• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.706-713
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the contents of monacolin K and citrinin, along with the sensory quality and antioxidant activity of mulberry leaf tea fermented by $Monascus$ $pilsous$ (FMM). Total monacolin K content of FMM was 0.058%, but citrinin was not detected. Redness of brewed FMM was remarkably higher than that of unfermented mulberry leaf tea (UFM). In sensory evaluation of brewed FMM, while astringent taste and savory taste were lower, flavor, color, and overall acceptability were significantly higher than those of UFM. Total polyphenol contents of UFM and FMM were 83.1 and 23.61 mg/g (dry basis), total flavonoid contents of UFM and FMM were 17.96 and 3.99 mg/g (dry basis), respectively. Xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of FMM were lower than those of UFM. Electron-donating ability and ferric-reducing antioxidant power of FMM were slightly lower than those of UFM. However, the antioxidant activities of FMM per polyphenol content were markedly higher than those of UFM. These results suggest that FMM may scavenge excessive reactive oxygen spices (ROS) via inhibition of XO and SOD-like activity. Furthermore, FMM demonstrated relatively higher acceptability and antioxidant ability along with functionality of $Hongguk$ (red yeast rice), and therefore could be utilized to prevent various ROS-induced diseases.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 1993

$TiO_{2}$/Se : Te heterojunction for color sensor has been fabricated by RF reactive sputtering and thermal evaporation methods onto glass substrate. The optimum deposition condition of $TiO_{2}$ films was such that RF power was 120 W, substrate temperature was $100^{\circ}C$, oxygen concentration was 50%, working pressure was 50 mTorr for the $TiO_{2}$ film thickness of $1000{\AA}$. In this case, the optical transmittance of $TiO_{2}$ film at 550 nm-wavelength was 85%, resistivity was $2{\times}10^9{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$, refractive index was 2.3, and optical bandgap was 3.58 eV. The composition ratio of 0 to Ti by AES analysis was 1.7. When $TiO_{2}$ films were annealed at $400^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. in $O_{2}$ ambient, the optical transmittance of $TiO_{2}$ films at the wavelength range of $300{\sim}580$ nm was improved from 0 to 25%. When Se : Te films were annealed at $190^{\circ}C$ for 1 min., photosensitivity under illumination of 1000 lux was 0.75. The optical bandgap of Se : Te films was 1.7 eV. The structures of Se : Te films were the hexagonal with (100) and (110) orientation. The spectral response of a-Se was improved by the addition of Te, especially in the long wavelength region. The $TiO_{2}$/Se : Te heterojunction showed wide spectral response, and more improved one than that of a-Si film in the blue light region.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of nicotinic acid on sperm cryosurvival and fertilization ability in frozen-thawed boar semen. Boar semen was collected by glove-hand method and was frozen using freezing solution treated to 0, 5, 10 and 20 mM of nicotinic acid. The frozen sperm for sperm characteristic analysis was thawed such as viability, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial integrity. The frozen-thawed sperm was estimated by SYBR14/PI double staining for viability, FITC-PNA/PI double staining for acrosome reaction and Rhodamine123/PI double staining for mitochondrial integrity using a flow cytometry. The embryo was estimated in vitro development and DCFDA staining for reactive oxygen species assessment. As results, frozen-thawed sperm viability was significantly higher in 5 and 10 mM ($61.1{\pm}1.5%$,$64.7{\pm}2.0%$) of nicotinic acid than other groups (0 mM, $52.1{\pm}2.3%$; 20 mM, $47.8{\pm}5.1%$, P<0.05). The live sperm with acrosome reaction was significantly higher in 5 and 10 mM of nicotinic acid ($26.1{\pm}1.8%$, $24.9{\pm}1.5%$) than other groups (0 mM, $35.3{\pm}0.8%$; 20 mM, $36.5{\pm}1.9%$, P<0.05). The live sperm with mitochondrial integrity was significantly higher in 5 and 10 mM ($84.2{\pm}3.6%$, $88.4{\pm}2.3%$) of nicotinic acid than other groups (0 mM, $77.3{\pm}4.4%$; 20 mM, $73.3{\pm}3.6%$, P<0.05). Blastocyst rate of in vitro development was significantly higher in 10 mM ($17.0{\pm}1.3%$) of nicotinic acid than other groups (0 mM, $9.4{\pm}0.5%$; 5mM, $12.6{\pm}0.8%$; 20 mM, $5.0{\pm}1.0%$, P<0.05). Moreover, total cell number was higher in 5 and 10 mM ($53.6{\pm}2.9%$, $57.9{\pm}2.8%$) of nicotinic acid than other groups (0 mM, $41.0{\pm}1.4%$; 20 mM, $23.2{\pm}2.8%$, P<0.05). Hydrogen peroxide in embryos was lower in 5 mM nicotinic acid ($0.7{\pm}0.1%$) than other groups (0 mM, $1.0{\pm}0.1%$; 10mM, $0.9{\pm}0.0%$; 20 mM, $1.4{\pm}1.0%$, P<0.05). In conclusion, nicotinic acid-treated semen improves cryosurvival and quality of spermatozoa. Also, the fertilized oocytes with nicotinic acid improve quality of embryo and blastocyst formation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2014

