• Mycobiology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.11-15
• /
• 2007

We examined the neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects of Tremella fuciformis. The neurotrophic effects of the hot water extract of T. fuciformis was evaluated by microscopically monitoring its potency to induce neurite outgrowth in PC12h cells. The hot water extract cf T. fuciformis promoted neurite outgrowth in PC12h cells in this study, superior to other natural substances which was reported previously. When cells were treated with the hot water extract of T. fuciformis prior to ${\beta}$-amyloid peptide treatment (active domain of A peptide $35{\sim}35$ treated), toxicity was significantly diminished (p<0.01). These results suggest that T. fuciformis might potentially be used as a precautionary agent in neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, etc.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.234-239
• /
• 2001

Three types of learning and memory tests (Morris water maze, active and passive avoidance) were performed in rats following intracerebroventricular infusion of ethylcholine aziridium (AF64A). In Morris water maze, AF64A-treated rats showed the delayed latencies to find the platform iron 6th day after the infusion. In pretrained rats, AF64A caused the significant delay of latency at 7th days but not 8th day. In the active avoidance for the pretrained rats, the escape latency was significantly delayed in AF64A-treatment. The percentages of avoidance in AF64A-treated rats were less increased than those in the control. Especially, the percentage of no response in the AF64A-treated rats was markedly increased in the first half trials. In the passive avoidance, AF64A-treated rats shortened the latency 1.5 h after the electronic shock, but not 24 h. AF64A also caused the pretrained rats to shorten the latency 7th day after the infusion, but not 8th day. These results indicate that AF64A might impair the learning and memory. However, these results indicate that the disturbed memory by AF64A might rapidly recover after the first retrain. Furthermore, these results suggest that AF64A may be a useful agent for the animal model of learning for Spatial cognition .

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.283-289
• /
• 2014

Tea flavonoids and polyphenols are well known for their extraordinary antioxidant activity which is considered important for anti-aging processes in animals. This study evaluated the anti-wrinkle effects of three different kinds of tea (Camellia sinensis) water extracts (CSWEs) including green, white, and black teas using a photoaged hairless mouse model. Data showed that the CSWE-treatment greatly improved skin conditions of mice suffering from UVB-induced photoaging, based on the parameters including the skin erythema index, moisture capacity, and transepidermal water loss. In addition, the wrinkle measurement and image analysis of skin replicas indicated that CSWEs remarkably inhibited wrinkle formation. In histological examination, the CSWE-treated mice exhibited diminished epidermal thickness and increased collagen and elastic fiber content, key signatures for skin restoration. Furthermore, the reduced expression of MMP-3, a collagen-degradative enzyme, was observed in the skin of CSWE-treated animals. Interestingly, comparative data between green, white, and black tea indicated that the anti-wrinkle activity of white tea and black tea is equally greater than that of green tea. Taken together, these data clearly demonstrated that CSWEs could be used as an effective anti-wrinkle agent in photoaged animal skin, implying their extended uses in therapeutics.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.353-360
• /
• 2019

ZSM-5 membrane was prepared on tubular macroporous ${\alpha}$-alumina support using a different synthesis route. The effects of organic template agent and Si/Al ratio of the synthesis gel on morphology, structure, and separation performance of the ZSM-5 membrane used for dehydration of isopropanol were investigated. High water perm-selectivity ZSM-5 membrane with a thickness of about $3.0{\mu}m$ and a low Si/Al ratio of 10.1 was successfully prepared from organotemplate-free synthesis gel with a molar composition of $SiO_2$ : $0.050Al_2O_3$ : $0.21Na_2O$ : NaF : $51.6H_2O$ at $175^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The ZSM-5 membrane exhibited high pervaporation performance with a flux of $3.92kg/(m^2{\cdot}h)$ and corresponding separation factor of higher than 10,000 for dehydration of 90 wt.% isopropanol/water mixture at $75^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.57-72
• /
• 2008

Objectives : The Herb-combined Remedy(HCR) for diabetes mellitus is known as an anti-hyperglycaemic agent. But its exact mechanisms are unclear. The present study was carried out to investigate its anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-oxidative effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Methods : Experimental diabetes was induced by injection of STZ(80mg/kg) to ratsvia the peritoneum. The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups : normal group, control group(STZ-induced diabetic rats with no treatment), HCR group(STZ-induced diabetic rats with HCR treatment), MF group(STZ-induced diabetic rats with Metformin treatment). The effects of HCR on STZ-induced diabetes was observed by measuring fasting blood glucose, changes of body weight, food uptake, and water uptake glucose levels in the normal state decline rates in blood glucose levels DPPH free-radical scavenging activity superoxide dismutase in RBC lysate catalase activity in RBC lysate and glutathione reductase activity in RBC lysate. Results : Treatment with HCR regulated blood glucose levels. Treatment with HCR also prevented weight loss in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, oral glucose tolerance decreased following treatment with HCR. Direct anti-oxidative effects on DPPH free-radical scavenging were not observed, but treatment with HCR elevated SOD levels in blood cell lysates from STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, the HCR-treatment group showed an elevated tendency to glutathione reductase activity. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that HCR has anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-oxidative effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.284-288
• /
• 2009

