Ganoderma applanatum is a medicinal mushroom belongs to Ganodermataceae of Polyporales, Basidiomycota. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-xanthine oxidase activities of G. applanatum fruiting bodies extracted with methanol. The antioxidant activities were performed on reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and ferrous ion chelating activities. In addition to this, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were aslo analyzed. The methanol extract showed the good reducing power of 3.5 at the concentration of 4.0 mg/ml. The scavenging activity of methanol extract of G. applanatum 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy radicals was better than those of positive control, BHT and tocopherol. The ferrous ion chelating effect of methanol extract was moe effective than those of positive control, BHT and tocopherol. The antioxidant activities of the G. applanatum were increased with the increasing concentration of the extracts. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of methanol extract of G. applanatum was good as positive control, allopurinol. The anti-inflammatory activity of mushroom extract was measured by carrageenan-induced hind paw edema of albino rat. The injection of 50 mg/kg of methanol and hot water extracts significantly reduced the carrageenan-induced paw edema compared with the positive control, indomethacin. The results indicated that fruiting bodies of G. applanatum could be used for natural medicine for anti-inflammatory and anti-xanthine oxidase.

Recently, there had been reports on ethanol fermentation from mono-saccharide and disaccharide by mushroom mycelia. This experiment was conducted to study ethanol production from xylose by mycelila of mushrooms isolated from Korea. The cultures used in this study were obtained from Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms in the Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University. The results showed that Neolentinus lepideus, Trametes hirsuta and Cerrena unicolor produced ethanol from xylose contained media. The ethanol concentration produced in the xylose contained media ranged from 2.5∼3.8%. The highest ethanol concentration(3.8%) was obtained from fermentation of xylose by Neolentinus lepideus mycelia. All of the mushroom mycelia used in this study showed a good ability of ethanol fermentation from glucose, fructose, mannose, cellobiose and maltose.

Recently, there had been many reports on ethanol fermentation by mushrooms. This study was initiated to screening of ethanol fermentation by mushroom mycelilal cultures preserved in Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms in the Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University. The experimental results showed that ethanol concentration produced by Cerrena unicolor, Trametes pubescens and Daedalea dickinsii, Microporus vernicipes and Perenniporia fraxinea in the glucose medium ranged from 2.3∼4.7%. The highest ethanol concentration was obtained from fermentation of glucose by Cerrena unicolor (4.7%). Some of the mushrooms used in this study have a good ability to efficiently ferment arabinose, fructose, mannose, cellobiose, maltose and sucrose . The highest ethanol concentration was obtained under semi-aerobic condition compared with aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The media used for ethanol fermentation by T. pubescens and P. fraxinea. contained small amounts of β -D-glucan, which is known to have anti-tumor activity.

Most traditional genome sequencing projects involving infectious viruses include culturing and purification of the virus. This can present difficulties as an analysis of multiple populations from multiple locations may be required to acquire sufficient amount of high-quality DNA for sequence analysis. The electrophoretic method provides a strategy whereby the genomic DNA sequences of the Korean isolate of Pieris rapae granulovirus (PiraGV-K) were analyzed by purifying it from host DNA by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, thus simplifying sampling and labor time. The genomic DNA of infected P. rapae was embedded in agarose plugs, digested with a restriction nuclease and methylase, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to separate PiraGV-K DNA from the DNA of P. rapae, followed by mapping of fosmid clones of the separated viral DNA. The double-stranded circular genome of PiraGV-K encodes 120 open reading frames (ORFs), covering 92% of the sequenced genome. BLAST and ORF arrangement showed the presence of 78 homologs to other genes in the database. The mean overall amino acid identity of PiraGV-K ORFs was highest with the Chinese isolate of PiraGV (~99%), followed up with Choristoneura occidentalis ORFs at 58%. PiraGV-K ORFs were grouped, according to function, into 10 genes involved in transcription, 11 involved in replication, 25 structural protein genes, and 15 auxiliary genes. Genes for Chitinase (ORF 10) and cathepsin (ORF11), involved in the liquefaction of the host, were found in the genome. The recovery of PiraGV-K DNA genome by pulse-field electrophoretic separation from host genomic DNA had several advantages, compared with its isolation from particles harvested as virions or inclusions from the P. rapae host. We have sequenced and analyzed the 108,658 bp PiraGV-K genome purified by the pulsed field electrophoretic method. The method appears to be applicable to the analysis of genomes of large viruses. The chitinase, identified by PiraGV-K genome sequence, was functionally characterized by quantitative PCR, Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy.

This study has investigated the effect of isometric contractile force and muscle activity applying sperficial heat according to the time from the biceps brachii muscle. In this study, 20 university students participants without musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. By applying a hot pack 5min, 10min, 20min and 30min respectively. After that measurement are skin temperature, contractile force and muscle activity. Skin temperature of the hot 5 min applied that rapidly changing. Increasing the time it takes to apply a variance has been reduced(p<.001). Isometric contractile force was not statistically significant but highest when applying the hot pack 5 minutes and lowest when applying the hot pack 30 minutes(p<.001). Muscle activity and median frequency was highest when applying the hot pack 5 minutes. To analyze the above results, it was found that isometric contractile force and muscle activity changed according to the applying time. These result lead us to the conclusion that this study will be more evidence for changes in muscle contraction to apply hot pack on clinic.

The cytochrome P-450 enzymes (CYP 2A6) regulate many endogenous signaling molecules and drugs. Aryl alkynes such as 2-ethynylnaphthalene are important P450 inhibitors which have been extensively studied as medicines or as an effective chemical probes for profiling mouse liver microsomal P-450. Here we have synthesized indole-based novel P450 inhibitor, 5-ethynyl indole 3, and showed that it has successfully inhibited CYP 2A6 by chemical inhibition reaction. By using HPLC equipped with a photo diode array(PDA) detector, all of the peaks derived from the enzymatic reaction have been characterized.

The shortage of human organs for transplantation has induced the research on the possibility of using animal as porcine. However, pig to human transplantation as known as xeno-transplantation has major problem as immunorejection. Recently, the solutions of pig to human xenotransplantation are commonly mentioned as having a genetically modification which include alpha 1, 3 galatosyl transferase knockout (GTKO) and immune-suppressing gene transgenic model. Unfortunately, the expression level of transgenic gene is very low activity. Therefore, development of gene overexpression system is the most urgent issue. Also, the tissue specific overexpression system is very important. Because most blood vessels are endothelial cells, establishment of the endothelial-specific promoter is attractive candidates for the introduction of suppressing immunorejection. In this study, we focus the ICAM2 promoter which has endothelial-specific regulatory region. To detect the regulatory region of ICAM2 promoter, we cloned 3.7 kb size mini-pig ICAM2 promoter. We conduct serial deletion of 5' flanking region of mini-pig ICAM2 promoter then selected promoter size as 1 kb, 1.5 kb, 2 kb, 2.5 kb, and 3 kb. To analyze promoter activity, luciferase assay system was conducted among these vectors and compare endothelial activity with epithelial cells. The reporter gene assay revealed that ICAM2 promoter has critical activity in endothelial cells (CPAE) and 1 kb size of ICAM2 promoter activity was significantly increased. Taken together, our studies suggest that mini-pig ICMA2 promoter is endothelial cell specific overexpression promoter and among above all size of promoters, 1 kb size promoter is optimal candidate to overcome the vascular immunorejection in pig to human xenotransplantation.

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 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.

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.