• 대한약침학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.11-22
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• 2013

Objectives: The present investigation aimed at examining if post-cancer treatment with a potentized homeopathic drug, Condurango 30C, which is generally used to treat oesophageal cancer, could also show an ameliorating effect through apoptosis induction on lung cancer induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in white rats (Rattus norvegicus). Methods: Lung cancer was induced after four months by chronic feeding of BaP to rats through gavage at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for one month. After four months, the lung-cancer-bearing rats were treated with Condurango 30C for the next one ($5^{th}$), two ($5^{th}-6^{th}$) and three ($5^{th}-7^{th}$) months, respectively, and were sacrificed at the corresponding time-points. The ameliorating effect, if any, after Condurango 30C treatment for the various periods was evaluated by using protocols such as histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), annexinV-FITC/PI assay, flow cytometry of the apoptosis marker, DNA fragmentation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and western blot analyses of lung tissue samples. Results: Striking recovery of lung tissue to a near normal status was noticed after post-cancerous drug treatment, as evidenced by SEM and histology, especially after one and two months of drug treatment. Data from the annexinV-FITC/PI and DNA fragmentation assays revealed that Condurango 30C could induce apoptosis in cancer cells after post-cancer treatment. A critical analysis of signalling cascade, evidenced through a RT-PCR study, demonstrated up-regulation and down-regulation of different pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, respectively, related to a caspase-3-mediated apoptotic pathway, which was especially discernible after one-month and two-month drug treatments. Correspondingly, Western blot and immunohistochemistry studies confirmed the ameliorative potential of Condurango 30C by its ability to down-regulate the elevated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, a hallmark of lung cancer. Conclusion: The overall result validated a positive effect of Condurango 30C in ameliorating lung cancer through caspase-3-mediated apoptosis induction and EGFR down-regulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.19-25
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to understand the possible mechanism of duck sperm toxicity induced by arsenic exposure in vivo, and to investigate the roles of the antioxidant L-ascorbic acid in ameliorating the arsenic-induced sperm impairment. To test the acute toxicity, the percentages of mortality of mature drakes treated with different concentrations of trivalent sodium arsenite, As (III), and pentavalent sodium arsenate, As (V) were measured. The LD50 value of As (III) for mature drakes was $4.89{\pm}1.49$ ppm. Although As (V) didn't cause any deaths even at a concentration of 40 ppm, the chronic toxicity of As (V) on sperm quality was shown by a decreased fertilization rate. When the concentrations of As (V) were above 0.4 ppm, fertilization rates were lower than those of 0.04 ppm and control. Drakes treated with 40 ppm of As (V) had the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the testis tissue, $3.100{\pm}0.218{\mu}mole/g$ testis. This showed that 40 ppm of As (V) significantly induced lipid peroxidation in testis tissue. For the 1.2 ppm As (III) treatment, several significant effects were observed: (1) sperm motility was decreased most dramatically by $52.0{\pm}9.1$% after three days of incubation; (2) fertilization rate of artificially inseminated semen was the lowest, $26.4{\pm}15.4$; (3) the MDA concentration in testis tissue, $7.846{\pm}0.246{\mu}mole/g$ testis, was significantly higher than the others (p<0.05); (4) the sperm number, $1.17{\pm}0.40({\times}10^9)$, was significantly lower than with the 60 ppb and control treatments (p<0.05); (5) a black appearance and soft texture was observed in the testis tissue. The antioxidant L-ascorbic acid administered along with 1.2 ppm As (III) decreased the toxicity of arsenic. The ameliorating effects included: improved sperm motility, increased sperm number and fertilization rate, and decreased MDA concentration in the testis tissue. This study suggests that the toxicity of the trivalent arsenic on sperm quality is partly from free radicals generated by its metabolic pathway, and the antioxidant ascorbic acid ameliorates arsenic-caused sperm impairment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.299-306
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• 2013

