Grapefruit extract rich in functional substances adjusting pH 5.0 and adding sucrose (final concentration, 2%) was fermented by Leuconostoc mesenteroides CJNU 0147 strain, consequently prepared a fermented grapefruit extract containing dextran. As a result of analyzing the growth inhibitory effect on gut harmful bacterium Clostridium difficile strain using the prepared fermented grapefruit extract, the viable cell count was significantly reduced (p<0.05 vs. control for 0.5 brix as a final concentration; p<0.001 vs. control for 1.0 brix). On the other hand, the proliferative ability of the extract for Bifidobacterium breve strain, which is one of the species of the genus Bifidobacterium well known as human gut beneficial bacteria, was confirmed (p<0.001 vs. control for both 0.5 and 1.0 brix). These results indicate fermented grapefruit extract with Leu. mesenteroides CJNU 0147 strain inhibits the growth of gut harmful bacterium C. difficile and promotes the proliferation of beneficial bacterium B. breve and is expected to be used as a functional food material for gut health.

The bones of the human body support the structures of the body and provide protection for a person’s internal organs. Bone metabolic diseases are on the rise due to a significant increase in life expectancy over a short period of time. Therefore, we investigated the osteoblast differentiation promoting and osteoclastogenesis inhibitory activities of fermented Benincasa hispida cong. (HR1901-BS, HR1901-BSaf). We evaluated the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of MC3T3-E1 mouse calvarial-derived osteoblasts. We also evaluated expression of ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), which regulate osteoblast differentiation. To assess effects on osteoclast formation, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in RAW264.7 cells was analyzed. ALP activity increased by 121-136% and 140-156%, respectively in the presence of HR1901-BS and HR1901- BSaf. Expression of osteoblast differentiation factor also increased significantly. We also confirmed that HR1901-BS and HR1901-BSaf decreased TRAP activity in osteoclasts by 35-47% and 23-39%, respectively. Our results showed that fermented Benincasa hispida cong. (HR1901-BS, HR1901-BSaf) increase bone mineralization and osteoblast differentiation activity in MC3T3-E1 cells, and inhibit bone resorption activity in RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, fermented Benincasa hispida cong. (HR1901-BS, HR1901-BSaf) can be used as an effective natural resource for preventing and treating bone-related diseases.

In this study, we compared the microbial reduction effects of drying, hot water, and microwave sterilization in scourers and dishcloths to suggest a most suitable sterilization method. Three scourer types (silver, copper, and mesh) were used, and three dishcloth types (silver, bamboo, and cotton) were used. Drying time dependent reduction in Escherichia coli was high in silver and copper scourers, but minimal bacterial reduction was obtained against Bacillus cereus in all scourers and dishcloths. In scourers, E. coli was not detected after ≥30 s of hot water sterilization at 77oC, and B. cereus was not detected after ≥60 s of hot water sterilization at 100oC. In dishcloths, E. coli was not detected after hot water sterilization at 77oC for ≥30 s, but B. cereus was detected after hot water sterilization at 100oC for ≥60 s. In scourers, E. coli was not detected after microwave sterilization at 700 W for 3 min, but B. cereus was detected. In dishcloths, E. coli was not detected after microwave sterilization with 700 W for ≥1 min, but B. cereus was detected in the cotton dishcloth even after sterilization for 3 min. In conclusion, the use of antimicrobial scourers (silver and copper) and dishcloths (silver and bamboo) are not sufficient to reduce the microbial contamination. The guideline provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety suggesting dishcloth sterilization via hot water at 100oC for 30 s was also found to be insufficient. Based on our research, we suggest that the most effective methods of microbial management are submerging scourers in hot water at 100oC for ≥1 min, and sterilizing dishcloths for ≥3 min using a 700 W microwave.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid messenger involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and various diseases. Recent studies have shown an association between periodontitis and neuroinflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. However, the mechanistic relationship between periodontitis and neuroinflammatory diseases remains unclear. The current study found that lysophosphatidic acid receptors 1 (LPAR1) and 6 (LPAR6) exhibited increased expression in primary microglia and astrocytes. The primary astrocytes were then treated using medium conditioned to mimic periodontitis through addition of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharides, and an increased nitric oxide (NO) production was observed. Application of conditioned medium from human periodontal ligament stem cells with or without LPAR1 knockdown showed a decrease in the production of NO and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and interleukin 1 beta. These findings may contribute to our understanding of the mechanistic link between periodontitis and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. The onset of asthma for most patients begins early in life, and current asthma treatment with anti-inflammatory agents can have adverse effects, eventually leading to impaired quality of life. In the pathogenesis of asthma, macrophages and basophils play a vital role during progression. Macrophages not only induce inflammation by secreting inflammatory cytokines but also promote DNA damage and mucus production through nitric oxide (NO) production. Basophils enhance eosinophil recruitment and aggravate asthma through the FcεRIα receptor with high affinity for histamine and IgE. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the activation of macrophages and basophils is suppressed by the individual extracts of 28 natural products. RAW 264.7 cells (mouse macrophages) were treated with the natural products in LPS, and 4 natural product extracts resulted in decreased NO production. In β-hexosaminidase assay using RBL-2H3 cells (rat basophils), 19 natural product extracts decreased β-hexosaminidase production. In NO production and β-hexosaminidase assay using macrophages and basophils, 3 natural product extracts (Plantago asiatica, Centella asiatica, and Perilla frutescens var. japonica) significantly inhibited NO production and β-hexosaminidase release. Overall, we examined the inhibitory effects of 28 natural product extracts on macrophage and basophil activity, and the findings demonstrated the potential of natural product extracts for treating asthma and macrophage- and basophil-related diseases.

The consumption of Flammulina velutipes mushroom imported from Korea has been associated with the cases of listeriosis in the United States, Canada, and Australia. We investigated the effect of sanitizing the plastic wrapper (used in packaging F. velutipes) with slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and ultraviolet C waterproof light-emitting diode (UVC-WLED) on reducing the Listeria monocytogenes. Further, the effect of UVC-LED on L. monocytogenes growth in F. velutipes at different storage temperatures (2, 4, and 10oC) was determined. The combined (SAEW+UVC-W-LED) treatment for 5–10 min reduced 99.9% of bacterial population from the contaminated plastic wrapper. In addition, the UVC-LED treatment for 3 min reduced the L. monocytogenes concentration in F. velutipes by 0.47 log CFU/g. Moreover, the growth of L. monocytogenes in the treated mushrooms was slower than that of the untreated (control) ones. L. monocytogenes concentration in F. velutipes increased over 3 log CFU/g at 2oC and 10oC for 60 and 10 days, respectively. The growth of L. monocytogenes at the bottom of mushrooms was faster than that at the top at both the temperatures. These results indicate that the combined SAEW+UVC-WLED treatment of plastic wrappers and the UVC-LED treatment of mushrooms can be used as potential hurdle technologies to control the risk of L. monocytogenes in mushrooms prior to packaging at farms.

Scale and rust generation in water pipes is a common phenomenon when cast iron water pipes have been used for a long time. A physical water treatment device is known among various means for suppressing rust in a water pipe, and a zinc ionization device for putting zinc metal into a pipe and emitting the zinc cation into water is one of such devices. This research measured the amount of zinc ion generated, which is known to exhibit an effect of inhibiting rust and scale generation in a pipe, and examined the scale and rust inhibition effect of the ionization device installed for ground or building water supply. In the case of distilled water, the concentration of zinc ion increased by circulating water in the ionization device several times, and it was verified to be hundreds of μg/L, and in the case of discharging ground or tap water, it was verified to be tens of μg/L. In addition, a verification pipe was installed to confirm the change inside the pipe before and after installation of the zinc ionization device, and the internal condition of the pipe was observed 3 months to several years after installation. It was confirmed that the corrosion area of the surface of the pipe was no longer increased by installing a corrosion inhibitor, and if the pipe was already filled with corrosion products, the amount of corrosion products gradually decreased every year after installation. The phenomenon of fewer corrosion products could be interpreted as expanding the space in the pipe due to the corrosion product as Fe2O3 adhered to the inner surface of the pipe and turned into a smaller black Fe3O4. In addition, we found that scale such as CaCO3 together in the corrosion by-products gradually decreased with the attachment of the ionization device.

