• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1254-1260
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• 2012

The moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) plant is used both as food and an anti-allergic agent. In this study, we investigated skin protection effects of methanol extracts from the root, seed, fruit, and leaves of moringa in HaCaT keratinocyte cells. To investigate the pharmacological potential of various moringa extracts on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced collagen degradation in HaCaT cells, we measured the activity of matrix metallopeptidase-9,2 (MMP-9,2) by zymography analysis. Our results showed that all the moringa extracts inhibit the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced enzyme activity of MMP-9. In particular, moringa root extracts significantly suppressed MMP-9 and MMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Next, to investigate the anti-inflammation effect of the moringa extracts, we examined cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression of the extracts. The results showed that both the root extracts and the seed extracts decreased the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of COX-2. In addition, the root and leaf extracts reduced the expression of IL-6. However, none of the moringa extracts affected the expression of iNOS. The results suggest that moringa root extracts down-regulate MMP-9, COX-2, and IL-6 and that the root extracts offer superior skin protection effects compared with other extracts of moringa in HaCaT cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.120-125
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• 2006

To isolate and identify histamine degrading bacteria from Kwamegi, bacteria were screened with restriction media containing histamine. Ten strains were selected through morphological and biochemical identification procedure followed by comparison with DNA sequence of 16 rRNA gene. And also, these strains were confirmed by the histamine degrading assay such as turbidity and enzymatic assay. The results of identification are as followings : Ewingella americana B791, Arthrobacter sp. R45S, Halomonas marisflava, Psychrobacter sp. 9B-7, Bacillus sp. LMC 21002, Psychrohacter cibarius BC-220, Bacillus megaterium KL-197 were identified showing homology of $99\%,\;95\%,\;98\%,\;99\%,\;99\%,\;99\%\;and\;98\%$, respectively. Three strains remain unidentified. Arthrobacter sp. R45S, H. marisflava, Bacillus sp. LMG 21002, B. megaterium KL-197 showed histamine degrading activity, whereas, Psychrobacter sp. 9B-7 only showed weak activity. Three unidentified strains also have histamine degrading activity. In contrast, E. american B791 and p. cibarius JG-220 did not show any significant activity of histamine degradation. The strains isolated from this study showed relatively fast growth rate and histamine degrading rate as compared to those from salted mackerel.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.125-146
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to suggest for the following experimental study of dementia by reviewing recent oriental medicine journals that have been published since 2000. Methods: We have investigated various types of studies in relation to dementia through 90 articles that have been published from 2000 to 2007 in recent oriental medicine journals were registered Korea research foundation. Results and Conclusions : 1. Since 2000, 88 articles in relation to dementia have been published and almost of them are herbal medicine-centered studies. Also they show a tendency to increase every year. The journal of oriental neuropsychiatry carries the highest number of studies in relation to dementia. 2. According to the experimental paper, there are 30 cases of using herb simplexes, 48 cases of herb-combined prescription, and 10 cases of other ways. Especially 7 cases of using herb-combined prescription relation to Sasang constitution are all for the Taeumin. 3. There are 85 cases of Animal and cellular experimental, 60 cases of using pathologic model induced cytotoxic activity, a case of using L-NAME, 3 cases of 192 saporin, 4 cases of ibotenic acid, 10 cases of focal cerebral ischemia, 3 cases of alcohol-administered, and one case of natural degradation. 4. Moms water maze, Radial arm maze Passive avoidance learning model were using for examining learning and memory of model animal 5. We propose that following studies of dementia are to he investigated of the applied method of using siRNA with tranceduced gene, sample preparation by water-soaking, oriental medical diagnosis, standardization of differentiating symptom and herb simplexes, building the database by classified prescriptions, and experiment model which are based on precise examining mechanism with cell line as like mouse H19-7 hippocampus, rat HT22 hippocampus, astrocyte, microglia, using the model of animals at APP, PS1, BACE, CT99/PS1, APOE4, Tau, APP/PSI/Tau

