• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2011

Objective : Astragali Radix (AR) and Cinnamomi Cortex (CC) are used to enhance immune response in Asian traditional medicine. Immuno-potentiation of the combination of AR and CC were evaluated on the cellular and humoral immune response using murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) and OVA-immunized mice. Methods : This study was designed to investigate the immuno-potentiative effects of AR, CC, and AR with CC on nitric oxide synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells and proliferation and production levels of Intereukin-2 (IL-2) in mouse splenocytes. In addition, we evaluated the plasma-specific antibody responses and splenocyte proliferation on ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized mice treated with herbal extracts. Results : Combination treatment with AR and CC increased nitric oxide synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells and IL-2 level in splenocytes (p<0.001). Combination of AR and CC significantly enhanced the Concanavalin A- (Con A ; T cell mitogen) and lipopolysaccharide-(LPS ; B cell mitogen) induced splenocyte proliferation on the OVA-immunized mice. Combination of AR and CC also significantly enhanced plasma levels of OVA-specific IgG (p<0.01), IgG1 (p<0.05) and total IgM (p<0.01) compared with the OVA-immunized control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that combination of AR and CC could be used as therapeutic profile on activation of immune response.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.244-270
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate an anti-HBV activities of the aqueous extracts from 10 Korean herbal medicines in the HepG2 2.2.15 cell culture system and the results were as follows: 1. The extracts of 6 plants (Herba Artemisiae Capillaris, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Cortex Cinnamomi, Fructus Chebulae, Fructus Rubi and Radix Rubi) decreased, significantly and dose-dependently, the levels of extracellular HBV virion in the concentrations (10, 100, 500 and $1,000\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) tested. 2. However, others (Radix lsatidis, Lignum Sappan, Herba Lysimachiae and Fructus Lycii) did not show any effect either on the replication of HBV or on the levels of virion DNA in the culture media of HepG2 2.2.15 cell. 3. Among the 6 plants which showed the inhibitory potency on the production of extracellular HBV virion, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Cortex Cinnamomi, Fructus Chebulae, Fructus Rubi and Radix Rubi except Herba Artemisiae Capillaris also showed the inhibition of the replication of intracellular HEV DNA in the range of $100{\sim}500\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Considering the above results, it is thought that 6 plants(Herba Artemisiae Capillaris, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Cortex Cinnamomi, Fructus Chebulae, Fructus Rubi and Radix Rubi) possess the anti-HBV activities in the HepG2 2.2.15 cell culture system. We thus suggest that these plants possess a potential as a therapeutic agent for the chronic viral hepatitis. These results might be useful as a basic data for the development of the new preventive drugs for HBV diseases.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.477-482
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• 2020

The human visual cortex has the characteristic that reacts sensitively to stimuli with special directional or temporal frequency changes while it is insensitive to selective stimuli of spatial phases. In this paper we implemented the model of complex cell using an image estimation iterative algorithm by Gabor wavelet transform. The performance of implemented model evaluated the consistency between the physiological experimental results in related papers. The implemented model is limited in the complete model of the receptive field in the retina where simple cells and complex cells are distributed together. But the implemented model express the reaction of the complex cells from the point of view of the detection of corners and edges.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2014

Cortex ulmi pumilae, the cortex of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, has been used in traditional folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory effect. Although its various bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer, have been reported, the anti-adipogenic activity of cortex ulmi pumilae remains unclarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cortex ulmi pumilae extract on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with cortex ulmi pumilae extract significantly reduced the formation of lipid droplets and triglyceride content in a dose-dependent manner; this is associated with an inhibition of the adipogenic transcription factors, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). In addition, cortex ulmi pumilae extract treatment during the early stage of adipogenesis showed more efficient anti-adipogenic activity than treatment during other stages of adipogenesis. Cortex ulmi pumilae extract also inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 arrest of 3T3-L1 cells in the early stage of adipogenesis. This was associated with upregulated expression of Cdk inhibitor p21 and downregulated expression of cyclin E and phospho-Rb, indicating that cortex ulmi pumilae extract blocks mitotic clonal expansion by cell cycle regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that cortex ulmi pumilae extract possesses anti-adipogenic activity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by blocking mitotic clonal expansion.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.163-184
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• 2007

