최근 천연 유래 미백제에 대한 관심이 증가하고 있다. 천연 유래 미백성분은 ‘자연 유래’라 는 메시지를 소비자에게 호감을 주어 경쟁력을 높인다. 본 연구는 Xanthium strumarium seed 에탄올 추출물의 미백효능을 평가하였다. 그 결과 α-MSH(α-melanocyte stimulating hormone)로 유도한 B16F10에서 티로시나아제와 멜라닌 형성을 억제했다. 또한 핵심조절인자인 티로시나제, MITF (Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), TRP-1(tyrosinase related protein-1), TRP-2 (tyrosinase related protein-2)에 관여함으로서 최종 멜라닌 생성을 저해하였다. 이러한 결과는 X. strumarium seed 에탄올 추출물의 미백 기능성 성분으로서의 가능성을 시사한다.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which accounts for over 90% of malignancies in the oral cavity, is associated with a poor prognosis, with a 5-year mortality rate reaching of up to 44%. The incidence of OSCC continues to rise annually, and current treatment typically involves a combination of surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In recent years, there has been growing interest in targeted therapies that exploit molecular markers involved in tumor growth and metastasis. Among these targets, immune checkpoint molecules such as programmed cell death 1 receptor (PD-1) and its ligand, programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), have garnered significant attention. Therapies that inhibit these immune checkpoints have been approved for various malignancies, offering new avenues for treatment. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, has emerged as a promising therapuetic option for OSCC. However, its clinical response rate in OSCC patients remains below 20%, highlighting the need for combination strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy. One such approach involves non-thermal plasma (NTP), a novel modality that selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells. In this study, the authors evaluated the combined effect of Keytruda and NTP in an OSCC xenograft mouse model. The combination therapy demonstrated the tendency of suppressed tumor growth compared to Keytruda monotherapy. This effect was accompanied by increased apoptosis, as indicated by elevated cleaved caspase-3 expression, and reduced proliferation, as shown by decreased Ki-67 expression. Although preliminary, these findings may support the potential clinical application of Keytruda-NTP combined therapy as a novel treatment strategy for OSCC.

본 증례는 epidermal growth factor receptor 돌연변이 비소세포폐암 환자에서 lazertinib 치료 중 췌장 전이 병변에서 소세포암 전환이 발생한 드문 사례를 보고하였다. 소세포암 전환은 치료 저항성의 기전을 나타내며 이를 확인하기 위해 조직 생검이 중요하다. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor 치료 중 병변의 선택적 진행이 의심될 때는 조직학적 평가를 통해 전환 여부를 확인하고 이에 따른 치료 전략을 변경할 필요가 있다.

The leaves and stalks of sweet potato have attracted considerable interest as a health food due to numerous studies reporting the presence of functional compounds and various physiological activities. This study analyzed the functional components in the aerial parts of six domestically developed sweet potato cultivars and compared their antioxidant activities. The total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and total phenolic acid content ranged from 76.9 to 148.6 mg GAE/g, 3.98 to 11.90 mg CE/g, and 44.19 to 93.56 mg/100 g, respectively. Among the cultivars examined, 'Gogeonmi' and 'Tongchaeru' exhibited high levels of these compounds, and their DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were superior to those of the other cultivars. The GABA content ranged from 0.59 to 2.55 mg/g, with 'Tongchaeru' and 'Jinhongmi' showing the highest levels. Lutein content ranged from 0.10 to 0.24 mg/g, with 'Tongchaeru' reaching its maximum concentration 90 days post-cultivation. Extracts from 'Tongchaeru' significantly inhibited the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) inflammatory cytokines, with the water extract demonstrating a stronger effect than the pretanol extract. These findings suggest that the aerial parts of sweet potato could serve as excellent functional vegetables and bioactive ingredients for health food applications.

