• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.622-629
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• 2018

Expansins are cell wall proteins that mediate cell wall loosening and promote specific tissue and organ morphogenesis in plants and in some microorganisms. Unlike plant expansins, the biological functions of fungal expansin-like proteins have rarely been discussed. In the present study, an expansin-like protein-encoding fvexpl1 gene, was identified from Flammulina velutipes by using local BLAST. It consisted of five exons with a total length of 822 bp. The deduced protein FVEXPL1 contained 274 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass and isoelectric point of 28,589 Da and pH 4.93, respectively. The first 19 amino acids from the N terminal are the signal peptide. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple protein alignment indicated FVEXPL1 was an expansin-like protein. The expression level of fvexpl1 gene in the stipe was significantly higher than that in the mycelia, primordia, and cap. However, the expression level of fvexpl1 gene was significantly higher in the fast elongation region of the stipe as compared with the slow elongation region. Expression analysis indicated that fvexpl1 gene might have an auxiliary role in the stipe morphogenesis of F. velutipes.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.592-598
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased mass of adipose tissue in obese persons is caused by excessive adipogenesis, which is elaborately controlled by an array of transcription factors. Inhibition of adipogenesis by diverse plant-derived substances has been explored. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of the aqueous methanol extract of laver (Porphyra yezoensis) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of the laver extract. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with various concentrations of laver extract in differentiation medium. Lipid accumulation, expression of adipogenic proteins, including CCAAT enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, fatty acid binding protein 4, and fatty acid synthase, cell viability, apoptosis, and the total content and the ratio of reduced to oxidized forms of glutathione (GSH/GSSG) were analyzed. RESULTS: Treatment with laver extract resulted in a significant decrease in lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which showed correlation with a reduction in expression of adipogenic proteins. Treatment with laver extract also resulted in a decrease in the viability of preadipocytes and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. Treatment with laver extract led to exacerbated depletion of cellular glutathione and abolished the transient increase in GSH/GSSG ratio during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Results of our study demonstrated that treatment with the laver extract caused inhibition of adipogenesis, a decrease in proliferation of preadipocytes, and an increase in the apoptosis of mature adipocytes. It appears that these effects were caused by increasing oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the depletion and oxidation of the cellular glutathione pool in the extract-treated adipocytes. Our results suggest that a prooxidant role of laver extract is associated with its antiadipogenic and proapoptotic effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.292-296
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the potential of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) to prevent obesity and abnormalities in lipid metabolism induced by ovariectomy in a rat model without stimulatory activity on uterus. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were treated for 6 weeks with 70% ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum [HPEs: whole plant (WHPE) and flower and leaves (FLHPE)], ${\beta}$-estradiol-3-benzoate at a dose of $50{\mu}g/kg/day$ (E2) or vehicle (distilled water). RESULTS: As expected, OVX increased body weight gain and adiposity and showed higher food efficacy ratio. OVX also increased the serum cholesterol as well as insulin resistance, while reducing uterus weight and uterine epithelial proliferation rate. HPEs (WHPE and FLHPE) showed estrogen-like effect on body weight gain, adipose tissue weight and food efficacy ratio in OVX rats. HPEs prevented hypercholesterolemia induced by OVX more effectively than E2. E2 increased uterus weight and epithelial proliferation rate in OVX rats, while HPEs maintained them at the level of the sham-operated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding demonstrates that HPEs can be considered as an effective agent to prevent OVX-induced obesity without stimulatory activity on uterus.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1385-1393
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• 1998

The hypoglycemic effects of butanol(BuOH) fraction of Polygonatum odoratum with vitamin E in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-230g were devided into five groups, and four groups induced diabetes mellitus by the STZ injection(45mg/kg b.w.) into the tail vein : Normal, diabetic-control, and three diabetic experimental groups(p. odoratum group, P. od-vit. E group and Vit. E group). All groups were fed on a AIN-76 diet, and the experimental groups were orally administered with the BuOH fraction of Polygonatum odoratum(500mg/kg b.w.) and vitamin E(10mg/kg b.w.) for 14 days. The body weight, diet intake and organ weights were monitored. The plasma levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities were analyzed. The levels of glycogen in liver and muscle, cholesterol in liver were determined. The malondialdehyde(MDA) levels in liver, kidney and lung were assayed. The body weight loss was seen in P. odoratum group, P. od-vit. E group, Vit. E group and diabetic control group, while the loss in P. odoratum group was much less than that in the diabetic control group. The plasma glucose levels were significantly lowered in P. odoratum group compared to diabetic control group. The plasma insulin levels were noticeably higher in P. odoratum and Vit. E groups. The rats in P. odoratum and P. od-vit. E group showed higher liver glycogen levels than in the diabetic control group. The MDA levels in liver, kidney and lung were also significantly reduced in P. od-vit. E and Vit. E groups compared to the diabetic control group. The results suggest that the administration of BuOH fraction of Polygonatum odoratum along with vitamin E reduced blood glucose levels and peroxidative tissue damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats, showing the possibility of preventive and therapeutic use of the wild edible plant to the diabetes mellitus. (Korean J Nutrition 31(9) : 1385-1393, 1998)

