• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2006

[ $\beta$ ]-Glucans (AG) were prepared from Agaricus blazei cultured in the medium fortified with the roots of Pueraria spp. by repeated extraction with hot water, gel filtration chromatography and DEAE ion exchange chromatography. Oligosaccharides (AO) were derived from the hydrolysis of AG by an endo-$\beta$-(1$\rightarrow$6)-glucanase from Bacillus megaterium. The anti-HT-29 human colon cancer activity of AG or AO was investigated using MTT assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, and cDNA microairay. AG and AO both inhibited proliferation and growth of HT-29 cells, and stimulated apoptosis of the cells in a dose-dependent manner. In cell cycle analysis, treating HT-29 cells with AG or AO resulted in the increase of cells in the G0 (sub-G1) and G1 phase. Especially, AO was more effective in inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest than AG. To screen the genes involved in the increase of apoptosis, the gene expression profile of the HT-29 cells treated with AO was examined by cDNA microarray. While several genes involved in cell cycle progression (CCND2 and CDK2) were down-regulated, many genes involved in apoptosis (TNFSF9, TNFRSF9, FADD, CASP8, BAD, CRADD, CASP9 etc), cell cycle inhibitor (CDKN2A), immune response (IL6, IL18, IL6R etc), and tumor suppressor (CEACAM1, TP53BP2, IRF1, and PHB) were up-regulated. These results suggest that AO could inhibit the proliferation and growth of HT-29 cells by G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.236-245
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• 2019

Fruit ripening is a genetically programmed process involving a number of biochemical and physiological processes assisted by variations in gene expression and enzyme activities. This process generally affects the phytochemical profile and the bioactive principles in fruits and vegetables. To appraise the variation in bioactive principles of fruits from Rosa rugosa during its ripening process, we analyzed the changes in antioxidant and anti-elastase activities and polyphenolic compounds during the four ripening stages of fruits. Overall, an extract of unripe fruits contained the highest levels of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, radical scavenging activity, reducing power, oxygen radical antioxidant capacity, and elastase inhibitory activity, compared with the extracts of fruits at other stages of ripening. Additionally, we found that the reduction of flavonoid content occurs because of decreased transcriptional levels of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway during the ripening process. Based on HPLC analysis, we found that the extract of unripe fruits contained the highest amount of myricetin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, and p-coumaric acid and suggested that the antioxidant and anti-elastase activities of the extract obtained from stage 1, should be mediated by the presence of these compounds. Additionally, we analyzed the interaction sites and patterns between these compounds and elastase using the structure-based molecular docking approach, and suggested that chlorogenic acid strongly interacted with elastase. Together, these findings suggest that the maturity of fruits has profound effects on the pharmaceutical value of R. rugosa.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.6-16
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• 2019

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Pine needles (Pinus densiflora seib et Zucc) are a traditional medicine used to treat dyslipidemia in clinical settings. This study examined the potential effects of sulgidduk, a Korean traditional rice cake containing pine needle juice to protect against dyslipidemia induced by a high-fat/sugidduk diet in a rat model. Methods: Twenty one male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups: normal control (NC), Sulgidduk diet (SD), Sulgidduk diet containing pine needle juice (PSD). The blood lipid levels, production of lipid peroxide in the plasma and liver, total cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver and feces, antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma and erythrocytes were measured to assess the effects of PSD on dyslipidemia. Results: A high-fat/Sulgidduk diet induced dyslipidemia, which was characterized by significantly altered lipid profiles in the plasma and liver. The food intake was similar in the three groups, but weight gain and food efficiency ratio (FER) were reduced significantly in the PSD group compared to those in the SD group. The level of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TBARS in the plasma showed tendencies to decrease in the PSD group compared to those in the SD group. The levels of high-fat/Sulgidduk diet-induced sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) gene expression were reduced significantly in the PSD group. The supplementation of PSD reduced the hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels significantly, and enhanced the fecal excretion of triglyceride and hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities compared to the SD group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the addition of 0.4% pine needle juice to Sulgidduk may be an alternative snack to control dyslipidemia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.532-541
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• 2022

Obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD) is verified as a strong risk factor and negative prognostic factor for prostate cancer in several genetically engineered mice although it was not examined in the normal mice. To investigate whether HFD-induced obesity can affect the development and progression of cancer in the prostate of normal mice, alterations in the weight and histological structure of the prostate as well as the expression of cancer-related proteins were analyzed in obese C57BL/6N mice fed with 60% HFD for 16 weeks. First, HFD-induced obesity, including an increase in organ weight, body weight, fat accumulation, and serum lipid profile, was successfully induced in C57BL/6N mice after HFD treatment. The total weight of the prostate significantly increased HFD-induced obesity in the model mice compared with the control group. Among the four lobes of the prostate, the weight of the ventral prostate (VP) and anterior prostate (AP) were higher in HFD-induced obesity model mice than in the control group, although the weights of the lateral prostate (DLP) and seminal vesicle (SV) were constantly maintained. In addition, the incidences of hyperplasia and non-hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the histological structure were remarkably increased in HFD-induced obesity model mice, while the epithelial thickness was higher in the same group. A significant increase in the phosphorylation levels of key proteins in the AKT (protein kinase B) signaling pathway was detected in HFD-induced obesity model mice. Therefore, these results suggest that HFD-induced obesity can promote hyperplasia and NHL in the prostates of C57BL/6N mice through the activation of the AKT signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.189-213
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• 1980

