• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.425-430
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• 2011

This study evaluated the effect of extraction conditions of yam (Dioscorea aimadoimo) on antioxidant, moisturizing, collagenase activity, proliferation, and migration. Yam has been recognized as a healthy food due to its various biological activities, such as anti-obesity, anti-constipation, anti-mutagenic activities, as well as its ability to decrease blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Electron donating ability of high temperature ethanol extract of Dioscorea aimadoimo (HDA) had shown 70.6% at 400 mg/ml, and low temperature ethanol extract of Dioscorea aimadoimo (LDA) had shown 40% at 400 mg/ml. SOD-like activities of LDA and HDA were 23% and 34% at 400 mg/ml respectively. LDA significantly reduced the activity of collagenase in a dose-dependent manner, which was higher than HDA. The water contents in LDA-treated skin and HDA-treated skin were increased by 45.63% and 38.65% than the placebo cream respectively. The cellular proliferation of human dermal fibroblast neonatal (HDFn) was evaluated by MTT and cell migration assay. Compared to control, the cell proliferation was elevated to 109.7% and 114% by the treatment of LDA and HDA respectively at the concentration of 200 mg/ml. In addition, LDA and HDA were induced cell migration in HDFn. Our study suggests that LDA and HDA should be a very useful cosmetic ingredient, as anti-aging and skin moisturizer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2022

The spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive opportunistic pathogen, has increased due to the frequent use of antibiotics. Inhibition of the quorum-sensing systems of biofilm-producing strains using plant extracts represents an efficient approach for controlling infections. Torilis japonica is a medicinal herb showing various bioactivities; however, no studies have reported the anti-biofilm effects of T. japonica extracts against drug-resistant S. aureus. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of T. japonica ethanol extract (TJE) on biofilm production in methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) KCTC 1927, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) KCCM 40510, and MRSA KCCM 40511. Biofilm assays showed that TJE could inhibit biofilm formation in all strains. Furthermore, the hemolysis of sheep blood was found to be reduced when the strains were treated with TJE. The mRNA expression of agrA, sarA, icaA, hla, and RNAIII was evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to determine the effect of TJE on the regulation of genes encoding quorum sensing-related virulence factors in MSSA and MRSA. The expression of hla reduced in a concentration-dependent manner upon treatment with TJE. Moreover, the expression levels of other genes were significantly reduced compared to those in the control group. In conclusion, TJE can suppress biofilm formation and virulence factor-related gene expression in MSSA and MRSA strains. The extract may therefore be used to develop treatments for infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.860-865
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the effect of ethanol and citric acid-treated anchovy, caseino-phosphopeptides (CPPs), calcium lactate, and calcium phosphate as dietary calcium supplements on calcium metabolism in rats for 5 weeks. Experimental animals were randomly assigned to five treatments with 15 heads of SD male rats (mean body wt. of 100 g) in each group. The experimental diets were as follows; dried large anchovy powder (C) as control, ethanol+citric acid group (EC), ethanol+citric acid+cpps group (ECC), calcium lactate group (CL) and calcium phosphate group (CP), which were formulated with commercial semi-purified Chow diet, while maintaining the same level of calcium in all diets (1%) groups. The weight gain of EC group was significantly higher than ECC, CL and CP groups (p<0.05), food efficiency (FER) was not different. In vitro and in vivo calcium absorption rates of ECC group treated with citric acid and CPPs were 20.4 and 28.4%, respectively, and the highest among the experimental groups (p<0.05). The blood glucose levels of CL group (105.7 mg/dL) was significantly higher than control group (98.5 mg/dL). In terms of serum lipids, total-cholesterol concentration of EC group (75.1 mg/dL) was significantly higher than CP group (65.6 mg/dL) and triglyceride concentration of CP group (33.5 mg/dL) was the lowest (p<0.05). ALP activity and 057 level were not different among experimental groups. The serum calcium concentration of control group (C) was the lowest among groups (p<0.05). The femur weight of CP group was the lowest (p<0.05) and the femur length of ECC group is the longest (P<0.05). The bone density of CP group $(0.1116\;g/cm^2)$ was the lowest while ECC group $(0.1149\;g/cm^2)$ was the highest, and the bone density was increased by added CPPs. These data demonstrated that ECC group significantly increased in vitro and in vivo calcium absorption rate, serum Ca level, and the length and bone density of femur.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.352-358
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• 2020

