• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.3 s.47
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• pp.393-397
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• 2004

L-Carnitine $({\beta}-hydroxy-{\gamma}-trimethyl-ammoniumbutyric{\;}acid)$ is a small water-soluble molecule important in mammalian fat metabolism. It is essential for the normal oxidation of fatty acids by the mitochondria, and is involved in the trans-esterification and excretion of acyl-CoA esters. In this paper, to investigate the relationship between aging and L-carnitine, we investigated the effects of in vitro matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition and activity and expression of UYA-induced MMPs in human skin fibroblasts. Also, we studied to develop as anti-aging cosmetics with L-carnitine. Fluorometric assays of the proteolytic activities of MMP-1 (collagenase) were performed using fluorescent collagen substrates. ELISA (enzyme linked immune sorbent assay), gelatin-substrate zymography, RT-PCR ELISA techniques were used for the effects of L-carnitine on MMP expression, activity, and MMP mRNA expression in UVA irradiated fibroblast $(5\;J/cm^2)$, respectively. In addition, we performed clinical study with L-carnitine cream. L-carnitine inhibited the activities of MMP-1 in a dose-dependent manner and the $IC_{50}$ values calculated from semi-log plots were 2.45 mM, and L-carnitine showed strong inhibition on MMP-2 (gelatinase) activity in UVA irradiated fibroblast by zymography. Also, UVA induced MMP-1, 2 expression was reduced $43\%,\;53\%$ by treated with L-carnitine at 1.25 mM, and MMP-1 mRNA expression was reduced dose-dependent manner. Therefore L-carnitine was able to significantly inhibit the MMP activity, and regulate MMP expression in protein and mRNA level. The results of clinical study showed that $1.0\%$ L-carnitine treated group reduced wrinkle significantly compared with placebo treated group (P<0.05). All these results suggest that L-carnitine may be useful as new anti-aging cosmetics for protection against UVA induced Mm expression and activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2009

Human skin is constantly exposed to environmental irritants such as smoke, chemicals and ultraviolet (UV). Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by these environmental irritants play critical roles in cellular damage. In this study, to investigate the skin cell protective effect of Ophioglossum vulgatum extract, we investigated its effects on intercellular antioxidative activity and UVA-induced MMP expression in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The dried O. vulgatum was extracted in a mixture of ethanol and water (1 : 1) for 24 h at room temperature. The extract was filtered and concentrated in vacuo and lyophilized. For testing intracellular ROS scavenging activity the cultured HDFs were analyzed by increase in DCF fluorescence upon exposure to UVB $20\;mJ/cm^2$. After treatment of O. vulgatum extracts, intracellular ROS levels were measured by luminescence spectrophotometer. Enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), and RT-PCR techniques were used for evaluating the effects of O. vulgatumon on MMP protein and mRNA expression in UVA irradiated HDFs. O. vulgatum extract was found to have ROS scavenging activity with the $IC_{50}$ values of $18.2\;{\mu}g/mL$ against superoxide radicals in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. After treatment of O. vulgatum extracts, the oxidation of CM-DCFDA was inhibited effectively and O. vulgatum extracts showed a potent free radical scavenging activity by 30.4 % at $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ in UVB-irradiated HDFs. UVA induced MMP protein expression was reduced 37.7 % by treatment with O. vulgatum extract, and MMP-1 mRNA expression was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that O. vulgatum extract prevents the skin cell damage induced by UV irradiation, and implies that O. vulgatum extract may be useful as a new ingredient for anti-aging cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: The ferronickel and rapid cooling slags used in present study are industrial wastes derived from a steel factory in Korea. These slags are used as almost road construction materials after magnetic separation. However, the use of slag to remove phosphorus from wastewater is still a relatively less explored. The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of ferronickel slag (FNS) and rapid cooling slag (RCS) as sorbents for phosphorus removal in wastewater. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption characteristics of the FNS and RCS for the phosphorus. Adsorption behaviour of the phosphorus by the FNS and RCS was evaluated using both the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm equations. FNS and RCS were divided into two sizes as effective sizes. Effective sizes of FNS and RCS were 0.5 and 2.5 mm, respectively. The adsorption capacities (K) of the phosphorus by the FNS and RCS were in the order of RCS 0.5 (0.5105) > RCS 2.5 (0.3572) ${\gg}$ FNS 2.5 (0.0545) ${\fallingdotseq}$ FNS 0.5 (0.0400) based on Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacities (a; mg/kg) of the phosphorus determined by the Langmuir isotherms were in the order of RCS 0.5 (3,582 mg/kg) > RCS 2.5 (2,983 mg/kg) > FNS 0.5 (320 mg/kg) ${\fallingdotseq}$ FNS 2.5 (187 mg/kg). RCS 0.5 represented the best sorbent for the adsorption of phosphorus. In the experiment, the Langmuir model showed better fit with our data than the Freundlich model. CONCLUSION: This study indicate that the use of RCS in constructed wetlands or filter beds is a promising solution for phosphorus removal via adsorption and precipitation mechanisms.