• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate therapeutic effects fo NR on allergic asthma in terms of measurement of cytokine profiles, distribution of BAL and expression levels of asthma induced by OVA. Methods : C57BL/6 mouse was divided into normal, NRI, control, and NRII, and Notopterygii Rhizoma Extract was orally administered to the C57BL/6 mice in the normal group and the normal mouse in NRI group while it was orally administered to the control group after inducing asthma by OVA and NRII. The study measured them by means of ELISA after dividing BALF of each group, and analyzed RT-PCR by using lung tissues. Results : In our results, lung weight and the number of total cells in the lung and of Leukocyte and Eosinophils in BALF were significantly decreased. In addition, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE in BALF were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that NR Extract be a desirable altemative therapy for allergic asthma by inhibiting the expressin of immune cells, the activation of inflammatory mediator.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.471-475
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• 2008

The present study was performed to elucidate the therapeutic effect by aquapuncture with bee-venom (apitoxin) for treatment of canine pyoderma. The total 8 dogs with pyoderma were divided into 2 groups as control (antibiotics group: 4 dogs) and experimental groups (apitoxin group: 4 dogs). Antibiotics group was treated with bathing and antibiotics, while apitoxin group was treated with bathing and aquapuncture with apitoxin at Fei Shu (BL13), Wei Zhong (BL40), Da Zhui (GV14), Zu San Li (ST36), He Gu (LI04), Qu Chi (LI11), and San Yin Jiao (SP06). Based on the results of changes in clinical symptoms, total leukocyte counts, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios and histopathological findings, antibiotics and apitoxin groups were all effective for treatment of canine pyoderma, and significant differences were not detected between the groups. It was suggested that apitoxin might be used as an alternative method to antibiotics for treatment of canine pyoderma.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.113-127
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• 2007

Objectives : To inform the 5th WHO Informal Consultation meeting on Development of International Standard Acupuncture Point Locations, held in Osaka, Japan, on September $27{\sim}29$, 2005. Results and Conclusions : Nine experts from Korea, China and Japan discussed the principles of acupuncture points locations and the point locations of 33 controversial acupoints that were not agreed at the previous meeting, as well as 328 non-controversial points that all 3 nations agreed on the locations to confirm the expression of every single point. Through this meeting, the locations of ST30, SP12, LR7 and expressions of LU6, LI8, LI9, LI10, LI 13, SP13, BL60, KI3, GB38, LR11, LR12 were agreed. Furthermore, locations of BL39, GB27, GB28 were confirmed out of 6 non-discussed points. However, several points were still required to held additional meeting to discuss. That includes LI19, LI20, ST36, ST37, ST38, ST39, SI6, KI9, PC8, PC9, TE9, TE17, TE23, GB7, GB30, GV26. In addition, foundation for the international society for the acupuncture point location was proposed to make a regular revision of standard acupuncture point location.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.259-267
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• 2000

Gel polymer electrolytes were prepared from poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoro propylene)[P(VdF-co-HFP)] that had higher mechanical properties as well as higher dielectric constant ($\varepsilon$=8~13) than other polymeric matrix. Mechanical properties and ionic conductivities have been investigated as a function of blend ratio of electrolyte solution and polymer matrix. Ethylene carbonate (EC)/${\gamma}$-butyrolactone (${\gamma}$-BL) and lithium triflate (LiCF$_3$SO$_3$) were used as solvent and salt, respectively. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, compression modulus, and dynamic shear modulus were evaluated. The highest ionic conductivity was 1.09$\times$10$^{-3}$ S/cm for PVH40 containing 28.6 wt% of P(VdF-co-HFP) at $25^{\circ}C$. Tensile strength, tensile modulus and compression modulus were increased with P(VdF-co-HFP) content and abruptly changed between PVH70 and PVH80. Dynamic shear moduli showed a typical gel behavior and changed with shear strain.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2008

