• Title/Summary/Keyword: Environmental diseases

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Neural and Cholinergic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from the Human Umbilical Cord Blood (인간 제대혈액에서 유래된 중간엽 줄기세포의 신경 및 콜린성 분화)

  • Kam, Kyung-Yoon;Kang, Ji-Hye;Do, Byung-Rok;Kim, Hea-Kwon;Kang, Sung-Goo
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.235-243
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    • 2007
  • Human umbilical cord blood(HUCB) contains a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cell precursors. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) in HUCB are multipotent stem cells, differ from hematopoietic stem cells and can be differentiated into neural cells. We studied on transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells and cholinergic neuron induction of HUCB-derived MSCs. Neural differentiation was induced by addingdimethyl sulphoxide(DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole(BHA) in Dulbeco's Modified Essential Medium(DMEM) and fetal bovine serum(FBS). Differentiation of MSCs to cholinergic neurons was induced by combined treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF), retinoic acid(RA) and sonic hedgehog(Shh). MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly assumed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and MBP, was markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. The differentiation rate was about $32.3{\pm}2.9%$ for $\beta$-tubulin III-positive cells, $11.0{\pm}0.9%$ for GFAP, and $9.4{\pm}1.0%$ for Gal-C. HUCB-MSCs treated combinatorially with bFGF, RA and Shh were differentiated into cholinergic neurons. After cholinergic neuronal differentiation, the $\beta$-tubulin III-positive cell population of total cells was $31.3{\pm}3.2%$ and of differentiated neuronal population, $70.0{\pm}7.8%$ was ChAT-positive showing 3 folds higher in cholinergic population than neural induction. Conclusively, HUCB-derived MSCs can be differentiated into neural and cholinergic neurons and these findings suggest that HUCB are alternative cell source of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

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Dietary Life Status of Korean Prisoners' and the Background during the Period of Japanese Ruling (일제하(日帝下)(1920년대) 조선인수형인(朝鮮人受刑人)의 식생활상황(食生活狀況)과 그 배경(背景))

  • Kim, Chon-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.56-68
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    • 2003
  • The objects of this study are to find out (1) real situation of the food supply in prison under Imperial Government of Japan more cleary (historical meaning) and (2) which might help in understanding wrong present food consumption patterns in Korea which causes environmental as well as health problems. It is generally known that the length of the Japanese occupation for Korea is 36 years. However, it is concluded in this study that it was longer (70 years ; from 1875 to 1945 from when Japanese Army attacked and occupied Yungjongdo and Kanghwado island to e time when they were defeated on World War II.) Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910 then the Imperial Government of Japan dismissed the Korea Army, controlled the Office of Justice and the management of prison by force. Since then about 50% of all land was fell into Japanese Government ownership and 80% of Korean farmers became as tenant. After this change, Korea farmers were forced to pay extremely high rent (up to 80% of its harvest). Forced immigration, low price procurement of grain by Japanese government up to more than 30%of their production, was practiced. Accordingly, the food situation of Korean farmers became miserable, which may caused more violations of Imperial Japanese Law. Malnutrition, epidemic diseases, mortality rate of infants soared and average life expectancy shortened to 20-30 years old. This was the period of World Economic Crises and Food Crises in Japan. It was said then that if one Japanese comes to Korea then 200 Koreans will starved to death. Meanwhile, Proconsul Bureau of Chosun requested to the Department of Medicine, the Imperial University of Kyungsung to survey food supply situation of Koreans in prison throughout Korea. Objectives of the survey then was not only to find out scientifically whether it is agreeable in maintaining prisoner's health and also find out the possibility to save food during food crisis. Survey was started from 1923 and ended in 1945, and it focussed on prisoners in the Seodaemoon Prison. This report is the outcome of the first survey. They concluded that the food supplied was nutritionally (had) no problem, in compare with those of workers in the factory, students in the dormitory in Japan and with those of prisoners in Taiwan, France and Germany. Amount of grain supplied were different according to their work lord and was divided into 9 different levels. Total grain was consisted of 50% millet, 30% soybean and 20% indica rice(variety). However, there were no difference in the amount of supply of side dishes between work groups. For the highest working group, 3280g of boiled grain per day was supplied to make stomach full but as a side dishes, salty fermented bean paste, fermented fish and salty soups, etc. was supplied. Deficiency of animal protein were observed, however, high intake of soybean may possibly caused animal protein deficiency problem. On the contrary, the intake of water soluble vitamins were insufficient but the level of calcium and iron intake seems to be sufficient, however, imbalance of intake of nutrition may caused low absorbtion rate which might caused malnutrition. High intake of dietary fiber and low intake of cholesterol may possibly prohibited them from so called modem disease but may caused the defect in disease resistancy againist epidemics and other traditional disease. Over intake of salt(20-30g per day) was observed. Surveyors who attended in this survey, mentioned that the amount of food intake may nutritionally be sufficient enough but the quality of food(and possibly, the taste of food) were like that of animal feed. For the officials who received this report might consider that considering the war situation and food crisis, the supply situation of food in the prison may considered to be good enough(because they are not starving). But as a Korean who studied this report, one feel extremely pity about those situation because (situation of) those period were very harsh under the Imperial Law and keeping the Law by Koreans were almost impossible, therefore, about one third adult violated the Law and were put into jail. And they were treated like animals.

