• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.783-790
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• 2023

Modern people have an increased incidence of metabolic diseases due to changed eating habits, and diabetes is considered the most significant metabolic disease. Given that existing diabetes treatments are accompanied by side effects, the aim of this study was to identify traditional natural products that have anti-diabetic activity. The potential anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities of natural products were examined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, α-glucosidase assay, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibition assay. Methanol extracts of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, Acer tegmentosum branches, Nelumbo nucifera seeds, and Carthamus tinctorius seeds were found to have high anti-diabetic activity and further fractionated with solvents using ethyl acetate and butanol. Consequently, the ethyl acetate fraction of C. tinctorius seeds (MG-11-E) with high α-glucosidase and PTP1B inhibitory activity was selected. MG-11-E was subjected to preparative thin layer chromatography, and fraction #6 showed high α-glucosidase and PTP1B inhibitory activity. Fraction #6 was analyzed and fractionated via high performance liquid chromatography with 50% methanol as the mobile phase, and anti-diabetic activity was observed in the sample that eluted after 4 min as a single peak. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity exhibited by this sample seemed to be greater than the PTP1B inhibitory activity; thus, it was concluded that a greater anti-diabetic therapeutic effect may be achieved by combining this agent with natural products that inhibit PTP1B activity.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.38-44
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• 2006

Two sulfur-based column reactors inoculated with a bacterial consortium containing autotrophic denitrifiers were operated for 100 and 500 days, respectively and nitrate removal efficiency and the adaptation of microbial communities in the columns were monitored with column depths and time. For better understanding the adaptation phenomenon, molecular techniques including 16S rDNA sequencing and DGGE analysis were employed. Although both columns showed about 99% of nitrate removal efficiency heterotrophic denitrifiers such as Cenibacterium arsenioxidans and Geothrix fermentans were found to a significant portion at the initial stage of the 100-day reactor operation. However, as operation time increased, an autotrophic denitrifier Thiobacillus denitrificans became a dominant bacterial species throughout the column. A similar trend was also observed in the 500-day column. In addition, nitrate removal efficiencies were different with column depths and thus bacterial species with different metabolic activities were found at the corresponding depths. Especially, T. denitrificans was successfully adapted and colonized at the bottom parts of the columns where most nitrate was reduced.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.677-685
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine ammonium chloride tolerance of lactating dairy cows, by examining effects of negative dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) induced by ruminal ammonium chloride infusion on performance, serum and urine minerals, serum metabolites and enzymes of lactating dairy cows. Methods: Four primiparous lactating Chinese Holstein cows fitted with ruminal cannulas were infused with increasing amounts (0, 150, 300, or 450 g/d) of ammonium chloride in a crossover design. The DCAD of the base diet was 279 mEq/kg dry matter (DM) using the DCAD formula (Na + K - Cl - S)/kg of DM. Ammonium chloride infusion added the equivalent of 0, 128, 330, and 536 mEq/kg DM of Cl in treatments. According to the different dry matter intakes (DMI), the resulting actual DCAD of the four treatments was 279, 151, -51, and -257 mEq/kg DM, respectively. Results: DMI decreased linearly as DCAD decreased. Yields of milk, 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, milk fat, and milk protein decreased linearly as DCAD decreased. Concentrations of milk protein and milk urea nitrogen increased linearly with decreasing DCAD. Concentration of Cl- in serum increased linearly and concentration of PO43- in serum increased quadratically as DCAD decreased. Urine pH decreased linearly and calculated urine volume increased linearly with decreasing DCAD. Linear increases in daily urinary excretion of $Cl^-$, $Ca^{2+}$, $PO_4{^{3-}}$, urea N, and ammonium were observed as DCAD decreased. Activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transferase in serum and urea N concentration in serum increased linearly as DCAD decreased. Conclusion: In conclusion, negative DCAD induced by ruminal ammonium chloride infusion resulted in a metabolic acidosis, had a negative influence on performance, and increased serum enzymes indicating potential liver and kidney damage in lactating dairy cows. Daily ammonium chloride intake by lactating dairy cows should not exceed 300 g, and 150 g/d per cow may be better.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.176-186
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• 2018

