• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.267-279
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• 2020

Fig mosaic is a viral disease (FMD) that spreads in Palestinian common fig (Ficus carica L.) orchards. Recognizing the economic value of fig plants and the harmful nature of FMD, the disease poses a significant threat to the economy of the fig production in Palestine. We applied the reverse transcription and amplification (RT-PCR) and PCR technique to leaf samples of 77 trees and 14 seedlings of 17 fig cultivars. The samples were collected from orchards in the main fig-growing provinces of the Palestinian West Bank, to assess the prevalence of viruses associated with FMD, and confirm a possible link of symptoms with viruses detected. Four viruses were detected: Fig mosaic virus (FMV), Fig badnavirus-1 (FBV-1), Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2), and Fig fleck-associated virus (FFkaV). FMV and FBV-1 were found in all tested fig plants (100%), while FLMaV-2 and FFkaV were detected in 61.5% and 33% of the fig samples, respectively. The high incidence of FBV-1 in the newly propagated symptomatic and symptomless seedlings from different cultivars may be an indication that FBV-1 is integrated into the genome of the fig in a cultivar nondiscriminatory manner. Very weak or no association was detected between FMD symptoms severity in the 17 Palestinian fig cultivars with the various viruses' combinations observed (i.e., number of the viruses infecting the plant). These results support the notion that FMD symptom severity expression is likely to be controlled by a combination of FMV infection, cultivars, and environmental factors, rather than the number of viruses infecting the plant.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.233-240
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• 2019

The present research work reports in-vitro anti-cancer activity of biologically synthesized ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against human carcinoma cells viz SCC-40, SK-MEL-2 and SCC-29B using Sulforhodamine-B (SRB) Assay. ZnO NPs were synthesized by a unique and novel biological route using Temperature-gradient phenomenon where the extract of combination of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don (C. roseus), Azadirachta indica (A. indica), Ficus religiosa (F. religiosa) and NaOH solution were used as synthesis medium. The morphology of the ZnO NPs was characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). TEM images reveal that particle size of the samples reduces from 76 nm to 53 nm with the increase in reaction temperature and 68 nm to 38 nm with the increase in molar concentration of NaOH respectively. XRD study confirms the presence of elements and reduction in crystallite size with increase in reaction temperature and NaOH concentration. The diffraction peaks show broadening and a slight shift towards lower Bragg angle ($2{\theta}$) which represents the reduction in crystallite size as well as presence of uniform strain. The FTIR spectra of the extract show transmittance peak fingerprint of Zn-O bond and presence of bioactive molecules These NPs exhibit inhibition greater than 50% for SCC-40, SK-MEL-2 and SCC-29B cell lines and more than 50% cell kill for SCC-29B cells at concentrations < $80{\mu}g/ml$. Nanoparticles with smallest size have shown better anti-cancer activity and peculiar cell-selectivity. The combination of extracts of these plants with ZnO NPs can be used in targeted drug delivery as an effective anti-cancer agent, a potential application in cancer treatment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant components and activities of HR02/04(8:2)-W, a mixture of S. quelpaertensis Nakai and F. erecta var. sieboldii. We investigated the p-coumaric acid, total flavonoid, and total phenol contents. To evaluate the antioxidant efficacy, we measured the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, FRAP activity, reducing power, and ORAC value. We observed the protective effect of hydrogen peroxide against cell damage in human dermal fibroblasts. As a result of the experiment, the p-coumaric acid, total flavonoid, and total phenol contents were 75.62±1.56 mg/100 g, 21.57±0.84 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g, and 21.25±1.31 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, respectively. In the experiments on antioxidant activity, HR02/04(8:2)-W was found to have significantly increased antioxidant activity. In the human dermal fibroblasts, the HR02/04(8:2)-W treated groups could effectively protect cells against oxidative damage. In this study, we confirmed that HR02/04(8:2)-W is a material with effective physiological antioxidant activity.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.21 no.1 s.85
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• pp.84-93
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• 2005

