• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2010

This study aimed to elucidate anti-inflammatory activities from extracts of Asterina pectinifera on nitric oxide (NO) production, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 release in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage cell, RAW264.7. We prepared the methanolic extracts (60-MAP, 70-MAP, 80-MAP and 90-MAP), aqueous extract (W-AP) and functional bioactive compound fraction (He-AP and EA-AP) from Asterina pectinifera according to extract method. The 60-MAP, 70-MAP, 80-MAP, 90-MAP and W-AP were significantly suppressed LPS-induced production NO, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 secretion in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Especially, 80-MAP by extracted 80% methanol had the strongest activity in reduction of inflammatory mediators among these extracts. Indeed, to identify active fraction, which contained potential bioactive compounds, from 80-MAP of Asterina pectinifera, we tested anti-inflammatory activity of the He-AP or the EA-AP. The He-AP was next extracted from 80-MAP and the EA-AP were extracted from the other methanol layer except the He-AP. The EA-AP demonstrated a strong anti-inflammatory effect through its ability to reduce NO production and it also inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ at low concentration. These results suggested that the methanolic extract from Asterina pectinifera had the potential inhibitory effects on the production of these inflammatory mediators.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.289-300
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• 2016

Non-genotoxic carcinogens are substances that induce tumorigenesis by non-mutagenic mechanisms and long term rodent bioassays are required to identify them. Recent studies have shown that transcription profiling can be applied to develop early identifiers for long term phenotypes. In this study, we used rat liver expression profiles from the NTP (National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, USA) DrugMatrix Database to construct a gene classifier that can distinguish between non-genotoxic carcinogens and other chemicals. The model was based on short term exposure assays (3 days) and the training was limited to oxidative stressors, peroxisome proliferators and hormone modulators. Validation of the predictor was performed on independent toxicogenomic data (TG-GATEs, Toxicogenomics Project-Genomics Assisted Toxicity Evaluation System, Osaka, Japan). To build our model we performed Random Forests together with a recursive elimination algorithm (VarSelRF). Gene set enrichment analysis was employed for functional interpretation. A total of 770 microarrays comprising 96 different compounds were analyzed and a predictor of 54 genes was built. Prediction accuracy was 0.85 in the training set, 0.87 in the test set and increased with increasing concentration in the validation set: 0.6 at low dose, 0.7 at medium doses and 0.81 at high doses. Pathway analysis revealed gene prominence of cellular respiration, energy production and lipoprotein metabolism. The biggest target of toxicogenomics is accurately predict the toxicity of unknown drugs. In this analysis, we presented a classifier that can predict non-genotoxic carcinogenicity by using short term exposure assays. In this approach, dose level is critical when evaluating chemicals at early time points.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.461-473
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• 2020

The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of various supplementary feeds on the chemical composition and production of bioactive substances in Protaetia brevitarsis larvae. The primary feed-oak-fermented sawdust-was supplemented with a variety of substances, including aloe, apple, banana, sweet persimmon (S. persimmon) and sweet pumpkin (S. pumpkin). Crude protein and fat content were the highest in the control and S. pumpkin group, respectively. Supplementary feeds increased the content of unsaturated fatty acids, except in the group receiving S. pumpkin, in which oleic acid was the most abundant (58.2%-64.5%). Free essential amino acids in larvae receiving supplementary aloe were higher compared with the control group except for Lys and His. Polyphenol and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant activities of ABTS and DPPH were higher in all treated groups compared with the control group. Although supplementary feeds led to a decreased crude protein content in the treated larvae when compared with the control group, these treatments generally improved the levels of unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidative activity. Therefore, we suggest that among the supplementary foods tested, aloe is a better resource for P. brevitarsis based on crude protein content, free amino acids and other bioactive compounds such as unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.257-274
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• 2020