In this study, the total polyphenol contents, antioxidant activities and anti-proliferation effects of HepG2 cell lines in organic slovent fractions obtained from the main methanolic extract of P. yezoensis were analyzed. The polyphenol content of the $CHCl_3$ fraction was $10.3{\mu}g/mg$, slightly less than $13.08{\mu}g/mg$ of the water fraction, but $ED_{50}$ estimated by measuring DPPH free radical scavenging activity exhibited the highest $16.96{\mu}g/ml$ in the $CHCl_3$ fraction. The proliferation effects of $CHCl_3$ and EtOAc fraction toward HepG2 cells inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, showed 90% inhibition when treated for 24 hr at $900{\mu}g/ml$ of $CHCl_3$ fraction. Meanwhile gene expression patterns in HepG2 cells treated $50{\mu}g/ml$ of $CHCl_3$ fraction were identified with microarray analysis. Concerning the efficacy of P. yezoensis, gene ontology analysis explored the genes associated with response to molecule of bacterial origin, vitamin D metabolic process, and response to nutrient. Thus IL6R, CYP1A1 were selected as significant genes based on expression patterns of HepG2 cells, and pathway analysis indicates that ARNT might be considered as a upstream regulator. Also, expression analysis of IL6R and CYP1A1, activity of upstream regulator ARNT in HepG2 cells was confirmed based on Western blotting analysis at the protein level after being treated with 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of $CHCl_3$ fraction.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2017

To determine the optimum water temperature (a temperature which minimizes metabolic activities and stress in fish) for long distance transportation of red-spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara), by evaluating the behavior, survival and physiological and hematological responses to variable water temperature conditions (9, 12, 15, 18 and $21^{\circ}C$) for 48 hours. Fish exposed to $9^{\circ}C$ died at 48 hours exposure, but those exposed to 12, 15, 18 and $21^{\circ}C$ treatment groups all survived. Fish in the 15, 18 and $21^{\circ}C$ exposure groups exhibited normal swimming, while those exposed to $12^{\circ}C$ were observed to be stationary at the bottom of the tank. The plasma cortisol and glucose concentration were higher in fish exposed to $12^{\circ}C$ than at other temperature conditions. The fish in the 12 and $15^{\circ}C$ groups had significantly higher hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) than those in the 18 and $21^{\circ}C$ groups (P<0.05). Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), $NH_3$ and osmolality showed a pattern similar to the levels of plasma cortisol, while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total protein did not significantly vary among the experimental groups. These results indicate that the optimum water temperature for long distance transportation of the red-spotted grouper is $15^{\circ}C$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.436-443
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• 2016

Exposure to cold may affect growth performance in accordance with the metabolic and immunological activities of animals. We evaluated whether ambient temperature affects growth performance, blood metabolites, and immune cell populations in Korean cattle. Eighteen Korean cattle steers with a mean age of 10 months and a mean weight of 277 kg were used. All steers were fed a growing stage-concentrate diet at a rate of 1.5% of body weight and Timothy hay ad libitum for 8 weeks. Experimental period 1 (P1) was for four weeks from March 7 to April 3 and period 2 (P2) was four weeks from April 4 to May 1. Mean ($8.7^{\circ}C$) and minimum ($1.0^{\circ}C$) indoor ambient temperatures during P1 were lower (p<0.001) than those ($13.0^{\circ}C$ and $6.2^{\circ}C$, respectively) during P2. Daily dry matter feed intake in both the concentrate diet and forage groups was higher (p<0.001) during P2 than P1. Average daily weight gain was higher (p<0.001) during P2 (1.38 kg/d) than P1 (1.13 kg/d). Feed efficiency during P2 was higher (p = 0.015) than P1. Blood was collected three times; on March 7, April 4, and May 2. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were higher on March 7 than April 4 and May 2. Blood cortisol, glucose, and triglyceride concentrations did not differ among months. Blood CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD25+ T cell percentages were higher, while CD8+CD25+ T cell percentage was lower, during the colder month of March than during May, suggesting that ambient temperature affects blood T cell populations. In conclusion, colder ambient temperature decreased growth and feed efficiency in Korean cattle steers. The higher circulating NEFA concentrations observed in March compared to April suggest that lipolysis may occur at colder ambient temperatures to generate heat and maintain body temperature, resulting in lower feed efficiency in March.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.249-254
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the effects of sea tangle (ST) extracts on serum lipid concentration in ovariectomized rats. Weight-matched female Sprague-Dawley strain rats were assigned to four groups. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-control), ovariectomized rats supplemented with ST at 50 mg/kg body wt (OVX-ST50) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with ST at 200 mg/kg body wt (OVX-ST200). The activities of serum GOT and GPT were increased by ovariectomized. The serum GOT levels in OVX-ST50 and OVX-ST200 groups were decreased than OVX-control group. But GPT level was only decreased in the serum of OVX-ST200 group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in sham group compared with OVX-control group by ovariectomy. Six weeks feeding of ST extract resulted in a significant lowering of serum triglyceride and lowering tendency of total cholesterol Level. The serum HDL-cholesterol was higher in ST groups than OVX-control group. These results suggest that the beneficial effect of ST extract may be used to possibly improve on the lipid metabolic syndrome of menopausal women.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2011

