• Development and Reproduction
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Ovarian follicular atresia in mammals is finely regulated by gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. It is well known that granulosa cell pyknosis is a common cytological feature of atretic follicles in the ovary. The present study hypothesized that granulosa cell pyknosis during follicular atresia might be related to apoptotic process and associated with caspase-3 activation. Healthy (normal) and atretic follicles were isolated from porcine ovaries based on macro-morphological criteria. Isolated follicles were either processed for histological observation or used for collection of granulosa cells by aspiration. Hoechst 33258 staining of the cells showed a significantly higher number of fragmented nuclei, a typical morphological feature of apoptotic cell, in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than those from healthy follicles. In addition, the rate of cell death was significantly higher in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than healthy follicles, as measured by flow-cytometric cell cycle analysis. In situ detection of apoptotic cells by TUNEL revealed that apoptosis was mostly restricted to granulosa cells in follicles. Theca cells were TUNEL-negative. Finally, it has been shown by caspase-3 activity assay that granulosa cells from atretic follicles retain a higher caspase-3 activity compared to healthy follicles. Taken together, it is suggested that granulosa cell degeneration during folliclar atresia occurs by caspase-3-dependent apoptotic fashion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제33권7호
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• pp.1206-1211
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of selenium binding yeast peptide supplementation on growth performance, tissue Se, serum glutathione peroxidase activity and meat quality in finishing pigs. A total of eighty (Duroc${\times}$Yorkshir${\times}$Landrace) pigs (82.88$\pm$1.23 kg average initial body weight) were used in a 35-day assay. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) SY1 (CON diet＋0.05％ selenium binding yeast peptide), 3) SY2 (CON diet＋0.l％ selenium binding yeast peptide) and 4) SY3 (CON diet＋0.2％ selenium binding yeast peptide). Overall period, average daily gain of pigs fed selenium binding yeast peptide diet was higher than that of pigs fed CON diet, however, there was not significant difference (p＞0.05). L＊ (lightness) value of M. longissimus dorsi was higher in SY2 than CON and SY3 (p＜0.05). a＊ (redness) value of M. longissimus dorsi was lower in CON than other treatments (p＜0.05). Selenium content in serum was increased as adding selenium binding yeast peptide compared to pigs fed CON diet. However, there was not significantly different among the treatments (p＞0.05). Selenium content of M. longissimus dorsi was higher in SY2 (0.021 $\mu$g/g) and SY3 (0.031 $\mu$g/g) than CON diet (0.008 $\mu$g/g) (p＜0.05). Selenium content of kidney was increased in SY2 I and SY3 compared to pigs fed CON and SY1 (p＜0.05). Selenium content of liver was higher in SY1 than CON (p＜0.05). In conclusion, it is suggested that selenium content could be accumulated in M. longissimus dorsi, kidney and liver by selenium binding yeast peptide supplementation, and meat color of M. longissimus dorsi could be affected by selenium binding yeast peptide supplementation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제40권10호
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• pp.1397-1403
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• 2011

Epimedium koreanum Nakai is a wild medicinal plant commonly consumed in South Korea due to its health beneficial effects. In the present study, the antioxidative, antimutagenic and immunological activities of E. koreanum Nakai extracts were investigated for their use in food. The yields of icariin compounds from the ethanol extract as well as the ethyl acetate, butanol, hexane, water, and chloroform fractions of E. koreanum were 27.9, 2.5, 1.7, 1.4, and 1.3 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively. The icariin components (295.5 ${\mu}g/g$) were collected from the ethyl acetate fraction by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of each fraction were as follows: ethyl acetate (49.0 ${\mu}g/mL$), butanol (59.2 ${\mu}g/mL$), hexane (119.8 ${\mu}g/mL$), water (122.0 ${\mu}g/mL$), and chloroform (138.5 ${\mu}g/mL$), based on $RC_{50}$ ${\mu}g/mL$. Icariin, isolated and identified as the main component, showed strong antioxidant activity with a $RC_{50}$ value of 15.3 ${\mu}g/mL$, which was higher than those of ascorbic acid (19.5 ${\mu}g/mL$) and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (18.2 ${\mu}g/mL$). In an Ames test, none of the fractions produced mutagenic effects on Salmonella Typhimurium TA98 and TA100. In an immunomodulating activity test, the effects of E. koreanum Nakai on B cells (Rhamos) and T cells (Jurkat) were investigated. These results show that the growth and viability of B and T cells were increased by isolated icariin components for 1.27 and 1.28 fold, respectively. These results also provide preliminary data for the development of E. koreanum Nakai as an edible food material.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.127-135
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• 2016

Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels are the targets of physiological stimuli, such as intracellular pH, bioactive lipids, and neurotransmitters, and they set the resting membrane potential. Some types of K2P channels play a critical role in both apoptosis and tumoriogenesis. Among the K2P channels, no antagonists of the TREK2 channel have been reported. The aim of the present study was to determine if the TREK2 channel is blocked and whether cell proliferation is influenced by flavonoids in the TREK2 overexpressing HEK293 cells (HEKT2). The electrophysiological current was recorded using single channel patch clamp techniques and cell proliferation was measured using a XTT assay. The electrophysiological results showed that the TREK2 channel activity was reduced to $91.5{\pm}13.1%$ (n=5) and $82.2{\pm}13.7%$ (n=5) by flavonoids, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and quercetin in HEKT2 cells, respectively. In contrast, the EGCG analogue, epicatechin (EC), had no significant inhibitory effects on the TREK2 single channel activity. In addition, cell proliferation was reduced to $69.4{\pm}14.0%$ (n=4) by ECGG in the HEKT2 cells. From these results, EGCG and quercetin represent the first known TREK2 channel inhibitors and only EGCG reduced HEKT2 cell proliferation. This suggests that the flavonoids may work primarily by inhibiting the TREK2 channel, leading to a change in the resting membrane potential, and triggering the initiation of a change in intracellular signaling for cell proliferation. TREK2 channel may, at least in part, contribute to cell proliferation.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.331-338
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• 2007

The major fungal diseases which effecting garlic storage are blue mold and dry rot, caused by Penicillium hirsutum and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively. In order to reduce the damage by the pathogenic fungi, here we report the effects of 11 fungicides tested to reduce spoilage during storage of garlics. In the in vitro antimicrobial activity test, the fungicides, diphenylamine, prochloraz and tebuconazole showed 0.3, 2.2, and 1.3 nun inhibition zone to F. oxysporium, and cyprodinil, diphenylamine, fenbuconazole, hexaconazole, penconazole, prochloraz, propiconazole, pyrimethanil and tebuconazole exhibited 0.2, 2.4, 0.8, 0.4, 1.2, 1.5, 1.2, 0.4 and 1.5 mm to P. hirsutum, respectively. To test the in vivo control effect, when the diphenylamine, prochloraz, and tebuconazole were treated by standard concentration, the fungal mycelium of F. oxysporium started to grow 5 days after inoculation, and 80, 63.3 and 83.3% of the inoculated cloves are infected 11 days after inoculation. When the tebuconazole were treated by standard concentration, the P. hirsutum was completely inhibited the growth of the fungi. In case of diphenylamine, penconazole and propiconazole treatment, the P. hirsutum was observed 7 days after inoculation and $20{\sim}23.3%$ of the cloves were infected 11 days after inoculation. When cyprodinil, prochloraz and pyrimethanil were treated, pathogens occurred 5 days after inoculation and $60{\sim}100%$ of the cloves infected 11 days after inoculation. Three fungicides such as diphenylamine, prochloraz and tebuconazole also suppressed remarkably the infection and growth of F. oxysporium and P. hirsutum on garlic when both of the pathogens are inoculated after the garlic cloves were dipped for 10 min in the suspension of each agrochemical. Overall, diphenylamine, prochloraz and tebuconazole showed effective control efficacy on dry rot and blue mold There was significant correlation between in vitro and in vivo assay in diphenylamine and prochloraz to F. oxysporum and cyprodinil, prochloraz and pyrimethanil to P. hirsutum.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.248-256
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• 2008

