• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2004

The effects of Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae) leaf, Emblica officinalis (Euphorbiaceae) fruit and Ocimum sanctum. (Labiateae) leaf extracts were studied in L-thyroxine (0.5 mg/kg) induced hyperthyroidic mice. Separately combined effects of these three plant extracts and of a commonly used antithyroidic drug, Propyl thiouracil (PTU) were investigated for comparison. Serum concentration of thyroxine $(T_4)$, triiodothyronine $(T_3)$, glucose and the activity of hepatic Glucose 6-Phosphatase (G-6-Pase) were considered as main parameters. Hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) activities were also studied to reveal the toxic effect of the plant extracts, if any. While exogenous $T_4$ enhanced serum concentration of $T_4$, $T_3$, glucose and the activity of hepatic G-6-Pase, a simultaneous administration of either A. marmelos leaf (1.0 mg/kg), E. officinalis fruit( 30 mg/kg) and O. sanctum leaf (50 mg/kg) extracts, to hyperthyroidic animals decreased all these parameters. However, the effects were more pronounced, as nearly normal thyroid function and serum glucose concentration were exhibited when all three plant extracts were administered together. A decrease in LPO and a concomitant increase in SOD and the CAT activities indicated the safe and antiperoxidative nature of the plant extracts, administered either alone or in combination. Our findings reveal that the three test plant materials exhibit synergistic effects without any hepatotoxicity, suggesting their potential use in the amelioration of hyperthyroidism and/ or hyperglycaemia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Intestinal disorders often co-occur with inflammation and dysmotility. However, drugs which simultaneously improve intestinal inflammation and co-occurring dysmotility are rarely reported. Atractylodin, a widely used herbal medicine, is used to treat digestive disorders. The present study was designed to characterize the effects of atractylodin on amelioration of both jejunal inflammation and the co-occurring dysmotility in both constipation-prominent (CP) and diarrhea-prominent (DP) rats. The results indicated that atractylodin reduced proinflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in the plasma and inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators iNOS and NF-kappa B in jejunal segments in both CP and DP rats. The results indicated that atractylodin exerted stimulatory effects and inhibitory effects on the contractility of jejunal segments isolated from CP and DP rats respectively, showing a contractile-state-dependent regulation. Atractylodin-induced contractile-state-dependent regulation was also observed by using rat jejunal segments in low and high contractile states respectively (5 pairs of low/high contractile states). Atractylodin up-regulated the decreased phosphorylation of 20 kDa myosin light chain, protein contents of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), and MLCK mRNA expression in jejunal segments of CP rats and down-regulated those increased parameters in DP rats. Taken together, atractylodin alleviated rat jejunal inflammation and exerted contractile-state-dependent regulation on the contractility of jejunal segments isolated from CP and DP rats respectively, suggesting the potential clinical implication for ameliorating intestinal inflammation and co-occurring dysmotility.

• 셀메드
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.35.1-35.11
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• 2012

The homeopathic remedy Chelidonium majus 200C (Chel-200) is traditionally used by homeopathic practitioners in liver ailments arising out of hepatotoxicity. The present investigation was aimed at examining whether vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid or AA), used in both traditional and orthodox medicines, can show better effects when used in combination with Chel-200, in favorably modifying the toxicological effects induced by the chronic feeding of p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB, initiator) and phenobarbital (PB, promoter) in mice for 7 days through 120 days to induce hepatotoxicity and liver tumors. Mice were euthanized at 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of carcinogen feeding to assess various cytogenetical, biochemical and histological changes occurring in them. In a placebo controlled study, Chel-200 or the respective placebo (Alcohol-200C or Alc, "vehicle" of homeopathic drug), was orally administered to toxicant-fed mice. Sub-groups of the mice receiving Chel-200 were also fed either AA or an Alc placebo and their individual and conjoint effects were studied against the respective controls, to evaluate if the combination therapy of Chel-200 with AA can be of additional help in the amelioration of the toxicities generated by the toxicants. The combined feeding of Chel-200 and AA appeared to reduce the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects significantly, when compared to either only the Chel-200 or AA fed group. A similar trend was also obtained in the results of scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies of the livers. Experiments in other mammalian models are warranted to confirm if these drugs in combination could be used in palliative care of human patients with liver diseases including cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.153-160
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• 2012

