• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.498-509
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• 2021

Background: A wide range of environmental factors, such as diseases, nutritional deficiencies, ageing, hormonal imbalances, stress, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, may affect the structure and function of the skin that covers the entire surface of the human body. In this study, we investigated roles of red ginseng oil (RGO) in enhancing skin functions, including hair growth and skin protection, using mouse models. Methods: For hair growth experiment, shaved dorsal skins of C57BL/6 mice were topically applied with vehicle, RGO, RGO's major compounds, or minoxidil for consecutive 21 days and skin tissues were examined the hair growth promoting capacity. For skin protection experiment, SKH-1 hairless mice were topically applied with vehicle or RGO twice a day for three days prior to exposure to UVC radiation at 20 kJ/cm². Skin tissues were collected to evaluate skin protective effects of RGO. Results: Topical application of RGO to C57BL/6 mice effectively promoted hair regeneration by inducing early telogen-to-anagen transition and significantly increasing the density and bulb diameter of hair follicles. Major compounds, including linoleic acids and β-sitosterol, contributed to RGO-promoted hair growth. Treatment with RGO as well as its major components upregulated expression of hair growth-related proteins. Furthermore, in SKH-1 hairless mice, RGO had a protective effect against UVC-induced skin damage by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, as well as inducing cytoprotective systems. Conclusion: These data suggest that RGO may be a potent agent for improving skin health and thereby preventing and/or treating hair loss and protecting skin against UV radiation.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.434-442
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• 2022

Highly toxic chemical warfare agents(CWA) could be used in chemical warfare and terrorism. The protection of skin is crucial for civilians and soldiers, because the primary routes of exposure to CWA are inhalation and skin absorption. Thus, topical skin protectants(TSP) have been studied and developed in many countries to complement protective equipments. In this study, in-vitro test procedure was optimized and established using a flow-through diffusion cell system containing excised hairless mouse skin in an attempt to assess the effectiveness of various TSP formulations against nerve agent simulants. In addition, the test results on the formulations including the ingredients used in SERPACWA(Skin Exposure Reduction Paste Against Chemical Warfare Agent) and IB-1(TSP of Israel) were included, indicating that the formulations with perfluorinated compounds were more effective than the glycerin-based formulations.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2019

To evaluate the protective effect of collagen peptide-coated coffee extract on skin aging, cell viability was measured with a MTT assay using cultured CCD-986sk fibroblasts, and its effect on wrinkles in the skin of hairless mice induced by UVB-irradiation was examined. In addition, its effect on procollagen synthesis and anti-oxidative, and its inhibitory activity against collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase and MMP-1 were analysed. After the 30-minute topical treatment, the animals were exposed to UVB irradiation (60-100 mJ/cm²) for 4 weeks and its intensity increased during the period. Under the experimental conditions set in this study, the skin thickness of hairless mice significantly decreased (11.8-21.3%) compared to the control group. Based on these results, the prolonged oral intake of a collagen peptide mixture with coffee is expected to significantly increase the synthesis of procollagen in dermal fibroblasts, thereby contributing to the alleviation of wrinkling and lowered elasticity due to structural damage to the dermal layer caused by UV. The oral intake of collagen-coated coffee contributes to increasing collagen biosynthesis in a dose-dependent manner and alleviates the symptoms of thickened keratin caused by UV irradiation. However, it did not inhibit the enzymes involved in skin aging, whitening, wrinkle improvement, and antioxidation. Based on the these results, it can be concluded that the intake of collagen peptide-coated coffee extract can be utilized as an alternative material for the prevention or treatment of diseases associated with photoaging.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.640-647
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• 2023

The skin, the largest organ in the body, undergoes age-related changes influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The primary external factor is photoaging which causes hyperpigmentation, uneven skin surface, deep wrinkles, and markedly enlarged capillaries. In the human dermis, it decreases fibroblast function, resulting in a lack of collagen structure and also decreases keratinocyte function, which compromises the strength of the protective barrier. In this study, we found that treatment with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) had no toxicity to skin fibroblasts and GABA enhanced their migration ability, which can accelerate skin wound healing. UVB radiation was found to significantly induce the production of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), but treatment with GABA resulted in the inhibition of MMP-1 production. We also investigated the enhancement of filaggrin and aquaporin 3 in keratinocytes after treatment with GABA, showing that GABA can effectively improve skin moisturization. In vivo experiments showed that oral administration of GABA significantly improved skin wrinkles and epidermal thickness. After the intake of GABA, there was a significant decrease observed in the increase of skin thickness measured by calipers and erythema. Additionally, the decrease in skin moisture and elasticity in hairless mice exposed to UVB radiation was also significantly restored. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of GABA as functional food material for improving skin aging and moisturizing.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.323-332
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• 2024

Background: Studies have reported that the combination of two or more therapeutic compounds at certain ratios has more noticeable pharmaceutical properties than single compounds and requires reduced dosage of each agent. Red ginseng and velvet antler have been extensively used in boosting immunity and physical strength and preventing diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to elucidate the skin-protective potentials of red ginseng extract (RGE) and velvet antler extract (VAE) alone or in combination on ultraviolet (UVB)-irradiated human keratinocytes and SKH-1 hairless mice. Methods: HaCaT cells were preincubated with RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 2 h before UVB (30 mJ/cm²) irradiation. SKH-1 mice were orally given RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 15 days before exposure to single dose of UVB (600 mJ/cm²). Treated cells and treated skin tissues were collected and subjected to subsequent experiments. Results: RGE/VAE pretreatment alone or in combination significantly prevented UVB-induced cell death, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species production, and DNA damage in keratinocytes and SKH-1 mouse skins by downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinases/activator protein 1/nuclear factor kappa B and caspase signaling pathways. These extracts also strengthened the antioxidant defense systems and skin barriers in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells and SKH-1 mouse skins. Furthermore, RGE/VAE co-administration appeared to be more effective in preventing UVB-caused skin injury than these extracts used alone. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that the consumption of RGE/VAE, especially in combination, offers a protective ability against UVB-caused skin injury by preventing inflammation and apoptosis and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2016

