• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 1995

Daily exposure of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was estimated in foods (rice, barley, soybean, peanut, soysauce, soybean paste) by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) using polyclonal antibody R101. Before ELISA, a simple extraction method was applied for the quantitation of AFB1 in foods using chloroform which showed high recovery (70$\pm$12%). AFB1 levels in foods were 0.32 ng/ml (rice), 0.24ng/ml (barley), 0.22 ng/ml (peanut), 0.30~0.78 ng/ml (soysauce), and 0.2 ng/ml (soybean paste). Based on food consumption, we estimated that Koreans were exposed to AFB1 at the level of 1.86$\pm$0.46 ng/kg/day and liver cancer incidence attributed to AFB1 exposure (assuming that AFB1 as a single hepatocarcinogenic agent) might be calculated to be 13.1 per 100, 000 population. Our data demonstrate that AFB1 levels in foods were below the regulation of 10 ppb in foods and might not be the major risk factor for the high incidence of lover cancer in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.839-843
• /
• 2001

The effect of gamma-irradiation on the hydrolytic enzyme activities of some Koran soybean-based fermented foods was studied. Doenjang (soybean paste), kanjang (soy sauce), kochujang (red pepper paste), chungkukjang and meju were prepared and irradiated at 0, 5, 10 and 20 kGy. Then activities of protease, amylase, lipase and fibrinolytic enzyme were determined. Hydrolytic enzyme activities of meju, chungkukjang and doenjang were relatively higher than those of kanjang and kochujang. Amylase, protease and lipase activities were not affected by 10 kGy and were slightly (about 10%) inactivated by 20 kGy of gamma irradiation, with no statistical significance. Fibrinolytic enzyme was stable in all treatments.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2008

We have developed an efficient system of assessing the ability of a gene silencing cassette to silence transcripts from recalcitrant or poorly studied plant species by using a model plant as a host for the gene of interest. Tobacco plants transgenic for Lachrymatory Factor Synthase (LFS) enzyme activity from onion were first produced by introducing a CaMV 35S-onion-lfs gene construct. These plants were then subjected to a second transformation with an RNAi construct directed against the lfs gene sequence. LFS enzyme activity assay showed that the transgenic plants, containing both the lfs gene and the RNAi construct, had significantly reduced LFS activity. This observation was supported by Western analysis for the LFS protein and further validated by quantitative RT-PCR analysis that demonstrated a significant reduction in the lfs transcript level in the dual transformants. In this work, we have demonstrated that the RNAi construct is a suitable candidate for the development of a non-lachrymatory onion. Our model plant RNAi system has wide-reaching applications for assessment and targeting of plant secondary pathway genes, from poorly studied or recalcitrant plant species, that are important in the pharmacological, food and process industries.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.376-378
• /
• 2012

Aflatoxin M1, ingested as aflatoxin B1 via contaminated feedstuff and later converted into, is a major problematic target for milk safety control among the aflatoxin class. Korean government has controlled level of AFM1 in milk at 500 ppt as maximum residue level (MRL), and more recently, government also publicized the proposal for more strict control on fungal toxins about infant and baby foods. In this study the levels of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) of 42 marketed milk samples were determined with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to evaluate the status on the contamination of Aflatoxin M1. The evaluated ELISA performances of limit of detection (LOD) and the half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) were 5 pg/mL (ppt) and 49 ppt, respectively. In all 42 samples, AFM1 appeared above the 5 ppt, with the average of 21 ppt and the range of up to 90 ppt. Only 3 (7%) of samples showed the level of contamination above the EU MRL (50 ppt). Although there was incidence of higher level of contamination compared with previous reports, the result of this study requires more intensive study to control of AFM1 in milk and infant foods.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.600-605
• /
• 1999

For the production of angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides as a material for antihypertensive functional foods from animal blood produced in slaughterhouse, the optimum condition for enzymatic hydrolysis to yield a peptide fraction of the highest activity were investigated with a respect of industrial production. Among several industrially-usable enzymes tested, $Alcalase^？$ produced hydrolysates of the highest activity from total plasma and purified albumin. $IC_50$ values of albumin hydrolysate and its third fraction separated by gel chromatography were 0.5 and 0.02 mg/mL, respectively. The fraction was found to be obtained by a simple ultrafiltration using a membrane of MW cutoff 1,000. The possibility for the industrial production of antihypertensive peptides from animal blood plasma protein was suggested.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.343-351
• /
• 1998

