• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.23-28
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• 2017

Arctigenin is the main active ingredient of Fructus Arctii, which has been reported with a variety of therapeutic activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-virus, and anti-obesity effects. In this study, a simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of arctigenin in rat plasma. The assay utilized a simple protein precipitation with methanol and the mobile phase consisted of 100% methanol and water containing 0.1% formic acid (65:35 v/v). Arctigenin and the internal standard (psoralen) were monitored using a positive electrospray turbo ionspray mode with multiple reaction monitoring transitions of m/z $373.2{\rightarrow}136.9$ and m/z $187.2{\rightarrow}130.9$, respectively, and total chromatographic run time was within 5 min. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of arctigenin was 5 ng/mL in the rat plasma. The intra- and inter-day accuracy of arctigenin at LLOQ and matrix-matched quality control samples ranged 97.4 - 104.8% and 97.2 - 102.0%, respectively. The intra-day precision was within 4.80% and the inter-day precision was within 5.92%. Application of the present method was demonstrated through a pharmacokinetic study after intravenous and oral administration of arctigenin in male Sprague Dawley rats.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2018

To determine the depth of preservative penetration in ACQ treated wood, the degree of penetration of Cu was measured. In this study, we developed a DDAC coloring method to investigate the penetration depth of DDAC, which is one of the active ingredient of ACQ, into wood. The following conclusions were obtained. The DDAC component reacts with a 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein indicator and results in a deep orange color. This orange coloring reaction appears not only in DDAC solutions but also in ACQ treated wood tissues in which DDAC is present. It is possible to visually verify that DDAC has better wood penetration than Cu in the spruce, which is an refractory wood species, by the DDAC coloring method developed this study. In addition to the results, it is necessary to investigate the difference in penetration of Cu and DDAC for other wood species with poor preservative penetration.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2006

Quantitative difference in five phenolic acids between white and red ginsengs was measured in this study. As the results, white ginseng has higher contents of cinnamic acid, quercetin and p-coumaric acid than red ginseng. Maltol was mainly included in red ginseng. These five compounds were recently reported to have tyrosinase inhibitory effects. These reports led us to investigate the de-pigmenting effect of ginseng products. In our examination of effect on tyrosinase activity, UV-protection and melanin production in melan-a cells, ethyl acetate traction of white ginseng extract and cinnamic acid showed potent de-pigmenting properties. The results indicated that white ginseng might be useful as skin whitening material and cinnamic acid proved to be one of active ingredient.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2002

Tests of stability and toxicity, and clinical evaluation of anti-acne activity suggest that cryptotanshinone, a constituent of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is an effective active ingredient for acne vulgaris treatments. Acne vulgaris, called acne or pimples, is the most common disease of the pilosebaceous follicle unit of the skin. It affects nearly 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30. Approximately 30% of teenagers have acne of sufficient severity to require medical treatment. Acne is a follicular disorder of the skin. It occurs in specialized pilosebaceous units on the face and body. Acne develops when these specialized follicles undergo pathologic alterations that result in the formation of non-inflammatory lesions (comedones) and inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules and nodules). An abnormality of keratinizing epithelium of these follicles, thought to be due to the action of sebum synthesized and secreted by the androgen-sensitive sebaceous glands, leads to inflammation induced by the follicular bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Therapy involves treatments that modify these pathogenic factors and includes drugs with antikeratinizing, antibacterial and antiseborrheic actions. Acne vulgaris is a very frequent disease, seen primarily in adolescents, involving the sebaceous follicles. Acne vulgaris is characterized by a great variety of clinical inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions: comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts and scars. Acne vulgaris is a multi-factorial disease. Although its pathogenicity is unclear, extensive studies have shown that hyperseborrhea, superinfection by P. acnes and endocrinologic androgenic changes play a role in the development of acne vulgaris.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.610-616
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• 2021

Background: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) acts as a master switch for inflammatory responses. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) which is an active ingredient of Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae) is known to possess various therapeutic effects. However, a modulatory effect of Rg3 on TSLP expression in the inflammatory responses remains poorly understood. Methods: We investigated antiinflammatory effects of Rg3 on an in vitro model using HMC-1 cells stimulated by PMA plus calcium ionophore (PMACI), as well as an in vivo model using PMA-induced mouse ear edema. TSLP and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or real-time PCR analysis. Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) expression levels were detected using Western blot analysis. Results: Rg3 treatment restrained the production and mRNA expression levels of TSLP and VEGF in activated HMC-1 cells. Rg3 down-regulated the MDM2 expression level increased by PMACI stimulation. The HIF1α expression level was also reduced by Rg3 in activated HMC-1 cells. In addition, Rg3-administered mice showed the decreased redness and ear thickness in PMA-irritated ear edema. Rg3 inhibited the TSLP and VEGF levels in the serum and ear tissue homogenate. Moreover, the MDM2 and HIF1α expression levels in the ear tissue homogenate were suppressed by Rg3. Conclusion: Taken together, the current study identifies new mechanistic evidence about MDM2/HIF1α pathway in the antiinflammatory effect of Rg3, providing a new effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of skin inflammatory diseases.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.463-471
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• 2021

