• 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.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.792-798
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-atopic-dermatitis effect of Angelica keiskei extract using a DNFB-induced animal model of atopic-dermatitis symptoms. A. keiskei was prepared via extraction with DW, 50% ethanol, and 100% ethanol in addition to fresh juice. All the extracts reduced the thickness levels of the ears and ear epidermis against swelling by DNFB inducement, especially in the aqueous-extract-treated group. The mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), however, were not observed, which may indicate that Angelica keiskei extract alleviates the atopic-dermatitis symptoms in an MMP-independent manner. Finally, the level of the inflammatory cytokine IL-4 was inhibited only in the juice-treated group, although the IL-13 level was inhibited in the juice-, 50%-ethanol-extract-, and 100%-ethanol-extract-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner, and was not inhibited in the aqueous-extract-treated group. Taken together, these results suggest that Angelica keiskei extract has an inhibitory effect on atopic dermatitis, and may be a useful biomaterial for the development of cosmeceuticals.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.150-160
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is characterized by eczematous lesions, skin dryness, and pruritus. The existing treatment drugs for AD have side effects, especially if the drugs are taken for extended periods. Therefore, new alternative therapies are necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of curcumin administration and LED irradiation on AD. AD-like lesions were induced in BALB/c mice by repeated application of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) to the shaved skin of the ear and neck. Thirty male BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: vehicle, DNCB, curcumin, LED, and curcumin+LED groups. Curcumin (0.1 g/kg/day) was administrated repeatedly during a period of 14 days (experimental period) and 630 nm LED irradiation ($5J/cm^2/day$) was performed in the acryl box once a day for 10 days, after inducing AD-like lesions via DNCB application. The severity of AD-like lesions was evaluated during the experimental period, using a modified SCORAD index. Both ear and neck skin tissues were examined histologically for epidermal thickness, mast cell, eosinophil counting, and dermal collagen density. Epidermal cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected using immunohistochemistry and TUNEL, respectively. These were all reduced in SCORAD index, epidermal thickness, collagen density, number of mast cell and eosinophil in dermis, and number of proliferating cell and apoptotic cell in epidermis by curcumin administration and 630 nm LED irradiation. Moreover, all parameters were significantly lower in the curcumin+LED group compared with the curcumin group and LED group. These results suggest that the combined therapy of curcumin and LED is more effective than a single treatment. We recommend that this can be a feasible alternative therapy to manage AD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a form of allergic skin inflammatory characterized by late eczematous skin lesions. The incidence of AD is increasing, and it causes problems with administrative costs. Therefore, development of an AD treatment with no side effects is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tuna heart ethanol extract (THEE), a functional extract from by-product of tuna. AD was induced by spreading 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the backside of BALB/c mice. The effect of THEE was tested by measuring skin clinical severity score, secretion of cytokines and IgE, and proliferation. Secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE significantly decreased in a THEE-independent manner. In contrast, levels of IL-10 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ significantly increased in mice sera and splenocytes. In addition, THEE alleviated AD symptoms compared to the DNCB only group. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that THEE has an inhibitory effect on AD and may be a useful substance for the development of cosmeceuticals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2015

This study was intended to evaluate the anti-atopic effect of Sargassum fulvellum water extract (SFWE). Atopic dermatitis (AD) was induced in BALB/c mice by spreading 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to the dorsal skin area. The production of IL-4 and total IgE of the SFWE treated group was significantly less than the DNCB only group. On the other hand, the production of the IFN-γ of SFWE treated group was greater than that of the DNCB only group. In addition, SFWE alleviated the AD symptoms when compared to the DNCB only group and reduced the epidermal thickness and the number of mast cells in histological analysis. In conclusion, these results suggest that the application of SFWE has an anti-atopic activity through the modulation of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines, and the total IgE in DNCB-induced BALB/c mice. Therefore, SFWE can be utilized with atopic disease therapies.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.394-400
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the anti-atopic effect of hot water (PPWE) and supercritical-carbon dioxide fluid extract of persimmon peels (SPPE) on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in hairless mice. Histological analyses demonstrated that SPPE treatment more strongly inhibited the dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells in AD-like skin lesions than that by PPWE. Compared to PPWE, SPPE significantly decreased the dermatitis clinical score and the epidermal thickness and potently suppressed serum IgE and interleukin (IL)-4 production in hairless mice with AD. Furthermore, compared to PPWE, SPPE potently inhibited the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin $E_2$, and proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. These results suggested that SPPE exhibited anti-atopic dermatitis activity via the regulation of inflammatory responses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.810-818
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• 2015

