• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.456-462
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• 2015

We investigated the effects of fermented Sargassum thunbergii (FST) on platelet aggregation and serum lipid levels in rats made obese by a high fat diet. Six-week-old male SD-rats were randomly assigned to four groups as CON, HF-CON induced by high fat diet (HF), ST supplemented with HF (HFST100), and the fermented ST supplemented with HF group (HF-FST100). After 6 weeks, the results showed that the final weight and weight gain had decreased in the HF- FST100 group compared to the HF-CON group. Also, the food efficiency ratio was significantly reduced in the HF-FST100 group compared to HF-CON. The organ weights other than heart and spleen were significantly lower in the HF-FST100 group than in the HF-CON group. The levels of serum GOT and GPT significantly decreased in the HF-FST100 group over the HF-CON group. In addition, the total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in the HF-FST100 group than in HF-CON, while the HDL-cholesterol level was higher in the HF-FST100. The ability of platelet aggregation of groups supplemented with FST was lower than the HF-CON group. These results suggest that FST may be beneficial in improving lipid profile and platelet aggregation in obesity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.887-894
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• 2016

The extract from Artemisia annuain L.(AAE) is known as a medicinal herb that is effective against cancer. Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death, and mitochondria are known to play a central role in cell death control. In this study, we evaluated the p53-independent apoptosis of extract of AAE through downregulation of Bcl-2 and the mitochondrial pathway in A549 (lung cancer cells). AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through regulating p-Akt, Cox-2, p53 and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. p-Akt/cox-2 is known to play an important role in cell proliferation and cell survival. The Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic proteins (such as Bax, Bak and Bim) mediate the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Treatment of AAE reduces p-Akt, p-Mdm2, cox-2 and anti-apoptotic proteins (such as Bcl-2), while tumor suppressor p53 and pro-apoptotic proteins. Activation of Bax/Bak releases cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol to activate a caspase. Caspase-3 is the major effector caspase associated with apoptotic pathways. Caspase-3 generally exists in cytoplasm in the form of a pro-enzyme. In the initiation stage of apoptosis, caspase-3 is activated by proteolytic cleavage and activated caspase-3 cleaves poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). We treated Pifithrin-α (p53 inhibitor) and Celecoxib (Cox-2 inhibitor) to learn the relationship between the signal transduction of proteins associated with apoptosis. These results suggest that AAE induces apoptosis through a p53-independent pathway in A549.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1406-1413
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Pimpinella brachycarpa(PBE) on chronically ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rat liver. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 90-130 g were divided into 5 groups; normal group(NOR), ethanol(35%, 10 ml/kg) treated group(CON), PBE 200 mg/kg treated group(P1), PBE 200 mg/kg and ethanol treated group(P2), and PBE 400 mg/kg and ethanol treated group(P3). PBE was also fractionated by the following solvent: n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and n-butanol. The antioxidative capacity of the n-hexane fraction was the highest among fractions and was similar to that of butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT). The body weight gain and feed intake of the rats were decreased by ethanol administration, but were gradually increased to the similar levels of the NOR group by administering PBE. The AST activity in serum elevated by ethanol was significantly decreased by administering the high dosage of PBE, but exerted no significant change on serum ALT activity. It was also observed that the hepatic activities of xanthine oxide(XO), catalase and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) increased by ethanol were markedly decreased in the combined ethanol and PBE administered groups(P2 and P3), but not in the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) as compared with the CON group. The glutathione(GSH) contents were decreased by ethanol adminstration, however, increased after administering PBE. These results suggest that ethanol extract of Pimpinella brachycarpa has a possible positive effect on the liver function in hepatotoxicity-induced rats by ethanol administration.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1562-1570
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to develop fertilizer which promotes plant growth as well as suppressing pathogenic fungi. The fertilizer was made from the mixture of Ju-Back (Korean rice wine cake) and indigenous rhizosphere-bacterium. The main ingredients of Ju-Back were investigated as 6.04% total nitrogen, 42.59% total carbohydrate, 1.01% available phosphate, 73.42% organic matter, 7.72% potassium oxide, 1.35% calcium oxide, 0.53% magnesium oxide. The enzyme activities of Ju-Back were estimated to be 980 units/g for ${\alpha}-amylase$, 300 units/g for glucoamylase, and 1800 units/g for acid pretense. Indigenous rhizosphere bacteria which produced antifungal agent were isolated from soil, and was selected KMU-13 strain which can antagonize against various plant pathogenic fungi (Botrytis cinerea KACC 40573, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum KACC 41065, Fusairum oxysporum KACC 40052, Pythium aphanidermatum KACC 40156, Phytophthora capsici KACC 40476 and Glomerella cingulata KACC 40299). KMU-13 strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis KMU-13 by biochemical and 16s rDNA analysis. The organic fertilizer was made as prototype which was composed 20% Ju-Back, 70% carrier, 9.7% microorganism cultivated solution, 0.3% trace-element. We also investigated an application of fertilizer using Ju-Back for cultivating lettuce (Lactuca sativar) which were grown in three soil conditions that had chemical fertilizer, barnyard manure, lime power, urea, potassium chloride and superphosphate as a control, the whole quantity (80 kg/10a) of posted fertilizer with the control and the half quantity (40 kg/10a) with the control. The growth characteristics were examined and analysed with several weeks interval from 3 weeks to 8 weeks on head length (cm), head width (cm/head), number of leaf and fresh weight (g/plant). The results are summarized as follows. The head width and fresh weight of lettuce were the highest at posted fertilizer 1 (whole quantity) was applied chemical, organic matter (Ju-Back) and carrier. The head length was the highest at posted fertilizer 2 (whole quantity) was applied Ju-Back only.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1628-1636
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• 2012