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.820-829
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• 2003

One of the important function of skin is the protection from harmful environments. Many studies were carried out to keep the skin from wrinkling and pigmenting. Skin wrinkle and pigmentation could be caused' by the unusual disruption of connective tissue, the formation of free radicals and the radiation of ultraviolet. In this study, the extracts obtained from 23 different kinds of medicinal plants were examined whether they have inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase as well as free radical scavenging effect. All the extracts examined were obtained by using 70% (v/v) ethanol at $60^{\circ}C$. It has been found that there were two medicinal plants which have positive effects matching with the purpose of this study. The extract of Ephedra sinica stapf shows an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase ($IC_{50}$ = 83.7~$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), on elastase ($IC_{50}$ = $690{\mu}\textrm{g}$/ml), and also shows free radical scavenging effect ($IC_{50}$ = 29.6$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). The extract of Betula platyphylla Var. shows an inhibitory effect on elastase ($IC_{50}$ = 498.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), and free radical scavenging effect ($IC_{50}$ = 9$\mu\textrm{g}$/ ml). The aim of the study is to find the natural compounds which have function in skin-lightening, anti-wrinkling and anti-oxidation, with safe and active ingredients in cosmetic.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2006

Objectives : Southern, northern, and wild types of Osterici Radix, and Notopterigii Rhizoma et Radix imported from China are circulated in Korea. Morphological identification was attempted by comparing external and internal forms of these materials. Methods : The slice of the tested material made by paraffin section technique was colored with Safranine Malachite Green contrast methods, and then observed and photographed by olymphus-BHT. Results : 1. Southern type of Osterici Radix has short rhizome and many small and long roots, while northern type of it is mostly composed of rhizomes with little small reds and sometimes looks like bamboo because of the extention of the parts between joints. 2. Parenchymal cell of southern type of Osterici Radix is filled with starch grain, while that of nothern type includes less starch grain with lamination crossed on its cell wall. 3. Surface of root and rhizome of wild Osterici Radix has some marks of fibrous root raised in the form of nodule, but cultivated Osterici Radix does not have this kind of marks. 4. Notopterigii Rhizoma et Radix is mostly composed of rhizomes, and its form is similar to that of a silkworm or joints of bamboo. Parenchymal cell is filled with starch grains, and lamination is crossed on its cell wall but not salient. Conclusion : Southern, northern, and wild types of Osterici Radix, and Notopterigii Rhizoma et Radix circulated in Korea can be easily identified because of their differences in their external and internal forms.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1435-1447
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of hexaconazole (HEX), a triazole fungicide, on the growth, yield, photosynthetic response and antioxidant potential in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants subjected to UV-B stress. UV-B radiation and HEX were applied separately or in combination to cucumber seedlings. The growth parameters were significantly reduced under UV-B treatment, however, this growth inhibition was less in HEX treated plants. HEX caused noticeable changes in plant morphology such as reduced shoot length and leaf area, and increased leaf thickness. HEX was quite persistent in inhibiting shoot growth by causing a reduction in shoot fresh and dry weight. HEX noticeably recovered the UV-B induced inhibition of biomass production. Significant accumutation in anthocyanin and flavonoid pigments in the leaves occurred as a result of HEX or UV-B treatments. HEX permitted the survival of more green leaf tissue preventing chlorophyll content reduction and higher quantum yield for photosystemII under UV-B exposure. HEX treatment induced a transient rise in ABA levels in the leaves, and combined application of HEX and UV-B showed a significant enhancement of ABA content which activates $H_2O_2$ generation. UV-B exposure induced accumulation of $H_2O_2$ in the leaves, while HEX prevented UV-B induced increase in $H_2O_2$, indicating that HEX serves as an antioxidant agent able to scavenge $H_2O$ to protect cells from oxidative damage. An increase in the ascorbic acid was observed in the HEX treated cucumber leaves affecting many enzyme activities by removing $H_2O_2$ during photosynthetic processes. The activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase(CAT), ascorbate peroxidase(APX), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and peroxidase(POD) in the leaves in the presence of HEX under UV-B stress were higher than those under UV-B stress alone. These findings suggest that HEX may participate in the enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress. From these results it can be concluded that HEX moderately ameliolate the effect of UV-B stress in cucumber by improving the components of antioxidant defense system.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1509-1519
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• 2011

