• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.295-306
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• 2018

Schisandra chinensis (SC) and Lycium chinense (LC) were widely distributed in Asia and the fruit has been used traditionally for medicinal herbs. The processing method was solid-state fermentation using Aspergillus oryzae for 48 h after stir-frying treatment at $220^{\circ}C$ for 12 min. In this study, in vitro the anti-inflammatory effect and in vivo hangover reduction were compared to unprocessed SC and LC water extract. Anti-inflammatory effects have been evaluated in pro-inflammatory mediators which were secreted by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Nitric oxide (NO) was determined using Griess reaction. Proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities were compared to processed SC or LC and mixtures thereof (1:1). In vivo study was compared to hangover relief in alcohol-fed mice. After administering a mixture of SC and LC (300 mg/kg) water extract (1:1), mice were fed 3 g/kg of ethanol. Serum was collected at 1, 3, and 5 h intervals to analyze ethanol and acetaldehyde levels using a colorimetric assay kit. The processed SC and LC water extracts compared to raw materials significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO and inflammatory cytokine production in RAW 264.7 cells. The results of the hangover mouse model are also consistent with anti-inflammatory effects. These results suggest that processed SC and LC extracts may be functional materials for the treatment of inflammation and hangover.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.631-636
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• 2019

A new nitric oxide-induced (NOI) gene was isolated by screening ESTs from a cDNA library of dehydration-treated fibrous roots of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). The 720 bp cDNA fragment, IbNOI, was sequenced, from which a 77 amino acid residue protein was deduced. A search of the protein BLAST database identified significant similarity to other plant NOI protein sequences. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed diverse expression patterns of IbNOI in various tissues of the intact sweetpotato plant, and in leaves exposed to different stresses. The IbNOI gene was highly expressed in storage roots and suspension-cultured cells. In leaf tissues, IbNOI showed strong expression during sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced NO accumulation and chemical stress treatments. Expression of IbNOI was also induced under various abiotic stress conditions, such as dehydration, salt, and bacterial pathogen infection. These results suggest that IbNOI is involved in plant responses to diverse abiotic stresses and pathogen infection through a NO-related pathway.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.220-227
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• 2019

Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae), a perennial plant, has been used as a low-calorie sweetener and is being developed as a therapeutic agent for diabetes, hypertension, myocardial diseases, and microbial infections. Despite the common use of its leaves and stem, the bioavailability of the components present in S. rebaudiana flowers, when used as ingredients of cosmetics, has not been well investigated. Herein, we investigated the antioxidative and antimelanogenic effects of an aqueous extract of S. rebaudiana flowers (Stevia-F). Total flavonoid and phenolic content in Stevia-F were determined to be $8.64{\pm}0.23mg$ of quercetin equivalents/100 g and $631.5{\pm}2.01mg$ of gallic acid equivalents/100 g, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ values of Stevia-F for reducing power, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate radical, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide scavenging activities were 5541.96, 131.39, 466.34, and $10.44{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Stevia-F showed inhibitory effects on the tyrosinase ($IC_{50}=134.74{\mu}g/mL$) and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase ($IC_{50}=114.81{\mu}g/mL$) activities. No significant cytotoxicity of Stevia-F was observed in B16F10 cells, treated with up to $100{\mu}g/mL$ of the extract for 24 and 48 h (p > 0.05). Stevia-F ($1-100{\mu}g/mL$) suppressed ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced melanin production in B16F10 cells (p < 0.05) and also inhibited the cellular tyrosinase activity (p < 0.05). Overall, our results show that Stevia-F possesses potential for inhibiting tyrosinase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activities and has significant antioxidant capacity. The antimelanogenic potential of Stevia-F should extend the usage of S. rebaudiana flowers in the development of skin-whitening products.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.486-493
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The honeysuckle berry (HB) contains ascorbic acid and phenolic components, especially anthocyanins, flavonoids, and low-molecular-weight phenolic acids. In order to examine the potential of HB as a hepatoprotective medicinal food, we evaluated the in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Korean HB (HBK) and Chinese HB (HBC). MATERIALS/METHODS: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts were examined in HepG2 and RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. The anti-oxidant capacity was determined by DPPH, SOD, CAT, and ARE luciferase activities. The production of nitric oxide (NO) as an inflammatory marker was also evaluated. The Nrf2-mediated mRNA levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (Nqo1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gclc) were measured. The concentrations of HB extracts used were 3, 10, 30, 100, and $300{\mu}g/mL$. RESULTS: The radical scavenging activity of all HB extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). SOD (P < 0.05) and CAT (P < 0.01) activities were increased by treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of each HB extract, when compared to those in the control. NO production was observed in cells pretreated with 100 or $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBC and HBK (P < 0.01). Treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBC significantly increased Nqo1 (P < 0.01) and Gclc (P < 0.05) mRNA levels compared to those in the control. Treatment with $300{\mu}g/mL$ of HBK (P < 0.05) and HBC (P < 0.01) also significantly increased the HO-1 mRNA level compared to that in the control. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the Korean and Chinese HBs were found to possess favorable in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Nrf2 and its related anti-oxidant genes were associated with both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in HB-treated cells. Further studies are needed to confirm these in vivo effects.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2017

