• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.553-556
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• 2002

To study the effects of Scorpio on oxygen free radical-mediated damage by xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine (XO/HX) on cultured spinal sensory neurons, in vitro assays such as MTT assay were used in cultured spinal sensory neurons derived from mice. Spinal sensory neurons were cultured in media containing various concentrations of XO/HX for 6 hours, after which the neurotoxic effect of XO/HX was measured by in vitro assay. The protective effect of the herb extract, Scorpio water extract against XO/HX-induced neurotoxicity was also examined. The results are as follows : In MTT assay, XO/HX significantly decreased the cell viability of cultured mouse spinal sensory neurons according to exposure concentration and time in these cultures. The effect of Scorpio water extract on XO/HX-induced neurotoxicity showed a quantitative increase in neurdfilament. These results suggest that XO/HX has a neurotoxic effect on cultured spinal sensory neurons from mice and that the herb extract, Scorpio water extract, was very effective in protecting XO/HX-induced neurotoxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-71
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• 2004

Melanin pigmentation has an essential role in protecting human skin against the damaging effects of ultra violet radiation, infection, environmental factor, etc. However abnormal melanin pigmentation can directly cause a number of congenital and acquired pigmentary skin disease. This study conducted to evaluate the effects of various partition extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata on the melanogenesis in the B 16 melanoma cells. The cells were treated for 3 days with various partition extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata. While treatment with the BuOH partition extract of Codonopsis lanceolata increased significantly the tyrosinase activity and melanin content, the n-Hexane or ethyl acetate partition extract dose-dependently suppressed them compared with untreated control. But ethyl acetate partition significantly decreased the cell viability. The H2O partiton extract at various concentrations did not exhibit any significant change on the melanogenesis. These results indicate that treatment with the n-Hexane partition extract inhibits the melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells, and raise the possibility that this extract may be effective in the abnormal melanin pigmentation as well as the whitening agent for the skin.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.102-117
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the protective and treating efficacy of Pyeongwi-san, Ijin-tang, and Pyeongjin-tang extracts to the mice with gastric mucosal lesions induced from indomethacin. Methods: In order to verify protective and treating efficacy of Pyeongwi-san, Ijin-tang, and Pyeongjin-tang extracts to the mice with gastric mucosal lesions induced from indomethacin, I administered the extracts of these prescriptions to three group, and induced gastric mucosal lesion by indomethacin, and then I observed the gastric mucosal morphology of stomach, changes from stress resulting from HSP70, changes of gastro-protection (mucous barrier, COX-1). After I observed the anti-oxidant effect, and anti-inflammation effect (IKK mRNA, iNOS mRNA, COX-2 mRNA) in vitro, I induced gastric mucosal lesion by indomethacin, and administered the extracts of each prescriptions to three group, and then I observed the gastric mucosal morphology, anti-inflammation effect to mucosa (NF-${\kappa}$B, iNOS, COX-2) in vivo. Results & Conclusions: 1. Hemorrhagic erosion and damaged mucus secreting cell, positive responses to HSP70 were decreased in all the before-gastric-mucosal-lesion-induced groups, compared to non-extract administered group. The effects were good in the order of Pyeongwi-san extracts administered group, Pyeongjin-tang extracts administered group and Ijin-tang extracts administered group. 2. In all the before-gastric-mucosal-lesion-induced groups, gastro- protection functions (mucous barrier, COX-1) were significant. The effects were good in the order of Pyeongwi-san extracts administered group, Pyeongjin-tang extracts administered group and Ijin-tang extracts administered group. 3. Anti-oxidant effect was significant in Pyeongwi-san extracts, Ijin-tang extracts and Pyeongjin-tang extracts. The effects were good in the order of Pyeongjin-tang extracts, Pyeongwi-san extracts and Ijin-tang extracts. 4. The anti-inflammation effects in vitro were good in Pyeongwi-san extracts, Ijin-tang extracts and Pyeongjin-tang extracts. Especially Pyeongjin-tang extracts showed the most prominent results. Damaged mucus secreting cells and the positive reactions of NF-${\kappa}$B, iNOS, COX-2 in vivo were decreased in after-gastric-mucosal-lesion-induced groups compared to non-extract administered group. The effects were good in the order of Pyeongjin-tang extracts administered group, Pyeongwi-san extracts administered group and Ijin-tang extracts administered group. These results show that Pyeongwi-san, Ijin-tang and Pyeongjin-tang are effective on both in protecting and treating the gastric mucosal membrane. Pyeongwi-san is more effective than other prescriptions, in protecting gastric mucosal membrane, and Pyeongjin-tang is more effective in treating gastric mucosal lesion.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2015

