Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells derived from adult stem cells. Primary MSCs can be obtained from diverse sources, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood. Recently, MSCs have been recognized as therapeutic agents for skin regeneration and rejuvenation. The skin can be damaged by wounds, caused by cutting or breaking of the tissue, and burns. Moreover, skin aging is a process that occurs naturally but can be worsened by environmental pollution, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and undernourishment. MSCs have healing capacities that can be applied in damaged and aged skin. In skin regeneration, MSCs increase cell proliferation and neovascularization, and decrease inflammation in skin injury lesions. In skin rejuvenation, MSCs lead to production of collagen and elastic fibers, inhibition of metalloproteinase activation, and promote protection from ultraviolet radiation-induced senescence. In this review, we focus on how MSCs and MSC-derived molecules improve diseased and aged skin. Additionally, we emphasize that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MSCs are potentially advanced MSCs, which are suitable for cell therapy.

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that can directly destroy cancer cells. When NK cells are activated, CD56 and CD107a markers are able to recognize cancer cells and release perforin and granzyme B proteins that induce apoptosis in the targeted cells. In this study, we focused on the role of phytoncides in activating NK cells and promoting anticancer effects. We tested the effects of several phytoncide compounds on NK-92mi cells and demonstrated that α-pinene treatment exhibited higher anticancer effects, as observed by the increased levels of perforin, granzyme B, CD56 and CD107a. Furthermore, α-pinene treatment in NK-92mi cells increased NK cell cytotoxicity in two different cell lines, and immunoblot assays revealed that the ERK/AKT pathway is involved in NK cell cytotoxicity in response to phytoncides. Furthermore, CT-26 colon cancer cells were allografted subcutaneously into BALB/c mice, and α-pinene treatment then inhibited allografted tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate that α-pinene activates NK cells and increases NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting it is a potential compound for cancer immunotherapy.

The main purpose of this study was to suggest a solution for inflammation caused by urban daily life based on supercritical extraction of Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl. (C. obtusa). The leaves, cone, wood, and bark of C. obtusa were separately extracted with supercritical extraction. Alpha-pinene, anti-inflammatory active compound of C. obtusa, was analyzed by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry from each part of extracts. As a result of the reduction rate of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 cells, the wood extract exhibited the highest reduction rate was about 45% among extracts from four part of C. obtusa. The wood extract from C. obtusa can be developed as a good anti-inflammatory natural raw material for natural product industry.

Objectives : This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect of herbal mixture including Lycii fructus (HML) in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Methods : To confirm the liver protective effect, induced by TAA for 3 days injection at 100 mg/kg mice, HML were treated for 8 weeks at 300 mg/kg/day, 1000 mg/kg/day. Positive control was treated silymarin 50 mg/kg/day after TAA injection. The changes of mortality rate, clinical signs, organ weight, relative liver, blood chemistry and histopathological findings were analyzed after experiment. Results : Body weight gain was observed in all groups, but TAA treated group at 4th week and all treated groups decreased weight compared to the untreated group. As a result of organ weight measurement, organ weight gain due to hepatic injury was observed statistically significantly in TAA-treated group and TAA+Silymarin treated group, and the herbal mixture-treated group showed a tendency to decrease compared to the TAA treated group. Blood biochemistry showed that total cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased statistically in TAA+low-dose and high dose herbal mixture treated group compared to the TAA-treated group. Histopathological examination showed that liver abnormalities were not observed in untreated group, liver fibrosis was observed in liver injury with TAA treated and herbal mixture treated group. And, TAA+high dose herbal mixture group showed relaxation tendency on liver calcification compared to the TAA treated group. Conclusions : According to the above results, HML provided hepatoprotective effects on the hepatic injury by reduction of inflammatory responses.

The green tea polysaccharide was extracted from leaves of Camellia sinensis and hydrolyzed with enzyme. Skin moisturization effect of green tea polysaccharide was studied with 2D-PAGE analysis of epidermal hydration factors. Among up-regulated proteins extracted from Hacat cell treated with Green tea polysaccharide on 2DE gel, 5 aquaporins were observed. Among them the aquaporin 5 and 8 were increased 3.4 and 5.3 times respectively. The green tea polysaccharide was found to be effective for skin moisturization by enhanced expression of aquaporins.

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