• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.431-437
• /
• 2014

Synthetic compounds that are used in the clinic to regulate skin hyperpigmentation, such as arbutin, hydroquinone, and kojic acid, are only moderately effective. But, their use is limited by side effects. As part of an effort to overcome the limitations, we developed resveratrol-enriched rice (RR) using genetic engineering technique. Each of resveratrol and rice has been reported to produce anti-melanogenic effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that RR would show more anti-melanogenic effects than those of resveratrol or rice alone. Anti-melanogenic effect of RR was done by using melan-a mouse melanocytes. The depigmenting efficacy was then observed following topical application of the RR to UVB-stimulated hyperpigmented dorsal skin of guinea pigs. Treatment with RR extract resulted a $21.4{\pm}0.7%$ decrease in tyrosinase expression at melan-a cells. Colorimetric analysis showed a significantly lower depigmenting value by day 9 following treatment with RR in UVB-irradiated guinea pigs the dorsal skin (p<0.01), indicating that RR produced a depigmentation effect. By staining with Fontana-Masson stain, we found that the RR-treated group had more effect histopathologically in epidermal melanin production than resveratrol or rice alone-treated group. RR was associated with reduction in the levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and downregulation of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-2) expression, leading to inhibit epidermal melanin production by western blot analysis. This study suggests that the resveratrol-enriched rice may be a promising candidate in regulating skin pigmentation with UVB exposure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.144-153
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between smoke components and sensory evaluation by changes tobacco leaf blending. Seven different cigarettes were made by adding different types of oriental, reconstituted and expanded tobacco leaves. 62 kinds of smoke components which were 6 of general components, 34 of semi-volatile and volatile components, 9 of acid components, and 13 of phenolic components were analyzed. Eight kinds of sensory item were evaluated and also electronic nose system data was collected. All smoke components and sensory characteristics of mainstream smoke were changed by the different blending. To determine the relationship between smoke components and sensory test, the correlation and regression analysis were carried out by using SPSS statistical program. Tar, pH, and CO showed a high correlation with sensory evaluation item. As tar related to hotness, CO have a high correlation with offensive aroma. Semi-volatile and volatile components of smoke related to sensory characteristics such as aroma, taste, irritation, hotness and smoothness. When propylene, l,3-butadiene, butane, isoprene, and 2-methylfuran showed a high correlation with aroma; methyl chloride, methanol, toluene, ethyl benzene showed a high correlation with irritation. Some acidic components and phenolic components of smoke also had a high relation to smoke volume. Especially the acidic components such as 2-furoic acid, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, phenylacetic acid and palmitic acid; the phenolic components such as 4-vinyl phenol, pyrocatechol, 3-methyl catechol, hydroquinone showed a high correlation with smoke volume. As using regression analysis, it was possible to estimate the results of sensory evaluation from the smoke analysis data. From the results of electronic nose system analysis, we can find the different pattern by adding expanded tobacco leaf.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.306-313
• /
• 1999

Polyphenol Oxidase(PPO) was purified from an extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by sephadex G-150 column chromatography, which resulted in a 18-fold increase in specific activity. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.5 and the temperature optimum for the PPO catechol oxidation reaction was $45^{\circ}C$. Heat inactivation studies showed that heating for 7, 9 and 48 min, at 80, 70 and $60^{\circ}C$ respectively caused a 50% loss in enzymatic activity and that the enzyme was completely inactivated after heat treatment at $90^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. Km values of the PPO for catechol, hydroquinone and 4-methylcatechol derived from Lineweaver-Burk plots were $6.06\;{\times}\;10^{-4}M,\;1.02\;{\times}\;10^{-3}M,\;1.41\;{\times}\;10^{-3}M$ respectively. Of the substrates tested, 4-methylcatechol was oxidized most readily and the enzyme did not oxidize monophenols. The enzyme datalyzed browning reaction was completely inhibited in the presence of reducing reagents, namely ascorbic acid, cysteine, glutathione, 2-mercaptoethanol, potassium metabisulfite at 0.5 mM level. Sodium chloride showed very little inhibition effect on Ginkgo biloba leaves PPO. Lineweaver-Burk analysis of inhibition data revealed that the inhibition by cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol, potassium cyanide was competitive with ki values of $1.1\;{\times}\;10^{-5}M,\;2.4\;{\times}\;10^{-5}M,\;8\;{\times}\;10^{-5}M$, respectively. Among the divalent cations, $Cu^{2+}ion$ was a strong activator on PPO and $Mn^{2+}ion$ was little or no effect on PPO activity $Ni^{2+}ion$ was an inhibitor on PPO.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.333-338
• /
• 2007