A Survey on the 'House Diseases' for Vinyl House Cultivation Farmers (비닐하우스 재배농민에 대한 'house병'의 실태 조사)

  • Jen Jae-Kynn
    • The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.21-32
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    • 1996
  • This study was conducted in an attempt to grasp the health problems and environmental situation of the farmers and their vinyl houses. The study was done between Aug. 10, 1995 and Sep. 10, 1995, for one month period. with two hundred and nine vinyl house cultivation farmers chosen at random as subjects in five areas in and around Kim Chun City. The following are the results of the study carried out through direct interviews and surveys with the subjects : 1. The career of farming on vinyl house facilities by sex(male vs female) averages 17.29 and 15.08 years is shorter than that of general farmer's average of 31.24 and 25.58 years(P<0.05). Hours of labor between the two are silimar : monthly labor hours for vinyl house farmers are average 28 and 27.52 days. longer than the general farmers' average of 26.57 and 25.95 hours respectively. 2. The comp aints of physical symptoms among the vinyl house farmers range from lumbago, shoulder pain dullness in the limbs and dizziness, which show no remarkable differences from those of general farmers. 3. The frequency of application of chemicals on vinyl house forming for a period of one year averages 23.79, three times as often as the general farmer's average or 8.36(P<0.05). In the addiction rate of chemicals, too, the vinyl house farmer stowed a higher percentage of $9.09\%$ over the general farmer's $1.24\%$(P<0.01). 4. In temperature, humidity and disconfort indices of in and outside of the vinyl house, room temperature is on an average $34.6{\pm}5.05^{\circ}C,\;11.7^{\circ}C$ higher than that of outside, while in humidity inside was lower than outside by $10.6\%$ point, $65.9\%$ over $76.5\%$. The discomfort index was higher inside by $83{\pm}4.61\;vs\;70.64{\pm}5.61$. 5. The status of physical treatment over the past one year shows : for vinyl house farmers-physiotheraphy$(43.06\%)$, pharmacy$(24.04\%)$, clinic(18.66%), herbal medicine(574%) : for general farmers-pharmacy$(34.16\%)$, Physiotherapy$(27.33\%)$, Clinic$(18.63\%)$, Folk Medicine$(11.18\%)$ (P<0.01).

