• Title/Summary/Keyword: ecology and anti-ecology

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Roles of Fucoidan, an Anionic Sulfated Polysaccharide on BSA-Stabilized Oil-in-Water Emulsion

  • Kim, Do-Yeong;Shin, Weon-Sun
    • Macromolecular Research
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.128-132
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    • 2009
  • Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, is an important material valued for its various biological functions, including anti-coagulation, anti-aging, and immune system support. In this study, we examined the potential of fucoidan as a novel emulsifying agent in BSA (bovine serum albumin)-stabilized emulsion at a neutral pH. We measured the dispersed oil-droplet size, surface zeta-potential and creaming formation of 0.5 wt% BSA emulsion (20 wt% oil traction) in the absence and presence of fucoidan. The average particle size and zeta-potential value were 625.4 nm and -30.91 mV in only BSA-stabilized emulsion and 745.2 nm and -44.2 mV in 1.0 wt% fucoidan-added BSA emulsion, respectively. This result suggested that some positive charges of the BSA molecules interacted with the negative charges of fucoidan to inhibit the flocculation among the oil droplets. The creaming rate calculated from the backscattering data measured by Turbiscan dramatically decreased in 1.0 wt% fucoidan-added BSA emulsion during storage. Accordingly, the repulsion forces induced among the oil particles coated with 1.0 wt% fucoidan in emulsion solution resulted in significantly increased emulsion stability. The turbidity of the BSA-stabilized emulsion at 500 nm decreased during five days of storage. However, the fucoidan-added BSA emulsion exhibited a higher value of turbidity than the BSA-stabilized emulsion did. In conclusion, an anionic sulfated fucoidan lowered the surface zeta-potential of BSA-coated oil droplets via the electrostatic interaction, and subsequently inhibited the flocculation among the oil droplets, thereby clearly minimizing the creaming and phase separation of the emulsion.

Occurrence characteristics and management plans of an ecosystem-disturbing plant, Hypochaeris radicata (생태계교란 식물인 서양금혼초의 발생특성과 관리방안)

  • In-Yong Lee;Seung-Hwan Kim;Yong-Ho Lee;Sun-Hee Hong
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.273-282
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    • 2023
  • Hypochaeris radicata, native to Europe and Eurasia, is a perennial plant of the Asteraceae family. In Korea, H. radicata was reported in 1992, mainly in Jeju Island, and gradually spreading to the inland. It overwinters in the form of a rosette and blooms yellow flowers from May to June. H. radicata propagates by seeds and rhizomes. The germination temperature of the seed is 15/20℃ (day/night), and the rhizome forms a new plant at a depth of 2-3cm in the soil. The roots of H. radicata secrete allelochemicals that inhibit the development of other plants. Some use it as a salad or forage substitute but to a limited extent. However, extensive research on ampicillin contained in H. radicata has been conducted, and its anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects have been recognized. There are only a few methods to manage H. radicata both culturally and physically. In orchards, soil treatments such as oxyfluorfen and diclobenil, or nonselective foliar treatments such as glufosinate-ammonium and glyphosate are used. Notably, there are no known biological control agents.

Inhibitory Effects on the Enzymes Involved in the Inflammation by the Ethanol Extracts of Plant Foodstuffs (식물성 일반식품 자원의 에탄올 추출물이 염증 효소계에 미치는 영향)

