The Black pine bast scale, Matsucoccus thunbergianae is one of the most serious in black pine, Pinus thunbergii forests in Korea. Since this pest was first reported in Goheung, Korea in 1963, which is gradually spread into neighboring regions and now occurs in many regions of the southern and eastern part of the Korean peninsula. The monitoring for distribution of M. thunbergianae was able to observed by naked eye egg sacs and pupa of male on the host until now. Therefore, this monitoring was very difficult in the low density of M. thubergianae. This experiment was conducted to use simple and practical moving cross-shaped flat trap for monitoring of M. thunbergianae. The monitoring of M. thunbergianae using the device was carried out to southern regions of the Korean peninsula. The first emergence of male showed mid. March in Namhae and late march in Busan, Jinju and Pohang. The peak of emergence showed late March in Namhae and early April in the other regions. When the number of M. thunbergianae intermediate nymph showed 58~59, 11~44 and 8~25 on 39.25 ㎠ bark area of the black pine, Pinus thubergii for 1 week, the number of captured its male adult was 58~83, 67~488 and 1~55 on the moving cross-shaped flat trap (10× 13㎝), respectively. The low density of M. thunbergianae was some few the number of capture, but there were no significant difference in its high density. Also, the number of captured its male adult was no significant in the different color (yellow, red, white and blue) of the moving cross-shaped flat trap.

To investigate the effect of carnosine on exhaustive exercise, swimming tests were conducted weekly with loads corresponding to 5% of body weight attached to the tails of mice, and the swimming time to exhaustion was measured. Eighty male ICR mice were divided into four groups, to which carnosine was administered at doses of 0 (control), 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg/day, respectively, for a period of four weeks. At the end of swimming exercise challenges, serum biochemistry, oxidative stress enzyme activity, and antioxidant enzyme activity in tissues were determined. Treatment with 250 mg/kg carnosine resulted in a significant increase in swimming times to exhaustion, compared to the control group in the first (P<0.01) and third week (P<0.05). Significantly lower serum lactate levels were observed after the swimming exercise in the carnosine-treated groups (10 and 250 mg/kg), compared with the control (P<0.01). Malondialdehyde levels in the liver (10 and 50 mg/kg carnosine treated groups) and skeletal muscle (250 mg/kg carnosine treated group) were significantly lower, compared with the control (P<0.05). Significantly lower protein carbonyl levels in skeletal muscle were observed in the 50 and 250 mg/kg carnosine treated groups, compared with the control (P<0.01). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in skeletal muscle did not differ significantly among the groups. These results indicate that carnosine may improve swimming exercise capacity by attenuating production of lactate and reducing oxidative stress in mice.

Pleurotus citrinopileatus was successfully cultivated and commercially available in Korea. The antioxidant, xanthine oxidase, tyrosinase inhibitory activities and polyphenol contents of fruiting bodies of Pleurotus citrinopileatus extracted with acetone, hot water and methanol (hereinafter referred to Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH). The antioxidant activities on β-carotene-linoleic acid in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 96.12%, 94.21% and 96.52%, respectively at the concentration of 20 mg/ml. Xanthine oxidase inhibition activity in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 30.12%, 35.42% and 29.02%, respectively at the concentration of 5 mg/ml. Tyrosinase inhibition activity in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 58.78%, 49.25% and 63.29%, respectively at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. Total polyphenol contents in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 18.99 mgGAEs/g, 16.73 mgGAEs/g and 18.66 mgGAEs/g. These experimental results suggested that fruiting bodies of P. citrinopileatus contained good physio-chemical substances for promoting human health.

The antioxidant, xanthine oxidase, tyrosinase inhibitory activities and polyphenol contents of the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus cornucopae extracted with acetone, hot water and methanol (hereinafter referred to Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH). The antioxidant activities in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 93.23%, 89.55% and 92.58%, respectively at the concentration of 2.0 mg/ml. Xanthine oxidase inhibition activity in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 45.84%, 46.50% and 45.60%, respectively at the concentration of 5 mg/ml. Tyrosinase inhibition activity in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 52.11%, 50.12% and 55.81%, respectively at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. Total polyphenol contents in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 18.99 mgGAEs/ g, 16.73 mgGAEs/g and 18.66 mgGAEs/g. These experimental results suggested that fruiting bodies of P. cornucopae contained good physio-chemical substances for promoting human health.

The current investigation was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibitory effects on the fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus extracted with acetone, methanol and hot water. The antioxidant activities were performed on β-carotene-linoleic acid, reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and ferrous chelating abilities. In addition to this, phenolic acid and flavonoids contents were also analyzed. Methanolic extract of P. ostreatus showed the strongest β-carotene-linoleic acid inhibition as compare to others exracts. At 8 mg/ml, acetonic extract showed a high reducing power of 1.54. The scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, acetonic extract was effective than other extracts. The strongest chelating effect (85.66%) was obtained from the acetonic extract at 1.0 mg/ml concentration. Antioxidant activities of the extracts from the fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus were increased with the increasing concentration. After application of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode array detector and electrospray ionisation mass spectra, six phenolic compounds namely, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, naringenin, hesperetin, formononetin and biochanin were identified from acetonic extract. Tyrosinase inhibition of acetonic, methanolic, and hot water extracts of P. ostreatus were increased with the increasing of concentration. Results revealed that methanolic extract showed good, while acetonic and hot water extracts showed moderate activities of the tyrosinase inhibition at the concentration tested. This study suggests that fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus can potentially be used as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants.

