• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.203-217
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Centella asiatica, also known as Gotu kola, is a tropical medicinal plant native to Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. It is well known to have biological activities, including wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of extracts of C. asiatica against age-related eye degeneration and to examine their physiological activities. MATERIALS/METHODS: To determine the effects of CA-HE50 (C. asiatica 50% EtOH extract) on retinal pigment cells, we assessed the cytotoxicity of CoCl₂ and oxidized-A2E in ARPE-19 cells and observed the protective effects of CA-HE50 against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal damage in C57BL/6 mice. In particular, we measured factors related to apoptosis and anti-oxidation and the protein levels of rhodopsin/opsin. We also measured glucose uptake to characterize glucose metabolism, a major factor in cell protection. RESULTS: Induction of cytotoxicity with CoCl₂ and oxidized-A2E inhibited decreases in the viability of ARPE-19 cells when CA-HE50 was administered, and promoted glucose uptake under normal conditions (P < 0.05). In addition, CA-HE50 inhibited degeneration/apoptosis of the retina in the context of MNU-induced toxicity (P < 0.05). In particular, CA-HE50 at 200 mg/kg inhibited the cleavage of pro-caspase-3 and pro-poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase and maintained the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 similar to normal control levels. Rhodopsin/opsin expression was maintained at a higher level than in normal controls. CONCLUSION: A series of experiments confirmed that CA-HE50 was effective for inhibiting or preventing age-related eye damage/degeneration. Based on these results, we believe it is worthwhile to develop drugs or functional foods related to age-related eye degeneration using CA-HE50.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

Ginseng has gained its popularity as an adaptogen since ancient days because of its triterpenoid saponins, known as ginsenosides. These triterpenoid saponins are unique and classified as protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponins based on their glycosylation patterns. They play many protective roles in humans and are under intense research as various groups continue to study their efficacy at the molecular level in various disorders. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 are the most abundant ginsenosides present in ginseng roots, and they confer the pharmacological properties of the plant, whereas ginsenoside Rg3 is abundantly present in Korean Red Ginseng preparation, which is highly known for its anticancer effects. These ginsenosides have a unique mode of action in modulating various signaling cascades and networks in different tissues. Their effect depends on the bioavailability and the physiological status of the cell. Mostly they amplify the response by stimulating phosphotidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, caspase-3/caspase-9-mediated apoptotic pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling. Furthermore, they trigger receptors such as estrogen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and N-methyl-$\text\tiny{D}$-aspartate receptor. This review critically evaluates the signaling pathways attenuated by ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 in various tissues with emphasis on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2017

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains producing each F4, F5, F6 and F41 fimbriae were lysed by GI24 peptide. The lysate cells were used as ETEC vaccine candidate. This study was carried out to examine whether intramuscular (im) immunization of pregnant sows with the novel vaccine candidate could effectively protect their neonatal piglets against ETEC colibacillosis. All pregnant sows were primed at 11 weeks and were boosted at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Group A sows were im inoculated with PBS. Group B sows were im immunized with $2{\times}10^9$ the mixture. Seral IgG, colostral IgA and IgG titers from group B sows, and seral IgG and IgA levels in group B piglets were significantly higher than those of group A sows and piglets, respectively. After challenge with wild-type ETEC, diarrhea and mortality was not observed in group B piglets. However, diarrhea was observed in 66.7% of group A piglets, and 33.3% mortality was observed. These findings indicate that im immunization of sows with the mixture of the novel vaccine candidate can effectively protect their offspring from ETEC colibacillosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.358-363
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• 2002

