• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2002

To evaluate the effect of reed population on the distribution and activities of microorganisms, vertical distribution of heterotrophic bacteria, degradation rate of cellulose, extracellular aminopeptidase activity (APA) and metabolic diversity based on GN2 Microlog plate were measured at two salt marsh stations in Hogok-ri, Namyang Bay, west coast of Korea. The number of heterotrophic bacteria at station 1 (reed population inhabited area) showed 2 to 6 times higher than that of station 2 (exposed area) with exception in the surface layer. Cellulose degradation rates in station 1 showed more than 50%. month-I and higher than that of station 2 (10.2 to 38.4%. $month^{-1}$). Yet the APA at two stations did not show difference except surface layer and suggested that APA might not be a significant factor in degrading marsh plant debris. Lipid class compounds, cell wall polymers and L-alanine were widely used by microorganisms. The number and activities of bacterial populations especially concerned in plant debris degradation seemed to be stimulated by the reed communities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1979

The naturally occurring coumarins are likely to be a large and important group of plant products which are not only metabolic products of the living cells but possess varied physiological and pharmacological actions. Investigations concerning various biological activities of natural coumarins have been undertaken by many investigators in continuing effort. The authors describe on experimental results of biological activities of coumarin derivatives with particular emphasis on 10 different activities that are considered to be of importance in view of the development of new drugs from natural resources.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.781-789
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• 2004

The effect of 1,8-cineole on cytochrome P450 (CYP) expression was investigated in male Sprague Dawley rats and female BALB/c mice. When rats were treated orally with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole for 3 consecutive days, the liver microsomal activities of benzy-loxyresorufin- and pentoxyresorufin-D-dealkylases and erythromycin N-demethylase were dose-dependently induced. The Western immunoblotting analyses clearly indicated the induction of CYP 2B1/2 and CYP 3A1/2 proteins by 1,8-cineole. At the doses employed, 1,8-cineole did not cause toxicity, including hepatotoxicity. Subsequently, 1,8-cineole was applied to study the role of metabolic activation in thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity and/or immunotoxicity in animal models. To investigate a possible role of metabolic activation by CYP enzymes in thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity, rats were pre-treated with 800 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole for 3 days, followed by a single intraperitoneal treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg of thioacetamide in saline. 24 h later, thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity was significantly potentiated by the pretreatment with 1,8-cineole. When female BALB/c mice were pretreated with 800 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole for 3 days, followed by a single intraperitoneal treatment with 100 mg/kg of thioace-tamide, the antibody response to sheep red blood cells was significantly potentiated. In addition, the liver microsomal activities of CYP 2B enzymes were significantly induced by 1,8-cineole as in rats. Taken together, our results indicated that 1,8-cineole might be a useful CYP modulator in investigating the possible role of metabolic activation in chemical-induced hepato-toxicity and immunotoxicity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.90-96
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to develop a model for safe work load based on a physiological model of metabolic energy of manual material handling tasks. Fifteen male subjects voluntarily participated in this study. Lifting activities with four different weights, 0, 8, 16, 24kg, and four different working frequencies (2, 5, 8, 11 lifts/min) for a lifting range from floor to the knuckle height of 76cm were considered. Oxygen consumption rates and heart rates were measured during the performance of sixteen different lifting activities. Simplified predictive equations for estimating the oxygen consumption rate and the heart rate were developed. The oxygen consumption rate and the heart rate could be expressed as a function of task variables; frequency and the weight of the load, and a personal variable, body weight, and their interactions. The coefficients of determination ($r^2$) of the model were 0.9777 and 0.9784, respectively, for the oxygen consumption rate and the heart rate. The model of oxygen consumption rate was modified to estimate the work load for the given oxygen consumption rate. The overall absolute percent errors of the validation of this equation for work load with the original data set was 39.03%. The overall absolute percent errors were much larger than this for the two models based on the US population. The models for the oxygen consumption rate and for the work load developed in this study work better than the two models based on the US population. However, without considering the biomechanical approach, the developed model for the work load and the two US models are not recommended to estimate the work loads for low frequent lifting activities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.469-474
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• 2016