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has been widely used as an anti-inflammatory agent in oriental medicine. In the current study, we investigated the protective effect, and the possible mechanism, of dandelion extracts against ethanol-induced acute hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice. Dandelion water and ethanol extract was administered at 2 g/kg body weight (BW) once daily for 7 consecutive days, whereas control and ethanol groups received water by gavage. Ethanol (50% ethanol; 6 g/kg BW) was administered 12 hr before sacrificing the mice in order to generate liver injury. Significantly increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities as well as liver triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels were attenuated by dandelion supplementation. In addition, dandelion extracts not only enhanced alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and anti-oxidative enzyme activities, but reduced lipid peroxidation. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP 2E1), one of the critical enzymes xenobiotic metabolism, expression was lower with ethanol treatment but restored by dandelion supplementation. These results were confirmed by improved histopathological changes in fatty liver and hepatic lesions induced by ethanol. In conclusion, dandelion could protect liver against ethanol administration by attenuating of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Consumption of cholesterol-rich foods, such as eggs, has a minimal effect on circulating cholesterol levels in healthy humans. To gain insight, we investigated whether phospholipids rich in eggs (EPL) interfere with intestinal cholesterol absorption in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the acute effect of EPL on intestinal cholesterol absorption, male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered with 6, 11, or 19 mg of EPL for three days. We also tested the effect of chronic EPL consumption on cholesterol metabolism in the small intestine and the liver in mice with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat/high cholesterol (HF/HC; 35% fat, 0.25% cholesterol, w/w) diet for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia, and subsequently the mice were either fed 0, 0.4 or 0.8% (w/w) of EPL for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Intestinal cholesterol absorption was significantly decreased by the highest dose of acute EPL administration compared to control. Chronic EPL supplementation did not significantly alter intestinal cholesterol absorption nor plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the small intestine and the liver, EPL supplementation minimally altered the expression of genes which regulate cellular cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Although chronic EPL consumption was not able to counteract hypercholesterolemia in HF/HC-fed mice, acute EPL administration decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. This study provides in vivo evidence that acute administration of PLs in eggs prevent cholesterol absorption in the intestine, suggesting a mechanism for a minimal effect of egg consumption on circulating cholesterol levels.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.3 s.21
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• pp.23-35
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Asthma-depression and Immunoregulation with PR-HAS(Herbal-acupuncture with Platycodi Radix infusion solution) infection at Joksamni(St36) on ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA(ovalbumin) for 12 weeks(once a week). The experimental group(OVA-PR-HA) was treated with concentrations(1%) of PR-HAS at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). The second experimental group(OVA-Needle prick) was treated with Needle-Prick at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). Results : 1. The weight and total cells in the mice lung treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 2. Total leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased remarkably compared with those of control group. 3. The sticking of collagen on histological analysis of lung sections, the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 4. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 5. The number of Gr-1+/CD11b+ and CD11b+ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 6. The numbers of CCR3+ cells, CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells in the lungs, and CD3e+/CD69+ in the lungs of the mice group treated with PA-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 7. The mRNA expression of ${\beta}$-actin, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the mice group treated with PR-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with those of control group. Conclusions : These result suggests that Platycodi Radix Herbal-acupuncture at Joksamni(St36) in C57BL/6mice may be an effictive part to OVA-induced asthma in C57BL/6 mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.570-582
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• 2020

Purpose: Obesity is a risk factor for various adult diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and cancer. With an increasing obesity population worldwide, the prevention of obesity with natural components has emerged as an alternative health care strategy. Ramulus mori (Sangzhi, RM) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia. It contains various phytochemicals, including stilbenes and 2-arylbenzofurans. In this study, we compared the anti-obesity effects of RM extracts and its major stilbene components (mulberroside A [MSA] and oxyresveratrol [ORT]) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. Methods: Five week-old, male C57BL/6J mice were grouped into 7 experimental groups: normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD + 1% RM water extracts (MW), HFD + 0.1% MSA, HFD + 1% RM ethanol extracts (ME), HFD + 0.1% ORT, and HFD + 1% Garcinia cambogia extracts (GC) as a positive control. All mice were fed experimental diet for 13 weeks. Results: Compared to the HFD group, total body weight and weekly body weight gain were significantly decreased in the ME, ORT, and GC groups. Glucose tolerance level was significantly decreased in all experimental groups, whereas plasma insulin level was decreased in MSA, ME, ORT and GC groups. Plasma glucose, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased in the MSA, ORT, and GC groups. Hepatic TG accumulation was also significantly decreased in the MSA, ME, ORT, and GC groups. Adipose tissue weight and size of adipocytes were significantly decreased in the MSA, ME and ORT groups, and were comparable to values obtained in the GC group. The levels of adiponectin and SREBP1c mRNA expressions were increased in the ORT and GC groups. Conclusion: These results indicate that ME, ORT and MSA exert significant anti-obesity effect, and have the potential to be developed as a weight control ingredient of functional foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 2015

Two recombinant arabinosyl hydrolases, α-_L-arabinofuranosidase from Geobacillus sp. KCTC 3012 (GAFase) and endo-(1,5)-α-_L-arabinanase from Bacillus licheniformis DSM13 (BlABNase), were overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and their synergistic modes of action against sugar beet (branched) arabinan were investigated. Whereas GAFase hydrolyzed 35.9% of _L-arabinose residues from sugar beet (branched) arabinan, endo-action of BlABNase released only 0.5% of _L-arabinose owing to its extremely low accessibility towards branched arabinan. Interestingly, the simultaneous treatment of GAFase and BlABNase could liberate approximately 91.2% of _L-arabinose from arabinan, which was significantly higher than any single exo-enzyme treatment (35.9%) or even stepwise exo- after endo-enzyme treatment (75.5%). Based on their unique modes of action, both exo- and endo-arabinosyl hydrolases can work in concert to catalyze the hydrolysis of arabinan to _L-arabinose. At the early stage in arabinan degradation, exo-acting GAFase could remove the terminal arabinose branches to generate debranched arabinan, which could be successively hydrolyzed into arabinooligosaccharides via the endo-action of BlABNase. At the final stage, the simultaneous actions of exo- and endo-hydrolases could synergistically accelerate the _L-arabinose production with high conversion yield.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was to verify the Attributive Channel theory of herbal medicine. Methods : [13lI]iodocurcumin was synthesized, separated, and refined from curcumin, the major component of Curcuma species, followed by observing the biodistribution in an organism. Especially, from the fact that curcumin has shown to possess potent anti-carcinogenic properties, the biodistribution in the carcinogenesis organism was analyzed. Result : Iodocurcumin 23mg was obtained through column chromatography after a reaction with 50mg of Curcumin and ICl. The nominal yield of [13lI]iodocurcumin synthesis was 35% when checked with radioactive layer of chromatography. [13lI]iodocurcumin was most largely distributed in the stomach of a BALB/c mouse and a C57BL/6 mouse transplanted with Lewis lung carcinoma cell. Conclusion : The fact that [13lI]iodocurcumin was most largely distributed in the stomach was related with the Attributive Channel theory. And there was no significant finding related to tumor cells.