In the present study, we investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of the seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa (EEZS) on cholinergic blockade-induced memory impairment in mice. Male ICR mice were treated with EEZS. The behavioral tests were conducted using the passive avoidance, the Y-maze, and the Morris water maze tasks. EEZS (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in our present behavioral tasks without changes of locomotor activity. The ameliorating effect of EEZS on scopolamine-induced memory impairment was significantly reversed by a sub-effective dose of MK-801 (0.0125 mg/kg, s.c.). In addition, single administration of EEZS in normal naive mouse enhanced latency time in the passive avoidance task. Western blot analysis was employed to confirm the mechanism of memory-ameliorating effect of EEZS. Administration of EEZS (200 mg/kg) increased the level of memory-related signaling molecules, including phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase or cAMP response element-binding protein in the hippocampal region. Also, the time-dependent expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor by the administration of EEZS was markedly increased from 3 to 9 h. These results suggest that EEZS has memory-ameliorating effect on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment, which is mediated by the enhancement of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system, in part, via NMDA receptor signaling, and that EEZS would be useful agent against cognitive dysfunction such as Alzheimer's disease.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.762-768
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• 2014

본 연구에서는 oleic acid로 유도시킨 비알코올성 지방간 HepG2 세포 모델을 활용하여 LAFGE의 비알코올성 지방간 개선 효과를 검토하고 RT-PCR과 Western blot으로 메카니즘을 해석하였다. LAFGE는 1 mg/mL 농도에서 NFGE보다 세포 내 지방축적을 약 1.5배 저해하였다. Fig. 5에 나타낸 바와 같이 LAFGE는 FAT/CD36 mRNA 발현을 감소시켜 세포 내로 유입되는 지방산의 양을 감소시켰으며, $PPAR{\alpha}$와 CPT-1의 mRNA 발현을 증강시킴으로써 지방산의 베타-산화를 촉진시켰다. 또한 LAFGE는 지방합성을 촉진하는 전사인자인 SREBP-1c와 그의 조절을 받는 FAS의 mRNA 발현 수준을 oleic acid 처리시보다 각각 51%와 35%까지 크게 감소시켰다. 뿐만 아니라 LAFGE는 농도의존적으로 SREBP-1c와 FAS의 단백질 발현도 감소시켰다. 이 결과들은 LAFGE가 oleic acid처리에 의해 유도된 HepG2 세포 내의 지방축적을 개선할 수 있음을 시사하였다.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.1-19
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• 2017

목 적: 본 연구는 녹용대보탕이 안와정맥총 방혈로 유발시킨 랫트의 아급성 출혈성 빈혈 모델에 대해 항빈혈 및 조혈촉진 효과를 확인하였다. 방 법: 본 실험에서는 안와 정맥총에서 혈액을 채혈하여 아급성 출혈성 빈혈을 유발시켰으며, 녹용대보탕 추출물을 경구투여하고, 체중 및 조혈 관련 장기(대퇴골 골수, 비장 및 간) 중량, 적혈구 관련 혈액학적 지표의 변화, 혈액 도말 표본의 세포학적 변화, 조혈관련 장기의 조직병리학적 변화와 함께 조혈장기 내 혈구형성 줄기세포의 수적 변화를 면역조직화학적으로 관찰하였다. 또한 철분 보충제의 대표적 부작용인 소화 장애, 특히 변비 유발 여부를 확인하기 위해 탄분을 이용해 위장관 운동성을 평가하였으며, 결장내 분변 표면의 점막 두께와 결장점막 내 점액생산세포 및 결장 점막 두께 변화를 조직병리학적으로 평가하였다. 결 과: 본 실험에서 유발된 아급성 출혈성 빈혈 소견이 모든 세 용량의 녹용대보탕 추출물의 용량 의존적으로 현저히 억제되었다. 또한 세 용량의 녹용대보탕 투여군에서는 정상 대조군 및 아급성 출혈성 빈혈 대조군에 비해 위장관 운동성 변화 및 결장 및 결장내 분변의 점액성분의 유의미한 변화는 없었다. 결 론: 이상의 결과에서, 녹용대보탕의 경구투여는 아급성 출혈성 빈혈 유발 랫트에서 단순 철분 보충제의 부작용인 소화관 장애 없이, 조혈관련 장기들에서 혈구형성줄기세포의 증식 촉진을 통해 투여 용량 의존적으로 철 결핍성 빈혈의 증상을 현저히 완화시키는 것으로 관찰되었다. 따라서 녹용대보탕은 새로운 개념의 조혈촉진 빈혈치료제로서의 개발 가치가 충분할 것으로 판단된다.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.119-127
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• 2013

