• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.45
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• pp.295-324
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• 2016

This essay attempts a contrapuntal reading of Thomas More's Utopia. Contrapunctual reading, proposed by Edward Said. attempts to make a text speak across temporal, cultural, and ideological boundaries to a topic of present. I examine two opposite readings of Utopia around 2011 by both pro- and anti-Occupy Wall Street positions. On the one hand, the opponents of Occupy find its limits as a utopian social movement echoing in the fictional character of Hythrodaeus and the alternative society verbally sketched by him in Book Two of Utopia. On the other, Occupy's advocates read More's text as embodying its radial possibility. However, each shares the tendency to denounce Book Two, praising Book One in which Hythrodaeus vehemently criticizes England; they read Hythrodaeus not as an utopian idealist but as a social critic. The Occupy, as a result, is seen here as having an ambivalent relationship to utopianism. I reinterpret the radical possibilities of Book Two criticized by both pro- and anti-Occupy invocations of Utopia. Book Two provides a utopian space in which the existing social contradictions are cancelled, revealing the limits of the three partial utopias proposed at the end of Book One. Following Louis Marin's argument, I argue, the "utopic" space does not lie in the so-called ideal society described in the text but in the inconsistencies between the text's description(discourse) and topography(map). In Book Two the existence of a king is described, yet his space is not found in the topography of utopia; likewise market is described as existing at the center of a city, yet its space is not found either. These inconsistencies create a neutral space in which the ideological contradictions of the text are cancelled, and the space opens up the possibility of communal society beyond modern sovereign power and capitalism I argue this utopian dream needs to be summoned once again in our time as a compelling alternative to the corporate, capitalist order.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.772-781
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytoprotective effects of 50% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction from rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of the 50% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction were 621.5 and $253.0{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Total antioxidant capacities ($OSC_{50}$) of the extract and fraction were 13.6 and $3.0{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the ethyl acetate fraction for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were 156, $1,250{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, indicating similar or higher levels of those of using methyl paraben. Cytoprotective effects of the 50% ethanol extract against $^1O_2$-induced cellular damage (${\tau}_{50}$) showed in a dose dependent manner at 4 to $64{\mu}g/mL$. ${\tau}_{50}$ of the 50% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol at $16{\mu}g/mL$ were 36.4, 45.0 and 45.8 min respectively, and the ethyl acetate fraction showed cytoprotective effects similar to (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol. In ultraviolet B radiation-induced HaCaT cell damage, the ethyl acetate fraction decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) up to 45.9% at $8{\mu}g/mL$. Also in $H_2O_2$-induced HaCaT cell damage, the ethyl acetate fraction significantly increased the cell viability at $0.5{\sim}8.0{\mu}g/mL$. As a result of chemical analyses of the ethyl acetate fraction, the presence of flavonoids and polyphenol such as irisflorentin, irigenin, tectorigenin, resveratrol, iridin and tectoridin were identified. In conclusion, the extract/fraction from rhizomes of B. chinensis can be applied as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial material to cosmetics.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.716-725
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• 2018

In this study, antimicrobial and antioxidative activities of Perilla frutescens var. acuta were investigated with 50% ethanol and the ethyl acetate fraction and also the components were analyzed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethyl acetate fraction for both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were $78{\mu}g/mL$, indicating high antimicrobial effects. The free radical scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity ($OSC_{50}$) in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system values of the ethyl acetate fraction were $25.90{\mu}g/mL$ and $1.40{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. After the cell damage induced by $400mJ/cm^2$ UVB irradiation, the cytoprotective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of P. frutescens var. acuta showed the concentration dependent manner ranging from 2.0 to $16.0{\mu}g/mL$. The intracellular ROS inhibitory activity in HaCaT cells decreased to 28.6% and 40.7% for the 50% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction, respectively at the concentration of $32{\mu}g/mL$. Components of rosmarinic acid, luteolin, apigenin, caffeic acid and ethyl caffeate were identified in the ethyl acetate fraction. These results suggest that the extract and fraction of P. frutescens var. acuta may be applied to the field of cosmetics as a natural material that protects the skin from an external environment by having antimicrobial and antioxidative activities.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1038-1047
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• 2018