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An Investigation of Glyceollin I's Inhibitory Effect on The Mammalian Adenylyl (글리세올린 I의 아데니닐 고리화 효소 활성 억제 효능과 결합 부위 비교 분석)

  • Kim, Dong-Chan;Kim, Nam Doo;Kim, Sung In;Jang, Chul-Soo;Kweon, Chang Oh;Kim, Byung Weon;Ryu, Jae-Ki;Kim, Hyun-Kyung;Lee, Suk Jun;Lee, Seungho;Kim, Dongjin
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.23 no.5
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    • pp.609-615
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    • 2013
  • Glyceollin I has gained attention as a useful therapy for various dermatological diseases. However, the binding property of glyceollin I to the mammalian adenylyl cyclase (hereafter mAC), a critical target enzyme for the down-regulation of skin melanogenesis, has not been fully explored. To clarify the action mechanism between glyceollin I and mAC, we first investigated the molecular docking property of glyceollin I to mAC and compared with that of SQ22,536, a well-known mAC inhibitor, to mAC. Glyceollin I showed superiority by forming three hydrogen bonds with Asp 1018, Trp 1020, and Asn 1025, which exist in the catalytic site of mAC. However, SQ22,536 formed only two hydrogen bonds with Asp 1018 and Asn 1025. Secondly, we confirmed that glyceollin I effectively inhibits the formation of forskolin-induced cAMP and the phosphorylation of PKA from a cell-based assay. Long term treatment with glyceollin I had little effect on the cell viability. The findings of the present study also suggest that glyceollin I may be extended to be used as an effective inhibitor of hyperpigmentation.

A Protection Management Characteristic and Preservation Plan of World Heritage Mt. Huangshan (세계유산 황산의 보호관리 특성 및 보전방안)

  • Shin, Hyun-Sil
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.36 no.1
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    • pp.120-128
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study is to establish basic data for the continuous protection management policy of domestic natural world heritage and mixed world heritage, and to examine the present situation and characteristics of the protection management according to the World Heritage Convention on the World Heritage listed Huangshan. The results of this study are as follows. First, Huangshan began to be protected by the establishment of the Huangshan Construction Committee in 1933, and after the designation of national park in 1982, laws and regulations were established in the central ministries, And various projects related to utilization have been implemented. Secondly, the establishment of the boundary for protection was actively intervened by the central government, such as the reorganization of the boundary of Huangshan through the administrative district plan. In order to protect the ecological and landscape value as well as the cultural factor, And designated a heritage designated area. Third, the protection management of Huangshan was divided into four major stages. The first phase was divided into the period when administrative measures were taken to manage the protection of Huangshan. The second phase was designated as a national park in Huangshan. The third period was the time of the protection-oriented project according to the recommendation of the international organizations after the World Heritage listed. The fourth period was the expansion of the tourism industry for the continuous use of protection of Huangshan city, My preservation business was being implemented. Fourth, Huangshan is managed by the central government and the city government. Huangshan, which is a mixed heritage, is managed jointly by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Natural Heritage Administration. The protection and management of Huangshan promoted the efficiency and expertise of the heritage-related work through the establishment of the administrative unit-specific management system, and the local governments were entrusted with the authority to implement the protection management policies that meet local characteristics. Fifth, the preservation area of Huangshan has been destroyed by the development policy centered on the mountain. In addition, according to the operation of accommodation facilities, there are problems such as sewage, garbage disposal, and environmental pollution caused by tourists, and the damage caused by pests and diseases in planted plantations around the area and changes in ecosystem due to the composition of cable cars. Sixth, for the continuous protection of Huangshan, strict regulations on new construction, extension and management of accommodation are required, and it is necessary to install facilities to limit and control the number of visitors.

A Case Study for the Utilization of Food Safety Health Indicators in Korea: Computation of Composite Indices to Verify Important Indicators and Understand Correlations with Socioeconomic Status (우리나라 식품안전보건지표를 활용한 사례연구: 다양한 통합지수 산출을 통한 주요 지표 확인 및 사회경제적 지위와의 상관성 파악)

  • Choi, Giehae;Byun, Garam;Lee, Jong-Tae
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.227-235
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    • 2015
  • Food-Health indicators have been developed and utilized internationally in the 'Food' domain of environment and health indicators. In Korea, however, Food Safety Health Indicators which are in the introductory stage had been developed separately from Environmental Health Indicators. The aim of the current study is to suggest feasible applications of the domestic Food Safety Health Indicators as a case study. We introduced 3 possible applications which are as follows: 1) production of two types of Integrated Food Safety Health Index; 2) conduction of correlation analysis between the Integrated Food Safety Health Index and Food Safety Health Indicators; 3) conduction of regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between the Integrated Food Safety Health Index and socioeconomic status. As a result, we provided the calculated Integrated Food Safety Health Index I and Integrated Food Safety Health Index II, which represents the regional food safety level in relative and absolute terms, respectively. Integrated Food Safety Health Index I was significantly correlated with the outbreaks of food-borne diseases (caused by Campylobacter jejuni, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella spp. and unknown cause) and incidence of E.coli infections. Integrated Food Safety Health Index II significantly decreased as the proportion of foreigners and women increased, and increased as the population density increased. Utilization of such Integrated Food Safety Health Indicators may be helpful in understanding the overall domestic food safety level and identifying the indicators which must be considered with priorities to enhance the food safety levels regionally and domestically. Furthermore, analyzing the association between Integrated Food Safety Health Index and factors other than food safety could be useful in conducting risk management and identifying susceptible populations. Food Safety Health Indicators can be useful in other applications, and may serve as a supporting material in establishing or modifying policy plans to enhance food safety. Therefore, keen interests by researchers accompanied by further studies on food safety health indicators are needed.

A Study on the Protection of Personal Information in the Medical Service Act (의료법의 개인정보보호에 관한 연구)

  • Sung, Soo-Yeon
    • The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.75-103
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    • 2020
  • There is a growing voice that medical information should be shared because it can prepare for genetic diseases or cancer by analyzing and utilizing medical information in big data or artificial intelligence to develop medical technology and improve patient care. The utilization and protection of patients' personal information are the same as two sides of the same coin. Medical institutions or medical personnel should take extra caution in handling personal information with high environmental distinct characteristics and sensitivity, which is different from general information processors. In general, the patient's personal information is processed by medical personnel or medical institutions through the processes of collection, creation, and destruction. Still, the use of terms related to personal information in the Medical Service Act is jumbled, or the scope of application is unclear, so it relies on the interpretation of precedents. For the medical personnel or the founder of the medical institution, in the case of infringement of Article 24(4), it cannot be regarded that it means only medical treatment information among personal information, whether or not it should be treated the same as the personal information under Article 23, because the sensitive information of patients is recorded, saved, and stored in electronic medical records. Although the prohibition of information leakage under Article 19 of the Medical Service Act has a revision; 'secret' that was learned in business was revised to 'information', but only the name was changed, and the benefit and protection of the law is the same as the 'secret' of the criminal law, such that the patient's right to self-determination of personal information is not protected. The Privacy Law and the Local Health Act consider the benefit and protection of the law in 'information learned in business' as the right to self-determination of personal information and stipulate the same penalties for personal information infringement such as leakage, forgery, alteration, and damage. The privacy regulations of the Medical Service Act require that the terms be adjusted uniformly because the jumbled use of terms can confuse information subjects, information processors, and shows certain limitations on the protection of personal information because the contents or scope of the regulations of the Medical Service Law for special corporations and the Privacy Law may cause confusion in interpretation. The patient's personal information is sensitive and must be safely protected in its use and processing. Personal information must be processed in accordance with the protection principle of Privacy Law, and the rights such as privacy, freedom, personal rights, and the right to self-determination of personal information of patients or guardians, the information subject, must be guaranteed.

Assessment of Productivity and Vulnerability of Climate Impacts of Forage Corn (Kwangpyeongok) Due to Climate Change in Central Korea (국내 중부지역에 있어서 기후변화에 따른 사료용 옥수수의 생산성 및 기후영향취약성 평가)