The protective effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the antioxidant system under paraquat(PQ) stress was investigated in leaves of 8-week-old lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. PQ stress caused a decrease of leaf growth including leaf length, width and weight. Application of NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), significantly alleviated PQ stress induced growth suppression. SNP permitted the survival of more green leaf tissue preventing chlorophyll content reduction and of higher quantum yield for photosystem II than in non-treated controls under PQ exposure, suggesting that NO has protective effect on chloroplast membrane in lettuce leaves. Flavonoids and anthocyanin were significantly accumulated in the leaves upon PQ exposure. However, the rapid increase of these compounds was alleviated in the SNP treated leaves. PQ treatment resulted in lipid peroxidation and induced accumulation of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in the leaves, while SNP prevented PQ induced increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and $H_2O_2$. These results demonstrate that SNP serves as an antioxidant agent able to scavenge $H_2O_2$ to protect plant cells from oxidative damage. The activities of two antioxidant enzymes that scavenge reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in lettuce leaves in the presence of NO donor under PQ stress were higher than those under PQ stress alone. Application of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4, 4, 5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO), a specific NO scavenger, to the lettuce leaves arrested SNP mediated protective effect on leaf growth, photosynthetic pigment and antioxidant systems. However, PTIO had little effect on lettuce leaves under PQ stress compared with that of PQ stress alone. The obtained data suggest that the damage caused by PQ stress is in part due to increased generation of active oxygen by maintaining increased antioxidant enzyme activities and SNP protects plants from oxidative stress. From these results it is suggested that NO might act as a signal in activating active oxygen scavenging system that protects plants from oxidative damage induced by PQ stress and thus confer PQ tolerance.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2008

Astragali Radix, known as Huangqi, is the most important tonic in the traditional oriental medicine. It reinforces 'qi' (vital energy), strengthens the superficial resistance and promotes the discharge of pus and the growth of new tissue. It has long been used as an anti-perspirant, anti-diuretic or a tonic. Eleven compounds were isolated from the hexane and EtOAc fractions from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus (Leguminosae) and their structures were identified as four triterpenoids [lupenone (1), friedelin (2), lupeol (3), soyasapogenol E (9)] and seven sterols [${\beta}-sitosterol$ (4), stigmastane-3,6-dione (5), $7{\alpha}-hydroxysitosterol$ (6), $5{\alpha},6{\beta}-dihydroxysitosterol$ (7), $7-oxo-{\beta}-sitosterol$ (8), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ glucoside 6'-O-palmitate (10), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ glucoside (11)]. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature values. Among these compounds, lupenone (1), friedelin (2), lupeol (3), stigmastane-3,6-dione (5), $7{\alpha}-hydroxysitosterol$ (6), $5{\alpha},6{\beta}-dihydroxysitosterol$ (7), $7-oxo-{\beta}-sitosterol$ (8), soyasapogenol E (9), and ${\beta}-sitosterol$ glucoside 6'-O-palmitate (10) were isolated from this plant for the first time.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1606-1610
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• 2002

The dynamics of fermentation were studied with Italian ryegrass ensiled in the laboratory silos. The silos were kept in the room set at 25$^{\circ}C$, and then were opened on 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after ensiling, respectively. The samples were taken from three silos at each sampling time for chemical analyses. Mono-and disaccharides composition was determined for glucose, fructose and sucrose by high performance liquid chromatography. The Italian ryegrass silage succeeded to achieve lactate type fermentation; high values of lactic acid (85.83 g/kg) and lactic acid/acetic acid at the end of ensiling (14 day), low values of pH (3.74), acetic acid (5.38 g/kg), ethanol (19.20 g/kg) and $NH_3-N/Total\;N$ (75.84 g/kg), no or only small amounts of butyric acid, valeric acid and propionic acid. The fermentation dynamics showed a fast and large pH decrease caused by a fast and large production of lactic acid during the first 5 days. Mono-and disaccharides composition largely decreased within initial 0.5 day (12 h) of ensiling. Sucrose disappeared rapidly within initial 0.5 day of ensiling, and fructose and glucose contents showed an initial rise during ensiling, and then decreased gradually. These indicated that the enzymes of plant tissue were active within 2 days of ensiling, which caused the initial rise in fructose and glucose from the hydrolysis of sucrose and fructans. After 5 days of ensilage, glucose was consumed completely, suggesting that glucose was the first fermentation substrate. After 2 days of ensiling, sum amounts of lactic acid and remaining mono-and disaccharides proved to be larger than the quantity of mono-and disaccharides in the initial grass. From the facts mentioned above, it was suggested that considerable amounts of lactic acid were produced from some other substrate such as fructans than initial mono-and disaccharides.