• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2020

Foodborne diseases occur frequently and have various being related to the intake of contaminated foods. Seafood products are susceptible to contamination due to higher water content and microorganisms, which combine to give them a short shelf-life. Various approaches have been applied to overcome this problem. Edible coatings that are also biodegradable and biocompatible have been discussed as one of the applicable solutions. These coatings can actually help to maintain seafood quality by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and delaying the loss of moisture. This paper presents the effects of various natural bio-polymers, antimicrobial substances and physical sterilization techniques such as gamma irradiation, ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, and light-emitting diode (LED) sterilization on seafood coatings.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 1999

Twenty isolates of Helminthosporium species were obtained from various grass plants and tested for controlling efficacy on the development of plant diseases. An isolate of Helminthosporium sp. TP-4 was chosen and six antibiotic substances were purified from cultures of the fungus by repeated silica gel column chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatography. They were identified as ophiobolin a, 6-epiophiobolin A, 3-anhydroophiobolin A, 3-anhydro-6-epiophiobolin A, iphiobolin B, and iphiobolin I mainly by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Ophiobolins inhibited the growth of a grampositive bacterium Streptomyces griseus, but were not active against gram-negative bacteria. They also showed an antifungal activity. In in vivo tests, iphiobolin B exhibited potent controlling activities against rice blast, tomato late blight, and wheat leaf rust with control values more than 90% and 70% at concentration of $500\mu\textrm{m}$/ml and 100 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/ml. Ophiobolin A and 6-epiophiobolin A controlled the development of wheat leaf rust more than 80% at concentrations of 100 /ml and $500\mu\textrm{m}$/ml respectively. 3-Anhydro-6-epiophiobolin A was not active against any plant disease. On the other hand, the A-series ophiobolins other than 3-anhydroophiobolin A showed stronger phytotoxic activity in a leaf-wounding assay using 8 plant species than those of 3-anhydroophiobolin A, ophiobolin B, and ophiobolin I. The results indicate that there is little correlation between antifungal activity and phytotoxicity of ophiobolins.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2020

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus larvae. It seriously affects the development of animal husbandry and endangers human health. Due to a poor understanding of the cystic fluid formation pathway, there is currently a lack of innovative methods for the prevention and treatment of CE. In this study, the protoscoleces (PSCs) in the encystation process were analyzed by high-throughput RNA sequencing. A total of 32,401 transcripts and 14,903 cDNAs revealed numbers of new genes and transcripts, stage-specific genes, and differently expressed genes. Genes encoding proteins involved in signaling pathways, such as putative G-protein coupled receptor, tyrosine kinases, and serine/threonine protein kinase, were predominantly up-regulated during the encystation process. Antioxidant enzymes included cytochrome c oxidase, thioredoxin glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase were a high expression level. Intriguingly, KEGG enrichment suggested that differentially up-regulated genes involved in the vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption metabolic pathway may play important roles in the transport of proteins, carbohydrates, and other substances. These results provide valuable information on the mechanism of cystic fluid production during the encystation process, and provide a basis for further studies on the molecular mechanisms of growth and development of PSCs.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2008

These days there is a constant possibility of exposure to UV radiation which can cause abnormal production of melanin and result in skin disease such as hyperpigmentation and melanoma. Many materials were investigated for skin whitening and protection against UV radiation. In this study, we assessed the melanogenesis inhibitory activities of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG, Ginseng Radix Rubra) and Ginkgo (EGb 761 Ginkgo Biloba) in an attempt to develop a new skin whitening agent derived from natural products. B16F10 melanoma cells were treated for 48 hr with KRG and EGb 761. The inhibitory effect on melanogenesis was measured and related cytokines and proteins expression were also investigated by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In addition, we also assessed the effects of these substances on the skin of C57BL/6 mice. Cell growth, melanin content and tyrosinase activity were inhibited effectively in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with KRG and EGb 761. Moreover, tyrosinase mRNA expression was inhibited clearly and melanogenesis related proteins (MRPs) containing tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2 were also reduced by KRG and EGb761, while cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were induced. In the case of UV irradiated mice, we observed induction of cytokine mRNA levels and reduction of MRPs mRNA expression. In addition, a decrease in pigmentation from treatment with KRG and EGb 761 on the skin of mice was observed. These results indicate that KRG and EGb 761 inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and have display protective activities against UVB. Therefore, we suggest that KRG and EGb 761 are good candidates to be used as whitening agents and UVB protectors for the skin.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2015

The white-spotted chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), has been traditionally used in Korea as a medicine for preventing liver-related diseases and suppressing liver cancer. Therefore, this insect is economically important and is commercially reared and sold in Korea. Recently, P. brevitarsis was listed as a temporal food ingredient by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Given the increasing economic importance of this beetle, we have sought to improve rearing conditions for its commercial production. In this study, we compared the effects of two food supplements, clay and charcoal, on the growth of second instar larvae of P. brevitarsis. Clay and charcoal are generally known as good adsorbent for removal of contaminating substances in insect feed. We fed second instar P. brevitarsis larvae a commercial diet consisting of fermented sawdust with seven different combinations of clay and/or activated charcoal, and measured their effects on weight gain for approximately 17 wk until larvae pupated. We found that addition of clay at 2.5% w/w of the fermented sawdust diet had no negative effect on weight gain of second instar P. brevitarsis larvae and thus may improve the quality of P. brevitarsis as a commercial food.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 1997

