• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.525-530
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• 2011

Pine needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the antioxidant activity, and proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. Pine needle extracts were examined using hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-ethanol, and hot water-hexane. The effects of the pine needle extracts were examined by comparing the results with that of a commercial agents, proanthocyanidin. Analysis of each extract indicated that hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts contained the highest total polyphenol concentrations. The hot water-ethanol and ethanol extracts also showed relatively the highest SOD-like activity. The proliferation of osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells treated with pine needle extracts was decreased by lower than 70%. In addition, the hot water and ethanol extracts of pine needle significantly reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive ($TRAP^+$) multinucleated cells from osteoclatic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that pine needle extracts had an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation, suggesting that they could be used for the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 2013

Human skin is constantly exposed to environmental conditions such as UV rays, polluted air, and chemical products. UV rays, in particular, affect skin in many ways causing wrinkles, fine wrinkles, rough skin, and xeroderma through a skin aging process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-wrinkling effect of Juniperus rigida Sieb., derived from a common cedar tree found the world over. Measuring the elastase to investigate wrinkling efficacy, it was shown that at a concentration level of $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of the two extracts, the water extract exhibited a lower than 10% inhibition activity, while the ethanol extract exhibited a 68.5% inhibition activity. Collagenase inhibition activity in the water extract and ethanol extract were 44.9% in the former and 97.2% in the latter extract, which in the case of the ethanol extract, is similar to ascorbic acid (99.6%). Moreover, measuring the biosynthesis of collagen by fibroblast, a concentration level of $50{\mu}g/ml$ of ethanol extract produced 151.52% of biosynthetic promotion, proving that the ethanol extract acts as a superb anti-wrinkling agent. The result of an investigation conducted on the influence of the ethanol extract on MMP-1 caused by UVA showed that at a concentration level of $1,00{\mu}g/ml$ of the ethanol extract of J. rigida Sieb a 67.1% inhibition activity was noted. At a concentration level of $50{\mu}g/ml$ of the ethanol extract of J. rigida Sieb a 35% and 39% inhibition ratio to MMP-1 protein and mRNA were observed respectively, thereby restraining the appearance of the collagen breakdown enzyme MMP-1 and wrinkle creation by skin photo-aging.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.820-829
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-oxydant and anti-winkle efficacy as cosmetics ingredient of Lysimachia christinae Hance. Recently, the study of wrinkle improvement of natural products has received continuous interest. so we looked at relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and pro-collagen synthesis and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) through this study. L. christinae Hance were extracted with 70% ethanol (LcHE) and distilled water (LcHW), respectively, and the experiment was conducted. LcHE had better ROS inhibition effect than LcHW and showed no toxicity up to 250 ㎍/mL concentration as a result of MTT assay in HaCaT cells, so we selected LcHE and conducted the wrinkle improvement material study. We confirmed that the synthesis of type-1 pro-collagen reduced by UVB is activated through pro-collagen synthesis assay. we confirmed that LcHE inhibited the increase in MMP-1 -3 -9 of MMPs induced by UVB in skin cells through western blot and we also performed real-time PCR to confirm the effect of the extract with dependence of concentration at mRNA levels. Therefore, it is expected that Lysimachia christinae Hance is used as a natural material for cosmetics that can effectively prevent wrinkles and skin aging by UVB.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2012

In this study, the anti-oxidant and anti-elastase activities of four abalone viscera extracts were investigated to screen the most promising extract. This extract was further studied in terms of its anti-skin-aging properties. In the DPPH-scavenging assay, the Tris-HCl extract showed a $58.60{\pm}0.88%$ radical-scavenging activity, which was followed closely by the ethanol extract that had a $55.40{\pm}0.62%$ scavenging activity. In the anti-elastase assay, however, the ethanol extract showed the significantly highest elastase inhibition activity. Furthermore, none of the extracts had a harmful effect on the human dermal fibroblast, as revealed in the MTT assay. In the cell study, the effect of the ethanol extract at various concentrations on the human dermal fibroblast was investigated. At the 10 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration, the ethanol extract boosted the pro-collagen type I synthesis to $705.30{\pm}3.06$ ng/mL and reduced the MMP-1 to $54.30{\pm}0.80$ ng/mL, which was considered the optimum concentration. This is the first study that focused on the anti-oxidant and anti-skin-aging effects of abalone viscera extract. Its results may provide fundamental data for further study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1507-1515
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• 2018

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by prostatic hypertrophy mainly in the elderly. Corni Fructus is reportedly effective in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, but its efficacy on BPH has not been previously studied. In the present study, we investigated whether or not a Corni Fructus water extract (CF) could prevent testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. To induce BPH, castrated rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (TP). CF was administered daily by oral gavage, along with the TP injections, and finasteride, a selective inhibitor of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type 2, was used as a positive control. The results show that CF significantly reduces prostate weight and histopathologic changes while also decreasing levels of serum dihydrotestosterone, similar to the finasteride-treated group. CF also suppresses TP-induced $5{\alpha}$-reductase expression and concentration in prostate tissue and serum, respectively. Furthermore, CF markedly inhibited TP-induced expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and the steroid receptor coactivator 1, an AR coactivator, which was associated with a decrease in prostate-specific antigen levels in both serum and prostate tissue. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that CF weakens BPH status by inactivation of $5{\alpha}$-reductase and AR.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2009

