• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.1 s.8
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• pp.181-188
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• 2002

Objective: Through the literatures on the effects of Buthus martensii Karsch, we are finding out the clinical possibility and revealing the more effctive to intractable diseases. Method: We investigated the literatures of Oriental Medicine and experimental reports about Buthus martensii Karsch. Results: 1. The taste of Buthus martensii Karsch is salty, hot and toxic, and the effect of this is tetanus, headache, facial palsy and convulsion. 2. The venom of Buthus martensii Karsch is anaesthetic and toxic protein, composed of buthotoxin, lecithin, trimethylamine, betaine, taurine, cholesterol, stearic acid and palmitic acid and similar to the snake venom. 3. The pharmacological effects ofButhus martensii Karsch are anti-convulsion, depressor, anesthesia, anti-thrombosis and anti-cancer. 4. Symptoms of Buthotoxin poisoning are local pain, vomiting, fever, hypertension and palpitaion, and critical condition to Dyspnea, coma and death.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2013

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the amino-acid compositions of pharmacopuncture extracts taken from the body and from the tail of Buthus martensii Karsch, which are frequently prescribed in Oriental medicine. Methods: Amino acids in hot water and 70% ethanol extracts taken from the scorpion's whole body and from its tail were screened by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The experiments were performed with linearity, precision and accuracy. Results: The results of the amino-acid-composition analysis showed that the Buthus martensii Karsch extracts contained various amino acids such as aspartic acid, histidine, alanine, tyrosine, and cystine. The amino-acid analysis showed that the hot water extract was more beneficial than the ethanol extract, except for histidine. The amino acids from the tail and the body of the scorpion were compared, and the concentration of aspartic acid in the extract from the scorpion's tail was two times that found in the extract from its body. The results of validation experiments were all satisfactory. Conclusion: Studies on the ingredients in extracts from a scorpion other than buthotoxin may demonstrate that the antiepileptic efficacy, anticancer activity, anti-thrombotic action and analgesic effect are enhanced. Using only the tail of the scorpion when pharmacopuncture is dispensed may be beneficial because the extracts from the tail of the scorpion have higher potency than those from the whole body.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.386-390
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• 2005

Based on the reported cDNA sequences of $BmK{\alpha}Txs$, the genes encoding toxin $BmK{\alpha}Tx11$ and $BmK{\alpha}Tx15$ were amplified by PCR from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch genomic DNA employing synthetic oligonucleotides. Sequences analysis of nucleotide showed that an intron about 500 bp length interrupts signal peptide coding regions of $BmK{\alpha}Tx11$ and $BmK{\alpha}Tx15$. Using cDNA sequence of $BmK{\alpha}Tx11$ as probe, southern hybridization of BmK genome total DNA was performed. The result indicates that $BmK{\alpha}Tx11$ is multicopy genes or belongs to multiple gene family with high homology genes. The similarity of $BmK{\alpha}$-toxin gene sequences and southern hybridization revealed the evolution trace of $BmK{\alpha}$-toxins: $BmK{\alpha}$-toxin genes evolve from a common progenitor, and the genes diversity is associated with a process of locus duplication and gene divergence.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.801-806
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• 2010

The existence of glycine residues in long-chain scorpion toxins has been well documented. However, their role as analgesics has not been evaluated. To address this issue, we investigated the functional role of glycines in the C-terminal end of Chinese-scorpion toxin from Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK AGP-SYPU2) using site-directed mutagenesis and analgesic activity assays. Recombinant BmK AGP-SYPU2 and its mutants were efficiently expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) and cation exchange chromatography. The mouse-twisting test was used to detect the analgesic activity of BmK AGP-SYPU2 and its mutants. As a result, we identified glycines at the C-terminal end that, when altered, significantly affected analgesic activity. Also, Mut6566 was significantly decreased compared to BmK AGP-SYPU2. These data indicate that the glycines at the C-terminal end are important for the analgesic activity of BmK AGP-SYPU2.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.139-155
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• 2011

Objectives : To research trends of studies on treatments of knee osteoarthritis in Korean medicine. Methods : Domestic theses, published from 2000 to 2010, mentioning the treatments of knee osteoarthritis in Korean medicine were reviewed and analyzed. This study researched 79 theses and classified again according to the fields of the treatment. Results : The results were obtained as below ; 1. Studies on pharmacoacupuncture account for 41% of the total (32cases/79cases). The target of treatments had changed from pain alleviation and anti-inflammation to cartilage-protection since 2006. 2. Herbal Drug, Bee Venom, Cervi Cornu Parvum pharmacoacupuncture, Taping Therapy and Tai-Chi Exercise program were more effective than others. Moreover research on exercise program such as Tai-Chi has been increasing. 3. Some Herbal Drug (Glycyrrhizae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Achyrantis Radix, Paeoniae Radix, Eucommiae Cortex and so on) were mainly used to investigate the effect on cartilage protection, pain relief and anti-inflammation in laboratory test. 4. Acupuncture including individualized, local acupoints and constitution acupuncture were effective than others in pain alleviation and symptom relief. 5. Pharmacoacupuncture Bee Venom were effective in recovery of joint function and pain relief while Buthus martensii Karsch, Homnis Placenta and Cervi Cornu Parvum were effective in cartilage protection and recovery. 6. Moxibustion was efficient to reduce joint pain and partly increase ROM (range of motion) of knee joint, but was not efficient to recover the function of knee joint. Conclusions : These results indicate that research trends on knee osteoarthritis were changed from symptomatic treatment (pain alleviation and anti-inflammation) to conservative treatment (cartilage protection and recovery).