• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.183-194
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• 2019

Adulteration of argan oil with some other cheaper oils with similar chemical compositions has resulted in increasing demands for authenticity assurance and quality control. Fast and simple analytical techniques are thus needed for authenticity analysis of high-priced argan oil. Raman spectroscopy is a potent technique and has been extensively used for quality control and safety determination for food products In this study, Raman spectroscopy in combination with a net analyte signal (NAS)-based methodology, i.e., hybrid linear analysis method developed by Goicoechea and Olivieri in 1999 (HLA/GO), was used to predict the different concentrations of olive oil (0 - 20%) added to argan oil. Raman spectra of 90 samples were collected in a spectral range of $400-400cm^{-1}$, and calibration and validation sets were designed to evaluate the performance of the multivariate method. The results revealed a high coefficient of determination ($R^2$) value of 0.98 and a low root-mean-square error (RMSE) value of 0.41% for the calibration set, and an $R^2$ of 0.97 and RMSE of 0.36% for the validation set. Additionally, the figures of merit such as sensitivity, selectivity, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were used for further validation. The high $R^2$ and low RMSE values validate the detection ability and accuracy of the developed method and demonstrate its potential for quantitative determination of oil adulteration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 2021

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and ubiquitous environmental toxin with known harmful effects to human health. Abnormal phenotypes of keratinocytes are closely associated with their exposure to B[a]P. Resorcinol is a component of argan oil with reported anticancer activities, but its mechanism of action and potential effect on B[a]P damage to the skin is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of resorcinol on B[a]P-induced abnormal keratinocyte biology and its mechanisms of action in human epidermal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Resorcinol suppressed aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity as evidenced by the inhibition of B[a]P-induced xenobiotic response element (XRE)-reporter activation and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expression. In addition, resorcinol attenuated B[a]P-induced nuclear translocation of AhR, and production of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also found that resorcinol increased nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activity. Antioxidant response element (ARE)-reporter activity and expression of ARE-dependent genes NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were increased by resorcinol. Consistently, resorcinol treatment induced nuclear localization of Nrf2 as seen by Western analysis. Knockdown of Nrf2 attenuated the resorcinol effects on ARE signaling, but knockdown of AhR did not affect resorcinol activation of Nrf2. This suggests that activation of antioxidant activity by resorcinol is not mediated by AhR. These results indicate that resorcinol is protective against effects of B[a]P exposure. The mechanism of action of resorcinol is inhibition of AhR and activation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling. Our findings suggest that resorcinol may have potential as a protective agent against B[a]P-containing pollutants.