• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.847-854
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• 2016

Cordycepin, a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, is one of the active components extracted from fungi of genus Cordyceps, and has been shown to have many pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of cordycepin on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer AGS cells, and its possible mechanism of action. Treatment of cordycepin resulted in significant decrease in cell viability of AGS cells in a concentration-dependent manner. A concentration-dependent apoptotic cell death was also measured by agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometery analysis. Molecular mechanistic studies of apoptosis unraveled cordycepin treatment resulted in an enhanced expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, death receptor 5 and Fas ligand. Furthermore, up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax, and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression were also observed in cordycepin-treated AGS cells. These were followed by activation of caspases (caspase-9, -8 and -3), subsequently leading to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Taken together, these findings indicate that cordycepin induces apoptosis in AGS cells through regulation of multiple apoptotic pathways, including death receptor and mitochondria. Although further mechanical studies are needed, our results revealed that cordycepin can be regarded as a new effective and chemopreventive compound for human gastric cancer treatment.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

The phylogenetic relationships among thirty-two strains (P1~P32; including Cordyceps sp., Paecilomyces sp., Beauveria sp., Aranthomyces sp., Isaria sp. and Himenostilbe sp.) in Miryang region located in the southern part of Korea, were investigated based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of ribosomal DNA. A fragment of ITS region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the specific primer pairs ITS1 and ITS4. After obtained same size of PCR products from various strains, we cloned them into a pGEM-T easy vector to determine their sequences. BLAST analyses of the nucleotide sequence ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 gene fragments revealed the identity and their phylogenetic relationship. Among 32 strains isolated from Miryang region, Cordyceps militaris was shared 100% sequences with Genbank (AY49191, EU825999, AY491992), while some species are not shared perfectly with reported sequences. For example, strain P17 (P. tenuipes in Ulju-gun Gaji Mountain) has some differences among the other strains of P. tenuipes (Miryang-si Jocheon-eup, Miryang-si Gaji Mountain) and those of gene bank. We conclude that ITS analyses with strains in the suburbs of Miryang in this study can be effectively used as a tool for classification, evaluation and collection of the natural eco-type genetic resources.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.368-378
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• 2024

Cordycepin, a valuable bioactive component isolated from Cordyceps militaris, has been reported to possess anti-cancer potential and the property to enhance the effects of chemotherapeutic agents in various types of cancers. However, the ability of cordycepin to chemosensitize cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells to gemcitabine has not yet been evaluated. The current study was performed to evaluate the above, and the mechanisms associated with it. The study analyzed the effects of cordycepin in combination with gemcitabine on the cancer stem-like properties of the CCA SNU478 cell line, including its anti-apoptotic, migratory, and antioxidant effects. In addition, the combination of cordycepin and gemcitabine was evaluated in the CCA xenograft model. The cordycepin treatment significantly decreased SNU478 cell viability and, in combination with gemcitabine, additively reduced cell viability. The cordycepin and gemcitabine co-treatment significantly increased the Annexin V+ population and downregulated B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, suggesting that the decreased cell viability in the cordycepin+gemcitabine group may result from an increase in apoptotic death. In addition, the cordycepin and gemcitabine co-treatment significantly reduced the migratory ability of SNU478 cells in the wound healing and trans-well migration assays. It was observed that the cordycepin and gemcitabine cotreatment reduced the CD44^highCD133^high population in SNU478 cells and the expression level of sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox-2), indicating the downregulation of the cancer stem-like population. Cordycepin also enhanced oxidative damage mediated by gemcitabine in MitoSOX staining associated with the upregulated Kelch like ECH Associated Protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression ratio. In the SNU478 xenograft model, co-administration of cordycepin and gemcitabine additively delayed tumor growth. These results indicate that cordycepin potentiates the chemotherapeutic property of gemcitabine against CCA, which results from the downregulation of its cancer-stem-like properties. Hence, the combination therapy of cordycepin and gemcitabine may be a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of CCA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the quality characteristics of noodles prepared with the addition of nanofiltered (NF) powder of sunmul. Noodles were prepared with different levels $(0\%,\;1.5\%,\;3\%\;and\;5\%,\;w/w)$ of NF powder and physico-chemical properties were examined. Results of rapid visco analyzer showed that peak, trough, final viscosity and set back decreased as the NF powder level increased. The weight and volume of cooked noodles increased with the addition of NF powder. Turbidity of soup also increased as the amount of NF powder increased, indicating higher cooking loss. The color of wet and cooked noodles became greenish yellow as the NF powder level increased. Hardness, springiness, gumminess and brittleness of cooked noodles decreased with the increasing amount of NF powder. Results of sensory evaluation showed that noodles prepared with up to $3\%$ addition of NF powder was considered to be as acceptable as noodles prepared without NF powder.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.435-444
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of natural preservatives (G3, G3-1, F3, and F3-1) using Cordyceps militaris on improvement of food quality and safety of noodle during storage. Wheat flour noodle were prepared using three different concentrations of natural preservatives (0.100, 0.200, and 0.400%). Changes in microbial populations, pH value, titratable acidity, and sensory evaluation were measured during storage at $12{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ for 3 days. Overall, use of natural preservatives resulted in lower levels of total mesophilic bacteria, coliform, yeast and mold in noodle compared to the control. In particular, natural preservatives using $2{\times}$ MIC concentrations (0.400%) of F3 and F3-1 were effective at maintaining levels of total mesophilic bacteria for noodle during storage. The pH values of noodle made with F3 and F3-1 were higher than the others. The titratable acidity of noodle with natural preservatives did not significantly change during storage. In sensory evaluation, appearance, color, and overall acceptability of noodle with F3 and F3-1 were preferred than the control. These results could provide useful information for developing an alternative preservation method to improve food quality and shelf-life of noodle using natural preservatives.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.1 s.96
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• pp.72-78
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial and antioxidative effects of mycelium cultural extract from mushroom. Mushroom mycelium was grown in a defined synthetic liquid medium and citrus extracts, and the culture extracts were examined for antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Myceliums of Phellinus linteus, Cordyceps militaris, Coriolus versicolor, Sparassic crispa, Agaricus blazei, lnonotus obliquus, Lentinus edodes, Hericium erinacium, Gonoderma lucidium in 10% citrus extract supplemented medium and synthesis medium were incubated in a shaking incubator (120 rpm, $24{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ ) for $7{\sim}15$ days. The antimicrobial activity of the culture fluid of mushroom mycelium grown in submerged liquid culture was tested against 12 microorganisms which were fish pathogens and common bacterial species. The culture extracts showed high activity against Vibrio sp. and had poor effect on Streptocouus sp., S. parauberis, S. iniae. The culture extracts obtained from the synthetic medium showed $30{\sim}93%$ of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenger activity, the culture extracts obtained from the citrus extracts medium exhibited antioxidant activity up to 55%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.655-662
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• 2013