  • Chung, Sang Uk;Sung, Si Heung;Zhang, Qi-Man;Jung, Jeong Sung;Oh, Mirae;Yun, Yeong Sik;Seong, Hye Jin;Moon, Sang Ho
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.105-113
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    • 2019
  • A two-year study was conducted from 2017 to 2018 by the establishment of a test field at Chungju-si and Cheongyang-gun. Plant height, number of leaves, insects and diseases, and fresh and dry matter yields for corn hybrid('Kwangpyeongok') were investigated. Daily average, maximum, and minimum temperature, monthly average temperature, daily precipitation, and sunshine duration during the growing season were investigated. We selected climate-critical factors to corn productivity and conducted an evaluation of vulnerability to climate change from 1999 to 2018 for both regions. In 2018, the dry matter yield of forage corn was 6,475 and 7,511 kg/ha in Chungju and Cheongyang, respectively, which was half of that in 2017. The high temperature and drought phenomenon in the 2018 summer caused the corn yield to be low. As well as temperature, precipitation is an important climatic factor in corn production. As a result of climate impact vulnerability assessment, the vulnerability has increased recently compared to the past. It is anticipated that if the high temperature phenomenon and drought caused by climate change continues, a damage in corn production will occur.

Proanthocyanidins Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Inflammatory Responses via Heme Oxygenase-1 Induction in RAW264.7 Macrophages (프로안토시아니딘의 항염증효과)

  • Cheon, Hye-Jin;Park, Sun Young;Jang, Hee-Ji;Cho, Da-Young;Jung, Jiwon;Park, Gimin;Jeong, Kyeong Mi;Kim, Jin-Kyung
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.484-491
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    • 2019
  • Proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds abundant in many vegetables, plant skins (rind/bark), seeds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated myriad effects potentially beneficial to human health, such as antioxidation, immunomodulation, DNA repair, and antitumor activity. Among immune cells, macrophages are crucial players in a variety of inflammatory responses to environmental conditions. However, it has been widely reported that macrophages cause chronic inflammation and are involved in a variety of diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. In this study, we report the suppressive effect of proanthocyanidins via the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-related system, on the immune response of the LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Increased HO-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels were found in proanthocyanidins-treated RAW264.7 cells. Further, proanthocyanidins enhanced nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 translocation into the nucleus. RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without proanthocyanidins, and inflammatory mediator expression levels were assessed. Proanthocyanidins treatment resulted in the attenuation of nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6, was inhibited by proanthocyanidins treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These findings support proanthocyanidins as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

Studies on Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Whitening Effects of Oriental Herbal Extracts (Mix) including Eucommiae cortex (두충을 포함하는 한방추출물(Mix)의 항노화, 항염, 미백 효능 활성에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Da Hee;Kim, Mi Ran;Kim, Min Young;Kim, Ho Hyun;Park, Sun-Young;Hwang, Hyung Seo
    • Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.37-47
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    • 2019
  • Recently, due to the increase in skin diseases caused by particulate matter, endocrine disruptor and environmental changes, the trend of development of cosmetic materials has been shifting to the more safe and effective ingredients based on natural materials rather than existing synthetic compounds like steroids and antihistamines. This study aimed to develop a new natural cosmetic materials using oriental herbs such as Eucommiae cortex, Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel and Bombyx batryticatus. First, DPPH assay was performed to examine the antioxidative activity of the herbal extract (Mix) and 98.8% DPPH radical scavenging activity was confirmed at $400{\mu}g/mL$ concentration of it. In order to confirm the whitening efficacy of oriental herbal extracts(mix), the amount of melanin synthesized after stimulation of ${\alpha}-MSH$ with B16F10 cells was measured. Results showed that it was decreased to 27.1% comparing with the only ${\alpha}-MSH$ treated group, which confirmed the whitening efficacy. Also, both nitric oxide(NO) production and iNOS and COX-2 expression were significantly reduced in RAW264.7 macrophages activated by LPS in the presence of the extracts(Mix). The mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines such as $IL-1{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ was also analyzed to confirm the inhibition effect of the extracts on inflammation. Finally, to confirm the enhancement of skin barrier function, the expression of claudin 1 gene, a tight junction protein, was observed using human keratinocyte HaCaT cells and increased as concentration dependent manner. From these results, it is concluded that the oriental herbal extracts(Mix) containing Eucommiae cortex, Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel and Bombyx batryticatus is effective for antioxidant, anti-inflammation, skin whitening, and skin barrier and thus could be applied as a new natural cosmetic material.