• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2014

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been used as a traditional medicinal ingredient and the ginseng flower-buds also proved to have good medicinal properties. In this study, in order to enhance immune activities of ginseng flower-bud, the ginseng flower-bud extract was being fermented by Bacillus subtilis KCTC 1022 (BS), Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC3 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CHY1011 (SC). Mice were orally administered daily for two weeks at two different concentrations (100 and 200 mg/kg B.W.). Treatment samples were water extracts of ginseng flower-buds (FD), water extracts of fermented ginseng flower-buds (FM) and controls for saline solution. Cytokine production (IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) either stimulated with LPS or not stimulated with LPS was detected by the ELISA assay when using the cytokine kit. Cytokine was statistically increased at supplemented groups with LPS in both the 100 and the 200 mg/kg B.W. and treatment with FM significantly decreased the LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production more than the treatment with FD. The results of this study may suggest that supplementation with FM increases the immune function by regulating cytokine production capacity for activated macrophages.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.94-110
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• 2010

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of immune reaction inductive substances such as phorbol-myristate-acetate(PMA), lipopolysaccharide(LPS), dermato-phagoides pteronyssus crude extract(DPE), dinitrochloro-benzene(DNCB) and Cryptotympana pustulata(CP), the Cryptotympana pustulata extracting substance at simultaneously on the translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-${\kappa}B$) towards to the nucleus and the mRNA expression patterns of various cytokine genes in Human acute monocytic leukemia cell line(THP-1 cells), monocytes of human. Experiment : To analyze cytokine genes expression patterns, the RT-PCR method was used, measuring tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-$\alpha$ that had been secreted during cell culture in the ELISA method. The morphological change in the cell observed during THP-1 cell culture was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the quantitative distribution in the cell NF-${\kappa}B$ was analyzed through immunocytochemistry and a confocal microscopy. Result : CP showed different influences onto the mRNA expression patterns of cytokine genes with PMA, LPS. DPE and DNCB according to the types of immune inductive substances in the THP-1 cells. The expressions of inter-leukin(IL)-10, interferon(INF)-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$ and monocyte chemoattractantant protein(MCP)-1 induced by PMA were suppressed by CP while the expression of transforming growth factor(TGF)-$\beta$ was promoted. Regarding the secretion pattern of TNF-$\alpha$ according to PMA processing, its secretion amount was increased by CP concurrent processing, in case of processing CP onto PMA and LPS, We discovered that the secretion amount of TNF-$\alpha$ was increased. Upon processing PMA and LPS on the THP-1 cell strain at the same time or either additionally processing CP thereon, the movement increase towards the nucleus from the NF-${\kappa}B$ cell cytoplasm, a transcription factor was able to be observed. Conclusion : In this study, Cryptotympana pustulata extracting substance was confirmed that it had an influence on expression patterns of cytokine genes according to the actions of a variety kinds of immune reaction inductive substances processed on the monocyte THP-1 cell of humans. Therefore, additional studies as for the immune adjusting function of Cryptotympana pustulata are considered to be able to offer important materials for curing immune abnormal diseases such as atopy dermatitis afterward.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.540-549
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• 2021

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in breast cancer and Myxococcus fulvus KYC4048 is a myxobacterial strain that can produce a variety of bioactive secondary metabolites. Although a previous study revealed that KYC4048 metabolites exhibit anti-proliferative effects on breast cancer, the biochemical mechanism involved in their effects remains unclear. In the present study, KYC4048 metabolites were separated into polar and non-polar (ethyl acetate and n-hexane) fractions via liquid-liquid extraction. The effects of these polar and non-polar KYC4048 metabolites on the viability of breast cancer cells were then determined by MTT assay. Expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The results revealed that non-polar KYC4048 metabolites induced cell death of breast cancer cells and decreased expression levels of WNT2B, β-catenin, and Wnt target genes (c-Myc and cyclin D1). Moreover, the n-hexane fraction of non-polar KYC4048 metabolites was found most effective in inducing apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycle arrest, leading us to conclude that it can induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings provide evidence that the n-hexane fraction of non-polar KYC4048 metabolites can be developed as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer via inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2019

DNA methylation is involved in diverse processes in bacteria, including maintenance of genome integrity and regulation of gene expression. CcrM, the DNA methyltransferase conserved in Alphaproteobacterial species, carries out $N^6$-adenine or $N^4$-cytosine methyltransferase activities using S-adenosyl methionine as a co-substrate. Celeribacter marinus IMCC12053 from the Alphaproteobacterial group was isolated from a marine environment. Single molecule real-time sequencing method (SMRT) was used to detect the methylation patterns of C. marinus IMCC12053. Gibbs motif sampler program was used to observe the conversion of adenosine of 5'-GANTC-3' to $N^6$-methyladenosine and conversion of $N^4$-cytosine of 5'-GpC-3' to $N^4$-methylcytosine. Exocyclic DNA methyltransferase from the genome of strain IMCC12053 was chosen using phylogenetic analysis and $N^4$-cytosine methyltransferase was cloned. IPTG inducer was used to confirm the methylation activity of DNA methylase, and cloned into a pQE30 vector using dam-/dcm- E. coli as the expression host. The genomic DNA and the plasmid carrying methylase-encoding sequences were extracted and cleaved with restriction enzymes that were sensitive to methylation, to confirm the methylation activity. These methylases protected the restriction enzyme site once IPTG-induced methylases methylated the chromosome and plasmid, harboring the DNA methylase. In this study, cloned exocyclic DNA methylases were investigated for potential use as a novel type of GpC methylase for molecular biology and epigenetics.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.10
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• pp.560-568
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• 2019

Purpose: This study evaluated the antibacterial effects of curcuma, ginger, and finger root extracts in water-soluble powder on planktonic Streptococcus mutans(S.mutans), which is known to cause dental caries, in order to confirm whether these extracts could perform as photosensitizers for the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods: This study used the strain of streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 distributed by the Korean Collection for Type Cultures of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology. Commercial edible curcuma, ginger and finger root were used as the natural extracts for the use of photosensitizer. To extract organic solvent, 3 g of each powder was mixed in $30m{\ell}$ of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, VWR, Germany) before extraction. $1.8m{\ell}$ of the photosensitizer solution, manufactured in the concentrations of 5, 0.5, and $0.05mg/m{\ell}$, was mixed with $0.2m{\ell}$ of the S. mutans culture medium that had been cultured for 2 days. To induce the photodynamic reaction, Qraycam (AIOBIO, Seoul, Korea) equipped with 405 nm LED was used to expose light for 5 minutes to irradiate 59 nW energy for 300 seconds. Results: Compared with the case with no light, a higher photodynamic therapeutic effect was confirmed with $0.05mg/m{\ell}$ curcuma powder extract, the concentration of $0.5mg/m{\ell}$ and LED light of 405 nm wavelength (p=0.000, p=0.003). $0.05mg/m{\ell}$ of curcuma powder extract and the concentration of $0.5mg/m{\ell}$ showed 100% antibacterial effect when exposed to light, whereas the concentration of $5mg/m{\ell}$ showed 11.95% antibacterial effect. When exposed to light, $0.05mg/m{\ell}$ of ginger powder extract showed an antibacterial effect which didn't statistically decrease. The concentrations of $0.5mg/m{\ell}$ and $5mg/m{\ell}$ did not show any antibacterial effects. As a result of examining any photodynamic therapeutic effects of finger root powder extract on S. mutans, no statistically significant effect was found. Conclusion: The curcuma powder extract is expected to perform as a photosensitizer. Even though belonging to the same ginger family, ginger powder and finger root powder seem difficult to perform as photosensitizer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.329-336
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• 2021

Cellulophga sp. J9-3, is a gram-negative, aerobic marine bacterium belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae. In addition to cellulose degradability, the J9-3 strain is also capable of hydrolyzing agar in the solid and liquid medium, and the production of agarase in the presence of agarose can be remarkably induced by the bacterium. From the cell culture broth of Cellulophga sp. J9-3, ammonium sulfate precipitation and three kinds of column chromatography were successively performed to purify a specific agarase protein, the AgaJ93. Purified AgaJ93 showed the strongest hydrolyzing activity towards agarose (approximately 22%), and even displayed activity towards starch. AgaJ93 hydrolyzed agarose into neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose via various oligosaccharide intermediates, indicating that AgaJ93 is an endo-type β-agarase. AgaJ93 showed maximum activity at a pH of 7.0 and temperature of 35 ℃. Its activity increased by more than six times in the presence of Co²⁺ ions. The N-terminal sequence of AgaJ93 showed 82% homology with the heat-resistant endo-type β-agarase Aga2 of Cellulophaga sp. W5C. However, the biochemical properties of the two enzymes were different. Therefore, AgaJ93 is expected to be a novel agarose, different from the previously reported β-agarases.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.301-308
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• 2021

It is important to develop a digital SOC (Social Overhead Capital) maintenance system for preemptive maintenance in response to the rapid aging of social infrastructures. Abnormal signals induced from structures can be detected quickly and optimal decisions can be made promptly using IoT sensors deployed on the structures. In this study, a digital SOC monitoring system incorporating a multimetric IoT sensor was developed for long-term monitoring, for use in cloud-computing server for automated and powerful data analysis, and for establishing databases to perform : (1) multimetric sensing, (2) long-term operation, and (3) LTE-based direct communication. The developed sensor had three axes of acceleration, and five axes of strain sensing channels for multimetric sensing, and had an event-driven power management system that activated the sensors only when vibration exceeded a predetermined limit, or the timer was triggered. The power management system could reduce power consumption, and an additional solar panel charging could enable long-term operation. Data from the sensors were transmitted to the server in real-time via low-power LTE-CAT M1 communication, which does not require an additional gateway device. Furthermore, the cloud server was developed to receive multi-variable data from the sensor, and perform a displacement fusion algorithm to obtain reference-free structural displacement for ambient structural assessment. The proposed digital SOC system was experimentally validated on a steel railroad and concrete girder bridge.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.993-1000
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• 2023

Recently, enviromentally friendly natural substances derived from plants have been attracting attention as cosmetic materials, and research on various physiological activities of natural substances is being actively conducted. This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and antibacterial effects of three types of extracts of mixtures containing different mixing ratios, Polygala tenuifolia, Angelica dahurica, and Elsholtzia splendens, known to have various physiological activities. The mixing ratio is 7 conditions (M1, 1:1:1; M2, 0.5:1.5:1; M3, 1.5:0.5:1; M4, 0.1:0.95:0.95; M5, 0.5:0.5:2; M6, 0.95 :1.95:0.1; M7, 1.45:0.1:1.45), and the optimal mixing ratio was confirmed for use as a cosmetic material. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities showed scavenging abilities of 75.37% and 99.19%, respectively, at 1,000 ㎍/mL of M6. At a concentration of 200 ㎍/mL of M6, it showed 50% of nitric oxide production inhibition compared to the lipopolysaccharide-treated that induced an inflammatory response. It was confirmed that M3 and M6 produced hyaluronic acid 1.47 and 1.49 times higher than the control at a concentration of 50 ㎍/mL, respectively. Through the disc diffiusion test, the clear zone was 9.75 mm at 8 ㎍/mL of M6, confirming the inhibition of growth of staplylococcus aureus strain. Based on the above results, it is believed that the mixed extract of Polygala tenuifolia, Angelica dahurica, and Elsholtzia splendens can be used as a functional natural material for cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.986-992
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• 1996

This study was designed to observe the effects of the feeding Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extract on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipids in the serum and liver of alloxaninduced hyperglycemic rats(S.D. strain, ♂), alloxan monohydrate 15mg/kg B.W./day I.P. injection) for 3 weeks. Concentrations of blood glucose were significantly higher in the alloxan administration(I.P.) groups(groups 2, 3 and 4) than those in the control group(group 1, basal diet). Blood glucose concentrations were remarkably lower in the group 3(basa1+alloxan+6years Platycodon grandiflorum) and 4(basa1+alloxan+22years Platycodon grandiflorum) than those in the group 2(basal+alloxan), and particularly, lower in the group 4. Concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in the groups 3, 4 than those in the group 2, and remarkably, lower in the group 4 than those in the group 3. Concentrations of HDL-cholesterol in serum were tile highest in the group 1. Those in the groups 3 and 4 were higher than those in the group 2. Atherosclerotic index were lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. In the alloxan-induced diabetic groups(groups 2, 3, 4), the serum free cholesterol, cholesterol ester, triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations were significantly lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. Contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid in liver were remarkably lower in the all experimental groups than those in the group 2. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase In serum were the highest in the group 2, but the other groups were rather lower. From the above research, the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extracts were effective on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipid compositions in serum and liver. And particularly, Platycodon grandiflorum(22 years) was more effective than those in the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 years).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1163-1167
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• 2011

Excessive alcohol consumption causes various degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Absorbed ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde and acetic acid by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Acetaldehyde is well known as a toxicant through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, ALDH2 activity may play important roles in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced brain diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of ALDH2 enzyme activity on lipid peroxidation in brain tissues and urine of mice exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks. Five male, 8-week old Aldh2 (+/+) and Aldh2 (-/-) mice (C57BL/6J strain) in each group were exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks (2 g/kg wt./day) using gavage, and those in the control group received 0.9% saline alone. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, a marker for lipid peroxidation, was measured in whole brain tissue and urine by high performance liquid chromatography. As a result, chronic ethanol treatment did not show any statistical change on the TBARS level of brain tissue in both Aldh2 (+/+) mice and in Aldh2 (-/-) mice. However, following ethanol exposure for 8 weeks in Aldh2 (-/-) mice, the urinary TBARS levels were significantly increased to more than double compared to the pretreatment group. This result was not observed in Aldh2 (+/+) mice. These results suggest that although ALDH2 enzyme activity plays a role in the generation of ROS in the whole body, it does not seem to be important in the pathogenesis of alcohol induced degenerative brain diseases.