• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 2020

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), one of the most abundant protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, exerts excellent neuroprotective effects even though it has low intracephalic exposure. Purpose: The present study aimed to elucidate the apparent contradiction between the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Rb1 by studying the mechanisms underlying neuroprotective effects of Rb1 based on regulation of microflora. Methods: A pseudo germ-free (PGF) rat model was established, and neuroprotective effects of Rb1 were compared between conventional and PGF rats. The relative abundances of common probiotics were quantified to reveal the authentic probiotics that dominate in the neuroprotection of Rb1. The expressions of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, including GABAA receptors (α2, β2, and γ2) and GABAB receptors (1b and 2), in the normal, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and I/R+Rb1 rat hippocampus and striatum were assessed to reveal the neuroprotective mechanism of Rb1. Results: The results showed that microbiota plays a key role in neuroprotection of Rb1. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus helveticus (Lac.H) increased 15.26 fold after pretreatment with Rb1. I/R surgery induced effects on infarct size, neurological deficit score, and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were prevented by colonizing the rat gastrointestinal tract with Lac.H (1 × 10⁹ CFU) by gavage 15 d before I/R surgery. Both Rb1 and Lac.H upregulated expression of GABA receptors in I/R rats. Coadministration of a GABA_A receptor antagonist significantly attenuated neuroprotective effects of Rb1 and Lac.H. Conclusion: In sum, Rb1 exerts neuroprotective effects by regulating Lac.H and GABA receptors rather than through direct distribution to the target sites.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2015

This study was aimed to observe that extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) may be relevant to changes of major neurotransmitters in rat brain. After the exposure to ELF-MF (60 Hz, 2.0 mT) for 2 or 5 days, we measured the levels of biogenic amines and their metabolites, amino acid neurotransmitters and nitric oxide (NO) in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus. The exposure of ELF-MF for 2 or 5 days produced significant differences in norepinephrine and vanillyl mandelic acid in the striatum, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus. Significant increases in the levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were also observed in the striatum, thalamus or hippocampus. ELF-MF significantly increased the concentration of dopamine in the thalamus. ELF-MF tended to increase the levels of amino acid neurotransmitters such as glutamine, glycine and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid in the striatum and thalamus, whereas it decreased the levels in the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. ELF-MF significantly increased NO concentration in the striatum, thalamus and hippocampus. The present study has demonstrated that exposure to ELF-MFs may evoke the changes in the levels of biogenic amines, amino acid and NO in the brain although the extent and property vary with the brain areas. However, the mechanisms remain further to be characterized.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.494-503
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality and antioxidant properties of three fermented sweet potato cultivars (Shinyulmi, Hogammi, and Shinjami) using lactic acid bacteria. During the fermentation, the pH was lowered and the titratable acidity increased. The viable cell counts of lactic acid bacteria increased 8.44-9.62 log CFU/g. Organic acid content (especially lactic acid) of sweet potatoes increased by fermentation. Also, ${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid increased more than 8.6 times by fermentation in all samples. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of sweet potato, showed insignificant changes in all samples by fermentation. ABTS radical scavenging activity of all samples slightly decreased by fermentation, but not significantly. DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased slightly by fermentation except Shinyulmi. However, when compared with the varieties, Shinjami showed the highest activity. The reducing power of Shinjami decreased slightly by fermentation, but activity was the highest among all samples. Based on these results, most of the chemical properties and functionality of fermented sweet potato are retained after fermentation, although some antioxidant activity decreases. We suggest that three fermented sweet potato cultivars (Shinyulmi, Hogammi, and Shinjami) using lactic acid bacteria can be used in various applications because of their effective functional properties.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-290
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• 2018

