• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.398-407
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• 2020

The inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase, a marker of postprandial hyperglycemia, and angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE), a marker of hypertension, was analyzed using non-fermented green tea and three different types of fermented tea, which are popular beverages in modern life. Green tea was mixed with trace amounts of vanadate (50 ㎍/mL), which has insulin-mimetic effects, to investigate the synergistic effect of vanadate on the inhibition of α-glucosidase. The concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine was also checked. The extracts of green tea and fermented teas showed clear inhibition on α-glucosidase, which caused a decrease in the postprandial glucose levels. The inhibitory effect was most prominent in the 20% fermented tea. Trace amounts of vanadate (50 ㎍/mL)-mixed green tea extract had twice the inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase than the pure tea extract. All teas showed inhibitory effects on ACE. Among those, the effect was most prominent in green tea, which had higher concentrations of EGCG. In contrast, the postprandial glucose-lowering effect and ACE inhibition of the fermented teas, which have a lower level of EGCG, was attributed to some other different functional substances.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.239-254
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• 2015

Little information on HUmic-Like Substances (HULIS) in ambient particulate matter has been reported yet in Korea. HULIS makes up a significant fraction of the water-soluble organic mass in the atmospheric aerosols and influence their water uptake properties. In this study 24-hr $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected between December 2013 and October 2014 at an urban site in Gwangju and analyzed for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble OC (WSOC), HULIS, and ionic species, to investigate possible sources and formation processes of HULIS. HULIS was separated using solid phase extraction method and quantified by total organic carbon analyzer. During the study period, HULIS concentration ranged from 0.19 to $5.65{\mu}gC/m^3$ with an average of $1.83{\pm}1.22{\mu}gC/m^3$, accounting for on average 45% of the WSOC (12~ 73%), with higher in cold season than in warm season. Strong correlation of WSOC with HULIS ($R^2=0.91$) indicates their similar chemical characteristics. On the basis of the relationships between HULIS and a variety of chemical species (EC, $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and oxalate), it was postulated that HULIS observed during summer and winter were likely attributed to secondary formation and primary emissions from biomass burning (BB) and traffics. Stronger correlation of HULIS with $K^+$, which is a BB tracer, in winter ($R^2=0.81$) than in summer ($R^2=0.66$), suggests more significant contribution of BB emissions in winter to the observed HULIS. It is interesting to note that BB emissions may also have an influence on the HULIS in summer, but further study using levoglucosan that is a unique organic marker of BB emissions is required during summer. Higher correlation between HULIS and oxalate, which is mainly formed through cloud processing and/or photochemical oxidation processes, was found in the summer ($R^2=0.76$) than in the winter ($R^2=0.63$), reflecting a high fraction of secondary organic aerosol in the summer.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2016

The ultimate research goal of the current study was a development of hydrolyzed whey protein powder (7%-GNANA) manufactured with normal content of sialic acid, a marker compound, that is naturally occurring at 7% concentration in GMP obtained from the milk protein. GMP is a safe food, used worldwide in infant and baby foods, etc. The test substance was prepared using (7% sialic acid containing) GMP as a raw material, and then using alcalase, an enzyme approved as a food additive, after separation of sialic acid with 100% efficiency and 7%-GNANA (containing 7% sialic acid and protein; product name: HELICOBACTROL-7) provided by MEDINUTROL Inc. (Korea). Bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test was conducted in accordance with GLP Guideline using the test substance specified above. To identify its mutagenic potential against microorganisms, histidine auxotrophic strains of Salmonella Typhimurium, TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537, and tryptophan auxotrophic strain of Escherichia coli, WP2uvrA, were used. The bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test was performed by dividing the test substances into five different concentration groups (0, 61.7, 185, 556, 1,670, $5,000{\mu}g/plate$). Results of this experiment did not reveal repetitive increase of colony generating values or positive criteria for reverse mutagenicity for any concentration of test substances in any of the five strains, regardless of the presence of a metabolic activation system, and no dose-dependency was identified. In conclusion, the safety of 7%-GNANA test substance was verified by bacterial reverse mutation test conducted before registration of 7%-GNANA as a food additive.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1170-1178
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• 2018

