• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제25권12호
• /
• pp.1425-1431
• /
• 2015

The lymphocyte component of the immune system is divided into B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes produce antibodies (humoral immunity) via maturation into plasma cells, and T lymphocytes kill other cells or organisms (cellular immunity). A traditional immunological paradigm is that B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte interactions are a one-way phenomenon, with T lymphocytes helping to induce the terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin class-switched plasma cells. A deficiency of T lymphocytes was reported to result in defective B lymphocyte function. However, evidence for a reciprocal interaction between B and T lymphocytes is emerging, with B lymphocytes influencing the differentiation and effector function of T lymphocytes. For example, B lymphocytes have been shown to induce direct tolerance of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and induce T lymphocytes anergy via transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) production. The present study showed that LPS-stimulated B lymphocytes inhibited the differentiation of Th1 lymphocytes by inhibiting the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from dendritic cells. An interaction between the B lymphocytes and dendritic cells was not needed for this inhibition, and the B lymphocytes did not alter dendritic cell maturation. B lymphocyte-derived soluble factor (BDSF) suppressed the LPS-induced IL-12p35 transcription in the dendritic cells. Overall, these results point to a novel B lymphocyte- mediated immune suppressive mechanism. The findings cast doubt on the traditional paradigm of immunological interactions involving B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte interactions.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제18권12호
• /
• pp.1644-1650
• /
• 2008

The essential oil of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is widely used in traditional Australian medicine for skin lesions and infected injuries. In the present study, we investigated the chemical composition, cytotoxicity and its biological activities. The composition of the oil was analyzed by GC-MS. ${\beta}$-Terpinene (20.87%), ${\alpha}$-pinene (17.60%), p-cymene (11.23%), 3-carene (10.40%), trans-anethole (8.47%) and limonene (4.65%) were the major components in the oil. The results tested by MTT assay indicated that the oil showed no cytotoxic effect, at concentrations up to 5%, for less than 3h. The antiradical capacity was evaluated by measuring the scavenging activity of the essential oil on the 2,20-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals. The oil was able to reduce the both radicals dose-dependently, and the concentration required for 50% reduction ($RC_{50}$) against ABTS radicals ($1.6{\pm}0.02%$) was slightly lower than DPPH radicals ($2.6{\pm}0.29%$). The direct contact and vapor-phase antibacterial activity of the oil were also evaluated using disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Listeria monocytogenes, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. All the Gram-negative bacterial strains tested showed more sensibility to the oil than the Gram-positive strains when compare to the effect of gentamycin. On the other hand, the vapor phase of the essential oil against S. aureus exhibited strongest inhibitory effect.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• 제35권6호
• /
• pp.1182-1187
• /
• 2003

