• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.62-81
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• 2017

Objectives: As interests in the beauty of skin is growing continuously, more people are focusing on white and clean skin. Melanin is the major factor that determines skin color. The abnormal concentration of melanin causes various skin diseases such as vitiligo, freckles, and melasma. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of Eriobotryae Folium extracts (EF) with phreatic water (PW) on the melanin synthesis. Methods: The effect of EF on melanin synthesis was evaluated by using mouse melanoma cells (B16F10). To define the mechanisms, real-time PCR and western blot were used. We also evaluated the inhibitory effects of EF and PW on melanin synthesis by using HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice. After UVB irradiation, melanin differences between the skin parts that were treated and untreated with EF and PW. Levels of mRNA were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and histological analysis of the dorsal skin was conducted by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: EF inhibited various mechanisms of melanogenesis, and the effect was increased when combined with PW. In vitro experiments have shown that EF inhibited the expressions of tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) mRNA, tyrosinase mRNA, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) mRNA and the tyrosinase inhibitory activation, but it stimulated the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) mRNA expression. In vivo experiments have shown that EF prevented melanogenesis in the mice dorsal skin and inhibited TRP-1 mRNA expression. Also these effects were increased when combined with PW. Conclusions: EF and PW might be a new and effective treatment for whitening and treating pigmentation of skin.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

Anoectochilus formosanus, commonly known as "Jewel Orchids", which has been used in traditional folk medicines for feber, pain, and diseases of the lung and liver in Taiwan. We artificially cultured Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet by using the bioreactor culture system for this study from Anoectochilus formosanus. Previously, several studies have been reported on pharmacological activities of lipid-metabolism, hepatoprotective activity, anti-tumor activity and immuno-stimulating effects but other efficacy were not well known as a cosmetic ingredient for skin care. In this study, we investigated the effect of melanogenesis in B16 mouse melanoma cells and lipid droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes about Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet extract. We report that Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet extract inhibits the cytoplasmic lipid droplet accumulation through adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes as well as inhibition of tyorsinase activity and melanogenesis. As a result, our findings indicate that Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet extract may be the potential natural ingredient for whitening and slimming cosmetic products.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2018

Cancer preventive activities of green tea and its main constituent, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been extensively studied by scientists all over the world. Since 1983, we have studied the cancer chemopreventive effects of EGCG as well as green tea extract and underlying molecular mechanisms. The first part of this review summarizes groundbreaking topics with EGCG and green tea extract: 1) Delayed cancer onset as revealed by a 10-year prospective cohort study, 2) Prevention of colorectal adenoma recurrence by a double-blind randomized clinical phase II trial, 3) Inhibition of metastasis of B16 melanoma cells to the lungs of mice, 4) Increase in the average value of Young's moduli, i.e., cell stiffness, for human lung cancer cell lines and inhibition of cell motility and 5) Synergistic enhancement of anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines with the combination of EGCG and anticancer compounds. In the second part, we became interested in cancer stem cells (CSCs). 1) Cancer stem cells in mouse skin carcinogenesis by way of introduction, after which we discuss two subjects from our review on human CSCs reported by other investigators gathered from a search of PubMed, 2) Expression of stemness markers of human CSCs compared with their parental cells, and 3) EGCG decreases or increases the expression of mRNA and protein in human CSCs. On this point, EGCG inhibited self-renewal and expression of pluripotency-maintaining transcription factors in human CSCs. Human CSCs are thus a target for cancer prevention and treatment with EGCG and green tea catechins.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.419-425
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to estimate the inhibition of skin melanin formation by extract of Angelica koreana and Cnidium monnieri and the possibility of functional cosmetic materials through anti-irritation and stability test. The extract used in this experiment is White-$AK^{TM}$ and the INCI name is Osthole. The main component of White-$AK^{TM}$ was identified as coumarin and EC50 value was 2.7ppm by mouse melanoma B 16 cell test. White-$AK^{TM}$ showed inhibitory effects 100 times lower concentration than arbutin. The main mechanism for skin whitening effect thought to be inhibition of tyrosinase-related gene expression. The basic essence formulation of White-$AK^{TM}$ 5% solution applied to the skin showed the effect of relieving skin irritation. White-$AK^{TM}$ in an opaque container, under UV conditions for 4 weeks, and showed close to 100% recovery and 97% recovery under $50^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks. Therefore, it is thought that White-$AK^{TM}$ which helps skin whitening, relieving skin irritation and stable in UV condition is able to be used as the functional component in the cosmetic formulation.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2015

