For cosmetic, personal-care and functional-food R&D For research use only

Efficacy data for a new ingredient,
from one kit set.

To evaluate an ingredient you usually measure three things: ① a concentration that is safe for the cells, ② the effect at that concentration (antioxidant, collagen, and so on), ③ a supporting marker (for example inflammation). DoGENBio makes kits for all three. They run on the plate reader you already have. You measure your own ingredient in your own lab.

EZ-Cytox was the cell viability kit in 79 published skin, hair and wound studies in the manufacturer's library. It was also used in 220 natural-product studies across all fields. The antioxidant, collagen, nitric-oxide and metabolic kits come from the same ISO 9001 manufacturer. DoGENBio uses these kits to develop its own cosmetic products.

The technical sections below are in English. We reply in English. Support in your language is available through the appointed distributor.

Three measurements for one ingredient

Working rangeEZ-Cytox, 450 nm. Cell viability at each concentration shows which concentrations are safe for the cells.
EffectDPPH, 517 nm. The radical colour fades when the ingredient removes the radicals.
MarkerNitrite, 540 nm. Less nitrite in the medium of stimulated cells gives less Griess colour.
Left to right: higher concentration of the ingredient. Illustration, not experimental dataThree measurements, one protocol.
79 studieson skin, hair and wound in the manufacturer's library; 220 natural-product studies in all fields (the two sets overlap)
23 kitsviability, antioxidant, enzyme defence, collagen, nitric oxide, lipids, glucose, ethanol
Same protocolas the cell viability / cytotoxicity assay kit your lab uses now; you check it on your own cells; price by country
ISO 9001, 14001, 45001made and tested lot by lot in Seoul; used to develop the maker's own cosmetic products

Kits by study aim

This table shows what each kit measures, in which cells, and what the result does not prove on its own. You choose the measurement that fits your study aim. The kit gives you the number.

Study aimWhat the kit measuresDoGENBio kitTypical cells or sampleNote
Working concentration rangeCell viability (dehydrogenase activity) and membrane damage (LDH release) at each concentration, under your assay conditionsEZ-CytoxEZ-LDHHaCaT keratinocytes, human dermal fibroblasts, B16F10, RAW 264.7Cell test only. It does not prove skin irritation or a safe concentration for people. Those need OECD test guidelines (for example TG 439 on reconstructed epidermis) and the market's safety assessment.
Antioxidant activityRadical scavenging and total antioxidant capacity in a cell-free test. Enzyme activity, glutathione redox ratio and lipid peroxidation in cell or tissue lysates.DPPHABTSTAC (Trolox)SODCatalaseGPxGSH/GSSGTBARSExtracts and fractions; HDF or HaCaT lysates after H₂O₂ or UV treatmentCell-free test. It does not prove an antioxidant benefit on skin. A cell-free result does not predict the effect in a formulation or in a living body.
Collagen-relatedTotal collagen, measured as hydroxyproline, in cells, tissue or mediumEZ-Total CollagenEZ-CytoxHuman dermal fibroblasts, with or without TNF-α or UV treatmentDoes not show new collagen synthesis. To separate synthesis from breakdown you need a labelled or gene-expression method.
Inflammatory responseNitrite (Griess) in the medium of stimulated macrophages. Cell viability at the same concentrations, to make sure the drop in nitrite is not caused by cell death.EZ-Nitric OxideEZ-CytoxLPS-stimulated RAW 264.7Does not prove an anti-inflammatory effect or mechanism. Nitrite is one marker only. It is usually reported together with cytokine data.
Pigmentation studiesCell viability at each concentration, so your melanin and tyrosinase tests run at non-toxic concentrationsEZ-Cytox plus your own melanin or tyrosinase methodB16F10 melanoma cells, α-MSH stimulatedDoes not prove a brightening effect. The pigment result comes from your own assay. Effects on skin colour need clinical testing.
Hair-research cell modelsCell viability and ATP level of dermal papilla cellsEZ-CytoxEZ-ATPHuman hair follicle dermal papilla cellsDoes not prove hair growth or an anti-hair-loss effect. Those need hair follicle organ culture or clinical studies.
UV exposure modelsViability of keratinocytes or fibroblasts, and lipid peroxidation, after UVA or UVB exposureEZ-CytoxTBARSCatalaseHaCaT, HDFDoes not prove photo-protection or SPF. Those have their own standard test methods.
Lipid and glucose (nutraceutical)Triglyceride, free glycerol, free fatty acid, cholesterol and HDL/LDL levels in lysates or serum. Glucose level in medium (glucose used by the cells) or in lysate.TriglycerideFree GlycerolFree Fatty AcidGlucoseTotal CholesterolHDL / LDL-VLDL3T3-L1 adipocytes, HepG2, C2C12; serum in animal studiesDoes not measure glucose uptake into cells (that needs a tracer method). Does not prove weight or metabolic health effects.
Enzyme and cofactor markersAcetylcholinesterase activity; NAD⁺/NADH concentration and ratioEZ-AChEEZ-NAD/NADHExtracts; SH-SY5Y or tissue lysatesDoes not prove a benefit for cognition or ageing.
Fermentation and probioticsEthanol and lactate produced, glucose left, and SOD activity in broth or fermentateEZ-EthanolEZ-LactateGlucoseSODCulture broth, fermentateDoes not prove probiotic health effects.
Vitamin C contentAscorbic acid level in a raw material or productEZ-Ascorbic AcidFruit extracts, formulationsNot enough for a label claim. That needs a validated analytical method (for example HPLC) in the target market.
Cell viability kitsCell-free antioxidant kitsNitrite kitEnzyme, metabolite and content kits

