• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1397-1403
• /
• 2013

Fructus Sophorae, the dried ripe fruit of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.), is an herbal ingredient used in traditional Oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Fructus Sophorae extracts (FSE) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and tumor necrotic $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were evaluated. Our data revealed that FSE increased the macrophage activation and the production of $PGE_2$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$, which was consistently correlated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. On comparative cytokine protein array, FSE significantly increased several cytokines, which was associated with phosphorylation of mitogen- activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Akt in RAW 264.7 cells. However, each inhibitor of these molecules attenuated the FSE-induced $PGE_2$ production. These results indicate that FSE activated macrophages through the activation of MAPKs and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that FSE may provide a promising source of an immunoenhancing agent.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.392-400
• /
• 2003

We used an oxygen microelectrode to measure the vertical profiles of oxygen concentration in sediments located near point sources of organic matter. The measurements were carried out between 13th and 17th May, 2003, in semi-closed bay and coastal sediments in the central part of the South Sea. The measured oxygen penetration depths were extremely shallow and ranged from 1.30 to 3.80 mm. This suggested that the oxidation and reduction reactions in the early diagenesis should be studied at the mm depth scale. In order to estimate the oxygen consumption rate, we applied the one-dimension diffusion-reaction model to vertical profiles of oxygen near the sediment/water interface. Oxygen consumption rates were estimated to be between 10.8 and 27.6 mmol O$_2$ m$\^$-2/ day$\^$-1/(average: 19.1 mmol O$_2$ m$\^$-2/ day$\^$-1/). These rates showed a positive correlation with the organic carbon of the sediments. The corresponding benthic organic carbon oxidation rates calculated using an modified Redfield ratio (170/110) at the sediment/water interface were in the range of 89.5-228.1 mg C m$\^$-2/ day$\^$-1/(average: 158.0 mg C m$\^$-2/ day$\^$-1/). We suggest that these results are maximum values at the presents situation in the bay because the sampling sites were located near point sources of organic materials. This study will need to be carried out at many coastal sites and throughout the seasons to allow an understanding of the mechanisms of eutrophication e.g. the spatial distribution of oxygen consumption within the oxic zone and hypoxic conditions in the coastal sea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme ${\alpha}$-L-iduronidase, which leads to a broad spectrum of multisystemic manifestations. Short stature and decreased growth velocity are prominent features of MPS I. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on growth of Korean MPS I patients from a single center. Methods: Height data were obtained by retrospective chart review of 10 Korean patients with MPS I who had received ERT for a minimum of 3 years. Height was expressed as standard deviation scores (SDS) based on normative data. Annual growth rates were calculated before and during ERT. A piecewise regression model was used to analyze height z-scores before and after treatment. Individual analysis was performed for impact of phenotype [(severe (Hurler) versus attenuated (Hurler-Scheie, Scheie)] on growth. Results: Annual growth was 3.3 cm (z-score= -0.21) in the year before ERT and 6.2 cm (z-score= 0.17), 5.8 cm (z-score= 0.07), and 3.8 cm (z-score= -0.4) in the first, second, and third years of ERT, respectively. Regression analysis showed improvement in the slope after ERT (difference= 0.04; P=0.022). Estimated slope differences between severe and attenuated phenotypes were statistically significant before (P=0.001) and after treatment (P<0.0001), although no significant difference was noted when stratified by phenotype. Conclusion: ERT with aldurazyme appears to have a positive impact on linear growth in patients with MPS I.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.104-110
• /
• 2013

This study assessed hazards at the harvest stage of strawberry farms which may cause risk to humans. A total of 216 samples were collected from 6 strawberry farms (soil culture farms: A, B, C; nutriculture farms: D, E, F) located in Western Gyeongnam. The collected samples were subjected for sanitary indicator bacteria (aerobic plate count, coliforms and Escherichia coli), major foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus), and fungi. The levels of APC and coliform in the soil culture farms were 1.0-6.9 and 0.4-4.6 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$), respectively. The samples obtained from the nutriculture farms were contaminated with the levels of 0.8-4.9, and 0.2-2.6 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$) of APC and coliform. However, E. coli was not detected in any samples. In major foodborne pathogens, S. aureus was detected at the level of ${\leq}$3.3 log CFU/hand in workers' hand samples and B. cereus was detected at the levels of 0.4-4.1 log CFU/g (hand or 100 $cm^2$) in soil, plants and workers' hygiene. L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. were not detected. Fungi were detected at the levels of 1.0-5.2 and 0.2-4.4 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$) in soil culture and nutriculture farms, respectively.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.536-541
• /
• 2017

