• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.675-684
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• 2011

In nature, the overall effect of heavy metals on the biota can be influenced by a number of environmental factors like soil characteristics and air pollution by elevated $CO_2$. Pillbugs (Isopoda, Armadillium vulgare) take up heavy metals with their food and store them mainly in the vesicles of hepatopancreas. They accumulate certain metals, occur in relatively large numbers, are easily collected and identified, and provide sufficient material for analysis. The species are decomposing litter well and soil impurities into N and P. Therefore, it has been suggested that total body concentration of metals in pillbugs could be positively correlated to the levels of environmental exposure and that pillbugs could be used as biological indicators of metal pollution and global change by $CO_2$. The aim of the study is to determine effects of heavy metal concentrations in soil and elevated $CO_2$ on pillbugs' body accumulation of heavy metal and growth rate. In this study, the concentrations of six metals (Fe, Mg Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) have been determined. Pillbugs (N=287) were collected at five sites during Jul-Aug, 2006. Cu and Zn concentrations in the body were much higher than in the soils(1.39-41.70 times). This indicated that bioaccumulation of some of the heavy metals were increasing in the food-chain. The high bioconcentration of lead in Sangam may be partly associated with reclaimed land uses.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1411-1416
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• 2009

The suppressive effects of glutathione-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 strain (FF-8 GY) on alcoholinduced hepatotoxicity have been studied. FF-8 GY (256 mg/L) from the fermentation at a large scale bioreactor was used. Either of 5% FF-8 GY or 5% commercial glutathione-enriched yeast extract (GYE) with or without 30% alcohol was tested with rats for 4 weeks. FF-8 GY and GYE were found to reduce those alcohol-elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde were also decreased by FF-8 GY and GYE. Interestingly, FF-8 GY drastically increased both hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities in comparison to GYE group, thus FF-8 GY would be more effective in blood alcohol and acetaldehyde reduction. Attenuated lipid droplet accumulation in hepatocytes was observed in both FF-8 GY and GYE when alcohol stimulated the accumulation. Therefore, FF-8 GY may be useful to protect liver from alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 1975

A series of experiment was undertaken to pursue the possibility of aflatoxin accumulation in stored grains which were artificially contaminated with A. flavus var. columnaris isolated from deteriorated rice in Korea. In storage of rice grain, aflatoxin formation needed relative humidity over 80%, once accumulated aflatoxin was degraded by other microbial growth maintaining 50% level and the absence of other microoganisms brought about the remarkable accumulation of aflatoxin. The formation of aflatoxin in grains was increasing in the order of soybean, peanut, corn, wheat, barley, foxtail millet, rice, polished wheat, mung bean and great millet and it appears to be affected by the size and oil content of grains.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 1994

Effect of pine pollen and defatted pine pollen on lipid accumulation and metabolism in serum and liver were investigated with rats fed high fat-supplemented diets for 6 weeks. Concentrations of total lipid and total cholesterol in serum significantly decreased in the experimental groups (treated with pine pollen and defatted pine pollen) compared with the control group. Concentration of triglyceride in serum was remarkably lower than that of control group. This was similar to that of normal group. Concentration of glucose in serum was significantly lower in the experimental group. It was observed from photographs of hepatic tissue in rats that pine pollen inhibits the lipid accumulation induced by high fat diets.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1617-1627
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• 2017

Dietary approaches using structured lipids, including medium-chain fatty acids and diacylglycerols, have been adopted for the prevention of obesity-induced chronic inflammation. In an extension to previous studies, medium-chain fatty acid-diacylglycerol enriched dietary oil (MCDG) was prepared by interesterification of canola oil and medium-chain fatty acid-triacylglycerols. The consequent MCDG product was applied to RAW264.7 macrophages followed by the assessment of multiple inflammatory responses. Compared with conventionally used canola and olive oil controls, MCDG suppressed macrophage phagocytosis, as assessed by the uptake of microsphere beads. Furthermore, the production of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$, transcription of COX-2 and iNOS, and expression of CD80 on cell surfaces were downregulated by MCDG in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Subsequently, differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated for proinflammatory cytokine production and lipid accumulation. IL-6 production was marginally affected and lipid accumulation was inhibited by MCDG. Taken together, these results suggest that MCDG has potential as an alternative oil for cooking in order to prevent obesity-induced inflammation.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2008

