• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.309-321
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• 2023

Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa) belongs to Cupressaceae and grows wild in southern area of Korea. C. obtusa has been used for furnitures because of the superior quality of the lumber and remaining branches and leaves were used for extraction of essential oil (C. obtusa oil). C. obtusa oil has numerous health effects, including anti-inflammation, antibacterial, deodorization, sedative effect. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of C. obtusa oil on anti-wrinkles, skin-barrier and moisturizing. First, DPPH and ABTS assay were conducted to evaluate antioxidant effect and C. obtusa oil showed significance scavenging activity on both radicals. And elastase activity was examined for anti-wrinkle effect. At the result, elastase activity was significantly reduced by C. obtusa oil. Next, real-time PCR was performed to evaluate gene expression. At the results, MMP-1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced by C. obtusa oil in HDF cells. In addition, filaggrin and HAS-2 mRNA expression significantly increased by C. obtusa oil in HaCaT cells. Taken together, these results indicate that C. obtusa oil has potential as a cosmetic material for anti-aging by enhancing anti-wrinkle, skin-barrier and moisturizing effects.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

In the present study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic extracts from Lathyrus japonicus at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL were investigated in LPS-stimulated, RAW264.7 cells. Antioxidant properties were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. In addition, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using the 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe by flow cytometry. To examine the anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts of L. japonicus, their effects on the levels of nitric oxide (NO); production of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); and the activities of enzymes such as inducible NOS (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were assessed. The IC₅₀ values of the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were 476.09 ± 1.50 and 34.91 ± 0.37 ㎍/mL, respectively. In addition, L. japonicus extracts not only inhibited ROS production, but also the production of NO, IL-1β, and IL-10, and the activity of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, the ethanolic extracts of L. japonicus could be used as a functional food additive and an anti-inflammatory agent owing to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Background : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of stems and leaves of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (ES) from Gangwon-do. Methods and Results : Stems and leaves of ES were collected from two areas in Gangwon-do: Cheorwon-gun and Samcheok-si. Samples were extracted with water by using the pressurized liquid extraction method and with 70% prethanol A by using the heat reflux extraction method. The anti-inflammatory effects of ES were evaluated through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide(MTT), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) assay, nitric oxide(NO) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and Western blot analysis in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 1) Results showed that ES leaf extractions were not cytotoxic at a concentration of up to 30 ㎍/㎖. The leaves of 70% prethanol A extractions of ES(30 ㎍/㎖) inhibited NO, interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) production and decreased the protein level of cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2). There was no significant change in the protein level of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS). The stem extractions of ES did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions : In this study, the leaves of 70% prethanol A extractions of ES demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect on RAW 264.7 macrophages. The 70% prethanol A extractions have a relatively higher anti-inflammatory effect on RAW 264.7 macrophages than water extractions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2023

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is known to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. LRRK2 is predominantly expressed in the lung as well as the brain. However, it is unclear whether LRRK2 expression correlates with the pathogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). This study analyzes the prognostic significance of LRRK2 in LUSC using the Kaplan-Meier plotter tool. High expression of LRRK2 is known to be associated with a bad prognosis in patients with LUSC. Patients with high LRRK2 expression, tumor mutational burden, high neoantigen load, and even gender correlation reportedly have the worse survival rates. In the gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) database, the severity of pathogenesis in LUSC with high LRRK2 expression positively corresponds to a high expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines but not inflammatory cytokines. Similarly, the increased expression of interleukin (IL)10-related genes was shown to be significantly linked in LRRK2-high LUSC patients having a poor prognosis. Moreover, the tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) database suggests that macrophages are one of the cellular sources of IL10 in LRRK2-high LUSC patients. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the postulated LRRK2-IL10 axis is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for LUSC.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.593-604
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• 2023

The ocean accounts for over 70% of the Earth's surface and is a space of largely unexplored unknowns and opportunities. Korea is a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides, emphasizing the importance of marine research. The ocean has an extremely complex environment with immense biological diversity. In terms of microbiology, the marine environment has varying factors like extreme temperature, pressure, solar radiation, salt concentration, and pH, providing ecologically unique habitats. Due to this variety, marine organisms have very different phylogenetic classifications compared with terrestrial organisms. Although various microorganisms inhabit the ocean, studies on the diversity, isolation, and cultivation of marine microorganisms and the secondary metabolites they produce are still insufficient. Research on bioactive substances from marine microorganisms, which were rarely studied until the 1990s, has accelerated in terms of natural products from marine Actinomycetes since the 2000s. Since then, industries for bioplastic and biofuel production, carbon dioxide capture, probiotics, and pharmaceutical discovery and development of antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory drugs using bacteria, archaea, and algae have significantly grown. In this review, we introduce current research findings and the latest trends in life science and biotechnology using marine microorganisms. Through this article, we hope to create consumer awareness of the importance of basic and applied research in various natural product-related discovery fields other than conventional pharmaceutical drug discovery. The article aims to suggest pathways that may boost research on the optimization and application of future marine-derived materials.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

