• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.605-610
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• 2013

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid widely present in organisms, which has shown several important physiological functions such as neurotransmission, hypotension induction, as well as diuretic and tranquilizer effects. They have also been extensively used in food industry. GABA contents in the grain and brown rice are about 1~4 mg/100 g and 4~8 mg/100 g, respectively but it is difficult to expect physiological activity from such low amounts of natural food intake. We investigate the effects of GABA-coated rice on the secretion of melatonin and serotonin which both have been used as sleep inductive compounds. As a result, the secretion of melatonin and serotonin from mice were found to be $3.578{\pm}0.158pg/mL$, $5.918{\pm}0.169ng/mL$ respectively. The melatonin and serotonin in mice increased significantly up to the 8.7 and 22.8 times respectively, when compared to that of the rice, but there was no cumulative effects. Due to the continuous intake of GABA-coated rice, which was developed as a functional food nutrient, inductive effects of melatonin and serotonin from general rice could be achieved and also the similar effect as taking up directly 25 mg/mL of GABA could be obtained.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.2 s.57
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• pp.111-116
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• 2006

Essential oils have been used extensively in pharmacy, medicine, food, beverages, cosmetics, perfumery and aromatherapy. Although anti-bacteria, anti-virus, alleviation of fever operations and an anti-inflammatory properties have been reported, action mechanisms have not been fully discovered. In the present study, anti-inflammatory activities of thirty three essential oils have been evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by the evaluation of nitric oxide (NO) generation since NO generation is implicated in causal factor of inflammation. Among the tested 33 essential oil, Lemongrass oil showed the most inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO generation in a dose dependent manner ($IC_{50}$ : $22 {\mu}g/mL$). In further study, it was found that Lemongrass oil inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. These results suggest that Lemongrass oil may be useful for improvements of the inflammatory disease such as pimple acne skin.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.793-801
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• 2014

This study evaluated the qualitative properties of lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera) peels as food materials. Proximate composition, sweetness, pH, total acidity, color, mineral, fatty acid, free sugar and organic acid contents of preprocessed lotus root were measured. Crude moisture, protein, and total fiber contents of non-peeled treated Lotus roots were higher than those of peeled treated lotus roots (p<0.05). Lightness and yellowness of color were reduced by peeling process, whereas redness increased (p<0.05). The mineral contents of Mg, Ca, Fe and Na were higher in non-peeled lotus roots, whereas peeled treated lotus root showed higher K contents (p<0.05). The major fatty acids were palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. The total free sugar content of non-peeled lotus roots was higher than that of peeled treated lotus roots (p<0.05). Glucose content was not significantly different, whereas fructose, sucrose, and maltose contents were significantly different. The organic acid and free amino acid contents were higher in peeled lotus roots (p<0.01).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.622-628
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• 2013

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), one of the major organosulfur components of garlic (Allium sativum), has various biological effects such as anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of growth inhibition related to cell cycle arrest are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of DATS on cell cycle progression in U937 human leukemia cells. Treatment with DATS in U937 cells resulted in inhibition of cell viability through G2/M arrest and apoptosis. DATS-induced G2/M arrest was associated with up-regulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). DATS also significantly increased levels of phospho-histone H3, which is a mitosis-specific marker, indicating that DATS induced mitotic arrest but not G2 arrest in U937 cells. DATS treatment also generated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in U937 cells; however, pretreatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, significantly attenuated DATS-induced mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Taken together, our data indicate that DATS exhibits anti-cancer effects through mitotic arrest and apoptosis in a ROS-dependent manner.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2014

${\beta}$-Glucosidase from Aspergillus usamii KCTC 6954 was used to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to compound K, which has a high bio-functional activity. The enzymatic activities during culturing for 15 days were determined using ${\rho}$-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-glucopyranoside. The growth rate of the strain and the enzymatic activity were maximized after 6 days (IU; $175.93{\mu}M\;ml^{-1}\;min^{-1}$). The activities were maximized at $60^{\circ}C$ in pH 6.0. During culturing, Rb1 was converted to Rd after 9 d and then finally converted to compound K at 15 d. In the enzymatic reaction, Rb1 was converted to the ginsenoside Rd within 1 h of reaction time and compound K could be detected after 8 h. As a result, this study demonstrates that $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}$compound K is the main metabolic pathway catalyzed by ${\beta}$-glucosidase and that ${\beta}$-glucosidase is a feasible option for the development of specific bioconversion processes to obtain minor ginsenosides such as Rd and compound K.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.905-910
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• 2002

