• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.179-192
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• 2008

Objectives : Draconis Resina (DR) has been used as a traditional Korean herbal medicine since ancient times, and today it is used as a medication for wounds, tumors, diarrhea, rheumatism, in the itching of insect bites and with other conditions in the folk medicine. The aim of this study was to determine whether fractionated extracts of DR inhibit free radical generation, intracellular oxidation, production of nitrite, an index of NO, PGE2, iNOS, COX-2 and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, Methods : DR extract prepared with methanol, and then fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water. Inhibitory effect of DR onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH, superoxide anions and nitric oxide scavenging activities in vitro. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. Intracelluar oxidation was analysed by DCF-DA assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 expression were confirmed by western blot. And proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. Results : Our results indicated that fractionated extracts, especially dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts, significantly inhibited free radical generation, the LPS-induced H202, NO, PGE2 production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 formation in macrophages. Conclusions : Our results indicate that dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of DR have potential as an agent of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2007

Objective : Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae) has long been used for treatment of infectious diseases in oriental countries. The aim of this study was to investigative the effect by which the aqueous extract from flower of L. japonica (LJFAE) inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory mediators in murine macrophages, RAW 264.7 cells Methods : The dried flowers of L. japonica were extracted with distilled water at $100^{\circ}C$ for 7 h. The extract was filtered through 0.45 ${\mu}m$ filter, freeze-dried. The dried extract was dissolved in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and filtered through 0.22 ${\mu}m$ filter before use. Accumulated nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide (NO), was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), interleukin-1$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$), and IL-6 production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. Results: LJFAE (10-400 ${\mu}g$/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in unstimulated macrophages, but LJFAE concentration-dependently reduced NO, PGE2, TNF-, IL-l, and IL-6 production and COX-2 activity caused by stimulation of LPS. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions were markedly suppressed by the treatment with LJFAE in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusions : These results suggest that LJFAE suppress the NO and PGE2production in macrophages by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression and these properties may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of Lonicera japonica.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2006

Black rockfish and goldeye rockfish are commercially important fish species due to the increasing demand in Korea. When estimating the abundance of stocks for these species acoustically, it is of crucial importance to know the target strength(TS) to length dependence. In relation to these needs, TS measurement was conducted on black rockfish and goldeye rockfish in an acrylic salt water tank using 70kHz and 120kHz split beam echo sounders. The TS for these two species under the controlled condition was simultaneously measured with the swimming movement by DVR system and analyzed as a function of fish length(L). The results obtained are summarized as follows: The best fit regression of TS on fish length of black rockfish was TS=19.38 Log(L, cm)-70.46 ($r^2=0.71$) at 70kHz and TS=22.39 Log(L, cm)-70.40 ($r^2=0.64$) at 120kHz and in the standard form TS=20 Log(L, cm)-71.29 ($r^2 = 0.70$) at 70kHz and TS=20 Log(L, cm)-66.88 ($r^2=0.57$) at 120kHz. The best fit regression of TS on fish length of goldeye rockfish was TS=17.10 Log(L, cm)-68.28 ($r^2=0.37$) at 70kHz and TS=24.39 Log(L, cm)-73.74 ($r^2=0.59$) at 120kHz and in the standard form TS=20 Log(L, cm)-72.03 ($r^2=0.32$) at 70kHz and TS=20 Log(L, cm)-67.68 ($r^2=0.64$) at 120kHz. An empirical model for fish TS(dB) averaged over the dorsal aspect of 115 fishes of black rockfish and goldeye rockfish and which spans the fish length(L, m) to wavelength($\lambda$, m) ratio between 8 and 30 was derived : TS=34.12 Log(L)-14.12 Log($\lambda$)-23.83, ($r^2=0.90$).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.301-310
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• 2010

Bacillus subtilis strains produce a broad spectrum of bioactive peptides. The lipopeptide surfactin belongs to one well-known class, which includes amphiphilic membrane-active biosurfactants and peptide antibiotics. Both the srfA promoter and the ComP-ComA signal transduction system are an important part of the factor that results in the production of surfactin. Bs-M49, obtained by means of low-energy ion implantation in wild-type Bs-916, produced significantly lower levels of surfactin, and had no obvious effects against R. solani. Occasionally, we found strain Bs-M49 decreased spore formation and the development of competence. Blast comparison of the sequences from Bs-916 and M49 indicate that there is no difference in the srfA operon promoter PsrfA, but there are differences in the coding sequence of the comA gene. These differences result in three missense mutations within the M49 ComA protein. RT-PCR analyses results showed that the expression levels of selected genes involved in competence and sporulation in both the wild-type Bs-916 and mutant M49 strains were significantly different. When we integrated the comA ORF into the chromosome of M49 at the amyE locus, M49 restored hemolytic activity and antifungal activity. Then, HPLC analyses results also showed the comA-complemented strain had a similar ability to produce surf actin with wild-type strain Bs-916. These data suggested that the mutation of three key amino acids in ComA greatly affected the biological activity of Bacillus subtilis. ComA protein 3D structure prediction and motif search prediction indicated that ComA has two obvious motifs common to response regulator proteins, which are the N-terminal response regulator receiver motif and the C-terminal helix-turn-helix motif. The three residues in the ComA N-terminal portion may be involved in phosphorylation activation mechanism. These structural prediction results implicate that three mutated residues in the ComA protein may play an important role in the formation of a salt-bridge to the phosphoryl group keeping active conformation to subsequent regulation of the expression of downstream genes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.137-146
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• 2011

