Metabolomics is an emerging technology which makes it possible to evaluate change of biological system in response to the physiological, environmental alterations. It has advantages in the simplicity and sensitivity to analyze metabolites since the researcher can use cutting edge instrument, such as mass spectrometry and simple sample preparation method compared to genomics or proteomics. Nowadays this technology has been tried in pharmaceutical area to investigate toxicity and efficacy of drug candidates and drugs in preclinical test. The metabolomic applications on the pharmaceutics for early prediction on toxicity and efficacy are described in this presentation. The multivariate analysis to get metabolic fingerprinting and its relations with the physiological changes are investigated with several drugs. Feasibility of metabolomic application for pharmaceutical area would be suggested from those researches.

An important potential of metabolomics-based approach is the possibility to develop fingerprints of diseases or cellular responses to classes of compounds with known common biological effect. Such fingerprints have the potential to allow classification of disease states or compounds, to provide mechanistic information on cellular perturbations and pathways and to identify biomarkers specific for disease severity and drug efficacy. Metabolic profiles of biological fluids contain a vast array of endogenous metabolites. Changes in those profiles resulting from perturbations of the system can be observed using analytical techniques, such as NMR and MS. $^1H$ NMR was used to generate a molecular fingerprint of serum or urinary sample, and then pattern recognition technique was applied to identity molecular signatures associated with the specific diseases or drug efficiency. Several metabolites that differentiate disease samples from the control were thoroughly characterized by NMR spectroscopy. We investigated the metabolic changes in human normal and clinical samples using $^1H$ NMR. Spectral data were applied to targeted profiling and spectral binning method, and then multivariate statistical data analysis (MVDA) was used to examine in detail the modulation of small molecule candidate biomarkers. We show that targeted profiling produces robust models, generates accurate metabolite concentration data, and provides data that can be used to help understand metabolic differences between healthy and disease population. Such metabolic signatures could provide diagnostic markers for a disease state or biomarkers for drug response phenotypes.

Metabolic interactions of the three major cannabinoids, ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) with steroid hormones were investigated. These cannabioids concentration-dependently inhibited $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase in rat adrenal and testis microsomes. CBD and CBN were the most potent inhibitors of $3{\beta}$-phydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and progesterone $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase, respectively, in rat testis microsomes. Three cannabinoids highly attenuated hCG-stimulated testosterone production in rat testicular interstitial cells. These cannabinoids also decreased in levels of mRNA and protein of StAR in the rat testis cells. These results indicate that the cannabinoids could interact with steroid hormones, and exert their modulatory effects on endocrine and testicular functions. Metabolic interaction of a THC metabolite, $7{\beta}$-hydroxy-${\Delta}^8$-THC with steroids is also investigated. Monkey liver microsomes catalyzed the stereoselective oxidation of $7{\beta}$-hydroxy-${\Delta}^8$-THC to 7-oxo-${\Delta}^8$-THC, so-called microsomal alcohol oxygenase (MALCO). The reaction is catalyzed by CYP3A8 in the monkey liver microsomes, and required NADH as well as NADPH as an efficient cofactor, and its activity is stimulated by some steroids such as testosterone and progesterone. Kinetic analyses revealed that MALCO-catalyze reaction showed positive cooperativity. In order to explain the metabolic interaction between the cannabinoid metabolite and testosterone, we propose a novel kinetic model involving at least three binding sites for mechanism of the metabolic interactions.

There have been various inflammatory skin disorders in humans including atopic dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. Although some drugs have been used for these disorders, there is an urgent need for safer and more effective topical anti-inflammatory agents. Plant flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory activity and some of them have multiple pharmacological mechanisms, inhibition of eicosanoid metabolizing enzymes, histamine release and/or down-regulation of pro inflammatory gene expression. These properties of flavonoids may be suitable for treating chronic skin inflammatory disorders. Especially, wogonin, some prenylated flavonoids and biflavonoids have a strong potential as new anti-inflammatory agents by topical application.

