• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.1131-1136
• /
• 2013

Parabens, the esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, have been widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetic products, drugs, and processed foods and beverages. However, some parabens have been shown to have weak estrogenic effects through in vivo and in vitro studies. Because such widespread use has raised concerns about the potential human health risks associated with exposure to parabens, we developed a simultaneous analytical method to quantify 4 parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl) in human urine, by using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. This method showed good specificity, linearity ($R^2$ > 0.999), accuracy (92.2-112.4%), precision (0.9-9.6%, CV), and recovery (95.7-102.0%). The LOQs for the 4 parabens were 1.0, 0.5, 0.2, and 0.5 ng/mL, respectively. This method could be used for quick and accurate analysis of a large number of human samples in epidemiological studies to assess the prevalence of human exposure to parabens.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.413-416
• /
• 2014

The antibacterial activity of chitosan against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in the presence of NaCl, acetic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid to assess its potential use as a food preservative. The inhibitory activity of chitosan decreased slightly upon adding NaCl to culture broth containing 100 ppm of chitosan (MW 3,000), while adding acetic acid, lactic acid, or citric acid enhanced the inhibitory activity of chitosan on growing cells. Our results indicate that food components, such as NaCl, acetic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid, can significantly affect the bactericidal activity of chitosan.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.234-241
• /
• 2017

Potato peels (PP) contain several bioactive compounds. These compounds are known to provide human health benefits, including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In addition, these compounds could have effects on human enteric viruses that have not yet been reported. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the phenolic composition, antioxidant properties in the acidified ethanol extract (AEE) and water extract of PP, and the antiviral effects on the inhibition of Av-05 and MS2 bacteriophages, which were used as human enteric viral surrogates. The AEE showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Chlorogenic and caffeic acids were the major phenolic acids. In vitro analysis indicated that PP had a strong antioxidant activity. A 3 h incubation with AEE at a concentration of 5 mg/ml was needed to reduce the PFU/ml (plaque-forming unit per unit volume) of Av-05 and MS2 by 2.8 and $3.9log_{10}$, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. Our data suggest that PP has potential to be a source of natural antioxidants against enteric viruses.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2018.04a
• /
• pp.94-94
• /
• 2018

The gold (LC-AuNPs) and silver (LC-AgNPs) nanoparticles were rapidly synthesized by fruit extract of Lycium chinense within 1.15 and 25 min respectively in an eco-friendly way. The synthesized nanoparticles confirmed by relevant surface plasmon resonance peaks for gold and silver nanoparticles at 536 and 480 nm, respectively. FE-TEM results revealed that LC-AuNPs were 20-50 nm and LC-AgNPs were 50-100 nm. The maximum distribution of gold, silver elements and the crystallographic nature of synthesized were confirmed using EDX, elemental mapping and XRD. LC-AgNPs showed inhibitory activity against pathogenic microorganisms such as E. coli and S. aureus, whereas LC-AuNPs did not show inhibitory activity. The LC-AgNps nanoparticles exhibited significant cytotoxicity to human breast cancer MCF7 cell line and less cytotoxicity to non-diseased RAW264.7 (murine macrophage) cells whereas LC-AuNps showed minimal toxicity to both cell lines. In-depth research on this rapid, facile and greenery nanoparticles may play a potential role in biomedical applications.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.309-314
• /
• 2020

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is concerned with promoting oral infection due to its low antibacterial activity. To overcome this, the nanoparticles of Ag-MSN, nGO, and CNP were mixed with MMA liquid in a weight ratio of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0% compared to resin powder using Orthocryl from Dentarum, a calibration resin, and then instructed by the manufacturer. Accordingly, a specimen for calibration was prepared by mixing PMMA: MMA (1.2: 1) ratio, and physical properties of the calibration resin, antifungal experiments, and statistical analysis were performed. As a result of antibacterial experiments, the antibacterial properties of Ag-MSN increased. In nGO, the antibacterial adhesive effect increased hydrophilicity, not a change in surface roughness. The higher the CNP concentration, the higher the antibacterial activity. This suggests its potential usefulness as an antibacterial dental material for orthodontic devices and temporary restorations.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.52-63
• /
• 2018

In our previous studies, Bacillus megaterium KU143, Microbacterium testaceum KU313, and Pseudomonas protegens AS15 have been shown to be antagonistic to Aspergillus flavus in stored rice grains. In this study, the biocontrol activities of these strains were evaluated against Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium fellutanum, and Penicillium islandicum, which are predominant in stored rice grains. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the bacterial strains were evaluated against the fungi on media and rice grains, respectively. The antifungal activities of the volatiles produced by the strains against fungal development and population were also tested using I-plates. In in vitro tests, the strains produced secondary metabolites capable of reducing conidial germination, germ-tube elongation, and mycelial growth of all the tested fungi. In in vivo tests, the strains significantly inhibited the fungal growth in rice grains. Additionally, in I-plate tests, strains KU143 and AS15 produced volatiles that significantly inhibited not only mycelial growth, sporulation, and conidial germination of the fungi on media but also fungal populations on rice grains. GC-MS analysis of the volatiles by strains KU143 and AS15 identified 12 and 17 compounds, respectively. Among these, the antifungal compound, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indole, was produced by strain KU143 and the antimicrobial compounds, 2-butyl 1-octanal, dimethyl disulfide, 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1-heptanol, and 4-trifluoroacetoxyhexadecane, were produced by strain AS15. These results suggest that the tested strains producing extracellular metabolites and/or volatiles may have a broad spectrum of antifungal activities against the grain fungi. In particular, B. megaterium KU143 and P. protegens AS15 may be potential biocontrol agents against Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. during rice grain storage.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2011

