• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2019

Glycyrrhizae radix is one of the most frequently prescribed ingredients in Oriental medicine, and Glycyrrhizae radix extract has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of programed cell death (apoptosis) by Glycyrrhizae radix are poorly defined. In the present study, it was examined the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis by water extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix (GRW) in human bladder T24 cancer cells. It was found that GRW could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by GRW was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1 and cIAP-2). In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of GRW induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of PARP. GRW also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the down-regulation of total Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that GRW may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.6 s.67
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• pp.1009-1017
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• 2004

Sialyltransferases cloned so far show the remarkable tissue-specific expression, which is correlated with the existence of cell type-specific sialylated sugar structure in glycoconjugates. In the previous studies, we found various mRNA isoforms of human sialyltransferases generated by alternative splicing and alternative promoter utilization. To understand the regulatory mechanisms for specific expression of human sialyltransferase genes and for production of their mRNA isoforms, in this study, we have isolated and characterized five kinds of human sialyltransferase genes: hST3Gal II, hST8Sia II, hST8Sia III, hST8Sia IV, and hST8Sia V. The hST3Gal II gene is composed of six exons, which span over 17kb, with exons ranging in size from 46 to over 1017 bp. The hST8Sia III gene comprises over 10 kb, and consists of only four exons, which is much smaller and simpler than other human sialyltransferase genes. In contrast, three genes (hST8Sia II, hST8Sia IV and hST8Sia V) span more than 70 kb, and comprise five or more exons. All exon-intron boundaries follow the GT-AG rule. In particular, the sialylmotif L, which is a highly conserved region in all cloned sialyltransferases, was found in one exon of hST8Sia III, whereas this motif is encoded by discrete exons in the other human sialyltransferases. Exon structures of these sialyltransferase genes show the structural diversity, as found in other human sialyltransferase genes reported so far. We determined the transcription start site of hST3Gal II gene by the 5'-RACE and cap site hunting experiments.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.158-167
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• 2016

A pathogen that causes a new disease on green pumpkin in the nursery and the field was characterized and identified. Symptoms of the disease on green pumpkin were water soaking lesions and spots with strong yellow halo on leaf, brown lesion on flower, and yellow spot on fruit. The bacterial isolates from the leaf spot were pathogenic on the 8 curcubitaceae crop plants, green pumpkin, figleaf gourd, wax gourd, young pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, melon, and oriental melon, whereas they did not cause the disease on sweet pumpkin and watermelon. They were Gram-negative, rod shape with polar flagella, fluorescent on King's B agar and LOPAT group 1a by LOPAT test. Their Biolog substrate utilization patterns were similar to Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae's in Biolog database. Phylogenetic trees with 16S rRNA gene sequences and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) with nucleotide sequences of 4 housekeeping genes, gapA, gltA, gyrB, rpoD and those of P. syringae complex strains in the Plant Associated and Environmental Microbes Database (PAMDB) showed that the green pumpkin isolates formed in the same clade with P. syringae pv. syringae strains. The clade in MLST tree was in the genomospecies 1 group. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics suggested that the isolates from green pumpkin lesion were P. syringae pv. syringae.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.337-342
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• 2008

The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balances in Korea during 1985-2006, which calculated according to the surface balance method of the PARCOM guidelines, continually increased with the lapse of year, and then might keep the highest levels with about $250kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ and $50kg\;P\;ha^{-1}$ in 2006 among OECD countries. National phosphorus balance of the developed OECD countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands) in the livestock feeding industries has significantly decreased, due to limit livestock feeding density and nutrient application level by using strong legislation. However, Korean P balance was not apparent decrease, since the number of livestock feeding heads has been increasing, irrespective with the decrease of chemical fertilizer consumption. Manure P portion to the total P input amount of the above four OECD Countries in nutrient balance has continuously inclined to 60-70%. Therefore, the large portion of livestock manure might be used as nutrient source in agricultural side in these countries. In particular, manure P application levels of Belgium and The Netherlands, which have relatively high P balance and manure P portion to total P input dose, was estimated to be $31-33\;kg\;p\;ha^{-1}$ in 2004, and it was similar level with that of Korea in 2006. The manure P application levels for agricultural purpose has continuously decreased in these two OECD countries. In contrast, our manure P application rate continuously increased, and therefore we need the strong political countermeasure to control livestock feeding density at the resonable level.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.710-717
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• 2014

