Production of protein hydrolysate from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe) larvae by enzyme treatment under high pressure.

To improve the industrial use of health-functional materials based on edible insects, the objective of this study was to establish optimal conditions for improving the quality of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larval (PBSL) hydrolysates. PBSL was extracted using four methodologies: atmospheric pressure 50 °C-water extraction, atmospheric pressure 95 °C-water extraction, atmospheric pressure 50 °C-water enzymatic hydrolysis, and enzyme treatment under high pressure (HPE). The quality characteristics of soluble solid content, extraction yield, total protein content, protein yield, protein content with low molecular weight (LMW) (< 1kD), and the amino acid composition of hydrolysates were compared based on the different methods. All of the quality characteristics were found to be higher for HPE extracts than for the other extracts. Under optimized HPE conditions, extraction yield, protein yield, protein content with LMW, amino acid content and the content of essential amino acids increased by 3.4, 4.4 1.4 1.5, and 1.3 times respectively, compared to the other methods.

Changes in physical properties of Yukwa (fried rice snack) by soybean extract concentration and incubation time.

This study assessed the effects of soybean extract concentration and incubation time on the physical properties of Yukwa, a traditional Korean oil-puffed snack. Notably, whiteness decreased, while redness and yellowness increased as the soybean extract concentration increased. The expansion rate of Yukwa increased as the soybean extract concentration increased. Moreover, that in the 0 and 7% soybean extract groups decreased, followed by slight increase as the incubation time increased, and the 14% soybean extract treatment group showed increased expansion with incubation time. The oil absorption rate of Yukwa increased with soybean extract concentration and incubation time, and the hardness of Yukwa was decreased as the soybean extract concentration and incubation time increased. Peak number increased with soybean extract concentration, but decreased with incubation time. Finally, response surface analysis showed that a soybean extract concentration of 7.69% and incubation time of 6.41 h were optimal for achieving the desired peak number.

Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) of Foodservice Operation, Dietary Life Education, and Nutrition Counseling Tasks of Nutrition Teachers and Dietitians in Jeju, Korea.

The purpose of this study was to analyze foodservice operation, dietary life education, and nutrition counseling tasks of nutrition teachers and dietitians in elementary, middle, and high schools in Jeju, Korea, and to provide effective ways to implement dietary life education and nutrition counseling in schools. This study surveyed 94 nutrition teachers and 46 dietitians working at elementary, middle, and high schools in Jeju during 7-14 May 2015. The importance and performance of 16 tasks of nutrition teachers and dietitians were measured using questionnaires. The data was analyzed by using the SPSS software and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA). Importance was ranked in the order of foodservice operation (4.72), dietary life education (4.37), and nutrition counseling (4.24); and performance was ranked in the order of foodservice operation (4.48), dietary life education (3.70), and nutrition counseling (3.22). The importance-performance matrix showed that in Quadrant 4, the "Concentrate Here" item was "nutrition and dietary life education for students", while in Quadrant 2, the "Possible Overkill" item was "cost control and office management". These findings suggest that it is important to reduce unnecessary administrative and office management tasks in order for nutrition teachers and dietitians to implement effective nutrition education, dietary life education, and nutrition counseling programs.

The relationship between circulating neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and early alteration of metabolic parameters is associated with dietary saturated fat intake in non-diabetic Korean women.

Circulating neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders. This study investigated the relationship between serum NGAL and early alteration of metabolic parameters in non-diabetic Korean women, particularly with respect to saturated fat (SFA) intake. Anthropometric parameters, fasting glycemic status, and levels of lipids, oxidative stress/inflammatory markers, and NGAL were measured in 82 non-diabetic Korean women [Super-healthy group (n=57) with 0 metabolic syndrome risk factor (MetS RF) and MetS-risk group (n=25) with MetS RF≥1]. Age, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1C, triglyceride, LDL and total-cholesterol, and NGAL levels were higher, and HDL-cholesterol was lower in the MetS-risk group than in the Super-healthy group. Age-adjusted serum NGAL levels were higher in the MetS-risk group than in the Super-healthy group. NGAL increased proportionally with increase in MetS RFs (p=0.038) and correlated positively with BMI, triglycerides, LDL- and total-cholesterol, interleukin-6, white blood cell count, and neutrophil%, and negatively with HDL-cholesterol and superoxide dismutase activity. Serum NGAL levels positively correlated with SFA intake before and after adjustment (age and BMI). Serum NGAL levels were higher in high-SFA consumers [≥7g/day, ≥7% of total calorie intake (TCI)] than in low-SFA consumers (<7g/day, <7% of TCI). Serum NGAL levels were highest in the MetS-risk group consuming higher SFA and lowest in the Super-healthy group consuming lower SFA. However, serum NGAL did not significantly differ between the low-SFA consuming MetS-risk and Super-healthy groups. The relationship between circulating NGAL and early alteration of metabolic parameters is associated with dietary SFA intake in non-diabetic Korean women.

