• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2015

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme to control the biosynthesis of melanin pigments and has two enzyme activities, namely of 1-tyrosine hydroxylase and of 1-dopa oxidase. Thus, tyrosinase is regarded as a target in skin-whitening and therapeutic intervention of local hyperpigmentation diseases. We have tested tyrosinase inhibitory activity on the water extracts of 50 species oriental medicinal plant. Among them, five medicinal plants, Linderae Radix, Clematidis Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus and Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae were investigated strong inhibition effect. Five medicinal plants were fractionated using organic solvents (methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water). Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (ethyl acetate fraction) was investigated strong inhibition effect. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity below $IC_{50}\;40{\mu}g/ml$ is confirmed in five herbal plants that are Linderae Radix, Clematidis Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus and Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae. Tyrosinase inhibitory levels ($IC_{50}\;{\mu}g/ml$) of each plants were 15.56, 35.02, 25.14, 15.20 and 39.77. We also investigate the effect of effective plant's fraction. in dose of $100{\mu}g/ml$, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (P-36) EtOAc fraction significant inhibitory effect over 50%. Clematidis Radix (P-35) and Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (P-36) MC fraction inhibit tyrosinase each 36.60% and 43.21%. inhibitory rates of Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (P-40) EtOAc and $H_2O$ fraction are 31.40% and 31.51%. Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae (P-45) BuOH fraction regulate tyrosinase activity to 37.71%. We examined tyrosinase inhibitory activity of natural products and these results suggest that several herbs have potential as a new whitening material.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-469
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• 2010

This research is performed to obtain positive evidences of Mori cortex, a kind of oriental medicinal herbs, in the cellular levels. The extracts of M. cortex have shown anti-inflammatory effects against cutaneous inflammation and clinical effects on pulmonary asthma and congestion in oriental medicine. Thus BV2 cells were chosen because microglia are considered as the main immunocompetent cells in the central nervous system. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation of cultured BV2 cells and subsequent release of nitric oxide (NO) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were effectively suppressed by methylene chloride extract of Morus alba L. (MEMA). From the inflammation-mediated mRNA and protein analyses, we showed that inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced by LPS were markedly decreased by MEMA treatment. From the observation of nuclear factor-kB (NF-${\kappa}B$) which is controlling and mediating inflammation through COX-2 and iNOS, there showed that p65, a subunit of NF-${\kappa}B$, was increased in nuclear and $I{\kappa}B$, a competitor of NF-${\kappa}B$, was recovered in cytosol after MEMA treatment. These are corresponding with results of iNOS, COX-2, IL-$1{\kappa}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, and confirm some suppressive effect against transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory action of M. cortex against BV2 microglia cells is expected to protect nerve tissues through suppression of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2010

An examination of the kinetic properties of UDP-glucose, (1,3)-$\beta$-glucans (callose) synthase, from mung bean seedlings (Sorbus commixta cortex) shows that these enzymes have a complex relationship with UDP-glucose and various effectors. Fluorescence assay showed that deoxynojirimycin increased the inhibitory effect of (1,3)-$\beta$-glucan synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of sakuranetin (34.34%) was higher than that of deoxynojirimycin (80.63%). Disk diffusion method revealed that sakuranetin inhibited the growth of Candida albicans to a 1.5 mm inhibition zone. These results suggest that sakuranetin, isolated from Sorbus commixta cortex extract, can be used as stable antifungal material.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.10b
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• pp.373-375
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• 2005

The purpose of this paper is to develop the Plastic Cortex Stimulator(PCS) for stroke patients using ZigBee technology. The PCS consists of an implantable neuro-stimulator and a user controller, The neuro-stimulator has the stimulus circuit which is the H-bridge circuit to generate a bipolar pulse. The bipolar pulse is known to be effective for stroke recovery. The user controller sends several wave-shape parameters (amplitude, pulse width, cycle, etc.) to the neuro-stimulator for variable stimulation using ZigBee technology. The CC2420 and atmega128L was used to implement ZigBee protocol stack. The wireless control of PCS based on ZigBee can help the tele-rehabilitation of the stroke patients. The most effective pulse shape parameters are being investigated through animal experiments. The bio-compatibility and user-friendly interface are supposed to be handled in further study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2014

Cortex ulmi pumilae, the cortex of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, has been used in traditional folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory effect. Although its various bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer, have been reported, the anti-adipogenic activity of cortex ulmi pumilae remains unclarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cortex ulmi pumilae extract on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with cortex ulmi pumilae extract significantly reduced the formation of lipid droplets and triglyceride content in a dose-dependent manner; this is associated with an inhibition of the adipogenic transcription factors, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). In addition, cortex ulmi pumilae extract treatment during the early stage of adipogenesis showed more efficient anti-adipogenic activity than treatment during other stages of adipogenesis. Cortex ulmi pumilae extract also inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 arrest of 3T3-L1 cells in the early stage of adipogenesis. This was associated with upregulated expression of Cdk inhibitor p21 and downregulated expression of cyclin E and phospho-Rb, indicating that cortex ulmi pumilae extract blocks mitotic clonal expansion by cell cycle regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that cortex ulmi pumilae extract possesses anti-adipogenic activity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by blocking mitotic clonal expansion.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1042-1047
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• 2002

