Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men and women who consume a Western diet. We investigated the inhibitory effect of selenium (sodium selenite, Na2SeO3) and selenium nanoparticles (nano-Se) on experimental colon carcinogenesis in ICR mice. After a 1-week acclimation, 6-week-old mice received three intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections (experimental week 0-2) of azoxymethane (AOM, 10 mg/kg body weight, b.w.), followed by 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-containing drinking water for the next 1 week. The three groups (10 mice/group) were orally administered either distilled water (control), selenium (1.7 ppm), or nano-Se (1.7 ppm) daily for 8 weeks. The numbers of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), aberrant crypt (AC), and tumorous lesions were measured in colonic mucosa. Se and nano-Se treatments significantly decreased the number of ACF, AC, and tumorous lesions compared with the control. However, there was no significant difference between the selenium and nano-Se groups. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the liver and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity in serum, were high in the selenium and nano-Se groups, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level was low in both Se and nano-Se groups when compared with that in the control group. These findings indicate that selenium and nano-Se showed similar protective effects against colon carcinogenesis by inhibiting the development of ACF and tumorous lesions in mice.

Bioenergetics has been defined as the biology of energy transformations and energy exchanges within and between living organisms and their environment; this field now includes the concept of bioenergetic medicine, e.g., therapeutic approaches involving biophotons. QELBY® powder is a patented quantum energy-radiating material (patent No. 10-1172018), to be precise, a biologically active silicon dioxide-containing mineral powder that radiates reductive energy in infrared wavelength. In this study, we examined possible biological effects of indirect contact with QELBY® powder on various mammalian cell lines derived from macrophagic (MØ) and nonmacrophagic cells, including Raw 264.7 (mouse-derived MØ cell line), HD11 (chicken-derived MØ cell line), and HeLa (human cervical cancer cell line). Our comparison among the cells with and without indirect contact with QELBY® powder showed that this indirect contact significantly (i) increased the mitochondrial membrane potential (up to 1.36-fold) regardless of the cell type (p < 0.05), (ii) decreased the intracellular concentration of ATP in HeLa cells but not in the MØ-derived cells (p < 0.05), and (iii) protected DNA from damage during oxidative stress according to a standard comet assay (single-cell alkaline gel electrophoresis). Taken together, these results imply that indirect contact with QELBY® powder can make cells more metabolically active by increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential and by alleviating DNA damage caused by oxidative stress.

This study is intended to examine the motor skill learning and treadmill exercise on motor performance and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar injured rats by harmaline. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 15 rats to each group. GroupⅠ was a normal control group(induced by saline); GroupⅡ was a experimental control group(cerebellar injured by harmaline); GroupⅢ was a group of motor skill learning after cerebellar injured by harmaline; GroupⅣ was a group of treadmill exercise after cerebellar injured by harmaline. In motor performance test, the outcome of groupⅡ was significantly lower than the groupⅢ, Ⅳ(especially groupⅢ)(p<.001). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of dendrities and nucleus of cerebellar neurons. GroupⅢ, Ⅳ were decreased in degeneration of cerebellar neurons(especially groupⅢ). In immunohistochemistric response of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex, experimental groups were decreased than groupⅠ. GroupⅢ's expression of synaptophysin was more increased than groupⅡ, Ⅳ. In electron microscopy finding, the experimental groups were degenerated of Purkinje cell. These result suggest that improved motor performance by motor skill learning after harmaline induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex and that is related with synaptic plasticity.

This study was devised to observe an inhibitory reaction toward an lipolytic action of toxohormone-L from KEUMSUNYEON powder. Toxohormone-L is known to be a lipolytic factor that was purified from the ascites fluid of sarcoma 180-bearing mice and of patients with hepatoma. KEUMSUNYEON powder was found to inhibit toxohormone-L induced lipolysis at its concentration of 0.5㎎/㎖.

