• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of aqueous extracts from Tremella fuciformis Berk(Tf AE) against stress during long-term and short-term in ICR mice. All the animals were randomly divided into two groups which had been bred for 5 months that were treated by immobilization stress for 8 weeks (total 7 months breeding, equivalent to human beings aged 20) with or without Tf AE, and one out of two groups was continuously bred until they become 18 months old (equivalent to human beings aged 60) without Tf AE. Afterwards, the changes of serum and hepatic metabolites were investigated on the basis of the index of stress-related in vivo oxidative damage. As a result, it was found that stress increases serum triglyceride (TG) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and decreases serum HDL-cholesterol in the long-term (total 18 months breeding) and short-term (total 7 months breeding). In addition, stress concerned the decrease of total antioxidant status (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. On the other hand, Tf AE-fed groups reversed all these biochemical indices. These results suggest that stress in one's youth causes negative results in TG, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, AST, TAS, SOD and MDA measured in one's senescent. The administration of Tf AE in the stressed mice decreases serum TG and AST that are increased by stress, and exerts influence on the increase of serum HDL-cholesterol. Also Tf AE recovered the values of liver TAS, SOD and MDA in the stressed mice. In conclusion, Tf AE represented protective effect in the stressed mice to some degree.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1149-1157
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• 2017

Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation in our body. The use of medicinal plants has been widely applied as an alternative source for drug development. One of marine natural resources, the anti-inflammatory effect of Ishige sinicola ethanol extract (ISEE), was evaluated by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell and mice model. As a result, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) were inhibited with increasing concentration of ISEE without any cytotoxicity. Furthermore, ISEE suppressed the expression of not only inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a dose-dependent manner. In mice ear edema test, the formation of edema was reduced at the highest dosage of ISEE and the reduction of the number of infiltrated mast cells was observed in histological analysis. These results indicate that ISEE has a potent anti-inflammatory activity and can be used as a pharmaceutical material for many kinds of inflammatory disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1278-1285
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• 2017

Accumulation of excess low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood can initiate and accelerate atherosclerosis. Statins mediate the transactivation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which in turn limits their cholesterol-lowering effects via LDL receptor (LDLR) degradation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not Allium tuberosum (AT) regulates LDLR and PCSK9. Mice were fed a low fat control diet (LD) or Western diet (WD) supplemented with AT (1%, w/w). AT significantly attenuated total and LDL cholesterol levels in mice fed WD (P<0.05). AT also significantly inhibited hepatic PCSK9 gene expression (P<0.05) while AT maintained hepatic LDLR gene expression. To further investigate AT-mediated PCSK9 regulation, HepG2 cells were treated with 10% delipidated serum (DLPS) in the presence or absence of AT. Non-toxic level of AT dose-dependently increased the LDLR protein level, and AT at $400{\mu}g/mL$ markedly inhibited PCSK9 protein expression. Similarly, AT significantly increased LDLR gene expression, whereas it significantly down-regulated PCSK9 gene expression. AT-mediated reduction of PCSK9 gene expression is likely due to decreased hepatic nuclear factor $1{\alpha}$ ($HNF1{\alpha}$) expression, but not SREBP2 in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. AT-mediated PCSK9 inhibition contributed to LDLR protein stabilization via protection against LDLR lysosomal degradation in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. Further investigation is warranted to determine the active components of AT and whether or not these components are effective in reducing hypercholesterolemia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1180-1185
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• 2006

