• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

Anti-obese effects of mulberry (Morus alba L.) root bark was investigated in vitro by measuring its inhibitory effect against 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and digestive enzymes such as ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Ethanol extract of mulberry root bark (MRE) showed the potent inhibitory activities on ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase with $IC_{50}$ values of $7.86{\pm}0.36$, $0.12{\pm}0.03$ and $7.93{\pm}0.11mg/mL$, respectively. Furthermore, MRE significantly suppressed cellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the mechanism of MRE, we performed qRT-PCR and Western blotting for the expression of genes related with adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Treatment of MRE markedly suppressed the protein expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and SREBP-1c, as well as FAS and ACC, which are the key transcription factors and metabolic enzymes in adipogenesis and lipogenesis. In addition, qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the anti-adipogenesis effect of MRE might be due to its inhibition at transcription levels. These results demonstrate that MRE can effectively suppress adipocyte differentiation and inhibit key enzymes related to obesity. Our findings suggest that mulberry root bark may have a potential benefit in preventing obesity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of a low-protein diet supplemented with DL-methionine plus L-cystine (Met + Cys) on the growth performance and fat accumulation of female broiler chicks during the growing period (3-6 wks old). A low-protein diet (17% CP; 3,200 ME kcal/kg) was supplemented with Met + Cys (1.1 : 1.0) at levels 0.75, 0.94, 1.25, 1.31 or 1.50% of diet, respectively. Another diet with 21% CP and 3,200 ME kcal/kg served as the control group. All essential amino acids were adjusted to meet the National Research Council (1984) requirement for chicks. Feed and water were given ad libitum. Body weight of the chicks fed the low-CP diets supplemented with Met + Cys were heavier than those of the control birds. Feed conversion ratio and feed intakes were not significantly different between and among the treatment groups. Similary, abdominal fat content was not significantly different among the various treatments except that of the chicks fed the low CP diet with 1.25% Met + Cys which was higher than that of the control group. Fatty acid synthetase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) activities and carcass protein content were not influenced by dietary treatments. Carcass fat content was lowest in chicks fed low CP diet with 0.75% Met + Cys and highest in the group that received 1.50% Met + Cys supplementation. Liver triglyceride increased as Met + Cys supplementation level increased. Various lipid fraction concentrations (cholesterol ester, free cholesterol, and phospholipid) in the serum went up as Met + Cys increased up to 1.25% after which it levelled off. Results of this experiment suggest that it is possible to reduce dietary protein level from 21% to 17% for growing broiler chicks by the supplementation of Met + Cys when other EAA were sufficient.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2017

Quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid found in fruits, vegetables and tea, has been known to possess bioactive properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. In this study, anti-cancer effect of quercetin and its underlying mechanisms in triple-negative breast cancer cells was investigated. MTT assay showed that quercetin reduced breast cancer cell viability in a time and dose dependent manner. For this, quercetin not only increased cell apoptosis but also inhibited cell cycle progression. Moreover, quercetin increased FasL mRNA expression and p51, p21 and GADD45 signaling activities. We also observed that quercetin induced protein level, transcriptional activity and nuclear translocation of Foxo3a. Knockdown of Foxo3a caused significant reduction in the effect of quercetin on cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In addition, treatment of JNK inhibitor (SP 600125) abolished quercetin-stimulated Foxo3a activity, suggesting JNK as a possible upstream signaling in regulation of Foxo3a activity. Knockdown of Foxo3a and inhibition of JNK activity reduced the signaling activities of p53, p21 and GADD45, triggered by quercetin. Taken together, our study suggests that quercetin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via modification of Foxo3a signaling in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.273-281
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• 2015

The follistatin (FST) gene encodes a monomeric glycoprotein that plays a role in binding and inhibiting the functions of members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ superfamily. Thus, FST facilitates a wide variety of functions, ranging from muscle growth, to inflammation and immunity. In this study, we sought to characterize an FST counterpart, RbFST, which was identified from rock bream Oplegnathus fasciatus. The RbFST cDNA sequence (2,419 bp) contains a 933-bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a putative amino acid sequence for RbFST (35 kDa). The putative amino acid sequence contains a Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor domain (51-98 residues) and an EF-hand, calcium-binding domain (191-226 residues). Additionally, this sequence shares a high identity (98.7%) with the Siniperca chuatsi FST sequence, with which it also has the closest evolutionary relationship according to a phylogenetic study. Omnipresent distribution of RbFST transcripts were detected in the gill, liver, spleen, head kidney, kidney, skin, muscle, heart, brain, and intestine of healthy animals, with significantly higher expression levels in the heart, followed by the liver tissue. Under pathogenic stress caused by two bacterial pathogens, Streptococcus iniae and Edwardsiella tarda, RbFST transcription was found to be significantly up-regulated. Altogether, our findings suggest the putative role of RbFST in immune related responses against pathogenic infections, further prefiguring its significance in rock bream physiology.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2015

In an effort to discover alternative phytotherapeutic antimicrobial agents to combat Streptococcus parauberis, a fish pathogenic bacterium, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of seaweed extracts in vitro. A methanolic extract of Ecklonia cava exhibited strong antibacterial activity against S. parauberis isolated from olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Furthermore, the n-hexane soluble (Hexane) fraction of the E. cava methanolic extract exhibited the greatest antibacterial effect on S. parauberis strains with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 256 to $1,024{\mu}g/mL$. In addition, the MIC values of oxytetracycline against antibiotic-resistant S. parauberis were markedly reduced up to 64-fold in combination with the Hexane fraction, suggesting that the antibacterial activity of the antibiotic was restored when combined with the Hexane fraction. The interaction between both antibiotics and the Hexane fraction was assessed by the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. The Hexane fraction and oxytetracycline combination against antibiotic-resistant S. parauberis strains resulted in a median ${\sum}FIC$ range of 0.502 to 0.516. Thus, the synergistic ranges of median ${\sum}FIC$ < 1 were observed for all combinations of the Hexane fraction and oxytetracycline against S. parauberis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report indicating the efficacy of an E. cava extract against fish pathogenic bacterium S. parauberis.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

