• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.565-571
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the tolerance of some resistant fungal strains from soils contaminated with heavy metals. Various fungal strains were isolated from soil samples collected from studied sites which heavy metals and other pollutants have been emitted in effluents for several years. Fungi isolated belong to different genera; however, Penicillium spp. showed the most frequent species. The microbial number was remarkably higher in the control soil than contaminated soil samples collected from mining areas. $Pb^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ had the highest concentration in the polluted soils ranging from 89 - 3,521 ppm and 98 - 4,383 ppm, respectively. The minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of $Pb^{+2}$ and $Zn^{+2}$ showed the highest values against the fungal strains. $Ni^{+2}$ and $Co^{+2}$ were the lowest contaminants in the polluted soils with the concentration of 5 to 12.1 ppm and 1.8 to 4.8 ppm, respectively. The tested resistant strains showed the strongest inhibition for $Ni^{+2}$ and $Co^{+2}$ up to 200-400 ppm. Cadmium was the most highly toxic heavy metal for most of strains, however, 1 mM of $Cr^{3+}$, $Cu^{2+}$ and $Pb^{2+}$ accelerated the growth of Penicillium verrucosum KNU3. $Cu^{+2}$ and $Zn^{+2}$ at concentration of 1 mM did not affect the growth rate P. funiculosum KNU4. Tolerance of fungal species to heavy metals appears to be strain and origin dependent.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1822-1829
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• 2003

Porcine colostrum and milk were separated into the acid-soluble and casein fractions by acidification followed by centrifuge. The acid-soluble fraction of porcine colostrum was further separated by liquid chromatography and anisotropic membrane filtration. Trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory capacity in porcine colostrum, milk and their components was determined by incubating bovine trypsin or chymotrypsin in a medium containing their corresponding substrates with or without addition of various amounts of porcine colostrum, porcine milk or their components. The inhibition of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) degradation in pig small intestinal contents by porcine colostrum was measured by incubating iodinated IGF-I or EGF with the intestinal contents with or without addition of porcine colostrum. Degradation of labeled IGF-I or EGF was determined by monitoring the generation of radioactivity soluble in 30% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The results showed that porcine colostrum had high levels of trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity and increased the stability of IGF-I and EGF in pig intestinal contents. The inhibitory activity declined rapidly during lactation. It was also found that trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity and the inhibition on IGF-I and EGF degradation in the acid-soluble fraction were higher than that in the casein fraction. Heat-resistance study indicated that trypsin inhibitors in porcine colostrum survived heat treatments of $100^{\circ}C$ water bath for up to 10 min, but exposure to boiling water bath for 30 min significantly decreased the inhibitory activity. Compared with the trypsin inhibitors, the chymotrypsin inhibitors were more heatsensitive. Separation of the acid-soluble fraction of porcine colostrum by liquid chromatography and anisotropic membrane filtration revealed that the trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory capacity was mainly due to a group of small proteins with molecular weight of 10,000-50,000. In conclusion, the present study confirmed the existence of high levels of protease inhibitors in porcine colostrum, and the inhibition of porcine colostrum on degradation of milk-borne growth factors in the pig small intestinal tract was demonstrated for the first time.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2012

Germanium biotite, a natural mineral, has been used as a feed supplement to reinforce innate immune ability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of germanium biotite on the adsorptive and inhibition of growth abilities against Escherichia (E.) coli and Salmonella spp. in vitro. Two strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli and four strains of two Salmonella serotypes (Salmonella Derby and Salmonella Typhimurium), major bacterial diarrheal pathogens, were used for this experiment. The absorptive ability of germanium biotite against most Salmonella used in present experiment was observed weakly. The germanium biotite, however, showed significant effect of bacterial growth inhibition in most experiment bacteria. These results suggest that the use of the germanium biotite as feed supplement could alleviate diarrhea following inhibition of bacteria growth. It is also presumed that antibiotics usage for farm animals, considered as causes of antibiotic residue in meat and emerging antibiotic resistance, could be reduced through the use of germanium biotite as a feed supplement, in place of antibiotics used for the prevention of diarrhea.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.72-79
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• 2023

