• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2005

We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to know whether the inhibitory effects of ginsenosides on $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel acctivity are coupled to anti-nausea and anti-vomiting action. In vitro study, we investigated the effect of compound K (CK) and M4, which are ginsenoside metabolites, on human $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Treatment of CK or M4 themselves had no effect in both oocytes injected with $H_2O\;and\;5-HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA. In oocytes injected with $5- HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA, M4 treatment inhibited more potently 5-HT-induced inward peak current $(I_{5-HT})$ than CK with dose-dependent and reversible manner. The half-inhibitory concentrations $(IC_{50})$ of CK and M4 were $36.9\;\pm\;10.1\;and\;7.3\;\pm\;2.2\;{\mu}M$, respectively. The inhibition of $I_{5-HT}$ by M4 was non-competitive and voltage-independent. These results indicate that M4 might regulate $5-HT_{3A}$ receptors. In vivo experiments, injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.v.) induced both nausea and vomiting with 1 h latency. These episodes reached to peak after 2 h and persisted for 4 h. Pre-treatment of GTS (500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting by $51\;\pm\;8.4\;and\;48.8\;\pm\;6.4\%$ during 4 h compared to GIS­untreated group, respectively. These results show the possibility that in vitro inhibition of $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity by ginsenosides might be coupled to in vivo anti-emetic activity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.946-950
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• 2012

The antioxidant activity and whitening effect of the distilled water (DW) and ethanol extracts of the Prunus persica flower and calyx were studied. In the oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) assay for antioxidant activity measurement, it was confirmed that the flower extract was stronger than the calyx extract, and that the ethanol extract was relatively stronger than the DW extract. To define the whitening effect, an experiment was conducted involving tyrosinase inhibitory assay and measurement of the melanin content of B16F10. As a result of the use of tyrosinase, the DW extract of calyx showed 53% inhibition as the highest activity. The melanin content inhibitory rates were defined as 57% for the ethanol flower extract and 63% of the ethanol calyx extract, based on a $10{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. Based on these results, mixture with the whitening effect in the extract of P. persica and another compounds should be researched for development as a cosmetic ingredient.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1063-1070
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• 2011

In this study, total of 5 different chemical amendments were evaluated for determining kinetic parameters and stabilization efficiency of heavy metals in aqueous phase. Standard solution of Cd and Pb ($100mg\;L^{-1}$) was mixed with various ratio of amendments (1, 3, 5, 10%) and heavy metal stabilization efficiency was monitored for 24hrs. All examined amendments showed over 90% of removal efficiency for both Cd and Pb except zerovalent iron (ZVI) for Cd (43-63%). Based on result of heavy metal stabilization efficiency, it was ordered as $CaCO_3$ > Dolomite > Zeolite > Steel slag > ZVI for both Cd and Pb in aqueous phase. For kinetic study, first order kinetic model was adapted to calculate kinetic parameters. In terms of reaction rate constants (k), zeolite showed the fastest reaction rate (k value from 0.4882 for 1% to 2.0105 for 10%) for Cd and ZVI (k value from 0.2304 for 1% to 0.5575 for 10%) for Pb. Considering reaction rate constant and half life for heavy metal stabilization, it was ordered as Zeolite > $CaCO_3$ > Dolomite > Steel slag > ZVI for Cd and $CaCO_3$ > Dolomite > Steel slag > Zeolite > ZVI for Pb. Overall result in this study can be interpreted that lime containing materials are more beneficial to remove heavy metals with high efficiency and less time consuming than absorbent materials.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.776-781
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• 2010

Estimating the electrical conductivity of the saturation-paste (SP) is a common method to assess soil salinity. To assess soil salinity realistically, it is important to extract soil solution under field capacity. However, few studies on salinity assessment have been conducted for soil solution extracted under field capacity (-33 kPa; FC) moisture condition due to difficulty in soil solution extraction. This study was conducted to evaluate whether saturation-paste can represent field condition. Soil solutions were extracted from 22 soils in the plastic film house (PFH) and 18 soils in the reclaimed land (RL) at saturation and field capacity moisture conditions. Those were analyzed for pH, EC, cations ($K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$) and anions ($Cl^-$, ${NO_3}^-$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$). Both cations and anions of soil solution extracted from FC showed high correlations with ions extracted from SP in the PFH and the RL, except for ${NO_3}^-$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$ in the RL. Results of the t-test, the ECe and $EC_{FC}$ were not significant at significance level 0.05. The slopes of the equations between $EC_{FC}$ and ECe at more than sand 50% soils were higher than less than sand 50% soils, and differences of saturation percentage between SP and FC showed larger as increasing sand percentage. EC was related to soil water retention by soil texture. To determine the EC, soil texture and other soil properties which effect the soil moisture should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.793-797
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• 2010