The anti-inflammatory effect of brown alga Ecklonia cava is well known, and several phlorotannins have also been reported. In this study, major active components for anti-allergy and anti-inflammation were identified by NMR and MS analysis, and the levels of effectiveness were compared. Six major phlorotannins-phloroglucinol, eckol, eckstolonol, triphlorethol-A, phlorofucofuroeckol A, and dieckol-were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of E. cava. In order to analyze the major active substances in E. cava, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects were evaluated for the six separate substances. Antioxidant capacities of each phlorotannin were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, where phlorofucofuroeckol A and triphlorethol-A had the highest radical scavenging capacity in respective radical scavenging assays. Phlorofucofuroeckol A exhibited the highest inhibition of nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells among phlorotannins tested. Dieckol inhibited the release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, a marker for the release of histamine in mast cells, in a dose-dependent manner in antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. Additionally, no cytotoxicities were observed at 1 and $2{\mu}g/ml$ in both phlorofucofuroeckol A and dieckol. These results suggest that phlorofucofuroeckol A and dieckol may play a key role in allergic inflammatory reactions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.266-271
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• 2017

Synthetic cannabinoids are one of most abused new psychoactive substances. The recreational use of abused drug has aroused serious concerns about the consequences of these drugs on infection. However, the effects of synthetic cannabinoid on resistance to tetanus toxin are not fully understood yet. In the present study, we aimed to determine if the administration of synthetic cannabinoids increase the susceptibility to tetanus toxin-induced motor behavioral deficit and functional changes in cerebellar neurons in mice. Furthermore, we measured T lymphocytes marker levels, such as CD8 and CD4 which against tetanus toxin. JWH-210 administration decreased expression levels of T cell activators including cluster of differentiation (CD) $3{\varepsilon}$, $CD3{\gamma}$, CD74p31, and CD74p41. In addition, we demonstrated that JWH-210 induced motor impairment and decrement of vesicle-associated membrane proteins 2 levels in the cerebellum of mice treated with tetanus toxin. Furthermore, cerebellar glutamatergic neuronal homeostasis was hampered by JWH-210 administration, as evidenced by increased glutamate concentration levels in the cerebellum. These results suggest that JWH-210 may increase the vulnerability to tetanus toxin via the regulation of immune function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1163-1167
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• 2011

Excessive alcohol consumption causes various degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Absorbed ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde and acetic acid by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Acetaldehyde is well known as a toxicant through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, ALDH2 activity may play important roles in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced brain diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of ALDH2 enzyme activity on lipid peroxidation in brain tissues and urine of mice exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks. Five male, 8-week old Aldh2 (+/+) and Aldh2 (-/-) mice (C57BL/6J strain) in each group were exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks (2 g/kg wt./day) using gavage, and those in the control group received 0.9% saline alone. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, a marker for lipid peroxidation, was measured in whole brain tissue and urine by high performance liquid chromatography. As a result, chronic ethanol treatment did not show any statistical change on the TBARS level of brain tissue in both Aldh2 (+/+) mice and in Aldh2 (-/-) mice. However, following ethanol exposure for 8 weeks in Aldh2 (-/-) mice, the urinary TBARS levels were significantly increased to more than double compared to the pretreatment group. This result was not observed in Aldh2 (+/+) mice. These results suggest that although ALDH2 enzyme activity plays a role in the generation of ROS in the whole body, it does not seem to be important in the pathogenesis of alcohol induced degenerative brain diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2014

The protective effect of ginsenoside Re, isolated from ginseng berry, against acute gastric mucosal lesions was examined in rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of compound 48/80 (C48/80). Ginsenoside Re (20 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) was orally administered 0.5 h prior to C48/80 treatment. Ginsenoside Re dose-dependently prevented gastric mucosal lesion development 3 h after C48/80 treatment. Increases in the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO; an index of neutrophil infiltration) and xanthine oxidase (XO) and the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; an index of lipid peroxidation) and decreases in the contents of hexosamine (a marker of gastric mucus) and adherent mucus, which occurred in gastric mucosal tissues after C48/80 treatment, were significantly attenuated by ginsenoside Re. The elevation of Bax expression and the decrease in Bcl2 expression after C48/80 treatment were also attenuated by ginsenoside Re. Ginsenoside Re significantly attenuated all these changes 3 h after C48/80 treatment. These results indicate that orally administered ginsenoside Re protects against C48/80-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions in rats, possibly through its stimulatory action on gastric mucus synthesis and secretion, its inhibitory action on neutrophil infiltration, and enhanced lipid peroxidation in the gastric mucosal tissue.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 1996

