• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2015

Until recently, the three conventional evaluation methods, which are instrumental (Chromameter$^{(R)}$ CR-400 and Mexameter$^{(R)}$ M18) and visual assessments have been used frequently for skin color evaluation. However, we took notice the potential of image analysis as a new tool to evaluate color change of skin. To reveal the reliability of the image analysis for the evaluation of whitening agents, 34 healthy female volunteers with hyperpigmentation were recruited, and the selected volunteers applied the whitening products containing Vitamin C twice a day in the morning and evening and received iontophoresis treatments once a week for 8 weeks. The changes in hyperpigmentation evaluated by Chromameter$^{(R)}$, Mexameter$^{(R)}$ and visual assessment were compared with the results from the image analysis. As with $L^*$ value trends of the analysis using Chromameter$^{(R)}$, the V value from the image analysis increased after applying the test products compared with baseline values. Furthermore, V value showed a positive correlation with $L^*$ value (r = 0.494, p < 0.01) and negative correlation with MI (r = - 0.683, p < 0.01) and VG (r = - 0.549, p < 0.01). Therefore, image analysis may be considered as an effective method to complement the limitations of visual assessment for whitening efficacy in Asians.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1200-1207
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• 2019

Ultraviolet radiation exposure is a major cause of extrinsic skin aging, which leads to skin hyperpigmentation. Loganin, a major iridoid glycoside obtained from Corni fructus, has anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the anti-melanogenic effects of loganin in B16F10 melanocytes treated with ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}-MSH$) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Anti-melanogenic activity was measured by treating cells with loganin at concentrations between 1 and $20{\mu}m$. Cell viability assays confirmed that doses of loganin up to $20{\mu}m$ were not cytotoxic. Loganin significantly and dose-dependently decreased intracellular melanin production. We also investigated potential molecular signaling pathways for the anti-melanogenesis effects of loganin. Western blotting showed that treatment with ${\alpha}-MSH$ and IBMX increased the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and the gene expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase. Addition of loganin suppressed these increases, while promoting the phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and the anti-melanogenesis response. Our data therefore indicated that loganin could attenuate the increased melanin synthesis induced by ${\alpha}-MSH$ and IBMX treatment of B16F10 melanocytes. This attenuation appears to occur by downregulation of CREB phosphorylation and MITF and tyrosinase gene expression and upregulation of ERK phosphorylation. These finding suggests that loganin could be a valuable candidate for treatment of skin diseases related to hyperpigmentation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.236-244
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• 2024

Melanin is a natural pigment found in most plants and animals, and it is involved in determining the color of the skin and hair. Melanogenesis is a reactive occurrence in melanocytes aiming to protect the skin from external stimuli, such as ultraviolet rays. Tyrosine is involved in the biosynthesis of the substrate tyrosine into melanin. However, melanin overproduction can lead to skin diseases, such as melasma, blotching, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer. Although many studies have been conducted on whitening substances, such as kojic acid and arbutin, some countries have banned or refrained from using them due to their side effects. Therefore, this study assessed the potential of horseradish (HR) as a new whitening agent in cosmetic products. For efficient extraction, subcritical water extraction was conducted. The results showed that the horseradish subcritical water 200℃ (SW 200) extract showed high DPPH radical scavenging ability, total phenolic contents (TPC), inhibiting tyrosinase activity and inhibiting melanin production of B16-F10 melanoma cell lines. To investigate its cytotoxicity to the B16-F10 melanoma cell lines, MTT reduction assay and morphological changes were observed. No cytotoxicity was found in horseradish methanol extract and SW 200. In conclusion, this research suggests the possibility of horseradish subcritical water may be useful as a natural whitening ingredient to be used in cosmetic products.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.49-52
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of postoperative radiotherapy for the treatment of keloid scars administered immediately after Cesarean section. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 postpartum patients with confirmed keloids resulting from previous Cesarean sections received either 12 or 15 Gy radiotherapy. The radiotherapy was divided into three 6 MeV electron beam fractions administered during the postpartum period immediately following the final Cesarean section. To evaluate ovarian safety, designated doses of radiation were estimated at the calculated depth of the ovaries using a solid plate phantom and an ionization chamber with the same lead cutout as was used for the treatment of Cesarean section operative scars and a tissue equivalent bolus. Results: In total, the control rate was 77% (20 patients), while six (23%) developed focally elevated keloids (ranging from 0.5 to 2 cm in length) in the middle of the primary abdominal scar. Five patients experienced mild hyperpigmentation. Nonetheless, most patients (96%) were satisfied with the treatment results. The estimated percentage of the applied radiation doses that reached the calculated depth of the ovaries ranged from 0.0033% to 0.0062%. Conclusion: When administered during the immediate postpartum period, postoperative electron beam radiotherapy for repeated Cesarean section scars is generally safe and produces good cosmetic results with minimal toxicity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-213
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• 2004

A 8 kg, 3-year-old male West Highland white terrier dog with a 1.5-year history of chronic, severely pruritic, seborrheic skin disorder was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. On physical examination, lesions were observed on entire cutaneous surface, except for face, dorsum of body, and footpads. Skin lesions were characterized by diffuse erythema, erythematous papules, severe alopecia, hyperpigmentation, and lichenification. Tape strip tests of skin lesions revealed cocci and Malassezia infections. The intradermal allergy tests revealed positive reactions to Japanese cedar pollen, but the non-seasonal clinical signs were not compatible with atopic dermatitis caused by this pollen. Results of hematological examination, serum chemistry and thyroid gland profile were normal. Examination of skin biopsy exhibited hyperplastic superficial perivascular dermatosis with severe acanthosis, excessive keratinocyte mitoses, patchy or diffuse mild spongiosis, and lymphocytic exocytosis in epidermis. Perivascular to interstitial mononuclear cells infiltration was seen in the superficial dermis. Based on the results of examination described above, epidermal dysplasia was diagnosed. Treatments with administration of antibiotics, etretinate, and prednisolone orally combined with topical ketoconazole cream and antiseborreic shampoos had no good results. Following treatment with long-term oral itraconazole at 10 mg/kg daily and chlorhexidine shampoos was successful. However, when itraconazole therapy was stopped, the condition worsened twice within 2 or 3 months. Readministration of itraconazole produced improvement within 4 weeks. This dog has now been controlled periodical itraconazole therapy.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 1997