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water & Sediments was adopted by consensus at a diplomatic conference of IMO at 2004. To prepare the Ballast Water Management Convention, fundamental technologies such as treatment system, type approval, risk assessment and various technical informations for formulation of the regulation for national strategy shall be developed. The information item of voyage and discharge of ship's ballast water are gathered by visiting vessel and agent at port. Using the 97 results by ships type characteristic analysis on the relation between loading/unloading and discharge/uptake of ballast water, the amounts of discharge/uptake of ballast water at each port and all of country in Korea are predicted. Hence, It is apparent that the uptake of ballast water is predicted to about 70 million ton in total of Busan, Incheon, Kwangyang and Ulsan ports at 2006 which is over 3 times than discharges.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.1230-1235
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract, known as depigmenting agent, on melanin biosynthesis in cellular level. The inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract on melanogenesis was identified by mushroom tyrosinase assay, To determine whether Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract suppress melanin synthesis in cellular level, B16 mouse melanoma cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract. The maximum concentration of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract that was not inhibitory to growth of the cells was 2 mg/ml. At that concentration, melanin synthesis was significantly inhibited without cytotoxicity after 5 days, compared with untreated cells. The treatment with Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract reduced tyrosinase and DOPAchrome tautomerase activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract on melanogenesis is due to the suppression of tyrosinase and DOPAchrome tautomerase activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to estimate beneficial effects of Foeniculi fructus water extract on activities of key enzymes such as lipoprotein lipase (LPL), acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), and hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) on lipid metabolism related with obesity. LPL and ACS were extracted from the epididymal adipose tissue and liver of C57BL/6J normal and obese mouse. Foeniculi fructus water extract treatment significantly reduced the activity of normal and obese LPL. When 100 ppm of Foeniculi fructus water extracts were tested, they decreased obese LPL activity by 12.0%. Foeniculi fructus water extract activated obese ACS activity by 7-fold compared with control at 1,000 ppm concentration. Expression of HSL mRNA was increased in Foeniculi fructus water extracts treated cells compared with non treated cells. All things considered, Foeniculi fructus water extract efficiently inhibits the influx of fatty acid into the cell, and activates metabolic process that uses fatty acids flowing as an energy source. Thus, it suggest that Foeniculi fructus water extract may have great potential as a novel anti-obesity agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2001

The amount of petroleum consumption has been Increased according to the industrialization and It leads to the increase of the possibility of marine oil pollution. In Korea, some countermeasures including oil skimmer, gelling agent and herding agent of oil have been used for the remediation of the pollution. However, most of them have lets of shortcomings in the application under in-situ condition, because they are sensitive to the situation such as geographical feature, the wind and the tide. In reported literature, the natural powdered oil absorbent which is made of peat moss is an effective mean to clean spilled oil from lake or coast. However, the peat moss is a natural resource which is only Produced from a specific cold weather are like Canada. This indicates that the alternative materials which is readily obtained from everywhere are needed for powdered oil absorbent. Therefore. in the study, same natural materials including pine leaves and straw are tested as the alternative materials for the absorbent. The raw materials were dried and treated by heat at various temperature during several Periods and then. shattered by a grain cracking machine. The oil sorption capacity of the prepared materials was compared according to the methods of heat treatment and their sizes. The proportion of hydrogen cyanide to combustion of the absorbents was measured to confirm their final disposal methods. The biodegradability test of the absorbents was carried our to evaluate possibility of a side pollution in the coast. In was found that the heat treatment of pine leaves enhanced the capacity of oil sorption and decreased the water sorption. The maximum oil sorption was observed for the material treated at 18$0^{\circ}C$for 60 min. The amount of hydrogen cyanide from the combustion were 0.09ml/g, 0.07ml/g for pine leaves and straw respectively meaning that the final disposal by combustion might be feasible. The amount or organic carbon extracted from pine leaves during 7 days was up to 0.015g organic carbon from one gram of pine leaves. but the degradation was as fast as for glucose. It is concluded that the pine leaves can be served as a good raw material for the powdered oil absorbent like peat moss.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.31-37
• /
• 2009

This study deals with the production process of activated carbons from the sewage sludge char by chemical activation reaction. KOH and NaOH were used as activating agents, which react well with carbon. From the experiments, it was found that activated carbons made with KOH treatment had better physicochemical properties in terms of iodine number and BET value than those made with NaOH treatment. It was also found that the optimal deposition ratio of an activating agent to the sewage sludge char was 75 wt% of KOH and 50 wt% of NaOH. Activated carbons were washed out by distilled water after neutralization with 5 M hydrochloric acid solution. The activated carbons that were produced from a sewage sludge char at this optimal conditions have BET surface areas of approximately $600m^2/g$.