Liriopogons (Liriope and Opiopogon) species are used as a main medicinal ingredient in several Asian countries. The Liriopes Radix (tuber, root of Liriope platyphylla) has to be a promising candidate due to their source of phytochemicals. Steroidal saponins and their glycosides, phenolic compounds, secondary metabolites are considered of active constituents in Liriopes Radix. Spicatoside A, a steroidal saponin, could be more efficacious drug candidate in future. In this review, we summarized the available knowledge on phytochemical and pharmacological activities for spicatoside A. It significantly suppressed the level of NF-${\kappa}B$, NO, iNOS, Cox-2, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and MAPKs in LPS-stimulated inflammation. The production of MUC5AC mucin was increased. MMP-13 expression was down-regulated in IL-$1{\beta}$-treated cells and reduced glycosaminoglycan release from IL-$1{\alpha}$-treated cells. The neurite outgrowth activity, PI3K, Akt, ERK1/2, TrkA and CREB phosphorylation and neurotropic factors such as NGF and BDNF were upregulated with increased latency time. It also showed cell growth inhibitory activity on various carcinoma cells. From this, spicatoside A exerts anti-inflammation, anti-asthma, anti-osteoclastogenesis, neurite outgrowth, memory consolidation and anticancer activities. Further studies are needed on spicatoside A in order to understand mechanisms of action to treat various human diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.333-339
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• 1994

The metabolic transit of three samples( 14C glycine-glyucose melanoidin, glycine-glucose melanoidin and soybean sauce ) were studied on rats. The radioactivity of various organs and excreta intubated 14C glycine-glucose melanoidin on rats at various intervals(1, 3, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs were detected . And the brown pigment contents and hydrogen donating activities in the excreta which is obtained from three samples were detected during the 7 days after intubated. The total amount of 14C excreted in the fecese were 53% meaning that the rest of 47% melanoidin seemed to be retained in the body or metabolized . The radioactive compound showed a small retention in the liver and kidney. The brown pigment contents and hydrogen donating activities in the urine and feces increased proportionally to the activity of 14C. When the soybean sauce and glycine glucose melanoidin were intubated, the brown pigment contents excreted in the feces were found to be the highest after 1 st day of intubation. In the urine, the model melanoidin was excreted mostly after 3 days of intubation. The brown pigment contents and hydrogen donating activities of three samples of excreta agreed with each other. The soybean sauce retained longer than model melanoidin in the body is telling that it might have antioxidative activity in vivo.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.519-525
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• 1999

The effects of Ganoderma Lucidum consumption (GL) on the liver function and lipid metabolic disorder induced by alcohol consuming were studied in rats using GL powder(1%, 2%, 4%) and 10% ethly alcohol. Thirty-five rats(Sprague-Dawley, male) were divided into five groups and fed experimental diets for seven weeks. The concentrations of serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were the highest in the alcohol group, while the levels were apparently reduced by in groups fed GL. The atherogenic indices(AI) also tended to be higher in the alcohol group. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activities were significantly lower in body alcohol + 2% GL and alcohol + 4% GL groups, and glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT)activities lower only in the alcohol + 2% GL compared with the alcohol group. Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities were not significantly different among the groups. The elevated levels of liver cholesterol and triglyceride due to alcohol consumption, were apparently reduced by GL supplementation. On microscopic observation of liver tissues, fat droplets appeared extensively on the liver-lobule in the alcohol group, while fat droplets appeared only on the central vein in the alcohol + 1% GL group. However, in groups administered 2% and 4% GL, fat droplets appeared similar to the alcohol group. The concentrations of fecal bile acid were significantly increased in groups fed GL. These results indicate that GL exerted some beneficial effects on lipid metabolic disorder caused by long-term alcohol consumption. Thus, it seems that GL may be effective in preventing or curing some aspects of alcohol toxicity. More detailed studies are needed in order to determine proper dietary levels of GL for combating alcohol toxicity.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 1998

