• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.694-705
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• 2023

Panax ginseng Meyer is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used as tonic in Asia. The main pharmacologically active components of ginseng are the dammarane-type ginsenosides, which have been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, neuroprotective, and metabolic regulatory activities. Moreover, some of ginsenosides (eg, Rh2 and Rg3) have been developed into nutraceuticals. However, the utilization of ginsenosides in clinic is restrictive due to poor permeability in cells and low bioavailability in human body. Obviously, the dammarane skeleton and glycosyls of ginsenosides are responsible for these limitations. Therefore, improving the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides has become a pressing issue. Here, based on the structures of ginsenosides, we summarized the understanding of the factors affecting the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides, introduced the methods to enhance the oral bioavailability and proposed the future perspectives on improving the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.19-19
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• 2007

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• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.98-106
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• 2004

Tomatoes and tomato products are the major source of lycopene in the diet. The bioavailability of lycopene is different in raw tomatoes compared to processed tomato products. This is due to the chemical and physical properties of the different lycopene isomers. All-trans-lycopene is found in raw tomatoes and is a poor bioavailable source, whereas, processed tomato products are more bioavailable because they contain more cis-isomers. Heat and mechanical processing of tomatoes induces rupture of the cell walls, thereby releasing lycopene from its food matrix. Heat processing also induces cis-trans isomerization and disrupts protein-carotenoid complexes. Many dietary components also impact lycopene bioavailability, like the amount and type of fat present with the intake and processing of tomato products, the amount and type of fiber present, and the interaction between carotenoids. Fundamentally, anything that enhances formation and incorporation of lycopene in bile acid micelles increases bioavailability, and the opposite is true in that anything that interferes with micelle formation decreases bioavailability.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: For the heavy metal cotamination sites, it is very important to estimate the human bioavailability quotients for heavy metals in paddy soils released from mine tailings, which is a major source of contamination in Korea, and to assess the human health risks of heavy metals. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was carried out to investigate the human bioavailability quotient of the heavy metals in paddy soils below part of the closed metalliferous mine. For estimating the human bioavailability quotients for heavy metals, 30 paddy soils below part of the closed mine were collected, and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As using simple bioavailability extraction test(SBET). The quantities of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and As extracted from paddy soils below part of the mine by using the SBET analysis were 28.1, 17.3, 34.1, 14.6 and 2.3% respectively. Specially, the maximum values of Cd, Pb and Zn were 73.3, 81.5 and 58.1% of human bioavailability quotient, respectively, and varied considerably among the sampling sites. The human bioavailability quotient of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in soils near the closed mine showed significant positive correlation among soil pH value, O.M. and Ex. Ca. contents, while it correlated negatively between soil Ex. K and Ex. Mg contents in paddy soils. Also, its of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in paddy soils showed significant positive correlation with 0.1M HCl extractable and total contents, while in soils, it correlated negatively with As content in soil near the closed mine. CONCLUSION: The results of the simple bioavailability extraction test (SBET) indicate that regular ingestion of soils by the local population could be closed a potential health threat due to long-term heavy metals exposure in these mine areas.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.327-331
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• 2002

Tea is a pleasant, popular and safe beverage in the world. During the past decade, epidemiological studies have shown that tea catechins intake is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Tea provides a dietary source of health-promoting components to help humans reduce a wide variety of cancer risks and chronic diseases. The antioxidative activity of tea-derived catchins has been extensively studied. The antioxidant effect is a synergistic action between catechins e.g. EGCG, EGC, ECG, EC, pheophytins a and b, and other components in tea leaves, which aye more bioavailable for human body. Green tea has a Higher content of catechins than other kinds of tea. Green tea extract with hot water has high potential and more efficiency to reduce cancer risk than any other tea products or pure EGCG. Protein, iyon, and other food components may interfere with the bioavailability of ten catechins. Interaction of catechins with drug affects the cancer-preventive activity of some cancer-fighting medication. Further studies are required to determine the bioavailability of tea catechins and cancer-preventive functionality.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.550-557
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Angelica keiskei is a green leafy vegetable rich in plant pigment phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids. This study examined bioavailability of flavonoids and carotenoids in Angelica keiskei and the alteration of the antioxidant performance in vivo. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS: Absorption kinetics of phytochemicals in Angelica keiskei were determined in healthy older adults (> 60 y, n = 5) and subjects with metabolic syndrome (n = 5). Subjects consumed 5 g dry Angelica keiskei powder encapsulated in gelatin capsules with a low flavonoid and carotenoid liquid meal. Plasma samples were collected at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h. Samples were analyzed for flavonoids and carotenoids using HPLC systems with electrochemical and UV detection, respectively, and for total antioxidant performance by fluorometry. RESULTS: After ingestion of Angelica keiskei increases in plasma quercetin concentrations were observed at 1-3 and 6-8 hr in the healthy group and at all time points in the metabolic syndrome group compared to baseline (P < 0.05). Plasma lutein concentrations were significantly elevated in both the healthy and metabolic syndrome groups at 8 hr (P < 0.05). Significant increases in total antioxidant performance were also observed in both the healthy and the metabolic syndrome groups compared to baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study clearly demonstrate the bioavailability of phytonutrients of Angelica keiskei and their ability to increase antioxidant status in humans.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2012

