Sweet potato is an important food crop that can also be used as an industrial raw material. Sucrose is the main form of long-distance carbohydrate transport in plants, and sucrose transporter (SUT) regulates the transmembrane transport and distribution of sucrose during plant growth and metabolism. Moreover, SUT plays a key role in phloem mediated source-to-sink sucrose transport and physiological activities, supplying sucrose for the sink tissues. In this study, the full-length cDNA sequences of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) cloning according to the transcripts of the two SUT coding genes which were differentially expressed in sweet potato storage roots with different starch properties. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to clarify the classification of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆. The subcellular localization of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ was determined by transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. The function of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ in sucrose and hexose absorption and transport was identified using yeast functional complementarity system. The expression pattern of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ in sweet potato organs were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Arabidopsis plants heterologous expressing IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ genes were obtained using floral dip method. The differences in starch and sugar contents between transgenic and wild-type Arabidopsis were compared. The results showed IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ encoded SUT proteins with a length of 505 and 521 amino acids, respectively, and both proteins belonged to the SUT1 subfamily. IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ were located in the cell membrane and were able to transport sucrose, glucose and fructose in the yeast system. In addition, IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ was also able to transport mannose. The expression of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ was higher in leaves, lateral branches and main stems, and the expression of IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ was higher in lateral branches, stems and storage roots. After IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ were heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis, the plants grew normally, but the biomass increased. The heterologous expression of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ increased the soluble sugar content, leaf size and 1 000-seed weight of Arabidopsis plants. Heterologous expression of IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ increased starch accumulation in leaves and root tips and 1 000-seed weight of seeds, but decreased soluble sugar content. The results obtained in this study showed that IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ might be important genes regulating sucrose and sugar content traits in sweet potato. They might carry out physiological functions on cell membrane, such as transmembrane transport of sucrose, sucrose into and out of sink tissue, as well as transport and unloading of sucrose into phloem. The changes in traits result from their heterologous expression in Arabidopsis indicates their potential in improving the yield of other plants or crops. The results obtained in this study provide important information for revealing the functions of IbSUT₆₂₇₈₈ and IbSUT₈₁₆₁₆ in starch and glucose metabolism and formation mechanism of important quality traits in sweet potato.
Ipomoea batatas/metabolism* ; Arabidopsis/metabolism* ; Sucrose/metabolism* ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism* ; DNA, Complementary ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics* ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism* ; Starch/metabolism* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

Studies have shown that targeting xanthine oxidase (XO) can be a feasible treatment for fructose-induced hyperuricemia and hyperglycemia. This study aimed to evaluate the dual regulatory effects and molecular mechanisms of diacylated anthocyanins from purple sweet potato (diacylated AF-PSPs) on hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia induced by a high-fructose/high-fat diet. The body weight, organ index, serum biochemical indexes, and liver antioxidant indexes of mice were measured, and the kidneys were observed in pathological sections. The relative expression levels of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of fructose metabolism pathway enzymes in kidney were detected by fluorescent real-time quantitative polymerase chain (qPCR) reaction technique, and the expression of renal transporter protein and inflammatory factor pathway protein was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique. Results showed that diacylated AF-PSPs alleviated hyperuricemia in mice, and that this effect might be related to the regulation of liver XO activity, lipid accumulation, and relevant renal transporters. Diacylated AF-PSPs reduced body weight and relieved lipid metabolism disorder, liver lipid accumulation, and liver oxidative stress, thereby enhancing insulin utilization and sensitivity, lowering blood sugar, and reducing hyperglycemia in mice. Also, diacylated AF-PSPs restored mRNA levels related to renal fructose metabolism, and reduced kidney injury and inflammation. This study provided experimental evidence for the mechanisms of dual regulation of blood glucose and uric acid (UA) by diacylated AF-PSPs and their utilization as functional foods in the management of metabolic syndrome.
Mice ; Animals ; Hyperuricemia/drug therapy* ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Anthocyanins/chemistry* ; Ipomoea batatas/chemistry* ; Fructose/adverse effects* ; Hyperglycemia/drug therapy* ; Lipids

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the current status of obesity intervention programs, and its effects on endothelium function in adolescents. METHOD: This was a descriptive research study, that investigated domestic and international literature 2009–2018. Using databases inside and outside of Korea to search for ‘adolescent’, ‘obese adolescent’, ‘exercise’, ‘program’, or ‘intervention’, and ‘endothelium function’, a total of 14 literature have been selected for 6 domestic research and 8 international research, excluding overlapping, case studies, literature reviews, and unrelated studies. RESULTS: Interventions for enhancing endothelium function were exercise program, diet, vitamin D3 treatment, and Orlistat intake relative to international research, and combined exercise and purple sweet potato intake, in most domestic research. Dependent variables included FMD, RHI, NMD, EPCs, and EMPs, for measuring endothelium function in international research, and PWV, FMD and RHI, in domestic research. CONCLUSION: Results of this study confirmed that application of obese intervention programs, may improve endothelium function in adolescents. Further studies are required, to develop nursing intervention, that would enhance endothelium function in adolescents.
Adolescent ; Cholecalciferol ; Diet ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Korea ; Methods ; Nursing ; Obesity

