• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.586-592
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant effects of Korean soybean paste extracts (SPE) on 2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced liver damage in rats. Thirty healthy Sprague Dawley rats were selected and divided into 5 groups. Isoflavone contents were measured using HPLC technique. The antioxidant activity was measured in the plasma and liver of the rats with the following results. Levels of isoflavone in fermented soy paste, red pepper paste and soy sauce were 28.9, 30.3 and $3.4\;{\mu}g/g$ for daidzein and 244.3, 187.7 and $6.1\;{\mu}g/g$ for genistein, respectively. The activities of glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were significantly higher in the AAPH-treated group in the SPE-AAPH group (p<0.05). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) production was significantly increased in the AAPH-treated liver tissue (P<0.05). Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase in the liver were significantly (p<0.05) decreased by AAPH administration. The glutathione (GSH) concentration was higher in the SPE-treated (Ed- confirm) group than in the control and other groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that SPE led to increased anti oxidative activities against AAPH-induced peroxyl radical.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1632-1642
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• 2021

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It affects about 10 million people each year and is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. About 2 to 3 billion people (equivalent to 1 in 3 people in the world) are infected with latent tuberculosis. Moreover, as the number of multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant, and totally drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis continues to increase, there is an urgent need to develop new anti-tuberculosis drugs that are different from existing drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant M. tuberculosis. Against this background, we aimed to develop new anti-tuberculosis drugs using probiotics. Here, we report the anti-tuberculosis effect of Pediococcus acidilactici PMC202 isolated from young radish kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented food. Under coculture conditions, PMC202 inhibited the growth of M. tuberculosis. In addition, PMC202 inhibited the growth of drug-sensitive and -resistant M. tuberculosis- infected macrophages at a concentration that did not show cytotoxicity and showed a synergistic effect with isoniazid. In a 2-week, repeated oral administration toxicity study using mice, PMC202 did not cause weight change or specific clinical symptoms. Furthermore, the results of 16S rRNA-based metagenomics analysis confirmed that dysbiosis was not induced in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after oral administration of PMC202. The anti-tuberculosis effect of PMC202 was found to be related to the reduction of nitric oxide. Our findings indicate that PMC202 could be used as an anti-tuberculosis drug candidate with the potential to replace current chemical-based drugs. However, more extensive toxicity, mechanism of action, and animal efficacy studies with clinical trials are needed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2011

This study was to examine the quality characteristics and biological activities of the yogurt containing dual fermentation MFCY (Monascus-Fermented Chinese Yam) powder. Six different contents (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%, w/v) of MFCY powder were added to raw milk and 5% skim milk followed by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria at $37^{\circ}C$ for 12 h, and then the biological activities of the samples were investigated. Biological activities of the prepared yogurt were evaluated for acid production (pH, titratable acidity), number of viable cells, total polyphenol contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory effects and GABA contents. In this study, the results show that after fermentation in raw milk and 5% skim milk added with MFCY powder. The yogurt can produced pH, titratable acidity, number of viable cells, total polyphenol contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power at 4.12-4.25 (pH), 0.94-0.97% (TA), $7.50{\times}10^9-1.14{\times}10^{10}$ CFU/ml, 161.4-329.9 (TP, mg/L), 54-94% (DPPH), and 1.13-1.53 (R.P), respectively. In addition, the showed ACE inhibitory activity and GABA contents was 67.1-87.7% and 304.6-685.4 (mg/L).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2015

