This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effect of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus After inducing obesity by feeding hight fat diet (diet induced obesity model: DIO) for four weeks, each 8 rats were assigned to normal (Nor), high fat diet (HF), high fat diet containing orlistat (PC), high fat diet containing different concentration of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus (UPDM_L, UPDM_H) and Discorea Japonica Thunb. (UPD) extract. Although the UPD, UPDM_L (ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 400 mg/kg) and UPDM_H (DIO oral administration ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 800 mg/kg) showed weight gain inhibition effects, the results of poor obesity inhibition rather than PC were confirmed. However, it showed a more effective weight loss effect in UPDM_H than UPD, and significantly reduced the weight of epididymal fat and subcutaneous fat. Furthermore, the possibility of anti-obesity effects of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be confirmed by observing the effects of reducing serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL concentrations, reducing ALT and AST levels, and inhibiting fat build-up in liver tissue. It is believed that Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be expected to utilize as a functional material that is important to improve anti-obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Aging is a growing concern of age-associated aberrations in immune system or immunosenescence. Probiotics contain not only these general health advantages but also other the regulation of host immune function. Among those probiotics, the immunomodulatory effects of Weissella cibaria JW15 (JW15) strain has already been reported in our previous studies. The objective of this study is to assess improved immunity of JW15 strain in aged mice. In experiment, mice were divided into five groups. Twenty eight–month-old C57BL/6J mice were given a daily dose of 1×109 CFU/ mouse (JW15-H group) and 1×108 CFU/mouse (JW15- L group) of viable JW15. The young mice group (YM) and old mice group (OM) were given PBS. After four weeks of administration, mice were euthanized. Mice blood was collected and analyzed for complete blood cell count (CBC). Then, mice spleen was weighed and analyzed for splenocyte. Finally, we measured the concentration of cytokine secreted by splenocyte and serum. The results showed splenocyte proliferation of JW15-L group by the addition of LPS and concanavalin A was significantly higher than that of OM group. Splenocyte TNF-α production was significantly increased by JW15 intake. In particular, splenocyte TNF-α production of JW15-L group by the addition of LPS (5 μg/mL) was significantly greater than that other group. Splenocyte IL-6 production was also the highest in JW15-L group. Serum IFN-γ production of JW15-L (59.13 ± 16.13 pg/mL) group was significantly higher than that of OM group (39.71 ± 2.51 pg/ mL). When compared to the OM group (32.22 ± 1.92 pg/mL), Serum TNF-α production was significantly increased by JW15-H intake (69.01± 26.51 pg/mL). In conclusion, JW15 enhanced immunomodulative effects. In particular, the effect was significantly excellent in JW15-L group (1 × 108 CFU/mouse). Therefore, Weissella cibaria JW15 would be suitable for consideration as a helpful functional food for companion animals and humans.

This study was determined the hair growth effect and mode of action of a complex extract (abelmo), extracted from various natural plants including Acorus calamus var. angustatus. 30 six-week old C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into three treatment groups with ten mice per treatment group repeatedly. The treatment group is a control group, and was classified into saline-applied, minoxidil 5%-applied, and abelmo-applied groups. Hair growth started from the abelmo-applied and minoxidil 5% -applied groups on the 9th day, compared to the saline-applied group. Hair growth rate was 17.06% and 19.15% in those two groups, respectively, and the abelmo-applied group's hair growth rate was higher. The density, length and thickness of hair were significantly higher in the order of abelmo-applied group, minoxidil 5%-applied group and saline-applied group on the 9th day, and hair root was strongly maintained in the abelmo-applied group. The density, length and thickness of hair in the abelmo-applied group were significantly higher by 599.8, 122.2 and 181.8% on the 9th day compared to the saline-applied group, and 166.7, 171.4 and 200.2% on the 12th day, and 136.6, 216.9 and 180.7%, respectively on the 15th day. As for hair follicle and the length of hair shaft from the dosal skin histopathology manifestation, the abelmo-applied group was more excellent than the saline-applied group and minoxidil 5%-applied group. This result actually confirmed the fact that abelmo promotes hair growth and strongly maintains hair root simultaneously.