The antibacterial activities of methanol extract and systematic solvent fractions( -hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol) from Korean common type figs at different ripening stages were tested by the broth dilution method against 8 representative food-poisoning bacteria- : L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. enteritidis, E. coli O157:H7, E. coli, Y. enterocolitica, V. parahaemolyticus, and S. typhimurium. The methanol extracts of unripened I and II showed stronger activity than that of the ripened figs especially against L. monocytogenes, S. enteritidis, E. coli O157:H7, Y. parahaemolyticus and S. typhimurium in 10 mg/mL. The systematic solvent fractions showed stronger antibacterial activities than the methanol extract, even al the lower concentrations. The hexane fraction of ripened figs showed higher growth inhibition than those of unripened I and II against L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Y. enterocolitica and V. parahaemolyticus. The chloroform fraction showed strong antibacterial activity in all ripening stages against E. coli O157:H7 and V. parahaemolyticus. The butanol fraction showed better inhibition activity in unripened I and II than in the ripened figs. The hexane and chloroform fractions showed inhibition activity of more than $75\%$ against E. coli O157:H7, V. parahaemolyticus in 0.5 mg/mL. Each fraction showed a little different antibacterial activity according to the ripening stages of the fruits and the tested strains. Especially, figs in the unripened II stage revealed superior activity relatively and the hexane and chloroform fractions revealed the strongest activity, followed by the butanol fraction, while the ethylacetate and water fractions hardly showed any activity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.416-423
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• 2023

Figs has known to have antioxidant, whitening, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects in their leaves, roots, stems, latex, and fruits. In order to develop cosmetic materials based on natural products, we have studied on the skin activity of the ficin in latex as well as the whitening function of the fruit extract with 70% ethanol, and used it as a raw material for released cosmetic product. However, there is little research on the demand for the development of new eutectic solvent extraction methods and its ability to control skin inflammation and psoriasis regulation. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of fig fruit extracts and fractions using eutectic solvent extraction for skin inflammation control and psoriasis. First, fig fruits were extracted under optimal eutectic solvent conditions and fractionated with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol. First, the antioxidant activity and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production were confirmed in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. In addition, as a result of observing the mRNA expression through RT-PCR, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL1α, and IL-1β were suppressed significantly in the hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate fractions. In addition, it was confirmed in TNF-α stimulated HaCaT keratinocyte model. Finally, chemokine CC motif ligand 20 (CCL20), marker gene of human psoriasis skin disease, was significantly suppressed in the hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate fractions. These results suggested its anti-inflammatory and skin soothing effect and the possibility of development as an excellent skin soothing natural cosmetic material in the future through future clinical trials.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.186-192
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• 2010

An infrared heating system, installed in a small venlo-type glasshouse ($280m^2$) in Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea, was used to investigate its heating effect with potted Phalaenopsis, Schefflera arboricola 'Hongkong', Ficus elastica 'Variegata', and Rosa hybrida 'Yellow King' as the test plants. Temperature changes in test plants with the system turned 'On' and 'Off' were measured by using an infrared camera and the consumption of electricity by this infrared heating system was measured and analyzed. In potted Phalaenopsis, when the set air temperature of the greenhouse was $18^{\circ}C$, temperature of leaves and the growing medium were $22.8{\sim}27^{\circ}C$ and $21.3{\sim}24.3^{\circ}C$, respectively. In such tall plants as Schefflera arboricola 'Hongkong' and Ficus elastica 'Variegata', the upper part showed the highest temperature of 24.0 and $26.9^{\circ}C$, respectively. From the results of temperature change measurements, the plant temperatures were near or above the set point temperatures with some fluctuations depending on the position or distance from the infrared heating system. When air temperature between night and dawn dropped sharply, plant temperatures were maintained close to the set temperature ($18^{\circ}C$). There was a significant difference between 'On' and 'Off' states of the infrared heating system in average temperatures of root zone and leaf: 21.8 and $17.8^{\circ}C$ with the system 'On' and 20.4 and $15.5^{\circ}C$ with the system 'Off', respectively, in a cut rose Rosa hybrida 'Yellow King'. The heating load was about $24,850{\sim}35,830kcal{\cdot}h^{-1}$, which comes to about 27,000~40,000 won in Korean currency when calculated in terms of the cost of heating by a hot water heating system heated by petroleum. The cost for heating by the infrared heating system was about 35% of that of a hot water heating system. With the infrared heating system, the air temperature during the night was maintained slightly lower than the set point air temperature, probably due to the lack of air tightness of the glasshouse. Therefore, glasshouses with an infrared heating system requires further investigation including the installation space of the heat-emitting units, temperature sensor positions, and convection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.733-737
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• 2002

