• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2012

This study investigated the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects of dietary quercetin in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Four-week-old C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice (n = 18) were offered an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing quercetin at 0.04% (low quercetin, LQE) or 0.08% of the diet (high quercetin, HQE) for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Plasma glucose, insulin, adiponectin, and lipid profiles, and lipid peroxidation of the liver were determined. Plasma glucose levels were significantly lower in the LQE group than in the control group, and those in the HQE group were even further reduced compared with the LQE group. The homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) showed lower values for LQE and HQE than for the control group without significant influence on insulin levels. High quercetin increased plasma adiponectin compared with the control group. Plasma triglycerides in the LQE and HQE groups were lower than those in the control group. Supplementation with high quercetin decreased plasma total cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol compared with the control group. Consumption of low and high quercetin reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the liver. Thus, quercetin could be effective in improving hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and antioxidant status in type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2012

Two staphylococcal lipases were obtained from Staphylococcus epidermidis S2 and Staphylococcus aureus S11 isolated from sebaceous areas on the skin of the human face. The molecular mass of both enzymes was estimated to be 45 kDa by SDS-PAGE. S2 lipase displayed its highest activity in the hydrolysis of olive oil at $32^{\circ}C$ and pH 8, whereas S11 lipase showed optimal activity at $31^{\circ}C$ and pH 8.5. The S2 lipase showed the property of cold-adaptation, with activation energy of 6.52 kcal/mol. In contrast, S11 lipase's activation energy, at 21 kcal/mol, was more characteristic of mesophilic lipases. S2 lipase was stable up to $45^{\circ}C$ and within the pH range from 5 to 9, whereas S11 lipase was stable up to $50^{\circ}C$ and from pH 6 to 10. Both enzymes had high activity against tributyrin, waste soybean oil, and fish oil. Sequence analysis of the S2 lipase gene showed an open reading frame of 2,067 bp encoding a signal peptide (35 aa), a pro-peptide (267 aa), and a mature enzyme (386 aa); the S11 lipase gene, at 2,076 bp, also encoded a signal peptide (37 aa), pro-peptide (255 aa), and mature enzyme (399 aa). The two enzymes maintained amino acid sequence identity of 98-99% with other similar staphylococcal lipases. Their microbial origins and biochemical properties may make these staphylococcal lipases isolated from facial sebaceous skin suitable for use as catalysts in the cosmetic, medicinal, food, or detergent industries.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.166-169
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• 1999

The repeated silica gel colum chromatographies of n-BuOH fraction obtained from MeOH extracts of Eucommia ulmoides leaves led to isolation of a flavonoid-glycoside inhibiting monoamine oxidase B activity. Its chemical structure was determined to be $3-O-[{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl\;(1{\rightarrow}2)\;{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl]$ quercetin through interpretation of spectral data and adaptation of acid hydrolysis. The $IC_{50}$ value of this compound in rat brain mitochondrial MAO-B inhibitory activity was evaluated to be $8.05\;{\mu}mol/l$.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.197-200
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• 1998

The MeOH extracts obtained from the flower petals of Carthamus tinctorius were solvent-fractionated with EtOAc, n-BuOH, and $H_2O$, successively. From the n-BuOH extract 2 flavonoid compounds were isolated through the repeated silica gel column chromatographies. From not only the results of physico-chemical data including HMBC but also the adaptation of acid hydrolysis, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as $3-O-[{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}2)\;{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl]\;kaempferol$ and $3-O-[{\alpha}-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}6)\;{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl]\;kaempferol$. The compounds exhibited $IC_{50}$ values in Grab2-Shc activity to be 43 and $47{\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.583-587
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• 1997

The MeOH extracts obtained from the tuber of Ipomoea batatas Lam. were solvent-fractionated with EtOAc, n-BuOH, and $H_2O$, respectively. From EtOAc fraction four different compounds were isolated through the repeated silica gel column chromatographies. From not only the results of NMR and MS data but also the adaptation of hydrolysis, methylation, and acetylation, the chemical structures of compounds were elucidated as resin glycoside, simonin I, ${\beta}-sitosterol$, and two kinds of unsaturated fatty acids.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.446-452
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• 2013