In this study, a formula (EJ-F101) was prepared to develop a raw material for acne-prone skin improvement using wheat germ extract, and a clinical trial cream was prepared and clinical trials were conducted. As a result of the analysis, when comparing before and after using the product, both the test group and the control group showed significant improvement effects in terms of open comedones, occluded comedones, papules, sebum and oil content in the facial region at 4 weeks after product use, compared to the control group in the test group which showed a more significant improvement effect. As a result of the survey on the efficacy of the product, most items showed higher positive answers in the test product compared to the control product four weeks after the use of the product, and about 43-81% of the study subjects answered positively in the test product, except for the "open surface" item. In addition, for all items related to the usability of the product, about 14-86% of the test group and 38-90% of the control group answered positively at the time point 4 weeks after using the product. As a result of skin safety evaluation, no adverse skin reactions were observed in all subjects of this study. Based on the above results, it is considered that the cream using wheat germ extract is suitable for use on acne-prone skin(non comedogenicity).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.510-517
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• 2008

This study has been described the metabolism and excretion in a healthy male urine collected for 26hrs after oral administration of diclofenac. To detect conjugated metabolites of diclofenac, urine sample was acid-hydrolyzed under the conditions of 6M-HCl at over $110^{\circ}C$ for 1hr. During the acidic hydrolysis process, diclofenac and its metabolites were converted into their corresponding lactam-ring through dehydration reaction. As results of chemical conversion by means of hydrolysis, the structures of diclofenac and its metabolites were also changed acidic to basic forms. However, lactam-ring was degraded by hydroxyl ion at basic condition. Thus, the extraction rate of dehydrated diclofenac and its metabolites was not favored at basic condition. For the determination of trace amounts of diclofenac and its metabolites in urine, trimethylsilylation (TMS) with MSTFA was applied and followed by analysis with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. In this study, four metabolites that are formed by the hydroxylation of parent drug were mainly detected. Each metabolite was tentatively identified by both interpretation of mass spectra and comparison with previously reported results. In addition, time profile of urinary excretion rate for parent drugs and metabolites was studied. Finally, the metabolic pathway of diclofenac was suggested on the basis of the elucidation of its metabolites and excretion profiles.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.25-25
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• 2020

산초나무(Zanthoxylum schinifolium Siebold & Zucc.)는 운향과(Rutaceae)에 속하는 낙엽활엽관목으로 주로 열매, 잎, 줄기는 식·약용으로 이용한다. 최근 산초나무 부위별 추출물에서 항산화활성, 항염증효과, 미백효과 등에 관한 연구가 이루어지면서 산초나무의 가치가 더욱 증가하고 있다. 본 연구는 산초나무의 효율적인 유·무성 증식법을 구명하기 위해 종자 처리에 따른 발아특성, 생장조절물질 처리에 따른 가지삽목과 뿌리삽목의 발근특성을 조사하였다. 산초나무 종자는 3개월간 저온습사저장(종자:모래=1:1, -4℃)을 실시할 경우 약 64.0%가 발아하였다. 습사저장된 종자를 파종 직전에 GA3를 이용하여 0, 500, 1,000 및 2,000ppm 농도에서 처리한 결과 각 처리구별 발아율은 유의한 차이를 나타내지 않았다(F=1.556, p=0.260). 다만, 500ppm 농도에서 72.0%가 발아하여 가장 높은 발아율을 보였으며 1,000ppm 이상 처리구에서는 발아율이 다소 감소하는 경향을 나타냈다. 무성증식 방법은 2월 중순에 산초나무 가지삽수와 뿌리삽수를 채취한 후 IBA와 NAA를 각각 0, 500, 1,000 및 2,000ppm 농도로 처리하였다. 가지삽목을 실시한 대부분의 삽수에서 신초가 발생했으나, 발근율은 1.3~6.3%로 현저히 낮았다. 반면, 뿌리삽목은 3개월 후 부정아 발생율이 처리에 따라 58.3~83.3%로 조사되었으며, 발근율은 0~66.7%를 나타나 처리구별 발근율에 유의한 차이가 있었다(F=3.744, p=0.020). IBA 처리가 근삽수의 발근에는 효과적이었으며, 특히 IBA 2,000ppm 처리에서 66.7%의 발근율을 보여 가장 효과적임을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로, 산초나무의 효율적인 유성증식을 위해서는 종자를 3개월간 저온습사저장하는 것이 효과적이며, 무성증식 방법으로는 가지삽목보다 뿌리삽목을 이용하는 것이 더 효과적인 것으로 판단된다.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2022

