• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.34-39
• /
• 2007

Lichen thalli of Dirinaria applanata heavily colonized on the twigs of dead or dying Rhododendron trees in Solok island, Jeonnam province in Korea. Pathogenesis of the lichen on the trees was investigated to find out the possibility of lichen as a causal agent. Histological examination of the lichen colonized twigs was attempted with differential staining technique. Lichen-forming fungus colonized only on the surface of bark and there was no direct penetration of fungal hyphae into the plant tissues. Symbiotic algae of the lichen was also examined. The isolated algal cells were inoculated on artificially induced wounds of the healthy trees. Histological examination of the inoculated tissues showed that some algal cells were successfully colonized inside the tissues without any pathogenic symptoms, even 2 months later, The extract of the lichen thalli was also examined using 10% of DMSO solution. Treated tissues showed no pathogenic symptoms, even 4 weeks later. The results suggested that the lichen was not directly involved in the death of the trees.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.604-611
• /
• 2005

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000-based solid dispersions (SDs), by incorporating various pharmaceutical excipients or microemulsion systems, were prepared using a fusion method, t o compare the dissolution rates and bioavailabilities in rats. The amorphous structure of the drug in SDs was also characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The ketoconazole (KT), as an antifungal agent, was selected as a model drug. The dissolution rate of KT increased when solubilizing excipients were incorporated into the PEG-based SDs. When hydrophilic and lipophilic excipients were combined and incorporated into PEG-based SDs, a remarkable enhancement of the dissolution rate was observed. The PEG-based SDs, incorporating a self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) or microemulsion (ME), were also useful at improving the dissolution rate by forming a microemulsion or dispersible particles within the aqueous medium. However, due to the limited solubilization capacity, these PEG-based SDs showed dissolution rates, below 50% in this study, under sink conditions. The PEG-based SD, with no pharmaceutical excipients incorporated, increased the maximum plasma concentration (C$_{max}$) and area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC$_{0-6h}$) two-fold compared to the drug only. The bioavailability was more pronounced in the cases of solubilizing and microemulsifying PEG-based SDs. The thermograms of the PEG-based SDs showed the characteristic peak of the carrier matrix around 60$^{\circ}C$, without a drug peak, indicating that the drug had changed into an amorphous structure. The diffraction pattern of the pure drug showed the drug to be highly crystalline in nature, as indicated by numerous distinctive peaks. The lack of the numerous distinctive peaks of the drug in the PEG-based SDs demonstrated that a high concentration of the drug molecules was dissolved in the solid-state carrier matrix of the amorphous structure. The utilization of oils, fatty acid and surfactant, or their mixtures, in PEG-based SD could be a useful tool to enhance the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs by forming solubilizing and microemulsifying systems when exposed to gastrointestinal fluid.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.20-24
• /
• 2007

The effects of phenolic acids on inhibition of browning by the Maillard reaction were investigated with a glucose-glutamic acid model for doenjang with citric acid as the antibrowning agent and phenolic acid as its synergist. Five phenolic acids, cinnamic, coumaric, caffeic, hydroxybenzoic, and protocatechuic acids, were used. In order to investigate the antibrowning capacity, 0.1M glucose, 0.1M glutamic acid, 50mM citric acid, and 1mM phenolic acid were dissolved in 1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), heated at $50^{\circ}C$ for 24hr in the presence of 0.2mM $FeCl_{2}$, and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ or $30^{\circ}C$ for four weeks. Phenolic acid addition more efficiently inhibited browning during storage at $30^{\circ}C$ than at $4^{\circ}C$, without changes in pH. Hydroxybenzoic acid was the most efficient and increased the antibrowning capacity by 13% compared to sample without phenolic acids. Although caffeic and protocatechuic acids inhibited most the formation of 3-deoxyglucosone or fluorescence, they increased browning by forming colored complexes between two hydroxy groups of phenolic acids and iron ions. Hydroxybenzoic acid will be able to be a useful synergist of citric acid, an antibrowning agent in doenjang, since it is permitted for doenjang.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.61-67
• /
• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of poly-L-guluronic alginate (PGA) gel in vascular embolization with angiography simulation. Materials and Methods : To prepare a gel-forming PGA from no guluronate-rich Laminaria japonica, a new acid hydrolysis method was employed with a lower HCL concentration (0.03 M) and a shorter treatment time (5 min). The obtained PGAs were selected based on gel stability and viscosity. Glass aneurysm model was used to simulate gel embolization in vitro. Then, finally, the PGA was used to embolize the renal vascular system by using a rabbit model and angiography. Results : Glass aneurysm model was made to simulate gel embolization procedure. PGA solution was injected from pump through 2-way catheter. Subsequent injection of $CaCl_2$ successfully formed gels inside aneurysm model that conforming to its inner contour. In rabbit model, first, renal artery and aorta leading to the right kidney were ligated to block blood flow, then conventional contrast agent was injected through aorta to check the arterial patency to the left kidney. In sequential artery injection method, PGA and $CaCl_2$ were injected through renal artery sequentially via a single catheter. Re-injection of contrast agent after removing ligated aorta showed blood flow to the right kidney but no flow in the left kidney. This result demonstrated a complete blocking of blood flow due to gel formation in vascular bed of the left kidney. Conclusion : Instillation of calcium alginate into aneurysm model and arterial system in vivo produced an embolization that better fills and conforms to the contour of aneurysms or blocking vascular bed completely. Therefore, PGA was effective endovascular occlusion materials and provide an efficiency of vascular angiography.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.589-594
• /
• 2007

