Natural compounds are emerging as promising alternatives to conventional hair loss treatments. This review examines various natural ingredients, including green tea (EGCG), pea sprout extract, red ginseng, pumpkin seed oil, rosemary oil, chia seeds, and micronutrients. It summarizes their mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, and safety profiles. These compounds target pathways related to androgenetic alopecia, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), oxidative stress, and inflammation. Clinical and animal studies indicate benefits such as stimulating hair growth, preserving hair follicles, and exhibiting anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, with increasing evidence supporting their use among patients with hair loss disorders.

This study evaluated the field-scale performance of an amorphous iron hydroxide (Fe(OH)3)-based desulfurizing agent for the removal of sulfur-based odorous compounds emitted from wastewater treatment facilities, including equalization tanks and sludge dewatering unit facilities. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (MM), dimethyl sulfide (DMS), and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), which account for over 60~80% of total odor impact in such facilities, were targeted in this research. A drytype adsorption system packed with porous amorphous Fe(OH)3 was installed at a wastewater treatment plant and operated continuously for 45 days. Odorous gas concentrations were measured before and after treatment using portable analyzers and gas chromatography-pulsed flame photometric detector (GC-PFPD). The desulfurizing agent demonstrated a high H2S removal efficiency of over 99.9%, even under high inlet concentrations exceeding 500 ppm. Physicochemical analyses including XRD, XRF, EDS and BET confirmed that the material was amorphous, possessed a high surface area (243.4 m2/g), and exhibited a mesoporous structure favorable for gas adsorption. Hysteresis observed in nitrogen adsorption isotherms indicated a bottleneck-shaped pore structure, which enhances adsorption of odorous gases and removal efficiency. Notably, the system maintained stable performance under varying humidity without significant degradation.

‘괴(槐)’를 지명소(地名素)로 포함한 전국의 지명 33개소의 분포와 유래를 규명하고 그 역사적·문 화적·생태적 의미를 고찰한 본 연구는 문헌 조사와 현장 답사 그리고 구술 자료를 종합하여 진행함 으로써 지명 속에 내재된 괴목의 정체와 상징성을 추적하였다. 분석 결과 ‘괴’를 포함한 지명은 주로 법정 동명 형태의 마을명에서 나타났으며, 가장 높은 빈도의 지명은 괴정리(괴정동), 괴목리(괴목 마을), 괴평리(괴평동), 괴목정마을의 순으로 나타났다. 지명 유래는 괴목 정자, 노거수, 서식지, 당집, 전설, 중국 지명, 주변 지형 등 다양한 요소와 깊이 관련되어 있었다. 특히 회화나무와 느티나 무의 식재지 및·자생지 특성이 지명 형성에 깊이 반영된 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 ‘괴’ 지명이 단순한 땅이나 공간의 명칭이 아니라 지역의 생활양식과 문화적 변용, 그리고 환경적 특성 을 반영하는 중요한 지표임을 보여준다. 또한 지명에 내재된 역사·문화·생태적 의미를 밝힘으로써 지명 유래와 문화경관 해석의 기초 자료를 도출하였음은 본 연구의 성과라 판단된다.

Phellinus linteus, a medicinal mushroom with potent antioxidant properties, contains bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. To optimize the extraction of skin-whitening compounds, ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with statistically based optimization was used to simultaneously extract total polyphenol content (TPC), radical scavenging activity (RSA), and tyrosinase activity inhibition (TAI). Extraction variables, including extraction time (X1:4.8 ~ 55.2 min), extraction temperature (X2:26.4 ~ 93.6oC), and ethanol concentration (X3:13.0 ~ 97.0%), were varied in 17 experimental cycles based on a central composite design. Quadratic regression models for TPC, RSA, and TAI had coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 0.92, demonstrating well-fitted models and statistical significance. Analysis of variance revealed that all three variables significantly influenced extraction efficiency (p < 0.0041), with ethanol concentration (X3) having the most pronounced effect. The optimal extraction conditions were 80.0 min, 82.5oC, and 64.8% ethanol, yielding predicted values of 6.42 mg GAE/g DM for TPC, 73.71% for RSA, and 85.04% for TAI. These results suggest that a moderate ethanol concentration combined with adequate thermal input maximizes the extraction of antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities specifically associated with skin-whitening effects.

