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Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment, posing a threat to ecosystems and causing increasing concerns regarding their impacts on the human body through exposure. However, there has been limited research on the presence of MPs in functional foods, despite them being consumed for health improvement. This study aimed to investigate MP occurrence in various omega-3 oils and oil products in the Korean market and its relation to the source of raw material or manufacture. MPs were investigated in omega-3 capsules and raw oil, sourced from both plant-based (PB) and animal-based (AB) sources. We developed a method of direct filtration with acetone washing for collecting and characterizing MPs larger than 5 µm using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The average number of MPs by mass was found to be 1.2 ± 1.7 MPs/g for PB raw oil, 2.2 ± 1.7 MPs/g for AB raw oil, 3.5 ± 3.9 MPs/g for PB capsule oil, and 10.6 ± 8.9 MPs/g for AB capsule oil. Polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate were the major MP species (83-95%) found in omega-3 oil. The proportions based on size range remained consistent across all groups, with a trend of being detected at higher rates as the size decreased. The results reveal that the main reason for the MP contamination of omega-3 oil is not the source of raw material but the manufacturing and packaging process.

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Both the roots and leaves of American ginseng contain ginsenosides and polyphenols. The impact of thermal processing on enhancing the biological activities of the root by altering its component composition has been widely reported. However, the effects of far-infrared irradiation (FIR), an efficient heat treatment method, on the bioactive components of the leaves remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of FIR heat treatment between 160 and 200 °C on the deglycosylation and dehydration rates of the bioactive components in American ginseng leaves. As the temperature was increased, the amounts of common ginsenosides decreased while those of rare ginsenosides increased. After FIR heat treatment of American ginseng leaves at an optimal 190 °C, the highest total polyphenolic content and kaempferol content were detected, the antioxidant activity was significantly enhanced, and the amounts of the rare ginsenosides F4, Rg6, Rh4, Rk3, Rk1, Rg3, and Rg5 were 41, 5, 37, 64, 222, 17, and 266 times higher than those in untreated leaves, respectively. Moreover, the radical scavenging rates for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and the reducing power of the treated leaf extracts were 2.17, 1.86, and 1.77 times higher, respectively. Hence, FIR heat treatment at 190 °C is an efficient method for producing beneficial bioactive components from American ginseng leaves.

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In the present study, a subject of atopic dermatitis (AD) is exposed progressively to allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma (AS), which is defined as atopic march (AM). However, both the targets and compounds against AM are still largely unknown. Hence, we investigated the overlapping targets related directly to the occurrence and development of AD, AR, and AS through public databases (DisGeNET, and OMIM). The final overlapping targets were considered as key targets of AM, which were visualized by a Venn diagram. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using R package software. We retrieved the association between targets and ligands via scientific journals, and the ligands were filtered by physicochemical properties. Lastly, we performed a molecular docking test (MDT) to identify the significant ligand on each target. A total of 229 overlapping targets were considered as AM causal elements, and 210 out of them were interconnected with each other. We adopted 65 targets representing the top 30% highest in degree centrality among 210 targets. Then, we obtained 20 targets representing the top 30% greatest in betweenness centrality among 65 targets. The network analysis unveiled key targets against AM, and the MDT confirmed the affinity between significant compounds and targets. In this study, we described the significance of the eight uppermost targets (CCL2, CTLA4, CXCL8, ICAM1, IL10, IL17A, IL1B, and IL2) and eight ligands (Bindarit, CTLA-4 inhibitor, Danirixin, A-205804, AX-24 HCl, Y-320, T-5224, and Apilimod) against AM, providing a scientific basis for further experiments.

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At present, most rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at risk of osteoporosis (OP), which is increased by 1.5 times compared to non-RA individuals. Hence, we investigated overlapping targets related directly to the occurrence and development of RA and OP through public databases (DisGeNET, and OMIM) and literature. A total of 678 overlapping targets were considered as comorbid factors, and 604 out of 678 were correlated with one another. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), with the highest degree of value in terms of protein−protein interaction (PPI), was considered to be a core target against comorbidity. We identified 31 existing small molecules (< 1000 g/mol) as IL-6 inhibitors, and 19 ligands were selected by the 3 primary criteria (Lipinski's rule, TPSA, and binding energy). We postulated that MD2-TLR4-IN-1 (PubChem ID: 138454798), as confirmed by the three criteria, was the key ligand to alleviate comorbidity between RA and OP. In conclusion, we described a promising active ligand (MD2-TLR4-IN-1), and a potential target (IL-6) against comorbidity of RA and OP, providing scientific evidence for a further clinical trial.