Chemical and photochemical processes during storage and preparation rapidly degrade retinol, the most active form of vitamin A. therefore, the efficacy of incorporation into liposomes in order to modulate the kinetics of retinol degradation was investigated. Retinol was readily incorporated into multilamellar liposomes that were prepared form soybean phosphatidylcholine; the extent of the incorporation was 98.14±0.93% at pH 9.0 at a ratio of 0.01 : 1 (wt:wt) retinol : phospholipid. It was only marginally lower at higher retinol concentrations. The pH of the hydration buffer had a small effect. The incorporation efficiency ranged from 99.25±0.47% at pH 3 to 97.45±1.13% at pH 11. The time course of the retinol degradation in the aqueous solution in liposomes was compared to that of free retinol and free retinol with α-tocopherol under a variety of conditions of pH(3, 7, and 11), temperature(4, 25, 37, and 50℃), and light exposure(dark, visible, and UV). The retinol that was incorporated into the liposomes degraded significantly slower than the free retinol or retinol with α-tocopherol at pH 7 and 11. At pH 3, where the free retinol degrades rapidly, the degradation kinetics were similar in liposomes and the presence of α-tocopherol. At pH 7.0 and 4℃ in the light, for example, free aqueous retinol was completely degraded within 2 days, while only 20% of the retinol in the liposomes were degraded after 8 days. In general, the protective effect of the liposome incorporation was greater at low temperatures, at neutral and high pH, and in the dark. The results suggest that protection is greater in the solid, gel phase than in the fluid liquid crystalline phase lipids. These results indicate that the incorporation into liposomes can extend the shelf-life of retinol under a variety of conditions of temperature, pH, and ambient light conditions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2013

To control coccidiosis without using prophylactic medications, a DNA vaccine targeting the gametophyte antigen Gam56 from Eimeria maxima in chickens was constructed, and the immunogenicity and protective effects were evaluated. The ORF of Gam56 gene was cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(zeo)+. Expression of Gam56 protein in COS-7 cells transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA-Gam56 was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly to yellow feathered broilers of 1-week old at 3 dosages (25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/chick$). Injection was repeated once 1 week later. One week after the second injection, birds were challenged orally with $5{\times}10^4$ sporulated oocysts of E. maxima, then weighed and killed at day 8 post challenge. Blood samples were collected and examined for specific peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation activity and serum antibody levels. Compared with control groups, the administration of pcDNA-Gam56 vaccine markedly increased the lymphocyte proliferation activity (P<0.05) at day 7 and 14 after the first immunization. The level of lymphocyte proliferation started to decrease on day 21 after the first immunization. A similar trend was seen in specific antibody levels. Among the 3 pcDNA-Gam56 immunized groups, the median dosage group displayed the highest lymphocyte proliferation and antibody levels (P<0.05). The median dosage group had the greatest relative body weight gain (89.7%), and the greatest oocyst shedding reduction (53.7%). These results indicate that median dosage of DNA vaccine had good immunogenicity and immune protection effects, and may be used in field applications for coccidiosis control.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2008

With the goal of achieving better integrated pest management for hot pepper, a disease-forecasting system was compared to a conventional disease-control method. Experimental field plots were established at Asan, Chungnam, in 2005 to 2006, and hourly temperature and leaf wetness were measured and used as model inputs. One treatment group received applications of a protective fungicide, dithianon, every 7 days, whereas another received a curative fungicide, dimethomorph, when the model-determined infection risk (IR) exceeded a value of 3. In the unsprayed plot, fruits showed 18.9% (2005) and 14.0% (2006) anthracnose infection. Fruits sprayed with dithianon at 7-day intervals had 4.7% (2005) and 15.4% (2006) infection. The receiving model-advised sprays of dimethomorph had 9.4% (2005) and 10.9% (2006) anthracnose infection. Differences in the anthracnose levels between the conventional and model-advised treatments were not statistically significant. The efficacy of 10 (2005) and 8 (2006) applications of calendar-based sprays was same as that of three (2005 and 2006) sprays based on the disease-forecast system. In addition, we found much higher the IRs with the leaf wetness sensor from the field plots comparing without leaf wetness sensor from the weather station at Asan within 10km away. Since the wetness-periods were critical to forecast anthracnose in the model, the measurement of wetness-period in commercial fields must be refined to improve the anthracnose-forecast model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4051-4055
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• 2012

