• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.173-193
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most representative neurodegenerative disease mainly caused by the excessive production of amyloid beta (Aβ). Several studies on the antioxidant activity and protective effects of Populus tomentiglandulosa (PT) against cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal damage have been reported. Based on this background, the present study investigated the protective effects of PT against cognitive impairment in AD. MATERIALS/METHODS: We orally administered PT (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 14 days in an Aβ_25-35-induced mouse model and conducted behavioral experiments to test cognitive ability. In addition, we evaluated the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and measured the production of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tissues. RESULTS: PT treatment improved the space perceptive ability in the T-maze test, object cognitive ability in the novel object recognition test, and spatial learning/long-term memory in the Morris water-maze test. Moreover, the levels of AST and ALT were not significantly different among the groups, indicating that PT did not show liver toxicity. Furthermore, administration of PT significantly inhibited the production of lipid peroxide, NO, and ROS in the brain, liver, and kidney, suggesting that PT protected against oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that administration of PT improved Aβ_25-35-induced cognitive impairment by regulating oxidative stress. Therefore, we propose that PT could be used as a natural agent for AD improvement.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2016

Plants protect themselves from pathogen attacks via several mechanisms, including hypersensitive cell death. Recognition of pathogen attack by the plant resistance gene triggers expression of carboxylesterase genes associated with hypersensitive response. We identified six transcripts of carboxylesterase genes, Vitis flexuosa carboxylesterase 5585 (VfCXE5585), Vf-CXE12827, VfCXE13132, VfCXE17159, VfCXE18231, and VfCXE47674, which showed different expression patterns upon transcriptome analysis of V. flexuosa inoculated with Elsinoe ampelina. The lengths of genes ranged from 1,098 to 1,629 bp, and their encoded proteins consisted of 309 to 335 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequences showed hydrolase like domains in all six transcripts and contained two conserved motifs, GXSXG of serine hydrolase characteristics and HGGGF related to the carboxylesterase family. The deduced amino acid sequence also contained a potential catalytic triad consisted of serine, aspartic acid and histidine. Of the six transcripts, Vf-CXE12827 showed upregulated expression against E. ampelina at all time points. Three genes (VfCXE5585, VfCXE12827, and VfCXE13132) showed upregulation, while others (VfCXE17159, VfCXE18231, and VfCXE47674) were down regulated in grapevines infected with Botrytis cinerea. All transcripts showed upregulated expression against Rhizobium vitis at early and later time points except VfCXE12827, and were downregulated for up to 48 hours post inoculation (hpi) after upregulation at 1 hpi in response to R. vitis infection. All tested genes showed high and differential expression in response to pathogens, indicating that they all may play a role in defense pathways during pathogen infection in grapevines.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.47 no.8
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• pp.109-117
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the uses of Aster scaber. The survey methodology employed was a questionnaire, which was used to interview 272 (37.8%) males and 448(62.2%) females from the Seoul and Kyunggido areas. The main results are as follows: 40-50 years old like and eat Aster scaber more frequently than 10-30 years old. The most popular reason provided for the preferance of Aster scaber was good health benefits. People indicating a dislike for Aster scaber had generally fewer previous experiences of eating this plant. Respondents who regularly ate healthy foods preferred prepared Aster scaber to others foods(p < .001). The main purchasing place was traditional markets and supermarkets. The main cooking method was boiling with addition of seasoning. Aster scaber was purported as having the following characteristics "low calories and thus great as diet food'(4.03), 'ability to prevent adult disease'(3.95), 'high in vitamins and minerals'(3.89), and 'high fiber content which prevented constipation'(3.85). However, it was not associated with 'astringent taste'(3.51) and was regarded as 'fat accumulation restrainer and remover of heavy metal'(3.53). Recognition and eating experience was low for Aster scaber kimchi and rice bread, bread, sauce and Aster scaber added health drinks. However opinion of its taste was regarded highly.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.337-351
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• 2008

