• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1777-1783
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• 2004

This study was conducted to determine the effects Wonjiseokchangpo-san on brain damage in transient focal cerebral ischemia. Rats were used for testing in the following three models: Morris Water Maze, Eight-Arm Radial Maze, and Histochemistry. In the Morris Water Maze Model, the Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant decrease in the 3rd and 6th training session compared with the ischemia group. A retention test, in the Morris Water Maze Model, was performed on the 7th day without the escape platform. The Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. In the Eight-Arm radial Maze model, the Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant decrease in the error rate compared to the ischemia group. In the density of hippocampal CA1 cell of the cresyl violet-stained section, the Wonjiseokahangpo-san group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. These results suggest that Wonjiseokchangpo-san may have a significant protective effect on brain damage and cognitive dysfunction in transient focal cerebral ischemia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1292-1295
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• 2005

Effects of the Seokchangpo-Wonji-Tang on recovery from disorder of stomach, liver and mental-faculty in alcoholism were studied using male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were assigned into 4 groups; normal, control and Seokchangpo-Wonji-Tang(SWT) group. Control group administered ethanol(25 v/v %) at a dose 3g/kg, while SWT group administered 50mg/kg of SWT 30min before treating same dose of ethanol as control group for 10 days, orally. The gastric ulceration and also GOT and GPT activities in rats were checked, and all groups were subjected to trials of straight channel on the 1st day and to those of multiple T-maze during the following 3 days. The gastric ulceration, GOT and GPT activities were increased in control group, but decreased in SWT group significantly. The time required in normal group for the straight channel of the 2nd and 3rd trials was significantly shorter than that of the 1 st, while the control group showed no significance. In the time required for the multiple T-maze trials, the control group showed no significance. But in the straight or T-maze trials, the SWT group showed significant decrease in the time required against the control group.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2008

Background & Objectives : Rhinitis is an inflammation of nasal mucosa. The major symtoms are watery rhinorrhea, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal obstruction. Allergic rhinitis is an immune reaction by allergen. So, we aimed to determine therapeutic effects of Acorus gramineus by observing changes in IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and the nasal mucosal tissue. Materials and Methods : Fifteen BALC/c mice were divided into three groups : m group(which ate low concentrated herbal medicine ), M group(which ate high concentrated herbal medicine) and control group. Control and experimental group were induced allergic rhinitis by Ovalbumin as the method of Levin and Vaz. Experimental group was orally administered the Acorus gramineus extract for 28days. We observed changes in IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and trans aminase(AST, ALT) in blood and nasal mucosa and submucosa. Results : There were no significant changes statistically in IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in blood(p<0.05). And there were no hepatotoxicity with Acorus gramineus extract. Histologically, almost no inflammatory response in treatment group(m,M) against that there were inflammatory response(increased goblet cells, dilated vessels, edema of bowman's glands and injured olfactory hairs) in control group. Conclusion : According to above results, it is supposed that Acorus gramineus has no immunological effects on allergic rhinitis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.159-171
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• 2003

This study was done to investigate effects of SR, CF and AR to angiogenesis of cerebral tissues, protecting damage of cerebral neurons and activating them in cerebral contusion-induced rats. I observed these conclusions as follows ; 1. Observation of VEGF-immunoreactive cells : Groups of administered AR were not meaningful in increasing VEGF-immunoreactive cells for 3 days and 7 days, groups of administered SR meaningfully increased them to control groups in all groups, and groups of administered CF meaningfully increased them to control groups in all groups, too, interestingly, increased double to control group for 7 days. 2. Observation on cerebral neurons by Cresyl violet stain : Dendrites and axons of groups of administered SR, AR for 3 days were clearly observed to control group. Cerebral neurons of groups of administered CF for 3days and 7 days were increased a little, but were not meaningful. In conclusion, AR will be careful of being used in cerebral contusion. CF and SR were effective to activating cerebral hemokinesis by inducing angiogenesis in trauma of tissue, but weakly to protecting trauma of cerebral neurons and activating them. I think more studies will be done in these facts.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.85-105
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the neuroprotective effects and anxiolytic-like effects of Gongjin-dan and Polygala japonica, Polygala tenuifolia, Acorus gramineus mixed pills(G.J.D-P.P.A.). Methods : The neuroprotective effects of G.J.D-P.P.A. determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks and Morris water maze task, and the anxiolytic-like effects of the G.J.D-P.P.A. using an elevated plus-maze(EPM) in mice. Results : Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine(1 mg/kg, i.p.). A single G.J.D-P.P.A.(400 and 800 mg/kg) administration significantly enhanced cognitive function and attenuated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments as determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks(P < 0.05) and also reduced escape-latency on the Morris water maze task(P < 0.05). The administration of GJD-PPA(400 and 800 mg/kg) significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms and entries into the open arms of the EPM compared with saline-treated control group(P < 0.05). Moreover, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects in any group compared with saline-treated control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that GJD-PPA dramatically possesses the anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and promotes the anxiolytic-like activity in mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.19 no.3 s.31
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• pp.34-54
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• 2006

