• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.477-486
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• 2021

To utilize Malus pruniforia Borkh. as a functional material, cold-water (CW), hot-water (HW), and 70% ethanol (EtOH) extracts were prepared, and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were compared. The antioxidant activity of the HW extract evaluated by ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP activity was significantly effective. The total polyphenol content of the HW extract was also higher by 15.5±0.7 mg GAE/g extract compared to other extracts. The EtOH extract showed significantly decreased TNF-α (39.8%), IL-6 (65.5%), and NO (34.9%) levels in RAW 264.7 cells compared to the LPS-induced control group. The levels of IL-6 (21.1%) and IL-8 (19.3%) were significantly decreased by treatment of EtOH extract in HaCaT keratinocytes induced with TNF-α and IFN-γ. The UHPLC-MS results indicated that the EtOH extract might have chlorogenic acid and phlorizin as the major compounds. This was validated using HPLC-DAD, which showed that the EtOH extract had higher levels of chlorogenic acid and phlorizin (1,185±58 and 470±10 ㎍/g extract, respectively). In conclusion, the present study suggested that the anti-inflammatory activity of the EtOH extract was more effective than the CW and HW extracts, and chlorogenic acid and phlorizin could be used as indicator compounds and functional substances.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.507-514
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• 2021

Lentinula edodes have been cultivated extensively not only in South Korea but also in other Asian countries. In terms of taste and nutrition, it is a valuable mushroom that is comparable to other mushrooms. L. edodes contains various physiologically active compounds that promote human health. One compound, ergothioneine, exerts a powerful antioxidant function that inhibits cellular senescence. As it is not biosynthesized by plants or animals, L. edodes is very important for ergothioneine supply. The L. edodes cultivars Bambithyang (NIFoS 3404) and Sansanhyang (NIFoS 3420) of the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS) had higher ergothioneine content than the other cultivars, and 11 strains were obtained using mono-mono hybridization between them. The strains were inoculated into sawdust media to obtain fruiting bodies, and the ergothioneine content of each hybrid strain was confirmed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Among the 11 strains, NIFoS 5108 had a higher ergothioneine content than the parental strains, Bambithyang (NIFoS 3404) and Sansanhyang (NIFoS 3420). This study revealed that it is possible to develop cultivars with improved specific functions using mono-mono hybridization.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.244-249
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• 2021

The hydroponic culture for growing 'Duke' blueberry was evaluated in a protective greenhouse provided with similar environmental conditions to the conventional blueberry cultivations. One year old 'Duke' blueberry bushes planted in 180 L containers filled with 130 L peat moss and 40 L pearlite (v/v) were selected for the experiment. A nutrient solution consisted with NO₃-N 4.6, NH₄-N 3.4, PO₄-P 3.3, K 3, Ca 4.6, and Mg 2.2 mmol^-1 was supplied to the plants, comparing non-hydroponic treatment (provided with only underground water). Hydroponic culture increased number of shoot per bush by 18% and total shoot length by 24% compared with non-hydroponic culture. Total dry weight of a bush increased in the hydroponic with vigorous root growth 1.4-fold more than the non-hydroponic. Higher concentrations of inorganic elements and organic compounds were found in the hydroponic, indicating active nutrient absorption of the bush. The hydroponic produced high yield similar to adult bush from 4 years old age, maintaining the yield until 8 years old age. The findings of this study indicated that hydroponic cultivation systems will be useful for growing blueberry crop.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.686-697
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• 2021

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees, which they use to protect their hives. Honeybees produce propolis by mixing exudates from the various trees and plants with saliva and beeswax. It has been used since around 300 B.C. as a folk medicine to cure wounds. Propolis contains many physiologically active components, such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and beeswax. Because of its functional components, propolis has a wide spectrum of biological applications. The compounds in propolis and its biological activity can vary according to the location of nectar source and extraction method. Propolis is most commonly known for its anti-microorganism activity against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Artepillin C and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) have been identified as regulatory compounds that reduce inflammation and exert immunosuppressive reactions on T lymphocytes. Through its anti-inflammatory activity, propolis exhibits anti-tumor activity, including the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, the blocking of tumor signaling cascades, and antiangiogenesis. However, for the more apply of propolis its analysis of nectar source, identifying of propolis compound, the molecular mechanism of propolis and the investigation of compounds synergistic effects are essential. In this study, we described the physiological activity of propolis isolated from honeybees.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.483-492
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• 2021

