• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.729-734
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• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to assess the possibility of transforming platycodin glycosides using various strains of probiotic bateria and edible fungi. Among the experimental microorganisms assess herein, Aspergillus niger KCTC 6909 evidenced the highest level of platycodin glycoside hydrolysis during fermentation. Particularly in cases in which the organism was incubated in the presence of rhamnose and platycodins. In order to produce the enzyme from Aspergillus niger effectively, various incubation conditions were assessd in order to determine the optimal conditions. The cytotoxicity on V79-4 (Chinese- hamster lung fibroblasts, normal cells) of platycodin was reduced significantly after conversion (concentration on $500{\mu}g/mL$, $1000{\mu}g/mL$); DPPH radical scavenging activity before conversion was 35.05%, and was 57.44% afterward. We noted significantly higher conversion activity inhibiting oxidative degradation. In conclusion, these results indicate that the proper combination of food microorganisms -and fermentation conditions can result in an increase in the glycoside hydrolysis of platycodin the resultant products of which reduce cytotoxicity- and increase anti-oxidant activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.733-741
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• 2006

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary calcium and soy isoflavone on body fat and lipid metabolism in high fat-induced obesity. Four week old female C57/BL6J mice, known as a good model of diet-induced obesity, were fed low Ca and high fat diet for 6 weeks. After induced obesity, mice were divided into six groups according to diets varying calcium contents (0.1 or 1.5%) and genistein contents (0 or 500 or 1,000 ppm). Body weight, fat pad (perirenal fat and parameterial fat), adipocyte size, serum total lipid and total cholesterol were significantly decreased by both high Ca intake and genistein supplementation. However, the effect of genistein supplementation showed in low Ca-fed groups. Serum LDL-cholesterol and TG were significantly decreased by high Ca intake and genistein supplementation, respectively. In liver, lipogenic enzymes (fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme) activity and TG were significantly decreased by both high Ca intake and genistein supplementation. This inhibitory effect of genistein on lipogenic enzymes showed in low Ca-fed groups. But liver total cholesterol and total lipid were significantly decreased by high Ca intake and genistein supplementation, respectively. Fecal excretion of total lipid, total cholesterol and TG were significantly increased by high Ca intake, not by genistein supplementation. In conclusion, high calcium intake and genistein supplement may be beneficial for suppression of obesity through direct anti-adipogenesis by decreasing fat weight and size and indirect anti-lipo-genesis by inhibiting lipogenic enzymes activity and improving lipid profile.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.80-84
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• 2008

Beneficial effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplement on age-associated chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes, have been reported. However, its mechanism of action in hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo has not been investigated in detail. We have previously shown that during hepatocellular carcinogenesis, DHEA treatment decreases formation of preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci in the liver and has antioxidant effects. Here we aimed to determine the mechanism of actions of DHEA, in comparison to vitamin E, in a chemically-induced hepatocellular carcinoma model in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with control diet without a carcinogen, diets with 1.5% vitamin E, 0.5% DHEA and both of the compounds with a carcinogen for 6 weeks. The doses were previously reported to have anti-cancer effects in animals without known toxicities. With DHEA treatment, cytosolic malate dehydrogenase activities were significantly increased by ${\sim}5$ fold and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were decreased by ${\sim}25%$ compared to carcinogen treated group. Activities of Se-glutathione peroxidase in the cytotol was decreased siguificantly with DHEA treatment, confirming its antioxidative effect. However, liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and NADPH-dependent cytochrome P-450 reductase activities were not altered with DHEA treatment. Vitamin E treatment decreased cytosolic Se-glutathione peroxidase activities in accordance with our previous reports. However, vitamin E did not alter glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase or malate dehydrogenase activities. Our results suggest that DHEA may have decreased tumor nodule formation and reduced lipid peroxidation as previously reported, possibly by increasing the production of NADPH, a reducing equivalent for NADPH-dependent antioxidant enzymes. DHEA treatment tended to reduce glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities, which may have resulted in limited supply for de novo synthesis of DNA via inhibiting the hexose monophophaste pathway. Although both DHEA and vitamin E effectively reduced preneoplastic foci in this model, they seemed to fimction in different mechanisms. In conclusion, DHEA may be used to reduce hepatocellular carcinoma growth by targeting NADPH synthesis, cell proliferation and anti-oxidant enzyme activities during tumor growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Community Living Science Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.60-62
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• 2006

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.198-205
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The anti-diabetic activity of pear through inhibition of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ has been demonstrated. However, little has been reported about the effect of pear on insulin signaling pathway in obesity. The aims of this study are to establish pear pomace 50% ethanol extract (PPE)-induced improvement of insulin sensitivity and characterize its action mechanism in 3T3-L1 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Lipid accumulation, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) secretion and glucose uptake were measure in 3T3-L1 cells. Mice were fed HFD (60% kcal from fat) and orally ingested PPE once daily for 8 weeks and body weight, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum lipids were measured. The expression of proteins involved in insulin signaling pathway was evaluated by western blot assay in 3T3-L1 cells and adipose tissue of mice. RESULTS: In 3T3-L1 cells, without affecting cell viability and lipid accumulation, PPE inhibited MCP-1 secretion, improved glucose uptake, and increased protein expression of phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 [p-IRS-1, ($Tyr^{632})$)], p-Akt, and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4). Additionally, in HFD-fed mice, PPE reduced body weight, HOMA-IR, and serum lipids including triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol. Furthermore, in adipose tissue, PPE up-regulated GLUT4 expression and expression ratio of p-IRS-1 ($Tyr^{632})/IRS$, whereas, down-regulated p-IRS-1 ($Ser^{307})/IRS$. CONCLUSIONS: Our results collectively show that PPE improves glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells and insulin sensitivity in mice fed a HFD through stimulation of the insulin signaling pathway. Furthermore, PPE-induced improvement of insulin sensitivity was not accompanied with lipid accumulation.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.369-374
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• 2009

