In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Ulva lactuca methanol extracts against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced DNA damage in HaCaT cells. First, the contents of general and antioxidative nutrient contents of Ulva lactuca were measured. The moisture, carbohydrate, crude protein, crude fat and ash were 14.01%, 44.80%, 23.19%, 3.10% and 14.90%, respectively. Magnesium that acts as DNA repair enzyme cofactor was the most abundant mineral followed by Ca, P and Fe. The total phenolic and anthocyanoside contents of Ulva lactuca were 2.69 mg/g and 0.13 mg/g, respectively. Cells treated with Ulva lactuca methanol extracts for 24 hours post UVB exposure increased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the non-treated control. Also, Ulva lactuca methanol extracts decreased the levels of UVB-induced DNA damage such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer and DNA damage response (DDR) proteins such as p-p53 and p21. These results suggest that Ulva lactuca methanol extracts comprising physiological active substances such as Mg, polyphenols and anthocyanosides promote DNA repair by regulating genes related with DDR.

국립원예특작과학원에서는 2015년 거베라 신품종 ‘Red Velvet’ 을 육성하였다. ‘Red Velvet’은 2007년 10월부터 2008년 2월까지 주홍색 반겹꽃 스탠다드 거베라 ‘Rose’와 적색 반겹꽃 ‘Sabana’를 각각 모본과 부본으로 인공교배하여 얻은 187개체의 교배실생 분리집단으로부터 2008년부터 2015년까지 8년 동안의 개화 및 생육특성검정을 거쳐 선발된 절화용 스탠다드 거베라 품종이다. ‘Red Velvet’은 초세 강건한 갈색 화심의 적색(RHS R45B) 반겹꽃 대륜계통이다. 꽃의 평균 직경은 12.6±0.5cm이고, 내부설상화 및 통상화의 직경은 각각 5.7±0.3cm와 2.8±0.2cm이다. 꽃대는 꽃목직경이 상부 5.4±0.4mm, 중부 7.8±0.7mm 정도로 굵으며, 화경장은 60.0±8.1cm로 길다. 절화수명은 9.8±2.3일로 대조품종과 비슷하며, 연간 채화량은 48.3±4.8본/주로 많은 다수성 품종이다.

국립원예특작과학원에서 2011년 거베라 신품종 ‘Pink Melody’를 육성하였다. ‘Pink Melody’는 2007년 10월부터 2007년 12월까지 분홍색 반겹꽃 ‘Eta’와 ‘Pascal’을 교배하여 획득한 97개체의 실생계통으로부터 2008년부터 2011년까지 4년 동안의 개화 및 생육특성검정을 거쳐 선발된 절화용 대륜 거베라 품종이다. ‘Pink Melody’는 초세강건한 녹색화심의 파스텔톤 분홍색(RHS R55D) 반겹꽃 대륜계 품종이다. 꽃은 평균 직경이 11.4±0.9cm이고, 내부설상화와 화반의 직경은 각각 7.3±0.8cm와 2.6±0.5cm, 외부 설상화의 길이와 폭은 각각 5.3±0.4cm와 1.0±0.1cm로 꽃잎이 비교적 좁고 긴 도란형이다. 꽃대는 꽃목직경이 상부 4.2±0.4mm, 중부 6.4±0.8mm 정도로 강건하며, 꽃대의 길이는 45.2±5.5cm이다. 절화수명은 10.8±1.6일로 대조품종 ‘Pascal’보다 약 1.5일이 길며, 연간 채화량은 52.9±4.3본/주로 대조품종보다 5.0본/주 많은 다수성 품종이다.

Fludarabine, a chain terminating anti-cancer drug, is a purine analogue that causes DNA strand breaks in normal cells. In this study, we determined if A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng extract mixture reduce cytotoxicity of fludarabine. Treatment of HaCaT cells with 10 μM of fludarabine for 24 hours decreased cell viability and increased DNA strand breaks. Treatment of A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng extract mixture for 24 hours increased cell viability as compared with single extract treatment. The protective effect of these extracts on cell activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner. DNA strand breaks induced by fludarabine decreased as concentration of extract mixture increased. p-H2AX level, a marker of DNA strand breakage, decreased depending on the concentration of extract mixture. The effect of mixed extract of A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng on DNA damage is due to the anti-oxidative effect of A. melanocarpa and signal transmission through glucocorticoid receptor upon binding of saponin of Korean red ginseng.

The effects of extracts from Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) and Aquilariae agallocha (A. agallocha) on the DNA damage response in ultraviolet A (UVA)-exposed HaCaT cells and on the allergic contact dermatitis caused by 2,4-dinitro-chlorobezene (DNCB) were investigated. When UVA-exposed cells were incubated for 24 hours in medium containing L. edodes or A. agallocha extract, the level of 8-OHdG and CPD decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The combined treatment with both extracts potentiated the decrease in UVA-induced 8-OHdG and CPD levels as compared with those following treatment with a single extract. In addition, the two extracts showed preventive effects against the UVA-induced reduction in collagen levels. Furthermore, the blood levels of IgE, IL-6, and histamine decreased more significantly upon combined treatment with L. edodes and A. agallocha extracts as compared with those following treatment with single extracts in DNCB-induced allergic contact dermatitis in the ICR mouse. The results of the present study suggest that the components with in the extracts of L. edodes and A. agallocha can help to prevent of UVA-induced genomic instability via a decrease in DNA damage, and to decrease the DNCB-induced allergic dermatitis via modulation of relevant proteins including IgE and IL-6. Further study is needed to clarify the purified components related to the preventative effects of the two extracts against UVA- or DNCB-induced genomic damage.