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of 68 Listeria monocytogenes isolates, including 11 reference strains and 57 isolates from imported US beef, domestic meats(beef, pork, chicken meat), raw milk, and milk plants. L. monocytogenes was to evaluate the production of virulence proteins, such as hemolysin(LLO) and lecithinase(LCP), the adsorption of Congo red(CRA), and to detect virulence genes using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR). In the study of virulence protein production, 68(100%), 62(91.2%), and 54(79.4%) of the 68 L. monocytogenes strains were positive for LLO production, the LCP test, and the CRA test, respectively, while strains of other species, such as L. innocua, L. gray, L. murrayi, and L. welshimeri, were not. There were no significant differences between L. monocytogenes serotypes and the ability to produce LLO or LCP. L. monocytogenesstrains had very high hemolytic titers(2 to 16 fold), while the other Listeria species, other than L. ivanovii and L. seeligeri, did not. The hemolysin activities of L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, and L. seeligeri usually exceeded 1.0 HU/mg, while those of other Listeria spp. were less than 0.04 HU/mg. In the PCR assay, all of the L. monocytogenes strains contained the hlyA, plcA, plcB, inlA, and inlB virulence genes and produced a product of the expected size. In the PCR of the actA gene, the expected 385-bp product was seen in 39(57.4%) L. monocytogenesstrains, while an unexpected 268-bp product was seen in 29(42.6%) strains. Most L. monocytogenes strains isolated from Hanwoo beef produced the 385-bp actA gene product, while strains of imported US beef usually produced the 268-bp actA gene product. By contrast, no virulence gene products were amplified in the other Listeria spp.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.732-742
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• 2002

Purpose : In order to evaluate the hypoxia-ischemia(H-I) induced neurotoxicity and the protective effect of xanthine oxidase(XO) inhibitor(allopurinol), cell number, cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), protein synthesis(PS) and protein kinase C(PKC) activity were measured in cerebral neurons and astrocytes. Methods : Cytotoxic effect was measured by in vitro assay at 12-72 hours after H-I on cerebral neurons and astrocytes derived from 7-day old neonatal rats which were subjected to unilateral common carotid artery occlusion and exposed to hypoxic condition for 3 hours. The protective effect of XO inhibitor was examined by the cell number, cell viability, LDH and PS on 14 days after H-I with allopurinol intraperitoneal injection 15 minutes prior to H-I. In addition, the effect of allopurinol on PKC activity in hypoxic conditions was examined in neurons. Results : 72 hours from H-I, the cell numbers and viability were decreased significantly in time-dependent manner on neurons and those of astrocytes also decreased slightly, compared with control. In neonatal rats treated with H-I, the cell number, cell viability, and PS in neurons were decreased, but LDH was increased significantly compared with control. In neonatal rats pretreated with allopurinol, the cell number and viability, and PS in neurons were increased and LDH was decreased significantly compared with H-I. PKC was increased remarkably after hypoxic condition. But PKC was decreased significantly against hypoxic condition after allopurinol pretreatment. Conclusion : From these results, it is suggested that H-I is more toxic in neurons than astrocytes and allopurinol is very protective with increasing of PS, and decreasing of LDH and PKC in neurons from hypoxic-ischemic condition.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.391-401
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• 2008