To increase the functional material content of soybean, a repetitive steaming and drying process was used. We investigated the changes in the total polyphenol content, the antioxidant activity, and the angiotensin-Ⅰ converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition in soybean following nine rounds of steaming and drying. Soybean was steamed 9 times for 2 h and then dried 9 times from 55℃ to 73℃ for 3 h. The total polyphenol content in the soybean reached a maximum value of 60.47 mg GAE eq./100 g at 73℃ while the total polyphenol content in the raw soybean reached 25.17 mg GAE eq./100 g. In the raw soybean samples, the DPPH radical scavenging activity (5 mg/mL) was 8.04% but it increased by 43.29% after drying 9 times to 73℃. ABTS radical scavenging activity also improved following 9 rounds of steaming and drying. ACE inhibitory activity of the soybean dried 9 times at 73℃ was 58.94% at 10 mg/mL. These results showed that steaming and drying soybean 9 times enhanced the antioxidant activity and the ACE inhibitory activity of soybean. Therefore, more research on the biological and anti-hypertensive activity of soybean using this steaming and drying method is necessary.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mangosteen extract complex (MEC; Garcinia mangostana L. and propolis extracts) on the inhibition of inflammation and prevention of alveolar bone loss using a ligature-induced periodontitis model. Rat molars were ligatured with silk, and 1 μg/mL of lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas gingivalis was injected into the buccal and palatal gingivae of the teeth with or without treatment with the MEC. Changes in the expression levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-8 (IL-8), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, and COX-2 in gingival tissues were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Alveolar bone loss around the ligated molars was examined using micro-computed tomography. The expression levels of PGE2, IL-8, iNOS, MMP-8, COX-1, and COX-2 in gingival tissues were significantly reduced in the group treated with a mixture of 16 μg of mangosteen extract powder and 544 μg of propolis extract powder (ligation [Lig] + lipopolysaccharide extracted from P. gingivalis KCOM 2804 [L] + MEC 1:34). Additionally, alveolar bone loss was significantly reduced in the Lig + L + MEC 1:34 group compared with that in other groups. These results indicate that the MEC could be useful in preventing and treating periodontitis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate novel usability as natural anti-obesity supplement of Selaginella tamariscina extract. The total phenol contents and total flavonoid contents were 60.29±3.11 GAE mg/g and 14.90±0.34 QE mg/g, respectively. To evaluate anti-obesity activity of Selaginella tamariscina extract, pancreatic lipase inhibition activity as well as its inhibition effect of lipid accumulation in adipocytes were conducted by Oil Red O staining and lipolysis assay. The result of pancreatic lipase inhibition activity of S. tamariscina extract showed a wide range between 40 and 73% dose dependently. While the incubation of 3T3-L1 cells with S. tamariscina extract inhibited differentiation of preadipocytes and reduced lipid accumulation, the level of released free glycerol into culturing medium was increased in multiple concentrations. These results showed that S. tamariscina extract inhibit adipogenesis and pancreatic lipase activity. Thus, S. tamariscina extract can be a candidate for regulating lipid accumulation in obesity.

본 연구는 퇴비단 내에서 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자의 발아력 억제효과를 분석하기 위하여 염소 분 퇴비, 젖소 분 퇴비 그리고 한우 분 퇴비를 대상으로 하여 실험을 수행하였다. 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자를 거즈에 싸서 퇴비단 내에 묻어놓고 1.5일, 3일, 10일, 20일 경과 후 종자를 회수한 뒤 발아력을 측정하였다. 실험 결과 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자의 발아율은 가축 분의 종류와 퇴비화 방법에 관계없이 퇴비단의 온도와 직접적인 상관관계를 가지는 것으로 나타났다. 온도가 60∼70°C인 조건의 퇴비단에서 1.5일 동안 머무른 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자는 발아력을 완전히 상실하였다. 반면에 퇴비단 최고 온도가 51°C 이하인 퇴비단에서는 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자가 퇴비단 내에서 20일간 머무른 후에도 10 % 정도의 발아력을 유지하였다. 이상의 결과를 종합해보면, 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자의 발아율을 억제하기 위해서는 가축 분 퇴비화단계에서 최소 55°C 이상의 온도를 3일 이상 유지하는 것이 좋다. 또한 퇴비단 온도가 60∼70°C 정도 상승한다면 약 1.5일 정도 체류하는 것으로도 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자의 발아력을 억제할 수 있을 것이다. 퇴비화 방법을 기준으로 보면, 호기적 퇴비화 방법이 퇴비단의 온도상승기간이 더 짧았다. 따라서 호기적 퇴비화방법을 적용하는 것이 소리쟁이 종자와 피 종자의 발아력을 억제하는데 더 효율적일 것이다.

This study was conducted in an effort to investigate the effect of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) on enzymatic browning of burdock and their anti-oxidant activity. The MRPs were prepared by heating glucose and amino acids at 90°C, which served to produce a strong inhibitory effect on burdock polyphenol oxidase. As the reaction time of the solution containing glucose and amino acid increased at 90°C, the production of MRPs increased and intensity of the brown color deepened. When MRPs were prepared by heating at 90°C for five hours, the absorbance of MRPs from glucose and lysine was 6.44, while those of glucose and glycine was 1.95. The MRPs synthesized from the glucose and lysine also reduced the pH of MRPs from 5.60 to 4.51, but those from glucose and glycine decreased slightly from 5.57 to 5.33. The Michealis-Menten constant value (Km) of burdock PPO with pyrocatechol as a substrate was 16.0 mM, and MRPs were a non-competitive inhibitor against burdock PPO. The anti-oxidant activity of MRPs was measured by evaluating its radical scavenging activities of DPPH radicals, ABTS radicals and reducing power. The color intensity of MRPs produced by lysine and glucose were deeper than that produced by glucose and glycine. It was also found that MRPs produced from glucose and lysine exhibited stronger anti-oxidant properties than those produced by glucose and glycine.

치자 씨 추출물이 항산화력 및 지질과산화 저해능에 미치는 영향을 알아 보고 치자의 기능성 식품 소재로서의 가치를 검토하기 위하여 실험을 수행한 결과, 치자 씨의 anthocyanin 함량을 측정한 결과 2.201±0.516 mg/100 g DW로 나타났으며, 치자 씨의 용매 별 추출 수율은 chloroform:methanol (CM, 2:1, v/v) 36.39%, 70% ethanol (27.32%), n-butanol (26.23%) 로 확인되었다. 추출 용매 별 항산화 활성은 농도(0.2, 0.4, 0.6 mg/mL)가 증가할수록 유의적으로 증가하였으며 positive control로 사 용된 ascorbic acid, BHA, trolox 보다는 낮은 활성이 관찰되었다. 치자 씨의 total phenol 함량(mg CAE/g)은 CM (32.50), 70% ethanol (30.09), n-butanol (11.07) 추출물 순으로 n-butanol 추출물에 서 가장 적은 함량을 보였으며, Nitric oxide (NO) radical 소거능에서는 CM (76.97~84.24%), 70% ethanol (74.10~79.99%), n-butanol (30.66~37.15%) 추출물 순으로 관찰되었다. Nitrite (NO2) 소거능 은 CM (33.53~43.23%), 70% ethanol (32.40~35.98%), n-butanol (24.72~28.14%) 순으로 관찰되었 다. β-carotene 탈색 저해능은 CM (23.73~44.70%), 70% ethanol (22.03~41.32%), n-butanol (16.00~27.87%) 순으로 확인되었다. Reducing power (optical density)는 70% ethanol (0.073~0.182), CM (0.057~0.154), n-butanol (0.028~0.079) 순으로 관찰되었다. 지질과산화 저해능은 씨 추출물 중 CM (53.26~76.56%), 70% ethanol (52.97~76.56%), n-butanol (38.54~53.33%) 순으로 나타났다. 이 에, 치자씨 추출물은 천연 항산화제로서 기능성 식품의 가치가 높을 것으로 판단된다.

β-carotene is present in carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. It suppresses many types of cancers by regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms. However, the effects of β -carotene on oral cancer cells have not been clearly established. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of β-carotene on cell growth and apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that treatment with β-carotene induced inhibition of cell growth, and that the effect was dependent on β-carotene treatment time and concentration in KB cells. Furthermore, treatment with β-carotene induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation in KB cells. β-carotene promoted proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, -8 and –9 with associated increases in the concentration of cleaved caspase-3, -7, -8 and –9. In addition, the level of cleaved PARP was increased by β-carotene treatment in KB cells. These results suggest that β-carotene can suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis in KB human oral cancer cells, and that it may have potential usefulness in anti-cancer drug discovery efforts.