Microalgae have been utilized in diverse industries including aquaculture. Among the microalgae, dinoflagellates are known to have various bioactive compounds, and thus the interest in their application to industry has increased. In order to test their potential as food materials for aquaculture animals, the crude protein contents and compositions of amino acids of six dinoflagellates Heterocapsa rotundata (family Heterocapsaceae), Ansanella granifera (Suessiaceae), Alexandrium andersonii (Ostreopsidaceae), Takayama tasmanica (Brachidiniaceae), Takayama helix, and Gymnodinium smaydae (Gymnodiniaceae) belonging to diverse families were analyzed. The percentage of the amount of the crude protein relative to dry weight of T. tasmanica was the highest (65%) and that of A. andersonii was the lowest (26%). However, the highest percentage of total detected amino acids in crude protein was found in A. andersonii (98.2%). In all six dinoflagellates, glutamic acid was the most dominant amino acid in crude protein. However, the second main amino acid was aspartic acid for H. rotundata, A. granifera, T. helix, and G. smaydae, but were arginine and leucine for A. andersonii and T. tasmanica, respectively. Furthermore, T. tasmanica and T. helix did not have taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid, whereas the other dinoflagellates possessed them. The percentages of essential amino acid contents of the dinoflagellates met the requirement levels for juvenile shrimps. In addition, the dinoflagellates were not toxic to the brine shrimp Artemia salina. Compared with the other microalgae reported so far, H. rotundata and A. andersonii can be used for arginine-rich diets, T. tasmanica for valine and leucine-rich diets, A. granifera for histidine-rich diets, T. helix for threonine-rich diets, and G. smaydae for lysine-rich diets. Therefore, based on their biochemical composition and toxicity to Artemia, the dinoflagellates could be used as essential amino acid sources for cultivating animals in the aquaculture industry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.534-541
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• 2018

Kimchi (a traditional Korean fermented vegetable) was prepared with a starter, Lactobacillus zymae GU240 producing ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and one precursor of GABA (glutamic acid, glutamic acid monosodium salt (MSG), or kelp extract). L. zymae GU240, an isolate from kimchi, can grow at 7% NaCl and low temperature. Five different kimchi samples were fermented for 20 weeks at $-1^{\circ}C$. Kimchi with starter alone could not produce GABA. The GABA content was highest in kimchi with co-inoculation of the starter and MSG (1% (w/w)). Kimchi co-inoculated with the starter and kelp extract powder (3% (w/w)) had the second highest GABA content. Addition of glutamic acid powder (1% (w/w)) caused a reduction in the pH level of kimchi and growth inhibition of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Kimchi samples with MSG or kelp extract showed improvement of sensory evaluation scores. The results demonstrate the possibility to produce kimchi with improved functionality and taste by using L. zymae GU240 as a starter along with a suitable precursor such as MSG or kelp extract.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.552-557
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• 2014

This study investigated the effects of ${\gamma}$-aminobutylic acid (GABA) on the quality and sensorial properties of both the GABA/NaCl complex and model meat products. GABA/NaCl complex was prepared by spray-drying, and the surface dimensions, morphology, rheology, and saltiness were characterized. For model meat products, pork patties were prepared by replacing NaCl with GABA. For characteristics of the complex, increasing GABA concentration increased the surface dimensions of the complex. However, GABA did not affect the rheological properties of solutions containing the complex. The addition of 2% GABA exhibited significantly higher saltiness than the control (no GABA treatment). In the case of pork patties, sensory testing indicated that the addition of GABA decreased the saltiness intensity. Both the intensity of juiciness and tenderness of patties containing GABA also scored lower than the control, based on the NaCl reduction. These results were consistent with the quality characteristics (cooking loss and texture profile analysis). Nevertheless, overall acceptability of the pork patties showed that up to 1.5%, patties containing GABA did not significantly differ from the control. Consequently, the results indicated that GABA has a potential application in meat products, but also manifested a deterioration of quality by the NaCl reduction, which warrants further exploration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.64-71
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• 2002

