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Purpose Previous reports showed that some probiotics provide beneficial effects on various diseases including metabolic disorders. This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum SKO-001 (SKO-001), a probiotic strain newly isolated from Angelica gigas. Methods C57BL/6J mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat) for four weeks, and then different doses of SKO-001 (n = 10 each group) were orally given for 12 weeks. Following treatment, body weight, fat weight, serum parameters and adipose and liver tissues were analyzed. Results SKO-001 (2 × 1010 CFU/day, per os) reduced body weight gain after 10th week of administration, accompanied by a reduction in body fat mass of mice. In the SKO-001-fed group, increased serum adiponectin, decreased leptin, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acids, and triglyceride levels were observed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of various fat depots showed that increased adipocyte size caused by HFD intake was markedly reduced and correlated with reduced mRNA levels of lipogenesis genes, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, and increased uncoupling protein 1 levels. Similarly, SKO-001 reduced lipid accumulation, decreased the mRNA levels of lipogenic genes, and reduced α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type 1 alpha 1 levels in the liver. Conclusions SKO-001 ameliorates obesity and related metabolic abnormalities in adipose and liver tissues, possibly via the regulation of lipid metabolism. Based on the results of the present study, SKO-001 may be applicable as an anti-obesity therapeutic or functional food.

In this study, we developed and validated a high-performance liquid chromatography/photodiode array method for the quantification of glycine-proline-hydroxyproline (GPH) as a marker compound in skate skin collagen peptides (SCPs). The accurate molecular mass and amino acid sequence of this marker were determined using a QTOF mass spectrometer. Chromatographic separations were conducted using a 95:5 isocratic mobile phase of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (A) and acetonitrile/methanol (1:4 v/v, B) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min; the separated compounds were detected at 214 nm using a Jupiter® 4 μm Proteo 90Å column. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), accuracy, and precision. It was found to be linear in the range of 1.0-50.0 μg/mL, with a good correlation coefficient (R2=0.9999) and excellent specificity. The LOD and LOQ were 0.07 and 0.22 μg/mL, respectively. A recovery study determined the accuracy of the method, with an average recovery of 103.76%, 100.35% and 103.97% of the marker at 10, 15 and 25 μg/mL, respectively, and a precision study showed a relative standard deviation of less than 2%. Additionally, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the SCPs increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and UV-protective effect was confirmed by human keratinocyte (HaCaT cell) viability. Our study thus provides the foundation for developing functional foods or cosmetics using SCPs.

Objectives. The most effective way to improve menopausal symptoms is to supplement deficient oestrogen; however, long-term administration of synthetic oestrogen increases the risk for breast and uterine cancers. Here, we report results from a clinical trial of Rubus coreanus Miq. and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge as agents for improving the menopause syndrome. Methods. This study was a single-centre, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. The efficacy of an extract of R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge was investigated. Participants were females with postmenopausal syndrome in the menopausal or menopausal transition period. The primary endpoint of validation was improvement in the Kupperman index (KI) score of women. The secondary end point was change in the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and lipid profile. The participants were randomly allocated at a 1 : 1 ratio into R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge extract (RCAM) or placebo groups and were administered 2000 mg of the extract or placebo, respectively, daily for 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured at visits 2 (day 0) and 5 (week 12). Results. The RCAM group demonstrated decreased KI score and MRS compared with the placebo group after 12 weeks. In the safety evaluation, laboratory tests and vital signs demonstrated no clinically significant changes in subjects, and there was no difference in adverse reactions between the groups. The R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge extract was effective in reducing postmenopausal symptoms in women. Moreover, the extract was found to be safe. Conclusions. For females with menopausal symptoms in the menopausal transitional and postmenopausal periods, ingestion of the R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge extract for 12 weeks was effective, as demonstrated by a decrease in KI score and MRS relative to that in the placebo group, and significantly improved the menopausal symptoms.