All kits are read by colour on a standard 96-well plate reader. The ATP, catalase, H₂O₂/peroxidase, free fatty acid, glycerol, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride kits can also be read by fluorescence. Kits are for research and product development. They do not replace regulatory safety testing or the tests needed to support a claim.

Four kit panels, one for each study type

A panel is a set of kits shipped together with one protocol sheet. You run it in your lab and get one comparable data set. Start with the panel that matches your study aim. Add single kits later if you need them.

Skin efficacy panel

Serums, creams, masks, active ingredients for skin

First find the working range on keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Then measure antioxidant capacity, total collagen and nitrite in that range. These are the cell-test results usually put in the ingredient file for antioxidant, firming and soothing products.

EZ-Cytox, DPPH, ABTS, TAC, EZ-Total Collagen, EZ-Nitric Oxide

Antioxidant defence panel

Botanical extracts, marine and fermented active ingredients, anti-pollution claims

Measures what the ingredient does inside cells under stress: enzyme activity, glutathione redox state and lipid peroxidation. Total antioxidant capacity is the main number.

SOD, Catalase, GPx, GSH/GSSG, TBARS, TAC, H₂O₂/Peroxidase

Hair and scalp panel

Anti-hair-loss and scalp-care active ingredients

Measures viability and ATP level of dermal papilla cells, plus nitrite for scalp inflammation models. The 2026 Theranostics alopecia study used EZ-Cytox to measure viability of dermal papilla cells.

EZ-Cytox, EZ-ATP, EZ-Nitric Oxide, EZ-LDH

Metabolic and nutraceutical panel

Weight, lipid, glucose, fermented and probiotic products

Measures lipid build-up and breakdown (lipolysis) in adipocytes, glucose use by liver and muscle cells, and fermentation products in broth. EZ-Cytox sets the working range.

Triglyceride, Free Glycerol, Free Fatty Acid, Glucose, Lactate, Ethanol, Cholesterol, EZ-Cytox

How each kit works, its standard curve and its pack sizes are in the assay kit brochure (PDF). Panel price is quoted per project. Storage differs by kit: EZ-Cytox, collagen and nitric-oxide kits at 0–4 °C; several enzyme and metabolite kits at −20 °C. Each panel ships with a storage card for every SKU.

How EZ-Cytox compares to CCK-8

Most efficacy labs find the working range with a cell viability / cytotoxicity assay kit. EZ-Cytox is a WST-based reagent. It is used the same way as the kit you use now. Add 10 µL per 100 µL well. Incubate 30 minutes to 4 hours at 37 °C. Read at 450 nm. No washing. You can still use the cells in the same well for LDH or Western blot. To check that it gives the same result on your cells and extracts, run one plate: half with your current kit, half with EZ-Cytox.

Plant extracts and coloured or reducing ingredients can disturb any colour-based assay, including WST. Run a reagent blank without cells for each extract concentration. For an important result, confirm it with a second test such as EZ-LDH.

Every panel above uses EZ-Cytox for the working range. So the working-range data in all your files (antioxidant, collagen, hair) come from the same lot-tested product and protocol.

The step-by-step protocol comparison, the switching FAQ and the one-plate test are on the research and distributor page. Prices are quoted by country, pack size and volume, with the panel or alone. Compare the same pack size and the total delivered cost, including freight, duties and taxes.

Tests per packDojindo CCK-8DoGENBio EZ-Cytox
500CK04-05, 5 mLEZ-500, 5 mL × 1
1,000CK04-11, 5 mL × 2EZ-1000, 5 mL × 2
3,000CK04-13, 5 mL × 6EZ-3000, 5 mL × 6
10,000CK04-20, 100 mLEZ-BULK150, 25 mL × 4

Matching pack sizes. Prices are not printed here. The same kit sells at a different price in each country. So we quote EZ-Cytox and the panel by country, against the price you pay today. Tell us your current price per pack in the request form. The quote comes with the evaluation panel.

