• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.277-280
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• 2020

During late July 2020, a species of weevil in the genus Aclees (Curculionidae, Molytinae) was found on several fig farms in the Haenam-gun district of Jeonnam Province, Korea. The weevil was subsequently identified as Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an exotic species, probably of subtropical and tropical Asian origin, that has also been introduced to Italy and France, where it is associated with severe damage to fig trees. This is the first report of an Aclees weevil in Korea.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.204-212
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• 2023

Whitening is inhibitory activity of the melanin synthesis of melanocytes. Recently, whitening materials have been developed on natural materials because of its side effects on skin. Figs (Ficus Carica L.) is a fruit belonging to the Moraceae family and whitening activity was reported in focusing on the fig's stem and leaf components, but whitening activity of the figs fruit was not known. Thus, in this study, we tried to observe its anti-melanogenesis as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammation. The radical scavenging activity of figs fruits extract (FFE) was observed as the level of 34.52±1.98%/60.71±1.26% compared to the control in the its maximum concentration in the DPPH/ABTS assay. Cytotoxicity of FFE was observed at 10% concentration by CCK8 assay, so the maximum concentration was set at 5% and applied to all experiments. FFE concentration dependently decreased NO production associated with inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression, these strongly suggesting anti-inflammatory activity. In melanin contents assay, FFE significantly down-regulated melanin production in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cell as well as tyrosinase inhibition in vitro. In addition, FFE decreased the Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) mRNA expression about 94.34% compared to the α-MSH treatment group in RT-PCR. Finally, FFE significantly reduced the MITF, cAMP response element-binding protein and tyrosinase protein expression in the α-MSH stimulated B16F10 cell. Through these results, we found that FFE can not only directly inhibit tyrosinase enzyme activity but also suppress melanogenesis through regulation of MITF gene expression in α-MSH signal transduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.1016-1027
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• 2015

This study collected 120 figs, classified them into six degrees of maturity according to hardness values, and analyzed contents of organic acids and free sugars. Volatile compounds in figs were investigated using the solid-phase microextraction method of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. For measurement of texture, elasticity increased up to stage 4 and decreased again. Cohesiveness and brittleness increased with maturation. Organic acids in figs were mainly composed of citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid in the final stage. Fructose and glucose were the major sugar components of figs. Fructose content decreased from stage 1 to stage 4 and then increased significantly. One hundred and nineteen volatile compounds were identified in figs, and classes were 14 acids, 15 alcohols, 23 aldehydes, 10 esters, 33 hydrocarbons, 11 ketones, four aromatics, six miscellaneous, and five terpenes. The dominant volatile components in figs were hexadecanoic acid, hexane, dodecanal, DL-limonene, 2-hexanal, nonanal, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.416-423
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• 2023

Figs has known to have antioxidant, whitening, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects in their leaves, roots, stems, latex, and fruits. In order to develop cosmetic materials based on natural products, we have studied on the skin activity of the ficin in latex as well as the whitening function of the fruit extract with 70% ethanol, and used it as a raw material for released cosmetic product. However, there is little research on the demand for the development of new eutectic solvent extraction methods and its ability to control skin inflammation and psoriasis regulation. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of fig fruit extracts and fractions using eutectic solvent extraction for skin inflammation control and psoriasis. First, fig fruits were extracted under optimal eutectic solvent conditions and fractionated with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol. First, the antioxidant activity and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production were confirmed in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. In addition, as a result of observing the mRNA expression through RT-PCR, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL1α, and IL-1β were suppressed significantly in the hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate fractions. In addition, it was confirmed in TNF-α stimulated HaCaT keratinocyte model. Finally, chemokine CC motif ligand 20 (CCL20), marker gene of human psoriasis skin disease, was significantly suppressed in the hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate fractions. These results suggested its anti-inflammatory and skin soothing effect and the possibility of development as an excellent skin soothing natural cosmetic material in the future through future clinical trials.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.21 no.1 s.85
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• pp.84-93
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• 2005

The antibacterial activities of methanol extract and systematic solvent fractions( -hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol) from Korean common type figs at different ripening stages were tested by the broth dilution method against 8 representative food-poisoning bacteria- : L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. enteritidis, E. coli O157:H7, E. coli, Y. enterocolitica, V. parahaemolyticus, and S. typhimurium. The methanol extracts of unripened I and II showed stronger activity than that of the ripened figs especially against L. monocytogenes, S. enteritidis, E. coli O157:H7, Y. parahaemolyticus and S. typhimurium in 10 mg/mL. The systematic solvent fractions showed stronger antibacterial activities than the methanol extract, even al the lower concentrations. The hexane fraction of ripened figs showed higher growth inhibition than those of unripened I and II against L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Y. enterocolitica and V. parahaemolyticus. The chloroform fraction showed strong antibacterial activity in all ripening stages against E. coli O157:H7 and V. parahaemolyticus. The butanol fraction showed better inhibition activity in unripened I and II than in the ripened figs. The hexane and chloroform fractions showed inhibition activity of more than $75\%$ against E. coli O157:H7, V. parahaemolyticus in 0.5 mg/mL. Each fraction showed a little different antibacterial activity according to the ripening stages of the fruits and the tested strains. Especially, figs in the unripened II stage revealed superior activity relatively and the hexane and chloroform fractions revealed the strongest activity, followed by the butanol fraction, while the ethylacetate and water fractions hardly showed any activity.