• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2023

Background: Pseudotyped virus systems that incorporate viral proteins have been widely employed for the rapid determination of the effectiveness and neutralizing activity of drug and vaccine candidates in biosafety level 2 facilities. We report an efficient method for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus with dual luciferase and fluorescent protein reporters. Moreover, using the established method, we also aimed to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), a valuable Korean herbal medicine, can attenuate infectivity of the pseudotyped virus. Methods: A pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2pv) was constructed and efficiently produced using lentivirus vector systems available in the public domain by the introduction of critical mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of the spike protein. KRG extract was dose-dependently treated to Calu-3 cells during SARS2-pv treatment to evaluate the protective activity against SARS-CoV-2. Results: The use of Calu-3 cells or the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in HEK293T cells enabled SARS-2pv infection of host cells. Coexpression of transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which is the activator of spike protein, with ACE2 dramatically elevated luciferase activity, confirming the importance of the TMPRSS2-mediated pathway during SARS-CoV-2 entry. Our pseudovirus assay also revealed that KRG elicited resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cells, suggesting its beneficial health effect. Conclusion: The method demonstrated the production of SARS-2pv for the analysis of vaccine or drug candidates. When KRG was assessed by the method, it protected host cells from coronavirus infection. Further studies will be followed for demonstrating this potential benefit.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1096-1109
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• 2024

Objective: This research aims to explore the nutritional and bioactive peptide properties of goat meat taken from various primal cuts, including the breast, shoulder, rib, loin, and leg, to produce these bioactive peptides during in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion and absorption. Methods: The goat meat from various primal cuts was obtained from Boer goats with an average carcass weight of 30±2 kg. The meat was collected within 3 h after slaughter and was stored at -80℃ until analysis. A comprehensive assessment encompassed various aspects, including the chemical composition, cooking properties, in vitro GI digestion, bioactive characteristics, and the bioavailability of the resulting peptides. Results: The findings indicate that the loin muscles contain the highest protein and essential amino acid composition. When the meats were cooked at 70℃ for 30 min, they exhibited distinct protein compositions and quantities in the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profile, suggesting they served as different protein substrates during GI digestion. Subsequent in vitro simulated GI digestion revealed that the cooked shoulder and loin underwent the most significant hydrolysis during the intestinal phase, resulting in the strongest angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibition. Following in vitro GI peptide absorption using a Caco-2 cell monolayer, the GI peptide derived from the cooked loin demonstrated greater bioavailability and a higher degree of ACE and DPP-IV inhibition than the shoulder peptide. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of goat meat, particularly cooked loin, as a functional meat source for protein, essential amino acids, and bioactive peptides during GI digestion and absorption. These peptides promise to play a role in preventing and treating metabolic diseases due to their dual inhibitory effects on ACE and DPP-IV.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

We investigated the functional properties and in vitro bioactivity of protein isolates (RPIs) recovered from olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus roes by isoelectric solubilization/precipitation process, according to pH-shift treatments. The buffer capacity of RPIs was shown to be stronger in alkaline pH than in acidic pH. Water holding capacity of RPIs was in range of 4.5-5.2 g/g protein with no significant differences (P>0.05). The foaming capacity and emulsifying activity index of RPIs did not show any significant differences between RPI-1 (pH 11/4.5) and 3 (pH 12/4.5), however they were superior to RPI-2 (pH 11/5.5) and 4 (pH 12/5.5). The 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging activity of RPI-3 (2.5 mg protein/mL) was 102.4 ㎍/mL, and the angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory activity was 30.8%. Among the RPIs, RPI-3 was relatively superior in protein functional properties such as buffer capacity, foaming capacity, emulsification, and anti-oxidative activity. Therefore, we suggest that RPI prepared from olive flounder roes could serve as a potential food resource.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.41.1-41.11
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• 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The viral genome encodes twelve genes for viral replication and infection. The third open reading frame is the spike (S) gene that encodes for the spike glycoprotein interacting with specific cell surface receptor - angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) - on the host cell membrane. Most recent studies identified a single point mutation in S gene. A single point mutation in S gene leading to an amino acid substitution at codon 614 from an aspartic acid 614 into glycine (D614G) resulted in greater infectivity compared to the wild type SARS-CoV2. We were interested in investigating the mutation region of S gene of SARS-CoV2 from Korean COVID-19 patients. New mutation sites were found in the critical receptor binding domain (RBD) of S gene, which is adjacent to the aforementioned D614G mutation residue. This specific sequence data demonstrated the active progression of SARS-CoV2 by mutations in the RBD of S gene. The sequence information of new mutations is critical to the development of recombinant SARS-CoV2 spike antigens, which may be required to improve and advance the strategy against a wide range of possible SARS-CoV2 mutations.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2010

