• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.496-505
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• 2020

Background: Panax ginseng is a marvelous herbal remedy for all ailments of body. That may be why it is called Panax, which means "cure for all". Melanin is a pigment that gives color to our skin; however, increased melanin production can lead to tumor formation. Human exposure to ultraviolet B radiation has increased extensively owing to the increased sunlight due to global warming. Consequently, a phenomenon called photoaging has been observed for all skin colors and types. As a result of this phenomenon, a set of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases, which serve as degradation enzymes for extracellular matrix proteins, mainly collagen, is increased, causing depletion of collagen and resulting in early wrinkle formation. Methods: Therefore, in our study, we used the murine melanoma cell line B16/F10 to study the inhibition of melanogenesis by Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract in vitro and HRM-2 hairless mice exposed to artificial ultraviolet B to examine the efficacy of KRG in vivo. We prepared a 3% red ginseng extract cream and evaluated its effects on human skin. Results: Our results demonstrated that KRG induced potent suppression of tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16/F10 cells; moreover, it reduced the transcription and translation of components involved in the melanin production pathway. In the in vivo experiments, KRG potently suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, reduced wrinkle formation, and inhibited collagen degradation. On human skin, ginseng cream increased skin resilience and skin moisture and enhanced skin tone. Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that KRG is an excellent skin whitening and antiaging product.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2003

Purpose : The matrix metalloprotelnases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes whose main function is the degradation of the extracellular matrix. Several studies have revealed that MMPs and TIMPS are related to the wound heating process and in photoaging caused by ultraviolet Irradiation. However, the expressions of MMP and TIMP after irradiation have not, to the best of our knowledge, been studied. This study investigates the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in rat Intestinal mucosa following irradiation. Materials and Methods : The entire abdomen of Sprague-Dawley rats was irradiated using a single dose method. The rats were sacrificed on day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 following irradiation. Histopathological observations were made using hematoxilin & eosin staining. The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were examined using immunohistochemistry, Irnrnunoblotting and ELISA. Results : Radiation induced damage associated with atrophic villi, and infiltration of inflammatory cell was observed from the first postirradiation day, and severe tissue damage was observed on the second and the third postirradiation days. An increase in mitosis and the number of regenerating crypts, as evidence of regeneration, were most noticeable on the fifth postirradiation day. From the immunohistochemlstry, the MMP-2 expression was observed from the first postirradiation day, but was most conspicuous on the third and the fifth postirradiation days. The TIMP-2 expression was most conspicuous on the fifth postirradiation day. From the irnrnunoblotting, the MMP-2 expression was strongly positive on the third postirradlatlon day, and that of TIMP-2 showed a strong positive response on the fifth postirradiation day. In ELISA tests, the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were increased in the postirradiation groups compared to those of the normal controls, and showed a maximum increase on the fifth postirradiatlon day. These results were statistically significant. Conclusion : The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were increased in the intestinal mucosa of the rats following irradiation, and these results correlated with the histopathological findings, such as tissue damage and regeneration. Therefore, this study suggests that MMP-2 and TIMP-2 play roles in the mechanisms of radiation-induced damage and regeneration of intestinal mucosa of rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1024-1032
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• 2008

Efficient expression of the Salmonella Typhimurium tdc ABCDEG operon involved in the degradation of L-serine and L-threonine requires TdcA, the transcriptional activator of the tdc operon. We found that the tdcA gene was transiently activated when the bacterial growth condition was changed from aerobic to anaerobic, but this was not observed if Salmonella was grown anaerobically from the beginning of the culture. Expression kinetics of six tdc genes after anaerobic shock demonstrated by a real-time PCR assay showed that the tdc CDEG genes were not induced in the tdcA mutant but tdcB maintained its inducibility by anaerobic shock even in the absence of tdcA, suggesting that an additional unknown transcriptional regulation may be working for the tdcB expression. We also investigated the effects of nucleoid-associated proteins by primer extension analysis and found that H-NS repressed tdcA under anaerobic shock conditions, and fis mutation delayed the peak expression time of the tdc operon. DNA microarray analysis of genes regulated by TdcA revealed that the genes involved in N-acetylmannosamine, maltose, and propanediol utilization were significantly induced in a tdcA mutant. These findings suggest that Tdc enzymes may playa pivotal role in energy metabolism under a sudden change of oxygen tension.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1349-1360
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• 2019

