• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.149-162
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• 2000

Coenzyme Q10 is found in all tissues including skin and it is the well-known coenzyme for mitochondrial enzymes. The electron and proton transfer functions of the quinone ring are of fundamental importance for the oxidative phosphorylation pathway to generate energy in the cells. Coenzyme Q10 has been studied as a potent antioxidant molecule in the skin. It is involved in the skin's response to UVR irradiation. The concentration of this antioxidant in UVR exposed skin is higher than in non-exposed skin. However, recent studies have also shown that coenzyme Q10 is one of the first antioxidants to be depleted when skin is UVR-irradiated. This indicates that coenzyme Q10 is primarily involved in defense mechanisms of the skin. Therefore, we questioned whether coenzyme Q10 shows reulatory effect of melanogenesis. Here we report that coenzyme Q10 inhibits melanin neosynthesis of normal human melanocytes grown in culture, and lightens UVB-induced hyperpigmentation of the guinea pig skin in vivo. We treated human melanocytes with 0.05mM to 0.5mM of coenzyme Q10 for a total of two days. This inhibited melanin neosynthesis of cultured human melanocytes dose-dependently. The inhibitory effect of coenzyme Q10 was as effective as kojic acid or vitamin C on cultured human melanocytes. CoQ10 didn't have direct inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in in vitro tyrosine hydroxylase activity To further clarify the effect of coenzyme Q10 on the melanogenesis, we established UVB-induced hyperpigmentation on the shaved backs of brownish guinea pigs. The UVB intensity was 500mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and the total energy dose was 1,500 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$. The animals were exposed to UVB radiation one times a week for three consecutive weeks. Coenzyme Q10, kojic acid, Arbutin, vitamin C(1% in vehicle) or vehicle alone as a control were then topically applied daily to the hyperpigmented areas twelve times per week far four successive weeks. The lightening effect was evaluated by visual scoring, chromameter and immunohistochemistry. Coenzyme Q10 had lightening effect on the UVB-induced hyperpigmentation without any other side effects, whereas another compounds showed weak lightening efficacies. Therefore, these results suggest that coenzyme Q10 may be useful for solving physiological hyperpigmenting problems for cosmetic purposes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.479-487
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze photochemical activity of nursery seedlings under drought stress, using chlorophyll fluorescence reaction analysis. Young nursery seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.), were grown under drought stress for 8 days. Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence reaction (OJIP) and parameters, were performed to evaluate photochemical fluctuation in nursery seedlings under drought stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence reaction analysis showed maximal recorded fluorescence (P) decreased from the 5 day after treatment in tomato seedlings, while an amount of chlorophyll fluorescence increased at the J-I step. Thus, physiological activity was reduced. In cucumber seedlings, maximal recorded fluorescence (P) and maximal variable fluorescence ($F_V$) lowered from the 4 day after treatment, and chlorophyll fluorescence intensity of J-I step increased. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameter analysis showed electron transfer efficiency of PSII and PSI were significantly inhibited with decreasing $ET2_O/RC$ and $RE1_O/RC$ from the 5 day after treatment, in tomato seedlings and from the 4 day after treatment, in cucumber seedlings. $ET2_O/RC$ and $PI_{ABS}$ significantly changed. In conclusion, 6 indices such as $F_V/F_M$, $DI_O/RC$, $ET2_O/RC$, $RE1_O/RC$, $PI_{ABS}$ and $PI_{TOTAL}ABS$ were selected for determining drought stress in nursery seedlings. Drought stress factor index (DFI) was used to evaluate whether the crop was healthy or not, under drought stress. Cucumber seedlings were less resistant to drought stress than tomato seedlings, in the process of drought stress.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

Mn-M/Al₂O₃ (M = Cu, Fe, Co, and Ce) catalysts were prepared for simultaneous oxidation of NO, CO, and CH₄, and their oxidation activities were compared. The Mn-Cu/ Al₂O₃ catalyst with the best simultaneous oxidation activity was characterized by XRD, Raman, XPS, and O₂-TPD analysis. The result of XRD indicated that Mn and Cu existed as complex oxides in the Mn-Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Raman and XPS results showed that electron transfer between Mn ions and Cu ions occurred during the formation of the Mn-O-Cu bond in the Mn-Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The XPS O 1s and O₂-TPD analyses showed that the Mn-Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst has more adsorbed oxygen species with high mobility than the Mn/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The high simultaneous oxidation activity of the Mn-Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst is attributed to these results. Gas-phase NO promotes the oxidation reactions of CO and CH₄ in the Mn-Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst while suppressing the NO oxidation reaction. These results were presumed to be because the oxidized NO was used as an oxidizing agent for CO and CH₄. On the other hand, the oxidation reactions of CO and CH₄ competed on the Mn-Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst, but the effect was not noticeable because the catalyst activation temperature was different.