• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.828-834
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• 2006

We investigated whether two-kinds of mixture (NHDT-1 and NHDT-2) mainly composed of Hovenia dulcis Thunb had beneficial actions for alcohol and acetaldehyde degradation in acute alcohol treatment and liver protection from fatty liver induced by chronic alcohol administration. In acute alcohol degradation experiment, serum alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations exhibited lower 1, 3 and 5 hours after taking 3 g ethanol per kg body weight in NHDT-1 treated rats, but not NHDT-2 including ginseng. On the contrast to the acute effect on alcohol degradation, the long-term alcohol administration revealed that NHDT-2, not NHDT-1, protected the increase in serum concentration of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotrasferase and ${\gamma}-triglyceride$ metabolism similar to the rats not consuming alcohol, leading to decreased triglyceride accumulation in blood and liver. In liver morphological study, NHDT-1 preserved the regular hepatocyte morphology, decreased fat accumulation and reduced sinusoidal leukocyte infiltration in hepatocytes. In conclusion, NHDT-1 plays an important role in alcohol and acetaldehyde degradation without protecting liver damage while NHDT-2 works as hepatocyte protector from alcohol mediated damage.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

To investigate whether there are estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activities in various medicinal herbs and discover prominent chemo-preventive agents, we screened and compared the ethanol extracts of 9 plants through the recombinant yeast assay and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell assay, In recombinant yeast assay, seven medicinal herbs showed estrogenicity, and four extracts showed androgenecity. In MCF-7 proliferation assay, the growth of MCF-7 cells was inhibited by eight extracts before and even after co-treatment with bisphenol A. It is interesting that the extracts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Cassia tora, Syringa velutina, Zingiber officinale, Malva verticillata, and Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer exhibited inhibitory effects as phytoestrogens in estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells. This study suggests that some Korean medicinal herbs might be considered as phytoestrogens and be useful to further analyze those plants which contain the estrogenic effect in order to identify the active principles.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.485-492
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• 1986

This study was designed to compare the inhibitory effects of algae components such as alginic acid and chlorella extract with the red ginseng saponin and garlic components such as alliin and scordinin on obesity. These components supplemented to basic diet were fed ad libitum to Sprague Dawley rats for 4 weeks, and the inhibitory effects on obesity were evaluated by measuring body weight gain and feed efficiency, the contents of glucose and cholesterol in serum, lipase activity in serum, lipid contents in liver and adipose tissue around epididymis and ovarium, and Lee index, etc. Among the inhibitory effects of these components on obesity, Na-alginate($71\%$) was the most effective (p<0.01), and the others were effective (p<0.001) in the order of scordinin ($76\%$) = chlorella ($76\%$)> alliin ($86\%$) for body weight gain, but Na-alginate ($68\%$) was the most effective, followed by alliin ($79\%$) for feed efficiency (p<0.001). In the inhibitory effects on lipid accumultion in liver and adipose tissue, Na-alginate ($84\%$) among these components was the most effective (p<0.001) in liver, but Na-alginate ($54\%$) was the most effective (p<0.001), followed by alliin ($64\%$), and followed by scordinin ($66\%$) in adipose tissues around epididymis and ovarium (p<0.001). The inhibitory effect on obesity evaluated by Lee index was observed in Na-alginate ($91\%$) only (0.001). The decreasing effects of lipid content in liver by these components were effective in the order of alliin ($40\%$)> saponin ($58\%$)> Na-alginate($62\%$)> chlorella ($64\%$)> scordinin ($74\%$) (p<0.001). G lucose contents in serum were significantly decreased in cases of Na-alginate ($67\%$), saponin ($73\%$), scordinin ($74\%$) and alliin ($83\%$), and cholesterol contents in serum were significantly decreased in cases of Na-alginate ($82\%$), chlorella ($86\%$) and saponin ($89\%$) (p<0.001). The increasing effect of lipase activity in serum was effective in cases of Na-alginate ($109\%$) and saponin ($104\%$), while garlic components such as alliin and scordinin, and chlorella were decreased. It is proved that the inhibitory effect of alginic acid which is the major component of brown algae on obesity was more effective than those of ginseng and garlic components such as saponin, alliin and scordinin.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.989-996
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• 2005

Ultraviolet (UV) induces photo aging, erythema, sunburn, photo-toxicity, photo-allergy, and skin tumor, To investigate photo-protective effects of AmorePacific Beauty-03 (APB-03; mixture of red ginseng extract powder and soybean extract powder) on UV-induced damaged skins, 40 SKH hairless female mice were orally administered APB-03 or saline five times a week and irradiated with UV three times per week far up to 12 weeks. Visible skin changes and skin damage in dermis and epidermis by replica image analysis and histological analysis. In APB-03-treated group, better skin, negative replica appearance and less wrinkle formation were observed compared to the UV control group. These results demonstrate oral administration of APB-03 have photo-protective effects on UV-damaged hairless mouse skin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2013

