• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.907-915
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• 2014

Alpha-lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) is not only involved in energy metabolism, but is also a powerful antioxidant that can protect against hepatic oxidative stress induced by some drugs, toxins, or under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we investigated the effect of ${\alpha}$-LA against liver oxidative damage in broilers exposed to aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$). Birds were randomly divided into four groups and assigned different diets: basal diet, 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in basal diet, diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, and 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, for 3 weeks. The results revealed that the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA protected against the liver function damage of broilers induced by chronic low dose of $AFB_1$ as estimated by a significant (p<0.05) change in levels of plasma total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and the activities of liver glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. The histopathological analysis also showed that liver tissues were injured in the $AFB_1$ diet, but this effect was alleviated by the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA. Additionally, $AFB_1$ induced a profound elevation of oxidative stress in birds, as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde level, a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity and a depletion of the glutathione content in the liver. All of these negative effects were inhibited by treatment with ${\alpha}$-LA. Our results suggest that the inhibition of $AFB_1$-induced excess production of lipid peroxides and the maintenance of intracellular antioxidant status may play important roles in the protective effects of ${\alpha}$-LA against $AFB_1$-induced oxidative damage in the liver.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1969

Tissue homogenates of 10 kinds of human cancer tissues were incubated in medium containing either one of $C^{14}-1,\; C^{14}-2,\;or\; C^{14}-3-lactate $ as a substrate in order to observe the oxidative pathway of lactate in cancer tissues. Lactate concentration in incubation medium was maintained at 50 mg%. At the end of incubation period, gas samples and incubation media were analyzed for total $CO_2$ production rates, radioactivities of respiratory $CO_2$, lactate uptake rates and pyruvate appearance rates. The following results were obtained. 1. Lactate uptake rates in all of cancer tissues examined were less than $2.5\;{\mu}M/hr/gm$ and much lower than those in normal tissues. 2. In the 10 kind of human cancer tissues, total $CO_2$ production rates were less than $10\;{\mu}M/hr/gm$, in all cases. These lower values impressed that oxidative metabolism in tumor tissues generally inhibited as compared with that in normal tissue. On the other hand, fractions of $CO_2$ derived from lactate to total $CO_2$ production rates were less than 15% except one case These facts showed that oxidation of lactate into $CO_2$ was greatly inhibited in tumor tissues. 3. Respiratory $CO_2$ yields from C-1 carbon of lactate in various cancer tissues were mean of 77.7% of total $CO_2$ yield from lactate and $CO_2$ yields from C-2 and C-3 carbon of lactate were mean of 9.1% and 12.6% respectively. These facts showed that carboxyl carbon of lactate oxidized more easily than ${\alpha}\;and\;{\beta}$ carbon of lactate. 4. In 10 kinds of cancer tissues, fractions of disappeared lacteate from media into $CO_2$ and pyruvate, which expressed as RLD $co_2$ and RLDpy respectively, were about 5% in except 3 cases and less than 3% except one case. These fact showed that almost of disappeared lactate from media were degraded into compounds other than $CO_2$ and pyruvate. From the above date, it was suggested that in the oxidative pathway of lactate in cancer tissues $CO_2$ was easily Produced from carboxyl carbon of lactate by oxidative decarboxylation as in the normal tissue, and further oxidation of 2 carbon unit via TCA cycle was inhibited.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.17
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• pp.135-142
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• 1974

A study on the metabolism of the chemical companents of endosperm and enbryonic othans of ginseng seeds during their germination were inverstigated and the results of the changes in the contents of nitrogen conponds, carbohydrates, lipids and phosphorus conpounds are summarized as follow; 1. When a seeding grows to 5cm the fresh weight of the embryonic organ incerases 13 times compared with that of its ripened embryo veore germination and its dry weight increases 4.5 times. On the other hand, about 65% of the dry weight of the endosperm is lost. 2. During germinarion the total nitrogen content of a sedding (endosperm+embryonic organ) decreases and when the seeding grows to 5cm there is a loss of 10% of total nitrogen content. At this time, soluble nitrogen content amounts to 40~50% of the total nitrogen, a comparatively high content. 3. When theseeding grows to 5cm, the total phosphorus content decreases by 15%. During the germination period 70~75% of the total phosphorus is distributed in the embryonic orang and 25% of it is in endosperm.In the embryonic organ 35~50% of the acid soluble phosphorus is inorganic phosphorus and in the endisperm, 20~25% of the acid soluble phosphorus is inorganic phosphorus,75~80% of the organic phosphorus is contained in the endosperm. 4.One the seedling grew to 2~3cm, carbohydrates such as soluble sugars,reducong sugars,nonreducong sugars, and crude starch interconverted remarkably. 5.After stratification (just before germination) the lipid content of the endosperm is about 54% of the total weight and lipid content of the embryo is about 61%. During germination 6.81mg of the fat contained in the endosperm per seed decreases to 4.13mg while the change of fat content in the embryonic organ is not so great.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.661-667
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• 2010