The effects of four extracts of medicinal herbs, Rubus coreanum, Acorus calamus, Morus alba and Rehmannia glutinosa on hair growth activity and acnes control were investigated. In the course of screening natural extracts for hair growth, we found that the extract of dried root of Rubus coreanum has the hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of these extracts to the back of C57BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen phase was induced. The growth of dermal papilla cells and mouse vibrissae hair follicle cultured in vitro, however, was not affected by treatment of these extracts. Furthermore these extracts do not possesspotent inhibitory effect on $5{\alpha}-reductase$ I and II activity and anti-bacterial effect on Escherichia coli , Propionibacterium acnes, Pityrosporum ovale, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidemidis, and Candida albicans. RT-PCR analysis showed that these extracts did notinduce mRNA levels of growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor-I, keratinocyte growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in dermal papilla cells. These results suggest that Rubus coreanum has hair growth promoting effect. However, the effects of these materials on the hair growth promotion are not mediated through inhibition of $5{\alpha}-reductase$ I and II activity, stimulation of hair follicle cells and expression of growth factors in the dermal papilla cells.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.173-194
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• 2002

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a geriatric dementia that is widespread in old age. In the future AD will be the largest problem in public health service. From old times, Much medicines have been used for treatment of dementia, but there is no medicine having obvious effect. AD is one of brain retrogression disease. So We studied on herbal medicine that have a relation of brain retrogression. From old times, In Oriental Medicine, Rhizoma Acori Graminei has been used for disease in relation to brain retrogression. We studied on the effects of anti-Alzheimer in pCT105-induced neuroblastoma cell lines by Rhizoma Acori Graminei extract As the result of this study, In RAG group, the apoptosis in the nervous system is inhibited, the repair against the degerneration of Neuroblastoma cells by CT105 expression is promoted. These results indicate that RAG possess strong inhibitory effect of apoptosis in the nervous system and repair effect against the degeneration of Neuroblastoma cells by CT105 expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.756-764
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• 2009

Scutellariae baicalensis GEORGt Acorus gramineus SOLAND and Gastrodia elata BLUME are traditional medicines used in the treatment of incipient stoke. In this study we investigated their effects on various aspects of neuronal differentiation in single or composite forms. Water-extracts of these medicines showed neuroprotective effects on cultured rat cortical neurons in normoxia and hypoxia. To understand the mechanism for neuroprotection we carried out various cell biological assays. They stimulated initial differentiation of neuronal development (transition from stage 1 to 2), and increased the number of spines and the length and number of dendritic processes. These effects were best manifested in the experimental group, which were given a mixture of the three kinds of extracts (p<0.01). To assess improvement of brain functions we carried out Morris water-maze tests for the mice that were fed on these extracts instead of water for 4 weeks. The experimental groups, especially those which were given the mixture of the three kinds of extract, showed significant (p<0.01) enhancement in memory as early as one day after the learning trial. These results indicate that these three kinds of extracts have synergistic effects on neuronal protection and improvement of brain functions.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2006

In oriental medicine, Polygalae Radix & Acori Graminei Rhizoma are frequently used materials for the cardiac disorder(palpitaion), brain disorder(sleep disorder, forgetfulness, confused mind, dizziness). Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyun(方藥合編) is widely used for clinical herbal prescription book. In Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyun(方藥合編), Polygalae Radix is usually used 1don(錢)(4g) and Acori Graminei Rhizoma is used 1don(錢)(4g). The most important fact is that, in contrast to most people know that Polygalae Radix & Acori Graminei Rhizoma are used most prescription at the same time, the prescription used Polygalae Radix & Acori Graminei Rhizoma at the same time is merely 3. (Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyun percentage of Polygalae Radix & Acori Graminei Rhizoma is 0.64%). The number of prescription Polygalae Radix & Acori Graminei Rhizoma in Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyun is total 16. 10 in sang-tong(上統), 4 in jung-tong(中統), 2 in ha-tong(下統). The ratio of Polygalae Radix in Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyun is 0.41%~14.28%. And the ratio of Acori Graminei Rhizoma is 4%~16.66%. The mostly quoted medical literature what prescription included Polygalae Radix & Acori Graminei Rhizoma in Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyun is Tae-Pypng-Ha-Jae-Guk-Bang.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2011

The rhizomes and herbal medicines originating from Acorus gramineus, A. calamus, A. tatarinowii, and A. gramineus var. pusilus, show significant similarity, and the correct identification of species is very difficult. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) were used to develop a reliable method for identification of these four species. Several distinct SCAR markers were developed from species-specific RAPD amplicons for each species. Furthermore, a useful molecular marker was established for multiplex-PCR, in order to the four species could be distinguished concurrently. These markers allow efficient and rapid identification of closely-related Acorus species and will be useful for standardization of herbal medicines.