• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2012

Acute toxicity test of heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Zn) were examined using the hatching rates of fertilized eggs in the oliver flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Eggs were exposed to Cd, Cu, Zn (0, 10, 100, 500, 1000, 2500, 5000 ppb) and then normal hatching rates were investigated after 48 h. The normal hatching rates in the control condition (not including Cd, Cu and Zn) were greater than 80%, but suddenly decreased with increasing of heavy metal concentrations. Cd, Cu and Zn reduced the normal hatching rates in concentration-dependent way and a significant reduction occurred at concentration grater than 1000, 100, 100 ppb, respectively. The ranking of heavy metal toxicity was Zn>Cu>Cd, with $EC_{50}$ values of 584, 1015 and 1282 ppb, respectively. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) and the lowest-observed-effect-concentration (LOEC) showed each 100 and 500 ppb of normal hatching rates in exposed to Cu and Zn. The NOEC and LOEC of normal hatching rates in Cd were 500 ppb and 1000 ppb, respectively. From these results, the normal hatching rates of P. olivaceus have toxic effect at greater than the 100 ppb concentrations in Cu, Zn and the 500 ppb concentrations in Cd in natural ecosystems. These results suggest that biological assay using the normal hatching rates of P. olivaceus are very useful test method for the acute toxicity assessment of a toxic substance as heavy metal in marine ecosystems.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2020

Propolis is a sticky resinous substance that is formed by the combination of honeybee secretions and resin of plants, which serves to protect from bacteria and viruses. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of propolis extract from Korea (KPE), China (CPE), and Brazil (BPE) through antioxidant, antibacterial, whitening, and anti-inflammatory tests, and to examine their potential as cosmetic materials. KPE, CPE, and BPE showed significant antioxidant activities on flavonoid/polyphenol content and free radical scavenging activity. The antibacterial effect of propolis on skin flora was determined by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). KPE showed better antibacterial efficacy than CPE and BPE in C. acnes (KPE, CPE, and BPE: (62.5, 250, and 500) ㎍/mL, respectively). Furthermore, KPE inhibited the melanin synthesis in human epidermal melanocytes and production of nitric oxide and PGE₂ induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse macrophages, which showed better than did CPE or BPE. Taken together, the propolis extracts can be applied to antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory ingredient for cosmetics, while KPE showed superior potential in antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and whitening efficacies.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.691-698
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• 2013

The biological activities of Smilax china L. rhizome (SCR), hot water (SCRW) and 70% ethanol extract (SCRE) were analyzed. The total phenolic contents of SCRW and SCRE were 51.7 and 100.5 mg/g, respectively. The measured flavonoid content of SCRW ($67.7{\mu}g/g$) was almost double that of SCRE ($31.7{\mu}g/g$). SCRE ($IC_{50}=42.4{\mu}g/mL$) exhibited stronger antioxidant activity in the DPPH system than the positive control ${\alpha}$-tocopherol ($71.3{\mu}g/mL$) or butylated hydroxy anisole ($53.8{\mu}g/mL$) did. SCRE ($IC_{50}=50.3{\mu}g/mL$) also showed stronger ABTS radical scavenging activity, as did ${\alpha}$-tocopherol ($67.1{\mu}g/mL$). The SOD-like activity and Tyrosinase inhibition activity of SCRW and SCRE showed almost the same pattern. The best SOD-like activity and tyrosinase inhibition activity were measured as 24.9% and 20.3% in SCRW at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The cytotoxic effects of the SCR extracts were analyzed via MTT assay on human cancer and normal cells. SCRW and SCRE did not show cytotoxicity up to the concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ against the normal human cell line HEK293. Against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), SCRW inhibited MCF-7 growth (by 27.6%) better than the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide (15.5%) at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$. SCRE ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$) inhibited the growth of human lung cancer cells A549 (37.6%) and human stomach cancer cells AGS (53.6%) more effective than did SCRW (21.0% and 35.4%) or CPA (22.2% and 31.7%). These results suggest the potential use of SCRE and SCRW as an excellent antioxidant and antiproliferative substance, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.973-982
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• 2020

