• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.508-518
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• 2003

SZ95 cell is an immortalized human sebaceous gland cell line that shows the morphologic, phenotypic and functional characteristics of normal human sebocytes. Sebocytes may play crucial parts in the pathophysiologic processes and disorders of the pilosebaceous unit. The secretory activity of the sebaceous gland is remarkably species-specific and acne is an exclusively human disease. Thus, this SZ95 cells offer possibilities for investigations on the physiology of the sebaceous gland and its role in sebum-associated skin disease such as acne. In this study, we investigated the effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) and spironolactone, frequently used as therapeutic agents of acne, on the lipid synthesis and proliferation of human sebocytes. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and cytoplasmic lipid droplets was shown by Oil-red a staining. Total lipid levels were biochemically estimated by the sulfo-phospho-vanilline reagent. 13-cis-RA and spironolactone significantly inhibited proliferation and lipid levels in a dose-dependent manner. Combined treatment with testosterone and 13-cis-RA or spironolactone resulted in a lower total lipid levels than that with androgen alone. These observations indicate that 13-cis-RA and spironolactone are potent inhibitors of both cell proliferation and lipid synthesis in human sebocytes. We will provide experimental evidence that this human sebocyte cell line serves as an adequate tool for evaluating the anti-lipogenic activity of various compounds potentially useful for the bioactive cosmeceutical ingredients on acne skin, and studying the intracellular biochemical markers depending on the types of compounds from various sources.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.213-220
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• 2023

The most common skin disease, acne, often occurs in adolescence, but it is also detected/observed in adults due to air pollution and drug abuse. One of the causative agents of acne, Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) plays a role in the development of skin acne by inducing inflammatory mediators. Torreya nucifera (TN) is an evergreen tree of the family Taxaceae, having well reported antioxidant, anti-proliferative, liver protection, and nerve protection properties. Improvement of these bioactive properties of natural products is one of the purposes of natural product chemistry and pharmaceuticals. We believe biorenovation could be one improvement strategy that utilizes microbial metabolism to produce unique derivatives having enhanced bioactivity. Therefore, in this study, the C. acnes-induced RAW264.7 inflammation model was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the biorenovated Torreya nucifera product (TNB). The results showed improved viability of TNB-treated cells compared to TN-treated cells in the concentration range of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL. At non-toxic concentrations, TNB inhibited the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 by suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. TNB also attenuated the expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α induced by C. acnes. Furthermore, TNB inhibited the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, a transcription factor known to regulate inflammatory mediators. Based on these results, this study suggests the potential of using TNB as natural material for the treatment of acnes and thus, supporting our postulation of biorenovation as an bioactivity improvement strategy.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of berberine using human monocytes. Infection of Propionibacterium acnes induced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-8 and $IL-1{\beta}$ in THP-1 monocytic cells. However, when berberine was supplemented in these P. acnes-induced THP-1 cells, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO was significantly reduced. We also analyzed signaling pathways of the antiinflammatory function of berberine and found that berberine suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK and p38 and the expression and nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 in the P. acnes-induced cells. From these results, we concluded that berberine can effectively exert the anti-inflammatory activity via suppressing the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways in human monocytes. Moreover, these results suggest the feasibility of developing natural therapeutics using berberine for the treatment of P. acnes-induced inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the trend of acne-related experimental studies in Korean medicine. Methods: We searched 17 articles related with experimental study of acne, published Korean medical journals from 2005 to 2014. We classified all articles according to the journal and checked on the kind of herbs. All articles were categorized into two types: cell experimental study and animal experimental study. Results: 1. Total 17 papers were searched; 7 articles (41.2%) were published in the Journal of Korean Medical Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Dermatology, 4 articles (23.5%) were published in the Journal of Korean Institute of Pharmacopuncture, 3 articles (17.6%) were published in Korean Journal of Oriental Physiology and Pathology, 2 articles (11.8%) were published in Korean Journal of Herbology, and 1 article (5.9%) was published in the Journal of Korean Medicine. 2. Total 17 kind of herbs were used in the studies; 10 articles (58.8%) used single herb, 7 articles (41.2%) used complex herbs. 3. Total 17 articles were categorized 2 types; 16 cell experimental studies (94.1%), 1 animal experimental study (5.9%). 4. Experimental researches were mainly investigated using Raw 264.7 cell line and P. acnes. The levels of NO, iNOS, $TNF-{\alpha}$, PGE, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, NF-kB were analyzed to confirm of herbs' antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity. Conclusions: Searching for natural antibiotics, it is needed to do experimental studies continuously, and also needed to diversify the kind herbs and experimental bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.308-314
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial activity against pathogens of acne and the anti-inflammatory effect of 75% ethanol extract and its fractions from the leaves of Prunus sargentii. In the antibacterial activity by the disc diffusion assay, the extract showed the highest effect against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in 5 mg/disc. However, the ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest antibacterial activity in 1 mg/disc. On the other hand, the hexane and chloroform fraction showed strong nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cell. In the cell viability of Raw 264.7 by MTT assay, the extract and all fractions were exhibited normal viabilities as nontoxic result. Consequently, the extract from the leaves of P. sargentii and its ethyl acetate fraction could be applicable to functional materials for antibacterial activity related fields. Moreover, the hexane and chloroform fraction could be applicable to candidate materials as anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.935-939
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• 2006

The environmentally benign inorganic bacterioide was developed by using waste shell as a matrix and its efficacies against various bacteria were examined in this investigation. The inorganic bacteriocide inhibited strongly the growths of various bacteria such as S. aureus and E.coli. The inorganic bacteriocide also showed strong killing effect on the growth of P.acnes which causes the acne on human face. Moreover, this bacteriocide inhibited the activity of lipoxygenase prominently, indicating notable anti-inflammatory activity of the bacteriocide.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2009

The antibacterial activity-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of seeds of traditional medicinal plant Prunus japonica resulted in the isolation of linoleic acid and cis-11-eicosenoic acids, and their methyl esters. Linoleic acid inhibited the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, the acne-causing anaerobic bacterium, but cis-11-eicosenoic acid, methyl linoleate, and cis-11-eicosenoate were found to be inactive. Together with isolated linoleic acid, authentic saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were also tested against P. acnes with other bacteria and fungi. Most of the unsaturated fatty acids possessed anti-acne (MIC $16-128{\mu}g/mL$) and antimicrobial properties.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.970-975
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• 2016

Acne vulgaris is a common chronic skin disorder that affects millions of people. The pathogenesis of acne has been known to be closely associated with the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Here we investigated the anti-acne activity of Lactobacillus plantarum K-1 BR by observing the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-8, of human keratinocytes. When we applied heat-killed P. acnes to HaCaT cells, the inflammatory cytokines were induced by two- to four-fold compared to the normal control. When the bacteriocin, purified from L. plantarum K-1 BR, was pretreated to the HaCaT cells, the expression levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ stimulated by P. acnes significantly decreased to 25% and 30% of the induced levels, respectively. The IL-8 levels also significantly decreased with the concentration dependent manner of the bacteriocin. These results suggest that the bacteriocin from L. plantarum K-1 BR could reduce the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and thus may relieve inflammations caused by acne.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2010

The solvent extracts of Prunus persica Flos were investigated for the activities of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation to apply as a functional ingredient for cosmetic products. The electron donating ability of both ethanol (PPE) or acetone (PPA) extracts of P. persica Flos was above 90.0% at the concentration of 500ppm. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of P. persica Flos extracts (PPE, PPA) were approximately 40.0% at 1,000 ppm. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of P. persica Flos extracts (PPE, PPA) was approximately 30.0% at 1,000 ppm and equivalent to that of ascorbic acid. Hyaluronidase inhibition activity related to the anti-inflammation effect was 35.0% with the treatment of P. persica Flos extracts (PPW, PPE, PPA) at 1,000 ppm, respectively. In the experiment of anti-inflammation effect, P. persica Flos extracts (PPW, PPE, PPA) inhibited the generation of nitric oxide. In the antimicrobial activity test against the human skin-resident microflora such as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes, a clear zone was identified from 4mg/disc in P. persica Flos (PPE) extract.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-126
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• 2002

In the course of screening natural extracts for hair growth, we found that the extract of dried root of Sophora flavescens has the prominent hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of Sophora flavescens extract to the back of C57BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen phase was induced. In addition, the Sophora flavescens extract revealed to possess potent inhibitory effect on $5{\alpha}$-reductase Ⅰ and Ⅱ activity. The growth of dermal papilla cells and mouse vibrissae hair follicle cultured in vitro, however, was not affected by Sophora flavescens extract treatment. RT-PCR analysis showed that Sophora flavescens extract induced mRNA levels of growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ and keratinocyte growth factor in dermal papilla cells, suggesting hair growth promoting effect of Sophora flavescens extract is mediated through inhibition of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ activity and the regulation of growth factors in dermal papilla cells. Furthermore, Sophora flavescens extract also showed anti-bacterial effect on Propionibacterium acnes. These results suggest that Sophora flavescens can be used as a potent treatment agent for helping hair growth stimulation and acne inhibition.