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2020

Saturated fatty acids contribute to β-cell dysfunction in the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cellular responses to lipotoxicity include oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and blockage of autophagy. Palmitate induces ER Ca²⁺ depletion followed by notable store-operated Ca²⁺ entry. Subsequent elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ can activate undesirable signaling pathways culminating in cell death. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU) is the major route for Ca²⁺ uptake into the matrix and couples metabolism with insulin secretion. However, it has been unclear whether mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake plays a protective role or contributes to lipotoxicity. Here, we observed palmitate upregulated MCU protein expression in a mouse clonal β-cell, MIN6, under normal glucose, but not high glucose medium. Palmitate elevated baseline cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and reduced depolarization-triggered Ca²⁺ influx likely due to the inactivation of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels (VGCCs). Targeted reduction of MCU expression using RNA interference abolished mitochondrial superoxide production but exacerbated palmitate-induced [Ca²⁺]_i overload. Consequently, MCU knockdown aggravated blockage of autophagic degradation. In contrast, co-treatment with verapamil, a VGCC inhibitor, prevented palmitate-induced basal [Ca²⁺]_i elevation and defective [Ca²⁺]_i transients. Extracellular Ca²⁺ chelation as well as VGCC inhibitors effectively rescued autophagy defects and cytotoxicity. These observations suggest enhanced mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake via MCU upregulation is a mechanism by which pancreatic β-cells are able to alleviate cytosolic Ca²⁺ overload and its detrimental consequences.

• Journal of Chitin and Chitosan
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2018

We isolated microorganisms from soil, which is sampled at forest, Kyeonbuk, Korea, as cellulolytic microorganisms. The isolated strains were identified by analysis of 16S rRNA gene from the starins. The result, four kinds of Bacillus subtilis, one kind of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and one kind of Bacillus cereus were identified. Among these strains, Bacillus subtilis was selected due to its high cellulase activity and this strain was named as Bacillus subtilis CNS. The optimum pH and temperature of the cellulase from Bacillus subtilis CNS was pH 5.0 and $40^{\circ}C$, respectively. In the investigation of pH and temperature stability, the cellulase from Bacillus subtilis NSC stabled pH 4.0~6.0 range and until $40^{\circ}C$ for 30 min perfectly. In the enzyme activity for various cellulosic substrate, cellulase from Bacillus subtilis CNS showed the highest activity for CM-cellulose. And, the enzyme activities for alkali swollen cellulose, Alpha-cellulose, Sigmacell-cellulose, and Avicel were approximately 31%, 8%, 8% and 4% of activity for CM-cellulose, respectively. In the degradation of CM-cellulose, the 0.26 U/ml and 0.52 U/ml of cellulase showed 0.43 and 0.76 U/ml activity for CM-cellulose after the reaction of 120 min, respectively.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2008

Elastin is an important component of elastic fibers in the skin. Recently, many studies have reported that elastin is also involved In inhibiting or repairing wrinkle formation, although collagen is a major factor in the skin wrinkle formation. Elastase is a metalloproteinase which acts on degradation of elastin. It is known that elastase activity is increased by ultraviolet (UV) B radiation. Thus, Increased elastase activity could be the major reason for skin elasticity reduction and winkle formation. Tannic acid is a polyphenol found in various fruits and nuts. This molecule has a potent ability to eliminate reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. In the present study, we investigated whether tannic acid has effects on elastase activity and tropoelastin synthesis. Our results showed that tannic acid reduced elastase activity significantly in a dose-dependent manner. However, the expression of tropoelastin protein and mRNA was not significantly affected by tannic acid. From these results, we suggest that tannic acid may contribute to block tortuosity of elastic fibers by inhibiting elastase. Thus, tannic acid might be developed for a possible agent to Inhibit skin aging.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.592-598
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• 2019

