In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects of Abeliophyllum distichum (A. distichum) leaves that were prepared via air-drying. Fresh and air-dried A. distichum leaves were examined via 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging assay and measurements of the reducing power. The suppression effects on inflammation of the leaves were analyzed by a western blot and RT-PCR on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. As a result, the antioxidant activity of the fresh leaves was found to be more effective than that of the air-dried leaves. Also, the fresh leaves were more effective in suppressing the protein and mRNA levels of iNOS and COX-2 than the air-dried leaves, thereby indicating the better anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the contents of phenolic compounds and acteoside were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the acteoside content decreased with the use of the air-drying method, while there was no change in the content of phenolic compounds. Therefore, this study indicated that fresh A. distichum leaves potential antioxidant and suppression activities of various factors that are involved in the production of NO, which were found to be better than those of air-dried A. distichum leaves. These biological activities were also found to be independent of the content of phonolic compounds and were assumed to be directly or indirectly related to the content of acteoside.

This study was conducted to investigate egg development and larvae morphological development of catfish and to provide basic data to clarify the genetic relationship with Siluriformes fish. The mother fish that was used in this study was caught in the stream of Nakdong River in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk. The temperature range of the breeding was 23.0- 25.0℃ (mean 24.0±1.0℃) and egg size was 1.62-1.70 mm (mean 1.66±0.05, n=30). Eggs of catfish began hatching at 54 hours and 40 minutes after fertilization. Immediately after hatching, the total length of larvae was 3.60-3.65 mm (mean 3.62±0.03, n=5) and had an egg yolk without swimming ability. On the third day after hatching, the larvae at the medium stage was 8.00-8.65 mm (mean 8.32±0.45) in total length, and two pairs of whiskers formed around the mouth were elongated. On the 12th day after hatching, the larvae at the juvenile stage was 16.5-17.0 mm (mean 16.7±0.35) in total length, and the stem of each fin was in the range, and the juvenile at this period was morphologically similar to the mother fish.

저온 적응성 효모 SCY297의 종균 방법에 따른 생존율과 약주 제조시 양조 특성을 조사하였다. 동결건조, 송풍건조 및 액체 제형 방법으로 제조한 다음, 실온에서 장기 저장에 따른 효모의 생존율과 양조 특성을 비교하였다. 또한, 부형 제로 skim milk, α-lactose, trehalose를 5%씩 첨가하여 생존율과 양조특성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 부형제가 첨가된 동결건조 및 액체 제형 SCY297 효모는 실온에서 15주 까지 약 80% 이상의 생존율을 나타내었고, 송풍건조는 skim milk 첨가한 경우만 약 80% 이상 생존율을 나타내었다. 저장기간 및 제형화된 효모 SCY297로 약주를 발효하여 그 술덧을 분석한 결과, 동결건조 및 송풍건조된 SCY297는 무처리 SCY297보다 적정산도는 0.61, 아미노산도는 14.23 증가하였고, 알코올 함량은 5.07% 감소하였다. 액체 SCY297는 무처리 SCY297보다 pH 1.86, 아미노산도는 5.1 증가하였고, 알코올 함량은 2.9%로 감소량이 낮았다. 따라서 본 연구 결과, 종래의 고상형 방법보다 액상형 방법을 통한 종균화 가능성을 제시하였다.

