• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2008

Until now, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG) is known as the most powerful antioxidant among green tea catechins having many beneficial effects on human skin. Considering that the content of catechins is variable according to many conditions such as solvent, temperature and pressure, we prepared the heat-epimerized-EGCG-mixture (HE-EGCG-mix) containing high content of gallocatechin-3-gallate(GCG) by epimerization during autoclaving process and found out its optimal condition for maximizing conversion from EGCG to GCG. To investigate the effects of EGCG and HE-EGCG-mix on skin barrier function, we performed in vivo experiments with hairless mice. We found that HE-EGCG-mix has more potent stimulating activity than EGCG for the production of involucrin 7(INV7) and for recovery of barrier function in SKH-1 mice. Also, we found that GCG stimulates $PPAR-{\alpha}$ transactivation more effectively than EGCG in vitro by transient transfection assay for $PPAR-{\alpha}$ activation activity. These imply that HE-EGCG-mix consisting of high content of GCG should stimulate more efficiently recovery of skin barrier through PPAR-mediated-kerationocyte differentiation than EGCG. In conclusion, our study may provide a possibility that GCG, the C-2 epimer of EGCG, could be a potentially effective agent for development of new cosmetics or health foods for recovery of skin barrier.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1996

Effects of Panax ginseng on allergic reactions were studied uslng various in vivo and in vitro experimental models such as 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, mediators-induced skin reactions, histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells, and lipoxygenase assay . In all of anti-allergic experiments we conducted, ginseng components (50% ethanol extract or ginseng total saponin or ginsenosides) extracted from Korean red ginseng, did not show significant anti-allergic actions. In 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and mediators-induced skin reactions, 50% ethanol extract did not suppress hypersensitivity reactions. Total saponin, 50% ethanol extract, and 8 major ginsenosides did not show inhibitory effects on lipoxygeanse activity. Ginseng total saponin did not inhibit histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. All of the ginseng components mentioned above were also tested on RBL-2H3 cells, but none of them inhibited hexosaminidase release from this cell line. These results suggest that Panax ginseng does not have effects on allergic reactions at the level of 50% ethanol extract or total saponin used. All of 8 major saponin components tested ($Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_2$), did not inhibit lipoxygenase activity and degranulation events.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2002

In order to find out the appropriate in vitro method for high correlation with in vivo, we com-pared the sensitivities of phototoxicity (PT) in vitro method between in human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells and in 3T3 fibroblast cells derived from Balb/c mice. Both cells were exposed to six known phototoxic chemicals : promethazine, neutral red, chlortetracycline, amiodarone, bithionol, 8-methoxypsoralen, or non-phototoxic chemical, ALS (ammonium laureth sulfate) and then irradiated with 5 J/$cm^2$ of UVA. Cell viability ($IC_{50}$ ) was measured by neutral red uptake (NRU) assay. The ratio of $IC_{50}$ value of chemicals in the presence and absence of UVA was determined by the cut-off value. The phototoxic potential of test chemicals in NRU assay was determined by measuring the photoirriation factor (PIF) with a cut-off value of 5. In both 3T3 and HaCaT cells, all known phototoxic chemicals were positive (over 5 of PIF value), except that bithionol was found to be non-phototoxic to HaCaT cells, and ALS, non-phototoxic chemical was negative. These results suggest that Balb/c 3T3 cell was more sensitive than HaCaT cell to predict phototoxicity potential.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.33-52
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• 2002

The effects of Arctii fructus extract on allegenic inflammation were investigated using in vivo and in vitro test models. Firstly, the cytotoxicity of Arctii fructus extract was validated using MTT assay. As a result, Arctii fructus extract showed no cytotoxic potential, while SDS, a positive control, revealed strong cytotoxic effect. In LLNA assay, Arctii fructus extract showed no skin allergenicity. Next, the anti-allergic actions of Arctii fructus extract were evaluated using rodent experimental models. The oral, intraperitoneal and intradermal administration of Arctii fructus extract significantly inhibited the compound 48／80-induced vascular permeability documented by Evans blue extravasation. In addition, Arctii fructus extract showed potent inhibitory effect on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE when orally administered. In an in vitro study, Arctii fructus extract revealed to possess inhibitory potential on the compound 48／80-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Moreover, Arctii fructus extract inhibited the IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA induction by PMA and A23187 in human leukemia mast cells, HMC-1. Finally, it revealed that Arctii fructus extract significantly suppressed histamin-provoked antigenic inflammation reactions in human prick test. Taken together, these results suggest that anti-allergic action of Arctii fructus extract may be due to the inhibition of histamine release and cytokine gene expression in the mast cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.641-645
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• 2004

Crude chondroitin sulfates extracted from midduck tunics (Styela clava) and munggae tunics (Halocynthia roretzi) were examined in vivo in order to be utilized as a cosmetic material which was followed by an in vitro assay. Examinations, such as acute oral toxicity, skin sensitization, acute eye irritation, and primary skin irritation, were peformed with a variety of laboratory animals. Phototoxic and photosensitization tests were not conducted since all chondroitin sulfates failed to absorb U.V. light at the range of 280 to 420 nm. In acute dermal and eye irritation, both specific clinical signs and dead cases were not demonstrated during the test period, but crude chondroitin sulfates from midduck and munggae tunics, and standard chondroitin sulfate from bovine trachea were showed 2.5, 1 and 1.25 of acute ocular irritation index (A.O.I.), respectively. In the case of skin sensitization, crude chondroitin sulfate from midduck tunics exhibited neither specific clinical signs nor dead cases in the entire course of the examination. While in acute oral toxicity, crude chondroitin sulfates from both midduck and munggae tunics found neither specific clinical signs nor dead cases during the test, and LD50 was suspected to be over 2 g/kg. Based on this study, it was proven that crude chondroitin sulfates from either midduck or munggae tunics can be used safely as a cosmetic material.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.344-351
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• 1984

