• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2010

Biotransformation is often used to improve chemical activity. We evaluated the antimicrobial activity of rhapontigeuin, converted from rhapontin after treatment with Pectinex. Rhapontigenin showed 4-16 times higher antimicrobial activity than rhapontin. The activity was higher against Gram-positive strains than Gram-negative strains. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rhapontigenin, retinol, and five antibiotics were determined by the microbroth dilution method for antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant Propionibacterium acnes. We also investigated the in vitro antibacterial activity of rhapontigenin in combination with antibiotic against antibiotic-resistant P. acnes. The antibiotic combination effect against resistant P. acnes was studied by the checkerboard method. The combination formulations (rhapontigenin and clindamycin, retinol and clindamycin) showed synergistic effects on the inhibition of the growth of clindamycin-resistant P. acnes. It is predictable that the combination of antibiotics with rhapontigenin is helpful to treat acne caused by antibiotic-resistant P. acnes. The antibacterial activity of rhapontigenin was enhanced by biotransformation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.742-748
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• 1994

As part of our search for less toxic antimicrobial agents from natural resources, the carpophores of Elfvingia applanata$(P_{ers}.)K_{ARST}.$ was extracted with hot water. EA, the aqueous extract from the carpophores of E. applanata, was lyophilized and a dark brownish powder was obtained. Antimicrobial activity of EA was tested in vitro against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria by serial broth dilution method, and the antimicrobial activity was expressed by minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC). Among fourteen species of bacteria tested, the antimicrobial activity of EA was the most potent against Proteus vulgaris showing MIC of 1.250 mg/ml. To investigate the effect of antimicrobial combinations of EA with four kinds of antibiotics(ampicillin, cefazolin, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol), the fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI) was determined by checkerboard assay for each strain. The antimicrobial combinations of EA with four kinds of antibiotics resulted in synergism in four instances, but no antagonism was observed. Four instances of synergism were observed when EA was combined with ampicillin against Micrococcus luteus, with cefazolin against Bacillus subtilis, with cefazolin against Micrococcus luteus and with oxytetracycline against Staphylococcus aureus.

• Mycobiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2001

A preparation of water soluble components(EA) was made from carpophores of Elfvingia applanata(Pers.) Karst and its in vitro antibacterial activity on a number of bacterial species was examined by macrobroth dilution assay. Among 16 species of bacteria tested, the most potent antibacterial activity was observed against Staphylococcus epiderrnidis and Proteus vulgaris, of which MICs were 1.25 mg/ml. To investigate the antibacterial effects in combinations of EA with quinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin, the fractional inhibitory concentrations(FICs) and the fractional inhibitory concentration indices(FICIs) for four bacterial strains were determined by macrobroth dilution checkerboard assay. Combinations of EA and quinolones exhibited either additive or indifferent effects of antibacterial activity in most instances. However, both synergistic and antagonistic effects were not observed in any cases.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.719-724
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• 2018

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for a number of infections in humans that are difficult to treat, and as a result, is a substantial contributor to morbidity and mortality. In the present study, in search of natural products capable of inhibiting this multidrug-resistant bacterium, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root. The antibacterial activities of EtOH extract of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root and its n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH and water fractions were evaluated against 15 strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 1 standard methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strain by using the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay, colorimetric assay using MTT test, checkerboard dilution test. Antimicrobial activity of n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root was remarkable. Against the 16 strains, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were in the range of $31.25-62.5{\mu}g/ml$ and FICI values for n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root+AM and n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root+OX were checkerboard method performed using the MRSA, MSSA and one clinical isolate strains via MICI 0.12-1 and 0.25-0.75, showing the increase of synergistic effect. When combined together, these antibiotic effects were dramatically increased. These effective combinations could be new promising agents in the management of MRSA.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.337-341
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of the combined use of a lipid-soluble n-hexane extract of red ginseng marc (HERGM) and water-soluble arginine, which exhibits anticaries activity, on the growth of Streptococccus mutans was investigated. As a result of checkerboard assay, HERGM and arginine showed a synergistic effect in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans with a fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.396. Combination treatments of HERGM and arginine resulted in leakage of nucleic acid components and decrease in the viable cell counts of S. mutans, all of which were proportional to the concentration of HERGM. In conclusion, the synergistic effect of HERGM and arginine on the growth inhibition of S. mutans is mainly attributed to HERGM.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.23 no.2 s.73
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• pp.153-160
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• 1995

