• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2007

The crude biopolymer (AS-S1) and endobiopolymer (AS-S2) were isolated from the dry stem bark of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus and tested for anti complement activity. The two potent anticomplement biopolymers, AS-1 and AS-2-Fr.I, were isolated by the combination of ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration methods from the endo-biopolymers (AS-S2). The anticomplement activity of AS-1 (MW 12 kDa) and AS-2-Fr.I (MW 180 kDa) were found to be 84.4% and 100.0%, respectively, at the concentration of $25{\mu}g/ml$. Activated pathway of the complement system occurred in both classical and alternative pathways, as evidenced by crossed immunoelectrophoresis(CIEP), where a major pathway was detected to be the classical one. It was found that the anticomplement activities of the periodate oxidized were decreased significantly, but those of pronase digested biopolymers of AS-1 and AS-2-Fr.I were decreased very little. The AS-1 contained 2,4,6-tri-O-methyl-D-glucitol, 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-D-galacitol, and 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-D-galacitol, which indicated that AS-1 contained a $(1{\rightarrow}3),\;(1{\rightarrow}4)-linked$ glucopyranosyl residue and a $(1{\rightarrow}4)-linked$ galactosyl residue. AS-2-Fr.I contained mainly 2,4-di-O-methyl-D-mannitol and 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-D-galacitol, which contained $(1{\rightarrow}3),\;(1{\rightarrow}6)$ linked mannosyl and $(1{\rightarrow}6)$ linked galactosyl residues.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.84-90
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• 2006

During our search for macrophage stimulating compounds from medicinal plants, we isolated biopolymers from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus. Isolated fraction AS-5 showed maximum potential, and stimulated lysosonal enzymatic activity by 230% at $300\;{\mu}g/ml$. The nitric oxide (NO) producing ability of AS-5 $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ was $58\;{\mu}M$ when treated with interferon-$\gamma$ and lipopolysaccharide $20\;{\mu}g/ml$. The lymphocyte proliferating effects of isolated biopolymer fractions were also investigated. Highest lymphoproliferative activity (a 2.8-fold enhancement compared to saline treated group was exhibited by AS-3 at $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ followed by AS-5 and AS-6. The AS-3 fraction stimulated only T-lymphocytes and had little or no effect on B-lymphocyte proliferation. Partially methylated alditol acetates were prepared to elucidate the glycosyl linkage-compositions of the AS-3 and AS-5 biopolymers, and were analyzed by GC-MS. The AS-3 and AS-5 biopolymer fractions were found to contain 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-D-glucitol, 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-D-galacitol 3,4,6-tri-O-methyl-galacitol, 2-O-methyl-arabinitol and 2,4,6-tri-O-methyl-D-glucitol, 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-D-galacitol linkages, respectively.

• Mycobiology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2007

Hypolipidemic effect of biopolymers extracted from culture broth (CP), mycelia (MP), and fruiting bodies (FP) of Auricularia auricula-judae was investigated in dietary-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The experimental animals were administrated (100 mg/kg body weight) with different biopolymers, daily for 4 weeks. Hypolipidemic effects were achieved in all the experimental groups, however, FP was proved to be the most potent one. The administration of the FP reduced the plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherogenic index by 24.3, 28.5, 36.4, and 40.9%, respectively, while increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (9.0%), when compared to the saline (control) administered group.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.21-26
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• 2018

Soil-water characteristic curve, which is called soil retention curve, is required to explore water flows in unsaturated soils, relative permeability of water in multi-phase fluids flow, and change to stiffness and volume of soils. Thus, the understanding of soil-water characteristic curves of soils help us explore the behavior of soils inclduing fluids. Biopolymers are environmental-friendly materials, which can be completely degraded by microbes and have been believed not to affect the nature. Thus, various biopolymers such as deacetylated power, polyethylene oxide, xanthan gum, alginic acid sodium salt, and polyacrylic acid have been studies for the application to soil remediation, soil improvement, and enhanced oil recovery. PAA (polyacrylic acid) is one of biopolymers, which have shown a great effect in enhanced oil recovery as well as soil remediation because of the improvement of water-flood performance by mobility control. The study on soil-water characteristic curves of sandy soils containing PAA (polyacrylic acid) has been conducted through experimentations and theoretical models. The results show that both capillary entry pressure and residual water saturation dramatically increase according to the increased concentration of PAA (polyacrylic acid). Also, soil-water characteristic curves by theoretical models are quite well consistent with the results by experimental studies. Thus, soil-water characteristic curves of sandy soils containing biopolymers such as PAA (polyacrylic acid) can be estimated using fitting parameters for the theoretical model.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1997

