• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.851-859
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• 2014

The present study was designed to investigate whether ethanol extracts of Sophora flavescens (GS), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GC), Dictamnus dasycarpus (BSP), and their mixtures (GGB-1, -2, -3, and -4) inhibit 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in a mouse model. DNCB was topically applied on the dorsal surface of Balb/c mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. The pathological phenotypes of AD, such as erythema, ear thickness, edema, scabs, and discharge, were significantly decreased in the GGB (DNCB + GS:GC:BSP = 3:1:1 mixture)-1-treated groups compared with the other treated groups. The weight of the spleen in immune organs was significantly decreased in the GGB-1-treated groups, whereas the weight of the liver in a control group was similar to that of the groups treated with the samples. Furthermore, toluidine blue staining analysis, a method used to specifically identify mast cells, showed that master cell infiltration into the dermis of the GGB-1-treated group was significantly decreased. The immunoglobulin E concentration was lower in the GGB-1-treated group. In addition, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin-1, 4, 5, 6, and 13, $1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$) were also significantly reduced in the GGB-1-treated group. Taken together, these results suggest that a mixture of GS, GC, and BSP in a proportion of 3:1:1 (GGB-1) may contribute to the relief of AD symptoms and may be considered an excellent candidate for an AD therapeutic drug.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.421-431
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• 2021

It has been suggested that some toothpastes have the potential to promote hair growth. However, there was no scientific verification on the hair growth effect of toothpaste and no scientific report on major active ingredients in toothpaste. In this work, toothpaste and its constituents were applied topically over the shaved skin of C57BL/6 mice and evaluated. Results indicated that toothpaste showed hair growth effect. Also, the effect of toothpaste constituents on the proliferation rate of keratinocyte cells was investigated. The mixture solution of 𝛼-tocopherol acetate, l-menthol, and stevioside, each of that was known to promote hair growth and other toothpaste constituents were applied topically on mouse skin. When the mixture solution was included, hair growth effect was observed in mice. Transcriptome analysis was performed using the dorsal epidermis of mice from the group treated with toothpaste, the mixture which are presumed to be active ingredients for hair growth, and from mice used for the control group. As a result of analyzing the genes whose expression was significantly changed in each treatment group, the gene patterns of the two groups were very similar. Also, when functional genomic analysis was performed, genes with functions related to hair growth regulation showed a high extent of the change in both groups. Hair growth-related genes whose expression was changed in both groups included keratin, keratin-related proteins, forkhead box, and sonic hedgehog. Therefore, the hair growth effect of toothpaste is thought to be due to the effect of a mixture of 𝛼-tocopherol acetate, l-menthol, and stevioside.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.768-775
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• 2012

Alginate, obtained from the seaweeds, is a widely used biomaterial for cell transplantation, since its positive effect on viability of capsulized cells and its easier encapsulation capability of living cells. Demineralized bone powder (DBP), derived from the natural bone tissue, is widely applied for clinical trials for its low rate of reaction and antigenicity. A chondrocyte was seeded into an alginate with DBP of different contents, and a microcapsule was produced. The adhesion and proliferation of cells was observed through the MTT analysis, and the PCR was applied to estimate the content of the glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) and collagen, and confirm the specific genetic pattern of the chondrocytes. Also, the alginate microcapsule where the chondrocyte is seeded was extracted after transplantation under the skin of a nude mouse, and was immunochemically stained. The experimental result confirmed that the alginate microcapsule containing 1% of DBP not only showed the highest proliferation of cell but had a positive effect of chondrocytes by the interaction between the alginates and the growth factor in DBP. It can be expected that the microcapsule with application of the alginates and DBP might be an appropriate scaffold for tissue engineering.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of phenobarbital sodium(PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene(3-MC) on carbofuran cytotoxicity and to develop antitoxic agents based on the effectivness. Experimental groups for carbofuran cytotoxicity were divided into five groups ; medium alone and four treatments of carbofuran (1, 25, 50 and $100{\mu}M)$, and those for compensation effects were divided into six groups ; medium alone, $IC_{50}$ carbofuran and four combinations of carbofuran and PB or 3-MC($IC_{50}$ carbofuran plus 1, 25, 50, $100{\mu}M$ of PB and 3-MC, respectively). After incubation for 48 hrs under the same conditions, MTT(Tetrazolium MTT), NR(Neutral red) and SRB(Sulforhodamine B protein) assay were performed. Fifty percentage inhibition of MTT, NR, and SRB against carbofuran in rat fibroblast cell were 60.7, 82.5 and $87.0{\mu}M$, respectively. At the combination treatments of $IC_{50}$ of carbofuran and $100{\mu}M$ of PB, the significant compensation effects were observed from the results of MTT and NR but not from that of SRB absorbance. And at the combination treatments of $IC_{50}$ of carbofuran and 3-MC, the relatively significant compensation effects were found at $50{\mu}M$ 3-MC from the results of MTT and at $100{\mu}M$ 3-MC from that of NR and SRB absorbances, respectively. From the results of light microscopy, combination treatments of $carbofuran(IC_{50})$ and PB or 3-MC showed good regeneration in carbofuran toxicity of rat fibroblast cells. These results suggest that PB or 3-MC can compensate the cytotoxity of carbofuran insecticide in rat NIH3T3 fibroblast cells.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2018

Chronic inflammation is known to have effects on various diseases such as gout, cancer, dementia, atopic disease, and obesity. In addition, since some signal cascades involved in the development of inflammation are known to affect the damage and aging of the skin tissue, studies are being conducted actively to control the inflammation mechanism. In order to mitigate or prevent inflammatory response, a number of researches have been made to develop anti-inflammatory materials from some plants. In particular, Stevia rebaudiana produces steviol glycosides (SG), a natural sweetener with a distinctive flavor. Studies on some of SG have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity. Researchers of this study expected that more SG also possess anti-inflammatory activity, besides stevioside, rebaudioside A, and steviol. In order to confirm this possibility, the researchers screened inhibition activity of various steviol glucosides for NO production in RAW 264.7 cell lines. As a result, steviol ${\beta}-glucopyranosyl$ ester (SGE) showed the highest inhibitory activity among steviol derivatives treated at the same molar concentration. In addition, we found that mRNA expression level of $interleukin-1{\alpha}$ ($IL-1{\alpha}$), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa-light chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was also decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These results show that SGE inhibits anti-inflammatory activity and NO production in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. It was confirmed that SGE has potential to be applied as an anti-inflammatory material.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.608-614
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• 2013

We investigated the anti-wrinkle activity of an 80% ethanol extract of Curdrania tricuspidata leaves (CTL80) on ultraviolet-induced photoaging in hairless mice. Skin wrinkles were induced by 10 weeks of UVB-irradiation on the back of Skh-1 hairless mice three times a week. Mice were divided into ten groups; normal control (-UVB), UVB irradiated control group (+UVB), dietary groups (UVB+ascorbic acid 0.1%, UVB+CTL80 0.1%, UVB+CTL80 0.25%) and topical application groups (-UVB+base lotion (BL), UVB+BL, UVB+ascorbic acid 1%+BL, UVB+CTL80 1%+BL, UVB+CTL80 2%+BL). Wrinkle formation, histological changes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9) were analyzed. Wrinkles for the +UVB groups formed as a pattern of deep furrows and thick crests. Wrinkles with CTL80 treatment formed as a pattern of shallow furrows and thin crests, with wrinkle areas were lower than the +UVB group. In an antioxidant analysis of mouse blood, SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly higher in the CTL80 topical application group compared to the +UVB group. The mRNA expression of MMPs in the +UVB group was significantly higher than the normal control group, and significantly lower in the CTL80-treated group. In conclusion, CTL80 exerted anti-wrinkle activity on ultraviolet-induced photoaging by regulating antioxidative defense systems and MMPs expression.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1998

Lymph node tissues of BALB/C mouse treated with DNCB were immunohistochemically observed to investigate the activation of cell mediated immunity in lymph node of murine with allergic contact dermatitis. The inguinal region of BALB/C mice were sensitized by one application of $25{\mu}l$ of 5% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) onto an abdominal skin and 2 weeks later, the mice were challenged with $4{\mu}l$ of 2.5% DNCB. The inguinal lymph node were obtained at hour 24, 48, and 72 after 2nd DNCB treatment and embedded with paraffin, and then stained by following ABC method that used monoclonal antibody including L3T4(CD4), Ly2(CD8), IL-2R(CD25). The distribution of helper T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and IL-2 receptors began to increase at hour 24 after after 2nd DNCB treatment and these increase appeared in paracortical area and medullary sinius. These increase were greatest at hour 48. These results indicated that the IL-2 secretion began to increase by activation of helper T lymphocytes in lymph node of DNCB re-exposure area and subsequently to activate suppress T lymphocytes.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.4 s.54
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• pp.349-357
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• 2005

New antioxidative substances for cosmeceuticals were screened from natural resources such as microbial metabolites, mushrooms, and medicinal plants. Four antioxidants were isolated from the fungal metabolite of Eupenicillium shearii and their structures were determined to be new phenolic compounds. The compounds were designated as melanocins A, B, C, and D. Melanocins $A{\sim}D$ exhibited free radical scavenging activity on DPPH and superoxide with $EC_{50}$ values of $21{\sim}94\;and\;7{\sim}84{\mu}M$, respectively, which were stronger activity than those of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ and BHA. Melanocin A showed anti-wrinkle effects on the UV-irrated hairless mouse skin. A novel hispidin antioxidative compound designated as inoscavin A was isolated from the fruiting body of the mushroom, Inonotus xeranticus. Inoscavin A scavenged superoxide radical with $EC_{50}$ values of $0.03{\mu}g/mL$, and inhibited rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation with $EC_{50}$ values of $0.3{\mu}g/mL$. Benzastatins $A{\sim}G$, the novel antioxidants isolated from the culture of Streptomyces nitrosporeus showed potent lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity with $EC_{50}$ values of $3{\sim}30{\mu}M$. A cyclopentene compound with strong hypopigmentary effect was isolated from the fungal metabolite of Penicillium sp. and identifed as terrein. Terrein significantly reduced melanin levels in a melanomacyte cell line, Mel-Ab. It showed 10 times stronger activity than kojic acid, but exhibited no cytotoxic effect even in $100{\mu}M$. It was suggested that terrein reduced melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production by MITF down-regulation.

• 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.