This study was conducted to obtain hydrolysates with potent antioxidative activity from rockfish skin gelatin. Gelatin was extracted under high temperature/high pressure using a two-step enzymatic hydrolysis with commercial enzymes such as Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Neutrase, and Protamex. The second rockfish-skin gelatin hydrolysate (SRSGH) was prepared by further incubating the first gelatin hydrolysate (FRSGH), which had been hydrolyzed with Alcalase for 1-h (FRSGH-A1), with Flavourzyme for 2-h (SRSGH-F2). The second gelatin hydrolysate showed higher antioxidative activity of 3.72 as measured by a Metrohm Rancimat and superior angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting activity of 0.82 mg/mL. Compared with the gelatin, the relative proportion in SRSGH-F2 was markedly decreased in the 100-kDa peak, whereas it was increased in that less than 100-kDa. The amino acid composition of SRSGH-F2 was rich in glycine (25.9%), proline (10.8%), alanine (9.1%), and glutamic acid (9.1%). In contrast, it was poor in cystine (not detected), methionine (1.6%), tyrosine (0.4%), hydroxylysine (0.9%), and histidine (0.9%). In recent years, demand for natural functional foods has been increasing, and SRSGH-F2 can be used as a functional food ingredient in the food industries. However, further detailed studies on SRSGH-F2 with regard to its antioxidant activity in vivo and the various antioxidant mechanisms are needed.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.168-173
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to obtain a fraction with high antioxidative activity from second rockfish gelatin hydrolysates (SRSGHs), which were hydrolyzed with Alcalase and Flavourzyme through ultrafiltration membranes with serial digestions for 1 and 2 h, respectively, and to investigate the feasibility of this fraction as a potential functional food ingredient. Among various fractions that were ultrafiltered from the SRSGH with four types of membrane (1, 5, 10, and 30 kDa), the SRSGH-III fraction, which permeated the 10 kDa membrane but not the 5 kDa membrane, showed the highest antioxidant activity (protection factor=5.13) and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme-inhibiting activity ($IC_{50}$=0.82 mg/mL). These results suggest that the SRSGH-III fraction from the SRSGH can be used as a functional food ingredient. However, further studies examining its antioxidant activity in vivo as well as the different antioxidant mechanisms are needed.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.174-178
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• 2011

This study aimed to determine the degree of hydrolysis and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity of Giant Jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai (jellyfish) hydrolysates. The degree of hydrolysis using six proteolytic enzymes (Alcalase, Flavozyme, Neutrase, papain, Protamex, and trypsin) ranged from 13.1-36.8% and the inhibitory activities from 20.46-79.58%. Using papain hydrolysate, we newly isolated and characterized ACE-inhibitory peptides with a molecular weight of 3,000-5,000 Da that originated from jellyfish collagen. The purified peptide (FII-b) was predicted to be produced from an alpha-2 fragment of the type IV collagen of jellyfish. The N-terminal sequence of FII-b was Asp-Pro-Gly-Leu-Glu-Gly-Ala-His-Gly- and showed 87% identity to the collagen type IV alpha-2 fragment of Rattus norvegicus and a predicted protein from Nematostella vectensis, indicating that the ACE-inhibitory peptide originated from the collagen hydrolysate and had an $IC_{50}$ value of 3.8 ${\mu}g$/mL. The primary structure of the fragment is now being studied; this peptide represents an interesting new type of ACE inhibitor and will provide knowledge of the potential applications of jellyfish components as therapies for hypertension.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.229-247
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• 2014

Seven feeding trials were conducted to determine the effects of feeding rate and frequency in the Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli at seven different water temperatures. Two feeding-rate experiments for 5-g Korean rockfish at $17^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$; three feeding rate experiments for 16-g Korean rockfish at $16^{\circ}C$ and $24^{\circ}C$; and finally, two feeding frequency experiments for 93- and 100-g at $15^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ were conducted. Twenty fish averaging $5.5{\pm}0.2$ g ($mean{\pm}SD$) were randomly distributed into 18 indoor tanks containing 40-L seawater from a semi-recirculation system. Fish were fed a commercial diet for 4 weeks at water temperatures of $17^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$. Two feeding trials were conducted to determine the optimum feeding frequency in growing Korean rockfish reared at temperatures of $15^{\circ}C$ and $19^{\circ}C$. Broken line regression analysis of weight gain (WG) indicated that the optimum feeding rates of 5-g growing Korean rockfish were 4.48% (BW/day; BW, body weight) at $17^{\circ}C$ and 4.83% (BW/day) at $20^{\circ}C$. Broken line regression analysis of WG showed optimum feeding rates of 16-g juvenile Korean rockfish of 3.41% (BW/day) at $16^{\circ}C$, 3.75% (BW/day) at $20^{\circ}C$, and 3.34% (BW/day) at $24^{\circ}C$. The biological performance, results, along with morphological indices and serological characteristics, suggest that a feeding frequency of 1 meal/day was optimal to improve WG in growing Korean rockfish grown from 93 to 133 g at a water temperature of $15^{\circ}C$, and 100 to 132 g at $19^{\circ}C$.