About 75 strains which utilize cholesterol as sole carbon and energy source were isolated from 10 samples of Kimchi and 18 samples of fermented fish food (2 Ojingo-jeots, salt-fermented squid ; 5 Changran-jeots, salt-fermented pollack tripe ; 5 Myungran-jeots, salt-fermented Alaska pollack roe ; 3 Gajami-sikhae-jeots, fermented flat fish ; 2 Gul-jeots, salt-fermented oyster ; a Juneo-jeots, salt-fermented shad). Among them tested, the 3T6-5Mj strain isolated from Changran-jeot showed the highest activity on cholesterol degradation. The optimal composition of medium for the producing cholesterol degradation enzyme by 3T6-5Mj strain was 1.0 g/L NH4NO3, 1.0 g/L K2HPO4, 0.1 g/L MgSO4.7H2O, 1.0 g/L FeSO4.7H2O, 1 g/L NaCl, 5 g/L Trypton, 1 g/L Cholesterol, and 5 g/L Maltose at 30$^{\circ}C$, pH 7.5, and the enzyme production reached a maximum level at 140 hours of cultivation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was the purification and characterization of an angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide purified from enzymatic hydrolysates of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss muscle. After removal of lipid, the approximate composition analysis of the rainbow trout revealed 24.4%, 1.7%, and 68.3% for protein, lipid, and moisture, respectively. Among six hydrolysates, the peptic hydrolysate exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity. We attempted to purify ACE inhibitory peptides from peptic hydrolysate using high performance liquid chromatography on an ODS column. The $IC_{50}$ value of purified ACE inhibitory peptide was $63.9{\mu}M$. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was identified as Lys-Val-Asn-Gly-Pro-Ala-Met-Ser-Pro-Asn-Ala-Asn, with a molecular weight of 1,220 Da, and the Lineweaver-Burk plots suggested that they act as a competitive inhibitor against ACE. Our study suggested that novel ACE inhibitory peptides purified from rainbow trout muscle protein may be beneficial as anti-hypertension compounds in functional foods.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.159-164
• /
• 2019

Zanthoxylum Peel is widely used as a common spice for a variety of foods. In the orient, it has also been used as traditional agents for treating diseases such as indigestion. Recently, Zanthoxylum Peel has been reported to have anti-cancer activity, anti-microbial activity, and anti-inflammatory activity. Chemical components are known sanshool compounds and xanthoxylin. In this study, we were carried out to investigate the constituents of inhibiting a drug metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4 from Zanthoxylum Peel. CYP3A4 is known as an enzyme involved in drug metabolism as monooxygenase containing the heme. As a result of experiment, we found that bergapten ($IC_{50}=18.21{\mu}M$) and quercetin ($IC_{50}=17.27{\mu}M$) isolated from EtOAc extract of Zanthoxylum Peel showed remarkable CYP3A4-inhibiting activities. Structures of the isolated active compounds were established by chemical and spectroscopic means.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.223-234
• /
• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate intake of health foods and supplements and its associated factors in middle and old-aged adults in order to contribute to health promotion of Korean population by providing a guide for proper use of health foods and supplements. About 69% of the subjects reported that they were currently taking health foods and supplements or had experiences of having them in the past, whereas 31.2 % reported they had never taken them. The most commonly used type of health foods and supplements was vitamin C as reported by 41.8% followed by others such as lactobacillus products, multi-vitamins, tonic medicine and cardiotonic drug, artificially processed Ginseng foods, vitamin B complex, enzyme supplement, calcium, aloe, apricot extract products, chitosan products, loyal honey, squalene, refined fish oil and iron products. The major reason for taking health foods and supplements was 'to protect the weak constitution' with 155 (42.1%) responses, and the motive for the intake was the suggestion from family-relatives with 235 (63.9%) responses, and the place of purchase was pharmacy with 140 (38.0%) responses, the average monthly expense was 20,000-40,000 won with 140 (26.2%) responses, and effects after the intake was 'so and so' with 180 (33.6%) responses as the highest. More health foods and supplements were consumed as age and education were statistically significantly increased (p<0.05). For health and lifestyle and the intake of health foods and supplements, perceived health status, the presence of illness, and the presence of health management were statistically significant (p<0.05). Male subjects than female subjects and the 30s than the 405 and 50s were appeared to have poorer dietary behaviors (p<0.05). For the health locus of control and the intake of health foods and supplements, the health locus of control score was 22.82 for consumers and 22.79 for non-consumers, showing no significant difference. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find out major factors that affect the intake of health foods and supplements, in which gender, education, smoking, perceived health status, the presence of illness, and health management were significant to the intake of health foods and supplements. It is shown that subjects with perception and attitude of 'health foods and supplements are useful in health maintenance and disease prevention' and 'the information and variety for health foods and supplements are great' have higher probability of taking health foods and supplements.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.342-346
• /
• 2018

Background: Green tea extracts are approved as nonprescription drug and available as health functional foods, health foods, and beverages. Clinical information on the products is lacking. Methods: Information about the products on green tea nonprescription drugs was obtained from the website of the Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center. The Naver, i.e., a top ranking online search portal, was used for compiling the list of the health functional food products using key words of 'green tea catechin' on August 23, 2018. The recommended daily dosages of catechins were calculated as 30% of the total dried mass of green tea and about 50% of the catechins were considered as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Results: A total of two types of nonprescription drugs containing green tea powder or extracts, nine health functional food products, and three types of health foods were found. The regulatory requirements of the EGCG exceeding 800 mg were reported to be associated with adverse effects of elevated liver enzyme. If consumers take several green tea products concurrently, such as nonprescription drugs with health functional foods or health foods, it could exceed the recommended amount of EGCG. Conclusion: The concurrent use of green tea products as nonprescription drugs, health functional foods, and healthy foods may lead to an increased exposure to EGCG. Pharmacists should be aware the availability of various types of green tea products and the potential risk of liver toxicity due to excessive consumption of EGCG.