Purpose: Skin pH, an indicator of skin health, is maintained by various organic factors, which include lactate, free amino acid (FAA), and free fatty acid (FFA). As skin ages or with illness, skin pH becomes less acidic, and functional food has been developed to maintain the acidic pH of skin. In this study, we determined the dietary effect of green tea extract (GTE) on skin pH of photo-aged mice, as measured by epidermal levels of lactate, FAA, and FFA. The protein expression and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme of pyruvate reduction for lactate generation, was further determined. Methods: Albino hairless mice were fed a control diet (group UV+) or a diet with 1% GTE (group GTE) in parallel with UV irradiation for 10 weeks. A normal control group was fed a control diet without UV irradiation for 10 weeks (group UV-). Results: Skin pH was higher (less acidic) in group UV+ than in group UV-. In parallel, epidermal levels of lactate and FFA, as well as of LDH protein expression and activity, were reduced in group UV+. Dietary supplementation of GTE (group GTE) reduced skin pH to similar to the level of group UV-, and inversely increased epidermal levels of lactate, LDH protein expression and activity, but not of FFA. Although epidermal levels of FAA were similar in groups UV- and UV+, it was increased in group GTE to a level higher than in group UV-. In further analysis of major FFA, epidermal levels of palmitic acid [16:0], oleic acid [18:1(n-9)], and linoleic acid [18:2(n-6), but not of stearic acid [18:0] in group GTE were similar to or lower than those in group UV+. Conclusion: Dietary GTE normalized skin pH with increased levels of lactate and FAA, as well as with increased protein expression and activity of LDH in the epidermis of UVB irradiated hairless mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.608-614
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• 2013

We investigated the anti-wrinkle activity of an 80% ethanol extract of Curdrania tricuspidata leaves (CTL80) on ultraviolet-induced photoaging in hairless mice. Skin wrinkles were induced by 10 weeks of UVB-irradiation on the back of Skh-1 hairless mice three times a week. Mice were divided into ten groups; normal control (-UVB), UVB irradiated control group (+UVB), dietary groups (UVB+ascorbic acid 0.1%, UVB+CTL80 0.1%, UVB+CTL80 0.25%) and topical application groups (-UVB+base lotion (BL), UVB+BL, UVB+ascorbic acid 1%+BL, UVB+CTL80 1%+BL, UVB+CTL80 2%+BL). Wrinkle formation, histological changes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9) were analyzed. Wrinkles for the +UVB groups formed as a pattern of deep furrows and thick crests. Wrinkles with CTL80 treatment formed as a pattern of shallow furrows and thin crests, with wrinkle areas were lower than the +UVB group. In an antioxidant analysis of mouse blood, SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly higher in the CTL80 topical application group compared to the +UVB group. The mRNA expression of MMPs in the +UVB group was significantly higher than the normal control group, and significantly lower in the CTL80-treated group. In conclusion, CTL80 exerted anti-wrinkle activity on ultraviolet-induced photoaging by regulating antioxidative defense systems and MMPs expression.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.735-743
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• 2015

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of barley leaf extract in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and hairless mice. Pre-treatment with barley leaf extract significantly inhibited the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) in a dose-dependent manner in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Barley leaf extract also significantly inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Moreover, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) were strongly suppressed by barley leaf extract in LPS-stimulated cells. In hairless mice, barley extract significantly decreased the pathological phenotypes of contact dermatitis, such as erythema, edema, and scabs. These results indicate that barley leaf extract has an anti-inflammatory effect and therefore a possible role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases or in functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.975-985
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• 2017

To investigate the beneficial effects of an agar gel mask (AGM) on UV-induced photoaging, SKH-1 hairless mice were treated with a topical application of AGM and an AGM dipped in essence (AGMdE). The mice were divided into an no radiation group, UV + AGM, UV + AGMdE, and UV + vehicle (PBS) treatment groups. Alterations in skin wrinkles, skin phenotype, histological structures, oxidative status, and toxicity were then evaluated during 4 weeks of exposure. The topical application of AGM and AGMdE inhibited wrinkle formation, suppressed the erythema index, prevented transepidermal water loss, and enhanced skin hydration. In addition, epidermal thickness recovered to a similar level as that in the no irradiation group in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups compared with the UV + vehicle (distilled water) group. Furthermore, the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tyrosinase were reduced in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups, although the highest level varied. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly lower in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups as compared with the UV + vehicle group. No significant alterations induced by most toxic compounds were measured in serum biochemical markers and liver and kidney histological features of the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups. These results suggest that AGM may protect against skin aging by regulating skin morphology, histopathological structures, and oxidative conditions.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.185-196
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• 1988

The inflence of hydrophilic vehicles on percutaneous absorption rate of griseofulvin was studied using intact skin of full thickness of hairless rat. The in vitro absorption rates were used as the characteristics for deciding the optimum formula of ointment vehicles. The optimum formula of vehicle compositions for maximum absorption rate was obtained from the polynomial regression equation and the two graphical techniques, contour graph and partial derivative graph. It was composed of sodium lauryl sulfate (1.65 W /W%), white petrolatum (16.5 W /W%), propylene glycol (12.0 W /W%), and stearyl alcohol (19.6W /W%). The experimental value obtained from the optimum formula and the prediction value were 33.99 and 33.87 ${\mu}g/\sqrt{min}$, respectively. From these results, it was believed that optimum formula for semisolid dosage forms could be obtained from the application of the optimization technique used in this study.