• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2013

Candida biofilms are self-organized microbial communities growing on the surfaces of host tissues and medical devices. These biofilms have been displaying increasing resistance against conventional antifungal agents. The roots of Scutellaria baicalensis have been widely used for medicinal purpose throughout East Asia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of S. baicalensis aqueous extract upon the preformed biofilms of 10 clinical C. albicans isolates, and assess the mechanism of the antibiofilm activity. Its effect on preformed biofilm was judged using an XTT reduction assay and the metabolic activity of all tested strains were reduced ($57.7{\pm}17.3$%) at MIC values. The S. baicalenis extract inhibited (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthase activity. The effect of S. baicalensis on the morphology of C. albicans was related to the changes in growth caused by inhibiting glucan synthesis; most cells were round and swollen, and cell walls were densely stained or ruptured. The anticandidal activity was fungicidal, and the extract also arrested C. albicans cells at $G_0/G_1$. The data suggest that S. baicalensis has multiple fatal effects on target fungi, which ultimately result in cell wall disruption and killing by inhibiting (1, 3)-${\beta}$-D-glucan synthesis. Therefore, S. baicalensis holds great promise for use in treating and eliminating biofilm-associated Candida infections.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.302-306
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• 2014

Ehwa nuruk (EN), a traditional Korean alcoholic rice beverage, is manufactured from pulverized wet rice and the needles of pine trees. In this study, the ethanol extract of EN and its subsequent organic solvent fractions were prepared, and their in-vitro anti-thrombosis activity evaluated. In an anti-coagulation assay, only the ethylacetate (EA) fraction of the ethanol extract showed significant extensions of thrombin time, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. In a platelet aggregation assay, the water residue of the ethanol extract exhibited aggregation inhibitory activity. Our results suggest that the EA fraction has potential as a new anticoagulation agent and EN could be used as a novel resource for anti-thrombosis agents. This report provides the first evidence of the anti-thrombosis activity of EN.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2014

Sweet potato soju (SPS), a form of traditional distilled alcoholic liquor in Korea, is manufactured by the distillation of fermented broth under normal pressure, thus providing it for a uniquely smooth taste infused with the flavor of sweet potato. After distillation, the lees of SPS is produced as by-product and discarded. In this study, the ethanol and hot water extracts of lees of SPS, and their subsequent organic solvent fractions using hexane, ethylacetate (EA), butanol, and water residue were prepared in an effort at the efficient re-use of the lees of SPS. The ethanol extraction yield was 1.36-fold higher than that of the hot water extraction, and the EA fraction revealed the highest total polyphenol content among the solvent fractions. The various extracts and solvent fractions did not demonstrate hemolytic activity at up to 0.5 mg/ml concentrations against human red blood cells. In the bioactivity assay, only the EA fraction displayed a broad spectrum of anti-microbial activity against different pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria, and demonstrated significant anti-coagulation activity by inhibitions of thrombin, prothrombin and blood coagulation factors. Furthermore, only the EA fraction from the hot water extract of the lees of SPS showed anti-platelet aggregation activity, which is comparable to aspirin (a commercially available drug). Our results suggest that the EA fraction of the hot water extract prepared from the lees of SPS has a high potential as a novel resource for anti-microbial and anti-thrombosis agents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.263-266
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• 2005

Five strains out of tweeny four strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Mul-Kimchi showed a resistance in the artificial gastric juice. These lactic acid bacteria were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum species. In particular, lactobacilli MUL-2, MUL-4 and MUL-18 showed a strong resistance and their viable cell counts of the initial stage were not changed after the 3 h cultivation in the artificial gastric juice. The isolated lactic acid bacteria showed the antimicrobial effect against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Salmonella typhimurium in the paper disc method.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 2013