Astragali Radix (AR) has been used in traditional medicinal herb, which is known to tonify the qi and blood. It has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the function of the lungs, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism, promote healing and reduce fatigue. Also, Plantago asiatica (PA) has the anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic effects, though it is considered to be less powerful than the seed. Recent research is showing that it is promising in lowering cholesterol and controlling diabetes. Obesity is characterized at the cellular level by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from fibroblastic preadipocytes in adipose tissue. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 3 to 7 extracts of mixed medicinal herbs (water and ethanol extract of Astragali Radix; ARW and ARE, water and ethanol extract of Plantago asitica; PAW and PAE, and those mixed extracts; ARW+PAE, ARW+PAW and ARE+PAE) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by MTT assay, Oil-Red-O staining and TUNEL assay. And then, we determined total contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoid compounds in mixed herbal extracts. These result showed that herbal extracts (ARW, PAE and ARW+PAE) affected on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes among 3 to 7 extracts tested. Especially herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) had the highest inhibition on differentiation of preadipocytes and lipoid accumulation of maturing adipocytes. And it did not affect cell viability of mature adipocytes, but herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) increased apoptosis in mature adipocytes, as proved by highest concentration $200\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ using TUNEL assay. In addition, contents of total phenoilc compounds and flavonoids showed the highest level in ARE+PAE and PAE than ARW. These results suggest that this main target for adipocyte functions could be effective in improving the metabolic syndrome including obesity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 1986

The effects of soil moisture on seasonal changes of photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal resistance were studied in sorghum (Pioneer 931) and sorghum - sudangrass hybird (Pioneer 988) at Suweon in 1985. Soil moisture was maintained with approximately 100, 80, 60 and 40% of field moisture capacity in large concrete pot (12m length $\times$ 1m width $\times$ 1m depth). 1. Photosynthesis and transpiration showed a sharp seasonal changes and reacted similarly to water stress and environmental factors, and were the highest in the middle of August, and were the lowest in the beginning of October. Sorghum - sudan hybird had better photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal control than those of sorghum in hot summer season. 2. The rate of photosynthesis of 60 and 80% field moisture capacity was higher than that of 100 and 40% throughout growing season, but the effect of soil moisture on photosynthesis varied seasonally by climate factors. Optimum soil moisture was 60% in early summer and fall, and was 60 - 80% in hot summer season. 3. Drought and over-moisture affected physiological metabolism of plant, and so the dry matter yield of 40 and 100% field moisture capacity decreased by 70% compared with that of 60% field moisture capacity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.387-391
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• 2007

Recently, much attention has been paid to developing various kinds of fermented herbal extracts, a new type of traditional herbal medicine, in the field of Korean traditional medicine. The fermentation of medicinal herbs is intended to exert a favorable influence on digestability, bioavailavility and pharmacological activity of herbal extract in the gastrointestinal tract. It also produces a number of fermentation products that intensify the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of the medicinal herbs. In order to develop a functional beverage of alleviating the aftereffects of the previous drinks, the extracts (HP-1) of fermented herbal mixture, including Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunberg, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb., were prepared and the medicinal effect as a hangover cure was evaluated in ethanol-loaded rats. The enzyme activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) were analyzed by measuring the concentration of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde. The mRNA expression of ADH and ALDH2 was also investigated through RT-PCR analysis. In the HP-1-treated group, the concentration of blood ethanol was significantly reduced at one hour after loading of ethanol, as compared to that in the saline-treated group. The reduced ethanol was converted to acetaldehyde, which resulted in rapid increase in acetaldehyde concentration in an hour. Acetaldehyde was started to decrease at 5 hours after ethanol loading. It implies that HP-1 is highly effective to stimulate the activities of ADH and ALDH2. The HP-1 treatment also activated the mRNA expression of ADH and ALDH. This study suggests that fermented herbal extract, HP-1 can be used as a functional beverage of alleviating the alcohol-induced hangover symptoms by stimulating the activities and gene expression of hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1982