도라지(Platycodon grandiflorum)는 초롱꽃과 도라지속에 속하는 여러해살이풀로 7~8월에 보라색이나 흰색의 꽃을 피우고, 뿌리는 다육질로 원주형 또는 분지형이다. 잎은 거의 엽병이 없는 대생이며, 종자는 난형으로 3개의 모서리가 있다. 항염증 성분인 플라티코딘이 들어있어 편도염을 비롯한 후두염, 폐렴 등에 효과가 있어 우리나라 약용작물 재배면적의 상위를 차지하고 있는 주요 작물이다. 최근, 백수오, 감초 등 심근성 약용작물은 뿌리의 수확 비용 절감을 위해 용기재배가 도입되고 있다. 본 연구는 도라지 용기재배에 적합한 용기의 규격과 고온 경감을 위한 용기 재료 선발을 위해 수행하였다. 도라지 용기재배에 적합한 용기의 규격 선발은 기본 용기로 플라스틱 플륨관을 사용하였고, 높이는 40cm로 고정하여 직경을 10, 20, 30cm로 처리하였다. 2019년 4월 하순에 도라지 종자를 파종하여 용기 규격별로 각각 1주(10cm), 4주(20cm), 8주(30cm)를 남겨 두고 솎음 다음, 2020년 10월 하순에 수확하였다. 도라지의 생육 및 수량성을 조사한 결과, 용기의 직경이 증가함에 따라 근장, 근경, 근중 등 지하부 생육이 우수한 경향이었다. 또한, 10a당 수량은 노지재배 749kg에 비해 직경 10cm 778kg, 20cm 849kg, 30cm 1,156kg로 직경 30cm가 가장 우수하였다. 직경이 증가할수록 수량성이 증가하였으나 직경 30cm 이상의 용기는 수확 시 노동력이 증가하고, 배양토 비용이 증가하여 사용하지 않았다. 고온 경감을 위한 용기 재료 선발은 흰색과 검정색 플라스틱 플륨관을 높이 40cm × 직경 30cm 규격으로 절단하여 2020년 4월에 도라지 종자를 파종하였고, 2021년 10월 하순에 수확하였다. 이 중 검정색 용기는 무처리(대조), 유공, 반유공, 흰색부직포, 반사필름 처리를 하였다. 도라지의 수량성을 조사한 결과, 검정색 용기 중 유공처리가 무처리 대비 수량이 21%(1,080 → 1,304kg/10a) 증가하였다. 위의 결과로 도라지는 직경 30cm의 검정색 유공 용기가 용기재배에 적합한 것으로 판단되었다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.776-782
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• 2023

Silymarin, which is derived from dried Silybum marianum (milk thistle) seeds and fruits, possesses various beneficial properties, such as hepatoprotective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity. This research aimed to explore the antioxidative activity of silymarin against oxidative stress and understand its molecular mechanism in RAW 264.7 cells. The study employed cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation assays and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that silymarin effectively reduced intracellular ROS levels induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a dose-dependent manner without causing any cytotoxic effects. Moreover, silymarin treatment significantly upregulated the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1, a phase II enzyme known for its potent antioxidative activity. Additionally, silymarin treatment significantly induced the expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor (Nrf) 2, a transcription factor responsible for regulating antioxidative enzymes, which was consistent with the upregulated HO-1 expression. To investigate the involvement of key signaling pathways in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis against oxidative stress, the phosphorylation status of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) was estimated by western blot analysis. The results showed that silymarin potently induced HO-1 expression, which was mediated by the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. To further validate the antioxidative potential of silymarin-induced HO-1 expression, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage was employed and attenuated by silymarin treatment, as identified by a selective inhibitor for each signaling molecule. In conclusion, silymarin robustly enhanced antioxidative activity by inducing HO-1 via the Nrf2/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 cells.