A previously healthy 1-year-old boy suddenly began coughing while eating a dried sweet potato. Because he continued gagging after vomiting a piece of the dried sweet potato, his mother brought him to our emergency room. Upon arrival, despite normal pulmonary findings, he was drooling and gagging. Ultrasonography was performed because food impaction at the upper esophagus was suspected based on his medical history and physical examination, and results showed that a linear hyperechoic lesion was obstructing the posterior esophageal wall. Computed tomography was also considered for a detailed examination of the foreign body. However, the patient vomited the dried sweet potato before the test was performed. After vomiting the foreign body, the patient stopped gagging, and his ultrasonographic findings were normal. Therefore, the patient was discharged without any complications.
Child ; Cough ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Gagging ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Male ; Mothers ; Physical Examination ; Point-of-Care Systems* ; Sialorrhea ; Ultrasonography* ; Vomiting

This study attempted to investigate whether nutrient and food intake were related with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in adults and elderly over 50 years of age in Korea. Questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were conducted on general aspects of the research, and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were conducted to determine nutritional status. The relative theta power (RTP) through electroencephalography (EEG) measurements, neurocognitive function test (NFT; CNS Vital Signs), and cognitive function was measured. The MCI group consumed significantly lower C18:4, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) among the N-3 fatty acids, N-6 fatty acids dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), mono unsaturated fatty acids, C22:1, biotin, vitamin D in the nutrients, and sweet potato (12.35g/day, p = 0.015), mackerel (3.38g/day, p = 0.017), mandarin orange (p = 0.016), persimmon (p = 0.013) and apple (p = 0.023) in the food than the normal group did. And the MCI group consumed salted fish (3.14g/day, p = 0.041) and ice-cream (5.01g/day, p = 0.050) at a significantly higher level. Delayed verbal score, delayed visual score, and verbal memory score of the NFT and RTP values of the prefrontal cortex among the EEGs were significantly lower in the MCI group compared to those in the normal group. From this study, we found that nutrient and food intake are closely related to MCI in Korean aged 50 years and older, but more human studies are needed to verify these findings.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biotin ; Citrus sinensis ; Cognition* ; Diospyros ; Eating ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid ; Electroencephalography ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Korea ; Memory ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Nutritional Status ; Perciformes ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Vitamin D

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary potassium intake, Na/K intake molar ratio, consumption of 18 food groups, and foods contributing to potassium intake of Korean adults as well as the relationships among quartile of potassium intake level and blood pressure, blood biochemical index. METHODS: This study was conducted using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007~2010. The total number of subjects was 20,291. All analyses were conducted using a survey weighting to account for the complex survey design. RESULTS: Overall average intakes of potassium were 2,934.7, 3,070.6, 3,078.1, and 3,232.0 mg/day, and they significantly increased by year in Korean adults. The average dietary potassium intake was close to adequate intake (AI), whereas that of women was considerably lower than the AI. The Na/K intake molar ratio in males (2.89~3.23) was higher than in females (2.62~2.95). The major food groups contributing to potassium intake were vegetables, cereals, and fruits/meats. The two major foods contributing to potassium intake were polished rice and cabbage kimchi. The rankings of food source were as follows; polished rice > cabbage kimchi > potato > oriental melon > sweet potato > seaweed > radish > apple > black soybean. In 50~64 year old females, systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased (p < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol significantly increased (p < 0.05) as potassium intake increased. Triglyceride (TG) was significantly higher in the other quartile of potassium intake level than in the first quartile (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study suggests the need for an appropriate set of dietary reference intakes according to caloric intake by sex and age groups and for development of eating patterns to increase potassium intake and decrease sodium intake.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Brassica ; Cucurbitaceae ; Eating ; Edible Grain ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Korea* ; Male ; Molar ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Potassium* ; Potassium, Dietary ; Raphanus ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Seaweed ; Sodium ; Solanum tuberosum ; Soybeans ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: Anthocyanin-rich foods and preparations have been reported to reduce the risk of life-style related diseases, including cancer. The SL222 sweet potato, a purple-fleshed cultivar developed in New Zealand, accumulates high levels of anthocyanins in its storage root. METHODS: We examined the chemopreventative properties of the SL222 sweet potato in the C57BL/6J-APC(MIN/+) (APC(MIN)) mouse, a genetic model of colorectal cancer. APC(MIN) and C57BL/6J wild-type mice (n=160) were divided into four feeding groups consuming diets containing 10% SL222 sweet potato flesh, 10% SL222 sweet potato skin, or 0.12% ARE (Anthocyanin rich-extract prepared from SL222 sweet potato at a concentration equivalent to the flesh-supplemented diet) or a control diet (AIN-76A) for 18 weeks. At 120 days of age, the mice were anaesthetised, and blood samples were collected before the mice were sacrificed. The intestines were used for adenoma enumeration. RESULTS: The SL222 sweet potato-supplemented diets reduced the adenoma number in the APC(MIN) mice. CONCLUSIONS: These data have significant implications for the use of this sweet potato variant in protection against colorectal cancer.
Adenoma ; Animals ; Anthocyanins ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diet ; Intestines ; Ipomoea batatas* ; Mice* ; Models, Genetic ; New Zealand ; Skin

