• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1385-1393
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• 1998

The hypoglycemic effects of butanol(BuOH) fraction of Polygonatum odoratum with vitamin E in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-230g were devided into five groups, and four groups induced diabetes mellitus by the STZ injection(45mg/kg b.w.) into the tail vein : Normal, diabetic-control, and three diabetic experimental groups(p. odoratum group, P. od-vit. E group and Vit. E group). All groups were fed on a AIN-76 diet, and the experimental groups were orally administered with the BuOH fraction of Polygonatum odoratum(500mg/kg b.w.) and vitamin E(10mg/kg b.w.) for 14 days. The body weight, diet intake and organ weights were monitored. The plasma levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities were analyzed. The levels of glycogen in liver and muscle, cholesterol in liver were determined. The malondialdehyde(MDA) levels in liver, kidney and lung were assayed. The body weight loss was seen in P. odoratum group, P. od-vit. E group, Vit. E group and diabetic control group, while the loss in P. odoratum group was much less than that in the diabetic control group. The plasma glucose levels were significantly lowered in P. odoratum group compared to diabetic control group. The plasma insulin levels were noticeably higher in P. odoratum and Vit. E groups. The rats in P. odoratum and P. od-vit. E group showed higher liver glycogen levels than in the diabetic control group. The MDA levels in liver, kidney and lung were also significantly reduced in P. od-vit. E and Vit. E groups compared to the diabetic control group. The results suggest that the administration of BuOH fraction of Polygonatum odoratum along with vitamin E reduced blood glucose levels and peroxidative tissue damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats, showing the possibility of preventive and therapeutic use of the wild edible plant to the diabetes mellitus. (Korean J Nutrition 31(9) : 1385-1393, 1998)

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2022

The Chinese crested tern (Thalasseus bersteini) is one of the most globally endangered species, listed as "Critically Endangered (CE)" on the IUCN Red List, with only approximately 30-49 individuals surviving in the wild. Chinese crested terns were discovered to breed in South Korea for the first time in 2016 while conducting a census on uninhabited islands. The Ministry of Environment has declared the breeding habitat of the Chinese crested terns as "Specified Island" to protect this CE species. However, brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabiting the breeding grounds of the Chinese crested terns and Black-tailed gulls may potentially pose a threat to the breeding of these avian species. Therefore, we conducted a study on the feeding behavior of brown rats involving stable isotope analysis to determine their food sources. Fecal analysis showed that brown rats mainly fed on plants, whereas they scarcely fed on animals, such as insects. In addition, the stable isotope analysis showed that the δ¹³C values of brown rats, insects, and Indian goosegrasses were approximately -16 to -11‰, whereas the δ¹³C value of Chinese crested terns that obtained their food from the marine ecosystem was approximately -22 to -18‰. Hence, we conclude that the source of carbon for brown rats on this island is the terrestrial ecosystem. We ruled out the possibility of any direct prey-predator interaction between the brown rat and the Chinese crested tern or Black-tailed gull.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1218-1225
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• 2009

Difractose anhydrides (DFAs) is studied as a sweetener for diabetics because of its structural property. DFAs have four types: DFA I, III, IV (degradation of levan) and V (degradation of inulin). Especially, DFA IV has been shown to enhance the absorption of calcium in experiments using rats. Levan fructotransferase is an enzyme for producing di-d-fructose-2,6':6,2-dianhydride (DFA IV). To identify structural characterization, we purified wild-type and mutants (D63A, D195N and N85S) of levan fructotransferase (LFTase) from Microbacterium sp. AL-210. These proteins were purified to apparent homogeneity by Ni-NTA affinity column, Q-sepharose ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography and detected by SDS-PAGE. They were also analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) measurements, JNET secondary structure prediction, activity measurements at various temperatures, and pH analysis. The optimum pH for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was pH 7.5 and optimum temperature was observed at $55^{\circ}C$. Along with wild-type LFTase, mutants were analyzed by CD measurement, fluorescence analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). N85S showed less $\alpha$-helix and more $\beta$ strand than others. Also, N85S showed almost the same curve as wild-type in their steady-state fluorescence spectra, whereas mutant D63A and D195N showed higher intensity than wild-type. The amino acid sequence of wild-type LFTase was compared to the sequences of exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori, a plant fructan 1-exohydrolase from Cichorium intybus, and Thermotogo maritime (Tm) invertase and showed a high identity with Exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1387-1393
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• 2007