There are many previous review articles are available to summarize either the characterization methods of effluent organic matter (EfOM) or the individual control treatment options. However, there has been no attempt made to compare in parallel the physicochemical treatment options that target the removal of EfOM from biological treatments. This review deals with the recent progress on the characterization of EfOM and the novel technologies developed for EfOM treatment. Based on the publications after 2010, the advantages and the limitations of several popularly used analytical tools are discussed for EfOM characterization, which include UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). It is a recent trend to combine an SEC system with various types of detectors, because it can successfully track the chemical/functional composition of EfOM, which varies across a continuum of different molecular sizes. FT-ICR-MS is the most powerful tool to detect EfOM at molecular levels. However, it is noted that this method has rarely been utilized to understand the changes of EfOM in pre-treatment or post-treatment systems. Although membrane filtration is still the preferred method to treat EfOM before its discharge due to its high separation selectivity, the minimum requirements for additional chemicals, the ease of scaling up, and the continuous operation, recent advances in ion exchange and advanced oxidation processes are greatly noteworthy. Recent progress in the non-membrane technologies, which are based on novel materials, are expected to enhance the removal efficiency of EfOM and even make it feasible to selectively remove undesirable fractions/compounds from bulk EfOM.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.332-343
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• 2006

This study was designed to investigate the possible utilization of mugwort as a source of functional ingredients. The approximate composition for mugwort powder was 5.06% moisture, 1.98% crude protein, 4.65% crude fat, 5.85% ash and 82.46% carbohydrate. The highest mineral content was potassium. The contents of total phenolic compounds and condensed tannin were 114 mg% and 11,000 mg%, respectively. The highest electron donating ability(EDA) was observed from the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of mugwort powder but the lowest was shown by the hexane fraction. In color values, with increasing mugwort powder content, the 'lightness', 'redness' and 'yellowness' decreased in the crust, while in the crumb bread the 'lightness' decreased and the 'redness', and 'yellowness' increased. With the addition of mugwort powder as a substitute for strong flour over the range from 2.5% to 10.0%, the ratio of the volume and specific volume of white bread decreased while its weight increased. In the texture measurements for white breads, the hardness decreased slightly with the addition of 2.5% mugwort powder, but then increased with further additions of mugwort up to 10.0%. The addition of 2.5% mugwort powder increased the springiness and gumminess of white bread. The highest sensory scores for color, flavor, taste, texture and overall acceptance as evaluated by a student sensory panel were obtained from white bread with 2.5% mugwort powder and from the control. The highest sensory scores as evaluated by a baker sensory panel were obtained from white bread with 2.5% mugwort powder. In ranking test, overall acceptability of white bread was the highest in the control. Overall acceptance scores by sensory evaluation of white bread with 2.5% mugwort powder were not significantly different from those of control.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.620-624
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• 2016

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is mandatory in adipogenesis. In this study, we investigated the applicability of functional materials for the treatment of obesity by examining Wnt/β-catenin pathway reporter activity related to adipocyte differentiation inhibiting with korean native plant extracts. The luciferase activity of HEK 293-TOP cells increased the reporter activity approximately 152% and 130% by treatment with Sanguisorba officinalis and Thuja orientalis, respectively. Ricinus communis were represented about 90% higher activity, two samples(Rosa rugosa and Sophorae Flos) showed 80% higher activity than the control. Three samples of plant extracts (Zanthoxylum piperitum, Pueraria thunbergiana, Solanum nigrum) were about 70% higher activity compared with the non-treated control. Cytotoxicity of plant extracts was not detected in the rat neural stem cells. These results suggest that the selected eight plant extracts are safe compounds. Our findings indicate that Wnt/β-catenin pathway reporter activity could be used for high throughput screening system. In addition, the plant extracts selected as candidates for adipocyte differentiation inhibiting may be potential therapeutic agents for obesity, it will be exploring the possibility of developing an anti-obesity materials through further experiments with selected plant extracts.