To study the effect of dietary $\omega 6/\omega 3$ fatty acid ratios on the preneoplastic lesions and lipid peroxidation in rat hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis, placental glutathione S-transferase(GST-P) positive foci area and numbers, glucose 6-phosphatase(G6Pase) activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 5 different diets-low $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratio with fish oil (Low-F), low $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratio with perilia oil(Low-P), moderate ratio with perilia oil(Moderate), blend of 10 different commercial fats and oils(High-BL) and high $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratio(High)-for 8 weeks. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by modified Ito model. The area of GST-P positive loci was the lowest in Moderate group and in ascending order of Low-F < Low-P < High-BL < High. But statistically, only Moderate and High groups were significantly different. The number of GST-P positive foci showed the same trend as foci area. The activities of G6Pase, membrane stability marker, were increased as $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratio decreased. Lipid peroxidation values (TBARS) were the lowest in Low-F group and it is significantly different from Moderate, High-BL and High groups. When dietary $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratio was moderate(4.06), hepatocarcinogenesis was suppressed compared with high or low $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratios. Blend fat, commonly consumed among Koreans, did not show any suppressive effect on carcinogenesis because of high ratio(6.7). These results suggest that dietary $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratio influences hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis. It is recommended that appropriate $\omega 6/\omega 3$ ratio should be around 4.0. and we recommend to use more $\omega 3$ fatty acid in food preparation to reduce the risk of hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.1956-1964
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• 2014

To provide the scientific corroboration of the traditional uses of Akebia quinata (Thunb.) Decne., a detailed analytical examination of A. quinata stems was carried out using a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method coupled to photodiode array detector (PDA) for the simultaneous determination of four phenolic substances; cuneataside D (1), 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3-caffeoylquinic acid (3) and calceolarioside B (4). Particular attention was focused on the main compound, 3-caffeoylquinic acid (3), which has a range of biological functions. In addition, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (2) was considered as a discernible marker of A. quinata from its easy confuse plants. The contents of compounds 2 and 3 ranged from 0.72 to 2.68 mg/g and from 1.66 to 5.64 mg/g, respectively. The validation data indicated that this HPLC/PDA assay was used successfully to quantify the four phenolic compounds in A. quinata from different locations using relatively simple conditions and procedures. The pattern-recognition analysis data from 53 samples classified them into two groups, allowing discrimination between A. quinata and comparable herbs. The results suggest that the established HPLC/PDA method is suitable for quantitation and pattern-recognition analyses for a quality evaluation of this medicinal herb.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.967-974
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• 2007

The present work is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of glutathione-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae FF-8 strain on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. The activities of liver markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase), lipid peroxidative index (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), and the antioxidant status (reduced glutathione) were used to monitor those protective roles of FF-8 strain. The liver marker enzymes in plasma and the lipid peroxidation in the liver were increased when $CCl_4$ was treated but these were significantly decreased by FF-8 strain treatment. The hepatic concentration of glutathione in the current glutathione-enriched FF-8 strain fed animal was approximately twice as high as the normal, but this was slightly increased in response to $CCl_4$ plus glutathione-enriched FF-8 strain. The increased liver triglyceride concentration due to the $CCl_4$ treatment was significantly decreased by FF-8 strain and the reduced level reached to that of normal group. Administration of FF-8 strain in normal rat did not show any signs of harmful effects. Therefore, the current findings suggest that FF-8 strain could be an effective antioxidant with no or negligible side-effects and it might be useful for the purpose of protection treatment of hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in $CCl_4$-treatment in rat.