• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2008

The genotoxicity of mercury compounds have been investigated with a variety of genetic endpoints in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The mercury ions are positively charged and easily form complexes with DNA by binding with negatively charged centers to cause mutagenesis. Further, the mercury ions can react with sulfhydryl (-SH) groups of proteins associated with DNA replication and alter genetic information. Another mechanism by which mercury damages DNA molecule is via its probable involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces DNA strand breaks. In order to investigate whether the ROS production was induced by mercury, we performed ROS assay. As the result, the ROS production was significantly increased when it grows dose-dependently and time-dependently. We compared mercury alone-treated group and mercury co-treated with Vitamin C or glutathione group. As the result, the ROS production induced by mercury was decreased by Vitamin C and glutathione. Co-treated with Vitamin C and glutathione group was the most effective to lowering ROS production induced by mercury.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.202-211
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• 1982

A modification of a microbiological assay of vitamin $B_{12}$ was made and used to determine the vita­min levels during kimchi fermentation. A cyanide-buffer solution of pH 6.0 replaced the metabisufite-buffer specified in the A.O.A.C. method. The vitamin $B_{12}$ activity was decreased by blending kimchi samples for 5 minutes and retained the activity by steaming for 10 minutes before blending. The alkali hydrolysis of kimchi at pH 12.0 for 30 minutes at $121^{\circ}C$ was sufficient to destroy the vitamin $B_{12}$ and permit the detection of analogs with the same assay organism. Vitamin $B_{12}$ reached a maximum of 47ng/100g during the fermentation of kimchi ${15}\;4^{\circ}C.$ Inoculation of the kimchi with Propionibacterium shermanii (ATCC 13673) increased the vitamin production to a maximum of 102ng/100g at 1 week of fermentation. Soy flour (0.5%) or beef extract (0.05%), which were regarded as protein sources, added to the inoculated kimchi further increased the vitamin $B_{12}$ activity to 197 and 203ng/100g.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.477-487
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• 2022

Probiotics provide a symbiotic relationship and beneficial effects by balancing the human intestinal microbiota. The relationships between microbiota changes and various diseases may predict health abnormalities and diseases. Treatment with vitamins and probiotics is one therapeutic approach. To evaluate the effect of probiotics on vitamin absorption, we chose Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 treatment, which has resistance to vitamin C-inducible toxicity, with vitamins in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity models. CBT-LR5 affected the absorption of micronutrients, such as ionic minerals and water-soluble vitamins. An increase in vitamin C absorption by CBT-LR5 enhanced the antioxidant response in HFD-induced obesity models. Increased vitamin B absorption by CBT-LR5 regulated lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obesity models. These favorable effects of CBT-LR5 on the absorption of vitamins should be investigated as candidate therapeutic target treatments for metabolic diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.264-273
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• 2006

Elevated maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Serum homocysteine levels may be affected by the MTHFR genotypes and the nutritional status of B vitamins including vitamin $B_2,\;B_6$, folate and vitamin $B_{12}$. We investigated whether postnatal growth measurements were influenced by maternal MTHFR genotypes and their mid-pregnancy serum vitamin B and homocysteine levels. In 130 pregnant women of 24-28 wks of gestation, the MTHFR genotypes, serum B vitamins and homocysteine concentrations were analyzed. Physical growth status was assessed in their offsprings by measuring height, weight, and head and chest circumferences from birth up to 24 months. Serum homocysteine levels were higher in the subjects with T/T genotype than those with the C/T or C/C. Heights and head and chest circumferences of offsprings from the T/T mothers were significantly lower than those from the C/C or C/T mothers only when the serum homocysteine levels were above the median. The mean height of offsprings from the T/T mothers was significantly lower than those from the C/C and C/T mothers. The mean weight and head circumferences of offsprings born from the mothers whose mid-term pregnancy PLP levels were in the lowest quartile was significantly lower than those from mothers in the highest quartile. Heights and head circumferences of offsprings from the T/T mothers were significantly lower than those from the C/C or C/T mothers only when the serum FAD levels were in the lowest quartile. These results suggest that postnatal growth up to 24 months may be influenced by the maternal C677T MTHFR genotypes, and mid-pregnancy serum homocysteine and vitamin B status.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 1989