In order to observe the degree and response of drought-resistance and its physiological mechanism in barley and wheat seedling stage, 5 species (16 cultivars) were tested for the changes of nitrate reductase and protease activity and the accumulation of free proline, by being subjected to water stress by withholding watering for 8 days at 10 days (at the 3rd leaf stage) after emergence and by imposing water stress to the excised first leaf by polyethyleneglycol solution (osmotic potential, -20 bars) for 48 hours. The average rate of decrease of all cultivars was 42% in nitrate reductase activity and 73% in protease activity. But proline content in water stress was increased 10 folds more than that of control. The decrease4 rate of nitrate reductase activity in 5 species was in the order of wheat < rye < covered barley < naked barley < two-row barley: wheat being the lowest. The decreased rate of protease activity in 5 species was in the order of wheat > rye > two-row barley > covered barley > naked barley: wheat being the" heighest. The accumulated amount of free proline in 5 species by water stress was in the order of wheat > covered barley > rye > naked barley > two-row barley. And the increased ratio (folds) of free proline of water stress to control was in the order of rye(13) > wheat. covered barley(11) > naked barley(99) > two-row barley(7): rye being the highest. In terms of the enzymatic activity and the physiotically adaptive metabolism during the processing leading to drought-resistance, the degree of drought-resistance of 5 species to water stress at seedling stage was shown to be in the order of wheat > rye > covered barley > naked barley > two-row barley.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1675-1682
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• 2010

The biological activity of hot water extract from Ecklonia cava Kjellman (ECE) was investigated to assess antioxidative, anti-skin aging, and nitrite scavenging abilities, as well as alcohol metabolizing activities. Antioxidant activity of ECE was measured by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. DPPH radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity of ECE increased in a remarkably dose-dependent manner, and were about 91.4% and 75% at 1 mg/ml, respectively. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity was indicated to be about 70% at 1 mg/ml of ECE. Nitrite scavenging ability of ECE showed to be 93.6% at 1 mg/ml and pH 1.2. The influence of ECE on alcohol metabolism was demonstrated through the generating activity of reduced-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The facilitating rate of ADH and ALDH activity by ECE was 167.2% and 334% at 10 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory activities of ECE were 58% and 72% at 10 mg/ml, respectively. These results indicated that ECE has valuable biological attributes owing to its antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, alcohol metabolizing, and elastase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2012

Growth, oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion, feeding and assimilation rate were examined from May 2010 to February 2011 in order to assess the physiological changes of Haliotis discus hannai in accordance with changes in season. The water temperature was in the range of $8-23.2^{\circ}C$ and the salinity in the range of 31.9-34.1psu during the examination period. The length of shell of Haliotis discus hannai grew from 36.3 mm to 66.1 mm in the 1 year old entities and from 60.6 mm to 66.1 mm for the 2 year old entities, while the weight of the meat increased from 3.16 g to 12.04 g and from 15.8 g to 21.5 g, respectively. The oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rate displayed trend of increase in accordance with the increase in water temperature, while the feeding rate was high during the period from July to October. The assimilation rate was in the range of 68%-71% without significant difference between the age of the entities and seasons. SFG displayed +value throughout the year for the 1 year old entities of Haliotis discus hannai as well as for the 2 year old entities with the exception of the period of July, thereby showing that they are growing throughout the year. Therefore, there was no environmental effect including water temperature and salinity during the examination period.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1959

1) The comparative studies of the quantitative measurement of growth characteristics and utilization of substrates by Euglena gracilis var. bacilla 10616 in the light and in darkness have been carried out. Eodogenous respiration, effect of respiratory inhibitors and responses to the added substrates for the exogenous respiration are also investigated. 2) All cultures are grown in the open air under the continuous illumination of fluorescent light of 3500 lux at room termperature, the growth rate of the culture in the basal medium added 0.5% lactate is found to be the highest. The growth rate decreases successively for the cultures of 0.5% sucinate, 0.5% Na-acetate, 0.5% malate, and control. There is no growth in the basal meidum added 0.5% butyrate and 0.5% hydroquinone. The similar results are obtained for the mentioned cultures in the darkness. However, the growth rate in basal medium added 0.5% glucose and 0.5% sucrose does seem to increase in the darkness unlike the illumination. 3) The endogenous rate of respiration for the organism cultured photosynthetically is about 12.94ul 02/mg/hr, in basal medium and the respiratory quotient is about 0.84. The rate is decreased by starvations to 6.5ul 02/mg/hr, about to a half, but the respiratory quotient does net change. 4) The oxygen consomption during initial 2 hours in suspending solution ranging from pH 4.5 to pH 9.3 is highest at pH 4.5 in which the algae had grown, at pH 5.5 and at pH 6.9. 5) Endogenous respiration of the cells is strongly inhibited by 0.1M of potassium cyanide, malomic acid, sodium fluoride and iodo-acetic acid. It is also strongly inhibited by 0.01M of potassium cyanide. 6) The respiratory response to added substrates for the exogenous respiration in the organism is coincided with the rate in the basal medium added the substrate in light and in darkness, whether the cells are fed or starved. 7) According to the results of this study, there seems to be the flexibility of the interconversion between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis, heterotropic mode of metabolism, in Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris, and that this organism utilizes the lactate most. It also may be suggested that the enayme systems linked in the each steps of Embden-Myerhof-Parnas path way and TCA cycle seem to exist in this organism.