• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1729-1739
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of fermented medicinal herbs. A search of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed databases and Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine in 2000-2011 located 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the clinical efficacy of fermented medicinal herbs. Domestic RCTs reported clinical efficacy on improvement of immune responses and clinical safety on usage of fermented medicinal herbs in subjects suffering from cerebral hemodynamics. Countries other than Chinareported studies on the cause of esophageal cancer and on local inflammatory reactions. In China, studies were reported on the effectiveness of fermented medicinal herbs on scapulohumeral periarthritis of the stasis type, chronic superficial gastritis, dysuria induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia of deficiency of kidney yang, diabetic nephropathy, essential hypertension, and benign prostate hyperplasia. These results indicate that fermented medicinal herbs have obvious clinical effects in some diseases and no adverse reactions. Therefore, we need to initiate more fermentation research with useful bacteria, fungi, and mushrooms to produce fermented medicinal herbs. Both governments and research authorities should focus on research involving fermentation of medicinal herbs.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2013

Background: Prevalence of depression comorbid with neurologic disorders such as Alzheimer' disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and vascular dementia (VD) is higher than that of primary depression. Antidepressant medications, suggested by many researches for depression comorbid with neurologic disorders such as AD, PD and VD, are mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Objective: The primary objective of this study is the evaluation of antidepressant drug therapy for AD, PD and VD. Method: This study was a retrospective study based on medical records, carried out for 3 years and 6 months (Jan. 2007~Jul. 2010). Patients, diagnosed as comorbid depression through Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Cornell Depression Scale (CDS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) among neurologic out-patients of Chungnam National University Hospital because of AD, PD and VD, were selected. The results were evaluated by efficacy and safety of antidepressant drug therapy. Results: In result, the prescribing rates of antidepressants were 30%, 55% and 40% for each AD, PD and VD. Depression cure rates of patients receiving antidepressants vs patients not receiving antidepressants were 40% vs 39%, 33% vs 23% and 38% vs 30% for AD, PD and VD. The frequencies of prescriptoin of SSRI were 21%, 11% and 27% for each AD, PD and VD. The frequencies of prescriptoin of benzodiazepine (BZD) was 61%, 82% and 61% for each AD, PD and VD. The ratio of single BZD prescription was more than that of combination prescription of antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) were rarely prescribed. The rate of patients with BZD-related side effects was 54%. The most frequent side effects of BZD were dizziness (30%), drowsiness (21%) and headache (16%). Side effects of SSRI were rare. Conclusion: In conclusion, the frequencies of prescription of antidepressants were not common for AD, PD and VD. There was little difference in depression cure rate between patient receiving antidepressants and not receiving. Even though SSRI has to be the highest priority of usage, the frequencies of prescription of SSRI were lower than those of BZD. Additional researches and efforts are required to improve antidepressant drug therapy for neurologic disorders such as AD, PD and VD.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.669-675
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• 2006

