• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.87-91
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• 2016

Objectives : In order to confirm whether extracts of different parts of Zostera marina (ZM), a marine flowering plant, can be used as cosmetic ingredients, this study evaluated their cytotoxicity and cytoprotective effects against ultraviolet B (UVB). Inflammatory responses induced by UV stimuli are also associated with the aging of the skin.Methods : We investigated the effects of ZM extracts on cells through the water soluble tetrazolium salt-1(WST-1) assay for cell viability. In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects, we evaluated the suppression of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by ZM extracts in HaCaT cells with UVB-induced damages, and also evaluated the production of Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in RAW 264.7 cells with LPS-induced damages.Results : High cell viabilities above 90% were observed in all types of ZM extracts, except for whole ZM extract at 0.5 mg/ml; in keratinocytes with UVB-induced damages, the cell viabilities were above 80% when treated with all types of ZM extracts. We confirmed their anti-inflammatory effects by investigating the suppression of inflammatory mediators. In keratinocytes with UVB-induced damages, COX-2 expression decreased in the experimental group treated with ZM extract. Similarly, in RAW 264.7 cells where inflammation was induced with LPS, the biosynthesis of PGE₂ was inhibited.Conclusion : These results suggest that ethanol extracts from Zostera marina may have value as the potential anti-inflammatory medicinal plant. Also based on the abovementioned results, ZM extract protects skin cells from UV-induced damages, and thus can be used in topically applied products for skin protection.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 1993

Contamination of heavy metals in water and sediments along Mantyeong (river) has reached up to critical level, The object of the study is to dlucidate some macroinvertebrates which inhabit along the river in respect to the modulatory role in reducing the pollution. For the purpose, Scapharca subcrenata(sea shell) which is common in numbers and biomass in the area was collected, and cadmium (Cd) was subjected as a reference metal in the experiment. The seashell was dried and autoclaved, followed by pellet preparation under various concentration of Cd: 50,100,250,500 and 1,500 ug /pellet. Mice were fed for 3 months, althrough last group(5 mice), 1,500 ug/pellet, died within 4 weeksof the administration.MT-Cd in liver and kidney increased in correlation with the amont of Cd concentration in pellet, especially in kidney than in liver. Liver and kidney of the mice showed pathological changes such as cellular infiltration and focal necrosis in liver, and peri-tubular cell infiltration or tubular necrosis etc. The changes were more intensive by amount of the Cd. Overall results in the present study suggest that Cd may eventually combine with soluble-protein forming metalloprotein, then reduce the toxicity of heavy metal, How the formed Mt-Cd is discharged from the kidney and the mechanism shall be the further subject to be clarified.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.290-298
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• 2013

This study examined the effects of calcium (Ca) gluconate on collagen-induced DBA mouse rheumatoid arthritis (CIA). A single daily dose of 200, 100 or 50 mg/kg Ca gluconate was administered orally to male DBA/1J mice for 40 days after initial collagen immunization. To ascertain the effects administering the collagen booster, CIA-related features (including body weight, poly-arthritis, knee and paw thickness, and paw weight increase) were measured from histopathological changes in the spleen, left popliteal lymph node, third digit and the knee joint regions. CIA-related bone and cartilage damage improved significantly in the Ca gluconate-administered CIA mice. Additionally, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the paw were reduced in Ca gluconate-treated CIA mice compared to CIA control groups. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the Ca gluconate group. Finally, the production of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, involved in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, were suppressed by treatment with Ca gluconate. Taken together, these results suggest that Ca gluconate is a promising candidate anti-rheumatoid arthritis agent, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunomodulatory effects in CIA mice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.428-435
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• 2006