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Antihistamines have potent efficacy to alleviate COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) symptoms such as anti-inflammation and as a pain reliever. However, the pharmacological mechanism(s), key target(s), and drug(s) are not documented well against COVID-19. Thus, we investigated to decipher the most significant components and how its research methodology was utilized by network pharmacology. The list of 32 common antihistamines on the market were retrieved via drug browsing databases. The targets associated with the selected antihistamines and the targets that responded to COVID-19 infection were identified by the Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA), SwissTargetPrediction (STP), and PubChem, respectively. We described bubble charts, the Pathways-Targets-Antihistamines (PTA) network, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network on the RPackage via STRING database. Furthermore, we utilized the AutoDock Tools software to perform molecular docking tests (MDT) on the key targets and drugs to evaluate the network pharmacological perspective. The final 15 targets were identified as core targets, indicating that Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction might be the hub-signaling pathway of antihistamines on COVID-19 via bubble chart. The PTA network was constructed by the RPackage, which identified 7 pathways, 11 targets, and 30 drugs. In addition, GRIN2B, a key target, was identified via topological analysis of the PPI network. Finally, we observed that the GRIN2B-Loratidine complex was the most stable docking score with -7.3 kcal/mol through molecular docking test. Our results showed that Loratadine might exert as an antagonist on GRIN2B via the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway. To sum up, we elucidated the most potential antihistamine, a key target, and a key pharmacological pathway as alleviating components against COVID-19, supporting scientific evidence for further research.

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Caesalpinia sappan L. (CS) is widely used to treat diabetic complications in south-east Asia, specifically in traditional Chinese medicine. This study intends to explain the molecular mechanism of how chemical constituents of CS interrelate with different signaling pathways and receptors involved in T2DM. GC-MS was employed to identify the chemical compounds from the methanol extract of CS wood (MECSW). Lipinski's rule of five was applied, and 33 bioactive constituents have been screened from the CS extract. After that, 124 common targets and 26 compounds associated with T2DM were identified by mining several public databases. Protein-protein interactions and compound-target network were constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape tool. Protein-protein interactions were identified in 121 interconnected nodes active in T2DM and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) as key target receptors. Furthermore, pathway compound target (PCT) analysis using the merger algorithm plugin of Cytoscape revealed 121 nodes from common T2DM targets, 33 nodes from MECSW compounds and 9 nodes of the KEGG pathway. Moreover, network topology analysis determined "Fisetin tetramethyl ether" as the key chemical compound. The DAVID online tool determined seven signaling receptors, among which PPARG was found most significant in T2DM progression. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis implied the involvement of nine pathways, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway was selected as the hub signaling pathway. Finally, molecular docking and quantum chemistry analysis confirmed the strong binding affinity and reactive chemical nature of fisetin tetramethyl ether with target receptors exceeding that of the conventional drug (metformin), PPARs agonist (rosiglitazone) and co-crystallized ligands, indicating that fisetin could be a potential drug of choice in T2DM management. This study depicts the interrelationship of the bioactive compounds of MECSW with the T2DM-associated signaling pathways and target receptors. It also proposes a more pharmaceutically effective substance, fisetin tetramethyl ether, over the standard drug that activates PPARG protein in the PPAR signaling pathway of T2DM.

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The combination of green-nanotechnology and biology may contribute to anticancer therapy. In this regard, using gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as therapeutic molecules can be a promising strategy. Herein, we proposed a novel biocompatible nanogold constructed by simply microwave-heating (MWI) Au3+ ions and kenaf seed (KS) extract within a minute. The phytoconstituents of KS extract have been utilized for safe synthesis of gold nanoparticles (KS@GNPs). The biogenic KS@GNPs were characterized by UV-vis Spectra, TEM, HR-TEM, XRD, FTIR, DLS, EDX, and SEAD techniques. The legitimacy and toxicity concern of KS@GNPs were tested against RAW 264.7 and NIH3T3 cell lines. The anticancer efficacy was verified using LN-229 cells. The pathways of KS@GNPs synthesis were optimized by varying the KS concentration (λmax 528 nm), gold salt amount (λmax 524 nm), and MWI times (λmax 522 nm). TEM displayed spherical shape and narrow size distribution (5-19.5 nm) of KS@GNPs, whereas DLS recorded Z-average size of 121.7 d·nm with a zeta potential of -33.7 mV. XRD and SAED ring patterns confirmed the high crystallinity and crystalline face centered cubic structure of gold. FTIR explored OH functional group involved in Au3+ ions reduction followed by GNPs stabilization. KS@GNPs exposure to RAW 264.7 and NIH3T3 cell lines did not induce toxicity while dose-dependent overt cell toxicity and reduced cell viability (26.6%) was observed in LN-229 cells. Moreover, the IC50 (18.79 µg/mL) treatment to cancer cell triggered cellular damages, excessive ROS generation, and apoptosis. Overall, this research exploits a sustainable method of KS@GNPs synthesis and their anticancer therapy.