Oxidative stress have known to be a risk factor for the degenerative processes and closely related to a lot of diseases. It is well established that antioxidants are good in protection and therapeutic means against oxidative damage. There is increasing interest in natural antioxidants and many natural antioxidants have been found and utilized as the possible protection for various diseases and skin aging. We have screened natural antioxidant agents for cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and drugs as therapeutic and preventive means against oxidative stress, and have developed a number of novel antioxidants from various natural sources. A novel melanin synthesis inhibitor, Melanocin A, isolated from the metabolite of a fungal strain Eupenicillium shearii F80695 inhibited mushroom tyrosinase and melanin biosynthesis of B16 melanoma cells with $IC_{50}$ value of 9.0 nM and MIC value of $0.9\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Melanocin A also exhibited potent antioxidant activity by scavenging of DPPH and superoxide anion radicals. UV was found to increase the level of hydrogen peroxides and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin tissues. This increase in ROS may not only alter the structure and function of many genes and proteins directly but may also modulate their expressions through signal transduction pathways and, ultimately, lead to skin damage. We investigated the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced premature skin aging. Firstly, the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT in vitro was investigated. Acute UV irradiation induced MMP-9 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and Melanocin A suppressed this expression in a dose-dependent manner. We then investigated UV-induced skin changes in hairless mice in vivo by Melanocin A. Chronic exposure of hairless mouse dorsal skin to UV increased skin thickness and induced wrinkle formation and the gelatinase activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, Melanocin A significantly suppressed UV-induced morphologic skin changes and MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. These results show that Melanocin A can prevent the harmful effects of UV that lead to skin aging. Therefore, we suggest that Melanocin A should be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and/or treating premature skin aging. Terrein is a bioactive fungal metabolite isolated from Penicillium species. Terrein has a relatively simple structure and can be easily synthesized. However, the biologic effects of terrein are comparatively unknown. We found for the first time that terrein potently inhibit melanin production in melanocytes and has a strong hypopigmentary effect in a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. Treatment of Mel-Ab cells with terrein (10-100 mM) for 4 days significantly reduced melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, terrein at the same concentration also reduced tyrosinase activity. We then investigated whether terrein influences the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which is required for tyrosinase expression. Terrein was found to induce sustained ERK activation and MITF down-regulation, and luciferase assays showed that terrein inhibits MITF promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the correlation between ERK pathway activation and a decreased MITF transcriptional level, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the ERK pathway, was applied before terrain treatment and found to abrogate the terrein-induced MITF attenuation. Terrein also reduced the tyrosinase protein level for at least 72 h. These results suggest that terrain reduces melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production via ERK activation, and that this is followed by MITF down-regulation.

Vaccinium uliginosum L. (VU) is a flowering plant in the genus Vaccinium has berry fruit. This study was performed to investigate the effect of water extract of Vaccinium uliginosum L. and fractions on inhibition of melanogenesis and wrinkle formation. One hundred grams of the Vaccinium uliginosum L. was extracted with 2,000 mL of water ($90^{\circ}C$, 16h, 2 times). The water extracts were lyophilized and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ until used. Vaccinium uliginosum L. extracts showed scavenger activities on DPPH radical, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen radical, dose dependently. And VU extract and fractions reduced melanin contents on B16F10 melanoma and inhibited the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-1) and dapachrometa utomerase (Dct, TRP-2). Moreover VU extract and fractions stimulated procollagen production and inhibited MMP-1 production in human fibroblast. And it decreased degree of wrinkle formation in hairless mouse skin that induced by DVB irradiation for 9 weeks. From the above results, it is possible that Vaccinium uliginosum L. may be developed to be the health functional food and functional cosmetics that have anti-melanogenesis and anti-wrinkle effect.