Host-pathogen interaction in rice bacterial blight pathosystem was analyzed for a better understanding of their relationship and recognition of stable pathogenicity among the populations of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. A total number of 52 bacterial strains isolated from diseased leaf samples collected from 12 rice growing states and one Union Territory of India, were inoculated on 16 rice varieties, each possessing known genes for resistance. Analysis of variance revealed that the host genotypes(G) accounted for largest(78.4%) proportion of the total sum of squares(SS), followed by 16.5% due to the pathogen isolates(I) and 5.1% due to the $I{\times}G$ interactions. Application of the Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction(AMMI) model revealed that the first two interaction principal component axes(IPCA) accounted for 66.8% and 21.5% of the interaction SS, respectively. The biplot generated using the isolate and genotypic scores of the first two IPCAs revealed groups of host genotypes and pathogen isolates falling into four sectors. A group of five isolates with high virulence, high absolute IPCA-1 scores, moderate IPCA-2 scores, low AMMI stability index '$D_i$' values and minimal deviations from additive main effects displayed in AMMI biplot as well as response plot, were identified as possessing stable pathogenicity across 16 host genotypes. The largest group of 27 isolates with low virulence, small IPCA-1 as well as IPCA-2 scores, low $D_i$ values and minimal deviations from additive main effect predictions, possessed stable pathogenicity for low virulence. The AMMI analysis and biplot display facilitated in a better understanding of the host-pathogen interaction, adaptability of pathogen isolates to specific host genotypes, identification of isolates showing stable pathogenicity and most discriminating host genotypes, which could be useful in location specific breeding programs aiming at deployment of resistant host genotypes in bacterial blight disease control strategies.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.426-438
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• 2016

Plant disease resistance occurs as a hypersensitive response (HR) at the site of attempted pathogen invasion. This specific event is initiated in response to recognition of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) and subsequent PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Both PTI and ETI mechanisms are tightly connected with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and disease resistance that involves distinct biphasic ROS production as one of its pivotal plant immune responses. This unique oxidative burst is strongly dependent on the resistant cultivars because a monophasic ROS burst is a hallmark of the susceptible cultivars. However, the cause of the differential ROS burst remains unknown. In the study here, we revealed the plausible underlying mechanism of the differential ROS burst through functional understanding of the Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) AVR effector, AVR-Pii. We performed yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening using AVR-Pii as bait and isolated rice NADP-malic enzyme2 (Os-NADP-ME2) as the rice target protein. To our surprise, deletion of the rice Os-NADP-ME2 gene in a resistant rice cultivar disrupted innate immunity against the rice blast fungus. Malic enzyme activity and inhibition studies demonstrated that AVR-Pii proteins specifically inhibit in vitro NADP-ME activity. Overall, we demonstrate that rice blast fungus, M. oryzae attenuates the host ROS burst via AVR-Pii-mediated inhibition of Os-NADP-ME2, which is indispensable in ROS metabolism for the innate immunity of rice. This characterization of the regulation of the host oxidative burst will help to elucidate how the products of AVR genes function associated with virulence of the pathogen.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.360-366
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• 2014

Kimchi is a Korean traditional fermented food with various health functionalities. However, the protective effects of kimchi against Alzheimer's disease (AD) have not been studied yet. In this study, the protective activities of kimchi extract against oxidative stress and AD were investigated in an amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$)-induced AD model using ICR mice. Kimchi extract exerted strong scavenging activities against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radical. In addition, T-maze, object cognition, and water maze tests were carried out using the AD model. The $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected groups showed impairment of cognition and memory. However, the abilities of novel object recognition and new route awareness were improved by administration of kimchi extract (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. Furthermore, the results on water maze test indicated that kimchi extract exerted protective activity against cognitive impairment induced by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$. The present study suggested that kimchi protected against $A{\beta}$-induced impairment of memory and cognition as well as attenuated oxidative stress.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.297-311
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• 2017

Saprolegniasis is one of the most devastating oomycete diseases in freshwater fish which is caused by species in the genus Saprolegnia including Saprolegnia parasitica. In this study, we isolated the strain of S. parasitica from diseased rainbow trout in Korea. Morphological and molecular based identification confirmed that isolated oomycete belongs to the member of S. parasitica, supported by its typical features including cotton-like mycelium, zoospores and phylogenetic analysis with internal transcribed spacer region. Pathogenicity of isolated S. parasitica was developed in embryo, juvenile, and adult zebrafish as a disease model. Host-pathogen interaction in adult zebrafish was investigated at transcriptional level. Upon infection with S. parasitica, pathogen/antigen recognition and signaling (TLR2, TLR4b, TLR5b, NOD1, and major histocompatibility complex class I), pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin $[IL]-1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8, interferon ${\gamma}$, IL-12, and IL-10), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9 and MMP13), cell surface molecules ($CD8^+$ and $CD4^+$) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase) related genes were differentially modulated at 3- and 12-hr post infection. As an anti-Saprolegnia agent, plant based lawsone was applied to investigate on the susceptibility of S. parasitica showing the minimum inhibitory concentration and percentage inhibition of radial growth as $200{\mu}g/mL$ and 31.8%, respectively. Moreover, natural lawsone changed the membrane permeability of S. parasitica mycelium and caused irreversible damage and disintegration to the cellular membranes of S. parasitica. Transcriptional responses of the genes of S. parasitica mycelium exposed to lawsone were altered, indicating that lawsone could be a potential anti-S. parasitica agent for controlling S. parasitica infection.