• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.459-465
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, Chemical antiseptics have become great problems for health and environmental, so that developing of new substitutes for chemical antiseptics is more and more important. Natural product is a kind of environment-friendly additive that could be used as antiseptic in food industry. Thuja orientalis cv Aurea Nana is a gymnospermous plant of the family Cupressaceae, native to northwestern China and widely naturalised elsewhere in Korea and Japan. This study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial potential of various organic extracts from T. orientalis cones against some food-borne and food-spoilage bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hexane extract (HE), chloroform extract (CE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE) and methanol extract (ME) were obtained from female cones of T. orientalis. The antibacterial activities of various extracts were tested by standard agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against five gram-positive and six gram-negative bacteria. Cell viability and morphology change of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943 treated with hexane extract were also observed. The various extracts displayed remarkable antibacterial effects against all the gram-positive bacteria but did not show any effect against the gram-negative bacteria. Hexane extract has the highest inhibitory effect on cell viability of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943. SEM observation also demonstrated the damaging effect of the hexane extract on the morphology of L. monocytogenes ATCC 10943 at the minimum inhibitory concentration. CONCLUSION(s): The tested gram-positive bacteria were significantly inhibited by organic extracts of T. orientalis cone. Hexane extract was the most potent against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 10943, as evidenced by the lowest MIC level and the complete inhibition of cell viability within shortest exposure time, along with SEM observation.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2019

TheCitrus grandis Osbeck is a special product in the Jeju island. The product has been as a remedy for liver damage and hang over. This study demonstrates how to investigate and compare the antioxidant, phenol content, tyrosinase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, antimicrobial, and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity with the C. grandis leaves extracted in different ethanol concentrations. From the yield, a 20% ethanol extract demonstrated the highest results among the other extracts. The distilled water extract showed the most abundant in a total phenol content and highest ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. In the DPPH radical scavenging activity, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitory assay (used ${\text\tiny{L}}$-tyrosine as substrate), the 80% ethanol extract exhibited a higher value than other extracts. The 60% ethanol extract showed prominent activities in the tyrosinase inhibitory (used ${\text\tiny{L}}$-dopa as substrate), ADH and ALDH activity assay. In the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, 60% and 80% ethanol extracts inhibited the bacterial growth almost similarly. Moreover, the gram-positive bacteria was more restrained than the gram-negative bacteria. The resultsrevealed that the distilled water and 80% ethanol extract showed a relatively higher antioxidant activity compared to other extracts. The 60 ~ 80% ethanol extracts demonstrated potential tyrosinase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory, antimicrobial, ADH and ALDH activities. Therefore, the C. grandis is suggested to be considered as a functional material for various proposes.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2010

Phytoncide, essential oil of trees, has microbicidal, insecticidal, acaricidal, and deodorizing effect. The present study was performed to examine the effect of phytoncide on Candida albicans, which is a commensal colonizer of the mucous membranes but has become an opportunistic pathogen. C. albicans was incubated with or without phytoncide extracted from Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.; Japanese cypress) and then changes were observed in its optical density, cell viability and morphology. As concentrations of phytoncide added to the culture medium increased, optical density and cell viability of C. albicans decreased. Minimum inhibitory concentration of phytoncide for C. albicans was observed to be 0.25%, and minimum fungicidal concentration was 0.5%. Numbers of morphologically atypical cells with electron-dense cytoplasm and granules and increased with increasing concentration of the phytoncide. At higher concentrations of phytoncide, compartments and organelles in the cytoplasm became indistinguishable. The overall results indicate that the phytoncide used for this study has a strong antimicrobial activity against C. albicans. Therefore, the phytoncide may be used as a candidate for prevention and therapeutic agent against oral candidiasis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.475-481
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• 1995

The effect of metallothionein expression on the metal resistance and removal by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing the plasmid pJW9 was investigated. The recombinant strain S. cerevisiae BZ-pJ was constructed by transforming the host strain S. cerevisiae BZ3l-1-7Ba with the gene coding for a metal-binding protein, metallothionein. Introduction of the MT gene yielded an increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of copper more than three times compared with the host strain. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of $Cr^{2+}, Znr^{2+} and Pb^{2+}, $ were not different for the two strains. The recombinant yeast grown in a medium containing 8mM CuSO4 was able to remove copper with a capacity of 18.9mg $Cu^{2+}$/g dry cell. In a mixture of copper and zinc, the presence of copper relieved the toxic effects caused by zinc, resulting in an enhancement of the final cell density and the specific growth rate of the recombinant yeast. The capability to remove copper by the recombinant yeast was linearly proportional to the copper concentrations in the medium. The efficiency of copper removal was rather constant regardless of the initial copper concentrations. The specific removal of zinc was dependent on the zinc concentrations in media, though, and such dependence was not so pronounced as the concentration of copper.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effect against food-borne pathogens of Sanguisorbae officinalis L. ethanol extract. The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract was determined using a paper disc-diffusion method and the diameter of the clear zone was measured. The diameters of the clear zone in the presence of 10 mg of the ethanol extract were the maximum against Staphylococcus aureus among the tested 4 gram-positive bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa among the tested 7 gram-negative bacteria. Analysis of the minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) showed that the ethanol extract exhibited a similar efficacy as sorbic acid, well-known chemical preservatives. The growth inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract in the concentrations of 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/L on food-borne pathogens were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella Typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The growth of the microorganisms was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited by the ethanol extract in the concentrations higher than 250 mg/L. Thus, the results of the present study demonstrate that the ethanol extract exhibits antimicrobial effects against food-borne pathogens, suggesting that Sanguisorbae officinalis L. could be used as natural antibacterial agent in food.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2023