본 연구는 국민 영양평가 및 정책 수립에 근간이 되는 국가표준식품성분표 개정을 위해 농촌진흥청과 국립축산 과학원이 공동으로 국산 돈육의 대표 시료를 선정하고 부위별로 신뢰성이 확보된 vitamin B12 함량 데이터 구축을 위해 분석법 검증과 분석품질관리를 수행한 연구이다. Immunoaffinity-HPLC 분석법을 특이성, 직선성, 검출한계 및 정량한계, 정확성, 정밀성 등의 분석수행특성 지표를 이용하여 평가한 결과 모든 항목에서 AOAC 가이드라인 수용기준에 충족되는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 모든 시료 분석 시 in-house QC sample을 분석한 결과 QC chart의 관리한 계선 안에 포함이 되어 본 연구 기간 동안 수행된 모든 시료 분석이 관리하에 정확성과 정밀성을 나타내는 분석값 임을 확인할 수 있었다. 총 7개 primal cut과 이들로부터 세분화된 22개 retail cut의 vitamin B12 함량 분석 결과 주요 부위(평균 0.42-0.69 μg/100 g) 뿐만 아니라 같은 부위 안에 서도 세부 부위에 따라 vitamin B12 함량에서 차이가 나타났다. 특히, 삼겹살과 목심 부위에서 vitamin B12 함량이 높게 나타났으며 세부 부위에서는 삼겹살 부위의 토시살이 0.98 μg/100 g로 최고값을 보였고, 등심 부위의 알등심살과 뒷다리 부위의 홍두깨살이 0.33 μg/100 g으로 가장 낮은 수준을 나타냈다. Vitamin B12 함량은 돈육의 부위별 단백질 함량과는 유의적인 차이를 보였으나 지방 및 수분 함량과는 유의 적인 차이를 보이지 않았다. 본 연구에서 생산된 국내산 돈육의 부위별 vitamin B12 함량 데이터는 분석법 검증과 분석품질관리를 통하여 신뢰성이 확보된 데이터로 국가표 준식품성분표 개정에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

본 연구의 목적은 하천의 조도계수와 유량의 불확실성을 고려하여, 부정류 흐름에서 홍수위 해석에 미치는 영향을 정량적으로 분석하는 데 있다. 본 연구에서는 GLUE (Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation) 기법을 적용하여 조도계수와 유량의 불확실성이 홍수위 해석에 미치는 영향을 분석하고, 강우사상의 크기와 불확실성과의 관계를 분석하였다. 조도계수의 불확실성은 하천기본계획을 참고하여 0.025~0.040의 범위에서 분석하였다. 유량의 불확실성은 수위 h일 때의 유량을 Q라고 할 때, Q= A(h- B)C로 표현되는 수위-유량관계식의 회귀계수 A, B, C를 통해 분석하였다. 수위-유량관계식의 회귀계수를 비선형 회귀분석을 통해 추정하였으며, 회귀계수는 t 분포를 가정하여 95% 신뢰도로 상한과 하한의 범위를 산정하였다. 산정된 회귀계수의 범위는 A는 5.138~18.442, B는 -0.524~0.104, C는 2.427~2.924로 산정되었다. 범위 내에서 10,000개의 매개변수 세트 를 추출하여 HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System)에 적용하여 Monte Carlo 모의를 수행하였다. 강우사상 1~3에서 모의된 홍수위의 95% 신뢰구간의 평균적인 범위는 각각 0.39 m, 0.83 m, 0.96 m이며, 첨두 홍수위가 발생했을 때의 범위는 각각 0.52 m, 1.36 m, 1.75 m로 산정되었다. 또한 이천관측소의 1986~2015년의 일 강우에 대한 빈도해석을 수행하였으며, 수행 결과 GEV (Generalized Extreme Vlaue) 분포일 때 강우사상 1~3의 재현기간은 각각 1년, 10년, 25년 빈도에 해당되었다. 본 연구를 통해 강우사상의 크기와 불확실성의 관계를 분석하 였으며, 향후 다양한 강우사상에 적용하여 검증한다면 홍수위의 불확실성을 예측하여, 하천관리 등을 위한 구조물의 계획 및 설계 시 의사 결정에 실질적인 도움이 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Background : This study of investigate the quality characteristics of Korean Dioscoreae Rhizoma by species and various processing methods. We used two types of species D. Rhizoma, which were the long type shape of D. batatas and short type shape of D. japoninca, respectively. Methods and Results : The reaction of D. Rhizoma with acetic acid and iodine showed light blue to blue colours, respectively. When compared with loss of drying between two species, the long type species was about 2% more higher than that of short type of species. When compared with processing methods, the both steamed and dried samples was more higher 2.0 - 3.0% than that of non-steamed samples. The contents of acid-insoluble ash samples with peel was relatively higher than that of samples containing no-peel. The results of TLC analysis also showed the same Rf and colours when compared with the standard of D. Rhizoma. However, both dried sample with peel (DWP) showed more clear spot than those of dried sample except peel (DEP) and both steamed and dried sample except peel (SDEP). Conclusion : We sincerely hope that this study will be contributed to the standardization and quality control of korean herbal medicines.