In order to produce young leaf of butterbur(Petasites japoflicus MAX.) in early spring, the planting date and relationship between abscisic acid(ABA) content and dormancy were investigated. Under open field condition, the dormancy of rootstock was initiated in the beginning of October, was the deepest in the middle of November and was completely broken in the end of December. When those periods were converted by the low accumulation hour below 5$^{\circ}C$, 900 hours were required approximately. This means that the rootstock needs for dormant breaking necessitates under the low temperature. In relationship between growing period and ABA content, the ABA in root-stock did not exist during maximum growing period, from April to September. This means that the ABA together with other substances in rootstock can be transferred to the shoot part with sprouting. While shoot part withered by decreacing the open field temperature since October, the ABA intiated to exist in rootstock. This means that the ABA in the shoot part can be transferred to the rootstock part. Therefore, it was concluded that the ABA which has been known that inhibiting growth and inducing dormancy was closely related with dormancy of rootstock.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.684-692
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• 2002

Cordyceps militaris has been known as a Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis, asthma, kidney disease, debility and fatigue etc. This study was attempted to investigate the therapeutic effect of C. militaris extract on the cytotoxic activity of HepG2, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in SD rats. C. militaris extracts inhibited significantly the proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro. Carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄) caused a significant an increase in liver weight, serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activity, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), microsomal TBARS, and decrease in microsomal detoxification enzymes (cytochrome P-450, P-450 reductase, cytochrome b5, b5 reductase). TBARS and ALP in serum pretreated with C. militaris extracts (300mg/kg/day, 600mg/kg/day) was significantly reduced compared to control group(CCl₄). Cytochrome b5 and b5 reductase activities were significantly increased in CM300 (300 mg/kg/day) and CM600 group(600 mg/kg/day), and cytochrome P-450 reductase was significantly increased in CM300 group. Pretreatment (100, 300, and 600 mg/kg/day for 7 days) of C. militaris with CCl₄ was significantly inhibited the accumulation microsomal TBARS and the significantly increased in the cytochrome P-450 activity. These results suggested that C. militaris (300mg/kg/day for 7 days) has appreciable therapeutic effect on CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.227-240
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• 2015

Recent amendment on the Food Sanitation Act in Korea mandated the Minister of Food & Drug Safety to secure the scientific basis for management and reevaluation of standards and specifications of foods. Especially because the current food safety control is limited within the scope of 'Farm to Market' covering from production to retail in Korea, safety control at the plane of true 'Farm to Fork' scope is urgently needed and should include 'total diet' of population instead of individual food items. Therefore, 'Total Diet Study (TDS)' which provides 'closer-to-real' estimates of exposure to hazardous materials through analysis on table-ready (cooked) samples of foods would be the solution to more comprehensive food safety management, as suggested by World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Although the protection of diets from hazards must be considered as one of the most essential public health functions of any country, we may need to revisit the value of foods which has been too much underrated by the meaningless amount of some hazardous materials in Korea. Considering the primary value of foods lies on sustaining life, growth, development, and health promotion of human being, food safety control should be handled not only by the presence or absence of hazardous materials but also by maximizing the value of foods via balancing with the preservation of beneficial components in foods embracing total diet. In this regard, this article aims to provide an overview on TDS by describing procedures involved except chemical analysis which is beyond our scope. Also, details on the ongoing TDS in Korea are provided as an example. Although TDS itself might not be of keen interest for most readers, it is the main user of the safety reference values resulted from toxicological research in the public health perspective.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2004

In order to determine the amounts of impurities and to identify the chemical structures of the impurities in the technical product of the plant growth regulator Atonic, the extracts of diethyl ether and dichloromethane were analyzed with GC-FID and GC-MSD. resulting in detection of five impurities and identification of their chemical structures. The amount of the active ingredient atonic in the technical product was about 84% and those of the impurities ranged from 0.24 to 10.74%. The identified impurities in this technical product are 2-methoxyphenol (guaiacol, m/z 124), 2-chloro-6-methoxyphenol and/or 4-chloro-6-methoxyphenol (m/z 158), 1,2-dimethoxy-4-nitrobenzene (m/z 183), and 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol (m/z 220), suggesting that they are not hazardous impurities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.934-944
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• 2007

Paenibacillus polymyxa E681 is known to be able to suppress plant diseases by producing antimicrobial compounds and to promote plant growth by producing phytohormones, and secreting diverse degrading enzymes. In spite of these capabilities, little is known regarding the flow of information from the bacterial strain to the barley roots. In an attempt to determine the flow of information from the bacterial strain to barley roots, the strain was grown in the presence and absence of barley, and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were used. 2D-PAGE detected approximately 1,000 spots in the cell and 1,100 spots in the supernatant at a pH 4-10 gradient. Interestingly, about 80 spots from each sample showed quantitative variations. Fifty-three spots from these were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 28 proteins were identified. Most of the cytosolic proteins expressed at higher levels were found in P. polymyxa E681 cells grown in the presence of barley rather than in the absence of barley. Proteins detected at a lower level in the surpernatant of P. polymyxa E68l cells grown in the presence of barley were lipoprotein, glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase, heat-shock protein HtpG, spermidine synthase, OrfZ, ribonuclease PH, and coenzyme PQQ synthesis protein, and flagellar hook-associated protein 2 whereas proteins detected at a higher level in the surpernatant of P. polymyxa E681 cells grown in the presence of barley included D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase A, isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase, ABC transporter ATP-binding protein Uup, lipase. Many of the proteins belonging to plant-induced stimulons are associated with biosynthetic metabolism and metabolites of proteins and transport. Some of these proteins would be expected to be induced by environmental changes resulting from the accumulation of plant-secreted substances.