• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 2016

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is one of the most important bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. S. mutans adheres to an acquired pellicle formed on the tooth surface, and aggregates with many oral bacteria. It initiates plaque formation by synthesizing glucan from sucrose, which is catalyzed by glucosyltransferases. Propolis is a resinous mixture produced by honeybees, by mixing saliva and beeswax with secretions gathered from wood sap and flower pollen. Bees prevent pathogenic invasions by coating the propolis to the outer and inner surface of the honeycomb. Propolis has traditionally been used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, asthma and dermatitis. We investigated the inhibitory effects of propolis ethanol extract on biofilm formation and gene expression of S. mutans. The biofilm formation of S. mutans was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and safranin staining. We observed that the extract of propolis had an inhibitory effect on the formation of S. mutans biofilms at concentrations higher than 0.2 mg/ml. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the gene expression of biofilm formation, such as gbpB, spaP, brpA, relA and vicR of S. mutans, was significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner. The ethanol extract of propolis showed concentration dependent growth inhibition of S. mutans, and significant inhibition of acid production at concentrations of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/ml, compared to the control group. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of propolis inhibits gene expression related to biofilm formation in S. mutans.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.441-451
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• 2017

Imperatorin, a major bioactive furanocoumarin with multifunctions, can be used for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of imperatorin transport in the brain. Experiments of the present study were designed to study imperatorin transport across the blood-brain barrier both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo study was performed in rats using single intravenous injection and in situ carotid artery perfusion technique. Conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cells were as an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier to examine the transport mechanism of imperatorin. Brain distribution volume of imperatorin was about 6 fold greater than that of sucrose, suggesting that the transport of imperatorin was through the blood-brain barrier in physiological state. Both in vivo and in vitro imperatorin transport studies demonstrated that imperatorin could be transported in a concentration-dependent manner with high affinity. Imperatorin uptake was dependent on proton gradient in an opposite direction. It was significantly reduced by pretreatment with sodium azide. However, its uptake was not inhibited by replacing extracellular sodium with potassium or N-methylglucamine. The uptake of imperatorin was inhibited by various cationic compounds, but not inhibited by TEA, choline and organic anion substances. Transfection of plasma membrane monoamine transporter, organic cation transporter 2 and organic cation/carnitine transporter 2/1 siRNA failed to alter imperatorin transport in brain capillary endothelial cells. Especially, tramadol, clonidine and pyrilamine inhibited the uptake of [$^3H$]imperatorin competitively. Therefore, imperatorin is actively transported from blood to brain across the blood-brain barrier by passive and carrier-mediated transporter.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.259-264
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of medium composition, physical condition and growth regulators on prothallus proliferation in 3 fern species belonging to Aspleniaceae (Asplenium incisum, Camptosorus sibiricus and Phyllitis scolopendrium). In all of the 3 species, the effective medium for prothallus proliferation was Murashige and Skoog's basal medium with 1% sucrose and pH 5.8. The optimum $NH_4^+:NO_3^-$ concentration ratio of protahllus proliferation was 20:40mM (1:2 ratio) in A. incisum and P. scolopendrium and 30:30mM (1:1 ratio) in C. sibiricus. However, agar content of medium did not affect the rate of prothallus proliferation. Among the selected 6 kinds of growth regulators (NAA, IAA, 2,4-D, BAP, kinetin and lip), cytokinins generally has a promotive effect, but auxins showed an inhibitory effect on prothallus growth.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.236-241
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• 2009