Background : Recently, hair loss, which has been regarded as a mere means of middle-aged men due to stress and environmental pollution. The market for hair loss in Korea is about four trillion won and it is growing continuously. It is mainly made by mixing natural extracts such as medicinal plant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. whole plant and Calendula officinalis L. flower extracts on the growth of fibroblasts, dermal papilla cells and lipid precursors, I want to try to make a materialization. Methods and Results : The cytotoxicity of each sample extracts treated with 50%, 100%, and 500 μg to fibroblasts, cell-viability were 107.3%, 109.6%, and 128.2%, respectively. The cytotoxicity of each sample to the dermal papilla cells was not observed. And the lipid differentiation of the lipogenic precursor cells which regulates the hairegeneration by secretion of the platelet derived growth factor. The 70% ethanol extracts of H. cordata whole plant and C. officinalis flower were showed promotes the hair growth activity. The lipolysis rate was significantly increased with increasing treatment concentration Conclusion : As a result of this study, in-vitro hair growth activity of herbal medicines for hair treatment material development was not shown to be toxic to each cell. And 70% ethanol extract of H. cordata whole plant stimulated lipid precursor cells inducing differentiation. As a result, the 70% ethanol extracts of H. cordata whole plant and C. officinalis flower have potential to developing hair-related product.

Background : Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Polygonaceae family. And is an herbal medicine which can be used as a raw material for food, which is excellent in immunity enhancement, vocalization and blood transfusion. The purpose of this study was to expand the utility of the P. multiflorum. Also, we fermented P. multiflorum by mushroom mycelial, and analyzed for general components and amino acids before and after fermentation Methods and Results : The moisture content of P. multiflorum and fermented P. multiflorum by mushroom mycelial (FPM) were 7.35% and 59%, respectively. The crude protein content did not show a significant difference between the two samples, crude fat, ash and crude fiber content of FPM were lower than P. multiflorum. The content of soluble nitrogen free extract of P. multiflorum (79.78%) was significantly higher than FPM (31.05%). Sixteen kinds of amino acids were detected in P. multiflorum, and the major amino acid was determined the arginine. The content of arginine and glutamic acid were 586.67 ㎎%, and 283.78 ㎎%, respectively. Sixteen kinds of amino acids were detected in FPM, and the major amino acids were determined the arginine (654.68 ㎎%) and threonine (591.18 ㎎%). The total amino acid contents of P. multiflorum and FPM were 3,469.03 ㎎%, and 3,630 ㎎%, respectively. Conclusion : The content of crude fat, ash, crude fiber, and soluble nitrogen free extract of FPM were lower than the P. multiflorum, and the major amino acids were different in two samples. Total amino acid content of FPM was higher than the P. multiflorum. As the mushroom fermentation progresses, it is confirmed that the amino acid content is increased, and it is expected to develop the product using the P. multiflorum fermented with mushroom mycelial.