Purpose: This study was conducted to select the optimal mixing ratio (OMR) of extracts including Dendropanax, sea salt, and others from Jeollanam-do and to develop functional cosmetics that can help alleviate hair loss symptoms.Methods: Our research team determined the OMR through cytotoxicity and cell proliferation tests, and confirmed the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects of the final selected OMR.Results: The cytotoxicity was low when the OMR was 0.1:1:5:1, but cell proliferation was high, and anti-inflammatory activity effectively inhibited the expression of IL–6 and iNOS. The anti-microbial activity also had an effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.Conclusion: This study selected OMR (1:0.1:5:1) to develop functional cosmetics that can help alleviate hair loss symptoms. The final selection of OMR confirmed low cytotoxicity, high cell proliferation, inhibition of expression of IL–6 and iNOS, and anti-microbial activity. Therefore, it is expected to serve as a functional cosmetic that can help alleviate hair loss symptoms in the future.

Background Inflammation is emerging as a key contributor to many vascular diseases and furthermore plays a major role in autoimmune diseases, arthritis, allergic reactions, and cancer. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a component constituting the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is commonly used for an inflammatory stimuli to mimic inflammatory diseases. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a transcription factor and regulates gene expression particularly related to the inflammatory process. Stauntonia hexaphylla (Lardizabalaceae) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine for rheumatism and osteoporosis and as an analgesic, sedative, and diuretic in Korea, Japan, and China. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of YRA-1909, the leaf aqueous extract of Stauntonia hexaphylla using LPS-activated rat peritoneal macrophages and rodent inflammation models. Results YRA-1909 inhibited the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokine production in rat peritoneal macrophages without causing cytotoxicity and reduced inducible NO synthase and prostaglandin E2 levels without affecting the cyclooxygenase-2 expression. YRA-1909 also prevented the LPS-stimulated Akt and NF-κB phosphorylation and reduced the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema, xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeation, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in a dose-dependent manner in mice and rats. Conclusions S. hexaphylla leaf extract YRA-1909 had anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo that involves modulation of Akt/NF-κB signaling. Thus, YRA-1909 is safe and effective for the treatment of inflammation.

Tungsten carbide (WC) in Ni-based powders is a promising candidate for laser-based additive manufacturing because WC is an extremely hard material, whereas Ni is tough and weldable. However, WC par...

Context HemoHIM is an herbal preparation containing Angelica gigas Nakai (Apiaceae), Cnidium officinale Makino (Umbelliferae), and Paeonia lactiflora Pallas (Paeoniaceae) developed for immune regulation. To date, studies on the antifatigue effects of HemoHIM have not been conducted. Objective The antifatigue effects of HemoHIM using models of citrinin and exercise-induced chronic fatigue syndrome were investigated. Materials and methods Citrinin-induced L6 skeletal muscle cells were treated with HemoHIM (125, 250, and 500 μg/mL). The antioxidant factors were analysed. ICR mice were divided into four groups (n = 10): control, HemoHIM 250, 500 mg/kg, and creatine 300 mg/kg, respectively. Mice were orally administered HemoHIM or creatine for three weeks; during this time, both rotarod test and forced swimming test (FST) were conducted. The latency time was investigated and antioxidant, antifatigue factors were analysed. Results HemoHIM significantly restored reduced antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, Txn, GPx, GSr, and GCLC in HemoHIM 500 μg/mL) compared to the citrinin group in L6 cells. In vivo, HemoHIM significantly improved the latency time (FST; 279.88 ± 50.32 sec, rotarod test; 552.35 ± 23.50 sec in HemoHIM 500 mg/kg). Moreover, the FST-induced reduction in glucose and glutathione significantly increased by 3-fold (HemoHIM 500 mg/kg) and increase in LDH and MDA were significantly inhibited by 1.6, 2.1-fold in the HemoHIM 500 mg/kg compared to the control group.