Lactic acid bacterial (LAB) fermentation is frequently used to enhance the nutritional and functional properties of natural products. Oysters (Crassostrea gigas), a marine bivalve mollusc, have long been used in food applications. In the present study, we explored the effects of LAB fermentation on the physiological activity of C. gigas. To identify new starter strains, we isolated and screened LAB from local specialties in Sacheon, South Korea. Eighteen LAB strains were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, four of which exhibited protease activity. All the four isolates were identified as Latilactobacillus curvatus. Fermentation was carried out in a medium containing C. gigas powder for three days. After incubation, the antioxidant activity in the culture supernatant of fermented C. gigas with L. curvatus GH-118-24 increased by approximately 139.2% compared with that of the non-fermented control. Additionally, the extract of fermented C. gigas for three days showed significant improvements in anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects, with increases of over 71.2% and 253.8%, respectively, compared to the non-fermented extract. These results suggested that the selected LAB strains have potential as starters capable of enhancing the bioactive properties of food, thus highlighting the importance of genetic resources in South Korea.

본 연구는 감초(Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)의 미백 화합물인 Glabridin (GB)의 피부 관련 연구의 특성을 검토하여, 새로운 분야의 연구 탐색과 산업적 응용 가치를 판단하기 위해 GB의 생물학적 효능 효 과, 피부 미백과 메커니즘, 안정성 및 제품 활용 관련 문헌을 분석하였다. 구글 학술검색과 PubMed 및 KCI를 통해 피부 미용과 직접적인 특성을 다룬 128편의 문헌을 분석한 결과, GB는 항산화, 항염 등의 효 능으로 피부 미백과 건선, 아토피 등 다양한 피부 증상을 효과적으로 개선한다. 이는 여러 신호 전달 경로 를 조절하는 과정에서 발휘되고 미백은 티로시나아제 활성 억제와 멜라닌 색소의 감소를 통한 색소 침착 개선의 메커니즘을 갖는다. GB의 안정화와 피부 투과도 개선을 위해 리포좀, 캡슐화, 나노입자, 복합체 등 의 기술이 전략적으로 연구됨으로써 고효율의 제품 개발 가능성이 향상되고 있다. GB의 이러한 피부 미용 적 측면에서의 연구 동향을 파악함으로써, 본 연구가 새로운 연구 방향을 제시하고 생체이용률이 증가하는 고효율 화장품 개발에 참고 자료로 활용되기를 기대한다.

전 세계적으로 기후변화 등의 환경 문제와 자원고갈 문제가 심각해짐에 따라 화석연료의 의존 도를 낮추고 탄소중립을 실현할 수 있는 대체 에너지원 확보가 중요해졌다. 이에 따라 국내 발전분야에서 는 중유를 대체할 수 있는 폐자원 유래 바이오중유를 2014년부터 시범보급하여 2019년 상용화를 시작하였 다. 본 연구에서는 2014년 시범보급 시작부터 2023년까지 상용화 기간을 포함한 10년간 국내에서 발전용 연료로 사용된 바이오중유를 대상으로 원료 수급 데이터 및 연료 품질 모니터링 데이터를 연도별로 분석하 여 주요 품질 특성의 변화를 평가하였다. 시범보급 초기에는 저가 원료의 사용 및 연료 제조기술의 부족 등으로 인화점, 동점도, 황분, 회분, 전산가, 금속분, 질소분, 인함량 등 대부분 품질 항목의 변동성이 컸으 나, 2018년까지 시범보급 기간을 거치며 바이오중유 생산사들의 제조기술 및 발전소의 구매 연료 품질 관 리 체계의 발전 등으로 연료 품질이 빠르게 안정화되었다. 이후 상용화 기간을 포함한 2023년까지 인화점 과 황분 함량은 안정적으로 유지되었고, 동점도, 회분, 유동점, 전산가, 금속분, 인 함량 등은 감소 추세를 나타내었으며, 발열량은 증가 추세를 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 10년간 바이오중유의 품질은 시범보급 첫해 를 제외하고 모두 법적인 품질기준을 만족하였고 연료로서의 품질 특성은 안정화되며 개선되고 있는 것으 로 나타났다.

