• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2023

Panax ginseng is one of the most important herbal medicinal plants consumed as health functional food and can be fermented to achieve better efficacy. Lacticaseibacillus, one of the representative genera among lactic acid bacteria (LAB), has also been used as a probiotic material for health functional foods due to its beneficial effects on the human body. To achieve a synergistic effect by using these excellent dietary supplement ingredients together, a novel LAB strain was isolated from the root of 6-year-old ginseng. Through similarity analysis of 16S rRNAs and whole-genome sequences, the strain was confirmed as belonging to the genus Lacticaseibacillus and was named L. casei KGC1201. KGC1201 not only met all safety standards as food, but also showed excellent probiotic properties such as acid resistance, bile salt resistance, and intestinal adhesion. In particular, KGC1201 exhibited superior acid resistance through morphological observation identifying that the cell surface damage of KGC1201 was less than that of the L. casei type strain KCTC3109. Gene expression studies were conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of KGC1201's acid resistance, and the expression of the glycosyltransferase gene was found to be significantly elevated under acidic conditions. Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) biosynthesized by glycosyltransferase were also increased in KGC1201 compared to KCTC3109, which may contribute to better protection of KGC1201 cells from strong acidity. Therefore, KGC1201, with its increased acid resistance through molecular mechanisms and excellent probiotic properties, can be used in health functional foods to provide greater benefit to overall human health and well-being.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.358-363
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• 2000

This study was carried out to obtain the basic data for selecting the applicable crops in reclaimed land during desalinization period. A pot experiment was conducted with 5 different electrical conductivities of the saturated extracts $(ECe\;1,\;3,\;9,\;14,\;and\;16\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1})$ of soils taken from the Dae-Ho reclaimed tidal lands. Eight crops (Chinese cabbage, radish, tomato, red pepper, buckwheat, soybean, sesame, and green perilla) were grown for 37days. Plant height and number of leaves were surveyed on 2 and 4 weeks after seeding, and on harvest time (5 weeks). After harvest, dry weights of harvested crops were measured and soil chemical properties were analyzed. Emergence rates of crops were comparatively high except sesame. For sesame, there was no emergence at ECe over $3\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Growth and dry weight decreased significantly as increasing ECe. The ECe which decreased 50% of dry weight index were $14.2\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for radish, $11.4\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for Chinese cabbage, $10.2\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for red pepper, $8.9\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for buckwheat and green perilla, $8.6\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for soybean, and $8.9\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ for tomato. At higher ECe that start the growth inhibition, increasing $1\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in ECe, 7.7, 6.5, 5.9, 5.6, 5.2, and 4.9% of dry weight decreased for buckwheat, green perilla, Chinese cabbage, radish, soybean, and tomato (red pepper), respectively. The critical value of ECe for crop survival except sesame was $15.4\;{\sim}\;23.1\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 2019

Purpose: Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is an important traditional medicinal herb. Pharmacological research has indicated that AM has various physiological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, and hepatoprotective activities. The bioactive substances responsible for the physiological activities in AM, including many antioxidant substances, change during the roasting process. This study investigated and compared the changes in the antioxidant constituents of AM caused by roasting. Methods: DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and $ABTS^+$ (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) radical scavenging activities and their total phenolic content (TPC) were measured. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to confirm any changes in the isoflavonoids of roasted AM (R-AM),. The cell viability of UVB-induced HDF (Human dermal fibroblast) cells treated with AM and R-AM extracts was investigated. The comet assay was used to examine the inhibitory effects of R-AM extracts on DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. Results: The DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activities were $564.6{\pm}20.9$ and $108.2{\pm}3.1$ ($IC_{50}$ value) respectively, from the 2R-AM. The total phenol content was $47.80{\pm}1.40mg$ GAE/g from the 1R-AM. The values of calycosin and formononetin, which are the known isoflavonoid constituents of AM, were $778.58{\pm}2.72$ and $726.80{\pm}3.45{\mu}g/g$ respectively, from the 2R-AM. Treatment of the HDF cells with R-AM ($50{\sim}200{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect the cell viability. Furthermore, the R-AM extracts effectively protected against UVB-induced DNA damage. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that R-AM increases its isoflavonoid constituents and protects against UVB-induced DNA damage in HDF cells.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2005