Radish (Raphanus sativus) is a common cruciferous vegetable, and its aerial parts, called Mu-chung in Korean, have plentiful nutritional components such as vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. Mu-chung has been used as a kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented dish, and dried Mu-chung is an important component of soups commonly consumed during winter in Korea. Since the advent of the mass production of radish in Korea, with the segregation of farm areas and towns and changing diets, Mu-chung has mostly been discarded instead of utilized. In addition, studies concerning the efficient utilization and useful bioactivities of Mu-chung are still lacking worldwide. In this study, we prepared the ethanol extract of Mu-chung and its subsequent solvent fractions. Antimicrobial, antioxidation, and anticoagulation activities were then evaluated in the hopes of developing a functional biomaterial from Korean radishes' aerial parts. The ethanol extraction yield for hot-air dried Mu-chung was 5.6%, and the fraction yields of n-hexane (H), ethylacetate (EA), butanol (B) and water residue were 25.3, 3.6, 19.4, and 51.7%, respectively. Analysis of total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents showed that the EA fraction had the highest content (97.57 and 152.91 mg/g) amongst the fractions. In antimicrobial activity assays, the H and EA fractions were effective against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus subtilis), but not effective against gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The B fraction also exhibited moderate antibacterial activity, suggesting that the extract of Mu-chung has various antibacterial components. In antioxidation activity assays, the EA fraction showed strong DPPH, ABTS and nitrite scavenging activities ($69-222{\mu}g/ml$ of $IC_{50}$), including reducing power. In anticoagulation activity assays, the EA fraction demonstrated strong inhibition activity against human thrombin and prothrombin. Prominent anticoagulation activity was found in aPTT assays; the aPTT of the EA fraction was extended 15-fold compared than that of the solvent control. Our results suggest that Mu-chung is an attractive nutritional food material possessing useful bioactivities, and the EA fraction of Mu-chung could be developed as a functional food ingredient.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2015

Previously, Euptelea pleiosperma was identified as one of the useful sources containing anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities for the first time in our research group. In this study, anti-obesity effect of E. pleiosperma ethanol extract (EPEE) was evaluated by using a pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay and a cell culture model system. EPEE suppressed effectively pancreatic lipase enzyme activity dose dependently. Furthermore, EPEE significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, triglyceride contents, and triggered lipolysis activity on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Anti-adipogenic effect of EPEE was modulated by cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}(C/EBP{\alpha})$, $C/EBP{\beta}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}(PPAR{\gamma})$ gene and protein expressions. Taken together, these results provide the important new insight that E. pleiosperma possesses anti-obesity activities such as pancreatic lipase inhibition, anti-adipogenic, and lipolysis effects. It might be utilized as promising sources in the fields of nutraceuticals. The identification of active compounds that confer anti-obesity activity of EPEE might be needed.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.777-780
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• 2000

Propolis는 꿀벌이 다양한 식물로부터 모아온 수지상의 물질이며 꿀벌의 분비물과 수목의 삼출액 등의 다양한 형태를 함유하고 있다. Propolis는 고대로부터 항생작용과 상처치유에 효과적인 혼합물로 알려져 있다. 또한 에탄올 추출 Propolis는 항박테리아, 항미생물, 항곰팡이, 마취성, 항염증, 통증저하, 면역상승과 세포증식억제작용 특성과 같은 약물학적 활성을 나타낸다고 알려져 있다. 이 연구에서는 국내산 Crude Propolis로부터 얻어진 EEP의 첨가가 미생물의 성장에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. Paper Disc Diffusion Method와 균주의 성장에 따른 저해 정도를 확인하기 위한 20mg EEP/100mL MH배지에서도 균주의 성장을 저해함을 확인할 수 있었다. 70% EEP와 95% EEP에서 모두 저해를 확인할 수 있었고95% EEP에서 저해활성이 더 좋았다.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.359-360
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• 2010

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.807-812
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• 1995

The methanol extracts of Aralia elata bark showed antimicrobial activities against bacteria, yeast, fungi. The solvent fractionated acidic fraction that showed the activity was then successively purified with silica gel adsorption column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, silica gel partition column chromatography, HPLC and TLC. The isolated major active substance was identified as 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid by MS, GC-MS, IR, $^{1}H-NMR\;and\;^{13}C-NMR$. The content of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid was 0.869㎎/g in dried bark of Aralia elata.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.354-360
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• 2014

In this study, the anti-obesity activity of Smilax china methanol extract (SCME) was evaluated using a pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay, and a cell culture model system. Results indicated that, SCME effectively inhibited pancreatic lipase enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, SCME significantly suppressed insulin, dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine-induced adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and triglyceride contents on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-adipogenic effect was modulated by cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) ${\alpha}$, $C/EBP{\beta}$, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ gene and protein expressions. Moreover, SCME triggered lipolysis effects dose-dependently on adipocyte. Taken together, these results provide an important new insight into SCME, indicating that it possesses anti-obesity activity through pancreatic lipase inhibition, anti-adipogenic and lipolysis effects. SCME may therefore be utilized as a promising source in the field of nutraceuticals. The identification of active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activities of SCME may be a logical next step.