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, regarded as a major cause of extrinsic aging or photoaging characterized by wrinkle formation and skin dehydration, exerts adverse effects on skin by causing the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Agastache rugosa Kuntze, known as Korean mint, possesses a wide spectrum of biological properties including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-atherosclerosis. Previous studies have reported that A. rugosa protected human keratinocytes against UVB irradiation by restoring the anti-oxidant defense system. However, the anti-photoaging effect of A. rugosa extract (ARE) in animal models has not yet been evaluated. ARE was orally administered to hairless mice at doses of 100 or 250 mg/kg/day along with UVB exposure for 12 weeks. ARE histologically improved UVB-induced wrinkle formation, epidermal thickening, erythema, and hyperpigmentation. In addition, ARE recovered skin moisture by improving skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Along with this, ARE increased hyaluronic acid levels by upregulating HA synthase genes. ARE markedly increased the density of collagen and the amounts of hydroxypoline via two pathways. First, ARE significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases responsible for collagen degradation by inactivating the mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein 1 pathway. Second, ARE stimulated the transforming growth factor beta/Smad signaling, consequently raising the mRNA levels of collagen-related genes. In addition, ARE not only increased the mRNA expression of anti-oxidant enzymes but also decreased inflammatory cytokines by blocking the protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B. Collectively, our findings suggest that A. rugosa may be a potential preventive and therapeutic agent for photoaging.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.941-946
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• 2015

Photoaging is the main extrinsic aging factor that is induced due to UVB. Many studies have revealed that application of hyaluronic acid to the skin is effective in healing photoaging. However, the effect of hyaluronic acid through oral administration is unclear. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect on skin photoaging after oral administration of hyaluronic acid. During a ten week study, hyaluronic acid was fed to hairless mice, which were illuminated by UV radiation. After ten weeks, wrinkle indicator and histological changes were determined. Compared with the control group, the sample group had a decrease in wrinkle depth, thickness, and number. Especially, the HA 160 mg/kg group had a similar value of wrinkle depth ($19.44{\pm}0.75{\mu}m$), number ($654.00{\pm}98.34$), and thickness ($1.35{\pm}0.08mm$), when compared with the RA (retinoic acid) group ($19.28{\pm}0.95{\mu}m$, $653.57{\pm}83.54$, and $1.34{\pm}0.07mm$ respectively). Also, the treated group showed improved elastosis and decreased collagen degradation resulting from UV irradiation. Thus, we can conclude that hyaluronic acid has a positive effect in improving skin photoaging induced by UV radiation. Hyaluronic acid therefore has the potential to be an ingredient in skin health function foods.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2016

Just like UV radiation, heat increases collagen degradation and accumulation of abnormal elastin fiber and this is termed thermal skin aging. Dunaliella salina (DS), a green alga, is known for its beta-carotene accumulation, having various applications in the health and nutritional products. However, the effects of DS on heat-induced skin aging remain unexplored. In this study, we performed anti-thermal aging tests of the ethanol extract of DS (DSE). We measured the cellular levels of type I procollagen and MMP-1 using ELISA in human dermal fibroblast cells after heat shock. DSE reduced the expression of MMP-1 protein and increased the expression of type I procollagen. In addition, DSE upregulated the mRNA expression of HSP47 reduced by heat shock, which is involved in collagen synthesis. Also, DSE reduced the expression of inflammation mediator (TGF-${\beta}$, IL-12, etc). We demonstrate that DSE regulates the heat-induced solar elastosis through the regulation of tropoelastin and fibrillin-1, two major proteins of elastic fibers, and MMP-12 expression. These results suggest that DSE may be effective for preventing thermally induced skin aging.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2007

