• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.334-351
• /
• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the improvement effect of white ginseng extract (GS-KG9) on D-galactosamine (Ga1N)-induced oxidative stress and liver injury. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups. Rats were orally administrated with GS-KG9 (300, 500, or 700 mg/kg) or silymarin (25 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. The rats of the GS-KG9- and silymarin-treated groups and a control group were then intraperitoneally injected Ga1N at a concentration of 650 mg/kg for 4 days. To investigate the protective effect of GS-KG9 against GalN-induced liver injury, blood liver function indicators, anti-oxidative stress indicators, and histopathological features were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that GS-KG9 ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in GalN-treated rats. The hepatoprotective effects of GS-KG9 involved enhancing components of the hepatic antioxidant defense system, including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). In addition, GS-KG9 treatment inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by GalN treatment in hepatocytes and significantly increased the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) proteins, which are antioxidant proteins. In particular, by histological analyses bases on hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, α-smooth muscle actin, and transforming growth factor-β1 staining, we determined that the administration of 500 mg/kg GS-KG9 inhibited hepatic inflammation and fibrosis due to the excessive accumulation of collagen. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that GS-KG9 improves GalN-induced liver inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GS-KG9 may be considered a useful candidate in the development of a natural preventive agent against liver injury.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.325-333
• /
• 2007

One bacterium with high proteinase production and spore-forming ability was isolated from korean traditional soybean paste(doenjang). The isolated strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis, based on gram-staining, biochemical properties and l6S rRNA gene sequencing, and designated as B. subtilis DJI. Its growth rate was very fast, and it reached its stationary phase within 9 h, and then started to form spores. Bacterial-koji and doenjang were prepared using B. subtilis DJI. Chemical components of the doenjang were determined after 2 months of aging period: amino nitrogen 507 mg%, crude protein 14.3%, crude fat 4.8% and water 54.9%. The composition of total and free amino acids and their ratios of doenjang were changed during the aging period. Among total amino acids in DJI doenjang, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, leucine and arginine were the major amino acids. The fibrinolytic activities of DJI doenjang and traditional doenjangs were 909.7 units/ml and $363.3{\sim}618.6\;units/ml$, respectively. Flavor compounds of DJI doenjang and traditional doenjang were extracted by SDE(simultaneous steam distillation and extraction), and analyzed by GC/MS; DJI doenjang possessed the typically favorable flavor compounds in traditional korean doenjang, with reduced off-flavor compounds.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.271-277
• /
• 2007

Natural pigments have many applications like colouring agent, pigments, food additives, and antiseptics. At present, instead of synthetic pigments that have contributed to the development of industry, many kinds of natural pigments have been developed. The constituents of gardenia fruits, Gardenia jasminoides ELLIS, are traditionally known as herb medicine and natural dyes/pigments due to the customer is needs. The fruits produce yellow carotenoid pigments and iridoid compounds. The two main components in the yellow pigments are called crocin and crocetin. The extraction mode of yellow pigment from Gardenia is depended upon the extraction time, temperature, and volume of solvent. Red pigments or blue pigments formed from geniposide and amino acids have been reported a lot. Geniposide, the principal iridoid glucoside contained in gardenia fruit, was hydrolyzed to genipinic acid or genipin as a precursor for the pigment by enzymatic or chemical reaction. These red or blue pigments prepared with materials hydrolyzed of geniposide and amino acid and had properties governed by the electrostatic character of the amino acid. The pigments showed good stability to heat and pH but were gradually bleached by light while the other natural pigments are unstable in light, heat, acid, and base solution. The safety of the pigments was considered to be of little virulences in comparison to synthetic pigments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.788-794
• /
• 2013