Objectives : ${\beta}$-Asarone (BAS) is an active ingredient in Acori Rhizoma. This study investigated anti-neuroinflammatory and memory ameliorating effects of BAS in systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Methods : BAS was administered orally at doses of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg for 3 days prior to LPS (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) injection. Pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-ㅍ), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6, was measured in hippocampus tissue using real-time polymerase chain reaction at 4 h after the LPS injection. An ameliorating effect of 30 mg/kg BAS on learning and memory impairment in the LPS-treated mice was verified using the Morris water maze test. Results : BAS significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 mRNA in hippocampus tissue of the LPS-treated mice. In acquisition training test, BAS improved learning performance of the LPS-treated mice with a significant decrease of escape latency to the platform. In memory retention test, BAS also ameliorated memory impairment of the LPS-treated mice with a significant increase of swimming time in zones neighboring to the platform, number of target heading, and memory score. Conclusion : The results suggest that inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus by BAS could be one of the mechanisms for BAS-mediated ameliorating effect on learning and memory impairment in LPS-treated mice.

• 생약학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.243-249
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• 2015

Myrrh, Angelicae Radix, and Schisandrae Fructus have been used to treat diverse diseases including neurological disorder in the traditional Korean medicine. In the present study, we investigated the ameliorating effects of HPM-1, a combined extract of Myrrh, Angelicae Radix and Schisandrae Fructus, on scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. First, we assessed HPM-1, HPM-2 and HPM-3, in which Myrrh was extracted with water, 30% ethanol, and 30% ethanol/3% vinegar, respectively. The oral administration of HPM-1, HPM-2, or HPM-3 significantly reversed scopolamine-induced reduction of spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze task. In the passive avoidance task, HPM-1 or HPM-3 restored the decreased latency time of the retention trial by scopolamine treatment, but in terms of efficacy, HPM-1 showed more beneficial effects than HPM-3. In addition, HPM-1 administration reversed scopolamine-induced reduction of spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze task and scopolamine-decreased latency time in the passive avoidance in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that HPM-1 has the therapeutic potential in memory impairments.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.113-118
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• 2007

The brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are characterized by large deposits of amyloid beta peptide ($A{\beta}$). $A{\beta}$ is known to increase free radical production in nerve cells, leading to cell death that is characterized by lipid peroxidation, free radical formation, protein oxidation, and DNA/RNA oxidation. In this study, we selected an extract of Gardenia jasminoides by screening, and investigated its ameliorating effects on $A{\beta}$-induced oxidative stress using PC12 cells. The effects of the extract were evaluated using the 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. To find the active component, the ethanol extract was partitioned with hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate, respectively, and the active component was purified by silica-gel column chromatography and HPLC. The results suggested that Gardenia jasminoides extract can reduce the cytotoxicity of $A{\beta}$ in PC 12 cells, possibly by reducing oxidative stress.

• 생약학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.32-37
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• 2011

The effects of herbal ethanol extract from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP extract) on chronic stress-induced anxiety in mice were investigated. The animals were treated with GP extracts (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 21 days before exposure to electric footshock (EF; duration and interval 10 sec for 3 min, 2 mA) for chronic stress once a day. The ambulatory locomotor activity was reduced by chronic EF stress and it was recovered by 12.9-15.1% in GP extract-treated groups. The grip strength was also significantly decreased by chronic EF stress, however, the EF-stressed groups treated with GP extract increased grip strength from 13.9% to 56.8% compared to EF-stressed groups. In addition, the serum levels of corticosterone were significantly elevated by chronic EF stress to 197% of the control levels, which was reduced to 73.1% by treatment with GP extract (100 mg/kg). In contrast, the brain levels of dopamine and serotonin were reduced to 67.6% and 63.1% by chronic EF stress, which was recovered to 90% of the control levels by treatment with GP extract. These results indicate that GP extract shows the ameliorating effects on chronic EF stress-induced anxiety in mice and it can be developed as the promising anti-anxiety agent.

• 생약학회지
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• 제35권3호통권138호
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• pp.239-243
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• 2004

The ameliorating effect of the MeOH extract of the root of Platycodon grandiflorum on the ethanol-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice was investigated. The total MeOH extract was devided into two fractions, saponin rich fraction and non-saponin fraction. The mice with repeated administration of the total MeOH extract and those with saponin rich fraction both showed a markedly prolongεd latency time upon the step-through test (passive avoidance performance) performed after acute ethanol intoxication, while those with non-saponin rich fraction did not. The results suggest that the extracts from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum exert a beneficial effect on ethanol-induced memory impairment in mice and also suggest that these effects of the extracts might be ascribed to the saponin constituents.