Background : 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) is a representative compound of the antidiabetic constituent in mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.). The hot water extracts of mulberry leaves were fermented with lactic acid bacteria in order to analysis the changes of the DNJ contents and α-glucosidase inhibition. Methods and Results : The mulberry leaves were extracted with hot water (121℃, 3 hr). The extracts were fermented with nine strains of lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, in order to increase the contents of DNJ and α-glucosidase inhibition. DNJ contents in the fermented extracts were determinated by HPLC analysis. The α-glucosidase inhibition was mesured by comparing dose-inhibition curves of α-glucosidase and IC50 value. The DNJ contents after fermentation have increased in the almost fermented extracts. Especially, DNJ of the extracts fermented with L. acidophilus was increased from 8.38 ㎍ ㎖ -1 to 21.77 ㎍ ㎖-1. IC50 values of the α-glucosidase inhibition were shown to be decreased in the fermented extracts. The extracts fermented with L. casei KCTC 3109 was determined at 290.04 ㎍ ㎖-1, resulting it is lower about 140 ㎍ ㎖-1 than 429.76 ㎍ ㎖-1 of the control. Conclusion : From the above results, we may suggest that the lactic acid fermentation of mulberry leaves extracts can more enhance the hypoglycemic activities such as DNJ contents.

Background : Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss and extracellular senile plaque, whose major constituent is β-amyloid (Aβ), a 39-43 amino acid peptide derived from amyloid precursor protein. In cultures, Aβ directly induce neuronal cell death and can include excessive generation of free radicals and peroxidative injury to proteins, lipids, and other macromolecules. Actinidia arguta, generally called hardy kiwifruit, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidative properties. The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of the leaves and stems of A. arguta using in vitro cultured neurons and in vivo experimental animals. Methods and Results : Primary cortical neuronal cultures were prepared using Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat fetuses on embryonic days 15. Neurotoxicity experiments were performed on neurons after 3-4 days in culture. Cultured neurons were treated with 10 μM Aβ (25-35) for 24 h to produce neurotoxicity. In addition, cultured neurons were treated with H2O2 (100 μM) for 15 min and then incubated for 12 h in H2O2-free medium. Viability of cultured neurons was measured by a colorimetric MTT assay. Hoechst 33342 staining of neurons was carried out to examine Aβ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal death. A. arguta over the concentration of 10 to 50 ㎍/㎖ prevented Aβ (25-35) (10 μM)-induced apoptotic neuronal death, and inhibited H2O2-induced decrease of MTT reduction rate. These results suggest that oxidative stress is implicated in Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal apoptotic death. Memory impairment was produced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) microinjection of 15 nmol Aß (25-35) and examined using passive avoidance test in ICR mice. Chronic treatments with A. arguta (14 days, p.o.) protected memory impairment induced by Aß (25-35). Conclusion : The present study suggests that A. arguta has a therapeutic role for preventing the progression of neurodegenerative disease such as AD.

Background : It is well known that Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is associated with neuronal loss and accumulation of extracellular senile plaque, whose major constituent is β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). In cell cultures, Aβ can directly stimulate neuronal cell death and make neurons susceptible to excitotoxicity which may include glutamate release and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. There are numerous reports in the literature of Cedrela sinensis (CS) for pro-apoptotic effects. It was hypothesized that CS might protect neurons against neurodegeneration in AD due to its pro-apoptotic effects. The current study aimed to determine the protective effect of ethanol extract from the leave of CS on Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal cell death in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. Methods and Results : Cerebral neurons were collected from embryonic day 15 SD rat fetuses and were cultured on DMEM with serum. Neurotoxicity experiments were proceeded on cultured neurons after 4-5 days in vitro. Cultured neurons were treated with 10 μM Aβ (25-35) for 24 h or 1 mM NMDA for 20 h to induce neuronal death. CS was applied 20 min before the treatment with Aβ (25-35) or NMDA and also present in the medium during the incubations. Colorimetric MTT assay and Hoechst 33342 staining were used to estimate viability of neurons. Western blot analysis was carried out to examine the expression levels of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins. CS (5 and 10 ㎍/㎖) significantly inhibited Aβ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death in cultured cortical neurons. CS also inhibited Aβ (25-35)-induced change of apoptosis-related protein expression in western blot analysis. Furthermore CS (5 and 10 ㎍/㎖) reuduced NMDA-induced neuronal cell death. This study demonstrated that NMDA glutamate receptor activation is related with Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal apoptotic death. Conclusion : CS protected culterd neurons against Aβ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity probably via inhibition of NMDA receptor activation. These results suggest that CS can prevent the progression of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.

