• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.24
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• pp.29-35
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• 2006

In this study we evaluated the anti-diabetic potential of Puerariae Radix and its isoflavone (puerarin) by investigating their inhibitory activities against digestive enzymes, ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and lipase and effect on glucose uptake and PPAR ${\gamma}$ expression. The activities of carbohydrate digestive enzymes were not inhibited by puerarin. Glucose uptake in differentiated adipocytes was stimulated by puerarin. Furthermore, puerarin enhanced the differentiation of preadipocytes as evaluated by triacylglycerol (TG) accumulation, which is specific for differentiated adipocytes. The effect of puerarin on expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$) gene, which is associated with obesity and dyslipidemia, was examined by both real-time PCR and reverse transcriptase PCR. The study demonstrated that puerarin increased the expression of PPAR-${\gamma}$. In conclusion, puerarin showed potential to exert anti-diabetic action by enhancing cellular glucose uptake and thereby TG accumulation in adipocyte tissue.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.830-835
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• 2004

An experiment of 10 weeks duration was carried out to study the influence of supplemental effective microorganism (EM) culture, yeast culture and enzymes on nutrient digestibility and gut microflora in rabbit gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Twenty four eight to nine weeks old, New Zealand White rabbits were allotted to four dietary treatments; a basal (control) feed, basal feed supplemented with either EM (1%), yeast culture or enzymes (400 ppm). Nutrient flow in digesta and their digestibility at ileum, caecum, colon and in the total tract as well as gut microflora distribution were studied. Feed dry matter was diluted from 92% to about 14% up to the ileum and about 95% of this water was reabsorbed by the colonic rectal segment followed by caecum (25%). EM and yeast improved protein digestibility at a lower rate than enzymes. Ileal, caecal, colonic and total tract digestibility of crude protein with enzymes were higher by 10.8, 9.4, 11.3 and 10.7%, respectively, as compared to the control. Yeast and enzymes increased crude fiber digestibility at ileum, caecum, colon and in the total tract by 8.5, 9.6, 9.0 and 8.3%, respectively, while EM improved them at a lower rate. Irrespective of treatments, total tract digestibility of crude protein (0.698-0.773) and fiber (0.169-0.183) were greater (p<0.05) than the ileal digestibility. Even though a post-caecal protein digestibility was observed, fiber digestion seemed to be completed in the caecum especially with yeast and enzymes. High precaecal digestibility of crude fiber (97%) and protein (95%) were observed even without additives probably due to caecotrophy. EM and yeast culture promoted the growth of lactic acid bacteria especially in the caecum but they did not influence gut yeast and mould. Present findings reveal that even though rabbits digest nutrients efficiently through hind gut fermentation, they can be further enhanced by EM, yeast and enzymes. Of the three additives tested, enzymes found to be the best.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2009

In this study, we carried out an experiment for estimation the larval digestibility in aspects which digestive enzymatic activities and nutrition of the rotifers, Brachionus rotundiformis. Thus we enhanced the digestive enzymatic activity through the addition of starch for the increase of digestibility of rotifer (starch-rotifer), and compared with the feed efficiency through rearing of the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus used rotifer lipid-enriched with Algamac $2000^{(R)}$ (CE-rotifer). The digestive enzyme activities (except for TG-lipase), total protein contents, total essential amino acid, essential amino acids (methionin and phenylalanine) of starch-rotifer (the rotifer used a starch as additive, and enriched not) was assayed significantly higher than CE-rotifer (P<0.05). And total lipid, lipid classes (except for sterol) and fatty acids as DHA and EPA showed higher in CE-rotifer than starch-rotifer (P<0.05). But, sterol contents and ST/TG ratio were shown significantly higher in starch-rotifer (P<0.05). The flounder larvae supplied the two rotifers showed standard length and body weight that not significantly differed with ranges $3.72{\sim}3.79\;mm$ and $32.9{\sim}37.8\;mg$/larva on 6 days after hatching (DAH), respectively (P>0.05). However, these of 12 DAH showed the values of significantly higher to $5.94{\pm}0.249\;mm$, $144.0{\pm}23.86\;mg$/larva and $26.2{\pm}12.13%$ in standard length, body weight and survival in CE-flounder than that of starch-flounder (P<0.05). The hydrolytic enzymatic activities of flounder larvae severally supplied the two rotifers showed the significantly higher activities in acidic -amylase, neutral -amylase, TG-lipase, lysozyme and acidic phosphatase in starch-flounder on 5 DAH (P<0.05). But neutral $\alpha$-amylase, three proteases and two phosphatases of CE-flounder on 11 DAH showed the significantly higher activities than that of starch-flounder (P<0.05). Therefore, for the flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus larvae just depleted yolk was more beneficial to supply the feed, rotifer, enhanced the digestibility than to supply the feed lipid-enriched for aspect of larval digestibility up to 6 DAH, thereafter nutrition of absorption due to the development of digestive organs suggested that enrichment effect appeared with larval somatic growth. Consequently, investigation more detailed about the larval digestive physiological and nutritional requirement variations after 6 DAH will be necessary, thereafter.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1784-1789
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• 2002

