• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.529-539
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• 2019

Purpose: Sprouts of evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata, OL) were reported to have high contents of flavonoids and potent antioxidant activity. This study examined the antioxidant and antiobesity activities of OL sprouts to determine if they could be a natural health-beneficial resource preventing obesity and oxidative stress. Methods: OL sprouts were extracted with 50% ethanol, evaporated, and lyophilized (OLE). The in vitro antioxidant activity of OLE was examined using four different tests. The antiobesity activity and in vivo antioxidant activity from OLE consumption were examined using high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6 mice. Results: The IC₅₀ for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of OLE were 26.2 ㎍/mL and 327.6 ㎍/mL, respectively. OLE exhibited the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity of 56.7 ㎍ ascorbic acid eq./mL at 100 ㎍/mL, and an increased glutathione level by 65.1% at 200 ㎍/mL compared to the control in the hUC-MSC stem cells. In an animal study, oral treatment with 50 mg or 100 mg of OLE/kg body weight for 14 weeks reduced the body weight gain, visceral fat content, fat cell size, blood leptin, and triglyceride levels, as well as the atherogenic index compared to the high fat diet control group (HFC) (p < 0.05). The blood malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the catalase and SOD-1 activities in adipose tissue were reduced significantly by the OLE treatment compared to HFC as well (p < 0.05). In epididymal adipose tissue, the OLE treatment reduced the mRNA expression of leptin, PPAR-γ and FAS significantly (p < 0.05) compared to HFC while it increased adiponectin expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: OLE consumption has potent antioxidant and antiobesity activities via the suppression of oxidative stress and lipogenesis in DIO mice. Therefore, OLE could be a good candidate as a natural resource to develop functional food products that prevent obesity and oxidative stress.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.298-310
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• 2022

Although giant and large fish species are highly important as a keystone species in the marine ecosystem, there have been no or few studies on their spatio-temporal variations around the Korean peninsula. For this, we analyzed daily reports made by observers at 57 fishery landing sites in Korea over 6 years, from 2011 to 2016. In total, 153 fish species were re-identified based on photos and descriptions recorded by Korean observers, of which five species were classified as a giant fish over 5 m in maximum total length (MTL) and 17 species as a large fish from 3 m to 5 m MTL according to the data presented by Froese & Pauly (2021). Among the giant and large fish species, Mola mola was the most abundant species, with 75 individuals landed as by-catch. The second most abundant species was Isurus oxyrinchus (31), followed by Mobula mobular (23), Lamna ditropis (17), Masturus lanceolatus (16), Sphyrna zygaena (14), and Prionace glauca (12). As a result of cluster analysis based on the number of individuals of giant and large fish species by year and sea, six years were separated into two clusters (2011-2013 vs. 2014-2016), with high contribution of M. mola, I. oxyrinchus, and M. lanceolatus; and three seas were separated into two clusters (eastern + southern seas vs. western sea), with high contribution of M. lanceolatus, L. ditropis, and I. oxyrinchus. The largest number of M. mola accounted for 64% of the total in 2014 and 2016, and 71% in summer (June-August). It is assumed to have a correlation between seawater temperature fluctuation and the occurrence of giant and large fish species. Our study highlights importance of longterm monitoring of giant and large fish species, and can help to understand the life cycle such as natal or nursery migration of giant and large fish species around the Korean peninsula.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2002

Swim up fry of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, were fed 0 or 60 mg l7-methyltestos­terone (MT) per kg feed for 30 days. Fish that had been fed 0 or 60 ppm MT for the first 30 days were subsequently fed a commercial diet for 56 weeks to evaluate growth, survival, sex ratio, body composition, gonadosomatic index and the total edible portion. Mean body weight of MT treated group and untreated group were 1.7 g and 1.1 g, respectively at the end of the treatment for 30 days $(P<0.05)$. The experiment was terminated after a total of 60 weeks, the mean body weight of the MT treated population was 1,016 g and that of the untreated population was 762g $(P<0.05)$. However, the final mean body weight of untreated males (l, 086g) was not significantly different from treated males (l,016 g), but the mean body weight of the female group was 512 g. Therefore, the reason for the lower mean body weight of the untreated group was entirely due to stunted females. The percentage fillet yield of MT treated fish$(34.6\%)$ was not significantly different from that of the untreated males $(34.4\%)$, but the untreated females were lower than those of both treated and untreated male groups $(32.4\%)$ (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the percentage of the all edible portion (AP) between MT treated and untreated males, but females were lower than males. Females are smaller fish in size and the gonads are larger in proportion which were discarded along with the intestine this explains the observed difference. Total biomass of the two groups were 134.8kg and 104.5kg per $m^3$, respectively. The proportion of fish reaching a marketable size of over 800 g in body weight within 14 months were $78\%$ in the MT treated group and $41\%$ in the untreated group.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2020