We analyzed whether lactic acid bacteria could control the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 in activated mast cells and whether these bacteria could inhibit the activity of transcription factors such as GATA-1, GATA-2, NF-AT1, NF-AT2, and NF-κB p65. We previously described a technique for identification of lactic acid bacteria with anti-atopy functionality by confirming increased expression of CD4+/CD25+/foxp3+ in T cells. We also confirmed that a double-culture method increased the antibacterial activity of these lactic acid bacteria against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In the present study, we characterized the effect of lactic acid bacteria cultured by this double-culture method on inhibition of allergic inflammatory reactions of RBL-2H3 mast cells, a cellular model of atopic dermatitis. The strongest anti-allergic effects of the lactic acid bacteria were seen in the following order: Lactococcus lactis broth cultured with medium containing Lactobacillus plantarum culture supernatant > Lc. lactis > Lc. lactis broth cultured with medium containing Lb. plantarum culture supernatant > Lb. plantarum. Thus, Lc. lactis cultured in medium containing Lb. plantarum culture supernatant had the strongest inhibitory effect on the differentiation of mast cells during allergic reactions, which may be mediated through the selective regulation of expression of relevant genes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2014

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease preceding the development of allergic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Sargassum micracanthum ethanol extract (SMEE) on AD. AD was induced by spreading 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzen (DNCB) on the back sides of BALB/c mice. The efficacy of SMEE was tested by observing the skin clinical severity score, proliferations of Raw 264.7 cells and the secretion of cytokines and IgE. The secretion of IL-4, and IgE was significantly decreased by SMEE in a dose dependent manner, while IFN-${\gamma}$ was increased. In addition, SMEE alleviated the AD symptoms better when compared to the positive controls. In conclusion, these results suggest that SMEE has an inhibitory effect on AD, and may serve as a useful biomaterial for the development of cosmeceuticals.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

The roots of Achyranthes japonica Nakai were extracted with 100% aqueous and concentrated subfraction was separated with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-based activity profiling. Three compounds were isolated from the subfraction 5 through the repeated prep- high performance liquid chromatography column chromatography. According to the results of physico-chemical and spectroscopic data including NMR and MS, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as ecdysterone (1), 25S-inokosterone (2), and 25R-inokosterone (3). Three phytoecdysones were showed weak inhibitory activity for thymus and activation-regulated chemokine expression levels in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ plus IFN-${\gamma}$ induced HaCaT cells, respectively. However, those compounds 1-3 were exhibited the most potent inhibition (80-95% at $200{\mu}g/mL$) against TNF-${\alpha}$ expression levels in A23187 plus phorbol-myrisrate acetate-induced RBL-2H3 cells. As result, 100% aqueous extract of A. japonica has an excellent anti-atopy activity. It could be used to a large range of functional anti-atopy cosmetics.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2015

The rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloide was extracted with 100% ethanol and concentrated subfractions were separated with medium pressure liquid chromatography-based activity profiling. One compound was isolated from the subfraction 10 through the repeated preparative high performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC). According to physico-chemical and spectroscopic data including NMR and MS, the chemical structures of the compound was determined as nyasol (1). Nyasol was exhibited potent inhibitory activity for NO ($IC_{50}:12.5{\mu}g/mL$), tyrosinase ($IC_{50}:12.5{\mu}g/mL$), melanin contents ($IC_{50}:12.5{\mu}g/mL$), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) production ($IC_{50}:6.25{\mu}g/mL$). As a result, nyasol has an excellent inflammation-dependent anti-whitening and TARC production activity. It could be used to a large range of functional cosmetics.