Specific interaction of the epsin N-terminal homology(ENTH) domain with the plasma membrane appears to bridge other related proteins to the specific regions of the membrane that are invaginated to form endocytic vesicles. An additional $\alpha$-helix, referred to as helix 0 (H0), is formed in the presence of the soluble ligand inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate [$Ins(1,4,5)P_3$] at the N terminus of the ENTH domain (amino acid residues 3-15). The ENTH domain alone and full-length epsin cause tubulation of liposomes made of brain lipids. Thus, it is believed that H0 is membrane-inserted when it is coordinated with the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [$PtdIns(4,5)P_2$], resulting in membrane deformation as well as recruitment of accessory factors to the membrane. However, formation of H0 in a real biological membrane has not been demonstrated. In the present study, the membrane structure of H0 was determined by measurement of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) nitroxide accessibility. H0 was located at the phosphate head-group region of the membrane. Moreover, EPR line-shape analysis indicated that no pre-formed H0-like structure were present on normal acidic membranes. $PtdIns(4,5)P_2$ was necessary and sufficient for interaction of the H0 region with the membrane. H0 was stable only in the membrane. In conclusion, the H0 region of the ENTH domain has an intrinsic ability to form H0 in a $PtdIns(4,5)P_2$-containing membrane, perhaps functioning as a sensor of membrane patches enriched with $PtdIns(4,5)P_2$ that will initiate curvature to form endocytic vesicles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1999

The antioxidative effects of phenolic acids extracts from defatted sesame meal were investigated on the soybean oil. The free, ester and insoluble bound phenolic acids in the extracts from defatted sesame meal were isolated and their antioxidative activities were evaluated with commercial synthetic antioxidants such as BHA, AP and TBHQ. The patterns of these extracts were compared by using gas chromatography. Ether extracts from the defatted sesame meal showed a higher antioxidative effectiveness than BHA and AP. Among phenolic extracts, free phenolic acid and soluble phenolic acid ester were found most effective in the sesame meal. Each phenolic extract was confirmed to be composed of six or three individual compounds.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: 'Shiranuhi' mandarin is one of the popular citrus cultivars in Jeju Island, Korea. However, the emergence of scion roots since the past few years has altered its flowering, fruiting, and quality. Girdling of branches is one of the methods of increasing flowering in citrus trees. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of girdling on the flowering and yields of scion rooted 'Shiranuhi' mandarin hybrid. We selected normal trees without scion roots as controls. The trees with scion roots were divided into two groups: trees without girdling and with girdling on main branches. Each group contained five replications and the experiment was conducted in Gosan and Harye of Jeju Island. The scion rooted trees revealed severely decreased flowering and low flowering/leaf ratios; however, the leaf/fruit ratio significantly increased. But, girdling on main branches significantly increased flowering and the flowering/leaf ratio. In the scion rooted trees, yields dropped due to poor flowering; however, girdling of branches efficiently improved the yields of the trees. Fruit quality, fruit size, and fruit weight of scion rooted trees were low in comparison with the control, whereas girdling of the branches improved flowering and the fruit weight to some extent. No significant difference in soluble solid contents was observed. CONCLUSION: Girdling is an effective method to induce flowering of the scion rooted 'Shiranuhi' mandarin trees. In addition, yields of scion rooted trees were improved.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.362-363
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• 2012