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a major cause of skin photoaging, and effective UV protecting agents are needed for the skin health and beauty. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of Bambusae caulis in Taeniam extract (BCTE) on UVB-induced cell death, oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) expression in cell-based assays. HaCaT human keratinocytes were exposed to UVB in the presence of BCTE at different concentrations and resulting changes in cell viability and biochemical events were determined. The results showed that BCTE enhanced the viabilities of UVB-exposed cells, and attenuated apoptotic events such as cleavage of procaspase 3 to its active form, and the increase of Bax to Bcl-2 ratios. BCTE also attenuated the reactive oxygen generation and lipid peroxidation in cells exposed to UVB. Additionally, it attenuated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase stimulated by UVB. Conclusively, the present study demonstrated that BCTE pro tected skin cells from the UVB-induced cell death, oxidative stress and MMP1 expression, suggesting its potential use as a cosmetic ingredient mitigating some features of the skin photoaging.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.306-312
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• 2018

In a previous study, we have demonstrated that S-methylmethionine sulfonium (SMMS) confers wound-healing and photoprotective effects on the skin, suggesting that SMMS can be used as a cosmetic raw material. However, it has an unpleasant odor. Therefore, in the present study, we synthesized odor-free SMMS derivatives by eliminating dimethyl sulfide, which is the cause of the unpleasant odor and identified two derivatives that exhibited skin-protective effects: one derivative comprised (2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)-2-phenylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and the other comprised (2S,4R)-, (2S,4S)-, (2R,4R)-, and (2R,4S)-2-phenyl-1,3-thiazinane-4-carboxylic acid. We performed in vitro proliferation assays using human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) and an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The two SMMS derivatives were shown to increase hDF and HaCaT cell proliferation as well as improve their survival by protecting against ultraviolet exposure. Moreover, the derivatives regulated the expression of collagen type I and MMP mRNAs against ultraviolet exposure in hDFs, suggesting that these derivatives can be developed as cosmetic raw materials.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2010

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a major cause of photodamages to human skin and the immediate responses of the skin to UV include the erythema and edema. In an attempt to find effective UV-protecting agents to be used in cosmetics, a number of plant extracts were screened in the cell-based assays. Among the total of 38 plant extracts tested, 3 plant extracts derived from Sasa quelpaertensis, Althaea rosea, and Dryopteris crassirhizoma attenuated the UVB-induced cytotoxicity as well as melanin synthesis in cultured human epidermal melanocytes. The anti-inflammatory effects of these plant extracts were further examined in animal models. A control or test cream containing 1% of a plant extract was topically applied to ears of a C57BL/6 mouse or the dorsal skin of a SKH-1 hafirless mouse before and after the exposure to UVB. The change in ear thickness or dorsal skin redness due to UVB exposure was determined to monitor edema and erythema, respectively. All three test creams exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in both experiments. The creams containing Sasa quelpaertensis, Althaea rosea or Dryopteris crassirhizoma extract alleviated the UVB-induced edema response on day 4 by 53.8 %, 56.4 % and 31.1 %, respectively. They also inhibited the erythema formation on day 2 by 45.7 %, 34.1 % and 20.5 %, respectively. This study suggests that the selected plant extracts formulated in cosmetics may attenuate skin inflammation caused by overexposure to UV.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.413-425
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• 2013

Background: Graft vessel preservation solution in coronary artery bypass surgery is used to maintain the graft conduit in optimal condition during the perioperative period. Nafamostat mesilate (NM) has anticoagulation and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we investigated NM as a conduit preservative agent and compared it to papaverine. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat thoracic aortas were examined for their contraction-relaxation ability using phenylephrine (PE) and acetylcholine (ACh) following preincubation with papaverine and NM in standard classical organ baths. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured to check for the endothelial cell viability. Histopathological examination and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay were performed on the thoracic aortas of SD rats. Results: The anti-contraction effects of papaverine were superior to those of NM at PE (p<0.05). The relaxation effect of NM on ACh-induced vasodilatation was not statistically different from that of papaverine. Viability assays using HUVECs showed endothelial cell survival rates of >90% in various concentrations of both NM and papaverine. A histopathological study showed a protective effect against necrosis and apoptosis (p<0.05) in the NM group. Conclusion: NM exhibited good vascular relaxation and a reasonable anti-vasocontraction effect with a better cell protecting effect than papaverine; therefore, we concluded that NM is a good potential conduit preserving agent.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 2012