Lentinus lepideus is an edible mushroom, belongs to the family Tricholomaceteae and order Agaricales. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibitory effects on the fruiting bodies of L. lepideus extracted with acetone, methanol and hot water. The antioxidant activities were performed on β-carotene-linoleic acid, reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and ferrous chelating abilities. In addition to this, phenolic acid and flavonoids contents were also analyzed. Hot water extract of L. lepideus showed the strongest β-carotene-linoleic acid inhibition as compare to others extracts. At 8 mg/ml, methanolic extract showed a high reducing power of 1.21. The scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, acetonic and methanolic extracts were effective than hot water extract. The strongest chelating effect (87.50%) was obtained from the methanolic extract at 1.0 mg/ml concentration. Antioxidant activities of the extracts from the fruiting bodies of L. lepideus were increased with the increasing concentration. After application of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode array detector and electrospray ionisation mass spectra, six phenolic compounds namely, chlorogenic acid, vanillin, naringin, naringenin, formononetin and biochanin were identified from acetonic extract. Tyrosinase inhibition of acetonic, methanolic, and hot water extracts of L. lepideus were increased with the increasing of concentration. Results revealed that acetonic and methanolic extract showed good, while hot water showed moderate activities of the tyrosinase inhibition at the concentration tested. This study suggests that fruiting bodies of L. lepideus can potentially be used as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants.

Pleurotus eryngii, known as king oyster mushroom, has been widely used in nutritional and medicinal purposes. This study was initiated to screen the antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibitory effects on the fruiting bodies of P. eryngii extracted with acetone, methanol and hot water. The antioxidant activities were performed on β-carotene-linoleic acid, reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and ferrous chelating abilities. In addition to this, phenolic acid and flavonoids contents were also analyzed. Methanolic and acetonic extracts of P. eryngii showed the strongest β-carotene-linoleic acid inhibition as compare to hot water extract. At 8 mg/ml, acetonic extract showed a high reducing power of 1.203. The scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, acetonic extract was effective than other extracts. The strongest chelating effect (88.10%) was obtained from the methanolic extract at 1.0 mg/ml concentration. Antioxidant activities of the extracts from the fruiting bodies of P. eryngii were increased with the increasing concentration. After application of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode array detector and electrospray ionisation mass spectra, ten phenolic compounds namely, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, vanillin, ferulic acid, naringin, naringenin, hesperetin, formononetin and biochanin were identified from acetonic extract. Tyrosinase inhibition of acetonic, methanolic, and hot water extracts of P. eryngii were increased with the increasing of concentration. Results revealed that acetonic and methanolic extracts showed good, while hot water showed moderate activities of the tyrosinase inhibition at the concentration tested. This study suggests that fruiting bodies of P. eryngii can potentially be used as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants.

Lentinus edodes is a popular edible mushroom in South-East Asia. This study was initiated to evaluate the antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibitory effects on the fruiting bodies of L. edodes extracted with acetone, methanol and hot water. The antioxidant activities were performed on β-carotene-linoleic acid, reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and ferrous chelating abilities. In addition to this, phenolic acid and flavonoids contents were also analyzed. Methanolic extract of L. edodes showed the strongest β-carotene-linoleic acid inhibition as compare to others extracts. At 8 mg/ml, hot water extract showed a high reducing power of 0.96. The scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, acetonic extract was effective than other extracts. The strongest chelating effect (86.45%) was obtained from the acetonic extract at 1.0 mg/ml concentration. Antioxidant activities of the extracts from the fruiting bodies of L. edodes were increased with the increasing concentration. After application of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode array detector and electrospray ionisation mass spectra, four phenolic compounds namely, naringenin, hesperetin, formononetin and biochanin were identified from acetonic extract. Tyrosinase inhibition of acetonic, methanolic, and hot water extracts of L. edodes were increased with the increasing of concentration. Results revealed that acetonic and methanolic extracts showed good, while hot water showed moderate activities of the tyrosinase inhibition at the concentration tested. This study suggests that fruiting bodies of L. edodes can potentially be used as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants.

Ganoderma lucidum has long been used as a potent medicinal plant. In addition, recent studies showed that G. lucidum is used to prevent or treat various human diseases such as allergy, hepatopathy, hypertension, cancer and diabetes. In this study showed that ethanol extract from G. lucidum have potential inhibitory effects of glycerol 3-phosphat acyltransferase (GPAT) activity and increase of glucose uptake on skeletal muscle cells. Inhibition of GPAT, which catalyze the first step in de novo TAG synthesis, has been proposed as one of the drug targets for insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. G. lucidum extract inhibited GPAT activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of bio-active substances from ethanol extracts of G. lucidum were carried out by using chromatographic techniques and in vitro GPAT enzyme assay. One of bioactive molecules, ergosterol peroxide, was isolated and identified by physical and spectral properties. In this study showed that ethanol extract from G. lucidum and ergosterol peroxide have potential anti- diabetes effects through the increase of glucose uptake. This was as sociated with increased activity AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK). AMPK is another regulatory protein in the glucose uptake pathway and energy metabolism. The result was that the increase of glucose uptake by G. lucidum extract might be mediated by AMPK.

Comparative effect of oyster mushrooms on plasma, fecal lipid profiles, liver and kidney functions were evaluated in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. The feeding of hypercholesterolemic rats with 5% powder of fruiting bodies of oyster mushrooms i.e., Pleurotus ostreatus, P. sajor-caju and P. florida reduced the plasma total cholesterol level by 37%, 21% and 16%, respectively and triglyceride level by 45%, 24% and 14%, respectively. LDL/HDL ratio decreased by 64%, 45% and 41% for P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatus and P. florida fed rats, respectively. Mushroom feeding also reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no adverse effect on plasma bilirubin, creatinin and urea nitrogen level. Mushroom feeding also increased the total lipid and cholesterol excretion through the feces. The present study reveals that feeding of 5% oyster mushroom powder do not have detrimental effects on the liver and kidneys rather may provide health benefits for the cardiovascular-related complication by decreasing the atherogenic lipid profiles.