This study confirmed possibility of cosmetic material for Espresso coffee grounds extracted at high temperature, high pressure, short time and Dutch coffee grounds extracted at low temperature, atmospheric pressure, long time. For this purpose, we evaluated the biological activities of antioxidant, anti-wrinkles and antimicrobial effects using ethanol extracts of Esproso and Dutch coffee grounds. The results of total polyphenolic compound contents was $90.39{\pm}0.04mg/g$ for Dutch coffee grounds extract, which was higher than $64.96{\pm}0.38mg/g$ for Espresso coffee grounds extract, based on $113.63{\pm}0.22mg/g$ for coffee beans extract as the reference one. DPPH radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity of Dutch coffee grounds extract were found to be better than those of Espresso coffee grounds extracts, referenced on coffee bean extract. As a result of inhibition effect of Elastase activity, Dutch coffee grounds extract showed higher inhibition effect than Espresso coffee grounds extract, based on coffee bean extract. In addition, Dutch coffee grounds extract showed good anti-microbial effects at Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Propionibacterium acnes and there was little difference in the clear zone size between Dutch coffee grounds extract and coffee bean extract as a reference one. From the results of the experiments, it was confirmed that Dutch coffee grounds extract had excellent antioxidant, anti-wrinkle and antimicrobial effects and could be used as safe natural cosmetic material in the future.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.404-411
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant effects of extracts from 9 species of forest plants in Korea. DPPH, ABTS, $NaNO_2$, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity were evaluated to measure the antioxidant activities of plant extracts. As a result, Geranium thunbergii has been identified as the most effective antioxidant resource. Also, total phenolic content was highest in Geranium thunbergii ($303.94{\pm}0.63mg\;GAE/g$) among 9 species extracts. Total flavonoid content was highest in Rosa multiflora ($24.32{\pm}0.22mg\;QE/g$) and proanthocyanidin content was highest in Vitis ficifolia ($279.00{\pm}4.58mg\;CE/g$) among 9 species extracts. In addition, the protective effect of plant extracts in $H_2O_2-induced$ human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell systems were also assessed. Significant protective effects in $H_2O_2-induced$ human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell systems were found in all plant extracts, especially in Geranium thunbergii. These results suggest that Geranium thunbergii could be a potential natural resource for antioxidant activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.287-297
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• 2019

This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and whitening effect of Hordeum vulgare L. extracts and their fractions. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in fractions were varied from 13.58 to 40.06 mg GAE/g and 7.67 ~ 13.67 mg CE/g, respectively. Among the three fractions(chloroform, hexane, and water), $400{\mu}g/mL$ of the chroloform fraction showed similar antioxidant activity to ascorbic acid ($30{\mu}M$) against the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The chloroform and hexane fractions inhibited the NO production of RAW 264.7 cells similar to quercetin ($15{\mu}M$) and the chloroform fraction of $100{\mu}g/mL$ significantly reduced IL-6, iNOS and COX2 gene expression. Additionally, the chloroform fraction inhibited ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase degranulation, IL-4, and IL-13 gene expression in RBL-2H3 cells. All of the fractions inhibited tyrosinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, and the hexane fraction at $50{\mu}g/mL$ and the chloroform fraction at $100{\mu}g/mL$ significantly inhibited melanin production of B16F10 cells. These results indicated that H. vulgare L. can be used as an effective cosmetic ingredient having anti-inflammation and whitening activity.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.78-84
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological activities of hot-water and 70% ethanol extracts of three edible mushroom species (Auricularia auricula, Tremella fuciformis, and Lentinus edodes) cultivated in Korea and China. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of hot-water extracts of Korean A. auricula, T. fuciformis, and L. edodes were significantly higher than those of the Chinese counterparts (p < 0.01). However, the nitrite scavenging activities of the hot-water extracts did not significantly differ among the mushrooms regardless of their origins. Chinese A. auricula showed the highest nitrite scavenging activity in the ethanol extract. The total polyphenol contents of the ethanol extracts of the three edible mushroom species from both of the countries were higher than those of the hot-water extracts. Korean A. auricula and T. fuciformis yielded a high polyphenol content with hot-water extraction. The ${\beta}-glucan$ contents of the Chinese A. auricula, T. fuciformis, and L. edodes extracts were 20.49%, 31.43%, and 30.09%, respectively, which were higher than those of the Korean counterparts. From the results of this study, it can be deduced that the maximum yield of nutritional ingredients can be extracted by using the optimal solvent for each mushroom species. These results are expected to be useful in appreciating the difference among extracts of Korean and Chinese edible mushrooms in terms of their physiological activities in the solvents used.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.148-157
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• 2019