The effects of high energy short wave solar radiation on human skin have received much publicity as the major cause of accelerated skin ageing and of skin cancers. To meet public demand, the cosmetic industry has developed sun protection factor products, which contain a variety of so-called "UV filters", among others benzophenone (BP) and its metabolites are the widely used UV filters. UV filters are also used to prevent UV light from damaging scents and colors in a variety of cosmetics products and to protect of plastic products against light-induced degradation. There are many variants of BP in use. In this respect, to regulate and to evaluate the hazardous effect of BP-type UV filters will be important to environment and human health. The genotoxicity of 7 BP-type UV filters was evaluated in L5178Y $(tk^{+/-})$ mouse lymphoma cells in vitro. BP, benzhydrol, 4-hydroxybenzophenone 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and 2, 4-dihydroxybenzophenone did not induce significant mutation frequencies both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation system. 2, 2'-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone appeared the positive results at the highest dose, i.e. 120.4 ${\mu}g/mL$ only in the absence of metabolic activation system. And also, 2, 3, 4-trihydroxybenzophenone revealed a significant increase of mutation frequencies in the range of 138.1-207.2 ${\mu}g/mL$ in the absence of metabolic activation system and 118.3-354.8 ${\mu}g/mL$ in the presence of metabolic activation system. Through the results of MLA with 7 BP-type UV filters in L5178Y cells in vitro, we may provide the important clues on the genotoxic potentials of these BP-type UV filters.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.780-803
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• 2003

Exposure of skin cells, particularly keratinocytes to various nuclear factor-kappaB ($\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$) activators [e.g. tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$, interleukin-1, lipopolysaccharides, and ultraviolet light] leads to phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitory protein, $\textrm{I}_{{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$. Liberated $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ is translocated into the nucleus where it can change or alter expression of target genes, resulting in the secretion of extracellular signaling molecules including melanotrophic factors affecting melanocyte. In order to demonstrate the possible role of $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation on the synthesis of melanotrophic factors from the keratinocytes, the activities of $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ induced by melanogenic inhibitors (MIs) were determined in human HaCaT keratinocytes transfected with $\textrm{pNF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$-SEAP-NPT plasmid. Transfectant cells released the secretory alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as a transcription reporter in response to the $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activity and contain the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT) gene for the dominant selection marker for geneticin resistance. MIs such as niacinamide, kojic acid, hydroquinone, resorcinol, arbutin, and glycolic acid were preincubated with transfectant HaCaT cells for 3 h and then ultraviolet B (UVB) was irradiated. $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation was measured with the SEAP reporter gene assay using a fluorescence detection method. Of the Mis tested, kojic acid ($IC_{50}$/ = 60 $\mu$M) was found to be the most potent inhibitor of UVB-upregulating $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation in transfectant HaCaT cells, which is followed by niacinamide ($IC_{50}$/= 540 $\mu$M). Pretreatment of the transfectant HaCaT cells with the Mis, especially kojic acid and niacinamide, effectively lowered $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ binding measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, these two inhibitors remarkably reduced the secretion level of IL-6, one of melanotrophic factors, triggered by UV-radiation of the HaCaT cells. These observations suggest that Mis working at the in vivo level might act partially through the modulation of the synthesis of melanotrophic factors in keratinocyte.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.163-172
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• 1975

This work was undertaken to elucidate some aspects of mechanisms underlying the increased deoxycytidineuria following irradiation in the mice, by observing Dische-positive substances liberated from thissues, the activity of CdR-aminohydrolase of tissues and the CdR excreted in the urine at various times after single whole-body exposure to 400 and 800 R of X-rays. The activity of CdR-aminohydrolase declined markedly at 1 hour in the small intestine and liver, followed by a gradual rise reaching a maximum at 3 days after irradiation. In the case of the spleen and blood, however, only a trace of activity was observed in the control and irradiated animals. The amount of Dische-positive substance liberated from the small intestine postirradiation was elevated from 3 to 12 hours, showing a maximum during 6 to 9 hours after irradiation. On the contrary, the activity of the enzyme in the liver, spleen and kidney was less than one twentieth that of the small intestine, suggesting a prediction that these organs are not attributable to the increased deoxycytidineuria. A maximum deoxycytidineuria was exhibited at 9-12 hours period, attributed a large amount of CdR to the small intestine, which might correlate with the change in the CdR-aminohydrolase activity. Radiation-induced CdR seems to be liberated from the small intestine into the blood when the CdR-aminohydrolase activity declines abruptly. Then, the CdR is rapidly subjected to a filtration in the kidney without undergoing a further degradation pathway in the blood.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.29-30
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• 2002