1. Aiming at supply of basic informations on tree species siting and forest fertilization by understanding of soil properties that are demanded by each tree species through studies of forest soil's morphological, physical and chemical properties in relation to tree growth in our country, the necessary data have been collected in the last 10 years, are quantified according to quantification theory and are analyzed in accordance with multi-variate analysis. 2. Test species, larch and the Korean white pine, are plantable in extensive areas from mid to north in the temperate zone and are the two most recommended reforestation tree species in Korea. However, their respective site demands are not known and they have been in confusion or considered demanding the same site during reforestation. When the Korean white pine is planted in larch sites, it has shown relatively good growth. But, when larch is planted in the Korean white pine site it can be hardly said that the larch growth is good. To understand on such a difference soil factors have been studied so as to see how the soil's morphological, physical and chemical factors affect tree growth helped with the electronic computer. 3. All the stands examined are man-made mature forests. From 294 larch plots and 259 white pine plots dominant trees are cut as samples and through stem analysis site index is determined. For each site index soil profiles are made in the related forest-land for analysis. Soil samples are taken from each profile horizon and forest-land productivity classification tables are worked out through physical and chemical analysis of the soil samples for each tree species for the study of relationships between physical, chemical and the combined physical/chemical properties of soil and tree growth. 4. In the study of relationships between physical properties of soil and tree growth it is found out that larch growth is influenced by the following factors in the order of deposit form, soil depth, soil moisture, altitude, relief, soil type, depth of A-horizon, soil consistency content of organic matter soil texture bed rock gravel content aspect and slope. For the Korean white pine the influencing factors' order is soil type, soil consistency bed rock aspect depth of A-horizon soil moisture altitude relief deposit form soil depth soil texture gravel content and slope. 5. In the study of relationships between chemical properties of soil and tree growth it is found out that larch growth is influenced by the following factors in the order of base saturation organic matter CaO C/N ratio, effective $P_2O_5$ PH.exchangeable $K_2O$ T-N MgO C E C Total Base and Na. For the Korean white pine the influencing factors' order is effective $P_2O_5$ Total Base T-N Na C/N ratio PH CaO base saturation organic matter exchangeable $K_2O$ C E C and MgO. 6. In the study of relationships between the combined physical and chemical properties of soil and tree growth it is found out that larch growth is influenced by the following factors in the order of soil depth deposit form soil moisture PH relief soil type altitude T-N soil consistency effective $P_2O_5$ soil texture depth of A-horizon Total Base exchangeable $K_2O$ and base saturation. For the Korean white pine the influencing factors' order is soil type soil consistency aspect effective $P_2O_5$ depth of A-horizon exchangeable $K_2O$ soil moisture Total Base altitude soil depth base saturation relief T-N C/N ratio and deposit from. 7. In the multiple regression of forest soil's physical properties larch's correlation coefficient is 0.9272 and for the Korean white pine it is 0.8996. With chemical properties larch has 0.7474 and the Korean white pine has 0.7365. So, the soil's physical properties are found out more closely related with tree growth than chemical properties. However, this seems due to inadequate expression of soil's chemical factors and it is proved that the chemical properties are not less important than the physical properties. In the multiple regression of the combined physical and chemical properties consisting of important morphological and physical factors as well as chemical factors of forest soils larch's multiple correlation coefficient is found out to be 0.9434 and for the Korean white pine it is 0.9103 leading to the highest correlation. 8. As shown in the partial correlation coefficients larch needs deeper soil depth than the Korean white pine and in the deposit form colluvial and creeping soils are demanded by the larch. Adequately moist to too moist should be soil moisture and PH should be from 5.5 to 6.1 for the larch. Demands of T-N soil texture and soil nutrients are higher for the larch than the Korean white pine. Thus, soil depth, deposit form, relief soil moisture PH N altitude and soil texture are good indicators for species sitings with larch and the Korean white pine while soil type and soil consistency are indicative only limitedly of species sitings due to their wide variation as plantation environments. For larch siting soil depth deposit form relief soil moisture PH soil type N and soil texture are indicators of good growth and for Korean white pine they are soil type soil consistency effective $P_2O_5$ and exchangeable $K_2O$, which is demanded more by the Korean white pine than larch generally. 9. Physical properties of soil has been known as affecting tree growth to greatest extent so far. However, as a result of this study it is proved through computer analysis that chemical properties of soil are not less important factors for tree growth than chemical properties and site demands for larch and the Korean white pine that have been uncertain So far could be clarified.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-26
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• 1981

