Mi-Soon Jang

Antiatherogenic effects of Korean cabbage kimchi with added short arm octopus

Adimchae is a kimchi that contains more than 10% seafood. The lipid lowering and antiatherogenic effects of adimchae containing abalone or short arm octopus were compared with traditional Korean cabbage kimchi. Treated seafood was added to kimchi at 10%. ApoE KO mice (n=18) were fed an athrogenic diet supplemented with 10% freeze-dried cabbage kimchi (control), short arm octopus added kimchi (SK), or abalone added kimchi (AK) for 8 weeks. Plasma and hepatic triglyceride concentrations of SK group mice decreased significantly (p<0.05), compared with control and AK group mice. Protein expression of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) of SK group mice was significantly (p<0.05) suppressed, compared with control group mice. Reduction of the fatty streak lesion size in the aortic sinus of SK mice was also significant (p<0.05), compared with control group mice. Extra antiatherogenic effects of SK were due to decreased plasma lipid concentrations via suppression of the FAS activity.

Alleviating Effects of Baechu Kimchi Added Ecklonia cava on Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Mice

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Baechu kimchi added Ecklonia cava on the activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase and its alleviating effect on the postprandial hyperglycemia in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Baechu kimchi added Ecklonia cava (BKE, 15%) was fermented at 5°C for 28 days. Optimum ripened BKE was used in this study as it showed the strongest inhibitory activities on α-glucosidase and α-amylase by fermentation time among the BKEs in our previous study. The BKE was extracted with 80% methanol and the extract solution was concentrated, and then used in this study. The BKE extract showed higher inhibitory activities than Baechu kimchi extract against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The IC50 values of the BKE extract against α-glucosidase and α-amylase were 0.58 and 0.35 mg/mL, respectively; BKE exhibited a lower α-glucosidase inhibitory activity but a higher α-amylase inhibitory activity than those of acarbose. The BKE extract alleviated postprandial hyperglycemia caused by starch loading in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Furthermore, the BKE extract significantly lowered the incremental area under the curve in both normal and diabetic mice (P<0.05). These results indicated that the BKE extract may delay carbohydrate digestion and thus glucose absorption.

Changes in Nutrient Composition and Fermentation Properties of Abalone Mul-Kimchi using Dried Pollack and Licorice Stock

This study was carried out to investigate changes in nutrient composition and fermentation properties in abalone mul-kimchi using dried pollack stock (AMKP) and licorice stock (AMKL) during storage at 4 o C for 35 days. The levels of moisture (88.37-90.94%) and crude ash (2%) did not differ much between AMKP and AMKL during the 35 days of storage. But crude protein and crude lipid levels decreased gradually until 21 days of storage. AMKP and AMKL fermentation during 21 days led to a decrease in pH, increased acidity, and the highest Leuconostoc sp. count. AMKP and AMKL showed acidity of 0.50% at pH 4.30, when the kimchi samples were ripened properly. Glutamic acid showed the highest content in AMKP and AMKL, and hydroxypoline was the most abundant of all free amino acids. We have provided basic data for commodification research on abalone mul-kimchi.

Dioxinodehydroeckol Enhances the Differentiation of Osteoblasts by Regulating the Expression of Phospho-Smad1/5/8.

Lack of bone formation-related health problems are a major problem for the aging population in the modern world. As a part of the ongoing trend of developing natural substances that attenuate osteoporotic bone loss conditions, dioxinodehydroeckol (DHE) from edible brown alga Ecklonia cava was tested for its effects on osteoblastogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. DHE was observed to successfully enhance osteoblast differentiation, as indicated by elevated cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, intracellular cell mineralization, along with raised levels of osteoblastogenesis indicators at the concentration of 20 μM. Results suggested a possible intervening of DHE on the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway, according to elevated protein levels of BMP-2, collagen-I, and Smads. In addition, the presence of DHE was also able to raise the phosphorylated extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) levels which are also activated by the BMP signaling pathway. In conclusion, DHE is suggested to be a potential bioactive compound against bone loss that could enhance osteoblastogenesis with a suggested BMP pathway interaction.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Heterocarpin from the Salt Marsh Plant Corydalis heterocarpa in LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophage Cells

The inhibitory effect of three chromones 1–3 and two coumarins 4–5 on the production of nitric oxide (NO) was evaluated in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Among the compounds tested heterocarpin (1), a furochromone, significantly inhibited its production in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, heterocarpin suppressed prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and expression of cytokines such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Whitening effects of 4-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol isolated from water boiled with Hizikia fusiformis

