• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.720-728
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• 2011

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used as a source food as well as a traditional folk medicine ingredient since ancient times. Aged black garlic is a type of fermented garlic and is expected to have stronger anticancer and antioxidant activities than raw garlic. However, the mechanisms of their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis are poorly understood. In the present study, the effects and mechanisms of water extracts of raw garlic (WERG) and aged black garlic (WEABG) on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. Treatment with WEABG significantly suppressed terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining, however WERG had no such effect. In addition, WEABG reduced accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which is associated with a significant inhibition of key pro-adipogenic transcription factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$), cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP${\alpha}$) and C/EBP${\beta}$. Taken together, these results provide important new insight that aged black garlic might inhibit adipogenesis by suppressing the pro-adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activity of aged black garlic.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2005

Enterobacter intermedium oxidizes glucose to gluconic acid and sequentially converts gluconic acid to 2-ketogluconic acid (2-KGA) under aerobic condition. Shaking incubation of E. intermedium in a broth medium containing 22.5 g glucose, 8.2 g gluconic acid and 40 g rock phosphate per liter resulted in $1028mg\;L^{-1}$ soluble phosphate. The culture broth was used as phosphate bio-fertilizer (PBF) in this experiment. To evaluate PBF produced by E. intermedium on lettuce growth, five treatments (PBF1/3, PBF2/3, PBF3/3, BP, and MF) were used. In MF and BP treatments, $P_2O_5$ 5.9 kg of mineral fertilizer per 10a was added, while in PBF1/3, PBF2/3, and PBF3/3 treatments, culture broth containing one third, two third, and same amount of soluble $P_2O_5$ 5.9 kg per 10a was applied, respectively. At 20, 35, and 50 days after transplanting of lettuce, plant growth components, biomass, enzyme activities and soil chemical properties were analyzed. Dehydrogenase activity and available phosphate concentration of rhizosphere in phosphate bio fertilizer treatments (PBF1/3, PBF2/3, PBF3/3) were generally higher compared to MF and BP treatments. Soil biomass in PBF3/3 treatment was significantly higher than MF and BP treatments at early growth stage. However, there was no significant difference among all treatments with time. Plant fresh weights in PBF1/3, PBF2/3, and MF treatments were better than those in BP and PBF3/3 treatments. However, in PBF2/3 treatment the highest fresh weight was discovered where alkaline phosphatase activity was generally higher than other treatments at 35 and 50 days. Enhancement of lettuce growth at 35 and 50 days in PBF2/3 treatment was associated with greater phosphate uptake in lettuce tissue. As regarding all results, PBF showed better lettuce growth compared to mineral phosphate fertilizer where PBF2/3 treatment resulted in increase of lettuce fresh weight by 23% and phosphate uptake by 50%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.262-267
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• 2013

The purpose of this research is to minimize the loss of nutrients in carrots (Daucus carota var. sativa). A protopectinase was used to enzymatically macerated and separate cells without damage. The enzyme modification group's collection rate was 81% (residue rate 19%), while the grinding process group's collection rate was 56% (residue rate 44%)-an over 20% of collection rate difference. Thus we predicted a big difference in transference number after the process and wastage. In comparing ingredient changes in the enzyme modification group versus the grinding process group, the content of ${\beta}$-carotene (the carrot's main ingredient) showed a change in protection factor (PF) ($2.2{\pm}0.2$ PF, $1.4{\pm}0.4$ PF, respectively), total polyphenol content ($89{\pm}3.42{\mu}g/g$, $64{\pm}4.16{\mu}g/g$, respectively), and total flavonoid content ($68{\pm}2.73{\mu}g/g$, $41{\pm}3.26{\mu}g/g$, respectively). Thus we confirmed that nutrient destruction, due to cell membrane preservation, occurred less often in the enzyme modification process than the mechanical grinding process group. We also measured DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and nitrite scavenging activity. DPPH radical scavenging activity was $87{\pm}0.29%$ and $74{\pm}1.56%$ in the enzymatic modification group compared to the mechanical grinding process group, respectively. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was $44{\pm}0.49%$ and $32{\pm}0.48%$ in the enzymatic modification group compared to the mechanical grinding process group, respectively. Nitrite scavenging activity was $59{\pm}0.53%$ and $46{\pm}0.62%$ in the enzymatic modification group compared to the mechanical grinding process group, respectively. Our results show that cell membrane preservation, via the protopectinase enzyme process, decreases the loss of nutrients and still preserves inherent antioxidants.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.266-274
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• 2010

