• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.331-339
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• 2022

Melanin is a pigment produced by melanocytes to protect the skin from external stimuli, mainly ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, abnormal and excessive production of melanin causes hyperpigmentation disorders, such as freckles, age spots, and discoloration. Natural cosmeceuticals are a new trend for treating or preventing hyperpigmentation due to fewer side effects and biocompatibility. In this context, the current study focused on Cnidium japonicum, a halophyte with several uses in folk medicine, to evaluate its potential as a skin-whitening agent. The effect of C. japonicum extract (CJE) on melanin production was analyzed in melanogenesis-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The results showed that CJE successfully inhibited the oxidation of tyrosine and L-DOPA by tyrosinase and subsequently decreased the production of the key enzymes responsible for melanin production: tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and protein-2. This effect was confirmed by decreased intracellular and extracellular melanin levels in B16F10 melanoma cells after CJE treatment. Further experiments to elucidate the action mechanism revealed that CJE treatment suppressed melanin production by inhibiting the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSKβ)/β-catenin and protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) pathways, which are the upstream activators of melanogenesis. In conclusion, the present study suggests that C. japonicum is a potential natural source of bioactive substances for the development of novel cosmeceuticals that can act against hyperpigmentation.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.200-206
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• 2023

Although softwoods are widely distributed in Korea and used in various industries, studies are limited and comparative research on softwoods has been overlooked. Therefore, in this study, the physiological activity of four species of softwoods found in Korea was quantified. Needles and cones of Pinus densiflora, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Cryptomeria japonica, and Abies koreana were collected, and material was extracted using 70% methanol. We quantified the following physiological traits: total phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (DPPH, TEAC, FRAP), and inhibitory activity of the enzymes α-glucosidase, elastase, and tyrosinase. Total phenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities were high in Chamaecyparis obtusa and Cryptomeria japonica, and α-glucosidase inhibition activity was highest in the leaves of Chamaecyparis obtusa. Elastase inhibitory activity was high in the leaves and cones of Pinus densiflora and the cones of Abies koreana, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity was highest in the leaves of Pinus densiflora. In Korea, softwoods are planted extensively on roadsides and as windbreaks, and they are highly competitive in supplying raw materials since they are pruned every year. Based on the results of this study, softwoods are considered suitable for use in healthcare products, diabetes products, wrinkles, and whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.109-120
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• 2014

In this study, the extracts of Inula britannica var. chinensis (I. britannica) flower were extracted at three different temperatures (room temperature, $45^{\circ}C$, and $65^{\circ}C$) and their anti-aging effects were studied. Before investigating anti-aging effects of the extracts, their cytotoxicity was tested on B16F10, Hs683, and HaCaT cells. All extracts showed no cytotoxicity at the concentration less than 0.1% (v/v). Melanin synthesis inhibitory activities in B16F10 cells and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in Hs683 and HaCaT cells were used to see their anti-aging effects. The room temperature extract at 0.1% showed 24.5% melanin synthesis inhibition, which was better than the $45^{\circ}C$ and $65^{\circ}C$ extracts. In addition, expression rates of the room temperature extract at 0.1% on HAS-1, HAS-2, and HAS-3 related to hyaluronan synthase genes were 123.3%, 137.8%, 133.2%, respectively. which were higher than reference material of L-ascorbic acid. Expression rates of the $45^{\circ}C$ extract at 0.1% on TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2, and IL-$1{\alpha}$, which are inflammatory related genes, was suppressed to 30.3%, 12.8%, 25.7%, respectively. It was better in anti-in flammatory effect than the room temperature and $65^{\circ}C$ extracts. As results, we showed that I. britannica var. chinensis flower extarcts decreased melanin production and expression of inflammatory related genes and increased the expression rate of hyaluronan synthase genes. Thus, it is believed that the extracts affect anti-aging effects of skin through whitening, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory processes and could be applicable to cosmetics as a functional cosmetic ingredient.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.284-289
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• 2014

