• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.284-292
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• 2021

Recently, a phytoestrogenic functional food has been developed using the fruits of Sophora japonica. Phytochemical investigation of fruits of S. japonica led to the isolation of eight flavonoid glycosides using various chromatographic techniques. The isolated compounds were identified as genistin (1), sophoricoside (2), genistein 7,4'-di-O-β-D-glucopyransoide (3), sophorabioside (4), genistein-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-4'-O-[(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (5), sophoraflavonoloside (6), nicotiflorin (7) and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), respectively, by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. In addition, a new HPLC-DAD method for simultaneous determination of the isolated compounds was developed to quantitate the contents of flavonoids in S. japonica and S. flavescens. The method was validated in terms of limit of detection, limit of quantitation, specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy. The validated method was successfully applied to determine eight flavonoids in two Sophora species. The contents of eight flavonoids varied according to the parts and species. Particularly, it was found that only the fruits of S. japonica contained sophoricoside, a phytoestrogenic isoflavone.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.865-872
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• 2002

In the course of the investigations of natural antioxidants, we examined the antioxidant activities of the methanol (MeOH) extracts of some selected Prunus species, including P. buergeriana, P. davidiana, P padus, P. pendula for. ascendens, P. sargentii, P. serrulata var. spontanea and P. yedoensis by three methods as represented by the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, total ROS (reactive oxygen species) and the peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$) scavenging activity tests. We also evaluated the activities of the organic solvent-soluble fractions, including the dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH) fractions and the water ($H_2O$) layer of P. serrulata var. spontanea leaves. By means of bioassay-directed fractionation, we isolated eleven known flavonoids (1-11) from the EtOAc soluble fraction of the MeOH extract of the Prunus serrulata var. spontanea leaves, exhibiting strong antioxidant activity and characterized as prunetin (1), genistein (2), quercetin (3), prunetin $4'-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (4), kaempferol $3-O-{\alpha}-arabinofuranoside$ (5), prunetin $5-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (6), kaempferol $3-O-{\beta}-xylopyranoside$ (7), genistin (8), kaempferol $3-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (9), quercetin $3-O-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (10) and kaempferol $3-O-{\beta}-xylopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (11). Compounds 3 and 10 showed good activities in all tested model systems. Compounds 2 and 8 showed scavenging activities in the DPPH and $ONOO^-$ tests, while compounds 5, 7, 9 and 11 were active in the $ONOO^-$ and ROS tests. On the other hand, compounds 1, 4 and 6 did not show any activities in the tested model systems.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.742-749
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• 2016

Boar taint, an unpleasant odor of pork, is associated with two substances including androstenone and skatole. Testosterone is a steroid hormone as well as a strong predictor for androstenone secretion. Isoflavones of soy origin play a role in modulating the metabolism of sex hormones. Although several methods responsible for reducing boar taint are under investigation, the precise mechanism by which isoflavones reduce testosterone has not yet been identified. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of isoflavones extracted from a soy by-product on the concentration of serum testosterone in mouse. A total of 24 mice were supplemented with basal diet (control), daidzin plus genistin mix (T1), or isoflavone extracts (T2). After 11 days of treatment, size and weight of testis, as well as the concentration of sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogen, were analyzed. There was no difference in size or weight of testis from mice among control, T1, and T2. Serum testosterone levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) both in T1 and T2 when compared with the control group. Furthermore, estrogen concentration in blood was increased (p < 0.05) in T2 (numerically increased in T1) compared with the control group. Taken together, the use of isoflavones extracted from soy by-products would be a plausible strategy for reducing testosterone level, ultimately reducing boar taint without castration of piglets.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2007

It is widely known that protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are involved in controlling many biological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, survival and apoptosis. An $\alpha3\beta4$ subunit combination acts as a major functional acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) in male rat major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neurons, and their activation induces fast inward currents and intracellular calcium increases. Recently it has been reported that the activity of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in some neurons can be negatively regulated by PTKs. However, the exact mechanism of regulation of nAChRs by PTKs is poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the potential role particular in nAChR by PTK using electrophysiology and calcium imaging in male rat MPG neurons. ACh induced inward currents and $(Ca^{2+})_i$ increases in MPG neurons, concomitantly. These responses were inhibited by more than 90% in $Na^+$- or $Ca^{2+}$- free solution. $\alpha$-conotoxin AuIB, a selective $\alpha3\beta4$ nAChR blocket, inhibited ACh-induced inward currents. Genistein (10 $\mu$M), a broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor, markedly decreased ACh-induced currents and $Ca^{2+}$ transients, whereas 10 $\mu$M genistin, an inactive analogue, had little effect. Overall these data suggest that the activities of $\alpha3\beta4$ AChRs in MPG neurons are positively regulated by PTK. In conclusion, trosine kinase may be one of the key factors in the regulation of $\alpha3\beta4$ nAChRs in rat MPG neurons, which may play an important roles in the autonomic neuronal function such as synaptic transmission, autonomic reflex, and neuronal plasticity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

