• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica complexes(OCB) on the intake of water and food, body weight, blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four different groups; non-diabetic control(NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic OCB of 2%(OCB-2), and diabetic OCB of 5%(OCB-5). The animals were fed on each experimental diet for 3 weeks. The DC, OCB-2 and OCB-5 groups showed a higher intake of water and food than the NC group. The fasting blood glucose levels were 100 $ mg/d{\ell}$ and 416 $ mg/d{\ell}$ for the NC and DC groups, respectively. The OCB-5 group presented a significantly low fasting glucose level of 21%(P<0.05), while OCB-2 group had a decrease of 13% compared to the DC group. As for the results of the glucose tolerance test, the highest blood glucose level was observed for all the groups at 30 minutes after the glucose injections as well as higher plasma insulin levels in the OCB-5 group. Plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA) and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were also lower in the OCB-2 and OCB-5 groups. The experimental diet did not affect the HDL-cholesterol levels. The overall results suggest that the higher intake of food by the OCB-2 and OCB-5 groups improved the blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.294-300
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• 2010

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Opuntia humifusa (OPH) extracts and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) supplementations on the laying productivity, egg quality and sensory characteristics of eggs in hens. Six hundred forty, 35-wk-old Lohmann brown, laying hens were randomly divided into four groups: 1) water (control), 0.12% OPH extract, 0.1% MSM, and 0.12% OPH extract+0.1% MSM. They were mixed into the feed and given for 5 weeks. Egg production rates, egg weight, feed demand ratio were not significantly different among the groups. However, OPH or MSM decreased broken egg rates by increasing thickness and firmness of egg shell but they did not show the additive effects. In addition, OPH or MSM enhanced Haugh unit, an indicator of freshness of egg, and viscosity of egg white and egg yolk. OPH or MSM maintained the freshness of eggs better the control during their storage for 10 day at $4^{\circ}C$. However, OPH+MSM did not show additive effects in their freshness. Sensory test revealed that OPH or MSM decreased fishy taste and greasy flavor and they improved texture. Overall OPH or MSM enhanced the preference of eggs. In conclusion, the supplementation of either OPH or MSM enhances egg freshness and egg quality in laying hens but they should not be supplemented together due to no additive effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to develop functional lotus root bugak with plasma lipid reduction capacity by controlling the color of batter used for bugak preparation. Lotus root, nearly colorless, was selected to observe color effects. Gardeniae fructus (GF), Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OF), and green tea (GT), which are colored yellow, red, and green, respectively, were used as coloring agents. Fermented glutinous rice was prepared naturally during winter season by placing glutinous rice and water (1:2, w/w) together in a crock pot for 7 days. Coloring materials (10%, w/w) were blended with glue made from fermented glutinous rice flour to prepare the batter. Cooked lotus root was then mixed with a 1.1-fold amount of batter (w/w) and dried at room temperature. Lotus root bugak (LRB) is pan-fried with un-roasted sesame oil, which is traditionally used as frying oil in Korea. Low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout ($LDLr^{-/-}$) mice (n=36) were fed an atherogenic diet (AD) containing various types of LRB (10 g%) for 10 weeks. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-C concentrations decreased significantly in mice fed LRB prepared with OF batter (OFB) and GT batter (GTB) (P<0.05). Protein expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) in the OFB and GTB groups were suppressed compared with the LRB group (P<0.05). In accordance with the results on FAS and HMGCR expression, sterol regulatory element binding protein-I and II (SREBP-I and II), which are responsible for the regulation of FAS and HMGCR gene expression, respectively, were down-regulated compared to the LRB group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the plasma lipid reduction activities of OFB and GTB could be mediated through down-regulation of FAS and HMGCR mRNA expression via suppression of regulatory molecules, SREBP-I and II, in $LDLr^{-/-}$ mice.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.767-776
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate key properties of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OFI) ie, levels of key chemicals (carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds as well as phenolic acid) and its antioxidative potential, depending on where the plant had been cultivated in Korea. The levels of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds in OFI were 55.45~65.32 mg (+)-catechin/g and 149.00~181.15 mg gallic acid/g, respectively. Protocatechuic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid in the ON1 and ON2 (161.90 and $196.25{\mu}g/g$ DW (dry weight)). Nineteen flavonoids were identified and analyzed by LC-ESI-MS in cladodes from OFI. Narcissin was the most abundant flavonoid in all of the samples ($1,241.89{\sim}1,775.10{\mu}g/g$ DW). Capxanthin and zeaxanthin were the most abundant carotenoids in OFI (64.88~128.08 and $48.10{\sim}93.82{\mu}g/g$ DW). The level of DPPH radical and ABTS radical scavenging activities in OFI were 10.78~25.35 and 16.85~34.16 mg AA eq/100 g, respectively. OFI by cultivar has different kind of phenolic acid, flavonoids, and carotenoids. Therefore, dietary intake of cladodes from OFI may be helpful for improving human health.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.443-450
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• 2012