The object of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Litsea japonica fruit flesh extract (LJF-HE) on gastritis of an stress-induced SD rat model. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: Normal (normal group), Control (stress-induced gastritis), Ranitidine (stress-induced gastritis and ranitidine 50 mg/kg), LJF-HE-L (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 30 mg/kg), LJF-HE-M (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 60 mg/kg), LJF-HE-H (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 120 mg/kg). In groups treated with LJF-HE, gastric mucosal damage and pepsin activity were reduced. Additionally, there were decreases in the expression of cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK-2r) in the gastric lesions. The plasma levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ slightly but significantly decreased in LJF-HE treated groups compared to control. The plasma level of PGE2 was also significantly increased in LJF-HE treated groups. These results suggest that LJF-HE has the ability to reduce of the severity stress-induced gastritis.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.507-512
• /
• 2017

There has been increasing concern regarding misuse of disinfectants and sanitizers such as ethanol, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide for food contact surfaces in the food industry. Examining the efficacy of the concentration of currently used disinfectants and sanitizers is urgently required in the Korean society. This study aimed to develop predictive reduction models for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in suspension, as a function of $ClO_2$ (chlorine dioxide) and contact time using response surface methodology. E. coli ATCC 10536 and S. aureus ATCC 6538 (initial inoculum, 8-9 log CFU/mL) in tryptic soy broth were treated with different concentrations of $ClO_2$ (5, 20, and 35 ppm) for different contact times (1, 3, and 5 min) following a central composite design. The polynomial reduction models for $ClO_2$ on E. coli and S. aureus were developed under the clean condition. E. coli reduction by 35 ppm $ClO_2$ for 1, 3, and 5 min was 2.49, 2.70, and 3.65 log CFU/mL, respectively. Also, S. aureus reduction by 35 ppm $ClO_2$ for 1, 3, and 5 min was 4.59, 5.25, and 5.81 log CFU/mL, respectively. The predictive response polynomial models developed were $R=0.43231-0.056492^*X_1-0.097771^*X_2+9.24167E-003^*X_1^*X_2+3.06333E-003^*X_1{^2}$ ($R^2=0.98$) on E. coli and $R=1.10542-0.20896^*X_1-0.046062^*X_2+8.30000E-003^*X_1^*X_2+8.73300E-003^*X_1{^2}$ ($R^2=0.99$) on S. aureus, where R was the bacterial reduction (log CFU/mL), $X_1$ was the concentration and $X_2$ was the contact time. Our predictive reduction models should be validated in developing the optimal concentration and contact time of $ClO_2$ for inhibiting E. coli and S. aureus on food contact surfaces.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.497-503
• /
• 2012

This study was performed in order to evaluate the antioxidant activities of red beet extracts as well as the physicochemical properties and microbial changes of pork patties containing red beet during refrigerated storage. Red beet was extracted with water and ethanol. Red beet water extracts (RBW) and red beet ethanol extracts (RBE) were diluted with various concentrations (0.05~1.0%). DPPH radical scavenging activity and iron chelation activity of RBW showed a higher level than those of RBE (p<0.05). In particular, the iron chelation activity of RBW was over 53.4% at all levels. In addition, RBW at 1% had nearly 100% activity. On the other hand, the reducing powers of RBE were higher than those of RBW (p<0.05), and the antioxidant activity on linoleic acid emulsion of RBW was over 83% at all levels. Based on these model studies, 0.5% levels of RBW and RBE were added to ground pork patties (GPP), and the physicochemical properties and microbial changes of red beet GPP were evaluated during storage (0~14 d) at $4^{\circ}C$. The pH and microbial counts increased with increased storage time (p<0.05). Pork patties with BHT showed the lowest thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and microbial counts, and those with red beet had lower TBARS than the control (p<0.05). These results indicated that both red beet water and ethanol extracts could be used as natural antioxidants of pork patties during storage.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.710-718
• /
• 2002

