• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.462-469
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• 2010

Protamine has been widely used as a pharmaceutical product and natural food preservative. However, few studies have been conducted to assess the beneficial function of dietary protamine. This study examined the effects of dietary salmon protamine on serum and liver lipid levels and the expression levels of genes encoding proteins involved in lipid homeostasis in the liver of rats. Groups of male Wistar rats were fed AIN93G diet containing 2% or 5% protamine. After 4 weeks of feeding these diets, markedly decreased serum and liver cholesterol (CHOL) and triacylglycerol levels were noted. Increased activity of liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase-2 and acyl-CoA oxidase, which are key enzymes of fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation in the mitochondria and peroxisomes, was found in rats fed on protamine. Furthermore, rats fed protamine showed enhanced fecal excretion of CHOL and bile acid and increased liver mRNA expression levels of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) G5 and ABCG8, which form heterodimers and play a major role in the secretion of CHOL into bile. The decrease in triacylglycerol levels in protamine-fed rats was due to the enhancement of liver ${\beta}$-oxidation. Furthermore, rats fed protamine exhibited decreased CHOL levels through the suppression of CHOL and bile acid absorption and the enhancement of CHOL secretion into bile. These results suggest that dietary protamine has beneficial effects that may aid in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Lycii fructus on the serum lipid in rats fed high fat diet. We compared the effects of L. fructus and L.fructus water extract both adminstered with high fat diets on rats that had previously been on high fat or standard diets. Two separate experiments were conducted for 6 weeks. respectively. In experiment I, 4 groups of rats were fed experimental diets consisting of either \circled1 6 weeks of a standard diet(control), \circled2 6 weeks of a high-fat diet(HHC), \circled3 3 weeks of a high-fat diet followed by 3 weeks of a high-fat diet containing L. fructus(HHL) or \circled4 6 weeks of a high-fat diet with L. fructus extract in place of water for the last 3 weeks (HHT). In the second set of experiments, a high-fat diet (SHC), high-fat diet containing L.fructus(SHL) or high-fat diet with L. fructus extract in place of water (SHT) were fed for 3 weeks after 3 weeks of standard diet feeding. Rats fed L. fructus diet consumed more diets than high-fat diets. THe results of experiment I showed significant decreases(p<0.05) in serum triglyceride(TB) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels with L. fructus feedings, but did not show andy changes in total cholesterol (TC) level. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level was increased significantly(p<0.05) with L. fructus feedings. Therefore, the ration of LDL-C to HDL-C(LDL-C/HDL-C) which is used as an atherosclerosis index was significantly (p<0.05) low, while the HDL-c/TC ration was significantly(p<0.05) high with L.fructus intake. However, no significant were found in serum cholesterols and TG levels in experimentII. The results of these experiments indicate that , regardless of the feeding from, L. fructus can be beneficial in lowering serum TG and LDL-C levels for habitual high-fat diet intakers. L.fructus also seems to be effective in elevating serum HDL-C level, theregy having beneficial effects on atherosclerosis by influencing the serum lipoprotein profile.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 2008

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the laying stage which is a critical period for chick survival. We investigated the relationship of neonatal chick performance, brain antioxidant status and vitamin E supplementation level in hens. Starting at 17 weeks, hens were randomly divided into five groups. The control group received a basal diet without supplemental vitamin E (VE, dl-${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate). Other groups received the same basal diet supplemented with vitamin E (40, 80, 120 and 160 mg/kg) through growth to egg production. Hens were artificially inseminated at 28 weeks of age and egg yolks were collected at day two. All remaining eggs were hatched. Yolk vitamin E content, hatchability and fertility of eggs were evaluated. Brains of the newly hatched chicks were further evaluated for their oxidative stress status, antioxidative status and vitamin E levels. Increased reproductive performance was observed in fertility and hatchability in the group supplemented at 40 mg/kg. Egg yolk and neonatal brain ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was highest in eggs from hens fed 120 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg supplemental vitamin E, respectively. Brain MDA, ROS and iron levels were significantly higher in unsupplemented hens (p<0.01). SOD activity was significantly higher in the group supplemented at 160 mg/kg than in all other groups. We concluded that maternal supplementation of vitamin E had beneficial effects on fertility, hatchability of eggs, neonatal brain oxidative status and SOD activity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.981-989
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• 2019

Coffee is a popular beverage worldwide, and the scale of consumption is growing rapidly. Many studies have shown that increased coffee consumption has various effects on human health, including beneficial effects on liver diseases, clinical type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. However, the influences of coffee or caffeine (a component of coffee) on the gut microbiota have not been examined in detail. Here, we tested whether caffeine could alter the antimicrobial activity of L. casei against E. coli. Interestingly, we found that treatment with 0.3 mg/mL caffeine increased the antimicrobial activity of L. casei against E. coli. This activity was not associated with the release of lactic acid but did appear to be related to a heat-labile factor present in the L. casei culture supernatant. Our analyses suggest that the putative antimicrobial factor found in the culture supernatant of L. casei treated with caffeine may be bacteriocin. Taken together, our results suggest that caffeine, which is an ingredient of coffee, increases the antimicrobial activity of L. casei against E. coli through the enhanced production of bacteriocin. These findings also suggest that coffee consumption affects the ability of beneficial bacteria to decrease pathogenic bacteria and/or prevent the progression of bacterial infection-associated diseases in the gut.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.506-512
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• 2016