Isolation of phenolic compounds from water boiled with Hizikia fusiformis and purificartrion of the extracts from solvent fractions was achieved using column chromatography. The simple phenolic compound, 4-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol (4-HPEA) with an elemental composition C8H10O2 was identified on the basis of spectroscopic data. The whitening effects of 4-HPEA, inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase, and inhibitory activity against melanin production in B16 melanoma cells were evaluated using an in vitro assay system. The whitening effect of 4-HPEA was also measured using a colorimeter and visual assessment of UVB induced hyperpigmentation of brown guinea pig skin. Topical application of 4-HPEA promoted depigmentation of UVB-induced hyperpigmented spots. 4-HPEA has a potential for use as a safe and effective ingredient for whitening in cosmetic and medical applications.

Effect of Baechu Kimchi Added Ecklonia cava Extracts on High Glucose-induced Oxidative Stress in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Endothelial cell dysfunction is considered to be a major cause of vascular complications in diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of a baechu kimchi added Ecklonia cava extract (BKE) against high glucose induced oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Treatment with a high concentration of glucose (30 mM) induced cytotoxicity, whereas treatment with BKE protected HUVECs from high glucose induced damage; by restoring cell viability. In addition, BKE reduced lipid peroxidation, intracellular reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide levels in a dose dependent manner. Treatment with high glucose concentrations also induced the overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and NF-κB proteins in HUVECs, but BKE treatment significantly reduced the overexpression of these proteins. These findings indicate that BKE may be a valuable treatment against high glucose-induced oxidative stress HUVECs.

Nutrient Composition and Sensory Characteristics of Seokbakji Supplemented with Seafood

We investigated changes in the nutrient compositions of seokbakji supplemented with seafood during storage at 5 o C for 14 days. We added the seafood at a concentration of 10% (w/w) to salted radish and prepared seokbakji samples. Our results showed that the levels of moisture, crude lipids, crude ash, carbohydrates, and crude fibers did not differ markedly among the samples. However, the level of crude protein in seokbakji with added seafood was greater than that in control seokbakji. The highest level of Ca and P was determined in seokbakji supplemented with gizzard shad; the highest level of vitamin B2 was determined in seokbakji supplemented with sandfish, and the highest vitamin C content was determined in seokbakji supplemented with small octopus. Glutamic acid showed the highest content in seokbakji with seafood; further, hydroxyproline was the most abundant free amino acid. The results of sensory evaluation showed higher scores in the overall acceptability of seokbakji with seafood than in control seokbakji.

Physicochemical changes in kimchi containing skate ( Raja kenojei ) pretreated with organic acids during fermentation

The effects of supplementing kimchi with acetic acid (TSA)- and citric acid (TSC)-treated skate were investigated during the fermentation process. The chemical and microbiological properties of the product were also investigated. The quality parameters of kimchi were determined by measuring the pH, titratable acidity, reducing sugar content, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), biogenic amines (BAs), and microbial analysis. During fermentation, the kimchi containing skate was observed to have a lower acidity than the control. Treatment of skate with an organic acid increased the acidity and gradually decreased the reducing sugar content during fermentation. Higher concentrations of organic acid resulted in a decrease in VBN and BAs in the TSA and TSC groups compared to those in the kimchi containing skate. The results suggest that supplementing kimchi with skate treated with organic acids affects the histamine content of the products.

Anti-hyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of baechukimchi with Ecklonia cava in type 2 diabetic db/db mice

Anti-hyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of baechukimchi with Ecklonia cava were investigated in type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Baechukimchi with 15% added E. cava (BKE) was fermented at 5°C for 28 days to obtain optimally ripened BKE (pH 4.28, acidity 0.71). BKE was subjected to extraction using 80% methanol. Male db/db mice were divided into groups of db/db-control, db/db-BKE, and db/db-rosiglitazone (db/db-RG). Compounds were orally administered every day for 6 weeks. The db/db-BKE mice had lowered blood glucose and plasma insulin levels. Plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels in db/db-BKE mice were significantly (p<0.05) decreased, compared with untreated db/db mice, while db/db-BKE mice had significantly (p<0.05) increased HDL-cholesterol levels. The db/db-BKE mice had significantly (p<0.05) decreased levels of liver total cholesterol and triglyceride. BKE significantly (p<0.05) increased antioxidant enzyme activities, and ROS and lipid peroxidation levels were significantly (p<0.05) lower in db/db-BKE mice than in db/db mice.