The effect of synergists having chelating ability on inhibiting browning were studied with a giucose-glutamic acid model for doenjang containing citric acid as the anti-browning agent and iron ion. The model solutions were prepared by dissolving 0.1 M glucose, 0.1 M glutamic acid, 50 mM citric acid, 0.2 mM $FeCl_2$ and synergist in 1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), heating at $50^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr and storing at $30^{\circ}C\;or\;40^{\circ}C$ for four weeks. Synergists were chitosan, gallic acid, methyl benzoate, pyrophosphate and tannic acid; they were used at the following concentrations: gallic acid, pyrophosphate and tannic acid at 0.015% and 0.15%; chitosan and methyl benzoate at 0.0075% and 0.015%. Anti-browning capacities had a tendency to decrease greatly after three weeks in the case of storage at $30^{\circ}C$, whereas they decreased with storage time during storage at $40^{\circ}C$. However, anti-browning capacities of samples containing 0.015% tannic acid and 0.15% pyrophosphate were higher than that of sample without synergist by 32% after storage at $30^{\circ}C$ for four weeks. Gallic acid, tannic acid and pyrophsphate also inhibited the formation of Maillard reaction intermediates such as fluorescent compound and 3-deoxyglucosone due to the high chelating ability with iron ion after four weeks of storage at $30^{\circ}C$. The effect of these compounds on the inhibition of formation of Maillard reaction intermediates was higher at 0.15% than at 0.015%. Moreover, gallic acid increased the browning by forming colored complexes, and tannic acid generated black precipitates. Therefore, pyrophosphate of food additives was found to be the most useful synergist of citric acid, the anti-browning agent for doenjang.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 2015

Objectives : Yongdamgosam-hwan(YGH) has been used as a traditional medicine from old times for antiinflammatory effects. Streptococcus mutans(S. mutans) is known as a prime bacteria responsible for causing caries by forming a biofilm referred to as dental plaque on the tooth surface. But antimicrobial activity of YGH with dental disease is not sufficiently understood. This study was designed to investigate the effects of YGH ethanol extract on antimicrobial effect against Streptococcus mutans.Methods : The antimicrobial effect of YGH ethanol extract was assessed by the paper disk diffusion method and optical density method to determine minimum inhibition concentration(MIC), also observed by fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI) and time-kill assay to figure out the synergic effect on the combination of YGH ethanol extract with antibiotics.Results : The YGH ethanol extract 500 μg was 7.5-8.5 mm diameter of clear zone of inhibition against Streptococcus mutans in a concentration-dependent manner and MIC was 250 μg/mL. The administration of the ethanol extract in combination with gentamicin and streptomycin induced a reduction of ≥4-8-fold in all tested bacteria. Furthermore, time-kill study was found that a combination of YGH ethanol extract with oxacillin and streptomycin produced a more rapid decrease in the concentration of bacteria CFU/mL than the YGH ethanol extract or antibiotics alone.Conclusions : As a result, the YGH ethanol extract has good antimicrobial effects. And the results suggest that YGH could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent in dental care products.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.490-494
• /
• 2004