In this research, food waste source reduction model for apartment was investigated. In spite of prohibition of direct landfill of food waste and continuous efforts made by government and local government, food waste production increases steadily. Recycling ratio of the food waste increases every year, but its products have many problems like low quality, stability, salt, odor etc. Household occupies 63.3% of whole food waste production and this is subject to be a key factor to control food waste. We surveyed S apartment in Kwangju city as a model case, in which administrative office and women's association adopted clean plate eating, separation of raw food waste and earth worm composting as a series of method for source reduction and recycling inside the apartment. With the help of residents' participation and practice, food waste production decreased 15.6% from 0.31 g/capita/day in 2007 to 0.26 g/capita/day in 2009 (domestic average 0.30 g/capita/day). Separation of raw food waste and its composting using earth worm were very effective, and were subject to resolve the problems of present food waste treatment technologies. And earth worm composting was very useful in environmental, economical, societal and educational aspects. Instead of economical incentive, educational programs about food value, environmental problem and critical method for food waste separation were more effective for promotion of source reduction. From the analyses on the process and success factors in this model, we could conclude that leader's role was one of the key factors for the settlement of source reduction, and that was to understand the seriousness of the food waste and to seek solution, to test techniques, and to practice by oneself. Furthermore, networking and collaboration among residents, local government, NGO and local press promoted residents' participation, and it was through various education and investigation. Finally, source reduction and self recycling model of food waste in the apartment, that applies separating raw food waste and earth worm composting based on the collaboration among residents, local government, NGO, and local press, should be disseminated, and environmental policy also should be changed to make it possible.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2001

To produce novel bioactive flavonoids, Gericudranin A and Gericudranin B, a cell culture system of Cudrania tricuspidata including callus induction and optimization of culture conditions was established. Friable calli were efficiently induced from the hypocotyl segments of seedlings on B5 medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L NAA, 0.1 mg/L kinetin and 3% sucrose. Several factors were optimized for the Gericudranin production and the cell growth in suspension cultures. Low level of basal salt medium (1/8 MS), 1.0 mg/L IAA and 0.1 mg/L zeatin, and high level of sucrose (5%) were effective for the production of Gericudranins, whereas WPM with 1.0 mg/L NAA, 0.1 mg/L zeatin, and 5% sucrose were more effective for the cell growth. When cells were cultured on MS liquid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA, about 2200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry wt of Gericudranin A could be produced. The level might be about 10 times of the native inner bark. About 2350 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry wt of Gericudranin B was also produced on MS liquid medium with 5% sucrose, 1.0 mg/L NAA, 0.1 mg/L kinetin. The content was estimated about 3 times of the level of native inner bark.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.37-47
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• 2004

In Korea, over three hundreds of the coal mines were closed or abandoned due to the depression of the mining industry since the late 1980s. Many of them locate in the steep mountain valleys and the coal mine wastes had been disposed without a proper treatment From these mines, enormous amounts of coal mine overburdens have been abandoned in the slopes and the ample amounts of acid mine drainage (AMD) from either portal or overburdens have been discharging directly to the streams, causing the detrimental effects on soil and water qualities. Objectives of this research were to reclaim the coal mine overburdens using the lime waste cake from the soda ash production by stabilizing the overburden slopes, introducing the vegetation alleviate the environmental problems caused by the closed coal mines. The percentages of the grass distribution ratio (%) and the surface coverage ($\textrm{cm}^2$) in each treatment plot were determined during June to August after seed spraying grasses such as orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L), Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and Eulalia (Miscanthus sinensis Anderss) at the end of May. The grasses covered only 15.5 % of the coal overburden plot at the early stage but the coverage was increased with time to 33% in August. Growth of such grasses was enhanced with the combined treatments of lime waste and topsoil resulting in the increased surface coverage by the grasses. The Increment of the surface coverage from June to August was higher with lime waste treatments. The distribution percentages and surface coverage were highest when the lime wastes were treated at 25 % of the lime requirement. This might be related with the high salt contents in the hire wastes. Results demonstrated that the amounts of lime wastes at 25% of the lime requirement were sufficient for neutralizing the acidic coal overburden and introducing the re-vegetation. Either layering between the coal waste and topsoil or mixing with coal overburdens could be adopted as the lime waste treatment method. The combined treatment of lime wastes and topsoil was recommended for re-vegetation in the coal overburden slopes. The lime wastes from the soda ash production might have a potential to be recycled for the reclamation of the abandoned coal mines to alleviate the environmental problems associated with coal mine waste.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2007