Mastitis set apart as clinical and sub clinical is a disease complex of dairy cattle, with sub clinical being the most important economically. Of late, laboratories showed interest in developing biochemical markers to diagnose sub clinical mastitis (SCM) in herds. Many workers reported noteworthy alternation of acute phase proteins (APPs) and nitric oxide, (measured as nitrate+nitrite = NOx) in milk due to intra-mammary inflammation. But, the literature on validation of these parameters as indicators of SCM, particularly in riverine milch buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) milk is inadequate. Hence, the present study focused on comparing several APPs viz. ${\alpha}_1$-anti trypsin, ${\alpha}_1$-acid glycoprotein, fibrinogen and NOx as indicators of SCM in buffalo milk. These components in milk were estimated using standardized analytical protocols. Somatic cell count (SCC) was done microscopically. Microbial culture was done on 5% ovine blood agar. Of the 776 buffaloes (3,096 quarters) sampled, only 347 buffaloes comprising 496 quarters were found positive for SCM i.e. milk culture showed growth in blood agar with $SCC{\geq}2{\times}10^5$ cells/ml of milk. The cultural examination revealed Gram positive bacteria as the most prevalent etiological agent. It was observed that ${\alpha}_1$-anti trypsin and NOx had a highly significant (p<0.01) increase in SCM milk, whereas, the increase of ${\alpha}_1$-acid glycoprotein in infected milk was significant (p<0.05). Fibrinogen was below detection level in both healthy and SCM milk. The percent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, predictive values and likelihood ratios were calculated taking bacterial culture examination and $SCC{\geq}2{\times}10^5$ cells/ml of milk as the benchmark. Udder profile correlation coefficient was also used. Allowing for statistical and epidemiological analysis, it was concluded that ${\alpha}_1$-anti trypsin indicates SCM irrespective of etiology, whereas ${\alpha}_1$-acid glycoprotein better diagnosed SCM caused by gram positive bacteria. NOx did not prove to be a good indicator of SCM. It is recommended measuring both ${\alpha}_1$-anti trypsin and ${\alpha}_1$-acid glycoprotein in milk to diagnose SCM in buffalo irrespective of etiology.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.332-336
• /
• 2008

Ginger is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine. Both ginger and its extracts have been used to treat many chronic inflammatory conditions via the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation, which results in the suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. However, the mechanisms as to how ginger extracts mediate their health effects are largely unknown. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) trigger anti-microbial innate immune responses, recognizing conserved microbial structural molecules that are known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. The activation of NF- ${\kappa}B$ leads to the induction of inflammatory gene products, including cytokines and COX-2. This study reports the biochemical evidence that 6-shogaol, an active compound in ginger, inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and COX-2 expression induced by TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 agonists. Furthermore, 6-shogaol inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by the following downstream signaling components of the TLRs: MyD88, $IKK{\beta}$, and p65. These results imply that ginger can modulate immune responses that could potentially modify the risk of many chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.467-473
• /
• 2012

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a natural lipid cofactor with antioxidant and anti-aging properties as cosmetic and food ingredients, involved in cellular energy metabolism. Here, nano-emulsions with CoQ10 were fabricated with lecithin, ethanol, oil, and sorbitan monostearate (Arlacel 60), as major components. Phase inversion emulsion method with ultrasonicator was utilized in producing CoQ10 solution, and stabilization effects from lecithin and ethanol and other diverse perturbation factors were evaluated over time. Physical properties of the emulsion were characterized such as its size, surface charges by zeta-potential, and the overall structures. Optimal concentrations of CoQ10 and Arlacel 60 were 0.8% and 3%, respectively, for producing the smallest sizes of nanoemersions in a 100 nm diameter with best morphology. No notable changes in the size were observed over 7 days from Ostwald ripening, when the concentration of Arlacel 60 was higher than 2%. Even after 270 days at room temperature, the size of nanoemulsions maintained as 115 nm in diameter, revealing only a 10% increase with high degrees of long termed stability and substantiality. In addition, changes in the surface potential occurred possible due to the flocculation effect on the nanoparticles.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.451-457
• /
• 1983

