• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2004

We have developed a rigorous heat treatment method to improve the biocompatibility of chitosan as a tissue-engineered scaffold. The chitosan scaffold was prepared by the controlled freezing and lyophilizing method using dilute acetic acid and then it was heat-treated at 110$^{\circ}C$ in vacuo for 1-3 days. To explore changes in the physicochemical properties of the heat-treated scaffold, we analyzed the degree of deacetylation by colloid titration with poly(vinyl potassium sulfate) and the structural changes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffractometry (WAXD), and lysozyme susceptibility. The degree of deacetylation of chitosan scaffolds decreased significantly from 85 to 30% as the heat treatment time increased. FT-IR spectroscopic and WAXD data indicated the formation of amide bonds between the amino groups of chitosan and acetic acids carbonyl group, and of interchain hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl groups in the C-6 residues of chitosan and the N-acetyl groups. Our rigorous heat treatment method causes the scaffold to become more susceptible to lysozyme treatment. We performed further examinations of the changes in the biocompatibility of the chitosan scaffold after rigorous heat treatment by measuring the initial cell binding capacity and cell growth rate. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) adhere and spread more effectively to the heat-treated chitosan than to the untreated sample. When the cell growth of the HDFs on the film or the scaffold was analyzed by an MTT assay, we found that rigorous heat treatment stimulated cell growth by 1.5∼1.95-fold relative to that of the untreated chitosan. We conclude that the rigorous dry heat treatment process increases the biocompatibility of the chitosan scaffold by decreasing the degree of deacetylation and by increasing cell attachment and growth.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.431-441
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• 2019

Background: The efficacy of ginseng, the representative product of Korea, and its chemical effects have been well investigated. The ginsenoside RG3 has been reported to exhibit apoptotic, anticancer, and antidepressant-like effects. Methods: In this report, the putative effect of RG3 on several cellular function including cell survival, differentiation, development and aging process were evaluated by monitoring each specific marker. Also, mitochondrial morphology and function were investigated in ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblast cells. Results: RG3 treatment increased the expression of extracellular matrix proteins, growth-associated immediate-early genes, and cell proliferation genes in UV-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblast cells. And, RG3 also resulted in enhanced expression of antioxidant proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 and heme oxygenase-1. In addition, RG3 affects the morphology of UV-induced mitochondria and plays a role in protecting mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusioin: RG3 restores mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and membrane potential via its antioxidant effects in skin cells damaged by UV irradiation, leading to an increase in proteins linked with the extracellular matrix, cell proliferation, and antioxidant activity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2016

Aging of the face is mainly related to the features that are sagging or loss of elasticity of the skin by reducing the volume around the eyes or cheek. Intrinsic aging can be seen to cause thinner dermis, reduction of extracellular matrix and subcutaneous fat. This study was carried out to investigate the skin volume augmentation and anti-wrinkle effects of Tribulus terrestris fruit extract. Skin anti-aging effect of Tribulus terrestris fruit extract was evaluated by using lipid accumulation, expressin of type I procollagen and elastin in preadipocytes and human dermal fibroblasts. Tribulus terrestris fruit extract augmented preadipocytes differentiation about 56% at 100 µg/mL. The type I procollagen and elastin were increased about 35% and 25% by treatment 20% Tribulus terrestris fruit extract, respectively. The clinical study also showed that skin sagging, skin elasticity, and dermal density improved without adverse effect following 4 week application of cream containing 2% Tribulus terrestris fruit extract. We suggest that Tribulus terrestris fruit extract can have the good possibility as skin volume augmenting, skin elasticity and wrinkle improving agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 2012

Ultraviolet (UV) A penetrates deeply into the skin and induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causing damage to fibroblasts, which leads to aging of the skin. However, the body has developed an antioxidant defence system against the harmful effects of ROS. Enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) play critical roles on the removal of excess ROS in living organisms. In this study, the antioxidant activities of anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-galactoside and cyanidin 3-lathyroside) from Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus (ADA) fruits were investigated by xylenol orange, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and antioxidant enzyme assay. As a result, generation of $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxide induced by UVA-irradiation in human dermal fibroblast (HDF-N) cells was reduced by treatment of anthocyanins. Also, augmented enzyme (SOD and CAT) activities were observed in UVA-irradiated cells when treated with anthocyanin. In conclusion, the results obtained show that anthocyanins from ADA fruits are potential candidates for the protection of fibroblast against the damaging effects of UVA irradiation. Furthermore, anthocyanin may be a good candidate for antioxidant agent development.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2011

Background: In this study, we have investigated the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extracts on the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 in human keratinocytes. Also, to examine the antioxidative effect of red ginseng extracts, free radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human dermal fibroblasts was measured. Methods: To investigate the effect of KRG in atopic dermatitis, we measured the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 secretion in LPS-stimulated human keratinocytes after the treatment of KRG extracts using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-oxidative activity was investigated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and SOD activity. Results: The stimulation of human keratinocytes with KRG extracts shifted the LPS-induced cytokine secretion toward a more immunosuppressive response. KRG dose-dependently decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 production in HaCaT cells and a significant inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ was shown when cells were treated with 500 and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of KRG extracts. Additionally, KRG extracts showed DPPH radical scavenging and SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, SOD activities of concentrations higher than $60{\mu}g/ml$ of KRG extracts were significantly different in human dermal fibroblast cells. Conclusion: Based on this study, KRG extracts may be a useful immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-40
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• 2000

