• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.299-311
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• 1995

Platelets resemble monoaminergic neurons in several respects, i.e. the uptake of 5-HT and its inhibition, the subcellular storage and release of 5-HT, and the metabolism of aromatic amines brought about by monoamine oxidase. And the 5-HT content of rabbit platelets is well known to be about 40 times higher than that of human platelets. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the influences of amitriptyline (AMT) and sertraline (SRT) on the aggregation, contents of signaling second messengers, and protein phosphorylations of rabbit platelets in response to thrombin, 0.25 unit/ml, comparing with those of chlorpromazine (CPZ). Thrombin-induced aggregation was inhibited by SRT $(IC50:4.37{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$, CPZ $(IC50:5.76{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$, and AMT $(IC50:1.15{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$, respectively, and the aggregation by A23187 $(1.0\;{\mu}M)$ or PMA (320 nM) was also inhibited by SRT, CPZ, and AMT. AMT, SRT, and CPZ had little affects on basal contents of platelet $TXB_2$ and $PGE_2$, but all of them inhibited the thrombin-induced increase of $TXB_2$. Thrombin did not change the platelet contents of cAMP and cGMP. CPZ, AMT, and SRT produced the slight decrease of basal cAMP content, and their effects were not affected by thrombin-treatment. But SRT and AMT moderately increased the basal cGMP content, and the cGMP content of thrombin-stimulated platelets was gradually increased by the pretreatment with SRT, AMT, and CPZ. Particularly, the SRT-dependent increase of the cGMP content was notable. Platelet $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$ content was rapidly increased up to a plateau within 10 sec after thrombin-stimulation, AMT, SRT, and CPZ increased the basal $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$ content, and the thrombin-dependent increase was enhanced by pretreatment with CPZ and AMT, but was blunted by SRT. Platelet $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, was rapidly increased up to a peak level within 20 sec after thrombin-stimulation. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was sisnificantly inhibited by AMT, SRT, and CPZ. Thrombin- or PMA-induced phosphorylations of platelet $41{\sim}43\;kDa$ and 20 kDa proteins were significantly inhibited by AMT, SRT, and CPZ. These results suggest that the antiplatelet activities of AMT and CPZ may be considerably attributed to the inhibition of protein kinase C activity, and the activity of SRT may be associated with the inhibitory effect on the thrombin-induced increase of $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$ and the increasing effect on the cGMP content of ptatelets. Therefore, it seems to be evident that AMT and SRT may produce their antidepressant activity, at least, partly through the inhibition of protein kinase C activity or the increase of resting $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$, content and in case of SRT, to a lesser extent, via the increase of cGMP in the brain.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.508-513
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• 2009

Pine needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. To investigate the effects of pine (pinus densiflora) needle extracts on blood flow and serum lipid improvement were assessed in vivo. 8 week-old Sprague Dawley strain rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each; CON, 0.5% CHOL, HOT water and Sub-supercritical group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents were lower in the CON group than the 0.5% CHOL group. Three weeks of feeding hot water and sub-supercritical extract resulted in a decrease in serum triglyceride and total cholesterol level. The level of HDL-cholesterol in the 0.5% CHOL group was significantly (p<0.05) reduced compared to the CON group, but it had a tendency to increase with pine needle extract supplementation. Blood passage time of the pine needle extracts supplemented group was higher than the 0.5% CHOL group. Microscopic observation showed that whole blood passed smoothly through the micro channels in pine needle extracts supplemented groups. The platelet aggregation ability of the groups treated with pine needle extracts was less than that of the 0.5% CHOL group. All these results suggest that pine needle extracts might improve blood homeostasis mediated via antiplatelet activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.563-570
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• 2016

Onion vinegar has an undesirable flavor and taste that results from alcohol and acetic acid production from fermentation. In this study, we have used onion vinegar to develop an onion vinegar beverage with better sensory quality. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum blending ratio by using response surface methods to produce an onion vinegar beverage containing Yuza (Citrus junos Sieb ex Tanaka). The optimal formula for a fermented onion beverage was determined using a central composite design by the response surface methodology. The independent variables were obtained by regression analysis of the reaction surface of brown sugar, apple extracts and Yuza extracts. The optimum mixing ratio for onion vinegar:water:brown sugar:apple extracts:Yuza extracts was 6.0:77.6:4.9:9.2:2.3 (w/w). The actual overall acceptance was 7.08 under optimum conditions, which was close to the maximum predicted value of 6.96. The concentration of phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and quercetin present in the onion vinegar beverage was 14.8 mg/100 g, 2.6 mg/100 g and 1.4 mg/100 g, respectively. The onion vinegar beverage showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Enterobacter aerogenes. It also showed antioxidant effects, with a DPPH radical inhibition rate of 18.2% and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of 11.5%. In conclusion, the onion vinegar beverage described here seems to have nutritional value and potential biological activity.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.114-117
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• 2012

For development of new bioactive compounds from main edible mushrooms, we determined some physiological functionalities of water extracts from mushrooms. Among water extracts from some mushroom fruiting bodies, water extracts from Pleurotus ostreatus showed 73.2% of anti-hypertensive angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity and 73.3% of anti-gout xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, respectively. Fibrinolytic activity was also showed 21.5 mm of clear zone in water extract of Lyophyllum cinerascens. However, the other physiological functionalities were very weaked except 40.3% of antioxidant activity in Lentinus lepideus. Furthermore, the water extracts of Pleurotus eryngii and Lyophyllum cinerascens showed high anti-osteoporosis osteoclast differentiation inhibitory activity. However, the water extract from Lentinus lepideus and Pleurotus ostreatus were not detected any osteoclast differentiation inhibitory activity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.979-985
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• 2004