This study was designed to develop dish recipes using Heatsun sprouts to improve the sprouts' utilization and consumption. We created four kinds of dishes with Heatsun sprouts, including Acanthopanacis cortex, Kalopanax pictus, Aralia elata, and Cedrela sinensis, and analyzed their sensory properties and nutrients. In the sensory evaluation, the overall preference for all the dishes was scored higher than 3.0, Unnaumsun-dakgoginaengchae had the highest score (4.48) among the dishes. Unnamusun-dakgoginaengchae contained higher values of protein; vitamin A, E, and B6; and folic acid than the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs). The recipe for Dureupgokgammuchim was created to reduce the bitterness and the astringent taste of Aralia elata, and it was rich in vitamin C, E, and B6, as well as in folic acid and iron. Ogapisunkkonchijolim was cooked to reduce the fishy smell of a saury with the addition of Acanthopanacis cortex. It contained 1.5 times the protein RDAs, and high levels of antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A, C, and E. Chamjugmandu was made by the mixing tofu and various vegetables without adding meat. It had the highest calorie count among the dishes, and its vitamin A, C, and E contents were higher than the corresponding RDAs.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.543-549
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• 2012

To gather the basic data for increasing the utilization of Isatis tinctoria, we examined the effects of both antioxidative enzyme activity and antimicrobial activity from the extract of Isatis tinctoria. Ascorbate Peroxidase activities reveal that there is an decrease in order; ethanol extract from its stem (1601.7 Unit/mg protein), methanol extract from its leaf (1133.7 Unit/mg protein) and distilled water extract from its leaf (524.3 Unit/mg protein). Catalase activities reveal that there is an decrease in order; ethanol extract from its flower petal (177.1 Unit/mg protein), methanol extract from its leaf (120.8 Unit/mg protein) and distilled water extract from its flower petal (55.4 Unit/mg protein). Peroxidase activities reveal that there is an decrease in order; ethanol extract from its flower petal (27.1 Unit/mg protein), methanol extract from its flower petal (14.6 Unit/mg protein) and distilled water extract from its stem (10.4 Unit/mg protein). Superoxide dismutase activities reveal that there is an increase in order; distilled water extract from its root (90.8%), methanol extract from its flower petal (80.1%) and ethanol extract from its root (75.5%). Its flower extract showed a antimicrobial activity only against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, its root extract had only against Staphylococcus aureus, and its stem extract had against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, regardless of solvents. Especially, distilled water extract from its leaf showed a high antimicrobial activity against both Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli and inhibition diameters against those were 30.0 and 24.0 mm, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.1351-1356
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• 2013

To enhance the utilization of Allium hookeri (AH) as a food, characteristics of AH roots and leaves cultivated under open field and greenhouse conditions were investigated. The moisture content of the roots and leaves were 81.05 to 84.18% and 88.85 to 90.12%, respectively. The moisture content of AH cultivated in the open field was 2 to 3% lower than the moisture content of AH cultivated in the greenhouse for both roots and leaves. The content of nitrogen-free extract, carbohydrates, was 13.49 to 16.20% in the roots and 7.08 to 7.79% in the leaves. The main mineral generated from both open field and greenhouse cultivation was potassium, at 503.98 to 512.08 mg% in leaves. The free sugar content of roots cultivated in the open field was four times higher than the content in the leaves, and roots cultivated in the greenhouse contained three times lower free sugar than the leaves. In particular, the fructose content of roots cultivated in the open field was about 12 times higher than roots cultivated in the greenhouse. The crude saponin and total polyphenol content was higher in leaves than roots, and was higher in the open field than the greenhouse. The $IC_{50}$ for DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest, 2.74 mg/mL, in 70% MeOH extracts of AH leaves cultivated in the greenhouse. Water and 70% MeOH extracts of AH leaves cultivated in the greenhouse showed no cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7 cells. Water extracts of AH leaves cultivated in the open field markedly inhibited the production of the inflammatory mediator nitric oxide. These results suggest that AH may be used as the material of health functional food.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-122
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• 2003