• Mycobiology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.106-109
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• 2008

The anti-tumor effects of exo- (EX) and endo-biopolymers (EN) produced from submerged mycelial cultures of Ganoderma applanatum (GA), Collybia confluens (CC), and Pleurotus eryngii (PE) were studied using Sarcoma 180 bearing mice. Solid tumor growth was inhibited most effectively when 40 mg/kg body weight (BW) of GA-EX or PE-EN was administered to the intraperitoneal (i.p.) cavity of BALB/c mice. The spleen and liver indexes were increased in mice following i.p. administration of GA-EX and PE-EN fractions. GA-EX and PE-EN reduced the tumor formation by 30.7% and 29.4%, respectively. GA-EX and PE-EN increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity of splenocytes by 41.3% and 28.9%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.38-46
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• 2008

Many researchers have reported that many biopolymers making up cell walls of the microorganisms display an ion-exchange property and play a major role in the sorption of the metal ions. Such polymers derived from microbial biomass are potentially useful as biosorbent materials for recovery various metal ions in industrial applications. although synthetic polymers such as ion-exchange resins and chelating resins have been widely used as commercial sorbents. In this study, valuable and commercial biopolymers for metal removal will be introduced.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1027-1029
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• 2009

The aim of this research was to study the structural and rheological properties of gels formed by ferulated maize bran arabinoxylans (MBAX) at different concentrations. MBAX was cross-linked by a laccase leading to the formation of dimers and trimers of ferulic acid (di-FA, tri-FA) as covalent cross-link. An increase in MBAX gels elasticity (from 11 to 20 Pa) as well as lower mesh size (from 80 to 48 nm) were obtained by augmenting the MBAX concentration from 2.5 to 3.5%(w/v), respectively, but no increase in di-FA and tri-FA content was obtained (0.03 and 0.014 ${\mu}$g/mg MBAX, respectively).

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.691-709
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• 2007

Concerns on environmental waste problems caused by non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic packaging materials as well as consumer's demand for high quality food products has caused an increasing interest in developing biodegradable packaging materials using annually renewable natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides and proteins. However, inherent shortcomings of natural polymer-based packaging materials such as low mechanical properties and low water resistance are causing a major limitation for their industrial use. By the way, recent advent of nanocomposite technology rekindled interests on the use of natural biopolymers in the food packaging application. Polymer nanocomposites, especially natural biopolymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to their nanometer size dispersion. These improvements include increased mechanical strength, decreased gas permeability, and increased water resistance. Additionally, biologically active ingredients can be added to impart the desired functional properties to the resulting packaging materials. Consequently, natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials with bio-functional properties have huge potential for application in the active food packaging industry. In this review, recent advances in the preparation and characterization of natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite films, and their potential use in food packaging applications are addressed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.872-877
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• 2002

The hypolipidemic effect of the exe-biopolymer (EXBP) and endo-biopolymer (ENBP) produced from a submerged mycelial culture of Ganoderma lucidum was investigated in dietary-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Hypolipidemic effects were achieved in both the EXBP- and ENBP-treated groups, however, the former proved to be more potent than the latter. The administration of the EXBP (100 mg/kg body weight) substantially reduced the plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid levels, and atherogenic index by 31.0, 39.0, 35.4, 28.1, and 53.5%, respectively, when compared to the control group. The EXBP also lowered the liver total cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipid levels by 22.4, 23.1, and 12.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol were significantly increased by as much as 24.2% and 47.6%, respectively.