Background: There is an increasing surplus of chestnut that are abandoned due to their failure to meet customer awareness. Thus, we investigated the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of chestnut (Castanea crenata) inner shell extracts in hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells as a potential source of anti-cancer materials. Methods and Results: Distilled water extract (CI-W) and ethanol extract (CI-E) were prepared from chestnut inner shell and evaluated their anti-proliferative effects in vitro. Each extract significantly decreased the cell viability of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Indeed, the morphology of HepG2 cells treated with CI-W or CI-D was distorted to shrunken cell masses. Furthermore, it was revealed that their extracts induced cell death as evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), formation of apoptotic body and condensation. In addition, Their extracts clearly modulated the down regulated of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptoic)/ Bax (pro-apoptotic) family and cleaved caspase-3 as an effector caspase in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results indicate that the extracts of chestnut inner shell can be used as an anti-proliferative therapeutic agent or functional food.

방사성폐기물 발생기관의 가용데이터를 기반으로 산출된 핵종재고량을 적용하여 예비안전성평가를 수행한 결과 처분안전성과 운영측면에서 많은 어려움이 예상됨을 확인하였다. 본 논문에서는 전체처분시설 예비안전성평가를 수행하였으며, 평가결과 성능목표치 초과핵종에 대해 방사능량이 큰 비중을 차지하는 단위포장물을 선별하고, 높은 표면선량률의 포장물을 처분대상에서 제외하는 방식으로 처분시설의 처분방사능량제한을 도입하였다. 처분방사능량제한은 안전기준 만족을 위한 처분시설별 인수기준과 처분기준 설정에 기초자료로 활용할 것이며, 경주 처분시설의 안전한 종합개발계획수립 및 처분시 설의 안전성 최적화를 위한 Safety Case 구축에 기여할 것으로 판단된다.

In this report, I address some of my observations of and reflections on the issues surrounding Japanese military sexual slavery and its victims, the “comfort women.” First, I seek to focus on the problem inherent in the process of remembering Pong-ki Pae. In 1991, Hak-sun Kim, an elderly woman residing in South Korea, came forward to recount her experience as a “comfort woman,” commonly understood to be the first such public acknowledgement. Even though Mrs. Pae, a resident of Okinawa, had already offered her testimony regarding her own experience as a Japanese military sex slave in 1975, her story was not known in South Korea. Mrs. Pae, a victim of colonialism and war, was effectively silenced, and her experience obfuscated, by the ideological polarity born of the division of the Korean peninsula. Second, I discuss the deeply moving encounter between Pok-tong Kim, another victim of Japanese military sexual slavery, and the students of the Korea University of Japan in Tokyo in 2014. Third, I seek to bring to the fore key discussions of the concept of war-dependent democracy. In the midst of the complete, conspicuous unveiling of the propensity of the Japanese right toward historical revisionism, the decline of the left has been intensely pronounced, rendering post-war democracy in Japan utterly impotent. The present conditions of such historical understanding in Japanese society necessitate an intricate re-examination of the understanding of modern Japanese history that has continued to exist until today; the concept of war-dependent democracy serves as an effort toward achieving such an end.