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the use rate and some aspect of complementary therapies used by patients with chronic illness(hypertension, diabetic mellitus and chronic arthritis). Methods: 600 patients visiting the health center for one month(Jan. 2001) were interviewed on their complementary therapies used by the subjects for the previous year. Results: About fourteen-eight percent of the respondents used therapies; 35% of patients with hypertension, 44.6% of patients with diabetic mellitus and 62.9% of patients with chronic arthritis, which shows the highest rate among patients with three chronic disease. The use rate of complementary therapies indicates few meaningful differences according to the general characteristics of the interviewees. Hypertension patients used herb medication(31.0%) acupuncture(29.6%) and most of all the other therapies. Diabetic patients used dietary therapy(57.5%) and herb medication(35.1%). Chronic arthritis patients used acupuncture(85%) and herb medication(34.7%). 36.8% of all the patients who used complementary therapies tried more than two therapies. 18.3% of hypertension patients, 24.1% of diabetic patients and 55.9% of chronic arthritis patients used more than two therapies. Acupuncture(47%) was used most frequently, followed by herb medications(26.3%), health assistance utensils(21.8%). oriental therapy(21.8%), physical therapy(9.5%), health assistance food(8.4%), herb(7.7%), Korea hand acupuncture(3.2%), abdomen respiration(1.1%), and pore therapy(0.7%) Oriental clinic was visited most frequently(42.8%), which was used to cure diseases(61.8%), and to relieve symptoms(26.0%). (p<0.001) The cost spent on complementary therapies last year was 90,000 won(40.3%) and there are some cases of more than 500,000 won(31.2%). Most of the patients(56.1%) were satisfied with the complementary therapies, with 6% of them having side effects. 74% of the patients used complementary therapies answered that they would continue them and 56.1% of them also answered that they would continue them and 56.1% of them also answered that they would advise other patients to do them. Advantages(compared with those of orthodox medical treatment) are psychological comfort(28.1%), body protection(26.0%), effectiveness(20.0%). 34% of the patients using complementary therapies wanted to have informational orientation on complementary therapies. These findings reveal that a considerable number of patients with chronic illness(47.5%) tried a variety of complementary therapies. Though 6% of the patients using therapies had side effects, most of the subjects seemed satisfied with them and they are supposed to continue them. Conclusions: In conclusion, health center personnels and medical doctors should pay more attention to the complementary therapies used by patients with chronic illness. They also have to try their best to advise more scientific and informative complementary programs with less side effects and more help to improve their conditions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2009

This study was conducted to gather the basic data on the increase of utilization for the Japanese staunton vine (Stauntonia hexaphylla), native plants which were grown in the southern districts in Korea. We have also determined their partial physical and chemical compositions and their physiological activities. Vitamin C contents in fruit skin was 85.23 mg/100 g, and that in flesh was 61.67 mg/100 g. Total amino acids contents in fruit skin increased much more by 762.72 mg/100 g DW compared to that in flesh by 434.05 mg/100 g DW. Inorganic matter contents were more increased in the fruit skin (108.48 mg/$\ell$) and its main components were K (76.53 mg/$\ell$), Ca (20.20 mg/$\ell$) and Mg (6.22 mg/$\ell$). Total phenol compound and flavonoid contents in 1,000 mg/$\ell$ methanol extracts were 7.3-9.6 mg/$\ell$ and 5.1-6.7 mg/$\ell$. Nitrite radical scavenging activity in 4,000 mg/$\ell$ methanol extracts of fruit skin and flesh for Stauntonia hexaphylla were 79.5% and 77.8%, however, that in seeds was 17.1%. Overall mushroom tyrosinase inhibition activity (% of control) was less than 10.8%. Anti-microbial activities of methanol extracts from the fruit skin against the gram negative and positive microbial strains were not significant in the lower concentration of extracting solution, however, that from flesh and seeds in terms of the inhibition diameter were $8.91{\sim}12.25\;mm$.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.