Background : This study was conducted to determine the optimal ginseng greenhouse shading material for minimizing heat injury and maximizing the yield of ginseng plants in an effort to develop a stable ginseng cultivation technology and contribute to popularizing ginseng greenhouse farming. Methods and Results : Three different types of greenhouse shading material were used: polyethylene (PE) film + black screen (95%), light scattering film + black screen (75%), and blue-white vinyl. Important experimental details were implemented in accordance with the Analysis Standard of Agricultural Test and Research set out by the Rural Development Administration. The average greenhouse temperature for the period of May through October was 20.0℃ under the PE film + black screen, 20.2℃under the light scattering film + black screen, and 19.7℃ under the blue/white vinyl. High average photosynthesis rates of ginseng plants were demonstrated by light scattering film+black screen (2.35 μmole CO2/㎡/s) and blue-white vinyl (2.38 μmole CO2/㎡/s), with the PE film + black screen showing a considerably lower photosynthesis rate (1.55 μmole CO2/㎡/s). Heat injury occurred in 0.3%, 10%, and 0.1% of the plants grown under the PE film + black screen, light scattering film + black screen, and blue-white vinyl, respectively. As for the roots, the blue-white vinyl outperformed the other shading materials in root length (25.7 ㎝), taproot length (5.9 ㎝), and the number of fine roots (23.2). The blue-hite vinyl also yielded the greatest root fresh weight (30.2 g), followed by the light scattering film + black screen (29.1 g), with the PE + black screen yielding by far inferior average weight (22.0 g). The highest crude saponin content was yielded by the light scattering film+black screen (16.61 ㎎/g), followed by blue-white vinyl (11.36 ㎎/g) and PE + black screen (11.0 ㎎/g). Conclusion : Comparing the effects of three different shading materials on greenhouse-cultivated 3-year-old ginseng plants, the blue/white vinyl outperformed two other shading materials in most of the growth characteristics, whereas the and the light scattering film + black screen yielded the highest ginsenoside content.

Background : For increasing saponin content of ginseng cultivated in shaded plastic house, this research was performed to investigate growth characteristics and saponin content of ginseng according to foliar spray of chitosan and water-soluble silicates processing. Methods and Results : The ginseng cultivars to be used this research were Cheonpung, Yeonpung and 1-year-old seedlings of Cheonpung, Yeonpung was transplanted on March 24, 2015. Planting density was 72 plant/3.3㎡and Shading material of plastic house used blue-white shading vinyl. The processing method of organic matter is as follows, we were applied chitosan (40 kg / 10a), silicate (3kg / 10a) to soil scheduled for ginseng cultivation with basal application. Then, we were diluted with chitosan and silicates to 1000-fold and investigated growth characteristics, saponin content of ginseng after foliar spray twice a month from May to September. Conclusion : Photosynthetic rate of ginseng according to treatment of organic matter was higher in the chitosan experimental group compared to the control group and photosynthetic rate of ginseng cultivars was the highest in Cheonpung’s silicate group(3.70 μmole CO2/㎡/s). The growth characteristics in above-ground part of 2-year-old ginseng was a good in the organic matter treatments compared to the control group. Above-ground part’s growth characteristics of ginseng according to treatment of organic matter showed a good trend in plant height, stem length, stem diameter of chitosan experimental group. The growth characteristics in under-ground part of 2-year-old ginseng was a good in the organic experimental groups. In Yeonpung of the chitosan experimental group, fresh root weight per plant was 9.2 g/plant that increased by 46 % compared to the control group. In Cheonpung of the silicate experimental group, fresh root weight per plant was 8.3 g/plant that increased by 56 % compared to the control group. In the chitosan experimental group, crude saponin content of under-ground part was Cheonpung(10.38 ㎎/g), Yeonpung(12.29 ㎎/g), control(11.53 ㎎/g), respectively. In the silicate experimental group, crude saponin content of under-ground part was Cheonpung(11.73 ㎎/g), Yeonpung(14.21 ㎎/g), respectively. Crude saponin content of ginseng according to treatment of organic matter was. generally higher in Yeonpung than Cheonpung.