Chrysanthemum coronarium L (CC)., a leafy vegetable, has various biological properties, including anti-oxidative, antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, and anti-osteoporosis effects. However, the vascular protective effects of CC remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified the vascular protective effect of CC against ferroptosis in aortic thoracic smooth muscle A7r5 cells. The vascular protective effects of CC against erastin (Era)-induced A7r5 cells were assessed by estimating cell viability, glutathione (GSH) levels, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial morphological change, and using western blot analysis. The CC treatment effectively ameliorated Era-induced ferroptotic cytotoxicity, including cellular death. The treatment also suppressed mitochondrial morphological change in the Era-induced A7r5 cells. CC significantly regulated Era-induced abnormal mechanisms related to GSH, lipid peroxidation, cysteine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 (xCT), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein expression in A7r5 cells. In conclusion, these findings indicate that CC shows potential as a functional food supplement, nutraceutical, or medicinal food, with protective effects with respect to vascular health by regulating ferroptosis.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) trigger various metabolic diseases and accumulate in the organs during the onset of metabolic diseases. The AGE-receptor for AGE (RAGE) interactions are strongly associated with the onset of chronic renal disease and diabetic nephropathy. This study evaluated the effects of glyoxal-lysine dimer (GOLD) and methylglyoxal-lysine dimer (MOLD) accumulation on various mechanisms in SV40 MES 13 kidney cells, which are currently unclear. GOLD and MOLD showed different effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy, and apoptosis. GOLD did not induce cytotoxicity or interact with RAGE. By contrast, MOLD significantly reduced the cell viability and interacted with RAGE. This study tested whether the RAGE interaction could cause differences in the effects of GOLD and MOLD on the mechanisms studied. GOLD did not generate oxidative stress or interact with RAGE and did not show toxicity through other mechanisms. Nevertheless, MOLD caused oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis, which are representative glucotoxicity mechanisms of AGE-RAGE interactions, and autophagy. Overall, these findings suggest that AGEs may show different toxicities in various organs. GOLD accumulation in the kidneys might not affect disease occurrence, but MOLD accumulation can promote disease.

In a previous study, beverages containing Centella asiatica extracts (CAE) that exhibited anti-inflammatory effects were prepared. This study aimed to establish the optimal extraction conditions for CAE to enhance its anti-inflammatory activity in functional labeling beverages (FLB-CCS) containing Aloe vera gel powder and Codonopsis lanceolata extract, and to determine their effects on intestinal epithelial cells. Initially, FLB-CCS 1 (containing 3% CAE) and FLB-CCS 2 (containing 1% CAE), which had varying CAE extraction ratios, displayed no significant cytotoxicity in IL-1β-induced inflammatory intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells. FLB-CCS 1 significantly more effectively inhibited the production of inflammatory factors, such as IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), compared to FLB-CCS 2. FLB-CCS 1 also reduced the mRNA expression of genes encoding IL-6 and MCP-1. Additionally, FLB-CCS 1 regulated the expression of IL-1 receptor type 1 by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB transcription factor p65. In conclusion, these results suggest that an increased CAE extraction ratio (FLB-CCS 1) could enhance the anti-inflammatory activity and serve as materials in functional labeling beverages for intestinal health.

Ganoderma lucidum, a fungus of significant scientific interest that encompasses a diverse array of bioactive compounds, has been extensively investigated for its potential health-promoting and disease-preventing properties. Ganodermanontriol, a triterpenoid, is the principal active component contributing to its biological activities. This study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of ganodermanontriol and to evaluate its potential as a functional ingredient. The expression of inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nitric oxide (NO) production was significantly inhibited in ganodermanontriol (1.25–5 μg/mL)-treated compared to that of untreated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Additionally, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), specifically p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), was markedly inhibited in ganodermanontriol (3–5 μg/mL)-treated cells. These findings indicate that ganodermanontriol possesses significant potential as both a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for immune-related disorders, owing to its ability to modulate inflammatory responses.

Natural products have recently emerged as promising candidates for anticancer therapeutics. However, research on their use as adjuvants to existing chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains limited. This study investigated the potential of METO, a methanol extract derived from Thuja orientalis, to induce apoptosis and its underlying mechanisms in the OSCC cell line HSC4. The results demonstrated that METO induces apoptosis in HSC4 cells, which is likely mediated through the activation of the ERK and JNK pathways, both of which were observed to be activated in METO-treated cells. Additionally, METO-induced apoptosis appears to involve signaling pathways associated with SOCS3 and p53. These findings highlight that METO exhibits strong anticancer activity in OSCC cells and suggest its potential as a promising chemotherapeutic agent for OSCC treatment.

본 연구는 K-공간 기반 노이즈 제거 딥러닝(DL)을 이용한 확산강조영상(DWI)의 유용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 연구 를 위해 간세포암으로 확진된 환자 30명을 대상으로 DL 기법 적용 전후의 DWI에 각각 확산경사자계(b-value) 50 과 800을 적용하여 영상화하였다. 획득한 영상에서 간세포암 조직과 정상 간 조직에 관심 영역을 설정하여 b50, b800에서의 신호대잡음비(SNR)와 대조대잡음비(CNR)를 측정하였고 두 명의 관찰자가 각 영상에서 간세포암 조직 을 측정하여 겉보기확산계수(ADC) 값을 계산하였다. 모든 측정값의 평가는 T-검정(T-test)을 사용하여 상관관계 를 평가하였으며 급내상관계수(ICC)를 이용하여 두 관찰자 간 ADC 측정값의 일치도와 신뢰도를 평가하였다. 연구 결과, DL 적용 후 영상에서 SNR과 CNR이 모두 높아졌으며 통계적으로 유의한 것으로(p<0.05) 나타났다. 또한, 간세포암의 ADC 값은 통계적으로 유의하지 않은 것으로(p<0.05) 나타났지만 두 관찰자 간 ADC 측정값의 일치에 대한 신뢰도는 상관계수가 0.75 이상으로 우수하였고, 간세포암의 고유한 성질로 인해 ADC 값의 변화가 적은 점을 고려한다면 충분히 유의한 결과라고 볼 수 있다. 결론적으로 DL DWI은 영상 획득 시간을 단축하면서도 기존 DWI 보다 질적으로 더 나은 영상을 획득했다. 향후 다양한 MRI 검사에 DL이 적용된다면 더욱 유용하게 사용될 것으로 사료 된다.

Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a key mechanism of skin aging, and the use of antioxidants is an effective strategy to prevent the symptoms associated with ROS-induced skin aging. The components rich in polyphenolic compounds with antioxidative activity were identified by fractionating an aqueous ethanolic extract of Gryllus bimaculatus (AE-GBE) using solvent using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. Their ability to migrate H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) was then evaluated. The butanol fraction of AE-GBE had the highest polyphenol content and antioxidant effect, followed by the ethyl acetate and water fractions, suggesting that the likely antioxidant components are polar components. Furthermore, the butanol, ethyl acetate, and water fractions effectively reduced intracellular ROS production and DNA damage in HDF cells caused by H2O2. Overall, these findings suggest that the butanol fraction of AE-GBE shows promise as a natural insect-derived antioxidant material, capable of suppressing oxidative stress by showing a stronger antioxidant effect under H2O2 stimulation than the other fractions.

To utilize pepper (Piper nigrum) as an immunostimulatory agent, we isolated macrophage stimulating polysaccharides from pepper and investigated their macrophage activating activities. Hot-water extracts (HW) of black pepper (BP) and white pepper (WP) were prepared, and their macrophage stimulating activities were evaluated using RAW 264.7 cells. BP-HW significantly promoted the secretion of macrophage stimulating factors such as nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12 compared to WP-HW. When BP and WP-HW were fractionated into crude polysaccharides (CP) and low molecules (LM) by ethanol precipitation, BP-CP demonstrated significantly more potent activity. Furthermore, BP-CP not only induced mRNA gene expression of macrophage activation factors, but also promoted nuclear localization of p65 and c-Jun. In addition, component sugar analysis revealed that glucan-type polysaccharides in BP-CP played a crucial role in macrophage activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that black pepper has industrial applicability not only as a spice, but also as an immunostimulatory functional material.

The present study was conducted to investigate effects of rabbit meat extract on energy metabolism and muscle differentiation in C2C12 myotubes. Water extract of rabbit meat (10, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml) was used to treat differentiated C2C12 cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis were used to determine mRNA or protein levels of energy metabolism-related genes. Total adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was also measured. Treatment with rabbit meat extract significantly increased expression levels of muscle differentiation markers (myogenin and myosin heavy chain) and mitochondrial biogenesis regulators (PGC1α, NRF1, and TFAM) in C2C12 myotubes compared to non-treated control. Additionally, rabbit meat extract activated phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC). Rabbit meat extract significantly increased ATP contents in myotubes. These results suggest that rabbit meat extract has the potential to improve energy metabolism in skeletal muscles.

Health concerns related to particulate matter (PM) pollution are on the rise globally. This study investigates the effects of the main components of PM on human airway epithelial cells (Calu-3), focusing on three distinct types: PM10-bound PAHs (including Benzo[a]anthracene and Benzo[b]fluoranthene), PM10-bound trace elements (containing arsenic and lead), and PM2.5-bound ions (comprising sodium and calcium). Calu-3 cells were exposed to these PM components at concentrations ranging from 2 to 100 μg/mL. Unexposed Calu-3 cells exhibited a 60% increase in metabolic activity after 12 hours. In contrast, exposure to PM components resulted in significant reductions in cell viability, with PM10-bound PAHs and PM10-bound trace elements causing decreases of 54% and 55% respectively, and PM2.5-bound ions leading to a 63% reduction at 100 μg/mL. Additionally, there was found to be a notable rise in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNF-α. Specifically, IL-8 levels increased by 456%, and TNF-α levels rose by 660% after 12 hours of exposure to PM2.5-bound ions. These findings indicate that the size and composition of fine dust particles play a critical role in their cytotoxic effects, contributing to increased cell death, membrane damage, and necrosis in airway epithelial cells.