The antioxidant and anticancer effects of the edible mushrooms Lentinus edodes (LE, Pyogo mushroom) and Agaricus blazei (AB, Agaricus mushroom), and the medicinal mushrooms Cordyceps militaris (CM, Dong chunghacho), Ganoderma lucidum (GL, Youngji mushroom), Inonotus obliquus (IO, Chaga mushroom), and Phellinus linteus (PL, Sangwhang mushroom) were studied in vitro. The bioactive components were extracted by methanol. The antioxidant effects were evaluated using the DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The antioxidant activities of medicinal mushrooms (35~90%) were higher than edible mushrooms (4~23%). The in vitro anticancer effects of the mushrooms were evaluated using the MTT assay in AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells, HCT-116 colon carcinoma cells, and HepG2 hepatoma cells. The medicinal mushrooms CM, GL, IO, and PL showed 28~91% inhibition, while the edible mushrooms LE and AB exhibited 5~40% inhibition. The medicinal mushrooms, compared to edible mushrooms, effectively down-regulated the gene expression of the anti-apoptosis related gene Bcl-2 and inflammation-related genes iNOS and COX-2, and up-regulated the pro-apoptosis gene Bax (p<0.05). Total polyphenol and flavonoids contents of the medicinal mushrooms were 9.1~35.7 mg/g, while the edible mushrooms showed 0~13.3 mg/g. This study showed that antioxidant activities and anticancer activities in vitro increased in the order LE, AB, GL, CM, IO and PL. LE and AB showed the lowest effects among the samples, GL and CM had medium effects, and IO and PL exhibited the highest effects in the antioxidant and anticancer effect for three different human cancer cells. Taken together, PL resulted in the highest and LE the lowest effects in this study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1052-1061
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• 2023

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of fermentation by B. subtilis (BPLE), L. brevis (LPLE), S. cerevisiae (SPLE) and C. militaris (CPLE) on the antioxidant activity of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae fed with mushroom substrates (king oyster mushroom). The total polyphenol content of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae (PLE), BPLE, LPLE, SPLE and CPLE were 58.07±0.67, 83.33±0.98, 79.21±1.32, 61.02±0.87 and 57.90±1.02 mg GAEs/extract g, respectively. The flavonoid contents of the PLE, BPLE, LPLE, SPLE and CPLE were 17.35±1.57, 19.49±0.95, 16.90±1.57, 18.12±0.95 and 16.99±0.95 mg QEs/extract g, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity showed no significant difference between the PLE, BPLE, LPLE, SPLE and CPLE at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml. However, at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml or more, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the BPLE and LPLE was higher than that of the PLE. The reducing power of the BPLE and LPLE was also higher than that of the PLE, and more than twice as high at a concentration of 0.8 mg/ml or more. The ORAC value of the BPLE (79.77±0.82 uM TEs/extract g) was higher than that of the PLE (61.34±0.97 uM TEs/extract g). A WST-1 assay of the RAW 264.7 cells indicated that the PLE, BPLE, LPLE, SPLE and CPLE showed no cytotoxicity.