To investigate the inhibitory effects of Peonia japonica water extract(PJWE) on skin wrinkle formation, skin wrinkles were induced by both the irradiation of UVB and the application of squalene monohydroperoxide to the backs of hairless mice for 4 weeks. And at the same time experimental materials were applied topically. Wrinkles for the control (C) group were formed as a pattern of deep furrows and thick crests. Whereas wrinkles for the positive control (PC, 0.01% retinoic acid) and experimental(E, PJWE) groups were formed as a pattern of shallow furrows and thin crests, which were similar to that of the normal(N) group. Collagen and elastic fibers in dermis of the PC and E groups were almost intact with a regular arrangement, which were similar to those of the N group. The activity of xanthine oxidase, the free radical generating enzyme, was significantly lower in the E group than the C and PC groups. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, the free radical scavenging enzymes, were much higher in the E group than the C and PC groups and similar to the N group. As for the amount of matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3) expression, PC and E groups were significantly lower than the C group. Therefore, PJWE could be very effective natural herbal material for the inhibition or improvement of wrinkle formation in hairless mice skin.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2009

To investigate the alleviative effects of Peonia japonica water extract(PJWE) on inflammation and skin barrier damage, both the irradiation of UVB and the application of squalene monohydroperoxide (Sq-OOH) to the backs of hairless mice were performed for 4 weeks. And at the same time experimental materials were applied topically. The skin erythema indices for the positive control (PC, 0.01% retinoic acid) and experimental (E, PJWE) groups were lower than that of the control (C) group. Whereas both the lipid and water capacities for the PC and E groups were higher than those of the C group. Epidermis and dermis of the C group were remarkably thickened in comparison with the PC and E groups. Relatively much less number of inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages were found in dermis of the PC and E groups compared with the C group. Lipid lamellae of the C group were broken severely showing an irregular arrangement and lipid content was much reduced. Whereas those of the PC and E groups were almost intact with a regular arrangement, which were similar to that of the N group. Taken the results all together, it was confirmed that PJWE could be effective natural herbal material for the alleviation of inflammation and skin barrier damage in hairless mice skin which were induced by UVB and Sq-OOH.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.585-594
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• 2020

At present, aging-related degenerative muscle diseases are considered a serious problem. However, the drug effect on the treatment and prevention of sarcopenia has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of extract of Pu'er tea as a remedy to alleviate the symptoms of sarcopenia. Pu'er tea extracts showed excellent radical scavenging ability. The expression of Myh3 was promoted and myotube formation also was increased by treatment of Pu'er tea extracts. These results suggest that Pu'er tea is a natural substance that promotes myogenesis, and is valuable as a material for pharmaceutical research on the prevention and treatment of various muscle diseases, including sarcopenia. And It is necessary to confirm specific indicator substances of puer tea and further study on this.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1129-1137
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• 2017

The fringe tree, Chionanthus retusus (Oleaceae) has been used as a natural remedy that helps a paralytic stroke, dementia, phlegm and malaria. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and anti-aging activities of water extracts obtained from the flesh of C. retusus by reflux extraction at room temperature and $80^{\circ}C$, and pressure heating extraction at $110^{\circ}C$, for an increment of their practical use. The highest extraction yield from the flesh of C. retusus was 67.94% extract by pressure heating extraction at $110^{\circ}C$. The content of total polyphenol compounds was the highest by 72.71 mg/g in $80^{\circ}C$ extract by reflux extraction. The highest content of total flavonoid compounds was 7.60 mg/g at $110^{\circ}C$ extract. The results of soluble protein and reducing sugar contents showed the highest content of 4.93 mg/g and 46.77 mg/g in $110^{\circ}C$ extract, respectively. In the analysis of DPPH radical scavenging activity, all extracts showed an excellent effect of 92% in 1.0 mg/mL concentration. The highest effect of ABTS radical scavenging activity was 88.67% at $110^{\circ}C$ extraction in 1.0 mg/mL concentration. Nitrite scavenging ability was the highest as 66.16% at $110^{\circ}C$ extract at pH 1.2 and 1.0 mg/mL concentration. The results of SOD-like activity and xanthine oxidase inhibition activities showed the highest effect of 14.95% and 59.45% at $110^{\circ}C$ extract in 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. Tyrosinase inhibition activity for whitening effect was the highest of 35.31% at $85^{\circ}C$ in 1.0 mg/mL. In the analysis of anti-aging effect, collagenase and elastase inhibition activity showed the highest effects of 37.78% at $110^{\circ}C$ and 20.39% at $80^{\circ}C$, respectively. All results of antioxidant activities and anti-aging effects increased along with the concentration increases. These results indicated that the extracts extracted from the flesh of C. retusus at $80^{\circ}C$ and $110^{\circ}C$ have a large amount of useful ingredients, an excellent antioxidant activity, like as DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, and anti-aging effects to develop functional products than those of $25^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.532-538
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• 2016

Menopause is characterized by a decrease in estrogen production by the ovaries. Furthermore, the risk of developing chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes increases in menopausal women. In this study, we evaluated the ability of Caragana sinica (CS) to affect lipid and glucose metabolism in an ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rat model of induced menopause. The animals were divwided randomly into three groups: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX), and ovariectomized rats treated with 1% water extract of CS (OVX-CS). The OVX-CS treated mice showed a significant decrease in body weight, adipose tissue, triglyceride, and total cholesterol. Improved lipid and glucose profiles were also observed, and were attributed to suppression of hepatic lipogenesis and adipokine production and regulation of glucose-regulating enzyme activity. Therefore, these findings indicate a potential use for CS as a functional food for menopause-induced hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.