• Carbon letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.114-122
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• 2009

Crushed, depitted peach stones were impregnated activated with 50% $H_3PO_4$ followed by pyrolysis at $500^{\circ}C$. Two activated carbons were produced, one under its own evolved gases during pyrolysis, and the second conducted with air flow throughout the carbonization stage. Physicochemical properties were investigated by several procedures; carbon yield, ash content, elemental chemical analysis, TG/DTG and FTIR spectra. Porosity characteristics were determined by the conventional $N_2$ adsorption at 77 K, and data analyzed to get the major texture parameters of surface area and pore volume. Highly developed activated carbons were obtained, essentially microporous, with slight effect of air on the porous structure. Oxygen was observed to be markedly incorporated in the carbon matrix during the air treatment process. Cation exchange capacity towards Cu (II) and Cd (II) was tested in batch single ion experimental mode, which proved to be slow and a function of carbon dose, time and initial ion concentration. Copper was up taken more favorably than cadmium, under same conditions, and adsorption of both cations was remarkably enhanced as a consequence of the air treatment procedure. Sequestration of the metal ions was explained on basis of the combined effect of the oxygen functional groups and the phosphorous-containing compounds; both contributing to the total surface acidity character.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2014

The discovery of bioactive compounds in foods has changed the dietary lifestyle of many people. Cyperus esculentus (tigernut) is highly underutilized in Africa, yet tigernut extract is highly profitable in Europe. This study aims to add value to tigernut extract by revealing its health benefits and food value. In this study, tigernut tubers were germinated or roasted and the extracts were combined with Moringa oleifera extract (MOE) or Hibiscus sabdariffa extract (HSE) and spiced with ginger to produce functional drinks. The drinks were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, sensory parameters, and antioxidant potentials. The total phenolic content of each beverage was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity of each beverage was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid assays. The beverages from the germinated tigernut extracts had the highest titratable acidity and the lowest pH, while beverages containing the roasted tigernut extract had the highest $^{\circ}Brix$. Germination and roasting significantly enhanced the total phenolic content of the drinks. The beverage containing HSE and germinated tigernut extract had a total phenolic content of 45.67 mg/100 mL gallic acid equivalents, which was significantly higher than the total phenolic content of all other samples. The DPPH inhibition activity of the beverages prepared with germinated tigernut extracts was significantly higher than the DPPH inhibition activity of the beverages prepared with fresh tigernut extract. The taste and overall acceptability of drinks containing the roasted tigernut extract were preferred, while the color and appearance of drinks with the germinated samples were preferred. Roasting or germinating tigernuts before extraction and addition of MOE or HSE extracts is another way to add value and enhance the utilization of tigernuts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.527-533
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• 2013

In this study, we established the optimal conditions for obtaining water-soluble extracts with antioxidant activity from Kalopanacis cortex. The extraction conditions tested included cold treatment, extraction time (1, 5, 10, 15, and 24 h), and extraction temperature (55, 75, and $95^{\circ}C$). The highest total polyphenol compound content from water soluble extracts ($612{\mu}g/mL$) was obtained at $95^{\circ}C$ for 15 h after cold treatment. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenger activity was also highest (78.8%) under these conditions, which was comparable to 70.2% of ascorbic acid. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA) was also highest (69.0%) under these conditions, stronger than 56.6% of ascorbic acid. These results may provide critical evidence supporting the use of Kalopanacis cortex as a source of antioxidants in functional foods.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2011

Fermentation and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) improve nutritional and functional properties of foods by increasing the extraction of active compounds, ingestion rates, and body absorption. In this study, we investigated whether applying the EAE process improves the extraction and isolation efficiency of a polysaccharide from fermented Ecklonia cava (FE), which inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells. The results showed that the FE using the fungi Candida utilis and two different bacteria, namely Lactobacillus brevis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae increased protein and carbohydrate contents in comparison with those in non-fermented E. cava (NE). Aqueous extracts of fermented E. cava increased extraction yields and carbohydrate content, compared with the aqueous extract of NE. In addition, treating LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with aqueous extracts resulted in reduced NO production compared to that in LPS-treated cells. Ten EAEs of L. brevis-fermented E. cava (LFE) improved NO inhibitory effects in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells and the Viscozyme extract (VLFE) from the resulting extracts showed the highest NO inhibitory effect. We found that the >30 kDa fraction of VLFE led to markedly high inhibition of LPS-induced NO production as compared to that in the <30 kDa fraction. The crude polysaccharide isolated from >30 kDa fraction (VLFEP) consisted of fucose and markedly decreased NO production induced by LPS stimulation. VLFEP could be useful as an anti-inflammatory agent to suppress macrophage activation.