• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.184-190
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• 2017

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that take significant roles in extracellular matrix degradation and therefore linked to several complications such as metastasis of cancer progression, oxidative stress, and hepatic fibrosis. Hizikia fusiformis, a brown algae, was reported to possess bioactivities, including but not limited to, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory partly due to bioactive polysaccharide contents. In this study, the potential of H. fusiformis against cancer cell invasion was evaluated through the MMP inhibitory effect in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells in vitro. H. fusiformis crude extract was fractionated with organic solvents, $H_2O$, n-BuOH, 85% aqueous MeOH, and n-hexane (n-Hex). The non-toxicity of the fractions was confirmed by MTT assay. All fractions inhibited the enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 according to the gelatin zymography assay. Cell migration was also significantly inhibited by the n-Hex fraction. In addition, both gene and protein expressions of MMP-2 and -9, and tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs) were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The fractions suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 while elevating the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, with the $H_2O$ fraction being the least effective while n-Hex fraction the most. Collectively, the n-Hex fraction from brown algae H. fusiformis could be a potential inhibitor of MMPs, suggesting the presence of various derivatives of polysaccharides in high amounts.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2018

Two-hundred and fifty-five strains of actinomycetes isolated from soil samples were screened for their antagonistic activities against four well-known wood decay fungi (WDF), including a brown rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum and three white rot fungi Donkioporia expansa, Trametes versicolor, and Schizophyllum commune. A dual culture assay using culture media supplemented with heated or unheated culture filtrates of selected bacterial strains was used for the detection of their antimicrobial activity against four WDF. It was shown that Streptomyces atratus, S. tsukiyonensis, and Streptomyces sp. greatly inhibited the mycelial growth of the WDF tested compared with the control. To evaluate the biocontrol efficacy of S. atratus, S. tsukiyonensis, and Streptomyces sp., wood blocks of Pinus densiflora inoculated with three selected Streptomyces isolates were tested for weight loss, compression strength (perpendicular or parallel to the grain), bending strength, and chemical component changes. Of these three isolates used, Streptomyces sp. exhibited higher inhibitory activity against WDF, especially G. trabeum, as observed in mechanical and chemical change analyses. Scanning electron microscopy showed that cell walls of the wood block treated with Streptomyces strains were thicker and collapsed to a lesser extent than those of the non-treated control. Taken together, our findings indicate that Streptomyces sp. exhibits the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent for wood decay brown rot fungus that causes severe damage to coniferous woods.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2003

Bioactivities of Korean ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) extract were investigated against several fungi, general bacteria and insect pests. Crude methanolic extracts of different parts of Korean ginkgo showed different bioactivities depending on the target organisms. The methanolic extract showed in vitro antimicrobial activity at dose of 200 ug per paper disc. The extract of ginkgo stalk was some higher than seed coat and root. The extract also showed a remarkable in vivo antifungal activity against green mold (Trichoderma harzianum) on compost surface of spawn bags and in vivo insecticidal activity to Nilaparvata lugens, Plutella xylostella and Tetranychus urticae. This study suggests that Korean ginkgo extracts have a potential as a natural pesticide.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.878-888
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• 2018

In the current study, the probiotic potential of approximately 250 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from piglet fecal samples were investigated; among them Lactobacillus plantarum strain JDFM LP11, which possesses significant probiotic potential, with enhanced acid/bile tolerance, attachment to porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2), and antimicrobial activity. The genetic characteristics of strain JDFM LP11 were explored by performing whole genome sequencing (WGS) using a PacBio system. The circular draft genome have a total length of 3,206,883 bp and a total of 3,021 coding sequences were identified. Phylogenetically, three genes, possibly related to survival and metabolic activity in the porcine host, were identified. These genes encode p60, lichenan permease IIC component, and protein TsgA, which are a putative endopeptidase, a component of the phosphotransferase system (PTS), and a major facilitator in the gut environment, respectively. Our findings suggest that understanding the functional and genetic characteristics of L. plantarum strain JDFM LP11, with its candidate genes for gut health, could provide new opportunities and insights into applications in the animal food and feed additive industries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2006

To investigate the potential of treatment, antimicrobial activity of various oriental herb extracts were tested for Gardnerella vaginalis, which is the predominant organism in bacterial vaginosis. Among the tested 14 oriental herbs, water-extracts of Kalkeun, Kosam, Nuro, Pakjakyak, Sukchangpo, Shiyup, Junghyang and Hwangryun represented antibacterial activities against G. vaginalis. The minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of Shiyup against G. vaginais was 0.63 mg/mL, and those of Pakjakyak and Hwangryun, Kalkeun and Nuro, Kosam, Sukchangpo and Junghyang were 1.25 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, and 5 mg/mL, respectively. There-fore, the water-extracts of Kalkeun, Kosam, Nuro, Pakjakyak, Sukchangpo, Shiyup, Junghyang and Hwangryun were considered to be potential treatment of bacterial vaginosis caused by G. vaginalis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1163-1170
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• 2015

