• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.389-400
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been reported to exert anticancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there has been no report on the effect of KRG on skin pigmentation. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of KRG on melanocyte proliferation. KRG extract (KRGE) at different concentrations had no effect on melanin synthesis in melan-A melanocytes. Saponin of KRG (SKRG) inhibited melanin content to 80% of the control at 100 ppm. Keratinocyte-derived factors induced by UV-irradiation were reported to stimulate melanogenesis, differentiation, proliferation, and dendrite formation. In this study, treatment of melan-A melanocytes with conditioned media from UV-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes increased melanocyte proliferation. When UV-irradiated SP-1 keratinocytes were treated with KRGE or SKRG, the increase of melanocyte proliferation by the conditioned media was blocked. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was produced and released from UV-irradiated keratinocytes. This factor has been reported to be involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal melanocytes. In this study, GM-CSF was significantly increased in SP-1 keratinocytes by UVB irradiation ($30mJ/cm^2$), and the proliferation of melan-A melanocytes increased significantly by GM-CSF treatment. In addition, the proliferative effect of keratinocyte-conditioned media on melan-A melanocytes was blocked by anti-GM-CSF treatment. KRGE or SKRG treatment decreased the expression of GM-CSF in SP-1 keratinocytes induced by UVB irradiation. These results demonstrate that UV irradiation induced GM-CSF expression in keratinocytes and KRGE or SKRG inhibited its expression. Therefore, KRG could be a good candidate for regulating UV-induced melanocyte proliferation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2005

Photo-mutagenic compounds have been known to alter skin cancer rates by acting as initiators or by affecting subsequent steps in carcinogenesis. The objectives of this study are to investigate the utility of photo-chromosomal aberration (photo-CA) assay for detecting photo-clastogens, and to evaluate its ability to predict rodent photocarcinogenicity. Photo-CA assay was performed with five test substances that demonstrated positive results in photo-carcinogenicity tests: 8-Methoxypsoralen (photoactive substance that forms DNA adducts in the presence of ultraviolet A irradiation), chlorpromazine (an aliphatic phenothiazine an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent), lomefloxacin (an antibiotic in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones), anthracene (a tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon a basic substance for production of anthraquinone, dyes, pigments, insecticides, wood preservatives and coating materials) and Retinoic acid (a retinoid compound closely related to vitamin A). For the best discrimination between the test substance-mediated genotoxicity and the undesirable genotoxicity caused by direct DNA absorption, a UV dose-response of the cells in the absence of the test substances was firstly analyzed. All 5 test substances showed a positive outcome in photo-CA assay, indicating that the photo-CA test is very sensitive to the photo-genotoxic effect of UV irradiation. With this limited data-set, an investigation into the predictive value of this photo-CA test for determining the photo-carcinogenicity showed that photo-CA assay has the high ability of a test to predict carcinogenicity. Therefore, the photo-CA test using mammalian cells seems to be a sensitive method to evaluate the photo-carcinogenic potential of new compounds.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2013

Phosphorescent materials coated with titanium dioxide were fabricated and photocatalytic reactions between these materials and VOCs gases were examined. A thin film (approx. 100 nm) of nanosized $TiO_2$ was deposited on the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}$ : $Eu^{2+}$, $Dy^{3+}$, $Ag^+$ phosphor using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). The characteristics of the photocatalytic reaction were examined in terms of the decomposition of benzene gas using a gas chromatography (GC) system under ultraviolet (${\lambda}$ = 365 nm) and visible light (${\lambda}$ > 420 nm) irradiation. $TiO_2$-coated $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}$ : $Eu^{2+}$, $Dy^{3+}$, $Ag^+$ phosphor showed different photocatalytic behavior compared with pure $TiO_2$. $TiO_2$-coated phosphorescent materials showed a much faster photocatalytic decomposition of benzene gas under visible irradiation compared to the pure $TiO_2$ for which the result was practically negligible. This suggests that the extension of the absorption wavelength to visible light occurred through energy band bending by a heterojunction at the interface of the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}-TiO_2$ composite. Also, the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}-TiO_2$ composite showed the photocatalytic decomposition of benzene in darkness due to the photon light emitted from the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}$ phosphors.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2013

Ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation induces the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are responsible for the degradation or synthesis inhibition of collagenous extracellular matrix in connective tissues, causing skin photoaging. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effect of MMP-1 expression of yam extract in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated human dermal fibroblast neonatal (HDFn) cell and preventive effect of UVB-induced damage in hairless mice skin. The synthesis of procollagen and the release of MMP-1 in HDFn cells were measured by EIA kit and MMP-1 assay kit, respectively. UVB radiation was applied to the backs of the mice three times a week for 8 weeks. Mice were randomly divided into three groups, and were topical application with the Dioscorea batatas (DB, 6%) or vehicle. Reduction of TNF-${\alpha}$-induced procollagen synthesis was increased by DB (50 ug/ml), which was higher than positive control group (TGF-${\beta}$). Also, pre-treatment of HDFn cells with DB inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$-induced release of MMP-1. In vivo study, we found that preventive effect of DB against UV-induced epidermal thickness. DB suppressed the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-13 induced by UVB irradiation. Our results show that DB have preventive effect of UV-induced skin damage in hairless mice.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.345-350
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• 2010

For the present paper, we prepared MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst by using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) pre-oxidized by m-chlorperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) with magnesium acetate tetrahydrate $(Mg(CH_2COO)_2\cdot4H_2O)$ and titanium n-butoxide $(Ti\{OC(CH_3)_3\}_4)$ as magnesium and titanium precursors. The prepared photocatalyst was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The decomposition of methylene blue (MB) solution was determined under irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) light. The XRD results show that the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst have cubic MgO structure and anatase $TiO_2$ structure. The porous structure and the $TiO_2$ agglomerate coated on the MgO/MWCNT composite can be observed in SEM images. The Mg, O, Ti and C elements can be also observed in MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst from EDX results. The results of photodegradation of MB solution under UV light show that the concentration of MB solution decreased with an increase of UV irradiation time for all of the samples. Also, the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst has the best photocatalytic activity among these samples. It can be considered that the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst had a combined effect, the effect of MWCNT, which could absorb UV light to create photoinduced electrons $(e^-)$, and the electron trapping effect of MgO, which resulted in an increase of the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2009

Chronic exposure of solar ultraviolet (UV) light to human skin results in photoaging with wrinkle formation. This study was performed to investigate anti-wrinkle effects of Lindera obtusiloba extract (LO) on UVB-induced wrinkle formation. We first measured cell proliferation and type I pN collagen synthesis activities in normal human dermal fibroblasts. Cell proliferation and type I pN collagen synthesis were increased by 33.8 % and 91.8 %, respectively, compared with no treatment control. SKH-1 hairless mice were topically applied 5 % LO solution for 10 weeks with UVB irradiation three times a week. After 10 weeks, a visual assessment and replica assay were performed on each mouse. According to visual assessment of close-up photos and skin replica, application of 5 % LO solution inhibited UV-induced wrinkle formation in mouse skin as compared to the vehicle-applied control mice. These results indicated that LO could protect skin wrinkle formation caused by chronic photo-irradiation in hairless mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a major cause of skin photoaging. Previous studies reported that ethanol extract (PET) of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch flowers (PPF, peach flowers) and its subfractions, particularly the ethylacetate (PEA) and n-butanol extracts (PBT), have potent antioxidant activity and attenuate the UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in human skin cells. In this study, we investigated the protective activity of PPF extract against UV-induced photoaging in a mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Hairless mice were treated with PET or a mixture of PEA and PBT either topically or orally along with UV irradiation. Histological changes and biochemical alterations of mouse skin were examined. Major phenolic compounds in PPF extract were analyzed using an ACQUITY UPLC system. RESULTS: The overall effects of topical and oral treatments with PPF extract on the UV-induced skin responses exhibited similar patterns. In both experiments, the mixture of PEA and PBT significantly inhibited the UV-induced skin and epidermal thickening, while PET inhibited only the UV-induced epidermal thickening. Treatment of PET or the mixture of PEA and PBT significantly inhibited the UV-induced MMP-13 expression, but not type I collagen expression. Topical treatment of the mixture of PEA and PBT with UV irradiation significantly elevated catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) activities in the skin compared to those in the UV irradiated control group, while oral treatment of the mixture of PEA and PBT or PET elevated only catalase and SOD activities, but not GPx. Thirteen phytochemical compounds including 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, cimicifugic acid E and B, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and kaempferol glycoside derivatives were identified in the PPF extract. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that treatment with PET or the mixture of PEA and PBT, both topically or orally, attenuates UV-induced photoaging via the cooperative interactions of phenolic components having anti-oxidative and collagen-protective activities.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2002