Recently, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was proposed to accelerate adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cell. We have previously shown that Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation via downregulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) gene expression. In this study, we focused on the molecular mechanism(s) of NOX4, G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and antioxidant enzymes in anti-oxidative activities of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results indicate that Cheonnyuncho extracts markedly inhibits ROS production during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Cheonnyuncho extracts suppressed the mRNA expression of the pro-oxidant enzyme such as NOX4 and the NADPH-producing G6PDH enzyme. In addition, treatment with Cheonnyuncho extract was found to upregulate mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes such as Mn-SOD (manganese-superoxide dismutase), Cu/Zn-SOD (copper/zinc-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathion reductase (GR), and catalase, all of which are important for endogenous antioxidant responses. These data suggest that Cheonnyuncho extract may be effective in preventing the rise of oxidative stress during adipocyte differentiation through mechanism(s) that involves direct down regulation of NOX4 and G6PDH gene expression or via upregulation of endogenous antioxidant responses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2007

Antioxidative activity and functional properties of the powder obtained from ground Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten fruit were studied. Cupcakes containing 1,3, and 5% (w/w) of O. ficus-indica vu. saboten powders were prepared and evaluated for their sensory property, textural quality, and shelf-life. The antioxidative activity, measured by DPPH radical scavenging activity of O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder, increased as the concentrations of O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder increased. No coliform bacteria, yeasts, and molds were detected in either the O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder or in the cupcakes. However, total aerobic bacteria counts were 4.41 log CFU/g in the O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder and were a negligible level (<$10^2$ CFU/g) in the cupcakes. Moisture content of the cupcakes was not significantly different in all samples. Lightness (L) and yellowness (b) of cupcake color decreased as the concentration of O. ficus-indicar var. saboten powder increased, whereas the redness (a) increased. Increasing the concentration of O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder, the mechanical characteristics of the cupcakes, such as hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, while decreasing cohesiveness and springiness. The sensory properties, such as color, flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability, of the cupcakes containing the 1% 0. ficus-indica var. saboten powder were superior to the control sample. The results exhibited that the adding the O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder into the cupcakes increased antioxidant activity and showed no effect on shelf-life of the cupcakes. The highest quality improvement was obtained by incorporating the 1% (w/w) of 0. ficus-indica var. saboten powder into the cupcake formula.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.4 no.3_4
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• pp.59-67
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• 1981

Stomatal resistances of the leaves in Heteromeres arbutifolia and of the stems in Ferocactus acanthodes were studied to estimate active and passive behaviors of the guard cells on a theoretical basis. Active and passive stomatal responses to light and water deficit were observed. When the change rate of existent water due to variation of osmotic potential in the guard cells and the loss rate of transpirational water from the guard cells are $\Delta$wi-$\Delta$wt and leaded to active behaviors for opening and closing stomata. However, when stems of F. acanthodes with stomata closecd under the solar irradiation were covered with black cloth and then taken off, behaviors of the guard cells occurred in the condition of $\Delta$wi<$\Delta$wt and were passive. Under the conditiion of $\Delta$wi<$\Delta$wt due to cutout from stems, passive behaviors of the guard cells in H. arbutifolia and F. acanthodes always occurred in spite of the solar irradiation and darkness, respectively. The transpirational resistance coefficients of the guard cells in stems of F. acanthodes (0.380) and Opuntia bigelovii (0.135) wer emuch higher than in leaves of H. arbutifolia (0.034). Moreover, stomatal opening in stems of F. acanthodes during the daytime could be induced by watering. Those results are interpreted as that since the guard cells in desert Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants always exist in the state of stomatal opening, nocturnal stomatal opening and daytime stomatal closing are exhibited by passive behaviors of the guard cells in the alternant conditioins of $\Delta$wi>$\Delta$wt and $\Delta$wi<$\Delta$wt, respectively.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.788-798
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• 2009

