• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.653-660
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• 2010

Pulsatillae Radix and Cicadidae Periostracum have long been used for treatment of injuries, inflammations or itchiness in Korea. This study was carried out to examine the acne-remedy effects of the mixture made with equal parts of Pulsatillae Radix extract and Cicadidae Periostracum extract (PRCP) compared with 2%-benzoyl peroxide (Standard) used commercially as anti-acne. The results showed the mixture (PRCP) was more effective than each crude drug extract. The 10%-PRCP showed significant antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, the major cause of acne, and also showed significant inhibition from type 1 $5{\alpha}$-reductase ($5{\alpha}R$), another cause of acne, And the cream made with PRCP demonstrated anti-sebum and acne-improvement effects on examinee's facial skin.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2021

The chemical investigation of the 90% EtOH extract from Cicadidae Periostracum led to the isolation and identification of seven known N-acetyldopamine dimers (1-7). These compounds were identified by comparing mass spectrometry data and NMR spectroscopic data with those previously reported. In this study, complete interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR data of 1 and 2 were reported for the first time. In addition, compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from this material for the first time. All isolates were obtained as racemic mixtures, as confirmed by chiral HPLC. Furthermore, we evaluated the neuroprotective activities of compounds 1-7 and found that compounds 1, 5, and 6 significantly attenuated rotenone-induced death of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells at a concentration of 100 μM. Parallel to this result, compounds 3 and 6 displayed antioxidant effects in the cytoplasm, as determined by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescence intensity, while compounds 1 and 5 showed antioxidant effects in the mitochondria, as assessed by MitoSox fluorescence intensity. Overall, these results suggest that some of these compounds protect neuroblastoma cells by ameliorating the release of reactive oxygen species. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which these compounds exhibit antioxidant and neuroprotective actions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.723-729
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• 2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra, resulting in reduced dopamine levels and consequent motor dysfunction. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to oxidative stress in PD. Cicadidae Periostracum (CP), a traditional Korean medicine, has shown neuroprotective effects against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in PD. However, its effects on the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model have not been established. This study examined CP's effects on a 6-OHDA-induced PD model. CP protected against 6-OHDA damage in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, CP reduced the production of reactive oxygen species, inhibited apoptosis, preserved dopamine levels, protected tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra, and improved motor function. These findings suggest that CP may delay PD progression by maintaining the redox balance.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.859-876
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• 2023

It is known that animal-origin medicine could be one of effective treatment to remedy atopic dermatitis (AD) by controlling the cytokines. Cicadidae Periostracum (CP), the slough of Cryptotympana pustulata, has been frequently used for treating AD and skin affliction in traditional Korean Medicine. This study is aimed at investigating the ameliorating effects of CP on AD and its potential mechanism. The dinitrochlorobenzene sensitized mice were treated with CP for 2 weeks. The various biomarkers and the dermatitis scores presented that CP treatment can induce the visual and biological improvements of AD model. Pruritus, the most serious symptom of AD, which can cause repeated scratching behaviors and finally lead to lichenification, was reduced with CP treatment by regulating the inflammatory reactions. In addition, CP treatment diminished the number of mast cells that are known for causing inflammatory reactions. Moreover, it is proven that CP can decline secretion of interleukin-22, which means CP treatment has anti-inflammatory effects. CP treatment can correct the imbalance of helper T (Th)1 and Th2, downregulating thymic stromal lymphopoietin that leads to decrease of mRNA level of inflammatory cytokines. The crucial role of CP treatment is controlling of the Janus kinase 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. In addition, CP treatment has the inhibitory effects on kallikrein related peptidase (KLK) 5 and KLK7. Taken together, CP treatment can ameliorate most symptoms and problems caused by AD disease, improving the AD patients' life quality.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous extract from Cicadidae Periostracum(CP) on the RAW 264.7 cells. Method: We examined the cytokine productions including nitric oxide(NO), interleukin(IL)-1b, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells and also inhibitory mechanisms such as mitogen -activated protein kinases(MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa BNF-kB) using Western blot. Results: CP inhibited LPS-induced production of NO, IL-1b and TNF-a but not of IL-6 in RAW 264.7 cells. CP respectively inhibited the activation of MAPKs such as extracelluar signal-regulated kinase(ERK 1/2), c-Jun $NH_2$-terminal kinase(JNK), p38 and NF-kB in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Also oral administration of CP inhibited CLP - induced endotoxin shock. Conclusion: our results showed that CP down-regulated LPS-induced NO, IL-1b and TNF-a productions mainly through ERK, JNK, p38 MAPK and NF-kB pathway, which suggest the anti-inflammatory effects of CP.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.723-726
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• 2005

