• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 1998

Five hundreds of bifidobacteria were isolated from a healthy Korean and the inhibitory effects of these isloated bacteria on harmful enzymes of human intestinal microflora were examined by cocultivation of the isolated bifidobacteria with E. coli or total human intestinal microflora. In comparison with the results of E. coli or intestinal microflora cultivation, Bifidobacterium breve K-110, B. breve K-111 and B. infantis K-525 effectively inhibited harmful enzymes ($\beta$-glucuronidase and tryptophanase) of E. coli and lowered the pH of the culture media. Also they inhibited the harmful enzymes ($\beta$-glucosidase, $\beta$-glucuronidase, tryptophanase and urease) and ammonia production of intestinal microflora, and lowered pH of the culture media by increasing lactic acid bacteria of intestinal microflora. When these isolated bifidobacteria were administered on mice, fecal harmful enzymes were also inhibited. Among tested bifidobacteria, B. breve K-110 had the highest inhibitory effect of fecal harmful enzymes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.165-176
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• 2009

Korean ginseng, which contains ginsenosides and polysaccharides as its main constituents, is orally administered to humans. Ginsenosides and polysaccharides are not easily absorbed by the body through the intestines due to their hydrophilicity. Therefore, these constituents which include ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc, inevitably come into contact with intestinal microflora in the alimentary tract and can be metabolized by intestinal microflora. Since most of the metabolites such as compound K and protopanaxatriol are nonpolar compared to the parental components, these metabolites are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The absorbed metabolites may express pharmacological actions, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and neuroprotective effects. However, the activities that metabolize these constituents to bioactive compounds differ significantly between individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. Recently, ginseng has been fermented with enzymes or microbes to develop ginsengs that contain these metabolites. However, before using these enzymes and probiotics, their safety and biotransforming activity should be assessed. Intestinal microflora play an important role in the pharmacological action of orally administered ginseng.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1272-1280
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• 2021

With changes in human dietary patterns, the proportion of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods in the daily diet has increased. As a result, the incidence rate of cholelithiasis is increasing rapidly. Many studies have reported on the crucial role that the intestinal microflora plays in the progression of gallstones. Although the whole herb of Lysimachia christinae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has long been extensively used as a remedy for cholelithiasis in China, its effects on the intestinal microflora remain unknown. Hence, in this study, we investigated the ability of the aqueous extract of L. christinae (LAE) to prevent cholesterol gallstones (CGSs) in model animals by affecting the intestinal microflora. The effects of LAE on body weight, serum lipid profile, visceral organ indexes, and histomorphology were studied in male C57BL/6J mice, which were induced by a lithogenic diet. After the 8-week study, CGSs formation was greatly reduced after LAE treatment. LAE also reduced body weight gain and hyperlipidemia and restored the histomorphological changes. Moreover, the intestinal microflora exhibited significant variation. In the model group fed the lithogenic diet, the abundances of the genera unclassified Porphyromonadaceae, Lactobacillus and Alloprevotella decreased, but in contrast, Akkermansia dramatically increased compared with the control check group, which was fed a normal diet; the administration of LAE reversed these changes. These results imply that L. christinae can be considered an efficient therapy for eliminating CGSs induced by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet, which may be achieved by influencing the intestinal microflora.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.41-57
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• 1998

Five hundreds of bifidobacteria were isolated from an healthy Korean and the inhibitory effects of these isolated bacteria on harmful enzymes of human intestinal microflora were examined by cocultivation of the isolated bifidobacteria with E. coli HGU-3 or total human intestinal microflora. In comparison with the results of E. coli or intestinal microflora cultivation, Bifidobacterium breave K-110, B. breve K-111 and B. infantis K-525 effectively inhibited harmful enzymes (${\beta}-glucuronidase$ and tryptophanase) of E. coli and lowered the pH of the culture media. Also they inhibited the harmful enzymes (${\beta}-glucosidase$, ${\beta}-glucuronidase$, tryptophanase and urease) and ammonia production of intestinal microflora, and lowered pH of the culture media by increasing the number of bifidobateria on intestinal microflora. The inhibitory effect of bifidobacteria on Growth of Helicobacter pylori and Rotavirus infection were exammed. Bifidobacterium K-110 and K-111 inhibited effectively them. When these isolated bifidobacteria were administered to mice, the activities of fecal harmful enzymes were inhibited and the AC and ACF formation were suppressed. Among tested bifidobacteria, B. breve K-110 had high inhibitory effect of fecal harmful enzymes and ACF formation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2020