Toluene of aromatic compounds, MEK of ketones and IPA of alcohols were extremely used as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) on the getting into step with industrial process. The adsorption characteristics of three component solvent vapors (Toluene-MEK-IPA) on the activated carbonaceous adsorbents such as AC, ACF and AC+ACF were investigated in a stainless steel fixed bed adsorption experimental apparatus in order to identify those carbons for eliminating and recovering solvent vapors from industrial emission sources. The used activated carbonaceous adsorbents were pelletized commercial activated carbon and activated carbon fiber. The breakthrough curves and adsorption capacity have been obtained at atmospheric pressure in a adsorption fixed bed. It has been found that non-polar and larger molecules have been adsorbed better than polar and smaller molecules. Especially, alcohols and ketones were poorly adsorbed due to competitive adsorbability in ternary mixture system. However, it could be overcome by employment of activated carbonaceous adsorbent which have different porosity distribution appropriately.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.462-469
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate total polyphenolic contents and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging effects of extracts from peels of ten Jeju native citrus fruits according to the harvest from August 2006 to February 2007. Total polyphenolic contents from methanol extracts of citrus peel were the highest in Jigak (Citrus aurantium) and Hongkyool (C. tachibana) by over 200 mg% in the unmatured period, from the late August to the late September, and all the citrus peels mostly decreased while ripening. Scavenging effect of superoxide anion radical showed good correlation with total polyphenolic contents. The unmatured periods of Hongkyool and Jigak were the highest with more than 60%. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was the highest in Sadoogam (C. pseudogulgul) at 73.8% in late August and the second highest activity was observed in Jigak at near 70%, and all the citrus peels decreased during ripening. Hydroxy radical scavenging activity were the highest among all the ROS scavenging activities, especially in the Jigak and Dangyooja (C. grandis) at 75.1% and 74.6%, respectively, and not much affected by increased maturity of the fruits. Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity was the highest in Bungkyool (C. platymama) at 58.4% in late February, and increased with fruit ripening. In this study, Jigak was generally the highest in the polyphenolic contents and ROS scavenging activities, so the further studies are needed for industrial applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1308-1315
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop Momordica charantia L. juice fermented by four Lactobacillus species such as Lactobacillus paracasei (LPA), Lactobacillus plantarum (LPL), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LRH), and Lactobacillus reuteri (LRE) as well as to investigate their inhibitory effects against digestive enzymes and antioxidant activities. Fermentation was performed at $37^{\circ}C$ without nutrient supplementation for 72 h. The pH and total lactic acid contents were within the ranges of 3.75~3.96 and 5.21~10.04% in fermented juices, respectively. The type of starter culture and fermentation time induced changes in flavonoid contents more than total phenolic contents. All juices fermented for 48 h strongly inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity with the percentage of inhibition ranging of 91.24~95.05%. Antioxidant activities of all juices mostly increased after 48 h of fermentation. Our results suggest that fermented juice possesses inhibitory activity against digestive enzymes and antioxidant activity, and they can be used as health functional beverages.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.557-563
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• 2004

A new vacuum assisted auto-lancing technique is proposed to minimize pain. Specially designed lancing device was introduced, which applied -100mmHg right after skin puncture on the forearm. Sampled blood volumes were measured in 58 normal females. Mean volume of 464 samples was approximately 2.6$\muL$ and the frequency of more than 0.5$\muL$ was 86%. Thus the success rate of blood sugar test should also be the same when using modern glucose meters capable of testing with only 0.3~0.5$\muL$ of capillary blood. When pain scores were quantitatively evaluated by the visual pain measure, only 23% pain of the traditional finger sampling was experienced, demonstrating that capillary blood sampling was performed on the forearm with almost no pain. The present technique reduced pain to a great degree, though resampling might be unavoidable due to 14% of test failure rate estimated for modern glucose meters. However, minimized pain makes the present technique of great convenience for diabetic patients who need blood sampling a few times a day.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2008

The sweet pepper (paprika) is one of the most important exported vegetable crops in Korea. This study evaluated the storability of sweet pepper fruits between 2 cultivars with different maturities under different storage conditions. The sweet peppers ('Special' and 'Fiesta') were grown in a rockwool hydroponic system, and harvested two different maturities: half-maturity and full-maturity levels. The sweet pepper fruits were stored in MA(non-ventilated) and non-MA(ventilated) conditions at 4 and $9^{\circ}C$ for 20 days. The storability of sweet pepper fruit was the highest in $4^{\circ}C$ MA conditions that remained 5% carbon dioxide and 10% oxygen during the storage. The ethylene concentration in MA condition showed $2{\sim}8{\mu}l/l$ regardless of storage temperatures, cultivars and maturities. The fruits packaged with non-ventilated film, showed lower weight loss, and higher firmness, and there was no different about decay ratio compared to the fruits packed ventilated film. The coloration of semi-matured fruit that colored 50% before storage progressed faster in non-ventilated packaging condition at $9^{\circ}C$, but their color did not changed as same as level of full-matured fruit. The electrolyte leakages and respiratory rate that estimated degree of chilling injury was highest in non-MA(ventilated) conditions of 'Special' full matured fruit placed at room temperature for 3 days following storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 20 days. It may be suggested that sweet pepper fruit packed sealed (non-ventilated) film and stored at non-chilling temperature can be maintained better quality for long term storage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.528-535
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• 2005

