• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2005

To obtain antimicrobial algae against fish pathogenic bacteria, we screened 80% methanolic extracts of 30 algae using fish pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Edwardsiella tarda and Vibrio anguillarum. Among them, Corallina officinalis, Dumontia simplex, Gloipeltis furcata, Grateloupia lanceolata and Grateloupia turuturu were effective for growth inhibition of a Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus sp.. Sargassum thunbergii and Polysiphonia morrowii exhibited significant inhibitory effects against the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, both E. tarda and V. anguillarum. Moreover, antimicrobial activity-guided fractionation for P. morrowii extract yielded significantly active 90% methanolic fraction. This fraction significantly inhibited the growth of E. tarda exhibiting a MIC of 1 mg/ml. In addition, its antimicrobial activity was stable under various pH conditions.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1992

This study was conducted to determine the potential of grapefruit seed extract to support Aspergillus parasilicus growth and aflatoxin production. The grapefruit seed extract inhibited the growth and aflatoxin production of the fungi in the level of more than 4,000 ppm and 3,000 ppm in the medium, respectively. Grapefruit seed extract appears to block the conversion of acetate, averufin and versiconal acetate into aflatoxin in vitro experiments. The addition of grapefruit seed extract to the feeding experiment systems did not inhibit the incorporation of 14C-labeled versicolorin A, versicolorin A hemiacetal and sterigmatocystin into aflatoxin. In the electron microscopic examination the biocidal action of grapefruit seed extract was related to the disturbance of cell menbrane funtion, inhibiting cellular respiration.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.311-315
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of various natural flavonoids against growth of psychotropic Bacillus cereus strains, which cause dairy food outbreaks. Flavonoids were first screened for their ability to inhibit growth of B. cereus strains using the paper-disc diffusion test. Second, the growth inhibitory effect of selected flavonoids was evaluated in tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract, and the bactericidal effect of the flavonoids was measured in 0.8% (w/v) NaCl solution. Based on the paper-disc diffusion test, kaempferol was effectively active against B. cereus P14 and B. cereus KCCM 40935. Kaempferol had an antimicrobial effect at concentrations greater than 100 ${\mu}M$, and the numbers of B. cereus P14 and B. cereus KCCM 40935 decreased by 3.55 and 1.5 log cycles, respectively. The cell numbers of B. cereus P14 and B. cereus KCCM 40935 treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ kaempferol were reduced by 4.18 and 2.84 log cycles during a 24 h incubation to test the bactericidal effect of kaempferol (p<0.05). The results indicate that kaempferol had the greatest antimicrobial effect among the psychotropic B. cereus strains and the natural flavonoids tested.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.806-813
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• 2012

Adipocyte differentiation is strongly associated with obesity, which causes metabolic disorders. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of widdrol on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte growth and differentiation. Widdrol decreased lipid droplet accumulation and down-regulated adipogenic transcription factors such as C/$EBP{\alpha}$, C/$EBP{\beta}$, and $PPAR{\gamma}$. Widdrol blocked preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation through the inhibition of mitotic clonal expansion, which was accompanied by the failure of degradation of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Cell-cycle analysis clearly indicated that widdrol actively induces cell-cycle arrest at the G1-S phage transition, causing cells to remain in the preadipocyte state. Moreover, widdrol increased p21 expression and inhibited Rb phosphorylation in preadipocyte incubated in a hormone medium. Therefore, these findings clearly suggest that widdrol blocks preadipocyte growth and differentiation through the inhibition of mitotic clonal expansion by p21-and Rb-dependent G1 arrest and can be developed as a potent anti-adipogenic agent for reducing obesity.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.13 no.3_4
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• pp.133-142
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• 1998

Effects of phosphorous (P) and methylglyoxal (MG) on the cell number, dry weight, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic and respiratory rate, phosphate uptake and protein content of green algae (Scenedesrnus obliquus) were studied. The algal cell number from the medium treated with 0.5-1.0 mM of MG at 1/2 P or 1/4 P concentration was significantly lower than those of algae treated :with full strength of phosphrous in medium. The inhibitory effect of MG on algal cell division was enhenced at low concentration of phosphorous in medium. At the beginning of logrithmic phase of algal growth, the mean dry weight of algae from the medium without MG-treatment in 1/2 P media was significantly higher than that of algae treated with MG. After logrithmic phase of growth cycle, the mean dry weight of algae from the medium with 1.0 mM of MG-treatment in 1/4 P media was significantly lower than that of algae treated with or without MG. At logrithmic phase of algal growth, there were significant differences in the chlorophyll content among all groups of tested algae with various concentrations of P and MG. At 15 days after inoculation, the mean chlorophyll content per algal cell from the media without MG-treatment in 1/2P was significantly higher than that of other cells from MG-treated media. The adverse effect of MG at concentration of 0.5-1.0mM in 1/2 and 1/4 P media on photosynthetic rate was observed. The mean photosynthetic rate of algal cell without P and MG treatment at 15 days after inoculation was significantly higher than that of MGtreated algae. After logarithmic phase, the algal cell treated with 0.5mM of MG with full strength of phosphorous showed significantly high respiratory rate than that of other cell groups. There were significant differences in mean phosphate uptake rate among all groups of Scenedesmus obliquus at logarithmic phase. At 12 days after inoculation, phosphate uptake rate per each algal cell from the basic media without MG and P treatment was rapidly reduced which shows early introduction to stationary phase.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 2005

Effects of antimicrobial herbs on growth of tactic acid bacteria were investigated to extend shelf-life of Dongchimi, kimchi made with radishes and spices. Marta rosemary, among eight foreign and domestic herbs, showed strongest antimicrobial activity against seven kinds of lactic acid bacteria. Spices such as spring onion, garlic, and ginger showed no antimicrobial activity against lactic acid bacteria. During fermentation of Dongchimi for 6 days at $35^{\circ}C$, addition of marta rosemary inhibited acid formation, maintaining optimal pH of 3.8-4.2 throughout fermentation period, while no inhibitory effect was observed from Sambaekho (Saurus chinensis), pepper mint, and stevia. Results show shelf-life of Dongchimi was extended by addition of marta rosemary, which controlled over-production of tactic acid by inhibiting bacterial growth.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.370-374
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• 2005

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is known as the causative bacterial playing the most important role informing plaque and it is being noticed as major causative bacteria of dental caries. Therefore, development of more effective, substantial and safe preventive agent against dental caries and periodontal disease is honestly required. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae) methanol extracts on the growth, acid production, adhesion, and insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans. The methanol extract of C. rotundus showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition at the concentration of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/ml compared to the control group. The extracts markedly inhibited S. mutans adherence to HA treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by more than 50% at the concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and complete inhibition was observed at the concentration of 4 mg/ml. On the activity of glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water insoluble glucan from sucrose, methanol extract of C. rotundus showed more than 10% inhibition over the concentration of 2 mg/ml. Thus, the application of C. rotundus can be considered a useful and a practical method for the prevention of dental caries.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2019

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has recently been noted as a repositioning candidate for angiogenesis inhibition and cancer therapy. However, the definite anti-angiogenic mechanism of MBZ remains unclear. In this study, we explored the inhibitory mechanism of MBZ in endothelial cells (ECs) and developed a novel strategy to improve its anti-angiogenic therapy. Treatment of ECs with MBZ led to inhibition of EC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in several culture conditions in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or FBS, without selectivity of growth factors, although MBZ is known to inhibit VEGF receptor 2 kinase. Furthermore, MBZ inhibited EC migration and tube formation induced by either VEGF or bFGF. However, unexpectedly, treatment of MBZ did not affect FAK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by these factors. Treatment with MBZ induced shrinking of ECs and caused G2-M arrest and apoptosis with an increased Sub-G1 fraction. In addition, increased levels of nuclear fragmentation, p53 expression, and active form of caspase 3 were observed. The marked induction of autophagy by MBZ was also noted. Interestingly, inhibition of autophagy through knocking down of Beclin1 or ATG5/7, or treatment with autophagy inhibitors such as 3-methyladenine and chloroquine resulted in marked enhancement of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of MBZ in ECs. Consequently, we suggest that MBZ induces autophagy in ECs and that protective autophagy can be a novel target for enhancing the anti-angiogenic efficacy of MBZ in cancer treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-60
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• 1983

The uterus receives adrenergic terminals from the mesenteric ganglia and considerably large amount of catecholamines have been shown to be contained in this organ. On the other hand, the activities of epinephrine, norepinephrine or adrenergic nerve on uterine motility is so complicated that many controversial results have been reporter. Recently, a large number of reports concerning the changes of uterine catecholamines content have appeared, but little is known about the role of uterine catecholamines in their activities on uterine motility. The present experiments were undertaken to determine the significance of the intrinsic uterine catecholamines in the physiology of uterus. Female albino rabbits weighing approximately 2 kg were employed in this experiment. uterine strip3 were prepared and suspended in a constant temperature $bath(38^{\circ}C)$ containing 100 ml of Locke's solution aerated with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. Spontaneous motility was recorded on a smoked drum with an isotonic lever. The catecholamines concentration of the uterus was determined according to the Procedure described of Shore and Olin (1958). Human uterus obtained from patients was also used to determine the catecholam ines content of myometrium. Followings are summarized results. 1) On the non-pregnant rabbit uterine strips, epinephrine and norepinephrine significantly elevated the tonus and stimulated the spontaneous motility. Pretreatment with dichloroisoproterenol(DCI), an adrenergic beta-receptor blocker, enhanced the stimulatory activity of epinephrine or norepinephrine. On the other hand, pretreatment with dibenamine, an adrenergic alpha-receptor blocker, rendered the uterine muscle to exhibit inhibition after the administration of epinephrine or norepinephrine. Following the treatment with both DCI and dibenamine, epinephrine or norepinephrine produced no appreciable effects on the spontaneous motility of the uterus. These results suggest there exist both alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors in the uterine muscle and the response to epinephrine of the former is predominant over that of latter in the non-pregnant uterus of rabbits. The total catecholamines concentration of the non-pregnant uterus was $351\;m{\mu}g/g$ and the fractional concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were $125\;m{\mu}g/g(35.7%)$ and $226\;m{\mu}g/g$ respectively. It is interesting to note that the catecholamines content of uterus was characterized by a high fractional corcentration of epinephrine relative to norepinephrine. 2) On the pregnant rabbit uterine strips, the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine varied according to the period of pregnancy. The response to epinephrine of adrenergic beta receptor of uterus increased during pregnancy, and the effect of catecholamine was inhibitory in the early pregnancy but became stimulatory as the pregnancy progressed. This stimulating action on the uterine motility was found to occur through the action of norepinephrine. The uterine catecholamines concentration was markedly reduced during pregnancy. The catecholamines concentration was started to decrease in the early pregnancy, reached the lowest level in the mid-pregnancy and then started to increaae again in the late pregnancy when the total catecholamines content became the highest level of all. This increase of catefholamines in late pregnancy was chiefly due to the increase of norepinephrine. These results suggest that the uterine motility may be related to the catecholamines content, especially norepinephrine content in the uterus. 3) Bilateral oophorectomy of rabbits results in a marked shrink of the uterus in size. The spontaneous motility of the uterine segment of these animals was very weak and irregular. Norepinephrine produced inhibitory effect, whereas epinephrine was stimulatory or inhibitory effect on the uterine segment. The total catecholamines tontent in whole uterus was markedly reduced. The injection of estrogen into the oophorectornized rabbit increased the weight of uterus to approximately three times of that of oophorectornized animal. The apontaneous motility and the response to epinephrine and norepinephrine of the uterine segment were greatly enhanced. Both epinephrine and norepinephrine produced a marked stimulatory effects of the uterine motility. The uterine content of catecholamines, particularly epinephrine, was markedly increased. The injection of progesterone into the oophorectornized rabbit increaeed the weight of uterus to approximately 2.5 times of that of eophorectornized animal. The spontaneous motility of the uterine segment was weak and irregular. Epinephrine produced stimulatory effect at high concentrations but norepinephrine always prcdnced inhibitory effect on the uterine segment. The uterine content of catecholamines, particularly of norepinephrine, was markedly reduced. These results suggested that ovarian hormones play an important role not only on the growth and spontaneous norepinephrine of uterus but also on the catecholamines content and responee to epinephrine and norepinephrine of the uterus. 4) The intraperitoneal injection of reserpine(3 mg/kg) into the non-pregnant, pregnant and oophorectornieed rabbits markedly decreased the uterine content of catecholamines, particularly of the norepinephrine. The stimulatory response to epinephrine and. norepinephrine of the uterine segment of these reserpinized ratbits was markedly reduced whereas the inhibitory response to these catecholamines was enhanced. This finding further support the close relationship between the uterine catecholamines content and uterine response to epineptrire and norepinephrine. 5) In the human uterus, the concentration of epinephrine was actrally greater than that of norepinephrine and it was significantly greater during the proliferative phase of the menstrtal cycle. In the human pregnant uterus, the concentrations of toth epinephrine and ncrefinephrine were markedly reduced and showed about 45 percent rednction after 6-8 weeks of ectopic Pregnancy. At full term ana during labor, the concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine at placental sites were less than those found in the non-pregnant group. Of interest was the finding that the norepinephrine concentration of uterus from toxemic patients was two and half times higher than that of lower uterine segment of the nontoxemic pregnant individuals. Also the epinephrine concentraticn was slightly increaeed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.668-677
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• 2017

Embryo implantation is the crucial step for a successful pregnancy. Diverse factors, including adhesion molecules, growth factors, and cytokines are important for embryo implantation through improving endometrial receptivity. Benzoic acid (BA), a component of various plants, has been shown to have antifungal and antioxidant effects. However, the effect of BA on embryo implantation remains unknown. Here, we showed the contribution of BA for the enhancement of endometrial receptivity through the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-dependent increase of integrin ${\alpha}V$, ${\beta}3$, and ${\beta}5$ expression. Furthermore, in vivo study using a mifepristone-induced implantation failure model showed that BA definitely improves the numbers of implantation embryos. Taken together, we suggest that BA has a novel function for embryo implantation through the up-regulation of LIF-mediated integrins, and may be a candidate for therapeutic medicine to increase the pregnancy rate.