• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.331-339
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• 2022

Melanin is a pigment produced by melanocytes to protect the skin from external stimuli, mainly ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, abnormal and excessive production of melanin causes hyperpigmentation disorders, such as freckles, age spots, and discoloration. Natural cosmeceuticals are a new trend for treating or preventing hyperpigmentation due to fewer side effects and biocompatibility. In this context, the current study focused on Cnidium japonicum, a halophyte with several uses in folk medicine, to evaluate its potential as a skin-whitening agent. The effect of C. japonicum extract (CJE) on melanin production was analyzed in melanogenesis-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The results showed that CJE successfully inhibited the oxidation of tyrosine and L-DOPA by tyrosinase and subsequently decreased the production of the key enzymes responsible for melanin production: tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and protein-2. This effect was confirmed by decreased intracellular and extracellular melanin levels in B16F10 melanoma cells after CJE treatment. Further experiments to elucidate the action mechanism revealed that CJE treatment suppressed melanin production by inhibiting the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSKβ)/β-catenin and protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) pathways, which are the upstream activators of melanogenesis. In conclusion, the present study suggests that C. japonicum is a potential natural source of bioactive substances for the development of novel cosmeceuticals that can act against hyperpigmentation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2012

The method of sexing based on differences in the rate of feather growth provides a convenient and inexpensive approach. The locus of feather development gene (K) is located on the Z chromosome and can be utilized to produce phenotypes that distinguish between the sexes of chicks at hatching. To establish the auto-sexing native chicken strains, this study analyzed the genotype frequency of the feathering in domestic chicken breeds. The method of classification of slow- and rapid-feathering chickens was also investigated. In the slow-feathering chicks, the coverts were either the same length or longer than the primary wing feathers at hatching. However, the rapid-feathering chicks had the primary wing feathers that were longer than the coverts. The growth pattern of tail feather also distinctively differed between the rapid- and slow-feathering chicks after 5-days. The accuracy of wing feather sexing was about 98% compared with tail sexing. In domestic chicken breeds, Korean Black Cornish, Korean Rhode Island Red, and Korean Native Chicken-Red had both dominant (K) and recessive ($k^+$) feathering genes. The other breeds of chickens, Korean Brown Cornish, Ogol, White Leghorn, Korean Native Chicken-Yellow, -Gray, -White and -Black had only the recessive feathering gene ($k^+$). Consequently, feather sexing is available using the domestic chicken breeds. Establishing the maternal stock with dominant gene (K-) and paternal stock with recessive gene ($k^+k^+$), the slow-feathering characteristic is passed from mothers to their sons, and the rapid-feathering characteristic is inherited by daughters from their fathers.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2015

Based on the 14 specimens collected from the Korean waters, we described the external morphology of Ocynectes maschalis in detail to provide morphological characteristics for species identification. The species from Korea is characterized by having a low first dorsal fin with a dark spot posteriorly, no dark blotches ventrally, three saddle-like blotches on dorsal midline posterior to the second dorsal fin, and two occipital cirri on head.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.78-91
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• 2002