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Euptelea pleiosperma ethanol extract (EPEE) were evaluated using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. EPEE possessed a more potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl than the ascorbic acid used as a positive control. EPEE effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in addition to hydrogen peroxide induced reactive oxygen species on RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, EPEE induced the expression of the anti-oxidative enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), dose and time dependently. The modulation of HO-1 and Nrf2 expression might be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase/Akt as their upstream signaling pathways. On the other hand, EPEE inhibited LPS induced nitric oxide (NO) formation without cytotoxicity. Suppression of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by EPEE. Suppression of NO and iNOS by EPEE may be modulated by their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$, and AP-1 pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into E. pleiosperma, namely that it possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating that it could be utilized as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2009

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness among adults in the western countries. Hyperglycemia is a condition, that induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of cell types in diabetes, but the mechanism remains unclear. The aim of the study is to understand the effects of high Glucose on Human Retinal Endothelial Cells. Retinal endothelial cells were cultured in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM) containing 5, 25 and 50 mM Glucose, incubated for 24, 36 and 48 hours in humidified 5 % CO$_2$ incubator at 37$^{\circ}C$. Human Retinal Endothelial Cell Line (HREC) were characterized for morphology with different treatment by phase contrast microscopic analysis. Number of dead and viable cells was counted by trypan blue exclusion and supported by MTT assay. The intracellular Hydrogen peroxide (H$_2$O$_2$), a Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation in high glucose conditions was assessed by FOX II assay and apoptosis by caspase-3 assay. The high glucose treated cells undergoing DNA fragmentation was witnessed by Agarose gel electrophoresis. We found that the cells incubated with 25 and 50 mM glucose containing medium for 48 hours altered the morphology of the cell, induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation. The dead cell number were high in 25 and 50 mM when compared to the cells incubated with 5 mM glucose for 24, 36, and 48 hours. Also, the H$_2$O$_2$ levels and the activity of caspase-3 were increased in high glucose treated cells. Conclusions/interpretation: Our results demonstrated that elevated glucose induces apoptosis in cultured HREC. The hyperglycemia-induced increase in apoptosis may be dependent on caspase activation. The association between ROS generation and caspase-3 activation on high glucose treated cells is yet to be investigated.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.415-425
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• 2017