The goal of this research was to develop the effectiveness of in vitro culture method for A. formosanus and study the environment in vitro conditions affecting on growth. The first series of experiments were examined to investigate the response of three different basal media, MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962), Knudson (KC; Knudson, 1946) and modified hyponex on growth and multiplication during in vitro culture. Multiple shoot proliferation was induced in shoot tip explants on Hyponex (H3) media supplemented with BA (1 mg1$\^$-1/) or TDZ (1-2 mg1$\^$-1/). Addition of activated charcoal (1%) to the TDZ containing medium promoted rapid shoot tip proliferation (11.1 shoots per explant) but the same medium had an opposite effect resulting in poor proliferation in the nodal explants. However, the regenerated shoots had slow growth rate and failed to elongate. This problem was overcome by transferring the shoot clumps to a hormone free H3 media supplemented with 2% sucrose and 0.5% activated charcoal. Using bioreactor culture for scaling up was also shown the best way for multiple shoot induction and growth of this plant. The second series of experiments was studied to investigate the effect of physical environment factors on growth of in vitro plantlets. The Anoectochilus formosanus plantlets were cultured under different air exchange rate (0.1, 0.9, 1.2h$\^$-1/), without sucrose or supplement 20g.1$\^$-1/ (photoautotrophic or photomixotrophic, respectively), and different photosynthesis photon flux (40, 80, 120 ,${\mu}$mol.m$^2$.s$\^$-1/- PPF). Under non-enrichment CO$_2$ treatment, slow growth was observed in photoautotrophical condition as compared with photomixotrophical condition on shoot height, fresh weigh and dry weight parameters; High air exchange (1.2.h-l) was found to be inadequate for plant growth in photomixotrophical condition. On the contrary, under CO$_2$, enrichment treatment, the plant growth parameters were sharply (visibly) improved on photoautotrophic treatments, especially on the treatment with air exchange rate of 0.9.h-1. The growth of plant in photoautotrophic condition was not inferior compared with photomixotrophic, and the best growth of plantlet was observed in treatment with low air exchange rate (0.9.h-1). Raising the PPF level from 80 to 120${\mu}$mol.m$\^$-2/.s$\^$-1/ decreased the plant height, particularly at 120${\mu}$mol.m$\^$-2/.s$\^$-1/ in photoautotrophic condition, fresh weight and dry weight declined noticeably. At the PPF of 120${\mu}$mol.m$\^$-2/,s$\^$-1/, chlorophyll contents lowed compared to those grown under low PPF but time courses of net photosynthesis rate was decreased noticeably. Light quality mainly affected morphological variables, changes of light quality also positively affected biomass production via changes in leaf area, stem elongation, chlorophyll content. Plant biomass was reduced when A. formosanus were grown under red LEDs in the absence of blue wavelengths compare to plants grown under supplemental blue light or under fluorescent light. Stem elongation was observed under red and blue light in the present experiment. Smaller leaf area has found under blue light than with other lighting treatments. Chlorophyll degradation was more pronounced in red and blue light compared with white light or red plus blue light which consequent affected the photosynthetic capacity of the plant. The third series of experiment were studied to investigate the effect of physical environment factors on growth of ex vitro plants including photosynthesis photon flux (PPF), light quality, growing substrates, electrical conductivity (EC) and humidity conditions. In the present experiments, response of plant on PPF and light quality was similar in vitro plants under photosynthesis photon flux 40${\mu}$mol.m,$\^$-2/.s$\^$-1/ and white light or blue plus red lights were the best growth. Substrates testing results were indicated cocopeat or peat moss were good substrates for A. formosanus growth under the greenhouse conditions. In case of A. formosanus plants, EC is generally maintained in the range 0.7 to 1.5 dS.m-1 was shown best results in growth of this plant. Keeping high humidity over 70% under low radiation enhanced growth rate and mass production.