• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2023

Objectives: Cassia occidentalis L. is a weed belonging to the Caesalpiniaceae family. The root of this medicinal plant is used for the treatment of various ailments, including kidney diseases. The present study was aimed at evaluating the nephroprotective effects of HAE of the roots of Cassia occidentalis L. against gentamicininduced renal toxicity in albino Wistar rats. Methods: The renal toxicity was induced by subcutaneous administration of gentamicin at 100 mg/kg in the rats belonging to the disease control and treatment groups from the 4^th to the 8^th day. The rats in the treatment group received HAE of the roots of Cassia occidentalis L. at 67 mg/kg b. w. orally for 8 days, while no treatment was given to the rats in the disease control and plain control groups. At the end of the experiment, renal biomarkers viz; s. creatinine, b. urea, and s. uric acid, were investigated. The histopathological examination of the kidney specimens was also carried out. Results: The results of the present study revealed that renal function biomarkers such as s. creatinine, b. urea, and s. uric acid were significantly reduced in the rats of the treatment group as compared to those of the disease control group. Moreover, the histoarchitecture reports of the treatment group's kidney specimens showed significant improvements. Conclusion: The results suggested that the HAE of Cassia occidentalis L. roots promisingly prevented kidney injury in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxic rats. This effect might be due to improved clearance of gentamicin from the renal tubule and decreased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2023

Sugar or dextrose increases the cost of production of xanthan gum by Xanthomonas campestris. Brewers' Spent Grain (BSG) was chosen as a source of fermentable sugars. BSG is a significant industrial by-product generated in large quantities from the breweries. Primarily used as animal feed due to its high fiber and protein content, BSG holds great potential as an economically and ecologically sustainable substrate for fermenting biomolecules. This study explores BSG's potential as a cost-effective carbon source for producing xanthan, utilizing Xanthomonas campestris NCIM 2961. An aqueous extract was prepared from BSG and inoculated with the bacterium under standard fermentation conditions. After fermentation, xanthan gum was purified using a standard protocol. The xanthan yield from BSG media was compared to that from MGYP media (control). The fermentation parameters, including pH, temperature, agitation and duration were optimized for maximum xanthan gum yield by varying them at different levels. Following fermentation, the xanthan gum was purified from the broth by alcoholic precipitation and then dried. The weight of the dried gum was measured. The obtained xanthan from BSG under standard conditions and commercial food-grade xanthan were characterized using FTIR. The highest xanthan yields were achieved at 32 ℃, pH 6.0, and 72 h of fermentation at 200 rpm using BSG media. The FTIR spectra of xanthan from BSG media closely resembled that of commercial food-grade xanthan. The results confirm the potential of BSG as a cost-effective alternative carbon source for xanthan production, thereby reducing production costs and solid waste.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2024

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating agent commonly used in cancer treatment. It is known to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, including the potential to cause infertility. Recently, herbal remedies have gained traction as a complementary approach to addressing these side effects. In this study, our goal was to investigate whether the aqueous-alcoholic extract of Withania somnifera (WS) could mitigate the adverse impacts of CP on testicular tissue. Methods: Animals were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: control, WS (500 mg/kg), CP (100 mg/kg), CP+WS pre-treatment, and CP+WS post-treatment. WS was administered orally through gavage for 1 month. We assessed sperm parameters, testicular histopathology, and the expression of the Bax and Bcl2 genes in the experimental groups. Results: Sperm parameters (including count, viability, and motility), the number of spermatogonia, the seminiferous tubule diameter, and Bcl2 gene expression, significantly decreased after CP injection (p<0.05). Conversely, the number of immotile sperm and Bax gene expression significantly increased (p<0.05). Treatment with WS, especially when administered as a pre-treatment, ameliorated the sperm parameters, histological alterations, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes (p<0.05). Conclusion: The data suggest that WS may mitigate the detrimental effects of CP on testicular tissue by reducing apoptosis. Consequently, WS has the potential to be used as an adjunctive therapy to reduce the complications associated with CP treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 1978

