• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2021

Insects affect crop harvest yield and quality, making plant response mechanisms to insect herbivores a heavily studied topic. However, analysis of plant responses to honeybees is rare. In this study, comprehensive metabolic profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to honeybees was performed to investigate which metabolites were changed by the insect. A total of 85 metabolites-including chlorophylls, carotenoids, glucosinolates, policosanols, tocopherols, phytosterols, β-amyrin, amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and starch-were identified using high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The metabolite profiling analysis of Arabidopsis exposed to honeybees showed higher levels of stress-related metabolites. The levels of glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin), policosanols (eicosanol, docosanol, tricosanol, tetracosanol), tocopherols (β-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol), putrescine, lysine, and sugars (arabinose, fructose, glucose, mannitol, mannose, raffinose) in Arabidopsis exposed to honeybees were higher than those in unexposed Arabidopsis. Glucosinolates act as defensive compounds against herbivores; policosanols are components of plant waxes; tocopherols act as an antioxidant; and putrescine, lysine, and sugars contribute to stress regulation. Our results suggest that Arabidopsis perceives honeybees as a stress and changes its metabolites to overcome the stress. This is the first step to determining how Arabidopsis reacts to exposure to honeybees.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.601-609
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• 2021

Erythrobacter species are extensively studied marine bacteria that produce various carotenoids. Due to their photoheterotrophic ability, it has been suggested that they play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. It is essential to identify the genome sequence and the genes of the species to predict their role in the marine ecosystem. In this study, we report the complete genome sequence of the marine bacterium Erythrobacter sp. 3-20A1M. The genome size was 3.1 Mbp and its GC content was 64.8%. In total, 2998 genetic features were annotated, of which 2882 were annotated as functional coding genes. Using the genetic information of Erythrobacter sp. 3-20A1M, we performed pan-genome analysis with other Erythrobacter species. This revealed highly conserved secondary metabolite biosynthesis-related COG functions across Erythrobacter species. Through subsequent secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene cluster prediction and KEGG analysis, the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway was proven conserved in all Erythrobacter species, except for the spheroidene and spirilloxanthin pathways, which are only found in photosynthetic Erythrobacter species. The presence of virulence genes, especially the plant-algae cell wall degrading genes, revealed that Erythrobacter sp. 3-20A1M is a potential marine plant-algae scavenger.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2004

This study was performed as a part of comparative biological studies of carotenoid pigment for the unutilized biological products. The content of total carotenoid in the integument of wild catfish were 0.27(${\pm}$0.7) mg％ and composed of 25.8％ zeaxanthin, 9.7％ diatoxanthin and 9.1 ％ cynthiaxanthin as major carotenoid. The content of total carotenoid in the integument of cultured catfish were 0.07(${\pm}$0.03) mg％ which is relatively lower compare to wild catfish and composed of 48.5％ lutein, 13.9％ zeaxanthin and 13.3％ isocryptoxanthin as major carotenoid. The total carotenoid contents of the slender catfish were 0.75(${\pm}$0.25) mg％ which is relatively higher compare to other species of catfishes. The carotenoids were composed of 24.5％ zeaxanthin, 24.1 ％ 7'8'-dihydro-${\beta}$-carotene-4-ol, 17.9％ 7'8'-dihydro-${\beta}$-carotene and 10.8％ 7'8'-dihydro-${\beta}$-carotene-3-01 as major carotenoid and 8.7％ diatoxanthin, 6.7％ cynthiaxanthin and 5.0％ lutein as minor carotenoid. Based on these data, as a comparative studies of carotenoid in integument of siluridae, parasiloxanthin and 7',8'-dihydroparasiloxanthin which are the characteristic carotenoid of catfish from biwa lake in Japan, Slender catfish contained more based on 7',8'-dihydro-${\beta}$-carotene while that of wild and cultured catfishes were not found, indicating that carotenoid pigment of slender catfish depend on their living conditions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2014

This study was designed to investigate the in vitro antioxidant potentials and the antioxidant components of 80% ethanolic extracts prepared from five edible spring flowers. The contents of total phenols (14.1-18.9 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of dry weight; DW), flavonoids (0.3-4.9 mg catechin equivalents), total carotenoids ($1.9-578.1{\mu}g$ ${\beta}$-carotene equivalents), and proanthocyanidins (2.8-23.5 mg catechin equivalents), were determined by spectrophotometry. In addition, the content of ascorbic acid (0.71-1.31 mg) was determined using HPLC with UV detection. All varieties of the flower examined showed antioxidant potential (1.2-46.1 mM Trolox equivalents/g DW), which was measured by the radical scavenging activity and the reducing power. Of the five flowers analyzed, Prunus avium L. showed the highest antioxidant activity. A strong correlation was found between the ascorbic acid ($r^2=0.75$), flavonoids ($r^2=0.71$), and total phenolic content ($r^2=0.64$) and the antioxidant parameters, suggesting that these components are likely significant contributors to the antioxidant capacity of the five spring flowers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.958-965
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• 2015

