• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.101-110
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of compound fertilizer contained slow release nitrogen such as isobutylidene diurea(IBDU) and methylene urea(MU) on kentucky bluegrasss and the change of nitrogen in the root zone after supplying these at AM turfgrass research institute with soil analysis, chlorophyll content index, leaf area index and dry weight during 6 months from July to December in 2007 year. Fertilizer treatments were designed as following; non-fertilizer(NF), straight fertilizer(CF), methylene urea(MU), isobutylidene diurea(IBDU). The every treatments were arranged a randomized complete block with three replications. Results obtained were summarized as follows: As relative to time after N fertilizers application, ammonium and nitrate in soil were increased, but T-N was decrease. The change of ratio of available Nand T-N by elapsed time after fertilizing was decreased in CF from 30days but increased until 45days. Compared with NF, the turf color index in CF, MU and IBDU was increased 1.5%, 2.5% and 2.3%, respectively, the chlorophyll content 16%, 25% and 26%, the dry weight 31%, 62% and 46% and shoot number 104%, 185% and 148%. The chlorophyll content index of MU and IBDU was increased 7.5% and 8.8% than that of CF, shoot number 40% and 22%, and dry weight 24% and 12% but turf color index was similar to that of CF. These results showed that the MU and IBDU application was supplied nitrogen for a long time in root zone by increasing an available nitrogen, and so promote turf grass growth such as chlorophyll content and shoot number in kentucky bluegrass.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.23-31
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of livestock manure compost and fish-meal liquid fertilizer on the growth of cucumber and the soil properties for the stable production of organic cucumber. Cucumber was transplanted in greenhouse on the $6^{th}$ of April in 2017, and this experiment contained five treatments: livestock manure compost 100% (LC 100%), livestock manure compost 50% + fish-meal liquid fertilizer 50% (LC50 + LF50), livestock manure compost 50% (LC50), chemical fertilizer (NPK), and no fertilizer (NF). As a result, it was shown that soil chemical properties of LC50 + LF50 plot is not different from that of LC100 plot except for the EC content, but soil chemical properties of LC50 + LF50 plot is statistically significantly different from that of NPK plot except for pH. As a result of evaluating the functional diversity of soil microbial communities using Biolog system, the substrate richness (S) and the diversity index (H) were the highest in LC50 + LF50 plot. As a result of comparing the cucumber growth and yield, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the plant height and the fresh weight of LC100, LC50 + LF50, and NPK plot, but the plant height and the fresh weight of LC100, LC50 + LF50, and NPK plot were different from that of LC50 and NF plot. The yield of cucumber was the highest in NPK plot r(7,397 kg/10a), but there was no statistically significant difference in the yield of cucumber between NPK plot and LC100, LC50 + LF50 plot. The above-described results suggested that the livestock manure compost and fish meal liquid fertilizer can be used for organic cucumber production under greenhouse condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.537-544
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• 2017

In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of Polyopes affinis ethanol extract (PAEE) was investigated using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and a croton oil-induced ICR mice model. Treatment with PAEE significantly reduced production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$] in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. PAEE treatment also reduced expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$, and mitogen-activated protein kinases in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In the croton oil-induced ear edema test, application of PAEE (10~250 mg/kg body weight) reduced ear edema in a dose-dependent manner, and PAEE treatment at 50 mg/kg body weight showed similar inhibitory effects compared with prednisolone (10 mg/kg body weight). Histological analysis revealed reduced dermal thickness and lower number of infiltrated mast cells. These results suggest that PAEE might be used as a promising anti-inflammatory agent for inhibition of LPS-induced inflammation and ear edema formation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1975-1983
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• 2008

The neuropeptide ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) has anti-inflammatory property by down regulating the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines. Because ${\alpha}$-MSH elicits the anti-inflammatory effect in various inflammatory disease models, we examined the therapeutic effect of oral administration of recombinant Lactobacillus casei, which secretes ${\alpha}$-MSH (L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH), on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in Balb/c mice. Thus, we constructed the ${\alpha}$-MSH-secreting Lactobacillus casei by the basic plasmid, pLUAT-ss, which was composed of a PldhUTLS promoter and ${\alpha}$-amylase signal sequence from Streptococcus bovis strain. Acute colitis was induced by oral administration of 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. To investigate the effect of L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH on the colitis, L. casei or L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH was orally administered for 7 days and their effects on body weight, mortality rate, cytokine production, and tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were observed. Administration of L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH reduced the symptom of acute colitis as assessed by body weight loss (DSS alone: $14.45{\pm}0.2\;g$; L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH: $18.2{\pm}0.12\;g$), colitis score (DSS alone: $3.6{\pm}0.4$; L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH: $1.4{\pm}0.6$), MPO activity (DSS alone: $42.7{\pm}4.5\;U/g$; L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH: $10.25{\pm}0.5\;U/g$), survival rate, and histological damage compared with the DSS alone mice. L. casei-${\alpha}$-MSH-administered entire colon showed reduced in vitro production of proinflammatory cytokines and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. The ${\alpha}$-MSH-secreting recombinant L. casei showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in the murine model of acute colitis and suggests a potential therapeutic role for this agent in clinical inflammatory bowel diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.405-417
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• 2012

