• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제44권10호
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• pp.1422-1430
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the effect of fermented water extracts from Ligularia fischeri (LAF) on reduction of hepatotoxicity induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in rats. In this experiment, male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as experimental animals, which were divided into eight groups: normal group, D-GalN-treated group (control), D-GalN and non-fermented water extracts from Ligularia fischeri (LA)-treated groups [100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW (body weight)], and D-GalN and LAF-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW). ${\gamma}$-Glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities in serum of the D-GalN and LAF-treated groups decreased significantly compared to those of the control group (P<0.05). The high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels of the D-GalN and LAF-treated groups increased significantly compared to those of the control group (P<0.05). The low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride levels of the D-GalN and LAF-treated groups decreased significantly compared to those of the control group (P<0.05). The atherogenic index values of the D-GalN and LAF-treated groups decreased significantly compared to those of the control group (P<0.05), and their high density lipoprotein cholesterol by total cholesterol ratio increased significantly in these groups (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity of liver tissues were enhanced significantly (P<0.05) in the D-GalN and LAF-treated groups compared to that of the control group (P<0.05), whereas their malondialdehyde content decreased significantly in these groups (P<0.05). The histopathological observations revealed apoptotic cells and mild portal inflammation in liver tissues of the D-GalN and LAF-treated groups. Taken together, these results demonstrate that LAF may improve plasma lipid profile and alleviate hepatic damage.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.193-203
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• 2023

Ethyl formate (EF) is a naturally occurring insecticidal compound and is used to control pests introduced from abroad, in quarantine, by a fumigation method. In particular, it is mainly used as a substitute for methyl bromide and is less toxic to humans and less harmful to plants. This study aimed to investigate the possible acute toxicity of EF to useful organisms, and how to reduce phytotoxicity in watermelon, zucchini, and oriental melon. After fumigation with EF for 2 h, the LC₅₀ values for earthworms, honey bees, and silkworms were 39.9, 7.09, and 17.9g m^-3, respectively. The degree of susceptibility to EF was in the order of earthworms, silkworms, and honey bees based on the LC₅₀ value, and EF fumigation induced stronger acute toxicity to honey bees. Phytotoxicity was observed in watermelon leaves treated with a concentration of 7.5 g m^-3 EF, and when treated with a concentration of 10.0g m^-3, it was confirmed that the edges of watermelon leaves were charred and seemed to be damaged by acids. Zucchini and melon, and other cucurbits, showed strong damage to the leaves when treated with a concentration of 10 g m^-3, and sodium silicate, at concentrations of 10% and 20%, was used to reduce phytotoxicity. Therefore, acute toxicity towards nontarget organisms and phytotoxicity during the fumigation of EF should be reduced for efficient agricultural pest control.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제38권8호
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• pp.1016-1023
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to identify the inhibitory effect of hepatic toxicity and liver lipid metabolism after administration of Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica. Along with the control, SD rats were divided into ethanol treated group with subgroups of 6% Artemisia capillaries (6A), 4% Artemisia capillaris+2% Paecilomyces japonica (4A2P), 3% Artemisia capillaris+3% Paecilomyces japonica (3A3P), 2% Artemisia capillaris+4% Paecilomyces japonica (2A4P) and 6% Paecilomyces japonica (6P). In this study we also intended to verify the optimum ratio of Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica which can reduce hepatotoxicity. Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels which were increased by ethanol. Total-cholesterol level was decreased the most in the groups of 4A2P and 3A3P. On the other hand, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was enhanced significantly (p<0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) activity was decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the subgroup of 6A and 4A2P. When the ratio of Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica was 2:1, the improvement of the rat serum and liver lipid metabolism and the alleviation of hepatic damage by ethanol were the most effective in this study. Therefore, it can be considered that the symptoms of severe chemically induced hepatotoxicity could be reduced by Artemisia capillaris and Paecilomyces japonica administration.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.29-40
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• 2019

In Korea kiwifruit growing area is limited to southern coastal region and Jeju island, partly due to the lack of information on their cold hardiness in winter. This study was carried out to investigate cold hardiness of Korean kiwifruit cultivars in a period of dormancy for using it as preliminary data to expand the cultivation area of kiwifruit in Korea. A total of five kiwifruit cultivars in two species and hybrid, Actinidia deliciosa ('Hayward' and 'Garmrok'), A. chinensis ('Goldone') and A. arguta hybrid ('Bangwoori' and 'Skinny Green') were subjected to five freezing treatments of -12℃, -15℃, -18℃, -21℃ and -24℃. Cell membrane damage in all cultivars initiated in -18℃/32h and cell membrane stability was lost in -24℃ in most cultivars, except for 'Skinny Green'. Cold hardiness was estimated by 50% lethal temperature (LT₅₀) which was determined by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduction. In branches, LT₅₀ was -15℃ in 'Hayward' and 'Garmrok', -18℃ in 'Bangwoori' and -21℃ in 'Goldone.' The LT₅₀ of buds on 'Hayward' and 'Garmrok' was 56 and 42 hours in -15℃ and 4 and 11 hours in -18℃, respectively; however, LT₅₀ of buds on 'Goldone' was 51 hours in -18℃ and that on 'Bangwoori' was 3 hours in -24℃. Cold hardiness results imply that it may be difficult for cultivars in A. deliciosa such as 'Hayward' and 'Garmrok' to be grown in the north of southern coastal region in Korea; however, it can be possible for several cultivars in A. chinensis and A. arguta hybrid to be grown in the northern part of Korean kiwifruit belt if cold tolerance in the thaw is confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.66-73
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• 2004