  • Kwon, Eun-Sook;Kim, Il-Rang;Kwon, Hoon-Jeong
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.348-352
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    • 2007
  • Inflammation is a complex process resulting from a variety of mechanisms. Combined inhibition of the activities of enzymes involved in the process may therefore be considered more important in anti-inflammatory property of plant extracts than any single contribution. In this study, the inhibitory effects of the ethanol extracts of thirty plant foods on the activities of secretory phospholipase $A_{2}$ ($sPLA_{2}$), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) were examined. Several legumes, mungbean sprout and some leaf vegetables inhibited the activity of $sPLA_2$, upstream enzyme of inflammation pathway. Only soybean sprout and mungbean sprout significantly inhibited 12-LOX activity. Although most of extracts inhibited the activities of both COX-1 and COX-2, water dropwort and amaranth showed selectivity for the inhibition of COX-2 over COX-1. Especially, mungbean showed anti-inflammatory property at both upstream and downstream of inflammation pathway with relatively low $IC_{50}$ values for $sPLA_{2}$ and COX-2 enzymes. Mungbean sprout exhibited inhibitory effects on all enzymes related to early and late inflammation and soybean sprout suppressed 12-LOX and COX-2 simultaneously, although the activities of these plants were showed at relatively high concentration. Therefore, mungbean, mungbean sprout, and soybean sprout appear to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by combined inhibition of inflammatory enzymes.

Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory Activities and Mechanisms of Microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum

  • Kim, Jeong Hwa;Kim, Sang Min;Pan, Cheol-Ho;Choi, Joong-Kook;Lee, Jae Kwon
    • Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.56 no.2
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    • pp.61-67
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    • 2013
  • Due to their diversity and abundancy, marine resources have emerged as important biological resources to compensate the limited sources of terrestrial biological materials. Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) is one of classical model diatoms most widely studied for its ecology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. In this study, four different PT extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages were compared for anti-inflammatory effect and investigated for the underlying mechanisms. The extracts of PT inhibited nitric oxide production from LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a dose dependent manner. These extracts also inhibited the expression of mRNA and production of proteins of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. These inhibitory effects were found to be caused by blockage of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activation and phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase.

A Study on the Botanical Garden Visitors' Eco-consciousness and Motivation (식물원 이용객의 생태의식과 이용동기에 관한 연구)

  • Jeong, Jae-Man
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.235-246
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    • 2014
  • The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between botanical garden visitors' ecological consciousness and their needs, in order to provide some effective measures to manage them. For this purpose, 3 study points were set up: "botanical garden visitors' ecological consciousness and their needs", "differences of such consciousness depending on their demographic variables" and the "relationship between such consciousness and their needs". To this end, Botanical garden 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 Botanical garden for 3 days. As a result, a total of 360 questionnaires were returned. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; First, the visitors' ecological consciousness and their needs were higher than normal level. In terms of their consciousness of ecology, their awareness of the ecological crisis potential and anti-humanism were the highest. In terms of their needs, the aesthetic need was the highest, followed by the cognitive need. On the other hand, the needs for self-achievement and self-esteem were the lowest; except them, the higher the needs were positioned at Maslow's ladder of desire, the more responsive the subjects became. 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 3 times higher than 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' ecological consciousness and their needs was 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 ecological consciousness, it was found that the higher their consciousness of ecology was, the higher their needs were. Overall, botanical garden visitors' ecological awareness 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 also continue to increase. Accordingly, it is important to manage the wetland landscape making use of its visual resources, while keep providing the visitors with the contents fulfilling their need for knowledge.

Effects of Fractions from Benincasa hispida on Inhibition of Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes (동과 분획물이 3T3-L1 지방세포 분화 억제에 미치는 영향)

  • You, Yang-Hee;Jun, Woo-Jin
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.41 no.7
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    • pp.895-900
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    • 2012
  • The effects of three fractions, hexane (BHHH), chloroform (BHHC), and ethyl acetate (BHHE), from water extract of Benincasa hispida on the underlying mechanisms of adipogenesis were investigated in 3T3-L1 cells. Intracellular lipid droplets were stained with Oil Red O dye and quantified. Compared to control, lipid accumulation significantly decreased by 11% and 13% upon treatment with BHHC and BHHE, respectively at a concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels were also reduced by 21% and 16%, respectively, at the same concentration. To determine the mechanism behind the reductions in TG content and lipid accumulation, glycerol release and expression levels of adipogenic marker genes were measured. The levels of free glycerol released into culture medium increased by 13% and 17% upon treatment with BHHC and BHHE, respectively. In subsequent measurements using real-time polymerization chain reaction, the mRNA levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$, C/$EBP{\alpha}$, and leptin significantly decreased upon treatment with BHHE (45%, 67%, and 35%) in comparison with non-treated control. These results suggest that BHHE inhibits adipocyte differentiation by blocking $PPAR{\gamma}$, C/$EBP{\alpha}$, and leptin gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells, resulting in reduced lipid accumulation, increased glycerol release, and intracellular triglycerides.