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx 6) is a member of the thiol-specific antioxidant protein family, which may play a role in protection against oxidative stress and in regulating phospholipid turnover. The aim of this study was to determine whether a human Prx 6/Luc vector was stably expressed and responded to antioxidants in a lung cell line (NCI-H460). To achieve this, the luciferase signal, hPrx 6 mRNA expression, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured in transfectants with a hPrx 6/Luc plasmid after treatment with four antioxidant extracts, including Korea white ginseng (KWG), Korea red ginseng (KRG), Liriope platyphylla (LP), and red Liriope platyphylla (RLP). First, the hPrx 6/Luc plasmid was successfully constructed with DNA fragments of human Prx 6 promoter, amplified by PCR using genomic DNA isolated from NCI-H460 cells, and cloned into the pTransLucent reporter vector. The orientation and sequencing of the hPrx 6/Luc plasmid were identified with restriction enzyme and automatic sequencing. A luciferase assay revealed significant enhancement of luciferase activity in the four treatment groups compared with a vehicle-treated group, although the ratio of the increase was different within each group. The KRG- and LP-treated groups showed higher activity than the KWG- and RLP-treated groups. Furthermore, the luciferase activity against RLP occurred roughly in a dose-dependent manner. However, the level of endogenous hPrx 6 mRNA did not change in any group treated with the four extracts. The SOD activity was in agreement with the luciferase activity. Therefore, these results indicate that the hPrx 6/Luc vector system may successfully express and respond to antioxidant compounds in NCI-H460 cells. The data also suggest that the Prx 6/Luc vector system may be effectively applied in screening the response of hPrx 6 to antioxidant compounds in transgenic mice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.767-774
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• 1998

This study has been carried out to measure the amount of the daily intake by Korean on preservatives (Dehydroacetic acid, Benzoic acid and ρ-Hydroxybenzoic acid asters) in foods. The amounts of preservatives were determined by HPLC in foods such as butter, cheese, margarine, aloe gel, carbonated beverages, mixed beverage, ginseng beverage, red ginseng drink, soy sauce, fruit and vegetable juices (except unheated fruit-vegetable juice), vineger, seasonings, fruit and vegetables only on the peel, fruit wine, rice wine and unrefined rice wine. The recovery ranges were found to be 99.2% for dehydroacetic Acid, 95.8% for benzoic acid and $94.2{\sim}97.2%$ for ${\rho}-hydroxybenzoic$ acid in foods, respectively. The data of average food intake for each food items per capita per day were obtained from the report of national nutrition survey carried by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1997. The detected number of samples and average intake range of preservatives have been figured cut to $ND{\sim}290.0{\;}ppm$ for dehydroacetic acid, $ND{\sim}400.0{\;}ppm$ for benzoic acid and $ND{\sim}93.9{\;}ppm$ for ${\rho}-hydroxybenzoic$ acid esters, respectively. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of each additives per capita per day were shown as follows; 1.56 mg for dehydroacetic acid, 2.25 mg for benzoic acid and 0.44 mg for ${\rho}-hydroxybenzoic$ acid esters in total respectively and these values were evaluated to be much lower than that of FAO/WHO's acceptable daily intake (ADI) $0{\sim}5{\;}mg/kg$ b.w./day for benzoic acid and $0{\sim}10{\;}mg/kg$ b.w./day for ${\rho}-hydroxybenzoic$ acid esters.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1989