Red yeast rice has been extensively used as a food and traditional medicine for thousands of years in Korea. Monascus produces many secondary metabolites during its growth, including pigments, monacolins, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Some metabolites, specifically monacolin K, γ-aminobutyric acid, and dimerumic acid, have been reported to lower cholesterol and blood pressure because of certain antioxidant effects. This study investigated the total phenolic content of ethanol extract from red yeast rice fermented with Monascus sp. BHN-MK and its anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. To assess its anti-inflammatory effect, the inhibitory activity of the ethanol extract on LPS-induced NO production and expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in macrophage cells were measured. Its total polyphenol content was higher than that of ordinary non-fermented rice. Its NO production inhibition activity was comparable to that of the negative control group treated with LPS at a concentration of 400 ㎍/ml. Western blot revealed a significant decrease in the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 protein expression at concentrations of 400 and 800 ㎍/ml, respectively. Red yeast rice ethanol extracts exerted the strongest anti-inflammatory effects. The results indicate that red yeast rice could be used as a functional cosmetic and anti-inflammatory material.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.658-665
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• 2017

The current study was performed to investigate the changes of bio-activities of Salicornia europaea (SE) depending on the different dry methods. The ethanol extracts were prepared from the freeze-drying SE (FD), hot-air drying SE (HD), and shade drying SE (SD). Their anti-oxidant and anti-thrombosis activities were compared. The yields of ethanol extraction in FD, HD, and SD were 14.4, 13.2 and 11.9%, respectively. The highest contents of total polyphenol (4.6 mg/g) and total sugar (23.4 mg/g) were shown in FD, whereas, the highest content of reducing sugar (14.6 mg/g) was observed in HD. In anti-oxidation activity assay, the FD and HD showed similar radical scavenging activities and reducing power. However, in SD, nitrite scavenging activity and reducing power were severely decreased. In anti-coagulation activity assay, the thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of FD, HD and SD did not show significant changes at 5 mg/mL concentration. But the HD at 7 mg/mL had strong inhibitions against thrombin and blood coagulation factors. The platelet aggregation and hemolysis activities were not affected by dry methods. Our results suggest that both FD and HD are effective to maintain the functional ingredient of SE, and HD is economic and efficient dry process for production of functional food.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.394-402
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• 2014

Purpose: Dendropanax morifera Leveille (DML) exhibits diverse biological and pharmacological activities, including anti-oxidative effect, anti-cancer activity, hepatoprotection, immunological stimulation, and bone regeneration. As part of the identification for novel functions of DML, we investigated the therapeutic effects of DML on diabetes induced by streptozotocine (STZ) treatment. Methods: First, the four extracts including the water extract of leaf (DLW), the ethanol extract of leaf (DLE), the water extract of stem (DSW), and the ethanol extract of stem (DSE) were collected from the leaf and stem of DML using a hot water and ethanol solvent. Alterations in body weight, glucose concentration, insulin level, and pancreatic islet structure were investigated in diabetic mice after treatment with extracts of DML for 2 weeks. Results: Among four extracts, the highest level of total polyphenols and total flavonoids was detected in DLW, while the lowest level of these was measured in DSE. The radical scavenging activity was also higher in DLW than in the other three extracts at the concentration of $25-100{\mu}g/mL$, although this activity was maintained at a constant level in all groups at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$. Based on the results of anti-oxidant activity, DLW and DLE were selected for examination of anti-diabetic effects in a diabetes model. Body weight was gradually decreased in all STZ treated groups compared with the No treated group. However, four STZ/DML treated groups maintained a high level of body weight during 7-14 days, while the STZ/vehicle treated group showed a gradual decrease of body weight during the same period. Also, a significant decrease or increase in the concentration of glucose and insulin in the blood of the diabetes model was detected in a subset of groups, although the highest increase was detected in the STZ/DLE-200 treated group. In addition, the histological structure of pancreatic islet was significantly recovered after treatment with DLW and DLE. Conclusion: These results suggest that DLW and DLE may contribute to attenuation of clinical symptoms of diabetes as well as prevent the destruction of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells in STZ-induced diabetes mice.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.82-90
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• 2018