In this study, we examined inhibition of adipocyte differentiation associated with the administration of camphor, a substance identified in extracts of the flowering plant Chrysanthemum indicum L. (CI). No camphor-mediated cytotoxicity was observed over a period of 1-10 days in studies targeting cells of the 3T3-L1 adipocyte-like line. Experiments that featured siRNA-mediated suppression of the transmembrane proteins Patched (PTCH) and Smoothened (SMO) resulted in inhibition and activation of differentiation, respectively. Interestingly, inhibition of PTCH typically activates SMO protein targeting and serves to activate hedgehog (HH)-mediated signaling. The results of our study suggest that activation of HH-mediated signaling can inhibit adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, expression of glioma-associated oncogene homologue 1 (Gli1) was detected by flow cytometry in 62.7±1.5% of cells in response to administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (KCTC 3237) and in 60.4±2.2% of cells in response to camphor; these levels are higher than those detected in undifferentiated controls (24.9±3.1%). No change in the state of fermented camphor was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), but a 15.41% quantitative increase was confirmed in KCTC 3237. Overall, we conclude that administration of camphor resulted in overexpression of SMO and modulated the differential expression of Gli1. Animal studies focused on the impact of camphor as an agent to counteract obesity might be considered in the future. Indeed, camphor and similar physiologically active compounds from fermented CI might be developed as new and effective treatments for obesity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.491-498
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• 2005

J sewage treatment plant (WWTP) in Busan has used methanol as an external carbon source for the biological denitrification process. Methanol is widely used. but rather expensive and very dangerous in handling. Therefore, it has been required that the economic alternative carbon source must be developed. By-product from a fine chemical industry can be Purified by removing high molecular weight substances using the ultrafilter membrane separation process and RBDCOD fraction becomes $98{\sim}99%$ of COD substances in the purified by-product. The purified by-product containing three types of alcohols, methanol, prophylenglycol and methoxypropanol; showed similar chemical characteristics to the methanol, a main external carbon source, in biodegradation pathway. Shown above, the compatibility between main and alternative carbon sources has been achieved. Also very short or no adaptation period is necessary in the case of exchanging these carbon sources. The compatibility between external carbon sources is an essential element for stabilizing WWTP operations. During the full-scale application test of the by-product, the alternative carbon source line got on par with the treatment efficiency of the methanol line. With the test result, J-WWTP changed methanol to a fine chemical by-product, in two out of three J-WWTP lines. Moreover, it is expected that 55.4% of the external carbon source cost reduction can be achieved in the alternative carbon source applied lines.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2012

The abnormal maturation and ossification of articular chondrocytes play a central role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Inhibiting the enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix and maintaining the cellular phenotype are two of the major goals of interest in managing OA. Ginseng is frequently taken orally, as a crude substance, as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$, a major component of ginseng that contains an aglycone with a dammarane skeleton, has been reported to exhibit various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. However, a chondroprotective effect of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ related to OA has not yet been reported. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the chondroprotective effect of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ on the regulation of pro-inflammatory factors and chondrogenic genes. Cultured rat articular chondrocytes were treated with 100 ${\mu}M$ ginsenoside $Rb_1$ and/or 500 ${\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and assessed for viability, reactive oxygen species production, nitric oxide (NO) release, and chondrogenic gene expression. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ treatment resulted in reductions in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine and NO in $H_2O_2$-treated chondrocytes. The expression levels of chondrogenic genes, such as type II collagen and SOX9, were increased in the presence of ginsenoside $Rb_1$, whereas the expression levels of inflammatory genes related to chondrocytes, such as MMP1 and MMP13, were reduced by approximately 50%. These results suggest that ginsenoside $Rb_1$ has potential for use as a therapeutic agent in OA patients.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.20-28
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• 2013