Herbal plant extracts are good resources to find functional compounds for cosmetic ingredient. In this study, the extract of Areca semen (A. semen) was studied for melanogenesis inhibition and antioxidant activity. The results showed that ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen contained phenolic contents, $301.35{\pm}0.88{\mu}g/mg$, and exhibited potent antioxidant activity with $IC_{50}$ value of $1.02{\pm}0.07{\mu}g/mg$. Further, FRAP value exhibited potent antioxidant activity with $9.07{\pm}0.36mM$. Disk diffusion assay was performed for antibacterial activity. Ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) at $80{\mu}g/mL$, whereas it showed no significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results of cell viability indicated that ethyl acetate fraction did not show cytotoxicity to B16/F1 cells at $80{\mu}g/mL$ and showed significant cytotoxicity at $100{\mu}g/mL$ of concentration and showed inhibition of melanin synthesis inhibitory, $29.78{\pm}0.31%$ at $80{\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, mRNA expressions of tyrosinase and MITF were decreased after treatment with ethyl acetate fraction in a dose-dependent manner. As a result, the ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen could be considered as potential as whitening agents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.358-368
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• 2023

Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb., also known as the arrow tree in Korea, is a plant in East Asia used in traditional medicine and food. In particular, the wings of E. alatus are rich in phenolic compounds. This study evaluated the antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibition, and anti-cancer activities of E. alatus wing extracts. The radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging acitvities and reducing the power of 1,000 ㎍/mL E. alatus wing extracts, were similar to those of the positive control (0.1% BHT, 0.1% α-tocopherol). In addition, ethanol and methanol extract at 250 ㎍/mL showed 95.70 and 94.99% of α-glucosidase inhibition activity, respectively. The ethanol extract of E. alatus wings had the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents (867.8 mg% and 521.7 mg%, respectively). The E. alatus wing extracts significantly decreased the cell viability of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells (p<0.001), MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells (p<0.001), and HT-29 human colon cancer cells (p<0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was no significant effect on B16 mouse melanoma cells. Notably, the ethanol extracts showed higher cancer cell growth inhibitory activity in LNCaP and HT-29 cells than the other extracts. These results suggest that E. alatus wing extracts could have significant clinical applications, and our results can be used as basic data for future functional food material development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.98-98
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• 2003

${\beta}$-(1,3)-D-Glucans have been known to exhibit antitumor and antimicrobial activities. The presence of dectin-1,${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$-glucan receptor of dendritic cell, on macrophage has been controvertial. RT-PCR analysis led to the detection of dectin-1${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ in murine macrophage Raw264.7 cell line. Among the various organs of mouse, dectin-1${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ were detected in the thymus, lung, spleen, stomach and intestine. To analyze gene expression modulated by ${\beta}$-glucan treated murine Raw264.7 macrophage, total mRNA was applied to cDNA microarray to interrogate the expression of 7,000 known genes. cDNA chip analysis showed that ${\beta}$-glucan of P. osteatus increased gene expressions of immunomodulating genes, membrane antigenic proteins, chemokine ligands, complements, cytokines, various kinases, lectin associated genes and oncogenes in Raw 264.7 cell line. When treated with ${\beta}$-glucan of P. osteatus and LPS, induction of gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-R1 was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Induction of TNF-R type II expression was confirmed by FACS analysis. IL-6 expression was abolished by EDTA in ${\beta}$-glucan and LPS treated Raw264.7 cell line, indicating that ${\beta}$-glucan binds to dectin-l in a Ca$\^$＋＋/ -dependent manner. To increase antitumor efficacy of ${\beta}$-glucan, ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) was co-treated with ${\beta}$-glucan in vivo and in vitro tests. IC$\sub$50/ values of GRh2 were 20 and 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ in SNU-1 and B16 melanoma F10 cell line, respectively. Co-treatment with ${\beta}$-glucan and GRh2 showed synergistic antitumor activity with cisplatin and mitomycin C both in vitro and in vivo. Single or co-treatment with ${\beta}$-glucan and GRh2 increased tumor bearing mouse life span. Co-treatment with ${\beta}$-glucan and GRh2 showed more increased life span with mitomycin C than that with cisplatin. Antitumor activities were 67% and 72 % by co-injection with ${\beta}$-glucan and GRh2 in the absence or presence of mitomycin C, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2002

An antitumor substance was purified from the culture filtrate of phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola SW-3 isolated from soil of a chinese cabbage patch, and its characteristics were investigated. Antitumor activity of A. brassicicola SW-3 was measured by MTT assay. The cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell line was detected in the culture filtrate of A. brassicicola SW-3, but no activity found in mycelium. Antitumor substance was isolated from the culture broth by ethyl acetate extraction and purified by silica gel column chromatography. Structure of the purified compound was analyzed by the instrumental analysis such as $^1$H-NMR, $^{13}$ C-NMR and IR spectroscopy. The purified fungal metabolite of an A. brassicicola SW-3, consists of 11 carbon chain with two hydroxyl groups and two epoxides which is identical to depudecin. The $IC_{50}$/ values of the active compound identified as depudecin were $69\mu$g/mL and $57\mu$g/mL against mouse melanoma B16BL6 cell line, and human hepatoma SK-HEP1 cell line, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1369-1378
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• 2018