Thyroid hormones are important for the development of the brain including the cerebellum. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treadmill exercise on the survival of Purkinje neurons and the activation of astrocytes in the cerebellar vermis of hypothyroidism-induced rat pups. On the day of perinatal 14, pregnant rats were divided into two groups (n = 5 in each group): the pregnant control group and the pregnantmethimazole (MMI)-treated group. For the induction of hypothyroidism in the rat pups, MMI was added to the drinking water (0.02% wt/vol), from the day of perinatal 14 to postnatal 49. After delivery, male rat pups born from the pregnant control group were assigned to the control group. Male rat pups born from the MMI-treated group were divided into the hypothyroidism-induction group, the hypothyroidism-induction with treadmill exercise group, and the hypothyroidism-induction with thyroxine (T4) treatment group (n = 10 in each group). The rat pups in the exercise group were forced to run on a treadmill for 30 min once a day for 4 weeks, starting on postnatal day 22. In the hypothyroidism-induced rat pups, motor coordination was reduced and Purkinje cell death and reactive astrocytes in the cerebellar vermis were increased. Treadmill exercise enhanced motor coordination, increased the survival of Purkinje neurons, down-regulated reactive astrocytes, and enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) expressions in the hypothyroidism-induced rat pups. These results suggest that treadmill exercise has beneficial effects in terms of protecting against thyroid dysfunction by increasing T3 and T4 and the related protein, BDNF, as well as TrkB, inhibition on astrocyte activation and the reduction of Purkinje cell loss regarding the cerebellum in hypothyroidism rat pups.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.59-65
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• 2015

Objectives : Fermentation of herbs has been known to be helpful in improving the immune systems and protecting body against disease. The present study was conducted to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of the fermentation extracts (FE) consisting of soybean, red ginseng andCitrus UnshiuPeel in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated Raw264.7 cells.Methods : FE were prepared by the fermentation withBacillus Subtilisand then by extraction with ethanol (95%; prepared by the fermentation process). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production was measured in culture media by Griess assay. The expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα) was determined by Western blot.Results : LPS-induced production of NO and PGE₂was dose-dependently decreased by the treatment of FE in Raw264.7 cells. These suppressive effects of FE on NO and PGE₂production were related to the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. FE inhibited LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1βin a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, FE inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway through the prevention of LPS-induced degradation of IκBαin cytosol and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB.Conclusions : These findings suggest that FE could have anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.727-733
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• 1996

2-(Allylthio)pyrazine is effective in selectively suppressing constitutive and inducible expression of cytochrome P450 2E1. The effect of 2-(allylthio)pyrazine against potentiat ed chemical injury was studied in rats. Vitamin-A pretreatment of rats substantially increased carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, as supported by an ~4-fold increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Concomitant pretreatment of rats with 2-(allylthio)pyrazine at the daily dose of 200mg/kg resulted in a 76% decrease in vitamin-A-potentiated hepatotoxicity, which supported the possibility that 2-(allylthio)pyrazine protects the liver against chemical-induced hepatic injury by the mechanism associated with Kupffer cell inactivation. Pyridine pretreatment caused substantial enhancement in carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity. 2-(Allylthio)pyrazine treatment of rats reduced the pyridine-potentiated toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Animals treated with both pyridine and 2-(allylthio)pyrazine prior to intoxicating dose of CCl$_4$ resulted in 85% and 47% decreases in pyridine-increased triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the liver. The protective effect of 2-(allylthio)pyrazine on the DNA strand breakage induced by benzenetriol was assessed by measuring the conversion of supercoiled ${\Phi}x$-174 DNA to the open relaxed form. 2-(Allylthio)pyrazine blocked the benzenetriol-induced conversion of supercoiled DNA to open circular form in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of 2-(allylthio)pyrazine at the doses from I to 10mM in the incubation mixture containing 5 ${\mu}$M benzenetriol completely protected benzenetriol-induced DNA strand breakage with the EC50 for the 2-(allylthio)pyrazine blocking being noted as ~220 ${\mu}$M, whereas allyl disulfide exerted protecting effect at relatively high concentrations (i.e. ~850 ${\mu}$M), suggesting that 2-(allylthio)pyrazine effectively scavenges the reactive oxygen species. These results provide evidence that 2-(allylthio)pyrazine blocks vitamin A- or pyridine-potentiated CCl$_4$ hepatotoxicity and that the agent is active in protecting DNA by scavenging the reactive oxygen species.