• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.44.1-44.17
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• 2023

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern around the globe. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit broad-spectrum and efficient antibacterial activity with an added advantage of low drug resistance. The higher water content and 3D network structure of the hydrogels are beneficial for maintaining antimicrobial peptide activity and help to prevent degradation. The antimicrobial peptide released from hydrogels also hasten the local wound healing by promoting epithelial tissue regeneration and granulation tissue formation. Objective: This study aimed at developing sodium alginate based hydrogel loaded with a novel antimicrobial peptide Chol-37(F34-R) and to investigate the characteristics in vitro and in vivo as an alternative antibacterial wound dressing to treat infectious wounds. Methods: Hydrogels were developed and optimized by varying the concentrations of crosslinkers and subjected to various characterization tests like cross-sectional morphology, swelling index, percent water contents, water retention ratio, drug release and antibacterial activity in vitro, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected wound mice model in vivo. Results: The results indicated that the hydrogel C proved superior in terms of cross-sectional morphology having uniformly sized interconnected pores, a good swelling index, with the capacity to retain a higher quantity of water. Furthermore, the optimized hydrogel has been found to exert a significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and was also found to prevent bacterial infiltration into the wound site due to forming an impermeable barrier between the wound bed and external environment. The optimized hydrogel was found to significantly hasten skin regeneration in animal models when compared to other treatments in addition to strong inhibitory effect on the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α). Conclusions: Our results suggest that sodium alginate -based hydrogels loaded with Chol-37(F34-R) hold the potential to be used as an alternative to conventional antibiotics in treating infectious skin wounds.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2021

Psoriasis is a chronic intractable skin disease caused by various inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, CXCL8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, as well as IL-17A secreted from Th17 cells and is characterized by hyperkeratosis and chronic inflammation of the epidermis. Brazilin, an active ingredient of Caesalpinia sappan L., is known to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and function in skin barrier improvement. In particular, it was shown as a potential material for treating psoriasis in a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated HaCaT keratinocyte model. However, the direct regulation of the C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 20, a psoriasis-inducing factor, by brazilin has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the suppression of CCL20 and the regulatory mechanism by brazilin using a psoriasis-like model. First, brazilin downregulated CCL20 and CXCL8 in IL-17A-stimulated HaCaT cells in a concentration-dependent manner by inhibiting signal transducer and transcription (STAT)3 phosphorylation. In addition, brazilin significantly inhibited the expression of psoriasis-related genes CXCL8, CCL20, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in TNF-α/IL-17A/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. Moreover, brazilin also had a positive effect on improving the skin barrier in TNF-α/IL-17A/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. The above results indicated that brazilin ultimately downregulated CCL20 expression by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation, and also suppressed the expression of psoriasis-induced cytokines. If the efficacy of brazilin in improving psoriasis is verified through animal models and clinical trials in the future, it may represent a potentially therapeutic substance for psoriasis patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.492-504
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of seaweed peeling (SP), glycolic acid peeling (GP) and general scrub (GS), which are widely known as cures for acne in both medicine and esthetics on the keratosis pilaris skin and provide basic data for a keratosis pilaris improvement program. For the experiment, subjects were categorized into control (GS) and experimental (GP and SP) groups, and tests were performed on arms and legs with relatively high keratosis pilaris symptoms (5 parts for each group) for 6 weeks. The keratin quantity, sebum content, moisture level and pigmentation were measured before and after (2, 4 and 6 weeks) the experiment and comparatively analyzed. The GP group showed an increase in moisture level (t=-4.064, p<0.01) but a decrease in pigmentation (t=3.536, p<0.01), while a decrease in keratin quantity (t=2.370, p<0.05) and pigmentation (t=4.017, p<0.01) was observed in the SP group and a decrease in keratin quantity (t=2.834, p<0.05) and an increase in moisture level (t=-7.589, p<0.001) was observed in the control group (GS). Additionally, the skin irritation reaction was lowest in the GS group. The SP group had the highest satisfaction with the improvement in response to keratosis pilaris care. When asked if they were willing to get the treatment with the same product, both SP and GP groups were high. In other words, keratosis pilaris care was needed in both experimental and control groups. Overall, the results of this study indicate that SP, GP and GS, which are commonly used in remedying acne, normalize turnover cycle by removing the dead cells from around the pores and improve keratosis pilaris symptoms by increasing moisture in the skin. Therefore, to improve keratosis pilaris skin, it is important to keep removing keratin and using a moisturizer that provides a skin barrier on a regular basis. The results presented herein will be useful as basic data for a keratosis pilaris improvement program.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.116-126
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• 2013

