• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2009

To develop a new natural whitening agent for cosmetics, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Pogostemon cablin Bentham extracts (PCE) and its active component on melanogenesis. PCE showed ROS scavenging activities in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and xanthine/xanthine oxidase system with the $IC_{50}$ values of $24.2{\pm}2.85{\mu}g/mL$ and $IC_{50}=118{\pm}0.43{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. PCE reduced melanin contents of B16 melanoma cells in a dose-dependant manner and decreased to about 23 % at a concentration of $20{\mu}g/mL$ without cell cytotoxicity (below $100{\mu}g/mL$). And the PCE reduced intracellular tyrosinase activity about 18 % at concentration of $50{\mu}g/mL$. We purified one active compound from PCE and identified its structure. It was identified as patchouli alcohol, sesquiterpene family, by 1H-NMR, $13_C$-NMR, and Mass analysis. Patchouli alcohol also inhibited ROS scavenging activities in DPPH radical and xanthine/xanthine oxidase system with the $IC_{50}$ values of $3.14{\pm}0.12{\mu}g/mL$ and $49{\pm}3.24{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Patchouli alcohol inhibited melanin synthesis in a dose dependent manner ($IC_{50}=3.9{\mu}g/mL$). And the patchouli alcohol reduced intracellular tyrosinase activity about 40 % at concentration of $10{\mu}g/mL$. Patchouli alcohol inhibited tyrosinase and TRP-2 expression at protein level. These results suggest that PCE and patchouli alcohol reduced melanin formation by the inhibited of tyrosinase activity and expression in B16 melanoma cells. Therefore, we suggest that PCE could be used as a useful whitening agent.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.851-870
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• 2000

The major goals of periodontal therapy is the functional regeneration of periodontal supporting structures already destructed by periodontal disease as well as the reduction of signs and symptoms of progressive periodontal disease. There have been many efforts to develop materials and therapeutic methods to promote periodontal wound healing. There have been increasing interest on the chitosan made by chitin. Chitin is second only to cellulose as the most abundant natural biopolymer. It is a structural component of the exoskeleton of invertebrates(e.g., shrimp, crabs, lobsters), of the cell wall of fungi, and of the cuticle of insects. Chitosan is a derivative of chitin made by deacetylation of side chains. Many experiments using chitosan in various animal models have proven its beneficial effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the osteogenesis of chitosan on the calvarial critical size defect in Sprague Dawley rats. An 8 mm surgical defect was produced with a trephine bur in the area of the midsagittal suture. The rats were divided into two groups: Untreated control group versus experimental group with 50mg of soluble chitosan gel. The animals were sacrificed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgical procedure. The specimens were examined by histologic, histomorphometric and radiodensitometric analyses. The results are as follows: 1. The length of newly formed bone in the defects was $102.91{\pm}25.46{\mu}m$, $219.46{\pm}97.81{\mu}m$ at the 2 weeks, $130.95{\pm}39.24{\mu}m$, $212.39{\pm}89.22{\mu}m$ at the 4 weeks, $181.53{\pm}76.35{\mu}m$ and $257.12{\pm}51.22{\mu}m$ at the 8 weeks in the control group and experimental group respectively. At all periods, the means of experimental group was greater than those of control group. But, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. 2. The area of newly formed bone in the defects was $2962.06{\pm}1284.48{\mu}m^2$, $5194.88{\pm}1247.88{\mu}m^2$ at the 2 weeks, $5103.25{\pm}1375.88{\mu}m^2$, $7751.43{\pm}2228.20{\mu}m^2$ at the 4 weeks and $8046.20{\pm}818.99{\mu}m^2$, $15578.57{\pm}5606.55{\mu}m^2$ at the 8 weeks in the control group and experimental group respectively. At all periods, the means of experimental group was greater than those of control group. The experimental group showed statistically significant difference to the control group at the 2 and 8 weeks. 3. The density of newly formed bone in the defects was $14.26{\pm}6.33%$, $27.91{\pm}6.65%$ at the 2 weeks, $20.06{\pm}9.07%$, $27.86{\pm}8.20%$ at the 4 weeks and $22.99{\pm}3.76%$, $32.17{\pm}6.38%$ at the 8 weeks in the control group and experimental group respectively. At all periods, the means of experimental group was greater than those of control group. The experimental group showed statistically significant difference to the control group at the 2 and 8 weeks. These results suggest that the use of chitosan on the calvarial defects in rats has significant effect on the regeneration of bone tissue in itself

