The medicinal fungus Cordyceps militaris is recognized for producing cordycepin, a bioactive nucleoside with anticancer, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. However, conventional culture media often entail high production costs and limited sustainability, prompting the search for alternative nutrient sources. This study evaluated onion, green onion, and garlic peel extracts—agricultural by-products rich in flavonoids, phenolics, and sulfur-containing antioxidants—as sustainable substrates for enhancing mycelial biomass and cordycepin biosynthesis in C. militaris. Liquid cultures supplemented with peel extracts (1–5%) were assessed for growth, cordycepin production (HPLC), and antioxidant activity (DPPH assay). Onion peel extract (OPE) showed the strongest growth-promoting effect, yielding 8.2 g/L of biomass at 5% and achieving a 19% increase in cordycepin concentration at 3% compared with the control. Antioxidant activity strongly correlated with cordycepin accumulation (R = 0.96, p < 0.001), indicating that secondary metabolite production contributed significantly to radicalscavenging capacity. Response surface methodology using a Box–Behnken design revealed that extract concentration, pH, and incubation period significantly influenced cordycepin production (p < 0.05), with the quadratic model showing excellent fit (R² = 0.9924). Optimal conditions were identified as 3% extract concentration, pH 6.0, and 12 days of incubation, under which cordycepin reached 0.995 mg/L, substantially higher than the control (0.693 mg/L). These findings demonstrate that agricultural by-product extracts, particularly onion peel, can serve as effective and economical substrates for enhancing cordycepin biosynthesis while supporting sustainable bioprocessing strategies in C. militaris cultivation.

This study was conducted to investigate the potential use of Cordyceps militaris spent mushroom substrate as a natural antimicrobial agent. The fruiting body and spent mushroom substrate of C. militaris were extracted into 80% ethanol, and the antimicrobial activity was compared. Both extracts (1 mg/disc) exhibited clear antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the agar diffusion assay. The MIC values of the fruiting body and spent substrate extracts against P. aeruginosa were determined to be 0.4 mg/ml and 0.6 mg/ml, respectively, indicating a bacteriostatic action. The inhibitory effects of the C. militarisspent mushroom substrate extract on biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa were determined by biofilm biomass staining and qRT-PCR analysis. The biofilm biomass and cell growth of P. aeruginosa in the cultures treated with 0.2–2.0 mg/ml of extracts were significantly decreasedin a concentration-dependent manner. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the lasI and lasR gene expression associated to quorum sensing (QS) in the cultures treated with 0.2–2.0 mg/ml of extracts were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that extracts from C. militaris spent mushroom substrate can be used as an antimicrobial agent derived from natural materials, as demonstrated by the bacteriostatic action and inhibition of biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa.

This study evaluated the sub-chronic oral toxicity of freeze-dried deer velvet antler (DVA) extract in ICR mice over a 90-day period. The extract was administered orally to male and female mice at doses of 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg body weight daily; the control group (0 mg/kg body weight) received vehicle only. No clinical signs of toxicity or mortality were observed. Body weight gain, food consumption, and general behavior remained normal across all groups. Hematological analysis revealed no dose-dependent alterations in hemoglobin levels, platelet characteristics, or red or white blood cell counts. Males administered 2,000 mg/kg DVA exhibited a slight increase in reticulocyte count, whereas females exhibited reduced count at 5,000 mg/kg; however, neither finding was doseresponsive or toxicologically significant. Serum biochemistry including liver and kidney function markers (ALT, AST, -GT, BUN, and creatinine) remained within normal range, and no evidence of organ damage was observed. Notably, male mice exhibited a significant reduction in serum triglycerides compared with those in the control group, suggesting potential lipid-modulating effects of DVA; however, this finding requires further investigation. Based on these findings, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of DVA extract was determined to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg/day in both sexes. These results support the safety profile of DVA extract at the tested doses, and its potential metabolic benefits.

