• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.181-188
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• 2011

This study was carried out to estimate beneficial effects of Foeniculi fructus water extract on activities of key enzymes such as lipoprotein lipase (LPL), acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), and hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) on lipid metabolism related with obesity. LPL and ACS were extracted from the epididymal adipose tissue and liver of C57BL/6J normal and obese mouse. Foeniculi fructus water extract treatment significantly reduced the activity of normal and obese LPL. When 100 ppm of Foeniculi fructus water extracts were tested, they decreased obese LPL activity by 12.0%. Foeniculi fructus water extract activated obese ACS activity by 7-fold compared with control at 1,000 ppm concentration. Expression of HSL mRNA was increased in Foeniculi fructus water extracts treated cells compared with non treated cells. All things considered, Foeniculi fructus water extract efficiently inhibits the influx of fatty acid into the cell, and activates metabolic process that uses fatty acids flowing as an energy source. Thus, it suggest that Foeniculi fructus water extract may have great potential as a novel anti-obesity agent.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.422-430
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• 2007

Clonostachys rosea (syn. Gliocladium roseum) is a well-known biocontrol agent and widely distributed around the world. In this study, an endochitinase gene Crchi1 was isolated from the mycoparasitic fungus C. rosea using the DNA walking strategy. The Crchi1 ORF is 1,746 bp long and interrupted by three introns. The cloned gene Crchi1 encodes 426 amino acid residues and shares a high degree of similarity with other chitinases from entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi. Several putative binding sites for transcriptional regulation of Crchi1 in response to carbon (5'-SYGGRG-3') and nitrogen (5'-GATA-3') were identified in the upstream of Crchi1. Expression of Crchi1 gene in different carbon sources was analyzed using real-time PCR (RT-PCR). We found that the Crchi1 expression was suppressed by glucose but strongly stimulated by chitin or solubilized components of the cell wall from Rhizoctonia solani. Phylogenetic analysis of chitinases from entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi suggests that these chitinases have probably evolved from a common ancestor.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.844-851
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• 2014

This study focused on the anti-oxidative and collagenase- and elastase inhibition effects of low molecular weight peptides (LMP) from commercial Jeju horse leg bone hydrolysates (JHLB) on pancreatin, via enzymatic hydrolysis. Cell viability of dermal fibroblasts exposed to UVB radiation upon treatment with LMP from JHLB was evaluated. Determination of the antioxidant activity of various concentrations of LMP from JHLB were carried out by assessing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of LMP from JHLB (20 mg/mL) was 92.21% and ABTS radical scavenging activity (15 mg/mL) was 99.50%. FRAP activity (30 mg/mL) was $364.72{\mu}M/TE$ and ORAC activity (1 mg/mL) was $101.85{\mu}M/TE$. The anti-wrinkle potential was assessed by evaluating the elastase- and collagenase inhibition potential of these LMP. We found that 200 mg/mL of LMP from JHLB inhibited elastase activity by 41.32%, and 100 mg/mL of LMP from JHLB inhibited collagenase activity by 91.32%. The cell viability of untreated HS68 human dermal fibroblasts was 45% when exposed to a UVB radiation dose of $100mJ/cm^2$. After 24 h of incubation with $500{\mu}g/mL$ LMP from JHLB, the cell viability increased to 60%. These results indicate that LMP from JHLB has potential utility as an anti-oxidant and anti-wrinkle agent in the food and cosmetic industry. Additional in vivo tests should be carried out to further characterize these potential benefits.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.363-369
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• 2015

Background : Platycodon grandiflorum radix used as a therapeutic agent for lung and respiratory diseases in traditional Korean medicine. The saponin and sugar content in P. grandiflorum root is dependent on the drying temperature and method. In this study, we investigated saponins and antioxidant contents in dried P. grandiflorum roots either not cut or cut to different lengths. Methods and Results : P. grandiflorum roots were either cut to 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 cm in length or left uncut. They were dried at $45^{\circ}C$ and the effect of antioxidant substances, antioxidant ability, and saponin content were investigated. P. grandiflorum roots rapidly dried out when cut to short lengths. The saponin contents (platycodin D, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D) was highest in the uncut P. grandiflorum roots. When the cut lengths were long, the levels of polyphenolic compound increased. However, 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were higher in the samples cut to shorter lengths. Conclusions : These results suggested that the saponin and antioxidant content of P. grandiflorum roots could be maximized by controlling the drying rate of the roots via adjustments to the root cutting length.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권6호
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• pp.495-501
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• 2001