Purpose: Many studies have suggested that neuronal cells protect against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death by polyphenolic compounds. We investigated the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of action of Momordica charantia ethanol extract (MCE) against $H_2O_2-induced$ cell death of human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells. Methods: The antioxidant activity of MCE was measured by the quantity of total phenolic acid compounds (TPC), quantity of total flavonoid compounds (TFC), and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined by CCK-8 assay. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay. Antioxidant enzyme (SOD-1,2 and GPx-1) expression was determined by real-time PCR. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway and apoptosis signal expression was measured by Western blotting. Results: The TPC and TFC quantities of MCE were 28.51 mg gallic acid equivalents/extract g and 3.95 mg catechin equivalents/extract g, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ value for DPPH radical scavenging activity was $506.95{\mu}g/ml$ for MCE. Pre-treatment with MCE showed protective effects against $H_2O_2-induced$ cell death and inhibited ROS generation by oxidative stress. SOD-1,2 and GPx-1 mRNA expression was recovered by pre-treatment with MCE compared with the presence of $H_2O_2$. Pre-treatment with MCE inhibited phosphorylation of p38 and the JNK pathway and down-regulated cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP by $H_2O_2$. Conclusion: The neuroprotective effects of MCE in terms of recovery of antioxidant enzyme gene expression, down-regulation of MAPK pathways, and inhibition apoptosis is associated with reduced oxidative stress in SK-N-MC cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.79-92
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• 2007

Oxidative stress have known to be a risk factor for the degenerative processes and closely related to a lot of diseases. It is well established that antioxidants are good in protection and therapeutic means against oxidative damage. There is increasing interest in natural antioxidants and many natural antioxidants have been found and utilized as the possible protection for various diseases and skin aging. We have screened natural antioxidant agents for cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and drugs as therapeutic and preventive means against oxidative stress, and have developed a number of novel antioxidants from various natural sources. A novel melanin synthesis inhibitor, Melanocin A, isolated from the metabolite of a fungal strain Eupenicillium shearii F80695 inhibited mushroom tyrosinase and melanin biosynthesis of B16 melanoma cells with $IC_{50}$ value of 9.0 nM and MIC value of $0.9\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Melanocin A also exhibited potent antioxidant activity by scavenging of DPPH and superoxide anion radicals. UV was found to increase the level of hydrogen peroxides and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin tissues. This increase in ROS may not only alter the structure and function of many genes and proteins directly but may also modulate their expressions through signal transduction pathways and, ultimately, lead to skin damage. We investigated the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced premature skin aging. Firstly, the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT in vitro was investigated. Acute UV irradiation induced MMP-9 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and Melanocin A suppressed this expression in a dose-dependent manner. We then investigated UV-induced skin changes in hairless mice in vivo by Melanocin A. Chronic exposure of hairless mouse dorsal skin to UV increased skin thickness and induced wrinkle formation and the gelatinase activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, Melanocin A significantly suppressed UV-induced morphologic skin changes and MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. These results show that Melanocin A can prevent the harmful effects of UV that lead to skin aging. Therefore, we suggest that Melanocin A should be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and/or treating premature skin aging. Terrein is a bioactive fungal metabolite isolated from Penicillium species. Terrein has a relatively simple structure and can be easily synthesized. However, the biologic effects of terrein are comparatively unknown. We found for the first time that terrein potently inhibit melanin production in melanocytes and has a strong hypopigmentary effect in a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. Treatment of Mel-Ab cells with terrein (10-100 mM) for 4 days significantly reduced melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, terrein at the same concentration also reduced tyrosinase activity. We then investigated whether terrein influences the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which is required for tyrosinase expression. Terrein was found to induce sustained ERK activation and MITF down-regulation, and luciferase assays showed that terrein inhibits MITF promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the correlation between ERK pathway activation and a decreased MITF transcriptional level, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the ERK pathway, was applied before terrain treatment and found to abrogate the terrein-induced MITF attenuation. Terrein also reduced the tyrosinase protein level for at least 72 h. These results suggest that terrain reduces melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production via ERK activation, and that this is followed by MITF down-regulation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2006