This study aim to investigate fundamentally the growth and physiological responses of tomato plants in responses to two different levels of water deficit, a weak drought stress (-25 kPa) and a severe drought stress (-100 kPa) in soil. The two levels of water deficit were maintained using a micro-irrigation system consisted of soil sensors for the real-time monitoring of soil water content and irrigation modules in a greenhouse experiment. Soil water contents were fluctuated throughout the 30 days treatment period but differed between the two treatments with the average -47 kPa in -25 kPa set treatment and the -119 kPa in -100 kPa set treatment. There were significant differences in plant height between the two different soil water statuses in plant height without differences of the number of nodes. The plants grown in the severe water-deficit treatment had greater accumulation of biomass than the plants in the weak water-deficit treatment. The severe water-deficit treatment (-119 kPa) also induced greater leaf area and leaf dry weight of the plants than the weak water-deficit treatment did, even though there was no difference in leaf area per unit dry weight. These results of growth parameters tested in this study indicate that the severe drought could cause an adaptation of tomato plants to the drought stress with the enhancement of biomass and leaf expansion without changes of leaf thickness. Greater relative water content of leaves and lower osmotic potential of sap expressed from turgid leaves were recorded in the severe water deficit treatment than in the weak water deficit treatment. This finding also postulated physiological adaptation to be better water status under drought stress. The drought imposition affected significantly on photosynthesis, water use efficiency and stomatal conductance of tomato plants. The severe water-deficit treatment increased PSII activities and water use efficiency, but decreased stomatal conductance than the weak water-deficit treatment. However, there were no differences between the two treatments in total photosynthetic capacity. Finally, there were no differences in the number and biomass of fruits. These results suggested that tomato plants have an ability to make adaptation to water deficit conditions through changes in leaf morphology, osmotic potentials, and water use efficiency as well as PSII activity. These adaptation responses should be considered in the screening of drought tolerance of tomato plants.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to establish optimized extraction conditions for Lilium bulb and Lespedeza cuneata G. Don and to investigate the storage stability of beverages containing extracts. The hot-water extract and the 60% ethanol extract had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activities as well as the highest total polyphenol content. The total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were the highest when the Lilium bulb extract was mixed with the Lespedeza cuneata G. Don extract at the ratio of 1:4. Storage stability of beverages was determined during storage at 10, 25, and 35℃ for 6 months. The pH was decreased from 4.15 to 4.01-4.05, while the acidity was increased from 0.60% to 0.70-0.75% after storage for 6 months. The soluble solid contents were not changed during storage of 6 months. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was decreased after 4-6 months. The Hunter b (yellowness) values decreased at 35℃ after storage for 6 months while the lightness (L) and redness (a) were not changed during storage for 6 months. The total saponin content was not remarkably changed during 2 months of storage, while it decreased after 4-6 months of storage. The flavonoid content was decreased 47% and 55% from an intial 21.7 mg/100 mL to 10.3 mg/100 mL and 12.0 mg/100 mL after 1 month of storage and then remained stable until 6 months. General bacteria and coliform group were not detected during storage for 6 months.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.206-214
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to investigate the quality characteristics of Yanggaeng by using the functional properties of Glechoma hederacea (GH). Sample was dried at $50^{\circ}C$ dry oven. The results of the study were as follows : The Phenolic compounds of GH was $12.99{\pm}0.3mg/g$ in water extract (GHWE), $3.14{\pm}0.07mg/g$ in 70% ethanol extract (GHEE). The antioxidant activity of GH was determined in various phenolic concentrations at $50-200{\mu}g/mL$. DPPH activities of GHWE and GHEE were 77.16-78.24% and 73.04-77.00%, respectively. The ABTS were 84.35-99.75% and 83.74-99.55%. The anti-oxidant protection factor (PF) were 1.54-1.62 PF and 1.62-2.09 PF and TBARS were 42.93-94.09% and 91.05-95.19%, respectively. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity of GHEE increased concentration dependently. Hyaluronidase inhibition activity of GHEE and GHWE, showing that there were increasing pattern depending on the increases in the phenolics concentration of GH. In texture, Hardness and springiness were significantly different in the control and 2% groups, but cohesiveness and chewiness did not show any significant difference. In color, L value decreased in proportion to concentration, and a and b values did not change. Sensory characteristics showed that the 1% group had the highest score and the 2% group had the lowest score. Thus, when the GHP Yanggaeng was prepared, in consideration of its sensory characteristics, and at appropriate concentration on below 1%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.329-335
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• 2014