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Short cationic peptides (SCPs) with therapeutic efficacy of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), antifungal peptides (AFPs), and anticancer peptides (ACPs) are known as an enhancement of the host defense system. Here, we investigated the uppermost peptide(s), hub signaling pathway(s), and their associated target(s) through network pharmacology. Firstly, we selected SCPs with positive amino acid residues on N- and C- terminals under 500 Dalton via RStudio. Secondly, the overlapping targets between the bacteria-responsive targets (TTD and OMIM) and AMPs' targets were visualized by VENNY 2.1. Thirdly, the overlapping targets between AFPs' targets and fungal-responsive targets were exhibited by VENNY 2.1. Fourthly, the overlapping targets between cancer-related targets (TTD and OMIM) and fungal-responsive targets were displayed by VENNY 2.1. Finally, a molecular docking study (MDS) was carried out to discover the most potent peptides on a hub signaling pathway. A total of 1833 SCPs were identified, and AMPs', AFPs', and ACPs' filtration suggested that 197 peptides (30 targets), 81 peptides (6 targets), and 59 peptides (4 targets) were connected, respectively. The AMPs-AFPs-ACPs' axis indicated that 27 peptides (2 targets) were associated. Each hub signaling pathway for the enhancement of the host defense system was "Inactivation of Rap1 signaling pathway on AMPs", "Activation of Notch signaling pathway on AMPs-AFPs' axis", and "Inactivation of HIF-1 signaling pathway on AMPs-AFPs-ACPs' axis". The most potent peptides were assessed via MDS; finally, HPIK on STAT3 and HVTK on NOS2 and on HIF-1 signaling pathway were the most stable complexes. Furthermore, the two peptides had better affinity scores than standard inhibitors (Stattic, 1400 W). Overall, the most potent SCPs for the human defense system were HPIK on STAT3 and HVTK on NOS2, which might inactivate the HIF-1 signaling pathway.

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Corn silk (Stigma Maydis) has been utilized as an important herb against obesity by Chinese, Korean, and Native Americans, but its phytochemicals and mechanisms(s) against obesity have not been deciphered completely. This study aimed to identify promising bioactive constituents and mechanism of action(s) of corn silk (CS) against obesity via network pharmacology. The compounds from CS were identified using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and were confirmed ultimately by Lipinski's rule via SwissADME. The relationships of the compound-targets or obesity-related targets were confirmed by public bioinformatics. The signaling pathways related to obesity, protein-protein interaction (PPI), and signaling pathways-targets-bioactives (STB) were constructed, visualized, and analyzed by RPackage. Lastly, Molecular Docking Test (MDT) was performed to validate affinity between ligand(s) and protein(s) on key signaling pathway(s). We identified a total of 36 compounds from CS via GC-MS, all accepted by Lipinski's rule. The number of 36 compounds linked to 154 targets, 85 among 154 targets related directly to obesity-targets (3028 targets). Of the final 85 targets, we showed that the PPI network (79 edges, 357 edges), 12 signaling pathways on a bubble chart, and STB network (67 edges, 239 edges) are considered as therapeutic components. The MDT confirmed that two key activators (ß-Amyrone, ß-Stigmasterol) bound most stably to PPARA, PPARD, PPARG, FABP3, FABP4, and NR1H3 on the PPAR signaling pathway, also, three key inhibitors (Neotocopherol, Xanthosine, and ß-Amyrone) bound most tightly to AKT1, IL6, FGF2, and PHLPP1 on the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Overall, we provided promising key signaling pathways, targets, and bioactives of CS against obesity, suggesting crucial pharmacological evidence for further clinical testing.

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Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (Maxim.) Matsum. or Korean thistle flower is a herbal plant used to treat tumors in Korean folk remedies, but its essential bioactives and pharmacological mechanisms against cancer have remained unexplored. This study identified the main compounds(s) and mechanism(s) of the C. maackii flower against cancer via network pharmacology. The bioactives from the C. maackii flower were revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrum (GC-MS), and SwissADME evaluated their physicochemical properties. Next, target(s) associated with the obtained bioactives or cancer-related targets were retrieved by public databases, and the Venn diagram selected the overlapping targets. The networks between overlapping targets and bioactives were visualized, constructed, and analyzed by RPackage. Finally, we implemented a molecular docking test (MDT) to explore key target(s) and compound(s) on AutoDockVina and LigPlot+. GC-MS detected a total of 34 bioactives and all were accepted by Lipinski's rules and therefore classified as drug-like compounds (DLCs). A total of 597 bioactive-related targets and 4245 cancer-related targets were identified from public databases. The final 51 overlapping targets were selected between the bioactive targets network and cancer-related targets. With Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, a total of 20 signaling pathways were manifested, and a hub signaling pathway (PI3K-Akt signaling pathway), a key target (Akt1), and a key compound (Urs-12-en-24-oic acid, 3-oxo, methyl ester) were selected among the 20 signaling pathways via MDT. Overall, Urs-12-en-24-oic acid, 3-oxo, methyl ester from the C. maackii flower has potent anti-cancer efficacy by inactivating Akt1 on the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