Two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus johnsonii x-1d-2 and Lactobacillus mucosae x-4w-1, originally isolated from piglet feces, have been demonstrated to possess antimicrobial activities, antibiotic resistances and interleukin-6 induction ability in RAW 267.4 macrophages in our previous study. These characteristics make L. johnsonii x-1d-2 and L. mucosae x-4w-1 good candidates for application in feed probiotics. In this study, soybeal meal, molasses and sodium acetate were selected to optimize the growth medium for cultivation of L. johnsonii x-1d-2 and L. mucosae x-4w-1. These two strains were then freeze-dried and mixed into the basal diet to feed the weaned piglets. The effects of L. johnsonii x-1d-2 and L. mucosae x-4w-1 on the growth performance and fecal microflora of weaned piglets were investigated. The results showed that the bacterial numbers of L. johnsonii x-1d-2 and L. mucosae x-4w-1 reached a maximum of 8.90 and 9.30 log CFU/mL, respectively, when growing in optimal medium consisting of 5.5% (wt/vol) soybean meal, 1.0% (wt/vol) molasses and 1.0% (wt/vol) sodium acetate. The medium cost was 96% lower than the commercial de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe medium. In a further feeding study, the weaned piglets fed basal diet supplemented with freeze-dried probiotic cultures exhibited higher (p<0.05) body weight gain, feed intake, and gain/feed ratio than weaned piglets fed basal diet. Probiotic feeding also increased the numbers of lactobacilli and decreased the numbers of E. coli in the feces of weaned piglets. This study demonstrates that L. johnsonii x-1d-2 and L. mucosae x-4w-1 have high potential to be used as feed additives in the pig industry.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4671-4675
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• 2015

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is widely consumed in tropical and subtropical regions for their valuable nutritional and medicinal characteristics. Recently, extensive research has been conducted on leaf extracts of M. oleifera to evaluate their potential cytotoxic effects. However, with the exception of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, little information is present on the cytotoxic activity of the essential oil obtained from M. oleifera seeds. Therefore, the present investigation was designed to investigate the potential cytotoxic activity of seed essential oil obtained from M. oleifera on HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7, CACO-2 and L929 cell lines. The different cell lines were subjected to increasing oil concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 1 mg/mL for 24h, and the cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assay. All treated cell lines showed a significant reduction in cell viability in response to the increasing oil concentration. Moreover, the reduction depended on the cell line as well as the oil concentration applied. Additionally, HeLa cells were the most affected cells followed by HepG2, MCF-7, L929 and CACO-2, where the percentages of cell toxicity recorded were 76.1, 65.1, 59.5, 57.0 and 49.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the $IC_{50}$ values obtained for MCF-7, HeLa and HepG2 cells were 226.1, 422.8 and $751.9{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Conclusively, the present investigation provides preliminary results which suggest that seed essential oil from M. oleifera has potent cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2015

High-quality protein ingredients have been used in nursery diets, in spite of expensive ingredients, to minimize nutritional deficiency and disease problems. Recent dramatic increases in prices of protein products for nursery diets have exacerbated the challenge. Spray-dried egg may be a part of the solutions. Therefore, this review describes the value of spray-dried egg in nursery diets as a high-quality protein source. Spray-dried egg is egg by-product and is produced by only eggs without shell that are below the USDA Grade B standards. Spray-dried egg is an excellent nutrient source: 1) highly digestible, 2) excellent balance of amino acids, 3) rich content of fat, and 4) high metabolizable energy. These can be attributed to growth of nursery pigs. Beyond the provision of bioavailable nutrients, spray-dried egg also may provide specific physiological benefits. Spray-dried egg contains 1) immunoglobulin antibodies (IgY: IgG in egg yolk) that may attach to intestinal pathogens and excrete them and 2) lysozymes antimicrobial protein that can damage bacteria cell wall. Thereby feeding spray-dried egg may reduce concentration of intestinal pathogen and thus improve potential gut health or enteric disease resistance in nursery pigs. This is important for physiologically immature weaned pigs. Based on these benefits, spray-dried egg is believed to have the same benefits as spray-dried plasma protein and milk products in diets for nursery pigs. Therefore, it is suggested that spray-dried egg has a great potential as a valuable protein source in nursery diets.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.242-254
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• 2018

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that participate in the innate immunity of hosts. Humans constitutively and/or inducibly express ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-defensins, which are known for their antiviral and antibacterial activities. This review describes the application of human defensins. We discuss the extant experimental results, limited though they are, to consider the potential applicability of human defensins as antiviral agents. Given their antiviral effects, we propose that basic research be conducted on human defensins that focuses on RNA viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and dengue virus (DENV), which are considered serious human pathogens but have posed huge challenges for vaccine development for different reasons. Concerning the prophylactic and therapeutic applications of defensins, we then discuss the applicability of human defensins as antivirals that has been demonstrated in reports using animal models. Finally, we discuss the potential adjuvant-like activity of human defensins and propose an exploration of the 'defensin vaccine' concept to prime the body with a controlled supply of human defensins. In sum, we suggest a conceptual framework to achieve the practical application of human defensins to combat viral infections.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7641-7651
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• 2015

It has been shown previously that nutritional supplements rich in polyphenolic compounds play a significant role in prostate cancer chemoprevention. Propolis is a natural, resinous hive product that has several pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumoral activities. The aim of this study was to compare the cytotoxic, antioxidant and antitumoral activities of an ethanolic extract of Egyptian propolis (EEP) in vitro with an established chemotherapeutic drug such as doxorubicin (DOX), and the effects of their combination against the PC3 human prostate cancer cell line. Cellular viability and $IC_{50}$ levels with EEP, DOX and their (v/v) combination were detected by sulphorhodamine-B (SRB) assay after incubation of PC3 cells for 72h with different doses (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and $100{\mu}g/ml$). Two selected doses of $IC_{50}$ and $IC_{25}$ were applied to cells for 24h for antitumor evaluation assay of treatment compounds. EEP and its (v/v) combination with DOX showed significant antitumor potential besides high antioxidant properties of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels when compared with the control untreated cells. DNA fragmentation assay and semi quantitative RT-PCR analyses for p53 and Bax genes showed that EEP activated cellular apoptosis and increased the mRNA expression levels more than other treatment. In conclusion, EEP alone or in combination with DOX at both doses used here showed greater antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects against the PC3 cell lines as compared to treatment with DOX alone. Therefore, EEP could be considered as a promising candidate for prostate cancer chemotherapy.