Cytotoxicity assays using artificial skins have been proposed as in vitro alternatives to minimize animal ocular and dermal irritation testing. Accordingly, the responses of artificial skins to the well-characterized chemical irritants toluene, glutaraldehyde, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and the nonirritant polyethylene glycol were studied. The evaluation of the irritating and non-irritating test chemicals was also compared with the responses observed in human dermal fibroblasts and human epidermal keratinocytes grown in a monolayer culture. The responses monitored included an MTT mitochondrial functionality assay. In order to better understand the local mechanisms involved in skin damage and repair, the production of several mitogenic proinflammatory mediators, interleukin-l$\alpha$, 12-HETE, and 15-HETE, was also investigated. Dose-dependent increases in the levels of かIn and the HETEs were observed in the underlying medium of the skin systems exposed to the two skin irritants, glutaraldehyde and SLS. The results of the present study show that both human artificial skins can be used as efficient in vitro testing models for the evaluation of skin toxicity and for screening contact skin irritancy.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.277-286
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• 2022

Schizophragma hydrangeoides (S. hydrangeoides) is a vine endogenous to Jeju Island and Ulleungdo, where it grows attached to the foothills and rock surfaces. Previous research has mostly focused on the whitening effect of S. hydrangeoides leaf extract. In this study, we investigated S. hydrangeoides leaf extract further, and detected four phytochemicals in the extract: chlorogenic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucosyl-(1-2)-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-xylosyl-(1-2)-rhamnoside, and quercitrin. We pretreated human dermal fibroblast (HDFn) cells with previously established concentrations of the four compounds for 1 h before ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. Among the four compounds, quercetin-3-O-glucosyl-(1-2)-rhamnoside (Q-3-GR) best inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) levels. Thus, we investigated the protective effects of Q-3-GR on photoaging and its underlying mechanisms. Q-3-GR significantly reduced MMP-1 production and inhibited MMP-1 protein expression in UVA-irradiated HDFn cells. Furthermore, Q-3-GR increased procollagen type I production and protein expression. Q-3-GR exerted its anti-photoaging effects by downregulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ activator protein-1 signaling pathway, and upregulating the transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling pathway. Thus, S. hydrangeoides leaf-derived Q-3-GR is a potential potent cosmetic ingredient for UV-induced skin aging.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2012

In this study, the anti-oxidant and anti-elastase activities of four abalone viscera extracts were investigated to screen the most promising extract. This extract was further studied in terms of its anti-skin-aging properties. In the DPPH-scavenging assay, the Tris-HCl extract showed a $58.60{\pm}0.88%$ radical-scavenging activity, which was followed closely by the ethanol extract that had a $55.40{\pm}0.62%$ scavenging activity. In the anti-elastase assay, however, the ethanol extract showed the significantly highest elastase inhibition activity. Furthermore, none of the extracts had a harmful effect on the human dermal fibroblast, as revealed in the MTT assay. In the cell study, the effect of the ethanol extract at various concentrations on the human dermal fibroblast was investigated. At the 10 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration, the ethanol extract boosted the pro-collagen type I synthesis to $705.30{\pm}3.06$ ng/mL and reduced the MMP-1 to $54.30{\pm}0.80$ ng/mL, which was considered the optimum concentration. This is the first study that focused on the anti-oxidant and anti-skin-aging effects of abalone viscera extract. Its results may provide fundamental data for further study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.693-699
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• 2011

Spermidine is a ubiquitous polycation that is synthesized from putrescine, which serves as a precursor of spermine. In recent years, spermidine was found to be a polyamine that plays an important role in longevity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide have been shown to be involved in various pathogenic processes as well as aging. The direct scavenging effect of spermidine on DPPH radical, $H_2O_2$ and hydroxyl radical, and its protective effect against DNA oxidation related to oxidative stress were evaluated in vitro. It was observed that spermidine exhibits scavenging activities on DPPH radical and H2O2 above 500 ${\mu}M$. Spermidine was especially effective in exerting a scavenging activity on hydroxyl radical. In addition, spermidine at 1000 ${\mu}M$ showed a clear protective effect against DNA oxidation. Furthermore, the expression level of anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase in humam dermal fibroblasts increased in the presence of spermidine compared with blank group. These results suggest that spermidine can be used as an antioxidant to prevent ROS-related diseases including inflammation, cancer and aging.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.221-225
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• 2004

The root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has been used as a traditional anti-aging and anti-wrinkle agent in the Orient. However, it is still unknown which component of ginseng is effective at suppressing wrinkle formation. Recently at least twenty ginsenosides regarded as the main active ingredients of ginseng have been isolated. Among them, we examined the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on dermal ECM metabolism to elucidate the mechanism of anti-wrinkle by ginseng. In our study, to investigate the anti-wrinkle effect of the ginsenoside Rg3, ECM component and growth factor in dennis were evaluated by ELISA assay. Ginsenoside Rg3 was found to stimulate type I procollagen and fibronectin (FN) biosynthesis in a dose-dependent manner in normal human fibroblast culture (p < 0.05, n =3), and dose-dependently enhance TGF- ${\beta}$1 level (p < 0.05, n =3). In RT-PCR analysis mRNA level of c-Jun, a member of AP-1 transcription factor, was reduced by ginsenoside Rg3 in normal human fibroblast culture. These results indicate that ginsenoside Rg3 stimulates type I collagen and FN synthesis through the changes of TGF - ${\beta}$1 and AP-1 expression in fibroblasts.