A total of 155 microbial strains were isolated from the Korean traditional soybean paste based on their morphological features on the growth of agar plate. Among the isolated strains, a total of 28 strains were capable of hydrolyzing isoflavone glycoside to isoflavone aglycone efficiently in the soybean paste. Finally, two strains, K123-1 and SI, were selected because of their resistance to 15% NaCl and ability to convert isoflavone glycoside to isoflavone aglycone efficiently during the fermentation of soybean paste. The isolated strains K123-1 and SI were identified to be Pichia guilliermondii and Candida fermentati, respectively, using the partial 26S rDNA sequence analysis and phylogenic analysis. Pichia guilliermondii K123-1 and Candida fermentati SI converted daidzin to daidzein up to 96% and 95%, respectively, and genistin to genistein up to 92% when soybean pastes were fermented at $30^{\circ}C$ for 20 days with a single isolated strain. Pichia guilliermondii K123-1 and Candida fermentati SI were able to grow in the presence of 15% NaCl on both liquid medium and agar plate. We think that Pichia guilliermondii K123-1 and Candida fermentati SI might be one of good candidates for making functional soybean paste because they are isolated from the Korean traditional soybean paste and have a good ability to convert isoflavone glycosides to isoflavone aglycones and a high salt tolerance.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.172-177
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• 2014

A glycosyltransferase, YjiC, from Bacillus licheniformis has been used for the modification of the commercially available isoflavonoids genistein, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin. The in vitro glycosylation reaction, using UDP-${\alpha}$-D-glucose as a donor for the glucose moiety and aforementioned four acceptor molecules, showed the prominent glycosylation at 4' and 7 hydroxyl groups, but not at the $5^{th}$ hydroxyl group of the A-ring, resulting in the production of genistein 4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside, genistein 7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside (genistin), genistein 4',7-O-${\beta}$-D-diglucoside, biochanin A-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside (sissotrin), daidzein 4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside, daidzein 7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside (daidzin), daidzein 4', 7-O-${\beta}$-D-diglucoside, and formononetin 7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside (ononin). The structures of all the products were elucidated using high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array and high resolution quadrupole time-of-flight electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR QTOF-ESI/MS) analysis, and were compared with commercially available standard compounds. Significantly higher bioconversion rates of all four isoflavonoids was observed in both in vitro as well as in vivo bioconversion reactions. The in vivo fermentation of the isoflavonoids by applying engineered E. coli $BL21(DE3)/{\Delta}pgi{\Delta}zwf{\Delta}ushA$ overexpressing phosphoglucomutase (pgm) and glucose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase (galU), along with YjiC, found more than 60% average conversion of $200{\mu}M$ of supplemented isoflavonoids, without any additional UDP-${\alpha}$-D-glucose added in fermentation medium, which could be very beneficial to large scale industrial production of isoflavonoid glucosides.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.214-219
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• 2006

A bacterial strain, initially identified as B1-3, was isolated from cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean dish made from fermented soybeans. Using the Biolog system and 16S rRNA sequence analysis, we identified B1-3 as Bacillus mojavensis. We manufactured a quickly fermented soybean (QFS) food product using the B. mojavensis, and guided by their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging ability. We isolated substances with antioxidative activity from it. Using mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, we isolated 4 compounds from the ethyl acetate (EtOAc)-soluble neutral fraction of methyl alcohol (MeOH) extracts of the QFS food product (genistein, daidzein, 3R,4R-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-2-pentanone, and 3S,4R-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-2-pentanone) and 3 compounds from its acidic fraction (4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, genistin, and daidzein). Two compounds from the neutral fraction (3R,4R-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-2-pentanone and 3S,4R-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-2-pentanone) were not detected in nonfermented soybeans (NFS) or in the filtrate of the LB broth used to culture B. mojavensis. However, they were detected in the filtrate of the same broth when it contained 2% glucose. These results suggest that these 2 compounds were derived from glucose (or other saccharides) in the soybean during fermentation. One compound that was found in the acidic fraction (4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) was readily detected in NFS, but not in the culture broth. This suggests that 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid was derived from NFS. We concluded that the antioxidative activity of cheonggukjang is a result of the interactions between soybean components and the microorganisms used in the fermentation of cheonggukjang.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.329-336
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• 2007