This study aims to brew apple wine containing lower concentration of alcohol by fermentation and to retain $CO_2$ gas in apple wine, and investigation for the possibility of storage at room temperature was performed. A Saccharomyces sp. was proved to be acceptable for production of base wine as its higher fermentation rate at $20{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. However, B-2 was most reasonable for post-fermentation of apple wine as this strain strongly ferments sugars at low temperature $(4^{\circ}C)$. The yield of apple juice increased by maceration of apple pulps. The yield was about 5 % more than that of the unmacerated juice, whereas acid content was decreased by 10% compared with control. When stored apple wine containing 9% alcobol was introduced $1{\sim}3%$ sucrose at $7{\sim}8^{\circ}C$ for 100 days or more, the $CO_2$ pressure of apple wine in bottle shows $3kg/cm^2$ by bottle-pressure meter. It showed good storage of the wine at room temperature. $CO_2$ gas pressure in apple wine containing 6% alcohol, $5{\sim}10%$ hop extract, and 2% sugar was $2kg/cm^2$, he result also showed possibility of storage. Whereas 6% concentration of alcoholic apple wine without hop extract caused unusual fermentation during storage at the same condition. The desirable conditions for high quality apple wine should have $CO_2$ pressure of $2kg/cm^2$ or more and should be added $1{\sim}2% sugar to base wine. From these results, it can be concluded that the brewing of lower alcoholic apple wine is possible.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.629-640
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• 2023

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver which is not a result of excessive alcohol consumption. Its global prevalence was estimated to be approximately 32% in the years 1994-2019. More than half of obese individuals and patients with diabetes are reported to have NAFLD as a comorbidity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) berry on insulin resistance and steatosis in rats fed a high-fructose diet. Methods: Six-week-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group received a diet consisting of 65% corn starch, while the fructose and experimental groups were fed a diet comprising 65% fructose (FRU) and an FRU diet containing 0.5% (low-dose autumn olive berry group; LAO) or 1.0% (high-dose autumn olive berry group; HAO) ethanol extract of autumn olive berry, respectively, for 10 weeks. Results: The HAO group exhibited significantly lower blood glucose levels compared to the fructose-fed group. Both the LAO and HAO groups showed a substantial reduction in serum insulin levels and insulin resistance when compared to the fructose-fed group. The consumption of LAO and HAO significantly ameliorated dyslipidemia and reduced the levels of triglycerides in the liver compared to the fructose-fed group. Additionally, the consumption of HAO resulted in lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities compared to the fructose group. The hepatic expression of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) was significantly reduced in the LAO and HAO groups compared to the fructose group. Conclusion: Autumn olive berries improved steatosis by ameliorating insulin resistance and down-regulating the lipogenesis proteins in rats fed on high fructose diet.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Made using a natural mixed starter of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, Koumiss is a slightly alcoholic fermented mare's milk beverage, and a traditional drink of the nomadic populations of Central Asia. Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) is a sedative with potential cardioactive properties, and its oligosaccharides are beneficial in maintaining healthy gastrointestinal flora. Hence, in this study, we have generated a functional Koumiss containing two different concentrations of chicory. After fermentation of the Koumiss premix, the TA increased to 0.85~0.88%, and the pH decreased to ~4.3. The addition of either concentration of chicory had no significant effect on pH and TA. However, the taste, flavor, color, texture, and overall acceptability decreased in proportion to the added amount of chicory. This study has provided the first data on Koumiss supplemented with chicory. The results could be useful in developing high-quality Koumiss with functional activity using chicory, and allowing large-scale industrial production. Further studies are needed to determine if chicory root extract is beneficial for lifestyle-related diseases.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.326-330
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• 2001

The characteristics of used wine yeast strains were as follows, S6U showed low fermentation speed than those of other yeast strains, but this strain fermented completely later. The wine fermented by W-3 was very low contents of total acid, 0.75% and the ones fermented by UCD530 and AC- contained much extract, 3.26 mg/L and 3.22 mg/L respectively. The wine fermented by CEG and CS2 were predominant in yellowness, and EC1118 produced large amount of acetaldehyde, 49.9 mg/L than those of other strains. EC1118 and CY3079 displayed low methylene blue dyeing ratio, below 15%, meaning high alcohol tolerance yeast. UCD530 produced extremely high contents of glycerol, succinate and lactate compared with other strains. These properties revealed that UCD530 was a typical Saccharomyces bayanus species. The main organic acids produced by wine yeasts were pyruvate, lactate, succinate and acetate. The concentration of acetate in experimental wine could be divided into two parts, one group had concentration below 170 mg/L (UCD530, EC1118, AC-, CY3079, W-3), and the other had concentration up to 350 mg/L (S6U, CEG, CS2).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.762-768
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• 2014