Effects of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf extracts on factors related to blood circulation were studied using rats fed high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Rats were randomly divided into five groups, and plant extracts were orally administered. Green tea extract increased bleeding time in rat tails, suggesting it could prevent platelet aggregation. Administration of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf extracts decreased total cholesterol level in liver. Grape leaf extracts decreased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in plasma, whereas buckwheat and grape leaf extracts decreased the substances in liver. These results showed extracts of green tea, buckwheat, and grape leaf were effective for improving lipid composition in blood and liver and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in animal tissue, suggesting they may have potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2015

Lentils (Lens culinaris) are a nutritious and popular food throughout the world. This review provides an overview of the nutritional and functional properties of lentils. Lentils have high nutritional value: high protein, high fiber, low fat, and a variety of minerals. The addition of lentils to other foods could enhance their health benefits. Additionally, there is no decrease in the amino acid content in lentils when cooked; rather, the amino acids increased and the phytic acids decreased. Lentils are generally known to have biomedical functions including antioxidative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and thrombolytic properties. The data presented here show that fermentation would increase the amount of bioactive substances in the beans. Therefore, fermentation techniques could be a new approach to produce lentil-based foods. They are also eco-friendly, cost-effective, and feasible processes. This review has suggested a future development of new lentil-related foods using traditional fermentation technology.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1190-1196
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• 2001

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary xylooligosaccharides on HMG-CoA reductase activity and lipid composition of liver in rat fed high cholesterol diet. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100 $\pm$ 10 g were randomly divided into groups of one normal diet, and four high cholesterol diet containing 1% cholesterol. The high cholesterol (1%) diet groups were classified into xylooligosaccharides free diet (C group), 5% xylooligosaccharides diet (C5XO group), 10% xylooligosaccharides diet (C10XO group), and 15% xylooligosaccharides diet (C15XO grcup) according to the levels of dietary xylooligosaccharides supplementation. The experimental diets were fed ad libitum for 4 weeks. The hepatic lipid contents, cholesterol and triglycerides in xylooligosaccharides supplemented groups were significantly lower than those of C group. An antithrombGsis index, a ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids of liver was significantly increased in 10% xylooligosaccharides supplemented groups compared to that of C group. The activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase, a rate limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis, in xylooligosaccharides supplemented groups was more significantly increased than in C group. These results suggest that dietary xylooligosaccharide may be act as potential substitute for a dietary fiber to improve lipids metabolism in rat fed high cholesterol diet.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.442-450
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• 2011

Numerous studies have suggested that dietary flavonoids contribute to prevent cardiovascular disease. Onion contains many functional phytochemicals such as quercetin. The aim of this study was to examine whether onion peel extracts supplementation affect blood lipid profiles and blood coagulation in animal model. Total 48 Sprague-Dawley male rats at 5 weeks old were divided into 6 groups with different diets(C: control, HF: high fat diet, HFOE 0.01%: high fat+onion peel extract 0.01% diet, HFOE 0.02%, HFOE 0.05%, HFOE 0.1%) for 8 weeks. Onion peel extract supplementation significantly decreased serum levels of LDL-cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol, while total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not affected. Hematological parameters(hematocrit, white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet count) and blood coagulation parameters(prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen) were not significantly different among 6 groups. However, activated partial thromboplastin time of HFOE 0.05% group was significantly longer than that of HF group. These results indicate that onion peel extract supplementation displays hypocholestrolemic effects but does not seem to have anti-coagulation effects in high fat fed SD rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.148-153
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the reference ranges of serum albumin levels depending on the gestational ages of preterm infants. We also intended to compare the mean serum albumin levels between groups of preterm infants that did not develop clinical disorders later, and groups that did develop clinical disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We also examined the significance of serum albumin as a predictor for the development of clinical disorders. Methods : The records of 208 neonates with gestational ages from 23 weeks to 41 weeks were reviewed retrospectively. The mean albumin concentrations with reference ranges by gestational ages were determined. Statistics for each two of group were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to model odd ratio, and 95 percent confidence interval as a mean of the association between predictors and outcome. Results : Serum albumin levels were at 23-24 weeks gestation was 2.36 g/dL, rising to 3.43 g/dL in full term babies. There were significant mean differences between the clinical groups and control groups for each clinical disorder such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity and apnea in premature babies of 30-36 weeks of gestation. Low serum albumin appeared to be associated with increased risks of clinical disorders. Conclusion : The normal serum albumin levels in preterm infants should be defined according to the gestational ages. Lower albumin levels increase the risks of the later development of clinical disorders, which are common in premature infants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2016

This study was investigated the improvement effects of Ledebouriella seseloides (LS) ethanol extracts on lipid parameters in an ovariectomized animal model. Sixty, nine-week old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups as follows: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with LS ethanol extracts (50 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively). The diets were fed to the rats for six weeks after their operation. The total-cholesterol and triglyceride contents on serum increased in the OVX-CON group compared to the SHAM group, but supplementation with the LS extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the supplemented 200 mg/kg/day LS ethanol extract group was significantly more reduced than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the platelet aggregation ability was lower in groups treated with LS than in the OVX-CON group. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was lower in the LS extract group compared to the OVX-CON group. Collagen content, in bone and cartilage, were reduced by ovariectomy, but the supplemented LS extract groups exhibited higher concentrations in their bones. According to these results, the improvement effects of LS extract on serum lipid parameters and osteogenesis in ovariectomized rats were illuminated.