• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 2016

In the present study, ethanol extracts and their subsequent organic solvent fractions were extracted from the lees of Ehwa Makgeolli containing oriental herbs, a commercialized traditional Korean rice wine, and the prepared lees samples were designated as from KSD-E3-1 to KSD-E3-5. First, their effects on cell viability and on the expression of pro-apoptotic ATF3 and NAG-1 genes in human colorectal HCT116 cells were investigated. Among the treated lees samples, the hexane fraction (KSD-E3-2) and the ethyl acetate fraction (KSD-E3-3) of lees extracts from Ehwa Makgeolli significantly reduced cell viabilities, in a dose dependent manner. The treatment with KSD-E3-2 and KSD-E3-3 also increased the expression of pro-apoptotic NAG-1 and ATF-3 genes and their proteins, which were detected with RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. In addition, poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage was detected by treatment with the fraction KSD-E3-3, indicating that KSD-E3-3 could induce apoptosis in HCT116 cells. Interestingly, this PARP cleavage was recovered by transfection of NAG-1 small interfering RNA. The results indicate that NAG-1 is one of the genes responsible for apoptosis induced by the fraction KSD-E3-3 from Ehwa Makgeolli. Overall, the findings may help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities mediated by the lees of Ehwa Makgeolli.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.550-555
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• 2013

Extrinsic skin aging is characterized by the loss of skin tone and resilience, irregular pigmentation, and deep wrinkles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ehwa Makgeolli containing oriental herbs (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Lycium chinense MILL., Morus alba L., and Saururus chinensis Baill) on skin whitening and wrinkling in human skin cells. We prepared Makgeolli extracts (HEE) with 70% ethanol. HEE significantly inhibited in vitro mushroom tyrosinase activity and reduced the cellular and secreted melanin content of mouse melanoma melanocytes (B16F1 cells). HEE down-regulated the protein expression of tyrosinase related protein (TRP)-1/-2, a key player in melanogenesis. Treatment with HEE in human keratinoctyes (HaCaT cells) inhibited the proteolytic activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9 in a dose-dependent manner and dramatically reduced the expression of MMP-2/-9. In addition, HEE attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells). These results indicate that HEE may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening, anti-wrinkle, and anti-inflammatory effects.