• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.250-260
• /
• 2012

In the present study, the antioxidative and antibacterial activities of Artemisia princeps Pampanini (A. princeps Pamp.) extract were investigated. The ethyl acetate fraction of A. princeps Pamp. showed the most prominent free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}=12.27{\mu}g/mL$). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of A. princeps Pamp. extract on $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ systems were investigated using a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ethyl acetate fraction of the extract ($OSC_{50}=0.33{\mu}g/mL$) had a 5 times greater ROS scavenging activity than L-ascorbic acid ($1.50{\mu}g/mL$), known as a water soluble antioxidant. The cellular protective effects of fractions of A. princeps Pamp. on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were examined. The aglycone fraction of extracts suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of A. princeps Pamp. extract on tyrosinase were investigated to assess their whitening efficiency. The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated a 7 times higher tyrosinase inhibitory effect ($IC_{50}=29.20{\mu}g/mL$) than albutin, known as a whitening agent. The antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate fractions against various normal skin flora were measured. The results showed that the antibacterial activity of the fraction was the highest on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Propionibacterium acnes. Antioxidant substances were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate fractions. Eupatilin and jaceosidin were identified. These results indicate that the extract/fractions of A. princeps Pamp. can function as antioxidant and/or antibacterial agents for the skin.

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

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.201-205
• /
• 2014

Smilacina japonica is a localized common rhizomatous flowering plant, This plant is often used in Korean traditional systems of medicine as a remedy for migrain, diplegia, physical impurity, blood circulation, abscess and contusion. Generally drugs that are used for arthritis have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, validity of the anti-inflammatory activity has not been scientifically investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of S. japonica using the ethanolic extract and its subfractions. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) on RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results indicated that hexane fraction significantly inhibited the LPS induced NO and $PGE_2$ production in the cells. The hexane fractions inhibitory activity for NO tests with $IC_{50}$ values showed in $53.3{\mu}g/ml$ and $PGE_2$ tests with $IC_{50}$ values showed at $32.5{\mu}g/ml$. Theseis result suggest a potential role of hexane fraction from S. japonica as source of anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.1127-1132
• /
• 2006

In our previous study, a novel herb mixture (HIM-I) of Angelica gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix was developed to protect the intestinal and immune systems and promote its recovery against radiation damage. A new herbal composition (HemoHIM) with the high immune modulating activity was developed from HIM-I. HIM-I was fractionated into ethanol fraction (HIM-I-E) and polysaccharide fraction (HIM-I-P). And HemoHIM was prepared by adding HIM-I-P to HIM-I. HemoHIM showed more effective than HIM-I in immune modulation as well as radioprotection. The present study is designed to investigate the protective effects of HIM-I, HIM-I-P, and HemoHIM on hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$ induced apoptosis of human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. It was shown that $H_2O_2$ treatment reduced the viability of cells, and increased appearance of DNA ladders, hypodiploid (subG1) cells, and phosphatidylserine translocation level. Pretreatment of HemoHIM significantly reduced the cytotoxic effect induced by $H_2O_2$, associated with reducing the translocation of phosphatidylserine, hypodiploid cells and DNA ladders. HemoHIM appeared to be more protective than HIM-I against $H_2O_2$ induced apoptosis whereas, it exhibited similar activity to HIM-I-P. These results indicated that HemoHIM might be an useful agent for protection against oxidative stress $(H_2O_2)-induced$ apoptosis as well as immune modulation, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.263-276
• /
• 2021

Marine benthic organisms have been used as the indicators for the environment assessment and recently considered as a very important component in the biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. In Korean waters, the quantitative data on marine benthos was used as one of major components for the marine pollution assessment for 50 years since 1970s. The species identification which is an important factor for the quantitative biological data was mainly performed by the marine benthic ecologists. This leads to the deterioration of the data quality on marine benthos from the misidentication of major taxonomic groups due to the lack of taxonomic expertise in Korea. This taxonomic problem has not been solved until now and remains in most data from national research projects on the marine ecosystems in Korean waters. Here we introduce the quality assurance and control (QA/QC) system for the marine biological data in UK, that is, NMBAQC (Northeast Atlantic Marine Biological Analytic and Quality Control) Scheme which has been performed by private companies to solve similar species identification problems in UK. This scheme asks for all marine laboratories which want to participate to any national monitoring programs in UK to keep their identification potency at high level by the internal quality assurance systems and provides a series of taxonomic workshops and literature to increase their capability. They also performs the external quality control for the marine laboratories by performing the Ring Test using standard specimens on various faunal groups. In the case of Korea, there are few taxonomic expertise in two existing national institutions and so they can't solve the taxonomic problems in marine benthic fauna data. We would like to provide a few necessary suggestions to solve the taxonomic problems in Korean marine biological data in short-terms and long-terms: (1) the identification of all dominant species in marine biological data should be confirmed by taxonomic expertise, (2) all the national research programs should include taxonomic experts, and (3) establishing a private company, like the Korea marine organism identification association (KMOIA), which can perform the QA/QC system on the marine organisms and support all Korean marine laboratories by providing taxonomic literature and species identification workshops to enhance their potency. The last suggestion needs more efforts and time for the establishment of that taxonomic company by gathering the detailed contents and related opinions from diverse stakeholders in Korea.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.276-285
• /
• 2023

