• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.679-686
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to monitor genetically modified bean sprouts at traditional markets in Seoul and to investigate perception of traditional market merchants and high school students on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We analyzed 30 bean sprouts that were selected at 11 traditional markets in Seoul using the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Also, we compared perception of GMOs between merchants (n = 30) and students (n = 126). Knowledge test about GMOs was performed by students. The result of PCR, 16.7% of bean sprouts were confirmed as GM bean sprouts (n = 5). Students had significantly more exposure to information about GMOs than merchants (p < 0.05). Major information sources about GMOs were from mass media (television, newspaper and radio). About half of subjects were not aware that they eat GMOs and GMOs are sold to consumers. Only 17.3% of subjects had constant eating intent for GMOs after perceiving foods that he/she usually eats are GMOs. 51.3% of subjects had willingness to purchase GMOs if GMOs have same quality and lower cost than natural foods. 37.2% of subjects thought that GMOs would be harmful to humans. Students had more positive perception of GMOs' side effects than merchants (p < 0.01). There was no merchant who knew labeling of GMOs. 19.1% of students knew labeling of GMOs. Students' mean percentage of correct answers of six questions about GMOs was 45.2%. Therefore, providing adequate information about GMOs is needed for consumer's choice whether to purchase GMOs or not.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2006

Our previous research has identified granulin (grn) and p130 genes as sex steroid-inducible genes in the rat hypothalamus, which might be involved in sexual differentiation of the brain. Phthalate esters that are used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods such as dairy products are often mentioned as suspected endocrine disrupters. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate whether perinatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) affects hypothalamic sex steroid-inducible genes. The present study assessed the effects of perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA on sex steroid hormones levels and hypothalamic gm and p130 mRNA expressions at postnatal day (PND) 3 and 7. Pregnant rats were fed a soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day (GD) 15 to GD 3 or 7. At PND 3 and 7, perinatal exposure to these chemicals did not substantially affect serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol. At PND 3, the expression of grn mRNA levels in males was decreased by DEHA, and that of p130 was decreased by DBP, DINP and DEHA, though the effects were not dose-dependent. At PND 7, the expression of gm gene in female pups was increased by higher doses of DBP and all the doses, except for 4,000 ppm, of DINP, while that in male pups decreased by 480 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA. Hypothalamic expression of p130 mRNA in males was increased by lower doses of DBP and all the doses of DINP, whereas that of females was decreased by 480 and 2,400 ppm of DEHA. These results suggest that these chemicals may affect the expression of gm and p130 genes by directly acting on the hypothalamus, thus leading to inappropriate expression of these genes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.349-357
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• 2015

Objectives: The 2007 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body found the highest blood mercury levels nationwide among residents in Seoksan-ri, Goro-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Gyeonsangbuk-do. With the aim to reduce the blood mercury levels of residents in this region, we conducted this study to identify the association between mercury exposure levels and shark meat consumption. Methods: This survey was conducted with 118 participants in Seoksan-ri before the Chuseok festival and 113 residents were added afterwards. Information on participants was collected via questionnaires. Total mercury concentrations in biological samples were measured using a mercury analyzer with the gold-amalgam collection method. Results: To identify this, we conducted mercury exposure level analysis before and after the Chuseok festival and found that blood and urinary mercury levels after Chuseok (GM of $6.9{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.68{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine) were higher than those before (GM of $5.29{\mu}g/L$ in blood and $1.44{\mu}g/g$_cr in urine). This area maintains a custom of using shark meat as one of the ancestral rite foods, and the performance of such rites and shark meat consumption have been identified as main sources of mercury exposure. Other than this, smoking, dental amalgam treatment and residential period in the area also contributed to an increase in mercury exposure levels. On the other hand, recent consumption of oriental medicine and vaccination did not have a significant influence on mercury levels. Conclusion: The results were attributed to the local custom of consuming shark meat with high mercury concentrations during rituals taking place during the festival and ancestral rites. Given that the blood mercury levels in 23.2% of the residents exceeded the HBM II values recommended by the German Commission on Human Biological Monitoring, it is suggested that further appropriate actions and follow-up measures be taken to reduce the mercury exposure levels of the residents that exceeded the reference values.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2007