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the distribution and exposure prevalence of total carbohydrate intake and the carbohydrate-based foods such as rice, noodles, sweet potatoes, sweet drinks, milk and fruits and to characterize intake patterns among obese Korean adults. METHODS: Subjects included 137,363 adults aged 40 years or older who participated in a Health Examinees (HEXA) Study. Multiple regression analysis of data from Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ) identified food sources of carbohydrates. Weight, height and waist circumstance (WC) were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity as WC ≥ 90 cm and ≥ 85 cm for males and females, respectively. RESULTS: Obese adults appeared to have a higher total carbohydrate intake in the univariate analysis but had eaten less after adjustment for general and lifestyle factors, compared to normal weight adults (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73-0.82 for general obesity; OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.74-0.85, for abdominal obesity; P trend < 0.0001, respectively). Based on advance analysis for the food sources of carbohydrates, obese subjects had lower intake of rice (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.68 -1.09 for general obesity; OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.67-1.13, for abdominal obesity; P trend < 0.0001, respectively) and higher intake of noodles (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.16-1.27 for general obesity; OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.19-1.32, for abdominal obesity; P trend < 0.0001 respectively). With regard to other food sources of carbohydrates such as milk and fruits, intake was lower among obese compared to normal weight subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In the Korean middle-aged and older obesity groups, the intake of carbohydrates and the related foods was lower than in normal weight subjects, except for noodles. We conclude that a higher intake of noodles may enhance weight-gain. Therefore, this study suggested that the guidelines should consider the types of carbohydrate sources and the amount consumed from foods in order to provide proper guidance with regard to control and prevent obesity among Korean adults.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Carbohydrates ; Eating* ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Life Style ; Male ; Milk ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence*

In this study, we aimed to characterize fungal samples from necrotic lesions on collar regions observed in different sweetpotato growing regions during 2015 and 2016 in Korea. Sclerotia appeared on the root zone soil surface, and white dense mycelia were observed. At the later stages of infection, mother roots quickly rotted, and large areas of the plants were destroyed. The disease occurrence was monitored at 45 and 84 farms, and 11.8% and 6.8% of the land areas were found to be infected in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Fungi were isolated from disease samples, and 36 strains were preserved. Based on the cultural and morphological characteristics of colonies, the isolates resembled the reference strain of Sclerotium rolfsii. Representative strains were identified as S. rolfsii (teleomorph: Athelia rolfsii) based on phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and large subunit genes along with morphological observations. To test the pathogenicity, sweetpotato storage roots were inoculated with different S. rolfsii strains. ‘Yulmi’ variety displayed the highest disease incidence, whereas ‘Pungwonmi’ resulted in the least. These findings suggested that morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis were useful for identification of S. rolfsii.
Agriculture ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ipomoea batatas* ; Ipomoea* ; Korea* ; Mothers ; Soil ; Virulence

β-carotene is present in carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. It suppresses many types of cancers by regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms. However, the effects of β -carotene on oral cancer cells have not been clearly established. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of β-carotene on cell growth and apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that treatment with β-carotene induced inhibition of cell growth, and that the effect was dependent on β-carotene treatment time and concentration in KB cells. Furthermore, treatment with β-carotene induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation in KB cells. β-carotene promoted proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, -8 and -9 with associated increases in the concentration of cleaved caspase-3, -7, -8 and -9. In addition, the level of cleaved PARP was increased by β-carotene treatment in KB cells. These results suggest that β-carotene can suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis in KB human oral cancer cells, and that it may have potential usefulness in anti-cancer drug discovery efforts.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Cucurbita ; Daucus carota ; Drug Discovery ; Humans* ; Ipomoea batatas ; KB Cells ; Mouth Neoplasms*