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Zanthoxylum piperitum fruits (ZPFs) have been demonstrated favorable clinical efficacy on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its compounds and mechanisms against RA have not been elucidated. This study was to investigate the compounds and mechanisms of ZPFs to alleviate RA via network pharmacology. The compounds from ZPFs were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and screened to select drug-likeness compounds through SwissADME. Targets associated with bioactive compounds or RA were identified utilizing bioinformatics databases. The signaling pathways related to RA were constructed; interactions among targets; and signaling pathways-targets-compounds (STC) were analyzed by RPackage. Finally, a molecular docking test (MDT) was performed to validate affinity between targets and compounds on key signaling pathway(s). GC-MS detected a total of 85 compounds from ZPFs, and drug-likeness properties accepted all compounds. A total of 216 targets associated with compounds 3377 RA targets and 101 targets between them were finally identified. Then, a bubble chart exhibited that inactivation of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and activation of PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) signaling pathway might be key pathways against RA. Overall, this work suggests that seven compounds from ZPFs and eight targets might be multiple targets on RA and provide integrated pharmacological evidence to support the clinical efficacy of ZPFs on RA.

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A micro-organism, DCY12T, comprising Gram-negative, non-motile, pale-yellow rods was isolated from soil from a ginseng field in South Korea and was investigated to determine its taxonomic status. It grew optimally at 30 degrees C and at pH 7.0, the G+C content of its DNA was 40.5 mol%, the major components of the fatty acid profile were C16:0 and C18:1 and the major ubiquinone was Q-8. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the novel isolate was most closely related to Hydrocarboniphaga effusa AP103T (89.2%), Nevskia ramosa Soe1 (88.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145T (83.2%). The phenotypic, physiological, metabolic and phylogenetic properties of DCY12T suggest that it represents a novel genus (class Gammaproteobacteria) and species, for which the name Solimonas soli gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Solimonas soli is DCY12T (=KCTC 12834T=LMG 24014T).

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The neutralizing epitope (K-COE) of the spike protein from a Korean strain of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been shown to prevent and foster an immune response to PED, when orally adjusted. The cell surface of the budding yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was engineered to anchor the K-COE on the outer layer of the cell, and consequently, the altered yeast was applied as a dietary complement for animal feed, with immunogenic functions. In this study, the K-COE gene (K-COE) of the Korean strain of PEDV with the signal peptide of rice amylase 1A (Ramy 1A), was fused with the gene encoding the carboxyterminal half (320 amino acid residues from the C terminus) of yeast α-agglutinin, a mating associated protein that is anchored covalently to the cell wall. The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) promoter was selected in order to direct the expression of the fusion construct, and the resulting recombinant plasmid was then introduced intoS. cerevisiae. The surface display of K-COE was visualized via confocal microscopy using a polyclonal antibody against K-COE as the primary antibody, and FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG as the secondary antibody. The display of the K-COE on the cell surface was further verified via Western blot analysis using the cell wall fraction after the administration of α-1,3-glucanase/PNGase F/ß-mannosidase treatment.

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The photosynthetic characteristics of four transgenic rice lines over-expressing rice NADP-malic enzyme (ME), and maize phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PC), pyruvate,orthophosphate dikinase (PK), and PC+PK (CK) were investigated using outdoor-grown plants. Relative to untransformed wild-type (WT) rice, PC transgenic rice exhibited high PC activity (25-fold increase) and enhanced activity of carbonic anhydrase (more than two-fold increase), while the activity of ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and its kinetic property were not significantly altered. The PC transgenic plants also showed a higher light intensity for saturation of photosynthesis, higher photosynthetic CO(2) uptake rate and carboxylation efficiency, and slightly reduced CO(2) compensation point. In addition, chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis indicates that PC transgenic plants are more tolerant to photo-oxidative stress, due to a higher capacity to quench excess light energy via photochemical and non-photochemical means. Furthermore, PC and CK transgenic rice produced 22-24% more grains than WT plants. Taken together, these results suggest that expression of maize C(4) photosynthesis enzymes in rice, a C(3) plant, can improve its photosynthetic capacity with enhanced tolerance to photo-oxidation.