This study examined the antioxidant activity of the dark purple rice seeds from the rice line, MGI079, derived from insertional mutagenesis. The contents of polyphenolic compounds were 1.3 and 1.9-fold higher in the MGI079-2-1 and MGI079-2-6 rice lines than in the donor cultivar MGI079. Flavonoid contents were 6.4-fold higher in the MGI079-2-1 line. The MGI079-2-1 line showed a 24.4-fold higher activity in DPPH free radical scavenging compared to the MGI079 line. The anthocyanin content of the MGI079-2-6 line was more than 106.4-fold higher than the MGI079 line and 1.4-fold higher than the Heugnam line. Anthocyanin content in colored rice grains was negatively correlated with Hunter's L, a, and b values, with the correlation coefficients of $-5.64^{**}$, $5.21^{**}$ and -1.15, respectively. The grain length/width of a mutant of MGI079 segregated to a medium and bold type compared to the medium type of MGI079. However, the 1,000 grain weight was decreased to 13.6~19.6 g compared to 19.8 g for MGI079. Amylose content of the endosperm was 5.6~23.8% higher than in the MGI079 line. The grain of mutants of MGI079 was distinguished by its starch characteristics. The higher antioxidant activity of the MGI079-2-1 and MGI079-2-6 lines indicated functional characteristics associated with high-value resources, so future breeding should focus on the development of pigments in colored rice in new varieties.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.110-118
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate growth performance in weanling and growing pigs supplemented with mugwort powder as an antibiotic replacement. To examine the effects of antibiotic replacement, 0 (control, with and without antibiotics), 1, and 1.5% mugwort powder was supplemented into the basal diet. Pigs raised with a diet of 1.0% mugwort powder had improved average daily gain and feed conversion rate during 23~37 d feeding. During 40~59 and 63~97 d feeding periods, there were no differences between average daily gain in pigs fed no antibiotics and those given a 1% mugwort powder diet, whereas feed conversion rate of pigs given a 1.5% mugwort powder diet and average daily gain of pigs fed no antibiotics were lower than those of any other diet group. In conclusion, this study suggests that the 1.0% supplementation of mugwort in place of antibiotics is an invaluable feed additive as a physiologically activated material.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.44-55
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• 2011