A 70% ethanol extract of Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. was investigated for its whitening activity for application as a functional ingredient in cosmetic products. At the E. annuus extract concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$, the electron-donating ability was found to be 67.83%, the tyrosinase inhibitory effect (related to skin-whitening) was 69%, the elastase inhibitory effect (related to skin-wrinkling) was 69%, and the astringent effect was 80%. The $ABTS^+$ radical-scavenging ability was 87% at the $500{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. In the cell viability test measured on melanoma cells, 96% of the cells treated with $100{\mu}g/ml$ of the extract were viable. According to the western blot results, the protein expression of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 was decreased by 60.22%, 47.83%, 54.79%, and 67.88%, respectively, at the extract concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. The protein expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (p-ERK) and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) was decreased with increasing concentrations of the extract. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the extract showed that the mRNA expression of MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 was decreased by 86.51%, 85.22%, 74.26%, and 66.66%, respectively, at $100{\mu}g/ml$ extract concentration. The findings suggest that the 70% ethanol extract from E. annuus (L.) Pers. has potential as a cosmeceutical ingredient with whitening effect.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2017

Although Semisulcospira libertina is generally regarded as a supplement for the alleviation of alcohol hangover, little is known about its effects on cell metabolism. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the constituents of the extracts prepared using different extraction methods and to compare their biochemical properties. The amino acid contents were found to be much higher in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates than hot water extracts from S. libertina. DPPH radical scavenging activities in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates were higher than those of hot water extracts. Three types of S. libertina hydrolysate was added to HepG2 cells damaged by acetaminophen (AAP), after which the survival rate of HepG2 cell were measured. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the culture media were evaluated. The survival rates of HepG2 cells were $77.0{\pm}4.3%$ and $81.5{\pm}1.3%$ at 3 h and 5h enzymatic hydrolysates, respectively. These cell survival rates were higher compared to those of the negative control group ($67.8{\pm}4.3%$) treated only with acetaminophen. Cellular toxicities induced by treatment with AAP were also significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of S. libertina. In addition, the activities of 2 key enzymes that metabolize ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, were upregulated by 4.7- and 2.7-fold respectively in response to treatment with a 3 h enzymatic hydrolysate of S. libertina. Taken together, these results provide biochemical evidence of the method by which S. libertina exerts its biological functions, including the alleviation of alcohol hangover and the protection of liver cells against toxic insults.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2021

This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the dried leaves and branches of Stewartia koreana Nakai. The dried leaf and branch of S. koreana were extracted with 70% ethanol at 80℃. The antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts of S. koreana leaf (EESL) and S. koreana branch (EESB) were analyzed. The total polyphenol contents in EESL and EESB were 162.57±0.9 mg of GAEs/extract g and 59.1±0.9 mg of GAEs/extract g, respectively. The flavonoid contents in EESL and EESB were 59.1±0.9 mg of QEs/extract g and 4.7±0.1 mg of QEs/extract g, respectively. EESL showed a better scavenging ability with DPPH and ABTS than EESB, at 0.4 mg/ml. Moreover, EESL were more effective according to ORAC values than EESL. The toxicity of EESL was investigated using a WST-1 assay on the human skin fibroblast cell line CCD-986sk. Therefore, EESL can be used as a potential source of functional, naturally-sourced material in cosmetics as well as food.