• Genes and Genomics
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• 제40권12호
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• pp.1259-1267
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• 2018

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an important subtropical fruit crop with high commercial value due to its high nutritional values and favorable tastes. However, irregular bearing attributed to unstable flowering is a major ongoing problem for litchi producers. Previous studies indicate that low-temperature is a key factor in litchi floral induction. In order to reveal the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the reproductive process in litchi, we had analyzed the transcriptome of buds before and after low-temperature induction using RNA-seq technology. A key flower bud differentiation associated gene, a homologue of FLORICAULA/LEAFY, was identified and named LcLFY (GenBank Accession No. KF008435). The cDNA sequence of LcLFY encodes a putative protein of 388 amino acids. To gain insight into the role of LcLFY, the temporal expression level of this gene was measured by real-time RT-PCR. LcLFY was highly expressed in flower buds and its expression correlated with the floral developmental stage. Heterologous expression of LcLFY in transgenic tobacco plants induced precocious flowering. Meantime, we investigated the sub-cellular localization of LcLFY. The LcLFY-Green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein was found in the nucleus. The results suggest that LcLFY plays a pivotal role as a transcription factor in controlling the transition to flowering and in the development of floral organs in litchi.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.481-487
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• 2010

본 연구에서는 열대과일 리치의 부산물인 과피를 기능성 식품 산업 소재로써의 활용가능성을 알아보기 위해 영양화학성분 분석, 항산화 및 신경세포 보호효과에 대해서 조사하였다. 리치 과피의 일반성분은 수분 0.11%, 조단백질 13.97%, 조지방 0.04%, 조회분 0.33% 및 가용성 무질소물 85.52%이었다. 주요 무기성분으로는 K 989.35 mg/100 g, Ca 399.81 mg/100 g 및 P 264.65 mg/100 g이었으며, 용매별 리치 과피의 총 페놀 함량을 측정한 결과는 열수 추출물 8.02 mg/g, 50% 메탄올 추출물 12.28 mg/g,으로 각각 나타났다. 주요 아미노산으로는 proline이 672.59 mg/100 g으로 가장 높은 함량을 차지하였다. 주요 지방산으로는 palmitic acid(42.86%), stearic acid(14.88%)이었으며, 리치 과피의 DPPH와 ABTS radical 소거활성을 측정한 결과 열수 추출물에 비해 50% 메탄올 추출물의 소거활성이 상대적으로 높게 나타났다. 특히 열수와 50% 메탄올 추출물의 최대 처리농도 5 mg/mL에서 DPPH와 ABTS radical 소거활성은 각각 17.68, 37.35%와 39.79, 50.33%로 나타났다. FRAP assay을 이용한 항산화 활성은 농도의존적인 경향을 보였으며, 열수 추출물에 비하여 50% 메탄올 추출물이 상대적으로 우수하였다. MTT, LDH assay를 통한 신경세포 보호효과를 측정한 결과 MTT 실험에서는 리치 과피 추출물의 모든 농도에서 positive control로서의 vitamin C와 유사한 세포 생존율을 나타냈고, LDH 실험에서는 추출물에 의한 농도 의존적 효소 방출량 감소가 관찰되었고, 특히 최대 $500\;{\mu}g/mL$ 농도에서는 50% 메탄올 추출물이 열수추출물 보다 약 1.7배 가량의 방출량 저해 효과가 나타났다. 본 연구결과를 종합해 볼 때, 우수한 영양 구성 성분과 physiological phenolics를 함유한 리치 과피 추출물은 항산화 및 산화적 스트레스로부터 신경세포 보호효과를 나타내면서 퇴행성 신경질환 등을 예방할 수 있는 기능성 산업소재로서의 가치가 높다고 판단된다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.123-128
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Natural products or active components with a protective effect against oxidative stress have attracted significant attention for prevention and treatment of degenerative disease. Oligonol is a low molecular weight polyphenol containing catechin-type monomers and oligomers derived from Litchi chinensis Sonn. We investigated the protective effect and its related mechanism of oligonol against oxidative stress. MATERIALS/METHODS: Oxidative stress in C6 glial cells was induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and the protective effects of oligonol on cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis, and mRNA expression related to oxidative stress were determined. RESULTS: Treatment with oligonol inhibited NO and ROS formation under cellular oxidative stress in C6 glial cells. In addition, it recovered cell viability in a dose dependent-manner. Treatment with oligonol also resulted in down-regulated mRNA expression related to oxidative stress, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), compared with the control group treated with $H_2O_2$. In particular, expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65, COX-2, and iNOS was effectively reduced to the normal level by treatment with $10{\mu}g/mL$ and $25{\mu}g/mL$ of oligonol. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that oligonol has protective activity against oxidative stress-induced inflammation. Oligonol might be a promising agent for treatment of degenerative diseases through inhibition of ROS formation and NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway gene expression.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.208-217
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• 2014

Leaf litter is the main and quick source of organic matter and nutrient to the soil compared to other parts of litter. This study focused on the nutrients (N, P and K) leaching from leaf litter of Melia azadirachta, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Swietenia macrophylla, Mangifera indica, Zizyphus jujuba, Litchi chinensis, Albizia saman, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Acacia auriculiformis, Dalbergia sissoo and Khaya anthotheca as the common cropland agroforest tree species of Bangladesh. About (9 to 35) % of initial mass was lost, while Electric Conductivity (EC) and TDS (Total Dissolved Solid) of leaching water increased to (573 to 3,247) ${\mu}S/cm$ and (401 to 2,307) mg/l respectively after 192 hours of leaching process. Mass loss (%) of leaf litter, EC and TDS of leaching water showed significant (ANOVA, p<0.05) curvilinear relationship with leaching time. Initial concentration of NH4, PO4 and K in leaching water was found to increase significantly (p<0.05) up to 48/72 hours and then remained almost constant at later stages (48/72 to 192 hours). Mass loss of leaves; EC, TDS, $NH_4$, $PO_4$ and K in leaching water was varied also significantly (ANOVA, p<0.05) among the studied tree species. All the tree species showed similar pattern of nutrients (K>N>P) release during the leaching process. The highest $NH_4$ (4,097 ppm) and potassium (8,904 ppm) concentration was found for M. azadirachta while the highest $PO_4$ (1,331 ppm) concentration was found for E. camaldulensis in the leaching water. Among the studied tree species, M. azadirachta, A. indica, D. sissoo, E. camaldulensis and Z. jujuba was selected as the best tree species with respect to nutrient leaching.