Natural products are widely used due to their various biological activities which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-obesity effects. In this study, we determined the antioxidative and anti-obesity effects of Polygonum cuspidatum 50% ethanol extract (PEE). The antioxidative effect of PEE was evaluated using its radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, and reducing power. The anti-obesity effect of PEE was investigated using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The antioxidative activity of PEE was progressively increased in various concentrations, mainly due to the presence of phenolic compounds. PEE also alleviated lipid accumulation on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and downregulated the mRNA and protein production of adipogenesis-related (SREBP-1c, PPARγ, C/EBPα) and lipogenesis-related (aP2, FAS, ACC) markers. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation via PEE was caused by the alleviation of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, and JNK at the protein level. Taken together, our results imply that PEE is a potential antioxidant that can prevent obesity-associated disorders.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2023

One of the ways to increase the production for aquaculture is through the cultivation of monosexuals by ensuring genital reversal from which energy for reproduction is diverted towards growth. Masculinization has been identified as one of the most prominent techniques, where sex development was directed from female to male. This approach only altered the phenotype and not the genotype. The red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) was a relatively new commercial commodity, and the males were known to grow faster than females. Hence, it was proposed to use monocultures comprising an all-male population to increase yield using steroid hormone, synthetic 17α-methyltestosterone. However, this technique generated residues that detrimentally affect human health, the environment, and cultivated organisms. Therefore, finding new safe natural steroid sources was essential, and one of which is exploring of natural hormones extracted from the viscera of sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra Jaeger). This study focused on the determination of male formation and testosterone levels among juvenile crayfish, after immersing in sea cucumber steroid extract (SCSE). A completely random design with factorial was used with two variables, encompassing the varied doses (0, 2, 4 mg/L, 2 mg/L 17α-methyl testosterone as control group) and immersion times of 18 and 30 h. The result showed the dose-dependent ability of SCSE increase the male genital formation and promote the testosterone level of juvenile crayfish. In addition, the testosterone was influenced by dose and immersion duration time, with the highest level of testosterone observed in treatments of 4 mg/L SCSE with 30 h immersion was 0.248 ng/mL, while the male percentage was 77%. In conclusion, the combination of dose and immersion time significantly affected growth and testosterone levels.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2019

The ami of our study was on the anti-obesity effect of ethanol extract from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim root (TKM) in murine adipocytes, 3T3-L1 cells. This study focused on anti-adipogenic activity through inhibition of cell differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells treated TKM. 100 ug/ml of non-cytotoxic TEM remarkablely inhibited content of triglycerol and suppressed expressions of $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}a$ and SREBP-1c related with lipogenic transcription factors in theres 3T3-L1 cells compared to (-)control cells. As phosphorylations of AMPK and ACC were incerased, HSL and CPT-1 mRNA expression increased upon TKM treatment, which involved in inhibition of fatty acid synthase expression. In conclusion, these results indicate that TKM can inhibit mRNA and protein expression of lipogenic genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our study suggests that TKM has potential anti-obesity effects and is a convergence therapeutic functional agent with anti-adipogenic activity via hypolipogenesis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.194-199
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• 2009