Although the vegetable Angelica keiskei (AK) has widely been utilized for the purpose of general health improvement among Korean population, its functionalities are not very well defined. In this study, we examined the effects of methanol extract of AK in rats on the biochemical changes induced by two hepatotoxins, D-galactosamine (GalN) and carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$). AK was orally administered once daily for 7 days to male rats at 200 and 500 mg/kg, before hepatotoxins. Effects of AK were assessed 24 hr later. AK pretreatments at 200 and 500 mg/kg significantly blunted GalN-induced elevation in liver lipid peroxidation, plasma aspartate-transaminase (AST) and alanine-transaminase (ALT) activities. AK also prevented, after 500 mg/kg but not after 200 mg/kg, the GalN-induced elevation in triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. Differently from against GalN-induced toxicity, AK did further elevate the $CCl_4$-induced rise in AST, ALT and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that AK, when pre-administered prior to GalN, exerted protective effects against GalN-induced hepatotoxicity, in contrast however, AK exacerbated that induced by $CCl_4$. To explore possible mechanism for the toxicity-potentiating effects of AK on $CCl_4$, the activity of hepatic drug metabolism after AK treatment was assessed. It was observed that AK increased the activity of aniline hydroxaylase, a cytochrome P450 isoenzyme responsible for metabolic activation of $CCl_4$. This finding suggests that hepatoprotective effects of AK are not equally expected depending on hepatotoxins employed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.789-796
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• 2000

In order to analyze the effects of tktA, $aroF^{FBR}$, and aroL expression in a tryptophan-producing Escherichia coli, a series of plasmids carrying the genes were constructed. Introduction of tktA, $aroF^{FBR}$, and aroL into the E. coli strain resulted in approximately 10-20 fold increase in the activities of transketolase, the feedback inhibition-resistant 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulsonate-7-phosphate synthase, and shikimate kinase. Expression of $aroF^{FBR}$ in the aroB mutant strain of E. coli resulted in the accumulation of 10 mM of 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulsonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) in the medium. Simultaneous expression of tktA and $aroF^{FBR}$ in the strain further increased the amount of excreted DAHP to 20 mM. In contrast, the mutant strain which has no gene introduced accumulated 0.5 mM of DAHP. However, the expression of tktA and $aroF^{FBR}$ in a tryptophan-producing E. coli strain did not lead to the increased production of tryptophan, but instead, a significant amount of shikimate, which is an intermediate in the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway, was excreted to the growth medium. Despite the fact that additional expression of shikimate kinase in the strain could possibly remove 90% of excreted shikimate to 0.1 mM, the amount of tryptophan produced was still unchanged. Removing shikimate using a cloned aroL gene caused the excretion of glutamate, which suggests disturbed central carbon metabolism. However, when cultivated in a complex medium, the strain expressing tktA, $aroF^{FBR}$, and aroL produced more tryptophan than the parental strain. These data indicate that additional rate-limiting steps are present in the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway, and the carbon flow to the terminal pathway is strictly regulated. Expressing tktA in E. coli cells appeared to impose a great metabolic burden to the cells as evidenced by retarded cell growth in the defined medium. Recombinant E. coli strains harboring plasmids which carry the tktA gene showed a tendency to segregate their plasmids almost completely within 24h.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.65-84
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• 2007

In this study, the researcher tried to present the groundwork to prepare the oriental medical yangseng plan for the future obesity with the comparison between yangseng level and the obesity of workers. The researcher made up the questionnaire which asks the general character, health-related character and yangseng level, projected among 560 people. All collected material was analyzed by SPSS and tested by T-test and ANOVA. 1. The general yangseng level average is 3.27, morality yangseng 3.90, sleep yangseng 3.39, mind yangseng 3.31, sex life yangseng 3.30, exercise yangseng 3.15, activities and rest yangseng 3.08, diet yangseng 2.94, seasonal yangseng 2.84. The highest is morality yangseng and seasonal yangseng is the lowest. 2. In the aspect of yangseng level: Having a spouse, Non-smoking, Regular exercising, Sufficient sleeping have higher yangseng levels. 3. Obesity related index is changing into the higher level when he/she is older, more paid, more job experience, more education background but less metabolic calory. And drinking and regular exercising have relativity with body composition analysis. 4. After comparing yangseng level with body composition analysis, we can easily find that the more visceral fat, the higher WHR has a high yangseng level. The more mineral also has a high mind yangseng and a low diet yangseng. The visceral fat level has a high yangseng level when higher morality yangseng and mind yangseng are getting higher and higher. And sex life yangseng shows that the highest yangseng level is from 9-10 visceral fat and the lowest yangseng level is from below 4 visceral fat. The higher WHR, the higher morality, mind and sleep yangseng. The heavier, the lower diet yangseng. The mind yangseng was very high when body fat rate was higher. The more body fat, the higher morality yangseng. The higher yangseng, when we have more muscle. Yangseng level and obesity of laborer has a close relationship with individual character and daily habits. Also, relevance can be easily found between yangseng level and obesity. Now the researcher came into the conclusion that we need to control over laborers' health and prevention of their obesity.