This study investigated major constituents and anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Platycodon grandiflorum leaves. Through HPLC analysis, chlorogenic acid and luteolin-7-O-glucoside were identified as predominant constituents in the ethanol extract. Their anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using murine macrophage (RAW 264.7 cells) and human lung carcinoma cells (NCI-H292 & A549). The ethanol extract significantly (p<0.01) inhibited the production of nitrite, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the ethanol extract suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) proteins in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with LPS. In NCI-H292 and A549 cells, treatment with the ethanol extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 induced by IL-1β. The phosphorylation of ERK rather than JNK in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway was observed to be a more important mediator in the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in NCI-H292 cells. These findings suggest that the ethanol extract of Platycodon grandiflorum leaves containing luteolin-7-O-glucoside exhibits promising anti-inflammatory properties.

한약재로 사용되는 더덕과 도라지에 표고의 유용성분을 함유한 소재를 개발하고자 더덕표고균사발효물(FCLM)과 더덕도라지균사발효물(FPLM)을 제조하였다. 두 가지 발효 물의 일반성분, 유리당, 유기산, β-glucan, ergothioneine, ergosterol, vitamin D2 함량 및 3T3-L1 지방전구세포의 분화에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 일반성분 분석결과, FCLM에서 조섬유와 조지방함량이 FPLM에 비하여 높게 나타났으며, FPLM은 조단백질과 가용성무질소물의 함량이 FCLM에 비하여 높게 나타났다. 유리당은 FCLM과 FPLM 모두 arabinose, glucose, sucrose 3종이 검출되었 으며, 총 유리당 함량은 FPLM에서 높게 나타났다. 유기산 함량은 발효 전 더덕과 도라지에 비하여 발효 후 FCLM과 FPLM에서 낮게 나타났다. β-Glucan 함량은 FCLM과 FPLM 두 발효물에서 대조구로 사용한 표고보다 높은 함량을 보였다. 항산화 물질로 알려진 ergothioneine의 함량은 FCLM이 FPLM보다 높게 나타났다. Ergosterol 함량은 대조구로 사용한 표고에서 가장 높게 나타났으며, 발효물들은 비슷한 함량을 나타내었다. Vitamin D2는 발효물들에서만 검출되었으며, FPLM (0.58±0.01 mg%)가 FCLM (0.47±0.01 mg%)보다 높은 함량을 보였다. 더덕과 도라지 표고균사발효물인 FCLM과 FPLM는 3T3-L1 지 방전구세포에 대하여 발효 전 더덕과 도라지에 비하여 높은 수준의 세포 생존율을 나타내었다. 또한 FCLM과 FPLM은 3T3-L1 지방전구세포 분화를 발효 전 더덕과 도라지에 비하여 높은 수준으로 억제하여, 비만 억제 효과가 있는 것으로 기대된다.

Analysis of water quality distribution is very important for river water quality management. Recently, various studies have been conducted on the analysis of water quality distribution according to reduction methods of nonpoint pollutant. The objective of this study was to select the probability distributions of water quality constituents (T-N, T-P, COD, SS) according to the farming forms (control, slow release fertilizer, water depth control) during non-storm period in the paddy fields. The field monitoring was conducted monitoring site located in Baeksan-myun, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea during non-storm period from May to September in 2016. Our results showed that there were no differences in water quality among three different farming forms, except for SS of control and water depth control. K-S method was used to analyzed the probability distributions of T-N, T-P, COD and SS concentrations discharged from paddy fields. As a results of the fitness analysis, T-N was not suitable for the normal probability distribution in the slow release fertilizer treatment, and the log-normal probability distribution was not suitable for the T-P in control treatment. The gamma probability distribution showed that T-N and T-P in control and slow release fertilizer treatment were not suitable. The Weibull probability distribution was found to be suitable for all water quality constituents of control, slow release fertilizer, and water depth control treatments. However, our results presented some differences from previous studies. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of pollutants flowing out in difference periods according to various farming types. The result of this study can help to understand the water quality characteristics of the river.

