• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.3 s.130
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• pp.245-251
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• 2002

Flavonoid seems to have various biological effects. Quercetin is a kind of natural plant flavonoids and has multiple biological effects such as antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenec agent. Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. This present study was designed to investigate effect of quercetin on proliferation and melanogenesis in Melan-a melanocyte cells. After 48h treatment of cells with quercetin, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptosis. Therefore, thε growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest or cell differentiation. We also investigated the effect of quercetin on melanogenesis of this cells. Melan-a melanocyte cells were grown for 48h in the presence of $0.01-60\;{\mu}g/ml$ quercetin and the total melanin content and activity of tyrosinase were measured. Quercetin stimulated melanization of the cells in low concentrations $(0.01-1.0\;{\mu}g/ml)$, whereas it inhibited melanization in high concentrations $(5.0-30\;{\mu}g/ml)$. It was observed that quercetin differently regulates melanogenesis of Melan-a melanocyte cells dependent on Its concentrations.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2005

Drosophila protects itself from infection by microbial organisms by means of its pivotal defense, the so-called innate immunity system. This is its sole defense as it lacks an adaptive immunity system such as is found in mammals. The strong conservation of innate immunity systems in organisms from Drosophila to mammals, and the ease with which Drosophila can be manipulated genetically, makes this fly a good model system for investigating the mechanisms of virulence of a number of medically important pathogens. Potentially damaging endogenous and/or exogenous challenges sensed by specific receptors initiate signals via the Toll and/or Imd signaling pathways. These in turn activate the transcription factors Dorsal, Dorsal-related immune factor (Dif) and Relish, culminating in transcription of genes involved in the production of antimicrobial peptides, melanization, phagocytosis, and the cytoskeletal rearrangement required for appropriate responses. Clarifying the regulatory interactions between the various pathways involved is very important for understanding the specificity and termination mechanism of the immune response.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2003

DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), which converts DOPA to dopamine, is important for many biological event such as cuticular melanization, sclerotization and neurotransmission in insects. Recently, it has been also shown that DDC activity is correlated with pupal diapause in M. brassicae. The silkworm, Bombyx mori is a typical insect diapausing at early embryonic stage. (omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2020

Drosophila hematopoiesis is comparable to mammalian differentiation of myeloid lineages, and therefore, has been a useful model organism in illustrating the molecular and genetic basis for hematopoiesis. Multiple novel regulators and signals have been uncovered using the tools of Drosophila genetics. A Runt domain protein, lozenge, is one of the first players recognized and closely studied in the hematopoietic lineage specification. Here, we explore the role of lozenge in determination of prohemocytes into a special class of hemocyte, namely the crystal cell, and discuss molecules and signals controlling the lozenge function and its implication in immunity and stress response. Given the highly conserved nature of Runt domain in both invertebrates and vertebrates, studies in Drosophila will enlighten our perspectives on Runx-mediated development and pathologies.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.4 s.48
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• pp.485-489
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• 2004

Melanin pigmentation in human skin is a major defensive mechanism against ultraviolet light of the sun. Tyrosinase plays a key role in the biosynthesis of melanin. This is why many researches have been focused on regulations in controlling the epidermal melanization. We found that extract of Canavalia lineata inhibits mushroom tyrosinase activity, dopa oxidase activity, and melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. To elucidate mRNA level reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used. It was revealed that A subfraction of $CHCI_3$ extract of Canavalia lineara reduced the tyrosinase mRNA expression of B16F10 melanoma cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2002

Caesalpinia sappan L. has long been commonly used as emmenagogue, analgesic, and a cure for contusion and sprain as well as a remedy for thrombosis in the Oriental medicine. The main constituent of C. sappan is brazilein, which is an antioxidative substance that has a flavonoid structure. In this study, we examined the effect of butanol extract of C. sappan on proliferation and melanogenesis in B16/F10 melanoma cells. After 48h treatment of cells with various concentrations of butanol extract, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apotosis. Therefore, the growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest, not due to the cell death induced by cytotoxicity. We also estimated total melanin contents as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis of B16/F10 melanoma cells. Our result showed that the melanin contents and tyrosinase activity were decreased in butanol extract-treated cells in a dose dependent manner compared to control group. In conclusion, it was observed that butanol extract of C. sappan inhibited melanization of these cells and therefore butanol extract could be developed as skin whitening components of cosmetics.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1987.07a
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• pp.157-167
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• 1987