4-Hydroxyalkenals are cytotoxic aldehydes generated by the oxidation of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. To evaluate the potential risk of 4-hydroxyalkenals on Koreans, quantitative data of various oils are necessary. Simultaneous monitoring of 4-hydroxyhexenal and 4-hydroxynoneal in 39 samples including new and used ones through single ion monitoring mode of GC/MS detected both aldehydes in all samples tested, ranging from 0.21 to 26.9 nmol/g for 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal and 0.06 to 56.6 nmol/g for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. Frying oils collected from local markets showed 2.28-7.90 and 8.31-30.5 nmol/g of 4-hydroxyhexenal and 4-hydroxynoneal, respectively. National health and nutrition survey data were employed to determine the exposure effect to these 4-hydroxyalkenals from the four most consumed oils in Korea. Daily exposures to hydroxyalkenals excluding possible exposure from fried food were $1.9\;{\mu}g$ from soybean oil, $0.5\;{\mu}g$ from sesame oil, $0.2\;{\mu}g$ from corn oil, and $0.1\;{\mu}g$ from perilla oil. Due to the increasing consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids in Korea, these data may provide valuable information for evaluating possible physiological effects of 4-hydroxyalkenals from vegetable oils.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.555-562
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the rheological properties of protein-bound polysaccharide powders (SD-1, 2, 3) using ultrafiltration (UF) and spray drying (SD) process from Agaricus blazei Murill. The calculated weight-average molar mass (Mw) in the positions at 29.7 mL (for SD-1), and at 27.8 mL (for SD-2), and at 18.7 mL (for SD-3) was $8.2{\times}10^3,\;9.6{\times}10^4$, and $5.9{\times}10^6g/mol$, respectively. As concentration increased the solution showed higher pseudoplasticity where the pseudoplasticity decreased as temperature increased. The flow behaviors of spray dried powder solutions were more fitted to Herschel-Bulkley equation than Power law equation. Apparent viscosity of SD-2 was more temperature-dependent than that of SD-1 and 3. However, the SD-3 tended to be more concentration-dependent than SD-1 and 2 as temperature increasing.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.639-644
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• 2007

This study analyzed components of the leaves of Elaeagnus multiflora as part of studies on the nutritional and functional materials of fruits and leaves of this plant. The moisture content of the leaves was 71.6% and the carbohydrate, crude protein, lipid and ash contents were 24.1, 1.4, 0.4 and 2.5%, respectively. Concentrations of reducing sugars, soluble proteins and polyphenols were 460.0, 503.3 and 805.6 mg/100 g, respectively. Fructose was the dominant free sugar, and arabinose, maltose, glucose, and a small amount of trehalose were also detected. Malic acid was the main organic acid in E. multiflora leaves, and acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, and succinic acid were also present. E. multiflora leaves were high in K, Ca and Mg. Of hydrolyzed amino acids, alanine was present at the highest concentration (112.0 mg/100 g), with threonine, leucine, valine and phenylalanine being the next most common. Glutamic acid and ornithine were the dominant free amino acid and amino acid derivative, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1219-1225
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• 2011

Phytochemicals, non-nutrient chemicals derived from plants, have been shown to have anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and chemopreventive effects. In the current study, we investigated whether five different phytochemicals (resveratrol, genistein, epicatechin gallate, diallyl disulfide, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester) alter cell growth and gene expression in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. Using a cell viability assay, we found that each of the phytochemicals tested inhibited HCT116 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, using human oligo DNA microarray analysis, we found that only six genes were commonly up-regulated and seven genes were commonly down-regulated in response to each phytochemical treatment. For the commonly up-regulated genes, the microarray analysis was confirmed by reverse transcription.PCR using gene-specific primers. In addition, NAG-1 protein was up-regulated by all treated phytochemcials. The results of this study may help to enhance our understanding of the general molecular mechanisms of chemoprevention that are mediated by phytochemicals in human colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1344-1351
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• 2012

We studied the physical, chemical, biological, and antimicrobial effects of eight types of essential oils used in the cosmetics industry: lavender, tea tree, rosemary, juniper berry, Chamaecyparis obtusa, cypress, cedar wood, and pine. Lavender oil had a linalyl acetate (an ester chemical compound) content of 48% and radical scavenging activity of 22.36% at 5,000 ppm. Tea tree oil had radical scavenging activity of 43.94% at 5,000 ppm and antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. mutans, and C. albicans in each 6, 3.5, 6.5, and 5 mm, respectively. Chamaecyparis obtusa oil had the highest acidity (pH 2.64) compared with the other oils, and sesquiterpene compounds were found to have 19.20%. Cedar wood oil had the highest specific gravity and refractive index compared to the other oils and had a sesquiterpene content of 99.73%. The radical scavenging activity of cedar wood essential oil exceeded 39.68% at 5,000 ppm. The clear zone, indicating antimicrobial activity against P. acnes, P. ovale, and C. albicans, was 3.5, 6, and 6 mm, respectively, at a concentration of 1% cedar wood oil. Results showed that with a high sesquiterpene content, the antioxidant effect was generally, but not always, high, suggesting that this is determined according to composition of the compound rather than presence of each antioxidant. The results indicate that antimicrobial activity is determined by the existence of each antimicrobial ingredient rather than terpene composition.