호장은 마디풀과에 속하는 다년초로 우리나라를 포함한 동아시아에서 잘 자생한다. 호장근은 호장의 뿌리로 항염증과 진경제로 사용되어 왔으며 유효성분으로 emodin을 포함하고 있다. 피부의 표피는 자극, 해로운 물질을 차단하고 수분 증발을 방지함으로써 체내를 보호하는 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에 서는 호장근과 그 유효성분인 emodin이 피부 장벽과 보습능에 미치는 영향에 대해 평가하고자 하였다. 먼 저 호장근은 ABTS+ radicals을 우수하게 제거함으로써 항산화 효능이 뛰어남을 확인하였다. 다음으로, 실 시간 중합연쇄효소반응을 통해 각질형성세포의 분화에 중요한 역할을 하는 filaggrin의 유전자 발현을 비교 한 결과, 호장근과 emodin에 의해 농도-의존적으로 filaggrin mRNA 발현이 증가하였다. 또한, 호장근과 emodin은 히알루론산 합성에 중요한 역할을 하는 HAS-2 mRNA 발현을 유의하게 증가시키는 것으로 나 타났다. 종합적으로, emodin을 유효성분으로 포함하는 호장근은 피부 장벽 강화와 보습능 증강을 위한 기 능성 화장품 소재로서 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

In this study, the dyeing of silk fabric with Polygonum cuspidatum extracts was investigated. The contents of this study are as follows. First, the proper dyeing conditions were investigated by measuring the dye uptake (K/S value) that depended on the dyeing conditions when silk fabric was dyed with Polygonum cuspidatum extract. Second, the brightness (L), hue, and chroma differences that appear after mordanting with Al, Cu and Fe were investigated by measuring the CIELAB and Munsell values. And third, the colorfastness and antibacterial property were measured. When the silk fabric was dyed with Polygonum cuspidatum extract, the proper dyeing conditions were a colorant concentration of 90% v/v, a dyeing of time 100 minutes, a dyeing temperature of 70℃, and a dyeing of pH 3. In mordanting methods, the dyeabilities of post-mordanting were higher than those of premordanting. The hue value displayed yellow (Y) and yellow-red (YR) in cases of pre and post mordanting. The C value decreased by the mordanting of Polygonum cuspidatum extracts. Generally the colorfastness of mordanted fabrics was improved by mordanting. The dyed fabrics showed a 90.6% of Staphylococcus aureus reduction rate, and the dyed and mordanted fabrics showed 97.1% bacteria reduction rate. The dyed and mordanted fabrics showed above 90.5% Klebsiella pneumoniae reduction rate, and Cu mordant revealed the most effective bacterial reduction.

Background : Dry eyes are caused by highly increased osmolarity of tear film, inflammation, and apoptosis of the ocular surface. Polygonum cuspidatum is a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Polygonum found in Asia and North America. However, the effects of P. cuspidatum aqueous extract (PCE) on hyperosmolarity-induced inflammation and apoptosis in human corneal epithelial cells have not been examined. Methods and Results : Hyperosmotic media induced human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) cytotoxicity though increased inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. PCE treatment significantly inhibited expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α), and activation of NF-κB p65 in hyperosmolar stress-induced HCECs. In addition, Hyperosmolarity-induced increase in BAX expression and activation of cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase 3 were attenuated in a concentration-dependent manner by PCE. PCE treatment restored anti-oxidative proteins such as Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in hyperosmolar stress-induced HCECs. Conclusion : PCE protected against hyperosmolar stress-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidation by inhibiting expression of COX-2, BAX, MMP9; activation of NF-κB, caspase 3, and PARP; and increasing expression of MUC4 and anti-oxidative proteins. Overall, our data provide insight into the protective effects of PCE as a candidate for eye health.