The have been many reports that phenoloxidase are correlated with development in many fungi. C. congregatus, one of nushroom-forming basidiomycetes, which requires light for its development also has phenoloxidases. In C. congragatus, there are two sets of membrane-associated phenoloxidase (PHO I and PHO II) which are differentiated by their isozyme patterns, and each enzyme set consists of two different subtrate specific enzyme protein; o-tolidine reacting enzyme, and DOPA reacting enzyme. PHO I which is localized by a protoplast-concanavalin A technique by using a new solidifying agent, Pluronic Polyol F 127, instead of agar appears in the vegetative hyphae, and PHO II appears at the early primordial stage on agar and at the sclerotial stage of liquid shake cultures. Inhibition of PHO I with the enzyme inhibitors inhibits mushroom formation as well as melanization of the vegetative hyphae at concentrations which do not inhibit the vegetative growth. PHO I deficient mutants do not form mushrooms or melanins, and the mutants show abnormal nuclear migration patterns. PHO II has roles; possibly cementing the adjacent hyphae during the actual three dimensonal structure formation, and melanizing mushrooms and sclerotia. The possible roles of PHO I in the light reception complex and in melanin formation, the function of malanin, and possible roles of postulated post translational modifying enzymes which regulate the phenoloxidases, nuclear migration pattern, and self-nonself recognition mechanism are discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 1994

When Coprinus congregatus was cultivated in low pH YpSs medium(pH 4.2), the culture supernatant turned brown earlier than that of normal(pH 7.1) medium resulted from the melanization synthesized by the secreted laccase reaction. The pH of medium became 5.2 after 24 h incubation. Laccase which was deeply related to the fungal development might also be implicated in the neutralization of excess hydrogen ions to protect from acidification of cytoplasm.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.540-551
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• 2020

Sporotrichosis is a chronic and subacute mycosis causing epidemiological outbreaks involving sick cats and humans in southeastern Brazil. The systemic disease prevails in cats and in humans, with the symptoms restricted to the skin of immunocompetent individuals. Under these conditions, the prolonged treatment of animals and cases of recurrence justify the discovery of new treatments for sporotrichosis. This work addresses the antifungal activity of silver salts of Keggin-type heteropolyacid salts (Ag-HPA salts) such as Ag₃[PW₁₂O₄₀], Ag₆[SiW₁₀V₂O₄₀], Ag₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀] and Ag₃[PMo₁₂O₄₀] and interactions with the antifungal drugs itraconazole (ITC), terbinafine (TBF) and amphotericin B (AMB) on the yeast and mycelia forms of Sporothrix spp. Sporothrix spp. yeast cells were susceptible to Ag-HPA salts at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 8 to 128 ㎍/ml. Interactions between Ag₃[PW₁₂O₄₀] and Ag₃[PMo₁₂O₄₀] with itraconazole and amphotericin B resulted in higher antifungal activity with a reduction in growth and melanization. Treated cells showed changes in cell membrane integrity, vacuolization, cytoplasm disorder, and membrane detachment. Promising antifungal activity for treating sporotrichosis was observed for the Ag-HPA salts Ag₃[PMo₁₂O₄₀] and Ag₃[PW₁₂O₄₀], which have a low cost, high yield and activity at low concentrations. However, further evaluation of in vivo tests is still required.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.23-32
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• 1997

Melanin pigmentation in human skin is a major defense mechanism against ultraviolet light of the sun. Tyrosinase(EC 1.14.18.1) plays a key role in the biosynthesis of ultraviolet of melanin. This is why much researches have been focused on its regulation in controlling the epidermal melanization. We have found that the water-extract of Banha(Pinelliae ternate B.), an oriental medicinal plant, has no tyrosinase inhibitory activity, but does inhibit the melanin biolsynthesis in B16 mouse melanin cells. We also found that Banha extract lowers the tyrosinase activity in cultured cells. To elucidate the action mechanism of Banha extract we have investigated its effect on the tyrosinase mRNA level using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. It was revealed that Banha extract reduced the tyrosinase mRNA level in dose dependent manner; when B16 mouse melanoma cells were cultured with 2mg/ml and 5mg/ml of Banha extract, there were 20% and 44% decrease in tyrosinase mRNA level, respectively. These data suggest that the Banha extract exerts its melanogenic inhibitory effect through the transcriptional regulation of tyrosinase mRNA.