As part of our search for less toxic antimicrobial agents from natural resources, the antimicrobial activity of Elfvingia applanata $(P_{ers.})\;K_{arst.}$ extract was examined alone and in combination with naringenin. EA, the aqueous extract from the carpophores of E. applanata, was lyophilized and a dark brownish powder was obtained. Antimicrobial activity of EA was tested in vitro against nineteen strains of bacteria and eleven strains of fungi by serial broth dilution method, and expressed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Among nineteen strains of bacteria tested, the antimicrobial activity of EA was the most potent against Proteus vulgaris showing MIC of 1.125 mg/ml. EA also inhibited the growth of the selected fungi at higher concentrations ranging from 7.5 mg/ml to 15.0 mg/ml. To investigate the effect of antimicrobial combinations of EA with naringenin, the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was determined by checkerboard assay for each strain. The antimicrobial combinations of EA with naringenin resulted in partial synergism against Staphylococcus aureus only, and showed additive effect in two strains including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhi. Antagonism was not found.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Objectives Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a human pathogen and a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. New antibacterial agents that have not been compromised by bacterial resistance are needed to treat MRSA-related infections. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity ofethanol extract of Haedokgeumhwa-san (HGH) which prescription is composed of korean medicine against MRSA. Methods The antibacterial activity of HGH extract was evaluated against MRSA strains by using the Disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method (minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC), checkerboard dilution test, and time-kill test; its mechanism of action was investigated by bacteriolysis, detergent or ATPase inhibitors. The checkerboard dilution test was used to examined synergistic effect of ampicillin, oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, gentamicin and norfloxacin in combination with HGH ethanol extract. A time-kill assay was performed a survival curve which was obtained by plotting viable colony counts depending on time on bacterial growth. Results The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanol extract (HGH) ranged from 1,000 to $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ against all the tested bacterial strains, respectively. We are able to confirm that HGH extract has potentially strong antibacterial activity. In the checkerboard dilution test, fractional inhibitory concentration index of HGH in combination with antibiotics indicated synergy or partial synergism against S. aureus. A time-kill study showed that the growth of the tested bacteria was considerably inhibited after 8 hr of treatment with the combination of HGH with selected antibiotics. For measurement of cell membrane permeability, HGH $250{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ along with concentration of Triton X-100 (TX) and Tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris) were used. In the other hand, N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodimide (DCCD) and Sodium azide ($NaN_3$) was used as an inhibitor of ATPase. TX, Tris, DCCD and $NaN_3$ cooperation against S. aureus showed synergistic action. Accordingly, antimicrobial activity of HGH was affected by cell membrane and inhibitor of ATPase. Conclusions These results suggest that Haedokgeumhwa-san extract has antibacterial activity, and that HGH extract offers a potential as a natural antibiotic against MRSA.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.838-841
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• 2006

Orientational alignment patterns proved that they are very useful for realizing diverse properties of liquid crystals. Here we tried to produce the patterns combining interfered laser light and double irradiations. A photo-isomerizable polymer doped with azo dye, which induce uniform liquid crystal alignment to the uniform laser irradiation, was used as the alignment layer. Double irradiations into two orthogonal directions brought the orientation patterns similar to the checkerboard. It indicates the possibility of bistability on those patterns.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.817-825
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• 1997

Images reconstructed with EM algorithm have been observed to have checkerboard effects and have large distortions near edges as iterations proceed. We suggest a aimple algorithm of applying line process to the EM and Bayesian EM to reduce the distortions near edges. We show by simulation that this algorithm improves the clarity of the reconstructed image and has good properties based on root mean square error.

• Journal of Information Display
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.6-9
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• 2007

Orientational alignment patterns have been proven to be that they are very useful for realizing diverse properties of liquid crystals. Here we produced the patterns combining interfered laser beams. A photo-isomerizable polymer including azo unit, which induces nematic liquid crystal alignment to the polarized laser light, was used as the alignment to layer. Double irradiations into two orthogonal directions brought the orientation patterns similar to the checkerboard. It indicates the possibility of bistability on those patterns.