• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1986

The blue-light effect on the grown as well as on the physiological activity of some major horticultural plants in Korea has been investigated. The light quality used for the work was obtained from sunlight filtered by an orangecolored polyethylene film which removed about 70% of visible light in the spectral region of $350㎚{\sim}500㎚$. The film was developed in this laboratory especially for the work and named BCR film meaning blue color-removing film. The light environment in the plastic house which was built with BCR film provided plants with the blue color-deficient sunlight. Thus, the photobiological effect of blue light could be examined conversely by comparing with the effect of white sunlight in a conventional plastic house built with colorless polyethylene film. In a sense of applicability to horticulture, two remarkable effects of the blue color-deficient sunlight on plant physiology were observed: First, it enhanced to a great extent the growth activity of plants-pepper, cucumber, zucchini, tomato, and leaf lettuce at the vegetative stage as well as at the reproductive stage, as demonstrated by their yield which were in average $40{\sim}50%$ increased compared with the control (under white sunlight). Second, it improved significantly the cold tolerance of plants, as exhibited with their resistance to chilling during treatment in a cold chamber maintained at a temperature which caused chilling injury to the plants of control. The visualized effects were reflected on the physiological activity of cells on organelle level. Chloroplast isolated from the plant leaves grown under BCR film showed considerably stronger photosynthetic activity, as judged by the increased electron transport rate of illuminated chloroplast, than that from leaves grown under white PE film. Mitochondria from leaves grown under BCR film maintained normal respiration activity until temperature decreased to a few degree($^{\circ}C$) lower than the temperature which caused respiratory inhibition to mitochondria obtained from leaves of the control.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate into the effect of light-emitting diode (LED) for the light quality as a light source on the broccoli seed germination and the physiological activity of vegetable sprouts. We have also germinated seeds of the broccoli and applied LED as a light quality such as blue, green, red, white, yellow and red + blue color lights to their sprouts for 14 hours and kept dark for 10 hours at the temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ (day)/$18^{\circ}C$ (night). Broccoli sprouts were extracted by methanol and their physiological activities were examined. All broccoli seeds were germinated at 3 days after seeding regardless of the light color. Total sprout fresh weight were mostly became highest by 0.389g (10 plants) at 8 days after seeding when their sprouts were grown under blue color light. Total phenol compound contents in broccoli sprouts were extremely increased by $83.0\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ under the white light, and total flavonoid contents were most much more by $72.6\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ under the blue light. DPPH radical scavenging activity at $2,000\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ were most highest by 93.5% in broccoli sprouts grown under the white light. Nitrite radical scavenging activity at the concentration of $500\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in sprout extracts were the most increased by 66.9% under the yellow light, and tyrosinase inhibition activity at $2,000\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in sprout extracts were by 14.5% under red light.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2023

This report looks at an agar-degrading marine bacterium and characterization of its agarase. Agar-degrading marine bacterium JS-1 was isolated with Marine agar 2216 media from seawater from the seashore of Sojuk-do, Changwon in Gyeongnam Province, Korea. The agar-degrading bacterium was named as Agarivorans sp. JS-1 by phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The extracellular agarase was prepared from the culture media of Agarivorans sp. JS-1 and used for characterization. Relative activities at 20℃, 30℃, 35℃, 40℃, 45℃, 50℃, 55℃, and 60℃ were 70%, 74%, 78%, 83%, 87%, 100%, 74%, and 66%, respectively. Relative activities at pH 5, 6, 7, and 8 were 91%, 100%, 90%, and 89%, respectively. Its extracellular agarase showed maximum activity (207 units/l) at pH 6.0 and 50℃ in 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer. The residual activity after heat treatment at 20℃, 30℃, and 50℃ for 30 minutes was 90%, 70%, and 50% or more, respectively. After a 2-hour heat treatment at 20℃, 30℃, 35℃, 40℃, and 45℃, the residual activity was 80%, 68%, 65%, 63%, and 57%, respectively. At 50℃ and above, after heat treatment for 30 minutes, the residual activity was below 60%. Thin layer chromatography analysis suggested that Agarivorans sp. JS-1 produces extracellular β-agarases as they hydrolyze agarose to produce neoagarooligosaccharides such as neoagarohexaose (20.6%), neoagarotetraose (58.5%), and neoagarobiose (20.9%). Agarivorans sp. JS-1 and its thermotolerant β-agarase would be useful in the production of neoagarooligosaccharides, showing functional activity such as inhibition of bacterial growth and delay of starch degradation.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.242-247
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• 2013

