• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.307-311
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• 2014

2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) is used as a redox indicator in culture media. It is colorless in the oxidized form and is reduced to formazan, an insoluble pigment, by dehydrogenases in actively growing microbial cells. The aim of this study was to assess by microbial test of the pathogenic microorganisms using TTC reduction. The pathogenic microorganisms were reduced in medium by dehydrogenase to produce insoluble red formazan. We observed that the optimization method of TTC allowed more than 12 h incubation in 0.04% concentration. Also, the growth of microorganisms with media was increased formazan production. We confirmed that microorganisms were quickly observed to grow colonies cultured red color without affecting the growth of microorganisms. It is suggested that the microbial test using TTC can provide better and quicker test method in cosmetics development.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.794-799
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• 2015

In recent years, there has been a global trend toward the importance of natural extracts for the prevention and treatment of human diseases. ${\beta}$-glucan is known to have anti-inflammatory activity, anti-cancer, and improvement of immune system. Polycan is purified ${\beta}$-glucan from Aureobasidum pullulans SM-2001. The anti-cancer effects of ${\beta}$-gluconsan calcium, polycan and calcium gluconate complex, were evaluated in human oral cancer YD-10B cells. YD-10B cells were cultured in the presence of 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1 mg/ml ${\beta}$-gluconsan calcium for 48 hours. MTT assay, cell counting, and observation of cell morphology were conducted. The number of cells decreased and cell morphology changed in the 0.5 mg/ml of ${\beta}$-gluconsan calcium. Almost all cells were dead in the 0.75 and 1 mg/ml. MTT assay showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell proliferation (p<0.05). These results indicate that ${\beta}$-gluconsan calcium exhibiting anti-cancer effects in YD-10B cells through changes in cell morphology and cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2015

Citrus peel (CP) is used as a traditional herb with diverse beneficial pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-allergic effects. However, the anti-obesity effects of citrus peel are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate ethanol extracts of citrus peel (EECP) for its adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate an EECP for its adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with EECP significantly suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content and an accumulation of cellular triglyceride. EECP exhibited potential adipogenesis inhibition and downregulated the expression of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, such as sterol regulatory elementbinding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancerbinding proteins α (C/EBPα) and C/EBPβ, and adipocyte expressed genes, such as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and Leptin. In addition, EECP treatment effectively activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway; however, compound C, a specific inhibitor of AMPK, significantly reduced the EECP-induced inhibition of adipogenesis. Taken together, these results indicate EECP showed strong anti-obesity effects through the AMPK signaling pathway, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activity of EECP.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.948-955
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• 2007

Neutrophils play a key role as a first line of defense and are known to acquire the characteristics of dendritic cells (DCs) under the appropriate conditions. The spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils was delayed by treatment with 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzensulfonylfluoride (AEBSF), a serine protease inhibitor. AEBSF inhibited both caspase-3 and serine protease activities, whereas ZVAD-fmk, a pancaspase inhibitor, inhibited only caspase-3 activity. The life span of neutrophils was prolonged up to 5 days by AEBSF in the presence or absence of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(CM-CSF). DC surface markers, such as CD80, CD83, and MHC class ll were not expressed on neutrophils treated with AEBSF alone. CM-CSF failed to prolong the survival time of neutrophils up to3 days but increased the expression levels of DC markers on neutrophils in the presence of AEBSF. Expression levels of DC markers were the highest on neutrophils treated with CM-CSF and AEBSF for 3 days. AEBSF and CM-CSF-treated neutrophils stimulated proliferation of T cells in the presence of a superantigen, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) but produced $interferon-{\gamma}$ ($IFN{\gamma}$) in the absence of SEB. These results suggest that the inhibition of serine protease activity prolonged the life span of human neutrophils and combined treatment of neukophils with CM-CSF and serine protease inhibitor induced differentiation of neutrophils into DC-like cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.542-548
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• 2011

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a distinct form of food allergy induced by physical exercise. It is typified by the onset of anaphylaxis during exercise, which is preceded by the ingestion of causal food allergens. Diagnosis of FDEIA is heavily dependent on clinical history. To describe the physiopathological mechanism, etiologic factors, and clinical manifestations, we evaluated the spleen index, proliferation assay of lymphocyte, ROS, ASAS, and cytokines levels in sensitized and exercise-trained mice. One-hundred mice were bred in the animal lab at D and P university under controlled conditions [$22{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, RH 45-55%, and a 12-hour photoperiod]. Animals are 7-weeks-old at the time of study and were fed a standard commercial chow diet from 09:00 to 15:00 over the 8-week study period. The mice were allowed access to distilled deionized water ad libitum. Daily food intake and weekly body gains were routinely recorded throughout the experimental period using computing scale (CAS). Mice were divided into the control group (S; control sensitized, n=25), 30 min swim training group (S30, N=25), 50 min swim training group (S50, N=25), and 80 min swim training group (S80, N=25). The results were as follows: Spleen index showed the highest level in the S80 group compared to other groups; this level was exercise-dependent. In proliferation assay of Med and OVA, the S80 group showed the highest level compared to the other groups; this level also was exercise intensity- dependent. Peritoneal ROS and IL-4 showed a statistically significant difference compared to S; however, there was no significant differences in ROS among S30, 50, and 80. From the results, we concluded that FDEIA is correlated with exercise intensity based on the levels of peritoneal ROS and cytokine profiles.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1252-1259
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• 2013