Panax ginseng has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. More recently, it has received attention for its anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects in humans and in animal models of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we tested the hypoglycemic effects of ginseng berry extract in beta-cell-deficient mice and investigated the mechanisms involved. Red (ripe) and green (unripe) berry extracts were prepared and administered orally (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice daily for 10 wk. The body weight was measured daily, and the nonfasting blood glucose levels were measured after 5 and 10 wk after administration. Glucose tolerance tests were performed, and the serum insulin levels were measured. The proliferation of beta-cells was measured in vitro. The administration of red or green ginseng berry extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and improved the glucose tolerance in beta-cell deficient mice, with the higher doses resulting in better effects. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly increased in berry extract-treated mice compared with streptozotocin-induced diabetic control mice. Treatment with ginseng berry extract increased beta-cell proliferation in vitro. Both red berry and green berry extracts improved glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and increased insulin secretion, possibly due to increased beta-cell proliferation. These results suggest that ginseng berry extracts might have beneficial effects on beta-cell regeneration.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.331-339
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• 2023

본 연구에서는 Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil의 in vitro 시험 및 인체적용시험을 통해 항염 효과와 피부 보습, 피지 분비, 피부 장벽기능 개선 및 피부 진정 등 피부 개선 효과를 확인하였다. In vitro 시험 결과, lipopolysaccharide로 염증 반응을 유도한 각질형성세포(cultured human epidermal keratinocytes)에 H. annuus (Sunflower) seed oil을 처리하였을 때 염증성 사이토카인인 IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α가 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하여 항염 효과가 있음을 확인하였다. 또한 H. annuus (Sunflower) seed oil을 함유한 시험제품을 제조하여 민감성 피부 대상으로 4 주간 인체적용시험한 결과, 피부 보습, 피지 분비, 피부 장벽이 개선되었으며, 피부 붉은기와 트러블이 개선되는 등 피부 개선 효과를 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과를 통해 민감성 피부를 타겟으로 한 화장품 원료로서 H. annuus (Sunflower) seed oil의 가능성을 확인하였다.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2002년도 학술논문발표회
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• pp.75-80
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to conduct researches on the aspects of reconstruction and remodeling of low-rise, dilapidated apartment buildings in the provinces, using comparative methodologies, consequently coming up with the findings in the following. 1) Unlike the rebuilding projects in which the movement process tends to be made in a bulk (in a simultaneous manner), it turns out that when it comes to remodeling, it would be advisable to attempt moving the inhabitants as a group either by the size of their residence or by the building. 2) Given the peculiarities of the construction management mechanism, remodeling projects might seem disadvantageous on the part of the management on account of inadequate accumulation of information and experience. Hence, based on the impeccable assessment of the current status of the subject buildings from the phase of planning, its imperative to closely look into and take into consideration a variety of direct and/or indirect factors in advance of the implementation. 3) A series of comparative researches from the perspective of economical efficiency that remodeling projects appear profitable considering the overall costs including financial expenses, varied taxes, and so on that will be eventually brought forth during the reconstruction period, and all the more so when allowing for the consequential effects which they ought to have upon the natural and human resources, environmental and ecological condition, business potentials, etc. Amelioration to be desired on the basis of the findings above.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.259-264
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• 2004

The present study describes the ameliorating effect of $Ca^{++}\;on\;Cd^{++}$ toxicity on the germination, early growth of mungbean seedlings, nitrogen assimilation enzyme. s-nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NIR), anti-oxidant enzymes (POD, CAT and SOD) and on the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and sulphydryls. $Cd^{++}$ inhibited seed germination and root and shoot length of seedlings. While NR activity was down- regulated, the activities of NIR, POD and SOD were up- regulated with $Cd^{++}$ treatment. $Cd^{++}$ treatment also increased the accumulation of sulphydryls and peroxides, which is reflective of increased thiol rich proteins and oxidative stress. $Ca^{++}$ reversed the toxic effects of $Cd^{++}$ on germination and on early growth of seedlings as well as on the enzyme activities, which were in turn differentially inhibited with a combined treatment with calcium specific chelator EGTA. The results indicate that the external application of $Ca^{++}$ may increase the tolerance capacity of plants to environmental pollutants by both up and down regulating metabolic activities. Abbreviations: $Cd^{++}= cadmium,\;Ca^{++} = calcium$, NR= nitrate reductase, NIR=nitrite reductase, POD = peroxidse, SOD= superoxide dismutase, CAT= catalase, EGTA= ethylene glycol-bis( $\beta-aminoethyl ether$)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.683-688
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• 2005

The ischemia-reperfusion injury of the skeletal muscles is caused by generation of reactive oxygen during ischemia and reperfusion. Melatonin or N-Acetyl-5-methoxy- tryptamine is suggested to have antioxidant effects in several tissues. In present study, we examined the protective effect of melatonin in a rat hind limb ischemia-reperfusion injury. Dimethyl-sulfoxide(DMSO) was also tested for comparison. Ischemia was induced for 4 hours by vascular clamping and followed by 1 hour or 24 hours of reperfusion. Muscle injury was evaluated in 4 groups such as single laparotomy group(control), ischemia-reperfusion group, DMSO group, melatonin group. Eedema ratio and malondialdehyde(MDA) of muscle tissue and serum level of creatine kinase(CK), were measeured at the end of reperfusion. DMSO and melatonin group showed significant amelioration of edema and serum CK compared with ischemia-reperfusion group. The decreasing effect was more prominent in melatonin group. The muscle tissue MDA concentration is significantly lower in melatonin group than in ischemia-reperfusion group. The results show that melatonin prevents and improves ischemia-reperfusion injury more effectively in a rat hind limb than DMSO dose. Thus, clinically the melatonin may be used for a beneficial treatment of such injuries

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.301-308
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• 1994

The individual and combined effects of acidic rain, Mg deficiency (-Mg) and Al surplus (＋Al) on the growth of shoots and roots of pitch pine seedlings and the effect of humic substances (Lit) on Al toxicity were investigated. The growth of height and dry matter were not significantly less for pitch pine seedlings sprayed with simulated acid rain (SAR) of pH 3.5 than for those sprayed with SAR of pH 5.6. But treatments of Al and ＋Al-Mg in soil solution reduced the growth of seedlings in terms of height of shoots, and dry matter of shoots or roots. Effect of Mg deficiency on the growth of seedlings was apparent only when Al was treated simutaneously. The growth of seedlings, regardless of rain pH, decreased in the following order: control=-Mg>Lit＋Al>＋Al>＋Al-Mg. Treatments of Al and ＋Al-Mg in soil solution reduced the total length of secondary and teritary roots of seedlings regardless of rain pH, and decreased in the following order: the primary root

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.356-360
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• 2018

The fermentation of medicinal herbs facilitated by microbes is assumed to exert promising therapeutic efficacy on the absorption, bioavailability, and pharmacological effects by speeding up the making or conversion of active constituents into their metabolites. We examined the cardioprotective potential of fermented ginseng, GBCK25, against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic and functional illnesses as following the essential analysis such as electrocardiographic parameters, alterations of body and organ weights, and echocardiographic studies. The results exhibited that body weights were significantly reduced and the gain of different organ weights were partly eased by GBCK25 treatment. Echocardiography results proposed the amelioration of heart function through normalized levels of left ventricle systolic pressure, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. These outcomes deliver straight confirmation that GBCK25 could be a potential nutraceutical source for the relief of HFD-induced obesity mediated cardiac dysfunctions.