Probiotics have emerged as a potential treatment modality for numerous gastrointestinal disorders, including IBD. However, few probiotics have undergone appropriate preclinical screening in vivo. Kefir is considered a probiotic, benefiting the host through its effects in the intestinal tract. Despite numerous studies examining the action of probiotics on the host organism, few have analyzed the effects on intestinal environment. We assessed the protective effect of kefir for three weeks before inducing colitis with 2% dextran sodium sulfate for five days. The DSS loads were similar in all DSS treatment group. The results of the experiment are as follows. Food intake and FER of experimental groups were not significantly different each other, but water consumption tended to be higher in all DSS treatment groups as compared with the normal control. And visual inspection of feces revealed mild diarrhea in rat given 2% DSS. The anti-inflammatory activity of kefir was determined by myeloperoxidase activity during the DSS treatment, and there was no significant difference in any group. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as a colonic lipid peroxidation were significantly lower in the kefir intake groups than in rats treated with 2% DSS alone. The DNA % in tail and tail moment values as a DNA damage level of the blood lymphocytes in kefir intake groups tended to be lower than 2% DSS treatment alone, especially tail lengths were significantly diminished. According to the colonic histopathological assay, there were a severe inflammation of lamina propria and submucosa and mild edema in mucosa and sub mucosa in DSS alone treated group. We found a slight regenerative change in kefir treatment groups. In our experiments, this means that ulcerative colitis related to oxidative injury might be prevented by kefir as a probiotic. Further studies of the potential benefits of kefir as a probiotic in inflammatory condition are encouraged.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.423-430
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• 2014

In this study, the antioxidative effects for the extracts of purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) were investigated. The purple sweet potato was extracted with 70% ethanol and the ethyl acetate fraction was obtained from the extracts. The yields of extract and ethyl acetate fraction were 39.2% and 3.49% per dried powder, respectively. To confirm the antioxidative effects of the extracts, free radical scavenging activities (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), total antioxidant capacity by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay and the protective effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS) in erythrocytes were measured. Free radical scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of the 70% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction were $90.16{\mu}g/mL$ and $7.69{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The free radical scavenging activity of ethyl acetate fraction was higher than that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol ($8.98{\mu}g/mL$). Total antioxidant capacities ($OSC_{50}$) of the 70% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction were $5.75{\mu}g/mL$ and $1.92{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The capacity of ethyl acetate fraction was similar to L-ascorbic acid, known as a prominent water soluble antioxidant ($1.50{\mu}g/mL$). The cellular protective effects of the ethyl acetate fractions on the $^1O_2$-induced cellular damage of human erythrocytes were increased in a concentration dependent manner ($5{\sim}50{\mu}g/mL$). The ${\tau}_{50}$ value in $5{\mu}g/mL$ was 45.6 min which was higher than that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol in all concentrations. These results indicate that the ethyl acetate fraction of purple sweet potato (I. batatas) has the excellent antioxidative capacity and could be applicable to anti-aging cosmeceutical ingredients for skin aging inhibition.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.671-676
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• 2008

AgI/II of Streptococcus mutans(S. mutans) is an important virulence factor that contributes to the pathogenesis of S. mutans-induced dental caries. In oral cavity, salivary IgA antibodies act as safeguards against enormous challenges from oral bacteria. IgA antibodies inhibit adherence of cariogenic microorganisms to hard surfaces. Analysis of salivary IgA against AgI/II can be very useful diagnostic and powerful communication tools to the dental caries The purpose of this study was to investigate correlation between salivary AgI/II specific IgA and incidence of dental caries among children and young adults. Subjects consisted of 28 children and 18 adults. They were assigned to four groups : Group I deft index $\leq$3), Group II(deft index $\geq$4), Group III(DMFT index $\leq$3), Group IV(DMFT index $\geq$4) and they was divided two groups into caries resistant group and caries susceptible group. The study group were examined caries activity and their salivary IgA was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results are as follows : 1. There was a positive correlation between the number of S. mutans and caries activity. 2. The titer of salivary IgA against the AgI/II was significantly higher in caries resistant group than caries susceptible group(p<0.01). 3. The titer of salivary IgA against the AgI/II in Group III was significantly higher than Group II(p<0.05).