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1996

The object of this study was to examine the effects of air pollution on forest vegetation structure in the vinicity of Sasang industrial complex in Korea. Forest vegetation structure was investigated at 19 sample plots surrounding industrial complex and at one site away from industrial complex as a control. The results obtained were as follows; 1. For analysis of vegetation structure, upperstory of forests was mostly consisted of Pinus thunbergii, and partly of Alnus firma and Robinia pseudoacacia. In midstory, major components were Pinus thunbergii, Robinia pseudoacacia, Rhus trichocarpa, Rhus chinensis and Styrax japonica, In lower story, Pinus thunbergii was a minor component, while Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus serrata, Rhus trichocarpa. and Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense which were known to be resistant to air pollution were found in large number. Especially, importance percentage of Robinia pseudoacacia was high, while that of Rhododendron mucronulatum was low in surrounding industrial complex. 2. For woody plants, number of species, species diversity and similarity index in industrial complex, were not significantly different from those in control plot. 3. For herbs, Oplismenus undulatifolius appeared in large number in most plots. The $SDR_3$ of Miscanthus sinensis, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Paederia scandens, Spodiopogon cotulifer and Carex humilis were high, but that of Aster scaber, Saussurea seoulensis, Solidago virgaaurea var. asiatica and Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina were low in the vicinity of industrial complex. 4. Number of herb species decreased to below 10 species at surrounding industrial complex as compared to 20 species in the control plot. In addition species diversity, and similarity index in the industrial complex were lower than those in control plot. It may be concluded that Pinus thunbergii forests in industrial complex consists of tree species resistant to air pollution, and that composition of woody vegetation in industrial complex was not much different from control plot, while composition of herbs was already quite different between the two plots. Forest vegetation structure, therefore, may change with time due to air pollution in the industrial complex.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.500-508
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of jujube extracts on intestinal microflora, along with their antioxidant activities, according to extraction method. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were measured using the agar diffusion method with a jujube extract concentration of 50 mg/mL. Neither the first nor second jujube extracts were inhibitory against the tested intestinal bacteria. However, water extracts of jujube significantly enhanced the growth of lactic acid bacteria, especially Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Total phenol compounds and flavonoid compounds were higher in the 1st than in the 2nd water extracts. The EDA values of both water and ethanol extracts increased in proportion to the extract concentration. The 1st water extract showed the highest value among all the others, which was 85.60% at the concentration of 0.05 mg/mL. Furthermore, the 1st water extract showed stronger antioxidant activity than the other samples with an activity of 679.91 mg AA eq/g. These results support the potential use of jujube water extracts as a functional food component and a valuable resource for the development of nutraceutical foods, to increase the growth of Bifidobacterium spp. in the human intestine.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.551-558
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• 2006