One hundred and twenty-eight growing barrows (Jiaxing Black${\times}$Duroc${\times}$Landrace) at an average BW of 20.8 kg were allocated to four treatments for 42 days, each of which was replicated four times with eight pigs per replicate and used to investigate the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microflora and morphology of growing pigs. The pigs received the same basal corn-soybean meal diet and FOS was added to the basal diet at 0, 2, 4, 6 g/kg diet at the expense of corn, respectively. As compared to control, supplementation with 4 and 6 g/kg FOS significantly improved average daily gain and feed efficiency. Addition of FOS enhanced the growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, but inhibited Clostridium and Escherichia coli in the small intestinal and proximal colonic contents. Supplementation with 4 and 6 g/kg FOS significantly improved the activities of total protease, trypsin and amylase in the small intestinal contents. However, FOS had no significant effect on the activity of lipase in the small intestinal contents as well as the digestive enzymes in pancreas. Morphological measurement of jejunal mucosa did show response to consumption of FOS. Villus height and the villus height to crypt depth ratio at the jejunal mucosa were significantly higher with 4 and 6 g/kg FOS supplementation as compared to control.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.634-643
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• 2023

The effects of dietary supplementation with fermented blood meal (FBM) in two forms were evaluated on the growth performance, hematological parameters, innate immune response, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal histology of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. A commercial powder feed was used as a basal diet (Con). Six other diets were prepared by supplementing 2, 4 and 6% FBM either in powder or liquid form to the Con diet (designated as P2, P4, P6, L2, L4 and L6, respectively). In total 420 eels (initial mean body weight: 55.1±1.71 g) were distributed into 21 tanks (450L) at a density of 20 eels per tank. Three replicate groups of fish were fed one of the seven diets twice daily for 12 weeks. No significant differences were observed in the growth performance and survival among all groups. Fish fed FBM-containing diets showed significantly improved hematological parameters, innate immunity and antioxidant capacity than those in the Con group. Fish fed FBM-containing diets showed significantly enhanced digestive enzyme activity, villus length and goblet cells than those in fish fed Con diet. These results indicate that both powder and liquid FBM could be a good functional feed additive to improve innate immunity and digestion in Japanese eel.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2019

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of zinc (Zn) sources (zinc oxide and Zn-methionine) on performance, organ weights, blood biochemical profiles, and digestive enzymes of the pancreas and small intestine in Korean native chicks (KNC). A total of 144 KNC (n=6) were fed a basal diet (CON, 100 ppm of Zn), a basal diet supplemented with 50 ppm of Zn with ZnO (ZNO), or a basal diet supplemented with 50 ppm of Zn with Zn-methionine (ZMT) for 28 days. There was no significant difference in body weight, gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio among the three groups. The relative weights of the liver, spleen, and intestinal mucosa were unaffected by the dietary source of Zn, whereas pancreas weight in the ZNO group decreased (P<0.05) compared with that in the CON and ZMT groups. Blood biochemical components including aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were unaffected by dietary Zn supplementation. Pancreatic trypsin activity in the ZNO and ZMT groups was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced compared with that in the CON group. However, the activities of ${\alpha}$-amylase and carboxypeptidase A were not altered by dietary Zn supplementation. The activities of maltase and sucrase were unchanged, whereas the activity of leucine aminopeptidase tended (P=0.08) to be increased by dietary Zn supplementation. In conclusion, the supplementation with 50 ppm of ZnO or Zn-methionine resulted in an activation of protein digestive enzymes in the pancreas and small intestine without affecting animal performance in KNC.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.495-503
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• 1998

The present study investigated the effects of Bisroot, that contains live bacteria (Bacillus polyfermenticus, Bacillus mesentericus, Streptococcus faecalis, & Bifidobacterium breve) and digestive enzymes (protease, lipase), on the growth, body composition and immune response of Nile tilapia fingerlings. One percent of the Bisroot was added to the experimenta feed. All exprimental fish were fed for 60 days. The weigh gains among the experimental fish were not significntly different (P>0.05). Hematocrit value, hemoglobin, total protein, glucose, GOT, and GPT were unaffected by Bisroot treatment. However, it was observed that glucose, GOT, and GPT value in the fish that were fed Bisroot, were lower than the control. The complement activity ($CH_50$) tended to be significantly increased by Bisroot treatment, but not lysozyme activity. Phagocytosis and respiratory burst activities of macrophages in the head kidney were enhanced by Bisroot. Therefore, the Bisroot diet enhances the cellular immune activities were enhanced by Bisroot. Therefore, the Bisroot diet enhances the cellular immune activities of non-specific immune responses. When fish were challenged with a virulent strain of Edwardsiella tarda, the Bisroot treated fish were more resistant than the control. The present results suggest that the introduction of Bisroot into the diet of Nile tilapia could increase their resistance against bacterial infection, reduce fish mortality, and offers economic benefits.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.651-656
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• 2016