Vinegar is a widely used acidic seasoning and can be manufactured using various methods and bases, including cereals, wheat, and fruits. Most studies on vinegar have been conducted to evaluate its antioxidant activity. In the present study, fermented dark vinegar (FDV) produced from unpolished rice was examined for its antimicrobial activity, biochemical content, including the amounts of sugar, total soluble sugar, organic acid, and free amino acids, and pH and physiological activity. The antimicrobial efficiency of FDV was assessed using the paper disc-agar diffusion method. FDV exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic bacteria and yeast strains that were tested. In fact, the activity of FDV was shown to be higher than that of the commercial antibiotics carbenicillin (50 µg/ml) and tetracycline (50 µg/ml) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Lodderomyces elongisporus. The antioxidant activity of FDV and ascorbic acid was evaluated. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, we found that FDV has the highest activity of the antioxidants. After spreading FDV onto tryptic soy broth and yeast extract-peptone-dextrose agar media, the microbial strains were isolated and characterized through physiological and biochemical analysis. Based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the isolated microorganisms exhibited a close similarity to Acetobacter papayae, Acetobacter pasteurianus, and Acetobacter peroxidans.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.89-96
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Water Extract from Lactobacillus pentosus-fermented ARTEMISIAE ARGI FOLIUM (AFL) on nitric oxide production of mouse macrophage Raw 264.7 cells impaired by various toxicants such as gallic acid, EtOH, nicotine, acetaminophen, and acetaldehyde. Methods : ARTEMISIAE ARGI FOLIUM was fermented with Lactobacillus pentosus and extracted by water. Nitric oxide production of mouse macrophage Raw 264.7 cells was measured by Griess reagent assay. Examined concentrations of AFL were 10, 50, 100, 200, 400 ug/mL. Results : The results of the experiment are as below. 1. AFL at the concentration of 400 ug/mL significantly recovered nitric oxide production which was reduced by gallic acid (100 uM) in Raw 264.7 cells. 2. AFL at the concentration of 200, 400 ug/mL significantly recovered nitric oxide production which was reduced by EtOH (100 uM) in Raw 264.7 cells. 3. AFL at the concentration of 400 ug/mL significantly recovered nitric oxide production which was reduced by nicotine (1mM) in Raw 264.7 cells. 4. AFL at the concentration of 200, 400 ug/mL significantly recovered nitric oxide production which was reduced by acetaminophen(2 mM) in Raw 264.7 cells. 5. AFL at the concentration of 200, 400 ug/mL significantly recovered nitric oxide production which was reduced by acetaldehyde (200 uM) in Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusions : AFL could be supposed to have the immune-enhancing activity related with nitric oxide production of macrophage impaired by various toxicants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1142-1148
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate antioxidative and physiological activities of ethanol extracts concentration from Monascus-Fermented Chinese Yam (MFCY). The ethanol extracts from MFCY were measured to examine pigment, monacolin K content, total polyphenol content, DPPH radical scavenging activity and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory effects. In this study, the results show that Monascus sp. MK2, with Dioscorea batatas Dence. as the substrate, can produce pigments (red, orange, and yellow), monacolin K content, total polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity at 13.48 (red), 11.66 (orange), 12.77 (yellow), 462.78 (mg/kg), 658.8 (mg/kg) and 92.8% in EtOH extract, respectively. In addition, ACE inhibitory activity was shown to be 74.55% in EtOH extract. Therefore, it can be concluded that Dioscorea batatas Dence is the best fermentative substrate for Monascus species to produce secondary metabolites as biomedicinal substances.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics between non-fermented chinese yam and rice (non-FCYR) and fermented chinese yam and rice (FCYR). 1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total polyphenol, flavonoid contents and reducing power were investigated to evaluate the anti-oxidation activities of FCYR. Also, productivity of monacolin K, major medicinal ingredient of FCYR, was investigated, using Aspergillus terreus KCCM 12225. In case of non-FCYR, DPPH radical scavenging activities for three kinds of yam (Dioscorea japonica, Dioscorea batatas, Dioscorea opposita) and rice were estimated about 51.8, 66.4, 42.2 and 7.5%, while in case of FCYR, those for three kinds of yam and rice were estimated to increased about 64.7, 74.7, 52.8, and 32.3%, respectively. Total polyphenol contents of non-FCYR were estimated to 196.9, 265.7, 160.1, and 91.6 mg/kg, while total polyphenol contents of FCYR were estimated to increase about 530.7, 708.3, 427.2, and 265.9 mg/kg, respectively. Total flavonoid contents of FCYR increased to 2.8-3.3 times higher than those of non-FCYR. Reducing power of non-FCYR was about 0.97, 1.28, 0.64, and 0.17 (OD at 700 nm), while, that of FCYR increased about 1.75, 2.38, 1.24, and 0.46. Remakable increase in monacolin K productivity of FCYR was observed. Monacolin K productivity of FCYR was estimated to 467.1, 514.8, 339.2, and 272.5 mg/kg, respectively. In this study, fermented chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas) was estimated to be effective biological activity material.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of fermented chinese yam and rice (Dioscorea japonica, Dioscorea batatas, Dioscorea opposita, Rice, FCYR) using Monascus sp. MK805. The extracts from FCYR were measured to examine pigments, antioxidant activities were investigated through DPPH radical scavenging activity, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, reducing power. Also it was investigated monacolin K productivity by FCYR. Pigments productivity (yellow, orange and red) were 26.2, 13.9, 17.3 at Dioscorea japonica, 41.9, 22.6, 53.2 at Dioscorea batatas, 12.5, 7.5, 9.7 at Dioscorea opposita and 10.1, 7.7, 10.2 at rice, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity of FCYR was about 69.7, 79.6, 57.8, and 42.3%, total polyphenol contents of FCYR was about 480.6, 658.7, 379.3, and 212.9 mg/kg, total flavonoid contents of FCYR was about 342.5, 448.4, 235.2, and 168.7 mg/kg, reducing power of FCYR was about 1.57, 2.14, 1.14, and 0.35 (OD at 700 nm), respectively. And then monacolin K productivity of FCYR was about 453.8, 509.5, 332.2, and 263.2 mg/kg, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.352-358
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• 2020

Red yeast rice has been extensively used as a food and traditional medicine for thousands of years in Korea. Monascus produces many secondary metabolites during its growth, including pigments, monacolins, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Some metabolites, specifically monacolin K, γ-aminobutyric acid, and dimerumic acid, have been reported to lower cholesterol and blood pressure because of certain antioxidant effects. This study investigated the total phenolic content of ethanol extract from red yeast rice fermented with Monascus sp. BHN-MK and its anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. To assess its anti-inflammatory effect, the inhibitory activity of the ethanol extract on LPS-induced NO production and expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in macrophage cells were measured. Its total polyphenol content was higher than that of ordinary non-fermented rice. Its NO production inhibition activity was comparable to that of the negative control group treated with LPS at a concentration of 400 ㎍/ml. Western blot revealed a significant decrease in the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 protein expression at concentrations of 400 and 800 ㎍/ml, respectively. Red yeast rice ethanol extracts exerted the strongest anti-inflammatory effects. The results indicate that red yeast rice could be used as a functional cosmetic and anti-inflammatory material.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 2015

Unpolished rice (UR) is considered to be a healthy alternative to white rice when coping with chronic diseases. In the present study, the fermented slurry of unpolished rice (FSUR) was evaluated with respect to its antimicrobial activities and biochemical characteristics, including the quantities of sugar, total soluble sugar, organic acids, free amino acids, pH, and physiological activity. The antimicrobial efficiency of FSUR was assessed using the paper disc-agar diffusion method. FSUR exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against six pathogenic bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, and Yersinia enterocolitica) and two fermentation strains (Gluconacetobacter intermedius and Lodderomyces elongisporus). The antimicrobial activity of FSUR was higher than the commercial antibiotics, carbenicillin ($50{\mu}g/ml$) and tetracycline ($50{\mu}g/ml$) against S. aureus, E. coli, L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, S. typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica, and L. elongisporus. Also FSUR had a high antioxidant activity. The microorganisms were isolated from FSUR using tryptic soy broth and yeast extract-peptone-dextrose agar media. The isolated microorganisms were characterized using physiological and biochemical analyses as well as by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenic analysis. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolated microorganisms had a high similarity to G. intermedius, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Acetobacter peroxydans.