• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.642-652
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• 2018

Rhus verniciflua (RV) Stokes is a herbal medicine that helps improve blood circulation by stimulating digestion, removing extravasated blood, and raising body temperature. The purpose of this research was to study the anti-inflammatory effect of fermented soy products (FSP) containing a fermented RV (FRV) extract on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-treatedd RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment with FRV extracts (1, 10, $100{\mu}g/mL$) downregulated nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines as compared to the LPS-treated group. Besides, the RV extract treatment suppressed the expression of genes related to pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrixins, inflammation, and apoptosis, while increasing the expression of genes involved in the antioxidant system. Furthermore, RVS extract upregulated antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione, Cu,Zn-SOD, and catalase without changes in the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway. FSP (doenjang, ganjang) containing FRV extracts (0.1, 1, or $10{\mu}g/mL$) significantly decreased the NO and IL-6 levels in an FSP after 8 weeks of fermentation, but not the expression of genes involved in the inflammation and antioxidant system. These result indicate that an FRV extract and FSPs have a potential application in inflammatory conditions.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.295-306
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• 2018

Schisandra chinensis (SC) and Lycium chinense (LC) were widely distributed in Asia and the fruit has been used traditionally for medicinal herbs. The processing method was solid-state fermentation using Aspergillus oryzae for 48 h after stir-frying treatment at $220^{\circ}C$ for 12 min. In this study, in vitro the anti-inflammatory effect and in vivo hangover reduction were compared to unprocessed SC and LC water extract. Anti-inflammatory effects have been evaluated in pro-inflammatory mediators which were secreted by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Nitric oxide (NO) was determined using Griess reaction. Proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities were compared to processed SC or LC and mixtures thereof (1:1). In vivo study was compared to hangover relief in alcohol-fed mice. After administering a mixture of SC and LC (300 mg/kg) water extract (1:1), mice were fed 3 g/kg of ethanol. Serum was collected at 1, 3, and 5 h intervals to analyze ethanol and acetaldehyde levels using a colorimetric assay kit. The processed SC and LC water extracts compared to raw materials significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO and inflammatory cytokine production in RAW 264.7 cells. The results of the hangover mouse model are also consistent with anti-inflammatory effects. These results suggest that processed SC and LC extracts may be functional materials for the treatment of inflammation and hangover.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2019

Ion-exchange chromatography and ultrafiltration were used to extract anserine from salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). The salmon anserine showed DPPH radical scavenging activity in the range of 7.30% to 31.05% in a dose-dependent manner. This reducing power of salmon anserine also increased as the concentration increased. Metal chelate activity, superoxide dismutase - like activity, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay showed similar results. The anserine also suppressed the increment of the peroxide value and linoleic acid during storage periods. These results suggest that salmon anserine might be useful as a natural antioxidant in various foodstuffs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.127-132
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• 2019

This study examined the change in the attention of University students after being given Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The participants were divided randomly into two group (tDCS vs. Control). tDCS was applied to 37 university students ($23.08{\pm}3.33years$). The tDCS group was applied 2 mA, for 13 minutes twice over a 26 minute period ($n_1=19$). The control ($n_2=18$) was not applied after padding and was applied twice for 13 minutes over a 26 minute period. This study was conducted from September 3 to 28, 2018 and three times a week for a total of four weeks. The electroencephalogram was confirmed to affect attention. tDCS showed significant improvement in the results in the sensory motor rhythm wave (p<0.01, 95% CI: -1.955, -0.459), middle beta wave (p<0.05; 95% CI: 0.027, 0.943), and power ratio (p<0.01, 95% CI: -1.764, -0.315). The results showed that tDCS application increased the attention ability significantly. These results can be applied to attention deficit disorder (ADHD) patients and college students.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.607-613
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of either chrysin or exercise on the inflammasome and thermogenic markers in the livers of high-fat fed mice. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups: normal diet control (NC; n=5), high-fat diet control (HC; n=5), high-fat diet with chrysin (Hch; n=5), and high-fat diet with moderate exercise (HME; n=5). The mice were fed a high-fat diet (60% of calories from fat) or normal diet (18% of calories from fat). Chrysin was supplemented orally as 50mg/kg/day dissolved in a 0.1ml solution of dimethyl sulfoxide. The exercised mice ran on a treadmill at 12-20 m/min for 30-60 min/day, 5 times/week, for 16 weeks. After the intervention, the epididymal fat and liver weights were significantly decreased in the HME group compared with HC and Hch groups. The adipocyte size was effectively decreased in the Hch and HME groups compared with the HC group. The inflammasome markers NLRP3, $IL-1{\beta}$, and caspase1 were significantly decreased in the Hch and HME groups compared with the HC group. The thermogenic markers $PGC-1{\alpha}$ and BMP7 were significantly lower in the HC than in the NC group. However, the HME group showed an increase in the thermogenic markers. In conclusion, chrysin and moderate exercise have positive effects on obese metabolic complications induced by high-fat diets by reducing inflammasome genes. However, chrysin supplementation had no effect on thermogenic gene expression. Moderate exercise would therefore seem to be more effective in controlling obesity-induced metabolic deregulation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.933-941
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• 2021