Hambag mushroom is edible mushroom, and one of new strains in Grifola frondosa. It was developed from Korean wild Grifola frondosa by National Institute Science & Technology. In this study, we investigated the effects of the powder extracted from fruit-body of hambag mushroom on hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia and pancreatic cells in rats with streptozotocin (STZ) and high fat diet-induced diabetes. The diabetic rats were fed with hambag mushroom-powder (1 and 2% of diet weight) for 6 weeks. And then the levels of blood glucose and lipid and the pancreatic tissue were analyzed and compared. The diabetic rats fed with hambag mushroom-powder lost less body weight than those fed with the powder-free normal diet. flood glucose levels in the diabetic rats fed with hambag mushroom-powder at all concentrations was lower by 50% than in the diabetic rats fed with normal diet. The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol in the diabetic rats fed with hambag mushroom-powder were increased compared to those in the diabetic rats fed with normal diet. There were the blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol by hambag mushroom-powder concentrations in a dose-dependent response. The decreased damage of pancreatic tissue in the group treated with hambag mushroom-powder could be suggested possibly as one of mechanisms for the effects of hambag mushroom-powder on hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2005

The herb of Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum (Liliaceae) has been used as an edible wild herb and to treat heart failure and gastritis. We have already reported antihyperlipidemic anti-tumor effects of this plant. To enlarge the commercial availability of this food, it was investigated whether the extracts of A. victorialis var.platyphyllum reduce hyperlipidemia and obesity or not. The plants tested in this experiment were collected from two eco-types of IS. Ullung and Mt. Odae cultivated at Pyongchang. Extracts were prepared by extracting the fresh leaves and those dried at $36^{\circ}C$ and $90^{\circ}C$, respectively. Pretreatment with the ethanolic extracts for two weeks (p.o.) reduced serum triglyceride-, total cholesterol- and LDL-cholesterol contents in rats induced by Triton WR-1339, respectively. Furthermore, oral administration of the extracts also inhibited the hyperlipidemia induced with oral diet of 30% corn oil. In the other attempt to find to alleviate the obesity, the model rats with obesity were induced by the high fat-diet for six weeks. Post-treatment with the extracts for two weeks significantly reduced the hyperlipidemia. Retroperitoneal-, epidymal- and total abdominal fat pad weights were considerably reduced at 100 mg/kg oral administration of the extracts. Increased feces lipid contents were also found in the rat treated with the extracts. The extract of Mt. Odae eco-type showed more potent activity than that of Is. Ullung one. These results suggest that use of the fresh leaves may lead to the higher activity in treatment of hyperlipidemia and obesity than of the dried one.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 1998

Yedang lake has so plentiful pondage and many species of fresh-walter-fish that a large number of people crowd around there all the year round. Most of them are not used to prevent tsutsugamushi disease spreading by chigger(T-mite). Accordingly, this study was carried out in order to obtain basic materials for prevention of this disease and the results are summarized as follows. The number of wild rat that captured in surveyed areas was sixty five(apodemus agrarius: 63, Rattus norvegicus: 2) during the period of a year and ration of captured rats to trap was about 8%. The dominant species of T-mite in all the surveyed areas were Leptotrombidium pallidum and L. palpale and the total number collected was 5782.9 with one family, two genra, eight species. The density of T-mites that collected from rats in three areas(Nodongri, Hatanbangri, Kyochonri) appeared $743.3{\pm}80.4,\;847.2{\pm}86.2\;and\;869.6{\pm}86.4,\;and\;in\;soil\;149.5{\pm}13.9,;154.7{\pm}14.7\;and\;182.4{\pm}20.8$ respectively. On the whole, the number of T-mite that collected from the rats was about three times as much as it in soil. The comparison of individual number of T-mite per a rat collected in three surveyed sites(A,B and C) showed 126.7, 243.1, 258.6 and per $2,000cm^3$ of soil 12.7, 12.7, 54.6, 103.5 respectively. In other word, the number of T-mite at site A and B is smaller than that at area C, thus comparing habitats of three sites each other, C is better living environment of rat and mite than that of A or B. Seasonl occuarance of t-mite that is from rat gradually was increased toward winter and showed the peak to January, and decreased since March but it in soil was inverse proportion to it from rats, because the larvae of T-mite that was hatched in soil was transmited to host in order to suck the body fluid.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.4-8
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• 2002

We conducted this study to investigate the morphological characteristics and physiological effects of mulberry leaves and fruits with wild varieties. Morphologically sampling materials were showed Morus bombycis type and Morus alba type characteristics. Water contents of mulberry fruits were higher than that of mulberry leaves. Sugar degree of sampling materials was 5.1∼22.7 Brix %. The yield of 85% MeOH extract from freezing dried Mulberry Fruits was 60.2% and Hexane, BuOH and H$_2$O fraction from MeOH extract were 2.8%, 4.6%, 92.3% respectively. In the cholesterol-induced hyperlipidemia rats administered with subfraction of mulberry fruit extract, total cholesterol and serum triglyceride were decreased in the MeOH extract group and H$_2$O soluble fraction group. Also H$_2$O soluble fraction group decreased GPT, GOT and LDH level. Therefore, the above results suggested that mulberry fruit with wild varieties can help to maintain normal liver functions and to protect hyperlipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.387-393
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• 2000

