• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.71-85
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• 2014

Objectives In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Samhwangsasim-tang (S.H) on the allergic response caused by ovalbumin(OVA) sensitization and challenge in BALB/c mice. Methods The experimental animals were divided into five groups; 1) normal as negative control, 2) OVA-sensitized mice, 3) OVA-sensitized mice treated with 200 mg/kg of S.H 200, 4) OVA-sensitized mice treated with 400 mg/kg of S.H 400, and 5) OVA-sensitized mice treated with 5 mg/kg of Dexamethasone (Dex). Antigen sensitization for allergic mouse model was performed with twice injection of OVA for 2 weeks. After secondary injection, S.H was administrated orally into mice every day for 13 days and the inhibitory effect of S.H on allergic responses was evaluated. Results Treatment of S.H into allergic mice reduced significantly ear edema and infiltration of immune cells in ear tissues induced with OVA challenge in a dose-dependent manner. S.H reduced significantly the serum levels of Total Immunoglobulin(Ig)G and IgE, and particularly inhibited the production of OVA-specific IgE, but not OVA-specific IgG. The serum level of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-${\alpha}$ and Th2-associated cytokine IL-4 also were significantly decreased by S.H adminstration in a dose denpendent manner. S.H attenuated OVA-induced secretion of IFN-${\gamma}$, but not IL-12 which is a cytokine inducing the development of Th1 cells. It also reduced significantly the secretion of IL-4, which is a cytokine inducing the development of Th2 cells, after splenocytes were stimulated with OVA. However the secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 was influenced weakly or a little. Conclusions These results indicate that S.H could reduce the allergic response through inhibition of antigen-specific IgE and Th2-inducing cytokines. It suggest that S.H may be available clinically for the treatment of allergic patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 2014

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is commonly found in aging men, is characterized by hyperplasia of prostatic stromal and epithelial cells beginning in the periurethral zone of the prostate. The prevalence of BPH increases in an age-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the protective effects of unripe Rubus occidentalis extracts (UROE) on BPH development using a prostate cancer cell line and testosterone-induced BPH rat model. Experiments using an established hormone-dependent prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) showed that UROE treatment significantly decreased expression of androgen-related genes, including androgen receptor (AR), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and 5-alpha reductase 2, but not 5-alpha reductase 1, which was also observed in flutamide-treated cells. Further, AR and PSA gene expression was reduced by UROE treatment under androgen-stimulated conditions using dihydrotestosterone (DHT). BPH animals displayed elevated prostate weights. However, UROE as well as finasteride treatment significantly reduced prostate weights and DHT levels compared to testosterone-induced BPH animals. Histopathological analysis also showed that UROE treatment suppressed testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia. Taken together, the results suggest that UROE may effectively inhibit the development of BPH and thus may be a useful agent in BPH treatment.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 1999

The anti-asthmatic activities of the extract of Lonicera japonica (BuOH fraction) and its mode of action were investigated using several in vitro and in vivo models. Lonicera japonica was extracted with 30% ethanol (v/v) and successively partitioned into BuOH. The BuOH fraction reduced antigen-induced contraction of isolated trachea from sensitized guinea pigs in a concentration-dependent manner. The BuOH fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by antigen or calcium ionophore A23187 ($IC_{50}=0.26$ and 0.32mg/ml, respectively). Eosinophil infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluids induced by aeroallergen challenge in passively sensitized guinea pigs was inhibited by the BuOH fraction at a dose of 800mg/kg (51.7%). In addition, the BuOH fraction inhibited leukotriene $B_4$ prodution in rat basophilic leukemia cells ($IC_{50}=0.42\;mg/ml$) as well as phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) isolated from rat brain ($IC_{50}=0.015\;mg/ml$). All results from this study strongly suggest that the BuOH fraction of Lonicera japonica may be useful in the treatment of asthma and its mode of action may be related with inhibition of both 5-lipoxygenase and PDE4 enzyme.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 2021

Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive pathological condition characterized by excessive proliferation of the prostate. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Corni Fructus water extract (CF) on the promotion of prostate cell proliferation by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Methods: The effect of CF on the proliferation of LNCaP prostate cells was evaluated, and DHT was treated to induce an in vitro BPH model. To study the mechanism of inhibition of cell proliferation and BPH by CF, changes in the expression of key factors related to cell cycle and BPH were investigated. We further investigated the effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy of CF. Results: Inhibition of LNCaP cell proliferation by CF was associated with decreased expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin A and increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. CF also suppressed expression of BPH inducing factors such as 5α-reductase type 2 and androgen receptor (AR) as well as prostate specific antigen (PSA). Furthermore, CF significantly blocked DHT-induced LNCaP cell proliferation and effectively attenuated DHT-induced expression of BPH mediators and cyclins. In addition, CF inhibited DHT-induced oxidative and inflammatory reactions by inhibiting production of ROS and NO. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that CF probably acted as 5α-reductase type 2 inhibitor, preventing the 5α-reductase type 2-AR signaling pathway, thereby reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT and the expression of PSA, which is at least correlated with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of CF.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1100-1114
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• 2008