Background : Lactuca sativa (LS) is a member of lactuca genus and the Asteraceae family. To its usual purpose as an edible leafy vegetable, lettuce has had a number of uses in ancient times as a medicinal herb. Depending on the variety, lettuce is an excellent source vitamin K and vitanin A. Methods and Results : The objective of this study is to find out the antioxidant and oxidative DNA damage prevention capacity of LS for both water and ethanol extract. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents have been estimated in this study. The extracts have been tested to assess the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2ʹ -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and nitrite scavenging activity. We have also evaluated the reducing power activity of LS. LS extracts showed a good radical scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS free radical as concentration dependent manner. The IC50 values on DPPH radical scavenging activity were 0.75 mg/mL and 0.54 mg/mL for water and ethanol extract respectively. ABTS radical scavenging activity ranges from 38-89 % for water extract and 33-96% for ethanol extract. Although ethanolic extract showed a higher radical scavenging activity as compared to the water extracts. All the extracts exhibited reducing power activity, dose dependently. Moreover, when the DNA was treated with the extracts, supercoiled DNA was restored in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion : According to the results, we suggest that LS contains considerable amount of phenolic and flavonoid content and could be used as a source of natural antioxidant substances and oxidative DNA damage preventer.

Background : Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss and extracellular senile plaque, whose major constituent is β-amyloid (Aβ), a 39-43 amino acid peptide derived from amyloid precursor protein. In cultures, Aβ can directly induce neuronal cell death and can render neurons vulnerable to excitotoxicity which may involve glutamate release and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Silybum marianum (SM) has been used for centuries to treat liver disease due to its antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, Silymarin, an active constituent of SM, has been reported to decrease lipid peroxidation. Therefore we hypothesized that SM might protect neurons against neurodegeneration in AD due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, the protective effect of ethanol extract from the stem of SM on Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal cell death was examined in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. Methods and Results : Primary cultured cortical neurons were prepared using embryonic day 15 SD rat fetuses. Neurotoxicity experiments were performed on cultured neurons after 4-5 days in vitro. The cells were treated with 10 μM Aβ (25-35) or 1 mM NMDA for 36 h or 14 h, respectively. SM was applied 15 min before treatment of Aβ (25-35) or NMDA and also present in the medium during the incubations. The viability of neurons was monitored using a colorimetric MTT assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. The expression levels of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins were detected by western blot. An Ethanol extract of the stem of SM (10 and 50 μg/ml) significantly prevented Aβ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death in cultured cortical neurons. Furthermore SM inhibited Aβ (25-35)-induced decrease of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and increase of pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax and active caspase-2, in western blot analysis. SM (10 and 50 μg/ml) also reduced NMDA-induced neuronal cell death. These results suggest that NMDA glutamate receptor activation is implicated in Aβ (25-35) -induced neuronal apoptotic death. Conclusion : The present study suggests that SM has a possible therapeutic role for preventing the progression of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.