The process by which Agrobacterium tumefaciens genetically transforms plants involves a complex series of reactions communicated between the pathogen and the plants. To identify plant factors involved in agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, a large number of T-DNA inserted Arabidopsis thaliana mutant lines were investigated for susceptibility to Agrobacterium infection by using an in vitro root inoculation assay. Based on the phenotype of tumorigenesis, twelve T-DNA inserted Arabidopsis mutants(rat) that were resistant to Agrobacterium transformation were found. Three mutants, rat1, rat3, and rat4 were characterized in detail. They showed low transient GUS activity and very low stable transformation efficiency compared to the wild-type plant. The resistance phenotype of rat1 and rats resulted from decreased attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to inoculated root explants. They may be deficient in plant actors that are necessary for bacterial attachment to plant cells. The disrupted genes in rat1, rat3, and rat4 mutants were coding a arabinogalactan protein, a likely cell wall protein and a cellulose synthase-like protein, respectively.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative potential of Korean wild leaf vegetables in vivo as well as in vitro. The antloxidative activities of Pleurospemum kamtschaticum, Aderophora remotiflor and Aster gfheni were evaluated as a reference for Spinacia oleracea. Fifty rats were find either a control diet or one of several vegetable diets for 4 weeks. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver were compared. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) in plasma were also compared. Also, the contents of $\beta$-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and total phenolic compound, including flavonoid and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value using linoleic acid model system, were measured in Korean wind leaf vegetables. The TBARS values of Aderophora remotiflor and Aster giheni tended to be lower than that of Spinacia olerncea. The SOD activity of Artrr glheffi was significantly higher than that of Spinacia oleracea and reached 265% that of the control animals, whereas there was no difference between the control animals and the vegetable diet animals in terms of catalase activity. Compared to the control animals, TG and TC levels were significantly solver and showed a lower artheriosclerotic index. TBA values of Pleurospemum Kamschaticum and Aderophora remptiflor were only 18% of control value. TBA value of Spinacia olerucra was 41% of control value. These results suggest that Aderophora remotinor and Aster glheni could have antioxidative potency in vivo as well as in vitro and potential value far functional flood to improve the plasma lipid profile. flavonoid and phenolic compounds could be the major contributing factor in the antioxidative potential of Aderophora remotiflor and Aster glheni.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 2011

Objectives The objective of this study was to contribute to the development of pharmacupuncture for obesity treatment by reviewing the studies of pharmacupuncture experimentations and clinical trials. Methods We searched the papers with keywords of 'obesity' and 'pharmacupuncture' in the search site, RISS, Oriental medicine advanced searching integrated system(OASIS), Korean traditional knowledge portal, the society of Korean medicine for obesity research, Korean pharmacupuncture institute, the Korean academy of oriental rehabitation medicine and Korean acupuncture & moxibustion society. Results 1. We reviewed 37 articles searched. 27 articles(73.0%) were animal experimentations, 5 articles(13.5%) were cell experimentations, 4 articles(10.8%) were clinical trials and 1 article(2.7%) was study analysis. 2. The herbs, using for animal experimentations, were atratylodes japonica, coix lachrymajobi, ephedra sinica, crataegus pinnatifida, wild ginseng and etc. Acupucture points were joksamni(ST36), zhongwan(CV12), gansoo(BL18), pungnyung(ST40), umnungchon(SP9), bisu(BL20), gokji (LI11), cheun-chu(ST25) and etc. 3. For cell experimentations, preadipocytes and adipocytes performed on cell cultures with using rats, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and porcine skin including fat tissue were treated with fel ursi, bovis calculus, ephedrae herba, spirodelae herba, wild ginseng. 4. For clinical trials, Sangsik no.1, Bigiheo, ephedra, green tea and sweet bee venom were injected at the region where a lot of fat like zhongwan(CV12), xiawan(CV10), kwanwon(CV4), cheun-chu(ST25) and thigh. Conclusion Through animal and cell experimentations and clinical trials, the treatment of obesity using local acupuncture therapy was effective. For clinical use, however, it is considered that animal and cell experimentation and clinical trial's connection using one kind of herb and studies about more clinical trials and associated side effects are needed.