Lycopene, a red non-provitamin A carotenoid, mainly presenting in tomato and tomato byproducts, has the highest antioxidant activity among carotenoids because of its high number of conjugated double bonds. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lycopene supplementation in the diet on plasma lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in feedlot lamb. Twenty-eight Bamei male lambs (90 days old) were divided into four groups and fed a basal diet (LP0, 40:60 roughage: concentrate) or the basal diet supplemented with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg lycopene. After 120 days of feeding, all lambs were slaughtered and sampled. Dietary lycopene supplementation significantly reduced the levels of plasma total cholesterol (p<0.05, linearly), total triglycerides (TG, p<0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, p<0.05), as well as atherogenic index (p<0.001), whereas no change was observed in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p>0.05). The levels of TG (p<0.001) and LDL-C (p<0.001) were decreased with the feeding time extension, and both showed a linear trend (p<0.01). Malondialdehyde level in plasma and liver decreased linearly with the increase of lycopene inclusion levels (p<0.01). Dietary lycopene intake linearly increased the plasma antioxidant vitamin E level (p<0.001), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, p<0.05), and activities of catalase (CAT, p<0.01), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, p<0.05) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, p<0.05). The plasma T-AOC and activities of GSH-Px and SOD decreased with the extension of the feeding time. In liver, dietary lycopene inclusion showed similar antioxidant effects with respect to activities of CAT (p<0.05, linearly) and SOD (p<0.001, linearly). Therefore, it was concluded that lycopene supplementation improved the antioxidant status of the lamb and optimized the plasma lipid profile, the dosage of 200 mg lycopene/kg feed might be desirable for growing lambs to prevent environment stress and maintain normal physiological metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2017

BACKGROUND : Environmental stress has a major effect on the growth and yields of vegetables, and can significantly affect nutritionally important phytochemicals, causing large economic losses. METHODS AND RESULTS : The present study was aimed at exploring the effects of water stress on the carotenoid and proline contents in kale leaves to understand drought tolerance of kale plants. Kale was randomly divided into two groups at 57 days after sowing (DAS). One of the groups was well-watered (WW) and the other was water stressed (WS). Harvesting of kale leaves was started one day after treatment (58 DAS) and continued for 10 days (~67 DAS). We investigated the status of plant growth (leaf number, length, width, fresh weight) of kale throughout the study. Carotenoid (lutein, ${\alpha}-carotene$, zeaxanthin, ${\beta}-carotene$) and proline contents were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our results showed that the total carotenoid contents ranged from 926.0 to 1,212.0 mg/kg dry wt. (at 3 and 2 days, respectively) in WW treatment and 887.8 to 1,157.4 mg/kg dry wt. (at 10 and 4 days, respectively) in WS treatment. The ratio of individual carotenoid to the total carotenoid contents of kale leaves was 51.4 for lutein, 4.44 for zeaxanthin, 2.76 for ${\alpha}-carotene$, and 41.4% for ${\beta}-carotene$. Total carotenoid contents showed a significant reduction from 7 days (1,037.2 mg/kg dry wt.) to 10 days (887.8 mg/kg dry wt.) in WS treatment. The lutein content did not show a significant difference in WW between 7 and 10 days after treatment but showed a significant difference in WS treatment. The ${\alpha}-carotene$ content showed no significant difference between the treatments. However, zeaxanthin content was higher during 4-10 days and ${\beta}-carotene$ content was lower during 6-10 days in WS than in WW on each harvest day. In WW, the proline content showed no significant difference, but in WS, the proline content started to increase at 7 days and almost doubled in 10 days. CONCLUSION : The marked increase in zeaxanthin and proline contents in kale leaves indicated that the two phytochemicals are associated with drought tolerance in the plant.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.273-280
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• 2016

We investigated the contents of total phenols, anthocyanins, carotenoids and the antioxidant capacity of black carrot, black currant, acaiberry, black raspberry, and blueberry. We also examined the physical and organoleptic characteristics of pudding with added black carrot extract following 7 days of storage. Black carrot and black raspberry had the highest total phenols. Blueberry contained the highest anthocyanins and black currant equaled black carrot in carotenoids. Anti-oxidant capacity measured by 1,1-diphenyl-1,2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethyl-benthiazolin-6-sulfonic acid was highest in black raspberry and black currant followed closely by black carrot. In pudding, redness was increased and blueness decreased by adding black carrot extract, but the trend was partially reversed during 7-day storage due to oxidation of the anthocyanins, which are stable in acid situation. As black carrot extract contents were increased, pH value decreased. The pudding's hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness were optimal with 7.5 % black carrot extract. In conclusion, black carrot is moderately rich in anthocyanins and phenolic compounds. In pudding adding 7.5 % black carrot extract was optimal for organoleptic qualities. However, additional studies are needed to develop methods for protecting anthocyanins from breaking-down during storage of back carrot pudding.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2008