Objectives : In the present study, anti-metastatic properties of the methanol extract of L. obtusiloba (MLO) were evaluated. Methods : To determine the effect of MLO on cancer metastasis, we checked matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activities and expressions in B16F10 melanoma cells. In addition, we performed cell migration assay as well as invasion assay using Matrigel. Finally, we used an in vivo lung metastasis model to confirm the anti-metastatic activity of MLO. Results : 1. MLO showed potent inhibitory effects on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and expressions via down-regulation of activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in B16F10 melanoma cells. 2. Melanoma cell migration and invasion were down-regulated by MLO treatment. 3. Not only in vitro model, but MLO also significantly suppressed lung metastasis in vivo. Conclusions : The present results indicate that MLO has strong inhibitory effect on cancer metastasis. Therefore, L. obtusiloba could be a valuable anti-metastatic agent.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.682-692
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• 2012

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of cough, indigestion, circulatory problems and pain. The associated anti-inflammatory effect of this agent is achieved via the inhibition of Nf-${\kappa}B$ signaling, a property that has been demonstrated to effectively control the symptoms of various skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Sea Buckthorn in reducing the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated nitric oxide (NO) by inhibiting the Nf-${\kappa}B$ pathway, as measured by the symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) occurring secondarily to inflammation and immune dysregulation. Our data demonstrate that Sea Buckthorn significantly decreased the LPS-induced production of NO (p<0.001). Atopic dermatitis was induced by repeated application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene to the dorsal skin of mice. Topical application of 5% Sea Buckthorn extract improved the symptoms of AD, specifically reducing disease severity scores, scratching behaviors and epidermal thickness. When compared to the control group, animals treated with Sea Buckthorn exhibited increased serum IL-12 levels and decreased serum TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-5 levels. Such a modulation of biphasic T-helper (Th)1/Th2 cytokines may result in a reduction in serum IgE levels. Our findings suggest that mechanism of action of Sea Buckthorn in the treatment of AD is associated with a marked anti-inflammatory effect as well as an inhibition of Th2-mediated IgE overproduction via the modulation of biphasic Th1/Th2 cytokines. Such results suggest that topical Sea Buckthorn extract may prove to be a novel therapy for AD symptoms with few side effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.1256-1263
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• 2015

Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka has been traditionally called Yuza in Korea and is used as a cuisine material or tea as well as medicinal herb. In this study, we evaluated the immune-enhancing effect of Citrus junos ethanol extract (CJE) on RAW264.7 mouse macrophage and primary immunocytes. CJE treatment showed increased macrophage activity in a dose-dependant manner. CJE also enhanced natural killer (NK) cell activity. We measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level as a measurement of NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cells. CJE treatment showed an increased LDH level in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we evaluated the effect of CJE on mouse primary splenocyte proliferation. CJE treatment slightly increased splenocyte proliferation compared to the control. The results of this study suggest that CJE can help immune function via macrophage cytokine production, increased NK cell activity, and splenocyte proliferation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2020

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive degeneration of articular cartilage. Inflammation is a recognized and important factor of OA progression. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Corni Fructus water extract (CFW) on a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rat model of OA. Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced by injection of MIA (50 µL; 80 mg/mL) into the knee joint cavity of rats. After an adaptation period for seven days, the rats were divided into 4 groups (n=8/group): normal, control, indomethacin-treated (5 mg/kg), and CFW-treated (200 mg/kg) groups. The rats were treated orally for 14 days. Pain was evaluated by determining hind paw weight distribution. For biochemical analyses, we measured the changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) in the knee joint. The presence of anti-oxidant proteins and inflammatory proteins was determined by western blotting. Results: The administration of CFW significantly improved the hind paw weight distribution. The ROS and ONOO^- levels of knee joint were significantly decreased in the CFW group. CFW inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators, such as COX-2, and inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and IL-1β, via the NF-κB signaling pathway. The expression of anti-oxidant enzymes, such as catalase and GPx-1/2 also increased significantly. Conclusions: The findings indicate that CFW has a therapeutic and protective effect on OA by suppression of inflammation. Therefore, CFW could represent a potential and effective candidate for OA treatment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.331-336
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• 2012

In this study, we selected Gardeniae fructus (GF) as an anti-inflammatory functional material and improved the biological activity of GF through the treatment of ${\beta}$-glucosidase. For the simple evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity, the inhibitory activity of GF extract (GFE) on the production of NO by RAW264.7 cells in the presence of LPS was examined. ${\beta}$-glucosidase originating from Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus fumigatus has effectively improved the anti-inflammatory activity of GFE. The enzyme treatment raised the activity of GFE by more than 10 times. The optimum conditions for the enzyme reaction were at pH 4.6, $45^{\circ}C$, and 20 U/mL for 24 h with agitation. In addition, in vitro production of cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$), COX-2, and the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation of RAW264.7 cells decreased more in the presence of GFE treated with ${\beta}$-glucosidase originating from Aspergillus niger (GFAN) than in the presence of GFE. These results suggest that enzyme-treated GFE might be a potential candidate for natural anti-inflammatory food materials.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2001

Cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript (CART), a satiety factor regulated by leptin, is associated with food intake and motor behavior. In knock out studies, Leu34Phe mutation of human CART gene resulted in obese phenotype but mice carrying a targeted deletion of the CART gene exhibited no dramatic increase of body weight on normal fat diet. To establish a new transgenic mouse model for determining the function of CART on feeding behavior in vivo, we constructed the fusion gene, CART gene under the control of neurofilament light chain promoter, which regulates gene expression at the stage of neuronal differentiation. Transgenic mice were generated by microinjection method and screened by PCR and Southern blot analyses. In these transgenic mice, overexpression of CART was detected by in situ hybridization in spinal cords and brains at 13.5 days post-coitum embryos. At six weeks of age, RT-PCR analysis showed that exogenous CART mRNA was expressed strongly in brains and spinal cords, but not much in other tissues. Our results suggest that these transgenic mice provide a new model to investigate the function of CART gene in neuronal network associated with feeding behavior.