We have cloned the mouse neurotensin/neuromedin N (NT/N) gene from the murine mast cell line Cl.MC/C57.1 for the first time. The murine NT/N cDNA clone consisted of 765 nucleotides and coded for 169 peptide residues with an N-terminal signal peptide, and the C-terminal region contained of one copy of neurotensin (NT) and one copy of neuromedin N (NN). Total of four Lys-Arg dibasic motifs were present; one each at the middle of the open reading frame, at the N-terminal of NN, at the C-terminal of NT, and between NN and NT. Amino acid sequence analysis of the mouse NT/N revealed 90% homology to that of the rat NT/N gene. NT/N is expressed in murine mast cell lines (Cl.MC/C57.1 and P815), but not in murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7), nor in murine T cell line (EL-4). NT/N mRNA in C1.MC/C57.1 is highly inducible by IgE cross-linking, phorbol myristate acetate, neurotensin, and substance P. Following the treatment of demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine (5-azaC), the NT/N gene was induced in BMMCs in response to IgE cross-linking. 5-azaC-treated BMMCs did not express the NT/N gene without additional stimuli. These findings suggested that the regulation of NT/N gene expression was dependent on the effects of not only gene methylation but also enhancer and/or repressor proteins acting on the NT/N promoter.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.800-806
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• 2016

In total, 151 Escherichia coli isolates from Ruditapes philippinarum in Gomso Bay were analyzed for their susceptibility to 18 different antimicrobial agents and for genes associated with virulence. For virulence genes, each strain of the isolates was positive for the enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)-specific heat-stable toxin (estA), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)-specific invasion-associated locus (iaa) gene and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)-specific attaching and effacing (eae) gene. According to a disk diffusion susceptibility test, resistance to ampicillin was most prevalent (23.2%), followed by resistance to amoxicillin (22.5%), ticarcillin (20.5%), tetracycline (18.5%), nalidixic acid (12.6%), ciprofloxacin (10.6%), streptomycin (9.9%), and chloramphenicol (6.6%). More than 35.8% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, and 19.9% were resistant to four or more classes of antimicrobials; these were consequently defined as multidrug resistant. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges for the antimicrobial resistance of the 15 different antimicrobial agents of 54 E. coli strains were confirmed by varying the concentrations from $32-2,048{\mu}g/mL$. Overall, these results not only provide novel insights into the necessity for seawater and R. philippinarum sanitation in Gomso Bay but they also help to reduce the risk of contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 한국식품영양과학회 2001년도 International Symposium on Food,Nutrition and Health for 21st Century
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• pp.69-73
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• 2001

Two opioid peptides, YPLDL and YPLDLF, were isolated from enzymatic digests of spinach ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) and named rubiscolin-5 and -6, respectively. These peptides were selective for delta-receptor and the latter was about 3 times more potent than the former. After oral administration in mice at the dose of 100 mg/kg, rubiscolin-6 showed analgesic activity in tail pinch test. It also stimutated learning performance at the same dose in passive avoidance experiment using step-through apparatus. An immunostimulating peptide, MITLAIPVNKPGR, was isolated from a trypsin digest of soybean protein and named soymetide. Immunostimulating activy of soymetide was mediated by fMLP receptor. Interestingly, after oral administration in rats at a dose of 300 mg/kg (po.), soymetide-4 (MITL) protected alopecia (hair-loss) induced by etoposide, a cancer chemotherapy agent. Stimulation of IL-1 release by the peptide was involved in the mechanism. Ovokinin(2-7), RADHPF, is a vasorelaxing peptide released from ovalbumin by the action of chymotrypsin. It lowered blood pressure of spontaneously hypersensive rats (SHR) after oral administration at a dose of 10 mg/kg. RPLKPW, which was designed by replacing 4 amino acid residues in ovokinin(2-7), exhibited hypotensive activity at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg (po.). This peptides was introduced into 3 homologous sites in soybean beta-conglycinin alpha' subunit by site-directed mutagenesis of the cDNA and expressed in E. coli. The minimum effective dose for hypotensive activity of the genetically modified beta-conglycinin alpha' subunit was 10 mg/kg (po.), which is about 1/200 that of ovalbumin.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.131-147
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• 2003

