• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2009

Chios gum mastic (CGM) is a resin produced from the stem and leaves of Pistiacia lentiscus L var chia, a plant which grows only on Chios Island in Greece. CGM has been used for many centuries as a dietary supplement and folk medicine for stomach and duodenal ulcers in many Mediterranean countries and is known also to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in some cancer cells. In this study, we further investigated the induction and mechanisms underlying the apoptotic response to CGM treatment in the SCC25 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line. The viability of SCC25 cells, human normal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1 cells), and the growth inhibition of SCC25 cells were assessed by MTT assay and clonogenic assay, respectively. Staining with Hoechst and hemacolor dyes and TUNEL assays were employed to detect SCC25 cells undergoing apoptosis. SCC25 cells were treated with CGM, and this was followed by western blotting, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, FACScan flow cytometry, MMP activity and proteasome activity analyses. CGM treatment of SCC25 cells was found to result in a time- and dosedependent decrease in cell viability, a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, and apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, CGM showed a remarkable level of cytotoxicity in SCC25 cells but not in normal cells. Tested SCC25 cells also showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation. Taken together, our present findings demonstrate that CGM strongly inhibits cell proliferation by modulating the expression of G1 cell cycle-related proteins and induces apoptosis via the proteasome, mitochondria and caspase cascades in SCC25 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to find out the effect of yeast on hair loss treatment and the role of hair follicle stem cell activator, which is important in hair growth. The authors have recently produced a substance, which has no disgusting odor, does not precipitates and does not easily corrupt, to use instead of yeast acquired from raw rice wine(Makgeolli). The substance is named Yeast Constituent Extract(YCE). In this research, the Produced YCE was applied on the hair loss area of 10 Androgenic alopecia patients, twice every day for 6 months, in order to test the effect of hair loss treatment and the role of stem cell activator. As a result, all of the patients showed a significant growth of hair after 3 months of test, and showed much more growing, thickening and strengthening of hair after 6 months. As a result of measuring the number of hair strings in the same scalp region of the patients after 6 months, it is found that the density of hair has increased, indicating that the hair loss treatment was effective. Also the hair follicle stem cell was isolated from the patients and the contents of growth factors (IGF, VEGF, FGF, HGF) derived from hair follicle stem cell were measured with ELISA. As result, the amount is found to be about 10 times greater than before the test. The hair follicle stem cell contains many growth factors that affect growth of hair, so it takes a highly important role in hair loss treatment. The YCE that the authors have produced was found to be effective in increasing the contents of growth factors that are derived from hair follicle stem cell. Thus it can be inferred that the YCE plays a role as a stem cell activator that activates the hair follicle stem cells. In conclusion, the YCE is considered to be highly effective for hair loss treatment and to have a role as a stem cell activator.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.38-60
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• 2004

We made an experiment if the extracts of DanGuiBoHyulTangGami-Bang(DBTG) and 15 kinds of the medical herbs used the materials of DBTG were effective on the hair formation palpation and the falling out of hair, and came to the following conclusions. 1. The extracts of Paeonia lactiflora, Cuscuta chinensis and Angelica tenuissima of DBTG consisted of the 15 kinds of the medical herbs kept the activity of 5${\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ from being active 75.3$\%$, 63.8$\%$. 75.5$\%$. 2. The hair growth index, 1.6(control group 0.8) of the extracts of DBTG bas a little effect on the hair growth palpation and that of Rubus coreanus 1.8(control group 0.4) was the most effective one of the medical herbs, and Paeonia lactiflora 2.3(control group 1.7) and Vitex rotundifolia 2.3(control group 1.5) showed the effect on hair formation palpation. 3. The hair growth period couldn't be extended by DBTG in this experimental stage. 4. The 15 kinds of constitution medicines of DBTG didn't have effects in dermal papilla cells DNA increase, IGF- I, KGF, HGF the revelation of a gene heredity, the protein synthesis of the hair follicle tissues. 5. All of the 15 kinds of constitution medicines of DBTG didn't have the antibacterial activity in Paper disc rule. 6. The results from the test of a radical scavenging activity of the 15 kinds of constitution medicines of DBTG showed that the extracts of Paeoria lactiflora, Scutellaria baicalensis, Rubus coreanus have the superior antioxidant activity in the concentration of 0.01$\%$ and 0.001$\%$ 7. In the formation controlled experiment, Vitex rotundifolia (70.6$\%$), Scutellaria baicalensis (47.1$\%$, Saposhnikovia (44.8$\%$) of the 15 kinds of constitution medicines of DBTG in the 50㎍／㎖ concentration controled NO forming and Vitex rotundifolia (12.7$\%$) controled NO forming in the 5㎍／㎖ concentration in order. 8. MTT(lC／50) of the extracts of Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Scutellaria baicalensis, Lycium chinense, Rubus coreanus of the 15 kinds of constitution medicines of DBIG was more than 500㎍／㎖ and had the least cell virulence.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.724-731
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• 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are characterized by their multipotency capacity, which allows them to differentiate into diverse cell types (bone, cartilage, fat, tendon, and neuron-like cells) and secrete a variety of trophic factors (ANG, FGF-2, HGF, IGF-1, PIGF, SDF-1α, TGF-β, and VEGF). MSCs can be easily isolated from human bone-marrow, fat, and umbilical-cord tissues. These features indicate that MSCs might be of use in stem-cell therapy. However, MSCs undergo cellular senescence during long-term expansion, and this is accompanied by functional declines in stem-cell potency. In the human body, because of their senescence and declines in their microenvironmental niches stem cells fail to maintain tissue homeostasis, and as a result, senescent cells accumulate in tissues. This can lead to age-related diseases, including degenerative disorders and cancers. Recent studies suggest that the number of histone modifications to stem cells’ genomes and aberrant alterations to their DNA methylation increase as stem cells progress into senescence. These epigenetic alterations have been partly reversed with treatments in which DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors or histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are introduced into replicative senescent-MSCs. This review focuses on epigenetic alteration in replicative senescent-MSCs and explains how epigenetic modifications are widely associated with stem-cell senescences such as differentiation, proliferation, migration, calcium signaling, and apoptosis.