Sophora flavescens, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Dictamnus dasycarpus have been widely used in folk medicine for several inflammatory disorders in Korea and China. In this study, we compared the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extracts of S. flavescens (EESF), G. uralensis (EEGU) and D. dasycarpus (EEDS), and their mixtures (medicinal herber mixtures, MHMIXs) on production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Our data indicated that treatment with EESF, EEGU and EEDD significantly inhibited the excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The ethanol extracts and MHMIXs also attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) by suppressing their protein expression, respectively. Interestingly, MHMIX-1, which basic ingredients are EESF, EEGU and EEDS in the proportion 3:1:1, more safely and effectively inhibits the LPS-induced inflammatory status in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages compared to ethanol extracts of each medicinal herb and other MHMIXs without causing any cytotoxic effects. Our study provides scientific evidence to support that a berbal mixture, MHMIX-1 may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases by inhibiting inflammatory regulator responses in activated macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.885-897
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• 2021

Schisandrae Fructus (SF) and Corni Fructus (CF) have been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Although reports have highlighted the possibility of inhibiting the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), studies on related mechanisms are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the potential of SF and CF in improving BPH by using a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced in vitro BPH model using LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells. According to our results, water and ethanol extracts of SF and CF significantly inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells by DHT treatment and markedly downregulated the expression of DHT-induced BPH biomarkers and growth factors. They also regulated the expression of apoptosis regulatory factors and significantly reduced DHT-mediated oxidative stress. In addition, the protective effect on major factors involved in the pathogenesis of BPH was more effective in the ethanol extract treatment group than in the water extract group. Furthermore, the improvement effect on BPH was higher in the 1:1 combined treatment group than in the ethanol extract alone treatment group of SF and CF, and 60% ethanol extracts showed a better effect than 40% ethanol extracts. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that SF and CF can protect against BPH by preventing the hyperproliferation of prostate cells through the inhibition of the androgen signaling pathway, which was correlated with their antioxidant activities. Therefore, SF and CF extracts may be useful in the clinical treatment of BPH, and the combination of these two extracts can be synergistic.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2022

Thymosin β-4 (TB4) is a small peptide composed of 43 amino acids. To obtain sufficient biologically active mouse TB4 economically, we cloned and overexpressed this gene in an Escherichia coli system. With the isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside induction of the E. coli transformant, TB4 fusion protein with intein- and chitin-binding domain was successfully expressed in the soluble fraction within the E. coli cell. The TB4-intein - chitin-binding domain fusion protein was purified from the soluble fraction of E. coli cell lysate. The affinity chromatography with chitin beads and dithiothreitol-mediated intein self-cleavage reaction releases the TB4 peptide into the stripping solution. Sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analyses were used to confirm that the recombinant TB4 peptide was produced with the expected size of 5 kDa. We found that the recombinant TB4 stimulated cell migration in the transwell plate chamber assay. After 18 hr of the treatment of the recombinant TB4 with 1 ng/ml concentration, the migration of the HT1080 cell was increased by 20% compared with that of the chemically synthesized TB4. The recombinant TB4 was also observed to promote the healing of a wound area in C57BL/6 mice by as high as 35% compared with that of the chemically synthesized TB4. These results suggest that the recombinant TB4 has better biological activity for cell migration and wound healing than that of the chemically synthesized TB4 peptide.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.355-366
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• 2014

Fucoxanthin is known to be an effective cell proliferation inhibitor with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activities. However, there is a lack of data regarding the biological effects of cis isomers of fucoxanthin. To assess the potential therapeutic properties of 9'-cis-(6'R) fucoxanthin (FcA), and 13-cis and 13'-cis-(6'R) fucoxanthin complex (FcB) isolated from Sarggassum siliquastrum, we investigated their inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells. FcA and FcB reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein and mRNA levels, as well as the migration of these cells, in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, FcA and FcB increased levels of MMPs inhibition factors such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. FcA and FcB significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and by inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Our results demonstrate that suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$, JNK, and p38 signaling pathways may inhibit PMA-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Therefore, FcA and FcB may be useful in noninvasive therapeutic strategies against fibrosarcoma metastasis.