Human bitter taste-sensing type 2 receptors (hTAS2Rs) are expressed in various human tissues and may be associated with various cell signaling pathways, cell progression, and cell physiology in each tissue. hTAS2Rs can be a potential drug target because it is also expressed in some cancer cells. Xanthorrhizol (XNT) has various biological activities, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. XNT produces a bitter taste, but the specific hTAS2R activated is unknown, and the hTAS2R-mediated effect of XNT on cancer cells has not been studied. This study discovered the target receptor of XNT among 25 hTAS2Rs and confirmed the possibility of the hTAS2R-mediated inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. XNT activated only one receptor, hTAS2R38 (EC50=1.606±0.021 g/mL), and its activity was inhibited by probenecid, a hTAS2R38 antagonist. When HepG2 and MCF-7 cells were treated with XNT or phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), a known hTAS2R38 agonist, both chemicals inhibited cancer cell proliferation. XNT targets the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 and inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 and MCF-7 cells mediated by TAS2R38. This suggests that TAS2R38 may be a new target for disease treatment and a potential new factor for drug development.

Umami taste-yielding foods, such as, Joseonganjang, dried anchovies, dried shiitake, dried Konbu (kelp), and Yukjeot, are widely used in the Korean cuisine as soup base. While Umami taste enhancement related to Kokumi taste substances has been proposed in human sensory studies, the potential action of Kokumi taste substances has not been explored on calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR), here referred to as Kokumi taste receptors. In this study, we investigated the effect of Umami taste-yielding foods on Kokumi taste receptors using cells expressing human CaSR. We monitored the temporal changes in intracellular Ca2+ in HEK293T cells expressing CaSR in response to aqueous extract of Joseonganjang, dried anchovies, dried shiitake, dried Konbu, and Yukjeot. Kokumi substances tested-glutathione and γ-Glu-Val-Gly- evoked intracellular Ca2+ influx in a concentration-dependent manner. A similar increment of intracellular Ca2+ influx was induced by Joseonganjang, Yukjeot, and dried anchovies, but not by dried shiitake and dried Konbu. Only Joseonganjang- and Yukjeot-evoked intracellular Ca2+ influx was significantly reduced by NPS 2143, a CaSR-specific antagonist. These data indicated that some Umami substances/Umami-yielding materials could activate CaSR, but this property was not observed for all the Umami tasting substances.

Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila suzukii are the species of the family Drosophilidae. Although these two fruit flies are taxonomically close species, D. suzukii is thought to be evolutionally adapted to the flesh or maturing fruits, whereas D. melanogaster is adapted to more fermented environments. According to the previous studies, several environmental toxins, such as acetic acid, ethanol, methanol and phenylacetate, ect., have been identified from rotten fruit and fermentation procedures. Considering the differences of distinct habitat between two flies, D. melanogaster is hypothesized to exhibit higher tolerance to the chemical toxins than D. suzukii. Therefore, in this study, we compared the tolerance and susceptibility of two fruit flies to three chemicals (acetic acid, ethanol, 2-phenlyethano).

This study investigated the changes in the physicochemical properties of soybean sprout, radish, and pork loin during frozen Bibimbab production. The qualities of soybean sprout were affected by the blanching, thawing, and cooking processes, with the blanching process particularly regarded as an important process to attribute the overall quality of the soybean sprouts in the final product. High weight loss of radish was found in the thawing and cooking processes, while the weight loss was relatively lower than that of soybean sprout. However, mixing with hot rice can be attributed for the steep decrease in shear force of the radish. For pork meat, normally thermal treatment such as mixing with hot rice and cooking manifested quality deterioration. Based on the results, mixing process appeared to be the most important process which affected the final quality of the materials. To improve the quality of final frozen Bibimbab, therefore, it was recommended to freeze the food ingredient separately from rice prior to packaging, which warranted the follow up exploration.

This study investigated to find optimal blanching conditions for pre-treatment of Korean Cahmchi (Aster scaber) before freezing to maintain qualities as food ingredient. Blanched A. scaber were blanched in water, 1% sucrose solution and 1% salt solution for 2min. After blanching, each sample packed with water, 0.5% and 1% sucrose solution, which were half quantity of sample. The samples were then frozen at -30°C freezer for 24h. Frozen samples were thawed in water at 4°C. Color, thawing loss, water content and texture analysis were evaluated. Water content was not significantly different among samples. Thawing loss of A. scaber was low value in sugar and salt additive samples. Sugar additive sample indicated the lowest redness and yellowness value. Also sugar added samples showed tender texture. In conclusion, sugar contents in blanching water were affected to qualities of A. scaber.

본 연구의 목적은 벼메뚜기(Oxya chinensis sinuosa) 분말 섭취가 유산소성 운동훈련(트레드밀 달리기)의 병행 유무에 의해 ICR 생쥐의 에 너지 대사를 증가시키는지를 알아보고자 하는 것이다. 이 목적을 달성하기 위하여, 28 마리의 ICR 생쥐를 보통식 대조군(CON), 보통식 대조군 으로서 운동훈련 병행군(COEX), 벼메뚜기 분말이 혼합된 사료 섭취군(GH), 그리고 벼메뚜기 분말이 혼합된 사료를 섭취함과 동시에 운동훈련 을 병행군(GHEX)으로 구분하였다. 벼메뚜기 분말 사료섭취 및 운동은 6주간 진행하였다. 체중증가율은 유의하지 않았다. 지방량은 GH와 GHEX에서 유의하게 감소하였다. 혈중 glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase와 glutamic pyruvic transaminase 수준은 처치 집단간 변화가 없었다. 제2형 당수송체 및 제4형 당수송체는 처치 집단간 유의한 차이가 없었다. GHEX의 fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 단백질 발현량이 가장 높았다. AMP-activated protein kinase 단백질 수준은 GHEX에서 유의하게 증가하였다. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta 단백질 발현량은 GHEX가 CON과 비교할 때 감소하였다. 이러한 결과들은 벼메뚜기 분말을 섭취하면서 지구성 운동훈련을 하는 경우에 에너지 대사에 영향을 준다는 것을 제시하고 있다.

식용곤충은 대체 식량자원으로 관심이 증가되고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 누에나방 번데기 분말 섭취 유무에 따른 저항성운동 훈련(등장성 수축)이 ICR 마우스의 근육량 증가에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 이를 위하여 ICR 마우스 28마리를 대조군(CON), 저항성운동 훈련군(EX), 누에나방 번데기 분말 섭취군(SP), 누에나방 번데기분말 섭취 저항성운동 훈련군(SPEX)으로 그룹 당 각각 7마리씩 분류하였다. 체중증가율은 EX와 SPEX가 CON과 SP에 비해 유의하게 억제되었다. 혈중 총 단백질 농도는 SPEX가 다른 그룹에 비하여 가장 높았다. 알부민 농도 변화는 운동훈련 병행 시에만 증가하였다. 혈액 GOT와 GPT 수준은 유의차가 없었다. Akt와 Gsk-3β의 단백질 발현의 유의차는 없었다. 그러나 번데 기 분말 섭취 시 Akt 증가 및 Gsk-3β의 감소 경향이 나타났다. 비복근 근육 양은 저항성 운동 훈련을 하였을 때만 증가하였다. 그리고 또한, 번데 기 분말 섭취 시 근육량은 유의차가 없었으나 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 이러한 결과는 저항성 운동훈련과 누에나방 번데기 분말 섭취는 간독성을 유발하지 않고 근육량을 증가시킬 수 있다는 점을 시사한다. 그러나 보다 상세한 결과를 제시하기 위해 부가적인 연구가 필요할 것이다.

Sucrose and alcohol are rewarding and appetitive. They are occasionally over-consumed and cause addiction. The parabrachial nuclei (PbN) are the second taste relay in the central taste pathway. The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is an important neural substrate in the reward system. Intake of sucrose or alcohol induces dopamine release in the NAcc. Although alcohol is not classified as a taste stimulus, a substantial number of sucrose-responsive neurons in the PbN respond to stimulation by alcohol on the tongue. In the present study, we investigated whether or not application of 0.5 M sucrose, 10% ethanol (EtOH), mixture of sucrose and EtOH, and double-distilled water (DDW) to the tongue induces c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (cFLI) in the PbN and NAcc. We also examined whether or not the number of cFLI following sucrose/EtOH is comparable to the number of cFLIs following sucrose and EtOH, respectively. Male Sprague-Dwaley rat was anesthetized with a mixture of Zoletil and Rompun while stimulation solution was applied to the anterior tongue. The rat was sacrificed by perfusion, and the fixed brain was sectioned and immunostained. Data from a total of 18 animals were analyzed. The number of cFLI following stimulation with sucrose and/or EtOH was greater than that of DDW in the PbN. Numbers of cFLI following sucrose, EtOH, and sucrose/EtOH were not significantly different from each other in the PbN. The number of cFLI in response to stimulation solution was not different from that of DDW in the NAcc. The result of the present study suggests that not only sucrose but also EtOH activates some neurons in the PbN, and that some pontine neurons possibly respond to both sucrose and EtOH.

Taste receptors of the anterior tongue are innervated by the chorda tympani (CT) branch of the facial (VIIth) nerve. The CT nerve transmits information on taste to the ipsilateral nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), which is the first taste central nucleus in the medulla. Taste information is known to be transferred ipsilaterally along the taste pathway in the central nervous system. Some patients with unilateral CT damage often retain their ability to sense taste. This phenomenon is not explained by the unilateral taste pathway. We examined whether neurons in the NST receive information on taste from the contralateral side of the tongue by measuring c-Fos-like Immunoreactivity (cFLI) following taste stimulation of the contralateral side of the tongue in the anesthetized rats. We used four basic taste stimuli, 1.0 M sucrose, 0.3 M NaCl, 0.01 M citric acid, 0.03 M QHCl, and distilled water. Stimulation of one side of the tongue with taste stimuli induced cFLI in the NST bilaterally. The mean number of cFLI ranged from 23.28 ± 2.46 by contralateral QHCl to 30.28 ± 2.26 by ipsilateral NaCl stimulation. The difference between the number of cFLI in the ipsilaterl and contralateral NST was not significant. The result of the current study suggests that neurons in the NST receive information on taste not only from the ipsilateral but also the contralateral side of the tongue.