Tenebrio molitor beetles have been widely used in traditional and folklore medicines to treat various human diseases worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent form of dementia in developed and developing countries. The human β-amyloid cleaving enzyme (BACE-1) is a target for AD treatments. This study was performed to determine BACE-1 inhibitory activity of 12 compounds that were extracted from T. molitor adults and their 65 related compounds using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based enzyme assay. The results were compared with those of two positive controls for BACE-1, the cell-permeable isophthalamide BACE-1 inhibitor IV and the natural BACE-1 inhibitor, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Based on IC50 values, linoleic acid, ergosterol, palmitoleic acid, and tryptopol (28.41‒46.16 μM) were the most potent BACE-1 inhibitors and the anti-BACE-1 activity of these compounds was lower than either inhibitor IV (13.13 μM) or EGCG (1.12 μM). Multiple regression analysis of the anti-BACE-1 activities of compounds was examined using their IC50 values and the values of the physical parameters (molecular weight (MW), log P, and molecular refraction (MR)) for the 41 fatty acids (R2 = 0.674 (P = 0.044)) and 29 flavonoids (R2 = 0.587 (P = 0.063)). Correlation coefficient (r) analysis showed that MW, log P, and MR may be positively correlated with IC50 of the fatty acids (MW, r = 0.658; log P, r = 0.471; and MR, r = 0.713) and IC50 of the flavonoids (MW, r = 0.547; log P, r = 0.644; and MR, r = 0.591). Further studies will warrant possible applications of T. molitor adults as therapeutic BACE-1 blocker.

Tenebrio molitor beetles have been widely used in traditional and folklore medicines to treat various human diseases worldwide. This study was performed to determine radical scavenging activity of nine compounds that were extracted from T. molitor adults and their 64 related compounds using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The results were compared with those of three positive controls, ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Based on IC50 values, linolenic acid (77.65 μM) was the most potent antioxidant and the antioxidant activity of this compound was higher than that of either ascorbic acid, BHT or EGCG. The antioxidant activity of protocatechuic acid (IC50, 153.68 μM) and ascorbic acid did not differ significantly. The antioxidant activity of catechin (IC50, 192.32 μM) was higher than that of either BHT or EGCG. Multiple regression analysis of the antioxidant activities of compounds was examined using their IC50 values and the values of the physical parameters (molecular weight (MW), log P, and molecular refraction (MR)) for the 41 fatty acids (R2 = 0.729 (P = 0.031)) and 29 flavonoids (R2 = 0.521 (P = 0.054)). Correlation coefficient (r) analysis showed that MW, log P, and MR may be positively correlated with IC50 of the fatty acids (MW, r = 0.743; log P, r = 0.642; and MR, r = 0.815) and IC50 of the flavonoids (MW, r = 0.642; log P, r = 0.495; and MR, r = 0.643). Further studies will warrant possible applications of T. molitor adults as an antioxidant.

톱다리개미허리노린재는 최근 농약사용 횟수의 증가로 천적이 사라지면서 전국적으로 크게 발생을 하고 있다. 톱다리개미허리노린재는 년 2~3회 발생하며 포장 잔재물이나 포장 주위의 잡초 등에서 성충으로 월동한 후 다음 해 봄 기주작물인 콩과 작물, 과수작물, 곡류작물에 피해를 주는데 이중 콩이 가장 적합한 먹이원이며 피해가 가장 크다. 콩의 열매 성숙 초기 즉 착협기에 일어나는 톱다리개미허리노린재에 의한 섭식 피해가 수확량에 직접적인 영향을 주기 때문이다. 본 실험은 톱다리개미허리노린재에 대한 기피제 개발 목적으로 미나리과 식물체정유인 아조완 정유와 그 성분들의 톱다리개머허리노린재 성충 및 약충에 대한 기피 활성을 실험실내에서 four-arms olfactometer를 이용하여 조사하였다. 아조완 정유를 1.25 mg의 농도에서 처리했을 때 성충 수컷 89% 및 암컷 성충 90%가 기피를 보였다. 4령 약충의 경우, 성충과 같은 농도로 처리했을 때 73%의 기피 활성이 나타났다. 아조완 정유의 기피 활성 물질을 확인하기 위해 GC-MS로 정유를 분석하였고 12종의 정유 성분을 확인하였다. 12종의 아조완 정유성분들 중 각 성충 수컷과 암컷, 4령 약충에서 1 mg 농도로 처리했을 때 thymol과 carvacrol이 100%의 강한 기피 활성을 보였다. 아조완 정유와 정유성분들은 톱다리개미허리노린재의 집합페로몬 트랩과 같이 “push and pull”전략에 활용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

