• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.2 s.43
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• pp.205-232
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• 2003

Ursolic acid (UA) and Oleanolic acid (ONA), known as urson, micromerol and malol, are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds which naturally occur in a large number of vegetarian foods, medicinal herbs, and plants. They may occur in their free acid form or as aglycones for triterpenoid saponins, which are comprised of a triterpenoid aglycone, linked to one or more sugar moieties. Therefore UA and ONA are similar in pharmacological activity. Lately scientific research, which led to the identification of UA and ONA, revealed that several pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperlipidemic could be attributed to UA and ONA. Here, we introduced the effect of UA and ONA on acutely barrier disrupted and normal hairless mouse skin. To evaluate the effects of UA and ONA on epidermal permeability barrier recovery, both flanks of 8-12 week-old hairless mice were topically treated with either 0.01-0.1 mg/ml UA or 0.1-1 mg/ml ONA after tape stripping, and TEWL (Transepidermal water loss) was measured . The recovery rate increased in those UA or ONA treated groups (0.1 mg/ml UA and 0.5 mg/ml ONA) at 6 h more than $20\%$ compared to vehicle treated group (p<0.05). Here, we introduced the effects of UA and ONA on acute barrier disruption and normal epidermal permeability barrier function. For verifying the effects of UA and ONA on normal epidermal barrier, hydration and TEWL were measured for 1 and 3 weeks after UA and ONA applications (2mg/ml per day). We also investigated the features of epidermis and dermis using electron microscopy (EM) and light microscopy (LM). Both samples increased hydration compared to vehicle group from f week without TEWL alteration (p<0.005). EM examination using RuO4 and OsO4 fixation revealed that secretion and numbers of lamellar bodies and complete formation of lipid bilayers were most prominent $(ONA{\geq}UA>Vehicle)$. LM finding showed that thickness of stratum corneum (SC) was slightly increased and especially epidermal thickening and flattening was observed (UA>ONA>Veh). We also observed that UA and ONA stimulate epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;\alpha$. Protein expression of involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin increased at least 2 and 3 fold in HaCaT cells treated with either $ONA\;(10{\mu}M)$ or UA $(10{\mu}M)$ for 24h respectively. This result suggested that the UA and ONA can improve epidermal permeability barrier function and induce the epidermal keratinocyte differentiation via $PPAR\;{\alpha}$. Using Masson-trichrome and elastic fiber staining, we observed collagen thickening and elastic fiber elongation by UA and ONA treatments. In vitro results of collagen and elastin synthesis and elastase inhibitory activity measurements were also confirmed in vivo findings. These data suggested that the effects of UA and ONA related to not only epidermal permeability barrier functions but also dermal collagen and elastic fiber synthesis. Taken together, UA and ONA can be relevant candidates to improve epidermal and dermal functions and pertinent agents for cosmeseutical applications.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 2007

Bile acids and synthetic its derivatives induced apoptosis in various kinds of cancer cells and anticancer effects. Previous studies have been reported that the synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) derivatives showed apoptosis inducing activity on various cancer cells in vitro. It wasn't discovered those materials have apoptosis induced effects on YD9 human oral squamous carcinoma cells. The present study was done to examine the synthetic bile acid derivatives(HS-1199, HS-1200) induced apoptosis on YD9 cells and such these apoptosis events. We administered them in culture to YD9 cells. Tested YD9 cells showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as activation of caspase-3, degradation of DFF, production of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) cleavage(HS-1200 only), DNA degradation(HS-1200 only), nuclear condensation, inhibition of proteasome activity, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential(HS-1200 only) and the release of cytochrome c and AIF to cytosol. Between two synthetic CDCA derivatives, HS-1200 showed stronger apoptosis-inducing effect than HS-1199. Therefore HS-1200 was demonstrated to have the most efficient antitumor effect. Taken collectively, we demonstrated that a synthetic CDCA derivative HS-1200 induced caspases-dependent apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway in human oral sqauamous carcinoma cells in vitro. Our data therefore provide the possibility that HS-1200 could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human orall squamous carcinoma from its poweful apoptosis-inducing activity.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2005