In this study, the ameliorating effects of lactic acid-fermented garlic extract (LAFGE) on non-alcoholic fatty liver were investigated using oleic acid-induced steatotic HepG2 cells. The ameliorating mechanism was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot. Treatment with 1 mg/mL LAFGE decreased intracellular lipid accumulation approximately 1.5-fold, compared to that achieved with non-fermented garlic extract. LAFGE reduced fatty acid influx into hepatocytes through down-regulation of FAT/CD36 mRNA expression in the steatotic HepG2 cells. $PPAR{\alpha}$ and CPT-1 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated by LAFGE treatment of HepG2 cells as a consequence of activation of beta oxidation. Additionally, the treatment with 1 mg/mL LAFGE highly down-regulated mRNA expression of SREBP-1c and FAS to 51% and 35%, respectively. LAFGE showed concentration-dependent down-regulation patterns in protein expression of SREBP-1c and FAS, as determined by Western blot. These results suggest that LAFGE treatment improves hepatic steatosis triggered by the imbalance of hepatic lipid metabolism owing to oleic acid treatment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2014

Sweet potato soju (SPS), a form of traditional distilled alcoholic liquor in Korea, is manufactured by the distillation of fermented broth under normal pressure, thus providing it for a uniquely smooth taste infused with the flavor of sweet potato. After distillation, the lees of SPS is produced as by-product and discarded. In this study, the ethanol and hot water extracts of lees of SPS, and their subsequent organic solvent fractions using hexane, ethylacetate (EA), butanol, and water residue were prepared in an effort at the efficient re-use of the lees of SPS. The ethanol extraction yield was 1.36-fold higher than that of the hot water extraction, and the EA fraction revealed the highest total polyphenol content among the solvent fractions. The various extracts and solvent fractions did not demonstrate hemolytic activity at up to 0.5 mg/ml concentrations against human red blood cells. In the bioactivity assay, only the EA fraction displayed a broad spectrum of anti-microbial activity against different pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria, and demonstrated significant anti-coagulation activity by inhibitions of thrombin, prothrombin and blood coagulation factors. Furthermore, only the EA fraction from the hot water extract of the lees of SPS showed anti-platelet aggregation activity, which is comparable to aspirin (a commercially available drug). Our results suggest that the EA fraction of the hot water extract prepared from the lees of SPS has a high potential as a novel resource for anti-microbial and anti-thrombosis agents.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1465-1470
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• 1999

Aroma was extracted from Applemint(Mentha rotundifolia(L.) Huds) with SDE(simultaneous distillation and extraction), SFE(supercritical fluid extraction) and headspace method and the compounds of aroma were tentatively identified with GC-MS. The functionality of aroma compounds were determined with GC-olfactometry. Total 67 compounds were identified. Among them, 39 compounds were determined from SDE, 42 from SFE and 16 from headspace extract. Many terpene compounds were extracted with SDE and headspace methods but hydrocarbones with SFE. The major constituents of aroma obtained from SDE and SFE, were piperitenone oxide, germacrene-D and trans sabinene hydrate, but those from headspace method were 3-octanol, 1,8-cineol, camphene and benzeneacetaldehyde. Results of sniffing test, determining characteristics and strength of aroma showed that the major constituents of SDE extract were refreshing sweet and apple-like(ethyl-2-methyl butanoate), sweet and fruity-like$({\alpha}-thujene)$, fresh mushroom-like(1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanol), and bitter herb-like$({\delta}-cadidene)$. Major constituents of aroma extracts obtained from headspace method were alcoholic, refreshing sweet and apple-like(ethyl 2-methyl butanoate), unpleasant chemical, and bitter herb and grassy-like(camphene).