• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.129-140
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• 2001

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Punsimgi-eum(fenxingi-yin) in rat model of depression induced by chronic mild stress (CMS). Methods : The change of the consumption of sucrose solution was measured, and the open field test and passive avoidance conditioning test were performed to investigate the anti-depressive effect of Punsimgi-eum(fenxingi-yin). Results : The results were as follows; I. The consumption of sucrose solution was significantly reversed in the test group at 5, 7 and 8 weeks, but there was no significant change in the control group. 2. There was no significant change of body weight after 8 weeks in each group 3. In the open field test, there was significant increase of exploratory activity in the test group. 4. In the passive avoidance test, the test group showed differences in the maintenance of retention from the control group at the 2-week training-testing interval. Conclusions : The present results suggest that Punsimgi-eum(fenxingi-yin) has an anti-depressive effect.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.117-130
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• 2015

Objectives: Banhahoobak-tang has been used to treat plum-pit qi, chest and hypochondriac distension, moist or greasy tongue coat, and wiry slow or wiry slippery pulse. It might be used to control coughing and vomiting. We observed that Banhahoobak-tang extract (BHTe) had anti-psychological stress effect. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of BHTe on restoring the transcriptional regulation of genes related to psychological stress. Methods: After giving psychological stress to mice, BHTe was orally administered at 100 mg/kg/day for five days. After extracting whole brain tissue from the mice, the gene expression changes were determined by microarray. Transcription factor binding site (TFBS) analysis showed up- and down-regulated genes related to psychological stress were protected by BHTe and segregated according to the structure of TFBS. We performed text based Pubmed search to select significant target genes involved in psychological stress affected by BHTe. Results: 1. Serum corticosterone level was decreased in the BHTe administered group, although the psychological stress was increased. 2. The BHTe administered group had no significant change in noradrenaline content in brain tissue, but the psychological stress group had decreased level. 3. The BHTe administered group had increased time of staying at open-arm than the psychological stress group. 4. Microarray revealed that TANK and RARA genes were up-regulated genes while AES, CDC42, FOS, NCL, and PVR were down-regulated genes by psychological stress but restored by BHTe.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.526-532
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Acanthopanax sessiliflorus is a native Korean plant and used as a traditional medicine or an ingredient in many Korean foods. The free radical theory of aging suggests that cellular oxidative stress caused by free radicals is the main cause of aging. Free radicals can be removed by cellular anti-oxidants. MATERIALS/METHODS: Here, we examined the anti-oxidant activity of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus extract both in vitro and in vivo. Survival of nematode C. elegans under stress conditions was also compared between control and Acanthopanax sessiliflorus extract-treated groups. Then, anti-aging effect of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus extract was monitored in C. elegans. RESULTS: Stem extract significantly reduced oxidative DNA damage in lymphocyte, which was not observed by leaves or root extract. Survival of C. elegans under oxidative-stress conditions was significantly enhanced by Acanthopanax sessiliflorus stem extract. In addition, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus stem increased resistance to other environmental stresses, including heat shock and ultraviolet irradiation. Treatment with Acanthopanax sessiliflorus stem extract significantly extended both mean and maximum lifespan in C. elegans. However, fertility was not affected by Acanthopanax sessiliflorus stem. CONCLUSION: Different parts of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus have different bioactivities and stem extract have strong anti-oxidant activity in both rat lymphocytes and C. elegans, and conferred a longevity phenotype without reduced reproduction in C. elegans, which provides conclusive evidence to support the free radical theory of aging.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 2012