We studied the mechanism of orientation of polyimide molecules which were irradiated by polarized UU (PUV) using polarized Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, According to the measured UV spectra, we found PI films mainly absorb UV light less than 350 nm wavelength, therefore, UV light less than 360 nm induces photochemical reaction of PI. PUV irradiation of PI films caused decrease of all peak intensities in the FT-IR spectra. except the newly formed broad peak at $3244 cm^{-1}$, due to degradation of the PI molecules. The remaining PI molecules after photo-degradation showed predominantly perpendicular molecular orientation to the irradiated PUV polarization direction, due to the preferential degradation of PI molecules parallel to irradiated PUV polarization direction. However the rubbing of PI films induced reorientation of the PI molecules parallel to the rubbing direction. We also investigated the alignment of the liquid crystal by rubbing or PUV irradiation. Liquid crystals align perpendicular to the PUV polarization direction and parallel to the rubbing direction.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2018

In this study, quantum dots composed of $Mn^{2+}$ doped ZnS core and ZnS shell were synthesized using MPA precursor at room temperature. The ZnS: Mn/ZnS quantum dots were prepared by varying the content of MPA in the synthesis of ZnS shells. XRD, Photo-Luminescence (PL), XPS and TEM were used to characterize the properties of the ZnS: Mn/ZnS quantum dots. As a result of PL measurement using UV excitation light at 365 nm, the PL intensity was found to greatly increase when MPA was added at 15 ml, compared to the case with no MPA; the PL peaks shifted from 603 nm to 598 nm. A UV sensor was fabricated by using a sputtering process to form a Pt pattern and placing a QD on the Pt pattern. To verify the characteristics of the sensor, we measured the electrical properties via irradiation with UV, Red, Green, and Blue light. As a result, there were no reactions for the R, G, and B light, but an energy of 3.39 eV was produced with UV light irradiation. For the sensor using ZnS: Mn/ZnS quantum dots, the maximum current (A) value decreased from $4.00{\times}10^{-11}$ A to $2.62{\times}10^{-12}$ A with increasing of the MPA content. As the MPA content increases, the PL intensity improves but the electrical current value dropped because of the electron confinement effect of the core-shell.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of processed Panax ginseng, sun ginseng (SG) against the UVB-irradiation on epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Pretreatment of SG in HaCaT keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts reduced UVB-induced cell damage as seen by reduced lactate dehydrogenase release. We also found that SG restored the UVB-induced decrease in anti-apoptotic gene expression (bcl-2 and bcl-xL) in these cells, indicating that SG has an anti-apoptotic effect and thus can protect cells from cell death caused by strong UVB radiation. In addition, SG inhibited the excessive expression of c-jun and c-fos gene by the UVB in HeCaT cells and human dermal fibroblasts. We also demonstrated that SG may exert an anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA synthesis in HaCaT keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts. This was further supported by its inhibitory effects on the elevated cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ transcription which was induced by UVB-irradiation in HaCaT cells. In addition, SG may have anti-aging property in terms of induction of procollagen gene expression and inhibition of the matrix metalloprotease-1 gene expression caused by UVB-exposure. These findings suggest that SG can be a potential agent that may protect against the dermal cell damage caused by UVB.