Tyrosinase catalyzes the rate-limiting steps in melanin biosynthesis which is involved in skin-coloring and local hyperpigmentation of human beings, and unfavorable darkening of food products, Inhibitory effects on 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine (dopa) oxidase activity of tyrosinase by 594 kinds of herbal extracts prepared from herbal medicines and wild plants in Korea were estimated. Two herbal extracts prepared from radicis cortex of Morus alba and rhizoma of Curcuma longa were selected as those exhibiting potent inhibitory effects on the enzyme activity. These herbal extracts were subjected to sequential fractionations with methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and polar residue. The inhibitory effects on dopa oxidase activity of tyrosinase were shown in ethyl acetate fraction of Morus alba, and in methylene chloride fraction of Curcuma langa. The ethyl acetate fraction of Marus alba exhibited 50% of inhibition on dopa oxidase activity of tyrosinase at the concentration of 12 ${\mu}g/ml$, and methylene chloride fraction of Curcuma langa at 51 ${\mu}g/ml$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

In recent times, the demand for edible medication for the treatment of hyperpigmentation has increased significantly. Therefore, the discovery of a stable, safe and inexpansive antimelanogenic component from natural substances, such as grains, is of particular interest. The levels and activities of some metabolites and/or enzymes can be increased. In the present study, we investigated the antimelanogenic effects of water-soluble extracts from barley (BE), malt (ME) and germinated barley (GBE) in melan-a cells. The inhibitory effects of ME and GBE on melanin production were significantly greater than that of BE. Interestingly, the content of ferulic acid, the proposed active component of barley, was also higher in ME and GBE than in BE by HPLC analysis. Western blot analysis of the expression of melanogenic enzymes in melan-a cells treated with BE, ME or GBE indicated the expression of both tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) significantly decreased after treatment with BE, ME or GBE. These results suggest that besides BE, ME and GBE also inhibit melanin production most likely through suppression of tyrosinase and TRP-2 expression. ME and GBE were more efficacious at inhibiting melanin production than BE was and may also represent potential skin-whitening agents.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.252-258
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• 2016

Vitex trifolia L. has been used traditionally to treat various illnesses, such as inflammation, headache, migraine, and gastrointestinal infections. We analyzed and evaluated the composition of V. trifolia leaf oil. Based on the results, we isolated abietatriene from V. trifolia leaf oil and investigated the effect of V. trifolia leaf oil and its active compound abietatriene on melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. They significantly decreased melanin contents and melanogenic factors, such as tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF dose-dependently in both protein and mRNA levels. Protein and mRNA expressions were determined by Western blot analysis and quantitative real time RT-PCR. Findings indicate that V. trifolia leaf oil and abietatriene reduce melanogenesis by regulating the expression of melanogenic factors. These results suggest that V. trifolia leaf oil and abietatriene could comprise a useful therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation and used as effective skin-whitening agents.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2018

Ethyl linoleate is an unsaturated fatty acid used in many cosmetics for its various attributes, such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and clinically proven to be an effective anti-acne agent. In this study, we investigated the effect of ethyl linoleate on the melanogenesis and the mechanism underlying its action on melanogenesis in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Our results revealed that ethyl linoleate significantly inhibited melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity in ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced B16F10 cells, but it did not directly inhibit activity of mushroom tyrosinase. Ethyl linoleate inhibited the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP1) in governing melanin pigment synthesis. We observed that ethyl linoleate inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase $3{\beta}$ ($GSK3{\beta}$) and reduced the level of ${\beta}-catenin$, suggesting that ethyl linoleate inhibits melanogenesis through $Akt/GSK3{\beta}/{\beta}-catenin$ signal pathway. Therefore, we propose that ethyl linoleate may be useful as a safe whitening agent in cosmetic and a potential therapeutic agent for reducing skin hyperpigmentation in clinics.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.447-450
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• 2002

Previously, a methanol extract from seeds of Paeonia lactiflora was shown to have a potent inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and soybean lipoxygenase (SLO). Seven stilbenes, trans-resveratrol-4-Ο-$\beta$-D-glucoside, trans resveratrol, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin, cis-$\varepsilon$-viniferin, gnetin H, suffruticosol A and B were isolated from the seeds as active principles for inhibition of the enzymatic activity. Among them, the resveratrol trimer, gnetin H exhibited the most potent inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and SLO, respectively. Additionally, the resveratrol dimers, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin and cis-$\varepsilon$-viniferin exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the two oxidative enzymes. Meanwhile, three other stilbene derivatives, such as trans-resveratrol, suffruticosol A and suffruticosol B had also weak inhibition activity. The least inhibitory activity was observed in transresveratrol-4-Ο-$\beta$-D-glucoside. These results suggest that resveratrol dimers and trimer in the seeds of Paeonia lactiflora are potentially useful therapeutic agents against pathological disorders such as hyperpigmentation and inflammation.