N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) is a potent mutagen in a mouse model by inducing point mutation in a random manner and, in particular, causing heritable base substitutions in spermatogonia. In this study, systematic development of phenotype-driven mutant mice with large scale was carried out by using ENU. Nine-week-old male mice of C57BL/6J received intraperitoneal injection at three times with 100 mg/kg of ENU at weekly intervals for three weeks. After injections with ENU, the changes of body weight, fatality, recovery of fertile period, and breeding record were measured in these mice. Body weight lost as a result of ENU treatments was reversed after the last ENU injection. Live fertile male mice recovered from infertility from 104 to 165 days after ENU treatments were mated with C57BL/6J female mice for generation of G1 offspring. An average birth rate was 5.9 mice from 1 pair of paternal and maternal mice. All of 231 G1 offspring mice were analyzed by modified-SHIRPA with standard procedure at nine weeks of age. Among G1 mice, 166 mice were identified as mutagenic phenotypes in 20 test items. The changes in mutagenic phenotypes after ENU treatments, for instance, pattern in the region with a different color, touch escape, changes in head morphology, pupil, and teeth, and negative geotaxis etc., were found in these mice. Taken together, these results indicate that ENU may be a trans-generational mutagen in C57BL/6J mice.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of black sesame oil on hair growth in a shaving animal model of C57BL/6 mice. Five-week-old male mice were acclimated for one week under 22±1 µl room temperature, 50±5% relative humidity, and 12 hours of a light/dark cycle before beginning the experiment. The animals were divided into three groups, including the normal group (saline, N), positive control group (3% MXD, PC), and experimental group (black sesame oil, E) and received topical application of 100 µl once per day, six days per week, for a period of three weeks. Hair regrowth was evaluated by gross and histological examination. In addition, immunohistochemical observation for SCF, the activities of enzymes, including ALP and γ-GT, and the expression quantity of growth factors, including IGF-1 in the skin of mice was performed or evaluated. Topical treatment with black sesame oil and 3% minoxidil for three weeks to dorsal skin resulted in more rapid acceleration of hair regrowth in the E and PC groups than in the N group. Development and elongation of hair follicles were promoted in the E and PC groups, compared with the N group. Serum ALP activity was significantly higher in the E group, compared with the N group within three weeks (p<0.05). Skin ALP activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.05), and higher in the E and PC groups than in the N group within three weeks with no significant differences. Serum γ-GT activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.01), and significantly higher in the E group, compared with the N group within three weeks (p<0.05). Skin γ-GT activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.05), and significantly higher in the PC (p<0.01) and E (p<0.001) groups, compared with the N group within three weeks. IGF-1 expression in the skin was significantly higher in the PC and E groups, compared with the N group (p<0.01). SCF antigens were heavily stained in bulge, stem cells, and dermal papilla and middle stained in inner root sheath, outer root sheath, and epidermis in the E and PC groups. These results indicate that black sesame oil effectively stimulated hair growth in an animal model via several mechanisms and that it can be used practically for hair growth or prevention of hair loss in human beings.

This study was carried out to investigate effect of herbal extracts mixtures on hair growth in an alopecia model of C57BL/6 mice. There were 4 experimental groups including distilled water (DW, negative control), 25% ethanol(EtOH, vehicle control) and two herbal extract mixtures (HE-1 and HE-2). HE-1 included Polygonum and Brassica campestris extracts and HE-2 included Mulberry root and Gardenia extracts. The 6 weeks-old C57BL/6 male mice were shaved with an electric clipper and the test compounds were topically treated with 0.2 ml per mouse daily for 3 weeks. The hair re-growth was photographically determined at days 0, 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21. The number of mast cells which is an important modulator of hair growth was counted in 1 cm of dorsal skin section of mice. There were no clinical signs in all experimental groups. As the results of photometric analysis, the topical application of the herbal extracts (HE-1 & 2) for 2 weeks to dorsal skin accelerated hair re-growth remarkably faster than that of DW group (p＜0.05). Activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was significantly increased in EtOH group compared to DW group (p＜0.05). Both herbal extract mixtures also increased the ALP activity, but it was not significantly different from DW. Treatment of mice with HE-2 significantly increased mast cell population compared to EtOH. Taken together, these results suggest that herbal extract mixtures used in this study may have hair-growth promoting activities and can be useful for treatment for male pattern baldness or alopecia in humans.