Intracellular NADH:quinone reductase involved in degradation of aromatic compounds including lignin was purified and characterized from white rot fungus Trametes versicolor. The activity of quinone reductase was maximal after 3 days of incubation in fungal culture, and the enzyme was purified to homogeneity using ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and gel filtration chromatographies. The purified enzyme has a molecular mass of 41kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE, and exhibits a broad temperature optimum between $20-40^{\circ}C$, with a pH optimum of 6.0. The enzyme preferred FAD as a cofactor and NADH rather than NADPH as an electron donor. Among quinone compounds tested as substrate, menadione showed the highest enzyme activity followed by 1,4-benzoquinone. The enzyme activity was inhibited by $CuSO_4,\;HgCl_2,\;MgSO_4,\;MnSO_4,\;AgNO_3$, dicumarol, KCN, $NaN_3$, and EDTA. Its $K_m\;and\;V_{max}$ with NADH as an electron donor were $23{\mu}M\;and\;101mM/mg$ per min, respectively, and showed a high substrate affinity. Purified quinone reductase could reduce 1,4-benzoquinone to hydroquinone, and induction of this enzyme was higher by 1,4-benzoquinone than those of other quinone compounds.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.199-207
• /
• 1992

The approximate rates and stoichiometry of the reaction of excess sodium diethyldihydroaluminate (SDDA) with 68 selected organic compounds containing representative functional groups were examined under standard conditions (THF-toluene, $0^{\circ}C$ in order to compare its reducing characteristics with lithium aluminum hydride (LAH), aluminum hydride, and diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH) previously examined, and enlarge the scope of its applicability as a reducing agent. Alcohols, phenol, thiols and amines evolve hydrogen rapidly and quantitatively. Aldehydes and ketones of diverse structure are reduced rapidly to the corresponding alcohols. Reduction of norcamphor gives 11% exo-and 89% endo-norborneol. Conjugated aldehydes such as cinnamaldehyde are rapidly and cleanly reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohols. p-Benzoquinone is mainly reduced to hydroquinone. Hexanoic acid and benzoic acid liberate hydrogen rapidly and quantitatively, however reduction proceeds very slowly. Acid chlorides and esters tested are all reduced rapidly to the corresponding alcohols. However cyclic acid anhydrides such as succinic anhydride are reduced to the lactone stage rapidly, but very slowly thereafter. Although alkyl chlorides are reduced very slowly alkyl bromides, alkyl iodides and epoxides are reduced rapidly with an uptake of 1 equiv of hydride. Styrene oxide is reduced to give 1-phenylethanol quantitatively. Primary amides are reduced very slowly; however, tertiary amides take up 1 equiv of hydride rapidly. Tertiary amides could be reduced to the corresponding aldehydes in very good yield ( > 90%) by reacting with equimolar SDDA at room temperature. Hexanenitrile is reduced moderately accompanying 0.6 equiv of hydrogen evolution, however the reduction of benzonitrile proceeds rapidly to the imine stage and very slowly thereafter. Benzonitrile was reduced to give 90% yield of benzaldehyde by reaction with 1.1 equiv of hydride. Nitro compounds, azobenzene and azoxybenzene are reduced moderately at $0^{\circ}C$, but nitrobenzene is rapidly reduced to hydrazobenzene stage at room temperature. Cyclohexanone oxime is reduced to the hydroxylamine stage in 12 h and no further reaction is apparent. Pyridine is reduced sluggishly at $0^{\circ}C$, but moderately at room temperature to 1,2-dihydropyridine stage in 6 h; however further reaction is very slow. Disulfides and sulfoxides are reduced rapidly, whereas sulfide, sulfone, sulfonic acid and sulfonate are inert under these reaction conditions.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.54-62
• /
• 1999