Recently, many natural medicines, which have advantage of less side effects and possibility of long-term use, have been studied for their capacity and effects of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative potential for periodontal tissues. Cortex Eucommiae, Eupoly phaga, Semen Cuscutae, Halloysitum Rubrum have been traditionally used as medicines for treatment of bone disease in Korea. The objective of the present study is to examine the ability of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in human fetal osteoblast cell line (hFOB1) with several natural medicines. hFOB1 added DMEM/F-12 were cultured with dexamethasone as a positive control, and with each natural medicine. ALP activity was measured by spectrophotometer for enzyme activity and naphthol AS-Bl staining was performed for morphometry. All of the natural medicines induced a higher ALP activity compared to negative control, especially, Cortex Eucommiae increased an ALP activity in all experimental groups (p<0.05). In naphthol AS-Bl staining, all of the natural medicines of this study increased the stained area compared to negative control. Especially, Cortex Eucommiae and Eupoly phaga showed statistical significance compared to negative control (p<0.05). These results indicate that Cortex Eucommiae, Eupoly phaga, Semen Cuscutae, Halloysitum Rubrum have an inducing ability of ALP synthesis on osteoblasts.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2017

With the explosive increase in exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by mobile phones, public concerns have grown over the last few decades with regard to the potential effects of EMF exposure on the nervous system in the brain. Many researchers have suggested that RF-EMFs can effect diverse neuronal alterations in the brain, thereby affecting neuronal functions as well as behavior. Previously, we showed that long-term exposure to 835 MHz RF-EMF induces autophagy in the mice brain. In this study, we explore whether shortterm exposure to RF-EMF leads to the autophagy pathway in the cerebral cortex and brainstem at 835 MHz with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W/kg for 4 weeks. Increased levels of autophagy genes and proteins such as LC3B-II and Beclin1 were demonstrated and the accumulation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes was observed in cortical neurons whereas apoptosis pathways were up-regulated in the brainstem but not in the cortex following 4 weeks of RF exposure. Taken together, the present study indicates that monthly exposure to RF-EMF induces autophagy in the cerebral cortex and suggests that autophagic degradation in cortical neurons against a stress of 835 MHz RF during 4 weeks could correspond to adaptation to the RF stress environment. However, activation of apoptosis rather than autophagy in the brainstem is suggesting the differential responses to the RF-EMF stresses in the brain system.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2005

We investigated the activation of the cerebral cortex during active movement, passive movement, and functional electrical stimulation (FES), which was provided on wrist extensor muscles. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study was performed on 5 healthy volunteers. Tasks were the extension of right wrist by active movement, passive movement, and FES at the rate of .5 Hz. The regions of interest were measured in primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (SI), secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), and supplementary motor area (SMA). We found that the contralateral SI and SII were significantly activated by all of three tasks. The additional activation was shown in the areas of ipsilateral S1 (n=2), and contralateral (n=1) or ipsilateral (n=2) SII, and bilateral SMA (n=3) by FES. Ipsilateral M1 (n=1), and contralateral (n=1) or ipsilateral SII (n=1), and contralateral SMA (n=1) were activated by active movement. Also, Contralateral SMA (n=3) was activated by passive movement. The number of activated pixels on SM1 by FES ($12{\pm}4$ pixels) was smaller than that by active movement ($18{\pm}4$ pixels) and nearly the same as that by passive movement ($13{\pm}4$ pixels). Findings reveal that active movement, passive movement, and FES had a direct effect on cerebral cortex. It suggests that above modalities may have the potential to facilitate brain plasticity, if applied with the refined-specific therapeutic intervention for brain-injured patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.257-265
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ulmi Pumilae cortex extracts on acute reflux esophagitis rats induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. 40 rats were divided into five groups; Normal group, Sham group, Control group, T1 group and T2 group. 4 groups has a laparotomy after controled 2weeks and sham group, T1 group, T2 group has ligation in stomach. After laparotomy, all group`s body weight, gastric volume, gastric juice PH, SOD activities, catalase activities, lipid peroxidation, total glutathione, the effects on esophageal and stomach mucosa damage were checked. There was significant statistical differences between control group and Ulmi Pumilae cortex extracts adminitration groups(T1 and T2 group) in terms of gastric volume decreasing. Also, adminitration groups has significant effect than control group in decreasing mucosa damage. SOD(superoxide dismutase) and catalase activities has a significant statistical differences between control group and T2 group not in T1 group. These results suggest that the medication of Ulmi Pumilae cortex extracts is effective for the treatment of acute reflux esophagitis in terms of decerasing gastric volume and mucosa damage. Especially, the results were shown to be more positive in High-dose administration group (T2 group) than in Low-dose administration group (T1 group) in SOD and catalase activities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.125-135
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• 1979

This study was undertaken to search for a new antihypertensive or hypotensive agents in natural crude products in Korea. Betula schmidtii Regel, a tree belonging to the Betulaceae family, is cultivated for the most part of our country, and their cortecies or tree milk has been used as folk remedy, which exerted good antiinflammatory effect on rheumatic fever, arthritis or rheumatism. The rats were treated with several extracts from Betula schmidtii Regel, that is, extracts of water, methanol from inner cortecies, extracts of ether, methanol, hexane, chloroform or butanol from outer and total cortecies. In this experiment, we measured the blood pressure and heart rate in anesthetized rats, and atropine, diphenhydramine, phentolamine, propranolol, epinephrine, hexamethonium and hydralazine were pretreated prior to Betula extracts to clarify the mechanism of the hypotensive action. The results of the experiment were as follows; 1. BOIE(Betula outer cortex water-insoluble extract) and BICE(Betula inner cortex chloroform extract) elevated the blood pressure and heart rate. 2. BIME(Betula inner cortex methanol extract), BIBE(Betula inner cortex butanol extract) and BIWE (Betula inner cortex water extract) significantly lowered the blood pressure and heart rate. 3. With the pretreatment of hydralazine, the hypotensive effect of Betula schmidtii Regel was significantly blocked. From the above results, it is suggested that the hypotensive effect of Betula schmidtii Regel is due to the direct vasodilation of blood vessel.