The Study of Kitsch Aesthetic Symbol Represented in Modern Hair Style (현대 헤어스타일에 나타난 키치미의 상징성 연구)

  • Park, Kil-Soon;Lee, Su-In
    • Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.371-382
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    • 2000
  • Fashion, a means of communication, is the symbol conveying the social information and the individual identity. The opulence of material and the development of civilization make the sign of fashion variable and individual; especially, The importance of hair style among the today's sign of fashion, as a determinant element in judging each person's look is emphasized. Kitsch, based on the variety and the individuality is the manner of art in diverse hobbies. In addition, it enlarges the sphere of modern an, creates new open aesthetic world. Therefore, we need to understand the symbol of Kitsch aestetic represented in hair style, which is meaningful. The method of this study is quality analysis by means of semiology, aesthetics, Fashion artical, magazine, atc. To support this statement, we will study the form, a primary symbol, and the ideology, a secondly one in $\ulcorner$Mythologies$\lrcorner$ of Roland Bartes(1972). Then by means of the form and the ideology, we will try to recognize the myth, an essential symbol. The result of this study is following like these three points. First, the Kitsch patterns of representation in hair style use the accumulation by an excessive ornamentation; the inappropriateness by the lack of form, the disagreement, the unbalance, and the nonfunctional form; and finally, the amusement by the reconstruction, the exotic, and the satire. The above three is true to the Barthes's primary symbol-the form. Second, the anti-traditionality(including the lack of form, the disagreement, and the unbalance), the homesickness(including the reconstruction and the exotic), and the eclecticism(including the parody and the mixed imitation) are created as the ideology of the liberal artistic notion, different from the past outlooks on aesthetic. This is true to the Barthes's secondly symbol-the ideology. Third, the form and the ideology enable us to express our own thoughts and to recover the humanity, which is the primary purpose of Kitsch aesthetic. The Kitsch hair style, as we witness, does lead the varied and liberal aesthetic world, create its accessible value, and place the art of hair style in a higher status.

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Effects of cranberry powder on serum lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in rats fed an atherogenic diet

  • Kim, Mi-Joung;Jung, Ha-Na;Kim, Ki-Nam;Kwak, Ho-Kyung
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.2 no.3
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    • pp.158-164
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    • 2008
  • This study investigated that the antioxidative effect of freeze-dried cranberry powder against protein and lipid oxidation and ameliorative effect of serum lipid profile in rat fed atherogenic diet. Six weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups: normal diet group with 5% com oil(control), atherogenic diet group with 5% com oil, 10% lard, 1% cholesterol, and 0.5% sodium cholate(HFC), atherogenic plus 2% cranberry powder diet group(HFC+C2), and atherogenic plus 5% cranberry powder diet group(HFC+C5), and respective diet and water were fed daily for 6 weeks. After the experimental period, the serum lipid profile, such as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride, ferric reducing ability of plasma(FRAP), plasma phenolics content, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, serum protein carbonyl and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) levels were examined. Total phenolic compound and total flavonoid levels in freeze-dried cranberry powder were 9.94 mg/g and 8.12 mg/g, respectively. Serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were not significantly different for cranberry powder treatment, but serum HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased in HFC+C5 group compared with HFC group. Plasma FRAP value tended to be increased by cranberry powder treatment though there was no significant difference. Plasma total phenol concentrations and SOD activities were not significantly different among all groups. Serum protein carbonyl and TBARS levels were significantly decreased in HFC+C5 group compared with HFC group. Overall results suggested that freeze-dried cranberry powder might have the serum lipid improving effect, as well as anti oxidative effect demonstrated by its protective effect against protein and lipid oxidation.

