In a previous study, beverages containing Centella asiatica extracts (CAE) that exhibited anti-inflammatory effects were prepared. This study aimed to establish the optimal extraction conditions for CAE to enhance its anti-inflammatory activity in functional labeling beverages (FLB-CCS) containing Aloe vera gel powder and Codonopsis lanceolata extract, and to determine their effects on intestinal epithelial cells. Initially, FLB-CCS 1 (containing 3% CAE) and FLB-CCS 2 (containing 1% CAE), which had varying CAE extraction ratios, displayed no significant cytotoxicity in IL-1β-induced inflammatory intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells. FLB-CCS 1 significantly more effectively inhibited the production of inflammatory factors, such as IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), compared to FLB-CCS 2. FLB-CCS 1 also reduced the mRNA expression of genes encoding IL-6 and MCP-1. Additionally, FLB-CCS 1 regulated the expression of IL-1 receptor type 1 by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB transcription factor p65. In conclusion, these results suggest that an increased CAE extraction ratio (FLB-CCS 1) could enhance the anti-inflammatory activity and serve as materials in functional labeling beverages for intestinal health.

In a previous study, we fractionated crude polysaccharide (AME-CP) with macrophage-stimulating activity from a hot-water extract (AME) of Astragalus membranaceus. AME-CP contained glucose (Glc) as a main component sugar, suggesting that it might be rich in starch-like compounds (SLC). To enhance the immunostimulating activity of AME-CP by pruning SLC rarely known to contribute to activity, hydrolysate (AME-SH) was prepared by digesting with starch-related enzymes, including α-amylase and amyloglucosidase. AME-SH was found to contain substances with molecular weights ranging from 3.9 to 84.4 kDa. These substances were primarily composed of galactose, galacturonic acid, Glc, arabinose, rhamnose, and mannose. AME-SH significantly enhanced the production of macrophage-stimulating factors, including nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12, in RAW 264.7 cells compared to AME-CP. Treatment of splenocytes isolated from C3H/HeN mice with AME-SH not only promoted IL-6 secretion, but also induced mitogenic activity. In addition, AME-SH promoted the secretion of hematopoietic growth factors including IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in Peyer's patch (PP) cells and stimulated bone marrow cell proliferation through these PP cells. In conclusion, hydrolysate (AME-SH) digested from AME-CP with starch-related enzymes could be used as a potential immunostimulant.

To utilize pepper (Piper nigrum) as an immunostimulatory agent, we isolated macrophage stimulating polysaccharides from pepper and investigated their macrophage activating activities. Hot-water extracts (HW) of black pepper (BP) and white pepper (WP) were prepared, and their macrophage stimulating activities were evaluated using RAW 264.7 cells. BP-HW significantly promoted the secretion of macrophage stimulating factors such as nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12 compared to WP-HW. When BP and WP-HW were fractionated into crude polysaccharides (CP) and low molecules (LM) by ethanol precipitation, BP-CP demonstrated significantly more potent activity. Furthermore, BP-CP not only induced mRNA gene expression of macrophage activation factors, but also promoted nuclear localization of p65 and c-Jun. In addition, component sugar analysis revealed that glucan-type polysaccharides in BP-CP played a crucial role in macrophage activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that black pepper has industrial applicability not only as a spice, but also as an immunostimulatory functional material.

본 총설은 탄소중립 및 에너지순환을 실현하기 위한 재생에너지로부터 그린수소 생산 전략 중 하나인 바이오수소 생산 및 정제법에 관해 소개하고자 한다. 바이오수소는 생물질과 미생물과 같은 재생에너지원을 이용하며, 상온 및 상압 등의 마일드한 실험조건에서 작동하여 에너지소비 및 공정비용이 적게 드는 친환경 공정으로 알려져 있다. 하지만, 이러한 바이오 수소를 상업적으로 이용하기 위해서는 해결해야 할 중요한 도전적인 과제가 존재한다. 특히, 바이오수소는 생물반응기내의 복합한 화학반응으로 합성되어, 낮은 수소생산 속도 및 반응기내 다양한 혼합물이 존재하여, 바이오수소 고순도화를 위해서 연속공정 형태의 분리 및 정제 기술이 반드시 필요하다. 이를 위해, 저온 증류법, 압력 흡착법, 분리막법 등을 비롯한 다양한 분리 및 정제 기술이 고순도 바이오수소를 얻기 위해 제안되었다. 본 총설에서는 바이오수소 생산 및 정제 연계화를 위한 비 다공성 고분자 분리막의 가능성에 대해 소개하고자 한다.

대왕자바리의 대량생산을 위한 적정 염분을 구명하였다. 각 염분별 노출시킨 대왕자바리의 생 존율은 0 psu에서 노출 4일째 모두 폐사하였으며, 염분 5 psu 이상에서 생존율은 100%였다. 성 장률은 염분 5 psu 이상에서 염분 상승에 따라 체중과 체장은 모두 증가하였으며, 염분 30 psu (대조구)에서 성장률은 가장 높았다. 먹이섭취량은 염분이 하강함에 따라 감소하는 경향을 보 였다. 염분 3 psu에서 먹이섭취는 없었으며, 염분 20, 25 및 30 psu 간에 유의한 차이는 없었다. 염분별 혈액 삼투질농도는 염분 5~30 psu에서 341~368 mg Osmol/㎏였다. 염분변화에 따른 산소소비율은 30 psu(대조구)에서 163.6±22.3 mg O2/㎏ fish/h으로 유의하게 높았다. 염분변화 에 따른 SOD, CAT 및 GSH-PX는 염분 15 psu에서 가장 높았다. 따라서 대왕자바리 생존 최저 임계염분은 5 psu이며, 양성을 위한 적정 염분은 20~30 psu으로 추정된다.