Currently, methods for controlling weeds in organically produced crops have not been as effective as conventional methods. This research was carried out to determine the herbicidal effects of leaf, stem, fruit, root extracts of Trichosanthes kirilowii. The extraction methods used were water, boiling water and ethanol. The characteristics of potential herbicidal components among extraction methods were investigated by using the following solvent fractions: hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. Generally, water extracts provided the best on inhibition of germination rate, plant height, and root length in cucumber and barley. Specifically, extractions made from fruit parts of T. kirilowii provided the greatest inhibition effect on plant growth in cucumber and barely. Inhibition of germination rate, plant height, and root length in cucumber and barley in solvent fractions was the best in water fractions, but there were no significant differences among the other fractions. Digitaria siliaris and Solanum nigrum were controlled 80-100% by 5% extractions of water fraction. However, there were no herbicidal effects from foliar treatment in cucumber, barley, black nightshade, and henry crabgrass by 5% extractions of the water fraction. These results show that extractions of T. kirilowii can be used for controlling some weeds in organically produced crops.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2007

Background: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is known to modulates the cellular functions, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. It is known that a high level of HO-1 expression is found in many tumors, and HO-1 plays an important role in rapid tumor growth on account of its antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. Cisplatin is a widely used anti-cancer agent for the treatment of lung cancer. However, the development of resistance to cisplatin is a major obstacle to its use in clinical treatment. We previously demonstrated that inhibiting HO-1 expression through the transcriptional activation of Nrf2 induces apoptosis in A549 cells. The aim of this study was to determine of the inhibiting HO-1 enhance the chemosensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin. Materials and Methods: The human lung cancer cell line, A549, was treated cisplatin, and the cell viability was measured by a MTT assay. The change in HO-1, Nrf2, and MAPK expression after the cisplatin treatment was examined by Western blotting. HO-1 inhibition was suppressed by ZnPP, which is a specific pharmacologic inhibitor of HO activity, and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Flow cytometry analysis and Western blot were performed in to determine the level of apoptosis. The level of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) generation was monitored fluoimetrically using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. Results: The A549 cells showed more resistance to the cisplatin treatment than the other cell lines examined, whereas cisplatin increased the expression of HO-1 and Nrf2, as well as the phosphorylation of MAPK in a time-dependent fashion. Inhibitors of the MAPK pathway blocked the induction of HO-1 and Nrf2 by the cisplatin treatment in A549 cells. In addition, the cisplatin-treated A549 cells transfected with dither the HO-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or ZnPP, specific HO-1 inhibitor, showed in a more significantly decrease in viability than the cisplatin-only-treated group. The combination treatment of ZnPP and cisplatin caused in a marked increase in the ROS generation and a decrease in the HO-1 expression. Conclusion: Cisplatin increases the expression of HO-1, probably through the MAPK-Nrf2 pathway, and the inhibition of HO-1 enhances the chemosensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.736-745
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• 2016

Cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean fermented soy food, was prepared by inoculation of Bacillus subtilis EMD4 or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EMD17 with anti-bacterial or anti-fungal activities into soybeans. Cheonggukjang was also prepared by co-inoculation of EMD4 and EMD17 (1:1, v/v). Control cheonggukjang was prepared by using B. subtilis KACC16450 (Natto strain). Growth of B. cereus cells spiked with starter organisms was completely inhibited by B. amyloliquefaciens EMD17 after 12 h of fermentation at $37^{\circ}C$. Growth of B. cereus was also inhibited by B. subtilis EMD4, but the degree of inhibition was weaker. After 48 h of fermentation, cheonggukjang samples were stored for 10 days at $4^{\circ}C$. B. cereus cells were not detected from cheonggukjang inoculated with EMD4, whereas significant numbers still present in control. The pH values of cheonggukjang samples were not significantly different. During fermentation, cheonggukjang fermented with EMD17 showed the highest fibrinolytic activity and during storage, cheonggukjang fermented with a Natto strain was the highest. Cheonggukjang fermented with a Natto strain also showed the highest amount of total phenolic compounds. The results show that control of B. cereus in cheonggukjang is possible by using starters such as B. amyloliquefaciens EMD17.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.308-316
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• 2003

Purpose: The green tea polyphenol (GTPP) has been known to exert antioxidant activity as a radical scavenger as well as cancer preventive and cancer growth inhibition effect. The aim of this study was to identify whether GTPP not only potentiate the growth inhibition effect in ${\gamma}-irradiated$ human cancer cell but also exert protection action for irradiated human normal cell. Materials and Methods: GTPP (80% catechin including >45% EGCG) added in the HL60, human leukemia, and NC37, human lymphoblast, before irradiation. After establishing the amount of GTPP and the dose of radiation, the cells were treated with the GTPP for 6 hours and irradiated with the determined doses. Results: Viability when $10{\mu}g/ml$ GTPP added before ${\gamma}-irradiation$ with 1 Gy to NC37 cells was not different in comparison with control but it when was irradiated with 3 Gy significantly different (1 Gy;P=0.126, 3 Gy;P=0.010). $20{\mu}g/ml$ GTPP did not show significant difference in both NC37 cells irradiated with 1 Gy and 3 Gy (1 Gy;P=0.946, 3 Gy;P=0.096). Viabilities were significantly decreased with concentration of additional GTPP in HL60 with 1 or 3 Gy (1 Gy $69.0{\pm}1.7%\;vs\;42.4{\pm}1.3%,\;3\;Gy;\;66.9{\pm}3.9%\;vs\;44.2{\pm}1.6%$). Conclusion: In vitro study, we certified that when the cells were irradiated with dose below 3 Gy, GTPP provide not only anticancerous effect against cancer cells but also radioprotective effect in normal cells simultaneously. Theses results suggest the possibility that consumption of green tea could give the radioprotective effect and maximize the effect on internal radiation such as radioiodine therapy concomitantly.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.261-265
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• 2010

Lichens, a symbiotic organism of fungi and algae, cause serious damage to national heritages of stone master piece and costly trees for gardening. The present study was conducted to screen effective fungicides against lichen-forming fungi to control the biological agents deteriorating stone heritages and trees. Five commercial fungicides (Fenarimol EC, Etridiazole EC, Iminoctadinetriacetate SL, Difenoconazole+lminocatadinetriacetate ME and Difenoconazole+Azoxystrobin SC) were tested against the lichen-forming fungi (LFF) isolated from seven saxicolous (Caloplaca sp., Ramalina sp., Xanthoparmelia sp., and Xanthoria sp.,) or corticolous (Parmelia sp.,) lichen species. Preliminary screening test showed that no LFF could grow on the MY (malt-yeast extract) agar medium amended with the recommended concentrations of each fungicide. Further screening was conducted at 1%, 10% and 20% of the recommended concentrations of the fungicides. After 7 week incubation at $15^{\circ}C$ in the dark, Difenoconazole+Iminocatadinetriacetate ME and Difenoconazole+Azoxystrobin SC completely inhibited the fungal growth of all the tested LFF, even at 1% of the concentration. Two fungicides of Fenarimol EC and Iminoctadinetriacetate SL exhibited a moderate inhibition activity at the lower concentrations. Etridiazole EC was less effective in the fungal growth inhibition than the other four fungicides. The results suggested that lichens colonizing on precious stone heritages and trees can be eradicated by applying Difenoconazole+Iminocatadinetriacetate ME and Difenoconazole+Azoxystrobin SC even 1% of the recommended concentrations. Selected fungicide application at such a low concentration will facilitate the chemical use to prevent and preserve stone heritages from biological deterioration induced by lichens and the allied microbes.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.854-862
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• 2013