In this experiment, the effects of Asterina pectinifera extracts on the activation of immune cells were studied. An immune cell activating factor was partially purified from starfish, Asterina pectinifera, by means of physiological saline extraction, acetone precipitation and heating inactivation. Starfish extracts increased the proliferation of spleen cells and induced the production of IL-6 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ by spleen cells. Also, it increased the proliferation of purified B cells and production of IgM and IgG in the presence of Asterina pectinifera extracts. Starfish extract self-induced NO synthesis in mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7). When cell lines was treated with extracts, the mRNA expression of inducible NO synthetase (iNOS), $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and GM-CSF were markedly increased in RT-PCR analysis. Therefore starfish extract can self-activate spleen cells, B cells and macrophages. These results might be useful in further studies into a possible immune activating agent from the starfish, Asterina pectinifera, for the development of functional foods and drugs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1761-1771
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• 2011

In the previous results, we developed an effective products to apply as functional foods for overcome of radiation damage and reduction of side effects in radiotherapy. To verify the prevention of UVB-induced immunosuppression of immune cell function by HemoHIM, we studied on the mechanism of the skin immune function for the protection in UVB irradiation. In studies presented here, we showed that HemoHIM can prevent UVB-induced impairment of skin immune cell function by in vitro and in vivo assay. Exposure of freshly cultured murine dendritic cells (DCs) with IL-4/GM-CSF to UVB irradiation resulted in impairment of accessory function. This suppression could be prevented by addition of HemoHIM before or after to the cultures of UVB-irradiated DCs. We also tested the effects of HemoHIM on the suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) treated oral or intraperitoneal administration. This UVB-suppressed CHS was prevented by administration of HemoHIM to UVB-irradiated mice. These results suggest that HemoHIM may prevent UVB-induced immune suppression in the skin.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2020

Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is a lipid carrier in mammals including humans that consists mainly of polar lipids, like phospholipids and glycolipids. In this study, a process to enrich polar lipids in commercial butter and whey powder, including polar lipids of MFGM, was developed. WPC (whey protein concentrate) 60 was selected as the most suitable raw material based on the yield, phospholipid, protein, and lactose content of the polar lipid fraction obtained by ethanol extraction of two WPC (WPC60 and WPC70) and two buttermilk (A and B). After fractionation under optimum conditions, the polar-lipid enriched fraction from WPC60 contained 38.56% phospholipids. The content of glycolipids, cerebroside, lactosylceramide, ganglioside GM3, ganglioside GD3, was 0.97%, 0.55%, 0.09%, and 0.14%, respectively. Rancimat results showed that the oxidation stability of fish oil increased with an increase in the polar-lipid fraction by more than 30 times. In addition, the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α decreased in a concentration-dependent manner after treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with 0.1 to 100 ppm of the polar lipid fraction. In this study, polar lipid concentrates with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, were prepared from milk processing by-products. The MFGM polar lipid concentrates made from by-products are not only additives for infants, but are also likely to be used as antioxidants in cooking oils and as active ingredients for functional foods.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.258-266
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• 2005

Licorice Extract and Erythritol, food additives used in korea, are widely used in foods as sweetener. Its application for use in food is regulated by the standard and specification for food additives but official analytical method far determination of these sweetener in food has not been established. Accordingly, we has been carried out to set up analytical method of the glycyrrhizic acid in several foods by the way of thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography glycyrrhizic acid is qualitative anaylsis technique consists of clean-up with a sep-pak $C_{18}$ cartridge, separation of the sweeteners by Silica gel 60 F254 TLC plate using 1-butanol:4Nammonia solution:ethanol (50:20:10) as mobile solvent. Also, the quantitative analysis for glycyrrhizic acid, was performed using Capcell prk $C_{18}$ column at wavelength 254nm and DW:Acetonitrile (62:38 (pH2.5)) as mobile phase. and we has been carried out to set up analytical method of the erythritol in several foods by the way of high performance liquid chromatography. erythritol is qualitative anaylsis technique consists of clean-up with a DW and hexane. The quantitative analysis for erythritol, was performed using Asahipak NH2P-50 column, Rl and DW:Acetonitrile (25:75) as mobile phase. The glycyrrhizic acid results determined as glycyrrhizic acid in 105 items were as follows; N.D$\∼$48.7ppm for 18 items in soy sauce, N.D$\∼$5.3ppm for 12 items in sauce, N.D$\∼$988.93ppm for 15 items in health food, N.D$\∼$180.7ppm for 26 items in beverages, N.D$\∼$2.6ppm for 8 items in alcoholic beverages repectively and ND for 63 items in the ethers. The erythritol results determined as erythritol in 52 items were as follows; N.D$\∼$155.6ppm for 13 items in gm, N.D$\∼$398.1ppm for 12 items in health foods repectively and ND for 45 items in the others.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.427-434
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• 2007

