• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.821-824
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate tile effects of the Paecilomyces japonica on blood glucose in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus volunteers. During the 3 months of the experimental period, freeze-dried powder of Paecilomyces japonica (2 g/meal) was given to the subjects right before each meal. Paecilomyces japonica caused a significant decrease of $27.5\%\;and\;35.5\%$ in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, respectively. There were significant reductions of $28.5\%\;and\;33.5\%$ in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels of the male subjects, respectively Paecilomyces japonica also significantly decreased in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels of $26.1\%\;and\;37.3\%$ in female patients after treatment. This study shows that Paecilomyces japonica supplementation significantly lowered the fasting and postprandial glucose levels in NIDDM patients. These effects presumably contribute to the hypoglycemic activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.260-268
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• 1999

Crude extract of Coptis japonica root-stem was evaluated for antifungal activity against Phytophthora capsici, Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum dematium, Colletotrichum truncatum, Botrytis cinerea, Botryosphaeria dothidea and Alternaria porri, and antifungal active compound from the extract was identified. In addition, the usefulness of the extract for some plants disease control was investigated. Crude extract of C. japonica root-stem exhibited antifungal activity against P. capsici, F. oxysporum, C. dematium, B. cinerea, B. dothidea and A. porri. Antifungal activity of the substance isolated from C. japonica root-stem was similar to a standard chemical berberine-Cl. Red-pepper fruit rot, sesame stem rot and welsh-onion alternaria leaf spot were effectively controlled by the crude extract of C. japonica root-stem. Phytotoxicity was not observed in the red-pepper and welsh-onion leaves and red-pepper and strawberry fruits with exogenous foliage application of the crude extract. Seeds germination and radicle growth of red-pepper and sesame were inhibited by the crude extract of C. japonica root-stem. 4.24g of yellowish compound per 100g of C. japonica root-stem was obtained. The compound was identified as berberine-Cl by HPLC.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.153-157
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the applicability of functional materials by examining a variety of physiological activities with the extract of Cleyera japonica leaf. Cleyera japonica extract showed a low cytotoxicity against murine melanoma B16F10 cells. In little or no cytotoxicity at concentrations, we showed that the treatment with Cleyera japonica extract resulted in a significant increase in the DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀, 22.90 ㎎/L), similar to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀, 18.65 ㎎/L) and anti-microbial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. In particular, anti-microbial activities against Gram-positive bacteria was high. These results suggest that Cleyera japonica extract could be used as a natural preservative. Additionally, Cleyera japonica extract showed the inhibition of tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀, 178.90 ㎎/L), similar to kojic acid (IC₅₀, 89.13 ㎎/L) and decreased melanin content (IC₅₀, 101.90 ㎎/L) higher than the control arbutin level (IC₅₀, 100.65 ㎎/L), especially. Therefore, these results indicate that Cleyera japonica extract may be an effective material for functional cosmetics such as skin whitening materials.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.313-314
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• 2021

We confirmed the parasitic characteristics of Asobara japonica according to the stage of development of Drosophila suzukii and observed the morphological differences between parasitized and unparasitized D. suzukii larvae and pupae. It was also confirmed that emergence period of A. japonica was longer than that of D. suzukii. A. japonica showed an effective parasitic and insecticidal effect on D. suzukii larvae, and it is expected that A. japonica could be used as a natural enemy for the control of D. suzukii.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.526-536
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effect of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus After inducing obesity by feeding hight fat diet (diet induced obesity model: DIO) for four weeks, each 8 rats were assigned to normal (Nor), high fat diet (HF), high fat diet containing orlistat (PC), high fat diet containing different concentration of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus (UPDM_L, UPDM_H) and Discorea Japonica Thunb. (UPD) extract. Although the UPD, UPDM_L (ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 400 mg/kg) and UPDM_H (DIO oral administration ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 800 mg/kg) showed weight gain inhibition effects, the results of poor obesity inhibition rather than PC were confirmed. However, it showed a more effective weight loss effect in UPDM_H than UPD, and significantly reduced the weight of epididymal fat and subcutaneous fat. Furthermore, the possibility of anti-obesity effects of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be confirmed by observing the effects of reducing serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL concentrations, reducing ALT and AST levels, and inhibiting fat build-up in liver tissue. It is believed that Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be expected to utilize as a functional material that is important to improve anti-obesity and metabolic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2022

We collected a total of four butterfly ray specimens (Gymnura japonica, 213.4-695.0 mm in total length) in Korea from 2016 to 2021 and investigated their morphological and molecular characteristics in order to clarify their taxonomic status. These features are summarized as follows. Disc lozenge-shaped, 1.8-2.0 times broader than long. Tail very short, post-cloaca length 23.9-28.2% in disc width. Snout short, no rostral cartilage. Clasper short, no hook. Dorsal surface uniform yellow or brownish grey, with or without rounded light yellow spots. An analysis of 434 base-pair sequences of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I showed that all four specimens corresponded to G. japonica from Japan (Kimura-2-parameter distance = 0-0.2%), suggesting that the color patterns found may be due to intraspecific color variation. G. japonica resembles Gymnura poecilura but differs in that it has a shorter tail length to disc width (23.9-28.2% in G. japonica vs. 40.1-48.3% in G. poecilura). This study revealed that G. japonica occurred in areas affected by the Tsushima Warm Current, tentatively suggesting that G. japonica may be an indicator species for monitoring marine ecosystem changes due to climate change.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2023

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the weakening of bone by increasing porosity, which often results in fractures. Osteoporosis treatment measures include the use of Bisphosphonates and estrogen. However, these treatments cannot be used in the long term as these treatments have adverse side effects. Therefore, there is a need to identify better and safer treatment options. For this, 63 plant extracts were screened and among them, six extracts showed high anti-osteoclastic activity with low cytotoxicity. Of these six extracts, three extracts, Cudrania tricuspidata (P371), Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (P401), and Torilis japonica (P411), showed more than 50 percent osteoclast inhibition. While the remaining, Stewartia pseudocamellia extracts I and II (P370, P397) and Cuscuta chinensis (P418), showed moderate or between 40-50 percent osteoclast inhibition. Among all the extracts, Torilis japonica (P411) showed the highest inhibitory action against osteoclast development. Torilis japonica (P411) primary components include Kaempferol, Quercetin, and Luteolin, all proven to inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Stewartia pseudocamellia extracts I and II (P370 and P397) showed moderate or 44% osteoclast inhibition. Stewartia pseudocamellia extract II (P397) enhanced the growth of RAW 264.7 cells by 19%. Torilis japonica (P411) and Stewartia pseudocamellia extract II (P397) suppressed the expression of osteoclast-specific genes in RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in RAW 246.7 cells. Torilis japonica (P411) extracts even increased osteoblast-specific RUNX2 gene expression. This results provide that six extracts could be used as a potential treatment option for osteoporosis disease with the extracts of Torilis japonica (P411) and Stewartia pseudocamellia (P397) as an ideal candidates. However, the combination of the extract with higher osteoclastic inhibition and less toxic effects with further analysis should be recommended.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.214-214
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• 2022

Soluble starch synthases (SSs) elongate α-glucans from ADP-Glc to the glucan nonreducing ends and play a critical role in synthesizing resistant starch in the rice. A total of 10 SSs isoforms were reported in rice, including granules-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI), GBSSII, starch synthase I (SSI), SSIIa (SSII-3), SSIIb (SSII-2), SSIIc (SSII-1), SSIIIa (SSIII-2), SSIIIb (SSIII-1), SSIVa (SSIV-1), and SSIVb (SSIV-2). SSIII proteins are involved in forming the B chain and elongating cluster filling chains in amylopectin metabolism. The functions of SSIIIb (SSIII-1) are less clear as compared to SSs. Here, we sought to shed light on the genetic diversity profiling of the SSIII-1 gene in 374 rice accessions composed of 54 wild-type accessions and 320 bred cultivars (temperate japonica, indica, tropical japonica, aus, aromatic, and admixture). In total, 17 haplotypes were identified in the SSIII-1 coding region of 320 bred cultivars, while 44 haplotypes were detected from 54 wild-type accessions. The genetic diversity indices revealed the most negative Tajima's D value in the temperate-japonica, followed by the wild type, while Tajima's D values in other ecotypes were positive, indicating balancing selection. Nucleotide diversity in the SSIII-1 region was highest in the wild group (0.0047) while lowest in temperate-japonica. Lower nucleotide diversity in the temperate-japonica is evidenced by the negative Tajima's D and suggested purifying selection. The fixation index (F_ST) revealed a very high level of gene flow (low F_ST) between the tropical-japonica and admixture groups (F_ST=-0.21) followed by admixture and wild groups (-0.04), indica and admixture groups (0.02), while low gene flow with higher F_ST estimates between the temperate-japonica and aus groups (0.72), tropical-japonica and aromatic groups (0.71), and temperate-japonica and admixture groups (0.52). Taken together, our study offers insights into haplotype diversity and evolutionary fingerprints of SSIII-1. It provides genomic information to increase the resistant starch content of cooked rice.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 1991

The seeds of wild and cultivated Camellia japonica were studied for their lipid contents and fatty acid composition. The seeds of wild and cultivated Camellia japonica contained 70.2% and 73.4% lipids, respectively. Fifteen fatty acids were identified in the lipids from the Camellia japonica seeds. In addition to confirming the 5 previously reported (16 : 0, 18 : 0, 18 : 1, 18 : 2 and 18 : 3), 10 more acids were characterized. The newly identified acids were 14 : 0, 16 : 1, 17 : 0, 20 : 0, 20 : 1, 20 : 2, 22 : 0, 22 : 1, 24 : 0 and 24 : 1. Both seeds lipids contained 18 : 1 in high levels (81. 6${\sim}$82. 2%). Little difference in fatty acid composition was noted between the wild and cultivated Camellia japonica seed lipids. The fatty acid composition of commercial Camellia japonica oil was similar to those of the Camellia japonica seed lipids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.684-689
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• 1995

The molecular structure of rice starch was investigated using Korean rice[3 varieties of Japonica type and 3 varieties of Tongi type(Japonica-Indica breeding type)]. The λmax of iodine complex and inherent viscosity of Japonica type were higher than those of Tongil type. $\beta$-Amylolysis limit of the starches was not different between the two rice types. In the distribution of molecular weight of rice starch, the molecular size of amylose and amylopectin for Japonica type were smaller than those for Tongil type. The chain of rice starch distributed F1 of above DP 55, F2 of DP 40~50 and F3 of DP 15~20, and the ratio of F3 against F2 for Japonica type was higher than that of Tongil type. The results suggest that rice of Japonica and Tongil type was different molecular structure of starch.