Ginsenoside Rg4 is a rare ginsenoside that is naturally found in ginseng, and exhibits a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in several cell types. The purpose of this study was to use an in vivo model of hair follicle (HF)-mimic based on a human dermal papilla (DP) spheroid system prepared by three-dimensional (3D) culture and to investigate the effect of Rg4 on the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Treatment of the DP spheroids with Rg4 (20 to 50 ㎍/ml) significantly increased the viability and size of the DP spheres in a dose-dependent manner. Rg4 also increased the mRNA and protein expression of DP signature genes that are related to hair growth including ALP, BMP2, and VCAN in the DP spheres. Analysis of the signaling molecules and luciferase reporter assays further revealed that Rg4 induces the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, which activates the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. These results correlated with not only the increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin following the treatment of the DP spheres with Rg4 but also the significant elevation of mRNA expression of the downstream target genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway including WNT5A, β-catenin, and LEF1. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg4 promotes the hair-inductive properties of DP cells by activating the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in DP spheres, suggesting that Rg4 could be a potential natural therapy for hair growth.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.408-419
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• 2021

Background: The decreased renal function is known to be associated with biological aging, of which the main pathological features are chronic inflammation and renal interstitial fibrosis. In previous studies, we reported that total saponins from Panax japonicus (SPJs) can availably protect acute myocardial ischemia. We proposed that SPJs might have similar protective effects for aging-associated renal interstitial fibrosis. Thus, in the present study, we evaluated the overall effect of SPJs on renal fibrosis. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) aging rats were given SPJs by gavage beginning from 18 months old, at 10 mg/kg/d and 60 mg/kg/d, up to 24 months old. After the experiment, changes in morphology, function and fibrosis of their kidneys were detected. The levels of serum uric acid (UA), β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and cystatin C (Cys C) were assayed with ELISA kits. The levels of extracellular matrix (ECM), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), inflammatory factors and changes of oxidative stress parameters were examined. Results: After SPJs treatment, SD rats showed significantly histopathological changes in kidneys accompanied by decreased renal fibrosis and increased renal function; As compared with those in 3-month group, the levels of serum UA, Cys C and β2-MG in 24-month group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with those in the 24-month group, the levels of serum UA, Cys C and β2-MG in the SPJ-H group were significantly decreased. While ECM was reduced and the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were increased, the levels of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling were decreased; the expression level of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) was down-regulated with reduced inflammatory factors; meanwhile, the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element (Nrf2-ARE) signaling was aggrandized. Conclusion: These results suggest that SPJs treatment can improve age-associated renal fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad, NFκB signaling pathways and activating Nrf2-ARE signaling pathways and that SPJs can be a potentially valuable anti-renal fibrosis drug.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2021

Proliferation and maintain of dermal papilla during progression of hair-cycle are crucial to the duration of anagen and regulated by diverse signaling pathway such as PI3K/Akt/Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of Viola verecunda on dermal papilla cells. Treatment of dermal papilla cells with whole plant extract of V. verecunda resulted in cell proliferation, which was accompanied by up-regulation of cyclin D1, phospho (ser780)-pRB and cdc2 p34, and down-regulation of p27kip1. V. verecunda extract also promoted the levels of phospho (ser473)-Akt and phospho (ser780)-pRB in a time-dependent manner. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt by Wortmannin suppressed progression of cell-cycle, thereby attenuated the increases in proliferation of dermal papilla cells by V. verecunda extract. We further investigated Wnt/β-catenin pathway with respect to the effects of V. verecunda extract on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. Treatment with V. verecunda extract results in up-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin proteins such as phospho (ser9)-GSKβ, phospho (ser552)-β-catenin and phospho (ser675)-β-catenin. In addition, Wortmannin abrogated V. verecunda extract mediated up-regulation of cdc2 p34 and down-regulation of p27kip1. These finding reveal that the proliferative effect of V. verecunda mediated by alteration of cell-cycle via activating PI3K/Akt/Wnt pathway in dermal papilla cells.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.609-615
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• 2021

The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanical properties of melt-injected poly lactic acid (PLA) composites with β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). The PLA mixed with calcined PLA/β-TCP powder to be contents of 0, 10, 30, 50 wt%, respectively, was dissolved in chloroform solvent under stirring for 24 h. Then the liquid mixtures were dropped into ethanol to extract solvent. After drying, the well-dispersed PLA/β-TCP composites were granulated and melt-injected to prepare specimens for various mechanical testing. PLA/β-TCP induced the precipitation of an apatite bone-mineral phase on the surface after immersion in a human simulated body fluid (SBF) for 90 days, showing in bioactivity. Mean various mechanical properties PLA/β-TCP composite were increased up to 10-30 wt% with significantly in part and composite were decreased 50 wt% of showing in mechanical properties. In conclusion, Over 30 wt% addition of β-TCP to PLA may be not advisable to improve the mechanical properties of melt-injected polymeric composites. Results indicated that β-TCP can be used considered as potential reinforcing agent for increasing mechanical properties for PLA. Therefore, it was suggest that the additional effects of β-TCP and research on a wide range of substances.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 2021

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs. However, the action mechanisms of MA on the stimulation of anagen signaling in DPCs is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MA on anagen-activating signaling pathways in DPCs. MA significantly increased DPC proliferation and stimulated the G2/M phase, accompanied by increasing cyclin A, Cdc2, and cyclin B1. To elucidate the mechanism by which MA promotes DPC proliferation, we evaluated the effect of MA on autophagy and intracellular pathways. MA induced autophagosome formation by decreasing the levels of the phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR) and increasing autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3II (LC3II). MA also increased the phosphorylation levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as GSK3β (Ser9) and β-catenin (Ser552 and Ser675). Treatment with XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, attenuated the MA-induced increase in β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, XAV939 reduced MA-induced effects on cell cycle progression, autophagy, and DPC proliferation. On the other hand, MA increased the levels of phospho (Thr202/Tyr204)-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK). MA-induced ERK phosphorylation led to changes in the expression levels of Cdc2, Atg7 and LC3II, as well as DPC proliferation. Our results suggest that MA promotes anagen signaling via autophagy and cell cycle progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and ERK pathways in DPCs.