This study analyzed and examined the anti-oxidant properties of Saengmaegsan chocolate, and blood glucose levels were examined according to the Saengmaegsan chocolate intake. The total carbohydrate content of the chocolate was 57.8%, crude fat was 31.5%, crude ash was 1.6%, and crude protein was 4.0%. In Saengmaegsan chocolate. Furthermore, total polyphenol content of Saengmaegsan chocolate was 191.52 mg/100 g and DPPH scavenging activity was 87.06%. The radical scavenging activity of the Saengmaegsan chocolate was higher than that of normal milk chocolate. Also, blood glucose levels were significantly lower, by Saengmaegsan chocolate intake, than by normal milk chocolate intake. These results indicate that Saengmaegsan chocolate can be used as a safe and is clinically applicable as a supplementation of in diet therapy for both healthy and diabetic persons.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.310-319
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• 2012

In order to investigate the biological effects of conformational changes in the folding state of bovine ${\alpha}$-lactalbumin (${\alpha}$-La), the protein was prepared and classified as apo form, microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) added form, or bovine ${\alpha}$-La made lethal to tumor cell (BAMLET) form. Apo ${\alpha}$-La form showed weaker cancer cell inhibitory activity (apoptosis) than native ${\alpha}$-La, which suggests that the metal ion-like $Ca^{2+}$ had a positive effect, whereas BAMLET form showed strong cancer cell apoptotic activity. The BAMLET form seemed to be a molten globule structure that increased hydrophobicity. MTGase added to apo ${\alpha}$-La polymer showed similar anti-cancer activity as native ${\alpha}$-La, and it was well hydrolyzed by digestive enzymes. NMR results showed that BAMLET interacted with oleic acid and produced a complex.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2006

Methanol extracts (80%, $10{\mu}g/mL$) of Actinidia chinensis (AC) and Zizyphus jujube(ZJ) inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) induced by compound 48/80. Evaluation of AC and ZJ solvent fractions (chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water) revealed that the butanol fraction of AC at $5{\mu}g/mL$ and water fraction of ZJ at $1{\mu}g/mL$ exhibited the highest anti-allergic effects. Combination of the butanol fraction of AC and water fraction of ZJ when combined showed higher inhibition of histamine release than either alone. The levels of cAMP in RPMCs treated with AC and ZJ were significantly increased compared to the compound 48/80 treated control. Our findings suggest that the extracts from AC and ZJ may alleviate immediate hypersensitivity reactions through the increase of cAMP in the mast cells.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.251-254
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• 1999

Astaxanthin is one of many carotenoids present in marine animals, vegetables and fruits. Since carotenoids are known to exert antioxidant actions, we explored to determine if astaxnathin could have such regulatory actions in normal-and $CCl_4$-treated rat liver. Astaxanthin treatment caused a slight increase in $\alpha$-tocopherol levels in the control rat liver. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was significantly increased by astaxanthin in a dose-dependent manner and its activity decreased in response to $CCl_4$treatment was slightly inhibited by astaxanthin. These results suggest that astaxanthin could protect liver damages induced by $CCl_4$via inhibiting lipid peroxidation and it may have a potential to activate the anti-oxidant system of normal liver by stimulating $\alpha$-tocopherol production.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.147-157
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between wetland visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs and thereby, provide for some effective measures to manage them. For this purpose, 3 study points were set up: "wetland visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs", "differences of such consciousness depending on their demographic variables" and the "relationship between such consciousness and their needs". To this end, Upo Wetland visitors were surveyed for an empirical analysis. The visitors' awareness about ecology was measured with Dunlap's 15-item NEP Inventory, while their needs were analyzed in reference to Maslow's 7-Step Human Desire Ladder. The survey was conducted at Upo Wetland for 3 days, and as a result, a total of 228 questionnaires were returned. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; First, the visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs were higher than the normal level. In terms of their consciousness of ecology, their awareness of the ecological crisis potential and anti-humanism was highest. In terms of their needs, the aesthetic need was highest, followed by the cognitive one. On the other hand, the needs for self-achievement and self-esteem were lowest; except them, the higher the needs were positioned at Maslow's ladder of desire, and subjects were more responsive to them. As a result of analyzing the correlation between the subjects' consciousness of ecology and their needs, it was found that the correlation was negative in some sub-areas, while being positive in other sub-areas. After all, the ratio of the sub-areas having a positive correlation was as 3 times high as that of the sub-areas having a negative correlation. Even as for the correlation coefficient values, they were higher in the positive sub-areas, which suggests that the correlation between wetland visitors' consciousness of ecology and their needs were positive, although at a lower level, in overall terms. As a result of comparatively analyzing visitors' needs by dividing them into 3 sub-groups depending on the levels of their consciousness of ecology, it was found that the higher their consciousness of ecology was, their needs were higher. Overall, wetland visitors' awareness of ecology was higher than the normal level, and it was estimated that such awareness would continue to increase. Hence, it could be inferred that their needs, particularly, their aesthetic and cognitive ones would continue to increase, too. Accordingly, it is deemed important to manage the wetland landscape making use of its visual resources, while continuing to provide the visitors with the contents fulfilling their need for knowledge.