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is used in traditional herbal medicine in many Asian countries for the treatment of several diseases such as diabetes, eczema, night blindness, psoriasis, and rheumatism. Especially, most reports concerning the biological activities of bitter melon have focused on its effects on diabetes and hyperglycemia. Also, bitter melon is regarded as a longevity food, suggesting that it has several beneficial effects on anti-aging and the maintenance of a healthy state. Thus, we investigated whether bitter melon could increase the capacity of exercise in this study. Interestingly, bitter melon fruit extract activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is important for regulating glucose homeostasis, mitochondrial content and exercise capacity. In addition, bitter melon extract increased the expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation such as mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b (CPT1b), and pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 (PDK4). Moreover, exercise tolerance was much more enhanced in bitter melon treated animals compared to the non-treated control group. These results suggest that bitter melon is a promising candidate for the development of functional foods beneficial for physical strength and the enhancement of exercise capacity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.385-393
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of egg consumption and suggest proper guidelines for consumption of eggs by determining the relationship between eggs and cholesterol. Methods: Literature review was conducted on the relationship between nutritional, functional properties of eggs and serum cholesterol, as well as cardiovascular disease. Results: Eggs, which are a good protein food with complete amino acid composition, contain vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin $B1_2$, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, iron, choline, selenium, ${\beta}$-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, etc. However the egg yolk has a high cholesterol content, which is associated with chronic diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. As a result, its intake is subject to regulation. Outbreak of heart disease by yolk intake can show different results depending on the characteristics of the subjects, amount of egg intake, and the implications of other foods eaten. It is difficult to determine whether eggs are beneficial, as they are the main supplying source for other major nutritive elements as well. Several research studies insist that when cholesterol intake increases by 100 mg, the level of serum cholesterol increases by 2.2~4.5 mg/dL and when serum cholesterol increases by 1%, the risk of heart disease increases by 2%. This indicates that a large intake of eggs can increase the risk of heart disease. Although the cholesterol of egg yolk and serum cholesterol are correlated, it is insufficient to conclude that only cholesterol and not other components are related to heart disease. In fact, other components in egg such as various unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids could be related as well. Rather than concluding egg as a 'good' or 'bad' food according to its cholesterol content, it is important to define egg as a part of dietary patterns. Conclusion: Generalizing an indiscriminate and uniform amount of egg intake for all seems inadequate. However, patients with diabetes or heart disease should pay particular attention to the amount of egg intake. As for the norm, eating egg with vegetables as a substitute for other animal products seems beneficial.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2016

In perennial ginseng plantations, the effective control of various diseases is one of the most critical factors for increasing yields. Enhancing the resistance to disease through induced systemic resistance (ISR) and anti-microbial activity of beneficial soil bacteria, is currently considered to be a potential promising approach to integrate pathogen management for sustainable agriculture. However, the effective in vitro culture systems for testing ISR in ginseng plants have been rarely reported. In this study, I have successfully developed an in vitro germ-free culture system of Panax ginseng seedling for diverse purposes. With this useful system, we also tested BTH-induced priming effects against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum panacicola. Compared to the drain method for enhancing ISR effects to ginseng seedlings, the direct method of spraying leaves somewhat increased the defense activity to these major fungal pathogens. Consistently, the expression of pathogen related PgPR10 and PgCAT were greatly and rapidly enhanced in the BTH-treated ginseng seedlings by treatment with C. panacicola. Our results revealed that the in vitro culture system can be used for developing eco-friendly and versatile bio-control agents for harmful diseases in ginseng cultivation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.284-293
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• 2018

Objectives: Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the active ingredients of herbal plants such as Nigella sativa L. (NS) which has beneficial effects on the body. The beneficial effects of TQ on the cardiovascular system have reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TQ on cardiac fibrosis and permeability, serum and tissue concentration of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress status in chronic lipopolysaccharide exposure in male rats. Methods: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: (1) control; (2) LPS (1 mg/kg/day); (3-5) LPS + TQ with three doses of 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg (n=14 in each group). After 3 weeks, serum and cardiac levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, and cardiac levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol groups, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, permeability of heart tissue (evaluated by Evans blue dye method) and myocardial fibrosis were determined, histologically. Results: LPS administration induced myocardial and perivascular fibrosis and increased cardiac oxidative stress (MDA), inflammatory markers and heart permeability, while, reduced anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT) and the total thiol group. Administration of TQ significantly attenuated these observations. Conclusion: TQ improved myocardial and perivascular fibrosis through suppression of chronic inflammation and improving oxidative stress status and can be considered for attenuation of cardiac fibrosis in conditions with chronic low-grade inflammation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1454-1461
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• 2022

Palm kernel expeller (PKE), a by-product of palm oil extraction, contains higher amounts of fiber than corn and soybean meal, but offers low energy density, protein value, and amino acid (AA) composition, limiting its use for swine. Recently however, it was reported that dietary fiber has a positive effect on the gut microbiota of the host, and therefore it is necessary to study the effect of PKE feeding on the intestinal microbiota of swine. In this study, we investigated the effects of supplementation with PKE in lactation diets on the gut microbiota composition of lactating sows and their litters. A total of 12 sows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment groups in a completely randomized design. The treatments were a diet based on corn-soybean meal (CON) and CON supplemented with 20% of PKE. Sow and piglet fecal samples were collected before farrowing, on days 7 and 28 (weaning) after farrowing, and on days 7 and 28 (weaning) after farrowing, respectively, to verify gut microbiota composition by pyrosequencing analysis. The beta-diversity result showed a significant difference only in weaning-stage piglets, but dietary PKE altered the gut microbiota in sows by increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus compared with CON. In piglets, dietary PKE decreased the abundance of opportunistic pathogen Proteus and increased the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Prevotellaceae and Prevotella. Our results can be helpful in developing feeding strategies and support the beneficial effects of dietary PKE to improve the gut health of animals.