Functional foods include antioxidant nutrients which may protect against many human chronic diseases by combating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumors in rats as an in vivo experimental model. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) were randomly divided into 4 groups containing 10 rats per group, and were treated with either AOM, PPE, or PPE plus AOM or injected with 0.9% physiological saline solution as a control. At 8 weeks of age, the rats in the AOM and PPE plus AOM groups were injected with 15 mg AOM/kg body weight, once a week for two weeks. After the last AOM injection, the rats were continuously fed ad-libitum their specific diets for another 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment (i.e. at the age of 4 months), all rats were killed and the colon tissues were examined microscopically for lesions suspected of being preneoplastic lesions or tumors as well as for biochemical measurement of oxidative stress indices. The results revealed a lower incidence of aberrant crypt foci in the PPE plus AOM administered group as compared to the AOM group. In addition, PPE blocked the AOM-induced impairment of biochemical indicators of oxidative stress in the examined colonic tissue homogenates. The results suggest that PPE can partially inhibit the development of colonic premalignant lesions in an AOM-induced colorectal carcinogenesis model, by abrogating oxidative stress and improving the redox status of colonic cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2011

An attenuated vaccine strain AVR1/08 of Korean respiratory type of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was developed by 89th passages of IBV D85/06 strain in chicken eggs. The AVR1/08 strain had higher virus titer at least 20 times ($10^{1.3}$) than the parent virus D85/06 by egg inoculation method. The AVR1/08 strain had a single point mutation (S to Y) at position 56 of spike protein of IBV compared to parent virus IBV D85/06 strain. The mutation was observed consistently at viruses after 47th passage in chicken eggs. The AVR1/08 strain showed no virulence even after 6 passages in chickens and all chickens inoculated induced anti-IBV antibody 14 days after vaccination. The AVR1/08 strain had broad protective efficacy against QX type Korean nephropathogenic virus (Q43/06 strain), KM91 type Korean nephropathogenic virus (KM91 strain) and Korean respiratory virus (D85/06 strain). In contrast, Massachusetts (Mass) type attenuated vaccine strain H120 showed protection of 37.5 to 50% against these three viruses. Our results indicate that the AVR1/08 strain has potential as an attenuated vaccine effective in controlling IBVs circulating in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2011

The radioprotective efficacy of a methanol extract of the red algae Polyopes lancifolia (Harvey) kawaguchi et wang (mPL) was evaluated in mice subjected to total-body gamma irradiation. mPL protection against radiation-induced oxidative stress was examined by histological evaluation of intestinal crypt-cell survival and liver activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). mPL (100 mg/kg body weight) administered intraperitoneally at 24 h and 1 h prior to irradiation protected jejunal crypt cells from radiation-induced apoptosis (p < 0.01). The pretreatment of mPL attenuated a radiation-induced decrease in villous height (p < 0.05), and improved jejunal crypt survival (p < 0.05). The dose reduction factor was 1.14 at 3.5 days after irradiation. Treatment with mPL prior to irradiation resulted in significantly higher (p < 0.01) levels of SOD and CAT activities, compared to those levels of irradiated control mice with vehicle treatment. These results suggest that mPL is a useful radioprotective agent capable of defending intestinal progenitor cells against total-body irradiation, at least in part through mPL antioxidative activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

The effects of Korean solar salt on an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon cancer C57BL/6 mouse model were studied. Korean solar salt samples (SS-S, solar salt from S salt field; SS-Yb, solar salt from Yb salt field), nine-time-baked bamboo salt (BS-9x, made from SS-Yb), purified salt (PS), and SS-G (solar salt from $Gu\acute{e}rande$, France) were orally administered at a concentration of 1% during AOM/DSS colon cancer induction, and compared for their protective effects during colon carcinogenesis in C57BL/6 mice. SS-S and SS-Yb suppressed colon length shortening and tumor counts in mouse colons. Histological evaluation by hematoxylin and eosin staining also revealed suppression of tumorigenesis by SS-S. Conversely, PS and SS-G did not show a similar suppressive efficacy as Korean solar salt. SS-S and SS-Yb promoted colon mRNA expression of an apoptosis-related factor and cell-cycle-related gene and suppressed pro-inflammatory factor. SS-Yb baked into BS-9x further promoted these anti-carcinogenic efficacies. Taken together, the results indicate that Korean solar salt, especially SS-S and SS-Yb, exhibited anti-cancer activity by modulating apoptosis- and inflammation-related gene expression during colon carcinogenesis in mice, and bamboo salt baked from SS-Yb showed enhanced anti-cancer functionality.