The present study was carried out to get the basic information for clarifying physiological mechanism of breaking dormancy and sprouting in Panax ginseng roots. Changes in Abscisic acid (ABA) content and Gibberellin (GA) activity were investigated in one-year-old root during stratification at 4$^{\circ}C$. 15$^{\circ}C$. and 15$^{\circ}C$ after 60day-treatment at 4$^{\circ}C$. Sprouting rate at 15$^{\circ}C$ was 35％ in 30days storage at 4$^{\circ}C$ and 100％ in longer than 60days, but there was no sprout in both the constant treatment at 4$^{\circ}C$ or 15$^{\circ}C$ regardless of the treatment period. The longer the period of low temperature treatment. number of days to the first and 50％ sprouting was shortened, and number of days to 50％ from first sprouting was also shortened. ABA content in the upper part of root(contained bud) was gradually increased at both 4$^{\circ}C$ and 15$^{\circ}C$ as the treatment period was extended. and the degree of increase was higher at 15$^{\circ}C$. In the lower part. it showed a slight increase at 15$^{\circ}C$. while showed little change at 4$^{\circ}C$ throughout the treatment period. In the 15$^{\circ}C$ treatment after 60days at 4$^{\circ}C$, it was greatly increased in the upper part. while rather slightly decreased in the lower part of root. GA activity in the upper part was gradually decreased at both 4$^{\circ}C$ and 15$^{\circ}C$, and the degree of decrease was higher at 15$^{\circ}C$. In the lower part. it was similar tendency to those in the upper part. In the 15$^{\circ}C$ treatment after 60days at 4$^{\circ}C$. it was remarkably increased in both the upper and lower part. The increase was great in the low Rf region, while the decrease appeared relatively in the high Rf region compared to those of 60day-treatment at 4$^{\circ}C$. The above results indicated that the breaking dormancy and sprouting of bud were closely associated with the degree of GA activities in response to temperature condition .during stratification rather than the direct effect associated with the changes in ABA content.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.64-73
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study is to see the prevalence and the patterns of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children and adolescent patients with allergies. Methods We analyzed data on 547 children and adolescents (age from 0-18 years old) chosen from all regions throughout the country with allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic urticaria. We used multiple logistic regression modeling to predict CAM use based on predictor variables. Results The previous 12-months prevalence of CAM usage in overall was 70.7% (atopic dermatitis, 78.1%; allergic rhinitis, 52.9%; asthma, 70.3%; allergic urticaria, 86.3%). Central and southern regions displayed significantly lower rate of using CAM compare to the northern region, and CAM was less likely to be used for the allergic rhinitis patients than the atopic dermatitis patients. The most commonly used CAM type was natural products (62.2%). Top five of the most frequently used CAM modalities were softener water, vitamin, red ginseng, wood bathing and aloe oil. One of the main reasons for trying CAM was from the 'hope for a more effective outcomes in additional to the conventional medicine' (43.9%). The subjective effectiveness of CAM was found to be excellent in 74.0% of the patients, and 70.3% of the parents were willing to recommend CAM therapies to the others. Conclusions CAM is used widely to treat allergic diseases in children and adolescents in Korea. Korean medical doctors should actively discuss the use of CAM with the patients and provide information on the effectiveness and safety of CAM as guide in making choice for usage of CAM.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.410-417
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• 2016

Quercetin is a flavonoid usually found in fruits and vegetables. Aside from its antioxidative effects, quercetin, like other flavonoids, has a various neuropharmacological actions. Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (Rham1), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (Rutin), and quercetin-3-(2(G)-rhamnosylrutinoside (Rham2) are mono-, di-, and tri-glycosylated forms of quercetin, respectively. In a previous study, we showed that quercetin can enhance ${\alpha}7$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (${\alpha}7$ nAChR)-mediated ion currents. However, the role of the carbohydrates attached to quercetin in the regulation of ${\alpha}7$ nAChR channel activity has not been determined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of quercetin glycosides on the acetylcholine induced peak inward current ($I_{ACh}$) in Xenopus oocytes expressing the ${\alpha}7$ nAChR. $I_{ACh}$ was measured with a two-electrode voltage clamp technique. In oocytes injected with ${\alpha}7$ nAChR copy RNA, quercetin enhanced $I_{ACh}$, whereas quercetin glycosides inhibited $I_{ACh}$. Quercetin glycosides mediated an inhibition of $I_{ACh}$, which increased when they were pre-applied and the inhibitory effects were concentration dependent. The order of $I_{ACh}$ inhibition by quercetin glycosides was Rutin${\geq}$Rham1>Rham2. Quercetin glycosides-mediated $I_{ACh}$ enhancement was not affected by ACh concentration and appeared voltage-independent. Furthermore, quercetin-mediated $I_{ACh}$ inhibition can be attenuated when quercetin is co-applied with Rham1 and Rutin, indicating that quercetin glycosides could interfere with quercetin-mediated ${\alpha}7$ nAChR regulation and that the number of carbohydrates in the quercetin glycoside plays a key role in the interruption of quercetin action. These results show that quercetin and quercetin glycosides regulate the ${\alpha}7$ nAChR in a differential manner.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1987

Nitrate nitrogen was absorbed dominantly among the inorganic nitrogen nutrients by tobacco plant. Transport and reduction of $NO_3-N$ in plant tissue were the important metabolism for supplying synthetic N compounds to developing tissues during growth period. Under field and environment-controlled condition tobacco plants were grown and seperated to leaf tissues at stalk positions for investigation of nitrogen transport and assimilation ability during period of rapid vegative growth. The results of studies were summarized as follows: 1. $NO_3-N$ absorbed from roots was transported as inorganic nitrogen through the vascular tissue of leaf veins as resulting from the high $NO_3-N$ ratio of the nitrogen content in leaf veins, but these ratios in mesophyll tissue of the same leaf laminae decreased remarkably in disregard of higher accumulation of nitrogen being compared to midvien. 2. Mesophyll tissue of mature leaves appeared higher value of nitrate reductase activity (NRA) comparing with other tissues, stem, leaf vien, and meristmatic tissue at emergence point with young leaves. 3. Matured leaves at lower position being reducing nitrate nitrogen vigorously observed thick laminae and kept high amount of water in them. 4. Mature leaves of young plant reduced $NO_3-N$ vigorously for supply synthetic N compounds to meristmatic tissues at growing point by the reason of narrow and few leaves at young stage, but in advancing growth period NRA of mature leaves along upper position reached to lower value. This appearence attributed to distribution of organic-N compound demanding for growth to increasing numbers of wide leaves.