• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2017

Objectives: The Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular opportunistic protozoan parasite that infects approximately one-third of the human population worldwide. Honey has long been used for treatment of many diseases in folk medicine. Honey has exhibited significant anthelmintic, nematicidal and anti-protozoal activities. This study was conducted to investigate the immunological patterns in rats infected with T. gondii who were treated orally with supplemented 15% Capparis spinosa honey (Saudi Arabia) for a period of 28 days. Methods: Immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, and cytokines were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In addition, the mortality and the morbidity rates were assessed. Results: Oral administration of Capparis spinosa honey as a natural food additive was experimentally shown to increase the antibody titer; furthermore, compared with the rats in the control group, the levels of the sera cytokines ($IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-1 and IL-6) were consistently higher at day 7 post-infection in the infected rats treated with oral supplements of Capparis spinosa honey. Conclusion: Orally administered supplements of Capparis spinosa honey increased both the antibody titer and the cytokines ($IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-1 and IL-6) levels in rats infected with T. gondii.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.803-812
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• 1997

The influences of dietary supplements of vitamin E on hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis have been studied, Placental glutathione S-transferase(GST-P) positive foci area, antioxidant enzymes(superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase(GST)), glucose 6-phosphatase(G6Pase) activities, and lipid peroxidation of mecrosomes(thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) contents) were investigated. For is purpose , we used the murine chemical hepatocardinogenic procedure induced by modified Ito model, which consists of 200mg/kg body weight diethylinitrosamine (DEN) injection, 0.01% 2-acethlaminoflurene(2-AAF) feeding for 6 weeks, and partial hepatectomy on week 3. Weanling Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed pulverized Purina rat chow with 15, 000IU/kg diet vitamin E from initiation or promotion stages. We found that vitamin E supplement decreased the area of GST-P positive foci. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase. GST activities, and TBARS contents were decreased. On the other hand G6Pase activities were increased by vitamin E supplement. It seemed that vitamin E supplements helped endogenous defense systems against carcinogenesis by decreasing TBARS contents, $H_2O$$_2$ and organic peroxides. So, vitamin E seemed to protect cell from free radical damage in carcinogenesis. Anticarcinogenic effects of vitamin E were more effective at intiation that at promotion stage. These results suggest that vitamin E has suppressive effects on hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis, probably through antioxidant effects against TBARS contents $H_2O$$_2$ and orgainc peroxides.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.274-285
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• 2006

Allium sativum (Family Amaryllidaceae or Liliaceae) is used worldwide for various clinical uses like hypertension, cholesterol lowering effect, antiplatelets and fibrinolytic activity etc. Due to these common house hold uses of Allium sativum, as a herbal supplements, and failure of patients to inform their physician of the over-the-counter supplements they consume leads to drugnutrient interactions with components in herbal supplements. Today these types of interactions between a herbal supplement and clinically prescribed drugs are an increasing concern. In vitro studies indicated that garlic constituents modulated various CYP (cytochrome P450) enzymes. CYP 3A4 is abundantly present in human liver and small intestine and contributes to the metabolism of more than 50% of commonly used drugs including nifedipine, cyclosporine, erythromycin, midazolam, alprazolam, and triazolam. Extracts from fresh and aged garlic inhibited CYP 3A4 in human liver microsomes. The in vivo effects of garlic constituents are found to be species depended and the dosing regimen of garlic constituents appeared to influence the modulation of various CYP isoforms. Studies have indicated that the inhibition of various CYPs by organosulfur compounds from garlic was related to their structure also. Studies using in vitro, in vivo, animal and human models have indicated that various garlic constituents can be the substrates, inhibitors and or inducers of various CYP enzymes. The modulation of CYP enzyme activity and expression are dependent on the type and chemical structure of garlic constituents, dose regime, animal species and tissue, and source of garlic thus this review throws light on the possible herb drug interaction with the use of garlic.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.864-872
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• 2005