Siegesbeckia Herba is known to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-tumor. The objective of this study is to explore the neuroprotective effect of Siegesbeckia Herba against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Siegesbeckia Herba 70% ethanol extract and solvent fractions have the potent neroprotective effects on glutamate-induced nerotoxicity by induced the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in the mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Especially, ethyl acetate fraction showed higher protective effect. In HT22 cell, Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction makes the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. Further, we found that treatment with c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor (SP600125) reduced Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction induced HO-1 expression and Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction also increased JNK phosphorylation. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of 70% ethanol extract of Siegesbeckia Herba significantly protect glutamate-induced oxidative damage by induction of HO-1 via Nrf2 and JNK pathway in mouse hippocampal HT22. Taken together these finding suggest that Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction good source for taking active compounds and may be a potential therapeutic for brain disorder by targeting the oxidative stress of neuronal cell.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2017

Objectives: Aging is an unconscious and gradual process that can lead to changes in biological systems. Induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis, hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity are involved in the aging process. Regarding the antioxidant property of black seed oil, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-aging effect of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) oil on d-galactose-induced aging in mice. Methods: For induction of aging, D-galactose (500 mg/kg, subcoutaneously SC) was administrated to male mice for 42 days. Animals were treated with D-galactose alone or with b lack seed oil (0.1, 0.2, 0.5 mL/kg, intraperitoneally (ip)). Additionally, vitamin E (200 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. At the end of treatment, the malondialdehyde (MDA) and the glutathione (GSH) contents in brain and liver tissues were measured. Also, enzymes in serum, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT), were determined. The levels of the proteins Bax, Bcl2, caspase-3 (pro and cleaved) in brain and liver tissues were evaluated. Results: Administration of D-galactose (500 mg/kg, SC) for 42 days increased serum levels of ALT and AST, as well as the MDA content, in brain and liver tissues, but decreased the GSH content. Additionally, the levels of apoptotic proteins, including Bax, procaspase-3 and caspase-3 cleaved, were markedly increased. N. sativa oil (0.1 and 0.2 mL/kg) diminished the levels of the biochemical markers ALT and AST. Administration of black seed oil (0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 mL/kg) reduced lipid peroxidation and at doses 0.1 and 0.2 mL/kg significantly recovered the GSH content. The oil decreased Bax/Bcl2 levels and at 0.1 mL/kg down-regulated the expressions of caspase-3 (pro and cleaved) proteins in brain and liver tissues. Conclusion: Through its antioxidant and anti-apoptosis properties, black seed oil exhibited an anti-aging effect in a model of aging induced with D-galactose.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2004

Sopungsungi-won has been used as a traditional medicine for diabetes and it has been proved to be a potential remedy for type 2 diabetes mellitus. We previously reported that water extract of Sopungsungi-won exhibits anti-diabetic effects both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the present study, we have chosen to examined anti-apoptotic effect of Rheum undulatum, which is the main component of Sopungsungi-won, on pancreatic ${\beta}-cells$, HIT-T15, against hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$. oxidative stress. To investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of Rheum undulatum water extract (RUWE) against $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis in pancreatic ${\beta}-cell$ line of hamster, HIT-T15, MTT assay, DAPI staining, TUNEL assay, RT-PCR and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed. The morphological analysis demonstrated that cells treated with $H_2O_2$ exhibited classical apoptotic features, while such changes was reduced in cells pre-treated with RUWE. In addition, RUWE pre-treated cells prior to $H_2O_2$ treatment induced increase of levels of bcl-2 expression and decrease of caspase-3 enzyme activity compared to cells treated with $H_2O_2$ only. These results provide the possibility of usage of RU in patients with progressively deteriorated diabetes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2004

