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Background/purpose: Ginsenosides have many biomedical efficacies, such as anti-aging, antioxidation, and anti-inflammatory activities. Compound K (CK), one of the major metabolites of ginsenosides, mediates the antimetastatic and anti-allergic activities of the ginsenosides. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CK on level of type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 activity, and protein level in ultraviolet (UV)A-irradiated fibroblasts.Methods: Fibroblasts were cultured with and without CK (0.01 μM, 0.1 μM or 1 μM) for 2 hours. Cells were sham-irradiated and irradiated with 50 kJ/m(2), 100 kJ/m(2) or 200 kJ/m(2) UVA, and incubated in serumfree Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, with or without CK for 24 hours. MMP-1 activity in the supernatants and protein levels in the cells were assessed by zymography and western blotting, respectively. Level of type I collagen was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: MMP-1 activity and protein level were increased by UVA, which was downregulated by CK. Production of type I collagen was inhibited in UVA-irradiated fibroblasts, which was upregulated by CK.Conclusion: CK is a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of skin photo-aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based anticancer prodrugs consisting of pyrene and oligonucleotide trimer having 5- halouracils were designed. The UVA-induced electron injection from photoexcited pyrene followed by the radical-induced C1' hydrogen abstraction of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine is expected to cause the elimination of 5-FU. Since the prodrug clearly suppressed the proliferation of HeLa cells in an UVA-responsive manner, we have successfully developed a novel 5-FU prodrug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, the degradation of microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) in different environments, particularly their adsorption characteristics for coexisted metal pollutants remains to be elucidated. Thus, this study investigated the effects of aging MPs, including polyamide (mPA), polyethylene terephthalate (mPET), polystyrene (mPS), and polyvinyl chloride (mPVC) for 3 months under UVA irradiation in four environmental media (air, seawater, sand, and soil) and adsorption of heavy metals (Cu, Cd) onto seawater-aged mPS and mPVC. The results showed that surface morphological changes, including cracks, oxidized particles, and wrinkles, appeared on aged MPs. The heavy metal adsorption capacity decreased in the order aged mPVC > aged mPS > unaged mPS > unaged mPVC, and the Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions competed for active adsorption sites on the MPs surfaces. Overall, the aging environment affected the physical and chemical properties of MPs and the aging of MPs enhanced their adsorption of coexisting metals tested. [Display omitted] • Microplastics were aged under exposure to UVA irradiation in simulated environmental media (air, seawater, sand, and soil). • The physical and chemical properties of microplastics are affected by aging. • Aged microplastics have high sorption capacity for heavy metals. • Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions compete for active adsorption sites on the microplastics surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]