Purpose: Here, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Jeonnam’s unique resources, such as Dendropanax , sea salt, spinach, and kelp, to develop functional cosmetics that may alleviate hair loss. Methods: We performed safety tests with these resources, testing for heavy metals and cytotoxicity, and we evaluated their effectiveness as anti-microbial, cell proliferation, and anti-inflammation products. Results: The heavy metals concentration was lower than or in trace levels, as recommended by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s standard of extracts such as Dendropanax , sea salt, etc. We confirmed cytotoxicity to be safe. In each extract, the concentrations of Dendropanax , sea salt, spinach, and kelp were 0.01 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, respectively. Only the Dendropanax extract had microbial effect, with the distilled water extract reaching the highest effect. The cell proliferation increased to 0.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, and 2 mg/mL for Dendropanax , spinach, and kelp with distilled water extract, the anti-inflammation effect increased. Conclusion: We found that Dendropanax , sea salt, spinach, and kelp were safe and effective as functional cosmetic materials to alleviate hair loss symptoms through optimal standardization. We suggest further research to evaluate these cosmetics’ functional effects.

HemoHIM is a medicinal herbal preparation of Angelica gigas Nakai (Apiaceae), Cnidium officinale Makino (Umbelliferae), and Paeonia lactiflora Pallas (Paeoniaceae) designed for immune regulation. In the present study, the memory-enhancing effects of a standardized extract (HemoHIM) on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in a murine model was investigated. To induce amnesia, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected into mice 30 min before the start of behavioral tests. The Y-maze, novel object recognition test (NORT), and passive avoidance task (PAT) were used to evoke memory functions. HemoHIM significantly improved scopolamine-induced memory impairment in ICR mice, which was evidenced by an improvement of spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze, recognition index in NORT, and latency time in PAT. To elucidate the possible mechanism, the cholinergic activity and mRNA levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAchR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) were measured using reverse transcription (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses, respectively. HemoHIM treatment attenuated the scopolamine-induced hyperactivation of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity. In addition, ChAT, mAchR, and CREB mRNA levels were increased in the hippocampus compared with the scopolamine group. Furthermore, HemoHIM treatment resulted in elevated BDNF protein expression. These results indicate that HemoHIM may exert antiamnesic activity by increasing Ach and inhibiting AchE in the hippocampus. In addition, HemoHIM has therapeutic potential by upregulating ChAT, mAchR, and BDNF, which is apparently mediated by activation of the CREB and ERK signaling pathways.

Worldwide, obesity has become a major risk factor associated with health risks such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain forms of cancer. In this study, we estimated the anti-obesity effect of the bacterial strain Lactobacillus plantarum LB818 (designated as LB818) using male C57BL/6J mice, which were treated with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. Next, LB818 (109 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) was orally administered for 8 weeks. The results showed that feeding HFD+LB818 (109 CFU/mL) ameliorated body weight gain and decreased total body fat by regulating fasting glucose levels in HFD-fed mice. LB818 treatment significantly lowered aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and elevated high-density lipoprotein levels in serum and decreased deposition of fat droplets in liver. LB818 treatment increased the respective abundances of essential bacteria, including Bacteroidetes, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and increased the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio; however, it significantly decreased the levels of Firmicutes. Taken together, this study demonstrates that LB818 is effective in attenuating obesity and hepatic steatosis and regulated gut microbiota in HFD-fed obese mice.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the antioxidant and immunopotentiating effects of leaves of cherry elaeagnus (Elaeagnus multiflora, Em). The leaf, stem, and root of Em have been used in Kampo medicine. There are data on the therapeutic effects of Em fruit, but no information on its leaves. We thus investigated the antioxidant and immunopotentiating effects of Em leaf extract. Balb/c mouse spleen cells were treated with concanavalin A and hot aqueous Em leaf extract (50, 100, and 200 μg/mL), and the effects on spleen cell proliferation and the secretion of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-10 were evaluated. A concentration-dependent increase in the secretion of IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines was observed, with concentrations of 1.86 pg/mL of IL-2 and 37.63 pg/mL of IL-4 when cells were treated with 200 μg/mL of the extract. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined based on a co-culture of spleen cells and Yac-1 cells. NK activity gradually increased in a concentration-dependent manne. Further, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was 58.5% and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity was 78.2% with an extract concentration of 200 μg/mL. The high antioxidant activity of the hot water extract of Em leaves suggests their potential therapeutic value and warrants further studies.