Effects of Pb and $CO_2$ on soil microbial community associated with Pinus densiflora were investigated using community level physiological profiles (CLPP) and 16S rDNA PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) methods. Two-years pine trees were planted in Pb-contaminated soils and uncontaminated soils, and cultivated for 3 months in the growth chamber where $CO_2$ concentration was controlled at 380 or 760 ppmv. The structure of microbial community was analyzed in 6 kinds of soil samples (CA-0M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 0 mg/kg + initial, CB-0M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 500 mg/kg + initial, CA-3M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 0 mg/kg + after 3 months, CB-3M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 500 mglkg + after 3 months, EA-3M : $CO_2$ 760 ppmv + Pb 0 mg/kg + after 3 months, EB-3M : $CO_2$ 760 ppmv + Pb 500 mg/kg + after 3 months). After 3 months, the substrate utilization in the uncontaminated soil samples (CA-3M vs EA-3M) was not significantly influenced by $CO_2$ concentrations. However, the substrate utilization in the Pb-contaminated soil samples (CB-3M vs EB-3M) was enhanced by the elevated $CO_2$ concentrations. The results of principal component analysis based on substrate utilization activities showed that the structure of microbial community structure in each soil sample was grouped by Pb-contamination. The similarities of DGGE fingerprints were 56.3 % between the uncontaminated soil samples (CA-3M vs EA-3M), and 71.4% between the Pb-contaminated soil samples (CB-3M vs. EB-3M). The similarities between the soil samples under $CO_2$ 380 ppmv (CA-3M vs CB-3M) and $CO_2$, 760 ppmv (EA-3M vs EB-3M) were 53.3% and 35.8%, respectively. These results suggested that the structure of microbial community associated with Pinus densiflora were sensitively specialized by Pb-contamination rather than $CO_2$ concentration.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to assess that the effects of DEHP administration on reproductive characteristics and blood hematological and chemical values in pups born after DEHP administration in pregnant mice. DEHP was administrated to pregnant mice by intraperitoneally injection with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0mg/kg B.W, 5 times at 3 days interval from Day 1 to Day 16 in the gestation period. The body weight and reproductive organ weight(testis, epididymis and coagulating gland) in male pups on 45 day after birth was not affected in all experimental groups, but vesicular gland in DEHP groups was significantly lower than that of control group(P<0.05). The semen characteristics of male pups were not affected in DEHP treatment groups. The WBC, HB, HT, MCH and albumin values in male pups were not affected in all experimental groups, but RBC MCV, MCHC, PLT and total protein values were significantly different among the experimental groups(P<0.05). In female pups, the effects of DEHP administration were not affected the body and uterus weight, but the left ovary in 10.0mg DEHP group was significantly heavier than in control and 0.5mg DEHP group(P<0.05). The WBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PLT, albumin, BUN and total protein values in female were not different in all experimental groups. The RBC, HB and HT values were significantly different among the experimental gruop(P<0.05). The historical evaluation of testis in male pups that were grown to 45 days after birth was not different in all experimental groups. The ovary in female pups had many corpus luteum in 10.0mg DEHP group. The endometriosisi of uterus was significantly decreased in DEHP group. There results suggest that low concentration of DEHP administration in pup born after DEHP administration in pregnant mice was not affered on reproductive characteristic, but was affected on blood hematological and chemical values.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2006

Rodents and many other mammals have two chemosensory systems that mediate responses to pheromones, the main and accessory olfactory system, MOS and AOS, respectively. The chemosensory neurons associated with the MOS are located in the main olfactory epithelium, while those associated with the AOS are located in the vomeronasal organ(VNO). Pheromonal odorants access the lumen of the VNO via canals in the roof of the mouth, and are largely thought to be nonvolatile. The main pheromone receptor proteins consist of two superfamilies, V1Rs and V2Rs, that are structurally distinct and unrelated to the olfactory receptors expressed in the main olfactory epithelium. These two type of receptors are seven transmembrane domain G-protein coupled proteins(V1R with $G_{{\alpha}i2}$, V2R with $G_{0\;{\alpha}}$). V2Rs are co-expressed with nonclassical MHC Ib genes(M10 and other 8 M1 family proteins). Other important molecular component of VNO neuron is a TrpC2, a cation channel protein of transient receptor potential(TRP) family and thought to have a crucial role in signal transduction. There are four types of pheromones in mammalian chemical communication - primers, signalers, modulators and releasers. Responses to these chemosignals can vary substantially within and between individuals. This variability can stem from the modulating effects of steroid hormones and/or non-steroid factors such as neurotransmitters on olfactory processing. Such modulation frequently augments or facilitates the effects that prevailing social and environmental conditions have on the reproductive axis. The best example is the pregnancy block effect(Bruce effect), caused by testosterone-dependent major urinary proteins(MUPs) in male mouse urine. Intriguingly, mouse GnRH neurons receive pheromone signals from both odor and pheromone relays in the brain and may also receive common odor signals. Though it is quite controversial, recent studies reveal a complex interplay between reproduction and other functions in which GnRH neurons appear to integrate information from multiple sources and modulate a variety of brain functions.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.2 s.42
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• pp.222-230
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• 1993