This study aimed to investigate the effects of water extract of Rubus coreanus (RCE) on the expression and activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), as well as its signal transduction pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The specific inhibitors of NOS show RCE treatment increases NO production in HUVECs due to the up-regulation of eNOS rather than iNOS. The real-time expression level of eNOS mRNA was also increased upon RCE treatment in HUVECs. While a PKC-specific inhibitor, RO-317549, did not alter RCE-induced NO production in HUVECs, tamoxifen (estrogen receptor-specific inhibitor), PD98059 (ERK-specific inhibitor) and LY-294002 (PI3K/Akt-specific inhibitor) did have suppressive effects. Increased NO production by RCE seems to result from a higher level of active eNOS (pSer1177). Specifically, inhibition of ERK not only decreased the level of active eNOS, but also increased the inactive form of the enzyme (pThr495) in HUVECs. This study suggests that RCE treatment increases NO production in HUVECs due to the increased expression and activity of eNOS. It is also shown that RCE-induced eNOS activation occurs partly through the binding of RCE to the estrogen receptor, along with ERK and PI3K/Akt-dependent signal transduction pathways. In addition, the regulatory binding proteins of eNOS including Hsp90 and caveolin-1 were related to these effects of RCE on eNOS activity in HUVECs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1187-1193
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of halogenated compounds on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics and methane emissions. A fistulated Holstein cow of 650 kg body weight was used as a donor of rumen fluid. Five kinds of halogenated compounds (bromochloromethane (BCM), 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid (BES), 3-bromopropanesulfonic acid (BPS), chloroform (CLF), and pyromellitic diimide (PMDI) known to inhibit methyl-coenzyme M reductase activity were added to an in vitro fermentation incubated with rumen fluid. The microbial population including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi were enumerated, and gas production including methane and fermentation characteristics were observed in vitro. The pH values ranged from 6.25 to 6.72 in all the treatments, and these showed a similar level at 48 hr. The total gas production in the treatments showed a similar pattern with C at 48 hr, whereas methane production in the treatments was lower (p<0.05) than C. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and propionic acid were higher (p<0.05) in the treatments than in C at 12 hr. Therefore, halogenated compounds (BCM, BES, BPS, CLF, and PMDI) inhibited in vitro methane emissions by inhibiting methanogens in the rumen. Further studies on safety are needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2011

There is a growing recognition of the significance of $H_2S$ as a biological signaling molecule involved in vascular and nervous system functions. In mammals, two enzymes in the transsulfuration pathway, cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CGL), are believed to be chiefly responsible for $H_2S$ biogenesis. Genetic inborn error of CGL leads to human genetic disease, cystathioninuria, by accumulating cystathionine in the body. This disease is secondarily associated with a wide range of diseases including diabetes insipidus and Down's syndrome. Although the human CGL (hCGL) overexpression is essential for the investigation of its function, structure, reaction specificity, substrate specificity, and protein-protein interactions, there is no clear report concerning optimum overexpression conditions. In this study, we report a detailed analysis of the overexpression conditions of the hCGL using a bacterial system. Maximum overexpression was obtained in conditions of low culture temperature after inducer addition, performing low aeration during overexpression, and using a low concentration inducer (0.1 mM, IPTG) for induction. Expressed hCGL was purified by His-tag affinity column chromatography and confirmed by Western blot using hCGL antibody and enzyme activity analysis. We also report that the His tag with TEV site attached protein exhibits 76% activity for ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ elimination reaction with L-cystathionine and 88% for ${\alpha}-{\beta}$ elimination reaction with L-cysteine compared to those of wild type hCGL, respectively. His tag with TEV site attached protein also exhibits a 420 nm absorption maximum, which is attributed to the binding cofactor, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.146-154
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• 2011

In this study, physiological changes in a thermotolerant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae KNU5377 cell exposed to 48-hour alcohol fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$ were investigated. After 12 hours of alcohol fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$, the $C_{16:1}$ unsaturated acid of plasma membrane increased to 1.5 times more than the $C_{16:0}$ saturated fatty acid, and to about 2 times more for the $C_{18:1}$ unsaturated fatty acid. Fermentation at both $30^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$ fermentation showed the same pattern as that done at $40^{\circ}C$. The pH of the alcohol-fermentation medium was reduced to pH 4.1 from a starting pH of 6.0 through the 12-hr fermentation and then maintained this level during the continuing fermentation. With the process of fermentation, the remaining glucose was reduced, but its amount remaining during the $40^{\circ}C$-fermentation was less reduced than those fermented at $30^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$. In the study investigating the changing pattern of cellular proteins in the alcohol-fermenting cells, the SDS-PAGE and 2-D data indicated the most expressed dot was phosphoglycerate kinase, which is one enzyme involved in glycolysis. Why this enzyme was most expressed in the cells exposed to unfavorable conditions such as high temperature, increasing concentration of produced alcohol and long time exposure to other stress factors remains unsolved.