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Effects of Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation on Meat Quality and Shelf-Life in Finishing Pigs (Selenium과 비타민 E의 급여가 비육돈의 육질 특성 및 저장성에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim H.J.;Park J.C.;Chen Y.J.;Yoo J.S.;Lee S.J.;Kim I.C.;Kim Y.H.;Jung H.J.;Park B.C.;Kim I.H.
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.197-203
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    • 2006
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effect of seleium (Se) and vitamin E supplementation on meat quality and shelf-life in finishing pigs. A total of eighty ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc$) pigs (74.74 initial BW) were randomly allocated into five treatments with four replications and fed for six weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) ISE2 (basal diet+0.2 ppm inorganic Se+100 ppm vitamin E), 3) ISE4 (basal diet+0.4 ppm inorganic Se+100 ppm vitamin E), 4) OSE2 (basal diet+0.2 ppm organic Se+100 ppm vitamin E) and 5) OSE4 (basal diet+0.4 ppm organic Se+100 ppm vitamin E). Cooking loss was decreased in treatment of ISE4 as compared with treatment of CON (p<0.05). Crude fat (%) of OSE2 was higher than those of others (p<0.05). Redness ($a^*$- value) of M. longissimus dorsi was increased in treatment of OSE2 as compared with other treatments after 100 of storage (p<0.05). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was decreased in treatment of OSE4 compared with treatments of CON and ISE2 after 10d of storage (p<0.05). In conclusion, Se and vitamin E combination did not significantly affect cooking loss,$a^*$- value and TBARS except for cases.

Removal of Dissolved Organic Matter by Ozone-biological Activated Carbon process (오존처리와 생물활성탄 공정에 의한 상수원수 중의 용존유기물 제거)

  • 이상훈;문순식;신종철;최광근;심상준;박대원;이진원
    • KSBB Journal
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.211-216
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    • 2003
  • The removal yield of dissolved organic matter in drinking water by biological activated carbon (BAC) process was investigated. The tested processes wer raw water-AC process (BAC1), raw water-ozonation-BAC process (BAC2), and raw water-ozonation-coagulation/sedimentation-BAC process (BAC3). The amounts of organic matter was measured as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ulta-violet radiation at 254 nm wavelength ($UV_{254}$), total nitrogen (T-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH_3$-N), and total phosphate (T-P). As a results, 30.7% DOC was removed by BAC2 process, which showed higher removal efficiency than BAC1 or BAC3 processes. The removal yield of $UV_{254}$ in BAC1, BAC2, and BAC3 processes were observed as 45.3%, 44.6%, 58.4%, respectively. And the removal yield of ammonia nitrogen were 66%, 81%, 29% in each BAC processes. The optimal empty bed contact time (EBCT) of BAC processes was estimated as 10 minute. This study has shown that BAC process combined with ozone treatment was efficient for removing dissolved organic matter in water.

Spatio-temporal Distributions of Organic Matter in Surface Sediment in the Central Part of the South Sea, Korea (남해 중부해역 표층퇴적물 유기물의 시.공간 분포특성)

  • Noh, Il-Hyeon;Yoon, Yang-Ho;Park, Jong-Sick;Soh, Ho-Young;Kim, Dae-Il
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.203-215
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    • 2006
  • Field observations on the spatio-temporal distribution of organic matter of the surface sediment were carried out at 15 stations in the central parts of the South Sea of Korea from April 2002 to January 2003. The range of water temperature and salinity in bottom waters, mud content and water content of surface sediment were $8.06{\sim}23.35^{\circ}C,\;29.20{\sim}34.51\;psu,\;71.2{\sim}99.9%$ and $38.7{\sim}68.9%$, respectively. Measured parameters on the surface sediments of ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (CODs), phaeopigment, particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) also ranged in $3.9{\sim}l2.5%,\;9.60{\sim}44.05\;mgO_2/g-dry,\;1.58{\sim}29.51\;{\mu}g/g-dry,\;3.12{\sim}13.01\;mgC/g-dry$ and $0.49{\sim}2.00\;mgN/g-dry$, respectively. The spatio-temporal distribution of organic matter demonstrated higher concentrations offshore than at lesions near the coastal line. Higher concentrations occurred in the summer and spring. The results indicated that the origin of organic matter in surface sediments in the central part of the South Sea was autochthonous rather than allocthonous because the organic matter had an average C/N ratio of 6.44 (${\pm}0.51$). However, the composition of autochthonous organic matter was mainly derived from detritus rather than living phytoplankton, which was Indicated by the results of the POC/phaeopigment ratio. A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that 73.2% of the variability in the data was described by two factors: 1) an 'environmental factor concerning the accumulation of materials (57.3%)' and 2) 'origin of organic matter and the composition by primary production (15.9%)'. The sedimentary environment in the central part of the South Sea was divided into four regions from the factor score of the PCA by the concentrations of organic matter and the composition ratio of organic matters from phytoplankton in surface sediments.

