• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2022

Hwangryunagyo-tang (HT) is a herbal cocktail to treat insomnia induced by yin deficiency with effulgent fire. In the present study, the onset time and the duration time of sleep were measured 30 minutes after thiopental sodium injection. And c-fos immunohistochemistry was performed to find the activated nerve cells of the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) and tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) sites in the brain. HT significantly increased the number of activated nerve cells in the sleep-inducing center (VLPO), whereas HT significantly decreased the number of activated nerve cells in the arousal center (TMN). It could be concluded that the HT shortened the onset time and increased the duration time for sleep induced by thiopental sodium. And it was confirmed that the mechanism acted by activating the sleep-inducing center (VLPO) and suppressing the arousal center (TMN) in the brain. The results are considered to be useful as scientific evidence HT can be used clinically for the treatment of insomnia caused by yin deficiency with effulgent fire.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.29-34
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• 2020

Objectives : Gyejigamchoyonggolmoryeo-tang (GT, Guizhigancaolonggumulitang in Chinese) is a herbal medicine to be prescribed for insomnia caused by anxiety induced by Heart-Heat and elevated Liver-Yang. In the present study, the onset time (sleep latency) and the duration time of sleep were measured to find out the sleep inducing effects of GT. The expression of c-fos immunohistochemistry was also measured at the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) and tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) site in brain. Methods : The onset time (sleep latency) and the duration time of sleep were measured 30 minutes after thiopental sodium injection. Thereafter, brain tissue was obtained and c-fos immunohistochemistry was performed on the VLPO and TMN sites. Results : GT statistically significantly reduced the sleep latency required to enter sleep, and significantly increased sleep duration time. GT significantly increased the number of c-fos immunohistochemical staining-positive cells in the sleep-inducing center (VLPO), whereas GT significantly decreased the number of c-fos immunohistochemical staining-positive cells in the arousal center (TMN). Conclusions : It could be concluded that the GT shortened the sleep latency and increased the duration time for sleep induced by thiopental sodium. And it was confirmed that the mechanism was to stimulate the sleep-inducing center (VLPO) and suppress the arousal center (TMN) in the brain. The results of this study are considered to be useful as scientific evidence that can be used clinically for the treatment of insomnia caused by anxiety.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2021

Shihogayonggolmoryo-tang (ST) is a Korean medical herb cocktail which has been used to treat anxiety induced insomnia. In this study, we will examine sleep-promoting and anti-anxiety effects of ST, and investigate its mechanism. ICR mice were divided into three groups for the first examination : control group (n=11), ST50 group (50 mg/kg, po, n=11), ST200 group (200 mg/kg, po, n=11). Sleep-promoting effect was confirmed by measuring the sleeping duration time and sleeping onset time after thiopental sodium treatment (50 mg/kg, ip). ICR mice were divided into five groups for the second examination : control group (n=11), ST200 group (200 mg/kg, po, n=11), ST200+Flumazenil group (ST 200 mg/kg, po, flumazenil 0.3 mg/kg, ip, n=11), diazepam group (1 mg/kg, ip, n=11), diazepam+flumazenil group (diazepam 1 mg/kg, ip, Flumazenil 0.3 mg/kg, ip, n=11). Anxiety behavior and sleep-promoting effect was confirmed by open field test and measuring the sleeping duration time and sleeping onset time. Expression levels of c-fos in tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) and ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. ST treated group showed significantly decreased anxiety behavior and enhanced sleeping duration time and sleeping onset time concentration dependently. The expression of c-fos was significantly upregulated in VLPO as sleep-inducing center and TMN as downregulated in arousal center by ST treatment. In addition, all effects of ST were reversed by flumazenil. Our results suggest that ST has sleep-promoting and anti-anxiety effects through regulating arousal center (TMN) and sleep-inducing center (VLPO).