Background: Gut microflora contributes to the nutritional metabolism of the host and to strengthen its immune system. However, if the intestinal barrier function of the living body is destroyed by radiation exposure, the intestinal bacteria harm the health of the host and cause sepsis. Therefore, this study aims to trace short-term radiation-induced changes in the mouse gut microflora-dominant bacterial genus, and analyze the degree of intestinal epithelial damage. Materials and Methods: Mice were irradiated with 0, 2, 4, 8 Gy X-rays, and the gut microflora and intestinal epithelial changes were analyzed 72 hours later. Five representative genera of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were analyzed in fecal samples, and the intestine was pathologically analyzed by Hematoxylin-Eosin and Alcian blue staining. In addition, DNA fragmentation was evaluated by the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results and Discussion: The small intestine showed shortened villi and reduced number of goblet cells upon 8 Gy irradiation. The large intestine epithelium showed no significant morphological changes, but the number of goblet cells were reduced in a radiation dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the small intestinal epithelium of 8 Gy-irradiated mice showed significant DNA damaged, whereas the large intestine epithelium was damaged in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, the large intestine epithelium showed less recovery potential upon radiation exposure than the small intestinal epithelium. Analysis of the intestinal flora revealed fluctuations in lactic acid bacteria excretion after irradiation regardless of the morphological changes of intestinal epithelium. Altogether, it became clear that radiation exposure could cause an immediate change of their excretion. Conclusion: This study revealed changes in the intestinal epithelium and intestinal microbiota that may pave the way for the identification of novel biomarkers of radiation-induced gastrointestinal disorders and develop new therapeutic strategies to treat patients with acute radiation syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2000

The effect of levanheptaose produced by levanase from Streptomyces sp. 366L on principle intestinal microflora was investigated. The reaction product, levanheptaose, was used as a carbon source for various intestinal microflora. As a results, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Eubacterium limosum grew effectively in the in vitro experiment, whereas Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus did not. Therefore levanheptaose seems to promote selectively the growth of B. adolescentis and L. acidophilus. In the in vivo experiment, the effect of levanheptaose on the growth of intestinal microflora, $\beta$-fructosidase activity, pH, and butyrate concentration were examined in rats. Apparently, the number of fecal Bifidobacteria, the amount of butyrate, and $\beta$-fructosidase activity were increased, whereas total aerobes and pH were reduced in rats fed by levanheptaose diets, compared with those of control diets. We concluded that those effects may be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.388-393
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the influence of vadrious dietary fiber sources such as mugwort, apple, sea mustard, butterbur on the intestinal in aged rats. Nine groups of aged rats (12months after weanling) were fed each experimental diet containing 5% and 15% dietary fibers for 4 weeks. The contents in large intestine of aged rats used for the measurement of intestinal microflora. Total viable counts and the numbers of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, E. coli and Staphylococcus were determined by nonselective medium and various selective media. The intake of dietary fiber sources employed did not show any differece in the number of total microorganisms, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. It was remarkable that Clostridium perfringens appeared in the colon of aged rats. The prpulations of Peptococcus and Clostridium were significantly larger in the apple 5% group than in other dietary fiber groups while the number of Staphylococcus was significantly smaller in the dietary fiber groups than in cellulose group. And the Streptococcus populations decreased in the mugwort 15% group. Accordingly, the mugwort 15% group is effective in improving intestinal flora of aged rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.988-995
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• 1994

This study was performed to investigate the influence of various dietary fiber sources(rice bran, Chinese cabbage, radish, apple, laver, sea mustard) on the intestinal microflora in rats. Eight groups of rats were fed each experimental diets containing 5% of total dietary fiber for 4 weeks. Total viable counts and the numbers of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, E. coli and Staphylococcus were determined by nonselective medium and various selective media. The number of Bifidobacterium(p<0.01) was higher in the apple and sea mustard groups than those in the other groups and the number of Lactobacillus(p<0.01) was lower in the radish group. A decrease in the intestinal population of clostridium was shown in the sea mustard group. The E. coli(p<0.01) and Staphylococcus(p<0.01) populations decreased in the apple group compared with other groups. These findings suggest that the apple fiber and sea mustard fiber are effective in improving intestinal flora of rats.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2001

This research was carried out to improve the utilization of agar by evaluating the effect of agarooligosaccharides on the intestinal microflora. Medium containing 0.2% agarooligosaccharides remarkably enhanced the growth of Bifidobacterium infanits; however, agarooligosaccharides did not influence the growth of Clostridium perflingens. Agarooligosaccharides affected intestinal microflora to different extent by various pH and NaCl concentration. The growth of B. infantis enhanced over pH 4.5. Within 1% NaCl concentration, addition of agarooligosaccharides enhanced the growth of B. infantis. In contract, NaCl did not affect the growth of Cl. perflingens at all concentrations tested. Therefore, agarooligosacchariedes improved the benevolent intestinal microflora and depressed to the level of bacteria causing putrefaction and food poisoning.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.540-542
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• 2005

Juice Valley and Gogu Valley were administered to twelve healthy young volunteers for 4 weeks to study their clinical effects on human intestinal microflora. Changes in fecal microflora, fecal moisture, and fecal pH were observed for Juice Valley intake. Administration of Juice Valley significantly increased numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus from 8.69 and 7.02 to 10.89 and 9.02 (Log CFU/g wet feces), respectively, whereas those of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli decreased. Moisture content of feces increased, and fecal pH decreased after 4 weeks of Juice Valley intake, intake of Gogu Valley slightly increased growth responses of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and decreased growth responses of C. perfringens and E. coli. Su-mi potato, as a reference, had no effect on Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus numbers. This study confirmed Juice Valley has better effects than Gogu Valley and Su-mi, and has important role on growth promotion and inhibition of human intestinal bacteria.