In the 21st century, the development of cosmetics is led to pursue the high functionality of cosmetics with excellent effectiveness and safety. As Cosmetic Act took effect in 2000, functional cosmetics is provided in the law. As a result, the research and development of functional cosmetics has continually increased, and the number of patent applications in functional cosmetics has also rapidly increased as a plan for preoccupying in the functional cosmetics age. Now, the cosmetic industry has a great interest in developing anti-wrinkle cosmetics among functional cosmetics, because women's desire for having young resilient skin has increased since Korea entered an aging society thanks to the advanced medical technology. The patent application trends of anti-wrinkle cosmetics at home since 2000 particularly show the rapid increase in the applications in natural plant extracts. It may be because Korean consumers preference of vegetable cosmetics has resulted in the development of raw materials based on the traditional medicine. As for the existing preparation such as Retinoid or Ascorbic acid, the patent application itself will be an essential technical element in the future because patent applications are filed in the field of a preparation of cosmetics for stabilizing ingredients, reducing skin irritability or promoting absorbance, and in the field of cosmetic formulation technology. As there are many studies on the causes of skin wrinkles, it is expected that new raw materials of cosmetics can be developed due to new mechanisms, and that the number of patent applications in new technologies will increase due to a change in the thought of cosmetics accompanied by the integration of cosmetics with biotechnology using Genetic Engineering, including the practical application of the medicine previously used far treating skin diseases to an anti-wrinkle agent and the mass production of active ingredients of cosmetics.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.47-59
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• 2006

We previously found that cobrotoxin inhibited $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity by reacting with signal molecules of $NF-{\kappa}B$ which is critical contributor in cancer cell growth by induction of apoptotic cell death. We here investigated whether cobrotoxin inhibits cell growth of human prostate cancer cells through induction of apoptotic cell death, which is related with the suppression of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity. Cobrotoxin $(0{\sim}8\;nM)$ inhibited prostate cancer cell growth through increased apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. Cobrotoxin inhibited DNA binding activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$, an anti-apoptotic transcriptional factor. Consistent with the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$, cobrotoxin increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins caspase 3. Cobrotoxin, a venom of Vipera lebetina turanica, is a group of basicpeptides composed of 233 amino acids with six disulfide bonds formed by twelve cysteins. NF-kB is activated by subsequent release of inhibitory IkB and translocation of p50. Since sulfhydryl group is present in kinase domain of p50 subunit of NF-kB, cobrotoxin could modify NF-kB activity by protein-protein interaction. And Cobrotoxin down regulated Akt signals. Salicylic acid as a reducing agent of Sulf-hydryl group and LY294002 as a Akt inhibitor abrogated cobrotoxin-induced cell growth and DNA binding activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$. These findings suggest that nano to pico molar range of cobrotoxin could inhibit prostate cancer cell growth, and the effect may be related with the induction of apoptotic cell death through Akt dependent inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signal.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.1360-1364
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• 2009

The bacterium Sphingomonas chungbukensis DJ77 produces the extracellular polysaccharide gellan in high yield. Gellan produced by this bacterium is widely used as a gelling agent, and the enzyme UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) is thought to play a key role in the gellan biosynthetic pathway. The UGP gene has been successfully cloned and over-expressed in E. coli. The expressed enzyme was purified with a molecular weight of approximately 32 kDa, as determined by a SDS-polyacrylamide gel, but the enzyme appears as ca. 63 kDa on a native gel, suggesting that the enzyme is present in a homodimer. Kinetic analysis of UDP-glucose for UGP indicates $K_m$ = 1.14 mM and $V_{max}$ = 10.09 mM/min/mg at pH 8.0, which was determined to be the optimal pH for UGP catalytic activity. Amino acid sequence alignment against other bacteria suggests that the UGP contains two conserved domains: An activator binding site and a glucose-1-phosphate binding site. Site-directed mutagenesis of Lys194, located within the glucose-1-phosphate binding site, indicates that substitution of the charge-reversible residue Asp for Lys194 dramatically impairs the UGP activity, supporting the hypothesis that Lys194 plays a critical role in the catalysis.