Agastachis Herba (AH) to treat anorexia and nausea and its antidiabetic efficacy was recently reported. This study examined the antioxidant activities and chemical constituents of AH and predicted the target proteins of each compound using in silico approaches. The results showed that EC50 values of AH methanol extract for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were 78.6 ㎍/mL and 31.0 ㎍/mL, respectively. Compared to the EC50 values of ascorbic acid (9.9 ㎍/mL, 5.2 ㎍/mL), the AH methanol extract possessed excellent antioxidant activities. Rosmarinic acid, tilianin, agastachoside, and acetin were confirmed as the major compounds of extracts by qualitative analysis performed with HPLC-PDA-MS/MS. The antidiabetic target proteins of these compounds were predicted by applying a structural similarity and inverse docking methodology using a DIA-DB server. The resulting target proteins were PPAR-γ, DPP IV, glucokinase, α-glucosidase, SGLT2, aldose reductase, and corticosteroid 11-beta-dehydrogenase, some of which have already been proven experimentally as target proteins. Therefore, the in silico methods can be considered valid. Finally, AH were extracted with various solvents to determine the optimal conditions for the extraction of active components. Methanol among organic solvents and 80% ethanol in ethanol-water mixtures were identified as the most effective solvent for the extraction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.445-451
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• 2019

The fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime of $Ba_2GdV_3O_{11}$, a vanadate compound based on $Ba^{2+}$ ion, were investigated by adding $Eu^{3+}$ as a rare earth ion which is an alkaline earth metal, which is distributed around active ions and has a large influence on fluorescent properties when used as a host in a phosphor. $Ba_2GdV_3O_{11}:Eu^{3+}$ phosphor was synthesized by solid state method and the crystallinity of the phosphor was confirmed by X - ray diffraction analysis. The fluorescence properties of the $Ba_2GdV_3O_{11}:Eu^{3+}$ phosphor were measured using optical and laser. The energy transfer and diffusion of the $Ba_2GdV_3O_{11}:Eu^{3+}$ phosphor are highly dependent on the concentration of $Eu^{3+}$. When the concentration of $Eu^{3+}$ is low, it shows strong fluorescence to the CT band. However, as the concentration of $Eu^{3+}$ increases, the fluorescence due to 4f - 4f transition is strong. The concentration of $Eu^{3+}$ ion increased and the energy between ions was diffused, and the lifetime of fluorescence decreased. Energy transfer occurs between two $Eu^{3+}$ ions at low $Eu^{3+}$ concentration and energy diffusion occurs at high $Eu^{3+}$ concentration.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2019

Objective: In the current work, we investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Thymoquinone (TQ), an active compound of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) and Cis-platinum, on normal renal epithelial (GP-293) and human renal adenocarcinoma cell lines (ACHN). Methods: GP-293 and ACHN cell lines were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with 10% Fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin plus streptomycin antibiotic. The MTT assay was used for cellular viability assessment. Viability of cells was observed using inverted light microscope 24, 48 and 72 h after exposure of the cells to various concentrations of TQ (1, 2.5, 5, 10, 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$) and Cis-platinum (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 6 and $12.5{\mu}g/ml$). Moreover, apoptosis was analyzed with a flow-cytometry method. The untreated cells were considered as control group. Results: Morphological changes such as reduced cell number and increased intercellular distance and reduced cell viability in ACHN and GP-293cell lines were observed in both TQ and Cis- platinum groups; however, Cis-platinum had greater effect on ACHN cell line than GP-293 cell line. In addition, GP-293 cell line was more sensitive to TQ compared to ACHN cell line. Furthermore, TQ and Cis-platinum had apoptotic effects on both ACHN and GP-293 cell lines. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that TQ and Cis-platinum had cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on both cell lines, However, GP-293 cell line was more sensitive to TQ. Additionally, Cis-platinum was more effective on ACHN cell line than on GP-293 cell line.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2011