The aim of this study is to investigate anti-stress effect of Scutellaria baicalensis(SB). The experiments were performed with the use of young (9 weeks of age) male rats of SD strain and the male ICR mice (20-25 g) at the time of first treatment with SB. Animals of the normal group were not exposed to any stress and the control group were exposed to stress. The rats of the Ginseng, Diazepam(BZ) and SB supplementary group were orally administered once a day 100 mg of red ginseng extract, 5 mg of BZ or 100 mg of SB extract/kg body weight and they were exposed to stress. The mice of the Ginseng, BZ and SB supplementary group were given water containing 200 mg of red ginseng extract, 10 mg of BZ or SB extract/100 ml potable water and exposed to stress. Animals were given supplements for 7 days without stress, and then were given supplement for 5 days with restraining and electroshock stress. We recorded stress related behavioral changes of the experimental animals by stressing them using the Etho-vision system and measured levels of blood corticosterone and IL-2. SB supplementation partially blocked the stress effect on locomotion in the rats and mice, and also partially blocked stress-induced behavioral changes such as freezing, burrowing, grooming, smelling, and rearing behavior in the rats and smelling, grooming, tailing, and rearing in the mice. in elevated plus maze test, the staying time of the stressed rats and mice in the open area decreased while it increased in the closed area. But these changes also partially were blocked by SB-supplementation. SB-supplementation decreased levels of the blood corticosterone which was increased by stress in the rats but did not significantly increase levels of blood interleukin 2 which was decreased by stress in mice.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2003

This study aimed to investigate the effect of each constituent-herb of Sagoonja-Tang on the plasma corticosterone level in mice exposed to heat stress. Each formula(0.5g/kg, 1.0g/kg) was injected intragastrically to mice exposed to forced hot water swimming(42$^{\circ}C$, 3min) before measuring the change of plasma corticosterone level of mice. The results were as follows: 1. At 15 minutes after the heat stress for 3 minutes the most significant increase of corticosterone level was shown. 2. Ginseng group didn't show significant changes. 3. Atractylodis group showed significant decrease at 0.5g/kg dose(P<0.05). But it showed slightly increase at 1.0g/kg dose. 4. Poria group didn't show significant changes. 5. Glycyrrhizae group showed slightly increase, but insignificant. These data revealed that Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma might have the anti-stress effect through the control of plasma corticosterone level in mice exposed to heat stress.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2003

This study aimed to investigate the effects of each constituent-herb of Sagoonja- Tang on the plasma corticosterone level in mice exposed to cold stress. Sagoonja-Tang is composed of Ginseng Radix, Atractylodis Radix, Poria, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. Each constisuent-herb(0.5g/kg, 1.0g/kg) was administered intragastrically to mice 1hr prior to expose to forced cold water swimming($4{\circ}C$, 3min) before measuring the change of plasma corticosterone level of mice. The results were as follows: 1. At 30 minutes after the cold stress for 3 minutes the most significant increase of corticosterone level was shown. 2. Ginseng group(PGR group) didn't show any significant changes. 3. Atractylodis group(AR group) showed significant decrease at 0.5g/kg dose (P<0.01). But it didn't show significant changes at 1.0g／kg dose. 4. Poria group(P group) didn't show significant changes. But it showed slightly increase at 1.0g/kg dose. 5. Glycyrrhizae group(GR group) didn't show significant changes. These data revealed that Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma might have the anti-stress effect through the control of plasma corticosterone level and the dose of herbs had a different effect on the plasma corticosterone level in mice exposed to cold stress.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.240-244
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• 2007

Cigarette smoking causes serious health problems in humans, especially if smoking habits are established during their adolescence. Nicotine is known to mutate DNA and interfere with apoptosis. Apoptosis is considered as a potent defense mechanism against cellular damaging agents. This study aims to investigate the effect of nicotine on the progression of apoptosis induced under ER stress conditions using four different established cell lines: HEK293, 3T3-L1, C2C12, and HepG2. When treated with nicotine, the progression of apoptosis was notably inhibited in the four cell lines according to the assays of caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation. In ER-stressed cells, nicotine appears to inhibit the progression of apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. When cells were treated with nicotine prior to ER stress, GRP94 level significantly increased compared to other ER stress markers of PDI and GRP78. This observation suggests that the inhibitory effect of nicotine may results from up-regulation of GRP94, an anti-apoptotic chaperone, under nicotine treatment. Taken together, the present study strongly implies that nicotine may inhibit apoptosis, caused by prolonged ER stress, based on promotion of GRP94 expression.