Objectives : Angelicae Gigantis Radix has been known traditional medicine with antimicrobial activities and it has been widely used for treatment of blood and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, some studies examined anti-inflammation effects of Angelicae Gigantis Radix but they usually were performed by ethanol extracted Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture. So We investigated the inhibitory effects of Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by hot water and ethanol extract on Nitric oxide(NO) and Prostaglandin $E_2$($PGE_2$) production in lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced macrophage cell. Methods : Angelicae Gigantis Radix was extracted by ethanol and hot water. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To evaluate anti-inflammation effects of Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture, we examined NO and $PGE_2$ production in LPS induced macrophages. The concentrations of NO and $PGE_2$ were measured by Griess assay and Enzyme Immuno-Assay. Results : 1) The MTT assay demonstrated that cytotoxic effect of Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by hot water extract and ethanol extract in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were not appeared. 2) Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by ethanol extract and hot water extract inhibited NO production in LPS induced macrophages significantly. 3) Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by ethanol extract tended to inhibiting $PGE_2$ production in LPS induced macrophages. And Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture by hot water extract inhibited LPS induced production of $PGE_2$ in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells significantly. Conclusions : This study suggests that Angelicae Gigantis Radix pharmacopuncture may have an anti-inflammatory property through the inhibition of NO and $PGE_2$ production in LPS induced macrophages. It may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.759-764
• /
• 2005

The radical scavenging activity of ethanol, acetone and distilled water extracts of broccoli including leaf, flower, flower plus stem, stem, peel and positive control vitamin C, respectively, were investigated. Each sample under assay condition exhibited free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) toward DPPH radical. Among five samples, S (stem) extracts, F (flower) extracts and L (leaf) extracts of broccoli showed the FRSA in the dot-blot assay. Strong FRSA potential of the ethanol extracts of broccoli revealed at pH $2\~6$ of acid regions and at $60\~80^{\circ}C$. The extracts of green tea and Artermisia were found to have effect against Staphylococcus aureus. Whereas, only the aqueous extracts of broccoli F and FS (flower-stem) of the five extracts marked strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in high temperature.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.245-251
• /
• 2018

In this study, Coffea arabica ethanol extract (CAE) was tested for possible functional cosmetic agent. Whitening effect was measured by tyrosinase inhibition assay, and anti-oxidant activity was checked by SOD-like activity. SOD-like activity of CAE showed $94.8{\pm}6.2%$ at $500{\mu}g/mL$. The anti-bacterial activities CAE was evaluated against three different gram-positive bacteria and six gram-negative bacteria including MRSA strains. CAE exhibited in vitro broad spectrum antimicrobial activities of gram-negative bacteria without antifungal activity. CAE was strong exhibited against MRSA CCARM3561. The tyrosinase and L-DOPA inhibitory activities of the CAE lower than those positive control arbutin. CAE reduced melanin contents of B16-F10 melanoma cell in a dose dependent manner and decrease about 89.2% at a concentration $100{\mu}g/mL$. These result highlight the potential of coffee extract as a naturally active and non-toxic antibacterial suitable for cosmetic applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.1299-1306
• /
• 2015

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of action of the cinnamon bark essential oil (CB), when used singly and also in combination with piperacillin, for its antimicrobial and synergistic activity against beta-lactamase TEM-1 plasmid-conferred Escherichia coli J53 R1. Viable count of bacteria for this combination of essential oil and antibiotic showed a complete killing profile at 20 h and further confirmed its synergistic effect by reducing the bacteria cell numbers. Analysis on the stability of treated cultures for cell membrane permeability by CB when tested against sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed that the bacterial cell membrane was disrupted by the essential oil. Scanning electron microscopy observation and bacterial surface charge measurement also revealed that CB causes irreversible membrane damage and reduces the bacterial surface charge. In addition, bioluminescence expression of Escherichia coli [pSB1075] and E. coli [pSB401] by CB showed reduction, indicating the possibility of the presence of quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors. Gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry of the essential oil of Cinnamomum verum showed that trans-cinnamaldehyde (72.81%), benzyl alcohol (12.5%), and eugenol (6.57%) were the major components in the essential oil. From this study, CB has the potential to reverse E. coli J53 R1 resistance to piperacillin through two pathways; modification in the permeability of the outer membrane or bacterial QS inhibition.