Standard curves compared with competitor kits

These numbers are from the DoGENBio catalogue. Each kit was run next to a widely used competitor kit under the same conditions. The full curves, conditions and raw data ship with the panel.

1.9×DPPH slope

Absorbance change per µg/mL Trolox at 517 nm: −0.0041 (EZ-DPPH) vs −0.0022 (competitor B). R² 0.997 vs 0.946.

+10%Glutathione slope

Absorbance per µM GSSG at 412 nm: 0.874 (EZ-Glutathione) vs 0.796 (competitor O). R² 0.995 vs 0.994.

1.5×Ascorbic acid slope

Absorbance change per nmol/well: 0.119 (EZ-Ascorbic Acid) vs 0.081 (competitor B). R² 0.999 vs 0.999.

The printed catalogue does not name the competitors. The technical data sheet names them, on request. A steeper standard curve means more signal per unit of analyte on your reader. This is only one part of sensitivity. That is why we offer the panel for you to test on your own samples.

Published studies that used DoGENBio kits

These published studies used a DoGENBio kit for one of their measurements. Each card names the kit and the measurement, and links to the paper.

Anti-aging, Thai botanical
Antioxidants 2021
EZ-Cytox: viability of HDF. Black ginger, a Thai ingredient
Brightening
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 2020
EZ-Cytox: viability of B16F10. Melanin measured by the authors' own method.
Brightening
Journal of Dermatological Science 2021
EZ-Cytox: cell viability. Melanin measured by the authors' own method.
Collagen
Scientific Reports 2020
EZ-Cytox: viability of HDF and HaCaT. Collagen measured by the authors' own method.
Elasticity
Journal of Ginseng Research 2020
EZ-Cytox: cell viability in the cell-culture part of the study
Soothing
Phytomedicine 2021
EZ-Cytox: viability in the cell experiments
Wound, botanical
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2017
EZ-Cytox: viability of HaCaT and HUVEC
Lipolysis
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2019
EZ-Free Fatty Acid kit: fatty acids released by 3T3-L1 cells

See the full list at dogenbio.com › Reference Library. Or ask us for the list sorted by study area and cell type.

Researcher pipetting at a laboratory bench

We use these kits for our own cosmetic products

DoGENBio also makes its own cosmetic line (the Similé serum and cream). For these products we used the kits on this page. We screened ingredients, set the working range and measured antioxidant and collagen results in cells. This was done in the same Seoul laboratory that makes and lot-tests the reagents.

We supply the same kits to universities, research institutes and companies across Korea for ingredient and formulation work.

ISO 9001:2015 GQ-242997ISO 14001:2015 GE-241518ISO 45001:2018 GO-240735

The evaluation panel

Tell us your ingredient and your study aim. You run the panel in your own lab. DoGENBio supplies the kits and a protocol, so you get one comparable data set. Evaluation panels are available within limits that we confirm by email. We do not offer a testing service.

Describe the study

Tell us the ingredient and the study aim (antioxidant, collagen, inflammation model, pigmentation, hair, metabolic, fermentation). Also tell us the cells or samples your lab already uses.

We choose the kits

We choose the kits for your study: one ingredient, six concentrations, three repeats, with blanks, controls and standard curves. You get a written protocol and plate maps.

You run it

First find the working range. Then measure the effect and the marker in that range. All tests are read by colour on your plate reader. After cell culture and treatment, each measurement takes 30 minutes to 2 hours.

We help with the analysis, if you ask

Send us your result files. We send back curves, IC50 values and a one-page summary for your ingredient file. We also send a methods text for your report. Your raw data stays yours. We do not share it.

Request the panel or a quote

Please do not include patient data or confidential formulation details. A general description is enough to start.

We use your details only to answer this request and, if you ask for one, to ship a panel. Reply within two working days. No newsletter.
Request received A confirmation is sent to your email. A person replies within two working days. If nothing arrives, write to robin@dogenbio-global.com.

Who this page is for

ODM and OEM efficacy labs

Manufacturers that run cell tests for hundreds of brand customers. They test many ingredients every month.

Ingredient suppliers

Suppliers of botanical, marine and fermented ingredients. They need a data file to support claims before a brand will use the ingredient.

Brand R&D

In-house teams that find the working range and screen ingredients before sending the final product to a clinical CRO.

Nutraceutical and food R&D

Lipid, glucose, fermentation and antioxidant measurements for functional foods and cosmetic products.

CROs and testing laboratories

Labs that offer routine cytotoxicity and antioxidant tests. Reagent cost per sample matters in every quote.

University cosmetic-science groups

Labs that publish. These kits are already accepted in the journals listed above.