The possible protective effects of highly zinc-containing yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, FF-10 strain, isolated from tropical fruit rambutan on acute alcoholic liver injury in rats were evaluated. Zinc concentration in this strain was 30.6mg%. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP) were highly increased when alcohol was treated, relative to the normal rats. Also, a highly significant increase in the blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels by alcohol treatment was observed. Administration of FF-10 strain markedly prevented alcohol-induced elevation of the activities of serum ALT, AST, and $\gamma$-GTP, and the levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde, and these reduced levels reached to that of normal rats. As compared with alcohol treated control rats, the FF-10 strain supplementation showed highly decreased the triglyceride concentration in serum. Alcohol treatment induced the marked accumulation of small lipid droplets, hepatocytes necrosis, and inflammation, but FF-10 strain administration attenuated to alcohol-induced accumulation of small lipid droplets and hepatocyte necrosis in the liver. Therefore, the current finding suggests that zinc-enriched yeast FF-10 strain isolated from tropical fruit rambutan may have protective effect against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1811-1821
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• 2018

Obesity is generally caused by quantitative changes in adipocyte differentiation and fat metabolism. Only a few studies have been determined the effect of red beans extract on obesity and plasma cholesterol concentration. We have been studied the functional activities of red-bean extracts including anti-oxidative effect against DNA and cell damages. Histological study including micro CT analysis showed that the accumulation of fat in hepatocytes and intestines was significantly decreased in red bean extract treated group. In addition, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were decreased in blood samples. In addition, it was confirmed that the red bean extract inhibited the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, Fabp4 and RETN genes, which regulate total adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. Red bean extract inhibits the expressions of transcription factors associated with adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, thereby inhibiting fat accumulation and decreasing blood lipid levels in obese mice induced by high fat diet.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of obesity, a worldwide pandemic, has been increasing steadily in Korea. Reports have shown that increased intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of body mass index. However, the relationship between dietary intake and IMAT accumulation in the Korean population remains undetermined. The objective of this study was to evaluate regional fat compartments using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. We also aimed to investigate the association between IMAT amounts and dietary intake, including carbohydrate intake, among Korean individuals with obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study, performed at a medical center in South Korea, recruited 35 individuals with obesity (15 men and 20 women) and classified them into 2 groups according to sex. Anthropometry was performed, and body fat distribution was measured using MRI. Blood parameters, including glucose and lipid profiles, were analyzed using commercial kits. Linear regression analysis was used to test whether the IMAT was associated with daily carbohydrate intake. RESULTS: Carbohydrate intake was positively associated with IMAT in all individuals, with adjustments for age, sex, height, and weight. No significant differences in blood indicators were found between the sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of sex and age, higher carbohydrate intake was strongly correlated with greater IMAT accumulation. This suggests the need to better understand sex differences and high carbohydrate diet patterns in relation to the association between obesity and metabolic risk, which may help reduce obesity prevalence.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity activity of the herbal extract mixture (HEM). The inhibitory effect of HEM on triglyceride accumulation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte was examined by Oil-Red O staining. HEM inhibited the triglyceride accumulation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell and reduced glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity. We further investigated the effect of HEM in prevention of obesity in male ICR mouse for 5 weeks. Experimental groups were divided into high fat diet group (HFD), HFD supplemented with 100 mg/kg HEM group (HEM1) and HFD supplemented with 200 mg/kg HEM group (HEM2). Body weight and food efficiency ration of HEM1 and HEM2 was decreased by 52% and 50% and by 45% and 50%, respectively. The amount of adipocyte in body weight was decreased. Blood triglyceride and total cholesterol of HEM1 was significantly decreased. These results indicate that HEM may be useful in preventing obesity.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.104-109
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• 2016

Rosa rugosa is a medicinal, ornamental, and edible plant native to Eastern Asian countries, including Korea, Japan, and China. The aim of this study was to establish a system for biomass production and secondary metabolite accumulation during in vitro culture and acclimatization of Rosa rugosa. The highest rate of multiple shoot proliferation was achieved with $8.8{\mu}M$ benzyladenine (BA) (83.3%). However, the number of shoots (14.4 per explant) at $4.4{\mu}M$ BA was higher than that at $8.8{\mu}M$ BA. Compared to BA, a combination of thidiazuron (TDZ) and indole butyric acid (IBA) exhibited significantly lower shoot induction, with only 50.0~79.2% and 4.2~16.7% relative shoot formation, respectively. During acclimatization, shoots were sampled every week and their total phenolic contents were analyzed. Among various growth factors, fresh weight showed the most dramatic increase from the 3rd week (88.0 mg/plant) to 4th week (132.7 mg/plant). Total phenolics and flavonoids contents were the highest at $1^{st}$ week of acclimatization. Depending on developmental stages, total phenolics and flavonoids contents were higher in 1-yr-old shoots grown ex vitro than in those of older field-grown or in vitro-grown plants. Amongst different ages of field grown plants, 6-year-old plants, the oldest in this study, showed the lowest content in total phenolics.