For QTL analysis of agronomic traits based on cultivation of low and high altitude locations, BC1 F5 181 lines were developed from a cross of Tongil type Gayabyeo and japonica Chhomrong originated from Nepal. Plant materials were grown in both of low altitude area of Milyang, Korea and high altitude area of Khumaltar, Nepal. In QTLs analysis, a total of 42 QTLs were detected in days to flowering, culm length, panicle length, number of panicles/hill, panicle exertion, and spikelet ripening ratio. Although many of the QTLs were coincided between the two locations of Korea and Nepal, several QTLs were revealed as location specific in high altitude area of Khumaltar. Especially, the regions harboring marker RM489-RM14281 on chromo- some 3, RM5642-RM19049 on chromosome 5, and RM2854-RM6696 on chromosome 12 where QTLs were clustered and coincided between the two locations are considered as positive target regions for environmental independent traits. Furthermore, high rate of location specific QTLs such as panicle exertion and spikelet ripening ratio could be considered carefully for understanding the mechanism of cold tolerance based on cultivation of different altitude location.

"Chuyoung" as a new double cropping potato variety was bred in 2005 for table use through a cross between "Dejima" with short tuber dormancy and HRB-31 which is a tetraploid derived from an interspecific cross between "Russet Burbank" and Solanum phureja line. It was evaluated for short dormancy, growth and tuber characteristics every twice a year from 1997 to 2001. Regional yield trials were performed from 2002 to 2004 at three locations, Jeju, Namhae and Gangneung of Korea, respectively. Its tuber shape is oblong with yellow skin and flesh colors. Its dormant periods is 60~70days. It showed less incidence of physiological disorders such as cracking or knobs on tubers, and higher resistance to common scab by Streptomyces scabies compared to "Dejima". It has tall plant height and erect growth type with green-broad leaflets and white large inflorescence. Its average yields are 29.5 and 22.6 ton/ha at 90 days after planting in spring and autumn cropping, respectively. It also showed higher marketable yield due to the lower incidence of common scab and physiological disorders compared to "Dejima".

"Chugang" as a new double cropping potato variety for table use was bred in 2003 from a cross between H83005-2 with short dormancy and "Superior" with common scab resistance. It had been evaluated for short dormancy, growth adaptability and tuber characteristics every twice a year from 1990 to 1999. Regional yield trials had been performed from 2000 to 2002 at three locations, Jeju, Namhae and Gangneung of Korea, respectively. It has round oblong tuber shape with yellow skin and white flesh color. Its tuber dormant periods is approximately 50~60 days. It showed less physiological disorders such as cracking or knobs, and more tolerant to environmental stresses such as plant death by flooding and damages by frost or severe wind compared to "Dejima". Average yields of "Chugang" are 34.6 and 31.1 ton/ha at 90 days after planting in spring and autumn cropping, respectively. It is more resistant to common scab and less susceptible to late blight (phythophthora infestans) compared to "Dejima". However, it is susceptible to potato virus Y (PVY) and andean mosaic virus (AMV).

Lately, the autumn cropping areas of potato have been steadily increased to supply fresh potatoes all year round in Korea. Although "Dejima" is a main cultivar for autumn cropping, it is very susceptible to common scab (Streptomyces scabies) and show high frequency of physiological disorders such as knobs and cracking on tubers. "Chudong" was bred in 2002 for fresh table use from a cross between H83520-3 with short tuber dormancy and "Superior" with common scab resistance. It has attractive, round tuber shape with white skin and flesh colors. Its tuber dormant periods is 5 days longer than 65 days of "Dejima". Its average yields were 32.4 and 21.8 ton/ha at 90 days after planting in spring and autumn cropping of regional yield trials, respectively. It is more resistant to common scab and potato leaf roll virus and less susceptible to late blight (Phythophthora infestans) compared to "Dejima". However, it is susceptible to potato virus Y.