Glycol ethers are a group of solvents based on alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol commonly used in paints. These solvents typically have a higher boiling point, together with the favorable solvent properties of lower-molecular weight ethers and alcohols. The word "Glycol ethers" was registered as a United States trademark by Union Carbide Corp. Typically, glycol ethers are found in pharmaceuticals, sunscreens, cosmetics, inks, dyes and water based paints. On the other hand, glycol ethers are used in degreasers, cleaners, aerosol paints and adhesives. Most glycol ethers are relatively water soluble, biodegradable and only a few are considered toxic. Therefore, they are unlikely to pose an adverse risk to the environment. Recent study suggests that occupational exposure to glycol ethers is related to low motile sperm count in men, but the finding has been disputed by others. In this study, skin permeation of 3 types glycol ethers were studied in vitro using matrix such as solvent and detergent. The absorption of glycol ethers[methyl glycol ethers(MC), ethyl glycol ethers(EC) and butyl glycol ethers(BC)] has been measured in vitro through rat skin. Epidermal membranes were set up in Franz diffusion cells and their permeability to PBS measured to establish the integrity of the skin before the glycol ethers were applied to the epidermal surface. Absorption rates for each glycol ethers were determined and permeability assessment made to quantify any irreversible alterations in barrier function due to contact with the esters. Types of glycol ethers in vitro experimental results on MC> EC> BC quickly appeared in the following order: skin permeation was beneficial to the skin permeation small molecular weight, the difference in chemical structure, such as hydrophilic, because with the partition coefficient and solubility mechanisms and passive diffusion to increase the speed at which transmission is considered.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.396-403
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• 2011

Ceramides (Cer) comprise the major constituent of sphingolipids in the epidermis and are known to play diverse roles in the outermost layers of the skin including water retention and provision of a physical barrier. In addition, they can be hydrolyzed into free sphingoid bases such as $C_{18}$ sphingosine (SO) and $C_{18}$ sphinganine (SA) or can be further metabolized to $C_{18}$ So-1-phosphate (S1P) and $C_{18}$ Sa-1-phosphate (Sa1P) in keratinocytes. The significance of ceramide metabolites emerged from studies reporting altered levels of SO and SA in skin disorders and the role of S1P and Sa1P as signaling lipids. However, the overall metabolism of sphingoid bases and their phosphates during keratinocyte differentiation remains not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed these Cer metabolites in the process of keratinocyte differentiation. Three distinct keratinocyte differentiation stages were prepared using 0.07 mM calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) (proliferation stage), 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$ (early differentiation stage) in serum-free medium, or serum-containing medium with vitamin C (50 ${\mu}L$/mL) (late differentiation stage). Serum-containing medium was also used to determine whether vitamin C increases the concentrations of sphingoid bases and their phosphates. The production of sphingoid bases and their phosphates after hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Compared to cells treated with 0.07 mM Ca$^{2+}$, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were not altered after treatment with 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$. However, in keratinocytes cultured in serum-containing medium with vitamin C, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were dramatically higher than those in 0.07- and l.2-mM Ca$^{2+}$-treated cells; however, compared to serum-containing medium alone, vitamin C did not significantly enhance their production. Taken together, we demonstrate that late differentiation induced by vitamin C and serum was accompanied by dramatic increases in the concentration of sphingoid bases and their phosphates, although vitamin C alone had no effect on their production.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.173-182
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• 2013

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with dysfunction of skin barrier and cutaneous hyper-reactivity to environmental triggers. In the previous study, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities were investigated for various herbal extracts such as Aloe vera L. (AV), Viola mandshurica W. Becker (VM), Punica granatum L. (PG), and Dendrobium nobile L. (DN) in order to develop effective therapeutic herbal extracts for atopic dermatitis, In this study, anti-inflammatory activities of these herb extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage RAW264.7 cells were further examined to find the underlying molecular mechanisms. The RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) analysis showed that PG, DN and AV inhibited effectively the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ in LPS-stimulated macrophages, while VM did not. The transfection and luciferase analysis exhibited that all herbal extracts hindered the activation of transcription nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). The western blot analysis indicated that AV blocked the activation of only JNK MAP (c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein) kinase not p38 MAP kinase, while VM, PG and DN did not show the activation of both JNK and p38 MAP kinases. These results suggest that AV, VM, PG, and DN have anti-inflammatory activities and thus have the potential to reduce and alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2011

Skin is a physical barrier against diverse injury and damages. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes detrimental skin injuries such as inflammation and cell death. The value of natural pigments could be applied to many usages including cosmetics. This study was conducted to examine the protective effect of natural pigments extracted from mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, pehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice against UV-induced cell death in HaCaT cells, human keratinocyte cell lines. In the present study, the exposure of 50 mJ/$cm^2$ UV-B for 24 hr induced cell death in HaCaT cells, which was prevented by the pretreatment of extracts of mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, rehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice. In addition, the exposure of 50 mJ/$cm^2$ UV-B for 24 hr also increased lipid peroxide (LPO) formation, compared to control in HaCaT cells, which was prevented by the pretreatment of extracts of mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, rehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice. In conclusion, the extracts of mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, rehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice prevented the UV-B-induced cell apoptosis via the inhibition of oxidative stress in HaCaT cells.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2024

