Beom-Seok Song

The procyanidin trimer C1 inhibits LPS-induced MAPK and NF-κB signaling through TLR4 in macrophages

Natural products and dietary components rich in polyphenols have been shown to reduce inflammation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this anti-inflammatory activity are not completely characterized, and many features remain to be elucidated. This research was carried out to clarify the potential role of procyanidin trimer C1 in the anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenols. Procyanidin C1 inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated nitric oxide production and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. Treatment with procyanidin C1 resulted in a significant decrease in prostaglandin E2 and cyclooxygenase-2 levels, as well as the expression of cell surface molecules (CD80, CD86, and MHC class II), which was induced by LPS. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory effect of procyanidin C1 occurs through inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways. These 2 factors play a major role in controlling inflammation, through toll-like receptor 4, suggesting that procyanidin C1 plays a potent role in promoting anti-inflammatory activity in macrophages. These results represent a novel and effective therapeutic intervention for the treatment of inflammatory disease.

γ-Irradiation Improves the Color and Antioxidant Properties of Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) Extract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ionizing radiation on color and antioxidative properties of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) extract (CME). CME (10 mg/mL) was gamma-irradiated at 0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 kGy, and color, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic compound levels were then determined. The lightness and yellowness were increased (P < .05), and the redness was decreased (P < .05), as irradiation dose increased. The antioxidant parameters such as the 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, superoxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing/antioxidant power, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation increased as the irradiation dose increased. Also, the total phenolic compound levels of CME were increased (P < .05) by gamma-irradiation. These results suggest that gamma-irradiation could be considered a means for improving the antioxidant properties and the color of CME.

Effect of gamma irradiation on mistletoe (Viscum album) lectin-mediated toxicity and immunomodulatory activity

This study evaluated the effect of gamma irradiation on the reduction of the toxicity of mistletoe lectin using both in vitro and in vivo models. To extract the lectin from mistletoe, an (NH4)2SO4 precipitation method was employed and the precipitant purified using a Sepharose 4B column to obtain the pure lectin fraction. Purified lectin was then gamma‐irradiated at doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kGy, or heated at 100 °C for 30 min. Toxic effects of non‐irradiated, irradiated, and heat‐treated lectins were tested using hemagglutination assays, cytotoxicity assays, hepatotoxicity, and a mouse survival test and immunological response was tested using cytokine production activity. Hemagglutination of lectin was remarkably decreased (P < 0.05) by irradiation at doses exceeding 10 kGy and with heat treatment. However, lectin irradiated with 5 kGy maintained its hemagglutination activity. The cytotoxicity of lectin was decreased by irradiation at doses over 5 kGy and with heat treatment. In experiments using mouse model, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels were decreased in the group treated with the 5 kGy irradiated and heat‐treated lectins as compared to the intact lectin, and it was also shown that 5 kGy irradiated and heat‐treated lectins did not cause damage in liver tissue or mortality. In the result of immunological response, tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) and interleukin (IL‐6) levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the 5 kGy gamma‐irradiated lectin treated group. These results indicate that 5 kGy irradiated lectin still maintained the immunological response with reduction of toxicity. Therefore, gamma‐irradiation may be an effective method for reducing the toxicity of lectin maintaining the immune response.

Antioxidant Activity of Stevia Leaf Extracts Prepared by Various Extraction Methods

This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of stevia extracts from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves. Stevia extracts were prepared by three different methods including hot water extraction (HWE) at 120C for 4 hr, vacuum extraction (VE) at 65C for 4 hr under 0.08 MPa, and fermentation of hot water extract (FHWE) using Lactobacillus buchneri. The antioxidant activities measured by radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing antioxidant potential ability, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance showed the highest values in vacuum extract. Also, the antioxidant activities of all extracts were higher than those of stevioside and rebaudioside at the same concentrations, known as the major active components in stevia. To define the antioxidative compound in stevia extracts, the total phenol content was measured, and it was shown that the highest contents of total phenolic compounds were in vacuum extract. These results suggest that the antioxidant activity of stevia extract was due to the phenolic compound components. In addition, vacuum extraction was the proper method to prepare stevia extract with higher antioxidant activity.

The supplementation of Korean mistletoe water extracts reduces hot flushes, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and muscle loss in ovariectomized rats

Since Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) has been used for alleviating metabolic diseases, it may also prevent the impairment of energy, glucose, lipid, and bone metabolisms in an estrogen-deficient animal model. We determined that long-term consumption of Korean mistletoe water extract (KME) can alleviate menopausal symptoms such as hot flush, increased abdominal fat mass, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and decreased bone mineral density in ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed a high-fat diet, and explored the mechanisms of the effects. OVX rats were divided into four groups and fed high-fat diets supplemented with either 0.6% dextrin (control), 0.2% lyophilized KME + 0.4% dextrin (KME-L), or 0.6% lyophilized KME (KME-H). Sham rats were fed with the high-fat diets with 0.6% dextrin as a normal-control without estrogen deficiency. After eight weeks, OVX rats exhibited impaired energy, glucose and lipid metabolism, and decreased uterine and bone masses. KME-L did not alleviate energy dysfunction. However, KME-H lowered serum levels of total-, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and elevated serum HDL-cholesterol levels in OVX rats with dyslipidemia, to similar levels as normal-control rats. Furthermore, KME-H improved HOMA-IR, an indicator of insulin resistance, in OVX rats. Surprisingly, KME-H fed rats had greater lean mass in the abdomen and leg without differences in fat mass but neither dosage of KME altered bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and femur. The increased lean mass was related to greater phosphorylation of mTOR and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in the quadriceps muscles. Hepatic triglyceride contents were lowered with KME-H in OVX rats by increasing carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) expression and decreasing fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expression. In conclusion, KME may be useful for preventing some menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and loss of muscle mass in post-menopausal women.