The term "hangover" refers to symptoms such as headache, heartburn, nausea, and dizziness caused by acetaldehyde created through alcohol decomposition in the body after alcohol intake. Many scientists have conducted research on diverse drugs, foods, and medicinal herbs aimed at eliminating hangovers. However, research on metabolism to objectively verify or measure their effects on hangover symptoms has been lacking. Accordingly, in this study, deep sea water minerals were administered orally at varying concentrations to rats that consumed alcohol, and changes in the levels of amino acids in their bodies were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to gauge the minerals' effects on hangover symptoms. Thus far, biochemical research on hangover cures has been confined to basic research measuring changes in the levels of alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase as well as in the concentrations of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetate using spectroscopes such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits or gas chromatography-mass spectrometers. In comparison, this study presents pharmacokinetic research that simultaneously tracked biomaterials including amino acids and organic acids, metabolites associated with hangover, to clarify hangover mechanisms more specifically. In addition, this study examined hangover mechanisms without an external supply of tracked materials not overlapping with alcohol metabolism-related materials, such as external amino acids and sugars.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 2000

There was not noticeable differences in decreasing blood alcohol concentrations between Korea and China-produced Hovenia dulcis $T_{HUNB}$, showing only 1-2 % higher decreasing rate for Korea-produced seed extracts than those from China. It was also found that the blood alcohol decreasing ability was greatly enhanced by partitioning the crude extracts produced from both places. The both extracts (crude and partitioned) accelerated the reducing rate of blood alcohol concentrations down to 1-2 hours, compared to that of control (taking only ethanol). The crude extracts from imported seeds seemed to have slightly better effect on improving in vivo ADH and ALDH activities than domestic ones; however, not for partitioned extracts. It was interesting that the partitioned extracts from both countries enhanced ADH enzyme activity up to 60% than the crude, compared to the control, while ALDH activity was not much affected by the partitioned extracts. It was also confirmed that both ADH and ALDH activities were well balanced in controlling blood alcohol concentration maintaining 28-29% of enzyme activities in vivo. The extracts proved to have better effect on enhancing ALDH activity than ADH activity, which is one of possible explanation that Hovenia dulcis $T_{HUNB}$ can effectively relieve the hangover by fast decreasing acetaldehyde concentration in the liver and blood. GST activity was also increased in the range of 120 to 300% by adding crude or partitioned extracts from both countries; however, there was no difference in enhancing GST activity between the extracts from two countries. The extracts showed competitive inhibition with GST activity, showing the reduction of enzyme activity at higher than 0. 6 (g/L) of the imported extracts.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2005

Natural products are increasingly appreciated as a lead for drug discovery and development. A number of investigators have studied various activities of natural products and have found that they have not only nutritional effects but also beneficial properties to cure various diseases and to maintain good health. Job's Tear(Yul-Moo) is a grass crop that have long been used in traditional medicine and a nourishing food. Job's Tear has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antiallergic activity, and antispastic effects and has been used in China for the treatment of warts, rheumatism, and neuralgia although its mechanism remains unclear. Previous results in our laboratory demonstrated that the ethanol extract and water extract of Job's Tear exerted an immune regulatory function on mice cells in vitro. The present study was performed to investigate the ex vivo effect of Job's Tear on immune function. Seven to eight weeks old mices(Balb/c) were fed ad libitum on chow diet and water extract of Job's Tear were orally administrated every other day for two or four weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500mg/kg B.W.). Proliferation of mice spenocytes and antibody production to sheep red blood cells(SRBC) using hemolytic plague forming cell assay were used to indicate the immune activity. Splenocytes proliferation of Job's Tear with mitogen stimulation such as Con A and LPS was enhanced at 50 mg/kg B.W. concentrations compared to those of control group. In case of antibody production to sheep red blood cells, the number of antibody- secreting cells was increased by administration of 50mg/kg B.W. concentration in mice immunized as a T-dependent antigen. From the present study, Job's Tear water extracts may be suggested to stimulate the mice immune response by enhancing the splenocytes proliferation and the number of plague forming cells.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of bisphenol A (BPA; 4,4' -isopropylidenediphenol) on haematological parameters of Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli in laboratory condition, Fish were randomly distributed into three treatment groups which were received of 0.1, 1 and 10 mg BPA $kg^{-1}$ body weight. They were injected four times intraperitoneally at days 0,3,7 and 12 with BPA. Control group was subjected to the same regime using an equal volume of 60% ethanol-mixed PBS carrier injection only. Fish from each group were sacrificed on day 15 after first injection for haematological assay. Observations on haematological parameters indicated BPA-treatment induced lower level of red blood cell counts and hemoglobin concentration. Serum chloride, calcium, glucose, bilirubin and blood urea nitrogen concentrations increased following exposure to BPA at 10 mg $kg^{-1}$ body weight. In contrast, serum cholesterol in fish exposed to BPA decreased. Serum transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities after the highest level of 10 mg $kg^{-1}$ PBA was significantly increased. These results demonstrate that BPA have induced adverse impact on haematological parameters in the Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli.