• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.81-89
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• 2008

Objectives: In this study, the pharmacological effects of the ethylacetate extract of Ostericum koreanum(North Kangwhal; NK) on allergic inflammation were investigated in activated human mast cells. Methods: North Kangwhal was extracted with 80% methanol for 24 h, and then fractionated with ethylacetate(NK-EtOAc extract). HMC-1 cells, an human mast line, were pre-incubated with different concentrations of NK-EtOAc extract for 30 min, and then stimulated with PMA(50 nM/ml) and A23187($1{\mu}M/ml$) at indicated times. The cell toxicity was determined by MTT assay. The concentrations of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and cytokines(TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. Results: NK-EtOAc extract($10{\sim}50{\mu}g/ml$) significantly inhibited the productions of $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 in PMA/A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells without cell toxicity($0{\sim}50{\mu}g/ml$). NK-EtOAc extract also inhibited PMA/A23187-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 MAPK and the NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 subunit translocation into the nuclear of HMC-1 cells. Conclusions: This study suggests that NK-EtOAc extract may have an anti-inflammatory property through suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators in activated mast cells and its molecular mechanism underlies the blocking of NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.408-413
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• 2006

We assessed the ability of a Pseudonocardia sp. from soil samples to bioconvert vitamin $D_3$. The optimal culture conditions for the bioconversion of vitamin $D_3$ to active $1{\alpha}$,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ were investigated by varying the carbon and nitrogen sources, the metal salt concentrations, the initial pH, and the temperature. Microbial transformations were carried out with the addition of vitamin $D_3$ dissolved in ethanol. They were sampled by extraction with methanol-dichloromethane and the samples were examined by HPLC. Optimum culture conditions were found to be 0.4% yeast extract, 1% glucose, 3% starch, 1% fish meal, 0.2% NaCl, 0.01% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.2% $CaCO_3$, 0.01% NaF, and pH 7.0 at $28^{\circ}C$. The optimal timing of the addition of vitamin $D_3$ for the production of calcitriol by Pseudonocardia autotrophica ID9302 was concurrent with the inoculation of seed culture broth. Maximum calcitriol productivity and the yield of bioconversion reached a value of 10.4mg/L and 10.4% respectively on the 7th day in a 75L fementer jar under the above conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1524-1528
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• 2010

The antioxidant properties of 46 lichen species, collected from the highly UV-exposed alpine areas of southwestern China, were evaluated for their potential therapeutic utilization. The anti-linoleic acid peroxidation activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, reducing power, and total phenolic contents were all assessed in vitro in the methanol extract of the lichens. A potent reducing power was detected in a number of the lichen extracts, when compared with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). In general, it was found that many of the lichens, with antioxidant properties, contained large quantities of phenolic content. Extracts of Peltigera praetextata and Sticta nylanderiana were found to exhibit the most potent activity in all of the antioxidant tests. In particular, extracts of S. nylanderiana displayed a 1.37 times greater anti-linoleic acid peroxidation activity, when compared with the ascorbic acid used as the positive control. S. nylanderiana also possessed the strongest free radical scavenging activity amongst all the tested species, with an inhibition rate of 90.4% at concentration of $330{\mu}g/ml$. Activity-guided bioautographic TLC and HPLC analyses were used to establish which compounds were responsible for the potent antioxidant activities of the S. nylanderiana extract. These analyses revealed lecanoric acid to be primarily responsible for the effective antioxidant properties of S. nylanderiana. Overall, these results have indicated that several highland lichens have the potential of being utilized as novel bioresources for naturally occurring antioxidant therapies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.864-871
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• 2013

The recombinant strain P. pastoris GS115-lccC was used to produce laccase with high activity. Factors influencing laccase expression, such as pH, methanol concentration, copper concentration, peptone concentration, shaker rotate speed, and medium volume were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, laccase activity reached 12,344 U/L on day 15. The recombinant enzyme was purified by precipitating and dialyzing to electrophoretic homogeneity, and was estimated to have a molecular mass of about 58 kDa. When guaiacol was the substrate, the laccase showed the highest activity at pH 5.0 and was stable when the pH was 4.5~6.0. The optimal temperature for the laccase to oxidize guaiacol was $60^{\circ}C$, but it was not stable at high temperature. The enzyme could remain stable at $30^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. The recombinant laccase was used to degrade chlorpyrifos in several laccase/mediator systems. Among three synthetic mediators (ABTS, HBT, VA) and three natural mediators (vanillin, 2,6-DMP, and guaiacol), vanillin showed the most enhancement on degradation of chlorpyrifos. Both laccase and vanillin were responsible for the degradation of chlorpyrifos. A higher dosage of vanillin may promote a higher level of degradation of chlorpyrifos, and the 2-step addition of vanillin led to 98% chlorpyrifos degradation. The degradation of chlorpyrifos was faster in the L/V system ($k_{obs}$ = 0.151) than that in the buffer solution ($k_{obs}$ = 0.028).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2011

Through the present study, we produced a monoclonal antibody against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) using AFB1-carboxymethoxylamine BSA conjugates. One clone showing high binding ability was selected and it was applied to develop a direct competitive ELISA system. The epitope densities of AFB1-CMO against BSA and KLH were about 1 : 6 and 1 : 545, respectively. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) from cloned hybridoma cell was the IgG1 subclass with ${\lambda}$-type light chains. The $IC_{50}s$ of the monoclonal antibody developed for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 4.36, 7.22, 6.61 and 29.41 ng/ml, respectively, based on the AFB1-KLH coated ELISA system and 15.28, 26.62, 32.75 and 56.67 ng/ml, respectively, based on the mAb coated ELISA. Cross-relativities of mAb to AFB1 for AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 60.47, 65.97 and 14.83% in the AFB1-KLH coated ELISA, and 59.41, 46.66 and 26.97% in the mAb coated ELISA, respectively. Quantitative calculations for AFB1 from the AFB1-Ab ELISA and AFB1-Ag ELISA ranged from 0.25 to 25 ng/ml ($R^2$ > 0.99) and from 1 to 100 ng/ml ($R^2$ > 0.99), respectively. The intra- and inter-assay precision CVs were < 10% in both ELISA assay, representing good reproducibility of developed assay. Recoveries ranged from 79.18 to 91.27%, CVs ranged from 3.21 to 7.97% after spiking AFB1 at concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 ng/ml and following by extraction with 70% methanol solution in the Ab-coated ELISA. In conclusion, we produced a group specific mAb against aflatoxins and developed two direct competitive ELISAs for the detection of AFB1 in feeds based on a monoclonal antibody developed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.923-929
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• 2005

Methanol extracts of domestic plants of Korea were evaluated as a potential inhibitor of neutral pH optimum and membrane-associated 60 kDa sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) activity. In this study, we partially purified N-SMase from bovine brain membranes using ammonium sulfate. It was purified approximately 163-fold by the sequential use of DE52, Butyl-Toyopearl, DEAE-Cellulose, and Phenyl-5PW column chromatographies. The purified N-SMase activity was assayed in the presence of the plant extracts of three hundreds species. Based on the in vitro assay, three plant extracts significantly inhibited the N-SMase activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. To further examine the inhibitory pattern, a Dixon plot was constructed for each of the plant extracts. The extracts of Abies nephrolepis, Acer tegmentosum, and Ginkgo biloba revealed a competitive inhibition with the inhibition constant (Ki) of $11.9 {\mu}g/mL,\;9.4{\mu}g/mL,\;and\;12.9{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. These extracts also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the production of ceramide induced by serum deprivation in human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.331-338
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• 2014

Dendrobium moniliforme (DM) is a valuable and versatile herbal medicine with the anecdotal claims of antioxidant and anti-inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the whitening and anti-wrinkling effects of DM under various conditions with B16F10 melanoma cells and human dermal fibroblasts. The DM extract inhibited melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, compared with untreated group. Treatment of the DM extract effectively suppressed the ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated melanin formation, tyrosinase activity and dendrite outgrowth. Moreover, the ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced mRNA expressions of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) and protein expression of tyrosinase were significantly attenuated by DM treatment. We also investigated the DM increased the production of type I procollagen and inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$-induced mRNA expressions of MMP-1, -3 in the human dermal fibroblast. These results indicate that DM may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening and anti-wrinkle effects.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2011

An in vitro bioassay-guide revealed that the methanol (MeOH) extract of the whole plant of Patrinia saniculaefolia (Valerianaceae) showed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) dual inhibitory activity by assessing their effects on the production of prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) and leukotriene $C_4$ ($LTC_4$) in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Phytochemical study of the MeOH extract of this plant led to the isolation of twelve compounds; ${\beta}$-farnesene (1), squalene (2), nardostachin (3), patridoid I (4), patridoid II (5), patridoid II-A (6), oleanolic acid (7), oleanonic acid (8), 23-hydroxyursolic acid (9), oleanolic acid 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranoside (10), oleanolic acid 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (11), oleanolic acid 3-O-[${\beta}$-D-xylopyranosyl-(1${\rightarrow}$3)-${\beta}$-D-(6-O-butyl)glucuronopyranoside] (12). Among the compounds, 4 and 5 strongly inhibited both the COX-2-dependent $PGD_2$ generation with $IC_{50}$ values of 8.7 and 13.6 ${\mu}M$, respectively, and the generation of $LTC_4$ in the 5-LOX dependent phase with $IC_{50}$ values of 41.7 and 46.9 ${\mu}M$, respectively, which suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of P. saniculaefolia might occur in part via the inhibition of both $PGD_2$ and $LTC_4$ generation by 4 and 5.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2005

Fermentation efficiencies of organic wastes from the variety of sources were evaluated based on the production of total volatile acids(TVA) in batch reactor. Mixing and pH were not significant factors in producing TVA from the organic wastes. After a 10-day fermentation, final TVA concentrations in piggery, cattle, poultry, and primary settled sludge of domestic wastewater were 8,900, 2,900, 7,370 and 1,630 mg/L, respectively. The pH of organic wastes was decreased from neutral to 5.7. The ratio of TVA to $NH_4{^+}-N$ produced from the animal waste ranged from 11.5 to 30.1, whereas, that in the primary settled sludge of domestic wastewater, was 5.4. Possibility of fermented organic wastes as the electron donors for denitrification in the activated sludge was investigated. In both acclimated and nonacclimated activated sludge, higher denitrification rates were obtained with fermented piggery sludge added than with either methanol or acetate added. The fermented organic acids derived from the primary settled sludge gave the higher denitrification rate ($4.2mg\;NO_3-N/g\;vss{\cdot}hr$) in the acclimated activated sludge. Denitrification rate was $1.5mg\;NO_3-N/g\;vss{\cdot}hr$ in the nonacclimated sludge with the fermented acids from the primary settled sludge of domestic wastewater added.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.304-312
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• 2013

The thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha is attracting interest as a potential strain for the production of recombinant proteins and biofuels. However, only limited numbers of genome engineering tools are currently available for H. polymorpha. In the present study, we identified the HpPOL3 gene encoding the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase ${\delta}$ of H. polymorpha and mutated the sequence encoding conserved amino acid residues that are important for its proofreading 3'${\rightarrow}$5' exonuclease activity. The resulting $HpPOL3^*$ gene encoding the error-prone proofreading-deficient DNA polymerase ${\delta}$ was cloned under a methanol oxidase promoter to construct the mutator plasmid pHIF8, which also contains additional elements for site-specific chromosomal integration, selection, and excision. In a H. polymorpha mutator strain chromosomally integrated with pHIF8, a $URA3^-$ mutant resistant to 5-fluoroorotic acid was generated at a 50-fold higher frequency than in the wild-type strain, due to the dominant negative expression of $HpPOL3^*$. Moreover, after obtaining the desired mutant, the mutator allele was readily removed from the chromosome by homologous recombination to avoid the uncontrolled accumulation of additional mutations. Our mutator system, which depends on the accumulation of random mutations that are incorporated during DNA replication, will be useful to generate strains with mutant phenotypes, especially those related to unknown or multiple genes on the chromosome.