As one of the typical farming practices in the sloped upland in Pyeongchang and Hongcheon area, application of piling with coarse saprolite materials has been practiced by farmers for several reasons such as reduction of damage by monocropping, better development of plant roots, and better drainage. However, adverse effect on application of coarse saprolite soil materials to environmental aspects should not be ignored. Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties of coarse saprolite materials in upland fields in Pyeongchang area. According to particle size distribution of coarse saprolite materials, averaged gravel contents for Pyeongchang and Hongcheon county were 16.7 and 25.3%, respectively. There was no significant difference in gravel contents by soil depth, and CV values for each particle size ranged from 20 to 40%, which implied that application of coarse material with similar properties. When we compared CEC values of dressed soil with or without considering gravel content, CEC values decreased as increasing gravel contents. The penetration resistances were 0.04-7.48 MPa at the 0 to 10 cm surface soil, and 0.10 to 8.80 MPa at the depth below 11 cm. The bulk density of the soil was $1.15g\;cm^{-3}$ at the surface soil and 1.29 to $1.35g\;cm^{-3}$ at the soil depth below 10 cm. The organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and avaliable $P_2O_5$ concentrations of soil in upland where piling with saprolite materials of Pyeongchang area applied were $12.4g\;kg^{-1}$, $7.1cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$, and $526mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Cation exchange capacity was lower than that of averaged Korean upland soil, while available $P_2O_5$ concentration was relatively higher than that of averaged Korean upland, which indicated high input of various fertilizers.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

We investigated the effect of silicate coating of rice seeds on bakanae disease incidence and the quality of seedlings raised in seedling boxes and transplanted into pots. The silicate-coated rice seed (SCS) was prepared as follows. Naturally infested rice seeds not previously subjected to any fungicidal treatment were dressed with a mixture of 25% silicic acid at pH 11 and 300-mesh zeolite powder at a ratio of 50 g dry seed - 9 mL silicic acid - 25 g zeolite powder. The following nursery conditions were provided : Early sowing, dense seeding in a glass house with mulching overnight and no artificial heating, which were the ideal conditions for determining the effect on the seed. The nursery plants were evaluated for Gibberella. fujikuroi infection or to determine the recovery to normal growth of infected nursery plants in the Wagner pot. Seedlings emerged 2-3 days earlier for the SCS than they did for the non-SCS control, while damping-off and bakanae disease incidence were remarkably reduced. Specifically, bakanae disease incidence in the SCS was limited to only 7.8% for 80 days after sowing, as compared to 91.6% of the non-SCS control. For the 45-days-old SCS nursery seedlings, the fresh weight was increased by 11% and was two times heavier, with only mild damage compared to that observed for non-SCS. Even after transplanting, SCS treatment contributed to a lower incidence of further infections and possibly to recovery of the seedlings to normal growth as compared to that observed in symptomatic plants in the pot. The active pathogenic macro-conidia and micro-conidia were considerably lower in the soil, root, and seedling sheath base of the SCS. In particular, the underdeveloped macro-conidia with straight oblong shape without intact septum were isolated in the SCS ; this phenotype is likely to be at a comparative etiological disadvantage when compared to that of typical active macro-conidia, which are slightly sickle-shaped with 3-7 intact septa. A active intact conidia with high inoculum potential were rarely observed in the tissue of the seedlings treated only in the SCS. We propose that promising result was likely achieved via inhibition of the development of intact pathogenic conidia, in concert with the aerobic, acidic conditions induced by the physiochemical characteristics associated with the air porosity of zeolite, alkalinity of silicate and the seed husk as a carbon source. In addition, the resistance of the healthy plants to pathogenic conidia was also important factor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제42권7호
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• pp.1043-1053
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• 2013

