The leaves of Stauntonia hexaphylla (SHL) are a very popular herbal medicine in Korea because it can be used to treat rheumatic osteoporosis and other diseases. However, owing to the inconsistency in harvesting time and growth years, their quality is uneven, which indirectly negatively affects the safety of this medication. Therefore, the difference of constituents in SHL harvested at different seasons

Considering that sex differences in glucose metabolism are observed in mice, researchers unconsciously use male mice to reduce variations by an estrogen cycle in female mice. In this study, we investigated the sex differences in glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes inbred mice (C57BL/6J). The C57BL/6J male and female mice were injected with or without STZ (40 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive

The aim of this study is to assess the cytoprotection and potential molecular mechanisms of procyanidin B2 (PCB2) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage in MCF-7 cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to determine the viability of MCF-7 cell exposure to H2O2 or PCB2. We measured the antioxidant properties of PCB2 by determining

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) has been known reduce muscle pain after exercise, and 6-shogaol {(E)-1-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)dec-4-en-3-one)} is the major essential oil contained in ginger. In this study, the protective effect of 6-shogaol on L6 muscle cells against oxidative damage was measured. 6-shagol inhibited the damage of L6 cell induced by H2O2, and allowed the increase in mRNA and

High purity polyunsaturated fatty acids (> 95%) are essential for the synthesis of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), such as protectins, resolvins, and maresins, which are used for clinical application. To date, high purity (> 95%) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n3) have been produced through various manufacturing steps using fish oil. In this

Fraxetin, which is a simple coumarin, is a phytochemical present in medicinal plants, such as Fraxinus rhynchophylla, and Cortex Fraxini. In plants, it serves as a controller of iron homeostasis. The health-enhancing activities of fraxetin, such as anticancer, neuroprotective and antibacterial activities, are known. Scopoletin 8-hydroxylase (S8H) is a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of fraxetin

We established optimum washing and sanitizing conditions for fresh-cut lettuce using sodium hypochlorite to reduce microbial hazards. Reduction of microbial hazards, including total aerobic bacteria, Escherichoa coli, and Staphylococcus aureus at different sodium hypochlorite concentrations (0-500 ppm), immersion times (0–20min), temperatures (0–30°C), and washing times (0–4 min) was evaluated. The

To expand the industrial applications of astaxanthin in the food and cosmetic sectors, inclusion complexes (ICs) of astaxanthin were prepared with various types of cyclodextrins (CDs) and characterized by HPLC with respect to water-solubility and stability. Also, their characteristics were determined through SEM scanning electron microscopy and Furier transform infrared spectrometry. Among the various

Natural products from plants and microorganisms traditionally have provided the pharmaceutical industry with one of the most important sources of “lead” compounds in the search for new drugs and medicines. The diversity of polyphenol structure is enormous. They are classified into several classes, the most important polyphenol in our food being phenolic acids and flavonoids, which include flavonol

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major dietary source of human caloric intake. Grain filling, the developmental stage of the seed during which starch and proteins accumulate, is of great interest in plant biology and agronomy. However, proteomic datasets covering maize seed development, especially during grain filling, are much scarcer than transcriptomic datasets, largely due to the labor-intensive and costly

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sequential presoaking and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) on the reduction of pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in alfalfa. When unsoaked and presoaked alfalfa were exposed to 200 ppm ClO2 for 15 min, the population of E. coli and Salmonella spp. on presoaked seeds reduced more than those on unsoaked seeds by 2.07 and 1.43 log CFU g−1 (p < 0

Co-pyrolysis of animal manure biomass with bone meal (BM) and soaking of the resultant biochar in urea containing solutions may offer a sustainable and cheap way of formulating slow-release nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilisers. This method can lead to optimisation of the carbon sequestration capacity of the biochar, abatement of environmental pollution by P and N and alleviation of the severity

In order to improve the synergistic effect of unripe apple polyphenols (APP) and chitooligosaccharides (COS), apple polyphenols-chitooligosaccharides microcapsule (APCM) were prepared by spray-drying method. The effects of APCM on the release of polyphenols in simulated gastrointestinal digestion model, as well as the anti-inflammatory effect against LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells were also evaluated.