To search functional biomaterials of citrus pressed cake, the chemical constituents were analyzed Moisture content of citrus pressed cake varied slightly with sampling time. Moisture, non-nitrogen compounds, crude protein, crude fat, and ash of citrus pressed cake were 82.23% 16.94% 1.27% 2.5%, 0.58% (all w/w) on average, respectively. The chemical composition of citrus pressed cake was more similar to the peel than to the flesh of Citrus unshiu var: miyakawa. The pH, acid content, and pectin content were 3.57, 0.43% (w/w) and 1.49% (w/w), respectively. The vitamin C content of peel of Citrus unshiu var. miyakawa was 87.1mg/100g, and was higher than the 46.4mg/100g of citrus pressed cake. Total carotenoids of citrus pressed cake, and the peel and flesh of Citrus unshiu var. miyakawa, were 512.2mg/kg, 2,649.5mg/kg, and 199.4mg/kg, respectively. Therefore, citrus pressed cake may be utilized as a natural source of pectin, flavonoids and carotenoids. The major inorganic elements of citrus pressed cake were 201.3mg/100g of K, 47.9mg/100g of Ca, 19.4/100g of P, and 17.8/100g of Mg. The major free sugar contents of citrus pressed cake were 3.05% (w/w) fructose, 2.91% (w/w) glucose, and 4.94%(w/w) sucrose. Total free sugar was 9.91% (w/w), corresponding to 58.5% of 1be non-nitrogen compounds. The main flavonoids of Citrus unshiuwere narirutin, hesperidin, and rutin. Neohesperidin and hesperetin were also detected in trace amounts. Themajor flavonoids of citrus pressed cake were hesperidin and narirutin, and the content of hesperidin was 194.6mg/100g.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.232-240
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• 2015

This study investigated the microbiological and nutritional characteristics of bimonthly radish sprouts purchased at a local market. The total bacteria and coliform measurements were highest in summer (June and August) and lowest in winter (February and December). The total phenol content was $16.82{\pm}0.69GAEmg/g$, and it did not significantly differ during the investigation period. The total carotenoid contents were highest in February (about $12.81{\pm}0.49$ ${\beta}$-carotene mg/g) and lowest in April (about $8.09{\pm}1.01$ ${\beta}$-carotene mg/g). However although total glucosinolates content differ between the total crude glucosinolate and the sum of the individual glucosinolates, it was highest in December. The individual glucosinolates were found to have been gucoraphenin, glucoerucin, glucobrassicin and gluconasturtiin in radish sprouts via HPLC analysis. The purchasing time of the glucoraphenin content did not significantly differ. The measured glucoerucin was highest in February and lowest in October. The gucobrassicin and gluconasturtiin were higher in summer than in winter, but did not significantly differ. The antioxidant activity (i.e., the $IC_{50}$ values of the DPPH radical scavenging) was highest in February. In conclusion, the microbial contamination, total carotenoids, and antioxidant activity changed according to the purchasing season, but the total phenolic compounds and total glucosinolates were maintained regardless of the time in the radish sprouts.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.219-226
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• 1986

The differences of pigment compositions in leaf chloroplast between sun and shade plant were analyzed to investigate the photo-induced destructive effects on shade species under the strong light. Ginseng was selected as a C-3 shade plant, soybean as C-3 sun species and corn as C-4 malate forming sun species. To study the effects of light, ginseng was divided into two subgroups; the 1 and 2 lines received sunlight a little more than those of 3 and 4 lines. Total amounts of chlorophylls, carotenes and xanthophylls were not considerably different among 3 and 4-lined ginseng, soybean and corn. However, the amounts of the three components of 1 and 2-lined ginseng and the chlorophylls content in corn leaves were smaller than those of others. The molar ratio of lutein to total carotenoids was significantly high in ginseng, that of violaxanthin was considerably high in corn and that of neoxanthin the highest in 1 and 2-lined ginseng among tested samples. Chlorophylls to carotenes ratio was 16.0 and highest in ginseng, 13.2 in soybean and 12.0 in corn. In 1 and 2-lined ginseng, the molar ratios of lutein and carotenes were lower while those of neoxanthin and violaxanthin were higher than those of the samples of more light. It was noticeable that an antheraxanthin-like epoxy carotenoid detected in soybean and corn leaves extracts was not observed in ginseng leaf extract.