Dracocephalum argunense Fischer ex Link (Labiatae) is a perennial herbaceous plant used as valuable materials for ornamentals, honey production, and pharmaceutics. Since seed germination of this species was quite difficult, present studies were conducted to improve the germination rate by subjecting the seeds to various environmental conditions (temperature and light) and treatments (scarification, priming and seed coating). Optimum temperature for adequate germination was 20$^{\circ}C$ though it ranged from 15$^{\circ}C$ to 25$^{\circ}C$, and low temperature treatment improved germination rate. Light was required for higher germination rate in this species. The scarification of seeds resulted in much higher germination, especially by the physical treatment with sandpaper or chemical treatment with sulfuric acid for 30 seconds. Various primers with different concentrations were treated on the seeds and it was demonstrated that low temperature enhanced germination rate, regardless of kinds and concentrations of the primers. Three treatment combinations of the primers, 0.5 mM $GA_{3}$ treated for 48 hours, 0.5 mM IAA for 24 hours, and 1.0 mM IAA for 24 hours, increased the seed germination rate profoundly. Soaking treatment of inorganic salts, $KNO_{3}$ and $KH_{3}PO_{4}$, promoted germination when seeds were subjected to low temperature. Water soluble primers such as sucrose at 0.5 and 3% concentration and solid primer talc powder were effective in enhancing germination rate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.84-98
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• 2000

Control of Trihalomethanes(THMs) is a major concern of many water treatment plants. A number of researchers have studied the effectiveness of activated carbon adsorption process in removing THMs or organic halogen compounds. Recently, attention has been paid to the biological activated carbon (BAC) treatment of THM precursors as an alternative to the carbon adsorption treatment because of its effectiveness as well as its low running cost. In this study, changes of THM formation potential(THMFP) and removal of substrates in the SBR effluent were investigated in an attempt to clarify the mechanisms of the decrease/increase of THMFP in the BAC treatment. The increase and decrease of THMFP concentrations were observed in effluents during prolonged operation. When PCP or DBS was feeded as substrate contained in SBR effluent, the THMFPs were easyly removed with TOCs removal. But the case of SBR effluent containing SDS or glycine was introduced, and when microbial growth came to its near steady state, the THMFPs of treated effluents were increased more or less in comparison to those in the influents. Such increases of THMFP coincided with the increase in microbial growth within the activated carbon fiber(ACF) column. In the case of only sucrose was feeded as substrate on ACF colume, THMFP concentrations of effluent were higher than those of influent. The THMFP concentration was significantly increased on inlet part of ACF column, which biomass inhabits abundantly, then they were decreased gradually. These increases mean production of the secondary THM precursors by biological activities, which can be removed by adsorption and biological degradation on ACF column.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.4 s.161
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• pp.258-263
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• 2005

Amounts of sap collected by DBH class and contents of mineral and free sugar in the sap of Acer mono for. rubripes indigenous in Geojedo were investigated. The collectable periods of sap of A. mono for. rubripes were 17 days and the total amount of sap was 193 l from 60 trees. Sap of A. mono for. rubripes were increased with increasing DBH, being 40 l (21 %), 49 l (25%) and 104 l (54%) from small, middle and large diameter tree, respectively. This may be due to increase in crown width and extention of root system. Amounts of sap was affected by temperature fluctuation between day and night. The pH and the contents of solid and sugar in the sap of A. mono for. rubripes were 6.5 and 2.40% and 1.99%, respectively. Free sugar determined in the sap was sucrose with 19.9 g/l, but glucose, fructose and maltose were not detected. The sap of A. mono for. rubripes contained seven kinds of minerals and the prominent minerals were Ca and K with their concentration being 441 mg/l and 383 mg/l, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 1991

Gardenia callus was induced in MS medium containing $10{\;}{\mu}M$ of 2,4 diphenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), $1{\;}{\mu}M$ kinetin, and 3% sucrose in the dark. $B_5$ medium was identified to be the most adequate medium for cell growth. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was better growth regulator than 2,4-D not only for cell growth but slso for carotenoid production. Ligt also played a critical role on synthesis of carotenoid. Gardenia cells grown in $B_5$ medium could utilize a polysaccharide, soluble starch, as a carbon source. The cell growth was stimulated in $B_5$ medium fortified with 0.2% yeast extract. The optimum pH for cell growth was 5.7. High density cultures can be maintained by increasing inoculum size and medium concentration accordingly. Specific growth rate and mass doubling time were 0.095 $day^{-1}$ and 7.3 days, respectively. The cell immobilized in alginate tends to formulate more enlarged vacuoles containing yellow pigment compared with those of suspended cell. Carotenoid content of immobilized cell was about $264.4{\;}{\mu}g/g$ fresh weight (F.W.) corresponding twice of the content of suspended cell ($112.08{\;}{\mu}g/g$ F.W.). The color of gardenia cell was shifted from yellow to red when carbohydrase-secreting fungus, Trichoderma reesei, was co-cultivated with gardenia cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2015