소나무재선충병은 소나무재선충(Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)의 감염으로 발생하며, 소나무 숲 생태계에 심각한 환경 피해를 준다. 본 연구에 서는 소나무재선충에 대한 살선충제를 개발하기 위해 7가지 곤충병원성 곰팡이 추출물의 살선충 활성을 평가하였다. 곰팡이를 배양하여 추출물을 얻은 다음, 다양한 농도에서 96-웰 플레이트를 이용해 살선충 활성을 평가하였다. 그 결과, 붉은자루동충하초(Cordyceps pruinosa) 추출물은 5 mg/mL 농도에서 84.7%의 가장 높은 치사율을 보였으며, LC50 값은 0.130 mg/mL였다. 노린재포식동충하초(Ophiocordyceps nutans) 추출물은 76.2%의 치사율을 보였다. 나머지 5가지 곰팡이 추출물은 42.8%에서 62.0% 사이의 치사율을 나타내었다. 동충하초류 추출물의 높은 살선충 활성 은 활성 화합물을 추가로 밝혀낸다면, 생물학적 살선충제로 개발될 가능성을 시사하였다.

현대 사회의 산업화와 서구화된 생활습관으로 인해 만성 염증성 질환이 급증하고 있으며, 염증성 사이토카인의 과도한 분비가 다양한 질환의 근본 원인으로 주목받고 있다. 본 연구는 국내외 학술 데이터베이스를 활용하여 최근 10년간 발표된 염증성 사이토카인 관련 연구와 약용식물의 항염 효과에 관한 논문을 체계적으로 수집·분석 하고, 전통 본초 문헌에 기록된 약재의 효능과 현대 생명과학·약리학적 연구 결과를 비교 검토하였다. 연구 결과, IL-6 억제 효과를 나타내는 한약재로는 상황, 방기, 신 이, 적소두가 확인되었으며, TNF-α 억제 효과를 보이는 한약재로는 모과, 황금, 인 동등, 자초가 규명되었다. 이들은 RAW 264.7 대식세포와 다양한 염증 모델에서 염 증성 사이토카인 발현을 유의하게 억제하였으며, NF-κB 및 MAPK 신호 경로 차 단을 통한 분자적 기전이 입증되었다. 전통적으로 해열, 해독, 활혈, 소종의 효능으 로 기록된 이들 약재의 항염 효능이 현대 분자생물학적 기전을 통해 과학적으로 입 증되었으며, 이는 전통 지식이 과학적 근거를 내포하고 있음을 시사한다. 따라서 해 당 약재들은 항염증 보조치료제, 기능성 식품, 천연물 신약 개발의 유망한 후보군이 될 수 있으며, 향후 통합적 염증 치료 전략 수립에 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

Gynura bicolor is a medicinal plant recognized for its antioxidant potential and natural pigments. This study aimed to evaluate antioxidant activities and bioactive compounds’ contents of G. bicolor extracts and solvent fractions prepared using different drying methods and solvent partitioning. Ethanol extracts were obtained from freeze-dried (FD) and hot-air-dried (HD) samples, followed by sequential partitioning with n-hexane (n-Hex), methylene chloride (MC), ethyl acetate (EA), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). Total polyphenol (TP) and flavonoid (TF) contents were measured. Antioxidant activities were assessed via DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The FD-EtOH extract showed the highest TP (100.8±0.29 mg TAE/mL) and TF (4.72±0.03 mg QE/mL) contents. EA and n-BuOH fractions exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than other fractions, suggesting that bioactive compounds were effectively concentrated through selective solvent extraction. These findings indicate that drying and solvent fractionation can significantly affect antioxidant functionality and phytochemical yield. G. bicolor may serve as a promising natural antioxidant and pigment source for functional food and beverage development.

