• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2017

The consumption of herbal medicines has been increasing with growing interest in health. However, due to recent climate change and the complex distribution process of herbal medicines with high import dependence the likelihood of contamination with mycotoxin has been increased. Mycotoxins are emerging as key indicators for ensuring safety of herbal medicines. A total of 498 herbal medicine samples were screened for mycotoxin contamination in this study. Aflatoxin in the herbal medicine samples was extracted by using immunoaffinity column, then the extracted aflatoxin was quantified via high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) method. The extraction method was verified by linearity, recovery, LOD and LOQ. Aflatoxins were detected in 39/498 samples in an average of $7.670{\mu}g/kg$ ($0.610-77.452{\mu}g/kg$ range). Although safety standards for Corydalis Tuber is not currently available in korea, five of the 39 samples had high concentration of aflatoxins (average of $14.9{\pm}4.1{\mu}g/kg$). In conclusion, it is urgent to establish safety criteria of aflatoxin in Corydalis Tuber. The results of the current study suggest that continuous monitoring is necessary for proactive management of herbal medicine safety.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 1972

Twenty seven specimens of deteriolated storage rice were collected all over Korea. Types of deteriolation were classified according to color outlooks, and for 48 grains of each specimen the causative storage microorganisms were isolated and identified. The following results were observed; 1. 27 specimens of deteriolated rice were classified according to color outlooks into 7 types: reddish yellow 1, light reddish yellow 3, light grayish yellow 4, light red 6, dark gray 7, light gray 3, and rice weevil type 3. 2. The most common storage microorganisms group which infected deteriolated Korean rice were Aspergillus glaucus group, especially species of A. amstelodami, A. chevalieri, A. montevidensis, and A. ruber, which were frequently associated with Penicillium, Brevibactereum, and Bacillus. 3. As a specific case sometimes a specimen of deteriolated rice was infected chiefly by one deminant species of microorganism. Five cases were observed: that is, by P. islandicum, P. lanosum, B. lentus, Pseudomonas cohaerans, Brev. lipolyticum. 4. No definite relationship was observed between color outlook types and the deteriolation causing microorganisms. Only the heavily infected rice by Penicillium islandicum expressed discernible reddish yellow color indicative of the infection by this mold. 5. Mycotoxin problem could be noted in one specimen of deteriolated imported rice heavily infected by P. islandicum. Other mycotoxin producing fungi, A. flavus, A. ochraceus, A. fumigatus were also detected, but their growth frequencies were so low that it might not be serious problem.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2007

The patulin producing capicity of Penicillium crustosum, an isolate from Korean apple, in various broth culture media, was investigated, and compared with patulin production by the standard strain P. griseofulvum(ATCC 46037). The maximal patulin production capacity of the P. griseofulvum ATCC 46037 was 2,029-2,829 ppm in 5-GYEP, SY and MEB broth media. The patulin-producing capacity of the isolated fungus(P. crustosum) attained 2,794 ppm in a 5-GYEP broth medium, but was only 324 and 11 ppm in SY and MEB media, respectively. There were no significant correlations between mycelial growth levels and patulin-producing ability in either P. crustosum or P. griseofulvum. The patulin production of P. griseofulvum was induced in the wide pH range of pH 3.0-11.0, while that of P. crustosum was induced in the acidic pH range pH 3.0-5.0. Patulin production levels were dependent on the carbon sources in the media and maximal patulin production by P. griseofulvum and P. crustosum was observed in media containing glycerol and fructose, respectively.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2002