Because the stone cultural properties located outdoors, they have been altered and deteriorated in external appearance due to environmental factors such as acid rain, extreme change in temperature, and salts. Damage to stone cultural properties is accelerated particularly due to recent industrial development and environmental pollution. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental contaminants on the weathering of granite. And as part of the developing of conservation method, $TiO_2$ catalyst was prepared and tested. When fresh granite was dipped into the salt and acid solutions, dissolution rate of eight minerals (Si, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Al) are abruptly increased at initial stage of reaction and then increased steadily until 100 cycles. After salt and acid solution experiments, the mineral compositions of the granite surface were lower then that of the fresh granite and density of the weathered granite was steadily decreased from $2.60\;g/cm^3$ to $2.56\;g/cm^3$, but Poissions ratio and absorption ratio were slightly increased. It was expected at stone cultural assets could be weathered by salts and acid rain. In the case of $TiO_2$ was coated to the granite, the dissolution rate of minerals and absorption ratio of $TiO_2$ coated granite were decreased. Therefore, the $TiO_2$ coating method tested in this study considered to be a viable method to assist in the conservation of stone cultural properties from environmental contaminants.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.121-129
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• 2015

The platinum anode for the electrolytic reduction process is generally surrounded by a nonporous ceramic shroud with an open bottom to offer a path for $O_2$ gas produced on the anode surface and prevent the corrosion of the electrolytic reducer. However, the $O^{2-}$ ions generated from the cathode are transported only in a limited fashion through the open bottom of the anode shroud because the nonporous shroud hinders the transport of the $O^{2-}$ ions to the anode surface, which leads to a decrease in the current density and an increase in the operation time of the process. In the present study, we demonstrate the electrolytic reduction of 1 kg-uranium oxide ($UO_2$) using the porous shroud to investigate its long-term stability. The $UO_2$ with the size of 1~4mm and the density of $10.30{\sim}10.41g/cm^3$ was used for the cathode. The platinum and 5-layer STS mesh were used for the anode and its shroud, respectively. After the termination of the electrolytic reduction run in 1.5 wt.% $Li_2O-LiCl$ molten salt, it was revealed that the U metal was successfully converted from the $UO_2$ and the anode and its shroud were used without any significant damage.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2015

Skin carrys out protective role against harmful outer environment assaults including ultraviolet radiation, heavy metals and oxides. Especially, ultraviolet-B (UVB) light causes inflammatory reactions in skin such as sun burn and erythma and stimulates melanin pigmentation. Furthermore, the influx of UVB into skin cells causes DNA damage in keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, inhibition of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis which leads to a decrease in elasticity of skin and wrinkle formation. It also damages dermal connective tissue and disrupts the skin barrier function. Prolonged exposure of human skin to UVB light is well known to trigger severe skin lesions such as cell death and carcinogenesis. Haloarcula vallismortis is a halophilic microorganism isolated from the Dead Sea, Its growth characteristics have not been studied in detail yet. It generally grows at salinity more than 10%, but the actual growth salinity usually ranges between 20 to 25%. Because H. vallismortis is found mainly in saltern or salt lakes, there could exist defense mechanisms against strong sunlight. One of them is generation of additional ATP using halorhodopsin which absorbs photons and produces energy by potential difference formed by opening the chloride ion channel. It often shows a color of pink or red because of their high content of carotenoid pigments and it is considered to act as a defense mechanism against intense UV irradiation. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of the halophilic microorganism, H. vallismortis, extract was investigated. It was found that H. vallismortis extract had protective effect on DNA damage induced by UV irradiation. These results suggest that the extract of halophilic bacterium, H. vallismortis could be used as a bio-sunscreen or natural sunscreen which ameliorate the harmful effects of UV light with its anti-inflammatory and DNA protective properties.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.170-179
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• 1999

Purpose: To evaluate whether or not sodium restriction had its own beneficial effect and increased the efficiency of the anti-hypertensive drugs on the progression of renal failure. Methods: We studied using the excision remnant kidney model. Treatment groups were as follows: 5/6 nephrectomy and a 0.49% (normal-high) sodium diet (NN); 5/6 nephrectomy and a 0.25% (normal-low) sodium diet (LN); 5/6 nephrectomy, a 0.49% sodium diet and enalapril (NNE); 5/6 nephrectomy, a 0.49% sodium diet and nicardipine (NNN); 5/6 nephrectomy, a 0.25% sodium diet and enalapril (LNE); 5/6 nephrectomy, a 0.25% sodium diet and nicardipine (LNN). Both diets were isocaloric and had the same content of protein, phosphorus and calcium. Proteinuria, remnant kidney weight, mesangial expansion scores, and glomerular volume were assessed. Results: Blood pressure tended to be lower in LN compared to NN (P<0.05). NN developed progressive hypertension. LNE, LU, NNE, and NNN reduced blood pressure. LNE, LNN, NNE, NNN, and LN had significantly less proteinuria than NN at 16 weeks (P<0.05). At 24 weeks, LN developed proteinuria (82 mg/day), which were lessened in LNE (54 mg/day) and not lessened in LNN (76 mg/day). Mesangial expansion scores were significantly less in LN rats compared to those in NN rats. Glomerular volumes at 24 weeks in LN rats were significantly less compared to those at 16 weeks in NN rats. Mesangial expansion scores and glomerular volumes at 4, weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks were not different among LN, LNE, and LNN groups. Conclusion: Dietary salt restriction lessens renal damage, at least in part, by inhibiting compensatory renal growth and reducing blood pressure. Enalapril was particularly successful in reducing proteinuria and glomerular injury when combined with dietary salt restriction.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.34-63
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• 2003

Occupational and environmental exposure to manganese continue to represent a realistic public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Increased utility of MMT as a replacement for lead in gasoline creates a new source of environmental exposure to manganese. It is, therefore, imperative that further attention be directed at molecular neurotoxicology of manganese. A Need for a more complete understanding of manganese functions both in health and disease, and for a better defined role of manganese in iron metabolism is well substantiated. The in-depth studies in this area should provide novel information on the potential public health risk associated with manganese exposure. It will also explore novel mechanism(s) of manganese-induced neurotoxicity from the angle of Mn-Fe interaction at both systemic and cellular levels. More importantly, the result of these studies will offer clues to the etiology of IPD and its associated abnormal iron and energy metabolism. To achieve these goals, however, a number of outstanding questions remain to be resolved. First, one must understand what species of manganese in the biological matrices plays critical role in the induction of neurotoxicity, Mn(II) or Mn(III)? In our own studies with aconitase, Cpx-I, and Cpx-II, manganese was added to the buffers as the divalent salt, i.e., $MnCl_2$. While it is quite reasonable to suggest that the effect on aconitase and/or Cpx-I activites was associated with the divalent species of manganese, the experimental design does not preclude the possibility that a manganese species of higher oxidation state, such as Mn(III), is required for the induction of these effects. The ionic radius of Mn(III) is 65 ppm, which is similar to the ionic size to Fe(III) (65 ppm at the high spin state) in aconitase (Nieboer and Fletcher, 1996; Sneed et al., 1953). Thus it is plausible that the higher oxidation state of manganese optimally fits into the geometric space of aconitase, serving as the active species in this enzymatic reaction. In the current literature, most of the studies on manganese toxicity have used Mn(II) as $MnCl_2$ rather than Mn(III). The obvious advantage of Mn(II) is its good water solubility, which allows effortless preparation in either in vivo or in vitro investigation, whereas almost all of the Mn(III) salt products on the comparison between two valent manganese species nearly infeasible. Thus a more intimate collaboration with physiochemists to develop a better way to study Mn(III) species in biological matrices is pressingly needed. Second, In spite of the special affinity of manganese for mitochondria and its similar chemical properties to iron, there is a sound reason to postulate that manganese may act as an iron surrogate in certain iron-requiring enzymes. It is, therefore, imperative to design the physiochemical studies to determine whether manganese can indeed exchange with iron in proteins, and to understand how manganese interacts with tertiary structure of proteins. The studies on binding properties (such as affinity constant, dissociation parameter, etc.) of manganese and iron to key enzymes associated with iron and energy regulation would add additional information to our knowledge of Mn-Fe neurotoxicity. Third, manganese exposure, either in vivo or in vitro, promotes cellular overload of iron. It is still unclear, however, how exactly manganese interacts with cellular iron regulatory processes and what is the mechanism underlying this cellular iron overload. As discussed above, the binding of IRP-I to TfR mRNA leads to the expression of TfR, thereby increasing cellular iron uptake. The sequence encoding TfR mRNA, in particular IRE fragments, has been well-documented in literature. It is therefore possible to use molecular technique to elaborate whether manganese cytotoxicity influences the mRNA expression of iron regulatory proteins and how manganese exposure alters the binding activity of IPRs to TfR mRNA. Finally, the current manganese investigation has largely focused on the issues ranging from disposition/toxicity study to the characterization of clinical symptoms. Much less has been done regarding the risk assessment of environmenta/occupational exposure. One of the unsolved, pressing puzzles is the lack of reliable biomarker(s) for manganese-induced neurologic lesions in long-term, low-level exposure situation. Lack of such a diagnostic means renders it impossible to assess the human health risk and long-term social impact associated with potentially elevated manganese in environment. The biochemical interaction between manganese and iron, particularly the ensuing subtle changes of certain relevant proteins, provides the opportunity to identify and develop such a specific biomarker for manganese-induced neuronal damage. By learning the molecular mechanism of cytotoxicity, one will be able to find a better way for prediction and treatment of manganese-initiated neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2018

Mugwort (Artemisia princeps) is a medicinal plant that has a substance called euphatilin, which is effective for cell damage and gastritis recovery. The objectives of this study were to investigate the annual growth characteristics of Artemisia princeps in greenhouse and to increase the eupatiline content by environmental stresses. Growth and eupatilin content of the plants were compared after 6 weeks of seedling and subsequent 8 weeks of greenhouse cultivation. Photosynthesis of mugwort plants did not saturate even at a relatively high light intensity of $1,200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Growth rate of the plants reached its highest at two weeks after transplanting and began to decrease since 8 weeks after transplanting. The plants showed typical characteristics of a perennial herbaceous plant as they were sensitive to seasonal changes. In particular, the plants showed high growth and eupatilin content in spring and summer as vegetative growth periods, but flowering and wintering caused considerable decreases in growth and eupatilin content in fall and winter. Therefore, application of night interruption is essential for year-round cultivationof the plant. Two stresses and a elicitor were treated: drought stresses by stopping irrigation at 5, 6, 7, and 8 days before harvest; salt stresses with nutrient solution concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8, and $10dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ by adding sodium chloride at 3 days before harvest; and foliar applications of methyl jasmonates of 12.5, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}M$ at 3 days before harvest. Significant increase in eupatilin content was observed at drought stresses of 7- and 8-days of irrigation stop and foliar application of $25{\mu}M$ methyl jasmonate, while no significant increase observed at salt stresses. From the results, it was confirmed that the environmental treatments can improve the productivity and quality of Artemisia princeps as a phamaceutical raw material.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 2003

This study was carried out to obtain basic data for selecting the applicable crops in reclaimed land and to provide guidelines for the rotation between paddy and upland cropping. Field experiment was conducted with six summer crops(garland chrysanthemum, young radish, small radish, kale, lettuce, red lettuce) at Dae-Ho reclaimed experiment plots in Dangjin province. Dry weights and plant heights of harvested crops were measured and soil chemical properties were analyzed. Plant height and dry weight decreased significantly with increasing soil saturation paste extract electrical conductivity(ECe) and sodium adsorption ratio(SAR). The threshold ECe of salt inhibition for six crops was less than $1dS\;m^{-1}$ for young radish and kale, greater than $4dS\;m^{-1}$ for garland chrysanthemum, and greater than $6dS\;m^{-1}$ for small radish, lettuce, and red lettuce. At higher ECe that inhibits crop growth, with every increase in $1dS\;m^{-1}$, dry weight index decreased by 3.35 for kale, 3.92 for small radish, 3.98 for young radish, 4.66 for lettuce, 7.57 for garland chrysanthemum, and 8.45% for red lettuce, respectively. The ECe causing 50% reduction of dry weight index was $18.9dS\;m^{-1}$ for small radish, $17.3dS\;m^{-1}$ for lettuce, $15.4dS\;m^{-1}$ for kale, $12.0dS\;m^{-1}$ for red lettuce, $11.3dS\;m^{-1}$ for young radish, and $11.0dS\;m^{-1}$ for garland chrysanthemum. Among the tested 6 summer crops through field experiment and in-situ survey, kale was proved to be a favorable vegetable crop at reclaimed tidal land.