Gochujang, a traditional Korean food, is fermented by mixing red pepper powder, various grain, meju and salt. Changes in the kind of ingredients and fermentation method could increase health functionalities. In this study, in vivo anti-colitis effects of gochujang prepared with mixed grains, bamboo salt baked 3 times and meju starters on DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice were studied. We prepared gochujang prepared with mixed grains (MG), bamboo salt, and Aspergillus oryzae (A) and Baccillus subtilis (B) mixed starters (MG-AB) and gochujang prepared with MG, bamboo salt and A, B and Lactobacillus plantarum (L) mixed starters (MG-ABL). MG-AB and MG-ABL significantly increased body weight and colon length compared to the control (p<0.05). MG-ABL showed significantly decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in serum compared to the control and MG-AB group (p<0.05). MG-ABL also regulated mRNA and protein levels of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the mice colon tissue (p<0.05). Therefore, MG-ABL exhibited the increased anticolitis effects by inhibiting damage of colon tissue, probably by regulating a pro-inflammatory cytokine of IL-6 and regulated apoptosis related genes. These results indicated that gochujang changed with good ingredients and starters had colitis preventive effects and might be due to active compounds in mixed grain and bamboo salt, and produced by L during the fermentation of gochujang.

탈모방지 및 발모효과를 가지는 소재를 개발하기 위해 한의학에서 전통적으로 사용되는 23가지 한방소재를 선정하여 한방복합처방단을 개발하였다. 한방복합처방단을 구성하는 한방소재들은 예로부터 전통적으로 발모 및 탈모방지, 흰머리방지, 염증 치료 및 혈액순환개선 효과를 가진 것으로 알려져 있는 당귀, 보골지, 측백엽, 한련초, 구기자, 복분자, 상백피, 숙지황, 여정실, 적하수오, 흑지마, 고삼, 백지, 익모초, 단삼, 도인, 몰약, 감국, 유향, 인삼, 천궁,합환피, 현호색 등이다. 또한, 한방복합처방단의 발모효과를 확인하기 위해 in vitro와 in vivo 평가모델을 이용하여 모발성장 및 촉진에 미치는 영향을 실험하였다. In vitro 상에서는 모유두세포, 각질형성세포 및 섬유아세포의 증식을 확인하였다. 또한, 흰머리방지 효과와 관련하여 멜라노마 세포에서의 멜라닌 합성능력을 확인하였다. 한방복합처방단의 in vitro 상에서의 육모효과는 C57BL/6 마우스를 이용한 in vivo 상에서도 확인하였다. 연구 결과 한방복합처방단은 50 μg/mL의 농도에서 모유두 세포의 증식을 175 %까지, 섬유아세포인 NIH3T3 세포의 증식은 120 %까지 증가시켰으며, 20 μg/mL의 농도에서 각질형성세포인 HaCaT 세포의 증식을 133 %까지 증가시켰다. 멜라닌 합성의 경우, 50 μg/mL의 농도에서 154 %까지 증가시켰다. 또한, C57BL/6 마우스를 이용한 육모효과에 있어서는 한방복합처방단 처리 4주 후 98 % 이상의 육모효과를 나타내는 것을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 본 연구에서 개발한 한방복합처방단은 모발의 성장 촉진에 유용하게 활용될 수 있는 처방으로 사료된다.