Chronic consumption of a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet increases insulin resistance and results in type 2 diabetes mellitus in C57BL/6J mice. Hyperglycemia in diabetics increases oxidative stress, which is associated with a high risk of diabetic complications. The purpose of this study was to examine the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of chamnamul [Pimpinella brachycarpa (Kom.) Nakai] in an animal model of type 2 diabetes. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of a 70% ethanol extract of chamnamul was measured in vitro. Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a basal or HFHS diet with or without a 70% ethanol extract of chamnamul at a 0.5% level of the diet for 12 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. After sacrifice, serum glucose, insulin, adiponectin, and lipid profiles, and lipid peroxidation of the liver were determined. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was determined. Chamnamul extract inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase by 26.7%, which was 78.3% the strength of inhibition by acarbose at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. Serum glucose, insulin, and cholesterol levels, as well as HOMA-IR values, were significantly lower in the chamnamul group than in the HFHS group. Chamnamul extract significantly decreased the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the liver compared with the HFHS group. These findings suggest that chamnamul may be useful in prevention of hyperglycemia and reduction of oxidative stress in mice fed a HFHS diet.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.313-320
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to evaluate on the interfacial morphology between dentin and restorative materials. In this in vitro study, the cavity wall restorated with 3 different kinds of tooth colored restorative materials [resin-modified Glass Ionomer cement (Fuji II LC), composite resin (Z-100), compomer (Dyract)]. The thirty extracted human molar teeth without caries and/or restorations are used. The experimental teeth were randomly divided into three groups of ten teeth each. In each group, Wedge shaped cavities (width: 3mm, length: 2mm, depth: 1.5mm) were prepared at the cementoenamel junction on buccal and lingual surfaces. The adhesive of composite resin were mixed with rhodamine B. Primer of composite resin, Prime & Bond 2.1 of Dyract and liquid of Fuji II LC were mixed with fluorescein. In group 1, the cavity wall was treatment with dentin conditioner, and then restorated with Fuji II LC. In group 2, the cavity wall was treatment with Prime & Bond 2.1 and then restorated with Dyract. In group 3, the cavity wall was etching with 10% maleic acid, applied with primer and bonding agent and then restorated with Z-100. The interface between dentin and restorative materials was observed by fluoresence imaging with a confocal laser scanning microscope. The results were as follows : 1. In Glass ionomer group, adaptation of resin modified Glass-ionomer restoration against cavity wall is tight, but the crack formed inside of restoration were observed. 2. In Dyract group, the penetration of resin tag is shorter and the width of hybrid layer is narrower than composite resin group. 3. In Z-100 group, primer penetrated deeply through dentinal tubule. Also bonding agent was penetrated along the primer, but the penetration length is shorter than primer part, and in 3-D image, the resin tag is conical shape and lateral branch is observed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.529-536
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• 2008

Cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H) is a key enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway, which is responsible for synthesizing a variety of secondary metabolites that participate in development and adaptation. In this study, we isolated a full-length cDNA of the C4H gene from the Korean black raspberry (Rubus sp.) and found that this gene existed as a single gene. By comparing the deduced amino acid sequence of Rubus sp. C4H with other sequences reported previously we determined that this sequence was highly conserved among widely divergent plant species. In addition, quantitative real time PCR studies indicated that the C4H gene had a differential expression pattern during fruit development, where gene expression was first detected in green fruit and was then remarkably reduced in yellow fruit, followed by an increase in red and black fruit. To investigate the two peaks in expression observed during fruit development and ripening, we measured the flavonoid content. The content of the major flavanol of Korean black raspberry fruits was determined to be highest at the beginning of fruit development, followed by a gradually decrease according to the developmental stages. In contrast, the content of anthocyanins during the progress of ripening was dramatically increased. Our results suggest that the C4H gene in Korean black raspberry plays a role during color development at the late stages of fruit ripening, whereas the expression of C4H gene during the early stages may be related to the accumulation of flavanols.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2013

In the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ${\alpha}$-amylase (BAA), the loop (residues 176-185; region I) that is the part of the calcium-binding site (CaI, II) has two more amino acid residues than the ${\alpha}$-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis (BLA). Arg176 in this region makes an ionic interaction with Glu126 from region II (residues 118-130), but this interaction is lost in BLA owing to substitution of R176Q and E126V. The goal of the present work was to quantitatively estimate the effect of ionic interaction on the overall stability of the enzyme. To clarify the functional and structural significance of the corresponding salt bridge, Glu126 was deleted (${\Delta}$E126) and converted to Val (E126V), Asp (E126D), and Lys (E126K) by site-directed mutagenesis. Kinetic constants, thermodynamic parameters, and structural changes were examined for the wild-type and mutated forms using UV-visible, atomic absoption, and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Wild-type exhibited higher $k_{cat}$ and $K_m$ but lower catalytic efficiency than the mutant enzymes. A decreased thermostability and an increased flexibility were also found in all of the mutant enzymes when compared with the wild-type. Additionally, the calcium content of the wild-type was more than ${\Delta}E126$. Thus, it may be suggested that ionic interaction could decrease the mobility of the discussed region, prevent the diffusion of cations, and improve the thermostability of the whole enzyme. Based on these observations, the contribution of loop destabilization may be compensated by the formation of a salt bridge that has been used as an evolutionary mechanism or structural adaptation by the mesophilic enzyme.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.236-242
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of the application of kimchi LAB as starter culture in the production of fermented sausages. For this, the solid-state model media composed to simulate the substantial conditions of meat mixtures were fermented for 120 h after the treatment with different concentrations of kimchi (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 3.0, and 5.0%) and lyophilized kimchi-powder (0.2 % and 0.5%). During the fermentation period, the growth of total viable cells and LAB, and the changes of pH and titratable acidity were investigated. The initial LAB counts ranged from 7.18 to 8.34 Log CFU/ mL for kimchi media and from 6.93 to 6.94 Log CFU/mL for kimchi-powder media depending on the added concentrations. The kimchi LAB in this study were not influenced by the immobilized condition for their adaptation and growth by showing no lag phase and thus acted similar as in the submerged medium. The initially increased counts reached around 9 Log CFU/ mL in 12 h independent of the concentrations of a ded kimchi. However, the growth and metabolic activity of kimchi-powder LAB were influenced by the immobilized condition. Supposedly, as the nutrient supply in solid-state depended solely on diffusion, these differences in the souring properties were caused by the LAB topography in the medium matrix. Nevertheless, the differences in the numbers of LAB between two media were less than 0.5 Log units and the pH drop in the solidstate batches was quite rapid and reached low values. Therefore, it can be assumed that kimchi and kimchi-powder LAB showed the utility as the substitute of commercial starter culture even without a rehydrating pretreatment.