World production of mushrooms has been increasing 10-20% every year. Recently, Pleurotus eryngii and P. nebrodensis are very popular as new mushroom species for cultivation. Two kinds of mushrooms, Gumji (Ganoderma) and Soji, were described in old book of Samguksagi (History of the three kingdoms; 1145) in Koryo-dynasty. Many kinds of mushrooms were also described in more than 16 kinds of old books during Chosun-dynasty in Korea. One hundred and sixty commercial strains of 25 species in mushrooms were distributed to cultivators. By the way, only 8 varieties of them have registered variety protection. Mushroom industry as important export products developed from 1960 to 1980. Production of mushrooms as food was 181,828 metric tons valued at 800 billion Korean won in 2003. Isolated and identified substances from mushrooms are promising antifungal, antiinflammatory, antitumor, antiviral (anti-HIV), antibacterial & antiparasitic, antidiabetic, immunomodulating, kidney tonic, hepatoprotective, nerve tonic, and sexual potentiator. These substances can also be used for blood pressure regulation and effective against cardiovascular disorders, hypocholesterolemia & hyperlipidemia, and chronicbronchitis. Mushroom products including pharmaceuticals, tonics, healthy beverages, functional biotransformants, and processed foods have also became available on the markets. Compost and feed can likewise be made from mushroom substrates after harvest. The mushroom industry is already one of the fastest growing investment sectors in Korea. By the way, there is a need to strain improvement for variety protection, advanced cultivation technology at low cost for growers, and control of demand and supply for marketing in order to more upgrade development of mushroom industry in the future.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.6 s.89
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• pp.471-477
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• 2004

Oldenlandia diffusa is a Chinese medicinal herb with antitumor activity capable of suppressing the growth of some cancer cell lines. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid are triterpenoid compounds that exist in Oldenlandia diffusa. Recently, these have been noted for anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and hepato-protective effects. Application of both plant growth regulators, 2,4-D and kinetin, was found to be essential for the initiation of callus and suspension cells. Leaf blades of Oldenlandia diffusa was transformed into callus on Schenk and Hildebrandt medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L kinetin, while optimum initiation condition for suspension cells of Oldenlandia diffusa was determined to be 0.75 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/L kinetin. Chromatographic separation of oleanolic acid from its derivatives was achieved using Rexchrom S5-100-ODS column. Analytical conditions for oleanolic acid were determined as follows: flow rate at 1.0 mL/min, UV length at 200 nm and mobile phase of $80\%$ acetonitrile and $20\%$ water. Production of secondary metabolites was found to be increased by the treatment with elicitors or signal transducers. The maximum production of oleanolic acid was 99.6 mg/L in cultures with 0.5 mM salicylic acid. It is 1.74 times higher than that of control.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 2010

This study was conducted to examine the anticancer activities of Berberis koreana extracts according to different extraction processes. The highest extraction yield obtained was 8.26% following extraction by ultrasonification at 60 kHz and $60^{\circ}C$ followed by high pressure at 500MPa. Generally, the extracts from the ultrasonification process showed relatively low cytotoxicities against the human normal cell line, HEK293 showing as low as 15%. This extract inhibited the growth of the digestive related organs cell lines, human stomach adenocarcimoma cell and human epithelial adenocarcinoma cell by up to 80% when administered at 1.0 mg/mL, and showed 2.5-3.5 of selectivity. It was also found that this extract induced the production of nitric oxide levels as high $37.87\;{\mu}M$ from macrophages. For the in vivo experiment using ICR mice, the total serum IgG levels of mice treated with B. koreana extracts from ultrasonification extraction were increased by up to 57 ng/mL. The survival time of this group was longer than that of the other group after the injection of Sarcoma-180 and the increment of their body weights was also greatly suppressed. In addition, the extract showed the highest tumor inhibition activities, leading to a reduction of 78.47%. These results indicate that the highest activities of B. koreana associated with this extraction process can be significantly improved.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-47
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• 1995

Glutathione(GSH) has a very important role in detoxification of cells and is closely related to antitumor drug-resistance of cancer cells. In order to evaluate the importance of glutathione metabolism in the drug-resistant cancer cells, the concentration of celluar GSH and activities of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase(GCS), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferases(GST) in the adriamycin, vincristine, or cisplatin resistant L1210 (L1210AdR, L1210VcR, or L1210Cis) sublines were measured. Expression and amplification of GCS, GGT, and GST-${\pi}$ genes were also observed in the parent Ll210 and the drug-resistant Ll210 sublines. The concentration of GSH was increased 5.34 fold in L1210Cis, 2.83 fold in L1210VcR, and 1.78 fold in L1210AdR, compared to L1210. The activities of GCS and GGT were increased in drug-resistant L1210 sublines. The GST activity was increased in L1210VcR and L1210Cis but decreased in L1210AdR compared to Ll210. Expression of GCS, GGT, and GST-${\pi}$ genes were increased in the resistant L1210 sublines compare to the parent L1210 in northern blot analyses. Overexpression of GCS, GGT, and GST-${\pi}$ were observed in the resistant sublines, and the increases of the concentration of glutathione and the activities of GCS and GGT in the resistant sublines may be involved in a part of the drug-resistance in the resistant sublines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1361-1368
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• 2018