Purpose : We know little about the natural course of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in association with histologic changes especially in children. We investigated clinicopathologic features with long-term follow-up biopsy to clarify the outcomes and prognostic indicators for childhood IgAN. Methods : From our patients' medical records, we retrieved 20 patients with IgAN, to whom renal biopsies had been performed for the initial diagnosis and follow-up to find out any histologic changes. Initial and follow-up biopsies were classified by Haas classification. The changes of these parameters were compared with the evolution of clinical features. Results : Patients were treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in combination with angiotensin receptor blockers (in subclass II or above) and short-term cyclosporine A(in patients showing nephrotic syndrome). Histologic improvement in 7 cases and deterioration in 3 cases were observed. At the time of last biopsy, 10 cases (50%) showed clinical remission and the others showed improved clinical features. These clinical outcomes did not correlate with initial Haas classifications. Hypertension at onset observed in 5 cases (25%) revealed significant correlation with clinical outcome (P =0.01) and last Haas classification (P =0.007). None of the cases showed progression to CRF or ESRD. Conclusion : During a mean follow-up of $10.8{\pm}3.4$ years, childhood IgAN showed good clinicopathologic outcome. Hypertension at onset was only a strong predictor of clinicopathologic outcomes, but initial Haas classification cannot predict outcomes in children. Histologic change of IgAN in long term follow-up period cannot be completely predicted by clinical data and vice versa. Therefore, a renal biopsy should be considered as a part of follow-up plan.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2017

This study was designed to extracts from Orostachys japonicas were investigated to assess anti-oxidation and biological activity. Phenolic content was maximum of $10.56{\pm}0.32mg/g$ when extracted with 50% ethanol. In anti-oxidative activity, Orostachys japonicus electric donating activity was higher than 80% in both water and ethanol extract at $200{\mu}g/mL$. 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation decolorization of both water and ethanol extract was higher than 95.0% but antioxidant protection factor of water extract was higher than ethanol extract. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance of ethanol extract was higher than water extract. For antihypertensive effect determination, angiotesin converting enzyme of water and ethanol extract showed 6.67 and 7.98% each at $200{\mu}g/mL$. Ethanol extract of $200{\mu}g/mL$ showed xanthin oxidase inhibitory effect of 60.85% but was not shown with water extract. Orostachys japonicus ethanol extract showed higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity of 64.59% which was higher than kojic acid of control indicating higher whitening effect. In anti-wrinkle effect, ethanol extract at $50-200{\mu}g/mL$ showed collagenase inhibitory effect of 75.95-85.02% which was higher than 68.91-76.64% of epigallocatechin-gallate of control group. 50% ethanol extract showed higher elastase inhibitory activity than water extract. Therefore, Orostachys japonicus extracts were identified to have high anti-wrinkle effect. These results identify anti-oxidative activity, gout prevention, whitening effect, and anti-wrinkle effect which indicate the possibility as a source for functional material.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.283-289
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• 1997

CNU O4-5 isolated from conventional Meju, which is used as raw material for making a soybean fermentation food, identified as an Aspergillus oryzae. To make koji, Aspergillus oryzae CNU O4-5 was cultured for 3-4 days at $30^{\circ}C$ with various grain materials such as flour, soybean powder, flour+soybean powder(1:1), soaked soybean and rice. The koji was evaluated for analyze the angiotesin converting enzyne(ACE) inhibition, antioxidative activity, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, amylase and protease activity. $\alpha$-amylase and glucoamylase activities of flour koji were higher than those of the koji soybean powder. However neutral and alkaline protease activities of flour koji were lower than those of flour+soybean powder and soybean koji. Amylase and protease activities of kojies of soaked soybean and rice showed very low level. The range of the ACE inhibition rate by hot water fraction of the kojies, which are cultured with various gain materials, were from 45% to 54%. The anti oxidative activity of ethanol-fraction of koji, which is made by using the soybean powder or soaked soybean, prolonged for 6 days in lard at $60^{\circ}C$. The SOD activity of grinded fraction of koji, which is made by using the flour or soybean powder, was same as 2,000 units per g of each koji.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.549-556
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• 2015