MRSA is Staphylococcus aureus resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, and is a worldwide infectious disease. Even with the discovery of new antibiotics, resistance develops rapidly, so new alternatives are needed. Jakyakgamcho-tang (JGT) is a combination of Jakyak and Gamcho, and has been mainly used as an antispasmodic and analgesic in oriental medicine. This study was conducted to find out whether there is an effect on MRSA in relation to the anti-inflammatory effect of JGT and the antibacterial effect of Jakyak and Gamcho found in previous studies. In this study, in order to investigate the antibacterial activity of JGT and the combined effect of existing antibiotics, after extracting JGT with 70% EtoH, the disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), drug combination effect (FICI), and time-kill analysis (Time-kill assay), metabolic inhibition, Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis were used to confirm the antibacterial activity mechanism of MRSA of JGT. As a result of the experiment, all of MRSA showed antibacterial activity in JGT's disc diffusion method, and the MIC was 250-1000 ㎍/mL. When existing antibiotics and JGT were combined with drugs, most had synergy or partial synergy. In addition, it was confirmed that the degree of bacterial growth was suppressed over time when simultaneous administration for 24 hours. JGT showed a synergistic effect when administered together with the ATPase-inhibitor DCCD, suggesting that it affected the inhibition of ATPase. As a result of observing the expression of PBP2a, and hla protein in the JGT-treated group and the untreated control group through wstern blot, it was confirmed that the protein expression of the JGT-treated group was significantly suppressed, and the expression levels of mecA, mecR1 and hla genes were also suppressed during JGT treatment. was observed by qRT-PCR. Combining the results of the experiment, it can be seen that JGT has antibacterial activity in MRSA, and when combined with existing antibiotics, the effect was increased compared to treatment with the drug alone. This suggests that JGT can be an alternative to treatment for antibiotic resistance of MRSA.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1335-1341
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• 2006

We selected a Lactobacillus spp. from Korean healthy infant feces based upon their antioxidant activity. This strain was identified as Lactobacillus gasseri by 16S rDNA sequencing, and named Lactobacillus gasseri NLRI-312. In the present study, we investigate the protective effect of this strain on the $H_2O_2$ induced damage to cellular membrane lipid and DNA in Jurkat cells. To estimate the extent of cellular lipid peroxidation inhibition, MDA (malondialdehyde) was measured, and DNA damage was tested by the comet assay. We also examined probiotic properties including tolerance to acid and bile, antibiotic resistance. From the results obtained, the supplementation of Jurkat cells with NLRI-312 decreased in DNA damage, while no effect was shown on MDA decrease. In probiotic properties, this strain was resistance to both acid and bile, showed considerably higher survival when incubated in pH 2 or 1% bile salts (w/v). We concluded that the NLRI-312 could be used as potential probiotic bacteria, with the effect of reducing DNA damage induced by $H_2O_2$.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.101-108
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• 2007

Furnace slag powder used currently in Korea needs to add special functions in response to the increase of large-scale projects. In addition, it is advantageous in that it has a lower hydration heat emission rate than ordinary Portland cement and improves properties such as the inhibition of alkali aggregate reaction, watertightness, salt proofness, seawater resistance and chemical resistance. However, furnace slag powder is not self -hardening, and requires activators such as alkali for hydration. Accordingly, if recycled fine aggregate, from which calcium hydroxide is generated, and furnace slag, which requires alkali stimulation, are used together they play mutually complementary roles, so we expect to use the mixture as a resource-recycling construction material. Thus the present study purposed to examine the properties and characteristics of furnace slag powder and recycled aggregate, to manufacture recycled fine aggregate concrete using furnace slag and analyze its performance based on the results of an experiment, to provide materials on concrete using furnace slag as a cement additive and recycled fine aggregate as a substitute of aggregate, and ultimately to provide basic materials on the manufacturing of resource-recycled construction materials using binder and fine aggregate as recycled resources.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2009