Artemisia Montana (Nakai) Pamp. is a widely used heath food and a well-known traditional Korean herbal medicine. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of A. Montana was determined using high-throughput sequencing technology. Chloroplast genome was 151,133 bp in length, with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 98,497 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,352 bp, separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 17,142 bp each. It contained a total of 113 genes, with an overall GC content of 37.5%. The phylogenetic analysis showed that A. montana most closely related to A. feddei. This result will enrich the genetic resources of medicinal plant and useful for future investigation of genetics, evolution and identification of Artemisia species.

Zanthoxylum piperitum has been used as a traditional Asian medicine to treat hypertension, stroke, bruise and muscle pain. It has been known to induce detoxification; affect anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and tyrosinase activity; inhibit osteosarcoma proliferation; anti-osteoarthritis inflammation. In this study, we aim to identify the therapeutic effect of Z. piperitum 90% EtOH extract (ZPE-LR) on rheumatoid arthritis.We investigated the anti-rheumatoid arthritis and -immunomodulatory activities of the ZPE-LR in collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) mice, a rheumatoid arthritis animal model. In order to assess the analgesic effects of ZPE-LR in vivo, acetic acid injection, formaldehyde injection, hot plate model was used. The mechanism for anti-inflammatory activity of ZPE-LR was identified with LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells.Pharmacologically, oral administration of ZPE-LR into CIA mice resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in clinical arthritis score and paw swelling compared to untreated negative control. Pathologic examination showed that ZPE-LR prevented morphological change in cartilage and destruction of phalanges in CIA mice. This protective effect was associated with reduced pain, inflammatory mediators such as NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as COX-2 and iNOS expression. Furthermore, reduction of phosphor-ERK and BDNF indicates a novel rheumatoid arthritis-regulating mechanism by ZPE-LR treatment.These data suggest that the administration of ZPE-LR remarkably inhibited CIA progression and might be helpful in suppressing inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis.

Elaeagnus is a genus which consists about 70 species of flowering plants in the family Elaeagnaceae, and its edible fruit is a natural product used as food and in traditional medicine. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of four species, namely Elaeagnus umbellate Thunb., E. multiflora Thunb., E. macrophylla Thunb., and E. glabra Thunb., to study their phylogenetic relationships within the Elaeagnaceae. Total lengths of the chloroplast genome were 152,261 bp, 152,267 bp, 152,224 bp, and 152,227 bp, respectively. The four genomes had representative quadripartite structures, with an LSC region (82,207 bp, 82,191 bp, 82,136 bp, and 82,139 bp) and an SSC region (18,262 bp, 18,282 bp,and 18,278 bp for both species) separated by a pair of IRs (25,896 bp, 25,897 bp, and 25,905 bp for the latter two species), respectively. Moreover, they were composed of 136–137 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 40–41 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis indicated that E. umbellata was most closely related to E. multiflora, whereas E. macrophylla was close to E. glabra.

Purpose: Because of their unique biological and technological properties, the potential of marine resources in cosmetic applications is well recognized. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis to investigate the safety and quality of various potential marine resources for healing and clinical applications were collected from four regions in South Korea: Uljin, Goseong, Wando, and Taean. Methods: A total of seven types of potential marine resources for healing (peat, mud, sea sand, seaweed, black pine, saline ground water, and sea water) and nine types of marine resources for clinical applications (namely, peat, mud, sea mustard, laver, black pine, sea salt, oyster, oyster boiled water, and saline ground water). Following pre-treatment of samples, we used inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to detect, chemically analyze, and quantify the concentrations of seven heavy metals and useful components (lead, arsenic, cadmium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium) in the marine samples.. Furthermore, a mercury analyzer was employed to detect and evaluate the concentration of mercury, a common ingredient used in skin lightening soaps and creams. Results: Results of the heavy metal analysis confirmed that marine resources for healing and for clinical applications conform to all safety standards of cosmetics at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Hence, they are suitable for cosmetic applications. However, the lead content of arsenic and peat resources in seaweed was found to be high. In addition, the results of this quality comparison analysis were found to be similar to the control experiments, despite the fact that minor differences were identified between each resource. More specifically, the lead content in peat was increased, whereas the potassium content was decreased. Conclusion: In this study, the comparative analysis of heavy metals and other useful components from four local marine healing resources demonstrated that these resources are both safe and suitable for healing applications. In the future, it is expected that marine resources for healing will be utilized throughout the marine industry through more continuous and systematic research, management and supervision of industries, universities, research institutes, and government policies.