The cathodic active material of $Li/SO_2Cl_2$ battery is $SO_2Cl_2$, which is the solvent of an electrolyte. It is referred to as a catholyte, a compound word of cathode and electrolyte. As the battery discharges, the catholyte burns out. And thus, the characteristics of the $SO_2Cl_2$ in the battery determine the capacity. In addition, the transition minimum voltage (TMV) and the voltage delay deviation of $Li/SO_2Cl_2$ battery are due to the passivation film formed by the reaction between an electrolyte and Li. Impurities in the electrolyte, such as moisture or heavy metal ions, will accelerate the growth of the passivation film. Therefore, a technology must be established to purify an electrolyte and to ensure the effectiveness of the purification method. In this research, $LiAlCl_4/SO_2Cl_2$ was manufactured using $AlCl_3$ and LiCl. Its concentration, the amount of moisture, and the metal amount were evaluated using an ionic conductivity meter, a colorimeter, and FT-IR.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.393-404
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• 2021

Objective: This study compared the catechin composition of different tea byproducts and investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with green tea byproducts on the accumulation of abdominal fat, the modulation of lipid metabolism, and the inflammatory response in red feather native chickens. Methods: Bioactive compounds were detected, and in vitro anti-obesity capacity analyzed via 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In animal experiments, 320 one-day-old red feather native chickens were divided into 4 treatment groups: control, basal diet supplemented with 0.5% Jinxuan byproduct (JBP), basal diet supplemented with 1% JBP, or basal diet supplemented with 5×106 colony-forming unit (CFU)/kg Bacillus amyloliquefaciens+5×106 CFU/kg Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BA+SC). Growth performance, serum characteristics, carcass characteristics, and the mRNA expression of selected genes were measured. Results: This study compared several cultivars of tea, but Jinxuan showed the highest levels of the anti-obesity compound epigallocatechin gallate. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with Jinxuan extract significantly reduced lipid accumulation. There were no significant differences in growth performance, serum characteristics, or carcass characteristics among the groups. However, in the 0.5% JBP group, mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were significantly decreased. In the 1% JBP group, FAS, ACC and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ levels were significantly decreased. Moreover, inflammation-related mRNA expression levels were decreased by the addition of JBP. Conclusion: JBP contained abundant catechins and related bioactive compounds, which reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, however there was no significant reduction in abdominal fat. This may be due to a lack of active anti-obesity compounds or because the major changes in fat metabolism were not in the abdomen. Nonetheless, lipogenesis-related and inflammation-related mRNA expression were reduced in the 1% JBP group. In addition, dietary supplementation with tea byproducts could reduce the massive amount of byproducts created during tea production and modulate lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response in chickens.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.14-32
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) has a central role in regulating muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism. PGC-1α stimulates muscle growth and muscle fiber remodeling, concomitantly regulating lactate and lipid metabolism and promoting oxidative metabolism. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thumb.) has been widely employed as a traditional herbal medicine and possesses antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, hypolipemic, hypoglycemic, and anticancer properties. We investigated whether G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its active compound, gypenoside L (GL), affect muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism via activation of the PGC-1α pathway in murine C2C12 myoblast cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: C2C12 cells were treated with GPE and GL, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels. Myh1 was determined using immunocytochemistry. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation was measured using the 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. RESULTS: GPE and GL promoted the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes and elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of Myh1 (type IIx). GPE and GL also significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of the PGC-1α gene (Ppargc1a), lactate metabolism-regulatory genes (Esrra and Mct1), adipocyte-browning gene fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 gene (Fndc5), glycogen synthase gene (Gys), and lipid metabolism gene carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b gene (Cpt1b). Moreover, GPE and GL induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, p38, sirtuin1, and deacetylated PGC-1α. We also observed that treatment with GPE and GL significantly stimulated the expression of genes associated with the anti-oxidative stress response, such as Ucp2, Ucp3, Nrf2, and Sod2. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that GPE and GL enhance exercise performance by promoting myotube differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism through the upregulation of PGC-1α in C2C12 skeletal muscle.