This study was performed to evaluate the potentiality of Reynoutria elliptica Migo., being used as a folk remedy and a herb medicine for urethritis, cystitis, etc., on growth inhibition of Helicobacter pylori which is known as the ulcerogenic pathogen. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of methanol extract from Reynoutria elliptica Migo, was determined to be 120 ppm for H. pylori and urease activity derived from H. pylori was inhibited over 80% by the extract at 2 mg/mL in urea broth. Among various solvent fraction of the methanol extract, the hexane fraction showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of H. pylori reducing both its growth and urease activity. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs of H. pylori treated with the methanol extract at 2 mg/mL for 3 hr showed that the cell walls and membranes were disrupted so that the cytoplasmic components were leaked from the body. These results suggest that Reynoutria elliptica Migo. possesses a therapeutic potential on the gastric disease caused by H. pylori.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.341-353
• /
• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate dietary patterns and assimilation of dietary culture of Korean descendants in Yanbian, China compared to Korean. A dietary survey was conducted using one 24-hour recall method from 730 adults over 30 years of age in Yanbian, China and 695 adults over 25 years of age in Kuri, Korea. The average number of food items consumed per day was 14 in Yanbian and 20 in Kuri and there was a significant difference between the two regions(p<0.001). The foods consumed most frequently were rice, salt, the M.S.G. in Yanbian and rice, green onion and garlic in Kuri. The foods consumed most by amount were rice, cucumber, Soju in Yanbian and rice, Kimchi and grape in Kuri. The average number of dishes consumed per day was 6.4 in Yanbian, 9.4 in Kuri and the difference between the two regions was significant(p<0.001). Total number of dishes appeared in the survey was 253 in Yanbian and 494 in Kuri. The dishes consumed most frequently were cooked-rice, beverages, Kimchi, stir-fried eggplant in Yanbian and cooked-rice, Kimchi, coffee, soybean paste stew, in Kuri. The dish groups appeared most frequently were rice, stir-fried foods, vegetables and Kimchi in Yanbian and rice, Kimchi, beverages and fruits in Kuri. Male subjects in Yanbian Consumed alcohol frequently while adults in Kuri consumed coffee more frequently than Yanbian. The major meal patterns were rice+side dish, rice+soup, rice+side dish+Kimchi in Yanbian and rice+soup+side dish+Kimchi, rice+side dish+Kimchi, rice+soup+Kimchi in Kuri. Stir-fried foods, which were consumed 46.6% of all the meals, were dominant side dish in Yanbian, but stir-fried food, seasoned vegetables and grilled food appeared aver 10% in Kuri. There results show that variety of diet of Korean-Chinese in Yanbian was lower than Kuri. Korean-Chinese tend to keep traditional Korean dietary patterns of consuming rice as staple but were adapted to Chinese dietary patterns of consuming stir-fried side dishes. Efforts should be directed toward preserving Korean traditional patterns of dietary culture among Korean-Chinese population.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• 제7권3호
• /
• pp.262-266
• /
• 2000

The rhizomes of Polygonatum odoratum(Dunggulle in korean name) have been used as a traditional medicine for a tonic, remedy of fevers of influenza, cough and lung trouble. In this experiment, water extract of Dunggulle was added in brewing korean traditional rice wine. Fermentation characteristics such as content of total acid, pH, temperature, total sugar and alcohol concentration were investigated during fermentation periods. Changes of fermentation characteristics were remarkable in the initial period(0~3 days), slow in the middle(4~6 days), and almost unchangeable in the final(7~10 days). Total acid content was remarkably increased during the initial period but slowly decreased afterward. As the content of Dunggulle extract is increased, total sugar content was slightly increased. At the first day of fermentation, total sugar content was 19.6% in control, 22.6, 23.3 and 25.6% in Dunggulle extract 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% added group, respectively. In the initial period, content of alcohol in control was highest than in Dunggulle extract added group. The content of alcohol in 4 kinds of wine showed highest value at the sixth day and those of control and Dunggulle extract 2.5% were 16.0, 16.1%, respectively. Sensory evaluation in taste was not significantly different among control and Dunggulle extract added group.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.46-61
• /
• 2016

The ethnobotanical study was conducted to record and conserve the traditional knowledge of botanical taxa in Hallyeo-Haesang National Park area, S. Korea from 2012 to 2013. According to the survey results, derived from 1,430 sheets of 183 residents at 70 places, the ethnobotanical plants in Hallyeo-Haesang National Park area consisted of a total 247 taxa; 82 families, 197 genera, 224 species, 3 subspecies, 19 varieties and 1 form. The analysis of usage for 247 taxa showed that the edible use was the highest with 166 taxa, followed by medicinal with 138 taxa, craft with 27 taxa, material with 16 taxa and ritual with 9 taxa respectively. The leaf of plant was the most useful part, followed by stem and fruit plant. Quantitative analysis of the ethnobotanical plants in Hallyeo-Haesang National Park area was performed by the basic values of FC, NU and UR, and indices of CI, RFC, RI and CV. As a result, The CI places Artemisia princeps in the first position, followed by Pueraria lobata, Taraxacum platycarpum. The RFC place A. princeps in first position, followed by Achyranthes japonica, Aster scaber. The RI places A. princeps in the first position, followed by P. lobata, Pinus densiflora. The CV places A. princeps in the first position, followed by P. lobata, A. japonica. Farfugium japonicum had been used as specific ethnobotanical plant in this area, for arthralgia, postpartum arthrodynia, circulatory disturbance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제40권9호
• /
• pp.1227-1234
• /
• 2011