Crude 3 M KCI extracts of ovine foetal skin (FLS) were shown to induce serum inhibition of lymphocyte blastogenesis when injected to normal sheep. When fractionated through Sephadex C-150 columns, four protein peaks were obtained, immunosuppressive activity in vitro and in vivo being associated with Peak IV. In discussion, the immunosuppressive activity of FLS is compared with that obtained with extracts of ovine squamous cell carcinoma, and possible identity of the immunosuppressors is suggested.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.487-495
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• 2007

The objectives of the present study were to initiate cloning of Korean native goat by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) and to examine whether unovulated (follicular) oocytes can support the same developmental ability of NT embryos as ovulated (oviductal) oocytes after hCG injection in stimulated cycles of the goat. The in vivo-matured and immature oocytes were collected from the oviducts and follicles of superovulated does, respectively, and the immature oocytes were maturated in vitro. Ear skin fibroblasts derived from a 3-yr-old female Korean native goat were used as the donors of nuclei or karyoplasts. Following fusion, activation and in vitro culture to a 2- to 4-cell stage, 49 in vitro-derived and 105 in vivo-derived embryos were transferred to 6 and 17 recipient does, respectively. One doe and three does of the respective groups were identified as pregnant by ultrasonography on day 30 after embryo transfer. However, only one doe, which had received in vivo-derived embryos, delivered a normal female kid of 1.9 kg on d 149. The cloned kid gained more weight than her age-matched females as much as 87% during the first 4 mo after birth (17.7 vs. $9.4{\pm}0.8$ kg) and reached puberty at 6-mo age a few months earlier than normal female does. The telomere length of the kid, which was similar to that of the donor fibroblast at 2-mo age, decreased 8% between 2- and 7-mo ages. Moreover, at 7-mo age, she had 21% shorter telomere than her age-matched goats. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which a cloned animal born with a normal weight exhibited accelerated growth and development. The unusually rapid growth and development of the cloned goat may have resulted from SCNT-associated epigenetic reprogramming involving telomere shortening.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2022

Flavonoids are known to exert anti-inflammatory effects. Their pharmacological activities have been proved using various in vitro and in vivo models. Although their action spectrum and potencies are not adequate to alleviate acute inflammatory disorders, they have the potential to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent investigations have revealed that inflammatory processes are involved in many disease processes and conditions. Some examples are skin disorders, cartilage diseases, metabolic inflammatory diseases, and aging. The effects of flavonoids on these disorders have been examined. Several possible application areas for flavonoids have been studied. Local treatment of these disorders with flavonoids is favorable to avoid systemic transformation. In this review, the findings based on the experimental results from my laboratory are summarized and the future possibility of using flavonoids clinically is discussed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.13-26
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• 2010

Objectives : The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the Gamroeum water extracts (GRE) in vivo and in vitro. Methods : The effects of GRE on anti-inflammation were measured by production of NO, $PGE_2$ (Prostaglandin $E_2$), iNOS (inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase), COX-2, $NF{\kappa}B$ (Nuclear Factor kappa B), TNF-$\alpha$ (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) and IL-$1{\beta}$ (Interleukin-$1{\beta}$), IL-6 in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. Results : 1. In machrophage cells, LPS displayed significant stimulatory effects on the production of NO and $PGE_2$. However, GRE showed significant inhibitory effects on NO and $PGE_2$ release. The level of NO and $PGE_2$ was decreased by GRE in a concentration dependent manner as compared with LPS only group. 2. Immunoblot analysis verified that LPS stimulation significantly increased the iNOS and COX-2 protein level, but GRE suppressed the induction of iNOS and COX-2 protein at a concentration dependent manner. 3. GRE reduced the elevated production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 by LPS. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of GRE was occurred in a dose-dependent manner. 4. GRE significantly reduced the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ protein in nuclear fraction. 5. GRE effectively inhibited the increases of hind paw skin thicknesses and inflammatory cell infiltrations induced by carrageenan treatment. It, therefore, considered that GRE will be favorably inhibited the acute edematous inflammations. Conclusions : These results indicated that GRE could have anti-inflammatory capacity by inhibiting the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and cytokines in vitro and by reducing the formation of carrageenan-induced paw edema in vivo. Moreover, inhibitory effects of GRE on the macrophage activation were attributable to the reduction of some of inflammatory factors by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 through the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.161.2-161.2
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• 2015

Melanin is a black pigment, responsible for hair and skin color. In order to find the melanin stimulatory technique which prove useful for a gray and a white hair-preventive agent or tanning agent, we developed atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) and tested for tyrosinase activity and melanin production in melanoma (B16F10) cells in vitro. We found plasma dose dependent increase in melanin production. To explore the contributing mechanism in melanin synthesis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MAP kinase signaling pathways were studied. Furthermore, the development of plasma technology for melanin synthesis and planning for in-vivo future studies will be discussed.