Evaluation of glucosidases of Aspergillus niger strain comparing with other glucosidases in transformation of ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenosides Rg3.

The transformation of ginsenoside Rb1 into a specific minor ginsenoside using Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239, as well as the identification of the transformed products and the pathway via thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography were evaluated to develop a new biologically active material. The conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 generated Rd, Rg3, Rh2, and compound K although the reaction rates were low due to the low concentration. In enzymatic conversion, all of the ginsenoside Rb1 was converted to ginsenoside Rd and ginsenoside Rg3 after 24 h of incubation. The crude enzyme (ß-glucosidase) from A. niger KCCM 11239 hydrolyzed the ß-(1→6)-glucosidic linkage at the C-20 of ginsenoside Rb1 to generate ginsenoside Rd and ginsenoside Rg3. Our experimental demonstration showing that A. niger KCCM 11239 produces the ginsenoside-hydrolyzing ß-glucosidase reflects the feasibility of developing a specific bioconversion process to obtain active minor ginsenosides.

Purification and characterization of heat-tolerant protease produced by Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD.

A protease produced by Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD was purified and characterized as a new detergent material. The protease was purified from supernatant produced by B. polyfermenticus SCD, by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex A-50, and finally gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-50. The molecular mass of this enzyme was 44 kDa based on SDS-PAGE. The optimum temperature and pH were 50°C and pH 8.0. The ranges of its stability to the pH and temperature were 7.0 to 9.0 and under 40°C, respectively. The enzyme was highly stable in the presence of the surfactants like Triton X-100 (0.1%), showing a 2-fold increase in its proteolytic activity. However, the enzyme was slightly inhibited by the chelating agent EDTA (1 mM). The enzyme has a maximum activity at 50°C and the activity can be increased by surfactants such as Triton X-100 and Tween 80.

Purification and characterization of a ginsenoside Rb(1)-hydrolyzing ß-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239.

Rb(1)-hydrolyzing ß-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239 was studied to develop a bioconversion process for minor ginsenosides. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 46.5 times greater than that of the crude enzyme. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be approximately 123 kDa. The optimal pH of the purified enzyme was pH 4.0, and the enzyme proved highly stable over a pH range of 5.0-10.0. The optimal temperature was 70 °C, and the enzyme became unstable at temperatures above 60 °C. The enzyme was inhibited by Cu(2+), Mg(2+), Co(2+), and acetic acid (10 mM). In the specificity tests, the enzyme was found to be active against ginsenoside Rb(1), but showed very low levels of activity against Rb(2), Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg(1). The enzyme hydrolyzed the 20-C,ß-(1→6)-glucoside of ginsenoside Rb(1) to generate ginsenoside Rd and Rg(3), and hydrolyzed 3-C,ß-(1→2)-glucoside to generate F(2). The properties of the enzyme indicate that it could be a useful tool in biotransformation applications in the ginseng industry, as well as in the development of novel drug compounds.

Quinazolindione derivatives as potent 5-HT3A receptor antagonists.

5-HT(3A) receptor antagonists have been used mainly for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. These days, the antagonists are of special interest due to their therapeutic potential to treat other diseases such as depression, psychotic disorder, drug abuse, and irritable bowel syndrome. To discover novel 5-HT(3A) receptor antagonists, we screened our in-house small molecule library, resulting in identifying the quinazolindione derivatives as potent 5-HT(3A) receptor antagonists. For the purpose of structure-activity relationship study, 24 quinazolindione analogues were biologically evaluated against 5-HT(3A) receptor. Among those, KKHT10612 shows the best antagonistic effect against 5-HT(3A) receptor with an IC(50) value of 0.8 microM which is comparable with that of the reference compound, MDL72222, and selectivity over T-type calcium channel as well.

Novel T-type calcium channel blockers: dioxoquinazoline carboxamide derivatives.

T-type calcium channel is one of therapeutic targets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and neuropathic pains. Since the withdrawal of mibefradil, a T-type calcium channel blocker, there have been a lot of efforts to develop T-type calcium channel blockers. A small molecule library of dioxoquinazoline carboxamide derivatives containing 155 compounds was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated for T-type calcium channel blocking activity. Among those compounds synthesized, the compound 1n shows the most potent T-type calcium current blocking activity with an IC(50) value of 1.52 microM, which is comparable to that of mibefradil.