In order to improve some problems such as contamination of undesirable mold, mycotoxin production and excessive drying on the surface of traditional meju. Control meju without koji and capsule type meju(CM) coated with soybean mixture containing 0.5%, 1% and 2%(w/w) R. oligosporus koji were dried at room temperature (10∼15$^{\circ}C$) for 3 days. Control meju I was fermented in outdoor for 27 days. Control meju IIand CMs were fermented in Korean yellow clay room at 25$^{\circ}C$ for 7 days under 80% relative humidity as first step, and then fermented in outdoor (average temp. 2.7$^{\circ}C$, December) for 20 days as second step. The moisture content of CMs were higher than that of control meju I to the range of 2.88∼7.55%(w/w). pH and titratable acidity in CMs were similar to control group. Amino type nitrogen content in CMs(800.80, 816.0, 901.60 mg%) were 2.2∼2.6 times higher than that in control meju I (347.2 mg%). Reducing sugar content in CMs(2.78∼3.13%) was similar to control meiu I (2.10%) and control meju H(2.31%). Lightness(L) value of control meju I was higher than that of control meju IIand CMs.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.258-264
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to estimate the measurement uncertainty associated with determination of deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin generated by Fusarium strain, in food. In service of this goal, wheat as a food matrix was analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) detection using an immunoaffinity column for clean-up. The uncertainty sources in the measurement process were identified by sample weight, final volume, and sample concentration in extraction volume with components including standard stock solution, working standard solution, 5 standard solutions, calibration curve, matrix, and instrument. The expanded uncertainty for DON at a concentration of 300 ${\mu}g/kg$ was estimated as 71.62 ${\mu}g/kg$ using a coverage factor of two, which provides a confidence level of approximately 95%. The most influential component in the uncertainty sources was the recovery of the wheat matrix, followed by the calibration curve. These results indicate that all efforts may be directed toward reducing the uncertainties of the recovery of the wheat matrix and the calibration curve to obtain a reliable HPLC-UV method for DON analysis in wheat.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.112-118
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• 1988

The effect of gamma irradiation of microbiological and physicochemical properties of raw ingredients (thirteen kinds of protein sources) for the mixed feed were investigated. The total aerobic bacteria counts in the samples was ranged from $10^2$ to $10^7$cells/g. After 5 to 7 kGy irradiation, the total count was reduced by 3 to 4 log cycles. Coliforms were detected in seven samples and the range was from $10^4$ to $10^6$cells/g. Enteric pathogens were found only in fish meal and poultry byproduct as $10^2$ to $10^6$cells/g. They were sensitive to radiation and completely sterilized by 3 to 5 kGy irradiation. Total fungi count was ranged from $10^1$ to $10^4$cells/g in all samples. They were osmophiles such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aureobasidium and Rhizopus and were destroyed by 3 to 7 kGy irradiation. Five species of potential mycotoxin producers including Aspergillus flavus were also identified. Physicochemical properties, such as total amino acid content, TBA value, POV and color difference showed that irradiation with optimum does was less detrimental than autoclaving.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.403-408
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• 1987

The effects of gamma irradiation on microbiological and chemical qualities of four kinds of poultry feeds were investigated. The viable counts of total bacteria in the samples were $10^5\;to\;10^6/g$. They were reduced by 2 to 3 log cycles after 3 to 5 kGy irradiation, and were completely eliminated with irradiation of 7 kGy. Coliforms and enteric pathogens were contaminated in high levels in all samples, ranging from $1.2{\times}10^4\;to\;1.7{\times}10^5/g\;and\;4.0{\times}10\;to\;2.6{\times}10^3/g$, respectively, They were sterilized by 3 to 5 kGy irradiation. Fungi, ranging from $10^{2}\;to\;10^4/g$, mainly osmophiles were identified as Aspergillus and Penicillium. They were eliminated to a undetectable level by 5 to 10 kGy irradiation. Six kinds of species, including Aspergillus flavus, were potential mycotoxin producers. Chemical components, such as proximate compositions, and mineral contents were not affected by the gamma irradiation. However, TBA values and amino acid content seemed to be affected by gamma irradiation.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.44-44
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• 2018