The Comparative Study of the First Ladies' Fashion Style from a Perspective of Modernism and Postmodernism - Centering around Jacqueline Kennedy and Michelle Obama - (모더니즘과 포스트모더니즘 관점에서 본 퍼스트레이디 패션 스타일 비교연구 - 재클린 케네디와 미셸 오바마를 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Misuk
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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    • v.63 no.8
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    • pp.14-26
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    • 2013
  • The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze Jacqueline Kennedy and Michelle Obama's fashion style from a perspective of modernism and postmodernism. The method utilized in this study was first, to examine the properties of modernism and postmodernism. Next, we explored the types of role performance of the first ladies and the application of their fashion as an aid to their roles through the precedents of the research concerning modernism and postmodernism. The results of the study are as follows. First, there was a trend of formalism and anti-formalism. Jacqueline Kennedy made her public appearances wearing a formal dress in order to express the first lady's authoritarian figure of restrained elegance. The fashion of the first lady aspired to formalism. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama followed more of a free style by eschewing the typical formality of the first lady. She created diverse styles utilizing a variety of items, which were not interrupted by form or by using heterogeneous items. Second, there is a trend of elitism and populism. While Jacqueline Kennedy preferred only haute couture designers' costume in order to show the prestige and dignity of the upper class, Michelle Obama patronized unknown designers' clothing or mid-level casual brand goods that the public favors in order to interact with the public through her fashion. Third, while modernism regards totality or unity to be important, postmodernism puts an emphasis on the eclecticism by pursuing complexity and diversity through the deconstruction of an indigenous genre. In case of Jacqueline Kennedy, this tendency featured monotone clothing color, which presented a unified full set dress that excluded decoration. Michelle Obama, in contrast, mixed and matched formal dresses and a casual cardigan or felicitously mixed luxury brand or low to middle priced brand goods.

The Antibacterial Effects of Backryeoncho(Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten) Extracts as Applied to Kimchi Fermentation with Lactic Acid Bacteria and Food Poisoning Bacteria (백련초 추출물의 김치발효 젖산균과 식중독균에 대한 항균효과)

  • Lee, Young-Sook;Sohn, Hee-Sook;Rho, Jeong-Ok
    • Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.1213-1222
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    • 2011
  • This research evaluated antibacterial and growth inhibition effects on three kinds of lactic acid bacteria and five kinds of food poisoning bacteria using Backryencho powder, hot water, 70% ethanol, and 95% ethanol extracts. Antibacterial activity was shown against Leu. mensenteroides for 8 and 10 mg/disc of the 95% ethanol extract solution and strong proliferation inhibition effects were displayed against B. subtilis, Stap. aureus, E. coli, and S. typhimurium. High antibacterial activity according to certain clear zone formations was shown especially for the 10 mg/disc. A 3% concentration of the 95% ethanol extract showed high growth inhibition effects against lactic acid bacteria, L. brevis, L. plantarum, and Leu. mesenteroids. The measurement of viable cell counts of S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis, and S. typhimurium indicated suppression effects by the 3% concentration of the 95% ethanol extract, at 49.60%, 41.54%, 35.95%, 28.82%, and 26.60% respectively. The antibacterial activities of the hot water, 70% ethanol, 95% ethanol extract of Backryencho against food poisoning bacteria and Kimchi fermentation lactic acid bacteria were confirmed through various methods of antibiotic measurement. Based on these results, Backryencho extract is considered a good source for a range of applications as a natural anti-bacterial agent for the storage ability of Kimchi and as a possible food preservative.