We investigated the ability of soybean curd residue (SCR) and its fermented products to inhibit obesity and improve the blood lipid profiles of obese mice fed a high-fat diet. Samples were prepared by fermenting SCR with Aspergillus oryzae var effuses KACC 44990 (ASCR), a microbe used for the fermentation of traditional Korean Meju, and with Monascus pilosus IFO 4480 (MSCR), a microbe used for the production of red rice. In addition, AMSCR, a mixture composed of equal amounts of ASCR and MSCR, was also prepared. Male mice were divided into six groups and fed with either a normal diet, a high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet supplemented with SCR, ASCR, MSCR, or AMSCR. After 8 weeks, body weight gain, serum and hepatic lipid profiles, and the activities of enzymes that generate or scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. Compared with the high-fat diet group, all the test groups showed a significant reduction in body, organ, and epididymal fat weight gain. These effects were observed with supplements in the order AMSCR>ASCR>MSCR>SCR. Similarly, supplements of test samples reduced high levels of serum and hepatic triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol caused by hight-fat diet, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was increased. Interestingly, the ability of ASCR to lower serum TG was stronger than that of MSCR, while MSCR showed a stronger hypocholesterolemic effect than ASCR. Meanwhile, AMSCR returned comprehensively serum lipid levels to normal. In addition, hepatic damage was prevented with effects in the order AMSCR>ASCR>MSCR>SCR. Hepatic ROS generating system including xanthine oxidase (XO) and ROS scavenging system including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were recovered to normal level by all test diets. In conclusion, this study suggests that SCR and its fermented products can inhibit obesity and improve lipid profiles.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.138-152
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• 2014

The objective of the study survey was to determine the effect of marine sand extraction on community composition and rate of recolonization of the meiobenthos following cessation of mining activities. Because of meiobenthic distribution in nature, high abundance, intimate association with sediments, fast reproduction, benthic larva period, sensitivity to pollution and rapid life histories, meiobenthos are widely regarded as ideal organisms to study the potential ecological indicator of natural and anthropogenic stresses. The community structure of meiobenthos was studied at seven stations within sandy tidal and sub tidal zones in Jangbongdo in the Yellow Sea, Korea from Aug. 2006 to Dec. 2007. Meiobenthic samples were collected by three core samples, with a 3.6 cm in diameter, from each sediment sample taken with a Smith-McIntyre Grab. It was found that sand mining often causes complete removal of the sediment and the damage to the habitats of meiobenthos. This study in the effect showed that sand mining resulted in a reduction in total abundance and biomass of meiobenthos in mining area. The finding of this study further showed that initial restoration of abundance and biomass within one year of the cessation of sand mining.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.103-115
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• 2016

This study aims to analyze the properties of cold air production and its flow of Nakdong-Jeongmaek(mountain ranges), and to suggest management strategies for Nakdong-Jeongmaek in order to enhance the green air conditioning functions of Jeongmaek. For this purpose, three study sites including Gudeoksan Mountain and the vicinity in Busan, Goheonsan Mountain and the vicinity in Ulsan, and Unjusan Mountain and the vicinity in Pohang were selected. The results found that cold air flow and its height of the three study sites were analyzed based on topographic properties and land use. Management strategies for preserving and enhancing their temperature reduction functions were suggested. The cold air produced in the vicinity of Gudeoksan was not fully developed and spread because of the high-density development at the border of Jeongmaek. Since high pressures of development are expected at the border, high conservation policies are required. In the vicinity of Goheonsan, where the agricultural complex and industrial park are located, cold air flows well throughout the entire study site thanks to fully developed cold air in the wide, flat valley. Hence, plans to maintain the current cold air flow are required, and conservation plans to mitigate future developments are also needed in the flat valley. The cold air in Unjusan and the vicinity with its complex and narrow mountain valleys gradually develops into valley bottoms. In order to take advantage of the terrain, the valley near the cold air production areas are preserved. In particular, special plans are required to prevent damage to the cold air layer near Youngcheonho Lake, where the highest height of cold air was recorded due to the closed and lower terrain feature. This study could support the establishment of systematic management plans of Nakdong-Jeongmaek to preserve and enhance its green air conditioning functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제43권8호
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• pp.1166-1173
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• 2014

This study investigated the detoxification effects of enzymatic hydrolysate from oyster on acetaminophen-induced toxicity using HepG-2 cells. Oyster hydrolysate was made with 1% Protamex and 1% Neutrase after treatment with transglutaminase (TGPN) or without (PN). Two types of oyster hydrolysate were added to human-derived HepG-2 hepatocytes damaged by acetaminophen, after which the survival rate of HepG-2 cell was measured. In addition, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities in the culture media were evaluated. The survival rates of HepG-2 cells were $136.2{\pm}1.4%$ at $100{\mu}g/mL$ of TGPN and $179.6{\pm}3.8%$ at $200{\mu}g/mL$ of TGPN. These cell survival rates were higher compared to that of the negative control group ($60.7{\pm}3.2%$) treated only with acetaminophen. GOT activity was $38.3{\pm}0.2$ Karmen/mL in the negative control group, whereas it was $19.9{\pm}0.5$ for TGPN ($200{\mu}g/mL$) and $22.0{\pm}2.4$ Karmen/mL for PN ($200{\mu}g/mL$). GOT and GTP activities were shown to be dependent on TGPN concentration, and significant reduction in activities could be conformed. The detoxification efficacy of TGPN was higher compared to that of PN. These results suggest that oyster hydrolysate has potential as a healthy food or pro-drug for liver protection.