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of bee venom on melanoma in C57BL mice. Materials and Methods : For the induction of melanoma, C57BL mice were treated by DMBA(7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene). Each group of C57BL mouse was treated with DMBA $50{\mu}g$, $75{\mu}g$, $100{\mu}g$ respectively once a week for 15 weeks. Tumor generation in each group of 10 mice was observed. Cumulative curves were showed in the density and frequency of skin tumor generation. To know the effects of pre-treatment of bee venom on tumor generation by DMBA treatment(frequency of tumor generation), Each group of C57BL mouse was pretreated and treated with bee venom $5{\mu}{\ell}$, $25{\mu}{\ell}$, $50{\mu}{\ell}$ respectively once a week for 3 weeks, whereafter each mouse was treated with DMBA $100{\mu}g$ once a week for 15 weeks. Results and Conclusion (1) There was chemotherapeutic effect, but not chemopreventive effect. (2) Cpp32 activity was increased by $50{\mu}{\ell}$ bee venom treatment. (3) Bee venom treatment inhibited expression of cell-cycle regulating, growth-promoting genes such as c-Jun, c-Fos, and Cyclin Dl, and increased tumor suppressors p53 and p21/Wafl. (4) Bee venom treatment activated expression of a representative apoptosis-inducing gene Bax.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to obtain the basic informations on variability of germplasm and cultivation practice for the production of biodiesel in sunflower. A total of 275 accessions obtained from the National Agrobiodiversity Center (34 landraces from Korea, 219 and 22 introductions from America and other countries, respectively) were screened to evaluate variations of seed characteristics, oil content and fatty acid composition. Seed types were classified into 4 types (broad ovoid, narrow ovoid, rounded and elongated). The broad ovoid type was the highest proportion of 40.4%, while the elongated type was the lowest proportion of 5.0% among accessions. Also, the seed colors were classified into 4 colors (gray, brown, black and white). Gray and brown seed color showed the highest distribution and white seed color showed the lowest among accessions, respectively. Hundred and one liter seed weight ranged 2.9~15.5g and 178~439g with averages of 6.3g and 322.0g, respectively. Oil content ranged from 11.7% to 45.6% with an average of 25.5%. The frequency distribution of oil content showed the highest in range of 22~28% and the lowest in range of over 40%. Three promising accessions with higher oil content than 40.0% were IT031967, IT031970 and IT031965 introduced from America. Palmitic and stearic acid contents, saturated fatty acid, ranged 3.1~7.6% and 1.3~4.1% with averages of 4.7% and 2.2%, respectively, and a total content of saturated fatty acid ranged 5.4~9.4% with an average of 6.9%. Oleic and linoleic acid contents, unsaturated fatty acid, ranged 18.1~75.7% and 18.1~74.1% with averages of 55.2% and 38.0%, respectively. Five accessions, IT031831, IT031669, IT031895, IT031938 and IT031694, showed higher oleic acid content than 70%. A total content of unsaturated fatty acid ranged 89.6~94.8% with an average of 93.0%.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2000

Purpose : Tumors of the foot and ankle are uncommon compared with those arising in the other sites, and the malignant tumors are rare. We analyzed the data of patients who have been diagnosed as having a tumor of the foot and ankle. Materials and Methods : Between 1989 and 1998, we treated 72 patients and analyzed on their clinical characteristics retrospectively. Results : Fifty-three cases were benign. Included are 30 cases of soft tissue tumor and 23 cases of bone tumor. Malignant tumor was in 19 cases (26%), including 17 cases of soft tissue tumor, one cases of metastatic tumor. The most common benign tumor was fibroma in soft tissue and osteochondroma in bone. Malignant melanoma was the most common malignant tumor of the foot (7 cases). The predilection site for benign tumors was around toes while for the malignant tumor mostly arises in the heel. Among 19 malignant tumors, local recurrence developed in 3 cases and the distant metastasis occurred in 8 cases. Conclusion : The ratio of malignant tumor and metastasis was high. Therefore, when we faced with a tumor of the foot and ankle, the histopathologic confirmation is essential through biopsy before the definite initial treatment.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.105-117
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• 2020

Agaricus blazei Murill (Almond mushroom) has many beneficial effects, such as anti-cancer, immuneenhancement, and anti-obesity. Also, its skin benefits have been reported for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and whitening. In order to elucidate these effects, many studies have been conducted. In this study, we reconfirmed the skin efficacy of the extract of the mushrooms mushrooms. The Agaricus blazei extract showed inhibition of melanin synthesis, enhancement of collagen synthesis, and up-regulation of gene expression (hyaluronan syntahase-2, 3 and aquaporin-3) at 100 ㎍/mL. and identified the ingredients from the extract. We further investigated them to find an applicability as cosmetic ingredients. The ingredients were confirmed comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature values. They were identified as being ergosterol (1), 5-dihydroergosterol (2), cerevisterol (3), cerebroside B (4), cerebroside D (5), adenosine (6), and benzoic acid (7). Among these compounds, we evaluated skin efficacy for two cerebrosides and three ergosterol derivatives that have not been reported its efficacy. As a result, 5-dihydroergosterol (2) inhibited melanogenesis in B16F10 and promoted collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblast. In addition, cerevisterol (3), cerebroside B (4), and cerebroside D (5) inhibited NO production in RAW 264.7 cell. In particular, cerebroside D (5) increased the expression of hyaluronan synthase-2 and aquaporin-3 genes in HaCaT. These results suggest that Agaricus blazei extract and isolated compounds can be used as cosmetic ingredients.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2001