구절초 추출 분말(CZE)의 간 기능 개선 효과를 확인하기 위하여 in vitro와 in vivo 실험을 진행하였다. 먼저 간세포 내 지방축적 억제 효과를 확인하기 위하여 HepG2 cell에 CZE를 농도별로 처리하고 oleic acid로 세포 내 지방축적을 유도하였다. 그 결과 지방구가 감소함을 확인할 수 있었고, 세포 내 지방 유입 및 합성에 관여하는 FAT/CD36, SREBP-1c 그리고 FAS 유전자 발현을 감소시킴을 확인하였다. 그리고 지방대사에 관여하는 PPARα 및 CPT-1의 유전자 발현을 촉진함으로써 CZE가 간세포 내 지방축적을 억제함을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, CZE의 급성 간 손상 개선 효과를 확인하기 위하여 아세트아미노펜(APAP)으로 유도된 간 손상 모델에 CZE를 농도별로 처리한 후 간 기능 지표 효소의 활성 측정, 총콜레스테롤 및 GSH량 그리고 TG 측정, 조직학적 변화 등을 통해 확인하였다. 시험 결과 APAP에 의해 증가한 GOT, GPT 효소 활성이 CZE 처리 후 감소함을 확인하였으며, 조직 내 GSH 함량이 회복되었고 TC, TG는 정상범위로 감소함을 확인하였다. 본 연구를 통하여 CZE가 간 기능 개선에 효과가 있음을 확인하였으며, 간 기능 개선 건강기능식품 원료로 사용 가능성을 확인하였다.

The polymer of m-phenylenediamine (poly(m-PDA)) which was synthesized by mild laccase catalysis in an aqueous buffer (10 mM citrate phosphate, pH 3) was investigated for the adsorption of several heavy metal ions including Pb2+, Cu2+, Co2+, and Cr3+. In the preliminary study for the adsorption of Pb2+ by poly(m-PDA), the adsorbed amount of Pb2+ was strongly influenced by solution pH being the highest in distilled water and decreased as solution pH was lowered from 5 to 2. The adsorption isotherms of the four heavy metal ions on poly(m-PDA) were well described by Langmuir equation. Poly(m-PDA) shows high maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) for Cu2+, Pb2+, and Cr3+ with the values of 556, 526, and 476 μmol g−1, respectively. This study proposes that the synthesis of polymeric absorbents to remove heavy metal ions from water can be accomplished through simple and environmentally friendly enzymatic methods.

Surface modification of SiO₂ supports was shown to significantly affect the properties of Pd/SiO₂ catalysts. The surface of SiO₂ can be modified by various pretreatment methods. In this study, the effect of different calcination temperatures on support surface was investigated. Pd supported on pretreated SiO₂ was characterized by H2 temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), XRD, CO chemisorption measurements, and field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM). The silanol group (-OH), which is one of the functional groups of SiO₂, interferes with the reduction of palladium because it strongly bonds with palladium ions (-PdO) during the preparation of the catalyst. Due to the complete removal of silanol (Si-OH) groups following calcination at 700 °C, the metal reducibility was enhanced, and the catalyst pretreated at this calcination temperature exhibited the highest metal dispersion of 13.02%. Further, to confirm the catalytic activity of the prepared catalysts, hydrogenation of D-glucose was conducted. The HPLC results demonstrated that Pd/SiO₂_700 has the highest catalytic activity toward hydrogenation of D-glucose. Therefore, it was confirmed that the removal of silanol groups increase the metal dispersion and catalytic activity of Pd/SiO₂ catalyst.