We investigated the immunostimulatory effects of doenjang, a famous Korean traditional food made from fermented soybean paste, on the immunohistochemical reaction in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and immune response in mice. Male C57BL/6N mice (6 weeks-old) were divided into 4 experimental diet treatment groups and a basal diet (control) group, and fed with different diets for 4 weeks. The immunoreactive density of $CD4^+/CD8^+$ lymphocytes were strongly stained in the jejunum and colon in Group III. The immunoreactivity of universal nitric oxide synthase (uNOS) was strongly stained in the myenteric plexus in the colon of all doenjang-fedgroups (I, II and III). The colonic immunoreactive density of protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ (PKC-${\alpha}$) was strongly increased in Groups II and III, while that of stem-cell factor (c-kit) was increased in colonic mucosa of all doenjang-fedgroups (I, II and III) and especially increased in the colonic muscle layer of Group III. These morphological and immunological results indicated that the intake of doenjang could improve the mucosal immune reaction, gastrointestinal motility, blood circulation in the GI tract, and the immuneactivity of the body. These results provide experimental evidence about the health benefits of doenjang.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.465-472
• /
• 2012

We examined plants that were used as temple food in Jeju from May 2011 to January 2012. Thirty-six temples participated in the study, and there were 58 questionnaire respondents. Fifty-seven taxa were used as temple food, which belonged to 27 families, 51 genera, 55 species, and two varieties. The most commonly used family-based taxa were eight species of Compositae, six species of Cruciferae, and four species of Umbelliferae. Ten species of woody plants and 25 species of Jeju native plants were also used as temple food. The most useful part was the leaf, followed by the root, leaflet, and fruit. A patent search showed that most of the surveyed plants were covered by intellectual property rights. Forty-eight species had food-related patents, 34 species had cosmetics-related patents, and 38 species had medicine-related patents. The purchase and procurement of Jeju temple food plants usually depended on the market or plant cultivation rather than the use of the plants. Gathering of wild herbs for temple food has been performed on a limited basis. Therefore, collecting traditional knowledge for the use of Jeju plant resources should be conducted under different conditions rather than through a temple-related study.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.54-60
• /
• 1991

In the traditional medicine, the basidiocarps of Poria cocos (Fr.) Wolf naturally collec­ted have been widely used as a traditional remedy for dropsy, diarrhea, gonorrhea and nervous disease more than 3500 years ago. It was recently found to be composed of the particular compounds having antitumor effects. Therefore, its demand has been gradually increased, whereas it is still dependent upon the natural harvest. The artificial cultivation of P. cocos was carried out to observe the morphological characteristics and to investigate the cultural characteristics of P. cocos isolates collected. The morphological characteristics of its basidiocarps was observed. The physiological aspects of its isolates were also investigated.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• 제18권6호
• /
• pp.923-929
• /
• 2011

For the purpose of investigating the in vitro antidiabetic activity of a medicinal herb mixture prepared through traditional antidiabetic prescription, the study analyzed the existence of insulin-similar components and examined ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity. As a result of arranging the medicinal herb mixture extracts over the 3T3-L1 fibroblast in the concentration of $10{\mu}g/mL$, which confirmed that it included much of insulin sensitizer components as 151.7% in the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblast. The inhibition activity against ${\alpha}$-amylase of the medicinal herb mixture extracts as hypoglycemic agent were 38.4, 31.5 and 16.6% in the concentration of 10.0, 1.0 and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibition activity against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase of the medicinal herb mixture extracts were 81.3, 35.8 and 26.7% in the concentration of 10.0, 1.0 and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibition activity against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in the ethyl acetate fractions of the water and 80% ethanol extracts were 66.9% and 55.1%, respectively, the highest levels in the various solvent extracts.