β-Glucosidase production by the white rot fungus Flammulina velutipes CFK 3111 was evaluated using different carbon and nitrogen sources under submerged fermentation. Maximal extracellular enzyme production was 1.6 U/ml, corresponding to a culture grown in sucrose 40 g/land asparagine 10 g/l. High production yield was also obtained with glucose 10 g/land asparagine 4 g/l medium (0.5 U/ml). Parameters affecting the enzyme activity were studied using p-nitrophenyl-β-_D-glucopyranoside as the substrate. Optimal activity was found at 50℃ and pHs 5.0 to 6.0. Under these conditions, β-glucosidase retained 25% of its initial activity after 12 h of incubation and exhibited a half-life of 5 h. The addition of MgCl₂, urea, and ethanol enhanced the β-glucosidase activity up to 47%, whereas FeCl₂, CuSO₄, Cd(NO₃)₂, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide inflicted a strong inhibitory effect. Glucose and cellobiose also showed an inhibitory effect on the β-glucosidase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The enzyme had an estimated molecular mass of 75 kDa. To the best of our knowledge, F. velutipes CFK 3111 β-glucosidase production is amongst the highest reported to date, in a basidiomycetous fungus.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 1995

The contents of sucrose and reducing sugars of cotyledons and hypocotyls of Ricinus communis L were increased slightly during cold treatment at $4^{\circ}C$. The concentration of total amino acids was increased continuosly during cold treatment. But the contents of hydrophilic amino acids, Asp/Asn, Glu/Gln, Thr, Ser, Ala and cationic amino acids, Arg and Lys were varied dramatically with the cold treated time. The cold treatment induced 24, 52, 54, 55, 56 and 73.5kD of proteins in cotyledons and 55, 56 and 73.5kD of proteins in hypocotyls. 24, 42, 49 and 52kD of proteins in cotyledons and hypocotyls were boiling stable. They were not denatrated by boiling at $100^{\circ}C$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2000

Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid is widely distributed in animal tissues and has a variety of bio-logical activities. A recent worldwide study demonstrated beneficial effects of taurine on aging and age-associated disorders. In general, taurine levels in the brain decease when an animal is subjected to pathologic conditions such as ischemia-anoxia and seizure. But the taurine levles tend to increase in the brain in hypertensive state. In the present study, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport of [$^3$H]taurine was compared between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) using intravenous injection technique in vivo. We also obtained pharmacokinetic parameters of plasma volume maker, [$^{14}$ C] sucrose and [$^3$H]taurine after inject to rats simulatenously. BBB permeability surface area product (PS) value of [$^3$H]taurine in SHR (16$\pm$2.9$\times$10$^{-3}$ ml/min/g) was significantly higher than that in SD (7.4$\pm$0.8$\times$10$^{-3}$ ml/min/g). There is also significant difference for brain uptake of [$^3$H]taurine between SHR (0.195$\pm$0.031%ID/g) and SD (0.058$\pm$0.003% ID/g). This is due to difference of area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and that of total clearance (Class) between SHR and SD. No significant difference was indicated from other organ uptakes such as lung, heart, liver SHR and SD. But also kidney uptake was much higher in SHR. In conclusion, [$^3$H]taurine in plasma was slowly eliminated in SHR than in SD and uptake of [$^3$H]taurine in SHR is much higher than that of SD. This results suggest increased taurine level in the brain in hypertension state have an any effect on the brain uptake of taurine.