The thermal and photometric properties of mulching materials modify the radiation and energy balance on the mulched soil surface and thereby change the soil temperature. The soil surface energy balances and soil temperatures under the mulching treatments of non-mulched control, recycled paper (RPM), and black polyethylene film (BPFM) were compared before and after the establishment of potato canopy. On August 30 in 1998 when potato was not emerged yet and solar radiation was 17.9 MJ $m^{-2}$${day}^{-1}$ , the net radiation of the soil surface was estimated as 10.(1, 2. 4, and 1.3 MJ $m^{-2}$${day}^{-1}$ under the control, BPFM, and RPM, respectively. The sensible and latent heat loss from the soil surface was 9.65 MJ $m^{-2}$${day}^{-1}$ in the control, most of the net radiation being lost through evaporation and convection, whereas it amounted only to 1.39 MJ $m^{-2}$${day}^{-1}$ in BPFM and 1.36 MJ $m^{-2}$${day}^{-1}$ in RPM. Therefore, the soil heat fluxes were 0.36 1.02, and 0.06 MJ m$^{-2}$ day$^{-1}$ under the control, BPFM and RPM, respectively. On September 27 when potato canopy was fully developed, the soil surface net radiation in the control was sharply decreased as compared to that of Aug. 30, whereas the net radiation of the mulched soil surfaces showed little changes. The soil heat flux was -0.01, 0.95, and 0.12 MJ $m^{-2}$${day}^{-1}$ at the soil surface under the control, BPFM and RPM, respectively. As the mulching treatments brought about such alteration of energy partitioning into the soil, the highest soil temperature was recorded in BPFM and the lowest in RMP without regard to potato canopy development. However, the soil temperature differences among the treatments become smaller when potato canopy were fully developed.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

A larva of the deep-sea angler fish, Himantolophus groenlandicus (2.2 mm BL), identified based on the complete mitochondrial DNA sequence, was collected at the surface of the western North Pacific. The postflexion stage larva had a round body, small teeth, incipient dorsal fin rays, eyes slightly recessed in the lower part, and melanophores on the gills and parietal and dorsal regions. These morphological features differ from a description of a larva reported as the same species with similar size (2.1 mm BL). The genetic and morphological information of our specimen should be useful for identifying larval H. groenlandicus.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.11
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• pp.71-79
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• 1993

This study was conducted to obtain the basic information for the classification of Perilla spp. based on their major morphological characteristics for the 20 local collections of perilla distributed in Korea. The results of this experiment were summarized as follows : Several morphological characteristics were investigated. Seed color was classified to four groups with greshywhite, greshybrown, brown and darkbrown. The 1,000 grain weight, 11 accessions were below 3.5g, four accessions was 3.6g to 4.5g and five accessions was 4.5g to 5.07g. There was two types of stem color, red and green, 15 accessions was green and 5 accessions including Andongjaerae, Yeupsil, Ockdong, Cheongsongjaerae and Chugjaso were red color. In fatty acid composition was 60% in average. Among 20 accessions, Euseongjaerae showed the highest content(65%) and Yeongyangjaerae the lowest(54%) linolenic acid content. In the cytogenetical studies on the four accessions including Andong, Yeupsil, Yeongkwang and Daeyeong, the number of chromosomes were 2n=38.