Tyrosinase is a rate-limiting enzyme that controls the production of melanin. The effect of bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis has not been studied. We analyzed the effects of leaf and inner film fractions of bamboo extracts on the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and on melanin production. At a concentration of 5 mg/ml, the extracts of bamboo down-regulated the production of melanocytes. In addition, the extracts of bamboo reduced tyrosinase activity and the melanin content in vitro. Our results suggest that bamboo extract may constrain melanin synthesis by inhibition of the activity and expression of tyrosinase.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.212-223
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• 2021

This study has purposes : evaluating how safe the skin is when applied with the Spicules-containing cosmetic, and whether Diamond-spicules is permeated into the skin and showed the efficacy of the active ingredients well. For these aims, women in their 30s and 60s were surveyed for skin irritation and changes after applying cosmetics to their skin for four weeks. As a result, Spicules-containing cosmetics were safer on the skin than general functional cosmetics, and in particular, in the case of cosmetics containing Diamond-spicules, statistically significant results (p<.001) were obtained in improvement of anti-wrinkle, firmness, moisturizing, whitening, alleviation of inflammation, and sensitivity. Thus, It has been proved Diamond-spicules containing functional active ingredients, not only as transdermal delivery system, but also can be used as multifunctional cosmetic material.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.468-472
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• 2006

This paper was described that the preparation of polymetylmethacrylate (PMMA) microsphere and coating of vitamin C onto surface of the prepared PMMA microsphere for application of cosmetic materials. The PMMA microsphere with various sizes can be obtained by change of reaction condition such as reaction temperature and reaction time. The coating of vitamin C on the surface of PMMA microsphere by using cyclodextrin as binder can be achieved to 30 wt-% in water/ethanol mixture. The vitamin C coated with cyclodextrin was stabilized during 56 days at $40^{\circ}C$. The color of the coated Vitamin C was changed from white to dark yellow after 14 days at $40^{\circ}C$. The vitamin C coated with cyclodextrin on the surface of PMMA microsphere can be sufficiently used for cosmetic materials.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 2023

Water chestnut is fruits of Trapa natans var. bispinosa grown wild in Korea. In this study, water chestnut was investigated for anti-pigmentation. Treatment with ethanolic extracts of water chestnut significantly reduced production of melanin in α-MSH simulated B16F10 cells. At 200 ㎍/mL ethanolic extracts of water chestnut, melanin contents were repressed by 43.26% compared to the control group. Additionally, ethanolic extracts of water chestnut reduced expression and activity of tyrosinase, key enzyme in melanogenesis, in α-MSH simulated B16F10 cells. Ethanolic extracts of water chestnut downregulated tyrosinase activity and expression to 23.65% and 62.35%, respectively. These results suggest that ethanolic extracts of water chestnut might be used as a promising whitening ingredients for inhibition of α-MSH-induced melanin synthesis and pigmentation.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2022