곤충병원성세균 Xenorhabdus nematophila (Xn)의 일부 대사물질은 대상 곤충의 phospholipase A2 (PLA2)를 억제하여 아이코사노이드 생합성 활성을 저해시킨다. 그러나 이들 세균 대사물질이 억제하는 곤충의 PLA2에 대해서는 알려져 있지 않다. Xn의 배양액에서 화학구조가 동정된 8 가지 대사물질들은 두 종의 나비목 배추좀나방(Plutella xylostella)과 파밤나방(Spodoptera exigua)의 유충에 대하여 살충 활성을 보유했다.특별히 이들 물질은 모두 Bacillus thuringiensis (비티)의 살충력을 크게 향상시켰다. 파밤나방의 세포성 인지질 분해효소(SecPLA2)를 클로닝하고 대장균에서 과발현시켰다. 분리된 SecPLA2를 지방체에서 얻은 인지질과 반응시켰을 때 여러 다가불포화지방산을 해리시켰다. 이 효소활성이 Xn 유래 대사물질들에 의해 뚜렷이 억제되었다. 또한 SecPLA2에 대한 억제효과와 비티 살충력 상승효과 사이에 정의 상관관계를 보였다. 본 연구는 SecPLA2가 Xn 대사물질의 억제 대상 분자 종말점 가운데 하나라고 제시하고 있다.

Nanotechnology has become one of the fastest developing technologies and recently applied to a variety of industries. Thus, increasing number of nano materials including various nanoparticles would be discharged into wastewater and consequently entering a biological wastewater treatment process. However, the impact of the nano particles on biological wastewater treatment has not been estimated intensively. In this research, we investigated the effect of silica nanoparticle on the oxygen uptake rates (OURs) of activated sludge used in a conventional wastewater treatment process. The inhibition (%) values were estimated from the results of OURs experiments for the silica nanoparticles with various sizes of 10-15, 45-50, and 70-100 nm and concentrations of 50, 250, and 500 ppm. As results, the inhibition value was increased as the size of silica nano particles decreased and the injected concentration increased. The maximum inhibition value was investigated as 37.4 % for the silica nanoparticles with the size of 45-50 nm and concentration of 50 ppm. Additionally, the effect of size and concentration on the inhibition should be considered cautiously in case that the aggregation of particles occurred seriously so that the size of individual particles was increased in aquatic solution.

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in the developed world and has become a global epidemic in recent years. In this study, Zanthoxylum planispinum extracts (ZPE) were evaluated on the effect on inhibition of pancreatic lipase and lipid metabolism by oral treatment for 2 months in high-fed diet obesity-induced Balb/c mice. The ZPE showed pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity with IC50 of 0.3 ㎍/㎖. No significant difference in feed intake was observed among the groups. The high-fat diet-treated Z. planispinum extracts groups (HFD+ZPE, 100 ㎎/㎏) significantly decreased body weight compared to the high-fat diet vehicle groups (HFD, p<0.05). The high-fat diet-treated XenicalⓇ groups (HFD+Xenical, n=10, 30 ㎎/㎏) also showed a significant reduction of body weight compared to HFD (p<0.05). Biochemical parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) in HFD plus ZPE diet groups were significantly lower than those of the HFD groups (p<0.05). These results indicated that ZPE more effectively suppressed the effects of HFD on body fat gain with the inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase.

Cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols are important in genetic studies and applications to transgenic animals. Various studies about boar sperm cryopreservation have been studied for a long time. Those were about the use of extenders, the choice of sugars, the cooling and warming rates. The factors that influence the boar sperm are the dramatic changes in temperatures, osmotic and toxic stresses, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Among these factors, ROS generation is the main damage to DNA which is a principal genetic material and the most important for the practical applications. So we wondered whether ROS generation could be reduced. In previous study, monothioglycerol (MTG) was essential for the culture of embryo stem cells. Therefore we added MTG in the freezing extender based on lactose-egg yolk (LEY) with trehalose. For the assessment of the frozen-thawed sperm, we focused onmotility, membrane integrity and DNA damage. First, we used a computer-aided sperm analysis system for overall conditions of sperm such as motility and viability. Then we performed the sperm chromatin structure assay for DNA integrity and hypo-osmotic swelling test for membrane integrity. And our result showed the existence of MTG in the freezing extender caused less damage to DNA and higher motility in frozen-thawed boar sperm. Also we checked a relative antioxidant activity of MTG in modified Modena B extender. We concluded that this reagent can activate sperm mitochondria at MTG 0.2 μM, contribute to sperm motility and DNA integrity but there was no significant difference on membrane integrity. Also antioxidant activity of MTG in modified Modena B extender was proved.