Cooking characteristics of rice uncoated and coated with prickly pear water extracts (4% v/w for rice) were investigated. Prickly pear contained 83.22 mg% of $\alpha$-aminoadipic acid and 75.61 mg% of tyrosine as major free amino acids. After cooking, the coated rice contained 1.66 mg% of $\alpha$-aminoadipic acid which was not found in the uncoated rice. The free amino acid composition of the coated rice revealed significantly higher contents (about 2.0 to 4.2 times) of arginine, histidine, leucine, lysine and tyrosine compared with those of the uncoated rice. The major minerals in the prickly pear were Ca, K and Mg accounting for 95% of the total minerals present. After cooking, the mineral contents in the coated rice were higher by 10～45% than those in the uncoated rice. The coated rice showed lower hardness, gumminess and brittleness, and higher cohesiveness than the uncoated rice. In sensory evaluation, there were no differences in sweet taste, and overall and color acceptability between the uncoated and coated rice. However, tile coated rice showed higher scores for savory and sticky taste than the uncoated rice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.9 s.89
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• pp.1278-1283
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• 2007

The 30% resistant frequencies of pathogenic bacteria were identified against generally utilizing disinfectants. Among the used disinfectants, foodsef, Taego, and Iodo 175 were dictated by lower sensitivities against pathogenic bacteria, as well as higher resistant frequencies when compared with other disinfectants. The resistant frequencies against antibiotics were also dictated by 30% through MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and paper disc methods. Especially, the used bacteria exhibited resistances against gentamycin, kanamycin, and streptomycin, which included in all aminoglycoside group. The MBT-01108 material, which extracted and purified from a powder obtained by processing of Opunita ficus-indica var. saboten Makino trunk, did not develop or grow resistant bacteria. Interestingly, the multi-drug resistant bacteria such as MRSA, resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, VRE, and E. coli 0157 did not resistant against MBT-01108 material. These results suggest that MBT-01108 material uses as an anti-microbial agent.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.266-275
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• 2009

To develop new high-quality Yakchobugak, features of Lactococcus lactis-fermented waxy rice paste after addition of some colored powdered agro-food products were investigated. Total and reducing sugars of waxy rice paste fermented by lactic acid bacteria were higher than those of control raw waxy rice paste. Total acidity gradually increased as powder concentration rose, being 1.02-1.56% and 0.96-1.87% in samples fermented with Cucurbita maxima and Capsicum annuum powders, respectively; these values were 3-4 times those in rice fermented with other powders. Fermented waxy rice paste viscosities were lower than those of non-fermented samples. The viscosities of samples fermented with Curcuma longa and Opuntia ficus powders were in the range $100-160{\times}10^4$ centipoise($mPa{\cdot}s$), and those of pastes fermented with Robus coreanus and Camellia sinensis extracts were under $40{\times}10^4mPa{\cdot}s$. Hunter color lightness(L) values decreased and yellowness(b) values rose after fermentation. Waxy rice paste fermented with Robus coreanus showed uniform particle size distribution, and many pores, by scanning electron micrography.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.175-186
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• 2020

This study approaches, from a floristic perspective, the under-researched human-primate competition for forest resources. Investigating the human impact on fruit trees edible for Kinda baboons (Papio kindae Lönnberg), we have collated dietary data on a free-ranging troop and floristic information on two forest sites of the Kundelungu National Park (KNP), Democratic Republic of Congo: the relatively intact Integral Zone (IZ) and the human-disturbed Annex Zone (AZ). Trees with DBH≥10 cm have been identified, counted and measured throughout 22 sample plots (11 per site), each measuring 1,000 ㎡. A total of seven woody species whose fruits are eaten by Kinda baboons were recorded. Four of them, namely the Sycamore fig Ficus sycomorus L., the Mobola plum Parinari curatellifolia Planch. ex Benth, the Kudu berry Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Pax and the Monkey orange Strychnos innocua Delile were found in both sites, while the Large-leaved jackal-berry Diosyros kirkii Hiern and the Buffalo thorn Ziziphus mucronata Willd. were exclusively in the IZ, and Strychnos cocculoides Baker only in the AZ. Compared to the IZ, the AZ had lower values of stem density, species richness and diversity indices, suggesting a negative human impact on baboon-edible trees, in line with our hypothesis. Moreover, as was expected, human activities decreased the abundance of larger baboon-edible fruit trees. However, the size-class distribution of P. curatellifolia depicted a reverse J-curve in the AZ. The abundant younger P. curatellifolia trees remaining in that human-disturbed site constitute an important food stock for baboons, if well preserved. These results also illustrate the critical role of rangers' patrols, formerly more frequent (and presumably efficient) in the IZ than in the AZ of the Park. Their implications on baboons and miombo forests are discussed from both the research and conservation perspectives.