Lab-scale batch experiments using several 25-L transparent acrylic reactors were conducted to develop optimum capping materials that can reduce phosphorus released from polluted sediments. The sediment used in the experiment was very fine clay(8.8 $\Phi$ in mean grain size), and organic carbon($C_{org}$) content was as high as 2%. Four kinds of batches with different capping materials Brucite($Mg(OH)_2$), Sea sand($SiO_2$), Granular-gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$), Double layer(brucite+sand), and one control batch were operated for 30 days. Phosphorus fluxes released from bottom sediments in the control batch were estimated to be 14.6 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, while 9.5 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 5.2 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 4.2 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, and 3.1 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in the batch capped with Sea sand, Granular-gypsum, Double layer, and Brucite, respectively. The results obtained from lab-scale batch experiments show that there were 70% reduction of phosphorus for some materials such as Brucite, Double layer(brucite+sand), and whereas sea sand only about 35%. The pH range of surface sediment to which Brucite was applied showed about $8.0{\sim}9.5$ in the weak alkaline state. This effect can prevent liberation of $H_2O$. The addition of gypsum into the sediment can reduce the progress of methanogenesis because of fast early diagenesis and sufficient supply of $SO_4^{2-}$ to the sediments, stimulate the SRB highly. Therefore, the application of Brucite and Gypsum can reduce phosphorus release from the sediment as a result of formation of $Mg_5(OH)(PO_4)_3$, pyrite($FeS_x$), and apatite-mineral.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.641-647
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• 2014

In this study, we evaluated the effect of Capsosiphon fulvescens extract (CFE) and its active compound, pheophorbide A (PhA), on diabetic kidney failure. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg/kg body weight (BW)). After a week, the rats were orally administered CFE (4 and 20 mg/kg BW) or PhA (0.2 mg/kg BW) once a day for 9 weeks. After scarification, renal tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histochemical analyses. Our study showed that the treatment with CFE and PhA significantly decreased lipid peroxidation level and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase (p<0.05), but it increased glutathione level and the activities of glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the renal tissues (p<0.05). The CFE- and PhA-treated rats with DM showed improved histochemical appearance and decreased abnormal glycogen accumulation. Therefore, we suggest that PhA-containing CFE could exert renal protective effects against STZ-induced oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.465-472
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• 2011

To investigate the effect of inorganic ($GeO_2$) and organic (Ge-132) germanium treatment on Brasica juncea C. plant, growth characteristics and Ge contents were examined with various inorganic or organic germanium treatments (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and $100mg\;L^{-1}$), respectively. Brasica juncea C. growth did not much inhibited until Ge $10mg\;L^{-1}$ concentration under both Ge-132 and $GeO_2$ treatments as compared to control. On the other hand, at Ge concentration higher than $25mg\;L^{-1}$ concentration, Brasica juncea C. growth was inhibited under both Ge-132 and $GeO_2$ treatments. Under treatment of $GeO_2$, length of root and shoot slightly increased until $5mg\;L^{-1}$ concentration and dry weight slightly increased until $10mg\;L^{-1}$ concentration. Under treatment of Ge-132, length of root and shoot slightly increased until $10mg\;L^{-1}$ concentration and dry weight slightly increased until $25mg\;L^{-1}$ concentration. Total Ge contents in Brasica juncea C. early seedlings with $GeO_2$ treatment were a bit higher than those with Ge-132 treatment. Germanium was primarily accumulated in the roots (77%) with organic Ge (Ge-132) treatments, whereas Ge was primarily accumulated in the leaf (70%, respectively) with $GeO_2$ treatments. The Ge uptake rates in inorganic Ge treatments were slightly high than those in organic Ge treatments. Under inorganic Ge treatment with $2.5mg\;L^{-1}$, about 3% of Ge was accumulated into plant and distribution in leaf and root was 84.8% and 15.2%, respectively. Under organic Ge treatment with $2.5mg\;L^{-1}$, about 2.6% of Ge was accumulated into plant and distribution in leaf and root was 66.4% and 33.6%, respectively.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2011

Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (A. sessiliflorus) has been known as a traditional medicine having anti-stress, antioxidative and platelet aggregation inhibitory effects. This study was undertaken to investigate the functional properties of water extracts from four parts of A. sessiliflorus. Root, stem, leaf and fruit extracts from A. sessiliflorus were prepared with hot water ($80^{\circ}C$). The contents of functional substances, eleutheroside B and E, polyphenol, antioxidative activity, nitrite scavenging ability and anti-cancer activity of the extracts were determined. The contents of eleutheroside E in stem, root and fruit extracts were 542.50 ${\mu}$g/g, 343.35 ${\mu}$g/g and 30.78 ${\mu}$g/g, respectively. A large part of eleutheroside B was found in fruit (372.01 ${\mu}$g/g) and root (289.33 ${\mu}$g/g) extracts. Root and stem extracts contained 227.21 mg/100g and 131.22 mg/100g of polyphenols, respectively. Antioxidative activities (electron donating ability) of stem and root extracts were 79.87% and 77.27%, respectively. It appears that the antioxidative activities were related to polyphenol contents of the extracts. Most extracts showed 76-81.5% of nitrite scavenging ability at pH 1.2. It reveals that water extract from parts of A. sessiliflorus can inhibit formation of nitrosoamine in food. Effects of the extracts on the growth of normal and cancer cell lines were investigated. Extracts showed no cytotoxicity to normal dendritic cell line (DC2.4). Especially, the root extract promoted the growth of normal cell line. Root and stem extracts had 20-23% of inhibitory effect against stomach cancer cell line (SNU-719) and liver cancer cell line (Hep3B). These result indicated that the extracts from A. sessiliflorus can be used as functional food materials with antioxidative activity and nitrite scavenging ability to eliminate nitrosoamine in food.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 2019

Purpose: Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is an important traditional medicinal herb. Pharmacological research has indicated that AM has various physiological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, and hepatoprotective activities. The bioactive substances responsible for the physiological activities in AM, including many antioxidant substances, change during the roasting process. This study investigated and compared the changes in the antioxidant constituents of AM caused by roasting. Methods: DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and $ABTS^+$ (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) radical scavenging activities and their total phenolic content (TPC) were measured. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to confirm any changes in the isoflavonoids of roasted AM (R-AM),. The cell viability of UVB-induced HDF (Human dermal fibroblast) cells treated with AM and R-AM extracts was investigated. The comet assay was used to examine the inhibitory effects of R-AM extracts on DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. Results: The DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activities were $564.6{\pm}20.9$ and $108.2{\pm}3.1$ ($IC_{50}$ value) respectively, from the 2R-AM. The total phenol content was $47.80{\pm}1.40mg$ GAE/g from the 1R-AM. The values of calycosin and formononetin, which are the known isoflavonoid constituents of AM, were $778.58{\pm}2.72$ and $726.80{\pm}3.45{\mu}g/g$ respectively, from the 2R-AM. Treatment of the HDF cells with R-AM ($50{\sim}200{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect the cell viability. Furthermore, the R-AM extracts effectively protected against UVB-induced DNA damage. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that R-AM increases its isoflavonoid constituents and protects against UVB-induced DNA damage in HDF cells.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1095-1106
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• 2023

This study investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Aster glehni (AG) extract in RAW 264.7 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were higher in the ethanol extracts than in the hot water extracts. As a result of measuring the moisture contents (%) and extraction yields (%) of AG and drying A. glehni for processing (DAG), 70% ethanol, which has the highest percentage of extraction yield, was selected as the final solvent. DPPH radical scavenging activity showed higher antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of DAG than AG. The cytotoxicity assay of the AG or DAG ethanol extracts was treated at different concentrations (25, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL), and cell viability rates were higher than 80% at all concentrations. The LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 was significantly reduced at all concentrations of AG and DAG groups. As a result of measuring the gene expression of iNOS, which induces NO production, the AG or DAG group decreased by 33% and 32%, compared with the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group. Under inflammatory stress conditions, the survival rate of C. elegans treated with AG or DAG ethanol extract with LPS showed concentration-dependent improvement in survival rate compared with the PBS group. Considering these results, AG could potentially be developed as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functional food material.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2024

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a significant risk factor in the global disease burden. The stem bark of the Betulaceae plant Alnus japonica, which is indigenous to Korea, has been used as a popular folk medicine for hepatitis and cancer. However, the preventive effect of Alnus japonica leaf extracts on alcohol-related liver damage has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of the extracts of Alnus japonica leaf (AJL) against ethanol-induced liver damage in HepG2/2E1 cells. Treatment with AJL significantly prevented ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2/2E1 cells by reducing the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This protective effect was likely associated with antioxidant potential of AJL, as evidenced by the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production and restoration of the depleted glutathione (GSH) levels in ethanol-induced HepG2/2E1 cells. Our findings suggest that FCC might be considered as a useful agent in the prevention of liver damage induced by oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant defense mechanism.