Jin-Nyoung Ho

Fructus panax ginseng extract promotes hair regeneration in C57BL/6 mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Radix panax ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae, RPG) has been documented to possess hair growth activity and widely used to treat alopecia, while no report has been issued to date on the effect of Fructus panax ginseng (FPG) on hair regeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS To investigate the effects of FPG extract on the proliferation of human hair dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and on the promotion of hair regeneration in C57BL6 mice, cell proliferation was evaluated in cultured DPC by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and measured the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax by immunoblot assay. We also compared the effects of topical FPG extract (1 and 10 mg/ml, 100 μl/d) with the effects of minoxidil as a positive control (5%, 100 μl/d) or vehicle control (30% ethanol) on the depilation-induced hair cycling in 7 week-old-C57BL/6 mice. RESULTS FPG extract significantly increased the proliferation of DPCs in dose and time dependent manners (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.001). FPG extract also enhanced Bcl-2 expression and decreased Bax expression compared with control (P<0.01). Moreover, significant elongations of anagen phase during hair cycle after application of FPG were evaluated by photographical and histological observations. CONCLUSIONS FPG extract improves the cell proliferation of human DPCs through anti apoptotic activation. Topical administration of FPG extract might have hair regeneration activity for the treatment of hair loss.

Kefir inhibits 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation through down-regulation of adipogenic transcription factor expression

BACKGROUND Kefir, a traditional fermented milk composed of microbial symbionts, is reported to have various health benefits such as anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic and pro-digestive effects. In this study, to elucidate the effects of kefir on adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation, three fractions were prepared from kefir culture broth. The inhibitory effects of kefir liquid culture broth fraction (Fr-1), soluble fraction (Fr-2) and insoluble fraction (Fr-3), prepared by sonication of kefir solid culture broth, on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were examined. RESULTS Fr-3 (0.1 mg mL(-1)) significantly decreased lipid accumulation and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity by 60 and 68% respectively without affecting cell viability. In addition, Fr-3 treatment down-regulated the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors including C/EBPα (32%), PPARγ (46%) and SREBP-1c (34%) during adipocyte differentiation compared with untreated control cells. The mRNA expression of adipocyte-specific genes (aP2, FAS and ACC) was also clearly decreased. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the insoluble fraction of kefir (Fr-3) mediates anti-adipogenic effects through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, partly via suppression of the C/EBPα-, SREBP-1c- and PPARγ-dependent pathways.

Anti-obesity effect of a standardised ethanol extract from Curcuma longa L. fermented with Aspergillus oryzae in ob/ob mice and primary mouse adipocytes

BACKGROUND We examined the anti-obesity effect of fermented Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) standardised ethanol extract (FTE) in the C57BL/6J ob/ob mouse model. Mice were fed a chow diet containing FTE (0, 200, or 500 mg kg⁻¹ body weight) for 9 weeks. RESULTS Supplementation with FTE significantly reduced body weight gain and retroperitoneal and epididymal adipose tissue weights compared to the ob/ob control group. Additionally, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum and liver were significantly decreased in FTE-200 and FTE-500 groups when compared to those of the ob/ob control group, whereas the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was significantly increased. The levels of serum adiponectin as well as mRNA expression of lipases, such as hormone sensitive lipase and adipose triglyceride lipase, were clearly increased. In primary adipocytes of C57BL/6J mice, FTE treatment caused a significant increase glycerol release and hormone sensitive lipase levels and decreased perilipin A levels. CONCLUSION These results suggest that supplementation of FTE has potent anti-obesity effects by controlling body weight, fat mass, serum lipids, and hepatic lipids. Moreover, FTE could be considered a potential resource for the treatment of obesity through its promotion of lipolysis via the protein kinase A pathway.

I3C and ICZ inhibit migration by suppressing the EMT process and FAK expression in breast cancer cells

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and indole[3,2-b] carbazole (ICZ) are major bioactive food components in cruciferous vegetables. Although previous studies have demonstrated the anticancer activity of I3C and ICZ in various types of cancer cells, the manner in which indole compounds regulate migration or related epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) has yet to be determined. In this study, we investigated the effects of I3C and ICZ on migration using breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB231). Pre‑treatment with I3C and ICZ significantly inhibited the migration of breast cancer cells without cytotoxicity, as measured by monolayer scratch assay. In addition, I3C and ICZ decreased vimentin (a mesenchymal marker) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mRNA expression, while increasing E-cadherin (an epithelial marker) expression. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 activity was also reduced by I3C and ICZ. Taken together, we propose that I3C and ICZ pre‑treatment inhibits the migration of breast cancer cells through suppression of the EMT process and reduced MMP activity by repressing FAK expression. Our findings suggested that I3C and ICZ are potential compounds for inhibition of breast cancer cell migration.

Anti-wrinkle Activity of a Curdrania tricuspidata Extract on Ultraviolet-induced Photoaging

We investigated the anti-wrinkle activity of an 80% ethanol extract of Curdrania tricuspidata leaves (CTL80) on ultraviolet-induced photoaging in hairless mice. Skin wrinkles were induced by 10 weeks of UVB-irradiation on the back of Skh-1 hairless mice three times a week. Mice were divided into ten groups; normal control (-UVB), UVB irradiated control group (+UVB), dietary groups (UVB+ascorbic acid 0.1%, UVB+CTL80 0.1%, UVB+CTL80 0.25%) and topical application groups (-UVB+base lotion (BL), UVB+BL, UVB+ascorbic acid 1%+BL, UVB+CTL80 1%+BL, UVB+CTL80 2%+BL). Wrinkle formation, histological changes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9) were analyzed. Wrinkles for the +UVB groups formed as a pattern of deep furrows and thick crests. Wrinkles with CTL80 treatment formed as a pattern of shallow furrows and thin crests, with wrinkle areas were lower than the +UVB group. In an antioxidant analysis of mouse blood, SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly higher in the CTL80 topical application group compared to the +UVB group. The mRNA expression of MMPs in the +UVB group was significantly higher than the normal control group, and significantly lower in the CTL80-treated group. In conclusion, CTL80 exerted anti-wrinkle activity on ultraviolet-induced photoaging by regulating antioxidative defense systems and MMPs expression.

Green tea seed extract inhibits cell migration by suppressing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in breast cancer cells

Recently, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in human pathology, including fibrosis and cancer metastasis. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of green tea seed (GTS) on the EMT process and migration using the human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB231. Pretreatment with GTS significantly inhibited migration of breast cancer cells, as measured by monolayer scratch assay. GTS treatment clearly decreased vimentin (a mesenchymal marker) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mRNA expression, while E-cadherin (an epithelial marker) expression was significantly increased. Furthermore, GTS also reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GTS inhibits migration of breast cancer cells by suppressing the EMT process via reduction of MMP activities and FAK mRNA expression. Based on these findings, we speculate that GTS might be a potential agent for inhibition of breast cancer cell migration.