The investigations were conducted to improve the physical properties by analyzing physico-chemical properties on the different soil families of textures at 20 upland fields located in the parts of Gyengsangbuk-do area. Soil physico-chemical properties were analyzed for bulk density, hardness, porosity, moisture, pH, EC and organic mater by soil depth on the different soil families of textures. Bulk density distributions were higher than 1.2 Mg $m^{-3}$ in the optimum range. Hardness distributions were lower than 20 mm in the optimum range. Therefore, the physical properties of upland soil was deteriorated. Correlation coefficient of bulk density with hardness and organic mater were higher significantly, that was positive and negative, respectively. The soil hardness had the greatest distribution degree to the crop yield and bulk density and organic matter followed. Conclusively, To improve the physical properties of upland soil was more effective to fertilizing organic matter than other ways.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.166-171
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen leaching depends on the drainage pattern and nitrate content, and those are influenced by soil hydraulic properties and fertility. The purpose of this study was to confirm how soil texture contributed to leaching and balance of nitrogen, as well as to drainage. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was performed using undisturbed weighing lysimeters which were piled up with clay loam (Songjung series) and sandy loam (Sanju series) soils in National Institute of Agricultural Science experimental field. Chinese cabbage was cultivated from August 30 to October 31, 2017. The application rates of N, $P_2O_5$, and $K_2O$ were 21.5, 7.8, and $15.0kg\;10a^{-1}$, respectively, and irrigation was supplied at -33 kPa in 30 cm soil depth. Drainage in clay loam was not noticeable, although it was increased by rainfall in early September. By contrast, the trend of drainage in sandy loam was strongly dependent upon rainfall pattern. Owing to different drainage patterns between both soil textures, nitrogen leaching was 5-fold higher in sandy loam than in clay loam. Nitrogen use efficiencies in clay loam and sandy loam were represented as 43% and 52%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The pattern of drainage and nitrogen leaching were greatly depended on clay content in soil. From this study, we carefully suggest that soil texture should be considered as an incidental factor to estimate nitrogen balance.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 2019

Background: Excessive stress causes varied physiological and psychological disorders including male reproductive problems. Here, we attempted to investigate the protective effects of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer; KRG) against sub-acute immobilization stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats. Methods: Male rats (age, 4 wk; weight, 60-70 g) were divided into four groups (n = 8 in each group): normal control group, immobilization control group, immobilization group treated with 100 mg/kg of KRG daily, and immobilization group treated with 200 mg/kg of KRG daily. Normal control and immobilization control groups received vehicle only. KRG (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) was mixed in the standard diet powder and fed daily for 6 mo. Parameters such as organ weight, blood chemistry, sperm kinematic values, and expression levels of testicular-related molecules were measured using commercially available kits, Western blotting, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Data revealed that KRG restored the altered testis and epididymis weight in immobilization stress-induced rats significantly (p < 0.05). Further, KRG ameliorated the altered blood chemistry and sperm kinematic values when compared with the immobilization control group and attenuated the altered expression levels of spermatogenesis-related proteins (nectin-2, cAMP responsive element binding protein 1, and inhibin-${\alpha}$), sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor), and antioxidant-related enzymes (glutathione S-transferase m5, peroxiredoxin-4, and glutathione peroxidase 4) significantly in the testes of immobilization stress-induced rats. Conclusion: KRG protected immobilization stress-induced testicular damage and fertility factors in rats, thereby indicating its potential in the treatment of stress-related male sterility.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.600-608
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• 2019

The aim was to determine the physiological activity and antioxidant activity by lipid peroxidation inhibitory action of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Bioactive compound of total carotenoid $1.581{\pm}0.005mg$ ${\beta}$-carotene equivalents (BCE)/g dry weight. Total phenol content was the highest in the ethyl acetate (EA) extract, followed by chloroform:methanol (CM, 2:1, v/v) and 70% methanol extracts. Antioxidant effects (nitrogen oxide radical scavenging activity, nitrite scavenging activity, ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching assay, and lipid peroxidation inhibition action) of 70% methanol, CM, and EA extract of turmeric. Turmeric extracts yield were 70% methanol 16.54%, CM 5.64%, and EA 4.14%, respectively. Antioxidant activity of the samples exhibited a dose-dependent increase. However, in the current study, none of the samples evaluated showed activity as strong as the BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and trolox. Further, nitrite scavenging activity was the highest for the EA extract. As a result of this experiment, indicating their commercial value and potential applications in food and nutraceuticals.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2019

This study evaluates the quality properties of soy-paste soybean cultivar for fermented soybean products. The six soybean varieties that include Jinpung, Saedanbaek, Daepung 2, Pyeongwon, Cheonga and Saeolkong were used in the experiment. The range of water uptake ratio, hardness after soaking and hardness after steaming were 117.00~131.33%, 1.65~3.30 kg and 0.05~0.14 kg, respectively. The physicochemical analysis indicated the following: Moisture content, 63.27~68.72%; pH, 6.43~6.60; total acidity, 0.27~0.45%. Color values for L value (lightness), a value (redness), and b value (yellowness) ranged from 39.07~67.92, 7.64~11.79, and 7.48~20.67, respectively. The amylase and protease activities of the Saedanbaek samples were the highest among all cultivars. The amount of viscous substance in the fermented soybean products by cultivars ranged from 5.93 to 8.37%, and Saedanbaek was the highest. The total viable cells counts for soybean fermented products were 9.11~9.42 log CFU/g. The amino-type nitrogen contents of all samples were in the range of 401.07 to 524.47 mg% and Saedanbaek cultivars showed the highest content (524.47 mg%). Based on the results, Saedanbaek will be suitable as a soy-paste soybean cultivar and the quality standards for the fermentation process of the fermented soybean products.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2019

This study investigated the quality of Jeungpyun based on variety, milling method and fermentation time. Rice flour (wet-milled Samkwang and dry-milled Seolgaeng) was used for these experiments. The expansion ratios of wet-milled Samkwang and dry-milled Seolgaeng after 6 h of fermentation showed similar values of 160.66 and 159.52%, respectively, while the specific volume was found to be 1.12 mL/g for both. Hardness values of 475.57 g in dry-milled Seolgaeng and 550.40 g in wet-milled Samkwang were determined to be the lowest values after 6 h of fermentation. Numerous pores were found in wet-milled Samkwang, whereas large-sized pores were found in dry-milled Seolgaeng. Thus, these results show no significant difference between the quality of Jeungpyun produced using dry-milled Seolgaeng or wet-milled Samkwang rice flours. However, dry- milled Seolgaeng without the wet-milled process is considered more suitable for Jeungpyun production.