식품의 가공 및 조리에 정제 가공유지를 사용하면 2- monochloropropane-1,3-diol esters (2-MCPDEs), 3-monochloropropane- 1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDEs)와 glycidyl esters (GEs)가 다양한 유형의 식품에 포함될 수 있다. EU뿐만 아니라 최근 대만에서는 식용 혹은 식품가공원료로 공급 하는 시중 판매 식용유지에 대해 GEs 1 mg/kg 이하, 홍콩 에서는 3-MCPDEs에 대해 영유아 분유 50 μg/kg 이하, 영 유아 액상 분유 6 μg/kg 이하로 기준·규격을 관리하고 있 다. 최근 다양한 한국 식품의 수출이 확대되고 있어 많은 식품에 사용되는 식용유지류의 국외 기준·규격에 대한 검증이 필요하다. 본 연구는 시중에서 판매되고 있는 식용유 지류 샘플을, AOAC Cd 29a-13 방법 및 EFSA 방법을 참 고하여 GC/MS를 사용하여 시험법을 검증하고, 지방산 유 래 유해물질(2-MCPDEs, 3-MCPDEs 및 GEs)을 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 시험법의 결정계수(r²) 평균은 0.9999, 검출한계 (limit of detection, LOD)와 정량한계(limit of quantification, LOQ)는 각각 9.6-20.4 μg/kg와 29.0-62.0 μg/kg이었다. Intraday 및 inter-day 정확도는 2-MCPDE 93.07%±9.58%- 107.92% ±5.19%, 3-MCPDE 92.14%±11.05%-108.60%±2.86% 및 GEs 87.68%±9.32%-105.66%±8.50%이었고, 정밀도는 각각 5.91- 11.72%RSD, 2.63-11.99%RSD 및 7.50-12.96%RSD로 AOAC 가이드라인에 적합함을 확인하였다. 또한 Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) 국제 숙련도 시험 에 참가하여 적합한 z-score를 얻었으며, Quality Control (QC) material의 회수율은 89.16-108.14%로, 외부 및 내부 검증을 통해 분석 결과의 신뢰성을 확보하였다. 확립된 시험법을 토대로 시판 중인 식용유지류(n=272)를 분석한 결과, 2- MCPDEs는 N.D.-1,753 μg/kg, 3-MCPDEs는 N.D.- 2,492 μg/kg, 그리고 GEs는 N.D.-985 μg/kg이었으며, 이는 EU 기준·규격에 적합한 수준이었다. 샘플의 특성에 따라 liquid oil과 semi-solid oil로 구분하였으며, 지방산 유래 유 해물질 검출 결과가 EU 기준·규격에 근접(90-100%)한 샘 플은 각각 3-MCPDEs는 3개, 13개이고, GEs는 1개, 6개 로, liquid oil보다 semi-solid oil에서 근접하는 샘플이 더 많았다. 따라서 본 연구는 국내 유통 중인 식용유지류의 지방산 유래 유해물질을 모니터링함으로써 식용유지류의 안전 확보를 위한 기초자료로 활용되고, 수출품목 유지 및 기업체 저감화 연구에 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

This study investigated the behavior and environmental impact of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in a simulated marine environment, focusing on the effects of UV exposure. Through a series of controlled experiments, it was found that UV-induced weathering increased the formation of smaller EPS degradation products, leading to higher concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the seawater. Additionally, it was suggested that the assembly behavior of dissolved organic matter (DOM) contributed to the reduction of DOC levels over time. The EPS layer exhibited slightly higher DOC concentrations compared to the seawater, likely due to hydrophobic interactions that retained degradation products near the EPS. Analysis of the soil layer revealed that EPS particles and degradation products settled or adsorbed more extensively under UV conditions, indicating a greater risk of sediment contamination. Soil layer elution experiments further confirmed that EPS particles and their degradation products could migrate through soil pores, posing a potential contamination risk to other environments. UV exposure resulted in a twentyfold increase in DOC release from EPS compared to dark conditions. These findings highlight the persistent pollution potential of EPS in marine environments, especially under UV exposure, and emphasize the need for effective EPS waste management and further research into its environmental impacts.

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.