Tomatoes, watermelons, and processed tomato products contain abundant antioxidant compounds, including lycopene. In spite of the interest in the role of lycopene, little is known about the contribution of tomatoes and tomato products commonly consumed in Korea to the intake of lycopene. In this study, the daily per capita intake values of lycopene and antioxidant compounds and activities of tomatoes

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum HFY09 on gastric injury induced by HCl/ethanol in Kunming mice. The results showed that HFY09-H inhibited any increases in gastric juice volume, maintained the normal pH value of gastric acid, and reduced the damage caused to the gastric mucosa and gastric wall, the inhibition rate on the injury area reaches 63.70%. Compared

Wheat yield is decreasing due to climate change, and a method to prevent decreasing yield during drought stress is desirable. In this study, wheat cultivars (Koso and Jokyung) were treated with 15% polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG) and PEG + Si solution (6.5, 8.7, 13.1 and 26.1 mM). The effect of Si treatment on the alleviation of drought stress was measured using the germination test, shoot relative

Sodium nitrite is used as a preservative in food products to stabilize color and reduce rancidity. Its absorption into the body causes many diseases. Ellagic acid is a natural polyphenol that contains powerful antioxidants, but it is taken as a poorly absorbed food. Therefore, chitosan-coated nanoparticles (EANP@CS) were loaded to enhance their bioactivity and bioavailability after oral administration

The brain is considered an immune-privileged organ. However, it has been found that inflammation mediated by microglia, which were once believed to support the brain structure, plays important roles in neuronal cell survival and death. Whether activated microglia has beneficial or detrimental effects on neurons remain controversial. Activated microglia could contribute to maintaining homeostasis in

The efficacy of ethanol extract of Diospyros kaki (EEDK) on dry eye (DE) was determined using an experimental mouse model. Experimental groups included three treated with various amounts of EEDK and one treated with omega-3 for 2 weeks. Damage to the ocular surface was evaluated, and the presence of conjunctival goblet cells was determined. Moreover, the inflammatory response was analyzed via RT-PCR

Biological methods for leaching of nonferrous and noble metals from its sulfide ores are widely applied at industrial enterprises of different countries. This process is based on the use of the oxidative activity of acidophilic microorganisms. Since all bio systems are quite sensitive to the temperature, bacterial leaching process also significantly effects. In the present study, the impact of temperature

Acrylamide (AA), which is mainly found in fried foods, causes neurotoxicity, genetic toxicity, carcinogenic effects, and DNA damage. This study confirms that a strain of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014) could alleviate the toxicity of rats by inhibiting the AA-induced oxidative damage. Forty-eight adult male SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control group, AA group

Chemical amendments have been used to remediate soils contaminated with heavy metals. However, there is little understanding on the impacts of these amendments on the physiological and biochemical functions of plants and soil. This study used in situ microcosm experiment to understand the effect of chemical amendments on antioxidant and soil enzyme activity in plant and soil with respect to heavy metal

In the present study, we evaluated new sources of plant proteases from fruits of Bromelia karatas (BK) and Bromelia pinguin (BP) to obtain antioxidant hydrolyzates/bioactive peptides (BPs) derived from chicken by-products (CH) and fish by-products (FH). The profile of the peptides was identified by reverse-phase high-resolution liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and the size weight distribution by molecular

The antimicrobial resistance of food-borne pathogenic bacteria, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, has been reported globally, warranting the need to identify promising alternative antibiotics such as endolysins that originate from bacteriophages. In our previous study, we characterized a bacteriophage infecting V. parahaemolyticus, vB_VpaP_KF2, at the molecular level. In this study, an open reading

Repeated chromatographic separations of the EtOAc fraction of Schisandra chinensis fruits on silica gel, octadecyl silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 led to the isolation and identification of seven dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (1–7). The NMR data reported in the literature for angeloyl gomisin H (5) were shown to be incorrect. We unambiguously identified the compounds based on detailed analysis of the

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is an important therapeutic target in the regulation of high blood pressure. This study was conducted to investigate the alterations in blood pressure associated with ACE inhibition activity of the polyphenols (1–10), including 3-O-feruloylquinic acid (1), lutonarin (2), saponarin (3), isoorientin (4), orientin (5), isovitexin (6), isoorientin-7-O-[6-sinapoyl]-glucoside

To discover new standard for the standardization of bulbs of Allium fistulosum (Chongbaek, Korean herbal name), twelve compounds (1–12) were isolated. Among them, a new HPLC/UV analysis method by selecting the five cinnamic acid amides (5–9) and two decursidate isomers (10 and 11), was fully validated. The developed analysis method showed sufficient reproducibility (< 2.58%) and accuracy (96.00–106

Little is known about the exact mechanism of cadmium (Cd) immobilization by phosphate (P) in arable soil containing low Cd concentration. This study was designed to describe this mechanism in detail. We determined the phosphorus (P) addition rate allowing Cd to precipitate as Cd minerals in Cd-contaminated arable soils and identified the main species of Cd minerals formed by the reaction of Cd and

With the aim of developing environment-friendly agricultural products with antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, a causative agent of Fusarium wilt, active substances from Boesenbergia pulcherrima roots were isolated. The hexane fraction from B. pulcherrima root extract was analyzed by GC/MS. The main peaks were estimated and identified to be methyl eugenol, methyl isoeugenol