Context: HemoHIM is a medicinal herbal preparation of Angelica gigas Nakai (Apiaceae), Cnidium officinale Makino (Umbelliferae), and Paeonia japonica Miyabe (Paeoniaceae) developed for immune regulation. HemoHIM has been investigated for its ability to enhance tissue self-renewal and stimulate immune systems. To date, studies on the protective effects of HemoHIM against gastritis and gastric ulcers have not been conducted. Objective: The protective effects of HemoHIM using models of indomethacin and ethanol/hydrochloric acid (EtOH/HCl)-induced gastric mucosal injury were investigated. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into five groups (n = 10): control, indomethacin, or EtOH/HCl groups, HemoHIM 250, 500 mg kg−1, and cimetidine 100 mg kg−1, respectively. Indomethacin (80 mg kg−1) and 60% EtOH/150 mM HCl were administered orally 1 h after the administration of samples and rats were anesthetized 3 h after induction. The lesion area (%), inhibition ratio (%), and total acidity were investigated, and tissues were histopathologically analyzed using hematoxylin and-eosin (H&E) staining. Results: HemoHIM significantly reduced gastric injury in indomethacin-induced model (250 and 500 mg kg−1; 64.30% and 67.75%, p

The most effective way to improve menopausal symptoms is to supplement deficient oestrogen; however, long-term administration of synthetic oestrogen increases the risk for breast and uterine cancers. Here, we report results from a clinical trial ofThis study was a single-centre, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. The efficacy of an extract ofThe RCAM group demonstrated decreased KI score and MRS compared with the placebo group after 12 weeks. In the safety evaluation, laboratory tests and vital signs demonstrated no clinically significant changes in subjects, and there was no difference in adverse reactions between the groups. TheFor females with menopausal symptoms in the menopausal transitional and postmenopausal periods, ingestion of the

Artemisia Montana (Nakai) Pamp. is a widely used heath food and a well-known traditional Korean herbal medicine. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of A. Montana was determined using high-thr...

In this study, the hepatoprotective effects of the herbal preparation (HemoHIM) against acetaminopheninduced liver injury were investigated in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the messenger Ribonucleic acid expression of antioxidant factors and proinflammatory cytokines in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells treated with acetaminophen. In vivo study, ICR was divided into five groups (n=10): control, acetaminophen, HemoHIM 250, 500 mg/kg body weight and silymarin 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Mice were administrated acetaminophen (350 mg/kg body weight) on d 5 after sample administration. Blood samples were collected for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase assessment. Liver tissue was determined for glutathione, triglyceride, cholesterol and histopathological features. HemoHIM has significant effects in the treatment groups compared to acetaminophen group.

Worldwide, obesity has become a major risk factor associated with health risks such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain forms of cancer. In this study, we estimated the anti-obesity effect of the bacterial strain

As social interest in energy welfare increases, support programs and policies for fuel poverty are steadily being implemented. Energy subsidies play a significant role in improving the indoor thermal conditions affected by fuel poverty. However, various measures to reduce green-house gas emissions in the building sector are being applied. As a result, a balance between energy welfare and energy saving policies is required. This study aims to analyze the effect of an energy subsidy on improving the indoor temperature and heating energy consumption in low-income dwellings. Long-term and detailed measurements and surveys were conducted for 16 low-income households in an apartment complex in Korea (semi-cold climate). The indoor temperature and heating energy use with/without energy voucher were analyzed. In addition, the annual heating energy consumptions of all 1460 households in the same apartment complex were analyzed. The results showed that the indoor average temperature of the households receiving the energy subsidy was 24.68°C, and the households without the energy subsidy were 22.62°C. In addition, the indoor minimum temperature of the households receiving the energy subsidy was about 1.5°C higher. The annual heating energy use increased by 59.9% for the older building and 26.6% for the newer building compared with those who did not receive energy subsidies. Energy vouchers have a strong influence on the indoor thermal condition and heating energy consumption of low-income dwellings. The energy subsidy policy for the low-income households needs to be re-examined in terms of energy savings and energy welfare.