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Phellodendri Cortex Herbal-acupuncture solution (PC-HAS) at Joksamni (ST36) on collagen II induced arthritis in DBA-1J mice. The author performed several experimental items to analyze arthritis evaluation, change of weight, spleen size and adhesion rate, change of cytokine level, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II, chang of immunocyte count, histological change of CIA mouse joint. Results : 1. In the PC-HA group, arthritis index, the incidence of arthritis and joint edema were significantly decreased. 2. In the PC-HA group, the change of spleen size, spleen adhesion rate and the knee joint were significantly decreased. 3. The levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and INF- in serum of the CIA mouse were significantly decreased by PC-HA. 4. The levels of IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II in serum of the CIA mouse were significantly decreased by PC-HA. 5. In the CIA mouse spleen cell culture, the levels of IFN- , IFN- / IL-4, IL-10 were significantly decreased by PC-HA, but the level of IL-4 was significantly increased by PC-HA. 6. In the PC-HA group, the ratios of $CD3e^+$ to $CD45R^+$ cell, $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$ cell and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cell were similarly maintained as normal group in the CIA mouse spleen cell. 7. In the PC-HA group, $CD4^+CD25^+$ and $CD45R^+/CD69^+$ cell were significantly decreased in the lymph nodes. 8. In the PC-HA group, $CD3^+/CD69^+$ and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cell were significantly decreased in knee joint. 9. In histology, the cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation in the PC-HA group were similar with that of the normal group and the collagen fiber expressions in the PC-HA group were similar with that of the normal group. Conclusions : Form the result above, the results suggest that the PC-HA at ST36 has significant effect on collagen-induced arthritis, and can be put to practical use in the future rheumatoid arthritis clinic.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.545-559
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• 1998

Magnoliae cortex has been used as a drug for treatment of fractures in Chinese medicine and safflower(Carthamus tinctorius $Linn{\acute{e}}$) has been traditionally used for treatment of blood stasis. The purpose of present study was to examine the biologic effects of magnoliae cortex extract and safflower extract mixture(MSM) on human periodontal ligament cells and fetal rat calvarial osteoblasts and on healing of rat calvarial defects. The ethanolic extracts of magnoliae cortex(MCE), safflower seed(SSE), Zea May L(ZML) were prepared as positive control group. MSM mixed to the ratios of 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 5 and 1 : 10 were used as test group. The effects of each agents on the growth and survival, ALPase activity, cell proliferation and tissue regenerative effect of each extracts was evaluated by histomorphometric measuring of newly formed bone on the 8 mm defect in rat calvaria after oral administration of 2 ratio groups(1 : 5 and 1 : 10) at 3 different doses (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5g/kg per day). MSM stimulated the growth and survival rate of osteoblasts and PDL cells more than any other agents. The growth and survival rate were increased as the proportion of safflower seed extract was increased. MCE, SSE, ZML stimulated the ALPase activity of osteoblast and PDL cell in comparison to the negative control group. But all groups of MSM regardless of ratio of safflower seed extract stimulated the ALPase activity than any other agent. The ALPase activity was also increased as the proportion of safflower seed extract was increased. Although MCE, SSE, ZML stimulated the proliferation of osteoblasts. 1 : 5 and 1 : 10 ratio MSM showed significant increase in stimulation of proliferation of osteoblasts. No agent significantly increased proliferation of PDL cells. Significant new bone formation were seen where 1 : 5 ratio, 0.5g/kg group and 1 : 10 ratio, 0.25, 0.5g/kg groups were used. These results show that magnoliae cortex extract and safflower seed extract mixture can potentially increase bone regeneration ability.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.154-167
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• 2023

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) associated with liver failure is accompanied by hyperammonemia, severe inflammation, depression, anxiety, and memory deficits as well as liver injury. Recent studies have focused on the liver-brain-inflammation axis to identify a therapeutic solution for patients with HE. Lipocalin-2 is an inflammation-related glycoprotein that is secreted by various organs and is involved in cellular mechanisms including iron homeostasis, glucose metabolism, cell death, neurite outgrowth, and neurogenesis. In this study, we investigated that the roles of lipocalin-2 both in the brain cortex of mice with HE and in Neuro-2a (N2A) cells. We detected elevated levels of lipocalin-2 both in the plasma and liver in a bile duct ligation mouse model of HE. We confirmed changes in cytokine expression, such as interleukin-1β, cyclooxygenase 2 expression, and iron metabolism related to gene expression through AKT-mediated signaling both in the brain cortex of mice with HE and N2A cells. Our data showed negative effects of hepatic lipocalin-2 on cell survival, iron homeostasis, and neurite outgrowth in N2A cells. Thus, we suggest that regulation of lipocalin-2 in the brain in HE may be a critical therapeutic approach to alleviate neuropathological problems focused on the liver-brain axis.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.80-80
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• 2003