Objectives : Oxidative DNA damage is a known risk factor of lung cancer. The glutathione peroxidase (GPX) antioxidant enzyme that reduces hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides plays a significant role in protecting cells from the oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate effects of oxidative stress and genetic polymorphisms of the GPX1 genes and the interaction between them in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer. Methods : Two hundreds patients with lung cancer and 200 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in this study. Every subject was asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their smoking habits and their environmental exposure to PAHs. The genotypes of the GPX1 and 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) genes were examined and the concentrations of urinary hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), 2-naphthol and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) were measured. Results : Cigarette smoking was a significant risk factor for lung cancer. The levels of urinary 8-OH-dG were higher in the patients (p<0.001), whereas the urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol levels were higher in the controls. The GPX1 codon 198 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Individuals carrying the Pro/Leu or Leu/Leu genotype of GPX1 were at a higher risk for lung cancer (adjusted OR=2.29). In addition, these individuals were shown to have high urinary 8-OH-dG concentrations compared to the individuals with the GPX1 Pro/Pro genotype. On the other hand, the polymorphism of the hOGG1 gene did not affect the lung cancer risk and the oxidative DNA damage. Conclusions : These results lead to a conclusion that individuals with the GPX1 Pro/Leu or Leu/Leu genotype would be more susceptible to the lung cancer induced by oxidative stress than those individuals with the Pro/Pro genotype.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2010

Rosa rugosa has traditionally been used as a folk remedy for diabetes. The objective of this study was therefore to demonstrate the inhibition of endothelial dysfunction activities through antioxidants and the anti-glycation of Rosa rugosa roots. Dried roots of Rosa rugosa were boiled in methanol for three hours, evaporated and lyophilized with a freeze-dryer. The methanolic extract of Rosa rugosa roots (RRE) was tested for antioxidant activities by measuring total polyphenol (TP) content, flavonoid content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH) assay, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The total TP content, flavonoid content, FRAP value, and $DPPHSC_{50}$ are $345.2\;{\mu}g$ gallic acid equivalents/mg dry matter (DM), $128.1\;{\mu}g$ quercetin equivalents/mg DM, 2.2 mM $FeSO_4$/mg DM and $34.2\;{\mu}g$ DM/mL, respectively. Treatment of RRE significantly lowered fluorescent formation due to advanced glycation reaction. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging assay, monocyte adherent assay and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay were performed to investigate the possibility that RRE improves endothelial dysfunction-induced diabetic complications. The adhesion of THP-1 to treated HUVEC with RRE ($100\;{\mu}g/mL$; 33% and $500\;{\mu}g/mL$; 75%) was significantly reduced compared to HUVEC stimulated by glyceraldehydes-AGEs (advanced glycation end product). The TEER value ($88\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$) of stimulated HUVEC by glyceraldehydes-AGEs was reduced compared to non-stimulation ($113\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$). However, normalization with RRE increased endothelial permeability in a dose-dependent manner ($100\;{\mu}g/mL$; $102\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$ and $500\;{\mu}g/mL$; $106\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$). Thus, these results suggest that Rosa rugosa roots could be a novel candidate for the prevention of diabetic complications through antioxidants and inhibition of advanced glycation end product formation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.609-615
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• 2014

The cytoprotective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. (drumstick tree) on neuronal cells was investigated to confirm the physiological benefits associated with this natural food resource. First, the drumstick tree extract was chemically analyzed to determine inherent nutritional constituents. Calcium and potassium were identified as the major mineral constituents, and palmitic acid (C16:0, 16.33%) and gadoleic acid (C20:01, 66.34%) were detected as the major fatty acids. Moreover, drumstick tree extract contained 94.78 mg/100 g vitamin E and 112.61 mg/100 g niacin. PC12 cells were used to study the cytoprotective effects of drumstick tree extract. Intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species was significantly reduced when $H_2O_2$ treated-neuronal cells were cultured in a medium containing the methanolic extract of drumstick tree, compared to cells treated with only $H_2O_2$. Cell viability assay using MTT showed that the extract protected cells against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity and inhibited LDH leakage from the cell membrane. Caspase assay showed that the extract exerted cytoprotective effect against apoptosis. Consequently, these data suggest that drumstick tree is a useful natural resource with positive effects on human health.