This study was intended to observe the changes of the nitrate, nitrite and vitamin C content during the fermentation of Kimchies by some added materials. Eight different types of Kimchi, were prepared with chinese cabbage and seasonings, to which added respectively materials such as soused anchovy, soused shrimp, garlic, mustard leaf, K-sorbate, ascorbic acid, radish. After they were prefermented at $18^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours, stored 35 days at $4^{\circ}C$. Generally optimal maturity of Kimchi showed pH 4.4 to 4.6, lactic acid content 0.3 to 0.4% at salt content belows 2.5%. The content of total vitamin C in Kimchies was approximately 19.8-24.7 mg/100g at the initial stage of fermentation and then slightly decreased. When the process of the fermentation was active, the content of total vitamin C increased up to the same level or higher than that of the initial stage and then gradually decreased. In the case of Kimchi which added garlic, the content of vitamin C was relatively higher then the other samples. In the initial stage of fermentation, the nitrate and nitrite content in the Kimchi which added garlic and raddish were relatively higher than other samples. Nitrate content reached its minimum by the 21st day, at that time content was 290-342 ppm. At this time, the nitrite was not detected and total vitamin C content in all samples decreased.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.525-530
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• 2015

Ceramide is the most abundant lipid in the epidermis and plays a critical role in maintaining epidermal barrier function. Overall ceramide content in keratinocyte increases in parallel with differentiation, which is initiated by supplementation of calcium and/or vitamin C. However, the role of metabolic enzymes responsible for ceramide generation in response to vitamin C is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether vitamin C alters epidermal ceramide content by regulating the expression and/or activity of its metabolic enzymes. When human keratinocytes were grown in 1.2 mM calcium with vitamin C ($50{\mu}g/ml$) for 11 days, bulk ceramide content significantly increased in conjunction with terminal differentiation of keratinocytes as compared to vehicle controls (1.2 mM calcium alone). Synthesis of the ceramide fractions was enhanced by increased de novo ceramide synthesis pathway via serine palmitoyltransferase and ceramide synthase activations. Moreover, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) hydrolysis pathway by action of S1P phosphatase was also stimulated by vitamin C supplementation, contributing, in part, to enhanced ceramide production. However, activity of sphingomyelinase, a hydrolase enzyme that converts sphingomyelin to ceramide, remained unaltered. Taken together, we demonstrate that vitamin C stimulates ceramide production in keratinocytes by modulating ceramide metabolicrelated enzymes, and as a result, could improve overall epidermal barrier function.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.191-191
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• 1998

It has been hypothesized that formation of oxygen-derived free radicals may play an important part in ischemically induced tissue injury. In this study, the effects of vitamin C treatment on hepatic reperfusion model were investigated. Livers isolated from 18 hrs fasted rats were subjected to low flow hypoxia (1 $m\ell$/g liver/min, for 45min) followed by reoxygenation (for 30min). The perfusion medium used was Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHBB, pH 7.4) and vitamin C (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM) was added to perfusate. 7-Ethoxycoumarin was used as substrate of phase and metbolism. After hypoxia oxygen consumption significantly dropped but vitamin C 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM treatments restored oxygen consumption to the level of control group. LDH and lipid peroxidation were not changed in all experimental groups. Oxidation, phase metabolism, significantly decreased following hypoxia but improved during reoxygenation. Vitamin C 0.25 mM treatment significantly improved the oxidation of 7-ethoxycoumarin during hypoxia and reoxygenation, but the oxidation significantly decreased by vitamin C 2.0 mM treatment. Similarly, sulfate conjugation decreased in hypoxic group, but this decrease was inhibited by vitamin C 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM treatments. Our findings suggest that hypoxia/reoxygenation diminishes hepatic drug metabolizing function, vitamin C at concentration of 0.25-1.0 mM ameliorates but at higher concentration aggravates these hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced changes.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.151-167
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• 2003

