• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2021

Kraft lignin is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, obtained as a black liquor after the extraction of cellulose from wood through the Kraft pulping process. Right now, kraft lignin is utilized as a low-grade boiler fuel to provide heat and power but can be converted into high-calorific biofuels or high-value chemicals once the efficient catalytic depolymerization process is developed. In this work, the multi-functional catalyst of Ru-Mg-Al-oxide, which contains hydrogenation metals, acid, and base sites for the effective depolymerization of kraft lignin are prepared, and its lignin depolymerization efficiency is evaluated. In order to understand the role of different active sites in the lignin depolymerization, the three different catalysts of MgO, Mg-Al-oxide, and Ru-Mg-Al-oxide were synthesized, and their lignin depolymerization activity was compared in terms of the yield and the average molecular weight of bio-oil, as well as the yield of phenolic monomers contained in the bio-oil. Among the catalysts tested, the Ru-Mg-Al-oxide catalyst exhibited the highest yield of bio-oil and phenolic monomers due to the synergy between active sites. Furthermore, in order to maximize the extent of lignin depolymerization over the Ru-Mg-Al-oxide, the effects of reaction conditions (i.e., temperature, time, and catalyst loading amount) on the lignin depolymerization were investigated. Overall, the highest bio-oil yield of 72% and the 3.5 times higher yield of phenolic monomers than that without a catalyst were successfully achieved at 350 ℃ and 10% catalyst loading after 4 h reaction time.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.714-725
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• 2023

Background: Our previous investigation indicated that the preparation of Panax ginseng Meyer (P. ginseng) inhibited melanogenesis. It comprised salicylic acid (SA), protocatechuic acid (PA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA), vanillic acid (VA), and caffeic acid (CA). In this investigation, the regulatory effects of P. ginseng phenolic acid monomers on melanin production were assessed. Methods: In vitro and in vivo impact of phenolic acid monomers were assessed. Results: SA, PA, p-CA and VA inhibited tyrosinase (TYR) to reduce melanin production, whereas CA had the opposite effects. SA, PA, p-CA and VA significantly downregulated the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), cycle AMP (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), cycle AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) pathway, reducing mRNA and protein levels of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and TYRP2. Moreover, CA treatment enhanced the cAMP, PKA, and CREB pathways to promote MITF mRNA level and phosphorylation. It also alleviated MITF protein level in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells, comparable to untreated B16F10, increasing the expression of phosphorylation glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β), β-catenin, p-ERK/ERK, and p-p38/p38. Furthermore, the GSK3β inhibitor promoted p-GSK3β and p-MITF expression, as observed in CA-treated cells. Moreover, p38 and ERK inhibitors inhibited CA-stimulated p-p38/p38, p-ERK/ERK, and p-MITF increase, which had negative binding energies with MC1R, as depicted by molecular docking. Conclusion: P. ginseng roots' phenolic acid monomers can safely inhibit melanin production by bidirectionally regulating melanin synthase transcription. Furthermore, they reduced MITF expression via MC1R/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and enhanced MITF post-translational modification via Wnt/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenolic acid, proanthocyanidin (PAs), and flavonol glycoside contents, as well as the antioxidant activities of pine needle extracts from six species of young pine trees. The extracts were prepared from Section Pinus (Diploxylon): P. densiflora, P. sylvestris, P. pinaster and P. pinea, and Section Strobus (Haploxylon): P. koraiensis and P. strobus. Phenolics were extracted from pine needles with 80% acetone to obtain the soluble free fraction, and insoluble residues were digested with 4 M NaOH to obtain bound ethyl acetate and bound water fractions. Phenolics were analyzed by HPLC, and the hydrophilic antioxidant activity was measured using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the soluble free fraction were higher than those of the bound ethyl acetate and bound water fractions. The main phenolics were monomers and polymers of PAs in the soluble free fraction, and phenolic acids and flavonol glycosides in bound ethyl acetate fraction. Flavonol glycosides found in different species of pine needles were qualitatively similar within fractions, but composition varied among Pinus sections. High levels of kaempferol arabinoside and an unknown compound were present in all Strobus species. The soluble free fraction had the highest antioxidant activity, followed by bound ethyl acetate and bound water fractions.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1001-1012
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• 2009

A total of 49 phenolic compounds were identified from the aged red wines made from Cabernet Gernischt (Vitis vinifera L. cv.) grapes, a Chinese characteristic variety, including 13 anthocyanins, 4 pryanocyanins, 4 flavan-3-ol monomers, 6 flavan-3-ol polymers, 7 flavonols, 6 hydroxybenzoic acids, 5 hydroxycinnamic acids, 3 stilbenes, and 1 polymeric pigment. Evolution of these compounds was investigated in wines aged 1 to 13 months. Variance analysis showed that the levels of most phenolics existed significant difference in between wines aged 3 and 9 months. Cluster analysis indicated that 2 groups could be distinguished, one corresponding to wines aged 1 to 3 months and the other to wines aged 4 to 13 months. It was thus suggested that there were 2 key-stages for the development of fine wine quality, at the aged 3 and 9 months, respectively. This work would provide some helpful information for quality control in wine production.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2010

Two-types of ionically modified multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNTs) based sensors were developed by radiationinduced graft polymerization using vinyl monomers such as 3-(butyl imidazol)-2-(hydroxyl)propyl methyl methacrylate and 1-[(4-ethenylphenyl)methyl]-3-buthyl-imidazolium chloride with ionic properties, in aqueous solution at room temperature. Subsequently, the tyrosinase-immobilized biosensor was fabricated by a hand-casting of the ionic property-modified MWNTs, tyrosinase, and chitosan solution as a binder onto ITO glass surface. The sensing ranges of the tyrosinase-biosensor for phenol in phosphate buffer solution was in the range of 0.005~0.2 mM. The total phenolic compounds mainly such as caffeine of the tyrosinase-immobilized biosensor for commercial coffee were also determined.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2013

The need of volatile organic compound (VOC) free coating material has been increased to solve environmental problems such as the global warming. Nowadays, about 70~80% of coating materials used in the worldwide are a liquid type. Therefore, the development of non-solvent coating material that can minimize VOCs emissions is necessary to solve the global warming problem. In this study, acrylic monomers were added to develop non-solvent paints in order to improve disadvantages of the poor adhesion of a conventional phenolic resin caused by acidification. As a result, the blend resins of 2.818 Mpa phenol- formaldehyde resin/poly methyl methacrylate (PE/PMMA) has the best properties and performances for the adhesives.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.583-593
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• 2013

The based-catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) of kraft lignin isolated from black liquor which the chemical pulping of a mixture of various Southeast Asia hardwood chips was carried out in a batch reactor in the presence of different NaOH concentrations with supercritical methanol. The S:G ratio of the kraft lignin determined by pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis turned out roughly 1.4:1 and main products were vanillic acid, syringol and 3-methoxy catechol. The diethyl ether extracts as phenolic monomers from BCD reaction were produced similar yield among different NaOH concentrations. The 21 compounds were identified by GC/MS analysis in all experiments and major products were catechol, 3-methoxycatechol, 4-methylcatechol, syringol and isovanillic acid. However, it had been shown to be different monomer contents depending on the dosage of NaOH. Catechol, 4-methylcatechol and 3-methoxycatechol were shown to be the dominant monomer from BCD reaction using 7.5 and 3.25% of NaOH concentration whereas syringol, isovanillic acid, 3-methoxycatechol and 4-methylcatechol were determined to be the most typical products under the condition of 1.63% NaOH.