent diabetes complications.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2011

The goal of this study was to evaluate the quality characteristics of various beans in distribution. The quality characteristics investigated were proximate composition, color, free sugars, organic acids, amino acids, and minerals. Bean samples analyzed were white soybeans (Glycine max. (L.) Merrill), kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis), black soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), black small soybeans (Rhynchosia nulubilis), sword beans (Canavalia gladiata), and green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). The highest contents of crude fat and crude protein were 17.60${\pm}$0.14% for white soybeans, and 42.38${\pm}$0.15% for black soybeans, respectively. Higher color values compared to the other samples were $L^*$ (64.07${\pm}$0.97) for sword beans, $a^*$ (15.64${\pm}$0.48) for kidney beans, and $b^*$ (22.92${\pm}$0.09) for white soybeans. The highest contents of sucrose, oxalic acid, and malic acid in black small soybeans were 54.23 mg/g, 23.26 mg/100 g and 18.24 mg/100 g, respectively. Xylose, galactose, lactose, malonic acid, succinic acid, and lactic acid were not detected in the soybeans studied, whereas the glutamic acid content of soybeans ranged from 2.68 to 6.18 g/100 g. Levels of K and Mg contents in soybean were higher than those of the other minerals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1789-1794
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• 2011

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells playing key roles in immune sentinels as initiators of T-cell responses against microbial pathogens and tumors. Sarijang, a folk sauce containing extracts of Rhynchosia nulubilis, Ulmus davidiana roots, Allium sativum, and Rhus Verniaiflura bark, has been used as a nonspecific immunostimulant for cancer patients. However, little is known about its immunomodulating effects or their mechanisms. In this study, we investigated whether sarijang induces phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs. For this study, murine bone marrow-derived myeloid DCs were cultured in the presence of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and the generated immature DCs were stimulated with sarijang or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our data indicated that sarijang significantly enhanced the expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) as well as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, as did LPS. The results provide new insight into the immunopharmacology of sarijang and suggest a novel approach to the manipulation of DC for therapeutic application.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.346-352
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• 2016

To investigate the oviposition preference and development of azuki bean weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis L.), the following six different leguminous seeds were used in this study: red bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi), black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), seoritae (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), small black bean (Rhynchosia nulubilis) and kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis Alef.). In the study of oviposition preference, the numbers of eggs per leguminous seed on red bean, black soybean, soybean, seoritae and small black bean were 1.23, 0.61, 0.69, 1.05 and 1.13, respectively. The maximum daily number of eggs was observed at 48 hours and the minimum was at 96 hours. According to each host leguminous seed, developmental time for each host seed was different. The shortest adult emergence time was on red bean (25.27 days). The other five leguminous seeds increased or doubled the adult emergence time. Adult emergence rates feeding on red bean, seoritae, black soybean, soybean, small black bean were 83.33%, 28.23%, 27.87%, 20.44%, and 11.59%, respectively. Emergence rate on red bean was four times higher than the rate on other seeds. The longevity of emerged female adults was almost all longer than that of males. The male adults weighed the lowest of feeding on small black bean. Female adults weighed the lowest of feeding on soybean. Adult weights were the heaviest for both males and females feeding on red bean. As a result, hosts of azuki bean weevil could decrease oviposition rate, emergence rate, adult longevity, and adult weight but increase emergence time. Especially in kidney bean, adult was not completely emerged. No eggs were laid. These results suggest that there might be emergence inhibitors in kidney bean. These imformation might be used to control damages caused by azuki bean weevils.