Procyanidin C1 Causes Vasorelaxation Through Activation of the Endothelial NO/cGMP Pathway in Thoracic Aortic Rings

The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of procyanidin C1 (Pro C1) for modulating vascular tone. Pro C1 induced a potent vasorelaxant effect on phenylephrine-constricted endothelium-intact thoracic aortic rings, but had no effect on denuded thoracic aortic rings. Moreover, Pro C1 caused a significant increase in nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells. Pro C1-induced vasorelaxation and Pro C1-induced NO production were significantly decreased in the presence of a nonspecific potassium channel blocker (tetraethylammonium chloride [TEA]), an endothelial NO synthase inhibitor (N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine [L-NMMA]), and a store-operated calcium entry inhibitor (2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate [2-APB]). Pro C1-induced vasorelaxation was also completely abolished by an inhibitor of soluble guanyl cyclase, which suggests that the Pro C1 effects observed involved cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production. Interestingly, Pro C1 significantly enhanced basal cGMP levels. Taken together, these results indicate that Pro C1-induced vasorelaxation is associated with the activation of the calcium-dependent NO/cGMP pathway, involving potassium channel activation. Thus, Pro C1 may represent a novel and potentially therapeutically relevant compound for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Identification of red pepper powder irradiated with different types of radiation using luminescence methods: A comparative study

The purpose of this study was to verify the reliability of photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) methods for identifying irradiated foods, described in the European standards EN 13751:2002 and EN 1788:2001, respectively, which were established solely through interlaboratory studies on gamma-irradiated food. Red pepper powder samples irradiated with electron-beams (e-beams), gamma rays and high-energy X-rays were used as model foods. Samples irradiated with each radiation type at ⩾4 kGy could be correctly identified by the PSL method, whereas samples irradiated at ⩾0.5 kGy with each radiation type could be correctly recognized by the TL method when e-beams, gamma rays, or high-energy X-rays were used as normalization sources. However, different TL intensities were observed for minerals separated from red pepper powder for different irradiation sources, which was confirmed using pure quartz and K-feldspar minerals. Further interlaboratory studies are required to verify this phenomenon.

Effects of Irradiation Temperature on the Sensory Quality Improvement of Gamma-irradiated Ganjang-gejang, Korean Traditional Marinated Raw Crab Portunus trituberculatus in Soybean Sauce

This study was conducted to confirm quality properties of sterilized Ganjang-gejang (marinated crab Portunus trituberculatus) with Korean soy sauce using by gamma irradiation and to improve quality of sterilized Ganjang-gejang. The Ganjang-gejang was irradiated at dose of 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 kGy by gamma irradiation and there was evaluated in microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory properties. Total aerobic bacteria and fungi contents of non-irradiated samples were about 6 and 4 log CFU/g level, respectively. Gamma-irradiated samples at above 9 kGy did not contain aerobic bacteria or fungi at detection limit less than 2 log CFU/g, but sensory scores were significantly decreased depending on the irradiation dose. To improve the sensory qualities of gamma-irradiated Ganjang-gejang, the temperature was adjusted during sample irradiation. When samples were irradiated under freezing temperatures, especially on dry ice, the TBARS and the deterioration of sensory qualities of Ganjan-Gejang were reduced. Different odor patterns were observed among samples, as observed using electronic nose analysis system. The results of this study indicated that treatment with irradiation under low temperatures may help to preparing high-quality Ganjang-gejang.

Low molecular weight β-glucan stimulates doxorubicin-induced suppression of immune functions in mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of low molecular weight β-glucan (LMG) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced immune suppression of tumor-bearing mice. The tumor size and spleen cell functions such as spleen cell proliferation, cytokine production (interferon-γ and interleukin-2), and the population of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were estimated. In the tumorbearing mice, the tumor size was significantly (p<0.05) decreased by DOX treatment. However, there was no significant difference between mice treated with high molecular weight β-glucan (HMG) and mice treated with LMG. Spleen cell proliferation and cytokine production were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in only DOX treated group, but increased in all β-glucan treated groups with DOX. Moreover, the populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were also increased in the LMG-treated group. It appears that LMG effectively reduces the DOX-induced immune toxicity through activation of immune cells such as splenocytes.

Analysis of the Sensory Evaluation for the Korean Space Foods Performed in ISS

We analyzed the result of sensory evaluation for the 10 items of Korean Space Foods performed by Korean astronaut in ISS. Although there were low score items because of the individual preference difference, Most items received the high score. Also, we can confirm the possibility of the internationalization of the Korean Space Foods because international astronauts gave the high valuation. we should develop the various space foods and food package which are easy to use in space for the human exploration in the future.