Objective : This study was undertaken to investigate effects of Opuntia ficus-indica (OP)extract on an asthma murine model. Methods : The total number of cells and eosinophils in BALF and the infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung tissues were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results : The number of OVA-induced total cells and eosinophils, a phenomenon of asthma, were decreased by treatment of the animals with OP extract (200 mg/kg) (respectively, p < 0.001 and p<0.01). Furthermore, we showed that OP extract reduced the increased immune cell infiltration induced by ovalbumin (p < 0.01). The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 in BAL fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, because the eosinophilia is associated with a T helper (Th) 2 response including IL-4. The level of OVA-induced IL-4 was decreased by OP extract in BAL fluid (p < 0.05). We investigated whether OP extract reduced nitrite (NO) production on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 sells, because asthma is an inflammatory disease. The level of LPS-induced NO production was decreased by OP extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/ml) on RAW 264.7 cells (respectively, p < 0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.05). Conclusions : Our results indicate that OP extract has an inhibitory effect on lung eosinophilia of asthma and suggest that OP extract is a therapeutic candidate in the treatment of inflammatory disease, including asthma.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2007

Four strains of water mold, ChS-E0511, RaT-E0511, RaT-A0512 and MaS-F0512, were isolated from salmonid fish and/or their eggs taken from culture farms in Yangyang, Milyang and Pyeongchang, Korea in 2005. Descriptions of their morphological aspects, the results of the phylogenetic analysis conducted, and the sequence of the small sub-unit 18S rRNAs of the isolates confirmed that they all belong to the species Saprolegnia parasitica. Only one species, ChS-E0511, which was isolated from fertilized eggs of the chum salmon, was classified as part of the S. parasiticaGroup 1 according to its oogonia and gemmae production. The chemotherapeutic effects of various chemicals on the ChS-E0511 strain were assessed from the inhibitory effects of growth in GY media and the relative ratio of eyed eggs to fertilized eggs of the rainbow trout. Malchite green, a prohibited substance in food animals, was better than others, such as the Opuntia ficus-indicaextract, 2-bronopol, and sodium chloride. These results suggest that the fungi isolated from salmonids and/or their eggs identified as S. parasitica were composed of more than two groups. These isolates will be useful in an intensive evaluation of therapeutic agents.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.147-155
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• 2008

In previous works, we found that solvent extract of Opuntia humifusa Raf., a member of the lactaceae family, displayed potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, all solvent fractions, except for the water layer, showed potent scavenging effects. According to activity-guided fractionation, one of active radical scavenging principles in the ethyl acetate fraction was found to be taxifolin. In this study, we investigated whether taxifolin showed anti-oxidative activity. In addition, taxifolin modulated nitric oxide (NO) release and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and TNF-${\alpha}$. Taxifolin showed potent anti-oxidant activity with the $IC_{50}\;of\;8.5{\pm}1.4\;and\;9.3{\pm}1.0{\mu}M$ using xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XO) assay and 2,2-Diphenyl-lpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay, respectively. We next determined the role of taxifolin on the immunomodulating activity using murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cells. Taxifolin dose-dependently inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7. It also significantly blocked the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, taxifolin potently suppressed the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and GM-CSF mRNA in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells, but not that of TNF-${\alpha}$ Moreover, taxifolin significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and activator protein -1 (AP-1). These results suggest that taxifolin may downregulate inflammatory iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and GM-CSF gene expressions through inhibition of NF-K and AP-1 activation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.