This study was designed to find the optimum conditions for converting isoflavone glycoside to aglycone by ${\beta}-galactosidase$. Three different forms of the enzyme were tested and the optimum enzyme concentration, incubation temperature, pH, and incubation time were determined. Before treatment with enzyme, isoflavone contained 89.4% glycoside including daidzin, glycitin and genistin, and only 10.6% aglycone including daidzein, glycitein and genistein. Among the enzymes tested, the highest rate of isoflavone hydrolysis to aglycone, 35%, was observed when 3 unit/g Fungal Lactase (Amano Enzyme) was used. Higher incubation temperatures resulted in a higher rate of hydrolysis along with a greater loss of isoflavone mass. Therefore, body temperature $(37^{\circ}C)$ may be adequate for isoflavone conversion, with 44.9% hydrolysis and less than 10% loss of mass. As expected, a higher amount of aglycone was produced at pH 7 compared with other pH values. During 5hr of incubation, the conversion of glycoside to aglycone increased dramatically from 0 to 1hr, and plateaued thereafter. In addition, commercial soy-based milk was hydrolyzed more effectively with ${\beta}-galactosidase$ when incubated for 5hr. Based on the above results, the optimum conditions for isoflavone hydrolysis by ${\beta}-galactosidase$ were for 3 hr at $37^{\circ}C$, pH 7 with 3 unit/g Fungal Lactase (Amano Lactase), yielding an average total amount of aglycone ranging from 40 to 47%.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.260-266
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• 2009

The effects of ${\beta}$-glucosidase on the overall growth performance and a set of physiological parameters of broilers were investigated. 240 male, one-day old Avine broiler chickswere randomly allocated to four treatment groups and fed with a corn-soybean meal supplemented with 0% (control), 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% ${\beta}$-glucosidase. The 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase group, but not the 0.4% and 0.6% ${\beta}$-glucosidase groups, showed a significantly increased average daily weight gain (p<0.05) over that of the control. All three ${\beta}$-glucosidase feed groups showed significantly higher feed conversion ratios than the control group (p<0.05). Feed supplementation of 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase significantly raised the contents of serum isoflavone aglycones as shown by decreases of genistin and daizin (p<0.01) and an increase of daidzein (p<0.01). The 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feeding significantly increased the intestinal amylase activity while it had little effect on lipase and trypsin activities (p>0.05). 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feeding also significant elevated the levels of highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol and malate dehydrogenase while lowering the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Finally, ${\beta}$-glucosidase improved the anti-oxidative activities of the animals; the 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feed group had higher activities of superoxide dismutase (p<0.05), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the liver (p<0.05), and malondialdehyde level in the serum (p<0.05).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1952-1960
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• 2017

Recently, soybean isoflavone aglycones (i.e., daidzein and genistein) and ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA) have begun to receive considerable consumer attention owing to their potential as nutraceuticals. To produce these ingredients, multiple microorganisms and their enzymes are commonly used for catalysis in the nutraceutical industry. In this work, we introduce a novel fermentation process that uses whole-cell biocatalysis to accelerate GABA and isoflavone aglycone production in doenjang (a traditional Korean soybean paste). Microbial enzymes transform soybean isoflavone glycosides (i.e., daidzin and genistin) and monosodium glutamate into soybean isoflavone aglycones and GABA. Lactobacillus brevis GABA 100 and Aspergillus oryzae KACC 40250 significantly reduced the production time with the aid of a protease. The resulting levels of GABA and daidzein were higher, and genistein production resembled the levels in traditional doenjang fermented for over a year. Concentrations of GABA, daidzein, and genistein were measured as 7,162, 60, and $59{\mu}g/g$, respectively on the seventh day of fermentation. Our results demonstrate that the administration of whole-cell L. brevis GABA 100 and A. oryzae KACC 40250 paired with a protease treatment is an effective method to accelerate GABA, daidzein, and genistein production in doenjang.