1. Aiming at supply of basic informations on tree species siting and forest fertilization by understanding of soil properties that are demanded by each tree species through studies of forest soil's morphological, physical and chemical properties in relation to tree growth in our country, the necessary data have been collected in the last 10 years, are quantified according to quantification theory and are analyzed in sccordance with multi-variate analysis. 2. Test species, japanese larch (Larix leptolepis Gord) and the Korean white pine, (pinus koraiensis S et Z.) are plantable in extensive areas from mid to north in the temperate forest zone and are the two most recommended reforestation tree species in Korea. However, their respective site demands are little known and they have been in confusion or considered demanding the same site during reforestation. When the Korean white pine is planted in larch sites, it has shown relatively good growth, but, when Japanese larch is planted in Korean white pine site it can be hardly said that the Japanese Larch growth is good. To understand on such a difference soil factors have been studied so as to see how th soil's morphological, physical and chemical factors affect tree growth helped with the electronic computer. 3. All the stands examined are man-made mature forests. From 294 Japanese larch plots and 259 Korean white pine plots dominant trees are cut as samples and through stem analysis site index is determined. For each site index soil profiles are made in the related forest-land for analysis. Soil samples are taken from each profile horizon and forest-land productivity classification tables are worked out through physical and chemical analyses of the soil samples for each tree species for the study of relationships between physical, chemical and the combined physical/properties of soil and tree growth. 4. In the study of relationships between physical properties of soil and tree growth it is found out that Japanese larch growth is influenced by the following factors in the decreasing order of weight deposit form, soil depth, soil moisture, altitude, relief, soil type, depth a A-horizon, soil consistency, content of organic matter, soil texture, bed rock, gravel content, aspect and slope. For the Korean white pine the influencing factors' order is soil type, soil consistency, bed rock, aspect, depth of A-horizon, soil moisture, altitude, relief, deposit form, soil depth, soil texture, gravel content and slope. 5. In the study of relationships between chemical properties of soil and tree growth it is found out that Japanese larch growth is influenced by the following factors in the order of base saturation, organic matter, CaO, C/N ratio, effective $P_2O_5$, PH, exchangeable, $K_2O$, T-N, MgO, CEC, Total Base and Na. For the Korean white pine the influencing factors' order is effective $P_2O_5$, Total Base, T-N, Na, C/N ratio, PH, CaO, base saturation, organic matter, exchangeable $K_2O$, CEC and MgO. 6. In the study of relationships between the combined physical and chemical properties of soil and tree growth it is found out that Japanese larch growth is influenced by the following factors in the order of soil depth, deposit form, soil moisture, PH, relief, soil type altitude, T-N, soil consistency, effective $P_2O_5$, soil texture, depth of A-horizon, Total Base, exchangeable $K_2O$ and base saturation. For the Korean white pine the influencing factors' order is soil type, soil consistency, aspect, effective $P_2O_5$, depth of A-horizon, exchangeable $K_2O$, soil moisture, Total Base, altitude, soil depth, base saturation, relief, T-N, C/N ratio and deposit form. 7. In the multiple correlation of forest soil's physical properties larch's correlation coefficient for Japanese Larch is 0.9272 and for Korean white pine, 0.8996. With chemical properties larch has 0.7474 and Korean white pine has 0.7365. So, the soil's physical properties are found out more closely related with tree growth than chemical properties. However, this seems due to inadequate expression of soil's chemical factors and it is proved that the chemical properities are not less important than the physical properties. In the multiple correlation of the combined physical and chemical properties consisting of important morphological and physical factors as well as chemical factors of forest soils larch's multiple correlation coefficient is found out to be 0.9434 and for Korean white pine it is 0.9103 leading to the highest correlation. 8. As shown in the partial correlation coefficients Japanese larch needs deeper soil depth than Korean white pine and in the deposit form of colluvial and creeping soils are demanded by the larch. Moderately moist to not moist should be soil moisture and PH should be from 5.5 to 6.1 for the larch. Demands of T-N, soil texture and soil nutrients are higher for the larch than the Korean white pine. Thus, soil depth, deposit form, relief, soil moisture, PH, N, altitude and soil texture are good indicators for species sitings with larch and the Korean white pine while soil type and soil consistency are indicative only limitedly of species sitings due to their wide variations as plantation environments. For the larch siting soil depth, deposit form, relief, soil moisture, pH, soil type, N and soil texture are indicators of good growth and for the Korean white pine they are soil type, soil consistency, effective $P_2O_5$ and exchangeable $K_2O$. In soil nutrients larch has been found out demanding more than the Korean white pine except $K_2O$, which is demanded more by the Korean white pine than Japanese larch generally. 9. Physical properties of soil has been known as affecting tree growth to the greatest extent so far. However, as a result of this study it is proved through computer analysis that chemical properties of soil are not less important factors for tree growth than chemical properties and site demands for the Japanese larch and the Korean white pine that have been uncertain so far could be clarified.