We examined the quality characteristics and functionalities of Korean and Japanese spring Baechu cabbages and the kimchi prepared with them. To study the physiochemical properties of the cabbages and the kimchis, we measured their water content, pH, acidity, microbial counts, and springiness. On the third week of the kimchi fermentation at $5^{\circ}C$, their sensory properties and in vitro DPPH radical scavenging and anticancer activities using AGS human gastric cancer cells were determined. The Japanese Baechu contained 97.1% water, and the Korean Baechu, 92.4%. The comparison of the textures of the raw Baechu and the brined Baechu showed that the Korean Baechu had higher springiness scores than the Japanese Baechu. After four-week fermentation, the springiness score of the kimchi with Korean Baechu was 53.5%, significantly higher than the 41.4% of the kimchi with Japanese Baechu. The kimchi prepared with Korean Baechu had a low total bacterial count but higher Lactobacillus sp. and Leuconostoc sp. counts than the kimchi with Japanese Baechu. The kimchi prepared with Korean Baechu had the highest overall acceptability score in the sensory evaluation test. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the kimchi with Korean Baechu was 83.2%, and that of the kimchi with Japanese Baechu, 46.1%. When the AGS human gastric cancer cells were treated with the kimchis, the kimchi prepared with Korean Baechu showed a 45% cancer cell growth inhibition rate, and the kimchi with Japanese Baechu, 26%, at 1 mg/mL of methanol extracts. At the 2 mg/mL concentration, the kimchis with Korean Baechu and Japanese Baechu showed 97% and 74% inhibition, respectively. The Korean Baechu showed better quality than the Japanese Baechu, and the kimchi prepared with the Korean Baechu showed better kimchi quality and functionality than the Japanese Baechu.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.537-548
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of 9 kinds of medicinal plants against crown gall in grapevine. The medicinal plants extracted with several solvent systems were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity by the disc diffusion method. The ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts from magic lily flowers, tachys roots, asian plantain flowers and seeds, sweet wormwood leaves, stems and flowers, immature bitter melon fruits, cockscomb flowers, and peach tree resin showed in vitro antimicrobial activities against Rhizobium vitis with growth inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 27 mm in diameter. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of extracts against R.vitis ranged from 10,000 in Asian plantain flower and 50,000 fold diluted extracts in sweet wormwood flowers, stems, leaves, cockscomb leaves and immature bitter melon fruits. The active fractions of ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts from the medicinal plants were partially separated through silica gel column chromatography and thin layer chromatography (TLC). The active fractions were separated at Rf 0.36, 0.69, 0.75, 0.84, and 0.94 in sweet wormwood extracts, Rf 0.96 and 0.99 in cockscomb flower extracts, Rf 0.92 and 0.97 in cockscomb leaf extracts, and Rf 0.85 in immature bitter melon fruit extracts in TLC analysis developed with hexane:ethyl acetate (20:80, v/v) and methanol:chloroform (20:80, v/v). Among extracts from plants with in vitro antimicrobial activities, sweet wormwood, cockscomb leaves, and immature bitter melon fruits showed in vivo antimicrobial activities with inhibition activity of 100, 67, and 83.3%, respectively, in 'Kyoho' grapevine inoculated with R. vitis compared with the untreated control. These findings indicate that extracts of medicinal plants could be used as sustainable candidates to control crown gall disease caused by R. vitis in grapevines.