Piper nigrum L. is a widely used spice because of its flavour and health effects. It is prepared as black and white pepper, according to the harvest time and inclusion of the outer skin. Pepper pericarp is usually considered waste when making white pepper. In this study, bioactive and flavour compounds and minerals in the pericarp of black pepper were determined to identify its applications. The pericarp

As one of the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), reflux esophagitis (RE) severely affects patients’ daily lives. Costunolide (Cos), pertains to a sesquiterpene lactone, performs multiple pharmacological activities including inhibited acute liver injury, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant. We carried out our study to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and protective effects of Cos against

In this study, Insect tea primary leaf (Malus sieboldii (Regal) Rehd.) was used as the research object to investigate the protective effect of Insect tea primary extract (ITPLE) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage in human embryonic kidney 293T cells (HEK 293T cells) and the mechanism of action of the main active components. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)- 2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium

In Korea, rapid industrialization has often caused severe soil and water pollution near industrial complexes. Particularly, heavy metal(loid) contamination of agricultural lands could induce serious long-term problems for crop safety and productivity, requiring continual safety assessment. This study investigated heavy metal(loid) contamination of agricultural lands near fifteen industrial complexes

In this study, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze and compare bulk cell samples from wild-type (WT) dermal mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) (n = 3) and Prx II knockout DMSCs (n = 3). The purpose of the study was to elucidate the role of Prx II on allogeneic immune rejection of transplanted DMSCs. The results revealed differential expression of 472 genes (176 up-regulated and 296 down-regulated;

To manage the safety of the herbicide metazachlor, analytical methods are required for the determination of metazachlor metabolites in agricultural crops. Herein, a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of metazachlor metabolites (479M04, 479M08, and 479M16) in various agricultural commodities. After extraction using acetonitrile

This study aimed at increasing the stability of heat-labile and pH-sensitive microbial antioxidants by the microencapsulation. Microbial antioxidants from Mucor circinelloides were microencapsulated. The physico-chemical and powder flowing properties of resulting microcapsules were evaluated. The initial safety studies were evaluated by in vivo acute oral toxicity tests. The bio-accessibility of powders

Plastic waste management and recycling became a serious global issue as it affects living beings from all the ecosystems. Researchers investigated biodegradation of polyethylene (PE) by measuring changes in various physico-chemical and structural characteristics using techniques like as fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), etc. However, these evidences

Soybeans are used worldwide as food and as a healthy ingredient. Specifically, soy germ (SG) has received considerable attention owing to its abundant nutritional and biological components. This study aimed to elucidate the contents of isoflavone and soyasaponin of SG in 24 Korean soybean cultivars and the osteogenic activity of individual compounds. The isoflavone content in the SG ranged from 1110

Agsatache rugosa (Korean mint), belongs to the mint family and it has various medicinal properties. In addition, it has several valuable compounds such as monoterpenes and phenylpropanoid compounds. Amongst these, two compounds viz., rosmarinic acid (RA), and tilianin are well-known natural compounds that have numerous pharmacological properties. The phenylpropanoid biosynthetic gene expression under

The metabolites that provide the aroma and flavor to wine are the products of several influences, such as grape cultivar, geographic location and associated environmental features, viticultural practices, and vinification techniques, which are central to production protocols, quality evaluation and development of wine regions. Accordingly, we initiated the requisite studies to investigate the differences

Dysfunction of tight junctions and their components can cause diverse skin diseases. Here, we investigated the expression of claudin 1, a major tight junction protein, and changes of tight junction capacity upon treatment of the extracts of Cudrania tricuspidata (C. tricuspidata) and its components, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, and quercetin. The effects of ethanol extracts of C. tricuspidata (EECT)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the abnormal assembly of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau aggregates in the brain. When Aβ and tau proteins misfold, progressive brain cell death, synaptic loss, atrophy, and cognitive decline are observed. Here, we report that the memory-enhancing botanical natural product mixture, HX106N, efficiently inhibits formation of Aβ oligomers

Severe inflammatory reactions caused by macrophage activation can trigger a systemic immune response. In the present study, we observed the anti-inflammatory properties of hispidin on LPS induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Our results showed that hispidin treatment significantly reduced the production of cellular NO, IL-6 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) while has not inhibitory effect on TNF-α productions

This study was conducted to evaluate (i) the characteristics of ammonia gas emissions from soybean cultivation soils amended with varying levels of urea and soil water, and (ii) the rate of reduction in ammonia emissions that could be obtained by applying mixed microorganisms (MM) to the urea-treated soils. The ammonia gas emissions from all treatments except the control were highest on day 2 of a

Foodborne Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause severe diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. However, traditional methods for STEC sterilization are difficult to apply to fresh food. To control the pathogen, phage infecting E. coli O157:H7 were isolated and characterized. The isolated phage vB_EcoM-ECP26 had an icosahedral head and a contractile tail, and was classified

