This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of 1,2-bis[(3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (S4), a sesamin derivative, on anti-inflammation and antiphotoaging in vitro and in vivo. Human skin fibroblasts were treated with S4 and did not show cytotoxicity under concentrations of 5-50 µM. In addition, S4 also reduced ultraviolet (UV)B-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltraviolet (UV) exposure has been demonstrated as the most critical factor causing extrinsic skin aging and inflammation. This study explored the protective effects and mechanisms of sesamin against skin photodamage. Sesamin reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species production after UVB irradiation in human dermal fibroblasts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMelanin is synthesized through a series of oxidative reactions initiated with tyrosine and catalyzed by melanogenesis-related proteins such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), dopachrome tautomerase (TRP-2), and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). Our previous study demonstrated that sesamol inhibited melanin synthesis through the inhibition of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R)/MITF/tyrosinase pathway in B16F10 cells. In this study, sesamol was applied to C57BL/6 mouse skin to understand its activity with respect to skin pigmentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe skin provides an effective barrier against physical, chemical, and microbial invasion; however, overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes excessive cellular oxidative stress, which leads to skin damage, DNA damage, mutations, and skin cancer. This study investigated the protective effects of -phenethyl caffeamide (K36) from UVA damage on human epidermal keratinocytes. We found that K36 reduced UVA-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induced the expression of the intrinsic antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by increasing the translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2⁻related factor 2 (Nrf2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in aging-related phenomenon, including skin aging and photoaging. This study investigated the protective role and possible mechanism of Terminalia catappa L. methanolic extract (TCE) in human fibroblasts (Hs68) against hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced oxidative damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMelanin is synthesized through a series of interactions catalyzed by melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, dopachrome tautomerase (tyrosinase-related protein-2; TRP-2), and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). Tyrosinase plays a key role in catalysing the initial and limiting steps of melanogenesis. The melanin that results from melanogenesis has the protective effect of absorbing ultraviolet radiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLong-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation causes skin inflammation and aging. -(4-bromophenethyl) caffeamide (K36H) possesses antioxidant and antimelanogenic properties. The present study investigated the effects of K36H on UVB-induced skin inflammation in human skin fibroblasts and hairless mice and evaluated the underlying mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFextract (CAE) containing 48.3 ± 0.4 mg/g of chlorogenic acid and a trace amount of caffeic acid was found to alleviate photoaging activity in human skin fibroblasts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Complement Altern Med
January 2017
Background: The derivative of caffeamide exhibits antioxidant and antityrosinase activity. The activity and mechanism of N-(4-methoxyphenyl) caffeamide (K36E) on melanogenesis was investigated.
Methods: B16F0 cells were treated with various concentrations of K36E; the melanin contents and related signal transduction were studied.
Purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) has been known to possess high amount of anthocyanins which contribute to its antioxidant activity. However, a few reports are available concerning its anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTremella fuciformis is a natural edible and medicinal mushroom commercially available in Taiwan. In this study, the effects of initial pH, incubation time, and various media to optimize exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by T. fuciformis were evaluated in shake flasks and a bioreactor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenetic polymorphisms observed in various disease states associated with sensitivity or resistance to specific treatments have been a robust area of investigation for decades, with the potential to allow clinicians to make evidence-based decisions on the appropriate course of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate whether genetic polymorphisms of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 gene (STAT6) could be associated with a sustained virological response (SVR) among patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 and 2 (HCV-1 and HCV-2) who were treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFNα-RBV). We analyzed the associations between SVR to PEG-IFNα-RBV therapy and 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in STAT6.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Taiwan, oral cancer is the fourth leading cause of male cancer mortality, and is still increasing. The Basiodiomycete, Agaricus brasiliensis Murill (ABM) is a dietary mushroom and has been known for its immuneenhancing, antitumor, antioxidation, antiviral and antimutagenesis functions. However, the exact anticancer mechanisms of ABM on human oral cancer cells are still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment of alternative methods for pest management is needed with the increased concern for adverse effects of pesticides for human health and the environment. The main goal of our study was to test the oil from seeds of sugar apple (Annona squamosa), an edible tropical fruit for pest control. The oil pressed out of seeds was as effective in controlling the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), infesting leaves of tomato plants in greenhouse conditions as the recommended insecticide, with the advantage of not being phytotoxic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFour transgenic papaya lines expressing the coat protein (CP) gene of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) were evaluated under field conditions for their reaction to PRSV infection and fruit production in 1996 to 1999. Plants were exposed to natural virus inoculation by aphids in two adjacent fields in four different plantings at the same sites. None of the transgenic lines showed severe symptoms of PRSV whereas control nontransgenic plants were 100% severely infected 3 to 5 months after planting.
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