Rice(Oryza stiva L.) is a major cereal food providing nourishment to over half of the world's populations and was considered only as a source of energy. However, The recent many researches have been made to suggest that rice may relate to prevention chronic disease and health-promoting properties such as postprandial glucose response, hypocholesterolemic effect and blood pressure-lowering effect. There has been numerous observation supporting that rice has hypocholesterolemic effect. Rice, rice bran, rice bran oil and unsaponifiable matter of rice bran oil reduced plasma cholesterol in rat, hamster as well as human. Components of rice showing hypocholesterolemic effect include dietary fiber(hemicellulose, phytic acid). protein, ${\gamma}$-oryzanol, $\beta$-sitosterol, and tocotrienols. Crapo et al has been studied that the effect of various of starchy foods on the postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses in healthy and diabetic humans. The results showed that rice had lower blood glucose and insulin responses compared to potato, bread and dextrose. The different physical forms in the same starch also produce the different postprandial glucose and insulin responses. In recent years, several studies have shown that some components of rice have potent antioxidant activity against Fe$^{2+}$ -ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomal membranes. Cell culture and animal studies have shown that some components of rice have inhibitory effect on the growth and proliferation of several types of human cancer cell. It was also reported that the methanol extract of brown rice has antimutagenic activity against various mutagens. In addition, the pepsine hydrolysate from rice protein is reported to inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme activity. GABA (${\gamma}$ - aminobutyric acid) and GABA enriched rice germ is also effective for lowering blood pressure and triglyceride levels.s.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.330-335
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• 2004

Changes in functional constituents of rice germ prepared using three different heat pretreatments: roasting, steaming and microwave heating, were determined and compared with those of non-treated rice germ. The yield of rice germ oil increased generally and then decreased with increasing time for all three heat pretreatments, although the yields of rice germ oil varied among the three heat pretreatments. There were no major differences in fatty acid compositions among the rice germ oils subjected to the three different heat pretreatments. Levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol in rice germ oil increased up to about 1.5 times at 3 min of roasting and microwave heating, compared to control, and then decreased with increasing treatment time, but $\alpha$­tocopherol concentrations in rice germ oil gradually decreased with increasing steaming time. The contents of three phytosterols ($\beta$-sitosterol, stigmasterol and ergosterol) decreased progressively with increases in roasting and steaming time, while concentrations of the three phytosterols increased up to - 15$\%$ with 3 min of microwave process as compared to control, and then decreased thereafter. Levels of $\gamma$-oryzanol in rice germ oil decreased gradually with increasing time during all three different heat pretreatments. However, levels of $\gamma$ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rice germ decreased gradually with increasing roasting time, while those of GABA increased greatly up to about 2 times after 10 min of steaming process, and then decreased slowly thereafter. During microwave heating, the contents of GABA increased at 3 min of treatment time and then decreased. These results suggest that microwave heating may be the most suitable processing method to preserve functional constituents in rice germ.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.268-274
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• 2019

Sparassis latifolia is a useful medicinal mushroom that has recently gained popularity in Asia. It has a rich flavor and is a good source of nutrients contains a large number of polyphenols for a functional food or dietary supplement. In addition, S. latifolia is rich in beta-glucan and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These two compounds have been reported to show immune-stimulating and anticancer effects by numerous studies. In this study, four species of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. helveticus, and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) were used to ferment the fruiting body of S. latifolia. Fermented S. latifolia extracts were found to have a higher polyphenol content and antioxidant activity following fermentation as well as increased protease activity.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.517-526
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to enhance the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production of sea tangle extracts, through techniques based on enzymatic hydrolysis and the addition of mixed fermentative lactic acid bacteria. GABA production in the strains was qualitatively confirmed via detection of colored spots using thin layer chromatography. L. plantarum KCTC 21004, L. acidophilus KCTC 3164 and L. sakei subsp. sakei KCTC 3598 were selected as the suitable strains for GABA production. As for the characteristics of fermentation of lactic acid bacteria using the selected strain, as the fermentation time increased, the titrated acidity increased and the pH showed a tendency to decrease. Among the three strains with excellent GABA production ability, L. plantarum KCTC 21004 showed excellent GABA production of 136.4 mg/100g. These research results are expected to be provided a basis for the utilization of lactic acid bacteria in GABA production using a sea tangle extract.