Melanin biosynthesis is a human defense mechanism to protect skin from UV irradiation and also determines colors of hair and skin. However, as a interest on skin-whitening increases, researches to prevent pigmentation and hypersynthesis of melanin in skin are being actively in progress. Active components used as a whitening agent in cosmeceuticals are kojic acid, arbutin, vitamin C and hydroquinone. However, until now, because comparison researches among them in the aspect of both melanin formation and cellular toxicity have not been performed, we can't exactly estimate merits and defects of them as a whitening agent. To this end, we performed experiments to compare their effects on cell viability and melanin formation. As a first step, in vitro tyrosinase inhibition assay was done. While kojic acid and hydroquinone showed strong inhibition activities(their IC$\_$50/s are all < 100uM), arbutin and vitamin C showed weak activities. IC$\_$50/s of arbutin and vitamin C are 100uM and 400∼500uM, respectively. In B16BL6 melanoma cells, like in vitro tyrosinase inhibition assay, arbutin and kojic acid showed more strong inhibition effect on melanin synthesis than vitamin C. And unlike arbutin, vitamin C and kojic acid induced cell death at high concentration. Although arbutin showed no cytotoxicity, it has side effect to induce morphological change at high concentration.. In this paper, we suggest both kojic acid and arbutin have stronger ability to inhibit melanogenesis than vitamin C. And they also have side effect, that is, kojic acid induces cell death like vitamin C and arbutin changes cell morphology respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2020

Objective: Since sperm abnormalities are known to be a major reason for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), any defects in DNA structure and chromatin condensation can place embryos at risk in the early stage of development and implantation. As antioxidants such as vitamin C may play a protective role against the destruction of protamine genes in sperm chromatin, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin C on chromatin and the expression of protamine genes in the male partners of couples with RPL. Methods: Twenty male partners of couples with RPL were selected as the intervention group and received vitamin C supplementation (250 mg daily for 3 months). Healthy fertile men (n = 20) were included as controls. Sperm chromatin, DNA integrity, and the expression levels of protamine genes were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: Significant differences were found in sperm morphology, protamine deficiency, and apoptosis between the two groups and before and after vitamin C administration. A significant change was found in mRNA levels of PRM1, PRM2, and the PRM1/PRM2 ratio after treatment. Conclusion: Daily oral administration of vitamin C may improve human sperm parameters and DNA integrity by increasing protamine gene expression levels in the male partners of couples with RPL. The beneficial effects of vitamin C supplementation as an antioxidant for the male partners of couples with RPL could lead to improved pregnancy outcomes in these cases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2004

This study was carried out to analysis the composition of fruit body of Morchella esculenta (MEF) to determine the possibility of medical and edible use. The nutritional compositions of MEF were as follows ; The contnt (g%) of crude fat, carbohydrate, crude protein were 3.8, 43.5 and 29.7, respectively. Potassium concentration in MEF was high up to 3558.0 mg% and Ca, Mg, Fe, Na and Zn were followed. There were 23 amino acids in MEF The content of glutamic acid was high up to 1433.0 mg% and leucine, alanine, arginine valine and theronine were followed. Since MEF contains 25 free amino acids, it will be a favorable food stuff. The content of Vitamin A, Vitamin $B_1$, , Vitamin$B_2$, Vitamin $B_6$, Vitamin C, Vitamin $BD_3$, Vitamin E and Vitamin $K_1$, were 2.23 $\mug%$, 0.13 mg%, 0.07 mg%, 0.27 mg%, 0.17 mg%, 52.27 $\mug%$, 5.26 mg% and 3.23 $\mug%$, respectively. MEF will have a good anti-aging effect due to content of Vitamin C and Vitamin E.