Background : Ischemic stroke is a common cause of adult disability and death worldwide. Excessive oxidative stress is an important pathogenic mechanism in ischemic stroke. Major reduction of endogenous antioxidative systems increases production of free radicals inducing peroxidation of lipid, protein, and nucleic acid. 1,3-Dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylglycerol (DPOG) is a triglyceride found in oils from various natural sources such as palm kernels, sunflower seeds and rice bran. We found DPOG as an active constituent of rice bran oil. In the present study, we investigated neuroprotective effect of DPOG derived from rice bran oil on excitotoxicity in cultured neurons and on ischemic brain injury in rats. Methods and Results : Transient focal ischemic brain damage was induced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24h reperfusion (MCAO/reperfusion) in rats. After MCAO/reperfusion, the infarct and edema volume of brain tissue was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining methods. Glutathione concentration and lipid peroxidation rate were measured in brain tissue. The expression levels of phosphorylated mitogen activated proteins kinases (MAPKs), inflammatory factors, and anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins in brain tissue were detected by Western blot. Cerebral cortical neuronal cells were cultured in 15-days-old fetus. Cortical neurons were incubated with 1 mM N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) for 14 h to produce excitotoxicity. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. DPOG (1-5 mg/kg) significantly reduced MCAO/reperfusion-induced infarction and edema formation, neurological deficits, and brain cell death. Depletion of glutathione level and lipid peroxidation induced by MCAO/reperfusion were inhibited by administration of DPOG. The increase of phosphorylated MAPKs, inflammatory factors, and proapoptotic proteins and the decrease of antiapoptotic protein in ischemic brain were significantly inhibited by treatment with DPOG. DPOG (0.1-10 uM) inhibited 1 mM NMDA-induced neuronal cell death in cultured cortical neurons. Conclusion : From the above results, the present study provides an evidence that DPOG derived from rice bran oil might be effectively applied for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Background : Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive impairment and personality defects accompanied by diffuse structural abnormalities in the brain. The major pathological hallmarks of AD include beta amyloid (Aß) protein deposition, presence of neurofibrillary tangles and neurodegeneration of cholinergic neurons. Aß, a 39-43 amino acid proteolytic fragment of amyloid precursor protein, is the major constituent of the senile plaques. Rice bran, the major byproduct of the rice milling industry, is the source of a high quality vegetable oil. Rice bran oil (RBO) has attracted much medicinal attention for its strong hypocholesterolemic properties because of its balanced fatty acid composition and high levels of antioxidant phytochemicals such as oryzanols, tocopherols and tocotrienols. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of RBO against Aß (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Results : Memory impairment was produced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) microinjection of 15 nmol Aß (25-35) and measured by passive avoidance test in ICR mice. Glutathione concentration, lipid peroxidation rate and acetylcholine esterase activity were measured in mice brain. The expression levels of phosphorylated mitogen activated proteins kinases (MAPKs), inflammatory factors, and anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins in mice brains were detected by Western blot. Cerebral cortical neuronal cells were cultured from 15-days-old fetus. Cortical neurons were incubated with 10 μM Aß (25-35) for 36 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Chronic treatments of RBO (0.1-1 ml/kg, 8 days, p.o.) protected against memory impairment induced by Aß (25-35). Depletion of glutathione level, lipid peroxidation and increased acetylcholine esterase activity by the treatment with Aß (25-35) were inhibited by administration of RBO. The increase of phosphorylated MAPKs, inflammatory factors, and proapoptotic proteins and the decrease of antiapoptotic protein in Aß (25-35)-administered mice brain were significantly inhibited by treatment with RBO. RBO (0.1-5ul/ml) inhibited 10μM Aß (25-35)-induced neuronal cell death in cultured cortical neurons. Conclusion : The present study suggests the role of RBO as a promising therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases like AD and stroke.

Background : Rice bran is the outer brown layer of the rice grain and produced when rice is milled. The basic components of rice bran are fiber, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. The oil extracted from this bran is called rice bran oil. Although whole rice bran in itself does not have anti-cholesterol properties, its oil offers significant benefits. Ischemic stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The cessation or critical reduction of blood flow in brain during acute stroke results in deprivation of the oxygen and glucose supplies, which can produce a local brain ischemia and injury. It is well established that excitotoxicity, a type of neurotoxicity evoked by elevated extracellular glutamate level, is a primary contributor to ischemic neuronal death. The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of Rice bran oil (RBO) on ischemic brain injury in rats and on excitotoxicity in cultured neurons. Methods and Results : Transient focal ischemic brain damage was induced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion (MCAO/reperfusion) in rats. After MCAO/reperfusion, the infarct and edema volumes of brain tissues were measured using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining methods. The expression levels of phosphorylated mitogen activated proteins kinases (MAPKs), inflammatory factors, and anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins in brain tissue were detected by Western blot. Primary cortical neuronal cultures were prepared using SD rat fetuses on embryonic days 15. Cortical neurons were treated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) (1 mM) for 14 h to produce neuronal cell death. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. RBO inhibited the formation of infartion and edema in MCAO/reperfusion–induced ischemic brains. The increase of phosphorylated MAPKs, inflammatory factors, and proapoptotic proteins and the decrease of antiapoptotic protein in ischemic brains were significantly inhibited by treatment with RBO. RBO (0.01-1ul/ml) inhibited 1 mM NMDA-induced neuronal cell death in cultured cortical neurons. Conclusion : These results suggest that RBO might be a promising therapeutic for neurodegenerative disease such as stroke.