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Flora of aquatic and wetland habitats on Jeju Island (제주도의 수생 및 습생 식물상)

  • Kang, Dae-Hyun;Yim, Eun-Young;Moon, Myung-Ok
    • Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.96-107
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    • 2015
  • This study presents a comprehensive account of the flora of hydrophytes and hygrophytes on Jeju Island. This approach aims to contribute to fundamental information about the conservation of plant diversity in wetlands. Field surveys were carried out from May of 2010 to September of 2014 in various types of wetlands on Jeju Island. A total of 189 taxa, including 52 families, 98 genera, 181 species, 6 varieties, 2 forma and 189 taxa, were found. Among them, 99 taxa (38 families, 60 genera, 96 species and 3 varieties) were hydrophytes and 90 taxa (23 families, 45 genera, 85 species, 3 varieties and 2 forma) were hygrophytes. In addition, Eleocharis${\times}$yezoensis H. Hara (Cyperaceae) was newly added to the flora of Korea. The protected wild plants designated by the Ministry of the Environment were 5 taxa, including Brasenia schreberi J. F. Gmel. and Dysophylla yatabeana Makino. The endangered species found included one Critically Endangered Species (i.e., Mankyua chejuense B.-Y. Sun, M. H. Kim & C. H. Kim), 5 Endangered Species (e.g., Lysimachia leucantha Miq.) and 7 Vulnerable Species (e.g., Tillaea aquatica L.). The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 44 taxa comprising 10 taxa of grade V, 7 taxa grade IV, 15 taxa of grade III, 5 taxa of grade II, and 7 taxa of grade I. The identified naturalized plants were 10 taxa; 8 families, 8 genera, 9 species and 1 variety. In the wetlands on Jeju Island, high plant species diversity was shown, and a number of rare plants and phytogeographically important plants were found. For these reasons, we consider that the wetlands on Jeju Island are very important areas from a botanical point of view. It is necessary to establish specific protection and maintenance policies in an effort to conserve these wetlands and species.

Initial nutritional status of stomach cancer patients (위암환자의 입원시 영양상태)

  • An, Su-Mi;Yun, Gi-Yeong;Kim, Eun-Sil;Gang, Won-Geun;Ryu, Dong-Won;Kim, Tae-Hyeon;Choe, Gyeong-Hyeon;Jeong, Eun-Ae;Im, Seon-Gye;Kim, Hong-Seon;Lee, Geum-Suk;Kim, Jong-Suk;Lee, Seon-Ok
    • Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.217-226
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    • 2002
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate initial nutritional status of stomach cancer patients. The study subjects were 88 patients with stomach cancer admitted at Kosin University Gospel Hospital in Busan. We assessed the initial nutritional status by anthropometric, biochemical and dietary intake data along with subjective global assessment(SGA). The results are as follows. 1. The mean age, weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, mid arm circumference, and mid arm muscle circumference of the subjects were 55.9$\pm$11.0years, 60.0$\pm$9.8kg, 162.4$\pm$8.5cm, 10.9$\pm$5.7mm, 26.8$\pm$3.8cm, and 23.4$\pm$3.5cm respectively. The mean body mass index was within the normal range, with 22.7$\pm$2.8kg/m2, while 15.4% of the patients was underweight. The result shows that body fat mass and body protein mass of the patients with stomach cancer were decreased. 2. The mean biochemical data of the subjects were 4.0$\pm$0.5g/dl for albumin, 174.7$\pm$41.9mg/dl for cholesterol, 107.6$\pm$57.2mg/dl for triglyceride, 92.1μg/dl for Zn,  297.0$\pm$103.1mg/dl for transferrin, 1980.0$\pm$0.8$mm^3$ for total lymphocyte count. 3. Daily energy intake was 1997.8$\pm$579.3kcal. And the ratio of carbohydrate, protein, and lipid to energy intake was 72:14:14. 4. The patients were divided into three groups according to SGA performed by an observer. Group A(well nourished) was 55.7% with 49 patients, Group B(moderately malnourished) was 22.7 % with 20 patients, and Group C(severely malnourished) was 21.6 % with 19 patients. The three groups showed a significant difference in body weight(p<0.01), 1 month weight loss %(p<0.001), 6 months weight loss %(p<0.001), body mass index(p<0.01), and mid arm circumference(p<0.05), albumin(p<0.01), energy intake(p<0.05) as well as carbohydrate intake(p<0.05). From these results, it may be concluded that SGA can be used as a nutrition screening tool, and comprehensive nutrition assessment is desirable for those malnourished.