To investigate the effects of a fibrinolytic enzyme, BK-17, on the growth of human cancer cells, we performed various biochemical experiments, including cell proliferation and viability, and investigated subsequent morphological changes and apoptosis induction. BK-17 treatment of AGS human gastric and T24 human bladder carcinoma cells decreased the viability and the proliferation of the cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Microscopic studies indicated that the antiproliferative effects of the BK-17 treatment were associated with morphological changes, such as membrane shrinking, cell rounding up, and the formation of apoptotic bodies, indicating that BK-17 induced apoptosis in the cell lines. Of note, RT-PCR and Western blotting data indicated that the BK-17 treatment induced the down-regulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 members, Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$, and the up-regulation of proapoptotic Bax members, Bax and Bad, in the AGS cells. BK-17-induced apoptosis of AGS cells was involved in the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Taken together, these findings suggest that BK-17 is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.990-998
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• 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the hair-growth promotion effect in C57BL/6 mice of a new substance mixed with Allium cepa (red)-bioconversion extract and Angelica gigas Nakai. The ethanol extract of Allium cepa (red) was bioconverted through the use of the Bacillus subtilis KJ-3 (BS3) strain, which was named Red-BCQ. The quercetin content of Red-BCQ increased by about 7.4-fold after bioconversion. Angelica gigas Nakai extract (Agnex) contains a large amount of coumarins such as decursin (D) and decursinol angelate (DA). A 1 mg portion of Agnex contained 0.4146 mg of D and 0.3659 mg of DA. Minoxidil has been known to promote hair growth. In this study, the hair-growth promotion effects of Red-BCQ, Agnex, and a mixture of both Red-BCQ and Agnex were compared with 5% minoxidil. Twenty-five mice were divided into five experimental groups including saline (CON), 5% minoxidil (PCON), Red-BCQ (RA), Agnex (AG), and a Red-BCQ-Agnex mixture (RAG)-treated group. Samples were administered orally once a day at a fixed time for 4 weeks. Hair growth was monitored by photograph at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. We also observed 5α-reductase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, antioxidant enzyme, and the hair follicles of the skin tissue. In all the results, the RAG-administered group showed greater antioxidative and hair-growth promotion effects than the other groups. These data suggest that RAG has potent stimulating activity on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.442-447
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• 2010

We investigated anti-cancer and anti-proliferative activity of allicin and analyzed global gene expression changes by allicin treatment in human colorectal HCT116 cells. As a result, allicin decreased cell viabilities in a dose and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis. Oligo DNA microarray analysis, we found that 7,840 genes were up-regulated more than 2-folds, whereas 10,010 genes were down-regulated more than 2-folds by $50\;{\mu}M$ allicin treatment. To confirm specific gene expressions, we performed RT-PCR. Consistent with the results of DNA microarray analysis, allicin dramatically induced ATF3 and NAG1 gene expression. Interestingly, NAG-1 protein expression was dependent on p53 presence. Taken together, our present results increase the knowledge of the molecular mechanism of anti-cancer and anti-proliferative activity mediated by allciin in human colorectal cancer cell.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.909-918
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• 2009

As a part of dissolved organic matter, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or biodegradable DOC (BDOC) fraction in particular is one of important issues in water treatment. Due to role as a nutrient source for bacteria, BDOC, therefore, may cause regrowth problems in water distribution system. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the possibility to minimize the concentration of BDOC in advance water treatment process. DOC in water is fractionized into four fractions such as AnBDOC (adsorbable and non-biodegradable DOC) which possesses adsorption properties but no biodegradation ability; nABDOC (biodegradable and non-adsorbable DOC) which has biodegradation properties but no adsorption ability; ABDOC (adsorbable and biodegradable DOC) which has adsorption properties and biodegradable characteristic; and non-removal DOC (nAnBDOC) which do not have either adsorbability or biodegradability. BAC process was effective for adsorbable DOC (AnBDOC+ABDOC) removal. However, in some cases, the removal ratio of adsorbable DOC was not sufficient. BDOC removal rate is very low or irremovable. Thus, for the control of residual DOC, it is necessary to change the operation condition by BAC process. From the analysis results of DOC fractions, water treatment processes appeared to be effective because it could grasp a remarkable amount of biodegradable, adsorbable and non-removal DOC. The concentration of AOX in non-prechlorination process was reduced from 7.1 ${\mu}g$/L to 0.51 ${\mu}g$/L in BAC process followed by ozonation.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 2011

Effects of Kenpaullone, a specific inhibitor of GSK3${\beta}$, on melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells and human melanocytes were investigated. Kenpaullone showed a melanogenesis stimulation activity in a concentrationdependent manner in murine B16 melanoma cells and human melanocytes without any significant effects on cell proliferation. Tyrosinase activity was increased 48 h after treatment of B16 cells with Kenpaullone. The protein expression level of tyrosinase was dose-dependently enhanced after the treatment with Kenpaullone. At the same time, the expression level of tyrosinase mRNA was also increased after addition of Kenpaullone. The stimulatory effect of Kenpaullone mainly resulted from increased expression of tyrosinase. These findings suggest that the application of GSK3${\beta}$ inhibitors may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hypopigmentation disorder.