Salicornia herbacea L. (Chenopodiaceae: S. herbacea) is a salt marsh plant, which has long been prescribed in traditional medicines for the treatment of intestinal ailments, nephropathy, and hepatitis in Oriental countries. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of this herb, we conducted an anti-oxidative activity, the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, and the suppression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, with the solvent-extracts of S. herbacea. We found that both ethyl acetate and n-butanol tractions showed potent anti-oxidative effects in comparison to other fractions using xanthine oxidase assay with $IC_{50}$ values of $66.0{\pm}0.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $82.5{\pm}3.8\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In addition, both ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed more electron donating activity (EDA) than other tractions, according to DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-lpicrylhydrazyl radical) assay. The EDA of ethyl acetate fraction ($IC_{50}$ values of $117.5{\pm}3.8\;{\mu}g/ml$) is more significant than that of n-butanol fraction ($IC_{50}$ values of $375.0{\pm}12.5\;{\mu}g/ml$). Among potential anti-oxidative tractions, ethyl acetate traction dose-dependently suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cell, while n-butanol did not. As expected, ethyl acetate fraction suppressed the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in RAW264.7 cell stimulated by $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS. Moreover, the ethyl acetate traction suppressed the expression of interleukin-1 $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that S. herbacea may have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities by modulating radical-induced toxicity and various pro-inflammatory responses.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.692-697
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• 2016

This study examined the effects of salinity and medium used on the induction of sexual reproduction for the mass production of the resting eggs in the marine rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis for 9 days. After exposure to various salinities, the mixis rate in all treatments began to increase on the third day and decreased after the 4th or 5th day. The resting eggs appeared on the 4th day at 10‰, 15‰, 20‰, 25‰. In particular, the fertilization rates with 33.3% and 31.3% at 20‰ and 25‰ on day 6 were higher than those of the others, respectively. Mean mixis rate for 9 day at 0‰ and 20‰ were the highest with 25.3% and 20.2%, respectively, and the fertilization rate (14.0%) at 25‰ was the highest. In the medium experiment used, the mixis rate in all treatments were similar to the results of the salinity experiment. The resting eggs were only found at 0% and 25% of the used medium treatments. While there were no significant differences in the mean fertilization rate of all treatments, the mean mixis rate (22.3%) in the 25% treatment was higher than that of the control (0% treatment). As a result, salt stress was more effective than using the used medium to induce sexual reproduction in B. rotundiformis. The optimal salinity was considered to be 20-25‰, which caused a high mixis and fertilization rate in the rotifer. These results provide basic data for the mass production of rotifer resting eggs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.948-954
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• 2016

We investigated the flavonoid and phenol contents and antioxidant effect of wine by-product extract. Antioxidant effects were measured with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2.2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS+) assays. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured with the dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The flavonoid and phenol contents of the methanol (MeOH) extract were greater than those of the acetone+methylene chloride (A+M) extract. Among fractions, the 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH) fraction contained the highest flavonoid contents, while the n-BuOH fraction had more phenol contents. In the DPPH and ABTS assays, the MeOH extract showed a scavenging effect greater than that of the A+M extract (p<0.05). The n-BuOH fraction (0.5 mg/ml concentrations) showed scavenging effects of 72% and 92%, respectively, in the DPPH and ABTS assays (p<0.05). However, the 85% aq. MeOH fraction showed a 90% scavenging effect in the DPPH assay only. In 120 min ROS production assay, all tested fractions dose-dependently decreased cellular ROS production induced by H₂O₂ in comparison with that produced by exposure to the extract-free control. The MeOH extract showed a higher sinhibitory effect on cellular ROS producing than that of the A+M extract at all concentrations tested. Treatment with the n-BuOH fraction (0.1 mg/ml concentrations) inhibited cellular ROS production by 60%. These results indicate that the n-BuOH fraction of wine by-product extract inhibited cellular oxidation and may contain valuable bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and phenols.