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of the drought on the changes of chlorophyll, protein and proline content of upper three leaves, and the grain yield components of barley plant (CV. baegdong) subjected to water stress at four stages: late vegetative, boot, anthesis early grain filling. 1. In comparison with leaf posititions in water stress, the first leaf below flag leaf maintained the highest relative turgidity, chlorophyll and protein content and showed the least proline accumulation. And, in terms of growth stages in water stress, chlorophyll was shown to be highest at anthesis stage, protein being highest at boot stage and proline being least at boot stage. 2. In boot stages, culm and spike length, and Number of grains per spike were remarkably decreased. And the weight of 1000 grains was at least level in the early grain filling stage, and also the grain size was comparatively decreased at boot and two following stages. 3. The protein content of grain by water stress, apart from early grain filling stage, was not significantly affected by water stress at different growth stages. 4. The rate of sterility was particularly increased at boot and anthesis stages. 5. It was eventually concluded that the boot stage among four growth stages, and the flag leaf in 3 leaf positions were mostly damaged by water stress at reproductive growth stage.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.392-402
• /
• 1987

To know the effect of presowing seed soaking with some growth substances (kinetin, IAA, ethrel and salicylic acid) on vegetative growth and yield contributing parameters in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] the investigation was undertaken. The salient features from the study are;-All the treatments showed the enhancement effect on vegetative growth, viz. seediling emergence, germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves and branches per plant as compared with control, whereas salicylic acid delayed the seedling emergence process and lowered the germination percentage.-Nodule initiation, number of nodules and nodule weight were hastened and increased respectively under all the treatments whereas IAA showed an opposite effect on all the parameters at the early stages of nodule development.-Kinetin, IAA and ethrel showed the significant enhancement effect on the levels of biochemical parameters throughout the time of seed development whereas salicylic acid and water showed the tendency similar to that of control.-Yield and its components, viz. number of flowers, pods and seeds per plant were significant increased under all the treatments but they didn't show any significant enhancement effect on number of seeds per pod and pod setting rate. One hundred seed weight was lower under all the treatments, indicating the dilution effect resulting from incapability of increased number and size of source to provide the increased size of sink with assimilates.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.220-224
• /
• 2009

Toll-like receptors(TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors(PRRs) that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns(PAMPs) and regulate the activation of innate immunity. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of NF-${\kappa}$B, leading to the induction of inflammatory gene products such as COX-2. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine. Isoliquiritigenin(ILG), a simple chalcone-type flavonoid, is an active component present in licorice and has been used to treat many chronic diseases. However, the mechanism as to how ILG mediates health effects is still largely unknown. In the present report, we present biochemical evidence that ILG inhibits the NF-${\kappa}$B activation induced by TLR agonists and the overexpression of downstream signaling components of TLRs, MyD88, IKK${\beta}$, and p65. ILG also inhibits TLR agonists-induced COX-2 expression. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory effects of ILG are caused by modulation of the immune responses regulated by TLR signaling pathways.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.173-179
• /
• 2014

Background: Ginsenosides are the major components responsible for the biochemical and pharmacological actions of ginseng, and have been shown to have various biological activities. In this study, we investigated the antiviral activities of seven ginsenosides [protopanaxatriol (PT) type: Re, Rf, and Rg2; protopanaxadiol (PD) type: Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd)] against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), enterovirus 71 (EV71), and human rhinovirus 3 (HRV3). Methods: Assays of antiviral activity and cytotoxicity were evaluated by the sulforhodamine B method using the cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. Results: The antiviral assays demonstrated that, of the seven ginsenosides, the PT-type ginsenosides (Re, Rf, and Rg2) possess significant antiviral activities against CVB3 and HRV3 at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. Among the PT-type ginsenosides, only ginsenoside Rg2 showed significant anti-EV71 activity with no cytotoxicity to cells at $100{\mu}g/mL$. The PD-type ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd), by contrast, did not show any significant antiviral activity against CVB3, EV71, and HRV3, and exhibited cytotoxic effects to virus-infected cells. Notably, the antiviral efficacies of PT-type ginsenosides were comparable to those of ribavirin, a commonly used antiviral drug. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggest that the ginsenosides Re, Rf, and Rg2 have the potential to be effective in the treatment of CVB3, EV71, and HRV3 infection.