백리향(Thymus quinquecostatus)은 꿀풀과의 낙엽반관목으로 국내에서 자생하는 허브 식물 중 하나이다. 백리향은 특유의 좋은 향기 및 항산화, 항염증, 항균, 미백 등의 효능을 가지는 각종 폴리페놀 성분을 함유하고 있어 의약품이나 기능성 식품, 화장품의 천연 소재 원료로 활용되고 있다. 국내에서 백리향은 재배 환경에 맞추어 주로 고산지대의 노지에서 재배되고 있다. 노지 재배는 지역, 시기, 기후 등의 외부환경에 영향을 받아서 백리향의 유효성분, 품질 및 생산성을 안정적으로 유지하기 어렵다는 한계를 가지고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 스마트팜 시스템을 활용하여 백리향의 유효 성분 등을 안정적으로 얻기 위한 생장조건을 탐색하기 위해 4종의 Light Emitting Diode(LED) 광원과 4종의 토양 조성에 따라서 백리향의 생육조건을 수행하였다. LED는 white, purple, RGB1, RGB2를 사용하였으며, 토양은 상토:펄라이트 비율(상토, 5:1, 3:1, 1:1)로 조성하여 백리향 묘목을 이식한 뒤 생장과 개화시기를 분석하였다. 재배환경은 백리향 재배지의 기상 데이터를 참고하여 동일하게 설정하였으며, 총 8주 동안 생육상태를 관찰하였다. 연구 결과 백리향 재배 4주차에 일부 개체에서 봉오리가 올라오며 개화를 시작하였으며, 8주차에는 대부분의 조건에서 개화를 관찰할 수 있었다. 백리향의 지상부 면적을 비교한 결과 가장 우수한 생장을 보이는 조건은 토양은 3(상토):1(펄라이트) 비율로 분석되었다. 따라서 이번 연구 결과를 바탕으로 백리향 재배에 스마트팜 농업 기술을 활용한다면 기존 노지 재배 한계를 보완하여 안정적이고 지속적인 백리향을 생산할 수 있을것으로 기대된다.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2022

먹넌출은 국내에서 안면도에서만 자생하는 희귀식물로, 항산화, 미백, 항암 효능이 밝혀져 유용식물자원으로의 활용이 기대되나 IUCN(세계자연보전연맹) 기준 취약종(VU)으로 분류되어 생명자원의 현지 내, 현지외 보존 필요성이 크다. 따라서 본 연구는 먹넌출의 종자를 이용한 보존과 증식을 위해 기초자료를 확보하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 열매의 성숙도에 따른 형태적 특성과 활력 차이를 비교하고, 종자의 발아 조건 구명을 위해 휴면 종류와 발아 적온을 조사하였다. 먼저 열매 성숙도에 따른 형태적 특성과 활력 조사 결과, 열매가 부분적으로 성숙한 적색 단계는 완전히 성숙한 흑색 단계와 비교하여 종자 무게와 배길이에서 차이가 거의 나타나지 않았고 충실도가 80%, 충실 종자의 활력이 100%로 나타났다. 따라서 종자 채취 시 열매가 흑색으로 성숙하여 떨어지기 전인 적색 단계에서 채취하여도 종자를 이용한 증식에 문제가 없을 것으로 보인다. 또한 먹넌출 종자는 딱딱한 과피로 덮여있지만 수분 흡수를 가능하게 하는 조직을 가지고 있어 물리적 휴면에 해당하지 않았으나 생리적 휴면을 가지고 있었으며, 휴면 타파에는 GA3 1000ppm 처리가 가장 효과적이었다. 또한 발아 온도는 10℃ 12시간, 20℃ 12시간인 변온 조건에서 가장 높은 발아율을 보였다. 본 결과를 먹넌출 종자 수집과 증식에 참고 자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.627-633
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• 2012

$Microbulbifer$ sp. AJ-3 was used to acquire the degrading products from $Capsosiphon$ $fulvescens$ (DPCF), which were investigated to determine its physiological activities. A crude enzyme extract from $Microbulbifer$ sp. AJ-3 hydrolyzes polysaccharide substrates such as agar, agarose, alginic acid, fucoidan, laminaran, starch, and chitin. Among them, agarose, laminaran, and alginic acid showed higher activities, especially alginic acid. The antioxidant activity of DPCF was measured by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities and were about 32% and 93% at 2 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, the nitrite-scavenging activity of DPCF was about 82%, 53%, and 12% at pH levels of 1.2, 3.0, and 6.0, respectively. To determine the influence of DPCF on alcohol metabolism, the generating activity of reduced-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was measured. The facilitating rate of ADH activity by DPCF was 130% at 2 mg/ml. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of DPCF was slightly increased in a dose-dependent manner and was about 28% at 2 mg/ml. These results indicated that the enzymatic products from DPCF have a strong antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, and alcohol metabolizing activity.