An efficacy test of PRP (polyribosylribitol phosphate)-TT (Tetanus toxoid) conjugate vaccines was carried out using BALB/c mice as an animal model by inoculating Haemophilus in­fluenzae type b (Hib) with a virulence enhancement factor (VEF). Three administrations of the conjugate vaccines at 2-week intervals elicited a significantly high level of PRP antibodies (P>0.0001). The protective activity of the PRP immunization was challenged with either Hib with iron dextran (Hib/) or with a combination of mucin and hemoglobin (Hibmh) as a VEF. The me­dium lethal dose $(LD_{50})$ for Hibmh and Hibiwas measured as 10 CFU (Colony Forming Unit) and $2.5{\times}10^{8}$ CFU respectively. Each immunized animal was challenged with five or ten times the $LD_{50}$ level of bacteria with a VEF. A significant difference in mortality between the immunized and control mice (P> 0.01) was observed with the Hibmh challenge inoculation but not with the Hibi challenge inoculation. These results show that a combination of mucin and hemoglobin was able to enhance the virulence of Hib in BALB/c mice to cause a lethal infection, thus suggesting that BALB/c mice introduced to this method can be an effective model animal for testing the protective efficacy of H. influenzae conjugate vaccines.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.461-465
• /
• 2005

To determine the cause of wet noodle spoilage, microorganisms isolated from wet noodles were identified and characterized. In addition, the growth inhibitory effects of organic acid mixture (OA: lactic acid 27.8%, acetic acid 12.0%, succinic acid 1.0%) and sodium dehydroacetate (SD) on the isolated strain were estimated in nutrient broth medium. The isolated strain was Gram-positive, rod shaped, motile, and spore forming. Based on physiological characteristics and the API 50 CHB-kit test results for the assimilation of 49 carbohydrates, the isolated strain was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (92.6%), which is able to degrade starch. Decimal reduction times (D-values) at 100, 105, and $110^{\circ}C$ for spores of B. amyloliquefaciens were 8.5, 5.1, and 2.5 min, respectively, and the z-value was $12.8^{\circ}C$. We estimated that B. amylo-liquefaciens isolated from spoiled wet noodles was a thermophilic species having high heat-resistance. Viable cell numbers in wet noodles and broth medium inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens were decreased by 2-4 log cycles by combined treatment with 0.03 or 0.05% OA and 0.3% SD. These results revealed that OA combined with SD could be used as a potential agent to inhibit B. amyloliquefaciens in wet noodles.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.299-304
• /
• 2001

For the remediation of the contaminated soil with heavy metals, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb, the reaction parameters were optimized. Tartaric acid (TA) and oxalic acid(OA) as a washing agent and recovery of metals, The optimum washing conditions of TA and OA were in the ratio of 1 : 20 between soil and acid solution during 2hr reaction under unbuffered pH solutions. At the optimized reaction conditions, the removal efficiencies were compared with that of 0.1 M HCl and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid(EDTA). TA showed higher efficiency on the removal of Pb than that of EDTA, which established for the remediation of contaminated soil with Pb and Cd metals. The recovery of metal ions from washing solution was achieved by adding calcium hydroxide and sodium sulfide by forming the precipitation of metal hydroxide and metal slfied. Optimum amounts of sodium sulgide and calcium hydroxide were Cd = 25g/$\ell$, Cu = 5~10g/$\ell$ and Pb = 5~10g/$\ell$ for the washing solution of OA and 2~5g/$\ell$ for the washing solution of TA, respectively. The amounts of $Na_2S$ and $CA(OH)_2$ for the tartaric acid was less than that of oxalic acid.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.657-663
• /
• 2011

$Bacillus$ $cereus$ is widely distributed on various foods and is known to cause clinical infections, food poisoning toxin induced diarrhea and vomiting. In this study, $B.$ $cereus$ group detected and analyzed rice, rice bran, and biofilm characterization of $B.$ $cereus$ confirmed. $B.$ $cereus$ was identified in approximately 34.6% of brown rice and 50.0% of rice bran. $B.$ $thuringiensis$ was detected in 3.9% of brown rice and 23% of rice bran, and $B.$ $mycoides$ was isolated from rice bran. The microtiter plate assay detected differences in biofilm-forming ability among $B.$ $cereus$ group isolates. Biofilm of $B.$ $cereus$ seemed to increase the MIC values of antimicrobial agent and antibiotic compounds compared with planktonic cells. Therefore, sufficient attention should be given to good manufacturing practice and good agriculture practice to avoid contamination of $B.$ $cereus$ group raw material including rice.