• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2003

This study was performed to determine the effect of Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf leaf extract on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of mice irradiated with high and low dose of gamma-radiation. Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf administration before irradiation (I.P.: 125 mg/kg of body weight, at 24 hours before irradiation) resulted in an increase of the formation of endogenous spleen colony (p<0.01). The frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis was also reduced by pretreatment of Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf (I.P.: 280 mg/kg or 28 mg/kg of body weight, at 24 hours before irradiation, p<0.01). These results indicated that Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product. Further studies are needed to characterize better the promotion nature of Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf and its components.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2011

To evaluate the ability of Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf) leaf extract (BL) to protect the skin from photodamage, the gross and microscopic changes in the skin of hairless mice and BL-treated mice exposed chronically to ultraviolet (UV) were examined. The skin of the UV-irradiated mice showed characteristic signs of photoaging, such as deep wrinkles across the back, increased epidermal thickeness, numerous cell infiltration, and many enlarged keratinizing cysts. BL-treated mice showed a significantly decreased wrinkling score and lack of proliferation of cysts. By the 22nd week, 88.9% (i.p. with saline) or 60.0% (topical administration with cream base) of the UV-irradiated mice developed at least one tumor. BL delayed tumor onset significantly. BL (i.p.) was also effective in reducing the occurrence of UV radiation-induced skin tumors and reduced the number of tumors per mouse. After 22 weeks of treatment, 37.5% (i.p.) of the mice treated with BL were tumor-free. Tumor multiplicity was reduced by 81.2% (i.p.) in the BL treated groups. It is noted that skin that is chronically exposed to UV is subject to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis and regular use of BL would prevent these photodamaging effects of UV.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2007

We induced the activation of melanocytes in the epidermis of C57BL/6 mice by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and observed the effect of bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf) leaf extract (BLE) on the formation, and decrease of UVB-induced epidermal melanocytes. C57BL/6 mice were irradiated by $UVB\;80mJ/cm^2(0.5mW/sec)$ daily for 7 days, and BLE was intraperitoneally or topically applied pre-or post-irradiation. For the estimation of change of epidermal melanocytes, light microscopic observation with dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) stain was performed. Split epidermal sheets prepared from the ear of untreated mice exhibited 11-16 $melanocytes/mm^2$, and one week after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of strongly DOPA-positive melanocytes with stout dendrites. But intraperitoneal or topical treatment with BLE before each irradiation interrupted UVB-induced pigmentation and resulted in a marked reduction in the number of epidermal melanocytes as compared to radiation control skin. The number and size of DOPA-positive epidermal melanocytes were also significantly decreased in intraperitoneally injected or topically applicated group after irradiation with BLE at 3rd and 6th weeks after irradiation. The results of present study indicate that BLE is likely to be useful as inhibitor of UVB-induced pigmentation and depigmenting agent.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2007

The effects of bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var. henenis Strapf) leaf extract (BLE) on the changes of ultraviolet (UV) light B radiation-induced apoptotic sunburn cell (SBC) and epidermal ATPase-positive dendritic cell (DC) in SKH1-hr or ICR mouse were investigated. The mice were treated with UVB ($200mJ/cm^2$) and were sacrificed 24 hours later. BLE (50 mg/kg of body weight) or vehicle (saline) was given i.p. at 36 and 12 hours before irradiation, and 30 minutes after irradiation. BLE cream (0.2%) or cream base (vehicle) was also topically treated at 24 hours and 15 minutes before irradiation, and immediately after irradiation. The skin of SKH1-hr mouse prepared from the back of untreated mice exhibited about 0.3 SBC/cm length of epidermis, and 24 hours after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of SBCs. But the frequency of UVB-induced SBC formation was significantly reduced by intraperitoneal injection (59.0%) and topical application (31.8%) of BLE extract. The numbers of DC in normal ICR mouse were $628.00{\pm}51.56\;or\;663.20{\pm}62.58\;per\;mm^2$ of ear epidermis. By 1 day after UVB treatment, the number of ATPase-positive $cells/mm^2$ were decreased by 39.0% or 27.1% in i.p. or topical application group with vehicle. The frequency of UVB ($200mJ/cm^2$)-induced DC decrease was reduced by treatment of BLE as 25.7% in i.p. group and 3.2% in topical application group compared with the irradiation control group. The results presented herein that BLE administration could reduce the extent of skin damages produced by UVB.