Recently, active research in Korea and worldwide has begun to focus on gene function and cultivar development using gene editing tools. This research, in addition to studies on edible mushroom, aims to enhance the physical and biochemical characteristics of mushrooms for applications in materials and substance production. For these studies, efficient isolation of protoplasts from the target mushroom is critical. However, several commercial cell wall-lysing enzyme cocktails, including Novozyme234, Glucanex, and Lysing enzymes, have recently been discontinued. In this study, we aimed to identify alternative enzyme systems to replace the discontinued cell wall-lysing enzymes for stable isolation of protoplasts from Ganoderma lucidum. To select an optimal osmotic buffer, enzyme function in 0.6 and 1.2 M Sorbitol, Sucrose, Mannitol, and KCl was assessed. The effect of reaction time was also evaluated. Protoplast isolation efficiency of each alternative enzyme was tested using lysing enzymes from Trichoderma harzianum, Chimax-N, and Yatalase, either individually or in combination. This matrix of studies identified enzymes and optimal conditions that could replace the discontinued lysing enzymes.

Obesity, a global health concern characterized by excessive fat accumulation, necessitates the discovery of anti-obesity compounds. Rottlerin, known for its anti-cancer effects as a mitochondrial uncoupler, has been a subject of interest. However, its impact on reducing intracellular lipid accumulation remains a gap in our understanding. This study aimed to fill this gap by dissecting the mechanism of rottlerin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We treated differentiated 3T3-L1 cells with 0-20 mM of rottlerin for 48 hours to assess its capability to induce lipid accumulation. Notably, we observed no cytotoxicity associated with the treatment of rottlerin up to 20 mM, indicating its safety at these concentrations. Lipid accumulation, measured by oil Red O, was downregulated dose-independently by rottlerin. We also found that key lipogenic enzymes, including SCD1 and DGAT1, were decreased. The transcription factor of lipogenic genes, SREBP1, was reduced by approximately 80% with rottlerin. LRP6, a crucial link between de novo lipogenesis mechanism reactions and Wnt signaling, was also degraded by around 70%. Interestingly, the downstream regulation of LRP6, b-catenin, and TCFL2 was diminished by rottlerin. Our data indicate that rottlerin alleviates adipocyte lipid accumulation by suppressing the LRP6/β-catenin/SREBP1c pathway. These findings underscore the potential of rottlerin as a safe nutraceutical for combating obesity.

The risk of inflammatory conditions caused by obesity is associated with an increased predisposition for additional pathological conditions, including cardiovascular risk factors. Adipose tissue stores energy and contributes to endocrine and immune functions that regulate homeostasis throughout the body. The effects of honokiol on vascular homeostasis in adipose tissue in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice are unclear. This study examined the protective effect of honokiol, an extract of traditional alkaloid herbs, on vascular endothelial cells in epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) and its regulatory effect on other metabolic parameters, such as the lipid droplet diameter, macrophage infiltration, and inflammation in HFDinduced obese mice. A HFD increased the density of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1)-1-positive vascular endothelial cells in EAT, which was decreased significantly by the honokiol treatment. Honokiol ameliorated the HFD-induced increase in lipid droplet diameter and increased macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue. Honokiol ameliorated the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory molecules and F4/80-positive macrophage infiltration in the adipose tissue of HFD-induced obese mice. Obese mice administered honokiol exhibited reduced mRNA expression of M1 macrophage (F4/80, TNF-, mIL-1, CD11c, and CCL2) and M2 macrophage (Arginase-1, FIZZ1, CD206, and TGF-1) markers in EAT. The vascular permeability was detected by Evans blue dye leakage in EAT of obese mice and treated mice with honokiol. These data suggest that honokiol regulates the angiogenic effects in adipose tissue and inflammation in HFDinduced obese mice.

Cirsium setidens, Allium hookeri, Aronia melancocarpa, are popular dietary ingredients for Asian cuisine or beverage. this study attempted to search and report the antioxidant activity of extracts of aronia, gondre and samchae, which are used for food in Korea. As a result, total phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity tended to increase, and Gondre extract showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity effect. The results of a study on the ABTS radical scavenging activity of extracts of Gondre, Aronia, and Samchae showed a tendency for radical scavenging activity to increase as the concentration increased. Gondre hot water extract showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity. In this way, antioxidant activity was shown in the order of Gondre, Aronia, and Samchae, and the concentration showed a high activity effect at high concentrations. In the cell protection effect results, the concentration of Gondre extract was 500 μg/mL, the Samchae alcohol extract was used at concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 μg/mL, and the Aronia extract was used at concentrations of 125 μg/mL. and showed a cytoprotective effect at 250 μg/mL. We hope that these research results will be used as basic data for the development of various functional foods.

Orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts are developmental cysts that occur in the jaw that account for approximately 7%–17% of all cysts in the jaws. Studies have shown that malignant transformation of odontogenic cysts most often occurs in inflammatory cysts, such as periapical cysts, but malignant transformation of orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts has also been reported. In this report, we present an uncommon case of squamous cell carcinoma arising from an orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst.