• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2021

This research was carried out to investigate the moisturizing effects of Agarum cribrosum extract on normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Moisturizing effects of A. cribrosum extract on NHEKs were measured by quantitative realtime RT-PCR to verify the gene expressions related to skin hydration, hyaluronic acid (HA)-ELISA to detect HA production, and cell viability assays. A. cribrosum extract increased the mRNA levels of the AQP3 and HAS2 genes and HA production in NHEKs. On the other hand, A. cribrosum extract decreased the mRNA level of the KRT1 and KRT10 genes known as differentiated keratinocyte marker in NHEKs. This research showed the moisturizing effects of A. cribrosum extract. The results indicate that A. cribrosum extract can be a potent functional ingredient for skin hydration and anti-aging products. Further study is warranted regarding the use of A. cribrosum extract to develop not only cosmetics but also food and medicine.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2018

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) over-expression and extra cellular matrix depletion, leading to skin photo-aging such as wrinkle formation, dryness, and sagging. In this study, we demonstrated that pretreatment with the hexane extract of microalgae protects UVB mediated cell damages. The results of clinical study showed that Microalgal Oil treated group reduced wrinkle and improve elasticity. All these results suggest Microalgal Oil may be useful as new photo-aging cosmetics for protection against UV induced activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2022

In this study, fermented Lycium chinense (L. chinense) extract was used to analyze the efficacy of nitric oxide (NO) and anti-aging inhibition to verify its usefulness as a functional cosmetic material. L. chinense was extracted with hydrothermal and 70% ethanol as a solvent, fermented, concentrated, and freeze-dried to prepare a sample, followed by MTT assay, NO inhibition assay, western blot assay, and UPLC analysis.As a result of the analysis of NO inhibitory efficacy, fermented L. chinense water extract (FLW) and fermented L. chinense 70% ethanol extract (FLE) showed excellent NO inhibitory efficacy of 47.96% and 56.71%, respectively. As a result of measuring the expression patterns of the wrinkle-related proteins MMP-1, and TRPV-1 through Western blot, both FLW and FLE confirmed the inhibitory efficacy of MMP-1 and TRPV-1. Based on the results of the experiment, the fermented L. chinense extract is expected to have a high application value as a functional cosmetic material related anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.62-72
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• 2018

An active ingredient with hyaluronidase (HAse) inhibitory effect is one of the anti-aging approaches in cosmeceuticals. Here, red sea cucumbers (RSCs), Stichopus japonicus, from Jeju Island were evaluated to examine their HAse inhibitory and antioxidant activity effect. In this study, RSCs were extracted by six enzymatic hydrolysis (Alcalase; Al, Trypsin; Try, Neutrase; Neu, Pepsin; Pep, Alpha-chymotrypsin; Chy and Protamex; Pro). Alcalase hydrolysate (AlH) showed the highest antioxidant capacities for both of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) methods, compared to those of other hydrolysates, at $66.59{\pm}0.78{\mu}M\;TE/mg$ and $135.78{\pm}3.24{\mu}M\;TE/mg$, respectively. Furthermore, AlH performed the highest capacity of HAse inhibitory with $IC_{50}$ value of 3.21 mg/ml. Thus, RSCs hydrolyzed by Al were chosen to determine the cellular antioxidant activity and hyaluronic acid (HA) production effect on Human immortalized keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The results showed that AlH improved the cell viabilities and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) were significantly decreased. In addition, AlH increased HA amount by regulating HYAL2 and HAS2 expressions in the HaCaT cells. Taken together, AlH of RSCs collected from Jeju Island showed HAse inhibitory and antioxidant activities against skin-aging which shows its potentials can be an optional natural bioactive ingredient for novel cosmeceuticals.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.25 no.4 s.34
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• pp.57-63
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• 1999

Pericarpium castaneae extracts have variously potent activities, such as anti-oxidative activity and free radical scavenging activity. in vivo and in vitro studies both indicate that pericarpium castaneae extracts acts as a free radical scavenger($IC_{50}:7.6{\mu}g/ml$) stronger than gallic acid($IC_{50}:12.5{\mu}g/ml$) and ellagic acid($IC_{50}:15{\mu}g/ml$) which could prevent cutaneous UV damages and skin aging. The extracts showed a good effect as a anti-oxidant($IC_{50}:50{\mu}g/ml$). It was shown that the appearance of wrinkle in human skin was reduced by topical application of pericarpium castaneae extracts. And the treatment of human skin with the extracts increased the elasticity and moisture of the skin. We investigated the effect of the pericarpium castaneae extracts on production of extracellular matrix using cultured A431 fibroblast cells. The results indicated that the extracts had no detectable effect on collagen synthesis. But synthesis of cell adhesion protein was increased by the extracts. The results suggest that increase of cell adhesion protein synthesis by pericarpium castaneae extracts has closely related to reduction of wrinkle in skin.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.57-64
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• 1999

Pericarpium castaneae extracts have variously potent activities, such as anti-oxidative activity and free radical scavenging activity. in vivo and in vivo studies both indicate that pericarpium castaneae extracts acts as a flee radical scavenger ($IC_{50}$/: 7.6$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) stronger than gallic acid($IC_{50}$/: 12.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and ellagic acid($IC_{50}$/: 15$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) which could prevent cutaneous UV damages and skin aging. The extracts showed a good effect as a anti-oxidant ($IC_{50}$/: 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). It was shown that the appearance of wrinkle in human skin was reduced by topical application of pericarpium castaneae extracts. And the treatment of human skin with the extracts increased the elasticity and moisture of the skin. We investigated the effect of tile pericarpium castaneae extracts on production of extracellular matrix using cultured A431 fibroblast cells. The results indicated that the extracts had no detectable effect on collagen synthesis, But synthesis of cell adhesion protein was increased by the extracts. The results suggest that increase of cell adhesion protein synthesis by pericarpium castaneae extracts has closely related to reduction of wrinkle in skin.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.361-373
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• 2016