This review examines the importance of measuring practical enteric methane emissions from ruminants, considering their significant impact on global warming. Global warming is significantly driven by an increase in greenhouse gases, with rising methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants accelerating global warming recently. To successfully mitigate CH4 emissions and establish effective strategies, it is essential to apply reliable measurement techniques. This will allow for an accurate assessment of on-farm CH4 emissions. The priority should be to gather CH4 emission data that reflects the actual state of CH4 emissions from ruminants. The review provides an overview of the methods used to measure CH4 emissions from ruminants by compiling existing researches. It introduces the concepts, principles, and limitations of these methods to facilitate comparisons between existing approaches. This review discusses methods for measuring enteric CH4 emissions from ruminants at the farm level, including the tracer technique, laser methane detector, GreenFeed, and sniffer system. These methods are highlighted as potential tools to accumulate substantial data on on-farm CH4 emission from domestic animals with provides examples of international cases. Among these, this review introduces the Sniffer method, a CH4 emission measurement techniques that are suitable for on-farm use under domestic conditions, and emphasizes the necessity of its application. In addition, by presenting international cases where predictive models were developed based on on-farm CH4 measurement techniques, it is projected that if predictive models for CH4 emissions are developed by accumulating data at the farm level, it can contribute to sustainable livestock industry in various promising ways.

Super P (SP) is a conductive carbon black that significantly enhances the electrical conductivity of various types of electrodes, making it a widely preferred conductive agent in lithium-ion batteries. By contrast, activated carbon (AC), originally used in capacitors due to its porous structure, is expected to contribute to electrochemical performance through its enhanced interaction with lithium ions. First, the physical properties of both materials were analyzed through various characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to confirm the increase in electrochemical properties through the combination of SP and AC. Furthermore, the microstructure and electrical properties of the LiFePO4 (LFP) electrode were analyzed, to determine the impact on battery performance. With a 1.15 M LiPF6 in an ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (EC/DEC) electrolyte, the results indicated that SP-only electrodes exhibited the highest conductivity and lowest surface resistance, making them the most effective at maintaining stable electrochemical performance. In contrast, electrodes with only AC showed higher resistance, demonstrating that SP remains superior in improving LFP electrode conductivity, ultimately optimizing lithium-ion battery performance.

Sage (Salvia officinalis) contains various active compounds, including flavonoids and terpenes. In this study, the terpenes content, including camphor, borneol, and eucalyptol, was analyzed. Both subcritical water and conventional solvent extraction methods were used. Using subcritical water extraction, the optimal extraction conditions were determined based on temperature and time to selectively extract the desired components from the sage. These optimal extraction conditions were as follows: camphor (130°C for 5 min, 2.73±0.39 mg/g), borneol (130°C for 5 min, 0.72±0.07 mg/g), and eucalyptol (150°C for 5 min, 0.51±0.03 mg/g). A comparison of extracts obtained via subcritical water extraction technology and various solvents revealed that the extracts obtained using subcritical water extraction had higher levels of all three components. This indicates that subcritical water extraction is more efficient and faster than traditional solvent extraction methods. Moreover, these results suggest that subcritical water extraction technology has the potential to be applied as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional extraction methods for obtaining active compounds like terpenoids.

This study investigated immunomodulatory and antimetastatic properties of polysaccharides extracted from hallabong (Citrus hybrid) peel, focusing on their effects on macrophage activation. Crude polysaccharides (HPWP) were obtained through hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation from dried hallabong peel powder. Macrophages isolated from mouse peritoneum were used to evaluate cytotoxicity of HPWP against normal cells and Colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma cells. Our findings revealed no cytotoxic effects of HPWP on either normal cells or Colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma cells. Immunoactivity was assessed by measuring cytokine production, specifically IL-6 and IL-12, using ELISA. Results indicated a significant, concentration-dependent increases of cytokine levels. Tumoricidal activity of NK cells was also evaluated, demonstrating enhanced tumor cell killing induced by HPWP, in a concentration-dependent manner. This increased activity was due to HPWP’s potent antimetastatic effects, as observed in a mouse model of Colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma. In comparison with a the negative control (NC, 100%), HPWP at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 μg/mouse showed antimetastatic effects of 49.4%, 61.3%, and 74.3%, respectively. These effects were attributed to only NK cell activation. These findings suggest that HPWP has potential as a functional ingredient in food products aimed at enhancing immune response and inhibiting cancer metastasis.