A new cross-linkable polymer, cross-linked d-PBAB, which has the triphenylamine as the hole transporting moiety and ethynyl group as the thermal cross-linker is firstly synthesized by the combination of anionic polymerization and deprotection process. The thermal cross-linking reaction was performed at $240^{\circ}C$ for 50 min and cross-linked d-PBAB layer showed smooth surface and is not soluble at organic solvent under spin-coating of emitting layer (EML). The solution-processed PLED which was fabricated with cross-linked d-PBAB as HTL showed approximately two times higher Lmax and four times higher LEmax than those obtained from PLED with PEDOT:PSS as the HTL. These result is ascribed to better ability of cross-linked d-PBAB to block electrons and to prevent exciton-quenching than those of PEDOT : PSS at the EML interface. This results strongly suggested that cross-linked d-PBAB can be a promising material to replace conventional PEDOT : PSS. It can be suspected that PLEDwith cross-linked d-PBAB would show longer lifetime compared with that of PLED with PEDOT : PSS, and thus further studies are under investigation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.196-201
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Bioavailability enhancement by solubilization of lipophilic drugs in nano-emulsion has been reported and it may be useful in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. This study was performed to compare in vivo bioavailability of nano-emulsion formulation with that of the general product as control. METHODS AND RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics assessment of Vitamin A, D and E complex of nanoemulsion formulation (LaVita), in comparison to the general product, was performed in the male rat plasma by a single oral dose at 20 mL/kg body weight (n=3/group). For nano-emulsion formulation (LaVita), $C_{max}$ of vitamin A and E in plasma were much higher and the area under the curve (AUC) of vitamin A, D and E were 14-63% higher, and the half-life of vitamin E was 2-fold longer than the general product. According to statistical analysis, each $C_{max}$ of vitamin A, D & E was significantly higher (p<0.01, 0.05 and 0.01, respectively) than that of general product. Half-life of vitamin A was significantly higher (p<0.01) and AUC of vitamin A and D were also significantly higher than the general product. CONCLUSION(s): Considering significant increment of $C_{max}$ and AUC, LaVita made of nano-emulsion could be more effective the absorption rate and extent for bioavailability of vitamin A, D & E than those of general product.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.832-839
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• 2014

To evaluate the digestive characteristics and bioavailability of dietary soybean meal (SBM), the post-prandial changes in the gastric contents of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were determined for 24 h after feeding of SBM diets. A curve estimation of regression diagnostics using a comparison of the adjusted $r^2$ and probability was performed to test the tendency of the post-prandial changes and gave a quadratic polynomial (exponential) regression for all experimental groups. The gastric evacuations rates (GER) for higher-SBM groups were slower than those for lower-SBM groups. The estimated GER (digestion time) for 75% gastric content for fish fed a 70% SBM diet was 1.63 times longer than that for fish fed the control diet. Despite the fact that the pH values in the gastric contents rose from 4.05 at 0 h to 5.12-5.38 at 1 h after feeding, then dropped to 4.57-4.83 at 9 h, with no significant differences among experimental groups, the gastric moisture contents increased significantly in the higher-SBM groups. This is most likely due to an increase in digestive juices in the higher-SBM groups, rather than water introduced externally. The percentage of soluble nitrogen in the gastric contents of fish fed the higher-SBM diets was higher than that in the fish fed the control diet, and the SBRs (stomach weight/body weight${\times}100$) in the higher-SBM groups (diets 4, 5, 6 and 7) were also significantly higher than the SBR of the control group (P<0.05). This may indicate that the protein in SBM can be digested slowly due to physiological digestive adaptation in rainbow trout.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2011

Botryosphaeran, a water-soluble exopolysaccharide of the ${\beta}-(1{\rightarrow}3;1{\rightarrow}6)$-D-glucan type that has been isolated from the culture medium of Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 grown in submerged fermentation using glucose as the sole carbon source, was previously demonstrated to be non-genotoxic in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and exhibited strong anticlastogenic activity. In the present study, the effects of botryosphaeran were investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats as well as in high-fat diet-fed hyperlipidemic Wistar rats. The plasma glucose level was reduced by 52% in the diabetic group of rats after administration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg body weight of the rats (b.w.)/day by gavage over 15 days. A reduction in the median ration intake was accompanied by an increase in the median body weight gain, as well as the efficiency of food conversion. These results demonstrate that botryosphaeran has protective effects by reducing the symptoms of cachexia in Diabetes mellitus. Botryosphaeran administered by gavage at a concentration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg b.w./day over 15 days also reduced the plasma levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol by 18% and 27%, respectively, in hyperlipidemic rats. Based on these findings, we conclude that botryosphaeran possesses hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic properties in conditions of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, respectively, and may be used as an oral anti-diabetic agent.