Purpose: Typhoid remains a major health problem, especially in the developing world. Furthermore, the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains of Salmonella typhi added a sense of urgency to develop more effective typhoid vaccines, one of which is bacterial ghosts (BGs), prepared by both genetic and chemical means. The chemical method includes incubation with numerous agents for a short time at their minimum inhibitory or minimum growth concentrations. This study included the preparation of BGs by a sponge-like reduced protocol (SLRP). Materials and Methods: Critical concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate, NaOH, and H₂O₂ were used. Moreover, high-quality BGs were visualized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Subculturing was used to confirm the absence of vital cells. Besides, the concentrations of the released DNA and protein were estimated spectrophotometrically. In addition, the integrity of cells was proved by visualizing Gram-stained cells using a light microscope. Furthermore, a comparison between the immunogenicity and safety of the prepared vaccine and the available whole-cell killed vaccine was established. Results: Improved preparation of high-quality BGs of S. typhi, visualized by SEM, revealed punctured cells with intact outer shells. Moreover, the absence of vital cells was confirmed by subculturing. At the same time, the release of respective amounts of proteins and DNA is another evidence of BGs' production. Additionally, the challenge test provided evidence that the prepared BGs are immunogenic and have the same efficacy as the whole cell vaccine. Conclusion: The SLRP provided a simple, economical, and feasible method for BGs preparation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.339-344
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• 1985

Cephalosporin C(CPC) inhibited the growth of Cephalosporium acremonium M-113, a potent CPC producer derived from C acremonium ATCC 20339. Similar inhibitory effects of CPC were also observed in growth of C. acremonium ATCC 20339 and ATCC 14553. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CPC on the growth of conidia and hyphae of C. acremonium M-113 were 200-500 and 3000-4000$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ respectively in synthetic medium. MIC values were increased in complex media. The inhibitory effect of CPC was due to CPC-exerted inhibition of amino acids uptake by the cells. 3'-Group of CPC might be important in its inhibitory action. In audition, CPC itself could be utilized by the cells as a nitrogen source under nitrogen limited condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2001

Antibacterial activities in each part of watercress(Oenanthe javanica D.C.) grown under different culture conditions were measured to determine the possibility to use watercress as a resource to develop the antibacterial substance. The leaves of watercress were extracted with methanol and the methanol extract was further fractionated with various organic solvents. Antibacterial activities against Shigella dysenteriae ATCC 9361 in all fractions were determined according to the agar diffusion method using paper disc. Methanol extract of watercress leaves was more effectively inhibited the growth of the tested bacteria than the extracts of roots or stems at the concentration of 0.5 g eq./disc, and the extract of watercress from Hwasoon was the most effective one as compared to others. Phenolic and neutral fractions fractionated from methanol extract of watercress had a considerable inhibiting activity on the growth of the bacteria, but acidic and basic fractions did not show any inhibitory effect. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of phenolic and neutral fractions against Shigella dysenteriae ATCC 9361 were $400\;{\mu}g/disc$ and $550\;{\mu}g/disc$, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1322-1326
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• 2013

New antifungal agents are required to compensate for the increase in resistance to standard antifungal agents of Candida albicans, which is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes minor infections in many individuals but very serious infections in those who are immune-compromised. In this study, combinations of theaflavin and epicatechin are investigated as potential antifungal agents and also to establish whether antifungal synergy exists between these two readily accessible and cost-effective polyphenols isolated from black and green tea. The results of disc diffusion assays showed stronger antibacterial activity of theaflavin:epicatechin combinations against C. albicans NCTC 3255 and NCTC 3179, than that of theaflavin alone. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1,024 ${\mu}g/ml$ with theaflavin and 128-256 ${\mu}g/ml$ with theaflavin:epicatechin combinations were found. The fractional inhibitory concentration indexes were calculated, and the synergy between theaflavin and epicatechin against both isolates of C. albicans was confirmed. Theaflavin:epicatechin combinations show real potential for future use as a treatment for infections caused by C. albicans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1377-1381
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• 2014

In order to discover and develop novel signaling inhibitors from plants, a screening system was established targeting the two-component system of Cryptococcus neoformans by using the wild type and a calcineurin mutant of C. neoformans, based on the counter-regulatory action of high-osmolarity glycerol (Hog1) mitogen-activated protein kinase and the calcineurin pathways in C. neoformans. Among 10,000 plant extracts, that from Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv. exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against C. neoformans var. grubii H99 with fludioxonil. Bioassay-guided fractionation was used to isolate two bioactive compounds from H. abyssinica, and these compounds were identified as chebulagic acid and chebulanin using spectroscopic methods. These compounds specifically inhibited the calcineurin pathway in C. neoformans. Moreover, they exhibited potent antifungal activities against various human pathogenic fungi with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.25 to over $64{\mu}g/ml$.