As a tropical plant, the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has been used for a long time for disease and pest control and medical purposes. In this paper, we reviewed for the active ingredient of neem, the mode of action of azadirachtin in terms of insect growth regulation, repellent, feeding inhibition and oviposition against plant pests. And also we reviewed the current status of practical use in Korea. Among 57 products of neem-based eco-friendly organic agricultural materials distributed in Korea, seven products were certified for their efficacy. The average azadirachtin content of the seven products was 0.38%, which was 5.5 times less than the average content of 2.1% distributed worldwide. In the control effect on neem products in Korea, it showed some variation on aphids, but most showed a control effect of more than 90%. The treatment effects of Lycorma delicatula nymphs were 73-77%, and the control effects for thrips were obtained in the range of 50-72% mortality. The mortality effects against bug and moth species were generally low. It is expected that this review would provide important information necessary for the understanding of distributed neem products and the interpretation of experimental data.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.487-492
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• 2019

Nano flexible vesicles encapsulating an adenosine, an active ingredient for anti-wrinkle, were prepared for the transdermal delivery. The nano flexible vesicle is usually composed of phospholipid, ethanol, and lysolecithin, which is a type of liquid crystalline one made by dispersing the liquid crystalline phase formed through a hydration process into a water phase. In this study, the Taguchi method, one of the experimental design methods, was applied to investigate the factors affecting the vesicle droplet size. Signal to noise (S/N) ratios for the smaller the better characteristics of vesicle droplet size were calculated using the Taguchi orthogonal array. The composition of ethanol and lysolecithin in the vesicle constituents and the amount of aqueous solution added in the hydration process were main factors that had a great effect on the vesicle droplet size and ANOVA test showed that these factors were significant at 95% confidence level.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.421-430
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• 2019

Background: The ginsenoside Rg3, one of active components of red ginseng, has chemopreventive and anticancer potential. Cancer stem cells retain self-renewal properties which account for cancer recurrence and resistance to anticancer therapy. In our present study, we investigated whether the standardized Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) and Rg3 could modulate the manifestation of breast cancer stem cell-like features through regulation of self-renewal activity. Methods: The effects of RGE and Rg3 on the proportion of $CD44^{high}/CD24^{low}$ cells, as representative characteristics of stem-like breast cancer cells, were determined by flow cytometry. The mammosphere formation assay was performed to assess self-renewal capacities of breast cancer cells. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity of MCF-7 mammospheres was measured by the ALDEFLUOR assay. The expression levels of Sox-2, Bmi-1, and P-Akt and the nuclear localization of hypoxia inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ in MCF-7 mammospheres were verified by immunoblot analysis. Results: Both RGE and Rg3 decreased the viability of breast cancer cells and significantly reduced the populations of $CD44^{high}/CD24^{low}$ in MDA-MB-231 cells. RGE and Rg3 treatment attenuated the expression of Sox-2 and Bmi-1 by inhibiting the nuclear localization of hypoxia inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ in MCF-7 mammospheres. Suppression of the manifestation of breast cancer stem cell-like properties by Rg3 was mediated through the blockade of Akt-mediated self-renewal signaling. Conclusion: This study suggests that Rg3 has a therapeutic potential targeting breast cancer stem cells.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the feasibility of Salix gracilistyla production for cosmetic use through mycelial fermentation. The efficacy of this method was confirmed by fermentation using the mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum (a representative medicinal mushroom). Total polyphenol and flavonoid content and DPPH radical scavenging activity of S. gracilistyla extract (SGE) were found to be higher than those of G. lucidum fermented S. gracilistyla extract (GLSGE). GLSGE had relatively lower collagenase activity than SGE. However, GLSGE increased HDFn cell viability more potently than SGE, and increased the biosynthesis of type I procollagen. Thus, GLSGE could be used as an anti-aging cosmetic active ingredient. These results indicate that extract fermentation using G. lucidum mycelia can effectively enhance some beneficial effects of functional materials.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2019

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Scutellariae Radix) has been widely used as a dietary ingredient and traditional herbal medicine such as diuretic, hyperlipidemia, antibacterial, anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. In this study, the isolation of biomarkers or bioactive compounds from complex S. baicalensis extracts represents an essential step for de novo identification and bioactivity assessment. The bioactive fraction consisted of eight compounds which was chromatographed on an analytical high performance liquid chromatography column using two different gradient runs. A simulative replacement of the analytical column with a medium pressure liquid chromatography and open column allowed the determination of gradient profile to allow sufficient separation in the preparative scale. From the optimized method, eight standard compounds have been identified in the fractions. In addition, MS, UV, HRMS detection was provided by ultraperformance liquid chromatographyequadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTof-MS) of all fractions. Therefore, this scale up procedure was successfully applied to a S. baicalensis extract.