Inflammation is the most common condition in the human body. Tissue damage triggers inflammation, together with vasodilation and increased blood flow at the inflamed site, resulting in edema. Inflammatory responses are also triggered by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Toll-like receptor Enterococcus faecalis, a gram-positive organism, has been reported to possess immunomodulatory and preventive activities; however, its use may present risks of sepsis and other systemic infections. Heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis (EF-2001) has been reported to induce antitumor activity, but its effects on inflammation are not known. In the present study, we investigated the effect of EF-2001 on LPS-induced macrophage inflammatory responses. EF-2001 treatment reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, indicating suppression of inflammatory reactions. EF-2001 showed no cytotoxicity in macrophages. Further investigation of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of EF-2001 indicated that EF-2001 reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. EF-2001 also reduced f the LPS induction of several inflammatory molecules involved in the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, including ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation, in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, EF-2001 inhibited Akt phosphorylation and increased the expression of the inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ ($I{\kappa}B$) protein, an inhibitor of $NF-{\kappa}B$. EF-2001 also inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65. These results suggest that EF-2001 has anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful for treating inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.484-491
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• 2019

Proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds abundant in many vegetables, plant skins (rind/bark), seeds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated myriad effects potentially beneficial to human health, such as antioxidation, immunomodulation, DNA repair, and antitumor activity. Among immune cells, macrophages are crucial players in a variety of inflammatory responses to environmental conditions. However, it has been widely reported that macrophages cause chronic inflammation and are involved in a variety of diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. In this study, we report the suppressive effect of proanthocyanidins via the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-related system, on the immune response of the LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Increased HO-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels were found in proanthocyanidins-treated RAW264.7 cells. Further, proanthocyanidins enhanced nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 translocation into the nucleus. RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without proanthocyanidins, and inflammatory mediator expression levels were assessed. Proanthocyanidins treatment resulted in the attenuation of nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6, was inhibited by proanthocyanidins treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These findings support proanthocyanidins as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1062-1070
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• 2019

A components of garlic (Allium sativum) have anti-proliferative effects against various types of cancer. We aimed to investigate the capacity of garlic compounds to anti-tumor on a various cancer cell lines. Fractionation of garlic extract, guided by antiproliferative activity against human gastric cancer (AGS) cells, has resulted in the isolation of N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine (NBNMA). We investigated the effect of newly isolated NBNMA from garlic cloves on the inhibition of the growth of CT-26, AGS, HepG2, HCT-116, MCF7, B16F10, and Sarcoma-180 cells for in vitro and CT-26 colon carcinoma cells in vivo. NBNMA exhibited an antiproliferative effect in CT-26 cells by apoptotic cell death. NBNMA exhibited down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and up-regulation of apoptotic Bad protein expression in western blot analyses. In addition, NBNMA meagre activated caspase 3 and caspase 9, initiator caspases of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis. NBNMA treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 21 days in experimental mice implanted with tumors resulted in significant reduction of the tumor weight (43%). NBNMA exhibited both in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity. These results indicate that NBNMA has promising potential to become a novel anticancer agent from garlic cloves for the treatment of colon carcinoma cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2019

Limonium tetragonum, an edible halophyte that grows on salt marshes in Korea, is thought to possess various health benefits (e.g., antioxidant, antitumor, and hepatoprotective). In the present study, different solvent partitioned subfractions, water ($H_2O$), buthanol (n-BuOH), 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), and hexane (n-hexane), from crude extract of L. tetragonum were tested for their ability to prevent adipogenesis in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The treatment of differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with L. tetragonum subfractions (LTFs) resulted in suppressed adipogenesis and reduced expression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAATT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, the LTF treatment notably decreased the levels of phosphorylated p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in association with $PPAR{\gamma}$-linked adipogenesis. Among all the tested LTFs, $H_2O$ and n-hexane were the most effective in lowering lipid accumulation and regulating the adipocyte differentiation via $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway. Taken together, the results indicated that the $H_2O$ and n-hexane LTFs contain bioactive compounds that may exhibit significant antiadipogenesis activity by downregulation of the $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway and inactivation of the MAPK signal pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.