The winter-resident Korean bats, Murina leucogaster ognevi, show a circadian cycle of thermoregulation and locomotion in summer, as do other bat species in temperate regions. They are most active between dusk and dawn with body temperature (Tb) of 35-4OC, and are usually torpid in their roost sites for the rest of day with their Tb close to ambient temperature (Ta) of around 15C. The present study was conducted to determine thermogenic and thermolabile properties of the heterothermic bats that would influence their daily feeding activities and ultimately, their energy conservation strategy. Testing on active male Murina, resting metabolic rate (RMR, gauged by oxygen consumption rate) at the lower limit of thermoneutral zone (31C) was 2.0 L kq-1 h-1. The regression slope of RMR below the thermoneutral zone (an index of metabolic thermal sensitivity) was -0.38 L $kg^{-l} h^{-1} C^{-1}$. The metabolic rate at the roost Ta (15C) was 4.5 times the lowest RMR in the active state but becomes nearly zero in the torpid state. This implies that by being torpid during daytime (between dawn and dusk), the individual bats would save about 4.7 kcal each day in mid-summer. Interspecific comparisons of thermal metabolic response over a mass scale suggest that the smaller bats show a relatively higher metabolic rate in thermoneutral zone and a greater thermal sensitivity of metabolism, which follows the general principle seen in homeothermic metabolism. Thermolabile features in metabolic responses seem to be fairly common for these bats in conditions other than a fully active state. Types of thermolabile responses and their energetic significance are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2016

Purpose: This study is intended to analyze factors of metabolic syndrome and vitamin D deficiency with resources obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V conducted in 2010. Methods: The subjects were 870 adolescents aged from 10 to 18 who participated in the first KNHANES V. Secondary data analysis was done by Chi-square, ANOVA, correlation analysis and simple linear regression. Results: The influencing factors of metabolic syndrome were vitamin D, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, which were statistically significant. Simple linear regression was conducted to identify the influence of vitamin D on the factors related to metabolic syndrome, which showed that waist size (t=-1.97, p<.05), systolic blood pressure (t=-2.88, p<.01), and diastolic blood pressure (t=-5.72, p<.001) were influenced by vitamin D. In addition, each factor decreased by .131, .209, and .355, respectively, when vitamin D increased by one unit. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is a factor to be considered in order to improve adolescent health and form adolescent health behaviors. Schools, families, and local communities should cooperate with each other on the foundation of a regular health screening process and systematic health education programs. In addition, it is expected enhanced physical activities and sports club participation can prevent metabolic syndrome and increase vitamin D among adolescent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MBS) is a widespread disease that has strongly related to unhealthy diet and low physical activity, which initiate more serious conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to examine the therapeutic effects of morin, as one of the flavonoids constituents, which widely exists in many herbs and fruits, against some metabolic and hepatic manifestations observed in MBS rats and the feasible related mechanisms. MBS was induced in rats by high fructose diet feeding for 12 weeks. Morin (30 mg/kg) was administered orally to both normal and MBS rats for 4 weeks. Liver tissues were used for determination of liver index, hepatic expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) as well as both inflammatory and fibrotic markers. The fat/muscle ratio, metabolic parameters, systolic blood pressure, and oxidative stress markers were also determined. Our data confirmed that the administration of morin in fructose diet rats significantly reduced the elevated systolic blood pressure. The altered levels of metabolic parameters such as blood glucose, serum insulin, serum lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers were also reversed approximately to the normal values. In addition, morin treatment decreased liver index, serum liver enzyme activities, and fat/muscle ratio. Furthermore, morin relatively up-regulated GLUT2 expression, however, down-regulated NF-κB, TNF-α, and TGF-β expressions in the hepatic tissues. Here, we revealed that morin has an exquisite effect against metabolic disorders in the experimental model through, at least in part, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic mechanisms.