The non-enzymatic anti-oxidants and lunasin peptide from the extracts of the pepper were examined in order to utilize the discovery in natural products as cancer chemopreventive agents. The DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity on the fruit parts of the pepper was higher than that of the seed, but the difference was low. The Inhibition activity of xanthine/ xanthine oxidase in extracts of the seed was higher than that of the fruit and that of the seed on 20 days after flowering was the highest at the growing period. These were identified as fatty acids and phenolic compounds such as 1-eicosanol, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and benzonitrile. The contents of fatty acids and phenolic compounds increased according to the time passing at the growing period. Peroxidase (POD) activity of the fruit at middle stage was high than that of other growing stages and that of the seed was the highest at later growing period. Though superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in fruit were hish by passage of Slowing stage, the activity in seed was low. Lunasin was searched from seeds of the peppers by coomassie blue staining and western blot among them and we just found lunasin peptide from extracted protein of the pepper by western blot. In addition, we observed the contents of lunasin after flowering and confirmed to appear the lunasin at 35 days after flowering. We confirmed that lunasin is complex protein of maturing seeds. 100nM lunasin peptide in pepper showed inhibition effect on colony formation in $2\~12$ cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.441-445
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• 2009

Recent research has revealed that hydrolyzed collagen peptides have beneficial effects in various diseases such as osteoarthritis and human rheumatoid arthritis and also play a protective role in skin by improving the activity of antioxidants. In this study, we investigated the effects of a novel mixture (AP-CPM01) containing collagen peptides and elastin peptides on photoaged hairless mice skin both in vivo and in vitro. To evaluate the effects of AP-CPM01 on UVBinduced skin wrinkle formation in vivo, the hairless mice were exposed to UVB irradiation and orally administered the AP-CPM01 at 333 mg/kg per day for 10 weeks. The effects on skin appearance and epidermal thickness were measured using bioengineering and histochemical methods. In addition, the influence of AP-CPM01 on collagen metabolism in human skin fibroblasts was also investigated. The skin of mice in the AP-CPM01 treated group had better appearance and less wrinkling than that of mice in the control group. In the human fibroblast cells, the amount of de novo procollagen synthesis was increased after AP-CPM01 treatment, reflecting that AP-CPM01 can induce de novo procollagen synthesis and reduce UVB-induced skin wrinkle formation. These results suggest that AP-CPM01 is a potent candidate for antiphotoaging functions.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.45-60
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• 2008

Objectives : Sopung-tang(Shufeng-tang) is a famous herbal prescription that treated ischemic brain injury. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Sopung-tang(Shufeng-tang) on congnition and motor function recovery after ischemic brain injury in rats. Methods : Male rats were divided into 4 groups. Those rats caused ischemic brain injury by occlusion of MCA as Longa method. Control group I was per os normal saline for 7 days after ischemic brain injury. Control group II was per os normal saline for 14 days after ischemic brain injury. Experimental group I(Ex I) was taken with Sopung-tang(Shufeng-tang) for 7 days after ischemic brain injury. Experimental group II(Ex II) was taken with Sopung-tang(Shufeng-tang) for 14 days after ischemic brain injury. The author carried out neurological, cognitive motor behavior tests and histological assessment. Neurological motor behavior tests consist of limb placement test, beam-walking test and horizontal wire test. Morris water maze test was used for cognitive motor behavior test. In the histological assessment test, TTC(2,3,5-triphenylteterazolium chloride) staining, Hematoxylin & Eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining were experimented. Results : 1. In neurological motor behavior tests, motor function recovery was significantly increased in the experimental groups as compared with control groups(p<0.05). Especially Ex II was significantly increased as compared with Ex I(p<0.05). 2. In Morris water maze test, congnitive motor function recovery was significantly increased in the experimental groups as compared with control group(p<0.05). Especially Ex II was significantly increased as compared with Ex I(p<0.05). 3. In the immunohistochemical staining for the expression of BDNF in hippocampus, more immune reaction was investigated in the experimental groups as compared with control groups. Especially most immune reaction was experimented in the EX II. Conclusions : According to the above results, Sopung-tang(Shufeng-tang) can treat on the congnition and motor function recovery after ischemic brain injury in rats. And it is effective method in expression of BDNF in hippocampus.