This work investigated the viral infection in jujube plants in Korea. A total of 61 samples with the symptoms of putative viral infection were collected from experimental fields and orchards. Thereafter, the samples were subjected to metatranscriptome analysis, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, and nucleotide sequence analysis. These analyses identified the presence of two DNA viruses, jujube-associated badnavirus (JuBV), jujube mosaic-associated virus (JuMaV), and one RNA virus, jujube yellow mottle-associated virus (JYMaV). All samples collected were confirmed to be infected by at least one of the three viruses, with most showed multiple infections. The detection rates of JuBV, JYMaV, and JuMaV were 100%, 90.2%, and 8.2%, respectively. Only three combinations of viral infections were found: 9.8% of samples showed single infection of JuBV, 82.0% showed double infection of JuBV+JYMaV, and 8.2% showed triple infection of JuBV+JYMaV+JuMaV. Sequence analysis of the three viruses showed very high homology with respective virus isolates reported in China. This study is predicted to provide fundamental data to produce virus-free jujube seedlings and represents the first report of JuBV and JuMaV infection in Korea.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.37-47
• /
• 2024

Currently, social interest in post-cremation funerals is growing due to the establishment of cremation culture. In addition, as awareness of nature-friendly funeral methods spreads in modern times, the demand for tree burial grounds and tree groves, which are representative natural burial methods, is increasing. However, if the current method of relying on trees is used, the forest burial may damage the forest and turn it into another cemetery. The tree decoration is a funeral method that contains the temporal meaning of humans returning to the space of nature that we have, and the philosophical meaning that humans return in compliance with nature. Like this, there are quite a few concerns. Even though tree burials are not the traditional burial facilities we are familiar with, many of the facilities and operating systems adopt the standards of park cemeteries and have stricter standards and restrictions than natural burials under the law. This rigidity is intended to preserve the forest, but the reality is that it limits the expansion and operation of tree plantations. To this end, this study seeks to find specific improvement measures for sustainable tree plantation operation. To this end, we look at the types of natural fields in foreign countries and find directions for tree planting that can be effectively applied and established in accordance with the sentiments of the people. Specific improvement measures include an enshrinement method that does not rely on memorial trees, the operation of anonymous or anonymous tree planting, a change in the method of visiting and commemorating, and various mountaineering methods, thereby suggesting alternatives to sustainable tree planting in Korea. The place where tree planting is implemented is the forest, that is, the forest itself. I should be a place where the spirit of natural return, which is the essence of the deceased, can be celebrated through the forest, not a funeral facility. By doing so, it will be possible to provide the public value of the forest, that is, the social function of the forest, in the name of an eco-friendly funeral service.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2015

Background: Anticancer agents induce a variety of adverse effects when administered to cancer patients. Busulfan is a known antileukemia agent. When administered for treatment of leukemia in young patients, busulfan could cause damage to the male reproductive system as one of its adverse effects, resulting in sterility. Methods: We investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) on busulfan-induced damage and/or dysfunction of the male reproductive system. Results: We found that administration of busulfan to mice: decreased testis weight; caused testicular histological damage; reduced the total number of sperm, sperm motility, serum testosterone concentration; and eventually, litter size. Preadministration of KRGE partially attenuated various busulfan-induced damages to the male reproductive system. These results indicate that KRGE has a protective effect against busulfan-induced damage to the male reproduction system. Conclusion: The present study shows a possibility that KRGE could be applied as a useful agent to prevent or protect the male reproductive system from the adverse side effects induced by administration of anticancer agents such as busulfan.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2004

To evaluate mutagenicity of Phosphinotricin Acetyltransferase(PAT) which is expressed by the glufosinate-resistance gene pat, in vitro reverse mutation test using Salmonella typhimurium, chromosome aberration test using chinese hamster lung(CHL) cells and in vivo micronucleus test of mice were performed. In the reverse mutation, the PAT did not induce mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537 with and without metabolic activation at $5000{\mu}g/plate$. In the chromosome aberration test, the results showed no incidence of increased structural and numerical chromosome aberrations at any doses tested(100, 10, $1{\mu}g/mL$). In micronucleus test, the ratio of micronuclei was measured in polychromatic erythrocytes of bone marrow of male ICR mice intraperitoneally administrated with PAT(1250, 625, and 313 mg/kg), the results showed no incidence of increased micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE). These results indicate that PAT might not have mutagenic potential in vitro and vivo systems.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2012

Recently, the technologies of DNA sequence variation and gene expression profiling have been used widely as approaches in the expertise of genome biology and genetics. The application to genome study has been particularly developed with the introduction of the nextgeneration DNA sequencer (NGS) Roche/454 and Illumina/ Solexa systems, along with bioinformation analysis technologies of whole-genome $de$ $novo$ assembly, expression profiling, DNA variation discovery, and genotyping. Both massive whole-genome shotgun paired-end sequencing and mate paired-end sequencing data are important steps for constructing $de$ $novo$ assembly of novel genome sequencing data. It is necessary to have DNA sequence information from a multiplatform NGS with at least $2{\times}$ and $30{\times}$ depth sequence of genome coverage using Roche/454 and Illumina/Solexa, respectively, for effective an way of de novo assembly. Massive shortlength reading data from the Illumina/Solexa system is enough to discover DNA variation, resulting in reducing the cost of DNA sequencing. Whole-genome expression profile data are useful to approach genome system biology with quantification of expressed RNAs from a wholegenome transcriptome, depending on the tissue samples. The hybrid mRNA sequences from Rohce/454 and Illumina/Solexa are more powerful to find novel genes through $de$ $novo$ assembly in any whole-genome sequenced species. The $20{\times}$ and $50{\times}$ coverage of the estimated transcriptome sequences using Roche/454 and Illumina/Solexa, respectively, is effective to create novel expressed reference sequences. However, only an average $30{\times}$ coverage of a transcriptome with short read sequences of Illumina/Solexa is enough to check expression quantification, compared to the reference expressed sequence tag sequence.