The effects of the ginsenoside Rb2 (Rb2) on lipid metabolism were characterized in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to evaluate their utility for treating obesity. While the amounts of total cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TAG) were markedly increased in the adipocytes treated with high amounts of cholesterol and fetal bovine serum (FBS), the test groups treated with Rb2 showed levels that were close to normal. The effect of Rb2 on these cells was comparable to that of lovastatin. Rb2 enhanced the expression of the sterol regulated element binding protein (SREBP) mRNA whereas treatment with cholesterol and FBS led to a reduction in the abundance of this transcript. The activity of fatty acid synthetase (FAS) was lower in the cholesterol group compared to the Rb2 treatment group suggesting that the observed decrease in cholesterol levels and activated SREBP was mediated by Rb2. Treatment with Rb2 also resulted in a decrease in TAG levels in adipocytes cultured under high fatty acid conditions. This effect was mediated by stimulating the expression of SREBP and Leptin mRNA, suggesting that Rb2 might be a valuable component capable of lowering the levels of lipids.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

Crude saponin, extracted from the starfish Asterias amurensis, was assessed for its capacity as a biological pesticide. As part of this analysis, its insecticidal and repellent activities, in addition to its acute and chronic toxicities were tested. In comparison with the control group, insecticidal activity of saponin against tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura, in kale, Brassica loeracea was low at 36.4%. Repellent activities of the extracted saponin against green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and S. litura, on soybean leaf, Glycine max and kale were 65.6% and 35.0% at $1^{st}$ day, and 54.5% and 30.0% at $3^{rd}$ day, respectively. Acute and chronic toxicity analysis was carried out using acute immobilizatioin test and reproduction impairment test, respectively. The saponin had 48 h-$EC_{50}$ of $65.21{\mu}g/mL$. Twenty-one day accumulative reproduction after treatment was lower in Daphnia magna at $7{\mu}g/mL$ saponin (78 youngs), compared with the control group (129 youngs). These results indicate that the extracted saponin exhibited some toxicity and has potential as a repellent against insects.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.319-329
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• 2021

In the search for antibiotic alternatives from safe and effective medicinal plants against fish pathogenic bacteria, we found that a combined extract (CE) of 1:1 (w/w) ratio of Angelica gigas Nakai roots and aerial parts of Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura showed antibacterial activity against the fish pathogenic bacteria. By antibacterial activity-guided fractionations and isolations, five compounds were isolated and identified as decursinol angelate (1), decursin (2), xanthotoxin (3), demethylsuberosin (4), and 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxyacetophenone (5) through spectroscopic analyses, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Among the compounds, 1 and 2 showed the highest antibacterial activities against Streptococcus iniae and Vibrio anguillarum, showing minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 62.5-250 ㎍/mL. Compounds 3, 4, and 5 were also found to be active, with MICs of 31.25-1,000 ㎍/mL for those strains. Furthermore, active compounds, 1 and 2 in CE were simultaneously quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem MS (HPLC-MS/MS). The average contents of 1 and 2 in CE was 3.68% and 6.14%, respectively. The established method showed reliable linearity (r² > 0.99), good precision, accuracy, and specificity with intra- and inter-day variations of < 2 % and recoveries of 90.13%-108.57%. These results may be helpful for establishing the chemical profile of CE for its commercialization as an antibiotic alternative in aquaculture.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.49-63
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• 2022

Anti-cholinesterase (ChE)s are commonly prescribed as the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. They are applied to prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) that bind to muscarinic and nicotinic receptors in the synaptic cleft. Seaweeds are one of the richest sources of bioactive compounds for both nutraceuticals and pharmacognosy applications. This study aimed to determine the anti-ChEs activity of Gracilaria manilaensis, one of the red seaweeds notables for its economic importance as food and raw materials for agar production. Methanol extracts (GMM) of G. manilaensis were prepared through maceration, and further purified with column chromatography into a semi-pure fraction. Ellman assay was carried out to determine the anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and anti-butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities of extracts and fractions. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis was carried out to determine the inhibition kinetic of potent extract and fraction. Major compound(s) from the most potent fraction was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). GMM and fraction G (GMMG) showed significant inhibitory activity AChE with EC₅₀ of 2.6 mg/mL and 2.3 mg/mL respectively. GMM and GMMG exhibit mixed-inhibition and uncompetitive inhibition respectively against AChE. GMMG possesses neuroprotective compounds such as cynerine A, graveolinine, militarinone A, eplerenone and curumenol. These findings showed a promising insight of G. manilaensis to be served as a nutraceutical for neuronal health care in the future.