This study was carried out to evaluate the possibility of resource recovery for municipal solid waste(MSW) that sorted by a MBT system. First, physical property of MSW was similar to wastes carried into Sudokown landfill site. However, moisture of MSW was little higher than that. As a result of BMP test using organic fraction of MSW(OFMSWs), approximately 60 ~ 80 mL $CH_4/g$-VS of methane was occurred. Compared to the other studies, the value of methane is lower. It seems to be caused that high ratio of vinyl/plastic in OFMSWs. The other BMP test using sample of MBT system located in Sudokwon landfill was conducted each physical properties. According to the result of experiment, food waste makes 193 mL $CH_4/g$-VS, and paper is 102 mL $CH_4/g$-VS. However, there was not methane production in vinyl and rubber. Additionally, others that can't sort no more show 30 m $CH_4L/g$-VS of methane production. From the result of experimental data OFMSWs has high fraction of vinyl, rubber and other substance that difficult for biodegradation. Therefore it is need to sort of them.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2003

Immunostimulating effects of lactic acid bacteria as biological response modifier is a subject of growing interest, but the knowledge of these focused on some bacteria as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. In this study, we investigated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus EROM101 on the immunostimulating and anti-cancer activity in murine model. P. pentosaceus was mainly found in Kimchi and fermented sea food and is facultatively anaerobic, catalase-netative, gram-positive cocci arranged in pairs, tetrads and clusters. The immunostimulating effects of P. pentosaceus EROM101 were evaluated using IgA production assay of Peyer's patch and proliferation assay of exudated immune cells of Balb/C mice fed P. pentosaceus EROM101 for 3 weeks. The macrophage and splenocyte proliferation were enhanced by orally administrated of P. pentosaceus EROM101. Also, IgA production in Peyer's patch increased by P. pentosaceus EROM101. Anti-cancer activity of P. pentosaceus EROM101 was appeared in Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing ICR mice. However, this bacterium lysate itself appeared to have noncytotoxic substance against Sarcoma 180 cell in vitro. These results suggested that P. pentosaceus EROM101 reinforce immune system and therefore was revealed to be anti-cancer activity in mice.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.224-236
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• 2015

We conducted the algicidal activity screening tests using 10 L microcosm to investigate the possibility of the field application of naphthoquinone derivative Nq 4-6 compound as an algicide. We determined its application range to assess its algicidal effects on the phytoplankton and to evaluate the response of the planktonic community and the water environment to this chemical. From results of the microcosm experiments, Nq 4-6 compound showed high algicidal activity on the centric diatoms such as Stephanodiscus hantzschii and Cyclotella meneghiniana, but it had no effect on other phytoplankton. The abundance of S. hantzschii continuously increased in the control, but its cell density decreased 1 day after the Nq 4-6 treatment. In particular, Nq 4-6 showed algicidal activity of 94.4% against S. hantzschii 7 days after the treatment. The dominance index of phytoplankton community was lower in the treatment than in the control. The diversity index, richness index and evenness index of phytoplankton community was higher in the treatment. Environmental factors and biological factors did not show specific changes after the Nq 4-6 compound treatment. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrates that Nq 4-6 is an effective agent for the control of S. hantzschii blooms, and that the microcosm tests play a crucial role when assessing field application.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 1997

The effects of the silver ion-exchanged water treatment agent (Ag-Os) upon E. coli RB 797 and Bacillus sp. have been discussed in this study. Silver ion causes a number of toxic effects with no known biological function. Silver ion-exchanged water treatment agent (Ag-Os) using oyster shell here showed antimicrobial activities. the soluble form of silver ion in water is more toxic to the growth of Bacillus sp. than that of E. Coli RB 797. The minium amount of Ag-Os needed for growth inhibition is 0.2 mg/ml for E. Coli RB 797 and 0.02 mg/ml for Bacillus sp., which is consistant with the data of the survival cell fraction. Binding studies suggested that binding of silver to the cell surface was a rapid, metabolic-independent process and different from active transport. Bacillus sp. showed more binding than E. Coli RB 797. Reducing substances of the cell cultures in the presence of Ag-Os was detected using Methylen blue as an indicator. From these results, we suggest that Ag-Os is effective as an antimicrobial agent on E. Coli RB 797 and Bacillus sp. and silver binds to the cells through rapid, metabolic-independent process and might complex to sulfur group in the cells for its toxicity.