Nano-mechanical properties of selective laser melted H13 steel at a scan laser speed of 100 mm/s were investigated using nanoindentation tests. The findings shed light on the interrelationship between the nanoindentation strain rate and hardness. It was found that the strain-rate sensitivity exponent (m = 0.022) of this material indicated that the nanoindentation hardness increased in a range of (8.41 to 9.18) GPa with an increase in the strain rate ranging from 0.002 to 0.1 s−1.

We have reported the effect of support pretreatment with ammonia on Pd/SiO2 catalyst in this study. SiO2 was pretreated with ammonia water to increase the Pd dispersion before the preparation of Pd/SiO2 catalysts. The effect of support pretreatment with ammonia on Pd/SiO2 catalyst was investigated by XRD, FT-IR, N2-adsorption and FE-TEM. The Pd supported on pretreated SiO2 were characterized by XRD, CO-chemisorption and FE-TEM. The pretreatment of SiO2 with ammonia water lead to decrease of silanol groups (Si-OH) up to temperature 200 °C. This decline of silanol groups on the SiO2 affects highly dispersed Pd/SiO2 as 6.52 %. The result showed that the decrease of silanol group on the SiO2 was favorable for the Pd dispersion. It is reason that absence of the silanol groups contribute to the high metal reducibility.

To more accurately evaluate the indoor hygrothermal environment of a building, control the indoor temperature and humidity, evaluate the thermal comfort of occupants, and select the capacity of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, moisture transfer from and into architectural materials should be considered. However, the most widely used commercialized software ignores the moisture effect from envelopes or adopts a simplified model based on the difference in humidity ratios between hygroscopic materials and interior zone air. In this study, the effects of the driving forces of hygrothermal models were identified and quantified. The calculated results show that the indoor humidity changes differed when the moisture effect by moisture adsorption and desorption was considered in the models. Because the simplified effective moisture penetration depth (EMPD) model uses differences in the humidity ratio as a driving force, the calculated results of the indoor humidity ratio exhibit relatively constant tendencies. However, the thermodynamic chemical potential model corresponds to a detailed heat, air, and moisture transfer (HAM) model that uses the water potential as a driving force; this model can consider the moisture effect based on temperature and humidity changes. Therefore, the humidity ratios calculated using the detailed thermodynamic HAM model show differences of 0.01%–38.78%, and the difference in relative humidity between building materials and indoor air becomes smaller; these results are comparable to those of the simplified model. Finally, the adoption of a simplified model can result in differences in the sensible heat load of 4.4%–13.8% and latent heat load of 16.1%–51.2%. Thus, this study confirmed that a coupled HAM model, which uses the water potential as a driving force, can be employed to accurately simulate the hygrothermal behavior of building envelopes.

The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Stauntonia hexaphylla, a monotypic genus native to Korea, was determined. The whole cp genome is 158,390 bp in size, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,115 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,928 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,174 bp. The cp genome encodes 117 genes, including 79 protein-coding, 38 tRNA-coding, and 8 rRNA-coding genes. The overall GC content is 37.8%. A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between S. hexaphylla and S. obovatifoliola subsp. urophylla. The cp genome will provide new insight into the evolution of Lardizabalaceae.

Oxidative stress is one of common cause of fatty changes in the liver. Antioxidant capacity was confirmed in various vegetables including black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var niger). Fermentation of vegetables using Lactobacillus plantarum has been known to generate bioactive components. This study was conducted to determine if fermented black radish (FBR) ameliorates oxidative liver injury induced by CCl4 in rats. To accomplish this, FBR (250 and 500 mg/ kg) was orally administered to rats for 7 consecutive days, single CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg) treatment or no treatment orally. Serum chemistry at 24 hours after CCl4 injury showed that FBR (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the level of both alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in CCl4 exposed rats. Moreover, FBR treatment significantly increased radical-scavenging effects in livers with the reduction of lipid peroxidation in CCl4 exposed rats. Histopathologic findings including Kupffer cell activation in the liver of each group matched those of serum chemistry. Collectively, black radish, through fermentation, exerts hepatoprotective capacity in CCl4 induced liver injury in rats through anti-oxidation.