Objective: Autophagy is a bulk degradation system for intracellular proteins which contributes to skeletal muscle homeostasis, according to previous studies in humans and rodents. However, there is a lack of information on the physiological role of autophagy in the skeletal muscle of meat animals. This study was planned as a pilot study to investigate changes in expression of two major autophagy-related genes, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain $3{\beta}$ (MAP1LC3B) and autophagy related 7 (ATG7) in fattening beef cattle, and to compare them with skeletal muscle growth. Methods: Six castrated Japanese Black cattle (initial body weight: $503{\pm}20kg$) were enrolled in this study and fattened for 7 months. Three skeletal muscles, M. longissimus, M. gluteus medius, and M. semimembranosus, were collected by needle biopsy three times during the observation period, and mRNA levels of MAP1LC3B and ATG7 were determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system, another proteolytic mechanism, were also analyzed for comparison with autophagy-related genes. In addition, ultrasonic scanning was repeatedly performed to measure M. longissimus area as an index of muscle growth. Results: Our results showed that both MAP1LC3B and ATG7 expression increased over the observation period in all three skeletal muscles. Interestingly, the increase in expression of these two genes in M. longissimus was highly correlated with ultrasonic M. longissimus area and body weight. On the other hand, the expression of genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system was unchanged during the same period. Conclusion: These findings suggest that autophagy plays an important role in the growth of skeletal muscle of fattening beef cattle and imply that autophagic activity affects meat productivity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2019

In this study, we evaluated the effect of branch (STB) and leave (STL) extracts from Sageretia thea on ${\beta}-catenin$ level in human colorecal cancer cells, SW480 and lung cancer cells, A549. STB and STL dose-dependently suppressed the growth of SW480 and A549 cells. STB and STL decreased ${\beta}-catenin$ level in both protein and mRNA level. MG132 decreased the downregulation of ${\beta}-catenin$ protein level induced by STB and STL. However, the inhibition of $GSK3{\beta}$ by LiCl or ROS scavenging by NAC did not block the reduction of ${\beta}-catenin$ protein by STB and STL. Our results suggested that STB and STL may downregulate ${\beta}-catenin$ protein level independent on $GSK3{\beta}$ and ROS. Based on these findings, STB and STL may be a potential candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for human colorectal cancer and lung cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.778-783
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• 2022

This study isolated a new agarase-producing bacterium and characterized its agarase. A new agar-degrading strain was isolated from the seashore of Namhae in Gyeongnam province, Korea, and was purely cultured using the Marine Agar 2216 media. The isolated bacterium was identified as Simiduia sp. SH-2 after 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The crude agarase was obtained from the culture medium of the Simiduia sp. SH-2 strain, and the agar-degrading activity was measured. The highest level of activity of the Simiduia sp. SH-2-derived agar-degrading enzyme was 625 U/l. Agar degradation activity was most significant at 40℃ and pH 7.0. Compared to the activity at 40℃, the relative activity was 31% at 20℃ and 71% at 30℃. Compared to the activity at pH 7.0, the relative activity was 94% and 89% at pH 6.0 and pH 8.0, respectively. Residual activity was greater than 96% after exposure to 20℃ and 30℃ for 2 hr and more than 49% after exposure to 40℃ for 2 hr. Simiduia sp. SH-2 was identified as a strain producing β-agarase that creates neoagarooligosaccharides, such as neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose. Therefore, the Simiduia sp. SH-2 strain and its β-agarase are expected to be useful functional material producers in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.909-914
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• 2023

While searching for the bacteria which are responsible for degradation of pesticide in soybean field soil, a novel bacterial strain, designated 5-5^T, was isolated. The cells of the strain were Gram-staining-positive, aerobic and non-motile rods. Growth occurred at 10-42℃ (optimum, 30℃), pH 5.5-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-7.5), and 0-2% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1%). The predominant fatty acids were C_15:0 anteiso, C_17:0 anteiso, and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c). The predominant menaquinone was MK-9 (H₂). Diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipids, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylglycerol were the major polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 5-5^T is a member of the genus Sinomonas and its closest relative is Sinomonas humi MUSC 117^T, sharing a genetic similarity of 98.4%. The draft genome of strain 5-5^T was 4,727,205 bp long with an N50 contig of 4,464,284 bp. Genomic DNA G+C content of strain 5-5^T was68.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain 5-5^T and its closest strains S. humi MUSC 117^T and S. susongensis A31^T were 87.0, and 84.3 % respectively. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain 5-5^T and its closest strains S. humi MUSC 117^T and S. susongensis A31^T were 32.5% and 27.9% respectively. Based on the ANI and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization analyses, the 5-5^T strain was considered as novel species belonging to the genus Sinomonas. On the basis of the results from phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain 5-5^T represents a novel speciesof the genus Sinomonas, for which the name Sinomonas terrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 5-5^T (=KCTC 49650^T =NBRC 115790^T).