Prunus mume Siebold & Zucc., a member of the Rosaceae family (called Maesil in Korea), has been widely distributed in East Asia, e.g. Korea, Japan and China, and its fruit has been used as a traditional drug and health food. In this study, we evaluated physicochemical properties and physiological activities of condensed Prunus mume juice treated with pectinase (PJ). The values of total acidity, pH, sugar contents, turbidity moisture content of the PJ were 35.81%, 2.73, $54.36^{\circ}Brix$, 2.75 and 51.32%, respectively. The PJ had effective DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power effect, $H_2O_2$ scavenging activity and ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching effect. DPPH radical scavenging activities of PJ was 46.31%; their reducing power ($OD_{700}$) was 1.80; $H_2O_2$ scavenging activity of PJ was 91.62%; and ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching effect of PJ was 73.02%. Also, PJ showed effective levels of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity. The cell viability was measured by SRB assay. The PJ significantly decreased the cell viability of mouse melanoma cells (B16) and human melanoma cells (SK-MEL-2 and SK-MEL-28) in a dose-dependent manner, however, there was no effect on human keratinocyte HaCaT. In morphological study, PJ-treated SK-MEL-2 cells showed distorted and shrunken cell masses. Total polyphenol contents and total flavonoid contents of PJ were 588.31 mg% (gallic acid equivalent) and 860.45 mg% (rutin equivalent). The antiproliferative effect of PJ seems to be associated with the antioxidant activity of its flavonoid and polyphenol contents. In conclusion, PJ may be beneficial in development of a functional food material.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.21-22
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• 2019

Melanin is a mixture of pigmented biopolymers synthesized by epidermal melanocytes that determine the skin, eye, and hair colors. Melanocytes produce two different kinds of melanin, eumelanin (dark brown/black insoluble pigments found in dark skin and dark hair and pheomelanin (lighter red/yellow). The biological role of melanin is to prevent skin damage by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, the overproduction or deficiency of melanin synthesis could lead to serious dermatological problems, which include melasma, melanoderma, lentigo, and vitiligo. Therefore, regulating melanin production is important to prevent the pigmentation disorders. Myanmar has a rich in natural resources. However, the chemical constituents of these natural resources in Myanmar have not been fully investigated. In the effort to search for compounds with anti-melanin deposition activity from Myanmar natural resources, five plants were collected in Myanmar. Extracts of these collected five plants were tested for anti-melanin deposition activity against a mouse melanoma cell line (B16-F10) induced with ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), and their anti-melanin deposition activities were compared with the positive control, arbutin. Among the tested extracts, the CHCl3 extracts of the Premna serratifolia (syn: P. integrifolia) wood showed anti-melanin deposition activities with IC50 values of $81.3{\mu}g/mL$. Hence, this study aims to identify secondary metabolites with anti-melanin deposition activity from P. serratifolia wood of Myanmar. P. serratifolia belongs to the Verbenaceae family and is widely distributed in near western sea coast from South Asia to South East Asia, which include India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. People in Tanintharyi region located in the southern part of Myanmar utilize the P. serratifolia, Sperethusa crenulata, Naringi crenulata, and Limonia acidissima as Thanaka, traditional cosmetics in Myanmar. Thanaka is applied in the form of paste onto skins to make it smooth and clear, as well as to prevent wrinkles, skin aging, excessive facial oil, pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. However, the chemical constituents responsible for their cosmetic properties are yet to be identified. Moreover, the chemical constituents of P. serratifolia was almost uncharacterized. Investigation of the P. serratifolia chemical constituents is thus an attractive endeavor to discover new anti-melanin deposition active compounds. The investigation of the chemical constituents of the active CHCl3 extract of P. serratifolia led to isolation of four new lignoids, premnan A (1), premnan B (2), taungtangyiol C (3), and 7,9-dihydroxydolichanthin B (4), together with premnan C (5) (assumed to be an artifact), one natural newlignoid,(3R,4S)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylcarbonyl)-3-[(R)-1-(1,3-benzo dioxol-5-yl)-1-hydroxy methyl]tetrahydro-2-furanone (6), and five known compounds (7-11)1,2). The structures of all isolated compounds were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data and by comparison with the reported literatures. The absolute configurations of 1-3 and 5 were also determined by optical rotation and circular dichroism (CD) data analyses1). The anti-melanin deposition activities of all the isolated compounds were evaluated against B16-F10 cell line. 7,9-Dihydroxydolichanthin B (4) and ($2{\alpha},3{\alpha}$)-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (11) showed strong anti-melanin deposition activities with IC50 values of 18.4 and $11.2{\mu}M$, respectively, without cytotoxicity2). On the other hand, compounds 1-3, 5, and 7 showed melanogenesis enhancing activities1). To better understand their anti-melanin deposition mechanism, the effects of 4 and 11 on tyrosinase activities were investigated. The assay indicated that compounds 4 and 11 did not inhibit tyrosinase. Furthermore, we also examined the mRNA expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2). Compounds 4 and 11 down-regulated the expression of Tyr and Mitf mRNAs, respectively. Although the P. serratifolia wood has been used as traditional cosmetics in Myanmar for centuries, there are no scientific evidences to support its effectiveness as cosmetics. Investigation of the anti-melanin deposition activity of the chemical constituents of P. serratifolia thus provided insight into the effectiveness of the P. serratifolia wood as a cosmetic agent.