Mercury is a toxic and non-essential metal in the human body. Mercury is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, present in natural products, and exists extensively in items encountered in daily life. There are three forms of mercury, i.e., elemental (or metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. This review examines the toxicity of elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds. Inorganic mercury compounds are water soluble with a bioavailability of 7% to 15% after ingestion; they are also irritants and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Upon entering the body, inorganic mercury compounds are accumulated mainly in the kidneys and produce kidney damage. In contrast, human exposure to elemental mercury is mainly by inhalation, followed by rapid absorption and distribution in all major organs. Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%. The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney. Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier, while inorganic mercury compounds are not lipid soluble, rendering them unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Elemental mercury may also enter the brain from the nasal cavity through the olfactory pathway. The blood mercury is a useful biomarker after short-term and high-level exposure, whereas the urine mercury is the ideal biomarker for long-term exposure to both elemental and inorganic mercury, and also as a good indicator of body burden. This review discusses the common sources of mercury exposure, skin lightening products containing mercury and mercury release from dental amalgam filling, two issues that happen in daily life, bear significant public health importance, and yet undergo extensive debate on their safety.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.273-282
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• 2000

In order to investigate the extent and degree of arsenic and heavy metal contamination and the bioavailability of toxic elements around the abandoned mine in Korea, an environmental geochemical survey was undertaken in the Daduk mine. After appropriate preparation, tailings, soil, stream sediment, crop plant and fingernail samples were analysed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Elevated levels of 8,782 mg/kg As, 8.3 mg/kg Cd, 489 mg/kg Cu, 3,638 mg/kg Pb and 919 mg/kg Zn were found in tailings from the Daduk mine. These significant concentrations can impact on soils and sediments around the tailing ponds. Mean concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in soils are significantly higher than those in world average soil, especially for As and Pb. Element concentrations in sediments decrease with distance from the tailing ponds due to a dilution effect by the mixing of uncontaminated sediments. Arsenic and Cd are elevated in rice grains and stalks, and Cu and Zn concentrations in chinese cabbage, sesame and bean leaves are higher than the upper limit values for normal plant. Arsenic concentration in fingernails of farmers are higher than the normal level with a maximum value of 1.5 mg/kg. The post-ingestion bioavailability of toxic heavy metals in some paddy and farmland soils has been also investigated using the SBET (simple bioavailability extract test) method. The method utilises synthetic leaching fluids closelyanalogous to those of the human stomach. The quantities of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn extracted from paddy soils after 1 hour indicated 15.9, 65.4, 46.2, 39.4 and 29.4% bioavailability, respectively and for farmland soils, 12.4, 26.0, 31.2, 29.3 and 19.4% bioavailability, respectively. The results of the SBET indicate that regular ingestion of soils by the local population could pose a potential health threat due to long-term toxic element exposure.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.425-433
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• 1997

Levels and distribution of five B-6 vitamers(PMP, PM, PLP, PL, and PN) and pyridoxine $\beta$-glucoside conjugates(PN-glucoside) were examined in milk of American women who received supplements of 2.5 or 10mg PN HCl/d and of unsupplemented Egyptian women during the first six months of lactation. B-6 vitamer and PN-glucoside levels in human milk were determined by reverse-phase HPLC. Pyridoxal(PL), which has been reported to be the most rapidly absorbed form of vitamin B-6 and may facilitate bioavailability, was the predominant vitamer in human milk of all three groups. Pyridoxal made up 72% of total vitamin B-6 for the 2.5mg supplemented group, 76% for the 10mg group, and 59% for the Egyptian group. Level and Percent PL were significantly lower for Egyptian women. Mean growth of the two American groups was similar to each other and within the normal range of the NCHS reference, however, Egyptian infants showed growth faltering at 6 months. The Percent of PN-glucoside, a less bioavailable form of vitamin B-6 in humans was 1% in milk of American women and was 11% in Egyptian women and these values were significantly different. for Egyptian women, total vitamin B-6 levels in breast milk correlated Positively with animal protein intake(r=0.91) and percent PN-glucosides(r=0.53) and negatively with plant protein intake(r=-0.55). These findings showed that high plant protein intake was associated with low concentrations of PL and total vitamin B-6 in human milk.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.90-101
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• 2004

Se is essential for a number of enzymes that perform important metabolic functions necessary for good health. However, people in many countries do not appear to consume adequate amounts of Se to support the maximal expression of the selenoproteins and Se retention in the body of animals and humans is dependent on the ingested Se source such as organic and inorganic Se. Therefore, this review was discussed to explore metabolic characterization regarding intestinal absorption, bioavailability and selenoprotein synthesis according to animal species such as monogastrics including human beings and ruminants. Generally, organic Se provided to animals is more effective than inorganic Se in body retention for the animal owing to the difference of manner for intestinal absorption. But, Se absorption in ruminants depending on its chemical form still remained questioned by several microbial actions and feeding regimen in the rumen. And Se absorbed through small intestine is utilized for the synthesis of selenoproteins and/or retained as selenoamino acids in the body. Retained Se in the body may be recycled to synthesize selenoproteins as lacked of dietary Se. In conclusion, desirable forms of Se ingestion in the animal may be useful for Se fortification in animal products as well as well being for humans and animals.