Cosmetics have mild activity on the human body, and intended to be used for cleaning, beautifying the human body, and also keeping healthy skin or hair, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance. Functional cosmetics, in other words cosmeceuticals, are restricted for following functions: 1) Whiten the skin tone by preventing deposition of melanin pigmentation or lightening of the color of melanin of skin, 2) alleviate or improve wrinkles of the skin, and 3) protect the skin from the ultra violet rays from the sun. According to the functions of the functional cosmetics, skin whitening products, anti-wrinkle products, and suntan & sunscreen products are manufactured. In order to manufacture and import the functional cosmetics in Korea, the approval process in KFDA is necessary. The review process in KFDA is performed based on The Korea Food and Drug Administration Notification 2007-44, "The Regulation of Reviewing the Functional Cosmetics" (June 29, 2007). Only after the approval of KFDA, functional cosmetics are allowed to advertise to the consumers for their functionality.

Many modalities of treatment for acquired skin hyperpigmentation are available including chemical agents or physical therapies, but none are completely satisfactory. The ideal depigmenting compound should have a potent. rapid and selective bleaching effect on hyperactivated melanocytes, carry no short- or long-term side-effects and lead to a permanent removal of undesired pigment. acting at one or more steps of the pigmentation process. Depigmentation can be achieved by regulating (i) the transcription and activity of tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2), and/or peroxidase; (ii) the uptake and distribution of melanosomes in recipient keratinocytes and (iii) melanin and melanosome degradation and turnover of pigmented keratinocytes. One of the interesting point for development of skin whitening agent is Mitf(Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor). Mitf belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix-zip family of trabscription factors and it is crucial as it regulates both melanocyte proliferation as well as melanogenesis and is the major regulator of tyrosinase and the related enzymes (TRPs), as well as many melanosome structural proteins such as pMel17. Recently, we developed MITF-down-regulating agents from natural and synthetic sources, which have anti-melanogenic effect on in vitro and in vivo. We suggested that potent MITF-down regulating agents might be used for skin whitening cosmeceuticals.

Hyaluronic acid(HA) is a naturally occurring mucopolysaccharide composed of the repeating disaccharide unit of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. HA exists as a high molecular weight polymer in the extracellular matrix of many tissues in the body. HA has been widely used not only for osteoarthritis and ophthalmology but also for cosmetics for skin care. Recently HA has drawin much attention for use in health foods. Bioland Corporation started production of HA t1y biotechnological process in 1990 for cosmetical use. At present Bioland produces HA for cosmetic and food use. We have done many researches to evaluate the helpful effect for skin and safety of HA as food. In order to evaluate the effect of HA on the skin after its oral intake, we measured its bioavailability, skin-care effects on anti-wrinkle, moisturization elasticity and desquamation by clinical trial. The results showed that HA is very safe and could bs helpful to improve anti-wrinkling, moisturization, elasticity, and desquamation on the skin.

Background: Naturally occurring antioxidants were used to regulate the skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation because several antioxidants have demonstrated that they can inhibit wrinkle formation through prevention of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and/or increase of collagen synthesis. We examined the effect of oral administration of the antioxidant mixture ("L-Skin Care") on UVB-induced wrinkle formation. In addition, we investigated the possible molecular mechanisms of photoprotection against UVB through inhibition of collagen-degrading MMP activity or through enhancing of pro collagen synthesis in mouse dorsal skin. Methods: Female SKH-l hairless mice were orally administrated "L-Skin Care" (test group) or vehicle (control group) for 10 weeks with UVB irradiation by three times a week. The intensity of irradiation was gradually increased from 30 to $180mJ/cm^2$. Microtopographic and histological assessments of the dorsal skins were carried out at the end of 10 weeks to evaluate wrinkle formation. Western blot analysis and EMSA were also carried out to investigate the changes in the balance of collagen synthesis and collagen degradation. Results: Our "L-Skin Care" significantly reduced UVB-induced wrinkle formation, accompanied by significant reduction of epidermal thickness, and UVB-induced hyperplasia, acanthosis and hyperkeratosis. Oral administration of "L-Skin Care" significantly prevented UVB-induced expressions of MMPs, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and activation of activator protein (AP)-1 transcriptional factor in addition to enhanced type I procollagen and transforming growth factor-$\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) expression. Conclusion: Oral administration of "L-Skin Care" significantly inhibited wrinkle formation caused by chronic UVB irradiation through significant inhibition of UVB-induced MMP activity accompanied with enhancement of collagen synthesis.