2,4-Dichlorophenol was known pollutants caused by the endocrine disruptor into the refractory substances of environment and this is difficult to be degradable by conventional methods. Therefore, a considerable interest has been devoted to developing new process where 2,4-Dichlorophenol can easily decomposed. In this study, the series of ultrasonic irradiation for removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenol has been selected as a model reaction in the batch reactor system in order to obtain the basic data investigate the influence of various experimental parameters such as concentration, pH, reaction temperature, acoustic intensity. The products obtained form the ultrasonic irradiation were analysed by GC/MS and HPLC. The formation of $H_2O_2$, a well-known the strong oxidant was found proportionally to increase with irradiation time. The intermediates of ultrasonic irradiation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol were identified as HCl, catechol, hydroquinone, o,p-benzoquinone, muconic acid, and maleic acid. The final products of this was $CO_2$ and $H_2O$. As the decomposition of 2,4-Dichlorophenol proceeds by the ultrasonic irradiation, the pH of 2,4-Dichlorophenol containing aqueous solution increases slowly, The decomposition of 2,4-Dichlorophenol was found to be occured fast in the basic medium. In general, the rate of reaction is proportional to the reaction temperature obeying the Arrhenius' law. However, in the ultrasonic irradiation, this suggests as the reaction temperature increase the decomposition rate of the reactant decreases. This result meant that the increase of reaction temperature due to the increase of vapor pressure of water accelerated the decrease of acoustic intensity which was can be proportional to the decomposition rae of these compounds. It was found that more than 80% of phenol solution was removed within hours in all reaction conditions. The reaction order in the degradation of the 2,4-Dichlorophenol compounds was verified as the Pseude-first order. From the fore-mentioned results, it can be concluded that the refractory organic compounds caused by endocrine disruptor as 2,4-dichlorophenol could be removed by the ultrasonic irradiation with radicals, such as $H{\;}{\cdot}{\;}and{\;}OH{\;}{\cdot}$ radical causing the high increase of pressure and temperature. Finally, it apeared that the technology using ultrasonic irradiation can be applied to the treatment of refractory substances caused by endocrine disruptor which are difficult to be decomposed by the conventional methods.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2003

Laccase produced by Pycnoporus cinnabarinus SCH-3 isolated from Korea was partially purified using ultrafiltration, anion exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography, The laccase was produced as the predominant extracellular phenoloxidase during primary metabolism. Neither lignin peroxidase nor manganese-dependent peroxidase were detected in the culture fluid. In order to examine the effect of inducers in laccase production, 2,5-xylidine was added in the culture of Pycnoporus cinnabarinus SCH-3. Addition of 2,5-xylidine enhanced 25-fold laccase production. Purified laccase was a single polypeptide having a molecular mass of approximately 66 kDa, as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and carbohydrate content of 9%. $K_{m}\;and\;V_{max}$ values for laccase with ABTS [2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline 6-sulfonic acid)] as a substrate (Lineweaver-Burk plot) was determined to be $44.4{\mu}M\;and\;56.0{\mu}mole$, respectively. The optimal pH for laccase activity was found to be 3.0. The enzyme was very stable for 1 hour at $60{\circ}C$. Half-life ($t_{1/2}$) of the enzyme was about 10 min at $80{\circ}C$. Spectroscopic analysis of purified enzyme indicated that the enzyme was typical of copper-containing protein. Substrate specificity and inhibitor studies for laccase also indicated to be a typical fungal laccase. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the P. cinnabarinus SCH-3 laccase showed 94% of homology to the N-terminal sequences of laccases from P. cinnabarinus PB and P. coccineus.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
• /
• 2003.09a
• /
• pp.780-803
• /
• 2003

Exposure of skin cells, particularly keratinocytes to various nuclear factor-kappaB ($\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$) activators [e.g. tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$, interleukin-1, lipopolysaccharides, and ultraviolet light] leads to phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitory protein, $\textrm{I}_{{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$. Liberated $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ is translocated into the nucleus where it can change or alter expression of target genes, resulting in the secretion of extracellular signaling molecules including melanotrophic factors affecting melanocyte. In order to demonstrate the possible role of $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation on the synthesis of melanotrophic factors from the keratinocytes, the activities of $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ induced by melanogenic inhibitors (MIs) were determined in human HaCaT keratinocytes transfected with $\textrm{pNF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$-SEAP-NPT plasmid. Transfectant cells released the secretory alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as a transcription reporter in response to the $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activity and contain the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT) gene for the dominant selection marker for geneticin resistance. MIs such as niacinamide, kojic acid, hydroquinone, resorcinol, arbutin, and glycolic acid were preincubated with transfectant HaCaT cells for 3 h and then ultraviolet B (UVB) was irradiated. $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation was measured with the SEAP reporter gene assay using a fluorescence detection method. Of the Mis tested, kojic acid ($IC_{50}$/ = 60 $\mu$M) was found to be the most potent inhibitor of UVB-upregulating $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation in transfectant HaCaT cells, which is followed by niacinamide ($IC_{50}$/= 540 $\mu$M). Pretreatment of the transfectant HaCaT cells with the Mis, especially kojic acid and niacinamide, effectively lowered $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ binding measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, these two inhibitors remarkably reduced the secretion level of IL-6, one of melanotrophic factors, triggered by UV-radiation of the HaCaT cells. These observations suggest that Mis working at the in vivo level might act partially through the modulation of the synthesis of melanotrophic factors in keratinocyte.