In this study, conjugates were prepared via dry heat-induced glycosylation with maltodextrin (MD) to enhance the functional properties of sesame meal protein extract (SMPE). With the progress of conjugation, the specific protein bands of SMPE decreased and new bands appeared in the higher molecular weight range (approximately 170 kDa). The FT-IR spectra confirmed the structural modifications resulting from Maillard reaction-driven covalent bonding between SMPE and MD. The solubility and emulsifying properties—emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsifying stability index (ESI)—of the conjugates showed little variation with dry-heat treatment time, but they were significantly influenced by the dextrose equivalent (DE) of MD. Solubility was highest when SMPE was conjugated with MD of DE 4–7 at both 12 h (19.38%) and 24 h (20.54%) and decreased as DE increased. Notably, the three-way ANOVA results showed that the emulsifying properties improved significantly with higher DE of MD. The EAI and ESI of SMPE conjugated with MD of DE 16.5–19.5 increased by 1.52- and 1.41-fold, respectively, when compared with the control SMPE. These findings suggest that the SMPE-MD conjugates have promising potential for applications in food systems that require enhanced emulsifying properties.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a thorny, nitrogen-fixing shrub native to Europe and Asia. Known as the “vitamin tree,” sea buckthorn is an important fruit resource for the Mongolian people. However, comparative studies on the antioxidant activity of wild sea buckthorn in Mongolia are still lacking. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the optimal extraction method to maximize its functional properties and to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of wild Mongolian sea buckthorn berry extracts. The wild Mongolian berries were extracted using hot water, 70% methanol, and 70% ethanol through three different extraction methods: homogenizer-assisted extraction, ultrasonication-assisted extraction, and Soxhlet extraction. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the sea buckthorn extracts were assessed by measuring total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), reducing power, nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging capacity, nitrite scavenging activity, and the diameters of inhibition zones against foodborne pathogens. The DPPH free radical scavenging capacity and FRAP of the sea buckthorn berries extracted using Soxhlet with 70% ethanol were 57.36% and 1.035 mg FSE/g, respectively. The Soxhlet 70% ethanol extract also exhibited the highest reducing power (1.961), NO radical scavenging ability (64.7%), and nitrite scavenging ability (62.4%) among the tested samples. The hot water, 70% methanol, and 70% ethanol extracts exhibited concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity. The homogenizer-assisted 70% ethanol extract formed a clear inhibition zone of 13 mm against Salmonella enteritidis.

Osteoporosis, characterized by excessive osteoclast activity and disrupted bone remodeling, remains a significant health concern. This study investigated the potential of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) extracts, prepared with various drying methods, to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and promote bone formation. Mushroom stipe extracts, irrespective of the drying method, effectively suppressed osteoclast differentiation by downregulating nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 expression in osteoclast precursor cells treated with macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL), whereas the mushroom cap extracts exhibited minimal inhibitory effects. This disparity highlights the importance of part-specific analyses as the stipes contained higher levels of bioactive molecules, including denatonium, which was identified as a key RANKL signaling disrupter. In contrast, the caps lacked the anti-osteoclastogenic activity observed in the stipes, which were notably consistent across the freeze-drying, air-drying, and hot-air drying methods, indicating the stability of the bioactive compounds under various processing conditions. In vivo studies using an osteoporosis-induced zebrafish model further validated the therapeutic potential of the stipe extracts, which restored bone mineralization and mitigated prednisolone-induced bone loss. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying and optimizing specific mushroom parts for their unique therapeutic properties. Shiitake mushroom stipe extracts are a natural product potentially useful in osteoporosis therapy. This therapy would be a promising alternative to conventional treatments, such as bisphosphonates, which are associated with adverse side effects.

We developed pet food ingredients for dogs by fermenting oats soaked in herbal extracts of Dendropanax morbifera and Eriobotrya japonica using Lentinula edodes KCTC 18874P mycelium. The resulting materials were analyzed for β-glucan, total polyphenol, essential amino acids, vitamins B1 and B2, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and heavy metals to confirm their beneficial components and safety during consumption. The content of (1-3),(1-4)-β-glucan ranged from 1.08 to 1.78%, with the highest content (1.51%) found in fermented D. morbifera and E. japonica using L. edodes mycelium (FMEJDMOLEM). The (1-3),(1-6)-β-glucan content ranged from 44.14% to 50.13%, with FMEJDMOLEM showing the highest content at 50.13%. The total polyphenol content was highest in FMEJDMOLEM, followed by fermented D. morbifera using L. edodes mycelium (FDMOLEM) and fermented E. japonica using L. edodes mycelium (FEJOLEM). Vitamin B1 content was significantly higher in FMEJDMOLEM, followed by FEJOLEM. FMEJDMOLEM also had the highest vitamin B2 content. The total essential amino acid content was the highest in FMEJDMOLEM, followed by FDMOLEM. FEJOLEM had the highest calcium content. The calcium-tophosphorus ratio in all the samples was below 1:0.8, meeting the standards set by the American Feed Association. Heavy metal analysis confirmed that lead and cadmium, which are hazardous to the health of dogs, were not detected in any of the samples. This study demonstrated the development of pet food materials with high levels of beneficial ingredients, such as β-glucan, appropriate calcium and phosphorus ratios, and no detectable heavy metals, ensuring both usefulness and safety. Our future research will focus on developing dog pet food using these materials, and conducting physiological activity studies to complete the development of scientific dog pet food.