The aim of the study was to investigate recovery effects of Rehmannia, which has been used clinically for chronic renal failure therapy. Mice had 5/6 nephrectomy to induce chronic renal failure. The results were as follows: 1. The protein amount in urine per 24hrs of the Rehmannia-treated group was significantly reduced compared to the control. 2. The albumin amount in the blood of the Rehmannia-treated group significantly increased compared to the control. The creatinine. total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum of the Rehmannia-treated group as compared to the control were significantly inhibited. 3. The structural change in kidney of the Rehrnannia-treated group was significantly inhibited compared to the control. 4. The factor (macrophage/monocyte antigen (ED-1), type IV collagen and angiotensin II type 1 ($AT_1$) receptor) of the Rehmanala-treated group was significantly inhibited compared to the control, which induced the structural change in kidneys. The above results suggest that Rehmannia partially improved kidney function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.919-923
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• 2004

Spirodela polyrhiza(L.) Schleid (Lemnaceae) have been used as a traditional drug in treating urticaria and itching. However, the exact role of Spirodela polyrhiza in allergic reaction has not been clarified yet. Type 1 hypersensitivity (immediate hypersensitivity), popularly known as allergy, is a major clinical problem in humans. It has been found that the histamine release from mast cells is an essential step in the pathological process of immediate hypersensitivity. In the present study, the effect of aqueous extract of Spirodela polyrhiza (AESP) on immediate hypersensitivity was investigated. AESP inhibited the antigen-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). AESP in vitro exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of degranulation in RPMC stimulated by compound 48/80. AESP also suppressed the morphological changes and the increase of intracellular free calcium level induced by compound 48/80. These results suggest that inhibitory effect of AESP on immediate hypersensitivity may be mediated through the decrease of intracellular free calcium levels, and AESP importantly contributes to the treatment of anaphylaxis and may be useful for other allergic disease.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2020

A recent study suggested that methylation of ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domain 1 (UHRF1) is regulated by SET7 and lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (LSD1) and is essential for homologous recombination (HR). The study demonstrated that SET7-mediated methylation of UHRF1 promotes polyubiquitination of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), inducing HR. However, studies on mediators that interact with and recruit UHRF1 to damaged lesions are needed to elucidate the mechanism of UHRF1 methylation-induced HR. Here, we identified that poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1) interacts with damage-induced methylated UHRF1 specifically and mediates UHRF1 to induce HR progression. Furthermore, cooperation of UHRF1-PARP1 is essential for cell viability, suggesting the importance of the interaction of UHRF1-PARP1 for damage tolerance in response to damage. Our data revealed that PARP1 mediates the HR mechanism, which is regulated by UHRF1 methylation. The data also indicated the significant role of PARP1 as a mediator of UHRF1 methylation-correlated HR pathway.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2010

The Salvia plebeia R. which is the biennial plant belonging to the Labiatae department, grows naturally in the Korea entire area. Presently, its extract (SPRE) is known to have an anti-inflammation and anti-allergy activity, but there are a few evidences about it. SPRE inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine such as TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 as well as nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated- macrophages. The co-administration of SPRE during OVA sensitization significantly reduced total IgE levels in mice. The mice who received SPRE co-administered with OVA showed a significant increase in serum OVA-specific IgG2a/b levels. Spleen-cell cultures harvested from OVA-sensitized mice showed a significant decrease in Th2 cytokine levels with a concomitant increase in Th1 cytokine levels only when SPRE co-administered with OVA. These results demonstrate that SPRE can control the LPS-induced inflammatory reaction and prevent antigen-induced Th2 immune responses in mice.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.31-31
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• 2018

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is the most common disorder in elderly men, involves androgenic hormone imbalance with chronic inflammation that causes imbalance between cell apoptosis and cell proliferation. As the root cause of the BPH remains unclear and synthetic drugs for treatment of BPH have undesirable side effects, the development of effective alternative medicines has been considered. Chinese Skullcap has been considered natural remedy to treat pyrexia, micturition disorder and inflammation. Although skullcap has effective properties on various diseases, the effects and molecular mechanism of Skullcap on BPH are not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Chinese Skullcap root extract (SRE) in testosterone-induced BPH rats. Compared with the untreated group, the SRE treatment group suppressed pathological alterations, such as prostate growth and increase in serum dihydrotestosterone and $5{\alpha}$-reductase levels. Furthermore, SRE significantly decreased the expression of androgen receptor and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. SRE also restored Bax/Bcl-2 balance. These effect of SRE was more prevalent than commercial $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor, finasteride. Taken together, we propose that SRE suppresses abnormal androgen events in prostate tissue and inhibits the development of BPH by targeting inflammation- and apoptosis-related markers. These finding strengthens that SRE could be used as plant-based $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitory alternative.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2004

Objective: The study is performed to assure the effect of Sochungyong-tang against the wide-spread syndrome allergic rhinitis. For this purpose, the Sochungyong-tang is administered to the rat, which was induced the allergic rhinitis, then the histological change is observed. And the change of the number of neutrophil and eosinophil is also observed. Methods: The Sprague-Dawley male rats, about 200g of body weight, by Saemtako BIO Korea were divided into normal, control, and experimental group. The rats were adapted under the constant temperature and humidity for a week. The solid feed and the water were provided ad lid during the whole experiment By the Levine & Vaz method, the allergic reaction induced with ovalbumin as antigen by intraperitoneal route. As the Sochungyong-tang is administered, the histological changes of neutrophil, eodinophil, and mucosal findings were observed. Results: 1. Number of neutrophil was significantly decreased in the experimental group as compared with the control group. 2. Number of eosinophil was significantly decreased in the experimental group as compared with the control group. 3. The mucosa and submucosa of the nose in experimental group were appeared as normal histological findings. Conclusion: According to the above results, it is supposed that the Sochungyong -tang has considerable effect on allergic rhinitis.