To examine their potential as probiotics, acid and bile tolerance, antibiotics resistance, adhesion capacity to Caco-2 and HT-29, and antibacterial activity, of LAB isolated from Korean fermented foods such. as dongchimi, kimchi, Meju, and doenjang were assayed against foodborne pathogenic bacteria. DC 55, DC 136, DC 222, KC 21, KC 24, KC 34, KC 43, KC 117, MJ 54, MJ 301, SP 33, and SP 170 strains were resistant to acid and bile conditions. In particular, DC 55, DC 136, KC 24, KC 43, and MJ 301 strains were highly resistant to higher than 20 ${\mu}g/ml$ concentrations of vancomycin, streptomycin sulfate, or amoxicillin, whereas, DC 222, KC 21, KC 34, KC 117, MJ 54, and SP 33 strains were susceptible to lower than 2 ${\mu}g/ml$ concentrations of those antibiotics. The adhesion to HT-29 and Caco-2 cells varied with the strains tested in a strain-dependent manner. The highest level of adhesion was observed with DC 55, KC 21, KC 24, and MJ 301 strains, having higher than 50% of adhesion to HT-29 or Caco-2 cells. In addition, Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive to KC 21, showing an inhibition of about 70%, and the antibacterial activity of KC 21 against S. aureus resulted most likely from both organic acids and bacteriocin. Based on its phenotypic characteristics and utilization of various sugars, the KC 21 strain was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.757-761
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• 2006

Six protoberberine alkaloids were isolated from the chloroform layer of the rhizome of Coptis japonica Makino (Ranunculaceae). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined to be 6-([1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinoline-5-carbonyl)-2,3-dimethoxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (1), oxyberberine (2), 8-oxo-epiberberine (3), 8-oxocoptisine (4), berberine (5) and palmatine (6) by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The compound 3 (8-oxo-epiberberine) was first isolated from natural sources. The compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines in vitro by SRB method, and also tested for the MDR reversal activities. Compound 4 was of significant P-gp MDR inhibition activity with ED50 value $0.018\;{\mu}g/mL$ in MES-SA/DX5 cell and $0.0005\;{\mu}g/mL$ in HCT15 cell, respectively.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.543-551
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• 2011

Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a real and growing problem for both Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial pathogens in the hospital setting. Among Gram negative bacteria, the ubiquitous bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a particular concern in immunocompromised and burn patients. The present study evaluated antibacterial activity and efficacy of a Korean herbal medicine against eight multi-drug resistant clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa (0225, 0254, 0347, 0826, 1113, 1378, 1731, and 2492) isolated at Daegu Catholic University Hospital. Methanol extracts of Galla rhois (5 and 10 mg/mL) displayed inhibition diameters for isolate 2492 of 10 and 12 mm, respectively, in a conventional disc diffusion assay. In seven kinds of Korean herbal medicines, increased inhibitory power of Lonicera japonica, Gardenia jasminoides, Galla rhois, and Scultellaria baicalensis was evident with the fermentation of six kinds of lactic acid bacteria. Three lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum KCTC 3108, L. casei KCTC 3109, and L. fermentum KCTC 3112) were identified as excellent strains for the production of antibacterial materials. In the six Korean herbal medicine extracts, strong inhibitory activity of fermented Forsythia suspensa, Glycyrrhizae radix, Lycium chinense, Platycodon grum, and Schizandra chinensis with five kinds of lactic acid bacteria was evident for seven multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa isolates.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.886-893
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• 2012

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a cephalosporin and beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strain. In most cases, MRSA is spread from infected patients and infection rates are growing increasingly. Furthermore, increased resistance to antibiotics is causing serious problems in the world. Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for both nosocomial and community-based infections that range from relatively minor skin and soft tissue infections to life-threatening systemic infections. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated antimicrobial activity of oriental medicine prescription against MRSA. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Sohamhyung-tang water extract against S. aureus strains ranged from 500 to 2,000 ${\mu}g/mL$, so we have it confirmed that a strong antibacterial effect. Also, the combinations of Sohamhyung-tang water extract and conventional antibiotics exhibited improved inhibition of MRSA with synergy effect. We suggest that Sohamhyung-tang water extract against MRSA have antibacterial activity, it has potential as alternatives to antibiotic agent. We suggest that the Sohamhyung-tang water extract lead the treatment of bacterial infection to solve the resistance and remaining side-effect problems that are the major weak points of traditional antibiotics.