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms, accompanied by marked cell death in the striatum and cortex. Stereotaxic injection of quinolinic acid (QA) into striatum results in a degeneration of GABAergic neurons and exhibits abnormal motor behaviors typical of the illness. The objective of this study was carried out to obtain basic information about whether parthenogenetic mouse embryonic stem (PmES) cells are suitable for cell replacement therapy of HD. To establish PmES cell lines, hybrid F1 (C57BL/6xCBA/N) mouse oocytes were treated with 7% ethanol for 5 min and cytochalasin-B for 4 hr to initiate spontaneous cleavage. Thus established PmES cells were induced to differentiate using bFGF (20ng/ml) followed by selection of neuronal precursor cells for 8 days in N2 medium. After selection, cells were expanded at the presence of bFGF (20 ng/ml) for another 6 days, then a final differentiation step in N2 medium for 7 days. To establish recipient animal models of HD, young adult mice (7 weeks age ICR mice) were lesioned unilaterally with a stereotaxic injection of QA (60 nM) into the striatum and the rotational behavior of the animals was tested using apomorphine (0.1mg/kg, IP) 7 days after the induction of lesion. Animals rotating more than 120 turns per hour were selected and the differentiated PmES cells (1$\times$10$^4$cells/ul) were implanted into striatum. Four weeks after the graft, immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of cells reactive to anti-NeuN antibody. However, only a slight improvement of motor behavior was observed. By Nissl staining, cell mass resembling tumor was found at the graft site and near cortex which may explain the slight behavioral improvement. Detailed experiment on cell viability, differentiation and migration explanted in vivo is currently being studied.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1997

Antisera against the myotropic neuropeptide leucokinin I, originally isolated from head extracts of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae, have been used to investigate the distribution of the leucokinin I-immunoreactive (LK I-IR) neurons in the brain of the common cutworm, Spodoptera Iitura, during postembryonic development. The LK I-IR neurons are found at the larval stages (excluding first instar larval stage), pupal stages, and adult stage, of which the brains have been examined in this experiment. The number of the LK I-IR neurons in the brain increases from the second instar larva to the fifth instar larva which has about 32, the largest number in all postembryonic stages. Thereafter, the LK I-IR neurons begin to decrease in number. During the pupal stages, smaller number of LK I-IR neurons persist in the brains; 6 or 4. At adult stage the brain contains 8 LK I-IR neurons. The LK I-IR cell bodies are distributed in each dorsal cortex of both cerebral hemispheres in the second instar larva and through all the neuromeres of the brain during later larval stages, despite of being a large number of the LK I-IR cell bodies in dorsolateral neuromeres. At pupal stages, most of the LK I-IR cell bodies are found in the pars intercerebralis. Extremely small number of the LK I-IR cell bodies are localized in the pars lateral is. Adult brain contains the LK I-IR cell bodies in the pars intercerebralis and the middle cortex of the posterior brain. The LK I-IR nerve processes can be easily found in the neuropils of almost all the neuromeres in the brains of third, fourth, fifth and sixth instar larvae. Most of the LK I-IR nerve fibers in those brains are originated from the LK I-IR cell bodies located in the brains. The LK I-IR cell bodies which have very weak reactivities to the antisera do not show projection of the LK I-IR nerve processes in the brains.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2000

Ultrastructures on the integumentary epidermis of the marbled sole, Limanda yokahamae, were examined by means of the light and transmission electron microscope. Epidermal layer consists of supporting cells, unicellular glands and accessory cells. The supporting cells were classified into superficial cell, intermediated cell and basal cell. The cytoplasm of supporting cells is divided into cortex and medullar part. In the cortex and medullar part, microfilaments and cell organelles are well developed, respectively. Gland cells are present in the superficial and middle epidermis. The cytoplasm of mucous cell reacted to blue in AB-PAS (pH 2.5). Club cell has a roundish central vacuole and well-developed microfilaments in the cytoplasm. Granular cells are occurs in the middle and basal epidermis , and the cytoplasm is occupied with membrane-bounded granules of electron dense. Chloride cells are present in the superficial epidermis , and the cytoplasm is occupied with tubular mitochondria. Three types of pigment cells can be distinguished by electron density of cytoplasmic inclusions.