Various types of functional foods for health (FFH) are popularly used among adolescents. We surveyed 858 students, $15.0 \pm$ 1.6 (14-18) years of age, attending general junior or senior high schools in Korea for FFH use and significant variables for their FFH use including demographic characteristics, food consumption frequency and nutritional beliefs. The use prevalence of FFH was $47.8\%$, and among all types of FFH, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by red ginseng products > enzyme containing products > plant extract-fermented products. FFH use was higher in older aged-group, subjects lived in small or middle city, and those from families with a high socioeconomic status in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents and usage ratio of FFH by family was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefit of FFH than did nonusers. Most users of FFH took FFH when they were healthy ($50.7\%$) , and they did not feel special effects through the FFH use ($57.1\%$) . Most users of FFH got the information on FFH through family and relatives ($61.5\%$) , and most of them purchased FFH at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics ($55.1\%$) . FFH users preferred vitamin C-and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin mineral supplements belonged to FFH. Given the widespread use of FFH by adolescents, the reasonable use of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being is a subject that is emphasized in nutrition education for them. (Korean J Nutrition 38(10) : 864$\sim$872,2005)

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.461-468
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• 2001

The effectiveness and safety of Enzyme Food, a group of dietary supplements designated by Korean Food Law, were evaluated and the possibility of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) application was investigated. Chemical composition, enzyme activities and the degree of bacterial contamination in 12 samples of different brands sold in Korean market were measured. The chemical composition of the selected products varied and inconsistent to those claimed in the label description. It is known that effectiveness of Enzyme Food depends on enzyme activity, but enzyme activities of ${\alpha}-amylase$ varied from $1,793\;{\mu}g/min$ g to $159\;{\mu}g/min$ g and those of ${\beta}-amylase$ ranged from $171\;{\mu}g/min$ g to $11\;{\mu}g/min$ g. The protease activities varied from $27.57\;{\mu}g/min$ g to $0.18\;{\mu}g/min$ g. In coli-form bacterial test, positive reactions were appeared in the 50 % of the samples. Numbers of bacteria ranged from $1.3\;{\times}\;10^5\;to\;1.2\;{\times}\;10^9$. Five CCPs were identified; heating, inoculation, cultivation, drying and granulation. Consideration of HACCP system indicated that the pretreatment of raw material, checking of bacterial contamination and stability of enzyme activity during fermentation process were important factors for the quality of Enzyme Foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.811-817
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• 2013

The present study dealt with the isolation, identification and enzyme characterization of potential luminous bacteria from water, sediment, squid, and cuttle fish samples of the Karaikal coast, Bay of Bengal, India during the study period September 2007 - August 2008. Bioluminescent strains were screened in SWC agar and identified using biochemical tests. As Shewanella henadai was found to be the most common and abundant species with maximum light emission [69,702,240 photons per second (pps)], the optimum ranges of various physicochemical parameters that enhance the luciferase activity in Shewanella hanedai were worked out. The maximum luciferase activity was observed at the temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ (69,674,387 pps), pH of 8.0 (70,523,671 pps), salinity of 20 ppt (71,674,387 pps), incubation period of 16 h (69,895,714 pps), 4% peptone (70,895,152 pps) as nitrogen source, 0.9% glycerol (71,625,196 pps), and the ionic supplements of 0.3% $CaCO_3$ (73,991,591 pps), 0.3% $K_2HPO_4$ (73,919,915 pps), and 0.2% $MgSO_4$ (72,161,155 pps). Shewanella hanedai was cultured at optimum ranges for luciferase enzyme characterization. From the centrifuged supernatant, the proteins were precipitated with 60% ammonium sulfate, dialyzed, and purified using anion-exchange chromatography, and then luciferase was eluted with 500 mM phosphate of pH 7.0. The purified luciferase enzyme was subjected to SDS-PAGE and the molecular mass was determined as 78 kDa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.567-586
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• 2001

Gastrointestinal tract of ruminants as well as monogastric animals are colonised by a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Gastrointestinal ecosystem, especially the rumen is emerging as an important source for enrichment and natural selection of microbes adapted to specific conditions. It represents a virtually untapped source of novel products (e.g. enzymes, antibiotics, bacteriocins, detoxificants and aromatic compounds) for industrial and therapeutic applications. Several gastrointestinal bacteria and fungi implicated in detoxification of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) can be modified and manipulated into promising system for detoxifying feed stuffs and enhancing fibre fermentation both naturally by adaptation or through genetic engineering techniques. Intestinal lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and butyrivibrios are being thoroughly investigated and widely recommended as probiotics. Restriction endonucleases and native plasmids, as stable vectors and efficient DNA delivery systems of ruminal and intestinal bacteria, are increasingly recognised as promising tools for genetic manipulation and development of industrially useful recombinant microbes. Enzymes can improve the nutrient availability from feed stuffs, lower feed costs and reduce release of wastes into the environment. Characterization of genes encoding a variety of commercially important enzymes such as cellulases, xylanases, $\beta$-glucanases, pectinases, amylases and phytases will foster the development of more efficacious and viable enzyme supplements and enzyme expression systems for enhancing livestock production.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2009

Carotenoids such as $\beta$-carotene and astaxanthin are used as food colorants, animal feed supplements and for nutritional and cosmetic purposes. In a previous study, an astaxanthin biosynthesis gene cluster was isolated from the marine bacterium, Paracoccus haeundaensis. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase (CrtE), encoded by the ortE gene, catalyzes the formation of GGPP from farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), which is an essential enzyme for the biosynthesis of carotenoids in early steps. In order to study the biochemical and enzymatic characteristics of this important enzyme, a large quantity of purified GGPP synthase is required. To overproduce GGPP synthase, the crtE gene was subcloned into a pET-44a(+) expression vector and transformed into the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) codon plus cell. Transformants harboring the crtE gene were cultured and the crtE gene was over-expressed. The expressed protein was purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography and applied to study its biochemical properties and molecular characteristics.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.393-405
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• 2023

The aim of this research was to enhance the flavor of visceral extracts from skipjack tuna. Flavor precursors and the optimum condition for the Maillard reaction were determined. The flavor extract was prepared from the tuna viscera using Endo/Exo Protease controlled in 3 factors; temperature, enzyme amounts and incubation time. The optimal condition for producing tuna viscera protein hydrolysate (TVPH) was 60℃, 0.5% enzyme (w/w) and 4-hour incubation time. TVPH were further processed to tuna viscera flavor enhancer (TVFE) with Maillard reaction. The Maillard reactions of TVFE were conducted with or without supplements such as xylose, yeast extract and methionine. The Maillard volatile components were analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sixteen volatiles such as 2-methylpropanal, methylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, dimethyl disulfide and 2-acetylthaizone were newly formed via Maillard reaction and the similarity of volatile contents from TVPH and TVFE were virtualized using Pearson's correlation integrated with heat-map and principal component analysis. To virtualize aromagram of TVPH and TVFE, odor activity value and odor impact spectrum (OIS) techniques were applied. According to OIS results, 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylbutanal, 1-octen-3-ol 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, methional and dimethyl trisulfide were the potent odorants contributed to the meaty, creamy, and toasted aroma in TVFE.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.116-119
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• 2023

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino extract, a natural product with a history of traditional use, has gained attention for its potential health benefits. This study aimed to investigate its effects on key cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes using LC-MS/MS. Human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 supersomes were employed. Enzyme activity was assessed based on the formation of CYP-specific marker metabolites. The resulting data showed that the extract exhibited inhibitory effects on CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4. Thus, G. pentaphyllum extract may influence the pharmacokinetics of drugs metabolized by CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4. These findings emphasize the importance of considering potential herb-drug interactions when incorporating this extract into therapeutic regimens or dietary supplements.