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by infection with Fusarium graminearum leads to enormous losses to crop growers, and may contaminate grains with a number of Fusarium mycotoxins that pose serious risks to human and animal health. Antagonistic bacteria that are used to prevent FHB offer attractive alternatives or supplements to synthetic fungicides for controlling FHB without the negative effects of chemical management. Out of 500 bacterial strains isolated from soil, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 showed strong antifungal activity and was considered a potential source for control strategies to reduce FHB. B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 produces several cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) including iturin A, fengycin, and surfactin. Iturin A inhibits spore germination of F. graminearum. Fengycin or surfactin alone did not display any inhibitory activity against spore germination at concentrations less than 30 ug/ml, but a mixture of iturin A, fengycin, and surfactin showed a remarkable synergistic inhibitory effect on F. graminearum spore germination. The fermentation broth and formulation of B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 strain reduced the disease incidence of FHB in wheat. Furthermore, co-application of B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 and chemical fungicides resulted in synergistic in vitro antifungal effects and significant disease control efficacy against FHB under greenhouse and field conditions, suggesting that B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 has a strong chemosensitizing effect. The synergistic antifungal effect of B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 and chemical fungicides in combination may result from the cell wall damage and altered cell membrane permeability in the phytopathogenic fungi caused by the CLP mixtures and subsequent increased sensitivity of F. graminearum to fungicides. In addition, B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 showed the potential to reduce trichothecenes mycotoxin production. The results of this study indicate that B. amyloliquefaciens JCK-12 could be used as an available biocontrol agent or as a chemosensitizer to chemical fungicides for controlling FHB disease and as a strategy for preventing the contamination of harvested crops with mycotoxins.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2012

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of barley and barley bran contaminated with Fusarium spp on growth performance and feed efficiency of fattening and growing pigs. In experiment 1, total 48 fattening Landrace pigs were used in a fattening trial for 71 days. Pigs weighing around 75 kg were allocated into different substitution groups containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% of barley contaminated Fusarium spp. In experiment 2, total 16 growing Landrace pigs were used in a growing trial for 45 days. Pigs weighing around 29.4 kg were allocated into different substitution groups containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% of barley bran contaminated Fusarium spp. Mycotoxin concentrations of barley and barley bran contaminated with 30% Fusarium spp were 0.452 and 1.049 ppm for deoxynivalenol, 8.125 and 17.646 ppm for nivalenol and 0.023 and 0.029 ppm for zearalenone, respectively. In experiment 1, no differences were found in weight gain and feed intake between control group (0%) and 10 or 20% substitution groups, but in 30% substitution group, weight gain and feed intake were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those in control group. After slaughtering, the extended haemorrhage of the fundus region in stomach was observed in 20 or 30% substitution groups. In experiment 2, weight gain and feed intake were not significantly different among treatment groups. After slaughtering of experimental pigs, the extended haemorrhage of the fundus region in stomach was observed in pigs fed diet with 20% substitution group. These results suggest that the feeding of diet with contaminated highly levels of Fusarium spp was negative effect on growth and feed efficiency in growing and fattening pig.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2013

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium that are found in cereals and agricultural products. ZEN has been implicated in mycotoxicosis in farm animals and in humans. The toxic effects of ZEN are well known, but the ability of an alkaline Comet assay to assess ZEN-induced oxidative DNA damage in Chang liver cells has not been established. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the Comet assay for the determination of cytotoxicity and extent of DNA damage induced by ZEN toxin, and the second aim was to investigate the ability of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) to protect cells from ZEN-induced toxicity. In the Comet assay, DNA damage was assessed by quantifying the tail extent moment (TEM; arbitrary unit) and tail length (TL; arbitrary unit), which are used as indicators of DNA strand breaks in SCGE. The cytotoxic effects of ZEN in Chang liver cells were mediated by inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of oxidative DNA damage. Increasing the concentration of ZEN increased the extent of DNA damage. The extent of DNA migration, and percentage of cells with tails were significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner following treatment with ZEN toxin (p < 0.05). Treatment with a low concentration of ZEN toxin (25 ${\mu}M$) induced a relatively low level of DNA damage, compared to treatment of cells with a high concentration of ZEN toxin (250 ${\mu}M$). Oxidative DNA damage appeared to be a key determinant of ZEN-induced toxicity in Chang liver cells. Significant reductions in cytolethality and oxidative DNA damage were observed when cells were pretreated with NACA prior to exposure to any concentration of ZEN. Our data suggest that ZEN induces DNA damage in Chang liver cells, and that the antioxidant activity of NACA may contribute to the reduction of ZEN-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity via elimination of oxidative stress.