Bee pollen is produced by honeybees and is considered one of the most balanced and nourishing nutritional supplements available. Historically, bee pollen has been prescribed for its healing properties and consumed for its high-energy supply. Recent research has provided evidence that bee pollen has diverse biological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and even anti-cancer effects. However, the outer membrane of the pollen grain, exine, is highly resistant to most acidic solutions, high pressure, and even digestive enzymes, and the resulting low bioavailability limits its nutritional and clinical applications. This study applied a wet-grinding method to destroy the exine effectively, and it then examined the pollen's enhanced biological activity. First, microscopic observations provided strong evidence that wet grinding destroyed the exine time-dependently. In addition, the content of polyphenols, well-known ingredients of bee pollen and used as internal standards for the quality control of commercial pollen preparations, increased up to 11-fold with wet grinding. Further, the anti-oxidant activity demonstrated on the ABTS anti-oxidant assay, as well as the DPPH radical scavenging assay, was also dramatically increased. Together, the results presented here support a new technology by which bee pollen can be used as a resource for medical, nutritional, and cosmetic applications.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1 s.28
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• pp.17-25
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• 1981

No evidence has accumulated that lead compound is an essential component for biological function in animals. Lead is absorbed primarily through the epithelial mucosal cells in duodenum and the absorption can be enhanced by the substances which bind lead and increase its solubility. Iron, zinc and calcium ions, however, decrease the absorption of lead without affecting its solubility, probably by competing for shared absorptive receptors in the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, the absorption of lead is increased in iron deficient animals. Lead shows a strong affinity for ligands such as phosphate, cysteinyl and histidyl side chains of proteins, pterins and porphyrins. Hence lead can act on various active sites of enzymes, inhibiting the enzymes which has functional sulfhydryl groups. lead inhibits the activity of ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase for the biosynthesis of hemoproteins and cytochrome, which catalyzed the synthesis of monopyrrole prophobilinogen from ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid. Accordingly lead decrease hepatic cytochrome p-450 content, resulting an inhibition of the activity of demethylase and hydroxylase in liver. Little informations are available on the effect of lead on digestive system although the catastrophic effects of lead intoxication are well documented. The present study was, therefore, attempted to investigate the effect of lead on pancreaticobiliary secretion in rats. Albino rats of both sexes weighing $170{\sim}230g$ were used for this study. The animals were divided into one control and three treated groups, i.e., control (physiologic saline 1.5ml/kg i.p.), lead acetate $(l0{\mu}mole/kg/day\;i.p.)$, $Pb(Ac)_2$ and EDTA$(each\;10{\mu}mole/kg/day\;i.p.)$, $Pb(Ac)_2$ and $FeSO_4(each\;l0{\mu}mole/kg/day\;hp)$. The pancreatico-biliary juice was collected under urethane anesthesia, and activities of amylase and lipase were determined by employing Sumner's and Cherry and Crandall's methods. The summarized results are follows. 1) In the experiment for acute toxicity of lead acetate, 20% of mortality was observed in rat treated with lead acetate as well as inhibition of the activity of amylase in the juice at the 3 rd day of the treatment. 2) No increases in body weight were observed in rats treated with lead acetate, while in control group the significant increases were observed. However, the body weights of animals were increased in the group lead acetate plus EDTA or $FeSO_4$. 3) Lead acetate decreased significantly the volume of pancreatico-biliary juice whereas additional treatment of EDTA and $FeSO_4$ prevented it. 4) Total activity of amylase was markedly reduced due to lead acetate treatment, but no change was showed following additional treatment with EDTA and $FeSO_4$. 5) No changes in the cholate and lipase output were observed in rats treated with lead acetate as compared with that of control rats. 6) Increase in bilirubin output in rats treated with lead acetate was shown on the 2nd and 3rd weeks treatment. 7) In the case of in vitro experiment, lead acetate also markedly inhibited release of amylase from pancreatic fragment. 8) Histologic finding indicated that acini vacuolation was induced in the pancreatic tissue of rat treated with lead acete. From the above results, it might be concluded that lead acetate decreases the volume of pancreatico-biliary secretion and inhibits the amylase activity, by acting directly on pancreatic cells.