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Increacing profit of dairy farm through improvement of raw milk quality : According to SCC and mastitis (유질개선을 통한 낙농가 소득증대 - SCC와 유방염을 중심으로-)

  • 손봉환;최진영;배도권;정충일
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.261-279
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    • 1997
  • The study for a effect of monitoring on bovine mastitis was conduced for improvement of raw milk from Jan. to Dec. in 1996. Sampling the milk of 367 cows(1, 406 quarters) from 5 herds in Inchon and were carried out California mastitis test(CMT), somatic cell count(SCC), isolation of pathogens and antibiotic sensitivity tests. The results were summarized as follows, 1. The number of bovine mastitis was 177 cows(48.2%) and 371 quarters(26.4%) : clinical mastitis : 25 cows(6.8%), 32 quarters(2.3%) and subclinicsl mastitis : 152 cows(41.4% ), 339 quarters(24.1%). Incidence rate of mastitis by season were Summer 52.0%, Fall and Winter 48% and Spring 41%. Incidence rate of mastitis by quarters were Summer 30%, Fall 28%, Winter 25% and Spring 21%, respectively. 2. In the distribution of CMT degree by quarter, CMT positive(CMT$\pm$) of 1, 406 quarters milk were 50.1% (704 quarters). The ratio of CMT positivity by quarter were left front quarter 55.8%, right front quarter 48.9%, right hind quarter 48.6% and left hind quarter 47% The ratio of CMT positivity by season were Summer 54.1%, Fall 49.7%, Spring 48.5% and Winter 48% 3. The highest mean SCC by season among 5 herds was "A" herd. Mean SCC (cell/ml) of A herd were Summer 2, 032, 000cells/ml, Fall 1, 109, 000cells/ml, Winter 782, 000cells/ml and Spring 577, 000cells/ml. The lowest mean SCC by season among 5 herds was "E" herds. Mean SCC of E herd were Summer 1, 064, 000cells/ml, Spring 795, 000cells/m1, Fall 429, 000cells/ml and Winter 400, 000cells/ml. Mean SCC of the other herds by season were little difference. 4. The milk samples of "A" herd were collected from 10 cows. In 3 seasons, mean SCC of No. 2 and 3 cows were than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. In 1 season, mean SCC of No. 6, 7 and 8 cows were than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. The more than mean SCC 1, 000, 000cells/ml of cows by season were distributed Summer 4 cows, Winter 3 cows, Spring and Fall 1 cow respectively. The milk samples of "B" herd were collected from 14 cows. In 3 seasons, mean SCC of No. 1 cow was more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. In 2 seasons, mean SCC of No. 5, 9 and 14 cows were more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. In 1 season, No. 3, 6 and 7 cows were more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. The more than mean SCC 1, 000, 000cells/ml of cows by season were distributed Fall and Winter 4 cows respectively, Summer 3 cows and Spring 1 cow. The milk samples of "C" herd were collected from 18 cows. In 2 seasons, mean SCC of No. 16 cow was more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. In 1 season, mean SCC of No. 1, 2, 6, 7, 13, 15 and 18 cows were more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml respectively. The more than mean SCC 1, 000, 000cells/ml of cows by season were distributed Summer 5 cows, Fall 3 cows, Spring 2 cows and Winter 1 COW. The milk sampes of "D" herd were collected 24 cows. In 3 season, mean SCC of No. 14 cow was more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. In 2 seasons, mean SCC of No. 14 and 18 cows were more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. In 1 season, mean SCC of No. 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20 and 21 cows were more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. The more than mean SCC 1, 000, 000cells/ml of cows were distributed Fall 15 cows, Spring and Winter 4 cows respectively and Summer 3 cows. The milk samples of "E" herd were collected from 27 cows. In 2 seasons, mean SCC of No. 6, 7 and 21 cows were more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. In 1 season, mean SCC of No. 2, 4, 7, 11, 14, 16 and 23 cows were more than 1, 000, 000cells/ml. The more than mean SCC 1, 000, 000cells/ml of cows were distributed Spring and Fall 5 cows respectively, Summer and Winter 2 cows, respectively. 5. The rate of isolated pathogenic microorganisms from bovine mastitis were summarized as follows : Staphylococcus sp 168 strains(45.8%), Streptococcus sp 82 strains(22.3%), Gram(-) sp 45 strains(12.3%), Gram(+) sp 51 strains and the other sp 21 strains(5.7%). 6. The highest of antibiotic sensitivity test of each microorganism was summarized as follows : Staphyolcoccus sp - cephalosporin 76%, gentamicin 55%, Streptococcus sp - ampicillin 61%, cephalosporin 63%, Gram(-) sp - gentamicin 58%, Gram(+) sp - cephalosporin 63%, The other sp - cephalosporin 90%. Microorganisms showed the highest sensitivity(68%) to cephalospsorin. Microorganisms showed the highest sensitivity(68%) to cephalospsorin.

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Toxicity of lectin extracted from Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) in piglets and its effects on the immunogenicity of Aujeszky's disease virus vaccines (한국산 겨우살이(Viscum album coloratum)로부터 추출된 lectin의 돼지에 대한 독성 및 오제스키병 백신의 면역원성에 미치는 영향)

  • Yeo, Sang-Geon
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.46 no.3
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    • pp.225-234
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    • 2006
  • In the present study toxicity and immunostimulating activity of the lectin(KML-C), which was extracted from Korean mistletoe(Viscum album coloratum) were investigated in swine. To determine the toxicity, lectin was injected into thigh or cervical muscles of 4-week-old piglets(Landrace) and observed clinically and pathologically. For determination of the immnunostimulating activity, lectin($0.7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight)-adjuvanted vaccine of Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV)(NYJ1-87) which was inactivated by 0.2% formalin was injected into the cervical muscle of antibody-negative piglets in the same age group. Subpopulation of the immune cells and serum neutralizing(SN) antibodies in the piglets were examined after vaccination, and resistance of the piglets against challenge by virulent NYJ1-87 was further examined. The results were also compared with those from piglets injected with aluminum hydroxide [$Al(OH)_3$]-adjuvanted vaccine of inactivated NYJ1-87 and NYJ1-87 vaccine without adjuvant, and the results are as follows. By injection of lectin with $30{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the thigh muscle, all of 12 piglets died after signs such as dyspnea, fever, systemic erythema and subcutaneous hemorrhages, and lesions pertaining to poisonous hepatitis and dysfunction of kidney were observed. By injection of lectin with $7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the thigh muscle, all of 12 piglets showed signs such as edema and cutaneous hemorrhage in the injected area, lameness and depression, and lesions pertaining to poisonous hepatitis and dysfunction of kidney were observed. By injection of lectin with 1, 3 and $5{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the thigh muscle of each one piglet, signs such as congestion, induration and grayish coloration in the injected area, depression and inappetence were observed in all piglets. Toxic changes were also observed in the liver and kidney of piglets by lectin of 3 and $5{\mu}g$. By injection of lectin with 0.5 and $0.7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the cervical muscle of each 9 piglets, all piglets were clinically normal and there were no significant changes in blood counts and chemistry values. Whereas, epithelial swelling and vacuolation of convoluted tubules were observed from one piglet injected with lectin of $0.7{\mu}g$, and necrosis and fibrosis of muscular fiber were observed in the muscle of one piglet injected with lectin of $0.5{\mu}g$. Only population of sIgM+ B lymphocytes increased among immune cells in all of 15 piglets immunized with lectin($0.7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight)-adjuvanted vaccine, while compared to those in $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine and vaccine without adjuvant. No additional stimulation to the immune cells was recognized when lectin was added to $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine. In piglets immunized with lectin-adjuvanted vaccine, SN titers in reciprocal values for loge were 1.3-4.0 at 1-4 weeks after vaccination, which was similar to those with 1.0-3.3 by vaccine without adjuvant but lower than those with 2.0-5.7 by $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine. Also, no additional increase in the SN titers was recognized when lectin was added to $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine. Piglets immunized with lectin-adjuvanted vaccine were resistant to challenge by the virulent NYJ1-87 at 4 weeks after vaccination, and the SN titers reached to 5.0 one week after challenge, which was higher than those with 4.0 by vaccine without adjuvant but somewhat lower than those with 7.7 by $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine.

Prediction Model of Weed Population in Paddy Fields - II. Simple Prediction Method of Weed Population and Prediction Model of Weed Species (논 잡초(雜草) 발생예측(發生豫測) 모델 개발연구(開發硏究) - II. 간역(簡易) 잡초발생(雜草發生) 예측법(豫測法) 및 잡종별(雜種別) 예측(豫測)모델)

  • Lee, Han-Gyu;Lee, I.Y.;Ryu, G.H.;Lee, J.O.;Lee, E.J.
    • Korean Journal of Weed Science
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.163-170
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    • 1994
  • The experiment was conducted in 1993 to find out a simple prediction method of weeds and to make the prediction models of weeds in paddy fields. The annuals producing fine seeds were apt to emerge at sampling soil only, on the contrary the perennials and the annuals producing large seeds tended not to emerge at sampling soil due to the miss of seeds at sampling. There was no appropriate regression between a total number of weeds emerged at sampling soil and that of weeds occurred in fields. The important annual weeds occurring in fields were able to predict by the number of weeds emerged at sampling soil, but it was difficult to predict the important perennial weeds. In case of Bidens tripartita producing large seeds and Eleocharis kuroguwai producing large tubers, the prediction coefficients were high as above 1.0, and that of Echinochloa crus-galli and Sagittaria pygmaea were comparatively high as 0.175 and 0.172, respectively. However the coefficients of the other weeds were much low as below 0.08. The prediction models for 9 species were made. The model of six species including E. crus-galli, M. vaginalis, R. indica, B. tripartita, E. triandra and S. pygmaea were linear regression with high significance, however that of 3 species including C. difformis, S. juncoides and E. kuroguwai were curve regression with high significance.

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The Pulation Structure of the Pacific Cod (Gadus macrocephalus Tilesius) Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences (미토콘드리아 유전자 염기서열 분석에 의한 대구 계군 분석)

  • Seo, Young-Il;Kim, Joo-Il;Oh, Taeg-Yun;Lee, Sun-Kil;Park, Jong-Hwa;Kim, Hee-Yong;Cho, Eun-Seob
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.336-344
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    • 2010
  • To assess population structure and genetic diversity among the Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), we investigated mtDNA COI gene sequences of 7 populations. Samples were obtained from Sokcho, Wolsung, Geojedo, Yeosu, Geomundo and Westsouth in 2008 and 2009 (n=28). The sequence analysis of 28 individual samples showed 8 haplotypes, ranging in sequence divergence by pairwise comparisons from 0.2 to 2.2% (1 bp-11 bp). The Gal haplotype was found in Wolsung, Geojedo, Yeosu, Geomundo and Westsouth, and was regarded as the main haplotype of Korean Pacific cod. Ga2, Ga3, Ga6 and Ga7 haplotypes were found only in Sokcho. In the PHYLIP analysis, 8 haplotypes formed two independent groups: cladeA consisted of Ga2, Ga3, Ga6 and Ga7 haplotypes, whereas cladeB contained Gal, Ga4, Ga5 and Ga8 haplotypes. The genetic relationship between the two groups was weakly supported by bootstrap analysis(<50%). In pairwise comparisons between 6 populations other than that from Sokcho, a very high per generation migration ratio ($N_m$=infinite) and a very low level of geographic distance ($F_{sr}=-0.0123-(-0.0423)$) were observed. The estimates of genetic distance between Sokcho and the other localities were all statistically significant (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001), indicating a limited mtDNA-based gene flow between Sokcho and other regions. The finding of the lowest genetic diversity in the Sokcho population (nucleotide diversity=0.00589) may be a result of relatively small population size and interrupted gene flow to other localities. Consequently, the overall considerable migration of Pacific cod population in Korea caused a genetically homogeneous structure to form, although a distinct population was found in this study.

Pro-apoptotic Effects of Platycodin D Isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum in Human Leukemia Cells (도라지 유래 사포닌 platycodin D에 의한 인체 백혈병세포의 apoptosis 유도)

  • Park, Sang Eun;Lee, Su Young;Shin, Dong Yeok;Jeong, Jin-Woo;Jin, Myung Ho;Park, Seon Young;Chung, Yoon Ho;Hwang, Hye Jin;Hong, Sang Hoon;Choi, Yung Hyun
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.389-398
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    • 2013
  • Platycodin D is a major constituent of triterpene saponins, which is found in the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, Platycodi Radix, which is widely used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Several pharmacological effects of this compound have been reported recently, such as anti-inflammation, immunogenicity, anti-adipogenesis, lowered cholesterol, and anti-cancer activity. However, the mechanism by which this action occurs is poorly understood. In this study, we found that platycodin D greatly increased the potential of the anti-proliferative effect in various cancer cell lines. Our data revealed that platycodin D treatment resulted in a time- and concentration-response growth inhibition of U937 cells by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Apoptosis induction of U937 cells by platycodin D correlated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caused the down-regulation of IAP family members. In addition, platycodin D treatment resulted in proteolytic activation of caspase-3, the concomitant degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, and the collapse of the mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$). However, the cytotoxic effects induced by platycodin D treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrated the important role that caspase-3 played in the observed cytotoxic effect. These findings suggest that platycodin D may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia U937 cells. These findings also provided important new insights into possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of platycodin D.