The insecticidal activities of 13 Lamiaceae plant oils and their components against adult German cockroaches, Blattella germanica L. (Blattodea: Blattellidae), were evaluated using fumigant and contact bioassay. Among the tested oils, basil, pennyroyal, and spearmint showed the strongest insecticidal activities against adult B. germanica. Insecticidal activity of pennyroyal was 100% against male B. germinica at 1.25 mg concentration in fumigant bioassay. Basil and spearmint revealed 100% and 100% insecticidal activity against male B. germinica at 5 mg concentration, but their activities reduced to 80% and 25% at 2.5 mg concentration, respectively. In contact toxicity bioassy, basil, pennyroyal, and spearmint oils exhibited 100%, 100%, and 98% mortality against female B. germanica at 1 mg/♀, respectively. Among the constituents identified in basil, pennyroyal and spearmint oils, insecticidal activity of pulegone was the strongest against male and female B. germanica.

Piezodialysis involves the preferential permeation of ions over water molecules through charge mosaic membranes (CMM). This energy-efficient process incites interest as an alternative route to water desalination. But the development of effective CMMs remains a challenge due to their difficult fabrication. Herein, preparation of the positive and negative domains of a CMM were optimized. Negative poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) was blended in poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix, same as that of the positive poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride). Results reveal that a balance between the two domains is critical for the CMM to achieve high salt enrichment and mechanical stability. This work was supported by NRF funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No. 2017R1A2B2002109) and Basic Science Research Program of Ministry of Education (2009-0093816).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hypobarichypoxic training program on competitive performance. This was done by observing their conditioning and measuring their blood constituents before and after a multi-staged intermittent training program, over 2 weeks. Three national handicapped cyclists were placed in a multi-leveled hypobaric-hypoxic (flat–4000 meter (m) high elevation) environment with consistent temperature and humidity (23 ± 2℃, 50 ± 5%) for 2 weeks. After the training, the blood constituents and average heart rate (HR) were measured and the following results were obtained. In all three athletes, there were no unique changes in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, while there was a rise in the reticulocyte count. Observations of the difference in average HR during exercise at varying altitudes showed that athlete A had an average increase in the HR for the first 5 days at 2000 m. For athlete B, the comparison of the first and last training sessions at an altitude of 2000 m showed an HR increase of approximately 17%. For athlete C, there was a steady increase in the HR until day 7 of the training. As such, hypobarichypoxic training suggested that improvement of aerobic exercise performance in these athletes and it is recommended that there be a development for future training programs at high altitude, geared towards handicapped athletes of various disciplines.

The American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes, 1961 (Acari: Pyroglyphidae), is recognized as an important source of allergens in the domestic environment. An assessment was made of the toxicity of constituents from essential oil of cade, Juniperus oxycedrus L. (Cupressaceae), and related compounds as well as four experimental spray formulations containing the oil (10–40 g/liter sprays) to adult D. farinae. In a contact + fumigant mortality bioassay, methyleugenol (24-h LC50,5.82 μg/cm2) and guaiacol (8.24 μg/cm2) were the most toxic constituents to the mites and the toxicity of these constituents and benzyl benzoate did not differ significantly.