This study tested the antioxidant activities and anti-aging effects of an extract of Orostachys japonicus, a herb used as a folk remedy for cancer for a long time. To assess the antioxidant activities of the Orostachys japonicus extract (OJE), the total polyphenol content was confirmed to have a high caffeic acid equivalent weight of 12 g by dry weight of 100g OJE and the total flavonoid content was confirmed that the quercetin equivalent of 1.7 g by dry weight of 100g OJE. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was confirmed a high scavenging activity of 79.7% at a concentration of 1%. To confirm the anti-aging effect of OJE, MMP-1 expression was decreased in $25{\mu}L/mL$ and $50{\mu}L/mL$ similar to control. In a clinical experiment, a group of subjects who used a cosmetic product containing OJE showed a significant increase in the amount of skin moisture from the forehead, left cheek, and chin. The experimental group showed a significant increase in the amount of skin sebum from the chin and maintaining pH balance of normal skin, As a result, the OJE demonstrates the efficacy of natural cosmetic material as antioxidant and anti-aging.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

Objectives: Rheum undulatum L. has traditionally been used for the treatment of many diseases in Asia. However, its anti-proliferative activity in cancer has still not been studied. In the present study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. (MERL) on human adenocarcinoma gastric cell lines (AGS). Methods: To investigate the anti-cancer effect of MERL on AGS cells, we treated the AGS cells with varying concentrations of MERL and performed 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Cell cycle analyses, measurements of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), caspase activity assays and Western blots were conducted to determine whether AGS cell death occurred by apoptosis. Results: Treatment with MERL significantly inhibited growth of AGS cells in a concentration dependent manner. MERL treatment in AGS cells leaded to increased accumulation of apoptotic sub G1 phase cells in a concentration dependent manner. In control cultures, 5.38% of the cells were in the sub G1 phase. In MERL treated cells, however, this percentage was significantly increased (9.95% at $70{\mu}g/mL$, 15.94% at $140{\mu}g/mL$, 26.56% at $210{\mu}g/mL$ and 38.08% at $280{\mu}g/mL$). MERL treatment induced the decreased expression of pro-caspase-8 and -9 in a concentration dependent manner, whereas the expression of the active form of caspase-3 was increased. A subsequent Western blot analysis revealed increased cleaved levels of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. Also, treatment with MERL increased the activities of caspase-3 and -9 compared with the control. MERL treatment increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic truncated Bid (tBid) and Bcl2 Antagonist X (Bax) proteins and decreased the levels of the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein, whose is the stabilization of mitochondria. However, inhibitions of p38, extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs) and C-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) by MERL treatment did not affect cell death. Conclusion: These results suggest that MERL mediated cell death is associated with an intrinsic apoptotic pathway in AGS cells.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2021

A high salt diet contributes to kidney damage by causing hypoxia and oxidative stress. Recently, an increase in dietary salt has been reported to induce an inflammatory phenotype in immune cells, further contributing to kidney damage. However, studies on the exact mechanism and role of a high salt diet on the inflammatory response in the kidneys are still insufficient. In this study, a cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury model using C57BL/6 mice was used to analyze the effect of salt intake on kidney injury. Results showed that high salt administration aggravated kidney edema in mice induced by treatment with cisplatin. Moreover, the indicators of kidney and liver function impairment were significantly increased in the group cotreated with high salt compared with that treated with cisplatin alone. Furthermore, the exacerbation of kidney damage by high salt administration was also associated with a decrease in the number of cells in the immune regulatory system. Additionally, high salt administration further decreased renal perfusion functions along with increased cisplatin-induced damage to proximal tubules. This was accompanied by increased expression of T cell immunoglobulin, mucin domain 1 (a biomarker of kidney injury), and Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor). Moreover, cisplatin-induced expression of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines, including cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α in kidney tissue, was further increased by high salt intake. Therefore, these results indicate that the kidney's inflammatory response by high salt treatment can further promote kidney damage caused by various pathological factors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.647-658
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• 2022

Particulate matter (PM) is known to be involved in the onset and progression of various diseases by promoting oxidative and inflammatory reactions as air pollutants containing various small particles that are harmful. In this study, the protective efficacy of herbal medicines was evaluated in human corneal epithelial cells (hCECs) to select natural products that can protect the eye, the primary organ directly exposed to external pollutants from PM. As a result, five candid ate herbal medicines [Cheonmundong, Asparagus Rhizome; Seokchangpo, Aciru Gramineri Rhizoma; Hwangryeon, Coptidis Rhizoma; Gamgug, Chrysanthemi Indici Flos; and Geumjanhwa (Marigold flower petals)] which showed inhibitory efficacy on PM_2.5-induced cytotoxicity, were selected from among 12 candidate herbal medicines. To evaluate the antioxidant activity of these candidate substances, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability was investigated, and it was found that the extracts of Seokchangpo, Cheonmundong and Hwangryeon showed a significant inhibitory effect on PM_2.5-induced ROS production, which was correlated with the preservation of mitochondrial activity. In addition, it was confirmed that they could block DNA damage caused by PM_2.5 through analysis of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine generation and phosphorylated-H2A histone family member X (γ- H2AX) expression. Furthermore, the increase in inflammasome activity and inflammatory response in PM_2.5-treated hCECs was also canceled in the presence of these extracts. Although additional studies are needed, the results of this study will be used as primary data to find novel natural compounds that protect hCECs from PM.