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal roles in the initiation of T cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive in immuno vaccines. Angelica gigas and Cnidium officinale were a medicinal herb widely used in Asian countries. In this study, we examined the effects of A. gigas and C. officinale extracts on the DCs functional maturation and phono-type. Immature DCs were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, and the generated immature DCs were stimulated with OVA in the presence or absence A. gigas and C. officinale extracts, respectively, for 24 hours. The antigen-presenting capacity of A. gigas and C. officinale extracts-treated DCs as analyzed by $CD4^+$ helper T cell clone (OVA-specific) proliferation and cytokines (IL-2 and $IFN-{\gamma}$) production were significantly increased. But A. gigas and C. officinale extracts were not directly effected $CD4^+$ helper T cell clone function. Also, the expression of surface co-stimulatory molecules, including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, CD86 and CD11c, is increased on DCs that were stimulated with A. gigas and C. officinale extracts. These results indicate the immunomodulatory properties of A. gigas and C. officinale extracts, which might be medical supplies or health foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.835-840
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• 2018

Quantitative determination of the protein expression levels is one of the most important parts in assessment of the safety of foods derived from genetically modified (GM) crops. Overexpression of AtCYP78A7, a gene encoding cytochrome P450 protein, has been reported to improve tolerance to abiotic stress, such as drought and salt stress, in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.). In the present study, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for diagnosing AtCYP78A7 protein including AtCYP78A7-specific monoclonal antibody was developed. GST-AtCYP78A7 recombinant protein was induced and purified by affinity column. Four monoclonal antibodies (mAb 6A7, mAb 4C2, mAb 11H6, and mAb 7E8) against recombinant protein were also produced and biotinylated with avidin-HRP. After pairing test using GST-AtCYP78A7 protein and lysate of rice samples, mAb 4C2 and mAb 7E8 were selected as a capture antibody and a detecting antibody, respectively, for ELISA kit. Product test using rice samples indicated that percentages of detected protein in total protein were greater than 0.1% in AtCYP78A7-overexpressing transgenic rice (Line 10B-5 and 18A-4), whereas those in negative control non-transgenic rice (Ilpum and Hwayoung) were less than 0.1%. The ELISA kit developed in this study can be useful for the rapid detection and safety assessment of transgenic rice overexpressing AtCYP78A7.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.606-615
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate anti-thrombogenic, anti-inflammatory effects of n-BuOH (B) and $CH_2Cl_2$ (MC) fractions extracted from Sancho (Zanthoxylum. schinifolium) leaves in rats fed high fat diets. The experimental animal groups were consisted of eight including one 5% fat (N) and one 20% fat (H) without the test materials in diets and six H groups of feeding three levels (50, 100 and 150 mg/day) of the B and the MC fractions from Z. schinifolium, respectively. Plasma activated partial thromboplastin times and thrombin times of H group were decreased compared to the N group, but they were increased by feeding the MC fraction of 50 mg and over. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte 5#-lipo-xygenase activities and leukotriene $B_4$ contents of the H group were significantly increased compared to the N group, but they were decreased in the 100 mg and 150 mg of B fraction or the 150 mg of MC fraction fed groups. Liver cytochrome $P_{450}$, $O_2^-$, $H_2O_2$ and GSSG contents were increased by the high fat diet but decreased by feeding the B fraction or the MC fraction, while GSH content and glutathione S-transferase activity lowered by high fat diet were increased by feeding the two solvent fractions. The effects of the solvent fractions were evident at the level of 100 mg/day and over. The present results confirmed that two solvent fractions from the leaves of Z, schinifolium have enhancing effects on anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammation partly by antioxidant action and partly by direct modulation of the respective processeds. In conclusion, the n-BuOH and $CH_2Cl_2$ fractions from leaves of Z, schinifolium can be utilized as the proper ingredients of functional foods for preventing chronic degenerative disease.