Purpose : Skin is the primary barrier to protect the body from various exogenous factors. Among them, UVB exposure can cause the induction of not only excessive inflammatory responses but also the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), including collagen and elastin. This study tried to investigate the ameliorative effect of Persicaria perfoliata ethanol extract (PPEE) on UVB-irradiated photodamage through the regulation of activator protein (AP)-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules in HaCaT cells. Methods : The cytotoxicity of PPEE on HaCaT cells was evaluated by the WST-1 assay. The 80 mJ/cm² of UVB (312 nm) was irradiated on HaCaT cells to induce the photodamage. Western blot analysis was conducted to investigate the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 for ameliorative status by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. In addition, the activated status of the inflammatory transcription factor, AP-1, as well as upstream signaling molecules, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK, were also evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results : Any cytotoxic effect was not induced at the concentration up to 200 ㎍/ml by PPEE treatment. Protein expression levels of COX-2 and MMP-9 were significantly down- and up-regulated by PPEE treatment. The inflammatory transcription factor AP-1, stimulated by UVB irradiation, was also significantly attenuated by PPEE treatment. The phosphorylated status of PI3K/Akt and MAPK were mitigated by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. Moreover, PPEE treatment potently accelerated the expression of HO-1 and its transcription factor, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)2, which is known for its anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion : Consequently, PPEE treatment significantly regulated COX-2 and MMP-9 expressions in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. The inflammatory transcription factor AP-1, along with upstream signaling molecules PI3K/Akt and MAPKs, were also attenuated by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. Additionally, PPEE treatment exaggerated HO-1 expression and Nrf2 activation, which might have contributed to the anti-inflammatory activity of PPEE. These results indicate that PPEE could be a candidate for attenuating UVB-induced photodamage in human skin.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.819-827
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• 2003

Linoleic acid [LA; 18: 2 (n-6)] is the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in human skin. The exclusion of LA from diet induces epidermal hyperproliferation, which is reversible by the inclusion of LA in diet, and hence, LA is heralded as an essential fatty acid (EFA). Since safflower oil (SO) has been widely recognized as the major dietary source of LA and Arctii Fructus (Arctium lappa L.) is recently reported to contain high level of LA, we compared the antiproliferative effects of SO and Arctii Fructus in this study. Epidermal hyperproliferation was induced in guinea pigs by hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) diet for 8 wk. During following 2 wk, EFA deficient guinea pigs were fed diets of safflower oil (group HS), water extract of Arctii Fructus (group AW) or organic extract of Arctii Fructus (group AO). Normal control group was fed SO containing diet (group SO) and EFA deficient group was fed HCO containing diet (group HCO) for 10 wk. Epidermal hyperproliferation was reversed in groups AO (55.9% of group HCO) and HS(74.1% of group HCO). However, the thymidine incorporation into epidermal DNA of group HS was greater than of normal control group SO. Epidermal hyperproliferation was not reversed in group AW. The accumulations of LA into phospholipids and ceramides, and of 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), the potent antiproliferative metabolite of LA in the epidermis of group AO were greater than of group HS. In contrast, the de novo synthesis of ceramides, the major lipids maintaining epidermal barrier, did not differ between all of groups. Together, our data demonstrate that organic extract of Arctii Fructus is more prominent than safflower oil in reversing epidermal hyperproliferation by inducing the higher accumulations of LA and 13-HODE in the epidermis of guinea pigs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.398-403
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is accompanied by disruption of the epidermal lipid barrier, of which ceramide (Cer) is the major component. Recently it was reported that vitamin C is essential for de novo synthesis of Cer in the epidermis and that the level of vitamin C in plasma is decreased in AD. The objective of this study was to determine the associations among clinical severity, vitamin C in either plasma or epidermis, and Cer in the epidermis of patients with AD. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 17 patients (11 male and 6 female) aged 20-42 years were enrolled. The clinical severity of AD was assessed according to the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) system. Levels of vitamin C were determined in plasma and biopsies of lesional epidermis. Levels of epidermal lipids, including Cer, were determined from tape-stripped lesional epidermis. RESULTS: The clinical severity of patients ranged between 0.1 and 45 (mild to severe AD) based on the SCORAD system. As the SCORAD score increased, the level of vitamin C in the plasma, but not in the epidermis, decreased, and levels of total Cer and Cer2, the major Cer species in the epidermis, also decreased. There was also a positive association between level of vitamin C in the plasma and level of total Cer in the epidermis. However, levels of epidermal total lipids including triglyceride, cholesterol, and free fatty acid (FFA) were not associated with either SCORAD score or level of vitamin C in the plasma of all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: As the clinical severity of AD increased, level of vitamin C in the plasma and level of epidermal Cer decreased, and there was a positive association between these two parameters, implying associations among plasma vitamin C, epidermal Cer, and the clinical severity of AD.