Industrial glues, known as 'Bonds' in Korea, contain many kinds of organic solvents, and glue sniffing of youths became one of the social problems in Korea. Mixed exposures to solvents by glue sniffing may induce chronic toxicities different from those by exposures to solvents of single component. To test effects of the glue sniffing on weight gain or central nervous system, two groups of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to air(control group) or vapors of the glues to narcotic status(exposed group), and weight check, tail flick test, hot plate test, rotarod treadmill test were done on the 14th,24th, 36th, 45th, 53rd, 86th, 102nd, 117th, 134th and 151st days after the first exposure. On the 188th day, their brains were excised and examined by a pathologist. Weight gain, controlled against time change, showed significant difference between the groups, but response times in tail flick test, hot plate tests, and rotarod treadmill test didn't. In pathological examination with blind method, no macroscopic or microscopic differences were found between the two groups. These results suggests that organic lesion in central nervous system may not ensue glue sniffing, but, before firm conclusion, more studies in various exposure conditions should be followed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2006

In previous reports we demonstrated that ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, affect some subsets of voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels in neuronal cells expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. However, the major component(s) of ginseng that affect cloned $Ca^{2+}$ channel subtypes such as ${\alpha}_{1C}$(L)-, ${\alpha}_{1B}$(N)-, ${\alpha}_{1A}$(P/Q)-, ${\alpha}_{1E}$(R)- and ${\alpha}_{1G}$(T) have not been identified. Here, we used the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique to characterize the effects of ginsenosides and ginsenoside metabolites on $Ba^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ba}$) in Xenopus oocytes expressing five different $Ca^{2+}$ channel subtypes. Exposure to ginseng total saponins (GTS) induced voltage-dependent, dose-dependent and reversible inhibition of the five channel subtypes, with particularly strong inhibition of the ${\alpha}_{1G}$-type. Of the various ginsenosides, $Rb_1$, Rc, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_3$, and $Rh_2$, ginsenoside $Rg_3$ also inhibited all five channel subtypes and ginsenoside $Rh_2$ had most effect on the ${\alpha}_{1C}$- and ${\alpha}_{1E}$-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. Compound K (CK), a protopanaxadiol ginsenoside metabolite, strongly inhibited only the ${\alpha}_{1G}$-type of $Ca^{2+}$ channel, whereas M4, a protopanaxatriol ginsenoside metabolite, had almost no effect on any of the channels. $Rg_3$, $Rh_2$, and CK shifted the steady-state activation curves but not the inactivation curves in the depolarizing direction in the ${\alpha}_{1B}$- and ${\alpha}_{1A}$-types. These results reveal that $Rg_3$, $Rh_2$ and CK are the major inhibitors of $Ca^{2+}$ channels in Panax ginseng, and that they show some $Ca^{2+}$ channel selectivity.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.99-120
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• 1997

Solar radiation is scattered and absorbed atmospheric compositions in the atmosphere before it reaches the surface and, then after reflected at the surface, until it reaches the satellite sensor. Therefore, consideration of the radiative transfer through the atmosphere is essential for the quantitave analysis of the satellite sensed data, specially at shortwave region. This study examined a feasibility of using radiative transfer code for estimating the atmospheric effects on satellite remote sensing data. To do this, the flux simulated by LOWTRAN7 is compared with CAGEX data in shortwave region. The CAGEX (CERES/ARM/GEWEX Experiment) data provides a dataset of (1) atmospheric soundings, aerosol optical depth and albedo, (2) ARM(Aerosol Radiation Measurement) radiation flux measured by pyrgeometers, pyrheliometer and shadow pyranometer and (3) broadband shortwave flux simulated by Fu-Liou's radiative transfer code. To simulate aerosol effect using the radiative transfer model, the aerosol optical characteristics were extracted from observed aerosol column optical depth, Spinhirne's experimental vertical distribution of scattering coefficient and D'Almeida's statistical atmospheric aerosols radiative characteristics. Simulation of LOWTRAN7 are performed on 31 sample of completely clear days. LOWTRAN's result and CAGEX data are compared on upward, downward direct, downward diffuse solar flux at the surface and upward solar flux at the top of the atmosphere(TOA). The standard errors in LOWTRAN7 simulation of the above components are within 5% except for the downward diffuse solar flux at the surface(6.9%). The results show that a large part of error in LOWTRAN7 flux simulation appeared in the diffuse component due to scattering mainly by atmispheric aerosol. For improving the accuracy of radiative transfer simulation by model, there is a need to provide better information about the radiative charateristrics of atmospheric aerosols.