The two major obstacles in the application of IPMC to flapping actuators operated in the air are solvent loss and actuation force. In this paper, solvent loss of various IPMCs made of Nafion$^{TM}$117(183$\mu$m thickness) has been experimentally investigated to find out the best combination of cation and solvent for minimal solvent loss in IPMCs and higher actuation force. For this purpose. experiments for the internal solvent loss measurement of IMPCs have been conducted for various combinations of cation and solvent. From the experiments, it was found that heavy water showed improvement in the operating time up to more than two minutes. in the tip force measurement of IPMCs, it was found that smaller and thicker IPMCs produced larger tip forces. However, the shorter IPMCs generated reduced actuation displacements and created flapping motion with decreased natural frequency. For the design of flapping device actuated by 5mm wide, 10mm long, 0.2mm thick IPMCs were used in the stacked form. Since the actuation force is a few gram-force, we stacked five IPMCs to improve actuation force. To amply the actuation force, rack-and-pin ion type hinge was used for the flapping device and insect (Cicadidae) wing was attached to the stacked IPMC actuator. In the flapping test, the device could generate flapping angle of 15$^{\circ}$ at 6Hz excitation by 2.5 voltage square wave input.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2020

Objective: In this study, we analyzed the trend of patents registered prior to October 4, 2019, to understand the industrial trends in insect-derived medicinal materials used for the treatment of skin diseases. Methods: Using the WIPSON database, we collected information regarding the patents related to insect-derived materials for treating various skin diseases. Results: The patents registered prior to October 4, 2019, from Korea, Japan, the USA, China, and the EU, along with those registered under PCT were selected. There were 195 patents related to the use of insect-derived medicinal materials in treating various skin diseases such as psoriasis, inflammatory skin diseases, eczema, pruritus, and atopic dermatitis. China is mostly superior in total number of registered patents compared with the other countries. Korea was the major patent technology-holder for atopic dermatitis, but China dominated in the remaining categories of skin diseases. Upon first patent registration in 1992, there had been a continual increase in the number of patents. Especially, patents related to eczema, psoriasis, inflammatory skin disease were markedly increased. Most frequently used insect-derived medicinal materials was Scolopendra, Cicadidae Periostracum, Scorpions, Cantharides, and Batryticatus Bombyx. The insect-derived medicinal materials were generally used as a combined preparation with other medicinal materials in patents. Conclusion: This study could help to establish the basis for future research and development related treating skin diseases using insect-derived medicinal materials. In order to provide sufficient data, further study including analysis of rejected patents is needed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.244-251
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• 2018