Platelet factor-4 variant 1 (PF4V1) was recently described as a natural non-allelic gene variant of platelet factor-4 (PF4), which has been closely associated with the growth and metastasis of various cancers. Our previous research showed that PF4V1 was related to oral squamous cells carcinoma (OSCC) metastasis. Howerver, it is still not clear about the functional role of PF4V1 in OSCC. In this study

The nitrogen cycle and the associated microbes play an important role in natural ecosystems, including terrestrial habitats; they also have a major effect on climate change. The aim of this study was to explore microbial communities in rice paddy soil by detecting and quantifying some key functional genes involved in the nitrogen cycle using molecular techniques such as conventional polymerase chain

Myrrh, a resin derived from the damaged bark of Commiphora genus, has traditionally been used for treatment of various human diseases, such as amenorrhea, ache, tumors, fever, and stomach pains. In spite of this widespread use of the myrrh in Ethiopia, the pharmacological activity and chemical composition have not been studied in detail. A new tricyclic triterpene acid (3S,4S,14S,7E,17E,21Z)-3,30-dihydroxypodioda-7

Pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) are gaining popularity among consumers because of their high antioxidant activity and multiple medical benefits. China is rich in pomegranate genetic resources, but how to use them effectively is a problem worthy of deep consideration. In this article, thirty-seven pomegranate varieties from seven provinces in China were collected and analyzed for twelve phenotypic

The phenylurea herbicides are used to control annual and perennial weeds on crop cultivating fields. The excessive usage of these agrochemicals increase many environmental problems. Thus, engineering transgenic plant for herbicide metabolism can provide efficient and eco-friendly means for enhanced phytoremediation capacity. Cytochrome P450 enzymes comprise one of the major plant enzyme families that

Aegilops tauschii (Ae. tauschii) is a diploid (2n = 2x = 14) wild grass species, which has been reported as the progenitor of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) with D-genome. In this study, 68 Ae. tauschii accessions with diverse geographical backgrounds were investigated for their resistance to infection by the leaf rust fungi Puccinia triticina. Two Ae. tauschii accessions that exhibited hyper-resistance

The adsorption of phenanthrene onto activated carbons produced from Vitisvinifera leaf litter (a waste plant biomass) was investigated in this study. Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) were utilised as activating agents in producing the activated carbons. The characterisation of the activated carbons was achieved with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (for surface functional groups)

Endosulfan sulfate is a major oxidized metabolite of endosulfan, which is a broad-spectrum chlorinated cyclodiene insecticide. In this study, GC–MS-based metabolic profiles of dead or live carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to endosulfan sulfate were investigated to elucidate the molecular toxicological effects of endosulfan sulfate on carp. Three different extraction methods were compared, and a 50% methanol

The chemical or metabolic compositions of tea (Camellia sinensis) varies according to numerous factors, such as geographical origin, cultivar, climate, plucking position, and horticultural practices. However, how the age of tea plants affects the metabolite compositions of tea leaves has not been reported yet. Therefore, we extended the metabolomic approach to the investigation of the age-related differences

Viscum album subsp. Coloratum, also known as Korean mistletoe, is a traditional herb that has more recently been used for the treatment of nervine, hypertensive and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this study was undertaken to access the anti-obesity effect of Korean mistletoe-derived polypeptide viscothionin using 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro and in vivo mouse experimental model. Viscothionin (up

Eutrophication of natural water is a universal problem. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from agricultural runoff are the main sources of nutrient input, provided that emissions from industrial point sources (IPS) are under control. Therefore, it is of great environmental importance to reduce pollution associated with agricultural runoff as a means of regulating eutrophication levels in natural water

The leading causes of oral cancer treatment failure are cancer metastasis and chemotherapeutic resistance. Thus, developing novel anticancer agents that are effective against those aggressive cancer cells would be important for complementary or alternative treatments. The objective of this study was to investigate cytotoxicity and anticancer mechanisms of a synthetic trienone analog of curcumin, 1

Transglutaminases (TGases) are enzymes that catalyze transfer of acyl group and covalent crosslinks formation between peptide-bound glutaminyl residues and amino groups. TGases have many industrial applications and have been purified from various sources. TGase was purified from the bovine liver extract by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 HR column. TGase activity was measured using CBZ-l-glutaminylglycine

Although several explications of anti-inflammatory therapeutic substances for treating inflammatory-related diseases have been broadly discussed within the last few decades, peptide-based compounds display the potential to be novel inflammation treatment agents. Here, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity and other inflammation-associated activities, including anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptosis

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex biological event, wherein polarized epithelial cells lose their integrity resulting in a mesenchymal phenotype with enhanced motility, a phenomenon known as metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms of EMT are still poorly understood in cervical carcinomas. In this study, we investigated the molecular signalling events responsible for the