This study extracted radish bud (Raphanus sativus L.) and investigated its nitrite scavenging activity, superoxide dismutases (SOD)-like activity, tyrosinase inhibition activity, xanthine oxidase inhibition activity, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibition activity according to extraction solvent and sprouting period. For nitrite scavenging activity, each extract recorded its highest level of 81.44~89.71% at pH 1.2. Radish bud extracts on sprouting days 4 and 8 showed greater scavenging activities than those on sprouting day 12 at pH 1.2 and pH 4.0. There were differences in scavenging activity according to extraction solvent based on water extract exhibiting improved scavenging activity. Ethanol extract recorded scavenging activity of 16.12% at pH 6.0, which was similar to those of ethanol and methanol radish bud extracts on sprouting day 12. SOD-like activity of radish bud extracts was in the range of 4.57~27.05%. For comparison purposes, SOD-like activity of L-ascorbic acid was 52.15%, which was higher than that of radish bud extracts. Acetone and methanol extracts showed high SOD-like activities on sprouting day 8. SOD-like activity of radish bud extracts on sprouting day 12 significantly decreased to 4.57~15.59%. Radish bud extracts recorded good tyrosinase inhibitory activities on sprouting 8 and 12, whereas methanol extracts recorded the greatest tyrosinase inhibitory activity at 62.65~84.89%. Radish bud extracts recorded xanthine oxidase inhibition activity of 21.26~29.52% on sprouting day 4, and acetone extracts showed the highest level of xanthine oxidase inhibition activity. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity tended to decrease with sprouting period compared early on. ACE inhibitory activity was in the range of 12.48~51.78% according to sprouting period and extraction solvent. Ethanol extracts on sprouting day 8 showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity of 51.78%. These results will hopefully contribute to research into the identification of materials and development of products for natural functional foods.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.190-198
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• 2001

Purpose : It was reported that Captopril (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) had an effect to reduce the pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis induced by radiation in rat. We peformed this study to investigate the radioprotective effect and mechanism of Captopril. Methods and Materials : The comparison was made between the radiation only group and the combined Captopril and radiation group by examining histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical stains $(TNF\alpha\;and\;TGF\beta1)$ at 2 and 8 weeks after irradiation. Each group has 8 to 10 rats (Sprague-Dawley). 12.5 Gy of X-ray was irradiated to the left hemithorax in a single fraction. Captopril (50 mg/kg/d) mixed with water was given per oral and continuously from 1 week prior to irradiation up to 8th week of the experiment. Result : In the combined Captopril and radiation group, the histopathologic changes which were hemorrhage into alveolar space, changes of alveolar epithelium, bronchial epithelium and blood vessels, and perivascular edema were less severe than in the radisation only group at 2 weeks. At 8 weeks, the alveolar epithelial changes and perivascular edema were less prominant in the combined Captopril and radiation group. At 2 weeks, the $TNF\alpha$ expression of the combined Captopril and radiation group was markedly decreased at the alveolar epithelium (p<0.01), lymphoid tissue (p=0.06) and the macrophage of alveolar space (p<0.01) compared with the radiation only group. Furthermore the $TGF\beta1$ expression was significantly prominant at the alveolar epithelium (p<0.02) and the macrophage in alveolar space (p<0.02). At 8 weeks, the expression of $TNF\alpha\;and\;TGF\beta1$ of most sites, except $TGF\beta1$ of the macrophage of alveolar space (p=0.09), showed no significant difference between 2 groups. Conclusion : This study revealed that early lung damage induced by irradiation was reduced with the addition of Captopril in the latent and early pneumonitis phase. The expression of $TNF\alpha\;and\;TGF\beta1$ at 2 weeks and $TGF\beta1$ at 8 weeks was further decreased in the combined Captopril and radiation group than the radiation only group. From these results, it may be concluded that the proinflammatoy cytokine $(TNF\alpha)$ and fibrogenic cytokine $(TGF\beta1)$ probably play the role of the radioprotective mechanism in Captopril.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.902-908
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the quality of glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) fermented by Bacillus subtilis at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours. We determined the changes in temperature, the contents of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, carbohydrate, solid content, pH, Brix, salinity, free amino acid, Hunter's color value, electron donating ability (EDA) activities and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. The contents of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and carbohydrate after fermentation to mixing ratio of glasswort were $10.45{\sim}30.18%$, $11.69{\sim}19.26%$, $17.65{\sim}25.56%$ and $21.01{\sim}59.10%$ (dry basis), respectively. The solid content, pH, sugar and salinity of fermented glasswort were $39.56{\sim}52.25%$, $6.01{\sim}6.71$, $1.2{\sim}1.7$ Brix and $0.3{\sim}0.6%$, respectively. Total amino acid level of the fermented glasswort was $447.57{\sim}668.89\;mg$/100 g, and was the highest in glasswort mixed with rice bran at a ratio of 1 (w) : 1 (w). Moreover, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, alanine, valine, $\beta$-aminoisobutyric acid, lysine and arginine were the main free amino acids. EDA activities and ACE inhibition after fermentation were $46.66{\pm}1.21{\sim}50.87{\pm}1.84%$ and $96.77{\pm}1.23{\sim}97.56{\pm}1.23%$, respectively.