The present study aimed to identify the influence of climate change on mating songs of Cicadidae in a phenological perspective. The research sites were located in the central part of the Korean peninsula in which phenological observations by the Meteorological Office are made. The material provided by the Meteorological Office was used for long term phenological analysis. The findings demonstrated, First, the phenological monitoring of cicada is an effective index to detect ecological changes due to climate change, thus indicating the importance of long term phenological investigations for future studies. Second, the analysis on the phenological changes of H. fuscata presented a trend in which the first songs were made at increasingly earlier and later dates, respectively. The phenological data on H. fuscata and average temperatures exhibited a significant negative correlation between the initial mating song period and the average temperatures of June. Furthermore, there was also a significant negative correlation for precipitation in October with the end time and total duration of H. fuscata song. Third, in the regression analysis of the start of H. fuscata song and meteorological factors in Seoul, increasing average air temperature in spring (March to June), which includes June, was associated with an earlier start time of H. fuscata song, with calling starting approximately 3.0-4.5 days earlier per $1^{\circ}C$ increase. Fourth, in the regression analysis of the end of H. fuscata song and meteorological factors in Seoul, increased mean precipitation in October was associated with an early end time and an overall reduction in the length of the song period. The end time of song decreased by approximately 0.78 days per 1mm increase in precipitation, and the total length of the song period decreased by 0.8 days/1mm. This research is important, as it is the initial research to identify the phenological changes in H. fuscata due to climate change.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.100-118
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze some of the TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) clinical research literatures about pediatric night crying in order to learn clinical application of Korean medicine treatment for pediatric night crying. Methods We searched clinical trial literatures about TCM treatment of pediatric night crying from the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) (January 2000 to June 2018). We analyzed the literature in regards to the treatment methods and the results. Results Among the 459 searched studies, 13 randomized controlled trials and 41 case studies were selected and analyzed. In most of the studies, the effectiveness of TCM in treating patients was significantly high, so we confirmed the effectiveness of TCM on pediatric night crying. The most commonly used pattern differentiations (辨證) were Spirit damage due to fright and fear (驚恐傷神), Spleen deficiency and cold (脾虛寒) and Heart fire heat (心火熱). Methods of treatment include herbal medicines (internal medicine and external application), massage therapy (Tuina methods), acupuncture and other treatments (bloodletting). The most commonly used herb medicines were Cicadidae Periostracum (蟬?), Poria Cocos (茯?), Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus (釣鉤藤), Junci Medulla (燈心草), Fossilia Ossis Mastodi (龍骨), Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba (白朮), Cinnabaris (朱砂), and Coptidis Rhizoma (黃連). The most commonly used massage methods were Clearing Liver Channel (淸肝經), Clearing Heart Channel (淸心經), Kneading $Xi{\check{a}}oti{\bar{a}}nx{\bar{i}}n$ (?小天心), Supplementing Spleen Channel (補脾經), Clearing $Ti{\bar{a}}nh{\acute{e}}shu{\check{i}}$ (淸天河水), and Rubbing Abdomen (摩腹). Conclusions Based on the results of clinical studies from China, the use of Korean medicine for the treatment of pediatric night crying has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms. Based on the results of this study, it is possible to widen the scope of Korean medicine by additionally reviewing clinical and experimental studies on pediatric night crying.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 14 Chung-bu medicinal materials described in the Dongui Bogam on inflammatory cytokine production in HaCaT human keratinocyte cells. In order to confirm this possibility, we screened inhibition activity of 17 cytokines using Bio-Plex Pro^TM Human Cytokine 17-plex assay in HaCaT cell lines. Of the 14 Chung-bu medicinal materials, Holotrichia (Ho) and Scorpio (Sc) exerted inhibitory effects on interleukin (IL)-5 production; Ho, Mantidis Ootheca (MO), and Hirudo (Hi) exerted inhibitory effects on IL-6 production; Ho, MO, Lumbricus (Lu), Hi, and Meretricis Concha (MC) showed significant inhibitory effects on IL-8 production; Gecko (Ge), Bombycis Faeces (BF), Cicadidae Periostracum (CP), and MC showed significant inhibitory effects on IL-13 production; and Testudinis Chinemis Plastrum et Carapax (TCPC), BF, and Lu exerted significant inhibitory effects on MIP-1β production. Results indicated that the Chung-bu medicinal materials might be a good candicate as potential anti-inflammatory agents for inhibition of skin inflammation. However, further investigations on these materials, including mechanistic studies, should be carried out to validated the effects in human skin equivalent models of dermatitis.