It is reported that Pueraria Radix contains phtoestrogens whereas flower, and bud of Pueraria lobata Ohwi were not known. In the present study, we determined the amount of phytoestrogen in each portion of P. lobata Ohwi and carried out therapeutic effects of osteoporosis. The amounts of genistein, daidzein, and formononetin in Pueraria Radix (PR), Pueraria Flos (PF), and young Pueratia Folium (PL) were quantitated using a HPLC system. Proliferation of osteoblast and growth inhibitory effect on osteoclast were measured in order to screen their effects on osteoporosis. Proliferation of osteoblast-like cells (Saos-2) was analyzed by both MTT methods and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays. Growth inhibitory effect on osteoclast was also detected as Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay. Ovariectomized rat as an in vivo animal model was selected and administrations of PR were 1 g/kg/day (PR-1) and 5 g/kg/day (PR-5) for 9 weeks, respectively. Trabecular bone areas (TBAs) of tibia and lumbar were analyzed usibg histomorphological methods. Results show that PR contains the highest level of daidzein ($10435{\pm}2143\;mg/kg$ of dried herb) and stimulated ALP activity, approximately 160% of the control. Growth inhibitory effect on osteoclast by both PR and daidzein were almost identical with control although $IC_{50}$ of genistein was $5.81{\times}10^{-7}$ M. Increases in body weight of OVX rats were suppressed by administration of PR but wet weights of uterus in PR-5 group were increased (p<0.05). Plasma ALP and HDL-cholesterol levels were decreased following ages (p<0.01), and LDL-cholesterol level was also decreased in PR-5 group at 20 week of age (p<0.01). TBAs of tibia and lumbar in PR-1 and PR-5 groups were higher than those of the control although the values were less than those of the sham group (each p<0.01) In conclusion, administrations of PR prevented loss of TBAs of tibia and lumber in OVX rats, while PL and PF did not (p<0.01).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.1191-1197
• /
• 2000

In the preliminary study, we investigated the anti-complementary activities of 62 extracts from Korean edible seaweeds. Of those, Pachymeniopsis elliptica showed the highest anti-complementary activity. Therefore, it was purified as follows; i) PE-1 by ethanol precipitation, ii) PE-1-C by ultrafiltration, iii) PE-1-CIV by DEAE-Toyopearl 650C, and iv) PE-1-CIV-ii by Sepharose CL-6B. The purified compound, PE-1-CIV-ii, was the complexed homogeneous polysaccharide (molecular mass: 780 kDa) with 82.9% of anti-complementary activity. Also, it contained a significant amount of sulfate group (30.5%), which indicated it as a sulfated algal polysaccharide. Its structural monosaccharides were galactose (44.3%), 3,6-anhydrogalactose (34.0%), glucose (8.2%), fucose (5.4%), xylose (5.2%) and rhamnose (2.9%). After the treatment of periodate on a sample, a significant decrease in anti-complementary activity was found, which was a characteristic of bioactive polysaccharides. And-tumor activity of PE-1-A, B and C was tested in the sarcoma-180 solid tumor model. The PE-1-C with the largest molecular mass (more than 300 kDa) showed 81% of inhibition on the solid tumors, suggesting that the anti-complementary activity was, at least in part, related to anti-tumor activity. Based upon these results, the purified polysacchardes could be an immunopotentiator in vivo.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.77-83
• /
• 2016

The measurement of total fresh weight of plants provides an essential indicator of crop growth for monitoring production. To measure fresh weight without damaging the vegetation, image-based methods have been developed, but they have limitations. In addition, the total plant fresh weight is difficult to measure directly in hydroponic cultivation systems because of the amount of nutrient solution. This study aimed to develop a real-time, precise method to measure the total fresh weight of Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Asia Heuk Romaine) with growth stage in a plant factory using a nutrient film technique. The total weight of the channel, amount of residual nutrient solution in the channel, and fresh shoot and root weights of the plants were measured every 7 days after transplanting. The initial weight of the channel during nutrient solution supply (Wi) and its weight change per second just after the nutrient solution supply stopped were also measured. When no more draining occurred, the final weight of the channel (Ws) and the amount of residual nutrient solution in the channel were measured. The time constant (${\tau}$) was calculated by considering the transient values of Wi and Ws. The relationship of Wi, Ws, ${\tau}$, and fresh weight was quantitatively analyzed. After the nutrient solution supply stopped, the change in the channel weight exponentially decreased. The nutrient solution in the channel slowly drained as the root weight in the channel increased. Large differences were observed between the actual fresh weight of the plant and the predicted value because the channel included residual nutrient solution. These differences were difficult to predict with growth stage but a model with the time constant showed the highest accuracy. The real-time fresh weight could be calculated from Wi, Ws, and ${\tau}$ with growth stage.