This study was carried out to extract ginsenosides in by-products from honeyed red ginseng. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction conditions. Based on D-optimal design, independent variables were ethanol (extraction solvent) concentration (30-90%, v/v), extraction temperature ($25-70^{\circ}C$), and extraction time (5-11 h). Extraction yield (Y1) and total ginsenosides (Y2) in the extract were analyzed as dependent variables. Results found that extraction yield increased with increasing extraction temperature and time, whereas it was decreased with increasing ethanol concentration. Similar trends were found for the content of ginsenosides in the extracts, except for ethanol concentration, which was increased with increasing ethanol concentration. Regression equations derived from RSM were suggested to coincide well with the results from the experiments. The optimal extraction conditions for extraction yield and total ginsenosides were an extraction temperature of $56.94^{\circ}C$, ethanol concentration of 57.90%, and extraction time of 11 h. Under these conditions, extraction yield and total ginsenoside contents were predicted to be 84.52% and 9.54 mg/g, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to compare the amygdalin content, alcohol content, pH, titratable acidity, and color of maesil wine prepared with two different manufacturing processes. Maesil wine was made from maesil chung, and maesil was preserved (MW1) or removed (MW2) before fermentation. During aging, amygdalin content in all the wines was gradually reduced, and the content of MW2 was less than that of the other. The alcohol content, pH, and titratable acidity ranged from around 9.87-10.94, 3.57-3.80, and 8.89-10.68%, respectively. The difference between the samples was not significant. For color, MW1 had lower L and higher a and b values than MW2. In this study, the difference in physicochemical properties according to the presence of maesil was not significant, indicating no degradation of the quality according to the manufacturing processes. However, the MW2 showed a reduction in amygdalin contents.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2019

Isoflavones, a group of secondary metabolites present in plants and especially abundant in soybeans, are garnering increasing interest because of their medicinal properties. Numerous environmental factors influence isoflavone accumulation in plants. Successful attempts to increase isoflavone contents in soybean seeds have not been widely reported. In this report, we examined an effective method for producing a high amount of isoflavones during soybean seed germination, by treating the seed with 4 abiotic factors. Soybean seeds were exposed to ultrasound (50 Hz) and heat ($40^{\circ}C$) for 30minutes, then germinated for 5 days in darkness. Another sample was subjected to water deficit during germination in darkness, and the other sample was subjected to light conditions during the germination period. The results showed that the ultrasound treatment increased isoflavone content during soybean germination. Three days after germination, the ultrasound-treated seeds presented the highest isoflavone content (6,042.1 ug/g dry weight) compared to the other treatments, which was also 1.3-fold increases over the content of the raw seed's before germination. With respect to each type of isoflavone group, aglycone (partially genistein) content was markedly higher, whereas glucoside was lower than that of the untreated samples. In other experiment, total isoflavone content after heat, water deficit, and light treatments was 5,600.0, 4,740.1, and 5,631.4 ug/g, respectively. These present work suggests that ultrasound treatment is a novel approach for improving the production of isoflavones in soybean seeds during germination.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.697-700
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• 2018

This study investigated changes in amygdalin of maesil liqueurs during leaching and ripening, and their qualities during ripening. Maesil was leached at $24^{\circ}C$ for 3 months in a commercial soju (30% alcohol). During leaching, amygdalin contents dramatically increased by 1 month, remained at a plateau by 2 months, and then decreased at 3 months. Once completion of leaching, maesil liqueurs were ripened for 3 months together with maesil (ML1) and maesil flesh itself (ML2), and without maesil (ML3). During ripening, amygdalin contents significantly decreased for all treatments, and the reduction in amygdalin rapidly proceeded in the order: ML2>ML1>ML3. Alcohol contents decreased for ML1 and ML2, while remained constant for ML3. Their pH and titratable acidity observed only subtle changes, and their color became increasingly darker. Overall results suggested that the long-term ripening of maesil liqueurs containing maesil or maesil flesh (without seeds) may resolve the concern on their amygdalin toxicity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.391-395
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• 2018

There is an increasing concern over arsenic (As) contamination of paddy soil and rice with regard to food safety. This study was conducted to investigate total and inorganic As concentration in one hundred husked and polished rice samples collected at the non-contaminated paddy soil in Korea. Arsenic species in rice samples were extracted using 1% nitric acid ($HNO_3$) with a microwave oven and were measured using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Mean concentrations of total As in husked rice and polished rice were 0.18 and $0.11mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Also, average inorganic As concentrations in husked rice and polished rice were 0.11 and $0.07mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. These levels are lower than the standard guideline value 0.35 and $0.2mg\;kg^{-1}$ for inorganic As in husked and polished rice recommended by Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, respectively. The mean of the inorganic As ratio for the total amount of As was 0.65 and 0.67 for husked rice and polished rice, respectively, and the range was from 0.08 to 1.0. For health risk assessment, the average value of cancer risk probability was $9.24{\times}10^{-5}$ and ranged from $2.30{\times}10^{-5}$ to $1.90{\times}10^{-5}$. Therefore, human exposure to As through dietary intake of surveyed rice samples might considered to be a low health risk.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.378-384
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• 2018

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a member of family Rhamnaceae, is an economically important species. It has high nutritional value in fruits, and its medicinal properties have led to extensive use in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, we investigated the genetic characteristics of 270 jujube germplasms collected from the six major jujube fruit production areas in Korea including Boeun and Gyeongsan, in order to understand the current situation on cultivated varieties of domestic jujube and to obtain useful data for selection of superior germplasms and establishing their breeding plans. The results of ISSR marker analysis revealed that the Shannon's information index of the 270 germplasms was 0.107 and the genetic similarity was as high as 0.935 showing the dominance of a specific cultivar or germplasm, and almost 67% (180) of them were identified at the same genotype with 'Bokjo'. The domestic commercial jujube populations could be characterized by very low genetic diversity and thus may be vulnerable to external disturbances. In addition, it seems that most of the jujube fruits in domestic market were largely produced through parthenocarpy.